Modular apparatus and method for shipping super frozen materials

• US 6,789,391 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2002
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Coldwave Systems, LLC, Linde LLC (Linde Plc)
• Original Assignee: Coldwave Systems, LLC
• Inventors: McCormick, Stephen A., Graham, B. Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Doerrler, William C.
• Application Number:
  US10/147,692
• Publication Number:
  US 20030041601A1
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 622/23, 62/64, 623/71, 62/451, 62/503, 622/39, 62/521, 623/84, 625/32, 623/73, 62/62
• US Class Current: 62/52.1
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 15/00 Devices not covered by group F25D11/00 or F25D13/00, e.g. non-self-contained movable devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/06 by forced circulation
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/001 for cryogenic fluid systems
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/105 Movable containers

Abstract

An apparatus and method is provided for freezing, storing, and/or shipping products, in particular fish, at super-frozen temperatures. The apparatus includes a modular cryogenic cooler for removably interfacing with an insulated shipping container to maintain the interior of the container at a super-frozen temperature less than or equal to about −50 degrees C. Aspects of the method include a delivery method for providing an essentially unbroken delivery chain of frozen products from a location of freezing (to a super-frozen temperature) to a location of defrosting the products (e.g., a point of sale and/or consumption of the products).

Claims

1. A modular cryogenic cooler for removably interfacing with an insulated container, said cooler being configured for maintaining an interior of the container at a super-frozen temperature of less than or equal to about −

45 degrees C., said cryogenic cooler comprising;

a modular connector configured for removable engagement with the container;

a cryogenic fluid transport module coupled to said modular connector;

said transport module having a cryogenic fluid supply coupling;

said supply coupling being couplable to a cryogenic fluid source;

said transport module being configured to selectively feed cryogenic fluid from the source to the container;

a controller operationally coupled to said transport module to maintain the interior of the container at the super-frozen temperature;

said controller including a programmable processor having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code including instructions for;

receiving a temperature reading from a temperature probe;

comparing said temperature reading to a preselected temperature;

actuating said transport module to selectively feed cryogenic fluid from said source to said container; and

wherein said modulator connector comprises a door sized and shaped for sealing engagement with an opening of the container.

2. The cryogenic cooler of claim 1, further comprising:

a fan coupled to said transport module, said fan being to effect circulation of said cryogenic fluid within the container.

3. The cryogenic cooler of claim 1, further comprising at least one temperature probe communicably coupled to said controller, said at least one temperature probe being sized, shaped, and positioned to monitor the temperature of the interior of the container.

4. The cryogenic cooler of claim 1, wherein said transport module comprises a metering valve.

5. The cryogenic cooler of claim 1 wherein said cryogenic fluid dispensing coupling comprises at least one spray nozzle.

6. The cryogenic cooler of claim 1, wherein said modular connector comprises a cryogenic fluid dispensing coupling;

and

said dispensing coupling is matingly couplable to a cryogenic fluid inlet of the container to dispense cryogenic fluid being fed from the transport module.

7. The cryogenic cooler of claim 6 wherein said cryogenic fluid dispensing coupling comprises a quick release coupling.

8. The cryogenic cooler of claim 1 wherein said cryogenic fluid comprises liquid nitrogen.

9. The cryogenic cooler of claim 1 wherein said cryogenic cooler is configured as a personnel door for selectively providing entrance to and exit from the interior of the container.

10. The cryogenic cooler of claim 2 further comprising ducting coupled to said fan for channeling said circulation.

11. The cryogenic cooler of claim 10, wherein said ducting comprises an air intake.

12. The cryogenic cooler of claim 10 wherein said ducting and said fan are suitably sized and shaped, and suitably positioned on said cryogenic cooler for disposition in the interior of the container when said modular connector is engaged with the container.

13. A modular cryogenic cooler for removably interfacing with an insulated container, said cooler being configured for maintaining an interior of the container at a super-frozen temperature of less than or equal to −

45 degrees C., said cryogenic cooler comprising;

a configuration in the form of an insulated door;

a modular connector configured for removable engagement with the container;

a cryogenic fluid transport module coupled to said modular connector;

said transport module having a cryogenic fluid supply coupling;

said supply coupling being couplable to a cryogenic fluid source;

said transport module being configured to selectively feed cryogenic fluid from the source to the container;

a controller operationally coupled to said transport module to maintain the interior of the container at the super-frozen temperature;

said controller including a programmable processor having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code including instructions for;

receiving a temperature reading from a temperature probe;

comparing said temperature reading to a preselected temperature; and

actuating said transport module to selectively feed cryogenic fluid from said source to said container;

at least one temperature probe communicably coupled to said controller, said at least one temperature probe being sized, shaped, and positioned to monitor the temperature of interior of the container;

ducting coupled to a fan circulating atmosphere within the interior of the container; and

said transport module including a metering valve.

