公开(公告)号：US11118831B2

公开(公告)日：2021-09-14

申请号：US16874742

申请日：2020-05-15

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Sunil S. Ekshinge ,  Arunkumar Harikrishnasamy ,  Sai B. Krishna ,  Abhay Naik ,  Sanjesh Kumar Pathak ,  Karen J. Querfurth

IPC: F25D23/00 ,  F25D23/06 ,  B32B3/00

Abstract: A vacuum insulated structure includes a first panel and a second panel, wherein the second panel is operably coupled to the first panel to define an insulating space therebetween. An airway system is disposed within the insulating space and includes portions of porous tubing configured to draw air along lengths of the porous tubing from the insulating space during an evacuation procedure. A plurality of connectors interconnect the portions of porous tubing of the airway system to inner walls of the insulating space. The connectors may include support members that extend between the panels within the insulating space to support the vacuum insulated structure under vacuum pressure. Further, first and second panels can include rigidifying structural configurations to combat vacuum bowing during the evacuation procedure.

公开(公告)号：US20210231359A1

公开(公告)日：2021-07-29

申请号：US17232630

申请日：2021-04-16

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Paul B. Allard ,  Abhay Naik

IPC: F25D23/02 ,  F25D23/06 ,  B29C51/12 ,  B29C51/16 ,  B29C70/70

Abstract: A method of making a vacuum insulated refrigerator structure includes positioning a core of overlapping stacked sheets of fiberglass mat in an envelope of impermeable barrier material. The core is pressed into a predefined three dimensional shape by pressing first and second mold parts together. The core is evacuated, and the envelope is sealed to form a three dimensional core having an airtight envelope around the core. The three dimensional vacuum core is positioned between a wrapper and a liner, and the wrapper and the liner are interconnected to form a vacuum insulated refrigerator structure.

公开(公告)号：US11065842B2

公开(公告)日：2021-07-20

申请号：US16308979

申请日：2016-09-28

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Paul B. Allard ,  Lakshya J. Deka ,  Eric J. Dherde ,  Gustavo Frattini ,  Alberto R. Gomes ,  Lynne F. Hunter ,  Dustin M. Miller ,  Abhay Naik ,  Karen J. Querfurth ,  Jerry M. Visin

IPC: B32B3/10 ,  B32B15/00 ,  F25D23/02 ,  F25D23/08 ,  B32B7/12 ,  B32B15/08 ,  B29C65/72 ,  F25D23/06 ,  B32B7/08

Abstract: 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.

公开(公告)号：US11029080B2

公开(公告)日：2021-06-08

申请号：US16302923

申请日：2017-01-18

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Abhay Naik ,  Subrata Shannigrahi ,  Gustavo Frattini

IPC: F25D23/06 ,  F16L59/065

Abstract: 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.

公开(公告)号：US10995488B1

公开(公告)日：2021-05-04

申请号：US16689730

申请日：2019-11-20

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Paul B. Allard ,  Jeffrey Beckner ,  Sunil S. Ekshinge ,  Abhay Naik ,  Manjunathraddi Navalgund ,  Rafael D. Nunes ,  Sanjesh Kumar Pathak

IPC: E04B1/80 ,  A47L15/42 ,  F24C15/34 ,  F25D23/06

Abstract: An insulated structure comprises a first panel and a second panel coupled to the first panel. The first and second panels define an insulating cavity therebetween. A port is defined by the second panel. The port is an opening into the insulating cavity. A connector is coupled to the second panel. A tube is coupled to the connector and extends parallel along the second panel.

公开(公告)号：US20210071942A1

公开(公告)日：2021-03-11

申请号：US16567080

申请日：2019-09-11

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Jacob Charles Ickes ,  Dustin Michael Miller ,  Abhay Naik ,  Aaron Michael Stewart

IPC: F25D23/06 ,  F25D23/08

Abstract: A standoff assembly for an appliance includes a trim breaker that defines a channel. A standoff feature is disposed on a bottom surface within the channel. The standoff feature includes a base with at least one horizontal flange and at least one vertical tapered projection extending therefrom. An adhesive is disposed within the channel that is defined by the trim breaker. An outer wrapper has an outer edge. The outer edge is disposed within the channel that is defined by the trim breaker.

公开(公告)号：US20210041158A1

公开(公告)日：2021-02-11

申请号：US15733612

申请日：2018-06-20

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Gustavo Frattini ,  Sarah M. Galea ,  Daniel E. Lottinville ,  Vikas C. Mruthyunjaya ,  Abhay Naik

IPC: F25D23/02 ,  F25C5/20 ,  F25D23/08 ,  F25D11/02

Abstract: A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet; a door operably connected to the cabinet, the door having a closed position relative to the cabinet and an opened position relative to the cabinet, and the door transitions from the closed position to the opened position in a non-circular path; a liquid outlet disposed at the cabinet; and a liquid receiver disposed at the door, the liquid receiver configured to receive liquid exiting the liquid outlet when the door is in the closed position but not in the opened position. The refrigerator can further include a gasket adjacent to the liquid receiver and a gasket adjacent to the liquid outlet. When the door is in the closed position, the gasket of the door can cooperate with the gasket of the cabinet to form a sealed channel to seal liquid transfer from the liquid outlet to the liquid receiver for use at the door.

公开(公告)号：US20210018253A1

公开(公告)日：2021-01-21

申请号：US17063155

申请日：2020-10-05

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Alberto R. Gomes ,  Lynne F. Hunter ,  Abhay Naik ,  Lorraine J. Westlake

IPC: F25D23/06

Abstract: An appliance includes an outer wrapper and an inner liner placed within the outer wrapper and spaced apart from the outer wrapper to define an insulating space. A trim breaker extends between the inner liner and the outer wrapper to define a structural cabinet. The trim breaker defines a front face of the cabinet. The trim breaker defines a gas conduit disposed within a wall of the structural cabinet proximate the insulating space. The gas conduit is adapted to define selective communication between the insulating space and an exterior of the structural cabinet. An insulating material is disposed within the insulating space, wherein the gas conduit is substantially free of the insulating material.

公开(公告)号：US10605519B2

公开(公告)日：2020-03-31

申请号：US16026234

申请日：2018-07-03

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Berhanu Allo ,  Mohamed Alshourbagy ,  Lakshya J. Deka ,  Abhay Naik ,  Lorraine J. Westlake

IPC: F25D23/00 ,  B29B11/00 ,  B29C43/00 ,  B29C65/00 ,  B29C69/00 ,  F16L59/00 ,  F25D23/06 ,  F16L59/065 ,  B29B11/12 ,  B29C65/48 ,  B29L31/00 ,  B29C43/14 ,  B29C51/16 ,  B29K105/00

Abstract: 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.

公开(公告)号：US20190285336A1

公开(公告)日：2019-09-19

申请号：US16302923

申请日：2017-01-18

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Abhay Naik ,  Subrata Shannigrahi

IPC: F25D23/06 ,  F16L59/065

Abstract: 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.