Whirlpool Corporation

Other

Dustin Michael Miller

Abhay Naik

Paul B Allard

Lynne F Hunter

Sanjesh Kumar Pathak

Lakshya J Deka

Alberto Regio Gomes

Jacob Charles Ickes

Gustavo Frattini

Karen J Querfurth

Eric J Dherde

Aaron Michael Stewart

Vikas C Mruthyunjaya

Sarah Galea

Jerry M Visin

Hua Liu

Rafael Dutra Nunes

Sanket Vivek Phalak

Manjunathraddi Navalgund

Daniel Lottinville

Narendra Ashok Kapure

Subrata Shannigrahi

Jeffrey P Beckner

Koteswara Rao Gochika

Rahul Subhash Chhajed

Mandar Gopalkrushna Kulkarni

Vishal B Chauhan

Mansi Katkar

Giulia Marinello

Arpit Vijay

Tao Liu

Anup R Shedage

Sunil S Ekshinge

Sai B Krishna

Kamil El Sayed

Omkar Sunil Mithari

Berhanu Allo

Chad Eric McCray

A refrigeration unit includes a cabinet and a first evaporator assembly. The first evaporator assembly is operable between an uninstalled condition and an installed condition. In the uninstalled condition, the first evaporator assembly is not assembled with the cabinet. In the installed condition, the first evaporator assembly is assembled with the cabinet. The first evaporator assembly includes a first evaporator, a first suction line connected to the first evaporator at a first suction line joint, and a first capillary tube connected to the first evaporator at a first capillary tube joint. The first suction line joint and the first capillary tube joint of the first evaporator assembly are leak testable in the uninstalled condition of the first evaporator assembly.

Refrigeration unit and method of assembling

An insulation panel assembly for a refrigeration unit includes a first panel, a second panel coupled to the first panel, an evacuation hub defining an evacuation port that extends from an inlet to an outlet and a groove that extends around the inlet, and a conduit engaged with the evacuation hub. The second panel defines an aperture and includes a protruding surround that extends around the aperture. The evacuation hub is positioned such that the inlet is aligned with the aperture defined by the second panel and the groove receives the protruding surround of the second panel therein. Further, the conduit extends into the evacuation port via the outlet.

Insulation panel assembly for a refrigeration unit

A door panel for a refrigerating appliance includes an inner liner. An outer wrapper is attached to the inner liner and defines an insulating structure with an insulating cavity disposed therein. An insulating material is defined within the insulating cavity. A dispenser structure is defined within a central portion of the inner liner and the outer wrapper. The dispenser structure defines an insulated dispenser portion therein. A dispenser conduit extends from an interior area disposed above the dispenser structure to an external dispensing cavity and passing through the insulated dispenser portion.

Vacuum insulated door structure for an appliance incorporating a dispenser structure

A standoff feature for an appliance includes a connecting member having a first end and a second end. A first side member extends in a first direction from the first end of the connecting member. A second side member is spaced from the first side member. The second side member extends in the first direction from the second end of the connecting member. A first flange extends from a first side edge of the connecting member. The first side edge extends between the first end and the second end. The first flange extends in a second direction from the connecting member. A second flange extends from a second side edge of the connecting member. The second side edge extends between the first end and the second end and opposes the first side edge. The second flange extends in the second direction from the connecting member.

Standoff feature for appliance

A door assembly includes a structural wrapper defining an insulating cavity. The structural wrapper defines a sensor port. A sensor assembly is coupled to an outer surface of the structural wrapper proximate to the sensor port. The sensor assembly includes a connector having a base coupled to a housing. The base is coupled to the structural wrapper. The connector defines an interior in fluid communication with the insulating cavity. A pressure sensor is disposed within the housing. The pressure sensor is configured to sense a pressure within the insulating cavity. At least one plate is disposed at an open end of the housing. The pressure sensor includes sensor pins that extend through the at least one plate.

Sensor assembly for vacuum insulated structure

A refrigerator includes a wrapper having an opening with a front edge. A liner includes an opening and a front edge. A thermal bridge interconnects the wrapper and the liner to form a vacuum insulated cavity therebetween. The thermal bridge includes an outwardly opening channel and first and second inwardly opening channels. The front edge of wrapper is received in the first inwardly opening channel, and the front edge of the liner is received in the second inwardly opening channel. The second inwardly opening channel is inset relative to the first inwardly opening channel on the thermal bridge. A conduit is disposed within the outwardly opening channel and is configured to circulate a heated medium. The wrapper and liner are contemplated to be comprised of conductive materials, such sheet metal, while the thermal bridge is comprised of a thermally resistant material, such as a polymeric material.

Vacuum insulated structure with thermal bridge breaker with heat loop

A method of assembling a refrigeration unit includes inserting a machine compartment assembly, including a base plate and a compressor coupled to the base plate, into a machine compartment of the refrigeration unit, mounting a control box of the refrigeration unit to a side panel, and coupling the side panel to the refrigeration unit, such that the side panel conceals a lateral side of the machine compartment and the control box is laterally-inboard of the side panel.

An operable panel for an appliance includes a metallic outer wrapper having a perimetrical wrapper edge that partially defines a perimetrical breaker channel, an inner liner and a plurality of corner brackets disposed proximate the perimetrical wrapper edge. Each corner bracket cooperates with the perimetrical wrapper edge to fully define the perimetrical breaker channel. A trim breaker is adhered to the metallic outer wrapper and the corner brackets at the perimetrical breaker channel and having a liner channel that receives a portion of the inner liner. The trim breaker extends between the inner liner and the outer wrapper. An insulation material is disposed within an insulating cavity defined between the inner liner and the outer wrapper.

Structural panel for an appliance having stamped components and method therefor

A vacuum insulated appliance structure, comprising: a first layer of a first polymer material. A second layer of a second polymer material is molded to (e.g. over) at least a portion of the first layer, and a third layer of a third polymer material is molded to (e.g. 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. One or more additional components are secured to the first component to form a vacuum cavity. The vacuum cavity is filled with a porous material, and the vacuum cavity is evacuated to form a vacuum.

Molded gas barrier parts for vacuum insulated structure

A vacuum insulated cabinet structure includes an exterior wrapper with a front edge extending around an opening thereof. A liner includes a front edge extending around an opening of the liner, wherein the liner is disposed inside of the wrapper. A thermal bridge includes an outer coupling portion and an inner coupling portion. In assembly, the outer coupling portion is overmolded to the front edge of the wrapper, and the inner coupling portion is overmolded to the front edge of the liner to form a sealed vacuum cavity (VC) between the wrapper and the liner. The thermal bridge is formed in a mold in which the wrapper and liner are partially disposed to form a unitary composite structure.

Hermetically sealed overmolded plastic thermal bridge breaker with refrigerator cabinet liner and wrapper for vacuum insulation

Growing community of inventors

South Bend, IN, United States of America

Dustin Michael Miller