System and method for storing perishable products in a refrigerated cargo bay
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0949420
(1992-09-22)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
Senniger, Powers, Leavitt & Roedel
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
7 인용 특허 :
3 |
초록
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A refrigerated cargo bay such as a cargo bay of a refrigerated cargo transport in combination with a plurality of generally rectangular product support platforms. The product support platforms each have a generally rectangular upper panel and a plurality of spacers depending from the upper panel for
A refrigerated cargo bay such as a cargo bay of a refrigerated cargo transport in combination with a plurality of generally rectangular product support platforms. The product support platforms each have a generally rectangular upper panel and a plurality of spacers depending from the upper panel for spacing the upper panel from the floor of the cargo bay. The spacers are arranged in spaced apart locations and define passageways for air beneath the upper panel and above the floor between all of the four sides of the platform to permit the flow of air into any one of the sides between the upper panel and the floor and out all three of the other sides of the platform. The platforms are arranged in a side-by-side relationship on the floor of the cargo bay with adjacent sides of the platforms generally in engagement with one another such that air is permitted to flow under the upper panels between all platforms in substantially all directions parallel to the floor.
대표청구항
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1. In combination, a refrigerated cargo bay such as a cargo bay of a refrigerated cargo transport, the cargo bay comprising a sub-floor and a floor spaced from the sub-floor for supporting products thereon and a refrigeration unit for cooling and circulating air through the cargo bay, the space betw
1. In combination, a refrigerated cargo bay such as a cargo bay of a refrigerated cargo transport, the cargo bay comprising a sub-floor and a floor spaced from the sub-floor for supporting products thereon and a refrigeration unit for cooling and circulating air through the cargo bay, the space between the floor and the sub-floor defining a first duct through which air circulates thereby creating a first insulating layer for insulating product, and a plurality of generally rectangular product support platforms having four sides, each product support platform comprising: a generally rectangular upper panel; and a plurality of spacers depending from the upper panel for spacing the upper panel from the floor of the cargo bay, the spacers being arranged in spaced apart locations and defining passageways for air beneath the upper panel and above the floor between all of the four sides of the platform to permit the flow of air into any one of the sides between the upper panel and the floor and out all three of the other sides of the platform; the platforms being arranged in a side-by-side relationship on the floor of the cargo bay with adjacent sides of the platforms generally in engagement with one another such that air is permitted to flow under the upper panels between all platforms in substantially all directions parallel to the floor, the space between the floor and the upper panels of the platforms and the floor of the cargo bay defining a second duct through which air circulates thereby creating a second insulating layer for further insulating product. 2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein each product support platform further comprises a lower panel having at least one solid face, the spacers being attached to the lower panel at their lower ends such that the upper and lower panels are spaced from each other to permit the flow of air between the upper and lower panels. 3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein the lower panel of each product support platform has a greater surface area than the upper panel of the product support platform and the upper and lower panels of the product support platform are arranged relative to one another so that at least one peripheral edge margin of the upper panel projects laterally outwardly from at least one peripheral edge margin of the lower panel whereby there is a gap between adjacent upper panels of support platforms arranged on the floor of the cargo bay to permit air to flow through the product and between the upper panels and lower panels of the platforms. 4. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein the lower panel comprises a sheet of cardboard having a solid outer face, a solid inner face and a corrugated middle liner spacing the inner face from the outer face. 5. The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein the upper panel comprises a sheet of cardboard having a solid outer face, a solid inner face and a corrugated middle liner spacing the inner face from the outer face. 6. The combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein the cardboard sheet of the upper panel is made of at least 26 pound cardboard. 7. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the spacers comprise a plurality of tubular members made of cardboard. 8. The combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein the tubular members lie in parallel rows, the spacers being constructed and arranged to create turbulence in the air flow between the upper and lower panels thereby to facilitate heat transfer from the product. 9. The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein the number of tubular members in adjacent rows is unequal. 10. The combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein the number of tubular members in a first of the rows is five and the number in a second of the rows adjacent the first row is four. 11. A method for loading and cooling a perishable product which must be maintained at a cooled temperature, the method comprising the steps of: providing a refrigerated cargo bay having a sub-floor and a floor spaced from the sub-floor, the space between the floor and the sub-floor defining a first duct, spaced apart side walls projecting upwardly from the floor and extending between a forward end and a rearward end of the cargo bay, and a refrigeration unit for cooling and circulating air through the cargo bay; providing a plurality of product support platforms comprising a generally rectangular upper panel, a plurality of spacers depending from the upper panel for spacing the upper panel from the floor of the cargo bay, the spacers being arranged in spaced apart locations and defining passageways for air beneath the upper panel and above the floor between all of the four sides of the platform to permit the flow of air into any one of the sides between the upper panel and the floor and out all three of the other sides of the platform, the space between the floor and the platform defining a second duct; arranging the platforms