Aircraft galley carts and other insulated food storage units, and methods for their use
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
F25D-003/08
F25D-003/00
출원번호
US-0795738
(2004-03-08)
등록번호
US-7444830
(2008-11-04)
발명자
/ 주소
Moran,Thomas J.
Rood,John C.
출원인 / 주소
The Boeing Company
대리인 / 주소
Perkins Coie LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
13인용 특허 :
60
초록▼
Aircraft galley carts and other insulated food storage units are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a food storage unit configured in accordance with the invention includes an interior portion configured to hold food, a first panel positioned at least proximate to a wall of the interior portion, a
Aircraft galley carts and other insulated food storage units are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a food storage unit configured in accordance with the invention includes an interior portion configured to hold food, a first panel positioned at least proximate to a wall of the interior portion, and at least a second panel positioned at least proximate to the first panel. In this embodiment, the first panel can include a phase change material and at least a portion of the second panel can be evacuated. In one aspect of this embodiment, the food storage unit can further include a temperature sensor operably coupled to the interior portion. The temperature sensor can be configured to provide an indication when the temperature in the interior portion reaches a preselected temperature.
대표청구항▼
We claim: 1. A food storage unit comprising: an exterior wall forming an outer shell portion of the food storage unit; an interior wall offset from the exterior wall to define a space therebetween, the interior wall defining an interior portion of the food storage unit; a phase change material remo
We claim: 1. A food storage unit comprising: an exterior wall forming an outer shell portion of the food storage unit; an interior wall offset from the exterior wall to define a space therebetween, the interior wall defining an interior portion of the food storage unit; a phase change material removably positioned in the space between the exterior wall and the interior wall; an evacuated region positioned between the exterior wall and the phase change material; a door rotatably movable between a closed position in which the door prevents access to the interior portion of the food storage unit and an open position in which the door provides access to the interior portion of the food storage unit; and a movable seal that overlays an edge portion of the phase change material and is at least partially compressed by the door when the door is in the closed position, wherein a first portion of the movable seal is fixedly attached to the food storage e unit proximate the exterior wall, and wherein a second portion of the movable seal is can be moved pivotally away from the edge portion of the phase change material to remove of the phase change material from the food storage unit. 2. The food storage unit of claim 1 wherein the phase change material is configured to undergo a phase transition at an at least approximately constant temperature. 3. The food storage unit of claim 1 wherein the phase change material is configured to undergo a solid-to-liquid phase transition at an at least approximately constant temperature. 4. The food storage unit of claim 1 wherein the phase change material is configured to undergo a solid-to-gas phase transition at an at least approximately constant temperature. 5. The food storage unit of claim 1 wherein the phase change material is configured to undergo a liquid-to-gas phase transition at an at least approximately constant temperature. 6. The food storage unit of claim 1 wherein the phase change material is configured to undergo a solid-to-liquid phase transition at an at least approximately constant temperature in the range from about 30�� F. to about 45�� F. 7. The food storage unit of claim 1 wherein the phase change material includes a wax-resin configured to undergo a solid-to-liquid phase transition at an at least approximately constant temperature. 8. The food storage unit of claim 1 wherein the evacuated region is included in a panel having a core portion in an evacuated envelope. 9. The food storage unit of claim 1 wherein the evacuated region is included in a panel having an open cell foam core portion in an evacuated envelope. 10. The food storage unit of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor operably coupled to the interior portion. 11. The food storage unit of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor operably coupled to the interior portion, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to provide an indication when the temperature in the interior portion reaches a preselected temperature. 12. The food storage unit of claim 1, further comprising a thermochromatic temperature sensor operably coupled to the interior portion, wherein the thermochromatic temperature sensor is configured to provide a visual indication when the temperature in the interior portion reaches a preselected temperature. 13. The food storage unit of claim 1, further comprising a temperature recorder operably coupled to the interior portion, wherein the temperature recorder is configured to record an indication when the temperature in the interior portion reaches a preselected temperature. 