Temperature-controlled shipping container and method for using same
AssigneeNanopore, Inc.
InventorsDouglas M. Smith, Kevin H. Roderick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A temperature-controlled container utilizing a sorption cooling unit to maintain the temperature within the container. The sorption cooling unit cools the interior of the container and rejects waste heat to the exterior. The sorption cooling unit provides a lightweight and low volume alternative to the traditional gel pack cooling systems that are commonly used in the modern shipping industry for shipping containers.
Claims42
A temperature-controlled shipping container, comprising:
- a) a shipping container having at least a sidewall and top and bottom walls defining a cavity that is adapted to contain a product therein;
- b) a sorption cooler comprising an evaporator, an absorber and a vapor passageway disposed between said evaporator and said absorber wherein said evaporator is disposed in thermal communication with said cavity to provide cooling to said cavity;
- and
- c) a liquid reservoir containing an aqueous-based liquid, wherein said liquid contained in said reservoir can be provided to said evaporator upon activation of said sorption cooler.
A temperature-controlled shipping container, comprising:
- a) an insert comprising top, bottom and sidewalls defining a cavity within said insert wherein at lease one of said top, bottom and sidewalls has an insulative value of at least about R-3;
- b) a sorption cooling unit incorporated in said insert wherein said sorption cooling unit comprises an evaporator positioned adjacent to or within said cavity in a manner to provide cooling to said cavity and further comprises an absorber;
- and
- c) a shipping container substantially encasing said insert.
A temperature-controlled container, comprising:
- a) a top wall, bottom wall and at least a first sidewall defining a cavity wherein at least one of said top, bottom and sidewall has an insulative value of at least about R-3;
- b) a sorption cooling unit wherein said sorption cooling unit comprises an absorber and an evaporator, said evaporator being positioned adjacent to or within said cavity to provide cooling to said cavity and wherein at least a portion of one of said top wall, bottom wall and sidewall is defined by a surface of said evaporator;
- and
- c) a liquid reservoir wherein liquid contained in said reservoir can be provided to said evaporator upon activation of said sorption cooler.
A temperature-controlled shipping container, comprising:
- a) a container having at least a sidewall and top and bottom walls defining a cavity that is adapted to contain a product therein;
- b) a sorption cooler comprising an evaporator, an absorber, and a vapor passageway including a vapor-permeable membrane disposed between said evaporator and said absorber, wherein said evaporator is disposed in thermal communication with said cavity to provide cooling to said cavity;
- and
- c) a liquid reservoir wherein liquid contained in said reservoir can be provided to said evaporator upon activation of said sorption cooler.
A temperature-controlled shipping container, comprising:
- a) a shipping container having at least a sidewall and top and bottom walls defining a cavity that is adapted to contain a product therein;
- and
- b) a sorption cooler, comprising:
- i) a liquid reservoir adapted to contain a liquid;
- ii) an evaporator disposed in thermal communication with said cavity to provide cooling to said cavity;
- iii) an absorber, wherein said absorber is thermally isolated from said cavity;
- and
- iv) means for supplying liquid from said liquid reservoir to said evaporator upon activation of said sorption cooler, wherein said evaporator is at a lower pressure than said liquid reservoir and said means for supplying liquid exposes said liquid to the lower pressure in said evaporator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.