Patent Publication Number: US-7585208-B2

Title: Baffle plate assembly for directing air flow in a cargo container

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The present application relates to cargo containers, and, more particularly, to a baffle plate assembly for directing air flow in a cargo container. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Cargo containers are used to transport various types of cargo, including fresh produce, over long distances. In a conventional cargo container, a ventilation unit is used to circulate air within the cargo container. A ventilated floor is also used to help circulate the air within the cargo container. In a conventional cargo container, a baffle is used to direct air from the ventilation unit into the ventilated floor through a gap between the ventilation unit and the ventilated floor. The baffle is mounted to the ventilation unit and has a lip portion that rests on the ventilated floor when the baffle covers the gap between the ventilation unit and the ventilated floor. The lip portion of the baffle, however, tends to get damaged when the cargo is loaded into the cargo container. Also, the baffle must be raised and held in order to clean the gap between the ventilation unit and the ventilated floor. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one exemplary embodiment, a cargo container has a top, bottom, and sides. The cargo container includes a ventilation unit having an air outlet. The cargo container also includes a ventilated floor, which has an air channel, and a baffle plate assembly configured to direct air from the air outlet of the ventilation unit into the air channel of the ventilated floor. The baffle plate assembly includes a first plate, which is attached to the bottom of the cargo container to remain fixed, and a second plate, which is hinged to the first plate to move from an open position to a closed position. When the second plate is in the open position, a gap between the air outlet of the ventilation unit and the air channel of the ventilated floor is exposed. When the second plate is in the closed position, the gap between the air outlet of the ventilation unit and the air channel of the ventilated floor is covered. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates a side view of a cross section of an exemplary cargo container; 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates a top view of a cross section of the exemplary cargo container depicted in  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a portion of the exemplary cargo container depicted in  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of a cross-section of a baffle plate assembly in a closed position; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of a cross-section of the baffle plate assembly depicted in  FIG. 3  in an open position; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates the baffle plate assembly depicted in  FIG. 3  in the closed position; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates the baffle plate assembly depicted in  FIG. 3  moving from the closed position to the open position; and 
         FIG. 7  illustrates the baffle plate assembly depicted in  FIG. 3  in the open position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     To provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention, the following description sets forth numerous specific details, such as specific configurations, parameters, examples, and the like. It should be recognized, however, that such description is not intended as a limitation on the scope of the present invention, but is intended to provide a better description of the exemplary embodiments. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , an exemplary cargo container  100  is depicted. Cargo container  100  includes a top  102 , bottom  104 , and sides  106 . Cargo container  100  can be used to ship various types of cargo, including fresh produce. For example, boxes of fresh produce can be loaded into cargo container  100  then shipped on land, by sea, and/or by rail without having to unload cargo container  100 . 
     In one exemplary embodiment, cargo container  100  includes a ventilation unit  108  to circulate air within cargo container  100 . As depicted in  FIG. 1A , ventilation unit  108  can be located at one side  106  of cargo container  100 . In the present exemplary embodiment, ventilation unit  108  includes a bulkhead  110  with an air outlet  112  and air inlet  114 . Bulkhead  110  separates the volume of air within ventilation unit  108  from the volume of air within the remaining portions of cargo container  100 . Air enters ventilation unit  108  from the remaining portion of cargo container  100  through air inlet  114 . Air exits ventilation unit  108  into the remaining portion of cargo container  100  through air outlet  112 . 
     For some types of cargo, such as fresh produce, it is desirable to refrigerate cargo container  100 . Thus, ventilation unit  108  can include a refrigeration unit, including a compressor and fan, to cool the air circulated in cargo container  100 . Also, for some types of cargo, such as certain types of fresh produce, it is desirable to circulate a ripening agent, such as ethylene gas. The ripening agent can be introduced at ventilation unit  108  to circulate the ripening agent within cargo container  100 . Thus, while the present application may refer to air being circulated within cargo container  100 , it should be recognized that various types of gases, mixtures of gases, and/or mixture of gas and air can be circulated within cargo container  100 . 
     As depicted in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , cargo container  100  includes a ventilated floor  116  with air channels  120 , which allow cargo to be loaded into cargo container  100 , yet still allow air to be circulated within cargo container  100 . In the present exemplary embodiment, cargo container  100  is depicted with ventilated floor  116  being a T-floor. As depicted in  FIGS. 1B and 2 , ventilated floor  116  includes T-shaped beams  118  that are spaced apart to create air channels  120 . When boxes are stacked on top of ventilated floor  116 , beams  118  support the boxes, while the bottoms of the boxes seal the tops of air channels  120 . Thus, as depicted in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , air can travel down along the length of cargo container  100  through air channels  120 . As air travels through air channels  120 , air can travel up through the boxes stacked on top of ventilated floor  116 . It should be recognized that ventilated floor  116  can be various types of ventilated floors, such as raised panels with air holes. 
