Abstract: A method of defrosting a transcritical vapor compression system having a compressor for compressing a refrigerant, a first heat exchanger for cooling the refrigerant during a cooling mode, an expansion valve for decreasing the pressure of the refrigerant, and a second heat exchanger for cooling a space during the cooling mode. The method includes attaining a superheated refrigerant condition in a defrost mode of the transcritical vapor compression system and defrosting the second heat exchanger in the defrost mode by directing the superheated refrigerant to the second heat exchanger without bypassing the first heat exchanger.

Abstract: A tractor and trailer combination including a tractor having a tractor frame, a supply unit, a trailer coupling, a skid plate, and a first connector coupled to the tractor frame and coupled to the supply unit to receive at least one of high voltage electrical power and coolant from the supply unit. The combination also includes a trailer having a trailer frame, a tractor coupling rotatably connecting the trailer to the tractor, and a second connector coupled to the trailer and configured to provide the at least one of high voltage electrical power and coolant to the trailer. The combination further includes a conduit having a first end coupled to the first connector, a second end coupled to the second connector. The conduit flexes and is supported between the first and second ends by the skid plate throughout rotation of the trailer relative to the tractor.

Abstract: A temperature control system includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, a receiver, and an accumulator. A valve is positioned between the evaporator and the receiver. An evacuation line has a first end in fluid communication with heat transfer fluid between the valve and the receiver, and a second end in fluid communication with the accumulator. The evacuation line provides for flow of the heat transfer fluid from both of the first heat exchanger and the receiver to the accumulator during an evacuation mode of operation of the temperature control system. The valve can take the form of a check valve or an expansion valve without a bleed port.

Abstract: A method of monitoring an electrical storage system. The method includes providing an electrical storage element defining a total storage capacity and having a state of charge cooperatively defining a total stored charge of the electrical storage element, determining a total stored charge value representative of the total stored charge of the electrical storage element, varying the total stored charge by charging the electrical storage element from the power source via an electrical charge or discharging the electrical storage element to the load via an electrical discharge, and updating the total stored charge value after varying the total stored charge.

Abstract: A method for measuring a fluid level in a tank containing a fluid for a transportable temperature controlled space. The method includes providing a temperature control system for the transportable temperature controlled space, providing a fluid level sensor for sensing a fluid level in the tank, generating fluid level signals with the fluid level sensor indicative of the fluid level in the tank, providing a fluid level algorithm for receiving the fluid level signals from the fluid level sensor and computing the fluid level in the tank, and inhibiting nondeterministic fluid level signals from being introduced to the fluid level algorithm.

Abstract: The method includes operating an HVAC unit for a test period in an automatic temperature control mode and measuring power consumed at one or more testing heat loads at one or more rotational speeds. The method further includes determining an association between the measured power consumed at the one or more testing heat loads and one or more tested bus engine speeds and calculating power consumed at the one or more testing heat loads at a plurality of profiled bus engine speeds based on the association, wherein the plurality of profiled bus engine speeds is derived from a bus road profile of known bus engine speeds at known time durations, with the known time durations summing to a time period. The method also includes calculating energy consumed at the one or more testing heat loads over the time period.

Abstract: A transport unit including a container defining a cargo space. The transport unit includes position detection apparatus coupled to the container, and adapted to determine a geographic location of the container and to generate a signal indicative of the geographic location. The transport unit also includes a refrigeration system in communication with the cargo space, and a control system including route data that defines a plurality of potential destinations of the container. The control system is programmed to predict a container route defined by at least two potential destinations of the container based on the geographic location and the route data, and to determine a proximity of the container relative to at least one potential destination of the route. The control system is in communication with the refrigeration system to control the refrigeration system based on the proximity of the container relative to the at least one potential destination.

Abstract: A rotary compressor including a housing, a first scroll member, a second scroll member in meshing engagement with the first scroll member, and an Oldham coupling coupled to the second scroll member to inhibit the relative rotational movement between the first scroll member and the second scroll member. The Oldham coupling including a first riding pad, a second riding pad, a third riding pad is positioned, and a fourth riding pad positioned such that the first riding pad and the fourth riding pad are in an overlapping arrangement.

