System and method for monitoring environmental conditions within shipping containers

• US 11,326,909 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2018
• Issued: 05/10/2022
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Boschert, Jason, Verdicchio, Michael Patrick, Barta, Allen Brian, Nation, Cory Alfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Nimeshkumar D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fayyaz, Nashmiya S
• Application Number:
  US16/173,772
• Publication Number:
  US 20200132515A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,289 Days
• Field of Search: 738658, 738665
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/30 Supports specially adapted for an instrument; Supports specially adapted for a set of instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/02 Measuring two or more variables by means not covered by a single other subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/005 Solid-state data loggers
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/00 Testing of machine parts
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/00 Testing of engines
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0075 for multiple spatially distributed sensors, e.g. for environmental monitoring transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

Systems and methods are presented for monitoring shipping containers. A system comprises a shipping container, a sensing component, and a transmission device. The shipping container defines an interior compartment. The sensing component is positioned within the interior compartment and comprises one or more sensors, a sensing component battery, a sensing component microcontroller, and a communication chip. The one or more sensors sense atmospheric data. The sensing component microcontroller has a memory and receives the atmospheric data sensed by the one or more sensors at a predetermined interval and stores the atmospheric data in the memory. The transmission device is external to the interior compartment and comprises a receiver and a transmitter. The receiver receives data transmitted by the sensing component. The transmitter transmits the received data to a storage location. The transmission device is paired with the sensing component or an interior component contained within the interior compartment.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring shipping containers comprising:

a shipping container defining an interior compartment having one or more rails equipped to secure an interior component within said interior compartment, the interior component being an engine, engine subsystem, or weapon;

a sensing component positioned within the interior compartment coupled directly with the one or more rails to detect damage to the engine, engine subsystem, or weapon or to detect conditions comprising a physical shock which have damaged the engine, engine subsystem, or weapon, the sensing component comprising;

one or more sensors for sensing atmospheric data;

a sensing component battery;

a sensing component microcontroller having a memory, wherein the sensing component microcontroller receives the atmospheric data sensed by the one or more sensors at a predetermined interval and stores the atmospheric data in said memory; and

a communication chip;

a transmission device external to the interior compartment defined by the shipping container, the transmission device comprising;

a receiver for receiving data transmitted by said sensing component; and

a transmitter for transmitting the received data to a storage location;

wherein the transmission device is paired with the sensing component or an interior component contained within said interior compartment.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more sensors include one or more of temperature, humidity, shock, and light sensing capabilities.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmission device is mounted on the exterior of the shipping container, and wherein the transmission device further comprises:

a transmission device microcontroller for processing the received data;

one or more transmission device antennas for wireless communication;

an onboard memory component for storage of the received data; and

a transmission device battery.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmission device is a smartphone or an internet-connected device.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the shipping container comprises two removably coupled portions, and wherein said sensing component is mounted on a first portion and said transmission device is mounted on a second portion.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the storage location is a cloud storage location.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensing component or said transmission device is mounted by a magnet, suction cup-like fixture, or bracket with a threaded connection.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the shipping container is hermetically sealed.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmission device is configured to query the sensing component to effect transmission of atmospheric data.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensing component periodically transmits atmospheric data to the transmission device.

11. A method for monitoring the environment within an interior compartment defined by a shipping container, the method comprising:

providing a shipping container defining an interior compartment having one or more rails equipped to secure an interior component within the interior compartment, the interior component being an engine, engine subsystem, or weapon;

positioning a sensing component within the interior compartment of the shipping container on one of the one or more rails, the sensing component comprising;

one or more sensors for sensing atmospheric data;

a sensing component battery;

a sensing component microcontroller having a memory, wherein the sensing component microcontroller receives the atmospheric data sensed by the one or more sensors at a predetermined interval and stores the atmospheric data in said memory; and

a communication chip;

sensing one or more environmental conditions within the interior compartment by the sensing component to detect damage to the engine, engine subsystem, or weapon or to detect conditions comprising a physical shock which have damaged the engine, engine subsystem, or weapon;

positioning a transmitting component proximate the shipping container and external to the compartment; and

transferring data related to the one or more environmental conditions between the sensing component and the transmitting component.

12. The method of claim 11 comprising:

transmitting a query from the transmitting component to the sensing component; and

responsive to the query, transferring data related to the one or more environmental conditions from the sensing component to the transmitting component.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the query is transmitted on a predetermined schedule.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the transmitting component stores the data.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the transmitting component transmits the data to a receiver remote from the transmitting component.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the transmitting component transmits the data to a receiver remote from the transmitting component.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising transferring the data between the sensing component and the transmitting component by wireless communication.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the data is related to one or more of temperature, humidity, movement, or light.