Kick plate for refrigerated container assembly

Abstract

A refrigerated transportation cargo container includes a transportation cargo container and a refrigeration unit disposed at an end of the transportation cargo container to provide a flow of supply air for the transportation cargo container. The refrigeration unit includes a housing and an evaporator fan ( 34 ) to urge the flow of supply air through the refrigeration unit. A kick plate assembly ( 40 ) includes a kick plate ( 46 ) extending from the refrigeration unit toward a floor of the cargo container and a baffle plate extending between the refrigeration unit and a sidewall of the cargo container. The kick plate assembly defines a discharge cavity to direct the flow of supply air toward the floor of the cargo container.

1 . A refrigerated transportation cargo container comprising:
 a transportation cargo container; and   a refrigeration unit disposed at an end of the transportation cargo container to provide a flow of supply air for the transportation cargo container, the refrigeration unit including:
 a housing; 
 an evaporator fan to deliver supply air through the refrigeration unit; and 
 a kick plate assembly including:
 a kick plate extending from the refrigeration unit toward a floor of the cargo container; and 
 a baffle plate extending between the refrigeration unit and a sidewall of the cargo container; 
 
 wherein the kick plate assembly defines a discharge cavity to direct the flow of supply air toward the floor of the cargo container. 
   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerated transportation cargo container of  claim 1 , wherein the baffle plate extends between the refrigeration unit and the sidewall of the cargo container. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerated cargo container of  claim 1 , wherein the baffle plate is formed integral to the forward face. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerated cargo container of  claim 1 , wherein the baffle plate is attached to the kick plate via a hinged connection. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerated cargo container of  claim 1 , wherein the kick plate assembly is disposed beneath the refrigeration unit. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerated cargo container of  claim 1 , wherein the baffle plate further includes a peripheral seal to prevent leakage around a periphery of the baffle plate. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerated cargo container of  claim 1 , wherein the baffle plate prevents direct flow of supply air from the refrigeration unit into a side cavity between the refrigeration unit and the sidewall of the cargo container. 
     
     
         8 . A method of cooling a refrigerated cargo container comprising:
 urging a supply airflow across an evaporator of a refrigeration unit disposed in the cargo container;   cooling the supply airflow at the evaporator;   directing the supply airflow through a kick plate assembly, the kick plate assembly including:
 a kick plate extending from the refrigeration unit toward a floor of the cargo container; and 
 a baffle plate extending between the refrigeration unit and a sidewall of the cargo container; and 
   flowing the supply airflow from the kick plate assembly along the floor of the cargo container.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the supply airflow is directed through the kick plate assembly disposed beneath the refrigeration unit. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising flowing the supply airflow through a plurality of T-bars arrayed along the floor of the cargo container. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the baffle plate extends substantially horizontally between the refrigeration unit and the sidewall of the cargo container. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the baffle plate is attached to the kick plate via a hinged connection. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising sealing a periphery of the baffle plate to prevent leakage of the supply airflow therethrough. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising preventing direct flow of supply air from the refrigeration unit into a side cavity between the refrigeration unit and the sidewall of the cargo container via positioning of the baffle plate.