14. A portable apparatus configured for freezing and storing fish at a super-frozen temperature of less than or equal to about −

45 degrees C., to preserve the fish at sushi-quality, the apparatus comprising;

a container;

a modular cryogenic cooler removably engaged with said container, said modular cryogenic cooler including;

a modular connector sized and shaped for removable engagement with said container;

a cryogenic fluid transport module coupled to said modular connector;

said transport module having a cryogenic fluid supply coupling;

said supply coupling being couplable to a cryogenic fluid source;

said transport module being configured to selectively feed cryogenic fluid from the source to the container;

a controller operationally coupled to said transport module;

the controller including a programmable processor having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code including instructions for;

receiving a temperature reading from a temperature probe;

comparing said temperature reading to a preselected temperature; and

actuating said transport module to selectively feed cryogenic fluid from said source to said container; and

said container including;

a port configured for interfacing with a probe, the port including an other modular connector sized and shaped for removable engagement with said modular connector; and

at least one probe including an oxygen sensor, being sized, shaped, and positioned to monitor the interior of the container, said at least one probe being coupled to said other connector for coupling said probe to said modular cryogenic cooler.

15. The portable apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a fan and an air intake coupled to said fan.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said port is configured for receiving a probe therein.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said modular connector comprises a cryogenic fluid dispensing coupling and said other modular connector includes a cryogenic fluid inlet coupling.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said at least one probe comprises a temperature probe.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein at least one of said container and said cryogenic cooler is 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.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said container is sized and shaped to standard ISO container dimensions.

21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said container is selected from the group consisting of a 20 foot container, a 40 foot container, an LD3 container, an LD5 container, and an LD9 container.

25. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said cryogenic fluid source comprises liquid nitrogen.

22. A portable apparatus configured for freezing and storing fish at a super-frozen temperature of less than or equal to −

45 degrees C., to preserve the fish at sushi-quality, the apparatus comprising;

a container insulated to an r-value of greater than or equal to 20;

a modular cryogenic cooler removably engaged with said container, said modular cryogenic cooler including;

a modular connector sized and shaped for removable engagement with said container;

a cryogenic fluid transport module coupled to said modular connector;

said transport module having a cryogenic fluid supply coupling;

said supply coupling being couplable to a cryogenic fluid source;

said transport module being configured to selectively feed cryogenic fluid from the source of the container;

a controller operationally coupled to said transport module;

the controller including a programmable processor having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code including instructions for;

receiving a temperature reading from a temperature probe;

comparing said temperature reading to a preselected temperature; and

actuating said transport module to selectively feed cryogenic fluid from said source to said container.

23. A portable apparatus configured for freezing and storing fish at a super-frozen temperature of less than or equal to −

45 degrees C., to preserve the fish at sushi-quality, the apparatus comprising;

a container including poly-foam insulation, a CO₂ spray-head, a liquid CO₂ dispersal system and door seals wherein materials or products contained therein are maintainable at or below the super-frozen temperature;

a modular cryogenic cooler removably engaged with said container, said modular cryogenic cooler including;

a modular connector sized and shaped for removable engagement with said container;

a cryogenic fluid transport module coupled to said modular connector;

said transport module having a cryogenic fluid supply coupling;

said supply coupling being couplable to a cryogenic fluid source;

said transport module being configured to selectively feed cryogenic fluid from the source to the container;

a controller operationally coupled to said transport module;

the controller including a programmable processor having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code including instructions for;

receiving a temperature reading from a temperature probe;

comparing said temperature reading to a preselected temperature; and

actuating said transport module to selectively feed cryogenic fluid from said source to said container.

