Temperature controlled container

Abstract

A container comprises a chamber for accommodating one or more components whose temperature is to be controlled, and a heat transfer device for receiving heat transfer fluid for controlling the temperature of the chamber. The chamber has a fluid inlet for introducing a second fluid into the chamber and a fluid inlet permitting the second fluid to exit from the chamber. A fluid impeller is provided for causing the second fluid to flow in heat: exchange relationship with the heat transfer device and into the chamber through the fluid inlet to cool one or more components in the chamber. A fluid coupling is provided for coupling the heat transfer device to a fluid temperature conditioning system installed in a vehicle.

1 . A container comprising a chamber for accommodating one or more components whose temperature is to be controlled, a heat transfer device for receiving heat transfer fluid for controlling the temperature of said chamber, said chamber having a fluid inlet for introducing a second fluid into said chamber and a fluid outlet for permitting said second fluid to exit said chamber. 
     
     
         2 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising means defining a fluid path for said second fluid, wherein said fluid path includes said chamber, and said heat transfer device is in said fluid path. 
     
     
         3 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising return path defining means defining a path for said second fluid between said fluid outlet and said fluid inlet for returning second fluid from said fluid outlet to said fluid inlet. 
     
     
         4 . A container as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said flow path is substantially closed to or sealed from the ambient. 
     
     
         5 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a space in said chamber between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet, and mounting means for at least one of supporting and securing a component at a position within said space. 
     
     
         6 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a displacer for generating a flow of said second fluid in heat exchange relationship with said device, and for causing said flow of said second fluid conditioned by said device to flow into said chamber through said fluid inlet. 
     
     
         7 . A container as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said displacer comprises a fan or other fluid impeller. 
     
     
         8 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , excluding at least one of a condenser and a compressor for conditioning said heat transfer fluid. 
     
     
         9 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  excluding mounting means for mounting at least one of a compressor and a condenser to said container. 
     
     
         10 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid coupler for releasably coupling said device to at least one of a source of heat transfer fluid and a receiver for receiving heat transfer fluid from said device. 
     
     
         11 . A container as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said coupler includes a closure for closing off at least one of a fluid inlet and fluid outlet of said device. 
     
     
         12 . A container claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said closure is adapted to automatically close off said fluid inlet or fluid outlet of said device on decoupling of said coupler. 
     
     
         13 . A container comprising a chamber for accommodating one or more components whose temperature is to be controlled, a heat transfer device for receiving heat transfer fluid for controlling the temperature of said chamber, and a displacer for generating a flow of a second fluid in heat exchange relationship with said device, and for causing said flow of said second fluid to flow in said chamber. 
     
     
         14 . A container as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said displacer comprises a fan or other fluid impeller. 
     
     
         15 . A container as claimed in  claim 13 , excluding at least one of a condenser and a compressor for conditioning said heat transfer fluid for said device. 
     
     
         16 . A container as claimed in  claim 13 , excluding mounting means for mounting at least one of a compressor and a condenser to said container. 
     
     
         17 . A container as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising a fluid coupler for releasably coupling said device to at least one of a source of heat transfer fluid and a receiver for receiving heat transfer fluid from said device. 
     
     
         18 . A container as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said coupler includes a closure for closing off at least one of a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet of said device. 
     
     
         19 . A container as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said closure is adapted to automatically close off said fluid inlet or said fluid outlet of said device on decoupling of said coupler. 
     
     
         20 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said one or more components comprises a heat generating, signal conditioning device and said container comprises an interface for at least one of (a) passing signals to be conditioned by said device from a position external of said container to said device when positioned in said container and (b) passing signals from said device to a position external of said container when said device is installed in said chamber. 
     
     
         21 . A container as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said interface is configured for carrying at least one of RF signals, digital communication signals, data signals, digital control signals and signals other than temperature control signals for controlling the temperature of said chamber. 
     
     
         22 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an interface for carrying electrical power from a position external of said container to provide electrical power to an electrical component to be housed within said chamber. 
     
     
         23 . A container as claimed in  claim 20 , further comprising a connector for releasably connecting said interface to said component(s). 
     
     
         24 . A container comprising a chamber for accommodating a heat generating signal conditioning device whose temperature is to be controlled, a heat transfer device for receiving heat transfer fluid for controlling the temperature of said chamber, and an interface for at least one of (a) passing signals to be conditioned by said device from a position external of said container to said device when installed in said chamber and (b) passing signals from said device when installed in said chamber to a position external of said container. 
     
     
         25 . A container as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein said interface is configured for carrying at least one of RF signals, digital communication signals, data signals, digital control signals and signals other than temperature control signals for controlling the temperature of said chamber. 
     
     
         26 . A container as claimed in  claim 24 , further comprising an interface for carrying electrical power from a position external of said container to provide electrical power to an electrical component to be housed within said chamber. 
     
     
         27 . A container as claimed in  claim 24 , further comprising a connector for releasably connecting said interface to said device. 
     
