System and method of distributing airflow in a transport refrigeration unit

Abstract

Systems and methods to distribute airflow in an internal space of a transport unit are described. The system can include a plurality of airflow strips extending in a direction from a first end wall of the transport unit towards a second end wall of the transport unit, the plurality of airflow strips providing a dynamic temperature distribution within the interior space by distributing discharge air blown into the interior space, wherein a first end of each of the plurality of airflow strips is attached to an interior wall of the transport unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An airflow distribution system within an interior space of a transport unit, comprising:
 a plurality of airflow strips extending in a direction from a first end wall of the transport unit towards a second end wall of the transport unit, the plurality of airflow strips providing a dynamic temperature distribution within the interior space by distributing discharge air blown into the interior space, wherein a first end of each of the plurality of airflow strips is attached to an interior wall of the transport unit.   
     
     
         2 . The airflow distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of airflow strips are a plurality of flappers extending from a discharge air opening at the first end wall of the transport unit, the discharge air opening providing discharge air to be blown into the interior space,
 wherein the plurality of flappers are configured to flutter when discharge air is blown into the interior space via the discharge air opening and provide a dynamic uniform temperature distribution within the interior space to prevent the formation of a hot spot within the interior space.   
     
     
         3 . The airflow distribution system of  claim 2 , wherein the first end of each of the plurality of flappers is mounted to a return air bulkhead at the first end wall of the transport unit, and a second end of each of the plurality of flappers is free from attachment. 
     
     
         4 . The airflow distribution system of  claim 3 , further comprising a motorized mechanism connected to each of the plurality of flappers, the motorized mechanism rolls out the second end of each of the plurality of flappers from the discharge air opening when discharge air is blown into the interior space and rolls back the second end of each of the plurality of flappers back towards the discharge air opening when discharge air is not blown into the interior space. 
     
     
         5 . The airflow distribution system of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of flappers is composed of a flexible material that allows the flapper to flutter between a first side wall and a second side wall of the transport unit when discharge air is blown into the interior space due to a pressure differential caused by the flow of discharge air over each of the plurality of flappers. 
     
     
         6 . The airflow distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of airflow strips are a plurality of side-strips, wherein a first side-strip of the plurality of side-strips is mounted to a first side wall of the transport unit and a second side-strip of the plurality of side-strips is mounted to a second side wall of the transport unit,
 wherein the plurality of side-strips are configured to direct discharge air blown into the interior space via a discharge air opening at the first end wall to the second end wall to prevent the formation of a hot spot within the interior space.   
     
     
         7 . The airflow distribution system of  claim 6 , wherein the first side-strip includes a first end mounted to the first side wall adjacent to the first end wall, a second end mounted to the first side wall, and a curved portion connecting the first end to the second end, the curved portion curving in a direction towards the second side wall, and
 wherein the second side-strip includes a first end mounted to the second side wall adjacent to the first end wall, a second end mounted to the second side wall, and a curved portion connecting the first end to the second end, the curved portion curving in a direction towards the first side wall.   
     
     
         8 . The airflow distribution system of  claim 7 , further comprising a retraction mechanism connected to the first side-strip and the second side-strip, the retention mechanism retracts the second end of the first side-strip from a first position along the first side wall to a second position along the first side wall, wherein when the second end of the first side-strip is at the first position, the curved portion is flattened up against the first side wall, and
 the retention mechanism retracts the second end of the second side-strip from a first position along the second side wall to a second position along the second side wall, wherein when the second end of the second side-strip is at the first position, the curved portion is flattened up against the first side wall.   
     
     
         9 . The airflow distribution system of  claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of side-strips is composed of a stiff material with a stiffness such that each of the plurality of side-strips remains in a static position when discharge air is blown into the interior space. 
     
