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US-12617271-B2 - Transport refrigeration system

US12617271B2US 12617271 B2US12617271 B2US 12617271B2US-12617271-B2

Abstract

A transport refrigeration system ( 1 ) includes a transportation refrigeration unit ( 37 ); a generator ( 11 ) connected to a wheel axle ( 7 A) of the transport refrigeration system ( 1 ), the wheel axle ( 7 A) being coupled to a wheel ( 5 ), wherein the generator ( 11 ) is configured to be driven to generate electricity by rotation of the wheel axle ( 7 A) and to supply that electricity to the transportation refrigeration unit ( 37 ); and a damper ( 23 ) connected to the wheel axle ( 7 A) between the wheel ( 5 ) and the generator ( 11 ). Short spikes or pulsations in torque along the wheel axle ( 7 A) resulting from, e.g., harsh braking or wheel blocking can be, dampened, either wholly or partly, by the damper ( 23 ) such that damage to the transport refrigeration system ( 1 ) can be avoided.

Inventors

  • Gaël Ducher

Assignees

  • CARRIER CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20230103
Priority Date
20220104

Claims (15)

  1. 1 . A transport refrigeration system ( 1 , 10 ) comprising: a transportation refrigeration unit ( 37 ); a generator ( 11 ) connected to a wheel axle ( 7 A) of the transport refrigeration system ( 1 , 10 ), the wheel axle ( 7 A) being coupled to a wheel ( 5 ), wherein the generator ( 11 ) is configured to be driven to generate electricity by rotation of the wheel axle ( 7 A) and to supply that electricity to the transportation refrigeration unit ( 37 ); and a damper ( 23 ) connected to the wheel axle ( 7 A) between the wheel ( 5 ) and the generator ( 11 ); wherein the damper is configured to dampen torque supplied along the wheel axle.
  2. 2 . A transportation refrigeration system ( 1 , 10 ) according to claim 1 , comprising a gearbox ( 9 ) connected between the wheel axle ( 7 A) and the generator ( 11 ).
  3. 3 . A transport refrigeration system ( 1 , 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the damper comprises an elastomeric material.
  4. 4 . A transport refrigeration system ( 1 , 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the damper is configured to only dampen torque exceeding a threshold torque.
  5. 5 . A transport refrigeration system ( 1 , 10 ) according to claim 4 , wherein the threshold torque may be of the order of magnitude of 103 Nm-105 Nm.
  6. 6 . A transport refrigeration system ( 1 , 10 ) according to claim 4 , wherein the threshold torque of the damper is set below a torque that would result in damage to the wheel axle ( 7 A), generator ( 9 ) and/or wheel ( 5 ).
  7. 7 . A transport refrigeration system ( 1 , 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the damper is provided at a coupling point of the wheel ( 5 ) and the wheel axle ( 7 A).
  8. 8 . A transport refrigeration system ( 1 , 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the damper ( 23 ) is a unitary, modular component.
  9. 9 . A transport refrigeration system ( 1 , 10 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the transport refrigeration system is or is comprised as part of a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) or a light goods vehicle (LGV).
  10. 10 . A transport refrigeration system ( 1 , 10 ) according to claim 1 , comprising: a second wheel axle ( 7 A) coupled to a second wheel ( 5 ), wherein the second wheel axle ( 7 A) is connected to the generator ( 11 ) such that the generator ( 11 ) is configured to be driven to generate electricity by rotation of the second wheel axle ( 7 A) and to supply that electricity to the transportation refrigeration unit ( 37 ): and a second damper ( 23 ) connected to the second wheel axle ( 7 A) between the second wheel ( 5 ) and the generator ( 11 ).
  11. 11 . A transport refrigeration system ( 1 , 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the damper ( 23 ) is in-line with the wheel axle ( 7 A).
  12. 12 . A cold chain distribution system comprising at least one transport refrigeration system ( 1 ) in accordance with claim 1 .
  13. 13 . A method of assembling a transport refrigeration system ( 1 , 10 ) comprising: providing a transportation refrigeration unit ( 37 ); connecting a damper ( 23 ) to a wheel axle ( 7 A) of the transport refrigeration system ( 1 ), wherein the wheel axle ( 7 A) is coupled to a wheel ( 5 ); connecting a generator ( 11 ) to the wheel axle ( 7 A) such that the generator ( 11 ) is configured to be driven to generate electricity by rotation of the wheel axle ( 7 A); and connecting the generator ( 11 ) to the transportation refrigeration unit ( 37 ) such that the generator ( 11 ) is configured to supply electricity to the transportation refrigeration unit ( 37 ); wherein the damper ( 23 ) is connected to the wheel axle ( 7 A) between the wheel ( 5 ) and the generator ( 9 ); wherein the damper is configured to dampen torque supplied along the wheel axle.
  14. 14 . A method of retrofitting a transport refrigeration system ( 1 , 10 ) comprising: a transportation refrigeration unit ( 37 ); a generator ( 11 ) connected to a wheel axle ( 7 A) of the transport refrigeration system, the wheel axle being coupled to a wheel ( 5 ), wherein the generator is configured to be driven to generate electricity by rotation of the wheel axle and to supply that electricity to the transportation refrigeration unit; the method comprising connecting a damper ( 23 ) to the wheel axle between the wheel and the generator; wherein the damper is configured to dampen torque supplied along the wheel axle.
  15. 15 . A transport refrigeration system ( 1 , 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the wheel is a primary load bearing wheel of the transport refrigeration system.

