Thermo King Corporation

Sea-land Corporation

Sea-land Service, Inc.

Laurence R Brickner

David A Christiansen

Leonard C Vercellotti

Dannis R Johnson

Arthur A Anderson

David N Moutner

Phillip Radzikowski

Michael D Chun

Barbara J Pratt

Carl Von Isenburg

Robert G Colclaser Iii

Richard C Chou

John G Leddy

A method of determining if the refrigerant charge in a refrigeration system is within an acceptable range, including the step of developing a model evaporator temperature-versus-time signature for a system known to have a recommended refrigerant charge level. The model developing step includes the steps of isolating an evaporator from a space to be conditioned by the system, operating the system in a cooling mode to cool the evaporator, trapping refrigerant in the cooled evaporator to introduce an instability into the cooling cycle, and continuing the cooling mode for a time sufficient for a system having an acceptable charge level to recover from the trapping step. A test signature is then provided for a system to be checked, using steps similar to those used to develop the model signature, and the test signature is compared with the model signature to determine if the refrigerant charge is within an acceptable range.

Method of determining refrigerant charge

The present invention provides a high productivity, high density container storage yard adjacent to a facility for loading and unloading containers, such as to and from ships, with the individual containers stored therein being stacked up to four containers high. An integrated container handling system is designed to move the containers from the container storage yard to the loading and unloading facility, and includes an overhead grid rail system on which container carrying shuttle vehicles are routed to designated yard locations by a master control system. Passive switching mechanisms are utilized to selectively move the shuttle vehicles through the grid rail network, wherein the actual switch mechanism is carried on the shuttle vehicle rather than on the track. One disclosed embodiment of the loading and unloading facility comprises overhead cranes and associated buffers in a marine terminal for loading and unloading a container ship. The present invention is also particularly applicable to intermodal facilities for transferring shipping containers between different types of container shipping systems, such as between container transport ships and rail cars.

Grid rail container transport and storage system

A power line carrier communication system for monitoring refrigerated containers which includes a master monitoring unit and a first power line interface which interchange messages in a first format. The first power line interface translates the first format to a second format suitable for power line environment, and messages in the second format are applied to a power line. Remote monitoring units receive the messages from the power line, and they return messages to the power line containing status data relative to refrigerated containers. The second format includes a message starting preamble having a duration and logic level which is not duplicated by normal operation of the apparatus, enhancing the probability of proper message synchronization and reception over noisy power line environments.

Power line carrier communication system for monitoring refrigerated

A self-venting cargo container for transporting temperature and moisture sensitive cargo having a tight enclosure for retaining bulk cargo with one of the end walls being openable for loading and unloading cargo and side walls which have longitudinally-extending and outwardly projecting moldings with each side wall having at least one section for admitting and exhausting air into and out of said container. Each of the side wall sections having an upper portion with a series of openings and an intermediate portion with a series of openings for air passage therethrough. Baffle means are secured to each section directly above the openings in the upper and intermediate portions of the side wall sections forming a canopy over the openings to exclude rain water and sea water from entering the openings in the side wall sections. A vent cover is provided in which the upper and lower sections have a substantial number of openings for air flow therethrough with the vent cover being secured to each side wall in overlapping relation with each side wall section to form a vertical chamber and a bottom condensate drain opening at the bottom to drain collected water. A drip molding is provided in the container interior that extends longitudinally along the side walls inwardly from said openings in the side wall sections at the intermediate level for draining any condensate collected in the container through the openings in the intermediate level of each side wall section for flow into the vertical chamber.

Self-venting cargo container

Growing community of inventors

Marathon, NY, United States of America

Laurence R Brickner