Patent Description:
In this way, an autonomous, manageable and versatile unit is achieved, that is also environmentally improved.

The technical sector to which it belongs is that of cooling systems for transportation vehicles.

The transportation of perishable goods requires vehicle cooling systems and equipment that guarantee the optimal conditions of the products.

These pieces of equipment are usually driven by the vehicle's engine, which has the drawback that the vehicle must be running for the cooling unit to work. On long journeys, drivers' needs for rest require downtimes, during which the cooling unit needs to continue running and, during last-mile deliveries, the cooling unit needs to be kept running during delivery vehicle downtimes, during times involving home deliveries.

A possible solution for the cooling unit to keep running during vehicle stops is to incorporate an additional motor independent of the vehicle's engine. However, this adds considerable weight to the equipment, in addition to increasing its price, as well as the extra polluting effects that this option has compared with other options.

Other equipment is powered by external batteries, so that the cooling unit can be kept running whilst the vehicle is stationary. The batteries and their recharging systems are located in different parts of the vehicle, making it difficult to install, maintain, diagnose or repair them.

The assembly of these motors varies according to the vehicle, being, in some of them, a task that entails a significant investment of time and resources, in addition to other associated costs, such as specific tools or operations, reworking or the disposal of new parts supplied by the vehicle manufacturer.

We also find, amongst the patent literature, some documents referring to cooling systems that try to solve said problems.

Thus, for example, patent <CIT> refers to an autonomous cooling element that includes batteries, arranged in certain parts of the vehicle, as well as different recharging systems for said batteries, such as solar power.

Patent <CIT> refers to a system to increase the autonomy of a battery cooling system, also including the possibility of recharging by means of solar power.

Document <CIT> shows a further relevant transport refrigeration unit comprising a battery.

The proposed invention, albeit in the field of vehicle cooling systems, focuses on other objectives, all as specified below.

The proposed invention is defined in claim <NUM> and has, as its objective:
A versatile refrigeration system in which the cooling unit -batteries, compressor, condenser and control electronics- are grouped into a compact modular chest and the evaporators can be distributed inside the vehicle box, depending on the needs of different cooling areas.

The objective of this arrangement is to easily integrate it into the vehicle, given that the pre-assembly can be carried out at the garage and it is quickly installed in the vehicle, avoiding the vehicle being inoperative for several days.

On the other hand, by grouping the different components, the length of the connections between them is shortened, reducing both the cost and the weight of the connection pipes, reducing the amount of gas needed in the circuit, so that, in the event of a leak, the environmental consequences are minor.

The proposed unified cooling unit also facilitates repair operations for two reasons. Firstly, because the layout of each of the components within the structure allows easy access. On the other hand, in the event of a severe fault, the grouped unit can be disassembled and replaced or, in the event of a fault that affects a module, said module can be disassembled and replaced in such a way that the times during which the vehicle is inoperative are reduced.

The fact of being unified avoids having to access different parts of the vehicle to verify the operation of one component or another, or to replace an element.

Another advantage is that, as it comes pre-assembled and unified, the number of parts, connections and bolts is reduced, thus reducing the risk of errors and avoiding intervention in different parts of the vehicle.

Another objective of the invention is that any eventuality can be quickly detected and repaired, which is achieved by the cooling unit being unified and visible.

In addition to reducing the extension of the connections between the elements of the cooling unit located in the structure, given that it is located on the cabin, the extension of the connections between the cooling unit and the user control interface or with the battery-charging elements, solar panels, power generators or mains socket, amongst others, is shortened.

The proposed cooling unit comprises the following:.

The structure of the chest is modular, in such a way that the various components can be pre-assembled in their corresponding module and these modules can be assembled together at a later time, allowing for simultaneous construction, stocking of independent modules and, in case of breakdown, their replacement, accelerating repair times. The modules are preferably joined together by removable means such as screws, complementary geometries or any other means.

All the modules have holes with windows to the outside of the structure, permitting easy access to the interior and to the components they house.

Covering the structure is a casing that has practicable areas for access to each hole, preferably coinciding with the windows. Each specific area of the casing that can be moved or removed from its position, leaving access to the interior of the chest, will be referred to as practicable areas.

In a preferred execution, the casing comprises independent panels, attached to the structure by removable means. These panels can each have a different morphology, depending on the characteristics that are necessary to cover each area.

Also in a preferred execution, the distribution of the various components and modules is carried out as follows, taking, as a reference, the cooling unit seen from the front of the vehicle.

The main module, in a central position, comprises a transverse partition that divides it into two openings: one at the front and one at the back.

The 24v or 48v batteries are housed in the rear hole, near the vehicle body and in a central position, thus favouring the distribution of loads from the cooling unit and greater stability of the entire unit. The condensing unit is housed in the previous hole to facilitate air flow.

On one of the sides of this central module, preferably on the left, there is a side frame, anchored to the transverse partition, which delimits a hole, which we will refer to as the left hole, which houses the electrical elements for managing the batteries.

On the opposite side is the compressor module with a hole, which we will refer to as the right hole, in which the compressor, the shock absorbers and the electronic compressor running unit are housed, as well as the connections between them. The compressor is of 24v or 48v variable voltage and variable speed and is powered directly by the batteries.

According to the invention as defined in claim <NUM>, the structure comprises a series of windows that communicate with the outside through each of the openings;.

The components must be easily accessible from the outside once the closing panel has been moved or removed.

For this, the elements, inside the hole that houses them can be accessed, implying that they are arranged close to an access window and without connections or devices interposed between each component and the outside, for which all the connections have been laid out by the internal part of the modules.

