Abstract: A transport refrigeration unit (TRU) fire detection and mitigation system is provided for use with a TRU that includes a housing and components supportively disposed within the housing that are configured to condition an interior of a container. The TRU fire detection and mitigation system includes a fire detection sub-system and a mitigation sub-system. The fire detection sub-system is partially disposable within the housing and configured to detect a thermal event therein. The mitigation sub-system is coupled to the fire detection sub-system and configured to take a mitigation action responsive to the thermal event being sensed by the fire detection sub-system.

Abstract: Operating a transportation refrigeration unit (15) powered by a gas engine includes vaporising liquefied natural gas; and combusting the vaporised liquefied natural gas in the gas engine to power the transportation refrigeration unit (15). The transportation refrigeration unit (15) is used to refrigerate a cargo space (7) onboard a transportation refrigeration system (1).

Abstract: A transport refrigeration system (200) comprising: a vehicle (102) having a refrigerated cargo space (119); a refrigeration unit (22) in operative association with the refrigerated cargo space, the refrigeration unit providing conditioned air to the refrigerated cargo space; a first engine (26) configured to power the refrigeration unit; a plurality of first fuel tanks (330) fluidly connected to the first engine, the plurality of first fuel tanks configured to supply fuel to the first engine, wherein each of the plurality of first fuel tanks includes a lock off valve (450) and a pressure sensor (470) configured to detect a pressure level within each of the first fuel tanks; and one or more engine controllers (54) in electronic communication with each pressure sensor and lock off valve, the one or more engine controllers being configured to adjust at least one of the lock off valves in response to a pressure level detected by at least one of the pressure sensors.

Abstract: A transport refrigeration system is provided. The transport refrigeration system comprising: a vehicle having a refrigerated cargo space; a refrigeration unit in operative association with the refrigerated cargo space, the refrigeration unit providing conditioned air to the refrigerated cargo space; a first engine configured to power the refrigeration unit; a first exhaust passage fluidly connected to the first engine and configured to transport exhaust from the first engine; a second engine configured to power the vehicle; and a second exhaust passage fluidly connected to the second engine and configured to transport exhaust from second engine to a single exhaust exit; wherein the first exhaust passage fluidly connects to the second exhaust passage such that exhaust from the first engine is transported from the first exhaust passage to the single exhaust exit through the second exhaust passage.

Abstract: An exhaust gas system is provided for a transport refrigeration unit (TRU) engine. The exhaust gas system includes an exhaust system. The exhaust system includes a catalyst operable in a temperature range to catalyze exhaust gas produced in the TRU engine and flown through the exhaust system. The exhaust gas system further includes temperature sensors respectively disposed to sense exhaust gas temperatures upstream of and downstream from the catalyst, at least one of first, second and third valves which are proportionally controllable to moderate amounts of air provided to the TRU engine, fuel provided to the TRU engine and air provided to the catalyst, respectively, and a controller. The controller is configured to compare sensed exhaust gas temperatures with the temperature range and issue a proportional signal to the at least one of the first, second and third valves in accordance with results of the comparison.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transportation unit comprising: a plurality of roadway wheels including wheel, a plurality of continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) including a first CVT and a second CVT, the plurality of CVTs receiving rotational input from the wheel, and a generator that is rotationally driven by rotational output from the plurality of CVTs, and wherein each of the plurality of CVTs is engaged over one of a corresponding plurality of discrete wheel rotational speeds.

Abstract: A transport refrigeration unit (TRU) is provided and includes a power generation unit, a catalytic element, a tubular element fluidly interposed between the power generation unit and the catalytic element and a control System. The control System is disposed and configured to control operations of the power generation unit in accordance with readings of sensed characteristics of fluid flows between the power generation unit and the catalytic element.

Abstract: A transport refrigeration system (200) including: a refrigeration unit (22) having a refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger (34) and a fan (40) configured to blow air across the refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger; a first engine (26) configured to power the refrigeration unit (22), the first engine (26) having an engine coolant circuit (80) and an exhaust outlet (27); a heat exchanger (70) having: a first fluid passage (72) fluidly connected to the exhaust outlet (27); and a second fluid passage (74) fluidly connected to the engine coolant circuit (80); and a third fluid passage (76) fluidly connected to and configured to receive air blown across the refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger (34). The second fluid passage (74) is thermally connected to the first fluid passage (72) and the third fluid passage (76) is thermally connected to the first fluid passage (72).

Abstract: Disclosed is a transport refrigeration unit (TRU) having: an engine configured to power a refrigeration system of the TRU, the engine including an air intake, the engine within an engine compartment of the TRU; an air management valve (AMV) fluidly coupled to the air intake; a first duct fluidly coupled to the AMV and including a first inlet within the engine compartment; and a second duct fluidly coupled to the AMV and including a second inlet that is exterior to the engine compartment and is configured to receive atmospheric air; wherein: the AMV is configured to modulate air into the engine from the first duct and the second duct, when a temperature of air within the AMV is above the first threshold and the temperature of air within the second duct is below the first threshold, to lower the temperature of air entering the engine to below the first threshold.

Abstract: A fuel storage and delivery system for a refrigerated cargo vehicle. The system includes a first fuel tank for storing natural gas and a second fuel tank for storing natural gas, at least the first fuel tank is for storing the natural gas as liquefied natural gas (LNG); a vehicle fuel supply line fluidly connected to the first fuel tank for supplying fuel from the first fuel tank to a vehicle engine; and a refrigeration unit fuel supply line fluidly connected to the second fuel tank for supplying fuel from the second fuel tank to a transport refrigeration unit engine.

