TH43783A - Methods and containers for transporting or storing goods, especially food products, in frozen and/or refrigerated conditions. - Google Patents

Abstract

DC60 (22/07/42) This invention concerns methods and containers (1) for the storage or transport of goods, specifically frozen and/or chilled food products, which consist of a conditioned chamber (19) in which the products are placed. This chamber is conditioned by a refrigeration medium (16, 17), for example, solid carbon dioxide (CO2), which is placed above the chamber. The refrigeration medium (16, 17) and the chamber (19) are separated by a mechanism of a thermal divider, for example, insulating panels (13, 14, 15). The mechanism of the thermal divider between the chamber and the refrigeration medium is adjusted to maintain the required amount of cold transfer between the refrigerant and the chamber (19). The amount of the refrigeration medium is adjusted according to specific requirements, such as the assumed transport/storage duration, the desired storage temperature, and the expected average ambient temperature. This invention concerns methods and containers (1) for the storage or transport of goods. Commercially, frozen and/or chilled food products are transported in a structured chamber (19) in which the products are placed. This chamber is conditioned by a cooling medium (16, 17), for example, solid carbon dioxide (CO2), which is placed above the chamber. The cooling medium (16, 17) and the chamber (19) are separated by a thermal barrier mechanism, such as insulating panels (13, 14, 15). The thermal barrier mechanism between the chamber and the cooling medium is adjusted to maintain the required amount of cold transfer between the refrigerant and the chamber (19). The amount of cooling medium is adjusted according to specific requirements, such as the assumed transport/storage duration, the desired storage temperature, and the estimated average ambient temperature.

Claims (14)

1. Methods for storing or transporting products, especially food products, in a frozen and/or chilled condition, which include a conditioned chamber, such as a cargo container (1), in which the products are placed, and in which the chamber (19) is conditioned by a refrigeration medium (16, 17), for example, solid carbon dioxide (CO2) arranged above the chamber, with the refrigeration medium and the chamber separated by a special thermal partition mechanism. The thermal partition mechanism (13, 14, 15) between the refrigeration medium (16, 17) and the chamber (19) is adjusted to maintain the required amount of cold transfer between the refrigerant and the chamber. 2. The method under claim 1 is characterized by the fact that the thermal partition mechanism (13, 14, 15) can be adjusted to limit the transfer of cold air both directly and indirectly between the refrigerant and the room (19). 3. The method under claim 2 is of a special nature, that, taking into account the limitations of indirect and/or direct transfer of cold, the mechanism of the thermal barrier (13, 14, 15) between the refrigeration medium and the chamber (19) is more efficient for transporting chilled goods than for transporting frozen goods. 4. The method under claims 1-3 is characterized by the fact that the amount of carrier material contained in the container (1) can be adjusted according to specific requirements such as the assumed length of transport/storage in the container, the desired storage temperature and the expected average ambient temperature. 5. The method according to claims 1-4 is of a special nature, in which room (19) shall consist of at least two differently conditioned rooms. 6. Cargo containers (1) for the storage or transport of goods, especially frozen and/or chilled food products, which consist of at least one conditioned chamber (19) in which the goods are placed and in which the chambers are conditioned by a cooling medium such as solid carbon dioxide (CO2) arranged in chamber (18) above chamber (19) in one or more cells (16, 17), in which the cooling medium and chamber (19) are separated by a mechanism of thermal dividers such as insulating panels (13, 14, 15) which are of the special characteristic that the insulating panels (13, 14, 15) between the cooling medium and the chamber (19) can be adjusted to maintain the required amount of cooling transfer between the refrigerant and chamber (19). 7. Cargo containers under claim 6 have a special characteristic in which the insulated panels (13, 14, 15) can be adjusted to limit the transfer of cold, both directly and indirectly, between the refrigerant and the chamber (19). 8. Cargo containers under claim 6, which have the special characteristic that the insulating panels (13) between the refrigeration medium and the chamber (19) shall be of the type that are closed when unloading the refrigerated goods. 9. The containers under claim 6 shall have the special characteristics that the insulating panels (14, 15) between the refrigeration medium and the chamber (19) shall be of the open type, having one or more openings when transporting the frozen goods. 10. A cargo container under claim 6 with the special characteristic that the insulating panels and cells are integrated into a single unit to create a single unit. 11. Cargo containers under claims 6-10 that have the following special characteristics: 12. The cargo containers under claim 11 shall have a special designation in which the insulating panels separating the compartments (19) shall be provided with an internal cavity capable of holding a solid volatile medium (CO2). 13. Containers under Requirement 6-12, which have strong top, bottom, rear and side walls and an opening at the front sealed by a door arrangement of a special nature such that the door arrangement shall consist of an upper door (4) and a lower door (3), where the upper door (4) seals the upper compartment 18 and the lower door (3) seals the lower compartment (19), where at least one door may be divided into several hinged elements. 14. The cargo containers under claim 6-13 have a special characteristic that the amount of carrier material contained in the cargo container (1) can be adjusted according to specific requirements such as the assumed length of transport/storage in the cargo container, the desired storage temperature and the expected average ambient temperature.