Abstract: A method and apparatus facilitate lowering the temperature of a cooling module positioned in heat exchange relation to a loaded container to be maintained at a low temperature. The module establishes convective air flow in heat exchange relation to the load without the use of forced air circulation. The module is self-contained and externally accessible to supply water and liquid CO2 to the module interior. Expansion and change in state of the liquid CO2 lowers the temperature of a water ice and CO2 snow mixture in the module. By continuing inflow of CO2 after terminating inflow of water, the mixture can be cooled from about ?76° F. to about ?117° F. Convective air flow in heat exchange relation to the module walls circulates cooling air, thereby eliminating any direct contact of products with the liquid CO2 or CO2 snow formed by the expanding refrigerant.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for precipitating water ice or CO2 snow downwardly over a load within a shipping container or semitrailer body. The apparatus and method utilize high pressure and high velocity fog-like spray discharges of liquid CO2 and water (for forming water ice) or opposing high pressure and high velocity fog-like spray discharges of liquid CO2 (for forming CO2 snow) for intimate commingling in an elevated area of the container or semitrailer body. The commingling fog-like jet discharges of water and liquid CO2 cause water ice precipitation downward over a load within the container or semitrailer body and are capable of producing ice at a rate (poundage) equal to generally 96% of the rate (poundage) at which liquid CO2 is consumed in forming the water ice. Further, the opposing and commingling high pressure and high velocity fog-like spray discharges of liquid CO2 cause CO2 snow to form and to precipitate downward over an associated load.

Abstract: A closed loop pipe system is provided for the upper portion of the interior of an insulated storage or transport container. The pipe system includes active pipe sections including spray jet outlets spaced therealong and the active pipe sections are mounted within channel structure recessed within and opening outwardly of at least one insulated wall of the container. The channel structure includes impact plate portions onto which spray jets of liquid CO.sub.2 discharged from the outlets impact for deflecting the spray jets of liquid CO.sub.2 over a load within the container. The pipe system includes upstanding supply pipes at opposite diagonal portions of the container, each including a valve inlet end opening outwardly of a lower portion of the container and an upper end opening into the closed loop pipe system in a manner defining eductor structure whereby rapid inflow of liquid CO.sub.2 under pressure into the closed loop pipe system from either supply pipe will cause circulation of liquid CO.sub.

Abstract: A portable apparatus and method for discharge of CO.sub.2 snow or a combination of CO.sub.2 and ice along a generally horizontal path over and onto a load within an elongated insulated container from one partially open end of the container toward the other closed end thereof and in a manner to form either a blanket of CO.sub.2 snow or a blanket of ice over the load within the container. The apparatus includes a rectangular or cylindrical duct into which liquid CO.sub.2 is discharged adjacent one closed end for impact against the walls of the duct before exiting in a CO.sub.2 snow and gas stream from the opposite open end. A transverse manifold is mounted adjacent the open end to jet spray water feed to the manifold into contact with the CO.sub.2 stream at an acute angle, preferably about 15.degree..

Abstract: Chilling ice is formed in the upper portion of a container by initially replacing ambient atmosphere within said container with an atmosphere comprising, substantially, chilled CO.sub.2 gas and thereafter discharging substantially horizontally oppositely directed and spaced apart impinging jets of liquid CO.sub.2 and water within said container.

Abstract: An elongated CO.sub.2 snow forming header is provided for disposition within an elongated insulated container and includes removably closable liquid CO.sub.2 inlet structure at each of its opposite ends. The header includes a central longitudinal supply pipe into either end of which liquid CO.sub.2 may be admitted and a pair of oppositely laterally spaced header lines supporting snow forming nozzles at points spaced longitudinally therealong for discharging jets of CO.sub.2 snow onto opposite sides of the center supply line. Lateral communicating lines communicate each end of the supply line with corresponding ends of the header lines and the communicating lines open into the supply line in a manner such that rapid inflow of liquid CO.sub.2 past the communicating lines causes an appreciable portion of the liquid CO.sub.2 passing through the header lines to be recirculated through the center supply line.

