Refrigerator containers for freight transportation systems

Filed Aug. 19, k

2,984,084

SYSTEMS

Sheets—Sheet 1

May 16, 1961 _P. _{TALMEY ETAL}

REFRIGERATOR containers for freight transportation 1959

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m to

OJ

INVENTOR.

Pou! Talmey

Douglas 0. Baird

May 16, 1961 p. talmey etal 2,984,084 refrigerator containers for freight transportation systems

Filed Aug. 19, 1959

Sheets-Sheet 2

MM

MM

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INVENTOR.

Pou! Talmey

Douglas 0. Baird

May 16, 1961 p. talmeyetal 2,984,084 refrigerator containers for freight transportation systems

Filed Aug. 19, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3

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May 16, 1961 p. talmey et al 2,984,084

REFRIGERATOR CONTAINERS FOR FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS

Filed Aug. 19, 1959

Sheets-Sheet 4

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FIG. 8

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FIG. 9

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BY

INVENTOR.

Pau! Talmey

Douglas 0. Baird

Attys.

P. TALMEY ETAL

2,984,084

CONTAINERS for freight transportation systems

May 16, 1961

REFRIGERATOR

Filed Aug, 19, 1959

Sheets-Sheet 5

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BY ~30t

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INVENTOR.

Paul Talmey

Douglas 0. Baird

Attys.

United States Patent Office

2,984,084

Patented May 16, 1961

2,984,084

REFRIGERATOR CONTAINERS FOR FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS

Paul Talmey, Barrington, and Douglas O. Baird, Skokie, Hl., assignors to General American Transportation Corporation, Chicago, Hl., a corporation of New York

Filed Aug. 19, 1959, Ser. No. 834,775

Claims. (Cl. 62—239)

The present invention relates to refrigerator containers for freight transportation systems, and more particularly to such refrigerator containers for freight transportation systems of the character disclosed in the copending application of Deodat Clejan, Serial No. 813,957, filed May 18, 1959.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a refrigerator container that is adapted to be removably mounted and secured in place in a ready manner upon the frame of a vehicle, such as a road semi-trailer, a railway car, or the like, in a freight transportation system.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fully demountable refrigerator container for the frame of a vehicle in a freight transportation system, wherein the refrigerator container comprises structure defining a lading chamber and a machinery compartment that are heatinsulated with respect to each other, and refrigerating machinery that is fully demountable with respect to the machinery compartment.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a freight transportation system, a fully demountable refrigerator container, that, in turn, comprises fully demountable refrigerating machinery, wherein the refrigerating machinery may be readily replaced or removed with respect to the refrigerator container, when the refrigerator container occupies either its mounted position or its demounted position with respect to an associated vehicle of the freight transportation system.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a refrigerator container of the character described, an improved arrangement and disposition therein of a refrigerating machine, an internal combustion engine for driving the refrigerating machine and a fuel tank for supplying fuel to the internal combustion engine.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the elements of the refrigerator container, whereby the above-outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a freight transportation system embodying the present invention and including a highway semi-trailer carrying one of the refrigerator containers and a railway car carrying two of the refrigerator containers, and indicating the manner in which one of the refrigerator containers may be transferred in either direction between the highway semi-trailer and the adjacent end of the railway car;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of one of the refrigerator containers, as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged end elevational view of the refrigerator container, as shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is another enlarged end elevational view, similar to Fig. 3, illustrating the disposition of the refrigerat- ing machinery in the machinery compartment of the container;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the refrigerator container, taken in the 5 direction of the arrows along the line 5—5 in Fig. 4, and further illustrating the arrangement of the refrigerating machinery both in the machinery compartment and in the lading compartment of the container;

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerating ma10 chinery that is incorporated in the refrigerator container, and particularly illustrating the primary refrigerating apparatus and the secondary refrigerating apparatus thereof;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view, partly broken away, of the refrigerator container, as shown in 15 Figs. 3, 4 and 5, and illustrating the construction of the base thereof, including the depending rollers carried thereby;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevational view, partly broken away, of the highway semi-trailer and the ²⁰ refrigerator container mounted thereon, as shown in Fig. 1, and illustrating the arrangement for securing the base of the refrigerator container to the frame of the highway semi-trailer;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevational view, ²⁵ partly broken away, of the railway car and the refrigerator container mounted thereon, as shown in Fig. 1, and illustrating the arrangement for securing the base of the refrigerator container to the center sill of the railway 30 ^car;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged side elevational view of a modified form of the refrigerator container, with respect to that shown in Fig. 1, this form of the container incorporating refrigerating machinery including only primary __ refrigerating apparatus; and

