Patent Publication Number: US-11390451-B2

Title: Mobile refrigeration apparatus

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/564,424, filed Oct. 4, 2017, which is a National Stage Entry of PCT/US2016/025924, filed Apr. 4, 2016, which claims priorities to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/143,662 filed on Apr. 6, 2015, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/151,318 filed on Apr. 22, 2015, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/151,322 filed on Apr. 22, 2015, the contents of all of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a refrigeration apparatus. In particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a refrigeration apparatus for use in storing and transporting vaccines, perishable food items, packaged beverages or the like, and for the cooling or temperature control of equipment such as batteries, in the absence of a reliable supply of electricity. Aspects of the invention relate to an apparatus and to a method. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A large proportion of the world&#39;s population does not have access to a consistent and reliable supply of mains electricity. The storage of vaccines, food items and beverages at appropriate temperatures is difficult in such areas where this absence of a constant and/or reliable supply of electrical power restricts the widespread use of conventional refrigeration equipment. Further, shipping these items while cooled and with minimal access to electricity poses additional complications. 
     The applicants have identified improved apparatus to facilitate packaging, transportation and efficiency in some applications. It is against this background that the present invention has been conceived. Other aims and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, claims and drawings. 
     INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/383,118 (Inventors: Tansley, et al.; filed on Jul. 9, 2010), titled “Refrigeration Apparatus,” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/373,580 (inventors: Tansley, et al.; filed on Jan. 28, 2013), titled “Refrigeration Apparatus,” European Patent Application No. 1416879.3 (inventors: Tansley, et al.; filed Sep. 24, 2014), titled “Cooling Apparatus and Method,” and “Polyethylene Nanofibers with very High Thermal Conductivities” by A. Henry, et al. published in Nature Nanotechnology on Mar. 7, 2010 are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety and for all purposes to the same extent as if the patent application was specifically reprinted in this specification. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments include a mobile refrigeration apparatus. The mobile refrigeration apparatus comprising a thermally conductive spherical shell contained within an insulated container and substantially full of water. Suspended in the center of the thermally conductive spherical shell is a cooling element that generates ice from the water contained within the thermally conductive shell. A thermally insulating cup is housed within the thermally conductive spherical shell and contains the cooling element. The thermally insulating cup is configured to always orient upright despite the orientation of the insulated container and enabled for the water contained within the thermally conductive shell to pass in and out of the thermally insulating cup. 
     Certain embodiments provide for orienting the thermally insulating cup by using a gimbal. Other embodiments make use of a thermally insulating cup rotatably mounted about a bar which rotatably mounts to the insulated container. Still other embodiments provide for use of a modified thermally insulating cup 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a cut away illustration of a mobile refrigeration unit; 
         FIG. 1B  is a flowchart of operation of a functionally orientation agnostic refrigerator; 
         FIG. 2  is a cut away illustration of a mobile refrigeration unit using a powered rotation bar; 
         FIG. 3  is a cut away illustration of a mobile refrigeration unit using a gimbal; 
         FIG. 4A  is a cut away illustration of a mobile refrigeration unit using a free floating icy core; 
         FIG. 4B  is a close up of a floating icy core; and 
         FIG. 5  is a cut away illustration of a mobile refrigeration unit with a buoyant hemisphere; 
         FIG. 6  is a cut away illustration of a shippable refrigerated vending machine; 
         FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating a method of refrigerator shipping; 
         FIG. 8  is a flow chart illustrating a method for venting a refrigerator shipping container; 
         FIG. 9  is a cut away diagram of a plurality of sensors associated with refrigerated shipping containers; 
         FIG. 10  is a flowchart for redirection of refrigerated shipping container based upon sensor warning; and 
         FIG. 11  is a flowchart of distribution prevention based on sensor failure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A refrigeration unit designed for prolonged cooling with intermittent power supplies and adaptability to rotation is described. A spherical design is utilized comprising internal compartments that shift according to orientation of the sphere and enable internal cycling of water at substantially 4 degrees Celsius about an icy core. The refrigerator may be used for the cold storage and transportation of vaccines without freezing the contents of said vaccines. 
