Climate control cargo container for storing,transporting and preserving cargo

Abstract

The present invention provides a cargo container that is light weight, strong, which forms an ultra violet light, weather/dust particle barrier and which controls the climate inside the cargo container to protect the integrity of the cargo.

1 . A climate control cargo container comprising:
 (a) a load bearing structure having a first core and a first thermoplastic layer surrounding the first core; and   (b) an enclosure having at least a second core and a second thermoplastic layer surrounding the second core;   wherein one or both the load bearing structure and the enclosure have one or more pockets for locating one or more phase change materials capable of multiple cycles of phase transformation for climate control.   
     
     
         2 . The cargo container of  claim 1 , wherein said phase change material comprises organic material, inorganic material or combinations thereof having a specific heat of at least about 1.5. 
     
     
         3 . The cargo container of  claim 1 , further comprising grooves in the load bearing structure to locate the enclosure. 
     
     
         4 . The cargo container of  claim 1 , wherein phase change material exhibits small volume changes on phase transformation and low vapor pressure changes at operating temperatures. 
     
     
         5 . The cargo container of  claim 1 , wherein said phase change material is contained in at least one thin pouches. 
     
     
         6 . The cargo container of  claim 5 , wherein said thin pouches comprise moisture impermeable film. 
     
     
         7 . The cargo container of  claim 1 , wherein the outside of the cargo container can be exposed to temperatures in a range between:
 a lower limit of approximately −30° C.; and   an upper limit of approximately −5° C.   while keeping the interior of the cargo container in a range between:
 a lower limit of approximately −2° C.; and 
 an upper limit of approximately 10° C. 
   
     
     
         8 . The cargo container of  claim 1 , wherein the outside of the cargo container can be exposed to temperatures in a range between:
 a lower limit of approximately 30° C.; and   an upper limit of approximately 40° C.   while keeping the interior of the cargo container in a range between:
 a lower limit of approximately 20° C.; and 
 an upper limit of approximately 25° C. 
   
     
     
         9 . The cargo container of  claim 1  further comprising cargo items to be protected from temperature changes, each of said cargo items is contained in its own packaging and in close proximity with said phase change material. 
     
     
         10 . The cargo container of  claim 9  further comprising an indicator in close proximity with said cargo items for indicating the integrity of the cargo items. 
     
     
         11 . The cargo container of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) tags affixed on or embedded in one or more of the loading bearing structure or enclosure. 
     
     
         12 . The cargo container of  claim 1 , wherein said container comprises exposed surfaces and at least one of said surfaces exhibits an anti-microbial property. 
     
     
         13 . A cargo container for insulating cargo items comprising:
 (a) a first structure having a load bearing portion and at least a first wall, at least one of the load bearing structure and at least one wall comprises at least a first core and a first thermoplastic layer surrounding the first core;   (b) a second structure having a top portion and at least a second wall, at least one of the top and at least one wall comprises at least a second core and at least a second thermoplastic layer surrounding the second core; and   (c) at least one of the load bearing portion, the first wall, the second wall and the top portion comprise one or more pockets for locating one or more phase change materials to insulate the cargo items for climate control, said phase change material is contained inside at least one moisture resistant container;   wherein at least one of the load bearing portion, the first wall, the second wall and the top portion of said container comprises features for locating said cargo items.   
     
     
         14 . The cargo container of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second structure comprises L-shape cross-section structures or clam-shell structures. 
     
     
         15 . The cargo container of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first and second thermoplastic layers are sprayed onto one of the first and second core. 
     
     
         16 . The cargo container of  claim 14 , further comprising a desiccant to control the humidity of the cargo items therein. 
     
     
         17 . The cargo container of  claim 13 , wherein said phase change material container is in close proximity with one of said cargo items inside its own packaging. 
     
     
         18 . The cargo container of  claim 17 , wherein the packaging is breathable. 
     
     
         19 . The cargo container of  claim 17 , wherein the packaging is biodegradable. 
     
     
         20 . A cargo container for insulating and transporting and/or storage of cargo items comprising:
 (a) a first structure having a load bearing portion and at least a first wall, wherein at least one of said load bearing portion and said at least one wall comprises at least a first core and a first thermoplastic layer surrounding the first core; and   (b) a second structure having a top portion and at least a second wall, wherein at least one of the top portion and at least one wall comprises at least a second core and at least a second thermoplastic layer surrounding the second core;   wherein at least one of the load bearing portion, first and second wall and top portion comprises at least one phase change material to insulate the cargo for climate control in a certain temperature range when being shipped and/or stored alternately in a cool and a warm climate, said cargo container is adapted for directly loading cargo items in a clean room.   
     
     
         21 . The cargo container of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one phase change material is formulated into a composite, a mixture or is encapsulated. 
     
     
         22 . The cargo container of  claim 20 , wherein the encapsulated phase change material is dispersed within at least one of first and second core. 
     
     
         23 . The cargo container of  claim 20  wherein said phase change material is packaged in a thin, moisture resistant pouch. 
     
     
         24 . The cargo container of  claim 21  wherein said mixture comprises at least two phase change material having different thermal properties. 
     
     
         25 . The cargo container of  claim 20 , wherein said container comprises exposed surfaces and at least one of said surfaces exhibits an anti-microbial property.