Solar powered assisted trailer cooling system

• US 9,440,525 B1
• Filed: 03/17/2011
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kathleen K. Baty, Larry L. Baty
• Original Assignee: Kathleen K. Baty, Larry L. Baty
• Inventors: Baty, Kathleen K., Baty, Larry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jules, Frantz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shaikh, Meraj A
• Application Number:
  US13/050,535
• Time in Patent Office: 2,007 Days
• Field of Search: 622/351, 62/36.1, 622/44, 165/42, 165/43, 165/48.2, 165/902, 180/65.31, 180/65.22, 180/65.8
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00014 for load cargos on load transporting vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00428 electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3232 particularly adapted for load transporting vehicles B60H1/3226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/00 Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00; electric transmission arrangements B60K17/12; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles per se B60L; current-collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2016/003 solar power driven
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/148 Semi-trailers, articulated vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/88 Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/90 Energy harvesting concepts as power supply for auxiliaries' energy consumption, e.g. photovoltaic sun-roof

Abstract

A solar powered assisted trailer cooling system includes a trailer that has a bottom wall, a top wall and a perimeter wall attached to and extending between the top and bottom walls. The trailer is configured to be pulled by a vehicle to define a tractor trailer. A cooling assembly is mounted on the perimeter wall and is configured to cool an interior of the trailer. The cooling assembly includes a compressor powered by an electric motor. A plurality of solar panels converts sunlight into electricity. Each of the solar panels is mounted on an upper surface of the top wall. The plurality of solar panels is electrically coupled to a plurality of batteries. The solar panels recharge the batteries when the solar panels are producing electricity. The batteries are electrically coupled to the electric motor to power the compressor.

Claims

1. A solar powered cooling system comprising:

a trailer having a bottom wall, a top wall and a perimeter wall being attached to and extending between said top and bottom walls, said trailer being configured to be pulled by a vehicle to define a tractor trailer, a plurality of wheels being attached to said trailer and extending downwardly from said bottom wall, said top wall being horizontally oriented;

a cooling assembly being mounted on said perimeter wall and being configured to cool an interior of said trailer, said cooling assembly including a compressor coupled to an electric motor such that said electric motor can drive said compressor;

a power system for supplying power to said electric motor, said power system consisting of;

a plurality of batteries mounted on said trailer, said batteries being electrically coupled to said electric motor to provide power to said electric motor to drive said compressor;

a soft starter being electrically coupled to said plurality of batteries and said electric motor to increase voltage until said electric motor attains an operational speed;

a first source of power, said first source of power comprising a solar power system electrically coupled to said batteries and configured to charge said batteries such that said batteries can provide power to said electric motor to drive said compressor, a charge controller being in electrical communication with said batteries and said solar power system to inhibit overcharging of said batteries by said solar power system;

a second source of power in communication with said batteries to charge said batteries when said batteries have been discharged to a predetermined level, said second source of power comprising;

a diesel motor coupled to a generator electrically coupled to said batteries and configured to charge said batteries to provide power to said electric motor to drive said compressor;

or

a diesel motor directly coupled to said compressor and configured to drive said compressor.

2. The solar powered cooling system according to claim 1, further including an inverter being electrically coupled to said plurality of batteries and said soft starter.

3. The solar powered cooling system according to claim 1, wherein said solar power system comprises a plurality of solar panels, each solar panel being configured to convert sunlight into electricity, and each solar panel being mounted on an upper surface of said top wall.

4. The solar powered cooling system according to claim 3, wherein each solar panel has a forward edge and a rear edge, each forward edge being positioned nearer to a front wall of said trailer than a rear wall of said trailer.