Refrigerator comprising vacuum space

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10465974-B2
Application number	US-201816230386-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2018
Priority date	Oct 28, 2010
Publication date	Nov 5, 2019
Grant date	Nov 5, 2019

Abstract

The refrigerator includes a body having a storage space for storing a predetermined storage object, wherein the body includes an inner case having the storage space, an outer case having an inside surface spaced a predetermined gap from an inside surface of the inner case to house the inner case, a vacuum space provided between the inner case and the outer case enclosed to maintain a vacuum state for heat insulating between the inner case and the outer case, and a sealing unit for sealing a front of the vacuum space formed between a front of the inner case and a front of the outer case and reducing a heat transfer rate between the inner case and the outer case.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerator comprising:
an inner case that defines a storage space;
an outer case with an inside surface which is spaced a predetermined distance from an outside surface of the inner case to surround the inner case, forming a gap;
a vacuum space provided between the inner case and the outer case, and sealed to maintain a vacuum state for heat insulation between the inner case and the outer case;
a getter provided in the vacuum space and configured to collect gas;
a plurality of supporting portions arranged and projected from an outside surface of the inner case to make a surface to surface contact with an inside surface of the outer case, or is arranged and projected from the inside surface of the outer case to make a surface to surface contact with the outside surface of the inner case, the plurality of supporting portions configured to maintain the gap between the inner case and the outer case;
reinforcing ribs, the reinforcing ribs being configured to project from the outside surface of the inner case, or the reinforcing ribs being configured to project from the inside surface of the outer case;
a blocking member having a thin film shape to perform a sealing function and minimize heat transfer between the inner case and the outer case and arranged in front of the vacuum space to block the vacuum space, the blocking member being configured to connect the inner case with the outer case;
a reinforcing member configured to reinforce a strength of blocking member; and
a front cover configured to connect and seal front edges of the inner case and the outer case, the front cover provided in front of the blocking member,
wherein the blocking member is spaced apart from each of the plurality of supporting portions,
wherein the reinforcing ribs extend in a longitudinal direction from a front to a rear of the refrigerator along the outside surface of the inner case or along the inside surface of the outer case, the reinforcing ribs being spaced apart from the blocking member and to reinforce the strength of the outer case or the inner case from a distortion by an external impact or a deformation at the time of evacuation of the vacuum space, and
wherein the reinforcing member is arranged near the blocking member to reinforce the strength of the outer case or the inner case from a distortion by an external impact or a deformation at the time of evacuation of the vacuum space.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing ribs do not extend to reach the front edges of the inner case and the outer case.

3. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the blocking member includes a first portion to couple with the front edge of the inner case, a second portion to couple with the front edge of the outer case, and a third portion between to the first portion and the second portion.

4. The refrigerator of claim 3 , wherein the reinforcing member is spaced apart from the third portion of the blocking member and coupled with the refrigerator between the inner case and the outer case.

5. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the blocking member includes an arch shaped portion provided between a first coupling portion of the blocking member and a second coupling portion of the blocking member, and is configured to distribute a pressure caused by a pressure gradient and to make a heat path longer than a straight path.

6. The refrigerator of claim 5 , wherein the reinforcing member is spaced apart from the arch shaped portion of the blocking member and coupled with the refrigerator between the inner case and the outer case.

7. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the inner case and the outer case has four front edges, the reinforcing member being positioned around at least one edge from the four edges.

8. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the inner case and the outer case has four front edges, the reinforcing member being provided at the four edges.

9. The refrigerator of claim 8 , wherein the reinforcing member has a band shape or a ring shape.

10. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing member is provided between the reinforcing ribs and the front cover, and is provided behind the front edges along the blocking member.

11. The refrigerator of claim 10 , wherein the front cover is positioned in front of the reinforcing member to prevent the reinforcing member from exposing to an outside of the refrigerator.

12. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing ribs are extended to cross at a corner of the inner case or the outer case, the reinforcing ribs being spaced apart from each of the plurality of supporting portions and having a smaller height than a width of the vacuum space, and wherein the reinforcing member is spaced apart from each of the plurality of supporting portions.

13. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing ribs are separately provided from the reinforcing member.

14. A refrigerator comprising:
an inner case that defines a storage space;
an outer case with an inside surface which is spaced a predetermined distance from an outside surface of the inner case to surround the inner case, forming a gap;
a vacuum space provided between the inner case and the outer case, and sealed to maintain a vacuum state for heat insulation between the inner case and the outer case;
a getter provided in the vacuum space and configured to collect gas;
a plurality of supporting portions arranged and projected from an outside surface of the inner case to make a surface to surface contact with an inside surface of the outer case, or is arranged and projected from the inside surface of the outer case to make a surface to surface contact with the outside surface of the inner case, the plurality of supporting portions configured to maintain the gap between the inner case and the outer case;
a blocking member configured to perform a sealing function and arranged in front of the vacuum space to block the vacuum space, the blocking member including a first portion to connect with the inner case, a second portion to connect the outer case, and a third portion between the first portion and the second portion;
a reinforcing member being configured to reinforce a strength of blocking member; and
a front cover being configured to connect and seal front edges of the inner case and the outer case, the front cover provided in front of the blocking member,
wherein the blocking member is spaced apart from each of the plurality of supporting portions and has a thin film shape to minimize heat transfer between the inner case and the outer case, and
wherein the reinforcing member is arranged near the blocking member to reinforce the strength of the outer case or the inner case from a distortion by an external impact or a deformation at the time of evacuation to for the vacuum space.

15. The refrigerator of claim 14 , wherein the reinforcing member is spaced apart from each of the plurality of the supporting portions and coupled with the refrigerator between the inner case and the outer case.

16. The refrigerator of claim 14 , wherein the third portion of the blocking member is an arch shaped portion configured to distribute a pressure caused by a pressure gradient and to make a heat path longer than a straight path.

17. The refrigerator of claim 16 , wherein the reinforcing member is spaced apart from the arch shaped portion of the blocking member and coupled with the refrigerator between the inner case and the outer case.

18. The refrigerator of claim 14 , wherein the inner case and the outer case has four front edge

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Jung Wonyeong
• Lee Myungryul
• Jhee Sung

Classifications

• F25D23/066 Primary

  Liners · CPC title

• F25D23/085

  Breaking strips · CPC title

• F25D2201/14

  using subatmospheric pressure · CPC title

• F25D23/065

  Details · CPC title