GB2074300A

GB2074300A - Refrigerated Containers

Info

Publication number: GB2074300A
Application number: GB8103931A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Morrissey J P
Current assignee: Morrissey J P
Priority date: 1980-02-09
Filing date: 1981-02-09
Publication date: 1981-10-28

Abstract

A refrigeration apparatus comprising a container body (10, Fig. 2) and a reservoir assembly 12 for containing a cryogenic liquid and having means to discharge the cryogenic liquid in gaseous form into the container interior. A valve 25, a vaporiser 28 and a pressure regulator 27 are provided. The major portion of the reservoir assembly is contained within at least one wall 11 of the container. The discharge valve 25 communicates with a spray bar 15 which extends into the container interior. The reservoir assembly has a fill valve 13 and a vent valve 14 located externally of the container and a control panel is provided externally of the container to display prevailing temperature conditions within the container and quantity of cryogenic liquid in the reservoir assembly. A reservoir filling device is provided comprising a body or fill block having nozzles connectable to the fill valve and vent for supplying or removing cryogenic liquid to or from the reservoir. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Refrigerated Containers This invention relates to refrigerated containers which are normally self-contained.

At present all temperature controlled containers require to either sacrifice critical internal space for the refrigeration device or must be prepared/capable of allowing for exterior mounted device. This problem becomes more acute when containers are required in smaller sizes and very significant space is yielded to the device (indeed this is true for containers even when dry ice is used as the refrigerant).

An object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate the aforementioned disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a refrigeration apparatus comprising a container and a reservoir assembly for containing a cryogenic liquid and having a discharge outlet to direct gaseous medium into the container interior via a cryogenic valve, a vaporiser and a pressure regulator.

Preferably, the major portion of the reservoir assembly is contained within at least one wall of the container.

Preferably also, the discharge outlet comprises a spray bar extending into the container interior.

Preferably also, the reservoir assembly has a fill valve and a vent valve located externally of the container.

Preferably also, a control panel is provided externally of the container to display prevailing temperature conditions within the container and quantity of cryogenic liquid in the reservoir assembly.

Preferably also, a reservoir filling device is provided comprising a body or fill block having a first conduit connected at one end to a supply hose or pipe, and terminating at the other end in a nozzle connectable to a fill valve of the reservoir and a second conduit terminating at one end in the nozzle connectable to the vent valve of the container and at the other end in an outlet to atmosphere and means for connecting the body to the fill and vent valves.

Preferably, said means comprises a pair of trunnions on the external portion of the reservoir and a pivotal claw device on the fill block, or vice versa, said claw device being pivotal to engage or disengage the trunnions.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 illustrates the reservoir assembly for refrigerated containers, according to the invention; Figs. 2 to 4 illustrate refrigerated containers according to three embodiments of the invention; Fig. 5 illustrates a detail; and Figs. 6 to 7 illustrate a supply coupling.

Referring firstly to Figs. 1 and 2, the refrigerated container comprises a container body 10 within one wall 11 of which is housed the major portion of the reservoir 12 of a reservoir assembly; extending externally of the container are fill and vent valves 13, 14 by which a cryogenic liquid can be introduced into or drained from the reservoir respectively, and extending into the container interior is a spray bar 1 5 from which vaporised gaseous medium is discharged into the container interior.

The reservoir 12 comprises a series of upstanding tubes 20 having a common base pipe 21 leading from the fill valve 13. The upper end of the tubes are also interconnected by a common pipe 22 connected to a vent line 23 leading to the vent valve 14. A safety valve 24 is incorporated in the upper pipe 22. As an additional safety feature a bursting disc 24A may be incorporated upstream of the safety valve 24, and so constructed that if the safety valve fails, the resultant pressure increase will burst the disc and thus relieve the pressure in the circuit.

The tubes 20 and base pipe 21 form a storage area for cryogenic liquid and the end of the base pipe opposite to the fill valve 13 terminates in an air-operated cryogenic valve 25 through which the vaporised liquid, in the form of a gaseous medium, passes under pressure to the spray bar 15.

The other parts of the reservoir assembly comprise the air valve 25 in circuit with a pneumatic timer 26, a servo pressure regulator 27 and a servo cryogenic liquid vaporiser 28 and these control the discharge of gaseous medium.

A gas propelled fan (Fig. 5) may be provided in addition to or as an alternative to a spray bar to aid distribution of the gas. For example, the fan may be incorporated in the line to the spray bar, so as to control the rate of flow of the gas where the fan replaces the spring bar, the fan will 'throw' the vaporised gas into the container interior to cause a circulation of the gas therein.

As shown in Fig. 2, an external control panel 29 is provided on the wall of the container and houses the fill and vent and safety valves 12, 1 3, 24 and also a timer control and a temperature dial.

In the container shown in Fig. 3, the reservoir 12' is in the form of a 'rib cage' and is contained within two opposed walls and the base of the container. The common base pipe 21' lies horizontally along the centre of the container base and two sets of storage tubes 20' extend transversely therefrom in opposite directions then curve upwards through 900 to extend vertically within the opposed walls. The upper end of each set of tubes has a common upper pipe 22' which interconnect with a single vent valve 14' and a safety valve 24'.

A single spray bar 15' extends into the interior of the container.

In a further embodiment, Fig. 4, a 'rib cage' reservoir is provided in a horizontal disposition; i.e. the common base pipe 21" is vertically disposed in one end wall and the two sets of storage tubes 20" lie horizontally within the opposed side walls. The end of each set of tubes has a common pipe 22" which interconnect with a single vent valve 14" and safety valve 24" and a single spray valve 15" extends into the container interior.