     For purposes of this disclosure, the term “cup” refers to an object which contains fluids and is not entirely sealed. 
     With reference to FIG. 2 of the &#39;580 application of the incorporated art, a weir means of temperature regulation was taught. The &#39;580 application taught the use of two fluid reservoirs separated by a thermally insulated dividing wall. One of these reservoirs contained a refrigeration unit which generated an icy core. The reservoirs were joined by an open slot which created a mixing region where water which was substantially 4 degrees Celsius cycled between the two regions. The apparatus disclosed in the &#39;580 application is useful; however, when turned on a side, the mixing region ceases to function properly. Due this orientation issue, shipping the apparatus in a functional state is problematic. 
       FIG. 1A  is a cut away illustration of a mobile refrigeration apparatus  2 . The apparatus  2  comprises an insulated container  4  and a spherical cooling globe  6 . The insulated container  4  comprises suitable thermal insulation for shipping temperature sensitive items, a payload space  8  to store items, and an access door  10 . Volume inside the insulated container  4  is dedicated to spherical cooling globe  6 , physical support of the spherical cooling globe (not shown), payload space  8 , and support of payload items (not shown). In certain embodiments, refrigeration apparatus is affixed to the insulated container, but stored outside of the internal volume of the insulated container. 
     The spherical cooling globe  6  comprises a thermally conductive shell (“shell”)  12  substantially full of water. The extent to which the spherical cooling globe  6  is full or water is dependent on the amount of ice contained within the shell  12 . Inside the shell  12 , there is a suspended insulating cup (“cup”)  14 . The cup  14  separates two reservoirs of water inside the shell  12 : the water inside the cup, and the water outside of the cup. Where the two reservoirs meet, there are mixing regions  16 . Inside the cup, is a cooling element  18 . The cooling element  18 , when powered cools the water within the shell and in the immediate vicinity of the cooling element  18 , an icy core forms. 
     The water inside the cooling globe  6  does not necessarily need to be pure, or even necessarily water. The important characteristic have having a fluid material having a critical temperature at which the density of the fluid is the greatest, such that when the fluid is above or below that temperature, the fluid is less dense. In the case of pure water, this temperature is four degrees Celsius. Colder or warmer water is less dense than water at 4 degrees Celsius. 
     In operation, water that is four degrees Celsius will come to rest outside of the cup  14 . When that water warms, the warmer water will rise up in the shell  12  and enter the mixing zones  16 . Water in the cup will be cooler due to the presence of the cooling element  18 . The warmer water rising from the four-degree reservoir will cool in the mixing zone and sink once reaching four degrees again into the cup  14 . Once in the cup  14 , the water will cool further from four degrees, and rise again back into the mixing zone  16 . This effect causes the water outside of the cup  14  and in contact with the shell  12  to substantially maintain a temperature of 4 degrees Celsius. When the spherical cooling globe  6  is rotated or rolled to another orientation, the cup  14  inside the shell  12  re-orients so the mixing zones  16  are maintained. 
     The cooling element  18  takes various embodiments. In a thermoelectric cooling embodiment the cooling element  18  comprises a cooling plate, and a heating plate resides outside of the insulated container  4 . In some embodiments the cooling element  18  provides cooling with a refrigerant pumped therethrough by means of a pump and refrigeration apparatus external to the insulated container  4 . In some embodiments, the cooling element  18  is operated by refrigerant that has been cooled by expansion of compressed refrigerant in the manner of a conventional vapor-compression refrigeration cycle additionally external to the container. 
       FIG. 1B  is a flowchart of operation of a functionally orientation agnostic refrigerator. In step  102 , the mobile refrigeration apparatus  2  is oriented in a first position. In step  104 , the water inside the shell  12  equalizes at approximately four degrees Celsius. Based on the construction of the cooling globe  6 , water warming from four degrees rises to meet colder water which is falling as the cooler water warms to four degrees. Rising water in the mixing zone cools down and sinks towards the cooling element  18 . Water by the cooling element  18  cools and returns to the mixing zone. 
