Abstract:
A method and apparatus for controlling the environment of cargo through lateral ventilation. The method provides for a controlled fluid to be supplied into a cargo compartment having a lateral portion, the fluid being supplied through a vent in a supply-conduit adjacent the lateral portion. In practice, this result can be achieved by building a structure that encloses a cargo compartment having a lateral portion, running a supply-conduit adjacent the lateral portion, connecting the supply-conduit to receive a controlled fluid from outside the cargo compartment, and conducting the fluid into the cargo compartment through a vent in the supply-conduit. On mixing with the environment within the cargo compartment, the fluid will influence components of the environment, for example the humidity and the temperature.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/714,589, filed Nov. 13, 2003, now abandoned which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/427,146, filed Nov. 15, 2002. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to controlled-environment cargo containers, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for controlling components of a cargo container&#39;s environment, for example temperature and humidity. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to configuring cargo containers to promote a horizontal flow in the container environment. As an additional benefit, when containers are so configured, certain expensive and ineffective components typically required in conventional containers may be omitted. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent upon considering the following detailed description of specific embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings where like numbers reference like elements, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective side view of a cargo container according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a transverse sectional view of the cargo container of  FIG. 1 , looking from a second end toward a first end; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan sectional view of the cargo container of  FIG. 1 , a horizontal cutting plane passing through a roof assembly; 
         FIG. 4  is a longitudinal sectional view of the cargo container of  FIG. 1 , looking from a second side toward a first side, a vertical cutting plane having removed the first side from this view; 
         FIG. 5  is a longitudinal sectional view of a cargo container according to a second embodiment of the invention, looking from a second side toward a first side, a vertical cutting plane having removed the first side from this view; 
         FIG. 6  is a longitudinal sectional view of a cargo container according to a third embodiment of the invention, looking from a second side toward a first side, a vertical cutting plane having removed the first side from this view; 
         FIG. 7  is a plan sectional view of a cargo container according to a fourth embodiment of the invention, a horizontal cutting plane passing through a roof assembly; 
         FIG. 8  is a plan sectional view of a cargo container according to a fifth embodiment of the invention, a horizontal cutting plane passing through a roof assembly; and 
         FIG. 9  is a plan sectional view of a cargo container according to a sixth embodiment of the invention, a horizontal cutting plane passing through a roof assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     1. Structure 
     Referring first to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , a cargo container according to one embodiment of the present invention is generally illustrated at  10 . The cargo container includes a roof assembly  12 , a floor assembly  14 , first and second opposing side assemblies  16 ,  18 , and first and second opposing end assemblies  20 ,  22  that cooperate to form an enclosed cargo compartment  24 . It will be appreciated that the cargo compartment  24  could be enclosed by a different arrangement of assemblies without departing from the spirit of the invention. In this embodiment, the second end assembly includes a door sub-assembly  26  which has an open position to provide access to the cargo compartment  24  and an alternative closed position to seal the cargo compartment  24 . 
     At least one of the first and second side assemblies  16 ,  18  includes a lateral portion  28  within the cargo compartment  24 . 
     The cargo container  10  further includes a supply-conduit  30  adjacent the lateral portion  28  of the cargo compartment  24 . The supply-conduit  30  is placed, arranged, fitted and otherwise adapted to receive therewithin a fluid from outside the cargo compartment  24 . In this embodiment, the supply-conduit  30  is formed integrally from the structure of the cargo container  10 , and more particularly is illustrated as an integral portion of the first side assembly  16 . 
     The supply-conduit  30  includes a vent  32  passing radially therethrough and adapted to conduct the fluid within the supply-conduit  30  into the cargo compartment  24 . In this embodiment, the fluid conducted by the supply-conduit is substantially air. 
     Although the supply-conduit  30  is operable so as to ventilate the cargo compartment  24  with fluid received from outside the cargo compartment  24 , the cargo container  10  may also include a controller  34  having an input port  36  adapted to receive a fluid and an output port  38  adapted to supply the fluid received at the input port  36 . The controller  34  is operable to urge an environmental component of the fluid supplied at the output port  38  toward a desired value. For example, the controller  34  might include a heater  40  for increasing the temperature of the fluid, a cooler  42  for decreasing the temperature of the fluid, a humidifier  44  for increasing the humidity of the fluid, or a dehumidifier  46  for decreasing the humidity of the fluid. These aspects are shown diagrammatically in  FIG. 2 , for example. In this embodiment, the output port  38  of the controller  34  is connected to supply fluid to the supply-conduit  30  so as to provide more control over the environment within the cargo compartment  24 . 
     The cargo container  10  may additionally include a return-conduit  50  having a first end  52  connected to the cargo compartment  24  and a second end  54  connected to the input port  36  of the controller  34 . So arranged, the return-conduit  50  is operable to conduct fluid from the cargo container  24  to the controller  34 , so as to form a closed system with the supply-conduit  30  and the controller  34  for controlling and recirculating fluid. In this embodiment, the return-conduit  50  follows along the roof assembly  12 ; however, other placements would be possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
     The cargo container  10  may further include a pump or fan  56  connected in series with the supply-conduit  30 , the controller  34  and the return-conduit  50 . The pump or fan  56  is operable to provide additional motive force for circulating the fluid, beyond any thermodynamic forces otherwise present in the passive system formed by the supply-conduit  30 , the controller  34  and the return-conduit  50 . 
