Temperature controlled food transport containers suitable for limited power capacity vehicles

Abstract

The container has a specific construction for low weight with low thermal loss by combining the use of certain polymer insulation with the use of air space between internal structures. The container contains a single or multiple heaters or coolers that can be integrated as a single heating and cooling element, and either integrated into a single container, or in separate containers. The heating or cooling is accomplished by attaching to an internal thermal conducting, e.g. metal, structure either heating or cooling thermal conducting elements or internal thermal heat exchangers with a fan that circulates air over the thermal heat exchanger and heats or cools the air directly. An intelligent power management electronic controls management system is used to result in food delivery containers suitable for power, limited lower capacity vehicles such as motorcycles or scooters. The present invention provides the power for these hot and cold boxes by either modifying the existing alternator to increase the power available from a limited power low capacity motorcycle or similar vehicle or relying on one or more auxiliary alternators added to and driven by the limited power and low capacity vehicle. Further, an additional heat source can be used from the engine or exhaust and the heat can be transferred to the heated container by liquid, gas, or thermal conduction means, to reduce the electrical energy required for limited power low capacity vehicles.

Description

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/515,923, filed Oct. 29, 2004, which application is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and from which priority is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. Sections 119(e) and 120.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to containers for transporting and delivering prepared foods and particularly to heated or cooled containers for maintaining food at a desired temperature and quality during transport and delivery.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various configurations of containers and bags have been constructed for transport and delivery of prepared foods, including various devices for keeping the food warm or cold during transit and deriving their power from a vehicle electric system. However, prior container devices have been inadequate or unacceptable for limited power vehicles, e.g., lower capacity vehicles such as motorcycles or scooters, because of the limited available power. In all previous embodiments of heated or cooled food containers for transportation, no allowance has been made for the type of vehicle the food transport container is being used on. Examples of prior food delivery containers include those described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,736 to Schirico; U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,646 to Solomon, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,626 to Fiddler; and PCT Patent Application WP 00/50307 to Remke. The disclosures of these patents are incorporated herein by reference.

There is a need for a mechanical thermally efficient container to reduce thermal leakage and power required for the heated or cooled container. The heating and cooling elements can be either integrated in one container or in separate containers. Also needed is an intelligent power management system for heated or cooled temperature controlled food delivery containers that consumes minimum power and also manages the power in a particular pattern. This not only controls the temperature but does this depending upon the characteristics of the vehicle the food container is attached to. In addition, it also considers operating conditions, such as the running conditions of the vehicle, the state of battery charge of the vehicle, and whether the containers are empty or full. These conditions change over use and running time so that the power management system incorporates these conditions and works to a set of computer software algorithms that regulates the power so that the temperature controlled food containers are suitable for power limited, lower capacity vehicles. Also, no thought has been given in prior art devices to controlling particular aspects of the environment inside the containers for controlling and maintaining the quality of particular foods, e.g., the crispness of fried foods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In contrast to the prior art devices, the present invention provides a food delivery container for mounting onto a limited power capacity vehicle having a thermally insulated outer structure, an internal structure of a thermally conductive material, temperature-control means for maintaining a preset temperature within the internal structure, a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature within the internal structure, energy means attached to the vehicle for supplying energy to the container, and energy management means operably connected to the temperature-control means and to the energy means for channeling the energy required to operate the temperature-control means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and the attendant advantages of the present invention will become more readily appreciated by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a container of one embodiment of the present invention showing the electrical configuration for a thermal conductor;

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a container of another embodiment of the present invention showing the electrical configuration for a thermal heat exchanger;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a container of still another embodiment of the present invention showing use of electrical and mechanical heat sources;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a container of still another embodiment of the present invention showing a cooled container configuration with a heat sink;

FIG. 4(A) is a view showing examples of modifications to an original alternator on a vehicle to provide an increased energy source for the container of the present invention;

