Abstract:
A method or apparatus of accessing data includes detecting at least one parameter of a component of a refrigerated container and providing data relating to the at least one parameter to a transmitting computer located on the refrigerated container. The method or apparatus can further include transferring the data from the transmitting computer to a first remote computer located at an off-site location and transferring the data from the first remote computer to a second remote computer located at another off-site location.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/049,075 filed Apr. 30, 2008. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to a method and system for remotely acquiring data relating to a refrigerated vehicle. 
         [0003]    A refrigerated vehicle is used to transport refrigerated cargo, such as frozen or refrigerated food, from one location to another. The refrigerated vehicle includes a refrigerated container having a space for goods. The container also includes a refrigeration unit that functions to cool the space. 
         [0004]    The refrigeration unit includes a refrigeration system, and an evaporator of the refrigeration system cools the refrigerated box and the goods. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Exemplary embodiments of the invention include an apparatus and method of accessing data including detecting at least one parameter of a component of a refrigerated container and providing data relating to the at least one parameter to a transmitting computer located on the refrigerated container. The invention can further include transferring the data from the transmitting computer to a first remote computer located at an off-site location and transferring the data from the first remote computer to a second remote computer located at another off-site location. 
         [0006]    Other exemplary embodiments of the invention include a system for accessing data including at least one sensor to detect at least one parameter of a component of a refrigerated container and a transmitting computer located on the refrigerated container. Data relating to the at least one parameter is provided to the transmitting computer, the transmitting computer including a transmitter. The system includes a first remote computer located at an off-site location, the first remote computer including a transmitter and a receiver. The first remote computer receives the data from the transmitting computer. The system includes a second remote computer located at another off-site location, the second remote computer including a receiver. The second remote computer receives the data from the first remote computer. 
         [0007]    These and other features of the present invention will be best understood from the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The various features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the currently preferred embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a refrigerated vehicle; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates a system including the refrigerated vehicle, a refrigeration system and a plurality of computers; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of components of a compressor; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a crankshaft showing the orientation of sensors in a stationary compressor shaft seal. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates a refrigerated vehicle  10  that cools or refrigerates cargo or goods  12 , such as frozen or refrigerated goods, during transport from one location to another. The refrigerated vehicle  10  includes a cab portion  14 . The cab portion  14  pulls a refrigerated box  16  or trailer or container that contains the goods  12 . A refrigeration unit  17  is located in the refrigerated box  16 . In one example, the refrigeration unit  17  is attached to the front of the refrigerated box  16 . A refrigeration system  20  cools the refrigerated box  16 . The refrigeration unit  17  includes a first computer  18  that monitors and controls the refrigeration system  20  and obtains data relating to operating conditions of components of the refrigeration system  20  and the refrigerated vehicle  10 , such as temperature or pressure, as described blow. The data is collected by sensors (described below). The refrigeration unit  17  also includes a second computer  44  that is in communication with the first computer  18  and transmits data obtained by the first computer  18  to a remote location, as discussed below. The second computer  44  can be provided by PAR Technology Corporation. In one example, the second computer  44  provided by PAR Technology Corporation has Model No. CHDG LMS-WO-08-0110C. The second computer  44  includes the features described below. 
         [0014]    The first computer  18  includes a first microprocessor  38 , storage  40  and memory  42 . The first microprocessor  38  can be a hardware device for executing software (particularly software stored in the memory  42 ), to communicate data to and from the memory  42 , and to generally control operations of the first computer  18  pursuant to the software. Software in the memory  42  is read by the first microprocessor  38  and then executed. The memory  42  can include volatile memory elements, such as random access memory or RAM. The storage  40  can include non-volatile memory elements. 
         [0015]    The second computer  44  includes a second microprocessor  46 , storage  48  and memory  50 . The second microprocessor  46  can be a hardware device for executing software (particularly software stored in the memory  50 ), to communicate data to and from the memory  50 , and to generally control operations of the second computer  44  pursuant to the software. Software in the memory  50  is read by the second microprocessor  46  and then executed. The memory  50  can include volatile memory elements, such as random access memory or RAM. The storage  48  can include non-volatile memory elements. The second computer  44  also includes a transmitter  52  that transmits data provided to the second microprocessor  46  to a first remote computer  118 , as described below. In one example, the first remote computer  118  is a central server. 
