The Fuller Kooler

Technical Field

The Fuller Kooler is an air-cooling and humidifying mechanism for small and medium-size trucks to preserve produce (horticultural crops) during transport to market in desert areas.

Background Art Previous technique:

Evaporative cooling is a technology used in dry climate areas of the world to cool the ambient temperature. It is used in homes, offices, workshops, and even open areas where people gather for small events such as weddings, meetings, etc. It is also used in dairy and chicken farms in dry climate areas where the productivity of animals is improved with the cooler temperature. They are commonly designed as a box structure with four sides open through which external hot dry air is pulled by a cylindrical fan through wetted cooling pads about 5cm thick that cover the entire opening on each of the box's four vertical sides. The process of evaporation of the water-soaked cooling pads lowers the air temperature as well as increases its humidity. The cylindrical fan, at the same time, forces the cool humid air through an opening at either the top or bottom of the box structure into the room or area that is to be cooled. Some models are also designed to use regular wing-type fans (such as those used on table tops). Further, inexpensive polyethylene plastic boxes are commonly used and promoted in the modern handling of freshly-harvested produce in its transport to markets in refrigerated trucks.

Problem or failure of the previous technique

Evaporative cooler systems or mechanisms have not been designed for use in small and medium-size trucks (1/2-ton to 5-ton) for the purpose of cooling and preserving freshly harvested produce in transported to market. Typical designs of evaporative coolers are big and their bulkiness does not allow for convenient use as portable cooling units for trucks. There are no evaporative cooling systems designed to fit over the cab of small and medium-size trucks and evenly distribute, through air flow control vents, cool humid air between and around the produce containers. While refrigerated cooling is commonly used in more developed regions and promoted in Egypt, the cost of such equipment is un-affordable by most small transporters of produce. An important disadvantage of refrigerated cooling for produce is that it dehydrates produce, while evaporative cooling prevents dehydration of produce, and thus, conserves the original weight of the crop when it reaches its market, bring greater cash returns. IP modern refrigerated transport of produce, it is common to also use and promote plastic boxes as more durable handling devices. However, most of these boxes are made of the most common and inexpensive polyurethane plastic which emits methane, a gas that accelerates the ripening of produce. These boxes, thus, work against the intended purpose of refrigerated trucks. Non-polyurethane plastic, such as the plastic used in household refrigerators, is not used for produce-

handling boxes. Further, modern-day produce boxes are not nearly as well- ventilated as the commonly used artisanal wood-stick ones preferred by transporters in Egypt.

Disclosures of Invention

What is new in the subject of the invention

The concept for the Fuller Kooler is based on the fact of the acute market need for cooling and proper handling of harvested produce in Egypt. Discussions with farmer associations and literature research confirm this fact. Recent studies find that weak marketing logistics of agricultural produce in Egypt causes 40-60% loss of horticultural crops. The lack of appropriate cooling systems and proper handling are the greatest causes of these losses. The Fuller Kooler is an ideal mechanism that meets the challenge through its effectiveness, its simplicity, and its affordability at a fraction of the cost of refrigerated cooling.

The Fuller Kooler is a specially designed evaporative cooler that reduces its over all size, introduces a single 20cm thick cooling pad with increased volume of wetted area, fits over the cab of a truck and a fan forces cool humid air through a distribution box to specially-designed well- ventilated non-polyethylene plastic produce handling boxes.

This new mechanism consists of a cool air production and distribution system and specially-designed non-polyethylene plastic produce-handling boxes to effectively preserve and protect an entire produce load during transport. The mechanism is fitted and attached to the front frame of a truck bed with the air cooling box suspended over the truck's cabin, its cool air-distribution box attached to and facing the inside of the track's bed frame, and the ventilated non-polyurethane produce boxes stacked on the truck's bed floor. The ventilated non-polyurethane plastic produce boxes are designed for easy stacking with built-in skids and replace the popular artisanal wood stick produce boxes now used and favored by transporters but difficult to stack and often crush the produce. Its new design has added beneficial features: it is stronger, it uses inter-woven non-polyurethane sticks on all four sides and bottom of the box which allows good ventilation and its lower height prevents the over-stacking and crashing of fragile produce. The non-polyethylene plastic does not emit methane gas which would accelerate ripening of produce. A heavy cotton canvas cover encloses the track's bed, stacked produce boxes, and the air-distribution box; thus, the cool ai is contained around and between the specially-designed ventilated produce boxes

The Fuller Kooler presents enormous competition to currently promoted refrigerated cooling and use of modern polyethylene plastic produce-handling boxes. The Fuller Kooler has the potential to reach the masses of small and medium-size horticultural producers offering savings in reduced losses and increased revenues on improved produce quality at the delivery point. It also opens opportunities for more farmers to participate in the growing export marke.