FIG. 4(B) is a plan view showing an example of using at least one additional auxiliary alternator on a vehicle to provide an increased energy source for the container of the present invention;

FIG. 4(C) is a view of cold and hot boxes of the present invention mounted on a motorcycle; and

FIG. 5 is an electrical schematic of a modified prior art alternator showing an example of providing alternating current output for heaters and direct current output for the cooling for the containers of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention provides a food delivery container with a specific construction for low weight with low thermal loss, and containing multiple heater and/or cooler elements, either integrated into a single container, or in separate containers. Additional elements have been added for controlling the quality of the food therein by using intelligent power management electronic controls, which results in food delivery containers suitable for limited power capacity vehicles such as motorcycles or scooters. This invention achieves such results by combining certain polymer insulation and air space structures, with multiple heating and/or cooling elements or devices, particular food quality controlling devices, with certain power management electronic controls and the optional addition of one or more alternators.

The combination in its most basic form comprises multiple heating and cooling elements in a single food delivery container, or multiple heating and cooling elements in separate containers. The container or separate containers consist of an insulating structure of polymers selected for specific strength and thermal insulating characteristics. It also consists of specific air spaces to separate the high temperature elements from the polymers for safety reasons, and heat insulation and mechanical structure polymers to add to the high temperature insulation properties. An internal metal heat conduction structure has also been added, wherein at least one internal surface of the metal structure thereof, a side wall, top or bottom with welded joints or seams is provided to facilitate heat conduction.

FIG. 1A shows one embodiment of a heating container of the present invention having an internal metal heat conductor structure 1 that is enclosed within an intermediate internal structure 3 consisting of a polymer insulating material. Structures 1 and 3 are in turn housed within external polymer enclosure 4. Air spaces 5 are provided between internal structure 1 and intermediate structure 3. An intelligent power management and control system 6 is attached to the exterior wall of internal structure 1. A temperature sensor 7 is attached to the exterior surface of internal structure 1 and is connected by a lead to control system 6. Multiple thermal conducting heating elements 8 are attached to the inner surface of the walls of internal structure 1. An on/off switch 9 for the temperature control is operably connected to control system 6 and is attached to front flange 18 of internal structure 1. Front flange 18 also functions to provide the depth of air spaces 5. Power input 10 from the electrical system described below is operably connected to control system 6. Food quality system 11 described below is operably connected to control system 6 and attached within the interior of internal structure 1. A lid 14 is mounted by means of a hinge (not shown) over open end 15 of external enclosure 4.

The preferred embodiment comprises at least two sides of metal heat conductors preferably having welded joints or seams 2 and with multiple electrical heating or cooling elements attached as shown in FIG. 2. Gas or liquid conducting heat sources 13 supply alternative heat to the containers as described in detail below. The complete assembly may be supplied with power from an additional alternator in an alternative embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4(B), driven by a particular ratio to optimize the alternator's performance from the main vehicle engine.

Also, specific devices are contained within the food containers, such as a fan structure that is erected over the food, which is specifically designed to circulate hot air over and through the food to drive off moisture from the surface of the food, as shown in FIG. 1(B).

FIG. 1(B) shows another embodiment of a heating container of the present invention having an internal metal heat conductor structure 1 that is enclosed within intermediate internal structure 3 and external polymer enclosure 4 as described above in connection with FIG. 1(A). The food quality system in this embodiment comprises a combination of fans and a heat exchanger 12 mounted within internal structure 1. In addition, removable meshed packaging 16 is shown removed from internal structure 1. For example, fried foods, such as French fries, need their surface crispness to be maintained and hence retain the quality of the food on being transported in the container as shown in FIG. 1(B).

