Crash detection system for transport refrigeration units

A method of operating a transport refrigeration system, the method comprising:

• powering a refrigeration unit using a first engine;
• supplying fuel to the first engine from a first fuel tank, the first fuel tank being fluidly connected to the first engine through a first fuel line;
• detecting, using a sensor system, at least one of a crash of the transport refrigeration unit, a crash of the first fuel tank, a fuel leak in the first fuel line, and an engine stall in the first engine, the sensor system comprising a fuel tank crash detection sensor located proximate the first fuel tank, wherein the fuel tank crash detection sensor is configured to detect an acceleration of the first fuel tank;
• closing, using a controller, a first shutoff valve when the sensor system detects at least one of a crash of the transport refrigeration unit, a crash of the first fuel tank, a fuel leak in the first fuel line, and an engine stall in the first engine, the first shutoff valve being located within the first fuel line proximate the first fuel tank;
• and
• closing, using the controller, a second shutoff valve when the sensor system detects at least one of a crash of the transport refrigeration unit, a crash of the first fuel tank, a crash of the first fuel tank, a fuel leak in the first fuel line, and an engine stall in the first engine, the second shutoff valve being located within the first fuel line proximate the second fuel tank.

A computer program product tangibly embodied on a computer readable medium, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

• powering a refrigeration unit of a transport refrigeration system using a first engine;
• supplying fuel to the first engine from a first fuel tank, the first fuel tank being fluidly connected to the first engine through a first fuel line;
• detecting, using a sensor system, at least one of a crash of the transport refrigeration unit, a crash of the first fuel tank, a fuel leak in the first fuel line, and an engine stall in the first engine, the sensor system comprising a fuel tank crash detection sensor located proximate the first fuel tank, wherein the fuel tank crash detection sensor is configured to detect an acceleration of the first fuel tank;
• closing, using a controller, a first shutoff valve when the sensor system detects at least one of a crash of the transport refrigeration unit, a crash of the first fuel tank, a fuel leak in the first fuel line, and an engine stall in the first engine, the first shutoff valve being located within the first fuel line proximate the first fuel tank;
• and
• closing, using the controller, a second shutoff valve when the sensor system detects at least one of a crash of the transport refrigeration unit, a crash of the first fuel tank, a fuel leak in the first fuel line, and an engine stall in the first engine, the second shutoff valve being located within the first fuel line proximate the second fuel tank.