Heat deflector for tractor-trailer refrigeration system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016272256-A1
Application number	US-201615073976-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 18, 2016
Priority date	Mar 20, 2015
Publication date	Sep 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A transport refrigeration system is provided including a tractor vehicle having an engine and a trailer operably coupled to the tractor vehicle. A transport refrigeration unit is mounted to a front surface of the trailer adjacent the tractor vehicle. At least one shield is mounted to the tractor or the trailer and is configured to divert discharged hot air from a flow path towards a condenser air inlet of the transport refrigeration unit.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A transport refrigeration system comprising:
a tractor vehicle having an engine; a trailer operably coupled to the tractor vehicle; a transport refrigeration unit mounted to a front surface of the trailer adjacent the tractor vehicle; and at least one shield mounted to the tractor or the trailer, the at least one shield being configured to divert discharged hot air from a flow path towards a condenser air inlet of the transport refrigeration unit.

2 . The transport refrigeration system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one shield is configured to direct the discharged hot air towards a side of at least one of the tractor and trailer.

3 . The transport refrigeration system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one shield is a generally hollow duct.

4 . The transport refrigeration system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one shield is configured to form a generally hollow duct when coupled to at least one of the tractor and trailer.

5 . The transport refrigeration system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one shield is fabricated from plastic.

6 . The transport refrigeration system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one shield is formed from sheet metal.

7 . The transport refrigeration system according to claim 1 , the at least one shield includes a first shield mounted to the tractor and configured to divert vehicle engine heat towards a side of the tractor.

8 . The transport refrigeration system according to claim 1 , wherein the first shield is generally complementary to one or more components extending from the tractor towards the trailer.

9 . The transport refrigeration system according to claim 7 , further comprising a second shield adjacent a base of the transport refrigeration unit and configured to divert hot air discharged from the transport refrigeration unit towards a side of the trailer.

10 . The transport refrigeration system according to claim 9 , wherein the first shield and the second shield have a generally similar contour.

11 . The transport refrigeration system according to claim 9 , wherein the first shield and the second shield do not contact one another when the tractor and trailer are in a linear configuration.

12 . The transport refrigeration system according to claim 1 , the at least one shield includes a first shield mounted adjacent a base of the transport refrigeration unit and configured to divert hot air discharged from the transport refrigeration unit away from the condenser air inlet.

13 . The transport refrigeration system according to claim 12 , wherein the first shield is generally complementary to one or more components extending from the trailer towards the tractor.

14 . The transport refrigeration system according to claim 12 , further comprising a second shield mounted to the tractor and configured to divert hot air discharged from the vehicle engine towards a side of the tractor.

Assignees

• Carrier Corp

Inventors

• Stauter Richie C

Classifications

• F25B2339/04

  Details of condensers · CPC title

• F25B39/00

  Evaporators; Condensers · CPC title

• B60H1/3229

  characterised by constructional features, e.g. housings, mountings, conversion systems (B60H1/3227, B60H1/3233 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60H1/3227

  characterised by the arrangement or the type of heat exchanger, e.g. condenser, evaporator (condensed liquid drainage means B60H1/3233) · CPC title

• B62D35/001 Primary

  For commercial vehicles or tractor-trailer combinations, e.g. caravans · CPC title