ELECTRIC TRANSPORT REFRIGERATION UNIT WITH TEMPERATURE-BASED DIESEL OPERATION
First Claim
1. A method of operating a transport refrigeration unit that is operable to regulate a temperature of a cargo space, the method comprising:
- providing a controller;
driving a refrigerant compressor of the transport refrigeration unit with an internal combustion engine to compress a refrigerant defining an engine operating state of the transport refrigeration unit;
driving the refrigerant compressor of the transport refrigeration unit with an electric motor to compress the refrigerant defining a motor operating state of the transport refrigeration unit;
sensing the temperature of the cargo space;
receiving into the controller a signal indicative of the temperature of the cargo space;
determining the temperature of the cargo space using the controller; and
switching between the engine operating state and the motor operating state in response to a signal generated by the controller based on the temperature of the cargo space.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of operating a transport refrigeration unit that is operable to regulate a temperature of a cargo space. The method includes providing a controller, driving a refrigerant compressor of the transport refrigeration unit with an internal combustion engine to compress a refrigerant defining an engine operating state of the transport refrigeration unit, and driving the refrigerant compressor of the transport refrigeration unit with an electric motor to compress the refrigerant defining a motor operating state of the transport refrigeration unit. The method further includes sensing the temperature of the cargo space, receiving into the controller a signal indicative of the temperature of the cargo space, determining the temperature of the cargo space using the controller, and switching between the engine operating state and the motor operating state in response to a signal generated by the controller based on the temperature of the cargo space.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of operating a transport refrigeration unit that is operable to regulate a temperature of a cargo space, the method comprising:
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providing a controller; driving a refrigerant compressor of the transport refrigeration unit with an internal combustion engine to compress a refrigerant defining an engine operating state of the transport refrigeration unit; driving the refrigerant compressor of the transport refrigeration unit with an electric motor to compress the refrigerant defining a motor operating state of the transport refrigeration unit; sensing the temperature of the cargo space; receiving into the controller a signal indicative of the temperature of the cargo space; determining the temperature of the cargo space using the controller; and switching between the engine operating state and the motor operating state in response to a signal generated by the controller based on the temperature of the cargo space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A transport refrigeration unit that is operable to regulate a temperature of a cargo space, the transport refrigeration unit comprising:
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a sensor configured to sense the temperature of the cargo space; a controller configured to receive a signal from the sensor indicative of the temperature and the controller configured to determine the temperature; a refrigerant compressor operable to compress a refrigerant; an internal combustion engine configured to drive the refrigerant compressor to compress the refrigerant defining an engine operating state of the transport refrigeration unit; an electric motor configured to drive the refrigerant compressor to compress the refrigerant defining a motor operating state of the transport refrigeration unit; and a coupling configured to selectively couple at least one of the internal combustion engine and the electric motor to the refrigerant compressor to drive the refrigerant compressor, wherein the controller is configured to switch between the engine operating state and the motor operating state in response to a signal generated by the controller based on the temperature of the cargo space. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A transport refrigeration unit that is operable to regulate a temperature of a cargo space, the transport refrigeration unit comprising:
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a first sensor configured to sense the temperature of the cargo space; a controller configured to receive a signal from the first sensor indicative of the temperature and the controller configured to determine the temperature; a refrigerant compressor operable to compress a refrigerant; an internal combustion engine configured to drive the refrigerant compressor to compress the refrigerant defining an engine operating state of the transport refrigeration unit; an electric motor configured to drive the refrigerant compressor to compress the refrigerant defining a motor operating state of the transport refrigeration unit; a coupling configured to selectively couple at least one of the internal combustion engine and the electric motor to the refrigerant compressor to drive the refrigerant compressor; a second sensor configured to sense whether an external electrical power source independent of the transport refrigeration unit is available to power the electric motor of the transport refrigeration unit, wherein the controller is configured to switch from the engine operating state to the motor operating state to cool the cargo space in response to a signal generated by the controller when the controller determines that the temperature of the cargo space is less than or equal to a first predetermined temperature, wherein the controller is configured to switch from the engine operating state to the motor operating state to heat the cargo space in response to a signal generated by the controller when the controller determines that the temperature of the cargo space is greater than or equal to a second predetermined temperature, wherein the second predetermined temperature is less than the first predetermined temperature, wherein the controller is configured to drive the refrigerant compressor with the electric motor to heat the cargo space in response to a signal generated by the controller when the controller determines that the temperature of the cargo space is less than or equal to a third predetermined temperature and greater than or equal to the second predetermined temperature, wherein the controller is configured to drive the refrigerant compressor with the electric motor to cool the cargo space in response to a signal generated by the controller when the controller determines that the temperature of the cargo space is greater than or equal a fourth predetermined temperature and less than or equal to the first predetermined temperature, wherein the controller is configured to receive into the controller a signal indicative of whether the external electrical power source is available to power the electric motor and the controller is configured to determine whether the external electrical power source is available, and wherein the controller is configured to switch from the motor operating state to the engine operating state in response to a signal generated by the controller when the controller determines that the external electrical power source is not available.
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Specification