Methods and systems for notifying and mitigating a suboptimal event occurring in a transport climate control system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12072193-B2
Application number	US-201817420032-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 31, 2018
Priority date	Dec 31, 2018
Publication date	Aug 27, 2024
Grant date	Aug 27, 2024

Abstract

A method for notifying and mitigating a suboptimal event occurring in a transport climate control system that provides climate control to a climate controlled space of a transport unit is provided. The method includes monitoring an amount of power available for powering the transport climate control system, monitoring a power demand from the transport climate control system, and accessing operational data of the transport climate control system and the transport unit. The method also includes a controller determining whether a suboptimal event is detected based on one or more of the monitored amount of power available, the monitored power demand and the accessed operational data. Also, the method includes the controller generating a notification when a suboptimal event is detected, and the controller instructing the generated notification to be displayed on a display.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for notifying and mitigating a suboptimal event occurring in a transport climate control system that provides climate control to a climate controlled space of a transport unit, the method comprising:
monitoring an amount of power available for powering the transport climate control system;
monitoring a power demand from the transport climate control system;
accessing operational data of the transport climate control system and the transport unit, wherein the operational data includes climate control data for the transport climate control system and route data for the transport unit;
a controller determining whether a suboptimal event is detected based on:
the accessed operational data, including the climate control data for the transport climate control system and the route data for the transport unit; and
one or more of the monitored amount of power available and the monitored power demand;

the controller generating a notification when a suboptimal event is detected; and
the controller instructing the generated notification to be displayed on a display,
wherein the suboptimal event is one or more of an insufficient energy event, a predicted insufficient energy event, a poor operation and/or improper use event of the transport climate control system, an unexpected change in location of the transport unit, an unexpected change in a climate condition, and a trip goal for a driver is not being met.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining whether a corrective action is taken after the generated notification is displayed;
escalating the generated notification when it is determined that the corrective action has not been taken; and
instructing the escalated notification to be displayed on a display.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining whether a corrective action is taken after the generated notification is displayed;
recalculating a trip goal for a driver based on the amount of power available for powering the transport climate control system, the power demand from the transport climate control system, and the route data; and
the controller instructing the recalculated trip goal to be displayed on the display.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating a positive notification when a suboptimal event is not detected; and
instructing the generated positive notification to be displayed on the display.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
accessing stored metric data of previous suboptimal events; and
the controller determining whether the suboptimal event is detected based on one or more of the monitored amount of power available, the monitored power demand, the accessed operational data, and the stored metric data.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that a corrective action is taken after the generated notification is displayed;
recalculating a trip goal based on the corrective action taken,
wherein the trip goal includes at least one of reducing a number of stops made by the transport unit along a route, and adding a stop along the route at a location of a utility power source for recharging a transport power system.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
waiting an adjustable time period after generating the notification, wherein the adjustable time period is set based on one or more climate control parameters, target goal parameters, and route parameters;
determining whether a corrective action is taken after the generated notification is displayed and the adjustable time period has passed.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operational data further target goal data for a driver.

9. A suboptimal event notification and mitigation system for a transport climate control system that provides climate control to a climate controlled space of a transport unit, the system comprising:
a climate control circuit including a compressor configured to provide climate control to the climate controlled space of the transport unit;
a display device; and
a controller connected to the display device, wherein the controller is configured to:
monitor an amount of power available for powering the transport climate control system,
monitor a power demand from the transport climate control system,
access operational data of the transport climate control system and the transport unit, wherein the operational data includes climate control data for the transport climate control system and route data for the transport unit;
determine whether a suboptimal event is detected based on;
the accessed operational data, including the climate control data for the transport climate control system and the route data for the transport unit; and
one or more of the monitored amount of power available and the monitored power demand;

generate a notification when a suboptimal event is detected; and
instruct the generated notification to be displayed on a display,

wherein the suboptimal event is one or more of an insufficient energy event, a predicted insufficient energy event, a poor operation and/or improper use event of the transport climate control system, an unexpected change in location of the transport unit, an unexpected change in a climate condition, and a trip goal for a driver is not being met.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine whether a corrective action is taken after the generated notification is displayed,
escalate the generated notification when it is determined that the corrective action has not been taken, and
instruct the escalated notification to be displayed on a display.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine whether a corrective action is taken after the generated notification is displayed;
recalculate a trip goal for a driver based on the amount of power available for powering the transport climate control system, the power demand from the transport climate control system, and the route data; and
instruct the recalculated trip goal to be displayed on the display.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
generate a positive notification when a suboptimal event is not detected, and
instruct the generated positive notification to be displayed on the display.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
access stored metric data of previous suboptimal events; and
determine whether a suboptimal event is detected based on one or more of the monitored amount of power available, the monitored power demand, the accessed operational data, and the stored metric data.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine that a corrective action is taken after the generated notification is displayed;
recalculate a trip goal based on the corrective action taken,
wherein the trip goal includes at least one of reducing a number of stops made by the transport unit along a route, and adding a stop along the route at a location of a utility power source for recharging a transport power system.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
wait an adjustable time period after generating the notification, wherein the adjustable time period is set based on one or more climate control parameters, target goal parameters, and route parameters;
determine whether a corrective action is taken after the generated notification is displayed and the adjustable time period has passed.

16. The system of claim

Assignees

• Thermo King Llc

Inventors

• Schumacher Ryan Wayne
• Leasure Mark D
• Briscoe Casey
• Srnec Matthew
• Lavrich Philip Lewis
• Srichai Panayu Robert
• Hubbard Wallace Stephen
• Baumgardner Grant A

Classifications

• G07C5/0825

  using optical means · CPC title

• B60H1/3232

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

• B60H1/3225

  characterised by safety arrangements, e.g. compressor anti-seizure means or by signalling devices · CPC title

• B60H1/3205

  Control means therefor · CPC title

• B60H1/00428 Primary

  electric · CPC title