Method and system of providing variable sound control of a transport climate control system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12403748-B2
Application number	US-202318311590-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 3, 2023
Priority date	May 6, 2022
Publication date	Sep 2, 2025
Grant date	Sep 2, 2025

Abstract

Methods and systems for controlling noise generated by a transport climate control system (TCCS) that provides climate control within a climate controlled space of a transport unit are disclosed. The methods and systems include a controller obtaining a noise tolerance, wherein the noise tolerance is a threshold noise level that includes at least a noise level generated by the TCCS; the controller monitoring the noise level generated by the TCCS; the controller comparing the noise tolerance with the noise level generated by the TCCS; upon the controller determining that the noise level generated by the TCCS is greater than the noise tolerance, the controller determining a target operating condition of the TCCS for matching the noise level generated by the TCCS with the noise tolerance; and the controller adjusting the TCCS to the target operating condition to adjust the noise level generated by the TCCS.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method for controlling noise generated by a transport climate control system (TCCS) that provides climate control within a climate controlled space of a transport unit, the method comprising:
a controller obtaining a noise tolerance, wherein the noise tolerance is a threshold noise level that includes at least a noise level generated by the TCCS;
the controller monitoring the noise level generated by the TCCS;
the controller comparing the noise tolerance with the noise level generated by the TCCS;
upon the controller determining that the noise level generated by the TCCS is greater than the noise tolerance, the controller determining a target operating condition of the TCCS for matching the noise level generated by the TCCS with the noise tolerance; and
the controller adjusting the TCCS to the target operating condition to adjust the noise level generated by the TCCS.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the controller monitoring the noise level generated by the TCCS by monitoring a traveling speed of the transport unit.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising the controller monitoring the traveling speed by:
obtaining location data of the transport unit, and
determining the traveling speed based on the location data of the transport unit.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the controller adjusting the TCCS includes adjusting a speed of a compressor of the TCCS.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
the controller obtaining a transport unit (TU) configuration, and
the controller monitoring the noise level generated by the TCCS based on the TU configuration.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
the controller determining a speed threshold based on the noise tolerance such that the speed threshold is a maximum traveling speed at which a baseline noise level exceeds the noise tolerance, and
upon the controller determining that the traveling speed is greater than the speed threshold, the controller adjusting the noise tolerance to the baseline noise level.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
the controller obtaining a required climate control capacity;
the controller determining a climate control capacity based on the target operation condition of the TCCS;
the controller determining that the required climate control capacity is greater than the climate control capacity at the target operating condition; and
the controller transmitting an alert upon determining that the required climate control capacity is greater than the climate control capacity at the target operating condition.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
the controller resetting the noise tolerance after adjusting the TCCS to the target operating condition.

9. A transport climate control system (TCCS) for providing climate control within a climate controlled space of a transport unit, the TCCS comprising:
a climate control circuit configured to provide climate control within the climate controlled space; and
a controller configured to:
control the climate control circuit;
obtain a noise tolerance, wherein the noise tolerance is a threshold noise level that includes at least a noise level generated by the TCCS;
monitor the noise level generated by the TCCS;
compare the noise tolerance with the noise level generated by the TCCS;
upon determining that the noise level generated by the TCCS is greater than the noise tolerance, determine a target operating condition of the TCCS for matching the noise level generated by the TCCS with the noise tolerance; and
adjust the TCCS to the target operating condition to adjust the noise level generated by the TCCS.

10. The TCCS of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to monitor the noise level generated by the TCCS by monitoring a traveling speed of the transport unit.

11. The TCCS of claim 9 , wherein the controller being configured to adjust the TCCS to the target operating condition includes the controller being configured to adjust a speed of a compressor of the TCCS.

12. The TCCS of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to:
obtain a transport unit (TU) configuration, and
monitor the noise level generated by the TCCS based on the TU configuration.

13. The TCCS of claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine a speed threshold based on the noise tolerance such that the speed threshold is a maximum traveling speed at which a baseline noise level exceeds the noise tolerance, and
upon determining that the traveling speed is greater than the speed threshold, adjust the noise tolerance to the baseline noise level.

14. The TCCS of claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
obtain a required climate control capacity;
determine a climate control capacity based on the target operation condition of the TCCS;
compare the required climate control capacity with the climate control capacity at the target operating condition; and
transmit an alert when the required climate control capacity is greater than the climate control capacity at the target operating condition.

15. The TCCS of claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to reset the noise tolerance after adjusting the TCCS to the target operating condition.

Assignees

• Thermo King Llc

Inventors

• Srichai Panayu Robert
• Vanous Michael James
• Clark Adam Leonard
• Martinus Ferdy
• Bates Scott R

Classifications

• B60H1/3205 Primary

  Control means therefor · CPC title

• B60H1/00757 Primary

  by the input of sound, e.g. by using a voice synthesizer · CPC title

• B60H1/00764

  the input being a vehicle driving condition, e.g. speed (B60H1/00828, B60H1/00864 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60H2001/006

  Noise reduction · 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