公开(公告)号：US12055344B2

公开(公告)日：2024-08-06

申请号：US17835018

申请日：2022-06-08

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Paul B. Allard ,  Lakshya J. Deka ,  Gustavo Frattini ,  Lynne F. Hunter ,  Hua Liu ,  Abhay Naik ,  Eric J. Vasko ,  Jerry M. Visin

IPC: F25D23/08

CPC classification number: F25D23/082 ,  F25D23/085 ,  F25D2201/14

Abstract: An appliance includes an outer wrapper, an inner liner, a trim breaker having a wrapper channel that receives a wrapper edge of the outer wrapper and a liner channel that receives a liner edge of the inner liner, and an insulation material disposed within an insulating cavity defined therebetween. A multi-component thermal encapsulation material defines pre-mix, application and sealing states. The pre-mix state is defined by the distinct components of the thermal encapsulation material being separated from one another, the application state defined by the distinct components combined together into an uncured state of the thermal encapsulation material, and the sealing state defined by the thermal encapsulation material disposed within the wrapper and liner channels and surrounding the wrapper and liner edges, respectively, in the sealing state that defines a hermetic seal between the trim breaker and the outer wrapper and the inner liner.

公开(公告)号：US11994336B2

公开(公告)日：2024-05-28

申请号：US17208082

申请日：2021-03-22

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Lakshya J. Deka ,  Lynne F. Hunter ,  Hua Liu ,  Dustin M. Miller ,  Abhay Naik ,  Sanjesh Kumar Pathak ,  Paul B. Allard ,  Eric J. Dherde

IPC: F25D23/08 ,  F25D23/06

CPC classification number: F25D23/062 ,  F25D23/066 ,  F25D2201/14

Abstract: 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.

公开(公告)号：US20220299252A1

公开(公告)日：2022-09-22

申请号：US17833945

申请日：2022-06-07

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Paul B. Allard ,  Gustavo Frattini ,  Hua Liu

IPC: F25D23/02 ,  B32B7/12 ,  B32B15/082 ,  B32B37/12 ,  F16L59/065

Abstract: A method of forming an insulated door panel includes folding side flanges of a metallic sheet to define side edges of a structural outer panel that extend from a front panel. A gap is defined between each set of adjacent side edges. Interior blocks are secured to an interior of the structural outer panel proximate each gap to define adhesive cavities. Exterior blocks are positioned at an exterior surface of the structural outer panel at each gap to further define the adhesive cavities. An adhesive is disposed within each adhesive cavity and is contained therein by the interior and exterior blocks. The adhesive is cured to a solid sealing member that adheres the interior blocks to the interior surface of the structural outer panel to form a sealed structural panel. The exterior blocks are removed and each solid sealing member defines a hermetic seal at each gap.

公开(公告)号：US20200056830A1

公开(公告)日：2020-02-20

申请号：US16663416

申请日：2019-10-25

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Hua Liu ,  Laksha J. Deka ,  Mohamed Alshourbagy ,  Diptesh Mukherjee

IPC: F25D23/06 ,  B32B3/06 ,  F16L59/065 ,  B32B3/08 ,  B32B7/08 ,  B32B3/04 ,  B32B1/00 ,  B32B27/36 ,  B32B27/34 ,  B32B27/32 ,  B32B27/30 ,  B32B27/14 ,  B32B27/08 ,  B32B15/16 ,  B32B7/12 ,  B32B5/16 ,  B29C51/26 ,  B29C51/14 ,  B29C51/08 ,  B29C51/00

Abstract: A vacuum insulated structure includes a multi-layer sheet of material comprising at least one layer of barrier material that is disposed between first and second outer layers. The barrier material and the first and second outer layers comprise thermoplastic polymers or elastomeric or hybrid material systems. The multi-layer sheet of material is thermoformed or vacuum formed to form a non-planar first component having a central portion and four sidewalls extending transversely from the central portion. A second component having a central portion and four sidewalls extending transversely from the central portion is secured to the first component to form an interior space therebetween. Porous filler material is positioned in the interior space, and a vacuum is formed in the interior space by removing gasses and moisture (water vapor). The first and second components are sealed together to form a vacuum insulated structure.

公开(公告)号：US20170184340A1

公开(公告)日：2017-06-29

申请号：US14982652

申请日：2015-12-29

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Paul B. Allard ,  Berhanu Allo ,  Lakshya J. Deka ,  Hua Liu ,  Diptesh Mukherjee

IPC: F25D23/06 ,  B29C45/16

CPC classification number: F25D23/066 ,  B29C45/1642 ,  B29K2023/086 ,  B29K2995/0067 ,  B29L2031/7622 ,  F25D23/062 ,  F25D2201/14 ,  Y10T29/49359 ,  Y10T29/49366 ,  Y10T29/49982

Abstract: 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.