     Finally, because no ducting need follow along the floor assembly  14 , there is no need to include T-rail floor panels. Thus in this embodiment, the floor assembly  14  includes a simple and robust corrugated floor  58 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a cargo container according to a second embodiment of the invention is generally illustrated at  10   a . In this embodiment, the vent  32   a  is elongated and oriented substantially vertically within the cargo compartment  24   a . The vent  32   a  may extend substantially from the top of the cargo compartment  24   a  proximate the roof assembly  12   a  to the bottom of the cargo compartment  24   a  proximate the floor assembly  14   a . The vent  32   a  defines a plurality of holes  60   a  through the supply-conduit  30   a  that are each adapted to conduct fluid within the supply-conduit  30   a  into the cargo compartment  24   a.    
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a cargo container according to a third embodiment of the invention is generally illustrated at  10   b . In this embodiment, the vent  32   b  is also elongated and oriented substantially vertically within the cargo compartment  24   b  and may extend substantially from the top of the cargo compartment  24   b  proximate the roof assembly  12   b  to the bottom of the cargo compartment  24   b  proximate the floor assembly  14   b . However, in this third embodiment, the vent  32   b  defines an elongated slot  60   b  through the supply-conduit  30   b  that is adapted to conduct fluid within the supply-conduit  30   a  into the cargo compartment  24   b.    
     Referring briefly to both  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the interior cross-section of the supply-conduit  30   a ,  30   b  may vary inversely with the distance between the cross-section and the fluid supply at the output port  38   a ,  38   b  of the controller  34   a ,  34   b  as measured along the longitudinal axis of the supply-conduit  30   a ,  30   b . This decreasing interior cross-section at portions of the supply-conduit  30   a ,  30   b  remote from the controller  34   a ,  34   b  helps to make the pressure of fluid within the supply-conduit  30   a ,  30   b  more uniform throughout its length. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a cargo container according to a fourth embodiment of the invention is generally illustrated at  10   c . In this embodiment, the supply-conduit  30   c  is an independent assembly separate from the structure of the cargo container  10   c . The supply-conduit  30   c  may be attached to the cargo container  10   c , and as illustrated is attached to the lateral portion  28   c  of the cargo compartment  24   c.    
     Referring briefly now to  FIGS. 2 and 7 , it can be observed that the supply conduit  30 ,  30   c  in the first and fourth embodiments is substantially within the cargo compartment  24 ,  24   c.    
     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a cargo container according to a fifth embodiment of the invention is generally illustrated at  10   d . Just as in the first embodiment of the cargo container  10 , the supply-conduit  30   d  is formed integrally from the structure of the cargo container  10   d , and more particularly is illustrated as an integral portion of the first side assembly  16   d . However, in the case of the fifth embodiment, the supply-conduit  30   d  is substantially outside the cargo compartment  24   d.    
     Referring finally now to  FIG. 9 , a cargo container according to a sixth embodiment of the invention is generally illustrated at  10   e . Just as in the fourth embodiment of the cargo container  10   c , the supply-conduit  30   e  is an independent assembly separate from the structure of the cargo container  10   c . However, while the supply-conduit  30   e  may be attached to the cargo container  10   c , in this sixth embodiment it is substantially outside the cargo compartment  24   e.    
     2. Operation 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 9 , the operation of the six embodiments of the cargo container  10 ,  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c ,  10   d ,  10   e  will now be described. Except when reference is being made specifically to an alternate feature of one of the alternate embodiments, the alphabetic suffixes will be omitted from all reference numbers for the purpose of simplicity. 
     With the door sub-assembly  26  placed in its open position, the cargo compartment  24  is made accessible for loading cargo. The corrugated floor  58  incorporated into the floor assembly  14  provides a robust surface for loading and securing the cargo and the corrugations help to carry any water that may accumulate within the cargo compartment  24  away from the cargo. Once the cargo has been loaded into the cargo compartment  24 , the door sub-assembly  26  is placed in its closed position to seal the cargo compartment  24 . 
     Either during loading or after the cargo compartment  24  has been sealed, an operator can set the controller  34  to urge an environmental component of the fluid supplied at the output port  38  toward a desired value, for example a desired temperature or humidity. The operator can also engage the pump or fan  56  to provide motive force to circulate the fluid through the controller  34  to the supply-conduit  30 , on through the vent  32  into the cargo compartment  24 , and then back through the return-conduit  50  to the controller  34 . 
     With the supply-conduit  30 , the vent  32 , and the return-conduit  50  being oriented as previously described, the fluid flow through the cargo compartment  24  has a significant horizontal component, as is advantageously found in warehouse facilities. 
     While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of the invention only.