Abstract: An environmentally controlled shipping container including a storage space, a first environmentally controlled space within the storage space, a second environmentally controlled space within the storage space, and a transport refrigeration unit. The transport refrigeration unit including a compressor that provides a flow of refrigerant, a condenser that receives the flow of refrigerant from the compressor, a first evaporator positioned within the first environmentally controlled space and in fluid communication with the condenser, a second evaporator positioned within the second environmentally controlled space and in fluid communication with the condenser, and a pressure regulator associated with the first evaporator. The pressure regulator selectively restricts the flow of refrigerant from the first evaporator to the compressor such that the flow of refrigerant from the first evaporator to the compressor is substantially equal to the flow of refrigerant from the second evaporator to the compressor.

Abstract: A generator set including a prime mover, a generator coupled to the prime mover, and a controller that is associated with a temperature controlled space and operates the generator set in one of a start/stop mode and a continuous mode depending on a demand defined at least in part by contents within the temperature controlled space.

Abstract: A method of controlling a refrigeration system with a closed circuit for circulating a refrigerant wherein the closed circuit has a compressor for compressing the refrigerant, a condenser for receiving and condensing at least part of the compressed refrigerant, an evaporator for receiving and evaporating the condensed refrigerant, and a return conduit for returning the refrigerant from the evaporator to the compressor. The evaporator has several evaporator sections with corresponding conduits that may be individually controlled so as to obtain individual refrigeration effects of corresponding individual evaporator sections.

Abstract: A mobile environment-controlled unit having a structure, a compartment supported by the structure, and an environmental-control system in environmental communication with the compartment. The environmental-control system is configured to control an environmental parameter of the compartment. The environmental-control system includes an internal combustion engine, having a starter, powering the environmental-control system; a battery powering the starter; and a controller. The controller monitors battery health status, predicts battery failure, and communicates the predicted battery failure. Also, described is a method of operating the mobile environment-controlled unit and a controller for controlling the mobile environment-controlled unit.

Abstract: A generator set including a prime mover, a generator coupled to the prime mover, and a controller that is associated with a temperature controlled space and operates the generator set in one of a start/stop mode and a continuous mode depending on a demand defined at least in part by contents within the temperature controlled space.

Abstract: A rotary compressor including a housing that defines an inlet, a low pressure chamber, an outlet, and a high pressure chamber defining a high pressure lubricant sump. A drive shaft passes through the housing and a compression element is coupled to the drive shaft between the low pressure chamber and the high pressure chamber. A first path connects the high pressure lubricant sump to the low pressure chamber such that lubricant flows through the first path from the high pressure lubricant sump to the low pressure chamber. A low pressure lubricant sump is positioned within the low pressure chamber and includes a movable gate movable from a closed position to an open position in response to a hydrostatic pressure of the lubricant within the low pressure lubricant sump. A second path connects a lubricant separator and the low pressure lubricant sump.

Abstract: A hydrocooler system for cooling produce. The hydrocooler system comprises a hydrocooler tank configured to contain a fluid used to saturate and cool the produce, and a thermal storage device positioned in the hydrocooler tank and configured to receive a refrigerant. The thermal storage device is configured to generate a thermal storage medium from the fluid on the thermal storage device in response to the flow of refrigerant through the thermal storage device.

Abstract: A transcritical vapor compression system includes a compressor for compressing a refrigerant, a first heat exchanger for cooling the refrigerant, an expansion device for decreasing the pressure of the refrigerant, a second heat exchanger for absorbing heat into the refrigerant, and a controller programmed to calculate a first energy difference across the second heat exchanger and a second energy difference across the compressor, to calculate an energy ratio by dividing the first energy difference by the second energy difference, to compare the energy ratio to a previously calculated energy ratio, and to adjust operating parameters of the system based on the comparison of the energy ratio with respect to the previously calculated energy ratio.

Abstract: A container for transporting a load in conditioned space air, where the container includes a number of walls defining a closed conditioned space with an ambient air intake opening and a conditioned space air exhaust opening provided on one of the container walls; a temperature control system for controlling the temperature of the conditioned space air; an ambient air exchange so system having a door movable relative to the exhaust and intake openings to thereby change the rate that conditioned space air is exchanged with ambient air, and a motor for repositioning the ambient air exchange door. The container also including a container controller in signal transmitting relation with the air exchange door repositioning motor. The controller sends signals to the repositioning motor to move the ambient air exchange door to a position which produces the required ambient air exchange rate to preserve the load.