Method and apparatus for providing two way control and data communications to and from transportation refrigeration units (TRUs)

• US 8,978,467 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2010
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Inventors: Wagner, Ronald E., Logan, Rex T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Macchiarolo, Peter
• Assistant Examiner(s): KOLB, NATHANIEL J
• Application Number:
  US12/807,917
• Publication Number:
  US 20140052888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,643 Days
• US Class Current: 73/432.1
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/003 for movable devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/823 where the data is sent when the measured values exceed a threshold, e.g. sending an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

An RS-485 bus is directly connected to transportation refrigeration unit sensors for transmitting information from the sensors to a remote location and for controlling sensor parameters from the remote location. The GENSET associated with the transportation refrigeration unit also utilizes the RS-485 bus, in which the bus is directly connected to the GENSET sensors for bi-directional communication therewith.

Claims

1. A method for controlling sensors utilized in a transportation refrigeration unit including a container and having a refrigeration unit controller and a GENSET to power said transportation refrigeration unit, comprising:

coupling the transportation refrigeration unit to a transportation refrigeration unit data acquisition and control module via an RS-485 control bus for controlling the transportation refrigeration unit, wherein the transportation refrigeration unit data acquisition and control module is wirelessly connected to one or more dynamic data centers for remote bi-directional communication;

coupling the GENSET to a GENSET data acquisition and control module via the RS-485 control bus, wherein the GENSET is controlled through an input from the one or more dynamic data centers wirelessly transmitted to the GENSET data acquisition and control module;

coupling the refrigeration unit controller to the GENSET via the RS-485 bus;

providing the same RS-485 control bus to couple refrigeration unit sensors, GENSET sensors, and container sensors to the refrigeration unit controller, wherein the RS-485 bus is directly connected to the sensors, the RS-485 bus provides bi-directional communication with the sensors to be able to set sensor parameters and to be able to monitor sensor outputs;

monitoring the refrigeration unit sensors, GENSET sensors, and container sensors utilizing the RS-485 bus; and

controlling the refrigeration unit sensors, GENSET, GENSET sensors, and container sensors with wireless signals communicated to the transportation refrigeration unit data acquisition and control module and the GENSET data acquisition and control module from the one or more dynamic data centers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the RS-485 bus supports at least one of GENSET location, status, fuel usage, engine health, realtime data, environmental history, actionable information history, user customs report, and a web portal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the refrigeration unit controller includes at least one of a processor, a memory, bus control architecture, device management protocols, de-bug protocols, BIST, data logging applications, and applets.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensors include a temperature sensor.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the temperature sensor includes an air temperature sensor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensors include an evaporator coil sensor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensors include a condenser sensor.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensors include a compressor top cap sensor.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensors include an ambientair temperature sensor.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensors in a humidity sensor.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensors include a fresh air management sensor.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the sensors include a CO₂ sensor.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensors include a compressor discharge line temperature sensor.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensors include a high pressure cut out switch sensor.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the high pressure cut out switch controls discharge and wherein the high pressure cut out switch sensor senses discharge pressure.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensors include a low pressure cut out switch sensor.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the low pressure cut. out switch controls discharge pressure and wherein the low pressure cut out switch sensor senses discharge pressure.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensors include a current measuring sensor.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the transportation refrigeration unit data acquisition and control module utilizes one or more types of carrier control information to control the function of the transportation refrigeration unit, wherein the types of carrier control information comprise one or more communication and handshake protocols, one or more message formats and contents, one or more error messages, one or more diagnostic codes, one or more command and control messages function interface communication to other systems.

18. The method of claim wherein the sensors include an electric phase measuring sensor.

20. The method of claim I wherein the transportation refrigeration unit data acquisition and control module comprises of a processor, a processor flash, a random access memory, a secure digital memory, a global positioning system, a cellular modem subsystem, a wireless radio frequency mesh networking and a set of sensor expansion serial ports.