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An improved air return bulkhead for mounting on the wall of a refrigeration vehicle that carried a refrigeration unit, comprising a synthetic plastic unitary body including a generally rectangular vertical first wall having top, bottom and side edges to which are connected top, bottom and side walls

An improved air return bulkhead for mounting on the wall of a refrigeration vehicle that carried a refrigeration unit, comprising a synthetic plastic unitary body including a generally rectangular vertical first wall having top, bottom and side edges to which are connected top, bottom and side walls that cooperate with the internal surface of the vehicle wall to define a plenum chamber. Air is drawn into the plenum chamber via apertures contained in the bottom wall for communication with the inlet of the refrigeration unit. The bottom wall of the air return bulkhead is arranged at an obtuse internal angle relative to the first wall, at least one support being provided on the interior surface of the bottom wall in downwardly spaced relation relative to the bottom edge of the first wall, the support being arranged to engage the interior surface of the vehicle wall, thereby to support the bottom wall of the air return bulkhead. Preferably, the bottom wall contains a plurality of apertures each having a rectangular configuration, the apertures being arranged in two horizontal rows with the apertures of one row being staggered relative to the apertures of the other row. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, a plurality of supports may be provided in horizontally space relation on the bottom wall, each of the supports being in the form of a recess contained in the external face of the bottom wall. Each of the support recesses includes a vertical bottom wall arranged for face-to-face supported engagement with the vehicle wall.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An air return bulkhead adapted for use with a refrigeration vehicle having a vertical wall that carries a refrigeration unit having inlet and outlet openings, comprising(a) a unitary bulkhead body (2) formed of synthetic plastic material, including: (1) a generally-rectangular vertical first wall

1. An air return bulkhead adapted for use with a refrigeration vehicle having a vertical wall that carries a refrigeration unit having inlet and outlet openings, comprising(a) a unitary bulkhead body (2) formed of synthetic plastic material, including: (1) a generally-rectangular vertical first wall (4) having horizontal top (4a) and bottom (4b) edges, and a pair of vertical sides (4c) edges; and (2) generally-rectangular top (6), bottom (8), and side (10, 12) walls having first edges connected with the corresponding edges of said first wall, respectively, said top and side walls being generally horizontal and vertical, respectively, said top, bottom and side walls having second edges that are opposite said first edges and that are contained in a first plane that is parallel with said vertical first wall, whereby when said bulkhead body is mounted on the vehicle vertical wall with said second edges adjacent the vehicle wall, said first, top, bottom and side walls cooperate with the vehicle wall to define a plenum chamber (24) adapted for communication with the refrigeration unit inlet opening; (3) said bottom wall containing a plurality of inlet apertures (26, 28) for supplying air from the refrigeration vehicle into said plenum chamber, said inlet apertures being arranged in a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal rows; (4) said bottom wall containing a plurality of support recesses (30) that are spaced downwardly from said first wall bottom edge, said support recesses being horizontally spaced and extending generally horizontally toward and terminating adjacent said first plane, said support recesses being arranged within said lowermost row of apertures. 2. An air return bulkhead as defined in claim 1, wherein the apertures of each of said rows are staggered relative to the apertures of the adjacent row.3. An air return bulkhead adapted for use with a refrigeration vehicle having a vertical wall that carries a refrigeration unit having inlet and outlet openings, comprising:(a) a bulkhead body (2) including: (1) a generally-rectangular vertical floating first wall (4) having horizontal top (4a) and bottom (4b) edges, and a pair of vertical side (4c) edges; and (2) generally-rectangular top (6), bottom (8), and side (10, 12) walls having first edges connected with the corresponding edges of said first wall, respectively, said top and side walls being generally horizontal and vertical, respectively, said bottom wall being planar and arranged at an obtuse angle (α) relative to said floating first wall, said top, bottom and side walls having second edges that are opposite said first edges and that are contained in a first plane that is parallel with said vertical first wall, whereby when said bulkhead body is mounted on the vehicle vertical wall with said second edges adjacent the vehicle wall, said first, top, bottom and side walls cooperate with the vehicle wall to define a plenum chamber (24) adapted for communication with the refrigeration unit inlet opening: (3) said bottom wall containing at least one inlet aperture (26, 28) for supplying air from the refrigeration vehicle into said plenum chamber; (4) said bottom wall containing at least one support (30) that is spaced downwardly from said first wall bottom edge, said support extending generally horizontally toward and terminating adjacent said first plane; wherein said support comprises a recess contained in said bottom wall; said bottom wall contains a plurality of said support recesses arranged in horizontally spaced relation; each of said support recesses has a generally triangular cross-section relative to a vertical plane normal to said first wall; said support recess has a flat bottom wall (30c) that is vertical and parallel with said first wall, said bottom wall being arranged for face-to-face engagement with the vehicle vertical wall; and said support recess has a horizontal top wall (30a), and a pair of vertical side walls (30b). 