초록 ▼

Self-contained refrigeration units include evaporator modules, condenser modules, compressor modules, control subassemblies, and all other refrigeration components in compact interconnected modular packages. The modules, which are assembled in rigid or flexible self-contained monoblock refrigeration

Self-contained refrigeration units include evaporator modules, condenser modules, compressor modules, control subassemblies, and all other refrigeration components in compact interconnected modular packages. The modules, which are assembled in rigid or flexible self-contained monoblock refrigeration units, are installable, removable and replaceable as complete self-contained refrigeration units without requiring transport downtime for servicing and repairing of the refrigeration units. Vehicles with refrigeration systems arrive at a distributor and have malfunctioning units removed and complete units replaced and installed and are back on the road within minutes. Dealers' inventories are small and non complex and dealers' workers need not be skilled transport refrigeration mechanics. Dealer trucks have light cranes to remove and replace complete self-contained refrigeration units on site.

대표청구항 ▼

I claim: 1. A transport refrigeration system comprising a refrigeration unit having: an evaporator module having an evaporator for mounting inside a conditioned space; a fixing joint module rigidly connected to the evaporator module, the fixing joint module having a frame for mounting in an opening

I claim: 1. A transport refrigeration system comprising a refrigeration unit having: an evaporator module having an evaporator for mounting inside a conditioned space; a fixing joint module rigidly connected to the evaporator module, the fixing joint module having a frame for mounting in an opening in the conditioned space, removable connectors selectively connecting and disconnecting the frame from the conditioned space; a compressor module flexibly interconnected to the fixing joint module for mounting outside the space; a condenser module flexibly interconnected to the compressor module for mounting outside of the conditioned space; and a first set of flexible refrigerant connections flexibly connecting the compressor module with the fixing joint module for communicating refrigerant between the compressor module and the evaporator module. 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second set of flexible refrigerant connections flexibly connecting the compressor module to the evaporator module. 3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a control subassembly module rigidly connected to the compressor module, the control subassembly module further including a vapor control subassembly and a liquid control subassembly. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the entire transport refrigeration unit is removable from the conditioned space by removing the connectors, and wherein a replacement entire refrigeration unit is insertable into the opening and mountable into the conditioned space. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein multiple complete units are inventoried by dealer installers and are swapped and exchanged with defective units by mechanics having no refrigeration skills. 6. The system of claim 1, where in the evaporator module ad the condenser module have removable lids, and wherein air handlers are mounted in the removable lids. 7. The system of claim 2, wherein the flexible refrigerant connections are twistable refrigerant tubes mounted near axes of the flexible interconnections between the condenser module and the compressor module, and the compressor module and the evaporator module. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the compressor module further comprises a variable capacity, full temperature range compressor and a universal drive connection connected to the compressor. 9. The system of claim 1, further comprising providing a cargo container having an interior which is the conditioned space, and providing an internal foraminous cover extending inward in the interior from near the opening and preventing access to cargo in the container when the refrigeration unit is replaced. 10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a condensate collector in the internal cover, a drain connected to the cover and conducting condensate out of the cargo container, and a heater on the drain. 11. The system of claim 9, further comprising an evaporator coil in the evaporator module, and an internal air handler mounted on the interior cover for moving air in the cargo container through the evaporator coil. 12. The system of claim 9, further comprising an external cover mounted on an outside of the cargo container near the opening for covering the compressor module and the condenser module. 13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a condenser coil in the condenser module, and an external air handler connected to the external cover for moving air through the condenser coil. 14. A method of transport refrigeration, comprising: providing self-contained transport refrigeration units; providing evaporator modules in the units; providing fixing joint modules in the units; providing compressor modules in the units; providing condenser modules in the units; providing control subassembly modules in the units; rigidly connecting the evaporator modules to the fixing joint modules; rigidly connecting the control subassembly modules to the compressor modules; flexibly interconnecting the condenser subassembly to the compressor modules; flexibly interconnecting the compressor subassembly to the fixing joint modules; providing first sets of flexible refrigerant connections between the condenser modules and the compressor modules; providing second sets of flexible refrigerant connections between the compressor modules and the fixing joint modules; providing variable capacity full temperature range compressors, and connecting universal drive connections to the compressors in the compressor module; providing connecting frames on the fixing joint modules; inserting the evaporator modules and the fixing joint modules through openings in conditioned space enclosures; connecting the frames to the enclosures around the openings with removable connectors; and connecting drivers to the drive connections. 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising disconnecting the drivers from the universal drive connections, disconnecting and removing the connectors from the enclosures, withdrawing the evaporator modules and the fixing joint modules from the openings, removing the units from the enclosures, storing the removed units, replacing different units from inventory on the enclosures by sliding the evaporator modules and the fixing joint modules through the openings, connecting the frames on the replacement units to the enclosures with the connectors, and connecting the drivers to the drive connections of the replacement units. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising maintaining the inventory of replacement units at a dealer, and wherein the removing and replacing the units on the enclosures is accomplished by workers unskilled in refrigeration, and further comprising shipping the removed units from the dealer to a distributor and sending exchange units from the distributor to the dealer. 17. Transportation refrigeration systems, comprising: an enclosure having an opening; a mount in the opening; a refrigeration unit for placing in the opening; a frame connected to the refrigeration unit for mounting the unit in the opening; removable connectors connecting the frame with the mount; interconnected refrigeration modules in the unit; interconnected refrigeration elements in the modules; a driver connection connected to a compressor in the refrigeration element; and refrigeration connections interconnecting the modules; wherein disconnecting the connectors permits removing of the refrigeration unit from the opening and replacing the removed refrigeration unit with a replacement refrigeration unit by workers not skilled in refrigeration, wherein the modules further comprise an external module having a compressor and compressor driver connection, a condenser and a preassembled control subassembly, an intermediate fixing module flexibly connected to the external module, and an internal evaporator module rigidly connected to the intermediate fixing module and having an evaporator, wherein the frame is connected to the intermediate fixing module, and the exterior module is positioned outside of the enclosure and the internal module is positioned inside of the enclosure. 18. The transportation refrigeration systems of claim 17, wherein the refrigeration modules have flexible refrigeration connections, whereby the refrigeration modules have flexible interconnections and may be repositioned with respect to each other when connecting the frame on the refrigeration unit to the mounts on the enclosure, and whereby the replacement refrigeration unit replacing the removed unit may be reconfigured to match configuration of the removed refrigeration unit. 19. The transportation refrigeration systems of claim 17, enclosure further comprises an internal foraminous cover connected to the enclosure for separating the internal module from the interior of the enclosure, and a removable external cover connected to the enclosure for shielding the external module and the condenser. 20. The transportation refrigeration systems of claim 19, wherein the external modules include a compressor module and a condenser module further comprising evaporator temperature control subassemblies, wherein the compressor module further comprises a vapor control subassembly, a liquid control subassembly, and a compressor temperature control subassembly. 21. The transportation refrigeration systems of claim 20, further comprising a vehicle connected to the enclosure for transporting the enclosure, a driver connected to the compressor driver connection, a power source connected to the driver, an electronic control unit connected to the vehicle and the compressor module, and sensors connected to the interior of the enclosures and evaporator temperature control subassemblies mounted in the evaporator module and connected to the sensors and to the electronic control units.