Channel system for a vacuum insulated structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10746343-B2
Application number	US-201816145392-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 28, 2018
Priority date	Sep 28, 2018
Publication date	Aug 18, 2020
Grant date	Aug 18, 2020

Abstract

An appliance includes a panel having a raised landing outwardly extending from a first surface of the panel. A vacuum port is disposed on the raised landing. A system of channels is disposed over the first surface of the panel and outwardly extends therefrom. The system of channels substantially covers the first surface of the panel. The first surface of the panel is covered with a filter member that covers the system of channels. The raised landing, and vacuum port thereof, is fluidically coupled to the system of channels at multiple connecting locations.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An appliance, comprising:
an outer wrapper having a first surface;
a plurality of channels disposed along the first surface of the outer wrapper;
an inner liner;
a trim breaker interconnecting the outer wrapper and the inner liner in a substantially air-tight manner to define an insulation space therebetween;
a vacuum port disposed on the outer wrapper, wherein the vacuum port is fluidically coupled to the plurality of channels;
a filter member disposed over the plurality of channels, such that air can be drawn from the insulation space past the filter member and through the plurality of channels to the vacuum port to maintain a negative pressure in the insulation space; and
an adhesive member, wherein the adhesive member includes a frame assembly that surrounds an outer perimeter edge of the filter member, such that a first portion of the frame assembly is coupled to the first surface of the outer wrapper and a second portion of the frame assembly is coupled to the filter member.

2. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the outer wrapper and the inner liner are formed from a metal material.

3. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the filter member is formed from a filter paper material.

4. The appliance of claim 1 , including:
an adhesive member coupling an outer perimeter edge of the filter member with the first surface of the outer wrapper.

5. The appliance of claim 1 , including:
an insulation material disposed in the insulation space between the outer wrapper and the inner liner.

6. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of channels includes a first portion substantially covering a width of the first surface of the outer wrapper and a second portion substantially covering a length of the first surface of the outer wrapper.

7. The appliance of claim 6 , wherein the filter member substantially covers the first surface of the outer wrapper.

8. An appliance, comprising:
a panel having a raised landing outwardly extending from a first surface of the panel;
a vacuum port disposed on the raised landing;
a system of channels having two or more interconnected channels disposed over the first surface of the panel and outwardly extending therefrom; and
first and second interconnecting channels, wherein both the first and second interconnecting channels include first ends fluidically coupled to the raised landing and second ends fluidically coupled to the system of channels at first and second connecting locations along the system of channels.

9. The appliance of claim 8 , including:
a filter member disposed over the system of channels, such that air can be filtered through the filter member along the system of channels.

10. The appliance of claim 9 , wherein the filter member is formed from a paper material.

11. The appliance of claim 9 , including:
an adhesive member interconnecting the filter member and a second surface of the panel over the system of channels.

12. The appliance of claim 11 , wherein the filter member substantially covers the second surface of the panel.

13. The appliance of claim 8 , wherein the panel is formed from a metal material, and further wherein the two or more interconnected channels are embossed on the first surface of the panel.

14. An appliance, comprising:
a panel;
a vacuum port disposed on the panel;
a one or more channels defining a channel loop disposed over the panel, wherein the channel loop includes a first end and a second end with a body portion disposed therebetween, and further wherein the first end and the second end of the channel loop are fluidically coupled to the vacuum port;
a filter member disposed over the one or more channels, such that air can be drawn through the filter member and to the vacuum port through the one or more channels, wherein the filter member substantially covers the first surface of the panel; and
an adhesive member interconnecting the filter member and a first surface of the panel.

15. The appliance of claim 14 , wherein the filter member is formed from a paper material.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Allard Paul B
• Beckner Jeffrey
• Ekshinge Sunil S
• Naik Abhay
• Pathak Sanjesh Kumar

Classifications

• Y02B40/00

  Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers · CPC title

• F16L59/065 Primary

  using vacuum (F16L59/075 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F25D2201/14

  using subatmospheric pressure · CPC title

• F25D23/065 Primary

  Details · CPC title

• F25D23/063

  formed by an assembly of panels · CPC title