4. An air return bulkhead for attachment to a wall of a refrigerated trailer, the bulkhead comprising:a main wall having a rear surface adapted to face the trailer wall, a front surface, a lower edge and a remaining peripheral edge; a lateral wall extending from at least a portion of the peripheral edge of the main wall to the trailer wall to space the main wall from the trailer wall and define a space therebetween; a lower wall extending downward at an inclination from the lower edge of the main wall to the trailer wall, the lower wall extending generally continuously across the lower edge and being composed substantially of a series of openings for permitting air to pass through the bulkhead and into the space between the main wall and the trailer wall; and at least one support extending rearwardly from the lower wall toward the trailer wall to prevent collapse of the lower wall by abutting against the trailer wall under a load of cargo within the trailer such that the lower wall forms the outermost surface of the bulkhead below the main wall. 5. An air return bulkhead in accordance with claim 4 in which the lower wall is formed generally as a mesh of openings.6. An air return bulkhead in accordance with claim 5 in which each of the at least one support is formed by a plurality of support walls that extend rearwardly to form a recess.7. An air return bulkhead in accordance with claim 6 in which the support includes a first generally horizontal support wall that extends rearward from the lower wall.8. An air return bulkhead in accordance with claim 7 in which the support further includes a second support wall that extends vertically from the first support wall to extend along the trailer wall.9. An air return bulkhead for attachment to a wall of a refrigerated trailer, the bulkhead comprising:a main wall having a rear surface adapted to face the trailer wall, a front surface, a lower edge and a remaining peripheral edge; a lateral wall extending from at least a portion of the peripheral edge of the main wall to the trailer wall to space the main wall from the trailer wall and define a space therebetween; a lower wall extending downward at an inclination from the lower edge of the main wall to the trailer wall, the lower wall being formed generally as a mesh of openings for permitting air to pass through the bulkhead and into the space between the main wall and the trailer wall; and at least one support extending rearwardly from the lower wall toward the trailer wall to prevent collapse of the lower wall under a load of cargo within the trailer such that the lower wall forms the outermost surface of the bulkhead below the main wall, wherein each of the at least one support is formed by a plurality of support walls that extend rearwardly to form a recess including a first generally horizontal support wall that extends rearward from the lower wall, a second support wall that extends vertically from the first support wall to extend along the trailer wall, and a pair of generally triangular brace walls extending between the lower wall and the trailer wall, and interconnecting with the first and second support walls. 10. An air return bulkhead in accordance with claim 4 in which the support includes at least one support wall extending between the lower wall and the trailer wall.11. An air return bulkhead in accordance with claim 4 in which the support includes a generally horizontal support wall that extends rearward toward the trailer wall.12. An air return bulkhead in accordance with claim 11 in which the support further includes a generally vertical support wall extending from the horizontal support wall.13. An air return bulkhead in accordance with claim 4 further including a sidewall extending rearwardly from each of a pair of side edges of the main wall to abut the trailer wall.14. An air return bulkhead in accordance with claim 13 wherein the bulkhead is a one-piece plastic member.15. An air return bulkhead in accordance with claim 14 further including at least one depression in the front face of the main wall, each having a depression wall that extends toward the trailer wall to prevent collapse of the main wall against the trailer wall.16. An air return bulkhead for attachment to a wall of a refrigerated trailer, the bulkhead comprising:a main wall having a rear surface adapted to face the trailer wall, a front surface, an upper edge, and a lower edge; at least one lateral wall extending from the main wall to space the rear surface of the main wall from the trailer wall to define a space therebetween; an upper wall extending from the upper edge of the main wall toward the trailer wall; a lower wall extending substantially continuously across the lower edge and composed substantially of a series of openings, the lower wall extending downward at an inclination from the lower edge of the main wall to the trailer wall to provide an expansive array of the openings for permitting air to pass through the bulkhead and into the space between the main wall and the trailer wall; a plurality of small recesses spaced intermittently in mid portions of the lower wall and spaced from the main wall, each having at least one transverse wall extending toward the trailer wall to prevent collapse of the lower wall by abutting against the trailer wall under a load of cargo in the trailer. 