Abstract: A refrigerated vehicle system is particularly adapted for use with refrigerated tractor/trailer and rail car vehicles to provide data on the operation of the vehicle and to monitor and provide a record of the operation of ancillary equipment important in the proper refrigeration of the vehicle. With refrigerated vehicles, the system can provide records of the temperatures of articles when loaded into the refrigerated vehicle, throughout their transportation and upon delivery from the vehicle and can monitor refrigerated vehicles, store information on the refrigeration of the vehicles, including time/temperature records and information of the operation and status of refrigeration system components, and output such information to remote and distant locations.

Abstract: In refrigerator tractor/trailer vehicles, a data acquisition module is connected with one or more temperature sensors adapted for measurement of the temperatures within the trailer and may be connected with one or more distance sensors and "door open" sensors located in the trailer. Such a data acquisition module preferably comprises a microprocessor and random access memory connected with a plurality of sensors and adapted to acquire stored data on temperatures within the trailer and further connected with clock means to provide time data associated with the temperature data. In such systems, a control and display module, which comprises a separate portable control and display unit, can provide temperature data and distance data to the vehicle operator, warnings to the vehicle operator if the temperature of the trailer approaches unacceptable limits, warnings during backing of the trailer of impending collision with an object and warnings if the trailer doors are opened without authority.