     In step  106 , the mobile refrigeration apparatus  2  is reoriented. In step  108 , the insulator cup  14  re-orients with the mobile refrigeration apparatus  2 . The reorienting occurs based on design implementations which make use of weights, buoyant materials, or balance mechanisms to automatically re-orient. In step  110 , the cooling globe  6  continues to equalize temperature at four degrees. 
       FIG. 2  is a cut away illustration of an embodiment of a mobile refrigeration unit using a powered rotation bar  20 . Embodiments include spherical cooling globe  6  rotatably mounted on a powered rotation bar (“bar”)  20 . The bar  20  is further rotatably mounted to a powered rail (“rail”)  22  outside of the spherical cooling apparatus and inside the container. 
     The bar  20  provides power and/or refrigerant delivery and removal to and from the cooling element  18 . Where the bar  20  contacts the rail, additional tubing or heat exchanging apparatus is concealed. Certain embodiments are configured where the cooling element  18  functions only in a single, predetermined orientation or the bar  20  within the rail  22 . Other, more expensive, embodiments include functional cooling at all orientations. Certain embodiments of bar  20  and rail  22  interface are designed such that the bar is affixed as a spoke in a wheel, and the wheel rotates within the rail  22  to provide an improved seal for concealing heat exchanging apparatus. The bar  20  and rail  22  are thermally insulated. 
     The cooling element  18  is mounted centrally on the bar  20  and optionally includes an ice growth sensor (not shown) mounted perpendicularly to the bar  20 . The ice growth sensor instructs the cooling element  18  to cease function when ice freezes over the ice growth sensor. The ice growth sensor improves power efficiency of the spherical cooling globe  6  and additionally prevents ice from contacting the cup  14 . 
     The spherical cooling globe  6  has an additional weight  24  mounted at the base of the shell so when the container  4  is rotated on the axis of the rail  22 , the spherical cooling globe  6  rotates to maintain orientation of the cup  14  and cooling element  18 . Items in the payload space  8  are contained in wall mounted satchels or cages to prevent creating friction with or physically blocking the bar  20  and spherical cooling globe  6 . 
     Inside the spherical cooling globe  6 , the cup  14  is rotatably mounted on the bar  20 . At the top rim of the cup  14  is made of buoyant material  26 . When the container  4  is rotated in the axis perpendicular to the rail  22 , the cup  14  rotates about the bar  20  and the buoyant upper rim  26  remains upright. 
     Additionally affixed to the inside of the cup  14  is mesh netting  28 . The mesh netting  28  acts as a collector for broken or split chunks of the icy core. If the container  4  is dropped, and the icy core cracks or splits and chunks of ice fall off, the netting keeps the chunks of ice inside the cup  14  rather than allow the chunks of ice to float out of the cup  14  thereby causing harm to the cooling mechanism of the cooling globe  6 . 
     The shell  12  has a hatch  30  enabling the shell  12  to fill with water. 
       FIG. 3  is a cut away illustration of an embodiment of a mobile refrigeration unit using a gimbal. Embodiments of the invention include spherical cooling globe  6  mounted inside an insulated container  4  via struts  32 . Inside the spherical cooling apparatus, a three-axis gimbal  34  ensures the cup  14  remains upright despite the orientation of the insulated container  4 . 
     Gimbal embodiments of the invention do not require that items contained in the payload  8  space refrain from contact with the shell  12 . Rotation is conducted inside the shell  12 . Gimbal axes  34 A-C are aerodynamic so as to prevent drag with water within the shell  12 . Gimbal axes  34 A-C, mounting arms  36 , and struts are thermally insulated and provide a space to conceal power cabling and/or heat exchanging apparatus. 
     When the insulated container  4  is reoriented, the first two gimbal axes  34 A-B rotate to compensate, and the third gimbal axis  34 C which the cup  14  is affixed to remains stationary and upright. 
     The cooling element  18  is affixed inside the cup  14  at the center of the spherical cooling globe  6 . The cooling element  18  optionally includes an ice growth sensor mounted radially from the center of sphere of ice. 