17. An air return bulkhead in accordance with claim 16 in which the lower wall is predominately formed as a grid of a plurality of apertures.18. An air return bulkhead in accordance with claim 17 in which the recess has a cross sectional size in the lower wall that is about the same as the size of the apertures.19. An air return bulkhead in accordance with claim 18 wherein the bulkhead is a one-piece plastic member.20. An air return bulkhead in accordance with claim 19 further including at least one depression in the front face of the main wall to prevent collapse of the main wall against the trailer wall.21. An air return bulkhead in accordance with claim 16 in which the at least one transverse wall includes a generally horizontal support wall.22. An air return bulkhead in accordance with claim 21 in which the at least one transverse wall further includes a generally vertical support wall that extends from the generally horizontal support wall to extend along the trailer wall.23. An air return bulkhead in accordance with claim 22 in which the at least one transverse wall further includes at least one brace wall extending between the lower wall and the trailer wall, and interconnecting the horizontal and vertical support walls.24. An air return bulkhead in accordance with claim 16 in which the at least one transverse wall includes a support wall extending between the lower wall and the trailer wall.25. An air return bulkhead in accordance with claim 24 wherein the bulkhead is a one-piece plastic member.26. An air return bulkhead in accordance with claim 25 further including at least one depression in the front face of the main wall, each having a depression wall extending toward the trailer wall.27. An air return bulkhead for attachment to a wall of a refrigerated trailer, the bulkhead comprising:a main wall having a rear surface adapted to face the trailer wall, a front surface, an upper edge, and a lower edge; at least one lateral wall extending from the main wall to space the rear surface of the main wall from the trailer wall to define a space therebetween; an upper wall extending from the upper edge of the main wall to the trailer wall; a lower wall extending downward at an inclination from the lower edge of the main wall to the trailer wall, the lower wall including at least one aperture for permitting air to pass through the bulkhead an into the space between the main wall and the trailer wall; and at least one recess in the lower wall, each having at least one transverse wall extending toward the trailer wall to prevent collapse of the lower wall under a load of cargo in the trailer, wherein the at least one transverse wall includes a generally horizontal support wall, a generally vertical support wall and a brace wall generally perpendicular to the horizontal and vertical support walls, and wherein the support and brace walls are interconnected together. 28. A one-piece plastic air return bulkhead for attachment to a wall of a refrigerated trailer, the bulkhead comprising:a main wall having a rear surface adapted to face the trailer wall, a front surface, an upper edge, a lower edge and a pair of side edges; at least one depression in the front face of the main wall, each including a depression wall extending toward the trailer wall to prevent collapse of the main wall against the trailer wall; a sidewall extending from each of the side edges of the main wall to space the rear surface of the main wall from the trailer wall; an upper wall extending from the upper edge of the main wall toward the trailer wall; a generally planar lower wall extending downward at a gradual inclination from the lower edge of the main wall to the trailer wall to form the bottom most portion of the bulkhead, the lower wall being oriented at a large obtuse angle to the rear surface of the main wall and continuous across substantially the entire lower edge and including a series of apertures forming an expansive array of inlet openings across substantially the entire lower wall for permitting air to pass through the bulkhead and into the space between the main wall and the trailer wall; and a plurality of recesses spaced intermittently in the lower wall and spaced from the main wall, each said recess having at least one transverse wall extending toward the trailer wall to prevent collapse of the lower wall by abutting the trailer wall under a load of cargo in the trailer. 29. An air return bulkhead for attachment to a wall of a refrigerated trailer, the bulkhead comprising:a main wall having a rear surface adapted to face the trailer wall, a front surface, a lower edge and a remaining peripheral edge, the main wall being spaced from the trailer wall to define a gap therebetween; a lower wall extending downward at an inclination from the lower edge of the main wall toward the trailer wall, the lower wall extending generally continuously across the lower edge and being composed substantially of a series of openings for permitting air to pass through the bulkhead and into the space between the main wall and the trailer wall; and a plurality of laterally spaced apart supports each extending from the lower wall at a position spaced from the lower edge of the main wall to resist cargo from being pushed to the trailer wall, wherein a portion of the openings are positioned between the supports and the main wall. 30. An air return bulkhead in accordance with claim 29 in which the main wall further includes elongated recesses each defining a longitudinal axis and including walls that extend toward the trailer wall, wherein the longitudinal axis of at least one recess is inclined toward one side of the main wall and the longitudinal axis of at least one other recess is inclined toward an opposite side of the main wall.31. An air return bulkhead in accordance with claim 30 wherein at least one of the recesses is centrally located between the sides of the main wall and oriented generally parallel to the sides.