Process to Control the Payload Temperature of a Shipping Container in Transit

摘要

A process with associated methods keeps the internal temperature of a cargo container within a temperature range during long transits having unpredictable high ambient temperatures. A cargo payload is shipped inside of an insulated container. The insulated container contains some form of refrigerant cooling agent (such as gel packs) to assist in keeping the internal temperature within the temperature range during transit. The container's shipping route to its destination includes stops at physical stations (hubs) where the container's internal temperature is measured using non-intrusive methods. If the internal temperature is above a trigger value, the container's refrigerant is replaced with new frozen ones. The container is shipped to the next hub or end destination. By exchanging refrigerant as needed, the container and its payload can traverse long distances over long time periods and still maintain its internal temperature within a desired window.

主权项

1. A temperature-controlled shipping system comprising:
a Temperature-Controlled Container (TCC) for maintaining a temperature of a payload being shipped from a shipping source to a destination through a hub; a payload container for holding the payload during shipment to the destination, the payload container being fitted inside the TCC at the shipping source and being removed from the TCC at the destination for delivery to a customer at the destination; a removable refrigerant inserted into the TCC at the shipping source, the removable refrigerant being pre-cooled to an initial temperature that is below a standard room temperature before insertion into the TCC; a temperature sensor, inserted into the TCC at the hub, or embedded inside the TCC and readable at the hub, for reading a temperature inside the TCC when the TCC is processed at the hub; and wherein a replacement refrigerant, pre-cooled at the hub, is inserted into the TCC at the hub to replace the removable refrigerant when the temperature inside the TCC exceeds a trigger temperature when read at the hub; wherein the removable refrigerant is not replaced and the TCC is not opened when the temperature inside the TCC does not exceed the trigger temperature when read at the hub, whereby the removable refrigerant is replaced by the replacement refrigerant at the hub when the temperature inside the TCC exceeds the trigger temperature when read at the hub.