Trailer refrigeration unit with pivotally mounted compressor and engine/generator set
AssigneeCarrier Corporation
InventorsMatthew J. Stevens, Thomas F. Mallinson, Robert S. Simeone
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A trailer refrigeration unit has a pivotally mounted engine driven generator unit and a pivotally mounted compressor unit that combine to form a structure that minimizes the spatial "real estate" occupied by the refrigeration unit. A single common rotatable shaft operates the integrally mounted engine and generator to form a unitary unit. The engine driven generator and compressor units can be pivoted out of the refrigeration unit frame to a fully serviceable position that provides easy access to the rear portions of the engine, generator and compressor units without requiring removal of those units from the refrigeration unit.
Claims10
An improved truck trailer refrigeration unit of the type having at least one condenser, at least one evaporator, and at least one electrically powered device, the improvement comprising:
- an integrally mounted engine driven generator unit for providing power
- for the electrically powered devices forming a portion of the refrigeration unit, the engine driven generator being pivotally attached to at least one engine/generator pivoting apparatus, wherein the at least one engine/generator pivoting apparatus is configured to selectively pivot the integrally mounted engine driven generator unit into and out of the truck trailer refrigeration unit;
- and
- an integrally mounted compressor unit operatively coupled to the at least one condenser and the at least one evaporator, the compressor unit being pivotally attached to at least one compressor pivoting apparatus, wherein the at least one compressor pivoting apparatus is configured to selectively pivot the integrally mounted compressor unit into and out of the truck trailer refrigeration unit,
- such that pivoting the integrally mounted engine driven generator and the integrally mounted compressor unit out of the truck trailer refrigeration unit allows access to rear portions of the engine driven generator and the compressor without removing any energy fueled components from the truck trailer refrigeration unit and without removing the truck trailer refrigeration unit from a trailer upon which the truck trailer refrigeration unit is installed, and further such that pivoting the integrally mounted engine driven generator and the integrally mounted compressor unit into the truck trailer refrigeration unit positions the engine driven generator and the compressor to be in a normal operating mode.
An improved truck trailer refrigeration unit of the type having a compressor unit, an engine driven generator unit, at least one condenser, at least one evaporator, and at least one electrically powered device, the improvement comprising:
- first pivoting means attached to at least one engine driven generator unit for selectively pivoting the engine driven generator unit into and out of the truck trailer refrigeration unit;
- and
- second pivoting means attached to the compressor unit for selectively pivoting the compressor unit into and out of the truck trailer refrigeration unit,
- such that pivoting the engine driven generator unit and the compressor unit into a first position allows access to rear portions of the engine driven generator unit and the compressor unit without removing any energy fueled components from the truck trailer refrigeration unit and without removing the truck trailer refrigeration unit from a trailer upon which the truck trailer refrigeration unit is installed, and further such that pivoting the engine driven generator unit and the compressor unit into a second position places the engine driven generator unit and the compressor unit in a normal operating mode.
A method of servicing a truck trailer refrigeration unit of the type having a pivotally mounted engine driven generator unit and a pivotally mounted compressor unit, the method comprising the steps of:
- pivoting the engine driven generator unit into a fully extended service mode position;
- securing the engine driven generator unit in its fully extended service mode position, thereby preventing the engine driven generator from falling out of the refrigeration unit while it is in the fully extended service mode position;
- servicing the secured engine driven generator unit while it is in the fully extended service mode position;
- pivoting the serviced engine driven generator unit into a fully retracted normal operating mode position;
- and
- securing the serviced engine driven generator unit in its fully retracted normal operating mode position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.