Transport refrigeration door status sensing device

• US 20060279424A1
• Filed: 05/30/2006
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thermo King Corporation (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: Thermo King Corporation (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Yoong, Koon-Chong Hammond
• Granted Patent: US 7,456,738 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/545.300
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2211/00 Anti-theft means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/008 Doors for containers, e.g. ISO-containers locking E05B83/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/08 by opening, e.g. of door, of window, of drawer, of shutter, of curtain, of blind

Abstract

A door status sensing device for a transport container including a door. The door status sensing device includes an emitter attached to the container that transmits a first wireless signal in a first direction toward the door. A reflector attaches to the door and is aligned with the emitter to receive the first wireless signal, and generates a second wireless signal in a second direction opposite the first direction in response to the first wireless signal. The sensing device further includes a receiver attached to the container adjacent the emitter and opposite the reflector. The receiver is substantially aligned with the reflector, receives the second wireless signal, and generates a third signal indicative of the condition of the door condition in response to receipt of the second wireless signal. A controller selectively generates an alarm in response to the third signal indicative of the condition of the door.

Claims

1. A door status sensing device for a transport container including a door and a transport refrigeration system having climate control apparatus, the sensing device comprising:

an emitter attached to the container and configured to transmit a first wireless signal in a first direction toward the door;

a reflector coupled to the door and substantially aligned with the emitter, the reflector configured to sense the first wireless signal and to generate a second wireless signal in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction in response to the first wireless signal;

a receiver attached to the container adjacent the emitter and opposite the reflector, the receiver substantially aligned with the reflector and configured to sense the second wireless signal and to generate a third signal indicative of a condition of the door in response to receipt of the second wireless signal; and

a controller in electrical communication with the receiver and configured to selectively generate an alarm in response to the third signal indicative of the condition of the door.

2. The door status sensing device of claim 1, wherein the reflector is configured to generate the second wireless signal in response to receipt of the first wireless signal.

3. The door status sensing device of claim 1, wherein the door includes an open condition and a closed condition, and wherein the controller is configured to generate the alarm in response to the third signal indicative of the door in the open condition.

4. The door status sensing device of claim 3, wherein the reflector is configured to generate the second wireless signal in the second direction when the door is in the closed condition.

5. The door status sensing device of claim 3, wherein the receiver is configured to generate the third signal indicative of the door in the open condition when the second wireless signal has not been sensed.

6. The door status sensing device of claim 1, wherein the controller includes a database to store the condition of the door and to allow access to the stored condition.

7. The door status sensing device of claim 1, wherein the emitter and the receiver cooperate to define a sensor configured to transmit the first wireless signal and to sense the second wireless signal.

8. The door status sensing device of claim 7, wherein the sensor includes a laser sensor.

9. The door status sensing device of claim 1, wherein the reflector is configured to reflect the first wireless signal to generate the second wireless signal.

10. The door status sensing device of claim 1, wherein the first wireless signal is defined by a polarized laser beam and the second wireless signal is defined by a reflection of the polarized laser beam.

11. A door status sensing device for a transport container including a first door, a second door, and a transport refrigeration system having climate control apparatus, the sensing device comprising:

an emitter attached to the container and configured to transmit a first wireless signal in a first direction toward the first door;

a reflector coupled to the first door and substantially aligned with the emitter, the reflector configured to sense the first wireless signal and to generate a second wireless signal in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction in response to the first wireless signal;

a receiver attached to the container adjacent the emitter and opposite the reflector, the receiver substantially aligned with the reflector and configured to sense the second wireless signal and to generate a third signal indicative of the first door condition in response to receipt of the second wireless signal;

a switch coupled to the second door and configured to generate a fourth signal indicative of a second door condition; and

a controller in electrical communication with the receiver and the switch, the controller configured to selectively generate a first alarm in response to the third signal indicative of the first door condition and to selectively generate a second alarm in response to the fourth signal indicative of the second door condition.

12. The door status sensing device of claim 11, wherein the reflector is configured to generate the second wireless signal in response to receipt of the first wireless signal.

13. The door status sensing device of claim 11, wherein the first door includes a first door open condition and a first door closed condition, and wherein the controller is configured to generate the first alarm in response to the third signal indicative of the first door open condition.

14. The door status sensing device of claim 13, wherein the reflector is configured to generate the second wireless signal in the second direction when the first door is in the first door closed condition.

15. The door status sensing device of claim 11, wherein the second door includes a second door open condition and a second door closed condition, and wherein the controller is configured to generate the second alarm in response to the fourth signal indicative of the second door open condition.

16. The door status sensing device of claim 11, wherein the receiver is configured to generate the third signal indicative of the door in the open condition when the second wireless signal has not been sensed.

17. The door status sensing device of claim 11, wherein the emitter and the receiver cooperate to define a sensor configured to transmit the first wireless signal and to sense the second wireless signal.

18. The door status sensing device of claim 17, wherein the sensor includes a laser sensor.

19. The door status sensing device of claim 11, wherein the reflector is configured to reflect the first wireless signal to generate the second wireless signal.

20. The door status sensing device of claim 11, wherein the first wireless signal is defined by a polarized laser beam and the second wireless signal is defined by a reflection of the polarized laser beam.

21. The door status sensing device of claim 11, wherein the controller includes a database to store the first door condition and the second door condition, and wherein the controller is configured to allow access to the first door condition and the second door condition.

22. The door status sensing device of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to monitor the first door condition independent of the second door condition.

23. The door status sensing device of claim 22, wherein the switch includes a magnetic reed switch.

24. A method of detecting a condition of a door for a transport container having a transport refrigeration system, the method comprising:

transmitting a first wireless signal in a first direction toward the door with an emitter;

aligning a reflector with the emitter and sensing the first wireless signal with the reflector;

generating a second wireless signal in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction with the reflector in response to the first wireless signal;

aligning a receiver with the reflector and sensing the second wireless signal with the receiver;

generating a third signal indicative of a condition of the door in response to the second wireless signal; and

sensing the third signal indicative of the condition of the door with a controller and selectively generating an alarm indicative of the condition of the door.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein generating the second wireless signal includes reflecting the first wireless signal.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein sensing the second signal with the receiver includes sensing a closed position of the door.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein selectively generating the alarm includes generating the alarm in response to the third signal indicative of an open condition of the door.

28. The door status sensing device of claim 27, wherein sensing the third signal indicative of the open condition of the door includes failing to sense the second wireless signal.

29. The method of claim 24, further comprising

storing the condition of the door;

and

allowing access to the stored condition.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein transmitting the first wireless signal with the emitter includes transmitting a laser beam, wherein sensing the first wireless signal and generating the second wireless signal with the reflector includes reflecting the laser beam, and wherein sensing the second wireless signal with the receiver includes sensing the reflected laser beam.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein selectively generating the alarm indicative of the condition of the door with the controller includes

sending a fourth signal indicative of the condition of the door from the controller to a second controller;

and

displaying the condition of the door with the second controller.