METHODS, APPARATUSES AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR PROVIDING A VENTILATION SYSTEM

• US 20150231945A1
• Filed: 02/19/2015
• Published: 08/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: KEHOE, MICHAEL PATRICK, D'AMBROSIO, ROBERT JOSEPH
• Granted Patent: US 10,377,206 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/008 the input being air quality
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/241 characterised by the location of ventilation devices in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0047 Organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0063 using a threshold to release an alarm or displaying means

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for removing gas from a vehicle storage unit. The apparatus includes at least one memory and a processor(s) detecting air being drawn, via an exhaust unit, from the front of a vehicle storage space to a rear of the vehicle storage space and through a ventilation unit forcing the air including emitted gas(es) to exit a top of the ventilation unit. The air is initially directed, from a supply unit in an upper part of the ventilation unit, into the rear of the vehicle storage space to the front of the vehicle storage space. The items emitted the gas. The computer program code may further cause the apparatus to measure the gas as the air passes through the ventilation unit to determine whether the measured gas equals or is below a predetermined threshold. Corresponding computer program products and methods are also provided.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

directing a stream of air, proximate an upper part of a vehicle storage space between one or more items and a ceiling of the vehicle storage space, via an air supply unit;

drawing air via an exhaust unit from a front of the vehicle storage space to a rear of the vehicle storage space and through a ventilation unit forcing the air comprising at least one emitted gas to exit out of a top portion of the ventilation unit; and

measuring, via a sensor disposed proximate the exhaust unit, the emitted gas as the drawn air passes through the ventilation unit to determine whether the measured gas equals or is below a predetermined threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the gas comprises Ethylene Oxide gas, and

wherein the items comprise one or more products or one or more packages, wherein at least one of the products is sterilized with the Ethylene Oxide gas.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one of the packages comprises at least one good that comprises the Ethylene Oxide gas.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

periodically examining the air in response to determining that the measured gas is above the predetermined threshold; and

performing one or more additional measurements of the gas in the air until at least one of the measurements of the gas equals or is below the predetermined threshold.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

sending a measurement of the measured Ethylene Oxide gas to a communication device to enable a user to view a value of the measurement of the Ethylene Oxide gas without the user entering the vehicle storage space or the ventilation unit.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

sending the supply unit and the exhaust unit at least one signal to turn off the air from flowing in the ventilation unit in response to determining that the measured gas equals or is below the predetermined threshold.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the ventilation unit is mounted to a dock door of a facility; and

the vehicle storage space comprises a trailer of a vehicle storing the items.

8. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

detect air being drawn, via an exhaust unit, from the front of a vehicle storage space to a rear of the vehicle storage space and through a ventilation unit forcing the air comprising at least one emitted gas to exit out of a top portion of the ventilation unit,

wherein the air is initially directed, from a supply unit located in an upper part of the ventilation unit, into the rear of the vehicle storage space, between an upper portion of one or more items and a ceiling of the vehicle storage space, to the front of the vehicle storage space, the items emitted the gas; and

measure the emitted gas as the drawn air passes through the ventilation unit to determine whether the measured gas equals or is below a predetermined threshold.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

determine that the gas comprises Ethylene Oxide gas, and

wherein the items comprise one or more products or one or more packages, wherein at least one of the products is sterilized with the Ethylene Oxide gas.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one of the packages comprises at least one good that comprises the Ethylene Oxide gas.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

periodically examine the air in response to determining that the measured gas is above the predetermined threshold; and

perform one or more additional measurements of the gas in the air until at least one of the measurements of the gas equals or is below the predetermined threshold.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

send a measurement of the measured Ethylene Oxide gas to a communication device to enable a user to view a value of the measurement of the Ethylene Oxide gas without the user entering the vehicle storage space or the ventilation unit.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to:

send the supply unit and the exhaust unit at least one signal to turn off the air from flowing in the ventilation unit in response to determining that the measured gas equals or is below the predetermined threshold.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the ventilation unit is mounted to a dock door of a facility; and

the vehicle storage space comprises a trailer of a vehicle storing the items.

15. A ventilation unit comprising:

a supply unit located in an upper part of the ventilation unit, the supply unit configured to direct a stream of air from a rear of a vehicle storage space, between an upper portion of one or more items and a ceiling of the vehicle storage space, to a front of the vehicle storage space, the items emit at least one gas;

an exhaust unit located in a lower part of the ventilation unit, the exhaust unit configured to draw the air, comprising the emitted gas, from the front of the vehicle storage space to the rear of the vehicle storage space and through the ventilation unit forcing the air comprising the emitted gas to exit out of a top portion of the ventilation unit;

a gas detection device, disposed proximate the exhaust unit, configured to measure the gas as the drawn air passes through the ventilation unit, the gas detection device is configured to determine whether the measured gas equals or is below a predetermined threshold.

16. The ventilation unit of claim 15, wherein:

the gas detection device is configured to determine that the gas comprises Ethylene Oxide gas, and

wherein the items comprise one or more products or one or more packages, wherein at least one of the products is sterilized with the Ethylene Oxide gas.

17. The ventilation unit of claim 16, wherein at least one of the packages comprises a good that comprises the Ethylene Oxide gas.

18. The ventilation unit of claim 16, wherein:

the gas detection device is further configured to;

periodically examine the air in response to determining that the measured gas is above the predetermined threshold; and

perform one or more additional measurements of the gas in the air until at least one of the measurements of the gas equals or is below the predetermined threshold.

19. The ventilation unit of claim 16, wherein:

the gas detection device is further configured to;

send a measurement of the measured Ethylene Oxide gas to a communication device to enable a user to view a value of the measurement of the Ethylene Oxide gas without the user entering the vehicle storage space or the ventilation unit.

20. The ventilation unit of claim 16, wherein:

the gas detection device is further configured to;

send the supply unit and the exhaust unit at least one signal to turn off the air from flowing in the ventilation unit in response to determining that the measured gas equals or is below the predetermined threshold.

21. The ventilation unit of claim 15, wherein:

the ventilation unit is mounted to a dock door of a facility; and

the vehicle storage space comprises a trailer of a vehicle storing the items.