IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0512476
(2009-07-30)
|
등록번호 |
US-8266917
(2012-09-18)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Waldschmidt, William L.
- Neu, Timothy J.
- Parker, Dean M.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
9 |
초록
▼
An environmentally controlled shipping container including a storage space, a first environmentally controlled space within the storage space, a second environmentally controlled space within the storage space, and a transport refrigeration unit. The transport refrigeration unit including a compress
An environmentally controlled shipping container including a storage space, a first environmentally controlled space within the storage space, a second environmentally controlled space within the storage space, and a transport refrigeration unit. The transport refrigeration unit including a compressor that provides a flow of refrigerant, a condenser that receives the flow of refrigerant from the compressor, a first evaporator positioned within the first environmentally controlled space and in fluid communication with the condenser, a second evaporator positioned within the second environmentally controlled space and in fluid communication with the condenser, and a pressure regulator associated with the first evaporator. The pressure regulator selectively restricts the flow of refrigerant from the first evaporator to the compressor such that the flow of refrigerant from the first evaporator to the compressor is substantially equal to the flow of refrigerant from the second evaporator to the compressor.
대표청구항
▼
1. An environmentally controlled shipping container comprising: a storage space;a first environmentally controlled space within the storage space;a second environmentally controlled space within the storage space, the second environmentally controlled space environmentally separate from the first en
1. An environmentally controlled shipping container comprising: a storage space;a first environmentally controlled space within the storage space;a second environmentally controlled space within the storage space, the second environmentally controlled space environmentally separate from the first environmentally controlled space; anda transport refrigeration unit including: a compressor that provides a flow of refrigerant;a condenser that receives the flow of refrigerant from the compressor;a first evaporator positioned within the first environmentally controlled space and in fluid communication with the condenser such that the first evaporator receives at least a portion of the flow of refrigerant from the condenser;a second evaporator positioned within the second environmentally controlled space and in fluid communication between the condenser and the compressor such that the second evaporator receives at least a portion of the flow of refrigerant from the condenser and discharges at least a portion of the flow of refrigerant to the compressor; anda pressure regulator in fluid communication associated with the first evaporator, the pressure regulator selectively restricting the flow of refrigerant from the first evaporator to the compressor such that the flow of refrigerant from the first evaporator to the compressor is substantially equal to the flow of refrigerant from the second evaporator to the compressor. 2. The environmentally controlled shipping container of claim 1, the transport refrigeration unit further including a first valve positioned between the condenser and the first evaporator, the controller in communication with the first valve and operable to move the first valve between an open position and a closed position to selectively provide the portion of the flow of refrigerant to the first evaporator. 3. The environmentally controlled shipping container of claim 2, wherein the transport refrigeration unit further includes a second valve positioned between the condenser and the second evaporator, the controller in communication with the second valve and operable to move the second valve between an open position and a closed position to selectively provide the portion of the flow of refrigerant to the second evaporator. 4. The environmentally controlled shipping container of claim 1, wherein the pressure regulator is adjustable to restrict the flow of refrigerant through the first evaporator such that a pressure of refrigerant leaving the first evaporator is substantially equal to a pressure of refrigerant exiting the second evaporator. 5. The environmentally controlled shipping container of claim 1, wherein the transport refrigeration unit further includes a bypass between the first evaporator and the compressor such that the portion of the flow of refrigerant through the first evaporator may circumvent the pressure regulator. 6. The environmentally controlled shipping container of claim 5, wherein the transport refrigeration unit further includes a solenoid-operated valve positioned in the bypass, the solenoid-operated valve moveable between an open position and a closed position to selectively allow the portion of the flow of refrigerant through the first evaporator to pass through the bypass. 7. The environmentally controlled shipping container of claim 1, wherein the first environmentally controlled space is maintained at a fresh range temperature and the second environmentally controlled space is maintained at a frozen range temperature. 8. The environmentally controlled shipping container of claim 7, wherein the pressure regulator is adjustable such that the second environmentally controlled space has one of an equal and a higher cooling priority than the first environmentally controlled space. 9. A transport refrigeration unit comprising: a prime mover;a compressor powered by the prime mover to provide a flow of refrigerant;a condenser that receives the flow of refrigerant from the compressor;a manifold that receives the flow of refrigerant from the condenser and splits the flow of refrigerant into a first refrigerant flow and a second refrigerant flow;a first evaporator in fluid communication with the condenser such that the first evaporator receives the first refrigerant flow from the manifold, the first evaporator defining a first pressure of the first refrigerant flow after the first refrigerant flow exits the first evaporator;a second evaporator in fluid communication with the condenser such that the second evaporator receives the second flow of refrigerant from the manifold, the second evaporator defining a second pressure of the second refrigerant flow after the second refrigerant flow exits the second evaporator toward the compressor; andan evaporator equalizer in fluid communication between the first evaporator and the compressor such that the evaporator equalizer receives the first refrigerant flow at the first pressure from the first evaporator, and discharges the first refrigerant flow at a third pressure substantially equal to the second pressure. 