Patent US3866435A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3866435A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Cooling container
Assignee: Burger Eisenwerke AG
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Filing: 1973-06-04
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Granted: 1975-02-18
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Expires: 1993-06-04
Abstract
Abstract A transportable refrigerating container including descending passage means operable to receive a gravity induced flow of coolant gas and having flow controlling aperture means providing individualized, controlled communication between the descending passage means and individual product compartments.
Inventors
- 👤 Karl Frank
- 👤 Martin A Frank
- 👤 Dieter Tschentscher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 18:17
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25D; F25D3/00; F25D3/12; F25D3/125; F25D17/00; F25D17/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
In a transportable cooling container adapted to keep temperature-sensitive products, such as food and pharmaceuticals, cool during transportation thereof and having a work space subdivided into several vertically spaced product compartments for the cooled products including an uppermost product compartment a coolant compartment disposed above said product compartments, there being a tendency during transportation of said container for the compartments to become progressively warmer relative to a downward direction of reference; the improvement comprising: at least one passage means descending from the coolant compartment and adapted to receive a gravity flow of gasified coolant; and a plurality of vertically spaced apertures branching from the descending passage means and individually communicatIng with individual ones of said product compartments; the sizes of the inlet mouths of said apertures increase progressively relative to a downward direction of reference such that said apertures divide said gravity flow of gasified coolant into increasingly larger portions relative to a downward direction of reference, to maintain the temperatures of said product compartments substantially uniform.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
In a transportable cooling container adapted to keep temperature-sensitive products, such as food and pharmaceuticals, cool during transportation thereof and having a work space subdivided into several vertically spaced product compartments for the cooled products including an uppermost product compartment a coolant compartment disposed above said product compartments, there being a tendency during transportation of said container for the compartments to become progressively warmer relative to a downward direction of reference; the improvement comprising: at least one passage means descending from the coolant compartment and adapted to receive a gravity flow of gasified coolant; and a plurality of vertically spaced apertures branching from the descending passage means and individually communicatIng with individual ones of said product compartments; the sizes of the inlet mouths of said apertures increase progressively relative to a downward direction of reference such that said apertures divide said gravity flow of gasified coolant into increasingly larger portions relative to a downward direction of reference, to maintain the temperatures of said product compartments substantially uniform.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A cooling container as described in claim 1 wherein: an upright baffle plate is located at an upper portion of said descending passage means and is operable to provide a constricted entrance into the uppermost product compartment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A cooling container as described in claim 1 wherein: said descending passage means, at its lower end, and at a location shielded from said apertures, is operable to collect and drain condensate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A cooling container as described in claim 1 wherein: said coolant comprises particuted, solidified carbon dioxide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
122 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said transportable cooling container has support wheels, side walls, and front and rear ends spaced in the direction of container travel; said passage means extending laterally across and vertically along said rear end; at least part of said coolant compartment being inclined relative to horizontal toward said descending passage means to facilitate gravitational flow of coolant gas thereto; the apertures disposed beneath the uppermost product compartment including guide tongues extending outwardly and upwardly from their respective compartments and into said descending passage means; the horizontal locations of said tongue-including apertures being generally staggered relative to a vertical direction of reference to minimize the extent to which the flow of cooling gas into said apertures is impeded.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
79 words
A cooling container as described in claim 1 wherein: said descending passage means extends essentially over the entire height of the container and reaches across one side of the container; said descending passage means is bounded on one side by an outside wall means of the container and on another side by a separating wall means extending essentially parallel to the outside wall means; and said separating wall means has sluice-like apertures, each leading to an individual product compartment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A cooling container as described in claim 6, wherein: said sluice-like apertures comprise openings in the separating wall means and guide tongues extending from individual apertures and projecting from the separating wall means into the descending passage means at progressively greater angles of inclination along a downward direction of reference.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
A cooling container as described in claim 7, wherein: said container includes a door, located on a narrow side of said container; said door being operable relative to said compartments; said descending passage means is disposed on a side of said container opposite said door; and said descending passage means is disposed in communicating relation with vent means communicating with the exterior of said container.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A cooling container as described in claim 8, wherein: said coolant compartment supports a coolant inclined in relation to the horizontal in such a way that it slopes downward toward said descending passage means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A cooling container as described in claim 9, wherein the entire container, including said coolant and product compartments, has a downward slope, inclined downwardly toward said descending passage means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
A cooling container as described in claim 1 wherein: said descending passage means comprise shaft means provided on opposite ends of the container; and at least an upper one of said product compartments includes vent means communicating with the exterior of said container and located on sides of said container extending between said narrow sides.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A cooling container as in claim 11, wherein: said coolant compartment supports Coolant inclined downwardly toward respective ones of said shaft means to facilitate gravitational flow of said cooling gas toward said respective shaft means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A cooling container as described in claim 12, wherein: each of said shaft means is defined, at least in part, by spaced wall means of door means of said container.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
A cooling container as described in claim 1 wherein: an aperture communicating with the uppermost product compartment may be selectively closed; and said uppermost product compartment is operable to be selectively vented to the exterior of said container.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A cooling container as described in claim 14, wherein: said container includes an insulating plate disposed between said uppermost product compartment and said coolant compartment.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
A cooling container as described in claim 1 including: movable closure means for said apertures located beneath the uppermost product compartment; coolant flow control means operable to operate said closure means to control flow of gasified coolant through said apertures in response to the temperatures of the respective product compartment communicating with said aperture.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
A cooling container as described in claim 16, wherein: a plurality of said closure means are interconnected such that said coolant flow control means is operable to simultaneously control the flow of gasified coolant through said plurality of said apertures.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-17 | 1978-08-19 | 1979-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-17 | 1982-08-19 | 1983-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-17 | 1986-08-19 | 1987-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |