Thermally insulated reusable transportation container

Abstract

A reusable transportation container for transporting temperature sensitive goods. The transportation container ( 20 ) includes: a substantially rigid body ( 32,34 ) having a thermally insulated storage volume ( 36 ); means ( 22 ) for accessing the thermally insulated storage volume ( 36 ); a set of PCM units ( 37 ) that can be inserted into and removed from the thermally insulated storage volume, wherein each of the PCM units ( 39, 41, 43 ) includes a sealable substantially rigid container ( 35 ) for storing phase change material therein, said set of PCM units ( 37 ) being constructed and arranged to fit together to form a hollow structure that provides a substantially enclosed payload volume ( 22 ) for receiving the temperature sensitive goods, wherein the set of PCM units ( 37 ) is arranged to maintain the goods stored in the payload volume ( 36 ) within a selected temperature range when in use; and wherein at least some of the PCM units ( 39,41,43 ) include support formations ( 47 ) that are arranged to interact with an adjacent PCM unit ( 39, 41, 43 ) to prevent the hollow structure from collapsing inwards during use.

1 . A reusable transportation container for transporting temperature sensitive goods, including:
 a substantially rigid body having a thermally insulated storage volume;   means for accessing the thermally insulated storage volume;   a set of phase change materials (PCM) units that can be inserted into and removed from the thermally insulated storage volume, wherein each of the PCM units includes a sealable substantially rigid container for storing phase change material therein, wherein said set of PCM units fit together to form a hollow structure that provides a substantially enclosed payload volume for receiving the temperature sensitive goods, wherein the set of PCM units maintains the goods stored in the payload volume within a selected temperature range; and wherein at least some of the PCM units include support formations that interact with an adjacent PCM unit to prevent the hollow structure from collapsing inwards.   
     
     
         2 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the support formations is formed integrally with one of the PCM units. 
     
     
         3 . A container according to  claim 2 , wherein the support formations include at least one of a protrusion, ridge, rib, stepped surface or recess. 
     
     
         4 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the PCM units in the set includes a complementary formation to the support formation that engages with the support formation. 
     
     
         5 . A container according to  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the PCM units in the set includes support formations and complementary formations. 
     
     
         6 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the PCM units in the set include locating formations on one surface and complementary locating recesses on an opposite surface. 
     
     
         7 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the PCM units are arranged to interlock. 
     
     
         8 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the hollow structure includes a base, at least one side wall, and at least one upper member. 
     
     
         9 . A container according to  claim 8 , wherein the base includes support formations that restrict relative movement between the base and each of the side walls. 
     
     
         10 . A container according to  claim 8 , wherein the upper member includes support formations to restrict relative movement between the upper member and each of the side walls. 
     
     
         11 . A container according to  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the side walls includes at least one support formation that restricts relative movement between the side wall including the support formation and at least one other adjacent side wall. 
     
     
         12 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the PCM units are arranged in layers. 
     
     
         13 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the set of PCM units includes a first PCM unit having a first PCM that changes phase at a first temperature and a second PCM unit having a second PCM that changes phase at a second temperature, wherein the first and second temperatures are different. 
     
     
         14 . A container according to  claim 13 , wherein the first PCM changes phase at a temperature in the range of −20° C. to +5° C., and the second PCM changes phase at a temperature in the range of +5° C. to +20° C. 
     
     
         15 . A container according to  claim 13 , wherein the first PCM mostly comprises of water and the second PCM mostly comprises of a wax. 
     
     
         16 . A container according to  claim 13 , wherein the second PCM changes phase at a higher temperature than the first PCM, and the second PCM unit is positioned closer to the payload than the first PCM unit. 
     
     
         17 . A container according to  claim 16 , wherein the set of PCM units includes a plurality of first PCM units and a plurality of second PCM units, wherein the the payload volume is substantially defined by the plurality of second PCM units, and the plurality of first PCM units are mounted on, or to, the second PCM units such that they are located outside of the payload volume. 
     
     
         18 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the phase change material changes from a solid state to a liquid state at a temperature in a range selected from the group consisting of +2° C. to +8° C., −25° C. to −15° C. and +15° C. to +25° C. 
     
     
         19 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the PCM units includes stiffening formations to stiffen its structure. 
     
     
         20 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of PCM units includes a lifting formation. 
     
     
         21 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for accessing the thermally insulated storage volume includes a sealable lid. 
     
     
         22 . A container according to  claim 1 , further including means for preventing the hollow structure from collapsing outwards. 
     
     
         23 . A container according to  claim 22 , wherein the set of PCM units ensures a tight fit between the hollow structure and the thermal insulation. 
     
     
         24 . A container according to claim  1 , further including an external temperature sensor for measuring the ambient temperature outside of the container. 
     
     
         25 . A container according to  claim 1 , further including an internal temperature sensor for measuring the temperature in the payload volume. 
     
     
         26 . A container according to  claim 1 , further including a recording device for recording the temperature in the payload volume and/or the ambient temperature. 
     
     
         27 . A method for transporting temperature sensitive goods, including:
 providing a reusable container having a substantially rigid body, a thermally insulated storage volume, and means for accessing the thermally insulated storage volume;   providing a set of PCM units, wherein each of the PCM units includes a sealable substantially rigid container for storing phase change material therein and at least some of the PCM units include support formations;   placing the set of PCM units into the thermally insulated storage volume, forming a hollow structure from the set of PCM units that provides a substantially enclosed payload volume for receiving the temperature sensitive goods, including arranging the PCM units such that the support formations engage with an adjacent PCM unit, the engaging interaction between the support formation and the adjacent PCM unit thereby preventing the hollow structure from collapsing inwards during transportation.   
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 27 , wherein the hollow structure includes a base, at least one side wall, and at least one upper member. 
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 28 , wherein the support formations on the base restrict relative movement between the base and the or each side wall. 
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 28 , wherein the support formations on the upper member restrict relative movement between the upper member and the or each side wall. 
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 28 , wherein at least one side wall having at least one support formation is provided, wherein the support formation interacts with an adjacent side wall thereby restricting relative movement between the side wall including the support formation and the adjacent side wall. 
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 27 , wherein the structure is dismantled after use.