Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses a refrigeration container having a ventilation system for venting the interior of the container in response to leak detection. <CIT> discloses a cooling warehouse provided with a leakage detection unit and ports for introduction and discharge of air. <CIT> discloses a refrigeration system provided with an exhaust passage and a system for supplying gas into a storage container.

The invention is a refrigerated container including a ventilation system, according to claim <NUM>. Disclosed is a ventilation system that includes a leak sensor, a pressure sensor, a controller, an injection port, a vent door and a vent port. The leak sensor is disposed within an interior space of a refrigerated container and is arranged to provide a signal indicative of a concentration of a refrigerant within the interior space. The controller is arranged to receive the signal. The vent door is movably disposed on a floor of the refrigerated container. The vent door is movable between a closed position and an open position. An actuator is arranged to facilitate movement of the vent door between the closed position towards the open position. The vent port is spaced apart from the injection port, the vent port extending through at least one of the front wall, a rear wall and a side wall, the vent port being separate from an opening receiving the vent door. The vent port is normally in a closed position and acts as a ventilation device or pressure relief device to prevent the refrigerated container from exceeding an internal pressure threshold. The pressure sensor is in communication with the controller and is arranged to provide a signal indicative of a pressure within the interior space of the refrigerated container. A compressor is fluidly connected to the injection port. The compressor is arranged to apply an airflow through the injection port and into the interior space to pressurize the refrigerated container with air. The controller is programmed to command the compressor to apply an airflow through the injection port and into the interior space, responsive to the signal being indicative of the concentration of the refrigerant within the interior space being greater than a threshold concentration. The vent port is controlled to open responsive to the signal provided by the pressure sensor being indicative of a pressure within the interior space being greater than a threshold pressure.

The invention is defined in the claims at the conclusion of the specification.

Referring now to the Figures, where the present disclosure will be described with reference to specific embodiments and arrangements, without limiting same, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely illustrative of the present disclosure that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. Embodiments are described primarily with reference to <FIG>, with <FIG> being referred to for explanatory purposes. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure.

Referring to the figures, a refrigerated trailer or a refrigerated container <NUM> may be provided with a refrigeration system <NUM> that provides conditioned air or cooled air <NUM> to an interior space <NUM> of the refrigerated container <NUM>. The refrigeration system <NUM> may be adapted to operate using a refrigerant <NUM> such as a low global warming potential refrigerant including A1, A2, A2L, A3, etc. The refrigerant <NUM> may leak into the interior space <NUM> of the refrigerated container <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The refrigerant <NUM> may present a hazard should the concentration of the leaked refrigerant within the confined space exceed a threshold level. The threshold level may be a lower flammability limit of the refrigerant <NUM>. A ventilation system <NUM> is provided to mitigate leakage of the refrigerant by venting the leaked refrigerant to an external environment.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the interior space <NUM> of the refrigerated container <NUM> is defined by a floor <NUM>, a front wall <NUM>, a rear wall <NUM>, a top wall <NUM>, and a pair of side walls <NUM>. The floor <NUM> extends between proximal ends of the front wall <NUM>, the rear wall <NUM>, and the pair of side walls <NUM>. The floor <NUM> is spaced apart from and is disposed opposite the top wall <NUM>. The front wall <NUM> extends between first ends of the floor <NUM> and the top wall <NUM>. The rear wall <NUM> is disposed opposite the front wall <NUM> and extends between second ends of the floor <NUM> and the top wall <NUM>. The top wall <NUM> extends between distal ends of the front wall <NUM>, the rear wall <NUM>, and the pair of side walls <NUM>. The top wall <NUM> is disposed opposite the floor <NUM>. The pair of side walls <NUM> extend between the floor <NUM> and the top wall <NUM> and the pair of side walls extend between the front wall <NUM> and the rear wall <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the ventilation system <NUM> is arranged to mitigate leakage of the refrigerant <NUM> from within the interior space <NUM> by allowing the refrigerant <NUM> to vent or escape through the floor <NUM>, the front wall <NUM>, and/or a sidewall of the pair of side walls <NUM>. The ventilation system <NUM> includes a baffle or a vent door <NUM>, a leak sensor <NUM>, an actuator <NUM>, and a controller <NUM>.

The vent door <NUM> is movably disposed on the floor <NUM>. The vent door <NUM> is movable between a closed position, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, and an open position, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. The vent door <NUM> is shown as hingedly moving between the closed position and the open position, however the vent door <NUM> may move between the closed position and the open position in a variety of ways, such as a sliding motion, hinged motion, folding motion, pivoting motion, or other motion that selectively opens and closes the vent door <NUM> of the refrigerated container <NUM> that permits or facilitates the venting of the refrigerant <NUM> from the interior space <NUM>.

In at least one arrangement, a flow equalization area <NUM> may be defined by at least one of the floor <NUM>, the front wall <NUM>, and a sidewall of the pair of side walls <NUM>. The flow equalization area <NUM> may be disposed proximate the vent door <NUM> or opening within the refrigerated container <NUM> that receives the vent door <NUM>.