     
         10 . A transport unit comprising:
 an interior space defined by a plurality of interior walls including a top wall, a bottom wall opposite the top wall, a first end wall, a second end wall opposite the first end wall, a first side wall and a second side wall opposite the first side wall, wherein the first end wall includes a return air bulkhead having a discharge air opening for allowing discharge air to blow into the interior space; and   an airflow distribution system including:
 a plurality of airflow strips extending in a direction from the first end wall towards the second end wall, the plurality of airflow strips providing a dynamic temperature distribution within the interior space by distributing the discharge air blown into the interior space, wherein a first end of each of the plurality of airflow strips is attached to at least one of the plurality of interior walls. 
   
     
     
         11 . The transport unit of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of airflow strips are a plurality of flappers extending from a discharge air opening at the first end wall, the discharge air opening providing discharge air to be blown into the interior space,
 wherein the plurality of flappers are configured to flutter when discharge air is blown into the interior space via the discharge air opening and provide a dynamic uniform temperature distribution within the interior space to prevent the formation of a hot spot within the interior space.   
     
     
         12 . The transport unit of  claim 11 , wherein the first end of each of the plurality of flappers is mounted to a return air bulkhead at the first end wall of the transport unit, and a second end of each of the plurality of flappers is free from attachment. 
     
     
         13 . The transport unit of  claim 12 , further comprising a motorized mechanism connected to each of the plurality of flappers, the motorized mechanism rolls out the second end of each of the plurality of flappers from the discharge air opening when discharge air is blown into the interior space and rolls back the second end of each of the plurality of flappers back towards the discharge air opening when discharge air is not blown into the interior space. 
     
     
         14 . The transport unit of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of flappers is composed of a flexible material that allows the flapper to flutter between the first side wall and the second side wall when discharge air is blown into the interior space due to a pressure differential caused by the flow of discharge air over each of the plurality of flappers. 
     
     
         15 . The transport unit of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of airflow strips are a plurality of side-strips, wherein a first side-strip of the plurality of side-strips is mounted to the first side wall and a second side-strip of the plurality of side-strips is mounted to the second side wall,
 wherein the plurality of side-strips are configured to direct discharge air blown into the interior space via a discharge air opening at the first end wall to the second end wall to prevent the formation of a hot spot within the interior space.   
     
     
         16 . The transport unit of  claim 15 , wherein the first side-strip includes a first end mounted to the first side wall adjacent to the first end wall, a second end mounted to the first side wall, and a curved portion connecting the first end to the second end, the curved portion curving in a direction towards the second side wall, and
 wherein the second side-strip includes a first end mounted to the second side wall adjacent to the first end wall, a second end mounted to the second side wall, and a curved portion connecting the first end to the second end, the curved portion curving in a direction towards the first side wall.   
     
     
         17 . The transport unit of  claim 16 , further comprising a retraction mechanism connected to the first side-strip and the second side-strip, the retention mechanism retracts the second end of the first side-strip from a first position along the first side wall to a second position along the first side wall, wherein when the second end of the first side-strip is at the first position, the curved portion is flattened up against the first side wall, and
 the retention mechanism retracts the second end of the second side-strip from a first position along the second side wall to a second position along the second side wall, wherein when the second end of the second side-strip is at the first position, the curved portion is flattened up against the first side wall.   
     
     
         18 . The transport unit of  claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of side-strips is composed of a stiff material with a stiffness such that each of the plurality of side-strips remains in a static position when discharge air is blown into the interior space. 
     
     
         19 . A method of distributing airflow in a transport unit, comprising:
 receiving a discharge airflow from a front end of the transport unit;   directing the discharge airflow via a plurality of airflow strips extending in a direction from the front end of the transport unit towards a second end of the transport unit;   generating a dynamic temperature distribution within the interior space of the transport unit.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising fluttering the plurality of airflow strips based on a pressure differential of the discharge airflow through the plurality of flappers. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising directing, via a curved portion of each of the plurality airflow strips, discharge air blown into the interior space to prevent the formation of a hot spot within the interior space, wherein the curved portion of each of the plurality of airflow strips remains in a static position when discharge air is blown into the interior space.