The central partition protects the batteries, contributes to stiffening the assembly by making the upper front window transparent and supports the anchoring of the side frame and collaborates in the anchoring of the compressor module.

In this way, a rigid, light assembly is achieved, with a minimal structure and with large windows that allow easy access to each component in the event of a breakdown.

In a possible execution, the structure can have a lower blind closure independent of the lower closure that each module or hole can have and a rear closure, which is also blind, but with recesses in some of its parts to lighten the entire unit.

For a better understanding of the invention, the following figures are provided.

A way of carrying out the invention according to claim <NUM> is described below, which is neither unique nor limiting, but merely explanatory.

The unified cooling unit, according to the proposed invention, comprises:
a modular structure (<NUM>) that supports the components, namely, the condenser (<NUM>), batteries (<NUM>), elements (<NUM>) for running the batteries, compressor (<NUM>), electronic elements for running the compressor and the connections between them.

For this, the structure has a central module that includes the rear hole (<NUM>) where the batteries (<NUM>) are located in a central manner and the front hole (<NUM>) where the condenser (<NUM>) is located. This central module also has a transverse partition (<NUM>) that divides it into the front and rear holes and protects the batteries.

The structure also has a module with a right hole (<NUM>) where the compressor (<NUM>) is located along with other electronic elements for the running of the latter and a left hole (<NUM>) where the elements (<NUM>) for the running of the batteries are located.

The various modules and openings are joined together by screws, forming a prismatic block. The prismatic shape of the structure and modules facilitates its manufacturing based on profiles and market parts.

Each hole has windows to the outside and the structure, once assembled, has windows at least on its front, sides and top.

The chest is covered by a protective casing comprising multiple panels, each covering an area.

The side panels (<NUM>) cover the side windows of the left opening and the right opening, the front panel (<NUM>) covers the entire front part of the structure, the upper right panel (<NUM>) covers the upper right opening and the rear panels (<NUM>) and front (<NUM>), both upper panels, cover the upper part of the rear hole and the front hole, respectively.

These panels are attached to the structure by screws or fixing knobs, as they can be easily removed. The regular shape of the panels, rectangular or square, facilitates their construction, given that special moulds or complex machining are not required.

As each panel can be removed independently, only the hole where the component to be accessed is housed can be accessed, without the need to completely disassemble the casing, thus avoiding excessive work or exposing the rest of the modules or elements, the access to which is not necessary.

The fact that the casing is modular allows the use of different materials, thicknesses or different constructions for the panels, adapting each panel to its intended use and its function, some of which may be complete plates (<NUM>) and (<NUM>), others may have a groove (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) and others have holes with a grid (<NUM>).

The compressor (<NUM>), with double speed and variable voltage, includes shock absorbers on which it is assembled to prevent vibrations. Similarly and also to decouple possible vibrations, it is connected to the remaining elements via a flexible connection. This compressor is powered directly from the batteries, in this case, 24v.

The compressor (<NUM>) is located in the right hole (<NUM>) in an accessible housing.

A component is referred to being in an accessible housing when, between that component and the outside, once the corresponding panel has been removed, there is no piece or part of a piece or connection that could hinder its access.

The condenser (<NUM>) is arranged in the front hole (<NUM>) and in a housing that can be accessed from the upper front window (<NUM>).

The condenser is arranged close to the compressor (<NUM>) to shorten the length of the connections between them, reducing the amount of gas in the circuit, which results in a lower cost of parts, assembly and maintenance and, in the event of a leak, less environmental damage. The reduction in cooling gas in the circuit is facilitated by the use of a condenser coil with an aluminium microchannel configuration.

In the left hole (<NUM>) the elements (<NUM>) for the running of the batteries are arranged in a housing that can be accessed from the outer window of the left hole. This left hole is delimited by a frame (<NUM>) attached to the central partition (<NUM>).

The batteries (<NUM>), arranged in the rear compartment (<NUM>) in a housing that can be accessed from the upper window of the rear compartment, are located in a laterally centred position and as close as possible to the wall of the vehicle body, thus facilitating the distribution of loads and the behaviour of forces of the assembly.

As has been stated, all the elements are arranged in such a way that they are easy to access and the structure has windows of a sufficient size to allow the removal of each element without the need to disassemble the assembly, all without diminishing the solidity and resistance of the structure that is also lightweight.

All modules and openings have a rectangular prism shape with windows on their outer sides. The set formed by the union of all of the modules and holes forms a rectangular prism.

Claim 1:
UNIFIED COOLING UNIT WITH MODULAR STRUCTURE suitable for installation in a vehicle attached to the wall of its box in a chest above the cabin, comprising a structure suitable for housing the batteries (<NUM>) the condenser (<NUM>) the compressor (<NUM>) the compressor management electronics and the battery management electronics (<NUM>), and characterised in that said structure is compact and houses, in addition to the batteries (<NUM>), the condenser (<NUM>), the compressor (<NUM>), the electronic compressor management elements and the electrical battery management elements, all the connections between all the aforementioned elements, all of which are arranged in an accessible manner and wherein said structure is modular and comprises a module (<NUM>) with a rear hole (<NUM>) housing the batteries in a central position that distributes the loads giving stability to the whole and a front hole (<NUM>) with the condenser unit and a transverse partition (<NUM>) between them protecting the batteries, on the sides of this module (<NUM>), seen from the front of the vehicle, there is a left hole (<NUM>) and a module with a right hole (<NUM>); all of the modules have windows to the outside and are joined together by removable means. This structure is enclosed by a casing with a practicable area for each hole of each module and comprises connections to at least one evaporator (<NUM>).
And wherein the module (<NUM>) that comprising batteries and condenser also comprises a diaphanous front top window (<NUM>).