Detailed description

The Fuller Kooler is a cooling and humidifying mechanism to preserve produce being transported to market in Vi-ton to 10-ton trucks. It consists of three integrated components described below: 1) the air cooling box, 2) the cool air distribution box, and 3) the ventilated produce boxes. It uses evaporative cooling which brings down temperatures significantly enough to reduce dehydration and crop weight losses as well as delay the maturing process of produce.

1) The air cooling box is fitted and attached to the front frame of a truck bed with the cooling box suspended over the truck driver's cabin. It is made of lmm steel sheet metal on two sides, top, and front panels. The back panel and the bottom are made of 3mm steel sheet metal for added strength. It has one large square opening in the front panel to allow the in-flow of dry hot air which then passes through a wet cooling pad which extends across the entire front opening of the cooling box. The 20cm thick cooling pad is made of loosely-woven natural fiber such as hemp, coarse dry grass, or other similar natural materials. The cooling pad is kept continuously wet with circulating water pumped by a submersible pump through a 0.5cm pvc hose with drip nozzles disbursed over the top of the cooling pad. The pump (18W, 220V) is attached to the bottom of the air cooling box which also serves as the water, reservoir. Un-evaporated water drips from the bottom of the cooling pad and returns to the water reservoir for recirculation. A fan (75- 150W, 220V) attached to the rear side of the cooling box, pulls dry hot air from outside through the front opening of the cooling box and through the cooling pad. Through the process of evaporation, the dry hot air is cooled and humidified as it flows through the wet cooling pad. The cool humid air is subsequently forced by the electric fan through a cylindrical port in the back of the cooling box that delivers it into the cool air distribution box located in the truck bed. ,

2) The cool air distribution box is attached to the front frame of a truck bed and faces the inside of the bed. It is made of lmm steel sheet metal and stretches from the top of the truck cover and across most of the width of the truck bed. The cool air blows out of the distribution box through a series of manually-adjusted outlets that disburse the cool humid air evenly to and around each ventilated produce box. The air cooling box and the air distribution box are attached to each other with steel bolts. To accommodate the thickness of the truck's front bed frame, a series of optional wood spacers can be used to ensure a snug fit over the bed frame. Thus, the joined cooling box and air distribution box are saddled over the top of the truck's front bed frame. A 5cm thick plywood board attached to and extending the width and height of the back of the air distribution box is used to add strength and hold both the air cooling box and air distribution box firmly against the truck's front bed frame with

steel bolts traversing both the plywood board and the truck's front bed frame.

3) The non-polyethylene plastic produce boxes are designed to stack securely over each other leaving a gap of 5cm between top, bottom and sides of the stacked boxes through where cool humid air circulates. The sides and bottom of the produce box are well-ventilated with interwoven non-polyethylene plastic rods 0.5cm in diameter. Rounded skids running along the top long edges of the produce box serve to facilitate the sliding of produce boxes over each other, as well as solid handles. The length and width (45cm x 30cm) of the produce box accommodates standard sizes of truck beds, thus maximizing the use of space. The height (25cm) of the box is shorter than traditional and existing current standard plastic boxes to reduce the crushing effect of produce when it is layered within it. The non-polyethylene plastic does not emit methane gas which would accelerate produce ripening.

A heavy cotton canvas cover encloses the truck's bed, stacked produce boxes, and the air-distribution box; thus, the cool humid air is contained around and between the produce boxes.

