Portable self-contained cooler/freezer apparatus for use on airplanes, common carrier type unrefrigerated truck lines, and the like

• US 5,337,579 A
• Filed: 06/29/1992
• Issued: 08/16/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Louis P. Saia III
• Original Assignee: The Pallet Reefer Company
• Inventors: Wilbrandt, Cynthia S., Saia, Louis P. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Capossela, Ronald C.
• Application Number:
  US07/905,791
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 62/239, 62/52.1, 62/457.9, 62/384
• US Class Current: 62/239
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3226 Self-contained devices, i.e. including own drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 1/16 Slings with load-engaging platforms or frameworks
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/12 Portable refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/001 for cryogenic fluid systems
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/105 Movable containers

Abstract

A transportable container for carrying refrigerated products in frozen (sub zero Fahrenheit) or refrigerated (for example, 40° F.) temperatures includes a structural container having an insulated outer shell with an access doorway. The upper portion of the container includes a transverse perforated baffle and positioned above the baffle are a pair of spaced apart canisters containing liquid refrigerant (CO₂, for example). A gas or liquid feeder tube penetrates each bottle and communicates with an on/off valve. A feeder tube can draw liquid to dispense for cooling, or it can release gas and pressure within the canister to boil the CO₂. When CO₂ reaches its boiling point, the canister, its bracket, and the cold plate reach very cold temperatures to cool the cargo area. The gas is released through copper tubing over the cold plate to act as a method for convection. A temperature regulator valve dispenses CO₂ from the canisters through a header in order to maintain a desired temperature over a wide span of temperatures including, for example sub zero temperatures (-20° F., for example) up to room temperature.

Claims

1. A shipping container for shipping frozen and/or refrigerated cargo in an unrefrigerated cargo area of a substantially larger transport vehicle comprising:

a) a container having an interior area with a volume to be loaded with the frozen and/or refrigerated cargo with an access opening that can be opened/closed;

b) one or more refrigerant tanks mounted in the container for containing a cryogenic liquified refrigerant under pressure to be utilized for cooling the container interior;

c) discharge piping means for piping liquified refrigerant from the tanks;

d) valve means communicating with the discharge piping for valving the flow of liquified refrigerant that is discharged from the tank;

e) temperature responsive controller means for opening the valve means to dispense liquified refrigerant from the tanks in order to maintain a desired preselected preset refrigerated or frozen temperature range within the container interior;

f) wherein the liquified refrigerant converts to a gaseous phase downstream of the valve means; and

g) an undercarriage portion at the lower end of the container that includes moving means for transporting the container quickly to and from the cargo area of an unrefrigerated vehicle having a substantially larger volume than the container volume.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for controlling the gaseous oxygen concentration within the container.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 including in part a cylinder containing gaseous oxygen under pressure.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for controlling the carbon dioxide concentration within the container.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further including a carbon dioxide level analyzer and a carbon dioxide controller for maintaining carbon dioxide level below a preset maximum level.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising atmosphere control means, communicating with the container interior for selecting controlling the gaseous atmosphere within the interior.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further including at least an oxygen level sensor located within the interior of the container and for monitoring oxygen levels within the interior.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the oxygen level is controlled between pre set, high and low oxygen set points.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a pressure regulator for controlling the pressure of gaseous oxygen discharged into the container interior.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a control valve for valving gaseous oxygen flow to the container interior.

11. The apparatus of claim 6 including at least a carbon dioxide level sensor located within the interior of the container and for monitoring carbon dioxide levels within the interior.

12. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising nitrogen level control means for controlling an injection of nitrogen into the container interior to lower carbon dioxide concentration when the level of carbon dioxide exceeds a pre-set maximum level.

13. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising absorbent means for removing excess quantities of carbon dioxide from the container interior.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising absorbent means for removing gaseous ethylene from the container interior.

15. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising exhaust valve means for venting the container interior.

16. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising dispensing means positioned at the bottom end portion of the container for dispensing selected gases for atmosphere control at the bottom of the container.

17. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising recirculation fan means for agitating air within the container interior.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for controlling humidity within the container interior.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 including a humidity controller for regulating the level of moisture in the atmosphere within the container interior.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a closed loop piping temperature system for controlling container interior without substantial loss of the refrigerant.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein liquid refrigerant expands to a gaseous form downstream of the valve means and is dispensed into the container interior.