     
         28 . A container as claimed in claim , wherein said heat transfer device comprises at least one of an evaporator and a heat exchanger. 
     
     
         29 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of (1) a support for supporting one or more components within the container and (2) retaining means for securing one or more components within said chamber. 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , configured to provide a closed volume within the container. 
     
     
         32 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising one or more releasable closures for releasably closing the volume contained within the container. 
     
     
         33 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said container comprises a plurality of parts, each defining an external wall portion of said container, each part being separable from a part adjacent thereto. 
     
     
         34 . A container as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein said parts include first and second closures for closing opposite ends of said container. 
     
     
         35 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of parts each defining an external wall portion of said container, and wherein said heat transfer device is mounted on at least one of said parts. 
     
     
         36 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of parts, each defining an external wall portion of said container, and wherein said container includes a displacer for generating a flow of a second fluid in heat exchange relationship with said device, and for causing said flow of said second fluid to flow in said chamber, and wherein said displacer is mounted on at least one of said parts. 
     
     
         37 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said chamber comprises a plurality of separable parts, and at least one of said heat transfer device and a displacer for generating a flow of said second fluid in heat exchange relationship with said heat transfer device is mounted on one of said parts of said chamber. 
     
     
         38 . A container as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein at least one of said parts comprises an end part and said at least one of said heat transfer device and said displacer is mounted on said end part. 
     
     
         39 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of parts, each defining a wall part of said container, and fastening means for releasably fastening said parts together. 
     
     
         40 . A container as claimed in  claim 39 , further comprising sealing means for sealing the junction between at least two adjacent parts. 
     
     
         41 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least part of a wall of the container is transparent to enable visual communication with the inside of said container. 
     
     
         42 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising means for providing a flow path in said container, said flow path including said heat transfer device, a displacer for generating a flow of fluid in said chamber, said chamber, and another path for returning fluid to said chamber. 
     
     
         43 . A container as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein said flow path is closed to the ambient. 
     
     
         44 . A container as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein said flow path is endless. 
     
     
         45 . A container as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein said flow path includes a path separate from said chamber, said path extending substantially the length of said chamber. 
     
     
         46 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising electrically operated equipment in said chamber. 
     
     
         47 . A container as claimed in  claim 46 , wherein said equipment includes any one or more of a radio transmitter, a radio receiver, a radio transceiver, a communication device, a data processing device, an amplifier, an integrated circuit and a controller for controlling operation of a device. 
     
     
         48 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said heat transfer device comprises an evaporator for receiving refrigerant, and an expansion device for expanding refrigerant and being connected to an inlet of said evaporator. 
     
     
         49 . A part of a container defining an external wall of said container and forming a closure for a chamber internal of said container for closing said chamber to the ambient, said part having an interface for releasably engaging with another part of said container, wherein said part includes a heat transfer device mounted thereto for controlling the temperature of a device within the chamber when said part is connected to said other part of said container. 
     
     
         50 . A part as claimed in  claim 49 , further comprising a fluid displacer mounted to said part. 
     
     
         51 . A part as claimed in  claim 49 , further comprising an expansion device coupled to an inlet port of said heat transfer device. 
     
     
         52 . (canceled) 
     
     
         53 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the container is sized to be at least one of portable and installed in the interior of a vehicle. 
     
     
         54 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said heat transfer device is coupled to receive heat transfer fluid from a fluid temperature conditioning system installed in a vehicle. 
     
     
         55 . A container comprising a chamber for accommodating one or more components whose temperature is to be controlled, a heat transfer device for receiving heat transfer fluid for controlling the temperature of said chamber, and a fluid coupler for coupling said device to a heat transfer fluid temperature conditioning system detached or remote from said container. 
     
     
         56 . A container as claimed in  claim 55 , wherein said coupler comprises a releasable coupler. 
     
     
         57 . (canceled) 
     
     
         58 . A vehicle comprising a first engine-driven compressor, a condenser for receiving refrigerant from said compressor, and a second compressor for compressing refrigerant and adapted to be driven by a motor other than the engine of said vehicle, and switching means for switchably coupling a supply of refrigerant to one of said first and second compressors. 
     
     
         59 . (canceled) 
     
     
         60 . A vehicle comprising a fluid temperature conditioning system including a compressor and a condenser connected to said compressor and a fluid coupling system installed in one of a passenger compartment of said vehicle and a storage compartment other than an engine compartment of said vehicle for releasably coupling the fluid conditioning system to a heat transfer device. 
     
     
         61 . A vehicle as claimed in  claim 60 , wherein said coupling system comprises a closure for closing off fluid from the ambient. 
     
     
         62 . A vehicle as claimed in  claim 61 , wherein said closure is configured to automatically close off fluid from the ambient when the coupling system decouples said fluid conditioning system from said heat transfer device. 
     
     
         63 . A vehicle as claimed in  claim 60 , further comprising a container for housing equipment, said container including said heat transfer device for releasably coupling to said fluid coupling system. 
     
     
         64 - 66 . (canceled)