초록 ▼

An apparatus for cooling refrigeration containers using pressurized liquid carbon dioxide is disclosed. The container has upper and lower compartments with a longitudinal distribution pipe located in the upper compartment which extends substantially the length of the container. The pressurized, liqu

An apparatus for cooling refrigeration containers using pressurized liquid carbon dioxide is disclosed. The container has upper and lower compartments with a longitudinal distribution pipe located in the upper compartment which extends substantially the length of the container. The pressurized, liquid carbon dioxide is distributed through the distribution pipe in the upper compartment through a plurality of apertures located in the longitudinal distribution pipe which causes an accumulation of carbon dioxide snow in the upper compartment. The refrigerated gas cools the sidewalls of the lower compartment by passing through serpentine passages contained within those sidewalls. There are also switchable cooling vents which, when opened, allow refrigerated gas to pass from the upper compartment directly into the lower comparment. If the material to be refrigerated is intolerant of a carbon dioxide environment and cannot be frozen, the switchable cooling vents can be closed and the refrigerated gas will only pass through the sidewalls. An exhaust means is disclosed which maintains a certain pressure within the container thereby allowing the container to be refrigerated for a longer period of time from a single charge of pressurized, liquid carbon dioxide.

대표청구항 ▼

An apparatus for refrigerating material within a container using carbon dioxide, which comprises: a container with a roof, two opposed sidewalls, first and second opposed endwalls, a floor, an upper compartment, and a lower compartment, said upper compartment and said lower compartment being separat

An apparatus for refrigerating material within a container using carbon dioxide, which comprises: a container with a roof, two opposed sidewalls, first and second opposed endwalls, a floor, an upper compartment, and a lower compartment, said upper compartment and said lower compartment being separated by a substantially horizontal partition, said partition serving as a floor for said upper compartment and as a ceiling for said lower compartment, said upper compartment being further defined by said container sidewalls, said container roof, said container endwalls, and said lower compartment being further defined by said opposed container sidewalls, said opposed container endwalls, and said container floor; a means for creating carbon dioxide snow within said upper compartment comprising a longitudinal pipe extending from said first endwall substantially to said second endwall, said longitudinal pipe containing a plurality of apertures; a means of connecting said longitudinal pipe with a source of pressurized, liquid carbon dioxide; and an upper compartment exhaust vent means, said exhaust vent means allowing the passage of gas from said upper compartment only when said means for connecting a source of pressurized, liquid carbon dioxide is connected to said longitudinal pipe; a plurality of openings through said horizontal partition, said openings forming a plurality of cooling ducts, each said cooling duct allowing communication from said upper compartment to said lower compartment and each said cooling duct located in proximity to said container sidewalls; a plurality of ducts forming a plurality of cooling vent passages, one said passage attached to each said cooling vent, each said cooling vent passage having an upper opening located within said upper compartment in proximity to said container roof and a lower opening connected to said corresponding cooling vent with a sealed connection, so that gas from inside said upper compartment can enter said cooling vent passage through said upper opening and pass through said cooling passagevent to said corresponding cooling vent; a means for cooling said sidewalls of said lower compartment, so that said container may be used to refrigerate materials that cannot be frozen and are intolerant of high carbon dioxide environment or frozen items, comprising a plurality of raised surfaces located on said container sidewalls, said container endwalls, and said lower compartment ceiling in said lower compartment; two lower longitudinal ducts, one said lower longitudinal duct located within and at the bottom of each said sidewall and extending substantially from said first endwall to said second endwall; a plurality of serpentine passages, at least one said serpentine passage located within each said sidewall, said serpentine passage having a plurality of upper openings into said upper compartment, each said upper opening located under a portion of at least one said cooling vent, a plurality of substantially horizontal sections connected by a plurality of downwardly curving sections and an opening into said corresponding lower longitudinal duct, so that gas from said upper compartment can pass through said cooling vents, and enter said lower compartment, or enter said serpentine passages, pass repeatedly behind each said sidewall, and enter said lower longitudinal ducts without entering said lower compartment, or enter both said lower compartment and said serpentine passages simultaneously, and a plurality of switchable valve means, one said valve means attached to each said cooling vent, each said valve means having a closed position which prevents the passage of gas into said lower compartment.