Isolated cold plate refrigeration system with user selected temperature control
AssigneeJohnson Truck Bodies, LLC
InventorsGerald Larson, Larry Peterson, Patrick McCabe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An isolated cold plate refrigeration system provides a cargo compartment isolated from a cold plate compartment. A user defines the target temperature of the cargo compartment. When the temperature of the cargo compartment rises above the target temperature and cool air is required to reduce the temperature of the cargo compartment, a cold plate fan is activated to move air from the cold plate compartment to the cargo compartment and from the cargo compartment to the cold plate compartment.
Claims18
A refrigeration system for use in a vehicle, the refrigeration system comprising:
- a cold plate compartment;
- a cold plate positioned within said cold plate compartment;
- a cargo compartment isolated from said cold plate compartment;
- a first passageway extending between said cold plate compartment and said cargo compartment;
- a second passageway extending between said cold plate compartment and said cargo compartment,
- a passageway covering for opening and closing said first and second passageways;
- wherein the temperature of said cargo compartment is lowered by opening said passageway covering and by providing air from said cold plate compartment to said cargo compartment through said first passageway and from cargo compartment to said cold plate compartment through said second passageway.
A method of maintaining the temperature of a cargo compartment of a vehicle comprising the steps of:
- providing a cold plate compartment isolated from the cargo compartment having a cold plate therein;
- providing a first passageway between the cargo compartment and the cold plate compartment;
- providing a second passageway between the cargo compartment and the cold plate compartment;
- providing a first passageway covering;
- providing a second passageway covering;
- monitoring the temperature of the cargo compartment to determine whether the cargo compartment is to be cooled;
- upon determining that the cargo compartment is to be cooled, opening said first and second passageway coverings and providing air from said cold plate compartment to said cargo compartment and providing air from said cargo compartment to said cold plate compartment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.