Unit load device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12061036-B2
Application number	US-202017082808-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 28, 2020
Priority date	Nov 5, 2019
Publication date	Aug 13, 2024
Grant date	Aug 13, 2024

Abstract

A unit load device, which includes: a box, which is configured to carry cargos and provide heat insulation for the cargos; an optional phase change energy storage material, which is disposed on an inner side face of the box and configured to maintain the temperature of the cargos in the box; and a temperature adjustment module, which is detachably connected to the box to provide cold and/or heat to the box. Different combinations of the box, the temperature adjustment module and the phase change material meet different needs in the cargo transportation process and ensure the transportation efficiency and quality of the cargos.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A unit load device, comprising:
a box, which is configured to carry cargos;
a temperature adjustment module having a cooling and/or heating module, which is detachably connected to the box to provide at least one of cold and heat to the box;
wherein the box comprises a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and the temperature adjustment module comprises a fluid output port and a fluid return port;
wherein, when the temperature adjustment module is connected to the box, the fluid output port of the temperature adjustment module is connected with the fluid inlet of the box, and the fluid return port of the temperature adjustment module is connected with the fluid outlet of the box; and
valves provided at the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet; and
an automated element associated with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet;
wherein the automated element, responsive to a determination that the temperature adjustment module is installed to the box, opens the valves;
wherein the automated element, responsive to a determination that the temperature adjustment module is detached from the box, closes the valves; and
the automated element comprises pipe portions;
wherein the pipe portions, when inserted into the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, cause the valves to open; and
wherein the pipe portions, when extracted from the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, enable the valves to close under action of automated closure elements of the valves.

2. The unit load device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the pipe portions, when inserted into the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, cause the valves to open; and
the pipe portions, when extracted from the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, enable the valves to close under action of automated closure elements of the valves.

3. The unit load device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the temperature adjustment module comprises a temperature adjustment device; and
the temperature adjustment module comprises a battery for supplying energy to the temperature adjustment device.

4. The unit load device according to claim 1 , wherein the box comprises a phase change material inside.

5. The unit load device according to claim 4 , wherein the phase change material is detachably installed in the box; in particular, the phase change material has a sheet shape and is detachably installed to at least one wall of the box.

6. A unit load device, comprising:
a box, which is configured to carry cargos;
a temperature adjustment module having a cooling and/or heating module, which is detachably connected to the box to provide at least one of cold and heat to the box;
wherein the box comprises a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and the temperature adjustment module comprises a fluid output port and a fluid return port;
wherein, when the temperature adjustment module is connected to the box, the fluid output port of the temperature adjustment module is connected with the fluid inlet of the box, and the fluid return port of the temperature adjustment module is connected with the fluid outlet of the box;
valves provided at the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet; and
an automated element associated with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet;
wherein the automated element, responsive to a determination that the temperature adjustment module is installed to the box, opens the valves;
wherein the automated element, responsive to a determination that the temperature adjustment module is detached from the box, closes the valves;
wherein the box is substantially of the shape of a cube, and the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet are located on a first side wall of the box;
wherein the box comprises an openable door, and the openable door is located on a second side wall opposite to the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet; and
wherein the box comprises a fluid inflow channel and a fluid return channel; the fluid inflow channel is in communication with the fluid inlet and has a portion at the first side wall of the box and a portion at a top side of the box, and the fluid return channel is in communication with the fluid outlet and has a portion at the first side wall of the box and a portion at a bottom side of the box; in particular, a top portion of the box comprises a top inner partition to define a fluid inflow layer, and the top inner partition comprises a plurality of ventilation holes; a bottom portion of the box comprises a bottom inner partition to define a fluid return layer, and the bottom inner partition has a vent near the second side wall.

7. The unit load device according to claim 6 , wherein a detachably installed first phase change material sheet is provided on an inner wall of the second side wall of the box, and/or a detachably installed second phase change material sheet and a detachably installed third phase change material sheet are respectively provided at a third side wall and a fourth side wall between the first side wall and the second side wall.

Assignees

• Carrier Corp

Inventors

• Zhao Dan
• Ma Zidu

Classifications

• F25D23/00

  General constructional features (F25D21/00 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F25D15/00

  Devices not covered by group F25D11/00 or F25D13/00, e.g. non-self-contained movable devices · CPC title

• B65D81/18

  providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient (with thermal insulation B65D81/38) · CPC title

• F25D11/003 Primary

  Transport containers · CPC title

• F25D11/006 Primary

  with cold storage accumulators · CPC title