System of thermally insulated transport case

Abstract

Transport case 1, including a set of insulating walls 7P, 7G, 7D, 7S, 7R forming a front opening 8, an insulating door 6 and horizontal rails 35 attached to inner sides of walls 7D, 7G, 7S, these rails being arranged in order to removably slide eutectic blocks 36 therein and to hold them against the walls.

Description

The present invention relates to a thermal device for the transport of products, in particular palletised products.

Products stored or transported are often palletised, in other words these products are placed on a pallet. This is the situation for products which must be stored within a given temperature range, for example products which must be stored cold or hot, at a temperature different from that of the storage environment. Such products sometimes have to be transferred, especially by aircraft; it is then necessary to ensure that their temperature remains within the desired interval, especially during the transfer.

Isothermal cases have been developed to address this problem. Such cases are known, in particular as described by documents FR 2 994 423 and FR 3 086 931.

However, these cases are particularly fragile; they are not designed to be reused. However, it must be possible to transport such a case over long distances, by air, sea or road. It must be possible to load and unload it several times. At the end of the trip, one should be able to be reasonably confident regarding the integrity of the case and its content; in particular, it must be possible to check that the temperature of the load remained within the desired interval, throughout the trip, despite all the handling operations undergone by the case containing it.

The invention aims in particular to provide an improved and reusable transport case offering a better guarantee of integrity for the load it contains.

According to the invention, it is provided a substantially parallelipipedic transport case system, comprising a set of fixed insulating walls forming a front opening, an insulating door hinged with the fixed walls to close the opening and horizontal rails attached to inner sides of some of the fixed walls, these rails being arranged in order to removably slide eutectic blocks therein and to hold these blocks along respective walls, these blocks preferably being plate-shaped.

The fixed walls each have a substantially rectangular shape and comprise two vertical side walls, a floor and an upper wall, between which the opening is formed, and, opposite the opening, a rear vertical wall, some at least of the rails being attached to at least one of the side walls. The rails are advantageously arranged to form three superimposed rows of blocks. Some at least of the rails can be attached to the upper wall. Preferably, each rail has a U-shape having one upright attached to a respective wall, the other upright being designed to hold at least one block, two rails being arranged opposite each other to slide a row of at least one block therein.

The walls, and/or the door, may comprise insulating panels consisting of an insulating layer sandwiched between two skins, the layer preferably being made of polyurethane foam having a Shore A hardness of between 30 and 40, and the skins preferably being a gelcoat, preferably a white gelcoat. The case may also comprise an angle to protect an edge formed by two adjacent panels.

Advantageously, the case comprises a base arranged so that a lifting fork can be inserted on each side of the case. This base preferably comprises five legs, each of the first four being close to a respective corner of the case and the fifth substantially equidistant from the first four.

Advantageously, the case comprises a housing for a parameter recorder, formed in one of the walls, and a hole through this wall for a wire connecting the recorder to at least a temperature probe attached inside the case.

Preferably, a case according to the invention has the following outer dimensions:

• • overall height less than or equal to 1600 mm;
  • depth less than or equal to 1600 mm;
  • width (L1) less than or equal to 1210 mm.
  • and/or the following inner dimensions:
  • useful height greater than or equal to 1300 mm;
  • useful depth greater than or equal to 1200 mm;
  • useful width greater than or equal to 800 mm, preferably greater than or equal to 1200 mm.

Embodiments of the invention will be described below, given as non-limiting examples, and referring to the attached drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of front right three quarters of a case according to the invention, with the door closed;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of front left three quarters of the case of FIG. 1, with the door open;

FIG. 3 is an exploded schematic view of the case of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic horizontal cross-sectional view of the door of the case of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic horizontal cross-sectional view of the door of the case of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a partial and schematic left elevation view of the case of FIG. 1, showing a position of a recorder intended to monitor the case operating parameters;

FIG. 7 is a partial and schematic vertical cross-sectional view, along the plane VII-VII of FIG. 6, showing the position of the recorder.

The unique figure shows a case 1 according to the invention, intended to transport a pallet and its load, in particular by air; the pallet and the load are not shown on the figures. The load may contain products which must be kept close to a given ideal temperature. The role of the case 1 is to maintain the load substantially at this temperature, during transport, while protecting it from hazards caused by its handling and transport.

The case 1 has a substantially parallelipipedic outer shape. In the example shown, it rests on the ground on legs 3, two of which being shown on the figure. The case 1 further comprises thermally insulating walls 7 and a door 6 which closes a front opening 8 of the case. The door comprises two supports 4, in this case in A4 format, for documentation and/or administration information, concerning the case or its content.

The walls 7 are composed mainly of insulating panels whose thickness E7 is substantially constant and identical for each of said panels. The panels are substantially rectangular. The door 6 forms a mobile front wall 7F of the case 1. The walls 7 further comprise fixed walls: a floor 7P, arranged horizontally, two vertical side walls 7D, 7G opposite each other and resting on the floor 7A, a rear vertical wall 7R, and an upper horizontal wall 7S, resting on the side 7D, 7G and rear 7R walls.

