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US 6,182,458 B2Granted
Apparatus and method for producing CO2 snow and/or ice in shipping container
OwnerPaul R. Franklin, Jr.inventor
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OwnerPaul R. Franklin, Jr.inventor
Estimating the term…
An apparatus and method is provided for precipitating water ice or CO2 snow downwardly over a load within a shipping container or semitrailer body. The apparatus and method utilize high pressure and high velocity fog-like spray discharges of liquid CO2 and water (for forming water ice) or opposing high pressure and high velocity fog-like spray discharges of liquid CO2 (for forming CO2 snow) for intimate commingling in an elevated area of the container or semitrailer body. The commingling fog-like jet discharges of water and liquid CO2 cause water ice precipitation downward over a load within the container or semitrailer body and are capable of producing ice at a rate (poundage) equal to generally 96% of the rate (poundage) at which liquid CO2 is consumed in forming the water ice. Further, the opposing and commingling high pressure and high velocity fog-like spray discharges of liquid CO2 cause CO2 snow to form and to precipitate downward over an associated load.
In combination with an elongated, closed and intermittently ventible container having upstanding opposite side walls and a top wall extending between and interconnecting upper margins of said side walls, a pair of delivery pipes mounted generally horizontally in said container adjacent said top wall and extending longitudinally of said container, one of said delivery pipes including longitudinally spaced first fog-like spray jet discharge means for liquid CO2, the other of said delivery pipes including longitudinally spaced second fog-like spray jet discharge means for discharging fog-like spray jets of water, said first and second jet discharge means being positioned relative to each other for intimate commingling of said fog-like jets, said one delivery pipe being adapted to be communicated with a source of liquid CO2 under pressure of at least substantially 250 psi and at a temperature of about −110° F., the other of said delivery pipes being adapted to be communicated with a supply of water under pressure of at least substantially 250 psi.
An apparatus for forming a blanket of ice and CO2 snow over an elongated load which comprises at least two generally horizontal delivery pipes extending longitudinally a substantial distance along and above said load, one of said delivery pipes including a first set of longitudinally spaced nozzles for discharging fog-like spray jets of water, said CO2 and water jet discharge nozzles being positioned relative to each other for intimate commingling of said fog-like jets to form ice and CO2 snow for deposit over a substantial portion of said elongated load, a delivery means connected to said one delivery pipe for delivering liquid CO2 under an initial delivery pressure of at least 250 psi, and a delivery means connected to said other delivery pipe for delivering water to said other delivery pipe at a pressure of at least about 250 psi, said apparatus further including a third horizontal delivery pipe extending longitudinally with said two delivery pipes and having a third set of discharge nozzles for discharging fog-like spray jets of liquid CO2, said third delivery pipe connected to said first delivery pipe to receive liquid CO2 supplied to said first delivery pipe under said initial pressure of at least 250 psi, and said third set of nozzles being aligned longitudinally on said third delivery pipe with said first set of nozzles on said first delivery pipe and directed generally at said first set of nozzles so that liquid CO2 fog-like spray jets discharged from said first set of nozzles and said third set of nozzles are directed towards each other to facilitate commingling of said fog-like CO2 spray jets to form CO2 snow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.