Method of usage

Once installed on to a truck's bed frame, the Fuller Kooler is operated by first filling the water reservoir with water and then switching the electric water pump and air fan on. The water is then pumped to the top of the cooling pad and subsequently soaked. The air fan then pulls dry hot air from outside through the cooling pads and creates cool humid air and forced out to the air distribution box located in the truck's bed. Each of the air vents on the face of the air distribution box is then folded forwards or backwards to allow more or less air outflow and thus by individually adjusting each vent an even air-flow distribution is enabled throughout and between the ventilated produce boxes stacked on the truck bed floor. The cool air is contained in and around the produce boxes by a heavy cotton canvas truck cover. As the water evaporates in the course of operation, the water pan must be refilled with water. The natural fiber cooling pad may need replacement once per year. The pad may be accessed by opening the top of the air cooling box which will essentially be a hinged door. The pad is then pulled up vertically and out of its holding wire-mesh frame that is fixed to the inside of the air cooling box. The air cooling box's hinged door will also access the electric air fan and water pump for servicing as needed. Use of the produce boxes starts with the placing of freshly harvested produce in them while on the farm; the boxes are then carried and placed in the back of the track where cool humid air will already be circulating. The ventilated produce boxes are stacked on each other until the back of the truck is full. The placing of the produce boxes is facilitated by the built-in skids that enable one box to slide over another with ease. Once all the produce boxes are stacked and the truck is full, ropes can be placed over the top boxes to secure the load to the truck and prevent them from falling over. The produce is then ready to be transported to market.

Brief Description of Drawing

Figure 1: CROSS SECTION VIEW

1. Air Cooling Box: Serves as the container for all the air cooling elements (cooling pad, water pump, and fan); takes in hot dry air from outside through a rectangular opening in the front; cool humid air flows out through a round opening in the rear; the bottom serves as a pan to hold a supply of water (water reservoir); the top is a hinged door to access the cooling elements inside; and is made of steel sheet metal.

2. Cooling Pad: Serves as the element to expose water to inflowing hot dry air from outside, evaporating it and thus reducing the air temperature and increasing its humidity. It is kept saturated with circulating water pumped to its top from the water reservoir. Unevaporated water drips from its bottom end directly into the water reservoir for recirculation. It is made of loosely- woven natural fiber such as hemp, coarse dry grass, or other similar natural materials.

3. Water Pump: Serves to deliver water to the top of the cooling pad from the water reservoir through a 0.5cm pvc hose with drippers over the pad.

4. Water-delivery hose with drippers over the cooling pad.

5. Water Reservoir: Serves as the water supply for the cooling pad.

6. Electric Fan: Serves to pull hot dry air from outside through the cooling pad and force deliver it as cool humid air through the cylindrical steel port and the cool air distribution box to produce in the truck's bed.

7. Cool Air Distribution Box with louvered air outlets: Serves to receive forced cool humid air delivered by the electric fan and evenly distribute it through a series of manually adjusted air outlets located throughout the face of the cool air distribution box to produce in the truck's bed.

8. Non-Polvethylene stacking Produce Boxes: Serve to hold produce in transport while allowing cool humid air to circulate between the boxes and throughout the produce as enabled by the gaps between the boxes and the ventilation allowed by the inter-woven non-polyethylene rods on the sides and bottom of the boxes. Non- polyethylene plastic does not emit methane gas which would accelerate produce ripening.

9. Cotton Canvas Cover: Serves to contain the cool humid air within the area of the stacked produce boxes while keeping the produce out of the sun's direct heating effect.

10. Hot Dry Air Inflow

11. Cool Humid Air Flow

12. Cool Humid Air Distribution

Figure 2: 3-D VIEW

1. Air Cooling Box: Serves as the container for all the cooling elements (cooling pad, water pump, and fan); takes in hot dry air from outside through a rectangular opening in the front; cool humid air flows out through a round opening in the rear; the bottom serves as a pan to hold water (water reservoir); the top is a hinged door to access the cooling elements inside; and is made of steel sheet metal.

2. Cooling Pad: Serves as the element to expose water to inflowing hot dry air from outside, evaporating it and thus reducing the air temperature and increasing its humidity. It is kept saturated with circulating water pumped to its top from the water reservoir. Unevaporated water drips from its bottom end directly into the water reservoir for recirculation. It is made of loosely-woven natural fiber such as hemp, coarse dry grass, or other similar natural materials.

3. Wood Spacers and Plywood Board: The wood spacers serve to bridge over the truck's bed frame accommodating its various thicknesses while maintaining a firm hold between the air cooling box and the cool air distribution box. The plywood board serves as the principal structure for attaching and holding firm the entire cooling mechanism to the truck's bed frame.

