# US 10,119,741 B2 · Refrigerant bunker and cooler employing the refrigerant bunker > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,119,741 B2 - Document ID: US10119741B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/789,465 - Filed: 2015-07-01 - Published: 2017-01-05 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-07-01 - Assignees: Cold Chain, LLC - Applicants: Cold Chain, LLC - Inventors: Ronald S. Jackson; Patrick Kilroy; Daniel M. Aragon; John T. Prehn; Todd J. Lindsey; Peter James Wachtell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119741B2 ## CPC - F25D 3/08: portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally - F25D 2303/082: disposed in a cold storage element not forming part of a container for products to be cooled, e.g. ice pack or gel accumulator - F25D 2303/0832: the liquid is disposed in an accumulator pack locked in a closable wall forming part of the container - F25D 2303/0843: on the side of the product - F25D 2303/0844: above the product - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) ## Abstract A refrigerant bunker comprises a refrigerant covering comprising a first thermally insulating material configured to enclose a solid refrigerant and an outer container comprising a container body and a container cover. The container body comprising an outer surface, an inner surface defining a partially enclosed space configured to accept the solid refrigerant and an opening for accessing the partially enclosed space. The container cover is configured for covering the container opening. The container body comprises a second thermally insulating material. A plurality of spacers protrude from the inner surface of the outer container in the partially enclosed space. The plurality of spacers are positioned to have gas fillable gaps between the spacers. Coolers employing the refrigerant bunker are also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A refrigerant bunker configured for use with a portable cooler, the refrigerant bunker comprising: a refrigerant covering comprising a first thermally insulating material configured to enclose a solid refrigerant, the first thermally insulating material of the refrigerant covering being in a form of a sleeve configured to hold the solid refrigerant; the refrigerant covering further comprising an opening for inserting the solid refrigerant into the sleeve and a sleeve cover for covering the sleeve opening; an outer container comprising a container body and a container cover, the container body comprising an outer surface; an inner surface defining a partially enclosed space and an opening for accessing the partially enclosed space, the enclosed space configured to accept the solid refrigerant enclosed in the refrigerant covering, the container cover configured for covering the container opening, the container body comprising a second thermally insulating material; and a plurality of spacers protruding from the inner surface of the outer container in the partially enclosed space, the plurality of spacers positioned to have gas fillable gaps between the spacers, the gas fillable gaps having a depth, Do, that ranges from about ¼ inch to about 2 inches. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The refrigerant bunker of claim 1, wherein the container body extends between the plurality of spacers so that the outer container completely surrounds the space configured to accept the solid refrigerant when the container cover is positioned to cover the container opening. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The refrigerant bunker of claim 2, wherein the container body does not include a ventilation port. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The refrigerant bunker of claim 2, wherein the refrigerant bunker comprises a pressure release mechanism to vent over-pressurization of a sublimated gas from the outer container, the pressure release mechanism being selected from the group consisting of a pressure regulating valve, a leak path between the container cover and container body, and a combination thereof. ### Claim 5 A refrigerant bunker, comprising: a refrigerant covering comprising a first thermally insulating material configured to enclose a solid refrigerant; an outer container comprising a container body and a container cover, the container body comprising an outer surface, an inner surface defining a partially enclosed space configured to accept the solid refrigerant and an opening for accessing the partially enclosed space, the container cover configured for covering the container opening, the container body comprising a second thermally insulating material; and a plurality of spacers protruding from the inner surface of the outer container in the partially enclosed space, the plurality of spacers positioned to have gas fillable gaps between the spacers, the gas fillable gaps having a depth, Do, that ranges from about ¼ inch to about 2 inches. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The refrigerant bunker of claim 5, wherein the refrigerant bunker is configured for use with a portable cooler. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The refrigerant bunker of claim 5, wherein the first thermally insulating material of the refrigerant covering is in a form of a sleeve configured to hold a solid refrigerant, the refrigerant covering further comprising an opening for inserting the solid refrigerant into the sleeve and a sleeve cover for covering the sleeve opening. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The refrigerant bunker of claim 7, wherein the sleeve is removable from the outer container. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The refrigerant bunker of claim 5, wherein the refrigerant covering is in a form of a wrap configured to completely enclose the solid refrigerant. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The refrigerant bunker of claim 5, wherein the second thermally insulating material is plastic. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The refrigerant bunker of claim 5, wherein the plurality of spacers are integral with the outer container. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) The refrigerant bunker of claim 5, wherein the refrigerant covering is fixedly attached to the outer container. ### Claim 13 (depends on 5) The refrigerant bunker of claim 5, wherein the outer container comprises a pliable material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 5) The refrigerant bunker of claim 5, wherein the container body extends between the plurality of spacers so that the outer container completely surrounds the space configured to accept the solid refrigerant when the container cover is positioned to cover the container opening. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The refrigerant bunker of claim 14, wherein the spacers are made of the same insulating material as that of the container body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The refrigerant bunker of claim 14, wherein the container body does not include a ventilation port. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The refrigerant bunker of claim 14, wherein the refrigerant bunker comprises a pressure release mechanism to vent over-pressurization of a sublimated gas from the outer container, the pressure release mechanism being selected from the group consisting of a pressure regulating valve, a leak path between the container cover and container body, and a combination thereof. ### Claim 18 A method for controlling a temperature of a cooler, the method comprising: inserting dry ice into a refrigerant bunker, the refrigerant bunker comprising: a refrigerant covering comprising a first thermally insulating material configured to enclose a solid refrigerant; an outer container comprising a container body and a container cover, the container body comprising an outer surface, an inner surface defining a partially enclosed space configured to accept the solid refrigerant and an opening for accessing the partially enclosed space, the container cover configured for covering the container opening, the container body comprising a second thermally insulating material; and a plurality of spacers protruding from the inner surface of the outer container in the partially enclosed space, the plurality of spacers positioned to have gas fillable gaps between the spacers, the gas fillable gaps having a depth, Do, that ranges from about ¼ inch to about 2 inches, the dry ice being enclosed in the refrigerant covering and the outer container; and maintaining the refrigerant bunker in a cooler having a chamber, the refrigerant bunker being positioned so that the dry ice cools the chamber. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein carbon dioxide gas from the dry ice remains trapped in the container body so as to fill the gas fillable gaps and surround the refrigerant covering. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the primary mechanism for cooling employed when using refrigerant bunker is by conduction through the outer container and refrigerant covering.