Methods and systems for preserving the life of a transport refrigeration system power source

• US 9,282,518 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2013
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thermo King Corporation (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: Invensys Systems Incorporated (Invensys PLC), Thermo King Corporation (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Sanders, Russell Lee, Leasure, Mark Daniel, Vitkus, Kim, Johnson, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thienvu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sun, Pinping
• Application Number:
  US13/848,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20130285441A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00 Heating, cooling or ventilating [HVAC] devices heating, cooling or ventilating devices providing other air treatment, the other treatment being relevant, B60H3/00; ventilating solely by opening windows, doors, roof parts, or the like B60J; heating or ventilating devices for vehicle seats B60N2/56; vehicle window or windscreen cleaners using air, e.g. defrosters, B60S1/54
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00014 for load cargos on load transporting vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/07 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/003 for movable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/02 Power saving arrangements in wired systems H04L12/12; signaling of mobile application services, e.g. low battery notifications H04W4/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods and systems for preserving the life of a transport refrigeration system power source are provided. The method can include determining whether a control unit of the transport refrigeration system is off. Also, the method can include measuring an input voltage of a network coordinator when the control unit is off. Further the method can include instructing one or more parasitic electronic devices of the transport refrigeration mode to operate in a hibernation mode when the input voltage of the transport refrigeration system power source remains below a voltage threshold value for a time period and the control unit is off.

Claims

1. A method for preserving the life of a transport refrigeration system power source comprising:

a network coordinator managing, commanding, directing and regulating the behavior of a plurality of wireless end nodes of a wireless communication system of a transport refrigeration system (TRS);

a TRS control unit managing, commanding, directing and regulating a behavior of an evaporator, a blower, a heat exchanger of the TRS;

the network coordinator determining whether a TRS control unit of the transport refrigeration system is off, the network coordinator being separate from and connected to the TRS control unit;

measuring an input voltage of the transport refrigeration system power source when the control unit is off;

instructing, via the network coordinator, one or more parasitic electronic devices of the transport refrigeration system to operate in a hibernation mode when the network coordinator determines that the input voltage of the transport refrigeration system power source remains below a voltage threshold value for a time period and the control unit is off;

the network coordinator detecting whether the transport refrigeration system includes a network coordinator backup power source;

the TRS control unit instructing the one or more parasitic electronic devices of the transport refrigeration mode to operate in the hibernation mode when the input voltage of the transport refrigeration system power source remains below the voltage threshold value for the time period, the control unit is off, and the transport refrigeration system does not include the network coordinator backup power source;

the network coordinator switching the network coordinator to receive power from the network coordinator backup power source instead of the transport refrigeration system power source when the network coordinator backup power source is detected and an input voltage of the network coordinator backup power source is greater than or equal to a second voltage threshold value;

waking the TRS control unit from the hibernation mode after a second time period when one or more parasitic electronic devices of the transport refrigeration system is operating in the hibernation mode;

the TRS control unit determining whether the input voltage of the transport refrigeration system power source is greater than a third voltage threshold value;

setting the transport refrigeration system to operate in the normal operation mode when the TRS control unit determines that the input voltage of the transport refrigeration system power source is greater than the third voltage threshold value;

wherein the one or more parasitic electronic devices includes a fuel monitoring system, an air curtain, a lift gate, a door lighting component, a telematics device, the network coordinator, one or more of the plurality of wireless end nodes, and a wired sensor module.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the voltage threshold value is 11.2 volts and the time period is between one and two minutes.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second voltage threshold value is four volts when the network coordinator backup power source is a six volt battery pack.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second time period is four minutes and the third voltage threshold value is between 11.9 volts and 15 volts.

5. A transport refrigeration system (TRS) comprising:

an evaporator;

a blower;

a heat exchanger;

a TRS control unit configured to manage, command, direct and regulate a behavior of the evaporator, the blower, the heat exchanger;

an engine connected to the TRS control unit;

a transport refrigeration system power source connected to the TRS control unit and the engine;

a wireless communication system including a plurality of wireless end nodes and a network coordinator configured to manage, command, direct and regulate the behavior of the plurality of wireless end nodes, the network coordinator being separate from and connected to the TRS control unit; and

one or more parasitic electronic devices that are connected to the TRS control unit and the transport refrigeration system power source, the one or more parasitic electronic devices configured to draw current from the transport refrigeration system power source when the TRS control unit is off,

wherein the network coordinator is configured to instruct the one or more parasitic electronic devices to operate in a hibernation mode when the TRS control unit is off and an input voltage of the transport refrigeration system power source remains below a voltage threshold for a time period,

wherein the network coordinator is configured to detect whether the transport refrigeration system includes a network coordinator backup power source,

wherein the network coordinator is configured to instruct the one or more parasitic electronic devices of the transport refrigeration system to operate in the hibernation mode when the input voltage of the transport refrigeration system power source remains below the voltage threshold value for the time period, the control unit is off, and the transport refrigeration system does not include the network coordinator backup power source,

wherein the network coordinator is configured to receive power from the network coordinator backup power source instead of the transport refrigeration system power source when the network coordinator backup power source is detected and an input voltage of the network coordinator backup power source is greater than or equal to a second voltage threshold value,

wherein the one or more parasitic electronic devices includes a fuel monitoring system, an air curtain, a lift gate, a door lighting component, a telematics device, the network coordinator, one or more of the plurality of wireless end nodes, and a wired sensor module

wherein the TRS control unit is configured to wake up from the hibernation mode after a second time period when one or more parasitic electronic devices of the TRS is operating in the hibernation mode,

wherein the TRS control unit is configured to determine whether the input voltage of the transport refrigeration system power source is greater than a third voltage threshold value, and

wherein the TRS control unit is configured to set the TRS to operate in the normal operation mode when the TRS control unit determines that the input voltage of the transport refrigeration system power source is greater than the third voltage threshold value.

6. The transport refrigeration system of claim 5, wherein the voltage threshold value is 11.2 volts and the time period is between one and two minutes.

7. The transport refrigeration system of claim 5, wherein the second voltage threshold value is four volts when the network coordinator backup power source is a six volt battery pack.

8. The transport refrigeration system of claim 5, wherein the second time period is four minutes and the third voltage threshold value is between 11.9 volts and 15 volts.