Thermal continuity between the fixed walls is ensured by inserting the walls into each other and attaching them together. This continuity limits the presence of thermal bridges and ensures that the thermal insulation provided by the case is uniform.

In the example shown, as seen in particular on FIG. 7, the walls 7, in this case the left wall 7G, consist of a sandwich of several layers including:

• • an outer skin 11;
  • an inner skin 12; and,
  • an insulating layer 13, sandwiched between the skins 11, 12.

Each skin has a thickness E11, E12 of about two millimetres and consists of a coating of type gelcoat and polyester. Food grade type gelcoat is used to ensure that it is easy to maintain and does not pollute the load. It is preferably white to limit the heat exchanges by radiation between the inside and outside of the case.

The insulating layer 13 has a thickness E13 of eighty millimetres and consists of a polyurethane foam having a density of thirty-five kilogrammes per cubic metre.

In the example shown, the thickness E7 of a wall 7 is substantially equal to the sum of the thicknesses of skin and insulation, i.e.:

$E7=E11+E13+E12$

As shown on FIG. 2, the floor 7P is covered by a protective metal plate, in this case a tear plate 14. Aeronautical type rails, not shown on the figures, are attached to the floor 7P; they are used to attach the load to the case, as in the hold of an aircraft.

The legs 3 are arranged under the floor 7P. In the example shown, there are five legs, one near each corner of the floor and one in the centre. They are arranged so that a fork lift truck can take the case from all directions, from the front, the rear or the side.

As shown on FIG. 3, the case further comprises a frame 15 and angles 16 to strengthen the edges of the case. The frame 15 consists of angles and is arranged around the rear wall 7R, and the angles 16 are arranged horizontally, along horizontal edges formed by the side walls 7D, 7G with the floor 7P and the upper wall 7S.

As shown on FIGS. 3 to 5, the door 6 comprises:

• • a door frame 21, which surrounds the front panel 7F;
  • two first reinforcement profiles 22 for the right wall 7D, to which the door is hinged;
  • a second reinforcement profile 23, for the opposite wall 7D;
  • two hinges 26 to attach the door frame 21 to the first reinforcements 23 in an articulated manner;
  • a peripheral seal 27; and,
  • a locking handle 28 equipped with a bolt; and,
  • a strike 29 for the bolt, attached to the second reinforcement 23.

The reinforcements 22, 23 are U-shaped profiles, embedded in the corresponding wall 7D, 7G. The peripheral seal 27 is a three-lip EPDM seal 30 of hardness 70 shA; it is designed to guarantee the continuity of the thermal insulation between the fixed walls 7D, 7G, 7P, 7S and the door 6.

As shown in particular on FIG. 2, the inner sides of the side walls 7D, 7G and of the upper wall 7S are fitted with horizontal rails 35 intended to hold eutectic blocks 36 against these walls.

The blocks 36 are identical, of substantially rectangular shape and of low thickness E36 in comparison with their other dimensions; thus, each block 36 can cover a large wall area without excessively reducing the useful volume of the case 1. In the example shown, the eutectic blocks have the following dimensions:

• • length: 60 centimetres, approximately;
  • width: 40 centimetres, approximately;
  • thickness: 3 centimetres, approximately.

Against each side wall 7D, 7G, the blocks 36 are arranged in three superimposed rows of two blocks each. Under the upper wall 7S, the blocks are arranged in two rows of two blocks.

The rails 35 have a U-shaped cross-section with square base and unequal uprights. The taller upright of the U-shaped cross-section is attached to the corresponding wall. The rails are arranged in pairs opposite each other so that the blocks can slide horizontally therein, through the front opening 8. The shorter upright of the U-shaped cross-section is used to hold each block against the corresponding wall.

As shown in particular on FIG. 2, the shorter upright of the U-shaped cross-section is removed on a front portion of the rails that are attached to the side walls so that the blocks can be introduced more easily.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show arrangements made to install a parameter recorder 40.

In the example shown, a QRCode type recorder supplied by the company Logmore at Helsinki, Finland, is used. The parameters are preferably measured and recorded at regular intervals; they include in particular:

• • a temperature inside the case;
  • a geographical position of the case;
  • and they may also include, on each occurrence:
  • an exposure to light of the inside of the case, therefore an opening of the door; and,
  • an impact against the case.

The recorder 40 comprises a screen displaying a graphic code, in this case a QRCode, used to read the parameters. The use of a graphic code avoids the need to use a reading method based on radio waves such as Bluetooth or Wifi, which could disturb other systems, in particular air transport systems.

A housing 41 is formed in the thickness of a wall 7, in the upper right corner of the left wall 7G. This housing 41 is designed to accommodate the recorder 40. It comprises a transparent front panel 42 arranged substantially in the same plane as an outer side 7GE of the wall 7G and through which the screen of the recorder 40 can be read.

