Method and apparatus for shipping super frozen materials
First Claim
1. An apparatus for shipping product disposed at a super-frozen temperature of less than or equal to about -50 degrees C., the apparatus comprising:
- a container having walls insulated to an r-value greater than or equal to about 20;
a spray head disposed within said container, said spray head adapted to spray cryogenic fluid within said container;
at least one coupling disposed in fluid communication with said spray head, said at least one coupling adapted for alternate engagement and disengagement with an external cryogenic fluid supply;
said container being selectively sealable to form a self-contained, dry module;
said container being adapted to receive therein product disposed at the super-frozen temperature and to maintain the product at the super-frozen temperature during shipment thereof.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for freezing products or materials to a super-frozen state, storing them until shipment and shipping them in a super-frozen state. The apparatus consists of two self-contained, super-insulated containers. The first apparatus has at least two compartments, one for freezing and one for storage. The product or material to be frozen is placed in the freezing compartment and frozen to a super-frozen state and then transferred to the storage compartment where it is stored until shipment. The second apparatus is a self contained super-insulated shipping container. When shipment is to be effected, product or material is transferred from a storage compartment of the first apparatus in a super-frozen state to the second or shipping apparatus. The doors of the shipping apparatus are closed and the self-contained, super-insulated apparatus containing super-frozen product or material is shipped to a remote venue.
37 Citations
26 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for shipping product disposed at a super-frozen temperature of less than or equal to about -50 degrees C., the apparatus comprising:
-
a container having walls insulated to an r-value greater than or equal to about 20; a spray head disposed within said container, said spray head adapted to spray cryogenic fluid within said container; at least one coupling disposed in fluid communication with said spray head, said at least one coupling adapted for alternate engagement and disengagement with an external cryogenic fluid supply; said container being selectively sealable to form a self-contained, dry module; said container being adapted to receive therein product disposed at the super-frozen temperature and to maintain the product at the super-frozen temperature during shipment thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 20, 21)
-
-
5. A method for shipping product disposed at a super-frozen temperature of less than or equal to about -50 degrees C., the method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing product disposed at the super-frozen temperature; (b) providing a modular shipping container adapted to maintain the product at the super-frozen temperature, the modular shipping container having; walls insulated to an r-value greater than or equal to about 20; a spray head disposed therein; at least one coupling disposed in fluid communication with the spray head; said container being selectively sealable to form a self-contained, dry module; (c) placing the product into the modular shipping container; (d) engaging an external cryogenic fluid supply with the at least one coupling, wherein cryogenic fluid is communicated from the external cryogenic fluid supply to the spray head and discharged into the container and onto the product; (e) disengaging the external cryogenic fluid supply from the at least one coupling; (f) sealing the container to form a self-contained, dry module; and (g) transporting the modular shipping container to a destination wherein the product is provided at the destination at the super-frozen temperature. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 22)
-
-
8. A portable, modular apparatus for freezing and storing fish at a super-frozen temperature of less than or equal to about -50 degrees C., to preserve the fish at sushi-quality, the apparatus comprising:
-
one or more containers; a refrigeration system disposed integrally with said one or more containers, said refrigeration system being adapted to freeze product disposed within said apparatus to the super-frozen temperature; said apparatus adapted for being shipped to a destination for deployment at the destination to freeze and store fish at the super-frozen temperature, and for being subsequently re-shipped to an other destination for re-deployment. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 17, 23)
-
-
11. A method for freezing and storing fish at a super-frozen temperature of less than or equal to about -50 degrees C., to preserve the fish at sushi-quality, the method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing a modular, portable apparatus comprising; one or more containers; a refrigeration system disposed integrally with said one or more containers, said refrigeration system being adapted to freeze product disposed within said apparatus to the super-frozen temperature; said portable apparatus adapted for being shipped to a destination for deployment at the destination to freeze and store fish at the super-frozen temperature, and for being subsequently reshipped to an other destination for re-deployment; the one or more containers having a first section adapted for freezing the fish and a second section adapted for storing the fish at the super-frozen temperature; (b) loading the fish into the first section and retaining the fish therein until the fish reaches the super-frozen temperature; and (c) transferring the fish from the first section to the second section, wherein the fish are maintained at the super-frozen temperature in a substantially preserved state suitable for subsequent consumption as sushi. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 24)
-
-
15. A method for providing sushi-quality fish harvested at a first location, to a distinct second location, said method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing a portable, modular freezer adapted to freeze fish to a super-frozen temperature of less than or equal to about -50 degrees C.; (b) transporting the modular freezer to the first location; (c) loading the harvested fish into the modular freezer and retaining the fish within the modular freezer until the fish reaches the super-frozen temperature; (d) providing a modular shipping container adapted to maintain the fish at the super-frozen temperature; (e) transferring the fish from the modular freezer to the modular shipping container; and (f) shipping the modular shipping container to the second location wherein the fish are provided at the second location at the super-frozen temperature in a substantially preserved state suitable for use as sushi. - View Dependent Claims (16, 25)
-
-
18. A method for providing a substantially continuous stream of sushi-quality frozen fish from one or more first locations, to a distinct second location, said method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing a portable, modular freezer adapted to freeze fish to a super-frozen temperature of less than or equal to about -50 degrees C., the modular freezer adapted for being sequentially transported to various ones of the one or more first locations; (b) transporting the modular freezer to one of the one or more first locations; (c) providing a plurality of modular shipping containers at the one or more first locations, each one of the plurality of modular shipping containers being adapted to maintain the fish at the super-frozen temperature, and having a size and shape for retaining a load of about 20 metric tons or less of fish therein; (d) loading the harvested fish into the modular freezer and retaining the fish within the modular freezer until the fish reaches the super-frozen temperature, and transferring the super-frozen fish from the modular freezer to one or more of the plurality of modular shipping containers; (e) shipping the one or more modular shipping containers as they are loaded, to the second location; and (f) repeating said loading step (d) and said shipping step (e), wherein a substantially continuous stream of fish is provided to the second location at the super-frozen temperature in a substantially preserved state suitable for use as sushi, in increments of about 20 metric tons or less. - View Dependent Claims (19, 26)
-
Specification