4. Cool Air Distribution Box: Serves to receive forced cool humid air delivered by the electric fan and evenly distribute it through a series of manually adjusted air outlets placed throughout the face of the cool air distribution box to produce in the truck's bed.

Figure 3: STRUCTURAL 3-D VIEW

1. Air Cooling Box: Serves as the container for all the cooling elements (cooling pad, water pump, and fan); takes in hot dry air from outside through a rectangular opening in the front; cool humid air flows out through a round opening in the rear; the bottom serves as a pan to hold water( water reservoir); the top is a hinged door to access the cooling elements inside; and is made of steel sheet metal.

2. Cooling Pad; Serves as the element to expose water to inflowing hot dry air from outside, evaporating it and thus reducing the air temperature and increasing its humidity. It is kept saturated with circulating water pumped to its top from the water reservoir. Unevaporated water drips from its bottom end directly into the water reservoir for recirculation. It is made of loosely- woven natural fiber such as hemp, coarse dry grass, or other similar natural materials.

3. Wood Spacers and Plywood Board: The wood spacers serve to bridge over the truck's bed frame accommodating its various thicknesses while maintaining a firm hold between the air cooling box and the cool air distribution box. The plywood board serves as the principal structure for attaching and holding firm the entire cooling mechanism to the truck's bed frame.

4. Cool Air Distribution Box with cool air outlets: Serves to receive forced cool humid air delivered by the electric fan and evenly distribute it through a series of manually adjusted air outlets placed throughout the face of the cool air distribution box to produce in the truck's bed.

5. Cylindrical Cool Air Port: Serves to convey cool humid air from the air cooling box to the cool air distribution box. (Not Pictured: The electric fan is attached to one end of this cylinder.)

Figure 4: CLOSE-UP 3-D VIEW

1. Air Cooling Box: Serves as the container for all the cooling elements (cooling pad, water pump, and fan); takes in hot dry air from outside through a rectangular

opening in the front; cool humid air flows out through a round opening in the rear; the bottom serves as a pan to hold water (water reservoir); the top is a hinged door to access the cooling elements inside; and is made of steel sheet metal.

2. Cooling Pad: Serves as the element to expose water to inflowing hot dry air from outside, evaporating it and thus reducing the air temperature and increasing its humidity. It is kept saturated with circulating water pumped to its top from the water reservoir. Unevaporated water drips from its bottom end directly into the water reservoir for recirculation. It is made of loosely-woven natural fiber such as hemp, coarse dry grass, or other similar natural materials.

3. Wood Spacers and Plywood Board: The wood spacers serve to bridge over the truck's bed frame accommodating its various thicknesses while maintaining a firm hold between the air cooling box and the cool air distribution box. The plywood board serves as the principal structure for attaching and holding firm the entire cooling mechanism to the truck's bed frame.

4. Cool Air Distribution Box: Serves to receive forced cool humid air delivered by the electric fan and evenly distribute it through a series of manually adjusted air outlets placed throughout the face of the cool air distribution box to produce in the truck's bed.

Figure 5; FRONT VIEW

1. Air Cooling Box: Serves as the container for all the cooling elements (cooling pad, water pump, and fan); takes in hot dry air from outside through a rectangular opening in the front; cool humid air flows out through a round opening in the rear; the bottom serves as a pan to hold water (water reservoir); the top is a hinged door to access the cooling elements inside; and is made of steel sheet metal.

2. Cooling Pad: Serves as the element to expose water to inflowing hot dry air from outside, evaporating it and thus reducing the air temperature and increasing its humidity. It is kept saturated with circulating water pumped to its top from the water reservoir. Unevaporated water drips from its bottom end directly into the water reservoir for recirculation. It is made of loosely-woven natural fiber such as hemp, coarse dry grass, or other similar natural materials.

3. Plywood Board: Serves as the principal structure for attaching and holding firm the entire cooling mechanism to the truck's bed frame.

Figure 6; STRUCTURAL FRONT VIEW

1. Air Cooling Box: Serves as the container for all the cooling elements (cooling pad, water pump, and fan); takes in hot dry air from outside through a rectangular opening in the front; cool humid air flows out through a round opening in the rear; the bottom serves as a pan to hold water (water reservoir); the top is a hinged door to access the cooling elements inside; and is made of steel sheet metal.