24. A portable apparatus configured for freezing and storing fish at a super-frozen temperature of less than or equal to −

45 degrees C., to preserve fish at sushi-quality, the apparatus comprising;

a container including a first section adapted for freezing the fish and a second section adapted for storing the fish at the super-frozen temperature;

a modular cryogenic cooler removably engaged with said container, said modular cryogenic cooler including;

a modular connector sized and shaped for removable engagement with said container;

a cryogenic fluid transport module coupled to said modular connector;

said transport module having a cryogenic fluid supply coupling;

said supply coupling being couplable to a cryogenic fluid source;

said transport module being configured to selectively feed cryogenic fluid from the source to the container;

a controller operationally coupled to said transport module;

the controller including a programmable processor having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program including instructions for;

receiving a temperature reading from a temperature probe;

comparing said temperature reading to a preselected temperature; and

actuating said transport module to selectively feed cryogenic fluid from said source to said container.

26. A method for storing product disposed at a super-frozen temperature of less than or equal to about −

45 degrees C., said method comprising;

coupling a modular connector of a cryogenic cooler to an insulated shipping container including therein product disposed at the super-frozen temperature, the cryogenic cooler being configured for maintaining the interior of the container at the super-frozen temperature, the cooler including;

a modular connector configured for removable engagement with the shipping container;

a cryogenic fluid transport module coupled to the modular connector;

the transport module having a cryogenic fluid supply coupling; and

a controller operationally coupled to said transport module;

the controller including a programmable processor having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code including instructions for;

receiving a temperature reading from a temperature probe;

comparing said temperature reading to a preselected temperature; and

actuating said transport module to selectively feed cryogenic fluid from said source to said container;

coupling the supply coupling to a crygogenic fluid source; and

selectively actuating the transport module to feed cryogenic fluid from the source to the interior of the shipping container to maintain the interior at the super-frozen temperature,

wherein said coupling the modular connector to the insulated shipping container comprises opening a door on said container, hinging the cryogenic cooler in place of the door to form a replacement door, and closing the replacement door.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising measuring the temperature of the interior of the container.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein the product is frozen fish.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein the product is frozen fish and said storing preserves the fish at sushi quality.

32. The method of claim 26 wherein said cryogenic fluid comprises liquid nitrogen.

33. The method of claim 26 wherein said insulated shipping container, including said product disposed therein and said cryogenic cooler coupled thereto, is transported to another location.

30. A method for storing product disposed at a super-frozen temperature of less than or equal to −

45 degrees C., said method comprising;

coupling a modular connector of a cryogenic cooler to an insulate shipping container including therein product disposed at the super-frozen temperature, the cryogenic cooler being configures for maintaining the interior of the container at the super-frozen temperature, the cooler including;

a modular connector configured for removable engagement with the shipping container;

a cryogenic fluid transport module coupled to the modular connector;

the transport module having a cryogenic fluid supply coupling; and

a controller operationally coupled to said transport module;

the controller including a programmable processor having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code including instructions for;

receiving a temperature reading from a temperature probe;

comparing said temperature reading to a preselected temperature; and

actuating said transport module to selectively feed cryogenic fluid from said source to said container;

coupling the supply coupling to a cryogenic fluid source; and

selectively actuating the transport module to feed cryogenic fluid from the source to the interior of the shipping container to maintain the interior at the super-frozen temperature;

wherein;

the container comprises an other modular connector sized and shaped for removable engagement with the modular connector, the other modular connector including a cryogenic fluid inlet coupling for dispensing cryogenic fluid fed from the transport module; and

said coupling the modular connector to the shipping container includes engaging the dispensing coupling with the cryogenic fluid inlet coupling.

31. A method for storing product disposed at a super-frozen temperature of less than or equal to −

45 degrees C., said method comprising;

coupling a modular connector of a cryogenic cooler to an insulated shipping container insulated to an r-value of greater than or equal to 20, the container including therein product disposed at the super-frozen temperature, the cryogenic cooler being configured for maintaining the interior of the container at the super-frozen temperature, the cooler including;

a modular connector configured for removable engagement with the shipping container;

a cryogenic fluid transport module coupled to the modular connector;

the transport module having a cryogenic fluid supply coupling; and

a controller operationally coupled to said transport module;

the controller including a programmable processor having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code including instructions for;

receiving a temperature reading for a temperature probe;

comparing said temperature reading to a preselected temperature; and

actuating said transport module to selectively feed cryogenic fluid from said source to said container;

coupling the supply coupling to a cryogenic fluid source; and

selectively actuating the transport module to feed cryogenic fluid from the source to the interior of the shipping container to maintain the interior at the super-frozen temperature.