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the container of Fig. 10, illustrating the arrangement of the refrigerating machinery in the lading compartment therein.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a freight transportation system of the general character of that disclosed in the previously mentioned application of Deodat Clejan, Serial No. 813,957, and essentially comprising a railway vehicle or car 20, a highway vehicle 30 in the form of a semi-trailer, a high45 way tractor 40 and a number of refrigerator containers 100, each embodying the features of the present invention. Preferably, the railway car 20 is of the general construction of that disclosed in the copending application of Deodat Clejan, Serial No. 593,848, filed June 26, 1956, 50 now Patent No. 2,944,492, July 12, 1960, and is, of course, adapted for travel over a conventional railway track, indicated at 50. The highway semi-trailer 30 is, of course, adapted for travel over a conventional highway, indicated at 60; and the highway semi-trailer 30 55 may be drawn along the highway 60 by the highway tractor 40, also traveling along the highway 60. The highway semi-trailer 30 is provided with a chassis 31 carrying rear road wheels 32, a front king pin, indicated at 33, and a front landing gear 33'; while the highway tractor 00 40 is provided with a chassis 41 carrying rear drive wheels 42 and front steering wheels 43. Also, the highway tractor 40 includes the usual drive motor or engine 44 and the driver’s cab 45; and the rear end of the chassis 41 carries the usual fifth-wheel mechanism, indi65 cated at 46.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 9, the railway car 20 is of skeleton construction, comprising a longitudinally extending frame 21 in the form of a center sill that is carried at ₇₀ the opposite ends thereof by a pair of four-wheeled trucks 22, cooperating with the rails of the associated railway track 50; and preferably, the track wheels carried

2,984,084 each other; whereby the shafts 27 may be rotated away from each other in order to move the hooks 29 out of the hollow center sill 21 and into operated positions disposed above the flanges 25 and engaging the tie-down bars 193 carried by the underframe 191 of the associated refrigerator container 109, as illustrated in Fig. 9; and whereby the shafts 27 may be rotated toward each other in order to move the hooks 29 back into the hollow center sill 21 and thus into retracted positions disengaging the cooperating tie-down bars 103 carried by the underframe 101 of the associated refrigerator container 100.

The hooks 29 in their operated positions, as illustrated in Fig. 9, secure the associated refrigerator container 100 to the mechanism 26; which mechanism 26 also incorporates shock-absorber equipment, not shown; whereby the refrigerator container 100, while secured to the associated mechanism 26, is capable of limited longitudinal movements along the auxiliary track provided by the flanges 25 on the top of the center sill 21; which limited longitudinal foiling movements are resiliently damped by the shock-absorber equipment incorporated in the mechanism 26, thereby to prevent the transmission of any severe longitudinal shocks between the center sill 21 of the railway car 20 and the underframe 101 of the cooperating refrigerator container 100.

Of course, when the mechanism 26 is operated to move the hooks 29 into their retracted positions, releasing the underframe 101 of the associated refrigerator container 100, the refrigerator container 100 may be rolled longi30 tudinally along the auxiliary track provided on the top of the center sill 21 of the railway car 20 without interference with the hooks 29, since the hooks 29 in their retracted positions are disposed within the hollow center sill 21. Thus, it will be understood that when the mech10 by the trucks 22 and the railway track 50 are of standard gauge. As illustrated, the center sill 21 essentially comprises a pair of longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apart I-beams 23 that are suitably tied together by a number of laterally extending and longitudinally spaced-apart cross members 24, each of which may comprise a short I-beam, as illustrated in Fig. 9. Of course, the opposite ends of the center sill 21 are provided with the usual laterally extending body bolsters, not shown, that are pivotally connected to the usual truck bolsters, not shown, carried by the trucks 22 by center pins, not shown, so as to accommodate articulation of the trucks 22 with respect to the opposite ends of the center sill 21. The center sill 21 possesses the required rigidity for supporting four of the refrigerator containers 109, as indicated in Fig. 1; and the usual car couplers, not shown, are mounted in the opposite ends of the center sill 21.

In the construction, the longitudinally extending center sill 21, consisting essentially of the two I-beams 23, and interconnecting the two trucks 22, is substantially narrower than the standard gauge of the railway track 59, so that the sides of the center sill 21 are disposed well inwardly with respect to the adjacent sides of the trucks 22. Also the top flanges 25 of the I-beams 23 cooperate to provide the rails of an auxiliary track provided on the top of the center sill 21; which auxiliary track, defined by the rails 25, is of a gauge essentially narrower than the standard gauge of the railway track 59.

