Whirlpool Corporation

Subrata Shannigrahi

Gustavo Frattini

Abhay Naik

Lynne F Hunter

Abinash Sarma

Paul B Allard

Dustin Michael Miller

Hua Liu

Rafael Dutra Nunes

Kevin J Cox

Gregory Edward Bauman

Ryan Daniel Kannegieter

Eric J Dherde

Sai B Krishna

Narendra Ashok Kapure

Ashish Nigam

Rahul Subhash Chhajed

Jackson Felipe Karl

Vishal Jaywantrao Patil

Anna Jedralski

Sumedh Sanjay Kokane

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

A cabinet for a refrigerator includes: (a) a first inner liner defining a first cavity; (b) a second inner liner defining a second cavity; (c) an outer wrapper at least partially surrounding the first inner liner and the second inner liner; (d) a trim breaker coupling the outer wrapper, the first inner liner, and the second inner liner together, the trim breaker comprising (i) a first opening into the first cavity, (ii) a second opening into the second cavity, and (iii) a transition portion extending between the first opening and the second opening, the transition portion comprising a forward portion and a rear portion; and (e) a vacuum insulated panel disposed proximate the rear portion of the transition portion.

Refrigerator cabinet with a trim breaker and vacuum insulated panel associated with the trim breaker

A refrigeration appliance includes a cabinet having a trim breaker defining a mullion region and a refrigerant system. The cabinet defines a first compartment and a second compartment. The refrigerant system includes a refrigerant defining a flow path through a compressor, a heat loop coupled to the compressor, a condenser coupled to the heat loop, and an evaporator assembly coupled to the compressor and the condenser. The heat loop is routed around a perimeter of the cabinet and through the mullion region. The evaporator assembly includes at least one first evaporator disposed in the first compartment and a second evaporator disposed in the second compartment. The at least one first evaporator may include a first roll bond evaporator coupled to a second roll bond evaporator in series with the first, or a wire-on-tube evaporator.

Thermal improvements in vis refrigerators

A method for manufacturing an insulation member for a vacuum insulated structure includes the steps of forming a bag that has an opening using a single layer porous fabric, filling the bag with insulation materials via the opening, sealing the opening of the bag, and vibrating the bag to evenly distribute, de-aerate, and densify the insulation material to form a pillow. The method further includes the steps of compressing the pillow within a mold to define a compressed insulation member, and evacuating the compressed insulation member within an insulated structure to define a vacuum insulated structure.

Method for manufacturing a compressed insulation panel for a vacuum insulated structure

A filling system for a vacuum insulated structure is provided having a powder processor including a hopper having an inner hopper wall and an outer hopper wall. The filling system also includes a vacuum insulated structure having a liner positioned inside a wrapper, a trim breaker coupling an outer liner edge and an outer wrapper edge to form a shell defining an internal cavity with at least one gas permeable feature positioned in the internal cavity configured to help apply a vacuum. A loading port is positioned on a surface of the shell. The powder processor loads the shell with a heated and at least partially degassed vacuum insulation material through the loading port while a vacuum is applied to the shell through the at least one gas permeable feature.

Processing of core material in a vacuum insulated structure

A refrigeration unit includes a cabinet, a door coupled to the cabinet, at least one gasket coupled to the door, and a heat loop conduit. The cabinet includes a front perimeter that surrounds an opening to a storage compartment within the cabinet. The door is operable between an open position to provide access to the storage compartment and a closed position to conceal the opening to the storage compartment. The at least one gasket is configured to be compressed between the door and the front perimeter of the cabinet in the closed position of the door. The heat loop conduit has a first conduit portion that extends around a majority of the opening along the front perimeter of the cabinet and a second conduit portion that extends around the majority of the opening along the front perimeter of the cabinet.

Refrigeration unit

A method for manufacturing an insulation member for an appliance includes the steps of forming a porous bag with a woven fabric, filling the porous bag with insulation materials, heat sealing the porous bag, vibrating the porous bag to define a pillow, compressing the pillow within a mold to define a compressed insulation member, and evacuating the compressed insulation member within an insulated structure to define a vacuum insulated structure.

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

An outer wrapper that defines a top wall, a bottom wall, a rear wall, and first and second side walls and includes an inner liner. A trim breaker seals the outer wrapper to the inner liner to define an insulation space. A single vacuum port is disposed on each of the top wall, the bottom wall, and the first and second side walls. A plurality of vacuum ports is disposed on the rear wall. An insulative material is disposed between the outer wrapper and the inner liner. A filter media is disposed proximate each vacuum port such that air can be drawn from the insulation space past the filter media and through each vacuum port.

Increased vacuum port area for achieving faster vacuum evacuation time in vacuum insulated structures

A method for manufacturing a vacuum insulated structure includes adhering a trim breaker to a wrapper and a liner via an adhesive to define an insulated structure. The insulated structure is positioned within an evacuation chamber proximate to a first heater and a second heater. The insulated structure and the evacuation chamber are heated via the first heater and the second heater. The evacuation chamber is evacuated via a first vacuum pump, and the insulated structure is evacuated via a second vacuum pump.

Method for manufacturing a vacuum insulated structure

An appliance includes an outer wrapper having a plurality of joined walls that define a plurality of vertices and edges. An inner liner is sealed with the outer wrapper to define an insulation space. A vacuum port is disposed on an external surface of the outer wrapper. A channel is in fluid communication with the vacuum port and extends along at least one edge defined by first and second walls of the outer wrapper. An insulative material is disposed between the outer wrapper and the inner liner. A filter media is disposed along the channel such that air can be drawn from the insulation space past the filter media, into the channel, and through each vacuum port.

Use of multiple port locations for achieving faster vacuum evacuation time in vacuum insulated structures

An appliance includes an outer wrapper having a plurality of walls that define an external surface and an inner liner. A trim breaker seals the outer wrapper to the inner liner to define an insulation space. A vacuum port is disposed on the external surface of the outer wrapper. A channel is in fluid communication with the vacuum port and extends along at least one of the plurality of walls of the outer wrapper. An insulative material is disposed between the outer wrapper and the inner liner. A filter media is disposed along the channel such that air can be drawn from the insulation space past the filter media, into the channel, and through each vacuum port.

Use of rigid or permeable conduits for achieving faster vacuum evacuation time in vacuum insulated structures

A vacuum insulated appliance structure includes a molded 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.

A structural cabinet for an appliance includes an inner liner that defines an interior compartment, an outer wrapper and a metallic trim breaker that is attached to each of the inner liner and the outer wrapper. The metallic trim breaker includes a plurality of undulating formations that extend an effective length of the trim breaker between the inner liner and the outer wrapper.

Growing community of inventors

Saint Joseph, MI, United States of America

Subrata Shannigrahi