     Gimbal  34  embodiments include other compatible components of bar  20  embodiments. 
       FIG. 4A  is a cut away illustration of a mobile refrigeration unit  2  using a free floating icy core  19  and  FIG. 4B  is a close up of a free floating icy core  19 . Embodiments of include a cup  14 A and an icy core  19  which are free floating inside the water contained within the shell  12 . 
     The free floating cup  14 A is shaped in a largely spherical manner with a buoyant spout  38  mounted on top. The spout  38  on the free floating cup  14 A is made of buoyant material. Regardless of the orientation of the shell  12 , the spout  38  of the free floating cup  14 A will orient upwards and abut against the inner side of the shell  12 . The spout  38  includes mixing vents  40 . The mixing vents  40  provide for an interface between the water reservoir inside the free floating cup  14 A and the water reservoir outside of the free floating cup  14 A despite that the spout  38  abuts against the inner surface of the shell  12 . 
     The free floating icy core  19  comprises a buoyant disc and a heavy cooling element. The buoyant disc  42  is made from a material less dense than ice. The buoyant disc  42  will remain upright and abut the netting  28  affixed inside the cup  14 A. The buoyant disc  42  is insulating and provides for a spacer between the cooling element  18  and the netting  28  so that ice does not form entangled with or above the netting  28 . 
     Additionally an ice growth sensor  44  is mounted at the edge of the buoyant disc  42  to prevent the function of the cooling element  18  once ice  46  has forced out to the edge of the buoyant disc  42 . A refrigeration pipe  48  extends upward from the buoyant disc  42  to conceal heat exchanging apparatus. The refrigeration pipe  48  is additionally threaded through the netting  28  and is directed out of the free floating cup  14 A through the spout  38 . 
     The shell  12  in free floating embodiments additionally comprises a refrigeration connector  50 . In certain embodiments, the refrigeration connector  50  is affixed to the hatch  30  on the shell  12 , though other embodiments the refrigeration pipe  50  is affixed in another location on the surface of the shell  12 . The refrigeration pipe  48  is preferably flexible so as to not impede the rotation of the shell  12  inside the insulated container  4 . 
     When a user intends for the cooling element  18  to operate and generate ice  46 , the insulated container  4  and shell  12  are oriented upright and the refrigeration pipe  48  and the refrigeration connector  50  match up. When the refrigeration pipe  48  and connector  50  match up, heat exchanging apparatus is functional. 
     Still other embodiments do not include the use of a cooling element  18 . Such embodiments are pre-prepared with pre-made blocks of ice  46 , filled with cool water, and sealed. Optionally, embodiments of the cooling globe  6  which do not use a cooling element  18  are designed smaller and used in large quantities to more effectively use volume inside the insulated container. The effect is similar to that of filling the payload space with ice cubes (or spheres), but the outer surface of each sphere remains at four degrees Celsius rather than zero or below. 
       FIG. 5  is a cut away illustration of a mobile refrigeration unit with a buoyant hemisphere  52 . Embodiments of the invention include a shell  12  containing an insulating and buoyant hemisphere  52 . The shell  12  is supported in the insulated container  4  by struts  32 . Inside the shell  12  is an insulating hemisphere  52 . The rest of the volume of the shell  12  is substantially full of water. The insulating hemisphere  52  contains buoyant material  54  on the outer region of the hemisphere  52 . The buoyant material  54  is less dense than ice. 
     Accordingly, the insulating hemisphere  52  will always float to settle at the upper hemisphere of the shell  12  regardless of the orientation of the insulated container  4  or the shell  12 . The water in the shell  12  remains in contact with the lower hemisphere of the shell and absorbs heat from the payload space while the upper hemisphere of the shell  12  is comparatively thermally inert. 
     On the underside of the insulating hemisphere  52  is a cavity with a cooling element  18 . The cooling element  18 , when active, generates ice  46  from the water contained within the shell  12 . In use, water by the ice  46  will be close to zero degrees, while denser water closer to four degrees will sink to the bottom of the lower hemisphere of the shell  12 . As the water warms from four degrees, the water rises and comes into contact with cooler water by the ice  46 , cools down again, and returns to the bottom of the lower hemisphere of the shell  12 . 
