Whirlpool Corporation

Berhanu Allo

Abhay Naik

Lakshya J Deka

Lorraine Joan Westlake

Mohamed Alshourbagy

Paul B Allard

Lynne F Hunter

Alberto Regio Gomes

Gustavo Frattini

Dustin Michael Miller

Hua Liu

Diptesh Mukherjee

Jon M Anthony

A method of forming an insulated structure for an appliance includes forming a structural enclosure having an outer wrapper and an inner liner and an insulating cavity defined therebetween, forming an insulating powder material, compacting the insulating powder material to form a pre-densified core material, disposing the pre-densified core material within an insulating cavity, wherein the insulating cavity is defined between the outer wrapper and the inner liner and expressing at least a portion of the gas contained within the insulating cavity, wherein the insulating cavity is hermetically sealed to define a vacuum insulated structure.

Methods for dispensing and compacting insulation materials into a vacuum sealed structure

A vacuum insulated refrigerator structure being formed from a wrapper extending around a liner is provided. The liner is positioned inside of the wrapper to form a gap there between, and to form a cavity between the wrapper and the liner. An insulating thermal bridge is formed from molding one or more extruded rails to one or more corner pieces in an injection molding device. The insulating thermal bridge is coupled across the gap wherein the insulating thermal bridge includes elongated first and second channels wherein the first and second edges are inserted into the elongated first and second channels, respectively. A curable sealant is contacted to the elongated first and second channels and the cavity is at least partially filled with a porous material between the wrapper and the liner. A vacuum is formed in the cavity and the cavity is sealed to maintain the vacuum.

Method for manufacturing an insulated structure for a refrigerator

An insulation delivery apparatus for forming an insulated appliance structure includes an insulated structure having a wrapper and a liner that define an interior cavity and a hopper having a storage bin and a delivery mechanism. The delivery mechanism delivers an insulating medium from the storage bin, through an insulation conduit and into the interior cavity. The delivery mechanism operates between idle and delivery states. A pressing mechanism is coupled with the insulation conduit and is in selective engagement with the insulated structure. The pressing mechanism operates between rest and compressing states. An inner support is in selective engagement with an outer surface of the inner liner and an operable outer support in selective engagement with the outer wrapper. The inner support and the operable outer support provide structural support to the insulated structure when the pressing mechanism is in the compressing state.

Method and apparatus for forming a vacuum insulated structure for an appliance having a pressing mechanism incorporated within an insulation delivery system

A method of fabricating a vacuum insulated refrigerator structure includes injection molding a first layer of a first polymer material. A second layer of a second polymer material is injection molded over at least a portion of the first layer, and a third layer of a third polymer material is injection molded over at least a portion of the second layer to form a first component. At least one of the layers is impervious to one or more gasses. A second component is secured to the first component to form a vacuum cavity therebetween. The vacuum cavity is filled with a porous material, and the vacuum cavity is evacuated to form a vacuum. At least one of the first and third layers includes a structural reinforcement such as a rib or screw boss of increased thickness that is formed during the injection molding process.

Method of fabricating a vacuum insulated appliance structure

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Newburgh, IN, United States of America

Berhanu Allo