Before proceeding with further description of the railway car 29, it is first noted that each of the refrigerator containers 199 comprises, as shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, a rigid underframe 191 that carries two longitudinally spaced-apart pairs of laterally spaced-apart low rollers 192. More particularly, each of the rollers 192 is provided — ----, -- ------with a flange that is disposed adjacent to the outer side 35 anism 26 is operated to move the hooks 29 into their thereof; whereby each pair of laterally spaced-apart roll- ' ~~ *’ ers 192 is inwardly facing and of the narrow gauge of the auxiliary track provided on the top of the center sill 21 by the flanges 25 of the I-beams 23, as clearly illus- -------₌ „ - ,- .

trated in Fig. 9. Accordingly, the refrigerator container A0 along the auxiliary track mentioned upon the four rollers 199 is supported upon the top of the center sill 21 by the ..... —-j-~» c —„ four low rollers 102 and may be readily rolled longitudinally along the top of the center sill 21 upon the rollers 192 and with the rollers 102 disposed in straddling relation with the rails 25 of the auxiliary track provided on the top of the center sill 21. The longitudinal rolling movement of the refrigerator container 100 along the top of the center sill 21 is guided by the two pairs of inwardly facing flanged rollers 102, the flanges thereof cooperating with the adjacent outer sides of the outwardly directed portions of the flanges 25 for the guide purposes in an obvious manner. Also, in each of the refrigerator containers 100, the rigid underframe 101 comprises a pair of longitudinally extending and laterally retracted positions, the refrigerator container 100 may be readily rolled along the auxiliary track provided on the top of the center sill 21 for the loading and unloading purpose, the refrigerator container 100 rolling )

102 carried by the underframe 101 thereof, as previously noted. In passing, it is mentioned that in loading the refrigerator container 100 upon the railway car 20, it is brought into proper cooperating position with respect to one of the four associated mechanisms 26; whereupon the mechanism 26 mentioned is actuated from its retracted position into its operated position for the purpose of providing the operative connection between the refrigerator container 100 and the center sill 21; which operative connection includes the combined tie-down and shockabsorber functions of the mechanism 26, as previously explained.

Returning now to the construction of the highway _r_____ _r___ ______o___________________o ____________j semi-trailer 30, and referring to Figs. 1 and 8, the upper spaced-apart tie-down bars 103 that are employed for a 55 portion of the chassis 31 comprises an, elongated rigid purpose more fully explained hereinafter.

Returning now to the construction of the railway car 20, the center sill 21 also carries four longitudinally spaced-apart tie-down shock-absorber mechanisms 26, as structure that includes a pair of longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apart channels 34 that are suitably interconnected at the front and rear ends thereof; which _____________________________________________₇ channels 34 provide a pair of longitudinally extending indicated in Fig. 1. Each of the mechanisms 26 com- 60 and laterally spaced-apart rails 35 upon the tops thereof prises, as best shown in Fig. 9, two longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apart shafts 27 respectively mounted upon suitable brackets 28 respectively secured to the upper portions of the webs of the two I-beams 23; whereby the shafts 27 are disposed within the hollow center sill 21 adjacent to the upper portions of the webs of the I-beams 23 and immediately below the inwardly directed portions of the flanges 25 thereof. Each of the shafts 27 is mounted for both rotary movement and longitudinal sliding movements in the associated mounting bracket 28; and each of the shafts 27 carries, one or more hooks 29 rigidly secured thereto and movable therewith. The mechanism 26 also comprises manually operable means, not shown, for simultaneously rotating constituting an auxiliary track of the same narrow gauge as that of the low rollers 102 carried by the underframe 101 of the refrigerator container 100. The structure mentioned carried by the top of the chassis 31, including the channels 34, is hollow, and carries mechanism 35 for selectively latching in place the underframe 101 of the refrigerator container 100 when it is supported upon the rails 35 by the low rollers 102, as illustrated in Fig. 8. Specifically, the mechanism 35 comprises two longitudinally spaced-apart pairs of laterally spaced-apart and pivotally mounted hooks 36 that are selectively operative to engage and to disengage the tie-down bars 103 carried by the underframe 101 of the refrigerator container 100.