In addition, the temperature and power management electronic controls can be housed internally or externally of the food container or separate containers. In the preferred embodiment, electronic controls 6 are attached to internal metal frame 1 for simplicity of temperature sensing and overall construction, as shown in FIGS. 1(A) and 1(B). Temperature selection switches and operational indicators 9, comprising either displays, lamps, or audio indicators, can also be mounted in the same fashion within the food container to internal metal frame 1 as shown in FIGS. 1(A) and 1(B). In the preferred embodiment, these elements are attached to internal metal heat conducting structure 1 for ease of assembly and manufacture, and to be accessible when lid 14 of the container is open.

For the container itself, each of these basic polymer structural elements, e.g., external polymer enclosure 4 and intermediate internal structure 3, can have various properties or characteristics, as disclosed herein. Additional layers, elements, components or materials, including air spaces other than air spaces 5, also can be used to separate the high temperature elements from contact with the insulating polymers, and can be incorporated with the basic polymer construction elements to enhance desired performance parameters of the food transport container of this invention. This aspect of the present invention can be utilized in any multi-surfaced container, either as a simple cube or rectangular shaped food transport container, a cylinder shaped container, or any other shape. According to the present invention, the use of polymers allows any variety of complex molded food container shapes to be used.

In the heating aspect of the invention, thermal conducting heating elements 8 can consist of various resistive elements, such as resistance wire or a foil heater, or separate resistors attached and heat sunk to the internal heat conducting metal structure. In the preferred embodiment, multiple heating elements are used that present a maximum multiple high overall area for efficient heat transfer from the resistive heating elements to the internal metal heat dissipating structure, to provide rapid heating with minimum power requirements. To this end, multiple special heating elements have been designed that are flat resistive wire elements that present a large heat transfer area to the internal metal structure, particularly when a number of them are mounted on the internal metal structure.

In the cooling aspect of the invention, the various cooling elements are also attached and thermally coupled for efficient heat transfer to internal heat conducting metal structure 1, as seen in FIG. 3. This design is specifically aimed at reducing the hot spot heating characteristics of the heating elements, or the cold spot cooling characteristics of the cooling elements. The metal structure is specifically designed with the position of the heating and cooling elements in the preferred embodiment, such that convection circulation is sufficient to heat or cool the complete food container box. A fan is not necessary in many cases, but this invention does not preclude the use of a fan, internal or external to the box, to circulate the hot or cold air from the heat or cold conducting internal metal structure.

In the preferred embodiment, the cooling for the cold container or box of this invention uses a large efficient finned heat sink assembled from multiple tooled elements, and has been designed to dissipate the heat from the cooling devices, e.g., fan and heat exchanger 12 shown in FIG. 3. This large finned heat sink is specifically designed to take advantage of the natural air flow from the moving vehicle with air scoop 15 designed to direct the air flow from the moving vehicle so that a cooling fan is not necessary for lower power requirements and reliability in a small vehicle, but this invention does not preclude the use of an external fan to cool the heat sink for the cooling elements. However, as this invention provides, the combination of such multiple heating or cooling elements efficiently thermally coupled to internal metal heat conducting structure 1, and positioned deliberately to generate efficient convection heating or cooling of the air throughout the food container, comprises a device where an external or internal fan is not necessary.

The power to these heating or cooling elements, including any internal or external fan, is controlled by electronic power management controls 6. Electronic controls 6 are typically an assembly of components mounted on a printed circuit board with wires and connectors, i.e., power input from electrical system 10 shown in FIGS. 1(A), 1(B), 2, and 3. System 10 allows the inputs, outputs, indicators, and electrical supply to be connected for operation of the hot and cold boxes of this invention; the detail of which will be further described below.

The printed circuit board of controls 6 also typically contains a microcomputer chip that has imbedded computer software that contains operational parameters and algorithms. This allows the microcomputer chip to accept specific inputs, and drive specific outputs such as the heating and cooling elements, including indicators both visual and audible, according to prescribed control algorithms, all aimed at intelligent power management as described in this invention. The printed circuit board can be positioned internally or externally to the food container. Not only is the internal temperature of the food container controlled, but also the power used by the heating or cooling elements is managed and regulated by electronic power management controls 6 according to the use and running conditions of the vehicle. The running condition parameters of the vehicle may include whether it is stopped and idling or running at high speed, the status of the battery, if the battery is supplying the electrical power to the food container, and whether the container is full or empty of food or other packages.