     The cooling element  18  is affixed to a refrigeration pipe  48  which is embedded through the center of the insulating hemisphere  52 . The refrigeration pipe contains heat exchanging apparatus. During cooling operation, the insulated container  4  is placed in the appropriate orientation for the refrigeration pipe  48  to match up with a refrigeration connection  50  concealed internally within a strut. The refrigeration connection enables heat exchanging apparatus outside the volume of the insulated container to use the cooling element  18  inside the shell  12 . 
     In another smaller and simpler embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 5 , a plurality of small, thermally conducting shells  12  including buoyant insulating hemispheres  52  comprise a significant portion of the volume of the insulated container  4 . The buoyant insulating hemispheres  52  include a cavity on the underside of the hemisphere for insertion of a block of ice  46 . The remainder of the volume of the shell is substantially filled with water. 
     In comparison to  FIG. 5 , the smaller and simple embodiment is the same, without the cooling element  18 , the refrigeration pipe  48 , the refrigeration connection  50 , and the struts  32 . The cooling scheme occurs in precisely the same manner. The effect is similar to that of filling the payload space with ice cubes (or spheres), but the outer surface of each sphere remains at four degrees Celsius rather than zero or below. 
       FIG. 6  is a cut away illustration of a shippable refrigerated vending machine  56 . The shippable refrigerated vending machine  56  is designed to reduce human involvement in the distribution of refrigerated goods, especially vaccines. The refrigerated vending machine  56  is designed with a spherical cooling globe  6 . The cooling globe  6  maintains a temperature of substantially four degrees Celsius for prolonged periods of time, measured in days, without power and regardless of the orientation of the cooling globe  6 . 
     The cooling globe  6  may be constructed similarly to above disclosed cooling globe  6  embodiments. In some embodiments, the refrigerated vending machine  56  uses a plurality of small cooling globes  6  which maintain the temperature of four degrees Celsius for a prolonged period of time without power and regardless of orientation. 
     The cooling globe(s)  6  is housed within a vending machine containment  8 A. The vending machine containment  8 A comprises an insulated container  4 . Support struts  32  maintain positioning of the cooling globe  6  and conceal heat exchanging apparatus  58  between the cooling globe  6  and refrigeration apparatus  60 . When set up for operation, the refrigeration apparatus  60  is plugged in and provides power as necessary to a cooling element (not shown) housed within the cooling globe  18 . 
     Before use, one or more payload belts  62  or cartridges are wrapped around the cooling globe  6 . The payload belts  62  are inserted through a hatch  10  on the insulated container  4 . The hatch  10  is sealed before use and/or shipping. 
     Upon arriving at a destination, the refrigerated vending machine is set up and customers make selections which are delivered to a vending compartment by a payload feeder. Selection of payload is determined by suitable known vending selection apparatus. 
     In some embodiments, selection of payload  64  such as medication and vaccines is determined through a biometric scanner  66 . The biometric scanner  66  governed by a logic circuit  68  and a memory  70  storing records and instructions. The biometric scanner  66  either determines the identity of a customer through biometric identification such as a fingerprint, retinal, or other suitable biometric identification or performs a need based scan. Needs based scans comprise blood tests or other suitable quickly performed biometric tests. As an illustrative example, a refrigerated vending machine having a payload  64  of insulin performs a blood sugar test on customers. 
     The vending machine  56  goes through several phases. First the vending machine is constructed, the payload  64  is inserted, and the cooling globe  6  is made functional. Then the vending machine  56  is sealed up, and with minimal packaging, shipped to a destination. Depending on the destination and means of shipping, optionally the vending machine  56  is supplied additional power somewhere en-route to refresh the cooling capability of the cooling globe  6 . Upon arrival at the destination, the vending machine  56  is oriented upright, and provided whatever power source is available at the destination. Customers then have access to the vending machine  56 . When the payload  64  is spent, the vending machine  56  is either refilled, or the cooling globe  6  is drained of water and the vending machine  56  is shipped back to the origin point and refilled. 