     As depicted in  FIGS. 1B and 2 , a gap  126  exists between air outlet  112  of ventilation unit  108  ( FIG. 1A ) and air channels  120  of ventilated floor  116 . As depicted in  FIGS. 1A  and  1 B, in the present exemplary embodiment, cargo container  100  includes a baffle plate assembly  122  that covers gap  126 . Baffle plate assembly  122  directs air from air outlet  112  of ventilation unit  108  into air channels  120  of ventilated floor  116 . 
     As depicted in  FIG. 1A , baffle plate assembly  122  is attached to bottom  104  of cargo container  100  at a location that is upstream of the ventilated floor  116  in the direction of airflow. In particular, baffle plate assembly  122  is attached to a support  124 , which is attached to bottom  104  of cargo container  100 . With reference to  FIG. 2 , a plurality of supports  124  can be spaced apart across the width of gap  126 . Each support  124  can be fixed to bottom  104  of cargo container  100 . For example, each support  124  can be welded to bottom  104  of cargo container  100 . Alternatively, each support  124  can be attached to bottom  104  of cargo container  100  using various types of fasteners. With reference again to  FIG. 1A , baffle plate assembly  122  can then be attached to support(s)  124 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , in the present exemplary embodiment, baffle plate assembly  122  includes a first plate  302  and a second plate  304 . First plate  302  is attached to bottom  104  of cargo container  100  to remain fixed. In particular, first plate  302  is attached to support  124 , which is attached to bottom  104  of cargo container  100 . For example, first plate  302  can be riveted to support  124 . As depicted in  FIG. 3 , the top of first plate  302  is at the same level or below the level of the top of ventilated floor  116 . Thus, first plate  302  is less susceptible to being damaged when boxes are loaded onto ventilated floor  116 . As well as being more resistant to damage, the baffle plate assembly  122  provides lateral resistance to protect the bulkhead  110  and ventilation unit  108  from damage that may be caused by loading boxes onto the ventilated floor  116 . Furthermore, lateral resistance by the baffle plate assembly  122  can be improved by modifying the hinge  306  or adding vertical supports under plate  304 . 
     As illustrated by  FIGS. 3 and 4 , second plate  304  is hinged to first plate  302  to move from an open position to a closed position. In particular, second plate  304  and first plate  302  can be hinged together using hinge  306 . As depicted in  FIG. 5 , second plate  304  and first plate  302  can be hinged together using a set of hinges  306  spaced apart along abutting edges of second plate  304  and first plate  302 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the baffle plate assembly  122  extends 227 cm, the length of side  106 . First plate  302  has a width of 5 cm and second plate has a height of 16 cm. The first plate  302  and the second plate  304  both have a thickness of 3 mm. First plate  302  is hinged to second plate  304  with three hinges 6 cm long. 
     In  FIG. 3 , second plate  304  is depicted in the closed position in which gap  126  between air outlet  112  and air channels  120  ( FIG. 1B ) is closed. As depicted in  FIG. 3 , second plate  304  is bent to have a portion that is substantially horizontal and a portion that is substantially vertical when second plate  304  is in the closed position. Second plate  304  also includes another bend along the substantially vertical portion, which better conforms the shape of second plate  304  to air outlet  112  and bulkhead  110 . As depicted in  FIG. 3 , second plate  304  contacts bulkhead  110  when second plate  304  is in the closed position. In the present exemplary embodiment, second plate  304  includes a gasket  308  disposed along an edge of second plate  304 . Gasket  308  contacts bulkhead  110  when second plate  304  is in the closed position to create a better seal between second plate  304  and bulkhead  110 . 
     In  FIG. 4 , second plate  304  is depicted in the open position in which gap  126  is exposed. In particular,  FIG. 6  depicts second plate  304  being moved from the closed position to the open position.  FIG. 7  depicts second plate  304  in the open position. As depicted in  FIG. 7 , when second plate  304  is in the open position, gap  126  is completely exposed, which makes it easier to gain access to gap  126 , such as to clean gap  126 . Second plate  304  can rest upon ventilated floor  116  when in the open position. Thus, second plate  304  does not need to be held in the open position in order to gain access to gap  126 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , thus far, baffle plate assembly  122  has been depicted and described as an integral component of cargo container  100 . It should be recognized, however, that baffle plate assembly  122  can be provided as a separate component to be installed in cargo container  100 . For example, baffle plate assembly  122  can be provided to be installed into a newly constructed cargo container  100 . Alternatively, baffle plate assembly  122  can be provided to be retrofitted into an existing cargo container  100 . 
     In particular, baffle plate assembly  122  can be obtained with first plate  302  and second plate  304  hinged together with hinge  306 . First plate  302  can then be attached to bottom  104  of cargo container  100 . In particular, supports  124  can be first attached to bottom  104  of cargo container  100 . First plate  302  can then be attached to supports  124 . 
     Although the present invention has been described with respect to certain exemplary embodiments, examples, and applications, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the invention.