Description

FOREIGN PRIORITY This application claims priority to European Patent Application No. 22150206.5, filed Jan. 4, 2022, and all the benefits accruing therefrom under 35 U.S.C. § 119, the contents of which in its entirety are herein incorporated by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION The invention relates to a transport refrigeration system and a method of assembling the same. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Typically, cold chain distribution systems are used to transport and distribute cargo, or more specifically perishable goods and environmentally sensitive goods (herein referred to as perishable goods) that may be susceptible to temperature, humidity, and other environmental factors. Perishable goods may include but are not limited to fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, nuts, eggs, dairy, seed, flowers, meat, poultry, fish, ice, and pharmaceuticals. Advantageously, cold chain distribution systems allow perishable goods to be effectively transported and distributed without damage or other undesirable effects. Refrigerated vehicles and trailers are commonly used to transport perishable goods in a cold chain distribution system. Conventionally, transport refrigeration systems (such as refrigerated vehicles and refrigerated trailers) include a transportation refrigeration unit. Such transport refrigeration units may comprise a refrigerant compressor, a condenser with one or more associated condenser fans, an expansion device, and an evaporator with one or more associated evaporator fans, which are connected via appropriate refrigerant lines in a closed refrigerant flow circuit. The transport refrigeration unit is mounted to the vehicle or to the trailer in operative association with a cargo space defined within the vehicle or trailer for maintaining a controlled temperature environment within the cargo space. Air or an air/gas mixture is drawn from the interior volume of the cargo space by means of the evaporator fan(s) associated with the evaporator, passed through the airside of the evaporator in heat exchange relationship with refrigerant whereby the refrigerant absorbs heat from the air, thereby cooling the air. The cooled air is then supplied back to the cargo space. On commercially available transport refrigeration systems such as refrigerated vehicles and refrigerated trailers, the compressor, and typically other components of the transportation refrigeration unit, are typically powered during transit by an electric motor. In transport refrigeration systems that are electrically driven, a prime mover of the transport refrigeration system drives a generator that generates power. The generated power can be used to power the electric motor for driving the refrigerant compressor of the transportation refrigeration unit and also can be used for powering electric fan motors, for driving the condenser and evaporator motors, and for powering electric heaters associated with the evaporator. A first known type of electrically driven transport refrigeration system involves rigidly coupling a wheel axle of the transport refrigeration system to a generator (of the rotational type) to generate electrical power. This arrangement is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. As shown, a wheel axle 207 of a wheel 205 of a transport refrigeration system is coupled to a gearbox 209, which in turn is coupled to a generator 211. Rotation of the wheel axle 207 causes, via the gearbox 209, the generator 211 to be driven into rotation to create electricity. This electricity can then be supplied to a transportation refrigeration unit of the transport refrigeration system. An enlarged view of the wheel 205, wheel axle 207 and gearbox 209 can be seen in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the wheel 205 comprises a rim 215 with a tyre 213 situated thereon. The wheel 205 is connected to the wheel axle 207 via a rigid coupler 223 that attaches to a splined circumferential surface 221 at a first, distal end of the wheel axle 207. The coupler 223 is bolted to the rim 215 with coupler bolts 219. The rim 215 is additionally bolted to an axle hub 225 via rim bolts 217. The axle hub 225 supports an axle hub bearing 227 which permits relative rotation of the wheel 205 relative to the trailer axle 229. The trailer axle 229 concentrically houses part of the wheel axle 207. The second, proximal end of the wheel axle 207 is coupled to the gearbox 209 such that its rotation generates rotation within the gearbox 209 that in turn is transferred to the generator (not shown) for the generation of electricity. The second end of the wheel axle 207 is supported within the gearbox 209 and permitted to rotate by a gearbox bearing 208. Improved transport refrigeration systems of the electrically driven type are desired. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a transport refrigeration system comprising: a transportation refrigeration unit; a generator connected to a wheel axle of the transport refrigeration system, the wheel axl