______________,_________, __________________, ________„ The mechanism 35 is manually operated by ah arrangethe two shafts 27 in opposite directions with respect to 75 merit including an operating handle 36 that is readily

2,984,084 accessible from one side of the chassis 31. When the handle 36 occupies its retracted position, as illustrated in Fig. 8, the mechanism 35 is actuated to project the hooks 36 from the hollow structure 31 above the rails 35 and into latching engagement with the tie-down bars 103; and when the handle 36 occupies its extended or withdrawn position, not illustrated, the mechanism 35 is actuated to withdraw the hooks 36 from engagement with the tie-down bars 103 and into the hollow structure 31. Further, the mechanism 35 comprises a tension spring 37 that normally biases the hooks 36 into their operated positions in engagement with the tie-down bars '103, as illustrated in Fig. 8. Accordingly, it will be understood that when the mechanism 35 occupies its operative position retracting the hooks 36, the underframe 101 of the refrigerator container 100 may be readily rolled along the rails 35 of the auxiliary track provided on the top of the chassis 31, so as to accommodate placement or removal, as desired, of the refrigerator container 100 with respect to the chassis 31. After the underframe 101 of the refrigerator container 100 has been placed in proper supported position upon the chassis 31, the mechanism 35 is actuated by the handle 36 into its operative position, illustrated in Fig. 8, so as to project the hooks 36 into cooperating latching engagements with the tie-down bars 103, thereby securely to latch the underframe 101 of the refrigerator container 100 in place in its supported position upon the chassis 31 of the highway semi-trailer 30.

In view of the foregoing descriptions of the construction and arrangement of the railway car 20 and the highway semi-trailer 30, it will be understood that the refrigerator container 100 may be readily moved or transferred between the units 20 and 30 in either direction when the rear end of the highway semi-trailer 30 is arranged adjacent to and in alignment with the end of the railway car 20, so that the auxiliary track provided on the top of the chassis 31 is disposed in a contiguous position with respect to the auxiliary track provided on the top of the center sill 21. Thus, it will be appreciated that the refrigerator containers 100 may be readily loaded and unloaded, as required, between the railway car 20 and the highway semi-trailer 30. Of course, it will be understood that the highway semi-trailer 30 is drawn along the highway 60 by the tractor 40 due to the coupling between the king pin 33 carried at the front end of the highway semi-trailer 30 and the fifth-wheel mechanism 46 carried by the rear end of the tractor 40; all in a conventional manner.

Considering now in greater detail, the construction and arrangement of the underframe 101 of the refrigerator container 100, and referring more particularly to Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the underframe 101 essentially comprises a pair of longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apart side sills 104, a pair of laterally extending and longitudinally spaced-apart end sills 105 and a plurality of laterally extending and longitudinally spaced-apart intermediate sills 106, as well as the previously mentioned longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apart tie bars 103. The laterally extending sills 105 and 106 are provided with longitudinally aligned saddles in the central portions thereof, as indicated at 107 in Figs. 8 and 9; the longitudinally extending tie bars 103 are arranged above the saddles 107; and the pairs of laterally spaced-apart low rollers 102 are arranged within the saddles 107 and adjacent to the laterally spaced-apart opposite sides thereof. Accordingly, the composite saddle 107 provided in the underframe 102 is substantially centrally disposed and longitudinally extending; whereby the same straddles the upper portion of the supporting vehicle 30 and 20, as respectively shown in Figs. 8 and 9; whereby the bottom of the underframe 101 is disposed below the plane of the rails of the auxiliary track provided on the top of the supporting vehicle; which arrangement provides a low center of gravity of the refrigerator container 100 and facilitates ready placement and removal of the refrigerator container 100 with respect to the associated auxiliary track provided upon the supporting vehicle, since the saddle 107 straddles the rails of the auxiliary track of the supporting vehicle and serves the guide function with respect thereto, together with the low rollers 102 arranged within the composite saddle 107. Further, in the underframe 101, the elements 104, 105 and 106 may essentially comprise prefabricated steel channel sections; and also a floor 108 is provided that may be formed of sheet steel and that is carried upon the top surfaces of the elements 104, 105 and 106.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5, the underframe 102 carries an elongated substantially box-like body that includes a metal outer shell providing a pair of upstanding longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apart side walls 111 and a pair of upstanding laterally extending and longitudinally spaced-apart end walls 112 and 113 and a substantially horizontal roof 114, the lower edges of the walls 111, 112 and 113 being suitably secured to the floor 108. Hereinafter, the end walls 112 and 113 are respectively referred to as the front end wall and as the rear end wall; and arranged within the metal outer shell is an upstanding laterally extending heat-insulating wall 115 that is spaced forwardly of the rear wall 113, so as to provide both a machinery compartment 116 in the upper rear end of the metal outer shell and a fuel storage compartment 117 in the lower rear end of the metal outer shell, the compartments 116 and 117 being separated from each other by a substantially horizontally disposed imperforate steel plate 118 extending between the rear wall 113 and the heat-insulating wall 115. Also, other heat-insulating walls 119, 12® and 121, etc., are arranged within the central and front portion of the metal outer shell and cooperate with the heat-insulating wall 115 to define a lading chamber 122 disposed in the central and front end portions of the metal outer shell; whereby the lading chamber 122 is heat-insulated both from the exterior and from the compartments 116 and 117. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the rear portion of the lading chamber 122 is bounded by the heat-insulating walls 115, 119, 12®, 121, etc.; the heat-insulating wall 119 being disposed inwardly of the roof 114, the heat-insulating wall 12® being disposed inwardly of the floor 108, and the heat-insulating wall 121 being disposed inwardly of one of the side walls 111.

