Palletized load reactant regulation heating

Abstract

An apparatus and method heat a palletized load ( 22, 922 ) by regulating supply of a reactant ( 36 ) to a composition ( 40 ) that exothermically releases heat when exposed to the reactant ( 36 ).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a palletized load ( 22 ,  922 );   a composition ( 40 ) to exothermically release heat to the palletized load when exposed to a reactant ( 36 ); and   a regulator ( 42 ,  142 ,  242 ,  342 ,  642 ,  942 ) to regulate supply of the reactant ( 36 ) to the composition ( 40 ).   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the regulator ( 42 ,  142 ,  242 ,  342 ,  642 ,  942 ) automatically regulates supply of the reactant ( 36 ) to the composition ( 40 ) in response to temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the regulator ( 42 ,  142 ,  242 ,  342 ,  642 ,  942 ) automatically actuates from a closed state to an open state in which the reactant ( 36 ) supplied to the composition ( 40 ) through the regulator ( 42 ,  142 ,  242 ,  342 ). 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the regulator ( 42 ,  142 ,  242 ,  342 ,  642 ,  942 ) is configured to actuate from the closed state to the open state at an activation temperature having a value of less than or equal to −10° C. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the composition ( 40 ) exothermically releases heat in response to being exposed to a gas. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the composition ( 40 ) comprises iron powder and releases heat in response to being exposed to air. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the regulator ( 42 ,  142 ,  242 ,  342 ,  642 ,  942 ) comprises:
 a valve ( 150 ,  250 ,  350 ,  650 ,  950 ) moveable between different reactant supply states;   an actuation material ( 152 ,  352 ,  952 ) contracts in response to a temperature drop, wherein the material is coupled to the valve ( 150 ,  250 ,  350 ,  650 ,  950 ) such that expansion of the actuation material ( 152 ,  352 ,  952 ) moves the valve ( 150 ,  250 ,  350 ,  650 ,  950 ) from a first reactant supply state to a second reactant supply state in which a greater amount of the reactant ( 36 ) is supplied to the composition ( 40 ).   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the regulator ( 42 ,  142 ,  242 ,  342 ,  642 ,  942 ) comprises a pump ( 254 ) to selectively pump the reactant ( 36 ) to the composition ( 40 ). 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the palletized load comprises a first layer of article containing boxes and a second layer of article containing boxes, wherein the composition ( 40 ) and the regulator ( 42 ,  142 ,  242 ,  342 ,  642 ,  942 ) are sandwiched between the first layer and the second layer. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the apparatus further comprises support walls ( 1290 ) supporting and spacing the first layer above the second layer, the support walls forming reactant flow passages horizontally extending between the first layer and the second layer. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a box ( 625 ) containing the composition ( 40 ) and the regulator ( 42 ,  142 ,  242 ,  342 ), the box the ( 65 ) being arranged as part of the palletized load. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a pallet ( 330 ) underlying the palletized load ( 22 ), the pallet ( 30 ) comprising cavities receiving the composition ( 40 ). 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the composition ( 40 ) is centrally located away from an outer periphery of the palletized load and where the apparatus further comprises an air flow passage between spaced apart consecutive and opposite surfaces within the palletized load, the air flow passage extending from the outer periphery of the palletized load to the composition ( 40 ). 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus comprising:
 a container ( 425 ,  625 ,  930 ,  1030 ) for being arranged as part of a palletized load;   a composition ( 40 ) within the container ( 425 ,  625 ,  930 ,  1030 ), the composition ( 40 ) to exothermically release heat to the palletized load when exposed to a reactant ( 36 ); and   a regulator ( 42 ,  142 ,  242 ,  342 ,  642 ,  942 ) within the container ( 425 ,  625 ,  930 ,  1030 ), the regulator ( 42 ,  142 ,  242 ,  342 ,  642 ,  942 ) to regulate supply of the reactant ( 36 ) to the composition ( 40 ).   
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 providing, to a palletized load, a composition ( 40 ) that exothermically releases heat to the palletized load when the composition ( 40 ) is exposed to a reactant ( 36 ); and   regulating supply of the reactant ( 36 ) to the composition ( 40 ).