The leak sensor <NUM> is arranged to provide a signal indicative of a concentration of a refrigerant that may be present within the interior space <NUM>. The leak sensor <NUM> may be disposed within the interior space <NUM>, proximate the floor <NUM>.

The actuator <NUM> is arranged to facilitate movement of the vent door <NUM> between the closed position and the open position. The actuator <NUM> may include a first lock member <NUM> that is disposed on a surface of the vent door <NUM> and a second lock member <NUM> that is disposed on a surface of the refrigerated container <NUM>.

The actuator <NUM> may facilitate the vent door <NUM> to open by gravity due to the disengagement of the first lock member <NUM> from the second lock member <NUM>. The first lock member <NUM> engages or interfaces with the second lock member <NUM>, to inhibit the vent door <NUM> from moving from the closed position towards the open position. The first lock member <NUM> disengages from the second lock member <NUM>, to facilitate the vent door <NUM> moving from the closed position towards the open position. In such an arrangement the first lock member <NUM> and the second lock member <NUM> may be components of a mechanical lock, a magnetic lock, or the like.

The actuator <NUM> may drive or move the vent door <NUM> from the closed position towards the open position, such that the first lock member <NUM> may be a motor having a drive member that drives a driven member of the second lock member <NUM>, or vice versa.

The controller <NUM> may be provided with the refrigeration system <NUM> or may be a standalone controller. In at least one arrangement, the controller <NUM> may be provided as a standalone controller that is in communication with the refrigeration system <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> is in communication with the leak sensor <NUM> and the actuator <NUM>, and in some arrangements the controller <NUM> is also in communication with the vent door <NUM>. The controller <NUM> is provided with input communication channels that are arranged to receive the signal from the leak sensor <NUM> and in some arrangements a pressure sensor. The controller <NUM> is provided with output communication channels that are arranged to provide signals or commands to the actuator <NUM> or to the vent door <NUM> to facilitate movement of the vent door <NUM> from the closed position towards the open position.

The controller <NUM> is provided with at least one processor that is programmed to perform control logic, control algorithms, or functions to command the actuator <NUM> to facilitate the movement of the vent door <NUM> from the closed position towards the open position based on the signal indicative of the concentration levels of refrigerant <NUM> within the interior space <NUM> of the refrigerated container <NUM>. The control logic, control algorithm, or functions may be performed as a closed loop control system.

The controller <NUM> is programmed to output for display, via the output communication channels, an indicator, responsive to the signal from the leak sensor <NUM> being indicative of a concentration of the refrigerant <NUM> within the interior space <NUM> being greater than a threshold concentration.

The arrangement of the ventilation system <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, facilitates the ventilation of the refrigerant <NUM> from within the interior space <NUM> of the refrigerated container <NUM> without the use of a fan or other fresh air exchange. The ventilation system <NUM> enables refrigerant <NUM> that may collect near the floor <NUM> of the refrigerated container <NUM> to vent to an external environment via gravity. The opening of the vent door <NUM> facilitates the migration of the refrigerant <NUM> towards the opening that the vent door <NUM> selectively opens and closes.

Referring to <FIG>, the ventilation system <NUM> includes an injection port <NUM>, a relief device or a vent port <NUM>, a compressor <NUM>, a pressure sensor <NUM>, the leak sensor <NUM>, and the controller <NUM>.

The injection port <NUM> extends through at least one of the front wall <NUM>, the rear wall <NUM>, the top wall <NUM>, and a sidewall of the pair of side walls <NUM>. The injection port <NUM> is arranged to facilitate a fluid flow such as air from an external environment into the interior space <NUM> of the refrigerated container <NUM>.

The vent port <NUM> is spaced apart from the injection port <NUM> and is disposed proximate the floor <NUM>. The vent port <NUM> extends through at least one of the front wall <NUM>, the rear wall <NUM>, the top wall <NUM>, and a sidewall of the pair of side walls <NUM>. The vent port <NUM> is arranged to facilitate the ventilation of the refrigerant <NUM> that may be present within the interior space <NUM> of the refrigerated container <NUM>. The vent port <NUM> is normally in a closed position and acts as a ventilation device or pressure relief device to prevent the refrigerated container <NUM> from exceeding an internal pressure threshold. In at least one arrangement, the vent port <NUM> may be a ventilation fan.

The compressor <NUM> is fluidly connected to the injection port <NUM> and is arranged to inject air into the interior space <NUM> of the refrigerated container <NUM> through the injection port <NUM>.

The pressure sensor <NUM> is in communication with the controller <NUM>. The pressure sensor <NUM> is arranged to provide a signal indicative of a pressure within the interior space <NUM> of the refrigerated container <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> is arranged to receive the signal indicative of the concentration of the refrigerant within the interior space <NUM> from the leak sensor <NUM>. The controller <NUM> is programmed to output for display an indicator, via the output communication channels, responsive to the signal being indicative of the concentration of the refrigerant within the interior space <NUM> being greater than a threshold concentration. In at least one arrangement, the indicator may be an auditory signal, a message to an operator indicating the concentration of the refrigerant <NUM> within the interior space <NUM> being greater than a threshold concentration. In at least one arrangement, the indicator may also notify an operator to connect the compressor <NUM> to the injection port <NUM> and apply an airflow through the injection port <NUM> to pressurize the refrigerated container <NUM> with air.

