Sensor mount for a mobile refrigeration system

• US 9,612,049 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2010
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Wu, Zhigang, Fu, Degang, Li, Yun, Mijanovic, Stevo, Perkovich, Mark J., Radcliff, Thomas D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walters, Ryan J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mendoza-Wilkenfe, Erik
• Application Number:
  US13/518,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20130055734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,296 Days
• Field of Search: 62408, 62265, 62295, 374132, 374138, 374208
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2500/13 Vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21172 at the inlet
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/005 Mounting of control devices

Abstract

A refrigeration system for a mobile unit includes a refrigeration loop (32), an air duct (70), a sensor (34) and a shock absorption unit (36). The refrigeration loop includes a compressor, a condenser, a refrigerant regulator and an evaporator (64). The air duct directs air from an air inlet to the evaporator, which air duct is defined by first and second panels. The sensor is disposed in the air duct. The shock absorption unit mounts the sensor to and provides a limited thermal conduction path between the sensor and the first panel (22).

Claims

1. A refrigeration system for a mobile unit, comprising:

a refrigeration loop including a compressor, a condenser, a refrigerant regulator and an evaporator;

a longitudinally extending air duct that directs air from an air inlet to the evaporator, which air duct is defined by first and second panels;

a sensor disposed in the air duct; and

a shock absorption unit that mounts the sensor to and provides a limited thermal conduction path between the sensor and the first panel, wherein the shock absorption unit is exposed to flow of the air through the air duct, and wherein the shock absorption unit comprises a spring element which laterally anchors the sensor to the first panel;

wherein the spring element comprises a plurality of coils, and the coils are entirely disposed between the first panel and the sensor so as to measure air temperature during normal operation of the spring element.

2. The refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a return air temperature sensor.

3. The refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is disposed proximate the air inlet of the air duct.

4. The refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein the shock absorption unit has a relatively small cross sectional area as compared to a surface area of the sensor.

5. The refrigeration system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor cover for directing a backflow around the sensor.

6. The refrigeration system of claim 5, wherein the sensor cover extends over a top of, and at least partially around sides of the sensor.

7. The refrigeration system of claim 1, further comprising a power package that powers the refrigeration loop, wherein the first panel of the air duct is disposed between the sensor and the power package.

8. The refrigeration system of claim 7, wherein the first panel is an insulated wall and the second panel is a bulkhead.

9. The refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein the spring element comprises a metal spring element.

10. The refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein the coils are wrapped about a centerline, and the spring element extends laterally and along the centerline from the first panel to the sensor.

11. A method for regulating environmental conditions in a control region of a mobile unit, comprising:

providing a mobile refrigeration system including a power package and a sensor disposed in a longitudinally extending return air duct and laterally centered within the return air duct;

thermally isolating the sensor from thermal energy radiated and conducted from the power package using a spring element that mounts the sensor to the return air duct, wherein the spring element comprises a plurality of coils, and the coils are entirely disposed between a panel of the return air duct and the sensor so as to measure air temperature during normal operation of the spring element;

measuring with the sensor at least one parameter indicative of the environmental conditions in the control region of the mobile unit, wherein the at least one parameter comprises the air temperature; and

regulating the environmental conditions in the mobile unit based on the measured parameter.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of thermally isolating comprises reducing thermal conduction between the return air duct and the sensor.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the return air duct extends between an air inlet and an evaporator, and further comprising providing a supply air duct extending between the evaporator and an air outlet.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one parameter is measured proximate the air inlet.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising at least partially isolating the sensor from a dynamic shock load.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of regulating environmental conditions includes:

directing an airflow from the control region, through the air inlet and the first duct, to the evaporator;

transferring thermal energy from the airflow into the evaporator; and

directing the airflow from the evaporator, through a second duct and the air outlet, to the control region.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein the sensor is laterally mounted and anchored to a wall of the first duct by a metal spring element, and the spring element comprises the metal spring element.

17. A method for regulating environmental conditions in a control region of a mobile unit, comprising:

providing a mobile refrigeration system including a longitudinally extending first duct extending between an air inlet and an evaporator, a second duct extending between the evaporator and an air outlet, and a sensor;

damping a dynamic shock load transferred to the sensor using a shock absorption unit exposed to flow of air through the first duct, wherein the shock absorption unit laterally connects and is between and thereby laterally separates the sensor and a wall of the first duct, wherein the shock absorption unit comprises a spring element which attaches the sensor to the wall, wherein the spring element comprises a plurality of coils, and wherein the coils are entirely disposed between the wall and the sensor so as to measure air temperature during normal operation of the spring element;

measuring with the sensor at least one parameter indicative of the environmental conditions in the control region of the mobile unit, wherein the at least one parameter comprises the air temperature; and

regulating the environmental conditions in the mobile unit based on the measured parameter.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising thermally isolating the sensor from thermal energy radiated and conducted from a power package.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of thermally isolating comprises reducing thermal conduction to the sensor via the spring element a sensor mount.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one parameter is measured proximate the air inlet.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of regulating environmental conditions includes:

directing an airflow from the control region, through the air inlet and the first duct, to the evaporator;

transferring thermal energy from the airflow into the evaporator; and

directing the airflow from the evaporator, through the second duct and the air outlet, to the control region.

23. A refrigeration system for a mobile unit, comprising:

a refrigeration loop including a compressor, a condenser, a refrigerant regulator and an evaporator;

an air duct that directs air from an air inlet to the evaporator, which air duct is defined by first and second panels;

a sensor disposed in the air duct; and

a shock absorption unit that provides a limited thermal conduction path between the sensor and the first panel, wherein the shock absorption unit is exposed to flow of the air through the air duct;

wherein the sensor is mounted to the first panel solely by the shock absorption unit;

wherein the shock absorption unit comprises a spring element mounting the sensor to the first panel;

wherein the spring element comprises a plurality of coils; and

wherein the coils are entirely disposed between the first panel and the sensor so as to measure air temperature during normal operation of the spring element.