14. The food storage unit of claim 1, further comprising a thermochromatic temperature recorder operably coupled to the interior portion, wherein the thermochromatic temperature recorder is configured to record an indication when the temperature in the interior portion reaches a preselected temperature. 15. A food storage unit comprising: at least one wall positioned adjacent to an interior portion; a phase change material positioned at least proximate to the wall; an evacuated region positioned at least proximate to the phase change material, wherein the evacuated region is included in a panel having a honeycomb core portion in an evacuated envelope; a door rotatably movable between a closed position in which the door prevents access to the interior portion and an open position in which the door provides access to the interior portion; and a movable seal that overlays an edge portion of the phase change material and is at least partially compressed by the door when the door is in the closed position, wherein a first portion of the movable seal is fixedly attached to the food storage unit proximate the wall, and wherein a second portion of the movable seal can be moved pivotally away from the edge portion of the phase change material to remove of the phase change material from the food storage unit. 16. A food cart for use on an aircraft, the food cart comprising: an outer shell forming an exterior wall of the food cart, wherein the outer shell includes an aperture; an interior shell forming a food support structure positioned inside the outer shell; a first panel removably positioned between food support structure and the outer shell, the first panel including a phase change material; at least a second panel positioned at least proximate to the first panel, the second panel including a plurality of cavities; a door positioned at least proximate to the aperture, wherein the door is movable between a closed position in which the door at least partially covers the aperture and an open position in which the door is at least partially displaced from the aperture to provide access to the food support structure; and a seal hingebly attached at least proximate to the first panel, wherein the seal can be at least partially compressed by the door when the door is in the closed position, and wherein the seal further can pivot away from the first panel to remove the first panel from the food cart. 17. The food storage unit of claim 16 wherein the second panel includes foam material. 18. The food storage unit of claim 16 wherein at least a portion of the cavities of the second panel are at least partially evacuated. 19. The food cart of claim 16 wherein the second panel includes a core portion in an evacuated envelope. 20. The food cart of claim 16 wherein the first panel includes a phase change material configured to undergo a phase transition at an at least approximately constant temperature in a range from about 30�� F. to about 45�� F. 21. The food cart of claim 16 wherein the food support structure includes an inner shell, and wherein the first and second panels are sandwiched between the inner shell and the outer shell. 22. The food cart of claim 16 wherein the food support structure includes a plurality of shelves in a vertical arrangement, and wherein each of the shelves is configured to support a row of food trays. 23. The food cart of claim 16, wherein the outer shell further includes a window portion, a thermochromatic temperature sensor operably coupled to the window portion, wherein the thermochromatic temperature sensor is configured to provide a visual indication when the temperature in the interior portion reaches a preselected temperature. 24. The food cart of claim 16, wherein the food cart further comprises: a temperature sensor operably coupled to the door, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to provide a visual indication when the temperature in the interior portion reaches a preselected temperature. 25. The food cart of claim 16, wherein the food cart further comprises: a window portion supported by the door; and thermochromatic temperature sensor operably coupled to the window portion, wherein the thermochromatic temperature sensor is configured to provide a visual indication when the temperature in the interior portion reaches a preselected temperature. 26. A food storage unit for use on an aircraft, the food storage unit comprising: an outer shell having an interior portion configured to hold food and an aperture configured to provide access to the interior portion; a first panel positioned at least proximate to the interior portion, the first panel including a phase change material; at least a second panel positioned at least proximate to the first panel, the second panel including an evacuated region; a temperature sensor positioned at least proximate to the outer shell and operably coupled to the interior portion; a door positioned at least proximate to the aperture, wherein the door is movable between a closed position in which the door at least partially covers the aperture and an open position in which the door is at least partially displaced from the aperture; and a seal hingebly attached at least proximate to the first panel, wherein the seal is at least partially compressed by the door when the door is in the closed position, and wherein the seal is further configured to pivot away from the first panel to remove at least the first panel from the food storage unit. 27. A method for storing food, the method comprising: reducing the temperature of a phase change material to transition at least