A trailer transport refrigeration unit assisted by a tractor auxiliary power unit
AssigneeCarrier Corporation
InventorMichael Thomas Swab
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tractor trailer system includes a tractor and a trailer. The tractor includes a hotel device and an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) configured to provide electrical power to the hotel device. The trailer is connected to the tractor, and includes a Transport Refrigeration Unit (TRU) having a TRU controller, an electrical TRU component, and a TRU Power Unit. The TRU controller is configured to utilize the APU to provide electrical power to the electrical TRU component during low TRU load conditions, and utilize the TRU Power Unit during high TRU load conditions.
Claims20
A Transport Refrigeration Unit (TRU) adapted to mount to a trailer of a tractor trailer system including a tractor having a hotel device and an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) configured to provide electrical power to the hotel device, the TRU comprising:
- a TRU controller;
- an electrical TRU component;
- and
- a TRU Power Unit, wherein the TRU controller is configured to utilize the APU to provide electrical power to the electrical TRU component during low TRU load conditions, and utilize the TRU Power Unit during high TRU load conditions.
A method of operating a Transport Refrigeration Unit (TRU) electrically connected to an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) of a tractor, the method comprising:
- calling for energization of a TRU component by the TRU controller;
- comparing a load demand of the TRU component to an available load capacity of the APU by a selection module of the TRU controller;
- and
- selecting the APU to provide power to the TRU component by a selection module of the TRU controller and if the available load capacity is greater than the load demand.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.