Patents by Inventor David D. Kiefer

David D. Kiefer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6923111
    Abstract: An enclosed mobile container having a refrigeration unit for providing conditioned air to a mixing chamber located at the front of the container. Air penetratable cartons containing perishable produce are stacked in rows along the length of the container to create a pair of supply air plenums running along each side wall of the container and a return air aisle running along the center of the container. A gas generator is mounted in the mixing chamber to add a ripening agent to the conditioned air. Fans force the supply air from the mixing chamber into the plenums under pressure so that the supply air is passed through the cartons into heat transfer relationship with the produce and the air is returned to the mixing chamber via the center aisle. A fresh air exchanger is mounted in the container for venting the ripening agent to ambient after the completion of a ripening cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: David D. Kiefer, Jan M. Parker
  • Publication number: 20030159595
    Abstract: An enclosed mobile container having a refrigeration unit for providing conditioned air to a mixing chamber located at the front of the container. Air penetratable cartons containing perishable produce are stacked in rows along the length of the container to create a pair of supply air plenums running along each side wall of the container and a return air aisle running along the center of the container. A gas generator is mounted in the mixing chamber to add a ripening agent to the conditioned air. Fans force the supply air from the mixing chamber into the plenums under pressure so that the supply air is passed through the cartons into heat transfer relationship with the produce and the air is returned to the mixing chamber via the center aisle. A fresh air exchanger is mounted in the container for venting the ripening agent to ambient after the completion of a ripening cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: David D. Kiefer, Jan M. Parker
  • Patent number: 6443056
    Abstract: Apparatus for delivering conditioned air from the mixing chamber of a mobile container into a pair of supply air plenums that extend rearwardly along the side walls of the container. A series of fan units are contained within pods located within the mixing chamber adjacent to the front end of each supply air plenum. The pods are stacked in vertical alignment from the floor of the container to about the height of the container ceiling. Each pod includes two fan units that are contained in separate compartments. Each fan unit can be removed easily from the compartment and each pod unit can similarly be removed separately from the stack to facilitate mounting and removal of the pods as well as the individual fan units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: David D. Kiefer, Michael E. Davis, David R. Carey
  • Patent number: 6206439
    Abstract: Auxiliary structural bumpers are adapted to be attached to a main protective bumper assembly for a refrigeration unit of the type adapted to be mounted on the front wall of a trailer. The main protective bumper protects the front of the unit while the auxiliary bumpers are adapted to protect the left and right-hand sides of the refrigeration unit. The refrigeration unit includes an outer cover, and a structural framework, which includes a pair of vertically extending structural elements located at opposite rear corners of the refrigeration unit adjacent to the front wall of the trailer. The main bumper assembly includes two vertically extending structural members, each of which is adapted to be structurally coupled to one of the vertically extending structural elements of the refrigeration unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: David D. Kiefer, Michael E. Davis, Douglas E. Moore
  • Patent number: 6042162
    Abstract: A protective bumper assembly for a refrigeration unit of the type adapted to be mounted on the front wall of a trailer. The refrigeration unit includes an outer cover, and a structural framework which includes a pair of vertically extending structural elements located at opposite rear corners of the refrigeration unit adjacent to the front wall of the trailer. The bumper assembly includes two vertically extending structural members, each of which is adapted to be structurally coupled to one of the vertically extending structural elements of the refrigeration unit. A portion of the vertically extending structural member extends above the outer cover of the unit. A pair of horizontally extending structural members also located outside the outer cover of the refrigeration unit are attached to the ends of the vertically extending members at one end thereof and the other ends extend forwardly towards the front of the refrigeration unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: David D. Kiefer, Michael E. Davis