IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,191,380
Granted Patent B2
US 8,191,380 · App. 12/114,926 · Granted Jun 5, 2012

Portable active cryo container

Assignee: Cold Chain, LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,191,380
App. No.
12/114,926
Granted
Jun 5, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A portable active cryo container for maintaining product at refrigerated and/or cryogenic temperatures. Said container comprising a control system to monitor and control the flow of cooling air from a bunker section to at least one material storage section wherein temperature sensitive product is contained.

Claims (40)

1. A portable active cryo container, comprising:

a protective exterior shell, for enclosing and protecting contents and components of said cryo container;

an insulative liner section internal to said protective exterior shell, wherein said insulative liner section is configured to impede the transfer of thermal energy;

a plurality of material storage sections defined by said insulative section and by divider walls, wherein each of said plurality of material storage sections are configured to contain storage material and maintain said storage material at a user defined temperature, with each section being configured to maintain a temperature independent of the other sections;

at least one bunker section defined by said insulative liner section, wherein said at least one bunker section is configured to contain a volume of solid dry ice;

at least one circulating fan driven by an insulated low temperature motor, wherein said fan is configured to push air from said material storage section to said bunker section in a manner that would allow a resultant flow of cool air from said bunker section to said material storage section to maintain a predetermined temperature level in said material storage section;

a plurality of air ducts configured to allow air within said at least one material storage section and said at least one bunker section to circulate between said sections as a response to the activation of said at least one circulating fan, wherein the fan is positioned in an air duct that is internal to the insulative liner and wherein the motor is recessed in the insulative liner section outside of the flow of air through the duct;

at least one door providing access to said portable active cryo container, wherein said door is insulated; and

at least one control system, configured to control the temperature level in said at least one material storage section to a preset level by actively sensing the temperature of said at least one material storage section and responding to fluctuation of said sensed temperature by modulating the activation of said at least one circulating fan.

2. The portable active cryo container of claim 1 , further comprising a vapor barrier liner comprising a substantially pinhole free vapor barrier material.

3. The portable active cryo container of claim 1 , in which said air ducts are defined in said insulative liner section and lined with a vapor barrier material.

4. The portable active cryo container of claim 1 , wherein said protective exterior shell is comprised of steel.

5. The portable active cryo container of claim 1 , wherein said protective exterior shell is comprised of aluminum.

6. The portable active cryo container of claim 1 , wherein said protective exterior shell is mounted to a forklift pallet base, wherein said forklift pallet base is configured to allow the access of forklift tongues on all 4 sides.

7. The portable active cryo container of claim 6 , wherein said forklift pallet base is tapered and configured to guide a lifting apparatus to center under said portable active cryo container.

8. The portable active cryo container of claim 1 , wherein said insulative liner comprises panels that interface together using ship lap joints.

9. The portable active cryo container of claim 8 , wherein said ship lap joints are connected using injected, non-curing mastic foam.

10. The portable active cryo container of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of flush mount tie down anchors, said flush mount tie down anchors are mounted to the exterior of said generally cuboid protective exterior shell and configured to interface with securing media during transport of said portable active cryo container.

11. The portable active cryo container of claim 2 , wherein said substantially pinhole free vapor barrier is comprised of Mylar.

12. The portable active cryo container of claim 2 , wherein said substantially pinhole free vapor barrier is comprised of aluminum.

13. The portable active cryo container of claim 1 , wherein said at least one material storage section further comprises a pressure relief valve ducted to the exterior of said protective exterior shell, wherein said pressure relief valve is configured to expel pressure in said at least one material storage section if pressure in said at least one material storage section goes beyond predetermined levels.

14. The portable active cryo container of claim 1 , wherein said at least one door comprises a silicone door gasket, wherein said gasket is sandwiched between said at least one door and said generally cuboid protective exterior shell when the door is actuated to the closed position.

15. The portable active cryo container of claim 1 , wherein said at least one digital control system comprises a user interface console mounted on the exterior of said generally cubic protective exterior shell, recessed in a such a manner that said console will not spatially interfere with the area surrounding the exterior of said generally cuboid protective exterior shell.

16. The portable active cryo container of claim 1 , wherein said active cryo container is powered by at least one onboard battery.

17. The portable active cryo container of claim 1 , wherein said active cryo container is powered by a peripheral power supply.

18. The portable active cryo container of claim 1 , wherein said at least one control system comprises;

at least one graphical user interface configured to provide temperature levels in readable format, and for a user to supply temperature parameters for at least one said material storage section; and

at least one audible alarm configured to emit an audible warning if said at least one material storage section's temperature level goes above or below preset limits.

19. The portable active cryo container of claim 16 , wherein said control system, said at least one battery, said fan, and said air ducts are all incorporated within said at least one door.

20. The portable active cryo container of claim 1 , wherein the door is configured to need spatial clearance only on one side of the door.

21. A portable active cryo container, comprising:

a generally cuboid protective exterior shell, for enclosing and protecting contents and components of said cryo container;

an insulative liner section internal to said protective exterior shell, wherein said insulative liner section is configured to impede the transfer of thermal energy;

at least one bunker section defined by said insulative liner section, wherein said at least one bunker section is configured to contain a volume of solid dry ice;

a plurality of material storage sections defined by said insulative liner section and by divider walls, wherein each of said plurality of material storage sections are configured to contain storage material and maintain said storage material at a user defined temperature, with each section being configured to maintain a temperature independent of other sections;

at least one circulating fan driven by an insulated low temperature motor, wherein said fan is configured to push air from said material storage section to said bunker section in a manner that would allow a resultant flow of cool air from said bunker section to said material storage section to maintain a predetermined temperature level in said material storage section;

a plurality of air ducts configured to allow air within said at least one material storage section and said at least one bunker section to circulate between said sections as a response to the activation of said at least one circulating fan;

at least one door providing access to the cryo container; and

at least one control system, configured to control the temperature levels in said plurality of material storage sections by actively sensing the temperature of said plurality of material storage sections and responding to fluctuation of said sensed temperature by modulating the activation of said at least one circulating fan.

22. The portable active cryo container of claim 19 , wherein the door is configured to need spatial clearance only on one side of the door.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 26, 2010
From: ARAGON, DANIEL MARK
To: COLD CHAIN, LLC
Reel/Frame 024895/0586 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090273265A1 · Nov 5, 2009