Method and Apparatus for Protecting Temperature Sensitive Products

• US 20090293524A1
• Filed: 05/28/2009
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blueye LLC
• Original Assignee: Blueye LLC
• Inventors: Khalil, Charles, Vezina, Jean
• Granted Patent: US 10,442,615 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/239
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2590/0066 Containers inside the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2590/0083 Computer or electronic system, e.g. GPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/744 heating or cooling through the walls or internal parts of the container, e.g. circulation of fluid inside the walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/745 blowing or injecting heating, cooling or other conditioning fluid inside the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/00 Component parts, details or accessories for large containers B65D88/34 - B65D88/78 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/004 Contents retaining means

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention pertain to a method and apparatus for protecting temperature sensitive products during air, ground, or sea transportation. Specific embodiments of the invention relate to a chamber built inside a trailer or sea container where temperature sensitive products are placed to have additional protection against the environmental conditions encountered during the transportation and distribution periods. The dimensions and modularity of the chamber can vary depending on the trailer or sea container the chamber is designed to be used with. This chamber can be preassembled and inserted into the desired trailer or sea container or can be assembled inside the trailer or sea container. The chamber system can include insulated and or non-insulated walls, conveyor system, ventilation system, temperature and asset (trailer or sea container) location tracking. The location tracking can utilize, for example, cellular (GSM) and/or satellite communication, with or without GPS tracking. Each wall of the chamber can be composed of a single material or a combination of dissimilar materials. One or more of the materials in the wall can posses insulating and/or phase changing properties. Different layers of the wall may incorporate different materials.

Claims

1. A transportation container, comprising:

a primary chamber;

a primary door, wherein the primary door opens to provide access into the primary chamber from outside the transportation container;

a secondary chamber, wherein the secondary chamber is adapted to hold a load to be transported;

a secondary door, wherein the secondary chamber is enclosed within the primary chamber when the secondary door is closed and the primary door is closed;

where the secondary door opens to provide access into the secondary chamber from the primary chamber;

a primary passageway, wherein the primary passageway allows a primary fluid into the primary chamber;

a secondary passageway, wherein the secondary passageway allows a secondary fluid into the secondary chamber.

2. The transportation container according to claim 1, wherein the primary fluid is air conditioned air, wherein the secondary fluid is air conditioned air.

3. The transportation container according to claim 2, further comprising:

an air conditioner, wherein the air conditioner supplies air conditioned air to the primary chamber through the primary passageway and to the secondary chamber through the secondary passageway.

4. The transportation container according to claim 1, wherein the primary chamber is formed by a primary structure, wherein the primary structure comprises a primary floor, a primary roof, one or more primary walls, and the primary door, wherein the secondary chamber is formed by a secondary structure, wherein the secondary structure comprises the secondary door and at least one secondary wall.

5. The transportation container according to claim 4, wherein the secondary structure comprises at least a portion of the primary floor, at least a portion of the primary roof, and at least a portion of at least one of the one or more primary walls.

6. The transportation container according to claim 5, wherein one of the at least one secondary wall in combination with the secondary door separate the primary chamber into a first portion and a second portion, wherein the secondary door opens to provide access into the secondary chamber from the second portion, and wherein the primary door opens to provide access to the second portion from outside the transportation container.

7. The transportation container according to claim 4, wherein the secondary structure comprises a secondary floor;

and a secondary roof.

8. The transportation container according to claim 4, wherein the secondary structure comprises four secondary walls.

9. The transportation container according to claim 4, wherein the one or more primary walls comprises four walls.

10. The transportation container according to claim 7, wherein the secondary structure comprises four secondary walls, wherein the one or more primary walls comprises four walls, wherein a gap is formed between the primary structure and the secondary structure.

11. The transportation container according to claim 10, wherein the primary fluid is supplied to the gap via the primary passageway and the secondary fluid is supplied to the secondary chamber via the via the secondary passageway.

