Integrated fan grille for a cooling machine in a reefer container

Abstract

The invention relates to a back-plate for a cooling machine in a reefer container with an improved fan grille, where a grille or grating defines a section formed integral with the back-plate. The grille or grating defined in the back-plate can comprise layers of fibreglass forming the back-plate. The grille or grating can surround holes provided by drilling, cutting or another suitable machining of the back-plate after casting. The grille or grating can be provided by a mesh structure having different mesh sizes. The grille or grating can be provided with a more dense mesh structure in one or more local areas compared to a remaining part of the grille. The grille or grating is provided at an upper part of the back-plate.

Claims

1. A cooling machine for a reefer container, the cooling machine comprising: a back plate extending substantially in a plane and comprising a plurality of openings through the back plate, the plurality of openings thereby providing a grille or grating that is integrally formed with the back plate and that extends substantially in said plane; and one or more evaporator fans, operable to draw air from an interior of the reefer container into the cooling machine, through the grille or grating, and wherein: (i) the plurality of openings defines a mesh structure, which is more dense in one or more local areas compared to a remaining part of the mesh structure, (ii) each of the one or more local areas is at least partly aligned with at least one of the one or more evaporator fans and the remaining part of the mesh structure is not aligned with any of the one or more evaporator fans, (iii) the one or more evaporator fans comprise a first and a second evaporator fan, the grille or grating covering the first and second evaporator fans, (iv) each of the first and second evaporator fans is aligned with one of the one or more local areas, and (v) one or more of the plurality of openings are disposed between the first and second evaporator fans.

2. The cooling machine according to claim 1, wherein the grille or grating comprises layers of fibreglass forming the back-plate.

3. The cooling machine according to claim 1, wherein the one or more local areas extends longer in a width direction than in a height direction of the grille or grating.

4. The cooling machine according to claim 1, wherein the one or more local areas are positioned symmetrically in relation to a vertical axis through a centre of the grille or grating.

5. The cooling machine according to claim 1, wherein each of the one or more evaporator fans is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to said plane.

6. The cooling machine according to claim 1, wherein the cooling machine is configured to cool said air drawn from the interior of the reefer container into the cooling machine by the one or more evaporator fans.

7. A reefer container comprising: a cooling compartment; and a cooling machine, comprising: a back plate extending substantially in a plane and comprising a plurality of openings through the back plate, the plurality of openings thereby providing a grille or grating that is integrally formed with the back plate and that extends substantially in said plane; and one or more evaporator fans, operable to draw air from said cooling compartment into the cooling machine, through the grille or grating, and wherein: (i) the plurality of openings define a mesh structure, which is more dense in one or more local areas compared to a remaining part of the mesh structure, (ii) each of the one or more local areas is at least partly aligned with at least one of the one or more evaporator fans and the remaining part of the mesh structure is not aligned with any of the one or more evaporator fans, (iii) the one or more evaporator fans comprise a first and a second evaporator fan, the grille or grating covering the first and second evaporator fans, (iv) each of the first and second evaporator fans is aligned with one of the one or more local areas, and (v) one or more of the plurality of openings are disposed between the first and second evaporator fans.

8. The reefer container according to claim 7, wherein the grille or grating comprises layers of fibreglass forming the back-plate.

9. The reefer container according to claim 7, wherein the one or more local areas extends longer in a width direction than in a height direction of the grille or grating.

10. The reefer container according to claim 7, wherein the one or more local areas are positioned symmetrically in relation to a vertical axis through a centre of the grille or grating.

11. The reefer container according to claim 7, wherein the grille or grating is provided at an upper part of the back-plate.

12. The reefer container according to claim 7, wherein the back-plate is mounted on one side of the cooling machine, said side facing an inside of the reefer container thereby forming an end wall in the cooling compartment.

13. The reefer container according to claim 7, wherein each of the one or more evaporator fans is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to said plane.

14. The reefer container according to claim 7, wherein the cooling machine is configured to cool said air drawn from the interior of the reefer container into the cooling machine by the one or more evaporator fans.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will now be described more fully below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a cooling unit for a reefer container from an end facing inside the container;

(3) FIG. 2 shows the unit of FIG. 1 in a perspective view;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a back-plate according to the invention; and

(5) FIG. 4 shows the back-plate of FIG. 3 in a perspective view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) Now convenient embodiments of the invention will be described.

(7) In a back-plate 1 for a cooling machine in a reefer container is provided a fan grille or grating 2. The back-plate 1 is mounted on one side of the cooling machine, which side is faced inside the reefer container thereby forming an end wall in a cooling compartment of the container.

(8) The grille or grating 2 is formed integral with the back-plate where the grille or grating 2 defines a section of the back-plate 1.

(9) Openings formed in the fan grille or grating 2 in the back-plate 1 forms a mesh structure 3. The openings can have different sizes and thereby form a mesh structure of different mesh sizes 3. In an area 4 close to rotating fan blades of the fans 5, the mesh size 3 of the grille or grating 2 is more dense and thereby more narrow openings compared to the rest of the mesh/openings 3 of the grille or grating 2. Hereby it is prevented that a person by accident can get his fingers in contact with the rotating fan 5 blades.

(10) The cooling machine is mounted in a frame 6, which frame is fastened to one end of a reefer container opposite a door opening of the container or the frame 6 to which the cooling machine is mounted can be a part of the container structure.

(11) In an embodiment the grille or grating 2 defined in the back-plate 1 comprises layers of fibreglass forming the back-plate 1. Here the layers of fibreglass are placed in such a way that web or the like from the layers is not covering the holes of the grille or grating 2, but forms the mesh 3 of the grille or grating 2.

(12) The layers can be provided with cut-outs where the remaining fibreglass forms the mesh 3.

(13) In an embodiment the grille or grating 2 surrounds holes, which holes are provided by drilling, cutting or another suitable machining of the back-plate 1 after casting.

(14) In an embodiment the grille or grating 2 is provided with a more dense mesh structure in one or more local areas 4 compared to a remaining part of the mesh 3 of the grille 2.

(15) In an embodiment the one or more local areas 4 extend at least partly aligned with a fan 5. Aligned should be understood as positioned in the mesh 3 close to a fan 5 and having an extent preventing a person from getting his fingers in contact with a rotating fan 5 blade.

(16) In an embodiment the one or more local areas 4 extends longer in a width direction than in a height direction of grille 2.

(17) In yet an embodiment the local areas 4 are positioned symmetrical in relation to a vertical axis through a centre of the grille 2.

(18) In an embodiment the grille or grating 2 is provided at an upper part of the back-plate 1 where one or more evaporator fans 5 are placed to draw in return air in the cooling machine.

(19) Having such an integrated grille or grating 2 with the back-plate 1 of a reefer container eliminates joints where bacteria or germs can propagate and thereby reduces need for exhaustive cleaning before next cargo enters the container.