Further, the outer container in which internal metal heat or cold conducting structure 1 and associated heating or cooling elements are positioned consists of various polymer materials. These are selected for their high thermal insulating characteristics. Air spaces are provided not only for insulation but to separate the insulating polymer materials from high temperature elements. This has been done for safety, and to provide mechanical properties that produce a strong container of low weight and high thermal insulating properties. The high thermal insulation characteristics of the container are essential to the reduction in the power required to heat or cool the container, and the low weight also helps when the container of this invention is used on lower capacity transportation vehicles. This combination of characteristics makes these temperature controlled heated and cooled single food containers or separate heated or cooled containers, suitable for smaller vehicles that have limited power capacity, such as motorcycles, scooters or smaller transportation vehicles.

The above basic combination of materials and elements are utilized to construct any desired food transport container or multiple containers of this invention, depending on the performance needed in a particular situation. The mechanical construction of these containers is based upon the use of specific polymer materials which are selected for high mechanical strength and others for high thermal insulation properties. This combination generates a multi-polymer container that exhibits low weight with high mechanical strength and further, high thermal insulation, and is light and easy to mold in various forms and colors. These containers basically consist of a strong inner and outer structure of such thin strong polymer materials or combinations, such as fiberglass, polyurethane, polyurea, polystyrene, or any polymer combination that generates a thin, mechanically strong, double walled container that can safely accept high or low temperatures on the inside adjacent to the heating and cooling elements, and be durable and strong on the outside for durability.

The space between the inner and outer walls can be filled with a material, preferably an expanded polymer or insulating material, such as expanded polystyrene, polyfoam, glass fiber, or any other materials that have high thermal insulation properties, including air spaces that also not only add insulation, but also separated the high temperature elements from the polymer materials for safety. The above double wall construction can be enhanced with additional layers of insulation material, or layers of heat reflecting metal foil, including air spaces 5 described above in connection with FIGS. 1(A), 1(B) and 2, that are all enclosed in a desired casing, but ultimately creating a container consisting of materials of low weight with high mechanical strength. This has been done to ensure strong inner and outer walls that can also accept high and low temperature extremes and exhibit durability, and enclosing materials selected for high thermal insulation, and, as will be apparent, constructed with conventional closures, carry handles or straps, pockets, logos or advertising, and the like.

These containers can be an integrated single container that can selectively provide either heating or cooling of its contents, or separate containers that only provide heating or cooling. In the description below, even though the integrated heating and cooling container is described, any one schooled in the art can easily apply the described heating and cooling elements to separate heated and cooled containers. In the integrated single container embodiment, the internal multiple heating and cooling elements are positioned on at least two sides of internal metal heat conducting structure 1 of the containers. Preferably, the heating elements are positioned along the bottom or adjacent to the bottom as shown in FIGS. 1(A) and 2, and the cooling elements are positioned along the top of heat conducting metal structure 1.

The combination of the heat conducting metal internal structure and the deliberate positioning of the multiple heating and cooling elements on the heat conducting metal structure, allows the flow of air by convection to flow from bottom to top for the heating embodiment, and from top to bottom for the cooling embodiment. By careful positioning of the heating and cooling elements in combination with the heat conducting internal metal structure, it is possible to enhance the heating and cooling of the complete food container by efficient convection, and hence does not require the use of an additional electrical fan. An electrical fan can be used to move the heated or cooled air throughout the container, but that increases power consumption, decreases reliability, and adds to the mechanical complexity. This is the case because the fan motor, due to the temperature extremes internal to the container, may have to be positioned external to the container. However, an electrical fan can still be used according to the present invention, and a low power fan can be positioned internal or external to the container, and is controlled by power management system 6 for minimum power and used to circulate the air and help regulate the temperature inside the container.