2. Cooling Pad: Serves as the element to expose water to inflowing hot dry air from outside, evaporating it and thus reducing the air temperature and increasing its humidity. It is kept saturated with circulating water pumped to its top from the water reservoir. Unevaporated water drips from its bottom end directly into the water.

reservoir for recirculation. It is made of loosely-woven natural fiber such as hemp, coarse dry grass, or other similar natural materials.

3. Wood Spacers and Plywood Board: The wood spacers serve to bridge over the truck's bed frame accommodating its various thicknesses while maintaining a firm hold between the air cooling box and the cool air distribution box. The plywood board serves as the principal structure for attaching and holding firm the entire cooling mechanism to the truck's bed frame.

4. Cool Air Distribution Box with cool air outlets: Serves to receive forced cool humid air delivered by the electric fan and evenly distribute it through a series of manually adjusted air outlets placed throughout the face of the cool air distribution box to produce in the truck's bed.

5. Cylindrical Cool Air Port: Serves to convey cool humid air from the air cooling box to the cool air distribution box. (Not Pictured: The electric fan is attached to one end of this cylinder.)

Figure 7: CLOSE-UP FRONT VIEW

1. Air Cooling Box: Serves as the container for all the cooling elements (cooling pad, water pump, and fan); takes in hot dry air from outside through a rectangular opening in the front; cool humid air flows out through a round opening in the rear; the bottom serves as a pan to hold water (water reservoir); the top is a hinged door to access the cooling elements inside; and is made of steel sheet metal.

2. Cooling Pad: Serves as the element to expose water to inflowing hot dry air from outside, evaporating it and thus reducing the air temperature and increasing its humidity. It is kept saturated with circulating water pumped to its top from the water reservoir. Unevaporated water drips from its bottom end directly into the water reservoir for recirculation. It is made of loosely-woven natural fiber such as hemp, coarse dry grass, or other similar natural materials.

3. Plywood Board: Serves as the principal structure for attaching and holding firm the entire cooling mechanism to truck's bed frame.

Figure 8: SIDE VIEW

1. Air Cooling Box: Serves as the container for all the cooling elements (cooling pad, water pump, and fan); takes in hot dry air from outside through a rectangular opening in the front; cool humid air flows out through a round opening in the rear; the bottom serves as a pan to hold water (water reservoir); the top is a hinged door to access the cooling elements inside; and is made of steel sheet metal.

2. Wood Spacers and Plywood Board: The wood spacers serve to bridge over the truck's bed frame accommodating its various thicknesses while maintaining a firm hold between the air cooling box and the cool air distribution box. The plywood board serves as the principal structure for attaching and holding firm the entire _c cooling mechanism to the truck's bed frame.

3. Cool Air Distribution Box: Serves to receive forced cool humid air delivered by the electric fan and evenly distribute it through a series of manually adjusted air

outlets placed throughout the face of the cool air distribution box to produce in the truck's bed.

Figure 9: STRUCTURAL SIDE VIEW

1. Air Cooling Box: Serves as the container for all the cooling elements (cooling pad, water pump, and fan); takes in hot dry air from outside through a rectangular opening in the front; cool humid air flows out through a round opening in the rear; the bottom serves as a pan to hold water (water reservoir); the top is a hinged door to access the cooling elements inside; and is made of steel sheet metal.

2. Cooling Pad: Serves as the element to expose water to inflowing hot dry air from outside, evaporating it and thus reducing the air temperature and increasing its humidity. It is kept saturated with circulating water pumped to its top from the water reservoir. Unevaporated water drips from its bottom end directly into the water reservoir for recirculation. It is made of loosely-woven natural fiber such as hemp, coarse dry grass, or other similar natural materials.

3. Wood Spacers and Plywood Board: The wood spacers serve to bridge over the truck's bed frame accommodating its various thicknesses while maintaining a firm hold between the air cooling box and the cool air distribution box. The plywood board serves as the principal structure for attaching and holding firm the entire cooling mechanism to the truck's bed frame.

