Molded gas barrier parts for vacuum insulated structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11577446-B2
Application number	US-202017018271-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 11, 2020
Priority date	Dec 29, 2015
Publication date	Feb 14, 2023
Grant date	Feb 14, 2023

Abstract

A vacuum insulated appliance structure, comprising: a first layer of a first polymer material. A second layer of a second polymer material is molded to (e.g. over) at least a portion of the first layer, and a third layer of a third polymer material is molded to (e.g. 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. One or more additional components are secured to the first component to form a vacuum cavity. The vacuum cavity is filled with a porous material, and the vacuum cavity is evacuated to form a vacuum.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vacuum insulated appliance structure, comprising: a first component having first and third layers molded to opposite sides of a second layer; wherein the first layer comprises a first thermoplastic polymer material; wherein the second layer comprises a second thermoplastic polymer material, and wherein the second thermoplastic polymer material is selected from the group consisting of EVOH and LCP; wherein the third layer comprises a third thermoplastic polymer; wherein a portion of the first layer is in direct contact with a portion of the third layer such that the first and third layers form a continuous one piece outer structure that completely encapsulates the entire second layer inside the outer structure; a second component secured to the first component to form a cavity therebetween; porous filler material disposed in the cavity wherein the cavity is evacuated to form a vacuum; and wherein the first and third layers comprise materials selected from the group consisting of PVC, PET, HIPS, a co-polyester, and nylon.

2. The vacuum insulated appliance structure of claim 1 , wherein:
portions of the first and third layers are in direct contact with each other and form a seal along an edge of the second layer.

3. The vacuum insulated appliance structure of claim 2 , wherein:
the portions of the first and third layers that are melted together to form the seal along the edge of the second layer.

4. The vacuum insulated appliance structure of claim 1 , wherein:
at least a portion of the one piece outer structure extends transversely across an edge of the second layer and completely covers the edge of the second layer such that the edge of the second layer is not exposed.

5. A vacuum insulated appliance structure comprising: a first component having first and third layers molded to opposite sides of a second layer: wherein the first layer comprises a first thermoplastic polymer material: where the second layer comprises a second thermoplastic polymer material, and wherein the second thermoplastic polymer material is selected from the group consisting of EVOH and LCP; wherein the third layer comprises a third thermoplastic polymer; wherein the first and third layer from a continuous one piece outer structure that completely encapsulates the second layer; a second component secured to the first component to form a cavity therebetween, wherein the second component comprise a wrapper sealingly connected to the first component; porous filler material disposed in the cavity wherein the cavity is evacuated to form a vacuum; and wherein the first and third layers comprise materials selected from the group consisting of PVC, PET, HIP, a co-polyester, and nylon; and including a liner sealingly connected to the first component, wherein the liner is spaced apart from the wrapper to form an edge gap, and wherein the first component comprises a trim breaker that spans the edge gap.

6. The vacuum insulated appliance structure of claim 5 , wherein:
at least one of the wrapper and the liner are metal.

7. A vacuum insulated appliance structure, comprising:
a first component having first and third layers molded to opposite sides of a second layer;
wherein the first layer comprises a first thermoplastic polymer material;
wherein the second layer comprises a second thermoplastic polymer material, wherein the second thermoplastic polymer material is selected from the group consisting of EVOH and LCP;
wherein the third layer comprises a third thermoplastic polymer;
wherein the first and third layers comprise materials selected from the group consisting of PVC, PET, HIPS, a co-polyester, and nylon;
a wrapper sealingly connected to the first component;
a liner sealingly connected to the first component, wherein the liner is spaced apart from the wrapper to form an edge gap, and wherein the first component comprises a trim breaker that spans the edge gap, the wrapper, liner, and trim breaker forming a cavity;
porous filler material disposed in the cavity, and wherein the cavity is evacuated to form a vacuum.

8. The vacuum insulated appliance structure of claim 7 , wherein:
at least one of the wrapper and the liner are metal.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Allard Paul B
• Miller Dustin M
• Shannigrahi Subrata
• Liu Hua

Classifications

• F25D2201/1262

  with open cells · CPC title

• 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

• B29K2995/0067

  non-permeable · CPC title

• B65D81/3806

  formed with double walls, i.e. hollow · CPC title

• B29L2031/7622

  Refrigerators · CPC title