# US 11,079,173 B2 · Control system for automatic controlling reefer container resources

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- Number: US 11,079,173 B2
- Document ID: US11079173B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/555,249
- Filed: 2016-03-04
- Published: 2018-12-06
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2015-03-04
- Assignees: Maersk Line A/S
- Applicants: Maersk Line A/S
- Inventors: Ragnar Ingi Jonsson; Rabia Line Bonding Granlund; Rasmus Solmer Eriksen; Thierry Seurin; Morten Rene Baerrentz
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11079173B2

## CPC

- F25D 29/003: {for movable devices}
- F25D 29/008: {Alarm devices}
- G05B 19/042: using digital processors (G05B19/05 takes precedence)
- G06Q 10/0832: Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
- G06Q 10/0838: {Historical data}
- F25D 2700/12: Sensors measuring the inside temperature
- G05B 2219/2654: Fridge, refrigerator
- 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)
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A control system automates control of reefer container resources in a reefer container system including a remote server computer in communication with reefer containers. Each reefer container includes a refrigeration system to control a climate of an interior cargo compartment of the reefer container. The refrigeration system includes a refrigeration circuit, including a compressor, a cooling space, and sensors to measure or estimate refrigeration system readings. The refrigeration system transmits refrigeration system parameter data; the remote server computer obtains the parameter data acquired during operation of the refrigeration system from at least one reefer container, and estimates a condition of the refrigeration system, including determining whether an alarm has been issued, or whether the estimated reefer container condition indicates that the refrigeration system requires maintenance or testing. A reefer container resource control unit receives the reefer container condition to automatically allocate the reefer container based on the reefer container condition.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A control system for automatic controlling reefer container resources, the system comprising:
a plurality of reefer containers, each reefer container being subjected to release requirements including physical pre-trip inspection, each reefer container comprising:
a refrigeration system configured to control a climate of an interior cargo compartment of the reefer container, the refrigeration system comprising a refrigeration circuit, including at least a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant, a cooling space, and sensors,
wherein the sensors are configured to measure refrigeration system readings including at least one of ambient air temperature, supply air temperature, return air temperature, refrigerant suction pressure, refrigerant discharge pressure, set-point values, temperature set-point, humidity set point, fresh air ventilation values, refrigerant temperature, discharge temperature, or suction temperature,
wherein the refrigeration system is configured to transmit refrigeration system parameter data based on refrigeration system readings, and
a refrigeration system controller configured to receive the refrigeration system parameter data and to transmit the refrigeration system parameter data; and
a remote server computer configured to:
obtain the refrigeration system parameter data as acquired during operation of the refrigeration system from at least one reefer container via a server communication unit,
analyze the refrigeration system parameter data to estimate a condition of the reefer container, including determining whether an alarm has been issued, or whether the estimated reefer container condition indicates that the refrigeration system requires maintenance or further testing, wherein the condition of the reefer container comprises a physical pre-trip inspection determination, and
transmit the physical pre-trip inspection determination to a reefer container resource unit to allocate the reefer container based on the reefer container condition,
wherein the physical pre-trip inspection determination is negative when the remote server computer determines that a physical pre-trip inspection must be performed and the physical pre-trip inspection determination is positive when the remote server computer determines that a physical pre-trip inspection can be skipped.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A system according to claim 1, wherein the refrigeration system controller is configured to issue one or more alarms, and wherein the one or more alarms are transmitted via the communication unit to the server.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A system according to claim 1, wherein the reefer container is an intermodal reefer container, the intermodal reefer container being transported during operation, while the remote server computer is provided remotely from the intermodal reefer container at a predetermined location.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A system according to claim 1, wherein the refrigeration system parameter data are provided to the server computer via the server communication unit and a reefer container communication unit.

### Claim 5

A control system for controlling reefer container resources, the system comprising:
a plurality of reefer containers, each reefer container being subjected to release requirements including physical pre-trip inspection, each reefer container comprising:
a refrigeration system configured to control a climate of an interior cargo compartment of the reefer container, and
a refrigeration system controller configured to provide refrigeration system parameter data; and
a remote server computer being configured to:
obtain the refrigeration system parameter data as acquired during operation of the refrigeration system from at least one reefer container via a server communication unit,
analyze the refrigeration system parameter data to estimate a condition of the reefer container, the condition of the reefer container comprising a physical pre-trip inspection determination, and
provide the reefer container condition including the physical pre-trip inspection determination to a reefer container resource control unit to allocate the reefer container based on the reefer container condition,
wherein the physical pre-trip inspection determination is negative when the remote server computer determines that a physical pre-trip inspection must be performed and the physical pre-trip inspection determination is positive when the remote server computer determines that a physical pre-trip inspection can be skipped.

### Claim 6

A method of automatically controlling reefer container resources in a reefer container system comprising a remote server computer in communication with a plurality of reefer containers, each reefer container comprising a refrigeration system configured to control a climate of an interior cargo compartment of the reefer container, the refrigeration system comprising a refrigeration circuit, including at least a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant, a cooling space, and sensors, each reefer container being subjected to release requirements including physical pre-trip inspection,
the method comprising, at the refrigeration system:
measuring by the sensors, refrigeration system readings including at least one of ambient air temperature, supply air temperature, return air temperature, refrigerant suction pressure, refrigerant discharge pressure, set-point values, temperature set-point, humidity set point, fresh air ventilation values, refrigerant temperature, discharge temperature, or suction temperature, and
transmitting, from the refrigeration system, refrigeration system parameter data based on refrigeration system readings,
the method further comprising, at the remote server computer:
obtaining refrigeration system parameter data acquired during operation of the refrigeration system from at least one reefer container via a server communication unit,
analyzing the refrigeration system parameter data to estimate a reefer container condition, including making a physical pre-trip inspection determination to determine whether a physical pre-trip inspection can be skipped, and further including determining whether an alarm has been issued, or whether the estimated reefer container condition of the refrigeration system indicates that the refrigeration system requires maintenance or further testing, wherein the condition of the reefer container comprises the physical pre-trip inspection determination, and
transmitting the physical pre-trip inspection determination to a reefer container resource unit, and
the method further comprising receiving the reefer container condition including the physical pre-trip inspection determination at the reefer container resource control unit to automatically allocate the reefer container based on the reefer container condition.

### Claim 7

A method of controlling reefer container resources in a reefer container system comprising a remote server computer in communication with a plurality of reefer containers, each reefer container comprising a refrigeration system configured to control a climate of an interior cargo compartment of the reefer container, each reefer container being subjected to release requirements including physical pre-trip inspection,
the method comprising, at the remote server computer:
obtaining refrigeration system parameter data acquired during operation of the refrigeration system from at least one reefer container via a server communication unit,
analyzing the refrigeration system parameter data to estimate a reefer container condition, including making a physical pre-trip inspection determination to determine whether a physical pre-trip inspection can be skipped, the condition of the reefer container comprising the physical pre-trip inspection determination, and
providing the reefer container condition including the physical pre-trip inspection determination to a reefer container resource control unit to allocate the reefer container based on the reefer container condition.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A method according to claim 7, comprising making a negative physical pre-trip inspection determination in response to an alarm having been issued, or comprising making a negative physical pre-trip inspection determination in response to the estimated reefer container condition of the refrigeration system indicating that the refrigeration system requires maintenance or further testing.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

A method according to claim 7, wherein the analyzing is triggered by one or more reefer container events.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A method according to claim 9, wherein parameter data obtained comprises a plurality of parameter data acquired at a plurality of time instances during operation of the refrigeration system, the plurality of parameter data comprises at least first parameter data acquired at a first time and second parameter data acquired at a second time during operation of the refrigeration system.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

A method according to claim 10, wherein the first parameter data comprises parameter data which are not controllable by a refrigeration system control unit and wherein the second parameter data comprises refrigeration system parameter data which values are affected by the performance of the refrigeration system.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

A method according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of time instances are distributed over a period of time, the period of time being at least 50% of a loaded reefer container transport time.