Abstract: A transportation refrigeration system includes a transportation refrigeration unit, a gas circuit connected to the transportation refrigeration unit and arranged to connect thereto a split bottle gas supply having a plurality of electric lock-off valves, and a controller. The controller is operably connected to the transportation refrigeration unit and is responsive to instructions recorded on a memory to close the electric lock-off valves of the split bottle gas supply. The instructions also cause to the controller to receive a first measurement of gas pressure in the gas circuit, open a first of the electric lock-off valves of the split bottle gas supply, receive a second measurement of gas pressure in the gas circuit, and determine health of the first electric lock-off valve using the first and second measurements of gas pressure in the gas circuit. Related methods and computer program products are also described.

Abstract: A system comprising a refrigeration engine (132) and regulator (250, 350, 450, 550, 650) positioned within a housing (144, 244), the regulator (250, 350, 450, 550, 650) controlling fuel to the engine through a fuel line (354), a lock-off valve connected to the regulator (250, 350, 450, 550, 650) to shut off fuel supply through the regulator (250, 350, 450, 550, 650), a controller operably connected to the lock-off valve and/or the regulator (250, 350, 450, 550, 650), a guide (462, 562) positioned within the housing (144, 244) and proximate to the refrigeration engine (132), the regulator (250, 350, 450, 550, 650), and/or the fuel line (354) to direct gases leaking from the refrigeration engine (132), regulator (250, 350, 450, 550, 650), and/or at least one fuel line (354), and a methane sensor (566, 666A) positioned within the guide (462, 562) to detect the presence of methane within the guide (462, 562) that is directed by the guide (462, 562), the methane sensor (566, 666A) in communication with the control

Abstract: A governing system of an engine coolant control system in which first and second portions of coolant are pumped from an engine to a regulator and back to the engine and from the engine to a radiator and back to the engine, respectively, is provided. The governing system includes a temperature sensor of the engine to sense coolant temperatures, an ambient temperature sensor of the radiator to sense ambient temperatures, a heating element disposed to heat the first portion of the coolant at one of a location upstream from the regulator and the regulator, a valve operably disposed along a section of piping through which the first portion of the coolant flows from the engine to the regulator and a controller which controls operations of the heating element and the valve in accordance with the readings of the temperature sensor of the engine and the ambient temperature sensor.

Abstract: A fluid circuit for a trucking vehicle having a transport refrigeration unit is provided. The fluid circuit includes a first regulator assembly defining a first fuel inlet that is arranged to receive fuel from a first fuel tank and a first fuel outlet that is arranged to provide fuel to a first engine. The first regulator assembly having a first heat exchanger assembly defining a first coolant inlet that is arranged to receive coolant from a cooling system associated with the first engine and a first coolant outlet that is arranged to provide coolant to the cooling system.

Abstract: A fuel storage and delivery system for a refrigerated cargo vehicle. The system includes a first fuel tank for storing natural gas and a second fuel tank for storing natural gas, at least the first fuel tank is for storing the natural gas as liquefied natural gas (LNG); a vehicle fuel supply line fluidly connected to the first fuel tank for supplying fuel from the first fuel tank to a vehicle engine; and a refrigeration unit fuel supply line fluidly connected to the second fuel tank for supplying fuel from the second fuel tank to a transport refrigeration unit engine.

Abstract: A transportation refrigeration system includes a transportation refrigeration unit, a gas circuit connected to the transportation refrigeration unit and arranged to connect thereto a split bottle gas supply having a plurality of electric lock-off valves, and a controller. The controller is operably connected to the transportation refrigeration unit and is responsive to instructions recorded on a memory to close the electric lock-off valves of the split bottle gas supply. The instructions also cause to the controller to receive a first measurement of gas pressure in the gas circuit, open a first of the electric lock-off valves of the split bottle gas supply, receive a second measurement of gas pressure in the gas circuit, and determine health of the first electric lock-off valve using the first and second measurements of gas pressure in the gas circuit. Related methods and computer program products are also described.

Abstract: A transport refrigeration system having: a first engine (26) configured to power a refrigeration unit (22); a first fuel tank (330) fluidly connected to the first engine through a first fuel line (332); a first shut off valve (450) located within the first fuel line proximate the first fuel tank; a second shut off valve (72) located within the first fuel line proximate the first engine; a sensor system (80) configured to detect at least one of a crash of the transport refrigeration system, a fuel leak in the first fuel line, and an engine stall in the first engine; and a controller (30) configured to close the first shutoff valve and the second shutoff valve when the sensor system detects at least one of a crash of the transport refrigeration system, a fuel leak in the first fuel line, and an engine stall in the first engine.

Abstract: A method of warming a valve assembly includes receiving an exhaust flow through a first heat exchanger first inlet; heating a coolant received through a first heat exchanger second inlet with the exhaust flow; exhausting the exhaust flow through a first heat exchanger first outlet; and discharging heated coolant through a first heat exchanger second outlet towards a second heat exchanger assembly that is coupled to the valve assembly to heat the valve assembly.

Abstract: A method of operating a refrigeration unit of a transport refrigeration system is provided. The method including: monitoring at least one of a real-time location of a refrigeration unit and a current time; and adjusting operation of the refrigeration unit in response to at least one of the real-time location of the refrigeration unit and the current time, the operation of the refrigeration unit is adjusted to change a level of noise emanating from the refrigeration unit.

Abstract: A transport refrigeration unit (TRU) is provided and includes a power generation unit, a catalytic element, an exhaust pipe, first and second tubular elements fluidly interposed between the power generation unit and the catalytic element and between the catalytic element and the exhaust pipe, respectively, at least one of first and second throttle valves and a control system. The at least one of first and second throttle valves are operably disposed to control fluid flows in the first and second tubular elements, respectively. The control system is configured to control the power generation unit and the at least one of the first and second throttle valves to effect the sound produced by the TRU.