Integrated Transport Refrigeration Unit

Abstract

An integrated transport refrigeration unit comprises an engine providing power to drive a shaft. The shaft drives a refrigerant compressor and a generator, both of which being encased within a housing, and the generator is immersed in refrigerant. In an exemplary embodiment, an integrated transport refrigeration unit also includes an auxiliary generator driven by the shaft and disposed externally from said housing. In this embodiment, the auxiliary produces current for charging a battery and for operating a fan.

1 . An integrated transport refrigeration unit comprising an engine providing power to drive a shaft, a refrigerant compressor driven by the shaft, and an integrated generator driven by the shaft, wherein both the compressor and the integrated generator are encased within a housing, and wherein the integrated generator is immersed in refrigerant. 
     
     
         2 . An integrated transport refrigeration unit as described in  claim 1 , further comprising an auxiliary generator driven by the shaft and positioned externally from said housing, the auxiliary generator producing current for charging a battery and for operating a fan. 
     
     
         3 . An integrated transport refrigeration unit as described in  claim 1 , wherein the integrated generator is disposed between the engine and the compressor. 
     
     
         4 . An integrated transport refrigeration unit as described in  claim 1 , wherein the compressor is disposed between the engine and the integrated generator. 
     
     
         5 . An integrated transport refrigeration unit as described in  claim 1 , wherein the engine is an internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         6 . An integrated transport refrigeration unit as described in  claim 1 , wherein the compressor is directly coupled to the shaft. 
     
     
         7 . An integrated transport refrigeration unit as described in  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is magnetically driven. 
     
     
         8 . An integrated transport refrigeration unit as described in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of permanent magnets fixed to the shaft within the housing and windings disposed around the permanent magnets so as to generate an electrical current when the shaft rotates. 
     
     
         9 . An integrated transport refrigeration unit as described in  claim 1 , further comprising an induction generator disposed on the drive shaft, wherein an alternating current is induced as a consequence of the rotation of the shaft. 
     
     
         10 . An integrated transport refrigeration unit as described in  claim 1 , further comprising an auxiliary generator that is positioned externally from said housing and that is driven by a belt driven by the shaft. 
     
     
         11 . An integrated transport refrigeration unit as described in  claim 10 , wherein the auxiliary generator produces current for charging a battery, wherein the battery is coupled to a control box, wherein the control box is configured to provide power to drive a fan. 
     
     
         12 . An integrated transport refrigeration unit as described in  claim 11 , wherein the control box comprises an inverter for converting direct current to alternating current at a voltage suitable for operating the fan. 
     
     
         13 . An integrated transport refrigeration unit as described in  claim 11 , wherein the control box is configured to receive a signal from a transportable container and to operate the fan based on the signal. 
     
     
         14 . An integrated transport refrigeration unit as described in  claim 11 , wherein the control box is configured to command the engine to operate so as to cause the auxiliary generator to provide power to charge the battery. 
     
     
         15 . An integrated transport refrigeration unit as described in  claim 11 , wherein the control box is configured to command the engine to operate so as to cause the compressor to provide cooling by pumping refrigerant through a set of refrigeration cycle components. 
     
     
         16 . An integrated transport refrigeration unit as described in  claim 1 , wherein the integrated generator is configured to produce power to operate a fan. 
     
     
         17 . An integrated transport refrigeration unit as described in  claim 1 , further comprising one or more direct-current fans and one or more alternating-current fans. 
     
     
         18 . An integrated transport refrigeration unit as described in  claim 11 , wherein the control box provides power to a power converter, and wherein the power converter provides a direct current at a voltage suitable for operating an evaporator fan. 
     
     
         19 . An integrated transport refrigeration unit as described in  claim 1 , wherein the integrated generator is configured to produce a high-voltage current suitable to charge a high-voltage battery pack.