     In certain embodiments, an inlet and outlet vent  72  which fills and empties the cooling globe  6  of water is concealed within a strut  32 . The inlet and outlet vent  72  enables water to be added and removed without opening the container  4 . 
     In some embodiments, a cooling globe  6  is not used. Rather a simpler water-based cooling means described in the incorporated references are used with a payload cartridge  64  or payload belt  62  and the vending machine  56  is not configured to be shipped as an active cooling unit. 
     Certain embodiments of the invention are constructed with easily strip away components. The components of the invention are broken down after delivery of payload items  64  is achieved. The broken down components are more easily packed and return shipped. 
     Certain embodiments of the invention use components made from compostable parts. Embodiments of compostable parts include seeds that are planted during the composting process. 
     Certain embodiments of the invention use recyclable components such as thermally conductive plastics and regularly insulating plastics. 
     Certain embodiments of the invention use a combination of reusable, recyclable and compostable components. After use, some components are broken down and shipped back to the point of origin, some components are sent to a recycling plant, and some components are left to degrade naturally. 
       FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating a method of refrigerator shipping. In step  702 , a supplier obtains a shipping refrigerator. The shipping refrigerator is preferably water cooled. In some embodiments, mobile refrigerators as described above used. In other embodiments, refrigerators disclosed in incorporated art are used. In still other embodiments any other suitable refrigerator capable of being shipped is used. 
     Once the refrigerator is chosen, in step  704 , a payload is added. In step  706 , the payload is sealed in the refrigerator for shipment. In step  708 , an itinerary comprising a destination along with a means or path to arrive at said destination is chosen. Known and common shipping and freight methods are all acceptable. In step  710 , the refrigerator is then shipped. 
     When an itinerary calls for a particularly long shipping journey, the refrigerator will require additional power to re-cool. In step  712 , when the refrigerator requires additional power, a note in the itinerary is added. In step  714 , such notation instructs shipping personnel of appropriate action to re-chill the refrigerator. Time to complete the re-chilling of the refrigerator is planned into the itinerary. In step  716 , once the refrigerator is re-chilled, the shipping process continues. 
     In step  718 , the refrigerator arrives at the intended destination. In step  720 , once at the destination, the refrigerator payload is distributed to customers or clients. Such customers or clients comprise either consumers for chilled goods, doctors whom provide vaccines to patients, or patients themselves. In step  722 , once the refrigerator has completed distribution, unnecessary parts and weight is removed and the refrigerator is return shipped for additional use. 
     As an illustrative example, where a refrigerator must be shipped by boat or vessel across the Pacific ocean, there is risk that the temperature inside the refrigerator will rise to an unacceptable level. When the risk is perceived to be too high, additional power is required to generate more ice in the water cooled refrigerator. 
       FIG. 8  is a flow chart illustrating a method for venting a refrigerator shipping container. In steps  802 - 806 , Similarly to the method taught in  FIG. 7 , first a refrigerator is loaded and sealed for transit, then shipped. 
     A given itinerary to ship a refrigerator has multiple legs or segments of shipping. Each leg uses a different mode of transit such as train, plane, and ship. In step  808 , when a mode of transit provides a temperature controlled environment, and weight is a greater concern than temperature, in step  810 , shipping personnel vent the water from the refrigerator thereby significantly reducing the weight of the refrigerator through the inlet/outlet vent as pictured in  FIG. 6 . 
     Once the leg where temperature is controlled and weight is a concern is ended, In step  814 , the refrigerator is refilled with water and the necessary amount of water is refrozen. If there are remaining legs the determination of step  808 , if the refrigerator is too heavy, is made again until the refrigerator arrives at the destination. In step  820 , then the payload is distributed. 
     As an illustrative example, planes sometimes have refrigerated compartments, but a heavier plane requires a noticeable amount of additional fuel. Water would be vented to accommodate this circumstance. 