4. Cool Air Distribution Box with cool air outlets: Serves to receive forced cool humid air delivered by the electric fan and evenly distribute it through a series of manually adjusted air outlets placed throughout the face of the cool air distribution box to produce in the truck's bed.

5. Cylindrical Cool Air Port: Serves to convey cool humid air from the air cooling box to the cool air distribution box. (Not Pictured: The electric fan is attached to one end of this cylinder.)

Figure 10: CLOSE-UP STRUCTURAL SIDE VIEW

1. Air Cooling Box: Serves as the container for all the cooling elements (cooling pad, water pump, and fan); takes in hot dry air from outside through a rectangular opening in the front; cool humid air flows out through a round opening in the rear; the bottom serves as a pan to hold water (water reservoir); the top is a hinged door to access the cooling elements inside; and is made of steel sheet metal.

2. Cooling Pad: Serves as the element to expose water to inflowing hot dry air from outside, evaporating it and thus reducing the air temperature and increasing its humidity. It is kept saturated with circulating water pumped to its top from the water reservoir. Unevaporated water drips from its bottom end directly into .the water reservoir for recirculation. It is made of loosely-woven natural fiber such as hemp, coarse dry grass, or other similar natural materials.

3. Wood Spacers and Plywood Board: The wood spacers serve to bridge over the truck's bed frame accommodating its various thicknesses while maintaining a firm hold between the air cooling box and the cool air distribution box. The plywood board serves as the principal structure for attaching and holding firm the entire cooling mechanism to the truck' s bed frame.

4. Cool Air Distribution Box with cool air outlets: Serves to receive forced cool humid air delivered by the electric fan and evenly distribute it through a series of manually adjusted air outlets placed throughout the face of the cool air distribution box to produce in the truck's bed.

5. Cylindrical Cool Air Port: Serves to convey cool humid air from the air cooling box to the cool air distribution box. (Not Pictured: The electric fan is attached to one end of this cylinder.)

Figure 11: CLOSE-UP SIDE VIEW

1. Air Cooling Box: Serves as the container for all the cooling elements (cooling pad, water pump, and fan); takes in hot dry air from outside through a rectangular opening in the front; cool humid air flows out through a round opening in the rear; the bottom serves as a pan to hold water (water reservoir); the top is a hinged door to access the cooling elements inside; and is made of steel sheet metal.

2. Wood Spacers and Plywood Board: The wood spacers serve to bridge over the truck's bed frame accommodating its various thicknesses while maintaining a firm hold between the air cooling box and the cool air distribution box. The plywood board serves as the principal structure for attaching and holding firm the entire cooling mechanism to the truck's bed frame.

3. Cool Air Distribution Box: Serves to receive forced cool humid air delivered by the electric fan and evenly distribute it through a series of manually adjusted air outlets placed throughout the face of the cool air distribution box to produce in the truck's bed.

Figure 12: TOP VIEW

1. Air Cooling Box: Serves as the container for all the cooling elements (cooling pad, water pump, and fan); takes in hot dry air from outside through a rectangular opening in the front; cool humid air flows out through a round opening in the rear; the bottom serves as a, pan to hold water (water reservoir); the top is a hinged door to access the cooling elements inside; and is made of steel sheet metal.

2. Wood Spacers and Plywood Board: The wood spacers serve to bridge over the truck's bed frame accommodating its various thicknesses while maintaining a firm hold between the air cooling box and the cool air distribution box. The plywood board serves as the principal structure for attaching and holding firm the entire cooling mechanism to the truck's bed frame.

3. Cool Air Distribution Box: Serves to receive forced cool humid air delivered by the electric fan and evenly distribute it through a series of manually adjusted air outlets placed throughout the face of the cool air distribution box to produce in the truck's bed.

Figure 13: STRUCTURAL TOP VIEW

1. Air Cooling Box: Serves as the container for all the cooling elements (cooling pad, water pump, and fan); takes in hot dry air from outside through a rectangular opening in the front; cool humid air flows out through a round opening in the rear;

the bottom serves as a pan to hold water (water reservoir); the top is a hinged door to access the cooling elements inside; and is made of steel sheet metal.

