Fluid distributing device

Abstract

A fluid distributing device that can be utilized in a refrigerated transport unit, an air duct for an HVAC system in a building, a heat exchanger, etc. The fluid distributing device includes a body having an outlet that directs fluid from the fluid distributing device and a positive fluid displacement device configured to draw fluid into an interior of the body. A method for a fluid distributing device to distribute air within an interior space of the refrigerated transport unit includes drawing air into the fluid distributing device and discharging air out of the fluid distributing device via an outlet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid distributing device comprising:
 a body including a first end and a second end, the body having a width extending from the first end to the second end, wherein the body includes an inlet at one or both of the first end and the second end;   an outlet extending along a width of the body; and   a positive fluid displacement device configured to draw fluid into an interior of the body from outside of the body through the inlet.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid distributing device of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet extends from the first end to the second end of the body. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid distributing device of  claim 2 , wherein the outlet extends in a direction parallel to the width of the body. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid distributing device of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet is a slit extending along a bottom of the fluid distributing device. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid distributing device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the inlet is located at the first end includes at least one of the one or more inlets, and   the body includes a second inlet located at the second end.   
     
     
         6 . The fluid distributing device of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a curved front surface extending from the first end to the second end of the body 
     
     
         7 . The fluid distributing device of  claim 1 , wherein the positive fluid displacement device is a fan. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid distributing device of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid distributing device has a concave shape. 
     
     
         9 . A refrigerated transport unit (RTU) comprising:
 a transport unit having an interior space defined by a curbside longitudinal wall, a roadside longitudinal wall, and a roof;   a fluid distributing device disposed in the interior space including:
 a body including a first end and a second end, the body having a width extending from the first end to the second end, wherein the body includes an inlet at one or both of the first end and the second end, 
 an outlet extending along a width of the fluid distributing device, and 
 a positive fluid displacement device configured to draw air into an interior of the fluid distributing device from outside of the fluid distributing device through the inlet, wherein the outlet of the fluid distributing device directs the air in a specific direction within the interior space so as to provide more equal distribution of air within the interior space. 
   
     
     
         10 . The refrigerated transport unit (RTU) of  claim 9 , wherein
 the specific direction of the air directed from the outlet of the fluid distributing device is a direction towards a back of the interior space.   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerated transport unit (RTU) of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a transport refrigeration unit (TRU) attached to a front of the transport unit, the TRU blowing conditioned air in a direction from a front end of the interior space towards a back end of the interior space.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerated transport unit (RTU) of  claim 9 , wherein the direction of the air discharged from the fluid distributing device is at or about 10 degrees or less relative to a horizontal direction that is parallel to the roof of the transport unit. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerated transport unit (RTU) of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a control unit electrically connected to the positive fluid displacement device in the fluid distributing device, the control unit configured to control operation of the positive displacement device.   
     
     
         14 . The refrigerated transport unit (TRU) of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a sensor to detect goods within a particular portion of the interior space, wherein   the control unit electrically controls operation of the positive fluid displacement device based on whether the sensor detects the goods in the particular portion of the interior space.   
     
     
         15 . The refrigerated transport unit (TRU) of  claim 14 , wherein the control unit electrically controls a fan speed of the positive fluid displacement device based on whether the sensor detects the goods in the particular portion of the interior space. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerated transport unit (RTU) of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a second fluid distributing device including a second fluid displacement device, the first fluid distributing device and second fluid distributing device being separated by a distance in the longitudinal direction within the interior space, wherein   the control unit is electrically connected to the second fluid displacement device, the control unit being configured to control a fan speed of the second fluid displacement device.   
     
     
         17 . A method for an fluid distributing device to distribute air within an interior space of a refrigerated transport unit (RTU), the fluid distributing device including an inlet, an outlet that extends in a direction between longitudinal walls of the RTU within the interior space, and a positive fluid displacement device, the method comprising:
 the positive fluid displacement device drawing air, via the inlet, into the fluid distributing device in a first direction that intersects one of the longitudinal walls of the RTU; and   the positive fluid displacement device discharging, via the outlet, the air out of the fluid distributing device in a specific direction within the interior space so as to provide more equal distribution of air within the interior space.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein
 a transport refrigeration unit (TRU) providing conditioned air to the internal space via an opening, and   the specific direction of the air discharging out of the fluid distributing device is a direction towards a portion of the interior space, and a distance from the opening to the portion of the interior space is greater than a distance from the fluid distributing device to the opening and a distance from the fluid distributing device to the opening.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 the specific direction of the air discharging out of the fluid distributing device is at or about 10 degrees or less relative to a horizontal direction that is parallel to a roof of the RTU.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a sensor detecting whether goods are within a particular portion of the interior space; and   a control unit operating the positive fluid displacement device based on whether the sensor detects goods within the particular portion of the interior space.