Abstract: An open top tank is provided in which slush ice may be rapidly formed by a method forcibly projecting the formed slush ice from the tank or by a method retaining the slush ice within the tank for removal therefrom by other means. In addition, the tank may be used to cool liquid therein such as propylene glycol down to -20.degree. F. -30.degree. F. such that food stuffs may be dipped into the chilled propylene glycol for quick freezing of the food. The tank is portable and needs only a supply of liquid CO.sub.2 under pressure and propylene glycol (or water if slush ice is to be formed).

Abstract: An open top tank is provided for containing a chilling liquid therein to a predetermined level together with a CO.sub.2 injection structure downwardly removably receivable within the tank in a manner substantially fully closing the upper end of the tank and the CO.sub.2 injection structure defines an upwardly opening central duct within the tank opening at its bottom to the interior of the tank. The upper end of the duct opens into a downwardly opening housing supported from the upper end of the duct and the housing includes a downwardly opening portion thereof spaced laterally outwardly of at least one side of the duct. The CO.sub.2 injection structure includes an upwardly directed CO.sub.2 orifice disposed within the lower end portion of the duct spaced below the aforementioned predetermined level and the upward discharge of CO.sub.

Abstract: An open top tank is provided in which slush ice may be rapidly formed by a method forcibly projecting the formed slush ice from the tank or by a method retaining the slush ice within the tank for removal therefrom by other means. In addition, the tank may be used to cool liquid therein such as proplylene glycol down to -20.degree. F.-30.degree. F. degrees such that food stuffs may be dipped into the chilled propylene glycol for quick freezing of the food. The tank is portable and needs only a supply of liquid CO.sub.2 under pressure and propylene glycol (or water if slush ice is to be formed).

Abstract: A vented cold tank is provided and partially filled with a eutectic solution. CO.sub.2 snow forming structure is provided within the interior of the tank above the level of eutectic solution therein and liquid CO.sub.2 injection structure is provided in an lower portion of tank below the level of eutectic solution and arranged to create circulation of the eutectic solution within the tank including generally opposite upper and lower horizontal components of movement and generally opposite vertical components of movement of the solution within the tank. The CO.sub.2 injection structure also is operative to educt a portion of the circulating solution from a lower portion of the interior of the tank adjacent the bottom thereof, mix CO.sub.2 snow with the educted portion of solution, and downwardly direct the mixed CO.sub.

Abstract: A vented cold tank is provided and partially filled with a eutectic solution. CO.sub.2 snow forming structure is provided within the interior of the tank above the level of the eutectic solution therein and liquid CO.sub.2 injection means is provided in a lower portion of the tank below the level of eutectic solution and arranged to create circulation of the eutectic solution within the tank including generally opposite horizontal and generally opposite vertical component of movement of the solution within the tank. Further, structure is provided for communicating the CO.sub.2 snow forming means and the liquid CO.sub.2 injection means with the same source of liquid CO.sub.2 under pressure.

Abstract: A pair of CO.sub.2 snow forming nozzles are provided within a tank for receiving CO.sub.2 snow and the nozzles are mounted in an upper portion of the tank with their outlet ends directly opposing each other and spaced apart approximately 121/2 inches. A supply of liquid CO.sub.2 at approximately 300 psi is communicated with the inlet ends of the nozzles for simultaneous discharge of CO.sub.2 gas from the nozzle outlet ends and opposing impact of the discharges of CO.sub.2 from the nozzle outlet ends in an impact area disposed centrally between the nozzle outlet ends. In addition, the liquid CO.sub.2 is communicated with the inlet ends of the nozzles through a supply line therefor constructed of good heat transfer material and including an intermediate length portion passing centrally through the area of opposing impact of the discharges of CO.sub.2 from the nozzle outlet ends, thereby chilling the supply line to an extent sufficient to reduce the temperature of the liquid CO.sub.

Abstract: A generally rectangular container is provided including insulated top, bottom, opposite side and opposite end walls. An upstanding transverse insulated hollow housing is mounted within the container adjacent one end thereof and a CO.sub.2 snow cabinet constructed of good heat transfer material is disposed within the housing with opposing wall portions of the cabinet and housing passing exteriorly about the cabinet. A heat insulative horizontal baffle is mounted within the container spaced below the top wall and extends between the sidewalls thereof. The baffle defines a cooled air passage beneath the top wall extending lengthwise of the container. The airflow passage includes an outlet end adjacent and in at least reasonably closed communication with the end of the cooled air passage adjacent the aforementioned one container end wall and an inlet end opening outwardly of the housing into the interior of the container below the baffle.

