Geographic specific controlling of a transport refrigeration system

• US 10,353,410 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2013
• Issued: 07/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thermo King Corporation (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: Thermo King Corporation (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Bates, Scott Robert, Lattin, Robert Michael, Lucht, Erich Albert
• Primary Examiner(s): Lin, Jason
• Application Number:
  US14/652,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20150338858A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,027 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00771 the input being a vehicle position or surrounding, e.g. GPS-based position or tunnel
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3232 particularly adapted for load transporting vehicles B60H1/3226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/20 Refrigerated goods vehicles air treatment of goods space B60H; air-conditioning means for freight cars, isothermic wagons B61D27/0027; superstructures for refrigerated goods vehicles B62D33/048
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/00 Control of temperature

Abstract

Systems and methods for automatically adjust control parameters of a TRS according to local, regional and/or federal regulations on emissions, noise and/or other requirements applicable to a particular location and/or time, are provided. When the TRS is operating within a predefined geographic region at a specific time, control parameters or an operation mode of the TRS can be automatically adjusted so that emission and/or noise from the TRS can be compliant with the regulations applicable to that predefined geographic region.

Claims

1. A method for automatically adjusting control parameters of a transport refrigeration system (TRS), the method comprising:

determining geographic data according to a real-time location and time information of the TRS, wherein the geographic data includes geographic region data of where the TRS is currently located and time data indicating a current time of day where the TRS is currently located, the geographic region data being based upon predefined geographic region data including one or more noise or emission requirements for a particular region;

determining, via a control unit of the TRS, a set of control parameters correlated to the geographic data;

obtaining a preset operation mode for operation of a power generator of the TRS from a plurality of preset operation modes based on the set of control parameters correlated to both the current location and the current time, the plurality of preset operation modes including;

an ultra-low emission compliant mode that reduces emissions of the power generator of the TRS without lowering a horsepower of the power generator, and

a low noise mode that includes stopping operation of the power generator of the TRS; and

running, via the control unit, the power generator of the TRS in the preset operation mode when the TRS is in the particular region.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the real-time location and time information of the TRS is obtained via a global positioning system (GPS).

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising pre-setting, via the control unit, one or more of the plurality of preset operation modes, and each of the plurality of preset operation modes corresponds to a respective set of the control parameters.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the ultra-low emission compliant mode includes activating an emission-control mechanism to reduce the emissions of the power generator of the TRS without lowering the horsepower of the power generator.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein running the TRS with the set of control parameters is independent of an operator'"'"'s intervention.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the control unit operates the TRS in a predictive mode whereby the control unit prepares the TRS to enter a geo-fence by obtaining the preset operation mode for the geo-fence, and prepares the TRS for the geo-fence by adjusting the operating condition of the interior space prior to the TRS entering the geo-fence to maintain a desired operating condition of the interior space while the TRS is within the geo-fence, the geo-fence corresponding to the particular region having the one or more noise or emission requirements.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein when the control unit predicts that the TRS is going to enter a geo-fence that requires the TRS to operate in the low noise mode, the control unit increases cooling with the interior space prior to the TRS entering the geo-fence.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein when the control unit predicts that the TRS is going to enter a geo-fence that is currently at a relatively high temperature, the control unit increases cooling with the interior space prior to the TRS entering the geo-fence.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the control unit receiving alarm information from an external transceiver that is external to the TRS, the alarm information being an alarm of a weather condition, and the control unit automatically adjusting the preset operation mode based on the obtained alarm information to adjust the operating condition of the interior space.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the control unit sending an alert when the geographic data cannot be determined.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of preset operation modes further includes:

a lockout operation mode, and

a maximum/minimum power limit mode.

12. A transport refrigeration system (TRS) comprising:

a transport refrigeration unit (TRU) including a control unit;

a TRS genset including a power generator; and

a positioning device for sending real-time location and time information to the control unit,

wherein the control unit determines appropriate geographic data based on the real-time location and time information, wherein the geographic data includes geographic region data of where the TRS is currently located and time data indicating a current time of day where the TRS is currently located, and the geographic region data being based upon predefined geographic region data including one or more noise or emission requirements for a particular region,

wherein the control unit determines a set of control parameters correlated to the appropriate geographic data,

wherein the control unit obtains a preset operation mode for operation of the power generator from a plurality of preset operation modes based on the set of control parameters correlated to both the current location and the current time, the plurality of preset operation modes including;

an ultra-low emission compliant mode that reduces emissions of the power generator of the TRS without lowering a horsepower of the power generator, and

a low noise mode that includes stopping operation of the power generator of the TRS; and

wherein the control unit runs the power generator in the preset operation mode when the TRS is in the particular region.

13. The TRS of claim 12, further comprising an emission-control mechanism for reducing the emissions of the power generator of the TRS, wherein the ultra-low emission compliant mode includes activating the emission-control mechanism to reduce the emissions of the power generator of the TRS without lowering the horsepower of the power generator.

14. The TRS of claim 13, wherein the emission-control mechanism includes a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC), and a diesel particulate filter (DPF).

15. The TRS of claim 12, wherein the control unit operates the TRS in a predictive mode whereby the control unit prepares the TRS to enter a geo-fence by obtaining the preset operation mode for the geo-fence, and prepares the TRS for the geo-fence by adjusting the operating condition of the interior space prior to the TRS entering the geo-fence to maintain a desired operating condition of the interior space while the TRS is within the geo-fence, the geo-fence corresponding to the particular region having the one or more noise or emission requirements.

16. The TRS of claim 15, wherein when the control unit predicts that the TRS is going to enter a geo-fence that requires the TRS to operate in the low noise mode, the control unit increases cooling with the interior space prior to the TRS entering the geo-fence.

17. The TRS of claim 15, wherein when the control unit predicts that the TRS is going to enter a geo-fence that is currently at a relatively high temperature, the control unit increases cooling with the interior space prior to the TRS entering the geo-fence.

18. The TRS of claim 12, wherein the control unit receives alarm information from an external transceiver that is external to the TRS, the alarm information being an alarm of a weather condition, and the control unit automatically adjusts the preset operation mode based on the obtained alarm information to adjust the operating condition of the interior space.

19. The TRS of claim 12, wherein the control unit sends an alert when the geographic data cannot be determined.

20. The TRS of claim 12, wherein the plurality of preset operation modes further includes:

a lockout operation mode, and

a maximum/minimum power limit mode.