Container for special materials

• US 8,826,687 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2009
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: A.R.I.S. S.p.A
• Original Assignee: A.R.I.S. S.p.A
• Inventors: Bellezza Quater, Giorgio, Bellezza Quater, Paolo, Bellezza Quater, Silvia
• Primary Examiner(s): Bauer, Cassey D
• Application Number:
  US12/736,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20110068107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,966 Days
• Field of Search: 623/72, 624/572, 624/37
• US Class Current: 62/372
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 1/00 Devices using naturally cold air or cold water
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/045 Air flow control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/06 by forced circulation
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2303/085 Compositions of cold storage materials
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/06 Movable containers

Abstract

A rigid-walled, block-shaped box is internally provided with a compartment arranged adjacent to a vertical wall of the box and having a first chamber with a first window open to the inside of the container and a second window open to the outside, and a second chamber with a third window open to the inside of the container and a fourth window open to the outside. The windows are each provided with a shutter. A mass of phase change material is housed within the compartment between said first chamber and second chamber, for absorbing heat from the air flowing from one chamber to the other chamber when said first window and third window are open and said second window and fourth window are closed, and releasing heat to the air flowing from one chamber to the other chamber when said first window and third window are closed and said second window and fourth window are open.

Claims

1. A container comprising a rigid-walled, block-shaped box, wherein it is provided with an internal compartment adjacent to a vertical wall of the box, in which a first chamber having a first window open to the inside of the container and a second window open to the outside, and a second chamber having a third window open to the inside of the container and a fourth window open to the outside, are defined, each of said windows being provided with a shutter, a mass of phase change material is arranged within the internal compartment between said first chamber and second chamber, for absorbing heat from the air flowing from one chamber to the other chamber when said first window and third window are open and said second window and fourth window are closed, and releasing heat to the air flowing from one chamber to the other chamber when said first window and third window are closed and said second window and fourth window are open, wherein the container is supplied by at least one solar panel mounted on its roof, and wherein the panels forming the roof of the container are connected by means of a rivet-based connection which is designed to give way when a predetermined pressure threshold is reached due to an explosion occurring in the container.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein ventilation means are arranged within said internal compartment, which are operable to force the air from one chamber to the other chamber of the compartment.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein said windows are piloted to open/close by a control unit which is programmed to open said first window and third window and close said second window and fourth window during relatively hot predetermined hours, and to close said first window and third window and open said second window and fourth window during relatively cold predetermined hours.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein said phase change material is a salt-based material.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein said phase change material is a paraffin-based material.

6. The container of claim 1, comprising a trestle-type frame covered with panels each having a sandwich structure, with a couple of steel sheets having an insulating material sandwiched therebetween.

7. The container of claim 6, wherein said panels are internally anchored to the trestle-type frame.

8. The container of claim 6, wherein at least one of the faces of said steel sheets forming the panels is coated with a film of cork-containing paint.

9. The container of claim 6, wherein at least one of the faces of said steel sheets forming the panels is lined with a cork sheet.

10. The container of claim 1, wherein it has an opening provided with an outer door made of ballistic steel and mounted on hinges, and with a couple of inner sliding doors.