2. Cooling Pad: Serves as the element to expose water to inflowing hot dry air from outside, evaporating it and thus reducing the air temperature and increasing its humidity. It is kept saturated with circulating water pumped to its top from the water reservoir. Unevaporated water drips from its bottom end directly into the water reservoir for recirculation. It is made of loosely-woven natural fiber such as hemp, coarse dry grass, or other similar natural materials.

3. Wood Spacers and Plywood Board: The wood spacers serve to bridge over the truck's bed frame accommodating its various thicknesses while maintaining a firm hold between the air cooling box and the cool air distribution box. The plywood board serves as the principal structure for attaching and holding firm the entire cooling mechanism to the truck's bed frame.

4. Cool Air Distribution Box with cool air outlets: Serves to receive forced cool humid air delivered by the electric fan and evenly distribute it through a series of manually adjusted air outlets placed throughout the face of the cool air distribution box to produce in the truck's bed.

5. Cylindrical Cool Air Port: Serves to convey cool humid air from the air cooling box to the cool air distribution box. (Not Pictured: The electric fan is attached to one end of this cylinder.)

Figure 14: CLOSE-UP TOP VIEW

1. Air Cooling Box: Serves as the container for all the cooling elements (cooling pad, water pump, and fan); takes in hot dry air from outside through a rectangular opening in the front; cool humid air flows out through a round opening in the rear; the bottom serves as a pan to hold water (water reservoir); the top is a hinged door to access the cooling elements inside; and is made of steel sheet metal.

2. Wood Spacers and Plywood Board: The wood spacers serve to bridge over the truck's bed frame accommodating its various thicknesses while maintaining a firm hold between the air cooling box and the cool air distribution box. The plywood board serves as the principal structure for attaching and holding firm the entire cooling mechanism to the truck's bed frame.

3. Cool Air Distribution Box with cool air outlets: Serves to receive forced cool humid air delivered by the electric fan and evenly distribute it through a series of manually adjusted air outlets placed throughout the face of the cool air distribution box to produce in the truck' s bed.

Figure 15: PRODUCE BOX

1. Inside height is 18cm

2. Bottom to top of box is 20cm

3. Maximum height is 25cm

4. Width is 30cm

5. Length is 45cm

6 . Non-polyethylene inter- woven plastic rods: Serve to allow cool humid air to circulate throughout the produce; the plastic does not emit methane gas which would accelerate produce ripening.

7. Non-polyethylene plastic frame and top skid with tapered end: Serves to facilitate the stacking of the boxes by sliding them over each other; the non-polyethylene plastic does not emit methane gas which would accelerate produce ripening.

8 . Non-polyethylene bottom channel that fits over skids: Serves to fit over another box's top skids to hold it in place and facilitate the stacking of boxes by sliding them over each other. The non-polyethylene plastic does not emit methane gas which would accelerate produce ripening.

Figure 16: FULLER KOOLER on 5-TON TRUCK

1. Air Cooling Box; Serves as the container for all the cooling elements (cooling pad, water pump, and fan); takes in hot dry air from outside through a rectangular opening in the front; cool humid air flows out through a round opening in the rear; the bottom serves as a pan to hold water (water reservoir); the top is a hinged door to access the cooling elements inside; and is made of steel sheet metal.

2. Cooling Pad: Serves as the element to expose water to inflowing hot dry air from outside, evaporating it and thus reducing the air temperature and increasing its humidity.

3. Cotton Canvas Cover; Serves to contain the cool humid air within the area of the stacked produce boxes while keeping the produce out of the sun's direct heating effect.

Figure 17: FULLER KOOLER MAXI on 10-TON TRUCK

1. Air Cooling Box: Serves as the container for all the cooling elements (cooling pad, water pump, and fan); takes in hot dry air from outside through a rectangular opening in the front; cool humid air flows out through a round opening in the rear; the bottom serves as a pan to hold water (water reservoir); the top is a hinged door to access the cooling elements inside; and is made of steel sheet metal.

2. Cooling Pad; Serves as the element to expose water to inflowing hot dry air from outside, evaporating it and thus reducing the air temperature and increasing its humidity.

3 . Cotton Canvas Cover: Serves to contain the cool humid air within the area of the stacked produce boxes while keeping the produce out of the sun's direct heating effect.

Figure 18: FULLER KOOLER MINI for 1-TON TRUCK

Shows the name "Fuller Kooler Mini" noting its use on small 1-ton trucks.