10. The transport refrigeration unit of claim 9, further comprising a first valve positioned between the first evaporator and the manifold, the first valve movable between an open position and a closed position to selectively provide the first refrigerant flow to the first evaporator. 11. The transport refrigeration unit of claim 9, further comprising a second valve positioned between the second evaporator and the manifold, the second valve movable between an open position and a closed position to selectively provide the second flow of refrigerant to the second evaporator. 12. The transport refrigeration unit of claim 9, wherein the evaporator equalizer includes: a first refrigerant flow branch supplying the first refrigerant flow from the first evaporator to the compressor;an electrically actuated solenoid valve positioned in the first refrigerant flow branch and movable between an open position wherein refrigerant flows therethrough, and a closed position wherein the first refrigerant flow is inhibited;a second refrigerant flow branch supplying the first refrigerant flow from the first evaporator to the compressor; anda pressure regulator positioned in the second refrigerant flow branch. 13. The transport refrigeration unit of claim 9, further comprising: a first valve positioned between the first evaporator and the manifold, the first valve movable between an open position and a closed position to selectively provide the first refrigerant flow to the first evaporator;a second valve positioned between the second evaporator and the manifold, the second valve movable between an open position and a closed position to selectively provide the second flow of refrigerant to the second evaporator; anda controller in communication with and controlling the operation of the compressor, the first valve, and the second valve. 14. A method of operating a transport refrigeration unit for a shipping container that includes a storage space, a first environmentally controlled space within the storage space, and a second environmentally controlled space within the storage space, the second environmentally controlled space environmentally separate from the first environmentally controlled space, the method including the steps of: setting a first set point temperature for the first environmentally controlled space;setting a second set point temperature for the second environmentally controlled space;compressing a refrigerant with a compressor to produce a flow of refrigerant;condensing the flow of refrigerant in a condenser;closing a first valve to inhibit the flow of refrigerant from flowing through a first evaporator positioned within the first environmentally controlled space;opening a second valve to allow the flow of refrigerant to flow to a second evaporator positioned within the second environmentally controlled space;cooling the second environmentally controlled space with the second evaporator until the temperature within the second environmentally controlled space is substantially equal to the second set point temperature;recording a pressure at an outlet of the second evaporator when the temperature within the second environmentally controlled space is substantially equal to the second set point temperature; andsetting a pressure regulator positioned between the outlet of the first evaporator and the compressor to the recorded pressure. 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: closing the second valve to inhibit the flow of refrigerant from flowing through the second evaporator;opening the first valve to allow the flow of refrigerant to flow to the first evaporator;opening a solenoid valve positioned between an outlet of the first evaporator and the compressor such that substantially the entire flow of refrigerant passes through the first evaporator; andcooling the first environmentally controlled space with the first evaporator until the temperature within the first environmentally controlled space is substantially equal to the first set point temperature. 16. The method of claim 14, further comprising: closing the first valve for a second time to inhibit the flow of refrigerant through the first evaporator;opening the second valve for a second time to allow the flow of refrigerant to flow through the second evaporator; andcooling the second environmentally controlled space with the second evaporator until the temperature within the second environmentally controlled space is substantially equal to the second set point temperature. 17. The method of claim 14, further comprising: sensing that the temperature within the first temperature controlled space is significantly greater than the first set point temperature;opening the first valve to allow the flow of refrigerant to flow through the first evaporator; andcooling the first environmentally controlled space with the first evaporator until the temperature within the first environmentally controlled space is substantially equal to the first set point temperature. 18. The method of claim 14, further comprising: sensing that the temperature within the second temperature controlled space is significantly greater than the second set point temperature;opening the second valve for a second time to allow the flow of refrigerant to flow through the second evaporator; andcooling the second environmentally controlled space with the second evaporator until the temperature within the second environmentally controlled space is substantially equal to the second set point temperature. 19. The method of claim 14, further comprising: sensing that the temperature within the first temperature controlled space is significantly greater than the first set point temperature;sensing that the temperature within the second temperature controlled space is significantly greater than the second set point temperature;closing a solenoid valve positioned between an outlet of the first evaporator and the compressor when the temperature within the second temperature controlled space is significantly greater than the second set point temperature;opening the first valve to provide the flow of refrigerant to the first evaporator; andregulating the pressure at the outlet of the first evaporator with the pressure regulator such that the first evaporator and the second evaporator provide substantially equal cooling to the first environmentally controlled space and the second environmentally controlled space.
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