         [0016]      FIG. 2  illustrates a system  23  including the refrigeration system  20  of the refrigeration unit  17 . The refrigeration system  20  includes a compressor  22 , a first heat exchanger  24 , an expansion device  26 , and a second heat exchanger  28  that provides cool air to the refrigerated box  16  to cool the goods  12 . Refrigerant circulates through the closed circuit refrigeration system  20 . 
         [0017]    The compressor  22  compresses the refrigerant to a high pressure and a high enthalpy, and the refrigerant exits the compressor  22  and flows through the first heat exchanger  24 . When the refrigeration system  20  is operating in a cooling mode, the first heat exchanger  24  acts a condenser. In the first heat exchanger  24 , the refrigerant rejects heat to air  30  and is condensed into a liquid that exits the first heat exchanger  24  at a low enthalpy and a high pressure. A fan  32  directs the air through the first heat exchanger  24 , and the heated air is exhausted from the refrigerated vehicle  10 . The cooled refrigerant then passes through the expansion device  26 , which expands the refrigerant to a low pressure. After expansion, the refrigerant flows through the second heat exchanger  28 , which acts as an evaporator. In the second heat exchanger  28 , the refrigerant accepts heat from air  34  drawn from the refrigerated box  16  by a fan  36 , cooling the air. The refrigerant exits the second heat exchanger  28  at a high enthalpy and a low pressure. The cooled air  34  is supplied to the refrigerated box  16 . After cooling the refrigerated box  16 , the air  34  returns to the second heat exchanger  28  for additional cooling. The refrigerant then flows to the compressor  22 , completing the cycle. 
         [0018]    When the refrigeration system  20  is operating in a heating mode, the flow of the refrigerant is reversed by opening and/or closing a plurality of valves (not shown). The first heat exchanger  24  accepts heat from the air  30  and functions as an evaporator, and the second heat exchanger  28  rejects heat to the air  34  and functions as a condenser. 
         [0019]    Information and data about the refrigeration unit  17  and the refrigeration system  20  is provided to the first microprocessor  38 . The serial number of the refrigeration unit  17 , the identification number of the refrigeration unit  17 , the software version running on the first computer  18 , a time stamp of the refrigeration unit  17 , the overall status of the refrigeration unit  17  (on, off, PC mode, configuration mode, etc.), a mode of operation of the refrigeration unit  17  (cool, heat, etc.), and information about the status of active or inactive alarms (such as shut down or non-shut down alarms) are provided to the first microprocessor  38 . The temperature set point of the refrigerated box  16  can be inputted by an individual with an input device  25  and provided to the first microprocessor  38 . For example, the temperature set point can be inputted with a keyboard, mouse, or other input device  25 . Sensors detect information about the refrigeration system  20 , and data about this information is provided to the first microprocessor  38 . 
         [0020]    As an illustration, a sensor  54  located near the middle of a coil of the first heat exchanger  24  (the condenser) detects the ambient air temperature. A sensor  56  detects the return air temperature of the airflow between the refrigerated box  16  and the refrigeration unit  17 , a sensor  58  detects the supply air temperature of the airflow between the refrigeration unit  17  and the refrigerated box  16 , and a sensor  60  located on a coil of the second heat exchanger  28  (the evaporator) detects the defrost termination temperature. 
         [0021]    In other illustrations, a sensor  62  detects the discharge pressure of the compressor  22 , a sensor  64  detects the discharge temperature of the compressor  22 , a sensor  66  detects the suction pressure of the compressor  22 , and a sensor  68  detects the suction temperature of the compressor  22 . A sensor  70  detects the percentage opening of a suction modulation valve  72 . Sensors  74  and  76  located at a compressor head (not shown) determine the mode of compressor unloader valves  78  and  80 , respectively that unload pressure in the compressor heads. 
         [0022]    As an example of the present invention,  FIG. 3  illustrates a portion of the compressor  22 . The compressor  22  includes a housing  82 , a crankshaft  84  and a gland plate  86 . A body portion  88  with a surrounding spring  90  surrounds the crankshaft  84 . The compressor  22  includes a stationary compressor shaft seal  92  located between the crankshaft  84  and the gland plate  86  and a rotary seal  94  located between the crankshaft  84  and the body portion  88 . The stationary compressor shaft seal  92  is spaced from the crankshaft  84  by a space  116 . The spring  90  provides axial loading between the stationary compressor shaft seal  92  and the rotary seal  94  to provide a refrigerant seal. An o-ring  96  is received in a groove  98  of the stationary compressor shaft seal  92  and positioned between the stationary compressor shaft seal  92  and the gland plate  86 . A lip seal  100  can be positioned in a groove  102  in the gland plate  86  and positioned between the crankshaft  84  and the gland plate  86  to prevent the ingress of dirt. 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , in one example, the stationary compressor shaft seal  92  includes three holes  104 ,  106  and  108  that each receive a sensor  110 ,  112  and  114 , such as a thermistor. The sensors  110 ,  112  and  114  detect the temperature at the stationary compressor shaft seal  92 . In this example, the sensors  110 ,  112  and  114  are employed to provide multiple temperature readings and to determine if there is any variation in temperature around the profile of the crankshaft  84 . The temperature detected by the sensors  110 ,  112  and  114  should be equal, and any variation in the temperature readings detected by the sensors  110 ,  112  and  114  could indicate a failure at the stationary compressor shaft seal  92  that requires service. 
