Cargo container for transporting temperature sensitive items
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A cargo container assembly adapted for transporting a temperature sensitive cargo supported by a pallet, said assembly comprising an outer housing including opposite side walls, a bottom wall, a top wall and a rear wall, said housing having a front opening and a moveable door assembly connected to said housing for closing said front opening, a box-like composite outer shell within said housing and having side, top and bottom walls of resin impregnated fibers and disposed adjacent the corresponding said walls of said housing, a box-like composite inner shell within said outer shell and having side, top and bottom walls disposed inwardly from the corresponding said walls of said outer shell and defining a cargo receiving chamber, vacuum insulated panel assemblies confined between the corresponding said side, top and bottom walls of said inner and outer shells, and a refrigeration system connected to cool said chamber.
8 Assignments
Litigations
2 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cargo container includes an outer aluminum housing having side, rear, bottom and top walls and a front opening with a pair of hinged doors. The housing receives a molded box-shaped composite outer shell which receives a molded box-shaped composite inner shell defining a cargo chamber. Corresponding walls of the inner and outer shells and the doors confine insulation cassettes each including vacuum insulation panels forming layers separated by a foam sheet and covered by corrugated plastic sheets, all wrapped with plastic film. Air is circulated within the chamber through a refrigeration evaporator and electrical heating elements, and a rear portion of the housing encloses a refrigeration compressor, storage batteries and a control system which senses the temperature within the chamber to operate the compressor and heating element from the batteries or an external power source to maintain substantially constant preselected temperatures within the chamber.
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Citations
41 Claims
- 1. A cargo container assembly adapted for transporting a temperature sensitive cargo supported by a pallet, said assembly comprising an outer housing including opposite side walls, a bottom wall, a top wall and a rear wall, said housing having a front opening and a moveable door assembly connected to said housing for closing said front opening, a box-like composite outer shell within said housing and having side, top and bottom walls of resin impregnated fibers and disposed adjacent the corresponding said walls of said housing, a box-like composite inner shell within said outer shell and having side, top and bottom walls disposed inwardly from the corresponding said walls of said outer shell and defining a cargo receiving chamber, vacuum insulated panel assemblies confined between the corresponding said side, top and bottom walls of said inner and outer shells, and a refrigeration system connected to cool said chamber.
- 19. A cargo container assembly adapted for transporting a temperature sensitive cargo supported by a pallet, said assembly comprising a box-like composite outer shell having side, top and bottom walls of resin impregnated fibers and having a front opening and a moveable door assembly for closing said front opening, a box-like composite inner shell within said outer shell and having side, top and bottom walls disposed inwardly from the corresponding said walls of said outer shell and defining a cargo receiving chamber, vacuum insulated panel assemblies confined between the corresponding said side, top and bottom walls of said inner and outer shells, and a refrigeration system connected to cool said chamber.
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35. A method of making a cargo container assembly adapted for transporting a temperature sensitive cargo supported by a pallet, said method comprising the steps of:
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forming a box-like composite outer shell including side, top, rear and bottom walls of resin impregnated fibers and defining a front opening with a moveable door assembly for closing the front opening; forming a box-like composite inner shell including side, top, rear and bottom walls of resin impregnated fibers and defining a cargo receiving chamber; locating vacuum insulated panel assemblies adjacent the side, top, rear and bottom walls of the inner shell; inserting the inner shell and vacuum insulated panel assemblies into the outer shell; and installing a power operated refrigeration unit with an evaporator within the inner shell and connected to a motor driven compressor outside of the outer shell. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification