Curtain track seal
AssigneeCarrier Corporation
InventorsFarley William Postgate, Robert C. Spearing
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A container refrigeration unit (10) is provided. The container refrigeration unit includes a container (20), a curtain (30), a seal element (40) and a sealing adapter (50). The container includes sidewalls defining an open end (26) and a curtain track (27) proximate the open end. The curtain is sized to cover the open end. The sealing adapter is fittable to the curtain track. An entire periphery of the curtain and an entirety of the seal element are sequentially fittable to the sealing adapter.
Claims19
A container refrigeration unit, comprising:
- a container comprising sidewalls defining an open end and defining, in a plane in each respective body of each of the sidewalls, a curtain track proximate to the open end;
- a curtain sized to cover the open end;
- a seal element;
- and
- a sealing adapter fittable to the curtain track,
- wherein:
- an entire periphery of the curtain and an entirety of the seal element are sequentially fittable to the sealing adapter,
- the sealing adapter comprises:
- a single male insert section having a convex shape and which is receivable in a corresponding single female section of the curtain track;
- and
- a single female insert section having a concave shape and which is receivable in a corresponding single male section of the curtain track, and
- the sealing adapter is formed to define a cavity receptive of the entire periphery of the curtain and the entirety of the seal element, a cross-sectional area of the cavity exceeding a total cross-sectional area of the curtain and the seal element.
A sealing adapter for use with a seal element, a curtain and a curtain track, which is defined in a plane in each respective body of each sidewall of a container and which is proximate to an open end of the container, the sealing adapter comprising:
- a first flange comprising a first surface and a first interior face;
- a second flange comprising a second surface and a second interior face opposite and at a distance from the first interior face;
- and
- a body comprising compliant material integrally connected with the first and second flanges, the body comprising:
- a first side, which is disposed to face inwardly relative to the open end of the container at the curtain track, and which defines a cavity which extends from the first interior face of the first flange to the second interior face of the second flange and which is receptive of the seal element and the curtain;
- and
- a second side opposite the first side, which is disposed to face outwardly relative to the open end of the container at the curtain track, and which comprises:
- a single male insert section extending from the first surface and having a convex shape, which is receivable in a corresponding single female section of the curtain track;
- a single female insert section extending from the second surface and having a concave shape, which is receivable in a corresponding single male section of the curtain track;
- and
- an additional section extending between the single male insert section and the single female insert section,
- wherein a cross-sectional area of the cavity exceeds a total cross-sectional area of the curtain and the seal element.
A method of closing an open end of a container refrigeration unit, the method comprising:
- sizing a curtain to cover the open end;
- defining, in a plane in each respective body of each sidewall of the container, a curtain track;
- fitting a sealing adapter into the curtain track, the sealing adapter comprising a single male insert section having a convex shape and which is receivable in a corresponding single female section of the curtain track and a single female insert section having a concave shape and which is receivable in a corresponding single male section of the curtain track;
- receiving, within a cavity defined by the sealing adapter, an entire periphery of the curtain;
- receiving, within the cavity and atop the entire periphery of the curtain, an entirety of a seal element;
- and
- sizing the cavity such that a cross-sectional area thereof exceeds a total cross-sectional area of the curtain and the seal element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.