Whirlpool Corporation

Sai B Krishna

Abhay Naik

Arunkumar Harikrishnasamy

Lynne F Hunter

Sanjesh Kumar Pathak

Sanket Vivek Phalak

Sunil S Ekshinge

Paul B Allard

Karen J Querfurth

Vishal Shankar Marathe

Dustin Michael Miller

Eric J Dherde

Aaron Michael Stewart

Daniel Lottinville

Jeffrey P Beckner

Kamil El Sayed

Abinash Sarma

Mandar Gopalkrushna Kulkarni

Omkar Sunil Mithari

Gaurav Ramesh Shete

Ratikanta Dehury

Sushilkumar R Vishwakarma

An insulation compaction device includes an insulating structure of an appliance and has an insulating media disposed within an insulating cavity. An operable piston selectively engages the insulating structure and operates to define a selected cavity volume of the insulating cavity and a selected insulation density of the insulating media. A valve is attached to the insulating structure and in a passive state releases gas from the insulating cavity to the exterior during operation of the operable piston. Selective operation of a pump mechanism places the valve in an active state to extract gas from the insulating cavity and define a cavity pressure of the insulating cavity that is less than an equalized pressure. The operable piston and the pump mechanism are at least one of sequentially and simultaneously operable to define a selected piston chamber environment defined by the selected cavity volume and the cavity pressure.

Insulation compaction device and method for forming an insulated structure for an appliance

An appliance includes a metallic liner and an outer metallic wrapper. An insulating cavity is defined between the metallic liner and outer metallic wrapper. The appliance further includes a pressure sensing device disposed within the cavity. The pressure sensing device is located to detect a pressure status and transmit the pressure status through at least one of the metallic liner and outer metallic wrapper.

Feature in vacuum insulated structure to allow pressure monitoring

An insulating structure for an appliance including a first panel, a second panel coupled to the first panel, wherein the first and second panels define a cavity, an insulation material disposed within the cavity, at least one central flattening portion of the first and second panels, the at least one central flattening portion defining an enlarged area of the cavity in a rest state and having deflection control features, and structural reinforcements defined by the deflection control features of the at least one central flattening portion.

Collapsible pattern

A trim breaker includes first and second opposing vertical portions, a top portion, and a bottom portion. An outer rim extends about a periphery of the trim breaker. An inner edge is spaced interiorly from the outer rim. The trim breaker further includes a first surface proximate the inner edge and a second surface proximate the outer rim. A pair of parallel ribs extend from the outer rim toward the inner edge. Further, the first surface extends outward from the second surface, thereby forming a plateau.

Appliance trim breaker

A refrigeration unit includes a cabinet that defines a storage cavity, a door pivotably coupled to the cabinet via a hinge and configured to selectively cover an opening to the storage cavity, and a bracket that connects the door to the hinge. The door includes a first surface, a second surface adjacent to the first surface, and a third surface adjacent to the first and second surfaces. The bracket includes a first portion fixed to the first surface, a second portion fixed to the second surface, and a third portion fixed to the third surface.

Refrigeration unit door bracket

An insulated structure includes a door that has a liner and a wrapper. The liner defines at least one channel. At least one attachment feature is disposed within the at least one channel defined by the liner and coupled to the door. The at least one attachment feature includes a body that has a plurality of apertures that are defined along a length of the body. A bin is operably coupled to the door via the at least one attachment feature. The bin includes a coupling feature that extends through at least one of the plurality of apertures that are defined by the body.

Attachment assembly for an insulated door

A vacuum insulated structure includes a trim breaker having a wrapper channel and a liner channel that extend perimetrically about the trim breaker. An inner liner is attached to the trim breaker at the liner channel. An outer wrapper is attached to the trim breaker at the wrapper channel. A metallic plate is disposed within the trim breaker and extends from a first area proximate the liner channel to a second area proximate the wrapper channel. The metallic plate defines an internal barrier to gas permeation through the trim breaker.

