Mobile refrigerator with reporting system

• US 20020053213A1
• Filed: 10/30/2001
• Published: 05/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mermaid Manufacturing of Southwest Florida Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Marc Lajeunesse
• Inventors: Lajeunesse, Marc
• Granted Patent: US 6,929,061 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/159
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/46 for temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 3/00 Ambulance aspects of vehicles; Vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances, e.g. for facilitating access of, or for loading, wheelchairs
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 3/001 Vehicles provided with medical equipment to perform operations or examinations
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/165 Cooled holders, e.g. for medications, insulin, blood, plasma
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/20 Refrigerated goods vehicles air treatment of goods space B60H; air-conditioning means for freight cars, isothermic wagons B61D27/0027; superstructures for refrigerated goods vehicles B62D33/048
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/76 for use underground manholes, inspection openings, covers therefor B65D90/105; special vessels for collecting or storing rain-water for use in the household E03B3/03; cesspools E03F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/105 for underground containers
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/10 Arrangements for mounting in particular locations, e.g. for built-in type, for corner type
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/02 Sensors detecting door opening
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/12 Sensors measuring the inside temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices

Abstract

A self-contained, portable, computer operated, light weight, temperature controlled compartment for installation in emergency vehicles has insulated walls and a door. The compartment carries a mechanical refrigeration system having a small compressor for cooling the interior and electrical heating units providing radiant heat to the interior. The heating and cooling units are controlled by a microcomputer and temperature sensor to keep the interior within a desired range of temperature.

Claims

1. In a mobile vehicle having a wheeled chassis carrying an engine driving said wheels and including an electrical system of at least 12 volts capacity, said vehicle adapted to carry temperature sensitive components which require a certain range of temperatures, the improvement comprising an integral temperature controlled compartment adapted to connect to said vehicle electrical system, said compartment having insulated walls with a mechanical refrigerating unit operated by an electrically powered compressor mounted on said compartment to provide a portion of said certain range of temperatures for said compartment, an electrical heating unit mounted on said compartment to provide a portion of said certain range of temperatures for said compartment, said compartment having a temperature sensor, and a door mounted on a wall of said compartment to selectively gain access to the interior of said compartment.

2. The temperature controlled compartment of claim 1 wherein said mechanical refrigerating unit and said heating unit are electronically controlled by computer, said computer programmed with said certain range of temperatures, said computer connected to said temperature sensor, said temperature sensor signaling said computer as to the temperature in said compartment, said computer activating said refrigerating unit or said electrical heating unit in response to said temperature sensor signal to maintain said compartment within said certain range of temperatures.

3. The temperature controlled compartment of claim 1 wherein said temperature sensor is connected to a remote gauge located in said vehicle, said gauge visually indicating the temperature in said compartment.

4. The temperature controlled compartment of claim 2 wherein said vehicle includes a horn, said temperature sensor is connected to said horn, said horn activated by said temperature sensor when the temperature in said compartment reaches a certain level.

5. The temperature controlled compartment of claim 3 wherein said vehicle includes a horn, said temperature sensor is connected to said horn, said horn activated by said temperature sensor when the temperature in said compartment reaches a certain level.

6. The temperature controlled compartment of claim 1 wherein said door has a latch, said latch is connected to an electronic printer, said printer making a written record of the date, time, and temperature in said compartment when said latch is operated, said printer recording the duration of time the door is ajar.

7. The temperature controlled compartment of claim 6 wherein said printer has an audible alarm, said alarm activated when the temperature in said compartment is outside said certain range of temperatures, said printer making a written record of the time, date and length of time said temperature is outside said certain range of temperatures.

8. The temperature controlled compartment of claim 1 wherein an electronic printer is connected to said compartment, said printer including an audible alarm, said alarm activated when the temperature in said compartment is outside said certain range of temperatures, said printer making a written record of the time, date and length of time said temperature is outside said certain range of temperatures.

9. The temperature controlled compartment of claim 2 wherein said door has a latch, said latch is connected to said computer, said computer recording the date, time and temperature in said compartment when said latch is operated, said computer recording the duration of time said door is ajar.

10. The temperature controlled compartment of claim 2 wherein said computer includes a soft start program for operating said refrigerating unit and said electrical heating unit without a power surge in said electrical system.

11. The temperature controlled compartment of claim 2 wherein said interior of said compartment is from approximately two cubic feet to approximately four cubic feet and said mounting space in said vehicle is from approximately 18 inches in depth, 20 inches in height and 17.75 inches in width to approximately 26.625 inches in depth, 20.5 inches in height and 17.75 inches in width.

13. The storage container of claim 12 wherein said computer is programmed with parameters including recording the temperature, time, date and length of time that said temperature is said interior space is outside said certain range of temperatures.

14. The storage container of claim 13 wherein said computer is connected to said door, said computer programmed with parameters including recording the time, date and temperature in said interior space of said container when said door is open.

15. The storage container of claim 14 wherein said computer is programmed with parameters including recording the length of time said door is open.

16. The storage container of claim 15 wherein said computer is connected to a printer, said printer producing a permanent record of said parameters.

17. The storage container of claim 15 wherein said interior space is from approximately 2 cubic feet to approximately 4 cubic feet and said weight is from approximately 25 pounds to approximately 45 pounds.

12. A small, portable, light weight, self contained, electrically powered, temperature controlled storage container, adapted for vehicular mount and operation by the electrical system of a vehicle, said storage container having insulated walls enclosing an interior space, a door on one of said walls for selectively gaining access to said interior space, said storage container having an electrically operated micro compressor mounted thereon driving a mechanical refrigerating system cooling said interior of said storage container, said storage container having electrical heating elements mounted thereon heating said interior of said storage container, a temperature sensor connected to said compartment indicating the temperature in said interior space, said temperature sensor connected to a computer, said refrigerating system and said heating elements connected to said computer, said computer controlling the operation of said refrigerating system and said heating elements, said computer programmed with parameters including a high temperature limit and a low temperature limit defining a certain range of temperatures, said computer activating said refrigerating system or said heating elements to maintain said temperature in said interior space within said certain range of temperatures.