Circulation chamber and method of using same

• US 10,201,173 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2017
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Structural Tenting Corporation
• Original Assignee: Alexander Alfred Napoles, Alexander Elias Napoles
• Inventors: Napoles, Alexander Alfred, Napoles, Alexander Elias
• Primary Examiner(s): CONLEY, SEAN EVERETT
• Application Number:
  US15/819,245
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 13/003 Enclosures for fumigation, e.g. containers, bags or housings
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 7/144 in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/3409 in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/34095 Details of apparatus for generating or regenerating gases
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/455 for transportable use portable devices B01D2259/4541
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/745 blowing or injecting heating, cooling or other conditioning fluid inside the container
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/54 with means for preventing escape of liquid or vapour or for recovering escaped liquid or vapour B67D7/44 takes precedence

Abstract

A circulation chamber for a cargo container comprises a cargo container extension including a housing, a cargo container aperture, and an interior volume; the cargo container extension is structured and dimensioned to be attached to an opening of the cargo container, thereby placing the interior volume in fluid communication with an interior of the cargo container. The housing, cargo container aperture, and interior volume may be cooperatively structured and dimensioned to allow at least a portion of the cargo container to be disposed in sealing engagement with the cargo container aperture, and furthermore, allow, at least partially, a door of the cargo container to be open while the circulation chamber is attached to the cargo container.

Claims

1. A circulation chamber for a cargo container comprising:

a cargo container extension including a housing, a cargo container aperture, and an interior volume;

said cargo container aperture structured and dimensioned to be attached to and engage an opening of the cargo container therethrough, said interior volume disposed in fluid communication with an interior of the cargo container,

an elongated conduit structured to contain and pass a gas along the length thereof;

said elongated conduit extending through said cargo container aperture into the cargo container to direct gas to a desired location within the cargo container and into fluid communicating relation between said interior volume and the interior of the cargo container, and

said cargo container aperture and said interior volume collectively structured and dimensioned to allow an opening of at least one door of the cargo container, concurrent to disposition of the cargo container in engagement with said cargo container aperture and into fluid communication with said interior volume.

2. The circulation chamber as recited in claim 1 further comprising an access port disposed on said housing allowing ingress and egress, of an operator, to and from said interior volume.

3. The circulation chamber as recited in claim 2 wherein said access port further comprises an exterior hatch disposed exteriorly of said housing, an interior hatch disposed interiorly of said housing, and an air chamber disposed therebetween.

4. The circulation chamber as recited in claim 1 wherein said elongated conduit has sufficient longitudinal dimension to extend along at least a majority of a length of the interior of the cargo container.

5. The circulation chamber as recited in claim 4 wherein said elongated conduit is structured and movably disposed to carry gas from said interior volume to predetermined portions of the interior of the cargo container.

6. The circulation chamber as recited in claim 5 wherein said elongated conduit further includes a curve at a distal end.

7. The circulation chamber as recited in claim 5 wherein said elongated conduit is open at a distal end.

8. The circulation chamber as recited in claim 5 wherein the gas is air.

9. The circulation chamber as recited in claim 5 wherein the gas is fumigant.

10. The circulation chamber as recited in claim 1 wherein said interior volume comprises at least 20% of a volume of the cargo container.

11. The circulation chamber as recited in claim 1 further comprising at least one equipment port disposed on said housing and configured and dimensioned to allow the passage therethrough of equipment or lines, or both equipment and lines, into said interior volume.

12. The circulation chamber recited in claim 1 further structured to attach to and engage the opening of at least two cargo containers.

13. The circulation chamber recited in claim 12 further comprising at least two of said cargo container apertures, each structured to attach to and engage the opening of a different one of the at least two cargo containers.

14. A circulation chamber for a cargo container comprising:

a cargo container extension including a housing dimensioned and structured to be connected to at least one cargo container,

said housing comprising a cargo container aperture and an interior volume,

said cargo container aperture structured and dimensioned to be attached to a portion of the cargo container,

said interior volume disposed and dimensioned to engage an opening of the portion of the cargo container,

said interior volume disposed in direct fluid communication with an interior of the cargo container concurrent to disposition of the portion of cargo container in engagement with said cargo container aperture,

a fluid seal connected to said cargo container aperture;

said fluid seal disposed in sealing relation with the cargo container concurrent to disposition of the portion of cargo container in engagement with said cargo container aperture and said interior volume; and

an elongate conduit structured to extend into the cargo container and direct gas to a desired location within the cargo container, said elongate conduit in fluid delivering communication with said interior volume and the interior of the cargo container.