Transport climate control remote management

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12233687-B2
Application number	US-202318455174-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 24, 2023
Priority date	Mar 31, 2021
Publication date	Feb 25, 2025
Grant date	Feb 25, 2025

Abstract

A method of remotely managing a transport climate control system (TCCS) includes a remote management device receiving performance data from the TCCS. The performance data based on one or more detected operating parameters of the climate control circuit. The method also including the remote management device providing the performance data to one or more user devices. A remote management system includes a remote management device configured to receive performance data for a climate control circuit from a climate controller of a TCCS and to provide the performance data to one or more user devices. A TCCS includes a controller configured to: generate performance data based on the one or more detected operating parameters of a climate control circuit, and transmit the performance data to a remote monitoring device. The climate controller also configured to receive an operating instruction from the remote monitoring device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of remotely managing a transport climate control system (TCCS) of a climate controlled transport unit, the TCCS includes a climate control circuit for conditioning a climate controlled space of the climate controlled transport unit, the method comprising:
a remote management device receiving performance data for the climate control circuit from a climate controller of the TCCS, the performance data generated by the climate controller based on one or more detected operating parameters of the climate control circuit, the remote management device being remote from the climate controlled transport unit; and
comparing, with the remote management device, the performance data for the climate control circuit to average performance for a model of TCCS matching the TCCS of the climate controlled transport unit;
generating, by the remote management device, a warning based on the comparison of the performance data and the average performance for a type of TCCS matching the TCCS of the climate controlled transport unit; and
transmitting, by the remote management device, the warning to the climate controller.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting, by the remote management device, an operating instruction to the climate controller, the operating instruction causing the climate controller to override a protection system of the climate controlled transport unit.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the operating instruction modifies a predetermined operation setting of the climate controller for operating the climate control circuit.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the operating instruction causes the climate controller to override a predetermined operating limit for activating a protection system of the TCCS.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the climate controller overrides the predetermined operating limit by ignoring the predetermined operating limit.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein
the protection system is a sealed compressor protection system for a compressor in the climate control circuit, and
the operating instruction causes the climate controller to ignore a predetermined shutdown parameter for operating the compressor in the climate control circuit.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein
a first user device provides an operation input for the climate controlled transport unit to the remote management device, the operation input causing the remote management device to perform the transmitting of the operating instruction.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein
the operation input is cargo value information relating to at least one of price and delivery criticality of cargo in the climate controlled space of the climate controlled transport unit, and
the operating instruction is generated by the remote management device based on the cargo value information.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the performance data includes one or more of:
refrigerant superheat, refrigerant subcooling, a temperature of working fluid in the climate control circuit, a pressure of the working fluid, status of an isolation valve in the climate control circuit, amperage to a compressor in the climate control circuit, a valve position of an expansion valve in the climate control circuit, a status of a protection system of the climate control circuit.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more detected operating parameters of the climate control circuit include one or more of: a temperature of working fluid in the climate control circuit, a pressure of the working fluid, status of an isolation valve in the climate control circuit, amperage to a compressor in the climate control circuit, and a valve position of an expansion valve in the climate control circuit.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the remote management device includes a remote server.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
storing the performance data in a memory of the remote management device; and
providing, via the remote management device, the performance data to a plurality of user devices, wherein the providing of the performance data to the plurality of user devices includes:
providing a first user device of the plurality of user devices with the performance data stored on the remote management device at a first access level, and
providing a second user device of the plurality of user devices with the performance data stored in the remote management device at a second access level, the second access level limiting access to the performance data relative to the first access level.

13. A remote management system for a transport climate control system (TCCS) of a climate controlled transport unit, the TCCS including a climate control circuit for conditioning an internal space of the climate controlled transport unit, the remote management system comprising:
a remote management device configured to:
receive performance data for the climate control circuit from a climate controller of the TCCS, the remote management device being remote from the climate controlled transport unit, the performance data based on one or more detected operating parameters of the climate control circuit,
compare the performance data for the climate control circuit to average performance for a model of TCCS matching the TCCS of the climate controlled transport unit,
generate a warning based on the comparison of the performance data and the average performance for a type of TCCS matching the TCCS of the climate controlled transport unit, and
transmit the warning to the climate controller.

14. The remote management system of claim 13 , wherein the remote management device is configured to transmit an operating instruction to the climate controller, the operating instruction causing the climate controller to override a protection system of the climate controlled transport unit.

15. The remote management system of claim 14 , wherein the operating instruction causes the climate controller to override a predetermined operating limit for activating the protection system.

16. A transport climate control system (TCCS) for a climate controlled transport unit, comprising:
a climate control circuit configured to climate condition an internal space of the climate controlled transport unit;
a climate controller connected to a telematics unit, the climate controller configured to:
control operation of the climate control circuit, detect one or more operating parameters of the climate control circuit, generate performance data for the climate control circuit based on the one or more operating parameters of the climate control circuit, and transmit the performance data to a remote management device that is remote from the climate controlled transport unit, via the telematics unit,
wherein the climate controller is configured to receive, via the telematics unit, a warning from the remote management device, and the warning being generated, by the remote management device, based on comparing the performance data for the climate control circuit to average performance for a model of TCCS matching the TCCS of the climate controlled transport unit.

17. The TCCS of claim 16 , wherein the climate controller is configured to receive, via the telematics unit, an operating instruction from the remote management device, the operating instruction causing the climate controller to override a protection system of the climate controlled transport unit.

Assignees

• Thermo King Llc

Inventors

• Renken David J
• Spetz Tony
• Srnec Matthew
• Leasure Mark D

Classifications

• F25D11/003

  Transport containers · CPC title

• G05B2219/37375

  Climate, temperature and humidity · CPC title

• G05B19/4155

  characterised by program execution, i.e. part program or machine function execution, e.g. selection of a program · CPC title

• B60H1/00978

  Control systems or circuits characterised by failure of detection or safety means; Diagnostic methods · CPC title

• B60H1/00657

  Remote control devices · CPC title