公开(公告)号：US11578743B2

公开(公告)日：2023-02-14

申请号：US17545077

申请日：2021-12-08

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Lakshya J. Deka ,  Hua Liu ,  Abhay Naik

IPC: F16B11/00 ,  F25D23/08 ,  F25D23/06

Abstract: An appliance includes an outer wrapper, an inner liner, a trim breaker having a channel that receives at least one of a wrapper edge of the outer wrapper and a liner edge of the inner liner, and a composite encapsulation system that hermetically seals an insulating cavity defined between the outer wrapper and the inner liner. The composite encapsulation system includes a base adhesive and an outer adhesive, wherein the base adhesive defines a structural adhesive component and the outer adhesive defines a sealing adhesive component.

公开(公告)号：US20210025421A1

公开(公告)日：2021-01-28

申请号：US17071180

申请日：2020-10-15

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Lakshya J. Deka ,  Hua Liu ,  Abhay Naik

IPC: F16B11/00 ,  F25D23/08 ,  F25D23/06

Abstract: An appliance includes an outer wrapper, an inner liner, a trim breaker having a channel that receives at least one of a wrapper edge of the outer wrapper and a liner edge of the inner liner, and a composite encapsulation system that hermetically seals an insulating cavity defined between the outer wrapper and the inner liner. The composite encapsulation system includes a base adhesive and an outer adhesive, wherein the base adhesive defines a structural adhesive component and the outer adhesive defines a sealing adhesive component.

公开(公告)号：US10473217B2

公开(公告)日：2019-11-12

申请号：US16306723

申请日：2017-02-14

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Lakshya J. Deka ,  Hua Liu

IPC: F16J15/02 ,  F25D23/08 ,  F25D23/02 ,  F25D23/06

Abstract: An appliance includes an outer wrapper, an inner liner, a trim breaker having a channel that receives at least one of a wrapper edge of the outer wrapper and a liner edge of the inner liner and a composite encapsulation system including a base elastic adhesive and an outer barrier coating. The base elastic adhesive and the outer barrier coating define a structural adhesive that hermetically seals an insulation cavity defined between the outer wrapper and the inner liner.

公开(公告)号：US20170184339A1

公开(公告)日：2017-06-29

申请号：US14980778

申请日：2015-12-28

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Hua Liu ,  Laksha J. Deka ,  Mohamed Alshourbagy ,  Diptesh Mukherjee

IPC: F25D23/06 ,  B32B37/14 ,  B32B27/32 ,  B32B37/06 ,  B32B37/12 ,  B32B37/10

CPC classification number: F25D23/062 ,  B29C51/00 ,  B29C51/082 ,  B29C51/14 ,  B29C51/267 ,  B32B1/00 ,  B32B3/04 ,  B32B5/16 ,  B32B7/08 ,  B32B7/12 ,  B32B15/16 ,  B32B27/08 ,  B32B27/14 ,  B32B27/302 ,  B32B27/304 ,  B32B27/306 ,  B32B27/308 ,  B32B27/32 ,  B32B27/322 ,  B32B27/325 ,  B32B27/34 ,  B32B27/36 ,  B32B2250/44 ,  B32B2260/025 ,  B32B2264/06 ,  B32B2264/10 ,  B32B2264/101 ,  B32B2264/102 ,  B32B2307/704 ,  B32B2307/7242 ,  B32B2307/7244 ,  B32B2307/7246 ,  B32B2307/732 ,  B32B2307/738 ,  B32B2509/10 ,  F25D2201/14

Abstract: A method of forming a vacuum insulated refrigerator cabinet structure includes providing a multi-layer sheet of material comprising at least one layer of barrier material that is disposed between first and second outer structural layers. The barrier material and the first and second outer layers comprise thermoplastic polymers. The multi-layer sheet of material is thermoformed to form a non-planar first component having a central portion and four sidewalls extending transversely from the central portion. The method further includes securing a second component having a central portion and four sidewalls extending transversely from the central portion to the first component to form an interior space therebetween. Porous filler material is positioned in the interior space, and a vacuum is formed in the interior space. The first and second components are sealed together to form a vacuum insulated refrigerator cabinet structure.

公开(公告)号：US20170182607A1

公开(公告)日：2017-06-29

申请号：US14980702

申请日：2015-12-28

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Hua Liu ,  Laksha J. Deka ,  Mohamed Alshourbagy ,  Diptesh Mukherjee

IPC: B23P15/26

CPC classification number: B23P15/26 ,  B29C51/082 ,  B29C51/14 ,  B29K2055/02 ,  B29K2067/006 ,  B29K2103/04 ,  B29K2305/00 ,  B29L2031/7622 ,  F16L59/065 ,  F25D23/062 ,  F25D2201/14

Abstract: A method of forming a vacuum insulated structure includes providing a multi-layer sheet of material comprising at least one layer of barrier material that is disposed between first and second outer layers. The barrier material and the first and second outer layers comprise thermoplastic polymers. The multi-layer sheet of material is thermoformed to form a non-planar first component. The first component is at least partially coated utilizing a plasma polymerization process or a physical vapor deposition process to improve the barrier properties of the first component. The method further includes securing a second component to the first component to form an interior space therebetween. Porous filler material is positioned in the interior space, and a vacuum is formed in the interior space.