The tubes forming the reservoir may be flexible so as to conform to the most suitable configuration with the contour walls.

In each embodiment, the fill valve 13 and vent valve 14 are located close together so that a special coupling can be used to fill or vent the reservoir.

In use, with the reservoir supplied with cryogenic liquid, a spray of gaseous medium will enter the container interior until a certain low temperature level is reached. The sensor will cut off the spray until the temperature rises above a certain value when it will cause the gaseous medium to spray into the container interior.

The coupling, as shown in Figs. 6 to 7 comprises a block 30 having a pair of probes or nozzles 31, 32 which connect with the fill valve 13 and vent valve 14 respectively. The block 30 has two conduits 33, 34 extending through the probes; conduits 33, passed through the block from end to end and connects with a fill hose 35 at the end opposite the probe 31. Conduit 34 opens to atmosphere at the end opposite the vent probe 32.

Means for coupling the block 30 to the fill and vent valves 13, 14 comprise a pivotal claw device 36 on the block 30 and a pair of trunnions 37 on the panel 29 housing the valves 13, 14.

The claw device 36 includes a handle 38 to effect movement of the claws 39 to engage or disengage the trunnions 37.

In use with the block 30 coupled to the panel 29, cryogenic liquid is pumped into the reservoir and displaced air vents to atmosphere. When the reservoir is filled, liquid will spill from the vent conduit 34 and the block 30 is uncoupled, immediately closing the fill and vent valves 13, 14.

When it is desired to empty the reservoir, the block is coupled to the panel and a gas is pumped in causing what liquid remains in the reservoir to vent to atmosphere.

The refrigerated container has a plurality of applications including, for example, being in the form of an I.S.O. Container loaded with frozen or chilled food-stuffs for shipment and/or transportation Nationally or Internationally.

In addition, such containers may be used in a static situation either individually or with other such units to provide the desired capacity in such a refrigeration system.

The containers may be a variety of shaped and shapes and sizes and as stated, directed to either mobile or static duty.

The containers may be included in or comprise vehicle bodies of all sizes and shapes and may be transported by ocean-going craft and aircraft.

The refrigeration apparatus, as hereinbefore described, has a number of preferred features as follows: the reservoir assembly can be incorporated into most containers at the time of construction without the reduction of valuable storage space.

The reservoir assembly is unique in its concept of being an integral part of the container itself; it is concealed within the wall of the container.

Furthermore, unlike other exterior mounted mechanical systems, it is almost silent in operation.

It requires only the refrigerant to operate.

A further design feature is that the container may be quickly converted to other nonrefrigerated type service but equally quickly redirected to its design service by simply being charged with refrigerant liquid.

Furthermore, the containers by adjustment of temperatures, can very quickly be engaged in a variety of different duties or applications; for instance, in storing/carrying, a multiplicity of products to specified temperature controlled conditions. As an example, one container could be deployed on frozen product whilst another container might contain chilled products.

It is envisaged that these containers which are capable of being manufactured in a variety of sizes for all the duties mentioned, would be deployed in both the National and International trades carrying a variety of products/produce from one country to another and also Nationally on land, sea, rail and in the air.

It is further envisaged that any such container may be used either alone or in groups as semipermanent cold storage.

It is also the intention that the unique feature of the apparatus hereinbefore described could be applied to the production of special delivery/production vehicles. For example, delivery vehicles of dairy produce where ideally such produce should be maintained at appropriate temperatures.

The apparatus also has application to domestic/industrial cold boxes, for example, as a replacement or support for the common domestic/industrial fridge or domestic/industrial cold box which could be used in areas throughout the world where the refrigeration medium is available and where other services, for example electricity, are not.

The apparatus may also assist producers of crops who require to have the produce immediately stored at appropriate temperatures and in such cases a mobile type unit of this system would achieve this objective.

The apparatus may take the form of boxes/containers of a variety used for storage/conveyancing of all perishables such as foodstuffs, medical drugs and the like, including laboratory/medical samples and sections and intraveneous fluids required to be maintained at appropriate temperatures.

The refrigerant is preferably liquid nitrogen but other cryogenic liquids could be used as appropriate, in particular liquid carbon dioxide used as a sublimating snow.

In a modification the vent gas provides a free power source for one of the valves.

Claims

1. A refrigeration apparatus comprising a container and a reservoir assembly for containing a cryogenic liquid and having a discharge outlet to direct gaseous medium into the container interior via a cryogenic valve, a vaporiser and a pressure regulator.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the major portion of the reservoir assembly is contained within at least one wall of the container.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the discharge outlet comprises a spray bar, extending into the container interior.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the reservoir assembly has a fill valve and a vent valve located externally of the container.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, in which a control panel is provided externally of the container to display prevailing temperature conditions within the container and quantity of cryogenic liquid in the reservoir assembly.

6. A device for filling the reservoir of a refrigeration apparatus as claimed in claim 3, comprising a body or fill block having a first conduit connected at one end to a supply hose or pipe, and terminating at the other end in a nozzle connectable to a fill valve of the reservoir and a second conduit terminating at one end in a nozzle connectable to the vent valve of the container and at the other end in an outlet to atmosphere and means for connecting the body to the fill and vent valves.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, in which the connecting means comprises a pair of trunnions on the external portion of the reservoir and a pivotal claw device on the fill block, or vice versa, said claw device being pivotal to engage or disengage the trunnions.

8. A refrigeration apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 or Fig. 3 or Fig. 4 or Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A filling device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 7 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.