Insulated cargo containers

• US 7,748,172 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2004
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Martin Marietta Materials Incorporated (Martin Marietta Composites Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Martin Marietta Materials Incorporated (Martin Marietta Composites Incorporated)
• Inventors: Zupancich, Ronald J., Seiter, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Jr.; Richard E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gilbert; William V
• Application Number:
  US10/545,235
• Publication Number:
  US 20070034110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,335 Days
• Field of Search: 52 45- 56, 524/74, 524/79, 525/060.6, 527/821, 527/821.1, 528/001.2, 105/355, 105/396, 105/404, 105/409, 105/423, 220/1.5, 220/62.11, 220/592.26
• US Class Current: 52/55
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/06 as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material next to a layer of a particular substance B32B9/045; next to a bituminous or tarry layer B32B11/046; next to a water setting substance layer B32B13/12; next to a metal layer B32B15/08; next to a glass layer B32B17/10; next to a layer formed of natural mineral fibres or particles B32B19/045; next to a wood layer B32B21/08; next to a cellulosic plastic layer B32B23/08; next to a natural or synthetic rubber layer B32B25/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/2295 Means for heating, cooling, or insulating tanks or equipments for tank containers B65D88/748
• CPC Class Codes: B61D 27/0081 of wagons for transporting refrigerated goods vehicles for transporting refrigerated goods B60P3/20
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/048 for refrigerated goods vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/12 specially adapted for transport associated with vehicles, see the relevant subclasses of B60 - B64
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/008 Doors for containers, e.g. ISO-containers locking E05B83/12
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/022 Laminated structures B65D90/029 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 30/00 Transportation of goods or passengers via railways, e.g. energy recovery or reducing air resistance
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31678 Of metal

Abstract

The present invention relates to an insulated cargo container that may have, in combination, an interior panel covering a layer of thermal insulation that has an air-impermeable layer thereon. The thermal insulation is attached to the exterior panel of the container, which may have structural supports on its interior surface. In one embodiment, the insulated cargo container is an insulated railroad boxcar.

Claims

1. An insulated floor system for a cargo container comprising:

a bottom skin having a longitudinal axis and a top surface having a first end and a second end opposite said first end;

a first side channel having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface of the first side channel is attached to the top surface of the bottom skin at the first end and wherein the first side channel is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the bottom skin;

a second side channel having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface of the second side channel is attached to the top surface of the bottom skin at the second end and wherein the second side channel is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the bottom skin;

at least one structural tube having a top and bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface of the structural tube is attached to the top surface of the bottom skin, and wherein the structural tube extends from the first side channel to the second channel and is aligned perpendicular with the longitudinal axis of the bottom skin;

at least one vacuum insulated panel having a top and bottom surface and having its bottom surface attached to the top surface of the bottom skin, wherein the vacuum insulated panel comprises;

an evacuated porous insulating material; and

an air impermeable layer encapsulating the porous insulating material;

a top skin having a top and bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface of the top skin is attached to the top surfaces of the at least one vacuum insulated panel, the at least one structural tube, and the first and second side channels, and wherein the top skin and bottom skin form a closed structure surrounding the at least one vacuum insulated panel;

a support layer having a top and bottom surface and having its bottom surface attached to the top surface of the top skin; and

a tread plate sheet having a bottom surface and having its bottom surface attached to the top surface of the support layer.

2. The insulated floor system of claim 1, wherein the first and second side channels have a C-shaped cross section.

3. The insulated floor system of claim 2, wherein an insulation foam block is disposed on the first and second side channels.

4. The insulated floor system of claim 1, wherein the first and second side channels are fiber-reinforced plastic side channels.

5. The insulated floor system of claim 1, wherein the at least one structural tube is a fiber-reinforced plastic tube.

6. The insulated floor system of claim 1, wherein the porous insulating material comprises an open-cell foam core material.

7. The insulated floor system of claim 6, wherein the open-cell foam core material comprises a micro-cellular, open-cell polystyrene foam.

8. The insulated floor system of claim 1, wherein the porous insulating material comprises a fine fiberglass web core material.

9. The insulated floor system of claim 1, wherein the air impermeable layer comprises a metal-coated polymer film.

10. The insulated floor system of claim 1, further comprising a foam insulation layer between the bottom skin and the top skin.

11. An insulated roof system for a cargo container comprising:

a roof plate having a bottom surface and first and second opposing ends of the bottom surface;

an exterior skin having a top and bottom surface and having its top surface attached to the bottom surface of the roof plate;

a first support member attached to the bottom surface of the roof plate at the first end;

a second support member attached to the bottom surface of the roof plate at the second end;

at least one vacuum insulated panel having a top and bottom surface and having its top surface attached to the bottom surface of the exterior skin, wherein the vacuum insulated panel comprises;

an evacuated porous insulating material; and

an air impermeable layer encapsulating the porous insulating material;

an interior skin having a top and bottom surface and having its top surface attached to the bottom surface of the at least one vacuum insulated panel, and wherein the bottom surface has a first end and a second end opposite said first end and a longitudinal axis;

a first hanger attached to the first support member and attached to the bottom surface of the interior skin at the first end;

a second hanger attached to the second support member and attached to the bottom surface of the interior skin at the second end;

at least one collapsible member having a top surface and a bottom surface, and having its top surface attached to the bottom surface of the interior skin; and

a bottom sheet having a top surface attached to the bottom surface of the at least one collapsible member, wherein the interior skin, at least one collapsible member, and bottom sheet form a plenum.

12. The insulated roof system of claim 11, wherein the exterior skin is a fiber-reinforced plastic skin.

13. The insulated roof system of claim 11, wherein the porous insulating material comprises an open-cell foam core material.

14. The insulated roof system of claim 13, wherein the open-cell foam core material comprises a micro-cellular, open-cell polystyrene foam.

15. The insulated roof system of claim 11, wherein the porous insulating material comprises a fine fiberglass web core material.

16. The insulated roof system of claim 11, wherein the air impermeable layer comprises a metal-coated polymer film.

17. The insulated roof system of claim 11, further comprising a foam insulation layer between the exterior skin and the interior skin.

18. The insulated roof system of claim 11, wherein the interior skin is a fiber-reinforced plastic skin.

19. The insulated roof system of claim 11, wherein the at least one collapsible member has a Z-shaped cross-section.