Undermount transport temperature control unit

• US 20040134227A1
• Filed: 09/19/2003
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thermo King Corporation (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: Thermo King Corporation (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Kolda, Michal, Prochazka, Petr
• Granted Patent: US 6,931,884 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/508
• 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: F25D 19/003 with respect to movable containers
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/003 for movable devices

Abstract

A condenser module for a temperature control unit (14) of a transport vehicle (10). The condenser module includes a frame (70) defining an interior space (72) and a substantially U-shaped condenser coil (166) supported by the frame in the interior space. The condenser module also includes a control box (150) for providing electric power to the unit. The control box (150) is movably coupled to the frame (70) and is movable between a first position, where the control box is inside the frame and positioned for operation of the temperature control unit and a second position, where the control box is at least partially outside the frame and positioned to grant access to the interior space of the frame.

Claims

1. A condenser module for a temperature control unit of a transport vehicle, the condenser module comprising:

a frame having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the frame defining an interior space;

an access panel movably coupled to the first side of the frame for granting access to the interior space;

a compressor supported by the frame in the interior space;

a refrigerant routing system communicating with the compressor and supported by the frame in the interior space; and

a substantially U-shaped condenser coil communicating with the refrigerant routing system and supported by the frame in the interior space.

2. The condenser module of claim 1, wherein the U-shaped condenser coil includes a base portion adjacent the first side of the frame, and first and second arm portions extending toward the second side of the frame, the base portion and the arm portions together defining a second interior space within the interior space defined by the frame.

3. The condenser module of claim 2, wherein the first arm portion substantially divides the interior space of the frame into first and second portions.

4. The condenser module of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the air passing through the first arm portion is pulled from the first portion of the interior space where the compressor is located.

5. The condenser module of claim 2, further including an air displacement device in the second interior space for moving air through the second interior space.

6. The condenser module of claim 5, wherein the air displacement device is a radial blower.

7. The condenser module of claim 5, wherein the second side of the frame includes an outlet adjacent the second interior space for exhausting air displaced by the air displacement device.

8. The condenser module of claim 7, wherein the second side of the frame has a height, and wherein the outlet has a height less than the height of the second side.

9. The condenser module of claim 8, wherein the height of the outlet is approximately half the height of the second side.

10. The condenser module of claim 7, wherein the second side has a top and a bottom, and wherein the outlet is adjacent the bottom and extends approximately halfway toward the top.

11. The condenser module of claim 1, further including a control box adjacent the first side for providing electric power to the temperature control unit.

12. The condenser module of claim 11, wherein the control box is movably coupled to the frame and is movable between a first position, where the control box is inside the interior space and positioned for operation of the temperature control unit, and a second position, where the control box is at least partially outside the interior space and positioned to grant access to the refrigerant routing system and the compressor from the first side of the frame.

13. The condenser module of claim 12, wherein the control box moves between the first and second positions by rolling with respect to the frame.

14. The condenser module of claim 12, wherein the control box moves between the first and second positions by pivoting with respect to the frame.

15. The condenser module of claim 11, wherein the control box includes a cover that can be removed to grant access to the inside of the control box.

16. The condenser module of claim 15, wherein the cover is pivotable with respect to the control box.

17. The condenser module of claim 1, wherein the compressor and the refrigerant system are both mounted on a platform such that the compressor and the refrigerant routing system together define a single modular assembly.

18. A condenser module for a temperature control unit of a transport vehicle, the condenser module comprising:

a frame having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the frame defining an interior space;

an access panel movably coupled to the first side of the frame for granting access to the interior space;

a compressor supported by the frame in the interior space adjacent the second side;

a refrigerant routing system communicating with the compressor and supported by the frame in the interior space adjacent the second side;

a condenser coil communicating with the refrigerant routing system and supported by the frame in the interior space; and

a control box adjacent the first side for providing electric power to the temperature control unit, the control box being movably coupled to the frame and movable between a first position, where the control box is inside the interior space and positioned for operation of the temperature control unit, and a second position, where the control box is at least partially outside the interior space and positioned to grant access to the refrigerant routing system and the compressor from the first side of the frame.

19. The condenser module of claim 18, wherein the control box moves linearly between the first and second positions.

20. The condenser module of claim 18, wherein the control box pivots between the first and second positions.

21. The condenser module of claim 18, wherein the control box includes a cover that can be removed to grant access to the inside of the control box.

22. The condenser module of claim 21, wherein the cover is pivotable with respect to the control box.

23. The condenser module of claim 18, wherein the compressor and the refrigerant system are both mounted on a platform such that the compressor and the refrigerant routing system together define a single modular assembly.

24. A method of gaining access to components housed in an interior space of a condenser module of a temperature control unit, the condenser module having a frame with first and second sides, and a control box movably coupled to the frame adjacent the first side, the components including a compressor supported by the frame in the interior space adjacent the second side and a refrigerant routing system communicating with the compressor and supported by the frame in the interior space adjacent the second side, the method comprising:

moving the control box from a first position, where the control box is inside the interior space and positioned for operation of the temperature control unit, to a second position, where the control box is at least partially outside the interior space and positioned to allow access to the refrigerant routing system and the compressor from the first side of the frame.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the condenser module further includes an access panel movably coupled to the first side of the frame, and wherein the method further includes opening the access panel to gain access to the interior space from the first side.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein opening the access panel includes pivoting the access panel with respect to the frame.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein moving the control box includes moving the control box linearly between the first and second positions.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein moving the control box includes pivoting the control box between the first and second positions.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein moving the control box includes rolling the control box out of the interior space and subsequently pivoting the control box so that at least a portion of the control box moves away from the first side of the frame.

30. The method of claim 29, further including releasing a fastener that secures the control box in the first position prior to rolling the control box out of the interior space.