A hole 43 is formed between the housing 41 and an inner side 7GN of the wall 7G. It is used to feed a connection cable between the recorder and one or more probes (not shown). The probes are attached inside the case. The cable is sealed in the hole, so that the hole does not create a thermal bridge.

The outer dimensions of the case 1, when erected, are preferably compatible with air transport and sea transport standards, in order to optimise the number of cases transported at minimum cost. The inner dimensions of the case also allow the transport of pallets of sizes and loads compatible with the international standards.

In the example shown, the outer dimensions of the case 1 are as follows:

• • overall height, including the legs, H1=1600 mm, approximately
  • depth, measured from front to rear, P1=1520 mm, approximately
  • width L1=1206 mm, approximately.

And, the inner dimensions of the case 1 are as follows:

• • useful height=1335 mm, approximately
  • useful depth=1265 mm, approximately
  • useful width=1034 mm, approximately.

The case shown is designed to transport a pallet and its load whose horizontal dimensions are 1200×1000 millimetres, or less, and whose height is 1300 millimetres, or less.

Obviously, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described. On the contrary, the invention is defined by the following claims.

It will appear to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the embodiments described above, in the light of the information that has just been disclosed.

Thus, the dimensions of a case according to the invention may differ from those of the case described previously. The inner dimensions may be modified, for example, depending on a type of load that it is intended to transport; the outer dimensions may themselves be modified, for example depending on the mode of transport used.

Thus, the means used to stow the load in the case may not use aeronautical type rails; other stowing means can be used, for example rings attached and distributed along the walls.

Thus, depending on the size of the case and the desired performance, the number and arrangement and the type of the eutectic blocks may vary. The blocks may be chosen in particular from the following references:

• • PERGN1/1, which is that shown on the figures and supplied by La boutique du froid, 98 allée du Danemark, at Monchy Le Preux, France;
  • TOP70, supplied by the company Olivo, 1 bd des Mineurs, ZA Charles Chana, at Roche-la-Molière; and,
  • PL600V1, supplied by the company Cool, 478 av. Marie Curie, at La-Voulte-sur-Rhône.

This list is not limiting.

The eutectic material contained in the blocks may be chosen according to the temperature interval within which the load transported in the case must be maintained.

Thus, the thickness of the walls and/or the insulating material that they contain may vary according to the temperature interval within which the load transported in the case must be maintained.

In addition, the case may not be limited to the transport of palletised goods and may comprise removable and modular fittings; in particular, compartments in which several loads can be placed.

A case according to the invention can be used to maintain the load at a temperature greater than or less than a temperature of its environment. For example, it can be used to transport medications or biological samples at a temperature of about six degrees Celsius. The temperature can be positive or negative.

Claims

1. A parallelipipedic transport case (1) comprising: a set of fixed insulating walls (7P, 7G, 7D, 7S, 7R) forming a front opening (8),an insulating door (6) hinged with said fixed walls to close said opening andhorizontal rails (35) attached to inner sides of some walls (7D, 7G, 7S) from said fixed walls, said rails being arranged in order to removably slide eutectic blocks (36) therein and to hold the blocks along respective walls, said blocks being plate-shaped.

2. The cease according to claim 1, wherein the fixed walls have a substantially rectangular shape and comprise two vertical side walls (7D, 7G), a floor (7P) and an upper wall (7S), between which the opening (8) is formed, and, opposite said opening, a rear vertical wall (7R), some at least of the rails being attached to at least one of said side walls.

3. The case according to claim 2, wherein the rails are arranged to form three superimposed rows of blocks (36).

4. The case according to claim 2, wherein some at least of the rails are attached to the upper wall.

5. The case according to claim 1, wherein each rail has a U-shape having one upright attached to a respective wall, the other upright being designed to hold at least one block, two rails being arranged opposite each other to slide a row of at least one block therein.

6. The case according to claim 1, wherein the walls, and/or the door, comprise insulating panels includes an insulating layer (13) sandwiched between two skins (11, 12), said layer preferably being a polyurethane foam having a shore A hardness of between 30 and 40, and said skins preferably being a gelcoat, preferably a white gelcoat.

7. The case according to claim 6, further comprising an angle (16) to protect an edge formed by two adjacent panels.

8. The case according to claim 1, further comprising a base arranged so that a lifting fork can be inserted on each side of the case, said base preferably comprising five legs, each of the first four being close to a respective corner of the case and the fifth substantially equidistant from the first four.

9. The case according to claim 1, further comprising a housing (41) for a parameter recorder (40), formed in one of the walls (7G), and a hole (43) through said wall for a wire connecting the recorder to at least a temperature probe attached inside the case.

10. The case according to claim 1, wherein the case outer dimensions: overall height (H1) less than or equal to 1600 mm;depth (P1) less than or equal to 1600 mm;width (L1) less than or equal to 1210 mm.