Abstract: A self-contained apparatus for maintaining perishable produce in a controlled environment has a novel air vent and damper system to provide optimal airflow within the apparatus to maintain and ripen perishable produce. An arrangement of seals within insulated compartments cooperate with the physical dimensions of palletized produce inserted therein to direct air flow therethrough to achieve optimal air flow characteristics. The air vent and damper system of the invention allows the apparatus to operate at peak efficiency regardless of the number of pallets present in the apparatus. The apparatus also includes a horizontal push back cart system which does not interfere with the seal arrangement by using an elastic biasing means instead of prior art gravity feed methods. The self-contained apparatus can be used as a modular unit, and encompasses all the equipment necessary for installation while offering temperature stability, simplified maintenance requirements, and ultimately, precise control of ripening.

Abstract: The present invention describes an apparatus useful for maintaining perishable products in a controlled environment as a modular unit. This modular unit, or self-contained apparatus, encompasses all the equipment necessary for installation while offering temperature stability, simplified maintenance requirements, and ultimately, precise control of ripening. Designed for efficiency, typical labor and equipment costs and energy consumption of a ripening room are reduced with the palletized ripening cabinet. The present invention may also be easily adapted for the combination of units or for various temperature requirements and otherwise from pre-cooler to freezer.

Abstract: A filament wound pressure vessel or tank includes a thin metal inner liner of 1020 steel wrapped by epoxy-resin-coated fiberglass filament windings. The coefficients of thermal expansion of the windings and the inner liner are approximately equal. The filament windings are clad in a thick layer of polyurethane foam insulation. The foam-insulated cryogenic tanks containing cryogenic fluid are mounted in the front of a refrigerated transport container cooled by the release of the cryogenic fluid coolants thereinto.

Abstract: Freshly harvested vegetation is precooled in refrigerated containers by circulating 25,000 cubic feet of chilled air per minute through the container. Conduits formed by pallets on which boxes of the vegetation are stacked distributes the chilled air, which flows through the produce to the top of the refrigerated container. Air is withdrawn from the top of the container and cooled by flowing it past large chilled water film surface area produced by cascading 2,200 gallons of water per minute through a cross fluted PVC surface media block. A drift eliminator removes water droplets that might damage vegetation or cardboard boxes from the chilled air exiting the surface media block. A radial fan recirculates the rechilled air to the conduits below the pallets. A false door is movably mounted to fluidly connect the air flow at appropriate positions on the container.

Abstract: Three tanks containing cryogenic fluid coolant are mounted inside the insulated compartment of a refrigeration container. A control system releases coolant into the compartment responsive to changes in the compartment temperature relative to maximum and minimum temperatures. When the compartment temperature is below the minimum temperature, no cooling of the compartment is desired, and the controller vents all excess boil off vapor outside the compartment. When the compartment temperature is above the maximum temperature, substantial cooling is required, and the controller releases vaporized coolant liquid into the compartment. When the compartment temperature is between the maximum and minimum temperatures, some minimal cooling is needed, and the controller flows the excess boil off vapor into the compartment instead of venting it outside. The coolant is released into the compartment through a venturi to circulate the compartment gases.