IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,604,027
Granted Patent B2
US 11,604,027 · App. 16/448,761 · Granted Mar 14, 2023

Modular humidity control and heat preservation system

Inventors: Andy Wu (Mableton, GA); Jason Begin (Roswell, GA); David Bulfin (Atlanta, GA); Jereme Gilbert (Atlanta, GA)
Assignee: CFA PROPERTIES, INC.
F26B21/083F25D17/042F26B21/02B01D53/261
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,604,027
App. No.
16/448,761
Granted
Mar 14, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A modular humidity control system is provided. An example system includes a body configured for attachment with a food storage housing. The body may define a closed circuit air flow path for circulating air through the food storage housing. The system also includes a desiccant element secured within the closed circuit air flow path that removes moisture from the moisture-laden air passing through the closed circuit air flow path, and stores the removed moisture. The system further includes a regeneration system that monitors a saturation of the desiccant element. In an instance in which the saturation of the desiccant element exceeds a saturation threshold, the regeneration system may evaporate at least a portion of the moisture stored by the desiccant element.

Claims (31)

1. A food transportation system comprising:

a food storage housing defining an interior configured to house one or more food items; and

a modular humidity control system comprising:

a body attached to the food storage housing, the body defining:

a closed circuit air flow path for circulating air through the food storage housing;

a desiccant element secured within the closed circuit air flow path and configured to remove moisture from moisture-laden air passing through the closed circuit air flow path, and store the removed moisture; and

a regeneration system configured to monitor a saturation of the desiccant element, the regeneration system comprising:

a heating element configured to, in an instance in which the saturation of the desiccant element exceeds a saturation threshold, heat the desiccant element and evaporate at least a portion of the moisture stored by the desiccant element; and

a heat exchanger configured to:

receive the air exiting the heated desiccant element,

reheat the air exiting the desiccant element, and

recirculate the reheated air through the desiccant element through at least a portion of the closed circuit air flow path without introducing the moisture-laden air from the food storage housing to reduce a downtime of the modular humidity control system.

2. The food transportation system according to claim 1 , wherein the regeneration system further comprises one or more saturation sensors coupled to the desiccant element, wherein the one or more saturation sensors are configured to generate saturation data.

3. The food transportation system according to claim 2 , wherein the regeneration system further comprises a controller communicably coupled with the one or more saturation sensors and configured to determine the saturation of the desiccant element based upon saturation data output from the one or more saturation sensors.

4. The food transportation system according to claim 1 , wherein the food storage housing further comprises an access door movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration and configured to enable access to the interior of the food storage housing while in the open configuration.

5. The food transportation system according to claim 4 , further comprising a heat preservation system, the heat preservation system comprising:

one or more fans configured to circulate the air within the food storage housing; and

a plenum structure comprising one or more perforated side walls of the food storage housing, wherein the plenum structure is configured to retain at least a portion of the air heated by a heating system within the interior of the food storage housing while the access door is in the open configuration.

6. The food transportation system according to claim 5 , further comprising a detection system attached to the food storage housing and configured to indicate the configuration of the access door.

7. The food transportation system according to claim 6 , further comprising a controller communicably coupled with the one or more fans and the detection system, wherein the controller is configured to:

receive detection data from the detection system;

determine the configuration of the access door based upon the detection data; and

in an instance in which the access door is determined to be in the open configuration, halt operation of the one or more fans.

8. The food transportation system according to claim 7 , further comprising one or more temperature sensors configured to identify a temperature within the interior of the food storage housing, wherein the controller is configured to, based upon the temperature, vary a speed of the one or more fans so as to modify the temperature within the food storage housing.

9. The food transportation system according to claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is further configured to iteratively recirculate reheated air through the desiccant element until the saturation of the desiccant element fails to exceed the saturation threshold.

10. The food transportation system according to claim 3 , wherein the controller is communicably coupled with the heat exchanger and is further configured to cause the heat exchanger to recirculate the reheated air based upon the saturation data output from the one or more saturation sensors.

11. The food transportation system according to claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to cause the heat exchanger to iteratively recirculate reheated air through the desiccant element until the saturation of the desiccant element fails to exceed the saturation threshold.

12. The food transportation system according to claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to halt operation of the heat exchanger in an instance in which the saturation of the desiccant element fails to exceed the saturation threshold.

13. The food transportation system according to claim 1 , wherein the desiccant element is stationary within the closed circuit air flow path.

14. The food transportation system according to claim 1 , wherein the desiccant element remains stationary within the closed circuit air flow path during operation of the heat exchanger.

15. The food transportation system according to claim 1 , wherein the desiccant element remains stationary within the closed circuit air flow path during recirculation of the reheated air through the desiccant element without introducing the moisture-laden air from the food storage housing.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2019
From: WU, ANDY; BEGIN, JASON
To: CFA PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 049575/0333 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2019
From: WU, ANDY; BEGIN, JASON; BULFIN, DAVID; GILBERT, JEREME
To: CFA PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 049575/0449 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 62814002 · Mar 5, 2019
Provisional Application 62688209 · Jun 21, 2018
Related Publication 20190390906A1 · Dec 26, 2019