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：US11911950B2

公开(公告)日：2024-02-27

申请号：US17872208

申请日：2022-07-25

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Eric J. Dherde ,  Gustavo Frattini ,  Abhay Naik

IPC: B29C51/10 ,  F16L59/02 ,  F16L59/065 ,  F25D23/06 ,  B29L31/00

CPC classification number: B29C51/10 ,  F16L59/028 ,  F16L59/065 ,  F25D23/065 ,  F25D23/066 ,  B29L2031/7622 ,  F25D2201/14

Abstract: A method of forming a vacuum insulated structure includes providing a structural envelope an insulating cavity defined within the structural envelope. An expanding device is attached to opposing outer walls of the structural envelope and the interior cavity is expanded by pulling the opposing outer walls away from one another to define an expanded state. An insulating material is disposed within the insulating cavity to occupy substantially all of the insulating cavity in the expanded state. Gas is expressed from the insulating cavity to collapse the structural envelope to a final state and a final interior volume that is less than the expanded interior volume. The final state of the structural envelope defines a densified state of the insulating material within the insulating cavity. The vacuum port is then closed to hermetically seal the insulating cavity.

公开(公告)号：US20230243458A1

公开(公告)日：2023-08-03

申请号：US18297867

申请日：2023-04-10

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Paul B. Allard ,  Mohamed Alshourbagy ,  Lakshya J. Deka ,  Eric J. Dherde ,  Gustavo Frattini ,  Alberto R. Gomes ,  Lynne F. Hunter ,  Giulia Marinello ,  Abhay Naik ,  Sanjesh Kumar Pathak ,  Jerry M. Visin

IPC: F16L59/065 ,  F25D23/06 ,  F25D23/08

CPC classification number: F16L59/065 ,  F25D23/062 ,  F25D23/087 ,  F25D23/006

Abstract: An appliance includes a metallic outer wrapper having sidewalls, a wrapper backwall and a machine wall. At least one metallic inner liner has liner walls and a liner backwall, wherein the metallic outer wrapper and the at least one metallic inner liner are coupled together at a trim breaker to define a structural cabinet having a hermetically sealed interior cavity defined between the metallic outer wrapper and the at least one metallic inner liner. The trim breaker defines a front face of the structural cabinet. At least one trim breaker conduit extends through the wrapper and liner backwalls wherein the trim breaker conduit defines a conduit through the structural cabinet, and wherein the structural cabinet is hermetically sealed at the trim breaker conduit.

公开(公告)号：US20210291490A1

公开(公告)日：2021-09-23

申请号：US17339035

申请日：2021-06-04

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: B32B15/00 ,  F25D23/02 ,  F25D23/08 ,  B32B7/12 ,  B32B15/08

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：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：US10712080B2

公开(公告)日：2020-07-14

申请号：US16093694

申请日：2016-04-15

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Lorraine J. Westlake ,  Eric J. Dherde

IPC: F25D23/06 ,  B29D99/00 ,  B29L31/00 ,  B29C51/26 ,  B29K25/00 ,  B29K27/00 ,  B29K55/02

Abstract: A method of making a vacuum insulated refrigerator cabinet structure includes thermoforming a first polymer sheet to form a wrapper having a base wall and four sidewalls. The method also includes thermoforming a second polymer sheet to form a liner having a base wall and four sidewalls. Elongated corner stiffeners are adhesively secured to inside corners of the wrapper. A resilient ring is adhesively secured to the wrapper and liner. The resilient ring includes pins that are received in openings of the elongated corner stiffeners. Porous material is disposed in a vacuum cavity between the wrapper and the liner.

公开(公告)号：US20190184624A1

公开(公告)日：2019-06-20

申请号：US16301921

申请日：2016-09-30

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Eric J. Dherde ,  Gustavo Frattini ,  Abhay Naik

IPC: B29C51/10 ,  F25D23/06 ,  F16L59/02 ,  F16L59/065

CPC classification number: B29C51/10 ,  B29L2031/7622 ,  F16L59/028 ,  F16L59/065 ,  F25D23/065 ,  F25D23/066 ,  F25D2201/14

Abstract: A method of forming a vacuum insulated structure includes providing a structural envelope an insulating cavity defined within the structural envelope. An expanding device is attached to opposing outer walls of the structural envelope and the interior cavity is expanded by pulling the opposing outer walls away from one another to define an expanded state. An insulating material is disposed within the insulating cavity to occupy substantially all of the insulating cavity in the expanded state. Gas is expressed from the insulating cavity to collapse the structural envelope to a final state and a final interior volume that is less than the expanded interior volume. The final state of the structural envelope defines a densified state of the insulating material within the insulating cavity. The vacuum port is then closed to hermetically seal the insulating cavity.

公开(公告)号：US20190128592A1

公开(公告)日：2019-05-02

申请号：US16093694

申请日：2016-04-15

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Lorraine J. Westlake ,  Eric J. Dherde

IPC: F25D23/06 ,  B29D99/00

Abstract: A method of making a vacuum insulated refrigerator cabinet structure includes thermoforming a first polymer sheet to form a wrapper having a base wall and four sidewalls. The method also includes thermoforming a second polymer sheet to form a liner having a base wall and four sidewalls. Elongated corner stiffeners are adhesively secured to inside corners of the wrapper. A resilient ring is adhesively secured to the wrapper and liner. The resilient ring includes pins that are received in openings of the elongated corner stiffeners. Porous material is disposed in a vacuum cavity between the wrapper and the liner.

公开(公告)号：US11680673B2

公开(公告)日：2023-06-20

申请号：US17553010

申请日：2021-12-16

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Paul B. Allard ,  Mohamed Alshourbagy ,  Lakshya J. Deka ,  Eric J. Dherde ,  Gustavo Frattini ,  Alberto R. Gomes ,  Lynne F. Hunter ,  Giulia Marinello ,  Abhay Naik ,  Sanjesh Kumar Pathak ,  Jerry M. Visin

IPC: F16L59/065 ,  F25D23/06 ,  F25D23/08 ,  F25D23/00

CPC classification number: F16L59/065 ,  F25D23/062 ,  F25D23/087 ,  F25D23/006 ,  F25D2201/14 ,  F25D2323/021 ,  F25D2400/40

Abstract: An appliance includes a metallic outer wrapper having sidewalls, a wrapper backwall and a machine wall. At least one metallic inner liner has liner walls and a liner backwall, wherein the metallic outer wrapper and the at least one metallic inner liner are coupled together at a trim breaker to define a structural cabinet having a hermetically sealed interior cavity defined between the metallic outer wrapper and the at least one metallic inner liner. The trim breaker defines a front face of the structural cabinet. At least one trim breaker conduit extends through the wrapper and liner backwalls wherein the trim breaker conduit defines a conduit through the structural cabinet, and wherein the structural cabinet is hermetically sealed at the trim breaker conduit.

公开(公告)号：US11479021B2

公开(公告)日：2022-10-25

申请号：US17339035

申请日：2021-06-04

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 ,  B32B15/04 ,  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.