Incorporated in the refrigerator container 10® is refrigerating equipment 20®, schematically illustrated in Fig. 6, and comprising a primary refrigerating apparatus and a secondary refrigerating apparatus. More particularly, the primary refrigerating apparatus includes a compressor 201, a condenser 202, a receiver 203, a heat exchanger 204, an expansion valve 205 and an evaporator 206. The outlet of the compressor 201 is connected by a conduit 207 to the inlet of the primary condenser 202, and the outlet of the primary condenser 202 is connected by a conduit 208 to the inlet of the primary receiver 203. The outlet of the primary receiver 203 is connected by a conduit 209 to the inlet of a coil 210 arranged in the envelope of the heat exchanger 204; and the outlet of the coil 210 is connected by a conduit 211 to the inlet of the primary evaporator 206. The outlet of the primary evaporator 206 is connected by a conduit 212 to the inlet of the envelope of the heat exchanger 204, and the outlet of the envelope of the heat exchanger 204 is connected by a conduit 213 to the inlet of the compressor 201. The expansion valve 205 is included in the conduit 211 and is provided with a thermal bulb 214 arranged in heat exchange relation with the primary evaporator 206, the bulb 214 controlling the opening of the expansion valve 205 in a conventional manner. More particularly, the secondary refrigerating apparatus includes a secondary condenser 221, a secondary receiver 222, a plurality of secondary evaporators 223 (three of the secondary evaporators 223 being

2,984,084 illustrated) and three corresponding expansion valves 224. The outlet of the secondary condenser 221 is connected by a conduit 225 to the inlet of the secondary receiver 222; and the outlet of the secondary receiver 222 is connected to a header 226 that supplies three parallel connected conduits 227 respectively extending to the inlets of the three secondary evaporators 223. The outlets of the three secondary evaporators 223 are respectively connected to three conduits 228 that are connected to a header 229 that is connected to the inlet of the secondary condenser 221. The three expansion valves 224 are respectively arranged in the three conduits 227 and are respectively provided with thermal bulbs 230 that are respectively arranged in heat exchange relation with the three secondary evaporators 223. Also the refrigerating equipment includes an electric circuit controller 240 that governs an electric switch 241 and that is provided with a manually settable temperature dial 242. Also the controller 240 is governed by a control arm 243 that is governed, in turn, by an expansible bellows 244 that is connected to a thermal bulb 245 that is arranged in heat exchange relation with the primary evaporator 206.