a portion of the phase change material from a first state to a second state; installing the phase change material in a food storage unit at least proximate to an evacuated panel, wherein the food storage unit includes an inner shell forming a food support structure and an outer shell forming an exterior wall of the food storage unit, wherein the evacuated panel is positioned between the inner shell and the outer shell, and wherein installing the phase change material includes moving a compressible door seal hingeably attached to the evacuated panel away from the inner shell and inserting a phase change material panel between the inner shell and the outer shell adjacent to the evacuated panel; placing food into the food storage unit at least proximate to the phase change material; and removing the phase change material panel from the food storage unit by pivotally moving the compressible door seal away from the inner shell and removing the phase change material panel from between the inner shell and the outer shell. 28. The method of claim 27 wherein installing the phase change material in a food storage unit includes installing a phase change material configured to undergo a solid-to-gas phase transition at an at least approximately constant temperature. 29. The method of claim 27 wherein installing the phase change material in a food storage unit includes installing a phase change material configured to undergo a solid-to-liquid phase transition at an at least approximately constant temperature in a range from about 30�� F. to about 45�� F. 30. The method of claim 27 wherein installing the phase change material in a food storage unit includes installing a wax-resin phase change material configured to undergo a solid-to-liquid phase transition at an at least approximately constant temperature. 31. The method of claim 27 wherein installing the phase change material in a food storage unit includes installing the phase change material at least proximate to an evacuated panel including open cell foam. 32. The method of claim 27, further comprising positioning the food storage unit in a galley of an aircraft. 33. The method of claim 27, further comprising positioning the food storage unit in a chilled compartment in a galley of an aircraft. 34. The method of claim 27, further comprising reducing the temperature of the food before placing the food into the food storage unit. 35. A system for storing food, the system comprising: means for supporting food in an interior portion of an outer shell, wherein the outer shell forms an exterior wall portion of the system for storing food, and wherein the means for supporting food includes an inner shell that is offset from the outer shell to define a space therebetween, wherein the inner shell includes a plurality of shelves in a vertical arrangement, wherein each of the shelves is configured to support a row of food trays; phase change means for changing phase from a first state to a second state at an at least approximately constant temperature, wherein the phase change means is removably positioned in the space between the inner shell and the outer shell; evacuated means for insulating the interior portion, wherein the evacuated means is positioned in the space between the inner shell and the outer shell; a door movable between a closed position in which the door prevents access to the food support structure and an open position in which the door provides access to the food support structure; and a seal hingebly attached at least proximate to the phase change means, wherein the seal can be at least partially compressed by the door when the door is in the closed position, and wherein the seal further can pivot away from the phase change means for removal of the phase change means from the space between the inner shell and the outer shell. 36. The system of claim 35, further comprising means for removing the phase change means from at least proximate the interior portion so the phase change means can be chilled separate from the interior portion. 37. A food cart for use on an aircraft, the food cart comprising: an outer shell having an aperture; a door positioned at least proximate to the aperture, wherein the door is movable between a closed position in which the door at least partially covers the aperture and an open position in which the door is at least partially displaced from the aperture to provide access to an interior portion of the food cart; a first panel positioned adjacent to the outer shell, wherein the first panel includes a plurality of evacuated cavities; a second panel removably positioned adjacent to the first panel, wherein the second panel includes a phase change material; and a door seal hingeably attached to the first panel, wherein the door seal can be at least partially compressed by the door when the door is in the closed position, and wherein the door seal further can move pivotally away from the second panel for removal of the second panel from the food cart. 38. The food cart of claim 37, further comprising an inner shell spaced apart from the outer shell to define a space therebetween, wherein the first and second panels at least approximately fill the space between the inner shell and the outer shell. 39. The food cart of claim 37, further comprising an inner shell having a plurality of food tray supports, wherein the first and second panels are sandwiched between the inner shell and the outer shell.
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