Abstract: An apparatus for economically handling mercury containing lamps in an efficient manner while protecting the environment against release of mercury vapors into the atmosphere. The apparatus includes a mobile vehicle which is transportable to a facility or site where the mercury containing lamps to be destroyed are located, a mechanism mounted within an enclosure on the mobile vehicle for receiving and destroying the mercury containing lamps therewithin, and an apparatus for sensing mercury vapor levels within the enclosure of the vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus for economically handling mercury containing lamps in an efficient manner while protecting the environment against release of mercury vapors into the atmosphere. The apparatus of the present invention includes a mobile vehicle which is transportable to a facility or site where the mercury containing lamps to be destroyed are located, a mechanism mounted within an enclosure on the mobile vehicle for receiving and destroying the mercury containing lamps therewithin, and an apparatus for sensing mercury vapor levels within the enclosure of the vehicle.

Abstract: An air flow panel for mounting on a vertical wall in association with semi-trailer type refrigeration units has alternating valleys and ridges adjacent the vertical wall, each which terminate in circular openings facing the trailer floor. The ridges and valleys provide significant structural benefit, and in addition provide air flow pathways that terminate at different heights above the trailer floor. Small horizontal dimples extend from the vertical wall to a small groove adjacent the cargo surface. The juxtaposition of the small groove enhances structural integrity during significant impact from the cargo area. Circular screens are additionally pressed into the circular air intake openings. The intake screens have legs extending from a screen grid. The legs not only interlock with the panel but also space the grid from the panel, thereby increasing the effective screen size and decreasing resistance to air flow through the openings.

Abstract: An adapter arrangement is provided for connecting the inlet opening of a cold air distribution chute with the cold air discharge opening of a refrigeration unit that is mounted in a opening contained in the front wall of the body of a refrigeration vehicle, characterized in that the forward portion of the chute is collapsed upwardly upon the application of a vertical force thereto, thereby to prevent tearing or damage of the chute. The bottom edge of the chute inlet opening is connected with a weighted horizontal rod or bar that is guided for vertical sliding movement on vertical guide rods that are mounted by brackets on opposite sides of the cold air discharge opening of the refrigeration unit. Each end of the horizontal rod is connected with the associated guide rod by a connecting member that is telescopically slidably connected with the rod.

Abstract: A transport and storage container for goods including a system for maintaining goods contained in the transport container within a preselected temperature range. The container may include an exterior support shell having a plurality of support members attached to and extending from an upper surface of the exterior support shell. An interior shell is attached to and supported by the support members and is offset from the exterior support shell forming a passage between the exterior support shell and the structural wall. The container for transport and storage of goods also includes a climate control device pneumatically connected to the passage for effecting a transfer of a thermal potential from the climate control device through the passage and through the interior shell, to and through the goods.

Abstract: An air return bulkhead is adapted to fit on differently-sized trailer walls around differently-sized trailer refrigeration units. The bulkhead includes an upper support panel with ridges or other discontinuities thereon. The discontinuities bound areas sized to accommodate standard refrigeration units, and a cutting tool may be easily guided along these discontinuities to form a space wherein the refrigerator may be fit when the bulkhead is mounted to the trailer wall. Also, a bulkhead which includes flutes and columns thereon wherein the ends of the flutes and columns may be removed by use of a cutting tool to allow the bulkhead installer to tailor the airflow into the refrigerator inlet as desired.

Abstract: An air return baffle for refrigeration trailers is characterized by a unitary panel molded from synthetic plastic material and containing integral baffles for improving air movement to the refrigeration unit of the trailer. The panel is adapted for mounting in sealed relation adjacent the front wall of the trailer and at least partially covers the refrigeration unit. The lower portion of the panel contains a plurality of openings for drawing air into the cavity defined behind the panel. Air is directed by the baffles toward the refrigeration unit, and the air movement eliminates hot and cold spots within the trailer. Vents in the panel are operable should the openings become clogged and a strap is provided to removably connect the panel with the trailer wall. Wings on the upper wall of the panel direct air from the cavity to openings in the side portions of the refrigeration unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting the temperature of cargo in a container by adjusting the temperature of air within a chamber and then circulating the temperature-adjusted or conditioned air through a series of passages in the ceiling, sidewalls, floor and cargo compartment.