22. A transportable refrigeration system for use on unrefrigerated trucks and the like, comprising:

a) a self-supporting container having an interior for carrying refrigerated or frozen cargo and adapted to be lifted;

b) lower most lifting means positioned at the bottom of the container for quickly transferring the container into and out of an unrefrigerated truck;

c) a canister for containing cryogenic liquid refrigerant under pressure;

d) manifold means for transmitting refrigerant from the canister to the container interior;

e) a pressure control valve for controlling the pressure of liquid refrigerant discharged from the canister to the manifold means;

f) temperature control means positioned at least partially within the container for controlling temperature within the container interior by activating the valve to release liquid refrigerant from the canister via the manifold means.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising means for controlling the amount of oxygen within the container.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the container has a base plate having two spaced apart, parallel slots adapted to be engaged by a forklift lifting device.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the canister and manifold are positioned in the top portion of the container interior.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the canister, pressure control valve, temperature control means, manifold are positioned in the top portion of the container interior.

27. A portable transportable refrigeration system for use on airplanes and the like, comprising:

a) a self-supporting container having an interior for carrying refrigerated or frozen cargo and adapted to be lifted;

b) a canister for containing liquid refrigerant under pressure, positioned in the upper end portion of the container interior;

c) a movable perforated baffle plate extending across the container interior at the upper end portion thereof and positioned directly under the canister; and

d) temperature control means, communicating with the canister for controlling temperature within the interior, and including;

(i) manifold header means for discharging liquid refrigerant from the canister and including means for preliminarily charging the container interior with refrigerant from an external bulk source;

(ii) a pressure control valve for controlling the pressure of fluid discharged from the canister;

(iii) a temperature control valve positioned in the header downstream of the pressure control valve for controlling temperature within the interior.

28. A method of transporting refrigerated products within the interior of an unrefrigerated dry type truck comprising the steps of:

a) housing the products in an insulated container with an interior for holding products that is substantially smaller in volume than the truck cargo interior volume;

b) cooling the container interior with a liquid cryogenic refrigerant that is dispensed from a canister that is contained within the container interior;

c) valving the flow of liquid refrigerant discharging from the canister using a liquid control valve;

d) controlling temperature within the container interior by controlling the degree of opening of the valve.

30. The method of claim 28 or 29 further comprising the step of controlling the gaseous atmosphere within the container interior.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein oxygen content within the container interior is controlled.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein carbon dioxide content within the container is controlled.

33. The method of claim 30 wherein the humidity of the container atmosphere is controlled.

34. The method of claim 28 or 29 wherein in step "C" refrigerant is dispensed directly into the container interior.

29. A method of shipping refrigerated perishable goods in an unrefrigerated interior area of a common carrier type truck having a larger internal cargo holding area and between truck terminals comprising the steps of:

a) placing the perishable goods into one or more structural containers that can be placed into the cargo area of the truck;

b) cooling the perishable goods by dispensing a liquid refrigerant from one or more liquid refrigerant containing canisters that are transported within the containers;

c) using a valve to dispense liquid refrigerant coolant from the canisters;

d) controlling temperature within the container interior area by a control of the degree of opening of the valve; and

e) transferring the containers to and from one track to another at the common carrier truck terminals.

35. A shipping container for shipping frozen and/or refrigerated cargo in an unrefrigerated cargo area of a substantially larger transport vehicle comprising:

a) a container having an interior area with a volume to be loaded with the frozen and/or refrigerated cargo with an access opening that can be opened/closed;

b) a refrigerant tank mounted in the container for containing a cryogenic liquified refrigerant under pressure to be utilized for cooling the container interior;

c) discharge piping means for piping liquified refrigerant from the tank;

d) valve means communicating with the discharge piping for valving the flow of liquified refrigerant that is discharged from the tank;

e) temperature responsive controller means for opening the valve means to dispense liquified refrigerant from the tank in order to maintain a desired preselected preset refrigerated or frozen temperature range within the container interior;

f) wherein the liquified refrigerant converts to a gaseous phase downstream of the valve means; and

g) contact-prevention means for preventing direct contact between refrigerant dispensed from the tank and air in the interior area of the container.

36. The shipping container of claim 35, wherein the contact-prevention means includes a chamber means in fluid communication with the discharge piping and in thermal communication with the air in the interior area of the container.

37. The shipping container of claim 36, wherein the contact-prevention means further includes a tube means for directing refrigerant from the chamber means to exterior of the container without coming into direct contact with the air in the interior area of the container.