Transportable Product Cooling Apparatus and Method

Abstract

A portable, automated, cold-chain maintaining, cooling apparatus is disclosed. This apparatus comprises one or more portable cooling modules in communication with one or more portable transition modules. The cooling modules have cooling module conveyor apparatus to move containers of product through the module and a product cooling apparatus to provide cooling air to the product. The portable transition module is in communication with each of said one or more portable cooling modules in such a manner to maintain the cold temperature of said cooled product. A transition module conveyor apparatus within the transition module is in communication with the cooling module conveyor apparatus and automatically transfer the product from the cooling modules into the portable transition module.

1 . A portable, automated, cold-chain maintaining, cooling apparatus comprising:
 one or more portable cooling modules, each of said one or more cooling modules having length, a width, a height, an entry end, an exit end, a cooling module conveyor apparatus to move containers of product from said entry end to said exit end, and a product cooling apparatus providing cooling air to said product as said product moves from said entry end to said exit end; and   a portable transition module having a transition module cooling apparatus, said portable transition module being in communication with each of said one or more portable cooling modules, wherein said communication is configured to maintain cold temperature of said cooled product, said portable transition module having a transition module conveyor apparatus in communication with said cooling module conveyor apparatus to automatically transfer said product from each of said portable cooling modules into said portable transition module.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more portable cooling modules and portable transition module are transportable. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more portable cooling modules and portable transition module are secured to one or more trailer apparatus. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said portable transition module being further defined as being in communication with one or more cold storage containers, wherein said communication is configured to maintain cold temperature of said cooled product. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said one or more cold storage containers being defined as one or more permanent, fixed foundation buildings. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said one or more cold storage containers defined as one or more transportable cold storage vehicles. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said portable transition module is further defined as having a non-automated product handling apparatus. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said portable transition module is further defined as having product gas treatment apparatus. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said product cooling apparatus being defined as adapted to create a first cooling air flow across and through said product in a first direction. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said product cooling apparatus being further defined as adapted to created a second cooling air flow across and through said product in a second direction. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said product cooling apparatus being defined as a vacuum cooler apparatus. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said product cooling apparatus being defined as a Hydro-Vacuum cooler adapted to remove heat across and through said product by means of circulating cooled water over the product and condensing water vapor formed by a vacuum. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said product cooling apparatus being defined as a hydro cooler vacuum cooler adapted to remove heat across and through said product by means of circulating cooled water over the product. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each of said one or more portable cooling modules having two or more sequential cooling zones, each of said two or more sequential cooling zones having a product cooling apparatus adapted to create a cooling air flow across and through said product in one or more directions relative to said product. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the direction of the cooling air flow alternates between a first air flow direction and second air flow direction between each of said two or more sequential cooling zones. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the temperature of the air flow within each of said two or more sequential cooling zones is non-uniform relative to the temperature of the air flow within the remaining two or more sequential cooling zones. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the rate the air flow within each of said two or more sequential cooling zones is non-uniform relative to the rate the air flow within the remaining two or more sequential cooling zones. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein each of said one or more portable cooling modules further comprising one or more sets of pressure doors to define the interior boundaries of each said two or more sequential cooling zones. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein each of said one or more sets of pressure doors comprising a pair of side pressure doors and a top pressure door. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein each of said pair of side pressure doors comprises a side curved door panel being pivotally secured to the side wall of said portable cooling module cooling module. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein said top pressure door comprises a top curved door panel being pivotally secured to the ceiling of said portable cooling module cooling module. 
     
     
         22 . A method for cooling harvested fruits and vegetables located within containers, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a portable cooling module having length, a width, a height, an entry end, an exit end;   providing a portable transition module in communication with said portable cooling module to maintain cold temperature of said cooled product;   providing a cooling module conveyor apparatus within said portable cooling module to move containers of product from said entry end to said exit end;   providing two or more sequential cooling zones within said portable cooling module;   providing a product cooling apparatus within each of said two or more sequential cooling zones to provide cooling air to said fruits and vegetables as said containers thereof moves from said entry end to said exit end;   providing a transition module cooling apparatus to maintain environmental conditions to maintain the cold temperature of said cooled product; and   providing a transition module conveyor apparatus in communication with said cooling module conveyor apparatus to automatically transfer said product from each of said portable cooling modules into said portable transition module.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising the step of providing one or more sets of pressure doors to define the interior boundaries of each said two or more sequential cooling zones. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the step of providing a product cooling apparatus is further defined as providing cooling air to said fruits and vegetables, wherein the direction of said cooling air alternates between a first air flow direction and second air flow direction between each of said two or more sequential cooling zones. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the step of providing a product cooling apparatus is further defined as providing cooling air to said fruits and vegetables having a non-uniform rate the air flow relative to the rate the air flow within the remaining two or more sequential cooling zones. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the step of providing a product cooling apparatus is further defined as providing cooling air to said fruits and vegetables having a non-uniform temperature of air flow relative to the temperature of air flow within the remaining two or more sequential cooling zones.