In the operation of the refrigerating equipment 200, the compressor 201 is driven by equipment more fully described hereinafter, so as to bring about the normal operation of the primary refrigerating apparatus to effect cooling of the primary evaporator 206 to a relatively low temperature as established by the controller 240 and as governed by the thermal responsive bulb 245 that is operatively associated with the primary evaporator 206. In turn, the primary evaporator 206 cools the secondary condenser 221 bringing about condensation of the refrigerant contained in the secondary refrigerating apparatus. For example, the secondary refrigerating apparatus may contain a suitable charge of dichlorodifluoromethane (Freon F-12); whereby the gaseous refrigerant is condensed in the secondary condenser 221 and supplied to the secondary receiver 222. From the secondary receiver 222, the liquid refrigerant is supplied into the secondary evaporators 223 in parallel relationship and therein, the liquid refrigerant is evaporated, effecting corresponding cooling thereof; whereby the gaseous refrigerant is again returned to the secondary condenser 221 via the header 229. In the arrangement, each of the expansion valves 224 may be manually preset 45 and is also governed by the associated thermal bulb 230; whereby the temperatures of the several secondary evaporators 223 may be selectively preset. As explained more fully hereinafter, the secondary evaporators 223 heat-insulating walls 119, 120, 121, etc. Also arranged in the rearmost of the lading subchambers is insulating structure 130 defining a chamber 131 in the upper rear portion thereof, in which there are arranged both the secondary condenser 221 and the primary evaporator 206. More particularly, in the upper portion of the heatinsulating wall 115 adjacent to the machinery compartment 116, there is formed an opening 115α that is normally closed by a removable plug 132 formed of heatinsulating material, which plug 132 carries on the front side thereof the primary evaporator 206, while the secondary condenser 221 is carried on the rear side of the heat-insulating structure 130 and arranged in cooperating relationship with respect to the primary evaporator 206. More particularly, a base 133 is removably arranged in the machinery compartment 116 and supported by suitable ball casters 134; which base 133 carries a standard 135 to which the plug 132 is secured. Accordingly, when the base 133 is arranged in its supported position within the machinery compartment 116, the plug 132 fits into and closes the opening 115α formed in the heatinsulating wall 115 and projects the primary evaporator 206 carried by the plug 132 into the chamber 131 and into contact with the secondary condenser 221 arranged therein; whereby at this time, the primary evaporator 206 is arranged in good heat exchange relationship with the secondary condenser 221. As explained more fully hereinafter, when the base 133 is removed from the machinery compartment 116, the plug 132 is removed from the opening 115α provided in the heat-insulating wall 115 carrying the primary evaporator 206 therewith and out of the chamber 131. However, notwithstanding the removal of the plug 132 from the opening 115α provided in the heat-insulating wall 115 and the consequent opening of the chamber 131 to the atmosphere, the rear lading subchamber remains closed against the atmosphere by virtue of the arrangement of the heatinsulating structure 130 cooperating with the other heatinsulating walls 115, 119, 121, etc., thereby preventing the direct entrance of heat into the rearmost lading subchamber incident to placement or removal of the primary evaporator 206 with respect to the chamber 131 in which the secondary condenser 221 is fixedly arranged.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, the base 133 that is removably arranged in the machinery compartment 116 also carries the compressor 201 and the primary condenser 202, together with an internal combustion engine 240 and an electric motor 241. As shown in Fig. 4, the internal combustion engine 240 is provided with an exhaust gas are* operatively associated with the lading chamber 112 _δ() manifold 242 that is detachably connected by a disof the refrigerator container 100; whereby the lading ^Λ~* * ¹ ‘ contained in the lading chamber 112 is directly cooled by the secondary evaporators 223; and the resulting heat thus extracted from the lading chamber 122 is trans30 engageable fixture 243 to an exhaust gas stack 244 carried by the roof 114 and communicating with the atmosphere. Also the internal combustion engine 240 is provided with a fuel pump 245 that is connected to a fuel line 246; ferred to the secondary condenser 221, from which it is 55 which fuel line 246 is connected to a fuel pipe 247 by transferred to the primary evaporator 206, the primary ‘ . evaporator 206 being arranged in good heat-exchange relation with the secondary condenser 221. Finally, the heat thus extracted by the primary evaporator 206 is transferred to the primary condenser 202, and therefrom, it is expelled to the exterior of the refrigerator container 100.

Returning now to the construction of the refrigerator container 100 and again referred to Fig. 5, it is noted that the secondary evaporators 223 comprised laterally ₆₅extending and longitudinally spaced-apart hollow structures arranged within the lading chamber 112 and subdividing the same into corresponding subchambers disposed in longitudinally spaced-apart relation with respect to each other. As illustrated, the secondary evaporator ₇₀223 shown is disposed forwardly of the adjacent heatinsulating wall 115 and defines the rearmost of the lading subchambers between the elements 115 and 223, this a disengageable fixture 248. Further, the internal combustion engine 240 is provided with a drive shaft, not shown, clutch mechanism 249, and a driven shaft 250; whereby the drive shaft may be selectively connected and disconnected by the clutch mechanism 249 with respect to the driven shaft 250, the clutch mechanism 249 being provided with a suitable operating or control device, such, for example, as the manually operable control handle 251 illustrated. The electric motor 241 is provided with a rotor, not shown, having an operating shaft 251. One end of the operating shaft 251 is selectively connected by a coupling 252 to the driven shaft 250, and the other end of the operating shaft 251 is operatively connected by a coupling 253 to the driven shaft 254 of the compressor 201. The outer end of the compressor shaft 254 is operatively connected to a stub shaft 255 carried by the casing of the compressor 201 by an arrangement including a pair of pulleys · and an associated belt, lading subchamber being bounded by the heat-insulating _ _ wall Ί15 and by the corresponding'fear portions of the 75 indicated generally at 256; and the outer end of-the-stub

2,884,084 _t 9 shaft 255 carries a fan 257 operatively associated with the primary condenser 202.

