A bimodal refrigeration system for use in refrigerated transport containers or refrigerated warehouses. The present invention includes a refrigerated container having an enclosed cargo chamber for storing refrigerated goods and a mechanical refrigeration unit that produces a chilled forced-air curre
A bimodal refrigeration system for use in refrigerated transport containers or refrigerated warehouses. The present invention includes a refrigerated container having an enclosed cargo chamber for storing refrigerated goods and a mechanical refrigeration unit that produces a chilled forced-air current within the cargo chamber. The cargo chamber is designed to guide the forced-air current in a specified discharge and return path. In accordance with the present invention, a row of thermal storage ducts for retaining endothermic storage material are disposed within the cargo chamber. The thermal storage ducts are longitudinally disposed in parallel with the air flow direction of the specified forced-air discharge and return path to enable maximum convective thermal exchange between the forced-air current and the endothermic storage material without obstructing the specified forced-air discharge and return path.
대표청구항▼
1. A bimodal refrigeration system comprising:a refrigerated container having an enclosed cargo chamber for storing refrigerated goods;a mechanical refrigeration unit that produces a chilled forced-air current within the cargo chamber, the cargo chamber designed to guide the forced-air current in a s
1. A bimodal refrigeration system comprising:a refrigerated container having an enclosed cargo chamber for storing refrigerated goods;a mechanical refrigeration unit that produces a chilled forced-air current within the cargo chamber, the cargo chamber designed to guide the forced-air current in a specified discharge and return path; anda plurality of thermal storage ducts for retaining endothermic storage material, wherein said plurality of thermal storage ducts are longitudinally disposed substantially in parallel with the air flow direction of the specified forced-air discharge and return path to enable maximum convective thermal exchange between the forced-air current and the endothermic storage material without obstructing the specified forced-air discharge and return path. 2. The bimodal refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of thermal storage ducts are longitudinally disposed in a downwardly extending manner from the ceiling of the cargo chamber such that the forced-air current flows through a plurality of channels formed between adjacent of said plurality of thermal storage ducts. 3. The bimodal refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein the cargo chamber is further characterized in having a load height limitation that determines the maximum level at which cargo can be vertically stacked within the cargo chamber without obstructing the specified forced-air discharge and return path, and wherein said plurality of thermal storage ducts are further characterized as being fixedly attached to the ceiling of the cargo chamber and extending downwardly therefrom and terminating above or at the load height limitation. 4. The bimodal refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of thermal storage ducts includes one or more apertures that enable the forced-air current to flow within the thermal storage ducts and over the endothermic storage material. 5. The bimodal refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein one or more of said thermal storage ducts includes an apertured bottom surface extending longitudinally in a parallel plane below the ceiling of said cargo chamber. 6. The bimodal refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein one or more of said thermal storage ducts comprises apertured lateral side surfaces extending downwardly from the cargo chamber ceiling. 7. The bimodal refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein said mechanical refrigeration unit includes a frontside discharge port for discharging the chilled forced-air current and a frontside return port for receiving the returned forced-air current. 8. The bimodal refrigeration system of claim 7, wherein a cargo load is stored on the floor of the cargo chamber, and wherein the specified discharge and return path includes one or more air flow loops from the discharge port to the return port through or around the cargo load. 9. The bimodal refrigeration system of claim 7, wherein the cargo chamber includes guide means for guiding the forced-air current along the specified discharge and return path. 10. The bimodal refrigeration system of claim 9, wherein the forced-air current is discharged from the discharge port at the front of the cargo chamber, said guide means including a set of floor channels within the floor of said cargo chamber. 11. The bimodal refrigeration system of claim 9, wherein the forced-air current is discharged from the discharge port at the front of the cargo chamber, said guide means including a backside wall. 12. The bimodal refrigeration system of claim 11, wherein the backside wall comprises a cargo door or pair of cargo doors. 13. The bimodal refrigeration system of claim 9, wherein said refrigerated container is a top flow refrigerated container such that the guide means comprise:a ceiling for guiding the forced-air current from the frontside discharge port toward a backside wall;the backside wall for guiding the forced-air current from the ceiling toward one or more floor channels; andthe one or more floor channels for guiding the forced-air current from the backside wall toward the frontside return port. 14. The bimodal refrigeration system of claim 9, wherein said refrigerated container is a bottom flow refrigerated container such that the guide means comprise:one or more floor channels for guiding the forced-air current from the frontside discharge port toward a backside wall;the backside wall for guiding the forced-air current from the floor channels toward a ceiling; andthe ceiling for guiding the forced-air current from the backside wall toward the frontside return port. 15. The bimodal refrigeration system of claim 1, further comprising an endothermic storage material fixedly retained within each of said plurality of thermal storage ducts. 