Abstract: A closed bottom heat exchange tank is provided for containing CO.sub.2 snow and the tank includes upstanding and interconnected side wall portions and a top wall extending between and interconnecting the upper marginal edges of the side wall portions. A CO.sub.2 snow forming header pipe generally parallels and closely overlies the top wall and is removably anchored thereto by inverted U-shaped clamps secured to the top wall through the utilization of threaded fasteners. One end of the header pipe is open for sealed communication with a liquid CO.sub.2 supply line and the other end of the header pipe is closed. A plurality of depending tubular nipples including upper ends shaped to conform to the underside of the header pipe have the upper ends thereof secured to the header pipe at points spaced longitudinally therealong and the lower end portions of the nipples are loosely received downwardly through openings formed in the top wall of the heat exchange tank.

Abstract: A vertically elongated hollow housing including opposite generally parallel side and end walls is provided and closed at its top by a top wall. CO.sub.2 snow forming structure is disposed in a upper portion of the interior of the housing and a bottom wall structure closes the lower portion of the housing. The bottom wall structure includes an elongated horizontally disposed inverted V-shaped wedge of sharply tapered configuration extending between the end walls of the housing and the wedge is functional to split the lower portion of a quantity of snow disposed within the housing above the wedge and to force the lower portions of the quantity of snow into full surface-to-surface heat transfer relation with the inner surfaces of the lower portions of the side walls of the housing horizontally aligned with and opposing the wedge as the quantity of snow sublimes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed whereby liquid refrigerant, such as liquefied carbon dioxide, is discharged from the outlet end portion of a supply line whose inlet end portion is communicated with a source of liquefied carbon dioxide under pressure and wherein the discharge of liquefied carbon dioxide from the outlet end portion of the line is effected through a spray head directed toward surface portions upon which the spray discharge of liquefied carbon dioxide may impinge for conversion to carbon dioxide snow and carbon dioxide gas and further wherein an intermediate portion of the supply line is disposed in good heat transfer relation with the aforementioned surface portions for cooling the intermediate portion of the supply line to a temperature closely approaching the triple point temperature (approximately minus 69.degree. F.) with the pressure of the liquefied carbon dioxide being discharged from the spray head being approximately 75 psi absolute.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for forming CO.sub.2 snow and includes a CO.sub.2 line having an outlet end and an inlet end adapted for communication with a source of liquid CO.sub.2 under pressure. A snow forming head is provided and comprises a generally horizontal elongated laterally and downwardly opening channel member and a CO.sub.2 discharge conduit is disposed in and extends along the channel member. The conduit includes opposite side small diameter outlet openings formed therein and spaced longitudinally therealong opening outwardly toward and spaced inward of the opposing sides of the channel member. One end of the conduit is closed and the outlet end of the CO.sub.2 line is sealingly communicated with the other end of the conduit. At least the portion of the conduit having the small diameter outlet openings formed therein is of a greater internal cross-sectional area than the CO.sub.2 line whereby movement of liquid CO.sub.

Abstract: A cabinet is provided for containing items to be maintained in a cooled state and includes a hollow insulated housing having upstanding side walls and top and bottom walls closing the upper and lower ends of the housing. An inclined baffle is mounted within an upper portion of the housing and is constructed of a material having good heat transfer properties. The baffle defines a first closed heat absorbent material receiving chamber thereabove and a second cooled items receiving chamber therebelow within the housing. The lower marginal portion of the baffle terminates substantially against the inner surface of one side wall of the housing and the cabinet includes first and second access means opening into the interior of the first and second chambers from the exterior of the cabinet.

Abstract: A vertically elongated upright and closed bottom cabinet is provided including peripherally extending sides. A vertically extending passage structure is disposed within the cabinet inwardly of the peripheral sides thereof and the passage structure is constructed from material having good heat transfer properties and include upper and lower ends opening outwardly of the cabinet. Blower structure is operatively associated with the passage structure for pumping air through the passage structure and inlet structure is provided for admitting CO.sub.2 "snow" into the upper end portion of the cabinet about the passage structure for gravity falling of the "snow" within the cabinet toward the closed bottom thereof about the passage structure.