System and method for freight refrigeration power control
View Patent ↗A mobile refrigerator unit is turned on and off remotely via wireless technology using a system with a secondary control switch, or a ‘remote switch’, which is part of a reefer trip remote control unit, and is operated via a wireless or combination communication link.
1. A control for a mobile refrigeration system, comprising:
an arrangement for locally turning the mobile refrigeration system on and off;
a reefer trip control unit having a remote switch remote from the mobile refrigeration system;
a communication link connecting the remote switch to the arrangement so the arrangement can be turned on and off via the communication link; and
a local override to turn the mobile refrigeration off despite operation of the communication link and the arrangement;
said remote on-off arrangement providing an alternative path for power to the refrigeration component.
2. A refrigeration system, comprising:
a mobile unit having a refrigeration component and a refrigeration control;
a remote control;
a communication link linking the remote control and the refrigeration control;
said refrigeration control having a local on-off arrangement coupled to the refrigeration component to turn the refrigeration component on and off;
said refrigeration control having a remote on-off arrangement, responsive to said remote control via said communication link, and coupled to said local on-off arrangement, to turn the refrigeration component on and off; and
said refrigeration control having a local override coupled to said local on-off arrangement, to turn the refrigeration component off;
said remote on-off arrangement providing an alternative path for power to the refrigeration component.
3. A system as in claim 2 , wherein said refrigeration control has a local override coupled to said local on-off arrangement, to reset the refrigeration component on.
4. A system as in claim 2 , wherein said refrigeration system is mounted in a vehicle.
5. A system as in claim 2 , wherein said communication link is a wireless link or a land line or internet or via satellite or a combination of wireless land line satellite and/or internet.
6. A system as in claim 2 , wherein said local override allows a local maintenance person to take ultimate authority to turn off the refrigeration component.
7. A system as in claim 2 , wherein said local override includes a kill switch to turn off the refrigeration component.
8. A system as in claim 7 , wherein said local override includes a reset switch to reset the refrigeration control.
9. A system as in claim 2 , wherein said local override includes a selector assembly to set the refrigeration control into one of a maintenance mode responsive to said local on-off arrangement and a remote mode responsive to said remote on-off arrangement.
10. A system as in claim 7 , wherein said local override further includes a selector assembly to set the refrigeration control into one of a maintenance mode responsive to said local on-off arrangement and a remote mode responsive to said remote on-off arrangement.
11. A system as in claim 8 , wherein said local override includes a selector assembly to set the refrigeration control into one of a maintenance mode responsive to said local on-off arrangement and a remote mode responsive to said remote on-off arrangement.
12. A system as in claim 7 , wherein said local override further includes a kill relay responsive to said kill switch to turn off the refrigeration component.
13. A system as in claim 8 , wherein said local override further includes a kill relay responsive to said kill switch to turn off the refrigeration component, said kill relay having a position responsive to said reset switch to reset said refrigeration control.
14. A system as in claim 7 , wherein said kill switch is manually operable.
15. A system as in claim 8 , wherein said kill switch and said reset switch are manually operable.
16. A controller for a mobile refrigeration system, comprising:
a local on-off arrangement coupled to the refrigeration component to turn the refrigeration system on and off comprising;
a remote control;
a communication link;
a remote on-off arrangement, responsive to said remote control via said communication link, and coupled to said local on-off arrangement, to turn the refrigeration system on and off; and
said refrigeration control having a local override coupled to said local on-off arrangement, to turn the refrigeration system off;
said remote on-off arrangement providing an alternative path for power to the refrigeration component.
17. A controller as in claim 16 , wherein said local override includes a kill switch to turn off the refrigeration system.
18. A controller as in claim 17 , wherein said local override includes a reset switch to reset the local on andarrangement.
19. A controller as in claim 16 , wherein said local override includes a selector assembly to set one of a maintenance mode responsive to said local on-off arrangement and a remote mode responsive to said remote on-off arrangement.
20. A controller as in claim 19 , wherein said local override further includes a selector assembly to set one of a maintenance mode responsive to said local on-off arrangement and a remote mode responsive to said remote on-off arrangement.
21. A controller as in claim 20 , wherein said local override includes a selector assembly to set one of a maintenance mode responsive to said local on-off arrangement and a remote mode responsive to said remote on-off arrangement.