         [0024]    In one example, the sensors  110 ,  112  and  114  are positioned approximately 120° relative to each other. As there are three sensors  110 ,  112  and  114 , the 120° orientation provides equal spacing of the sensors  110 ,  112  and  114  about the crankshaft  84 . 
         [0025]    In one example, the temperature detected by the sensors  110 ,  112  and  114  should be at or below a threshold temperature, which is determined by previous testing. If the sensors  110 ,  112  or  114  detect a temperature greater than the threshold temperature, this could indicate that there could be a failure at the stationary compressor shaft seal  92  that requires service. The threshold temperature depends on the type of system and is determined by previous testing. In one example, the threshold temperature around the stationary compressor shaft seal  92  of the compressor  22  employed in the refrigerated vehicle  10  is approximately 225° F., which is determined by previous testing. However, the threshold temperature depends on specifics of the refrigeration system  20 , and one skilled in the art would understand how to determine the threshold temperature for the specific system. The temperatures detected by the sensors  110 ,  112  and  114  are provided to the first microprocessor  38 . 
         [0026]    The sensors  110 ,  112  and  114  should detect the same temperature. If there is any variation between the temperature readings of the sensors  110 ,  112  and  114 , this could indicate a failure at the stationary compressor shaft seal  92  that requires service. 
         [0027]    Returning to  FIG. 1 , the refrigeration unit  17  includes an engine  19 . In one example, the engine  19  is a diesel engine. A sensor  119  detects the engine coolant temperature. The engine coolant temperature indicates the horsepower load on the engine  19 , which directly correlates to the power required by the compressor  22 . A sensor  121  detects the RPM of the engine  19 . The RPM of the engine  19  indicates if and how the compressor  22  is running. The compressor  22  can run at a high speed or a low speed. For example, if the RPM of the engine  19  is zero, then the engine  19 , and therefore the compressor  22 , is not operating. If the RPM of the engine  19  is at a first value, then the compressor  22  is operating at the low speed. If the PRM of the engine  19  is at a second value, then the compressor  22  is operating at the high speed. Data about this information is provided to the first microprocessor  38 . 
         [0028]    The refrigeration unit  17  can include other sensors that can detect parameters of other components of the refrigeration system  20 . Data about this information can be stored on the memory  42  and accessed at a later time. 
         [0029]    Returning to  FIG. 2 , the information and data provided to the first microprocessor  38  from the various sensors is provided to the second microprocessor  46 . In one example, the second microprocessor  46  receives data every 5 seconds from the first microprocessor  38 . 
         [0030]    In addition to receiving data from the first microprocessor  38 , the second computer  44  determines the location of the refrigerated vehicle  10 . The second microprocessor  46  directly obtains information and data regarding the latitude of a GPS location of the refrigeration unit  17  and the longitude of a GPS location of the refrigeration unit  17 . For example, GPS technology is incorporated into the second computer  44  provided by PAR Technology Corporation. In one example, this information is provided to the second microprocessor  46  at least once a day. This allows the location of the refrigerated vehicle  10  to be monitored. For example, if other sensors determine that the engine  19  is delivering less power (which decreases the performance of the refrigeration unit  17 ) and the GPS technology indicates that the refrigerated vehicle  10  is located at a location that is at a high altitude, this could indicate why the engine  19  is delivering less power, as opposed to there being a failure. The second microprocessor  46  also receives information and data about a datagate timestamp. 
         [0031]    The transmitter  52  of the second computer  44  transmits the information and data obtained by the second microprocessor  46  (both the information and data provided by the first microprocessor  38  to the second microprocessor  46  and the information and data provided directly to the second microprocessor  46 ) to a first remote computer  118 . 