16. The bimodal refrigeration system of claim 15, wherein said endothermic storage material is a thermally chargeable gel having endothermic and exothermic thermal exchange properties. 17. The bimodal refrigeration system of claim 15, wherein the endothermic storage material is a thermally chargeable phase change material. 18. An apparatus for deploying a passive cooling mechanism within a refrigerated cargo chamber in conjunction with a mechanical refrigeration unit that produces a chilled forced-air current within the cargo chamber, the cargo chamber designed to guide the forced-air current in a specified discharge and return path, said apparatus comprising:a plurality of thermal storage ducts suspended in a downwardly extending manner from the ceiling of the cargo chamber for retaining endothermic storage material, said plurality of thermal storage ducts longitudinally disposed substantially in parallel with the air flow direction of the specified forced-air discharge and return path such that a plurality of air flow channels are formed between adjacent of said plurality of thermal storage ducts to enable maximum convective thermal exchange between the forced-air current and the endothermic storage material without obstructing the specified forced-air discharge and return path. 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the cargo chamber is further characterized in having a load height limitation that determines the maximum level at which cargo can be vertically stacked within the cargo chamber without obstructing the specified forced-air discharge and return path, and wherein said plurality of thermal storage ducts are further characterized as being fixedly attached to the ceiling of the cargo chamber and extending downwardly therefrom and terminating above or at the load height limitation. 20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein each of said plurality of thermal storage ducts includes one or more apertures that enable the forced-air current to flow within the thermal storage ducts and over the endothermic storage material. 21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein one or more of said thermal storage ducts includes an apertured bottom surface extending longitudinally in a parallel plane below the ceiling of said cargo chamber. 22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein one or more of said thermal storage ducts comprises apertured lateral side surfaces extending downwardly from the cargo chamber ceiling. 23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said mechanical refrigeration unit includes a frontside discharge port for discharging the chilled forced-air current and a frontside return port for receiving the returned forced-air current. 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein a cargo load is stored on the floor of the cargo chamber, and wherein the specified discharge and return path includes one or more air flow loops from the discharge port to the return port through or around the cargo load. 25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the cargo chamber includes guide means for guiding the forced-air current along the specified discharge and return path. 26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the forced-air current is discharged from the discharge port at the front of the cargo chamber, said guide means including a set of floor channels within the floor of said cargo chamber. 27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the forced-air current is discharged from the discharge port at the front of the cargo chamber, said guide means including a backside wall. 28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the backside wall comprises a cargo door or pair of cargo doors. 29. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said cargo chamber is a top flow cargo chamber such that the guide means comprise:a ceiling for guiding the forced-air current from the frontside discharge port toward a backside wall;the backside wall for guiding the forced-air current from the ceiling toward one or more floor channels; andthe one or more floor channels for guiding the forced-air current from the backside wall toward the frontside return port. 30. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said cargo chamber is a bottom flow cargo chamber such that the guide means comprise:one or more floor channels for guiding the forced-air current from the frontside discharge port toward a backside wall;the backside wall for guiding the forced-air current from the floor channels toward a ceiling; andthe ceiling for guiding the forced-air current from the backside wall toward the frontside return port. 31. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising an endothermic storage material fixedly retained within each of said plurality of thermal storage ducts. 32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein said endothermic storage material is a thermally chargeable gel having endothermic and exothermic thermal exchange properties. 33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the endothermic storage material is a thermally chargeable phase change material.
Meyer Byron Keith ; Meyer Chris E. ; Wynne Nicholas ; Bailey Robert E. ; Salyer Ival O., Containment system for transporting and storing temperature-sensitive materials.
Fujimoto Shizuo (Tokushima JPX) Akagawa Yoshinori (Nagoya JPX) Usui Takayuki (Kanazawa JPX), Gaseous flow construction of box member for refrigerated transportion and box member for refrigerated transportation usi.
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