Patent ID: 8266917

Claim:
An environmentally controlled shipping container comprising: a storage space; a first environmentally controlled space within the storage space; a second environmentally controlled space within the storage space, the second environmentally controlled space environmentally separate from the first environmentally controlled space; and a transport refrigeration unit including: a compressor that provides a flow of refrigerant; a condenser that receives the flow of refrigerant from the compressor; a first evaporator positioned within the first environmentally controlled space and in fluid communication with the condenser such that the first evaporator receives at least a portion of the flow of refrigerant from the condenser; a second evaporator positioned within the second environmentally controlled space and in fluid communication between the condenser and the compressor such that the second evaporator receives at least a portion of the flow of refrigerant from the condenser and discharges at least a portion of the flow of refrigerant to the compressor; and a pressure regulator in fluid communication associated with the first evaporator, the pressure regulator selectively restricting the flow of refrigerant from the first evaporator to the compressor such that the flow of refrigerant from the first evaporator to the compressor is substantially equal to the flow of refrigerant from the second evaporator to the compressor.