Refrigeration trailer air distribution chute
Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a refrigeration trailer air distribution chute. The chute includes a first air director attachable to a ceiling of a refrigeration trailer spanning a refrigeration unit and a side wall of the trailer, and a second air director attachable to and extending along the ceiling proximate the side wall to the rear of the trailer. The first air director is attachable to the ceiling along two lines of attachment, causing the first air director to have a cross section of a first shape regardless of whether the chute is in an unexpanded or an expanded state. The second air director is attachable to the ceiling along one line of attachment, causing the second air director to have a cross section of a second shape when the chute is in the unexpanded state and a third shape when the chute is in the expanded state.
1. A method of installing an air distribution chute in a refrigeration trailer comprising a floor, a ceiling, first and second opposing side walls, and a front wall, the method comprising:
mounting a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion of a deformable first air director of the air distribution chute such that the first air director is fluidically connected to an air outlet of a refrigeration unit of the refrigeration trailer;
mounting a deformable second air director of the air distribution chute to the refrigeration trailer such that the second air director extends along the first side wall of the refrigeration trailer; and
fluidically connecting the first air director to the second air director such that: (1) air can flow from the air outlet of the refrigeration unit into the first air director to expand the first air director from a first air director unexpanded state to a first air director expanded state; and (2) air can flow from the first air director into the second air director to expand the second air director from a second air director unexpanded state to a second air director expanded state, wherein a portion of the first air director has: (1) a first cross section when the first air director is in the first air director unexpanded state; and (2) a second cross section different from the first cross section when the first air director is in the first air director expanded state, and
wherein a portion of the second air director has: (1) a third cross section when the second air director is in the second air director unexpanded state; and (2) a fourth cross section different from the second cross section and the third cross section when the second air director is in the second air director expanded state.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein mounting the first mounting portion of the first air director comprises mounting the first mounting portion of the first air director via multiple spaced-apart fastener elements.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the fastener elements comprise grommets.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein mounting the first mounting portion of the first air director comprises attaching the first mounting portion of the first air director directly to the refrigeration trailer.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein mounting the first mounting portion of the first air director comprises attaching the first mounting portion of the first air director directly to the ceiling of the refrigeration trailer.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein mounting the first mounting portion of the first air director comprises mounting the first mounting portion of the first air director along a first line of attachment.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein mounting the second mounting portion of the first air director comprises mounting the second mounting portion of the first air director via multiple spaced-apart fastener elements.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the fastener elements comprise grommets.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein mounting the second mounting portion of the first air director comprises attaching the second mounting portion of the first air director directly to the refrigeration trailer.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein mounting the second mounting portion of the first air director comprises attaching the second mounting portion of the first air director directly to the ceiling of the refrigeration trailer.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein mounting the second mounting portion of the first air director comprises mounting the second mounting portion of the first air director along a second line of attachment.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein mounting the second air director of the air distribution chute to the refrigeration trailer comprises mounting the second air director of the air distribution chute to the refrigeration trailer via multiple spaced-apart fastener elements.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the fastener elements comprise grommets.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein mounting the second air director of the air distribution chute to the refrigeration trailer further comprises inserting the fasteners through the grommets.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein mounting the second air director of the air distribution chute to the refrigeration trailer further comprises inserting the fasteners through the grommets and into the ceiling of the refrigeration trailer.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein mounting the second air director of the air distribution chute to the refrigeration trailer further comprises inserting fasteners through the second air director and into the refrigeration trailer.
17. A method of installing an air distribution chute in a refrigeration trailer comprising a floor, a ceiling, first and second opposing side walls, and a front wall, the method comprising:
mounting a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion of a deformable first air director of the air distribution chute such that the first air director is fluidically connected to an air outlet of a refrigeration unit of the refrigeration trailer;
mounting a deformable second air director of the air distribution chute to the refrigeration trailer such that the second air director extends along the first side wall of the refrigeration trailer by inserting fasteners into fastener-receiving openings defined by respective grommets of the second air director and driving the fasteners into the refrigeration trailer; and
fluidically connecting the first air director to the second air director such that: (1) air can flow from the air outlet of the refrigeration unit into the first air director to expand the first air director from a first air director unexpanded state to a first air director expanded state; and (2) air can flow from the first air director into the second air director to expand the second air director from a second air director unexpanded state to a second air director expanded state,
wherein a portion of the first air director has: (1) a first cross section when the first air director is in the first air director unexpanded state; and (2) a second cross section different from the first cross section when the first air director is in the first air director expanded state, and wherein a portion of the second air director has: (1) a third cross section when the second air director is in the second air director unexpanded state; and (2) a fourth cross section different from the second cross section and the third cross section when the second air director is in the second air director expanded state.
18. An air distribution chute comprising:
a deformable first air director comprising multiple spaced-apart first fastener elements and at least partially defining a chute inlet, the first air director mountable to a refrigeration trailer at a first attachment area via the first fastener elements and at a second attachment area spaced apart from the first attachment area,
wherein a portion of the first air director has a first cross section when the first air director is in a first air director unexpanded state and a second cross section different from the first cross section when the first air director is in a first air director expanded state; and
a deformable second air director comprising multiple spaced-apart second fastener elements and a rear edge at least partially defining a chute outlet, the second air director mountable to the refrigeration trailer via the second fastener elements at a third attachment area different from the first and second attachment areas,
wherein the second air director is fluidically connectable to the first air director to enable fluid to flow from the chute inlet, through the first and second air directors, and out of the chute outlet, and
wherein a portion of the second air director has a third cross section when the second air director is in a second air director unexpanded state and a fourth cross section different from the third cross section when the second air director is in a second air director expanded state.
19. The air distribution chute of claim 18 , wherein the first attachment area comprises a first line of attachment.
20. The air distribution chute of claim 19 , wherein the first line of attachment is straight.
21. The air distribution chute of claim 18 , wherein the first air director further comprises multiple third spaced-apart fastener elements, the first air director mountable to the refrigeration trailer at the second attachment area via the third spaced-apart fastener elements.
22. The air distribution chute of claim 18 , wherein the first air director is directly mountable to the refrigeration trailer at the first attachment area via the first fastener elements.
23. The air distribution chute of claim 18 , wherein the first air director is directly mountable to the refrigeration trailer at the second attachment area.
24. The air distribution chute of claim 18 , wherein the second air director is directly mountable to the refrigeration trailer via the third fastener elements at the third attachment area.
25. The air distribution chute of claim 18 , wherein the third fastener elements comprise grommets each defining a fastener-receiving opening sized to receive a fastener.
26. The air distribution chute of claim 18 , wherein the first fastener elements comprise grommets.