Environmental stabilization system and method for maintenance and inventory

• US 6,450,411 B1
• Filed: 02/02/2001
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Logis-Tech Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Logis-Tech Incorporated
• Inventors: Hewlett, Holden W., Rash, Christopher K., Lawrence, William J., Wolfe, Brian D.
• Primary Examiner(s): WAYNER, WILLIAM E
• Application Number:
  US09/773,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20020104323A1
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 700/108, 700/19, 700/32, 236/51, 236/94, 236/44.A, 454/119
• US Class Current: 236/44.00A
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/54 using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/20 Humidity

Abstract

A system and method for maintaining environmental stabilization. In one embodiment, the system includes one or more controllers that communicate with air dehumidification units to control the relative humidity and temperature within a controlled facility. In another embodiment, a single vehicle environmental stabilization system includes a single vehicle unit attached to each vehicle to control relative humidity within the interior of the vehicle. In these embodiments, the system provides alert messages for out-of-range conditions and tracks and reports related maintenance status to local and remote users using an electronic network. A method of achieving environmental stabilization includes determining the ambient value of a relative humidity level at a site, determining a set of design parameters for an environmental stabilization system, selecting a preferred combination of design parameters and structural modifications, remotely controlling the system, and collecting vehicle maintenance status information using a radio frequency identification system having a portal antenna.

Claims

1. A business method for maintaining environmental stabilization for a plurality of vehicles, comprising the steps of:

determining an ambient value of a relative humidity level present throughout the atmosphere within an interior portion of a storage site used for storing said plurality of vehicles, said ambient value including an average daily value of said relative humidity level and an expected annual range of variation of said relative humidity level;

determining a set of design parameters for an environmental stabilization system capable of regulating said relative humidity level, said design parameters based on said ambient value;

remotely controlling said environmental stabilization system from at least one remote monitoring station, said remote monitoring station communicating with said environmental stabilization system using an electronic network;

regulating said relative-humidity level, using said environmental stabilization system and said remote monitoring station, such that said relative humidity level is maintained within a preferred range throughout the atmosphere within said interiorportion of said storage site;

maintaining battery readiness for each said vehicle using a battery preservation power system;

collecting maintenance status information for each said vehicle using a radio frequency identification system, said radio frequency identification system including a portal antenna and communicating electronically with a site controller;

transmitting an alert indication to said remote monitoring station using said electronic network in response to a change in vehicle maintenance status, said alert indication used to inform service personnel of said change in said vehicle maintenance status; and

transmitting vehicle maintenance status to a central processing station.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of remotely controlling said environmental stabilization system further comprises the steps of:

subdividing said interior portion of said storage site into a plurality of control zones; and

independently controlling each one of said control zones using said remote monitoring station.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said preferred range is between 30% and 40% relative humidity.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of determining a set of design parameters further comprises the steps of:

identifying one or more structural modifications to an environment stabilization facility operable to modify said ambient value; and

selecting a combination of said structural modifications and said design parameters to achieve said preferred range, said preferred range achieved by said environmental stabilization system acting in cooperation with said structural modifications, and said combination being operable to maintain said relative humidity level within said preferred range without adding humidified air to said interior portion of said storage site.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of regulating said relative humidity level further includes the step of regulating atmospheric temperature present throughout the atmosphere within said interior portion of said storage site.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said environmental stabilization system further includes one or more zone control modules operable to accomplish said step of regulating said relative humidity value.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of regulating said relative humidity level further includes the step of regulating atmospheric temperature present throughout the atmosphere within said interior portion of said storage site.