Abstract: A lubrication device for a power take off coupling for a prime mover, the lubrication device including: a lubrication device shaft having a first end for connecting to an output shaft of the prime mover and a second end for connecting to an input shaft for receiving power from the output shaft; a lubricant chamber surrounding at least part of the lubrication device shaft between the first end and the second end; and a housing enclosing the lubrication device shaft and the lubricant chamber; wherein the lubrication device shaft includes a plurality of internal lubricant passages for conveying lubricant from the lubricant chamber to the first end and the second end of the lubrication device shaft, with the internal lubricant passages comprising fluid passages extending along the axial length of the lubrication device shaft as well as fluid passages extending radially to outer surfaces of the lubrication device shaft.

Abstract: A transport refrigeration system is provided comprising a cargo container and a transport refrigeration unit arranged to cool the cargo container. The cargo container is equipped with a mobile bulkhead that partitions the interior of the cargo container. The transport refrigeration unit comprises a heat-absorbing heat exchanger positioned in fluid communication with the interior of the cargo container. The transport refrigeration system is further provided with a sensor configured to determine a distance between the mobile bulkhead and the heat-absorbing heat exchanger. A method of operating a transport refrigeration system is also provided.

Abstract: A control system (300) for a transport engineless refrigeration unit (301), the control system including: a controller (302) for communication between a vehicle (307) and a plurality of vehicle devices, the controller comprising: a vehicle data connection (306) for transmitting data to and from a vehicle; a vehicle engine on/off connection (308) for triggering start-up of the vehicle engine; a plurality of device data connections (314), each device data connection transmits data to and from at least one device external to the controller; and a device power connection (313), the device power connection supplies power from the controller to at least one device external to the controller.

Abstract: A kingpin for connecting a trailer to a tractor, the kingpin comprising: an integrated sensor arranged to measure a force applied to the kingpin, and a data connection arranged to transmit data of a force measured by the integrated sensor.

Abstract: A control system (300) for a transport engineless refrigeration unit (301), the control system including: a controller (302) for communication between a vehicle (307) and a plurality of vehicle devices, the controller comprising: a vehicle data connection (306) for transmitting data to and from a vehicle; a vehicle engine on/off connection (308) for triggering start-up of the vehicle engine; a plurality of device data connections (314), each device data connection transmits data to and from at least one device external to the controller; and a device power connection (313), the device power connection supplies power from the controller to at least one device external to the controller.

Abstract: A power system for a transport refrigeration unit (200) of a vehicle, and a method of powering a transport refrigeration unit (200) of a vehicle. The power system for a transport refrigeration unit (200) of a vehicle includes: a battery unit (280) configured to supply electrical power to a refrigeration system of the transport refrigeration unit (200); a generator (240) configured to charge the battery unit (280); an engine (250) configured to drive the generator (240); and a control system (220). The control system (220) is configured to: receive or determine a vehicle route from a current location of the vehicle to a destination of the vehicle; predict how a power level of the battery unit (280) will change on the vehicle route; and control an operational state of the engine (250) based on the vehicle route and the predicted power level.

Abstract: A transport refrigeration system (1) includes a transportation refrigeration unit (37); a generator (11) connected to a wheel axle (7A) of the transport refrigeration system (1), the wheel axle (7A) being coupled to a wheel (5), wherein the generator (11) is configured to be driven to generate electricity by rotation of the wheel axle (7A) and to supply that electricity to the transportation refrigeration unit (37); and a damper (23) connected to the wheel axle (7A) between the wheel (5) and the generator (11). Short spikes or pulsations in torque along the wheel axle (7A) resulting from, e.g., harsh braking or wheel blocking can be, dampened, either wholly or partly, by the damper (23) such that damage to the transport refrigeration system (1) can be avoided.

Abstract: A system for cooling a storage area of a vehicle includes one or more eutectic plates (102) for cooling the storage area (101); a refrigeration system (103) configured to cool the one or more eutectic plates (102); an electrical system (106) configured to receive electrical power from a mains power supply and supply electrical power to the refrigeration system (103); a variable displacement hydraulic pump (113) having an input shaft for being driven by an engine (112) of the vehicle (100); and a generator (107) configured to receive hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump (113), generate electrical power in response thereto and supply the electrical power to the refrigeration system (103); the hydraulic pump (113) is configured to reduce the volume of hydraulic fluid that it supplies to the generator (107) for each rotation of the input shaft, as the rotational speed of the input shaft increases.

Abstract: A transport refrigeration system is disclosed. The transport refrigeration system comprises a refrigeration unit. The refrigeration unit comprises one or more components. The transport refrigeration system comprises an electric motor operatively connected to a power source. The electric motor is configured to provide power to the one or more components of the refrigeration unit. The refrigeration unit comprises a controller operatively connected with the electric motor and the one or more components of the refrigeration unit. The controller is configured to generate a control signal to convert the electric motor to an electric generator; and direct power to the one or more components.