Arranged in the fuel compartment 117 is a laterally extending fuel tank 261 that is provided with an inlet conduit 262 and a sump 263 that is connected to the previously mentioned fuel pipe 247. The inlet conduit 262 is provided with a suitable removable cap or cover 264 so as to control the supply of liquid fuel into the fuel tank 261. For example, the fuel tank 261 may contain a suitable liquid petroleum fuel, such, for example, as propane; and of course, the propane is charged into the fuel tank 261 under pressure following removal of the cap 264. The propane in the fuel tank 261 is supplied therefrom via the fuel pipe 245, the fixture 248 and the fuel line 246 to the fuel pump 245 and therefrom to a suitable carburetor, not shown, operatively associated with the internal combustion engine 240, thereby to govern operation thereof. The exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine 240 proceed therefrom through the exhaust gas manifold 242 via the fixture 243 and the exhaust stack 244 to the atmosphere.

In view of the foregoing description of the placement and removal of the base 133 from its supported position upon the platform 118 and from the machinery compartment 116, it will be understood that it is first necessary appropriately to connect or to disconnect the fixtures 243 and 248. In this connection, it is mentioned that a manually operable shutoff valve 265 is arranged in the fuel pipe 247 that should be first closed before disconnection of the fixture 248, so as to prevent the escape of the 30 propane from the fuel tank 261. Moreover, it will be understood that the base 233 carries therewith the complete primary refrigerating apparatus including the compressor 201 and the primary condenser 202, as well as the internal combustion engine 240, the electric motor 35 241 and the fan 257.

In view of the foregoing, it will be understood that the compressor 201 may be operated either by the electric motor 241 or by the internal combustion engine 240, as desired. When the compressor 201 is operated by the 40 electric motor 241, the clutch mechanism 249 is disengaged; and when the compressor 201 is operated by the internal combustion engine 240, the clutch mechanism 249 is engaged. Ordinarily the compressor 201 is operated by the internal combustion engine 240; however, the compressor 201 may be operated by the electric motor 241 when the refrigerator container 100 is in a storage warehouse or at any other location wherein electric power is available; and, of course, the electric motor 241 is provided with an associated electric cable, not shown, accommodating connection thereof to a suitable source of electric power supply.

As illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the fuel tank 261 is directly supported upon blocks 266 carried by the floor 108, and is held in place by encircling bands 267. Also, the front wall of the fuel compartment 117 is provided with a steel plate 268 that cooperates with the supporting plate 118, so as to provide fire protection to the adjacent heat-insulating wall 115. Furthermore, suitable slots or openings 269 are provided in the floor 208 disposed below the fuel tank 261, thereby accommodating dumping or expelling of the propane from the fuel compartment 117 in the event of an explosion and rupture of the fuel tank 261. More particularly, the slots 269 formed in the floor 108 are disposed directly below the fuel tank 261 and ·, . ... ---communicate through the hollow underframe 101 with ⁶ associated jide door 153; the the exterior; whereby in the event of the explosion mentioned, the burning propane may be discharged from the fuel compartment 117 to the exterior, so as to prevent damage to the refrigerating equipment 200 or to the m - , ... ., ------ χ------ — — lading carried in the lading chamber 122 of the refrigera- ⁷⁰ Y 1“k^a”^{d which},®^{lde door 153 ls also} Provided tor container 100¹ . with, a reticulated screen 156 tn nr.mmmnriatA ·ν_Ρτ,+ίΐα+ίητ»

