Transportable refrigerating container

• US 4,829,774 A
• Filed: 11/17/1986
• Issued: 05/16/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Franz WELZ Internationale Transporte Gesellschaft Mit Beschrankter Haftung
• Original Assignee: Franz WELZ Internationale Transporte Gesellschaft Mit Beschrankter Haftung
• Inventors: Russ, Werner, Wassibauer, Rudiger
• Primary Examiner(s): Tanner, Harry B.
• Application Number:
  US07/931,111
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 62/126, 62/127, 62/178, 62/179, 62/78, 62/131, 426/418, 426/419, 364/184, 364/556, 364/557, 364/418, 236/91 C, 236/46 R, 236/78 D
• US Class Current: 62/78
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/3418 in a controlled atmosphere, e.g. partial vacuum, comprising only CO2, N2, O2 or H2O
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/3445 in a controlled atmosphere comprising other gases in addition to CO2, N2, O2 or H2O
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/363 the materials not being transported through or in the apparatus with or without shaping, e.g. in form of powder, granules, or flakes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/74 having means for heating, cooling, aerating or other conditioning of contents
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/042 Air treating means within refrigerated spaces air conditioning in general F24F
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value

Abstract

The invention relates to a transportable refrigerating container in which the atmosphere is passed over a circulating device containing separating means for water and gases, in particular molecular sieves, and refrigerating and humidifying means. For adjusting the temperature to stored goods by means of a control unit, the invention provides for a blower (26) in the interior of the refrigerating container (1) to blow the atmosphere discharged from the circulating plant (4, 5, 6, 10) via the refrigerating means (11) and the humidifying means (12) in the direction of the goods stored, for the control unit (13) to be connected to all the measuring sensors (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20) covering the individual operating parameters and to be provided with a memory unit for the set values of the operating parameters and an input unit responding to insertable data carriers for data to be externally entered and for the control unit (13) to be connected to all the switching and control means of the refrigerating container (1) and to switch the circulating plant (4, 5, 6, 10) on for determined periods on detecting deviations of operating parameters from set values.

Claims

1. A transportable refrigerating container in which an atmosphere adapted to goods to be stored therein is controlled, whereby atmosphere can be withdrawn from the refrigerating container and passed over a circulating device containing water removing, refrigerating, humidifying and gas removing means, by which means undesirable gas components are removable under the control of a control unit, whereupon the atmosphere of modified composition is recycled to the refrigerating container,

comprising a container adapted for storage of goods, refrigerating means (11), humidifying means (12), a plurality of gas absorption means, a circulating device disposed in the interior of the refrigerating container (1) which is a fan or blower (26) for blowing an atmosphere of modified gas composition discharged from the circulating device (4,5,6,10) via the refrigerating means (11) and the humidifying means (12) as well as outside air back onto the goods stored in said container, a control unit (13) within said container and connected to a plurality of measuring sensors (14,15,16,17,18,19,20) located within said container and adapted for detecting the individual operating parameters within said container, including at least the N₂, O₂, CO₂ and H₂ O content of the compartment and the temperature thereof,

said plurality of gas adsorption means being arranged in consecutive manner adapted to permit gas to pass therethrough and for removal of undesirable components from said gas,

said control unit comprising a memory unit for a set predetermined values of the operating parameters including at least the N₂, O₂, CO₂ and H₂ O content and temperature of said compartment, and an input unit for externally entered data supplied on insertable data carriers

said control unit (13) being connected to all the switching and control means of the refrigerating container (1), and adapted for switching on the circulating device (4,5,6,10) for certain time intervals on determining deviations from set values of operating parameters,

said refrigerating means, humidifying means, gas adsorption means, control unit, measuring sensors, and circulating device being arranged within a compartment in said container and being separated from the storage space for the goods, said compartment being connected with said storage space for the goods by only two orifices, one of said two orifices being for withdrawing atmosphere from the storage space and the other of said orifices for introducing modified atmosphere into said storage space.

2. The refrigerating container according to claim 1, wherein prior to removal of O₂ of a molecular sieve, the residual humidity of the atmosphere and/or of the environmental air is controlled to less than 0.1 g of 0.5 g H₂ O/Nm³, by separation of water.

3. The refrigerating container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a receptacle or molecular sieve (5) containing molecular sieve granules in mixed form is provided for the simultaneous removal of CO₂ and ethylene.

4. The refrigerating container according to claim 1 wherein a CO₂ storage means (7) connected to the recycling line for the atmosphere of modified composition is provided for increasing the CO₂ content of the atmosphere.

5. The refrigerating container according to claim 1 wherein for readjusting the desired set values of the atmosphere components, controllers, by means of which the separating effect of the gas removing means (4,5,6) is changeable as a function of the deviation between feedback values and set values are provided, which controllers are in turn controllable by the control unit (13) as a function of the measuring signals generated by the measuring sensors (14,15,16,17, 18,19,20).

6. The refrigerating container according to claim 1 wherein the compartment (39) containing the circulating device (4,5,6,10) is connected via an orifice or channel (40) in a separating wall (38) with a compartment (41) forming the storage space, with the measuring sensors (14,15,16,17,18,19,20) disposed in the storage space (41) in front of said orifice or channel (40).

7. Refrigerating container according to claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises a temperature increasing circuit by means of which an increase of the temperature in the storage space can be initiated and is adjustable at a predetermined period prior to the end of the storage period so that the final value of the temperature corresponds to the environmental temperature to be expected after opening of the refrigerating container.

8. The refrigerating container according to claim 2, wherein the residual humidity is controlled to less than 0.1 to 0.2 g H₂ O/Nm³.

9. The refrigerating container according to claim 1, wherein said circulating device contains a molecular sieve.

10. The refrigerating container according to claim 1, wherein said circulating device is disposed in a compartment (39) separate from the storage space (41).

11. The refrigerating container according to claim 1, wherein said control unit (13) is provided with a recording unit or a memory capable of providing a readout of data.