Temperature-Controlled Shipping Container

Abstract

A shipping container having a temperature-controlled thermal sleeve. A sleeve assembly is fixed within the container housing, including a metal sleeve for holding a temperature-sensitive sample package and temperature sensors for monitoring the ambient temperature around the metal sleeve. A thermal element is affixed proximate to the metal sleeve, coupled to a heat sink, and controlled by a circuit that is configured to provide power to the thermal element as needed to substantially maintain the desired temperature of the sample package during transport.

1 . An apparatus for temperature control of a sample package in a shipping container, comprising:
 a thermal sleeve sized to hold a sample package;   a support bracket affixed within a shipping container and supporting the thermal sleeve;   a thermal element affixed between the support bracket and the thermal sleeve;   a heat sink affixed proximate the thermal sleeve;   a heat pipe coupled to the heat sink and coupled proximate a first side of the thermal element;   at least one temperature sensor disposed proximate the thermal sleeve; and   a circuit coupled to the temperature sensor, to the thermal element, and to a power source, the circuit configured to (i) obtain temperature data from the temperature sensor, and (ii) provide power from the power source to the thermal element as needed to maintain the temperature data within a specified temperature range.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the circuit further configured to provide power of a first polarity to the thermal element to raise the ambient temperature and provide power of a second polarity to the thermal element to lower the ambient temperature.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a geo-tracking device affixed with the housing and enabled for communicating geo-tracking data to the circuit; and   the circuit further configured to wirelessly transmit the geo-tracking data.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an accelerometer device affixed with the housing and enabled for communicating accelerometer data to the circuit; and   the circuit further configured to wirelessly transmit the accelerometer data.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an hygrometer device affixed with the housing and enabled for communicating hygrometer data to the circuit; and   the circuit further configured to wirelessly transmit the hygrometer data.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 the circuit further configured to obtain and log the geo-tracking data.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 the circuit further configured to obtain and log the accelerator data.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 an evaporator block between the first side of the thermal element and the support bracket, the heat pipe coupled into the evaporator block.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 insulation encasing at least the thermal sleeve.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 the thermal element is a thermoelectric cooling unit.   
     
     
         11 . A shipping container, comprising:
 a housing including a lid and a closure mechanism for latching the lid to the housing;   a sleeve assembly including:
 a bracket affixed to the housing; 
 a metal sleeve sized to hold a sample package and affixed to the bracket; 
 a thermal element affixed between the bracket and the sleeve; and 
 insulation surrounding the sleeve; 
   a heat sink assembly affixed within the housing, including:
 at least one heat sink element; and 
 a heat pipe coupled between the heat sink element and a first side of the thermal element; 
   a plurality of temperature sensors disposed at different locations within the housing; and   a circuit coupled to the plurality of temperature sensors, to the thermal element, and to a power source, the circuit configured to (i) obtain temperature data from the respective plurality of temperature sensors, (ii) determine an ambient temperature within the housing based on the temperature data, and (iii) provide power from the power source to the thermal element as needed to maintain the ambient temperature within a specified temperature range.   
     
     
         12 . The shipping container of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 the circuit further configured to provide power of a first polarity to the thermal element to raise the ambient temperature around the metal sleeve and provide power of a second polarity to the thermal element to lower the ambient temperature around the metal sleeve.   
     
     
         13 . The shipping container of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a geo-tracking device affixed with the housing and enabled for communicating geo-tracking data to the circuit; and   the circuit further configured to wirelessly transmit the geo-tracking data.   
     
     
         14 . The shipping container of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an accelerometer device affixed with the housing and enabled for communicating accelerometer data to the circuit; and   the circuit further configured to wirelessly transmit the accelerometer data.   
     
     
         15 . The shipping container of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an hygrometer device affixed with the housing and enabled for communicating hygrometer data to the circuit; and   the circuit further configured to wirelessly transmit the hygrometer data.   
     
     
         16 . The shipping container of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 the circuit further configured to obtain and log the geo-tracking data.   
     
     
         17 . The shipping container of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 the circuit further configured to obtain and log the accelerator data.