         [0032]    If the refrigeration unit  17  is inactive and the engine  19  is not running, the GPS information does not need to be provided to the first remote computer  118 . However, if these conditions are not achieved and no GPS data has been collected within the previous 23 hours, the GPS data will be transmitted to the first remote computer  118  after the next regular data transmission session. 
         [0033]    The first remote computer  118  is located at an off-site location. The data and information can be transmitted from the second microprocessor  46  to the first remote computer  118  over a wireless network  140 , such as, but not limited to, a cellular, RF, satellite, etc. network. 
         [0034]    The first remote computer  118  includes a receiver  120  that receives the data and information transmitted from the second computer  44  by the transmitter  52  through the wireless network  140 . The first remote computer  118  includes a third microprocessor  122 , memory  124  and storage  126 . The third microprocessor  122  can be a hardware device for executing software (particularly software stored in the memory  124 ), to communicate data to and from the memory  124 , and to generally control operations of the first remote computer  118  pursuant to the software. Software in the memory  124  is read by the third microprocessor  122  and then executed. The memory  124  can include volatile memory elements, such as random access memory or RAM. The storage  126  can include non-volatile memory elements. The first remote computer  118  also includes a transmitter  128  that can transmit the data and information from the first remote computer  118  to a second remote computer  132 . The first remote computer  118  also formats the data and information for analysis. For example, the first remote computer  118  converts the information and data from hexidecimal to base  10 , which is readable by a technician who accesses the data at the second remote computer  132 . Once the information and data is stored on the first remote computer  118 , the first remote computer  118  erases the memory  50  of the second computer  44 . Therefore, there are no data storage constraints. 
         [0035]    The information and data about the refrigerated vehicle  10  and the refrigeration system  20  is stored on the first remote computer  118 . The data can be accessed remotely from a second remote computer  132  at another off-site location through a computer network  137 , such as WAN (i.e., Internet) or LAN, by a user. 
         [0036]    The second remote computer  132  includes a receiver  130  that receives the data and information transmitted from the first remote computer  118  by the transmitter  128  over the computer network  137 . The second remote computer  132  includes a fourth microprocessor  136 , memory  138  and storage  134 . The fourth microprocessor  136  can be a hardware device for executing software (particularly software stored in the memory  138 ), to communicate data to and from the memory  138 , and to generally control operations of the second remote computer  132  pursuant to the software. Software in the memory  138  is read by the fourth microprocessor  136  and then executed. The memory  138  can include volatile memory elements, such as random access memory or RAM. The storage  134  can include non-volatile memory elements. 
         [0037]    The information and data about the refrigerated vehicle  10  and the refrigeration system  20  can be accessed in real time over the Internet  137  by accessing a website. A keyboard  144  and/or a mouse  146  can be employed to access the information and data. The operator accesses the website through the second remote computer  132  and then inputs a username and password. Once authorized, the operator can access the data about the refrigerated vehicle  10  and the refrigeration system  20  that is stored on the first remote computer  118 . The data can be downloaded on the second remote computer  132 . 
         [0038]    The data can be displayed in any manner, such as a real time reading of each of the parameters mentioned above or an average of each of the parameters mentioned above. The data can be displayed on a monitor  141  or printed by a printer  142 . 
         [0039]    By employing telematics, the user can remotely obtain real time data about the refrigerated vehicle  10  and the refrigeration system  20  to determine how the refrigerated vehicle  10  and the refrigeration system  20  are performing. Therefore, a user does not have to travel to the refrigerated vehicle  10  to obtain the information. The remote access to data can have a polling rate as high as 1 second per data point. 
         [0040]    The user can use the remotely accessed information and data to assist in the design and manufacture of future systems. In another example, through the second remote computer  132 , the user can control the settings of the refrigeration unit  17  to obtain the desired performance of the refrigeration system  20 . The location of the refrigeration unit  17  can also be monitored. 
         [0041]    In one example, the user can monitor the operation of the refrigeration device or component, such as the compressor  22 , by monitoring the temperature detected by each of the sensors  110 ,  112  and  114 . If any of the sensors  110 ,  112  and  114  detect a temperature that is above or below a threshold value (such as 225° F.), this may indicate that the compressor  22  is not operating properly or most efficiently. The user can use this information to help in the design of future refrigeration units  17  to achieve optimal results. The information provided by the sensor  68  that detects the suction temperature of the compressor  22  can also be used in determining how the compressor  22  is operating. 
         [0042]    The foregoing description is only exemplary of the principles of the invention. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The preferred embodiments of this invention have been disclosed, however, so that one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. For that reason the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.