If an air moving device is necessary, a part of this invention is the use of any mechanical air moving structure, incorporated internal to the container, that uses the inherent movement and vibration associated with the moving of the transport vehicle. Particularly in the case of motorcycles or scooters, or any smaller vehicles, various forms of mechanical air moving devices can be incorporated within the container, to enhance the movement of air internal to the container that can use the inherent mechanical energy of the vehicle as it moves. This would allow a high reliability air movement device that works off the mechanical movement and vibration of the vehicle, and does not need any additional electrical energy input from the vehicle electrical system, but enhances the air movement around the container's internal volume.

A first example of a mechanical air moving structure for use in the container according to the present invention comprises a moving weight configured as a rigid pendulum. On the axis of the pendulum, moving with the pendulum is a single vane fan. Acceleration and deceleration, including turning of the vehicle, will result in oscillation of the pendulum and hence of the fan. This is particularly effective in urban areas where the vehicle speed changes frequently. A second example of a mechanical air moving structure comprises a moving weight attached to a spring mechanism. Depending on orientation, vertical movement of the vehicle, such as that caused by potholes or unevenness in the road surface, or horizontal acceleration as in the pendulum embodiment, will cause the weight and spring to oscillate. A conventional arrangement of levers translates the movement of the weight into movement of a fan.

Since the amount of available power from the transportation vehicle is limited, intelligent power management electronic control system 6 that accepts specific inputs and controls specific outputs is an important aspect of this invention. System 6 can be implemented in various embodiments, but basically it is an electronic controller that, at its inputs, detects specific operational parameters from sensors and switches. These operating parameters could include: the internal temperature of the container; user selected temperatures; battery voltage for a status on battery charge; battery ripple voltage to detect the running operation of the vehicle's motor as related to the alternator frequency, hence RPM of the vehicle motor, if only DC power from the battery is used; and, if a direct connection to the alternator is used, parameters such as the alternator voltage and alternator frequency. Additional operational control input parameters can also be detected by system 6, such as an empty or full container.

Electronic power management system 6 also controls such outputs as heating and cooling power control, and indicator lamps or displays and/or audio outputs to show operational status, including: selected temperatures; actual container temperatures; heating or cooling cycles; and fault conditions, such as non-operating heating or cooling elements, low battery, fan operation if applicable, and also open or shorted connections. The intelligent power management system 6 is designed to enhance reduced power consumption, heating or cooling operation cycles, and incorporate operational algorithms such as power being interchanged or alternated between the heating and cooling elements, to reduce total power being taken from the vehicle's electrical system. Also, while checking temperatures and making the decisions based upon prescribed temperature or operational limits in the heating and cooling containers, operational decisions are made, such as turning off the heating or cooling elements when the alternator cannot supply sufficient power, such as when the motor is at low speed, idling, or stopped, to protect battery discharge for lights or starting. Alternatively, when increased power is available, such as at high motor speed, operational decisions may include an increased heating or cooling boost. This can be done by setting a particular temperature fall below the set temperature for when power is available, that a boost heating or cooling can take place by switching in additional heating or cooling elements, or increasing voltage and current by some means, but the desired effect is to manage the limited power available from the vehicle. Also, this can be under the conditions of limited power that the intelligent power management system cuts off the heaters to conserve available power so that the priority for power is given to the cold elements to protect the cold temperatures and the food within. Then, when sufficient power is available, the intelligent power management system can drive the temperatures back to the preset temperatures by adding in the boost configuration as described above. Any of these configurations can be added in a conventional way to the control algorithms in the software of the intelligent power management controller, the intent of which is to intelligently manage power that is limited in lower capacity vehicles.