       FIG. 9  is a cut away diagram of a plurality of sensors associated with refrigerated shipping containers. A refrigerated container&#39;s sensors comprise a thermometer both in the payload space of the refrigerator  74 A and a thermometer inside the cooling globe  74 B. These thermometers  74  record differences in cooling potential and provide data to perform analytics on. As an alternative to a thermometer inside the refrigeration apparatus, a thermometer is placed on the surface of the refrigeration apparatus  74 C. 
     In addition to the thermometers  74 , the refrigerated container  4  additionally includes a humidity  76  sensor and a gyroscope  78 . The gyroscope reports the orientation of the container  4 . The humidity sensor  76  reports the water content of the air inside the container  4 . 
     All of these sensors report data to a control chip  80 . The control chip  80  in turn reports the sensor information to an outside server by use of a wireless communicator  82 . The server (not shown) provides information to shipping personnel. In some embodiments the control chip  80  reports the data to a surface mounted label  84 . The label  84  comprises a digital display or a scannable code. In embodiments where the control chip  80  does not report data to the label  84 , the label  84  is simply a static identification for the container  4 . 
     The combination of these sensors create warnings when certain thresholds or gradients are met. Thresholds include specific readings, or a change in readings at a specific rate. There are also multiple thresholds to indicate differing levels of severity. Different levels of severity include suggested potential causes associated with the given threshold. A particularly severe threshold warning would suggest that the container was breached, or the refrigeration apparatus had failed. 
       FIG. 10  is a flowchart for redirection of refrigerated shipping container based upon sensor warning. In step  1002 , while during shipping one or more of the sensors of  FIG. 9  registers a warning to the server. In step  1004 , server operation will determine the severity of the warning as compared to the refrigerated container&#39;s itinerary. Such comparison includes factors such as the time remaining on the shipping itinerary, the predicted weather conditions in the remaining legs of the shipping route, the nature of the threshold, the locations of other shipping refrigerators, the destinations of those refrigerators, and the warning status of the other refrigerators in the shipping swarm. 
     In step  1006 , based upon the determination of severity, remediation measures are taken. If the refrigerator has a minimally severe warning and is near the destination, server operation will no instruct for a route change. In step  1008 , if there is a severe warning, and the shipping itinerary includes a long journey, server operation will direct that refrigerator to a closer destination, and direct another shipping refrigerator with similar payload, without a warning, to replace the damaged refrigerator&#39;s route. In some cases, the new destination for the damaged shipping refrigerator is a disposal facility. 
     In step  1010 , rerouting is conducted by shipping personnel through use of the surface labels on the shipping refrigerators. 
     In step  1012 , when the warning is not so severe as to reroute a shipping refrigerator, in some cases the shipping refrigerator is adjusted. In step  1014 , personnel are directed to make adjustments including reattaching the refrigerator to a power source and generating more ice, changing the orientation of the refrigerator, moving the refrigerator to a cooler location, or any other reasonable spot adjustments known in the art. 
     In step  1016 , a shipping refrigerator that is not re-routed is delivered to the original destination. 
       FIG. 11  is a flowchart of distribution prevention based on sensor failure. In step  1102 , when onboard sensors generate enough warnings, a final “catastrophic failure” warning is generated and forwarded to the server. When this occurs, in step  1104 , the server operation determines the most cost efficient action. 
     The payload is either returned, or the payload is sent to the destination but prevented from distribution. The determination depends on how close or far the shipping refrigerator is from the destination. In step  1106 , if it is more cost efficient to send the refrigerator back to origin, this is the outcome. In step  1108 , if it is cheaper to have a technician resolve the issue at the destination, this is the outcome. 
     Where the shipping refrigerator reaches the destination, and catastrophic failure occurs, the distribution mechanism is disabled. The means for removing the payload from the shipping refrigerator is disabled until a technician with special access unlocks the shipping refrigerator. In step  1110 , the technician will dispose of the payload as necessary. 
     Although the invention is described herein with reference to the preferred embodiment, one skilled in the art will readily appreciate that other applications may be substituted for those set forth herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the invention should only be limited by the Claims included below.