Abstract: A transport refrigeration system including: a transportation refrigeration unit configured to provide conditioned air to a refrigerated cargo space; an energy storage device configured to store DC electrical energy to power the transportation refrigeration unit; and a DC-to-AC variable invertor electrically connecting the energy storage device to the transportation refrigeration unit, the DC-to-AC variable invertor being configured to convert the DC electrical energy from the energy storage device to AC electrical energy in a variable continuous energy output to power the transportation refrigeration unit.

Abstract: A vehicle (100) for transporting goods includes a transport refrigeration unit (150); an engine (110); and a power management system (200; 300; 400). The power management system (200; 300; 400) includes a battery unit (240; 340; 440) electrically connected to the transport refrigeration unit (150); and a generator (230; 330; 430) mechanically connected to the engine (110), the generator (230; 330; 430) being configured to be mechanically driven by the engine (110) and to supply electrical power to the battery unit (240; 340; 440). The power management system (200; 300; 400) is configured to supply electrical power to the transport refrigeration unit (150) from the battery unit (240; 340; 440) responsive to a power demand of the transport refrigeration unit (150).

Abstract: A method for wireless communication between a driver and any one of a plurality of transport refrigeration units 3, the method including receiving a driver identification signal at a control unit 8 of one of the transport refrigeration units, the driver identification signal being a wireless signal sent by a portable identification device 7 in the possession of the driver and uniquely identifying the driver, wirelessly transmitting status information of the transport refrigeration unit 3 from the control unit 8 to the driver, via a portable interface device 7 in the possession of the driver, and/or wirelessly receiving commands for operating the transport refrigeration unit 3 from the driver at the control unit 8, via the portable interface device 7 in the possession of the driver.

Abstract: A vehicle for transporting goods, a tractor-trailer system for transporting goods, and a method of operating a power management system for powering a transport refrigeration unit. The vehicle for transporting goods includes: an axle; a transport refrigeration unit; and a power management system for supplying power to the transport refrigeration unit. The power management system includes: a generator configured to be selectively coupled to an axle of the vehicle, wherein the generator is configured to generate electricity when coupled to the axle; and a controller configured to monitor a speed of the vehicle and to selectively couple and decouple the generator from the axle. The controller is configured to determine that the vehicle is in a first state and decouple the generator from the axle when the vehicle is in the first state, wherein the speed of the vehicle is increasing in the first state.

Abstract: System and method for operating a transport refrigeration system including: a trailer system including a vehicle connected to a transport container; an electric generation device operably coupled to a wheel axle of the trailer system, the electric generation device configured to generate electrical power from the rotational energy of the wheel axle to charge an energy storage device when the electric generation device is activated; an energy management system providing power to the transportation refrigeration unit of the trailer system, the energy management system including an energy controller in communication with at least one of the electric generation device, the energy storage device, an electronic braking unit; an anti-lock braking system including the electronic braking unit in communication with the energy controller, wherein at least one of the electronic braking unit and the energy controller is configured to modify the operation of the electric generation device.

Abstract: A transport refrigeration system including: a transportation refrigeration unit configured to provide conditioned air to a refrigerated cargo space; an energy management system including: an energy storage device configured to store DC electrical energy to power the transportation refrigeration unit; an input DC-to-DC inverter electrically connected to the energy storage device; and an input AC-to-DC inverter electrically connected to the energy storage device.

Abstract: A transport refrigeration system (200) is provided comprising: a vehicle (102) integrally connected to a transport container (106); an engine (320) configured to power the vehicle; a refrigeration unit (22) configured to provide conditioned air to the transport container; a battery (350) configured to provide electrical power to the refrigeration unit; an electric generation device (340) operably connected to the engine (320) and configured to engage the engine and generate electrical power from the engine to charge the battery when the electric generation device is activated; a sensor system (360) configured to detect at least one of a deceleration of the vehicle (364), a downward pitch of the vehicle (366), and a high-efficiency rotational speed of the engine (362); and a communication interface module (310) configured to activate the electric generation device when the sensor system detects at least one of the deceleration of the vehicle, the downward pitch of the vehicle, and the high-efficiency rotationa

Abstract: A transportation refrigeration unit for cooling a cargo compartment includes a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant, a compressor motor configured to drive the compressor, an evaporator heat exchanger operatively coupled to the compressor and an evaporator fan configured to provide return airflow from a return air intake and flow the return airflow over the evaporator heat exchanger. A drive unit is configured to deliver variable frequency electrical power between a minimum frequency and a maximum frequency to the compressor motor and the evaporator fan. A frequency of the electrical power is based on one or more sensed parameters of the transportation refrigeration unit.