User desired temperature settings can be preset by using dials or pushbuttons, or by rotary motion to provide a continuous rotary range of temperatures. However, in the preferred embodiment, a number of preset temperatures can be selected by a series of push-buttons, or by a multi-position rotary switch mounted on internal metal heat conducting structure 1, and accessible when container door 14 is open to insert or remove the prepared food. Also, in the case where an empty container is detected, for example, by such sensors as weight detection or ultrasonic resonance detectors, or a manual rider operated switch, the electronic controller can turn off the heating or cooling power as it is not necessary, so power is conserved and the battery can be returned to a full charge.

The above examples show some but not all of the many examples of the input and output possibilities for the electronic power management control system 6 and are not intended to limit the present invention. The invention can use various combinations or additional system and use requirements, but it illustrates clearly for any one skilled in the art, to create various operational combinations or additional system parameters or operational requirements to enable the power management system to minimize the power usage from the vehicle electrical system, protect the vehicle electrical system, and also show the status of the system and operation by display or audio means, and also show any failure status of the system or elements, or various combinations of any enhancements of the system and operation, which is the basis of this invention.

Since limited capacity vehicles, such as motorcycles and scooters, have limited power available from their electrical system due to the low power alternator, the present invention alternately provides the power for these hot and cold boxes by either (a) modifying the existing alternator to increase the power available from a limited power capacity motorcycle or similar vehicle as shown in FIG. 4(A) or (b) the addition of one or more additional alternators that can be driven off the vehicle's motor through a variable drive system or a fixed ratio drive system that increases the ratio of drive, to thereby increase the power available for the additional alternator, as shown in FIG. 4(B).

FIG. 4(A) shows modifying rotor 30 of the alternator by increasing the strength of the magnets and stator 33 of the alternator by increasing the core area and number of windings.

FIG. 4(B) shows that one or more auxiliary additional alternators 40 can be added to a standard motorcycle or scooter, for supplying the additional power necessary for the heated and cooled transport container. The coupling of the additional alternator through a variable drive system, or driven directly from the engine, as shown in FIG. 4(B), is designed to optimize the power output of the additional alternator for the operating conditions of the transport vehicle. The additional alternator can be alternatively driven by a separate motor so that the motorcycle is unmodified and the additional structure of the alternator and engine is added as a separate complete subsystem to the motorcycle.

The electrical power in the vehicle system can come directly from the alternator as an alternating voltage (AC), or as rectified direct voltage (DC), or from the battery as a DC voltage. Various combinations of heating and cooling elements and devices can use AC or DC electrical power, and even though some examples are shown here, any one schooled in the art can clearly see that some combination of heating and cooling elements and devices can be used with either AC or DC voltage power from the vehicle's electrical system. Using the AC voltage directly from the alternator can allow much more efficient power use, in the range of 15% to 20% of the electrical power generated, since the DC from the alternator needs to be rectified through the alternator's rectifiers. This is also true in the use of a battery, since power from the alternator needs to be rectified and regulated to charge the battery. However, it is true that some heating, cooling, temperature sensing, and power control devices can only use DC, e.g., Peltier devices, diode temperature sensors, relays, and semiconductor power control devices, whereas heating, cooling, temperature sensing, and power control devices can only use AC, e.g., resistive heating devices, thermostats, and relay and triac power control devices. So even though this invention shows some of these embodiments in the use of a combination of heating, cooling, sensing and power control devices using a combination of AC and DC sources from the vehicle electrical system such as alternator and battery, it is clear to anyone schooled in the art, after seeing these examples, that further combinations can easily be designed based upon this invention as shown. Also, there can be advantages in specific combinations in the use of the AC and DC electrical power sources available from the vehicle's electrical power system.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the heating elements are separately powered from the AC source directly from alternator 60, with the cooling elements run from the DC power, so that the available DC power from rectifiers 62 or a battery is conserved, since the power from the alternator and battery capacity in smaller vehicles is limited.