Again referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the rear wall 113 of the outer metal shell of the refrigerator container 100 . j - . , ° , . ouvuiviuv uut lauiug vuiuuucr into a plurality has upper and lower openings therein that are respec- 75 of longitudinally spaced-apart subchambers; and specifi10 tively commensurate with the upper and lower portions thereof, which upper and lower openings mentioned are provided with upper and lower closure members or doors 141 and 142. Preferably, the upper door 141 is hinged adjacent to the bottom edge thereof upon the rear edge of the divider 118 disposed between the upper machinery compartment 116 and the lower fuel compartment 117, as indicated at 143, and is provided with latch mechanism 144 adjacent to the upper edge thereof that cooperates with the adjacent upper portion of the rear wall 113. Similarly, the lower door 142 is hinged adjacent to the upper edge thereof upon the rear edge of the divider 118, as indicated at 145, and is provided with latch mechanism 146 adjacent to the lower edge thereof that cooperates with the lower adjacent portion of the rear wall 113. Of course, it will be understood that when the upper door 141 occupies its open position substantially the whole rear end of the adjacent machinery compartment 116 is exposed, thereby to render the machinery carried by th base 133 readily accessible from the exterior and also to accommodate removal of the base 133 through the adjacent opening provided in the upper rear wall 113. Similarly, when the lower door 142 occupies its open position, substantially the whole rear end of the adjacent fuel campartment 117 is exposed, thereby to render the fuel tank 261 carried by the floor 108 readily accessible from the exterior. Furthermore, reticulated screens 147 and 148 are respectively provided in the central portions of the doors 141 and 142, thereby respectively to accommodate ventilation of the compartments 116 and 117 when the doors 141 and 142 occupy their closed positions.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the opposite sides of the machinery compartment 116 are also readily accessible from the exterior through corresponding openings provided in the respective side walls. 111 of the metal outer shell; each of which openings is provided with the associated side door 149; the side door 149 illustrated in Fig. 2 being hinged at the rear edge thereof, as indicated at 15®, and being provided with a latch mechanism 151 at the front edge thereof that cooperates with the adjacent portion of the side wall 111; and which side door 149 is also provided with a reticulated screen 152 to accommodate ventilation pf the adjacent machinery compartment 116. Moreover, it is pointed out that the base 133, together with the machinery carried thereby may be readily removed from the machinery compartment 116 through either one of the side openings provided in the adjacent side wall 111 when 50 the corresponding side door 149 occupies its open position. This arrangement is very advantageous, since it renders the machinery carried by the base 133 readily accessible from the exterior and readily removable from the machinery compartment 116 when the refrigerator 55 container 100 is mounted upon the railway car 20 in close proximity to another of the refrigerator containers 100, rendering the rear door 141 inaccessible, in the event tire refrigerator container 100 mentioned occupies an intermediate position of the four refrigerator containers 60 100 carried by the railway car 20.

Similarly, the opposite sides of the fuel compartment 117 are also readily accessible from the exterior through corresponding openings provided in the respective side walls 111 of the metal outer shell; each of which openside door 153 illustrated in Fig. 2 being hinged at the rear edge thereof, as indicated at 154, and being provided with a latch mechanism 155 at the front edge thereof that cooperates with the adjacent portion of the * - — —— aw aaaww* with a reticulated screen 156 to accommodate ventilation of the fuel compartment 117.

As previously noted, the three secondary evaporators 223 subdivide the lading chamber 122 into a plurality

2,984,084 whereby the two side doors 361 and 362 may be restrained in their closed positions retaining the lading compartment 322 in closed position.

As previously explained, in this form of the refrigerator container 300, the removable plug 332 directly carries the primary evaporator 406 of the refrigerating equipment, and the arrangement of the refrigerating equipment in the upper machinery compartment 316 provided in the rear end of the metal outer shell, and the arrangement of the lower fuel compartment 317 in the rear end of the metal outer shell, are both essentially the same as that described above in connection with the refrigerator container 100. As illustrated, the machinery compartment 316 is accessible through the adjacent end door 341 and through the adjacent side doors 349, as indicated in Fig. 10; and likewise, the fuel compartment 317 is accessible through the adjacent end door 342 and through the adjacent side doors 353, as indicated in Fig. 10.

The construction and arrangement of the refrigerator container 300 are otherwise fundamentally the same as that of the refrigerator container 100 previously described, and in the interest of brevity, this description is not reiterated.

In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a refrigerator container of improved and simplified construction and arrangement that is readily adapted for use in a freight transportation system including different types of transportation vehicles, wherein the refrigerator container may be readily transferred between two of the transportation vehicles of different types and may be readily secured in place upon any one of the transportation vehicles for transportation thereby; and moreover, the arrangement of the refrigerator container •accommodates the ready placement and removal of the associated refrigerating machinery thereof when the refrigerator container occupies its mounted position upon any one of the transportation vehicles mentioned and without removal of the refrigerator container from the associated supporting transportation vehicle.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.