12. The transportation container according to claim 11, wherein the primary fluid is air conditioned air, wherein the secondary fluid is air conditioned air.

13. The transportation container according to claim 2, wherein the air conditioned air maintains the secondary chamber at a desired temperature.

14. The transportation container according to claim 11, wherein the primary fluid slows down heat transfer from the secondary chamber to outside of the transportation container.

15. A transportation system, comprising:

a refrigerated trailer or sea container with an internal secondary chamber, a means for protecting a temperature sensitive load during power failure and providing protection against temperature variations caused by the trailer'"'"'s or sea container'"'"'s refrigeration equipment and/or external conditions.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the system provides thermal protection of the load from conductive, convective, and radiation heat transfer through the walls, ceiling, and/or floor of the trailer or sea container with or without the aid of a refrigeration system.

17. The system according to claim 15, further comprising a system to control the temperature inside and outside the secondary chamber depending on a desired temperature cycle set by a user.

18. The system according to claim 15, further comprising a system to monitor the temperature inside and outside the secondary chamber.

19. The system according to claim 15, farther comprising a system to monitor the temperature of the products inside the secondary chamber.

20. The system according to claim 15, farther comprising a system to transmit and receive information such as but not limited to temperature, location (global GPS), door openings, and state of the refrigeration unit.

21. The system according to claim 15, farther comprising a system to monitor the opening of the door or intrusion inside the primary and secondary chambers.

22. The system according to claim 15, farther comprising a system to load or unload the products inside the secondary chamber.

23. The system according to claim 15, farther comprising a lighting system to allow visibility inside the secondary chamber.

24. The system according to claim 15, further comprising a bracing system to secure the products inside the secondary chamber.

25. The system according to claim 15, further comprising a system to monitor and/r physically or remotely reprogram the refrigeration unit and its operating parameters.

26. The system according to claim 15, further comprising instruments to monitor the relative humidity inside the primary and secondary chambers.

27. The system according to claim 15, farther comprising instruments to monitor and report the vibrations, impacts, and shocks that the product is exposed to inside the secondary chamber.

28. The system according to claim 15, further comprising a vibration and shock absorbing system to reduce the input of these parameters on the product inside the secondary chamber.

29. The system according to claim 15, further comprising a mechanism to determine the state of the doors (open or close) or any tentative to tamper with the primary or secondary chambers.

30. The system according to claim 15, further comprising a system to transmit and receive information to a computer (server) and allow users to access the information through software, a web based interface or by any other means necessary.

31. The system according to claim 15, wherein the system can set different levels of alarm and communicate the alarms through different modes such as text message, phone, email, internet and fax.

32. The system according to claim 15, further comprising separate door systems for the primary and secondary chambers.

33. The system according to claim 15, further comprising a camera to record and/or transmit any parts of the transportation inside the secondary chamber.

34. The system according to claim 15, further comprising a system to control the humidity, gas concentration or ethylene inside the secondary chamber.

35. The system according to claim 15, farther comprising an identification system on the outside of the primary chamber and or the outside of the trailer or sea container to allow identification of the load and/or of the container.

36. The system according to claim 15, further comprising an alarm to alert the user at an event of a loss of power to the trailer or sea container.

37. The system according to claim 15, wherein the system can maintain proper product temperature in the event of a refrigeration malfunction.

38. The system according to claim 15, wherein the system protects frozen products from refrigeration system defrost cycling.

39. The system according to claim 15, wherein the system protects refrigerated products from refrigeration system defrost cycling.

40. The system according to claim 15, wherein the system has the capability of transferring and receiving real-time data at all times.

41. The system according to claim 15, wherein the system has the capability of transferring data via satellite and or a GSM network.

42. The system according to claim 15, wherein the system maintains an even temperature distribution inside the secondary chamber.

43. The system according to claim 15, wherein the secondary chamber door comprises a door heater.