Abstract: A mobile safety structure with separate compartments for containment and dling of hazardous materials which includes a roof assembly, a base assembly having a containment pan, right side and left side walls and front and rear walls with the front and right side walls having at least one door allowing for access to the interior of the structure. A removable grating is also included in the mobile safety structure which rest atop the base assembly. The removable grating allows the user of the structure to remove hazardous materials from the containment pan by use of a pump, and to visually inspect the containment pan for hazardous materials. There is positioned within the structure four upstanding interior walls which extend from the roof assembly through the floor to a bottom plate of the base assembly to form five separate compartments and associated containment pans within the mobile safety structure's interior. Each interior wall has a fire proof door which allows access between adjacent compartments.

Abstract: An air return baffle for refrigeration trailers is characterized by a unitary panel molded from synthetic plastic material and containing integral baffles for air movement to the refrigeration unit of the trailer. The panel is adapted for mounting in sealed relation adjacent the front wall of the trailer and at least partially covers the refrigeration unit. The lower portion of the panel contains a plurality of openings for drawing air into the cavity defined behind the panel. Air is directed by the baffles toward the refrigeration unit, and the air movement eliminates hot and cold spots within the trailer.

Abstract: A one-piece air circulation vent for piercing and maintaining a ventilation opening in a flexible cover or the like. The vent includes a stiff, but resilient body structure which comprises a main panel member generally triangular in plan and defining convergent side edges and an apex facing in the forward direction. The main panel member is arched transversely of the forward direction and has a generally V-shaped slot formed therein including convergent legs generally paralleling the convergent side edges of the panel member. The V-shaped slot defines the main panel into a generally triangular central cutting section and a peripheral retaining section. The side edges of the central section converge toward a sharpened apex inward of the apex of the panel member. The central section with its sharpened apex is slightly deflectable relative to the remainder of the panel member. The rear of the body structure has a louvered rear panel to allow air circulation into and out from underneath the cover.

Abstract: A method is taught herein of providing a controlled environment for the storage of produce within a portable, standard insulated trailer cabin, wherein the following objectives are accomplished: initiated ripening; ripening; cooling and heat removal; temperature stabilization; and the loading and unloading of palletized fruit on skid-mounted rollers. The invention accomplishes within a portable elongated cabin that which heretofore has only been accomplished in refrigeration rooms built within a fixed building. Ceiling-mounted air cooling units are uniformly distributed throughout the trailer along the long edge of the palletized fruit, thus allowing the cooled and/or treated air to be drawn across the fruit pallets directly and evenly and through as short a path as practical. An air suction chamber is built into the forward part of the trailer, opposite the loading door. Suction fans are built into a thin sheet-metal wall forming this chamber.

Abstract: A breathing type storage housing is exposed night and day to fluxuating outdoor air temperature. The housing defines a substantially sealed container of air that is alternately warmed and cooled by heat transferred through the housing due to daytime solar warming and nighttime cooling of the housing. Pressure responsive valves connect the container to the outside of the housing and are operable in response to temperature and pressure fluxuations inside the container for exhalation of warmed air from the container and for inhalation of cooled air into the container from outside the housing. Cooling of the air inside the container is purposely retarded whereby the operation of the valve for connecting the container to the outside of the housing for inhalation is delayed until the outdoor air temperature has decreased sufficiently to condense water vapor out of the outside air.

Abstract: A ventilation apparatus for a container for transporting goods by truck or ship. The walls of the container are provided with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, and an inlet unit is connected to the inlet opening and an outlet unit is connected to the outlet opening. The outlet unit is provided with a battery-operated fan for a forced ventilation of the container, temperature sensors are provided for detecting the inner wall temperature and inner air temperature, and a degree of change in the wall temperature per unit of time is calculated for operating the fan when the degree of change in the wall temperature is larger than a predetermined value. Furthermore, the difference between the inner air temperature and the wall temperature is calculated, and the fan is operated when that difference is larger than a predetermined value.