Isolated cold plate refrigeration system with user selected temperature control

Abstract

An isolated cold plate refrigeration system provides a cargo compartment isolated from a cold plate compartment. A user defines the target temperature of the cargo compartment. When the temperature of the cargo compartment rises above the target temperature and cool air is required to reduce the temperature of the cargo compartment, a cold plate fan is activated to move air from the cold plate compartment to the cargo compartment and from the cargo compartment to the cold plate compartment.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigeration system for use in a vehicle, the refrigeration system comprising:
 a cold plate compartment;   a cold plate positioned within said cold plate compartment;   a cargo compartment isolated from said cold plate compartment;   a first passageway extending between said cold plate compartment and said cargo compartment;   a second passageway extending between said cold plate compartment and said cargo compartment,   a passageway covering for opening and closing said first and second passageways;   wherein the temperature of said cargo compartment is lowered by opening said passageway covering and by providing air from said cold plate compartment to said cargo compartment through said first passageway and from cargo compartment to said cold plate compartment through said second passageway.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigeration system as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an isolation wall positioned between said cold plate compartment and said cargo compartment and wherein said first and second passageways are positioned within said isolation wall.   
     
     
         3 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cold plate fan in communication with said first passageway, wherein said cold plate fan is operated to draw air across said cold plate and into said cargo compartment.   
     
     
         4 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a defrost system for defrosting said cold plate.   
     
     
         5 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a controller;   an evaporation system in electrical communication with said controller;   a cargo compartment access door;   a cargo compartment access door switch in communication with said cargo compartment access door and in electrical communication with said controller; and   wherein when said cargo compartment access door is opened, said cargo compartment access door switch provides a signal to said controller, in response to said signal provided by said switch said controller provides a signal to said evaporation system to turn off said evaporation system.   
     
     
         6 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a controller;   a recirculation fan positioned within said cargo compartment and in electrical communication with said controller;   a cargo compartment access door;   a cargo compartment access door switch in communication with said cargo compartment access door and in electrical communication with said controller; and   wherein when said cargo compartment access door is opened, said cargo compartment access door switch provides a signal to said controller, in response to said signal provided by said switch said controller provides a signal to said recirculation fan to turn off said recirculation fan.   
     
     
         7 . The refrigeration system as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a controller for receiving a user defined target temperature of said cargo compartment; and   a temperature sensor for providing cargo compartment temperature data to said controller.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigeration system as defined in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a cold plate fan in communication with said first passageway,   wherein when said controller receives temperature data indicating the temperature of said cargo compartment is higher than said target temperature, said controller provides a signal to said cold plate fan to activate said cold plate fan.   
     
     
         9 . The refrigeration system of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a heater in electrical communication with said controller and in communication with said cargo compartment;   wherein when said temperature data indicates that the temperature of said cargo compartment is lower than said target temperature, said controller provides a signal to said heater to activate said heater.   
     
     
         10 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , further comprising a defrost system in communication with said cold plate for defrosting said cold plate. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein said passageway covering is provided by a first passageway covering for opening and closing said first passageway and a second passageway covering for opening and closing said second passageway. 
     
     
         12 . A method of maintaining the temperature of a cargo compartment of a vehicle comprising the steps of:
 providing a cold plate compartment isolated from the cargo compartment having a cold plate therein;   providing a first passageway between the cargo compartment and the cold plate compartment;   providing a second passageway between the cargo compartment and the cold plate compartment;   providing a first passageway covering;   providing a second passageway covering;   monitoring the temperature of the cargo compartment to determine whether the cargo compartment is to be cooled;   upon determining that the cargo compartment is to be cooled, opening said first and second passageway coverings and providing air from said cold plate compartment to said cargo compartment and providing air from said cargo compartment to said cold plate compartment.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing a controller.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the steps of
 providing a cold plate fan in communication with said first passageway; and   upon determining said cargo compartment is to be cooled, providing a signal from said controller to activate said cold plate fan.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing a user defined target temperature of said cargo compartment to said controller; and;   wherein said step of monitoring the temperature of said cargo compartment is providing by a temperature sensor positioned in said cargo compartment and in communication with said controller.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing a cargo compartment access door switch in communication with a cargo compartment access door and said controller; and   wherein when the cargo compartment door is opened, said cargo compartment access door switch provides a signal to said controller to deactivate said cold plate fan.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing a recirculation fan in communication with said cargo compartment and in communication with said controller; and   wherein when the cargo compartment door is opened, said cargo compartment access door switch provides a signal to said controller to deactivate said recirculation fan.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of:
 providing a defrost system in communication with said controller and said cold plate; and   providing a signal to said defrost system to activate said defrost system.