in a side-by-side relationship on the floor of the cargo bag with adjacent sides of the platforms generally in engagement with one another whereby air is permitted to flow under the upper panels between all platforms in substantially all directions parallel to the floor; loading the product onto the platforms; forcing cooled air from the refrigeration unit rearwardly over the product; drawing the air forwardly such that the air passes through the first and second ducts under the product thereby providing first and second insulating layers for insulating the product from heat transfer through the floor of the vehicle; introducing turbulence into the flow of air under the upper panels to facilitate the transfer of heat from the platforms and product to the air. 12. The method as set forth in claim 11 wherein the step of providing a product support platform further comprises the step of providing such a product support platform having a generally rectangular lower panel having peripheral edge margins, and wherein the step of arranging the platforms comprises the step of positioning the platforms on the floor of the cargo bay such that at least one peripheral edge margin of each lower panel engages a peripheral edge margin of the lower panel of an adjacent platform such that the lower panels of the platforms form a substantially continuous surface over the floor to retard heat transfer through the floor. 13. A system for supporting product which must be maintained at a cooled temperature in a cargo bay such as a cargo bay of a refrigerated transport having a floor and a refrigeration unit for cooling and circulating air through the cargo bay, the system comprising: a plurality of product support platforms each comprising a generally rectangular upper panel, a plurality of spacers depending from the upper panel for spacing the upper panel from the floor of the cargo bay, the spacers being arranged in spaced apart locations and defining passageways for air beneath the upper panel and above the floor between all of the four sides of the platform to permit the flow of air into any one of the sides between the upper panel and the floor and out all three of the other sides of the platform; the platforms being adapted to be arranged in a side-by-side relationship on the floor of the cargo bay with adjacent sides of the platforms generally in engagement with one another such that air is permitted to flow under the upper panels between all platforms in substantially all directions parallel to the floor, the platforms being adapted to insulate the product supported thereon from the floor of the cargo bay; each product support platform further comprising a lower panel having at least one solid face, the spacers being attached to the lower panel at their lower ends such that the upper and lower panels are spaced from each other to permit the flow of air between the upper and lower panels; the lower panel of each product support platform having a greater surface area than the upper panel of the product support platform and the upper and lower panels of the product support platform are arranged relative to one another so that at least one peripheral edge margin of the upper panel projects laterally outwardly from at least one peripheral edge margin of the lower panel whereby there is a gap between adjacent upper panels of support platforms arranged on the floor of the cargo bay to permit air to flow from through the gap. 14. The system as set forth in claim 13 wherein the lower panel comprises a sheet of cardboard having a solid outer face, a solid inner face and a corrugated middle liner spacing the inner face from the outer face. 15. The system as set forth in claim 13 wherein the spacers comprise a plurality of tubular members made of cardboard. 16. The system as set forth in claim 15 wherein the tubular members lie in parallel rows with the number of tubular members in adjacent rows being unequal, the spacers being constructed and arranged to create turbulence in the air flow between the upper and lower panels thereby to facilitate heat transfer from the product. 17. A method for loading and cooling a perishable product which must be maintained at a cooled temperature in a refrigerated cargo bay having a floor, spaced apart side walls projecting upwardly from the floor and extending between a forward end and a rearward end of the cargo bay, a top wall extending between the side walls and a refrigeration unit for cooling and circulating air through the cargo bay, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first air passageway in fluid communication with the cargo bay generally at the forward and rearward ends thereof for carrying cooled air from the cargo bay back to the refrigeration unit; providing a plurality of product support platforms comprising an upper panel, a plurality of spacers depending from the upper panel for spacing the upper panel from the floor of the cargo bay, the spacers being arranged in spaced apart locations and defining paths for air beneath the upper panel and above the floor between all sides of the platform to permit flow of air into any one of the sides between the upper panel and the floor and out all of the other sides of the platform; arranging the platforms in a side-by-side relationship on the floor of the cargo bay with adjacent sides of the platforms generally in engagement with one another whereby air is permitted to flow under the upper panels between all platforms in substantially all directions parallel to the floor, the space between the floor and the upper panel defining a second air passageway in fluid communication with the cargo bay generally at the forward and rearward ends thereof for carrying cooled air from the cargo bay back to the refrigeration unit, the second air passageway being located above the first air passageway in the cargo bay; loading product onto the platform in an arrangement which leaves a space between the product and the top wall of the cargo bay, the space defining a third air passageway for carrying cooled air from the cargo bay back to the refrigeration unit; forcing cooled air from the refrigeration unit toward one of the forward and rearward ends of the cargo bay; drawing the cooled air from said one end toward an opposite end of the forward and rearward ends of the cargo bay, the air traveling in the three air passageways from said one end of the cargo bay back to the refrigeration unit.
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (3)
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Hicke Gerald E. (2468 Kingfield Way San Jose CA 95124), Air conditioning method and apparatus for refrigerated vehicles.
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Motomaru Akira (Tsuchiura JPX), Pallet for supporting article.
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Moore Robert L. (Nagog Woods MA), Pallet formed from two spaced, interlocking sheets of corrugated paperboard and rigid sleeves.
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