Flexible cooling system for vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10704820-B2
Application number	US-201615767359-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 11, 2016
Priority date	Oct 16, 2015
Publication date	Jul 7, 2020
Grant date	Jul 7, 2020

Abstract

A cooling unit ( 506 ) for a vehicle ( 200 ) is provided. The cooling unit includes a compressor ( 428 ) electrically connected to a power module ( 314 ), a condenser ( 530 ) operably connected to the compressor, an evaporator ( 536 ) operably connected to the compressor and the condenser, the evaporator configured to cool ambient air ( 520 ), and at least one flexible duct ( 208 ) configured to fluidly connect the evaporator with a cargo held in a cargo space of the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cooling unit for a vehicle, the cooling unit comprising:
a tarp configured to enclose and at least partially define a cargo space of the vehicle, the tarp comprising at least one slit;
a compressor electrically connected to a power module;
a condenser operably connected to the compressor;
an evaporator operably connected to the compressor and the condenser, the evaporator configured to cool ambient air;
at least one flexible duct configured to fluidly connect the evaporator with a cargo held in the cargo space of the vehicle, wherein cooling air is delivered directly to the cargo though the at least one flexible duct;
at least one air hose fluidly connecting the compressor to ambient air outside of the tarp through the at least one slit.

2. The cooling unit of claim 1 , wherein the power module is an engine of the vehicle.

3. The cooling unit of claim 1 , wherein the power module is an auxiliary power unit held on the vehicle.

4. The cooling unit of claim 1 , wherein the cargo is a thermally isolated pallet.

5. The cooling unit of claim 1 , further comprising a fan configured to blow air from the evaporator into the at least one flexible duct.

6. The cooling unit of claim 1 , wherein the condenser is configured to receive and exhaust air through the tarp of the vehicle.

7. The cooling unit of claim 1 , wherein the cooling unit is configured to be mounted on a wall of the vehicle.

8. The cooling unit of claim 1 , wherein the compressor is configured to be located on an exterior of the vehicle and the evaporator is configured to be located in the cargo space of the vehicle.

9. A method of cooling cargo on a vehicle, the method comprising:
cooling air with a cooling unit installed on the vehicle;
distributing the cooled air directly to a cargo within the vehicle through at least one flexible duct, and
exhausting air from the cooling unit through an air hose that connects the cooling unit through a slit in a tarp of the vehicle to ambient, wherein the tarp encloses and at least partially defines a cargo space of the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising powering the cooling unit with a power module on the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the power module is an engine of the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the power module is an auxiliary power unit held on the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the cargo is a thermally isolated pallet.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising receiving ambient air at a condenser of the cooling unit.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the air is ambient air external to the vehicle.

Assignees

• Carrier Corp

Inventors

• Rusignuolo Giorgio
• Chopko Robert A
• Deldicque Greg
• Chen Yu H
• Poolman Ciara

Classifications

• F25D17/00

  Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces · CPC title

• B60H1/3202

  using evaporation, i.e. not including a compressor, e.g. involving fuel or water evaporation · CPC title

• B60P3/20

  Refrigerated goods vehicles (air treatment of goods space B60H; {air-conditioning means for freight cars, isothermic wagons B61D27/0027; superstructures for refrigerated goods vehicles B62D33/048}) · CPC title

• B60H1/3232

  particularly adapted for load transporting vehicles (B60H1/3226 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F25D11/003 Primary

  Transport containers · CPC title