Conditioning systems and methods for docked cargo container

Abstract

A system includes a door and an air conditioning system. The door is configured to move between a closed state in which the door covers an aperture sized and configured to receive a cargo container and opened state in which the aperture is uncovered. The air conditioning system includes a heat exchanger and a mount. The heat exchanger is configured to direct conditioned air into the cargo container. The mount is connected to the heat exchanger and configured to locate the heat exchanger adjacent the aperture in the opened state and in the closed state of the door without interfering with movement of the door.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a door configured to move between a closed state in which the door covers an aperture sized and configured to receive a cargo container and opened state in which the aperture is uncovered; and   an air conditioning system, the air conditioning system comprising:
 a heat exchanger configured to direct conditioned air into the cargo container; and 
 a mount connected to the heat exchanger and configured to locate the heat exchanger adjacent the aperture in the opened state and in the closed state of the door without interfering with movement of the door. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of rails to which the door is movably connected, each one of the pair of rails configured to be arranged on opposite sides of the aperture. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the mount is connected to each one of the pair of rails. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the mount comprises:
 at least one elongated bar extending between the pair of rails and connected to the heat exchanger;   a first bracket connected to a first end of the bar and to one of the pair of rails; and   a second bracket connected to a second end of the bar opposite to the first end and to the other of the pair of rails.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the door is configured to move up and down on the pair of rails and between the conditioning system and the aperture. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mount is connected to a wall including the aperture. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the conditioning system comprises a temperature sensor configured to sensing a temperature of air in the cargo container. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the temperature sensor is located toward a bottom of the aperture and the cargo container. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a door sensor arranged and configured to sense the closed state and the open state of the door. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a controller communicatively connected to the heat exchanger, the temperature sensor, and the door sensor, the controller configured to actuate the heat exchanger to direct conditioned air into the cargo container based on at least one of the temperature of air in the cargo container sensed by the temperature sensor and the state of the door sensed by the door sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to actuate the heat exchanger to direct conditioned air into the cargo container based on the door sensor sensing the door is in the opened state. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to actuate the heat exchanger to direct conditioned air into the cargo container based on the temperature sensor sensing the temperature of air in the cargo container is below a threshold temperature. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises:
 a multi-stage heating element; and   a fan arranged and configured to direct intake air into an air inlet and through the multi-stage heating element, and direct conditioned air out of an air outlet into the cargo container.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 receive a signal from the door sensor indicating the door is in the open state;   receive a signal from the temperature sensor indicating the temperature of air in the cargo container;   select a speed of the fan and a heating stage of the multi-stage heating element based on the temperature of air in the cargo container; and   actuate the fan at the selected speed and the multi-stage heating element at the selected heating stage.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises:
 a housing including a plenum through which air is configured to flow from an air inlet to and out of an air outlet; and   a heating element in the plenum between the air inlet and the air outlet.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises a fan in the housing, the fan configured to direct intake air into the air inlet and through the plenum and the heat exchanger, and direct conditioned air out of the air outlet. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the mount is configured to arrange the heat exchanger such that the air outlet is toward a top of the aperture and the cargo container. 
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 positioning a heat exchanger adjacent an aperture, the aperture covered by a door in a closed state and uncovered by the door in an opened state, the heat exchanger positioned adjacent the aperture in the closed state and in the opened state of the door without interfering with movement of the door between states;   sensing the state of the door; and   selectively actuating the heat exchanger to direct conditioned air into a cargo container received by the aperture based on the sensed state of the door.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising sensing a temperature of air in a cargo container received by the aperture. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein selectively actuating the heat exchanger comprises selectively actuating the heat exchanger based on the sensed temperature of air in the cargo container.