### Claim 13 (depends on 7)

A method according to claim 7, wherein the reefer container is an intermodal reefer container, the intermodal reefer container being transported during operation, while the remote server computer is provided remotely from the intermodal reefer container at a predetermined location.

### Claim 14 (depends on 7)

A method according to claim 7, wherein the refrigeration system parameter data are acquired during operation of the refrigeration system when the at least one reefer container is loaded.

### Claim 15 (depends on 7)

A method according to claim 7, wherein the refrigeration system parameter data comprises refrigeration system readings including supply air temperature, return air temperature, suction pressure, discharge pressure and set-points.

### Claim 16 (depends on 7)

A method according to claim 7, wherein the refrigeration system parameter data are provided to the remote server computer via the server communication unit and a reefer container communication unit.

### Claim 17 (depends on 7)

A method according to claim 7, wherein the remote server computer obtains one or more alarms if a fault at the refrigeration system is detected.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

A method according claim 17, wherein the analyzing to determine the condition of the reefer container, comprises analyzing the refrigeration system parameter data, the one or more alarms, reefer booking information and/or historic reefer condition information.

### Claim 19 (depends on 7)

A method according to claim 7, wherein the remote server computer receives reefer booking information, the reefer booking information comprising cargo type information and/or cargo properties, the cargo properties including cargo thermo-dynamic properties.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

A method according to claim 19, wherein the cargo properties comprise cargo transport temperature, cargo weight, cargo respiration heat and/or cargo heat capacity.

### Claim 21 (depends on 7)

A method according to claim 7, wherein the remote server computer receives historic reefer condition information.

### Claim 22 (depends on 7)

A method according to claim 7, further comprising evaluating the refrigeration system parameter data as received at the remote server computer and incrementing a certainty indicator based on the evaluation of the refrigeration system parameter data.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

A method according to claim 22, wherein the evaluation of the refrigeration system parameter data comprises estimating a load of the refrigeration system at the time of data acquisition, and incrementing the certainty indicator with the estimated load of the refrigeration system.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

A method according to claim 23, wherein the determined condition of the reefer container is a trusted condition if the certainty indicator is above a predetermined threshold.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

A method according to claim 23, further comprising issuing an alarm while the certainty indicator is below a predetermined threshold.

### Claim 26 (depends on 7)

A method according to claim 7, wherein the analyzing is triggered in dependence of specific reefer container events including when the reefer container changes status to discharged, gate-out or gate-in.

### Claim 27 (depends on 7)

A method according to claim 7, wherein a physical pre-trip inspection for the reefer container is scheduled if an alarm is issued.

### Claim 28 (depends on 7)

A method according to claim 7, wherein the refrigeration system parameter data are measured at the refrigeration system during a booked trip and wherein the refrigeration system parameter data are measured while cargo is provided in the cargo compartment.

### Claim 29 (depends on 7)

A method according to claim 7, wherein the analyzing to estimate the condition of the reefer container includes issuing an alarm if the determined condition of the reefer container is negative.

### Claim 30 (depends on 7)

A method according to claim 7, comprising:
obtaining, via the server communication unit, refrigeration system parameter data acquired during operation of the refrigeration system of each of the plurality of reefer containers;
analyzing the refrigeration system parameter data to estimate a reefer container condition for each of the plurality of reefer containers, the condition of each reefer container comprising a physical pre-trip inspection determination; and
providing the reefer container condition, including the corresponding physical pre-trip inspection determination, for each of the plurality of reefer containers, to the reefer container resource control unit to allocate each of the plurality of reefer containers, based on their respective reefer container conditions,
wherein, for at least one reefer container, the physical pre-trip inspection determination is positive, and, for each of a remainder of the plurality of reefer containers, the physical pre-trip inspection determination is negative.