Conditioned air blower system for loading dock trailer

Abstract

A facility-based conditioned air blower system for ventilating a trailer interior includes a fan and a split air conditioner system. The fan includes an inlet portion, a fan housing, and a discharge portion. The discharge portion includes a pivoting elbow conduit configured to rotate into and away from the trailer interior. The split air conditioner system includes an evaporator unit coupled to the inlet portion of the fan, and further coupled to a condenser unit by way of a closed-loop refrigerant line.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A facility-based conditioned air blower system for ventilating a trailer interior at a loading dock, comprising:
 a fan comprising an inlet portion, a fan housing, and a discharge portion, the discharge portion comprising a pivoting elbow conduit configured to rotate into and away from the trailer interior; and   a split air conditioner system comprising an evaporator unit coupled to a condenser unit by way of a closed-loop refrigerant line, the evaporator unit coupled to the inlet portion of the fan.   
     
     
         2 . The facility-based conditioned air blower system according to  claim 1 , wherein the fan comprises a centrifugal blower. 
     
     
         3 . The facility-based conditioned air blower system according to  claim 2 , wherein the centrifugal blower comprises first and second inlet portions, the first inlet portion comprising a first opening on a side of the fan housing, the second inlet portion comprising a second opening on an opposing side of the fan housing, the discharge portion comprising an opening on the fan housing transverse from the first and second inlet openings. 
     
     
         4 . The facility-based conditioned air blower system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a controller operable to interlock operation of the fan in response to an operational state of another system at the loading dock. 
     
     
         5 . The facility-based conditioned air blower system according to  claim 4 , wherein the controller enables operation of the fan in response to an indication that an overhead door is open at the trailer interior.