The controller <NUM> is programmed to command the compressor <NUM>, via the output communication channels, to supply or apply an airflow through the injection port <NUM> and into the interior space <NUM>, responsive to the signal being indicative of the concentration of the refrigerant <NUM> within the interior space <NUM> being greater than a threshold concentration.

Responsive to the signal provided by the pressure sensor <NUM> being indicative of a pressure within the interior space <NUM> being greater than a threshold pressure, the vent port <NUM> opens, facilitating at least a portion of the refrigerant <NUM> from within the interior space <NUM> to vent through the vent port <NUM> to an external environment.

In at least one arrangement, should the vent port <NUM> be a ventilation fan, the controller <NUM> may command the ventilation fan be operated, via the output communication channels, responsive to the pressure within the interior space <NUM> being greater than a threshold pressure or responsive to the signal being indicative of a concentration of the refrigerant <NUM> within the interior space <NUM> being greater than a threshold concentration.

The compressor <NUM> may continue to apply an airflow into the interior space <NUM> through the injection port <NUM> at least until the atmosphere within the interior space <NUM> improves by the concentration of the refrigerant <NUM> falling below a threshold concentration.

The arrangement of the ventilation system <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, provides positive pressure ventilation to vent the refrigerant <NUM> from within the interior space <NUM> of the refrigerated container <NUM> into an external environment. The arrangement of the ventilation system <NUM> replaces the refrigerant <NUM> from within the interior space <NUM> of the refrigerated container <NUM> with fresh air.

Referring to <FIG>, in the invention aspects of the arrangements shown in <FIG> are combined. In the invention, the ventilation system <NUM> includes the vent door <NUM>, the leak sensor <NUM>, the actuator <NUM>, the controller <NUM>, the injection port <NUM>, the vent port <NUM> and the compressor <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> is arranged to receive the signal from the leak sensor <NUM>. The controller <NUM> is programmed to command the compressor <NUM>, via the output communication channels, to apply an airflow through the injection port <NUM> and into the interior space <NUM>, responsive to the signal being indicative of a concentration of the refrigerant <NUM> within the interior space <NUM> being greater than a threshold concentration. The controller <NUM> is programmed to command the actuator <NUM>, via the output communication channels, to facilitate the movement of the vent door <NUM> from the closed position towards the open position, responsive to at least one of the signal from the leak sensor <NUM> being indicative of a concentration of refrigerant <NUM> within the interior space <NUM> being greater than a threshold concentration and/or the signal from the pressure sensor <NUM> being indicative of a pressure within the interior space <NUM> being greater than a threshold pressure.

Claim 1:
A refrigerated container (<NUM>) including a ventilation system (<NUM>), the ventilation system comprising:
a leak sensor (<NUM>) disposed within an interior space (<NUM>) of the refrigerated container (<NUM>) and arranged to provide a signal indicative of a concentration of a refrigerant (<NUM>) within the interior space;
a controller (<NUM>) arranged to receive the signal;
an injection port (<NUM>);
a vent door (<NUM>) movably disposed on a floor (<NUM>) of the refrigerated container (<NUM>), the vent door (<NUM>) being movable between a closed position and an open position;
an actuator (<NUM>) arranged to facilitate movement of the vent door (<NUM>) between the closed position towards the open position;
a vent port (<NUM>) spaced apart from the injection port (<NUM>), the vent port extending through at least one of the front wall (<NUM>), a rear wall (<NUM>), and a side wall (<NUM>), the vent port (<NUM>) separate from an opening receiving the vent door (<NUM>), wherein the vent port (<NUM>) is normally in a closed position and acts as a ventilation device or pressure relief device to prevent the refrigerated container (<NUM>) from exceeding an internal pressure threshold;
a pressure sensor (<NUM>) in communication with the controller (<NUM>), the pressure sensor arranged to provide a signal indicative of a pressure within the interior space (<NUM>) of the refrigerated container; and
a compressor (<NUM>) fluidly connected to the injection port (<NUM>), wherein the compressor (<NUM>) is arranged to apply an airflow through the injection port (<NUM>) and into the interior space (<NUM>) to pressurize the refrigerated container (<NUM>) with air;
wherein the controller (<NUM>) is programmed to command the compressor (<NUM>) to apply an airflow through the injection port (<NUM>) and into the interior space, responsive to the signal indicative of a concentration of a refrigerant being indicative of the concentration of the refrigerant within the interior space being greater than a threshold concentration; and
wherein the vent port (<NUM>) is controlled to open responsive to the signal provided by the pressure sensor (<NUM>) being indicative of a pressure within the interior space (<NUM>) being greater than a threshold pressure.