In another combination, when the motor is running at high speed, full heating power is available, and when the motor is idling or stopped, AC power from the alternator is lowered significantly, so that the heater power is reduced accordingly. So there are a number of combinations in the use of AC and DC sources that are designed to conserve and reduce power as covered in this invention with the use of the AC and DC sources available from the vehicle electrical system. In the preferred embodiment, the output from the alternator can be controlled by electronic control system 6 by the control of the field current to the alternator so that its output power can be controlled by the field current depending on the intelligent control system and status of the temperatures and running conditions, as explained previously. This then optimizes the efficiency and power requirements of the system as the power output and torque requirements, and hence power taken from the transport vehicle's main motor is minimized and the alternator controlled in this fashion simply becomes a mechanical-to-electrical converter. The power output of this example is only controlled by the intelligent control system to thereby optimize the use of power provided by the transport vehicle. The combinations that are covered by this invention are not limited to the examples described above, and other combinations are within the scope of this invention.

Another method to reduce the electrical power load on the vehicle is the use of hot exhaust system or circulating motor oil as a heat source, with the heat conducted by air, liquid or metal conducting systems, to the insulated box to be heated. As described above, electronic control 6 can also control a fan that will blow circulating air over the hot exchanger in the box, and by varying the speed of the fan, the temperature of the box can be controlled. Therefore, the heat energy need not come solely from the electrical energy of the vehicle but can be augmented partially or wholly by heat conducted and electronically controlled by the speed of a fan within the box to be heated, or additional electrical energy to add to the heat extracted from the vehicle's hot exhaust system or oil system by various means.

FIG. 4(C) shows cold box 46 and hot box 48 of the present invention mounted on a motorcycle 50 in which the airflow can provide auxiliary cooling for cold box 46, the heat from the exhaust in pipe 52 on motorcycle 50 passes through a pipe 54 and can provide the auxiliary heat for hot box 48, and motor-generator 56 can provide the remaining energy requirements for the hot and cold boxes.

Various changes and modifications of the containers of the present invention in addition to those shown and described above will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. As such, these changes and modifications are properly, equitably, and intended to be, within the full range of equivalents of the following claims.

Claims

1. A food delivery container for mounting onto a limited power capacity vehicle comprising: a thermally insulated outer structure, an internal structure of a thermally conductive material, temperature-control means for maintaining a preset temperature within the internal structure, temperature sensor for measuring the temperature within the internal structure, energy means attached to the vehicle for supplying energy to the container, and energy management means operably connected to the temperature-control means and to the energy means for channeling the energy required to operate the temperature-control means.

2. The food delivery container of claim 1, wherein the temperature-control means is a heating element attached to the internal structure for heating the internal structure by thermal conduction.

3. The food delivery container of claim 1, wherein the temperature-control means is a cooling element attached to the internal structure for cooling the internal structure by thermal conduction.

4. The food delivery container of claim 1, wherein the temperature-control means are heating and cooling elements attached to the internal structure for heating and cooling the internal structure by thermal conduction.

5. The food delivery container of claim 1, wherein the temperature-control means is a thermal heat exchanger attached to the internal structure and circulating means for circulating hot or cold air over the heat exchanger into the internal structure.

6. The food delivery container of claim 5, wherein the circulating means is a fan.

7. The food delivery container of claim 5, wherein the circulating means is the airflow from a moving vehicle.

8. The food delivery container of claim 1, wherein the energy supplied by the energy means is electrical energy from an alternator driven by an engine of the vehicle.

9. The food delivery container of claim 8, wherein the alternator is modified for output greater than required for the vehicle.

10. The food delivery container of claim 1, wherein the energy supplied by the energy means is electrical energy from at least one additional alternator driven by an engine of the vehicle.

11. The food delivery container of claim 1, wherein the energy supplied by the energy means is electrical energy from a motor-generator.

12. The food delivery container of claim 1, wherein the energy supplied by the energy means is electrical energy from alternating current generated by alternator windings of an alternator driven by an engine of the vehicle.

