(12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBL (19) World Intellectual Property > Orga Z International Bureau = (43) International Publication Date 30 May 2013 (30.05.2013) SHED UNDER TH p PATE! ‘T COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) ANOKA A (10) International Publication Number WO 2013/077992 Al WIPO|PCT G1) International Patent Classification BESD 88/74 (2006.01) BOSD 88/12 (2006.01) BOP 320200601) 21) International Application Number PCTIUS2012/063495 @ ‘5 November 2012 (05.11.2012) es) age: English (26) Publication Language: English (30) Priority Data: 11190707.7 25 November 2011 (25.11.2011) EP 15/396,686 15 February 2012 (15.02.2012) us (7) Applicant: THERMO KING CORPORATION, [USUS]; 314 West S0th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55420 (us), (72) Inventors: THOGERSEN, Ole; Gl. Vindingeve} 12, DK- 5800 Nyborg (DK), DYRMOSE, Allan; Gedsbers DK-3540 Ullersiev (DK). Agent: WEITZER, Geln, A Michacl Best & Friedrich LLP, 100 East Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 3300, Milwaukee, W153202-4108 (US). 3 12 my) (81) Designated States (uriess otherwise indicated, for every ind of national protection available): AE, AG, AL, AM, AO, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BH, BN, BR, BW, BY, BZ, CA, CH, CL, CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, DO, DZ, EC, FE, FG, ES, FL, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, GT, HIN, HR, HU, 1D, TL, IN, IS, JP, KF, KG, KM, KN) KP, KR, KZ, LA. LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LY, MA, MD, ME, MG, Mik, MN, MW, MX, MY, MZ, NA, NG, NI, NO, NZ, OM, PA, PE, PG; PH, PL, PT, QA, RO, RS, RU, RW, SC, SD, SE, SG, SK, SL, SM, ST, SV, SY, TH, TI, TM, TN, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VC, VN, ZA, 2M. Ww Designated States (uriess otherwise indicated, for every ind of regional protection available): ARIPO (BW, G GM, KP, LR, LS, MW, MZ, NA, RW, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG, 2M, 2W), Birasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, RU, TI, TM), European (AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, FE, ES, Fl, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IF, IS, IT, LT, LU, LV, MC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, Sl, SK, SM, TR), OAPI (BE, BI, CF, CG, Cl, CM, GA, GN, GQ, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, 7G), (84) Published: with international search report (Art. 21(3)) (64 Title: METHOD FOR IN-SERVICE TESTING A CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A CONTAINER WO 2013/077992 A1 Ill (87) Abstract: In-service diagnostic testing of containers with a climate contol system used in intermodal. fivight transport in- cludes automatically testing the functioning of the climate control system at a possibly pre-scheduled time which may depend on the period of time since the latest pre-trip inspection, According to the invention in- service disgnostic testing is performed with cargo in the container during transportation ‘rom origin to destination ata suitable time before expected arrival tothe destination so that the approval resulting ftom the in-ser- vice diggnostic testing is fresh and up-to date, Results of the in-service diagnostic testing are transmitted wirelessly 10 a re ceiver at central fility whene managing and allocating large number of containers to individual transport tasks ig performed, and containers which have not passed the inservice diagnostic westing can be taken out of serve foe maintenance and pair.WO 2013/077992 PCT/US2012/063495 METHOD FOR IN-SERVICE TESTING A CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A CONTAINER FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 The invention relates to intermodal freight transport which involves the transportation of freight in an intermodal container or vehicle, using multiple modes of transportation such as rail, ship, and truck. In particular the invention relates to pre-trip inspection of containers with a climate control system used in intermodal freight transport, where e.g. climate sensitive cargo is transported. A pre-trip inspection includes inspecting 10 and testing structural components of the container and its climate control system prior to loading cargo into the container with the aim of ensuring that only containers that fulfil certain quality oriteria are used (as evidenced by a satisfactory pre-trip inspection report), and in particular that the container will perform as desired for at least a period including the next journey with cargo loaded into the container. 15 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Transporting and storing temperature sensitive cargo over periods of time may require a controlled climate in the space where the cargo is loaded. Climate control includes controlling temperature of the cargo and humidity of air in the container to be 20 within acceptable limits. Controlling the temperature includes bringing the temperature of the cargo into the acceptable range, by refrigerating or heating, and maintaining the temperature within that range. Climate control may also include controlling composition and humidity of the air in the space where cargo is loaded. The temperature of temperature sensitive cargo should be kept within predefined 25 acceptable limits. Some cargo must be maintained frozen, and the temperature of any portion of the frozen cargo must be kept below a predefined freezing temperature which depends on the cargo, e.g. below -18 degrees Celsius (ie., 0.4 degrees Fahrenheit) or lower, while commodities such as fresh fruit and vegetables should be kept chilled, but not frozen, to stay fresh 30 During operation of a refrigeration system water vapour will condense on the evaporator and form a layer of ice that will degrade the efficiency of the evaporator and thereby of the refrigeration system. Accumulated ice is removed by running a defrosting cycle. Traditionally, defrosting cycles are initiated according to a predetermined schedule at time intervals which may depend on the nature of the cargo and the time since its10 15 20 25 30 WO 2013/077992 PCT/US2012/063495 2 loading into the container, or defrosting can be performed on demand based on actual findings. ‘Some cargos need relative humidity to be kept within acceptable limits. Some cargos are sensitive to high or low temperatures, while others are relatively insensitive to temperature. Examples of such products are electronic and optical products, scientific instruments, machinery and metals such as iron and steel that may corrode if the relative humidity is too high, clothing and other textiles where fungus growth can be prevented by keeping the relative humidity low. For temperature sensitive cargo such as chilled and frozen cargo it is of vital importance that the cargo is kept within an acceptable temperature range, since the cargo might otherwise deteriorate and become worthless. Itis therefore usual to perform a pre-trip inspection, PTI, of the container where structural and functional components of the container are inspected and tested with the purpose of ascertaining that the container will be able to function properly for at least one more journey with cargo. A container with its cargo is delivered to its destination where the cargo is removed from the container. The empty container may then be transported to an inspection facility where a PTI meet the quality criteria pass the PTI are approved for continued use for a certain period performed on the empty container. Containers which before a new PTI must be performed. This approval is documented in a satisfactory PTI report, which most insurance carriers require prior to shipment. Containers which do not meet the quality criteria do not receive a satisfactory PTI report and are not approved for continued use and appropriate action is therefore taken to restore the quality e.g. by repair or adjustment. Such procedure is time consuming. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Pre+trip inspection includes inspecting structural components of the container for integrity and possible mechanical damage, which includes visual inspection. According to the invention in-service diagnostic testing includes automatically testing the functioning of the fate control system at a possibly pre-scheduled time which may depend on the period of time since the latest pre-trip inspection, or the in- service diagnostic testing may be scheduled to be performed during transportation from origin to des ation at a suitable time before expected arrival to the destination so that a satisfactory PTI report resulting from the in-service diagnostic testing is fresh and up-to-