Cargo container for transporting temperature sensitive items
First Claim
1. A cargo container assembly adapted for transporting a temperature sensitive cargo supported by a pallet, said assembly comprising a box-like composite outer shell having side, top and bottom walls of resin impregnated fibers and having a front opening and a moveable door assembly for closing said front opening, a box-like composite inner shell within said outer shell and having side, top and bottom walls of resin impregnated fibers and spaced inwardly from the corresponding said walls of said outer shell and defining a cargo receiving chamber, thermal insulation material confined between the corresponding said side, top and bottom walls of said inner and outer shells, and a refrigeration system connected to cool said chamber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cargo container includes an outer aluminum shell or housing having side, rear, bottom and top walls and a front opening with a pair of hinged doors. The housing receives a molded box-shaped composite outer shell which receives a molded box-shaped composite inner shell defining a cargo chamber. Corresponding walls of the inner and outer shells and the doors confine insulation cassettes each including vacuum insulation panels forming layers, all protected by plastic sheets and plastic film. Air is circulated by blowers within the chamber through a refrigeration evaporator and electrical heating elements, and a rear portion of the housing encloses operating components including a refrigeration compressor, storage batteries and exhaust fans. A control system senses temperature within the chamber and smoke and humidity outside the container and controls the operation of the compressor, exhaust fans and other components from storage batteries or an external power source.
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Citations
38 Claims
- 1. A cargo container assembly adapted for transporting a temperature sensitive cargo supported by a pallet, said assembly comprising a box-like composite outer shell having side, top and bottom walls of resin impregnated fibers and having a front opening and a moveable door assembly for closing said front opening, a box-like composite inner shell within said outer shell and having side, top and bottom walls of resin impregnated fibers and spaced inwardly from the corresponding said walls of said outer shell and defining a cargo receiving chamber, thermal insulation material confined between the corresponding said side, top and bottom walls of said inner and outer shells, and a refrigeration system connected to cool said chamber.
- 14. A cargo container assembly adapted for transporting a temperature sensitive cargo supported by a pallet, said assembly comprising a box-like outer shell including side, top and bottom walls having a front opening and a moveable door assembly for closing said front opening, a box-like inner shell within said outer shell and including side, top and bottom walls spaced inwardly from the corresponding said walls of said outer shell and defining a cargo receiving chamber, vacuum insulated panel assemblies confined between the corresponding said side, top and bottom walls of said inner and outer shells, at least one of said vacuum insulated panel assemblies including substantially flat parallel insulation layers each having a plurality of vacuum insulated panels, each of said panels including a core of porous material confined within an evacuated sealed bag of flexible gas impermeable film, and a refrigeration system connected to cool said chamber.
- 20. A cargo container assembly adapted for transporting a temperature sensitive cargo supported by a pallet, said assembly comprising a box-like outer shell including side, top and bottom walls and having a front opening and a moveable door assembly for closing said front opening, a box-like inner shell within said outer shell and including side, top and bottom walls spaced inwardly from the corresponding said walls of said outer shell and defining a cargo receiving chamber, thermal insulation material confined between the corresponding said side, top and bottom walls of said inner and outer shells, a refrigeration system connected to cool said chamber and including a compressor and at least one exhaust fan, a smoke detection system connected to control said exhaust fan, and said smoke detection system includes at least one smoke detector connected to de-energize said exhaust fan in response to the detection of smoke in the ambient air outside of said cargo container assembly.
- 26. A cargo container assembly adapted for transporting a temperature sensitive cargo supported by a pallet, said assembly comprising a box-like outer shell including side, top and bottom walls and having a front opening and a moveable door assembly for closing said front opening, a box-like inner shell within said outer shell and including side, top and bottom walls spaced inwardly from the corresponding said walls of said outer shell and defining a cargo receiving chamber, thermal insulation material confined between the corresponding said side, top and bottom walls of said inner and outer shells, a refrigeration system connected to cool said chamber and including a compressor and at least one exhaust fan, at least one sensor for sensing temperature and humidity of the ambient air outside said outer shell, and a control system connected to de-energize said exhaust fan in response to said sensor sensing a predetermined temperature level and/or a humidity level of the ambient air outside of said cargo container assembly.
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30. A method of making a cargo container assembly adapted for transporting a temperature sensitive cargo supported by a pallet, said method comprising the steps of:
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forming a box-like composite outer shell including side, top, rear and bottom walls of fiber reinforced plastic and defining a front opening with a moveable door assembly for closing the opening;
forming a box-like composite inner shell including side, top, rear and bottom walls of fiber reinforced plastic and defining a cargo receiving chamber;
inserting the inner shell into the outer shell;
locating thermal insulation material between the corresponding side, top, rear and bottom walls of the inner and outer shells; and
installing a power operated refrigeration system having an evaporator positioned to control air within the inner shell and connected to a motor driven compressor and at least one exhaust fan located outside of the outer shell. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of making a cargo container assembly adapted for transporting a temperature sensitive cargo supported by a pallet, said method comprising the steps of:
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forming a box-like outer shell including side, top, rear and bottom walls defining a front opening with a moveable door assembly for closing the opening;
forming a box-like inner shell including side, top, rear and bottom walls defining a cargo receiving chamber;
locating the inner shell within the outer shell;
locating thermal insulation material between the corresponding side, top, rear and bottom walls of the inner and outer shells;
installing a power operated refrigeration system with an evaporator controlling the air within the inner shell and connected to a motor driven compressor and at least one exhaust fan located outside of the outer shell;
locating a plurality of smoke detectors outside of the outer shell for sensing smoke in the ambient air surrounding the cargo container, and controlling the exhaust fan to shut down in response to smoke detected by any one of the smoke detectors.
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38. A method of making a cargo container assembly adapted for transporting a temperature sensitive cargo supported by a pallet, said method comprising the steps of:
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forming a box-like outer shell including side, top, rear and bottom walls defining a front opening with a moveable door assembly for closing the opening;
forming a box-like inner shell including side, top, rear and bottom walls defining a cargo receiving chamber;
locating the inner shell within the outer shell;
locating thermal insulation material between the corresponding side, top, rear and bottom walls of the inner and outer shells;
installing a power operated refrigeration system with an evaporator controlling the air within the inner shell and connected to a motor driven compressor and at least one exhaust fan located outside of the outer shell;
locating a plurality of temperature and humidity sensors outside the outer shell for sensing the temperature and humidity of the ambient air surrounding the cargo container, and controlling the exhaust fan to shut down in response to sensing temperature or humidity outside predetermined ranges by any one of the temperature and humidity sensors.
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Specification