13. The food delivery container of claim 1, wherein the energy supplied by the energy means is electrical energy from direct current (DC) generated by a DC rectifier of an alternator driven by an engine of the vehicle.

14. The food delivery container of claim 1, wherein the energy supplied by the energy means is electrical energy from direct current (DC) generated by a battery attached to the vehicle.

15. The food delivery container of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the energy supplied by the energy means is heat energy from an engine of the vehicle.

16. The food delivery container of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the energy supplied by the energy means is heat energy from an engine of the vehicle.

17. The food delivery container of claim 5, wherein the thermal heat exchangers are heated by heat energy from an engine of the vehicle.

18. The food delivery container of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the energy supplied by the energy means is heat energy from an exhaust system of the vehicle.

19. The food delivery container of claim 5, wherein the thermal heat exchangers are heated by heat energy from an exhaust system of the vehicle.

20. The food delivery container of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the energy supplied by the energy means is heat energy from an exhaust system of the vehicle.

21. The food delivery container of claim 2, wherein a thermally insulating intermediate structure is positioned between the outer structure and the internal structure.

22. The food delivery container of claim 21, wherein the thermally insulating outer structure and intermediate structure are of a polymeric material, the internal structure is of a metallic material and air space is provided between the metallic internal structure and the polymeric intermediate structure.

23. The food delivery container of claim 22, wherein the polymeric outer structure has a top wall, a bottom wall, side walls, a closed end, an open end, and a lid defining the open end that moves from an open to a closed position and the polymeric intermediate structure and the internal structure each has a similar configuration to that of the outer structure with a top wall, a bottom wall, side walls, a closed end and an open end aligned with the open end of the outer structure.

24. The food delivery container of claim 23, wherein the energy management means is attached to one of the side walls of the metallic internal structure, the temperature-control means is positioned within the metallic internal structure, and the temperature sensor is attached to one of the walls of the metallic internal structure.

25. The food delivery container of claim 24, wherein a plurality of heating elements are positioned on the interior side walls and the exterior side walls of the metallic internal structure.

26. The food delivery container of claim 24, wherein removable packaging having openings to allow the passage of air over food is positioned within the metallic internal structure.

27. The food delivery container of claim 3, wherein the polymeric outer structure has a open top wall, a bottom wall, side walls, end, and a lid defining the open top that moves from an open to a closed position and the internal structure has a similar configuration to that of the outer structure with a top wall, a bottom wall, side walls, a closed end and an open end aligned with the open top of the outer structure.

28. The food delivery container of claim 27, wherein the energy management means and temperature-control means are attached to one of the side walls of the metallic internal structure, and the temperature sensor is attached to one of the walls of the metallic internal structure.

29. The food delivery container of claim 27, wherein the temperature-control means is a thermal heat exchanger attached to the internal structure and circulating means for circulating hot or cold air over the heat exchanger into the internal structure.

30. The food delivery container of claim 29, wherein the circulating means is a fan.

31. The food delivery container of claim 29, wherein the circulating means is the airflow from a moving vehicle.

32. The food delivery container of claim 31, wherein one of the side walls has an air scoop having on open end facing the moving vehicle's direction of travel to provide the airflow for the circulating means.

33. The food delivery container of claim 29, wherein removable packaging having openings to allow the passage of air over food is positioned within the metallic internal structure.

34. A food delivery container for mounting onto a limited power capacity vehicle comprising: a thermally insulated outer structure, an internal structure of a thermally conductive material, removable packaging having openings to allow the passage of air over food within the internal structure, temperature-control means for maintaining a preset temperature within the internal structure, temperature sensor for measuring the temperature within the internal structure, energy means for supplying energy attached to the vehicle, and energy management means operably connected to the temperature-control means and to the energy means for channeling at least a portion of the energy to operate the temperature-control means.

35. The food delivery container of claim 34, wherein the temperature-control means is a thermal heat exchanger attached to the internal structure and a fan for blowing hot or cold air over the heat exchanger through the packaging within the internal structure.