Trim breaker having metallic insert for decreased gas permeation

A refrigerator includes a vacuum-insulated cabinet structure enclosing an insulating cavity and including an outer wrapper having a first side wall defining a perimeter, an outer frame portion defined radially inward of the perimeter, and an inner area surrounded and supported by the outer frame portion. The inner area initially defines a first planar level with at least a portion of the outer frame portion extending to a second planar level parallel to and spaced apart from the first planar level in an axially outward direction. The insulating cavity is sealed and has a vacuum drawn therefrom with the outer frame portion deformed such that the inner area is moved axially inward away from the second planar level under a force of the vacuum within the insulating cavity with at least the portion of the outer frame portion remaining at the second planar level.

Vacuum insulated structure with sheet metal features to control vacuum bow

A refrigerating appliance includes a cabinet assembly that defines an access opening for storing food goods. The cabinet assembly defines an insulating cavity that receives insulation. A mullion assembly extends across the access opening and a trim breaker extends about the access opening. The trim breaker includes a body portion that covers the insulating cavity. First and second connecting flanges extend outwardly from the body portion in a first direction and operably coupled to an inside wall and an outside wall of the cabinet assembly, such that the trim breaker seals the insulating cavity. A forward spacing flange extends outwardly from the body portion of the trim breaker in a second direction that is opposed to the first direction of the first and second connecting flanges. The forward spacing flange contacts the mullion assembly and at least partially defines a receiving space between the mullion assembly and the trim breaker.

Refrigeration appliance cabinet assembly

A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet having an inner liner spaced apart from an outer wrapper and a trim breaker extending between the inner liner and the outer wrapper to define an insulating cavity therebetween. The trim breaker includes first and second opposing vertical portions, a top portion, a bottom portion, and a central portion. The top portion is integrally formed with each vertical portion at a respective upper corner, and the bottom portion is integrally formed with each vertical portion at a respective lower corner. A first plurality of ribs extends from an outer rim of the trim breaker and at least partially along the central portion, and a second plurality of ribs extends from the outer rim of at least one of the first and second vertical portions and across at least one of the upper and lower corners.

A vacuum insulated structure including a first cover member of a stamped unitary sheet defining a perimeter portion positioned at a first planar level and first rib formed in the unitary sheet extending to a second planar level spaced axially outward and disposed radially inward of the perimeter portion, a second cover member, and thermal bridge interconnecting the first cover member and the second cover member at the perimeter portions thereof to define an insulating cavity therebetween. The insulating cavity is a sealed cavity having a vacuum drawn therefrom, and the first rib defines a first portion of a path for air flow out of the sealed cavity during a vacuum draw process.

Vacuum insulated refrigerator structure with feature for controlling deformation and improved air withdrawal

A vacuum insulated structure includes a first cover member of a unitary sheet member defining a perimeter portion, an outer frame portion defined radially inward of the perimeter portion, and an inner area surrounded and supported by the outer frame portion. The inner area defines a first planar level with a portion of the outer frame portion extending to a second planar level parallel to and spaced apart from the first planar level in an axial direction. The vacuum insulated structure further includes a second cover member of a unitary sheet and a thermal bridge interconnecting the first cover member and the second cover member at the perimeter portions thereof to define an insulating cavity therebetween. The outer frame portion deforms such that the inner area moves axially inward away from the second planar level under a force of the vacuum within the insulating cavity.

A rear bracket for a wall-mounted, appliance shelf assembly includes a central portion that defines a plurality of receiving wells. A first mounting portion extends parallel to the central portion and is configured to align with a first wall of an appliance cabinet. A second mounting portion extends perpendicular to the central portion and is configured to align with a second wall of the appliance cabinet. The second wall is positioned perpendicular to the first wall. A first fastener is configured to couple the first mounting portion with the first wall. A second fastener is configured to couple the second mounting portion with the second wall.

Rear bracket for shelf assembly

A cabinet assembly for a refrigerating appliance includes an inner liner having a forward liner edge. The forward liner edge defines an access opening. An outer wrapper is disposed around the inner liner and has a forward wrapper edge. The outer wrapper is spaced-apart from the inner liner to define an insulating cavity therebetween. A mullion assembly extends across the access opening. A trim breaker extends about the access opening and is coupled to the forward wrapper edge and the forward liner edge to seal the insulating cavity. The trim breaker includes a spacing flange positioned to contact the mullion assembly to define a receiving space between the trim breaker and the mullion assembly.

Growing community of inventors

Pune, India

Sai B Krishna