34. A method for shipping and storing fish at a super-frozen temperature of less than or equal to −

45 degrees C., to preserve the fish at sushi-quality, the method comprising;

using a modular shipping container configured to maintain the product at the super-frozen temperature, the modular shipping container including walls insulated to an r-value greater than or equal to 20;

placing the product into the modular shipping container;

charging the modular shipping container with a cryogenic fluid, wherein said cryogenic fluid is disposed into the modular shipping container and onto the product;

sealing the modular shipping container to form a self-contained, dry module;

transporting the modular shipping container to a destination wherein the product is provided at the super-frozen temperature;

using a modular cryogenic cooler configured for maintaining the interior of the modular shipping container at the super-frozen temperature, the cooler including;

a fan;

an air intake coupled to said fan;

a cryogenic fluid transport module having a cryogenic fluid supply coupling and a cryogenic fluid dispensing coupling; and

a controller operationally coupled to said transport module;

said controller including a programmable processor having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code including instructions for;

receiving a temperature reading from a temperature probe;

comparing said temperature reading to a preselected temperature; and

actuating said transport module to selectively feed cryogenic fluid from said source to said container;

coupling said cryogenic cooler with the modular shipping container;

coupling said supply coupling to a crygogenic fluid source; and

selectively feeding cryogenic fluid from the source to the interior of the shipping container to maintain said interior at the super-frozen temperature.

35. A method for providing sushi-quality fish harvested at a first location, to a distinct second location, said method comprising:

freezing harvested fish at said first location to a super-frozen temperature of less than or equal to −

45 degrees C.;

loading said fish, disposed at said super-frozen temperature, into an insulated shipping container, the shipping container including walls insulated to an r-value greater than or equal to 20;

charging the shipping container with a first cryogenic fluid, wherein said first cryogenic fluid is disposed into the container and onto the product;

sealing the shipping container to form a self-contained, dry module;

transporting the shipping container to said second location;

using a modular cryogenic cooler configured for maintaining the interior of the modular shipping container at the super-frozen temperature, the cooler including;

a fan;

an air intake coupled to said fan;

a cryogenic fluid transport module having a cryogenic fluid supply coupling and a cryogenic fluid dispensing coupling; and

a controller operationally coupled to said transport module;

said controller including a programmable processor having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code including instructions for;

receiving a temperature reading from a temperature probe;

comparing said temperature reading to a preselected temperature; and

actuating said transport module to selectively feed cryogenic fluid from said source to said container;

coupling said cryogenic cooler with the modular shipping container;

coupling said supply coupling to a source of a second crygogenic fluid; and

selectively feeding said second cryogenic fluid from the source to the interior of the shipping container to maintain said interior at the super-frozen temperature.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein said first cryogenic fluid includes liquid carbon dioxide and said second cryogenic fluid includes liquid nitrogen.

37. A method for providing an essentially unbroken delivery chain of super-frozen products at super-frozen temperatures of less than or equal to about −

45 degrees C., from a location of freezing to a location of thawing, said method comprising;

using product disposed at the super-frozen temperature at a first location;

loading said product into a first insulated container;

shipping said first container from said first location to a second location;

coupling a cryogenic cooler configured for maintaining the interior of the container at the super-frozen temperature to said first container, said cooler including;

a fan;

an air intake coupled to said fan;

a cryogenic fluid transport module having a cryogenic fluid supply coupling and a cryogenic fluid dispensing coupling; and

a controller operationally coupled to said transport module;

the controller including a programmable processor having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code including instructions for;

receiving a temperature reading from a temperature probe;

comparing said temperature reading to a preselected temperature; and

actuating said transport module to selectively feed cryogenic fluid from said source to said container;

transferring at least a portion of said super-frozen product from said first container to a second insulated container;

shipping said second container from said second location to a third location.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein said first container is a 40-foot ISO certified container.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein said second container is an LD3 ISO certified container.

40. The method of claim 37 wherein said product is fish.

41. The method of claim 37 wherein said first location is a location of harvest.

42. The method of claim 37 wherein said second location is selected from the group consisting of a distributor, a warehouse, a hub, and a wholesaler.

43. The method of claim 37 wherein said third location is a location of defrosting.