Method for improved insulation and filler materials

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11655933-B2
Application number	US-202117550351-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2021
Priority date	Dec 18, 2017
Publication date	May 23, 2023
Grant date	May 23, 2023

Abstract

A method for preparing a vacuum insulated panel includes forming an internal cavity between a liner and a wrapper and preparing a filler material to be disposed in the internal cavity. The filler material includes a first part and a second part and is prepared by treating a surface of the first part. A coating is applied to the surface of the first part with a chemical having a first charge. The coating forms a first surface charge on the surface of the first part. The method further includes mixing the first part with the second part forming the filler material. The second part includes a material having a second surface charge opposite the first surface charge.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for preparing a vacuum insulated panel comprising:
forming an internal cavity between a liner and a wrapper; and
preparing filler material to be disposed in the internal cavity, wherein the filler material comprises a first part and a second part, and preparing the filler material comprises:
coating a surface of the first part with a chemical comprising a first charge, wherein the coating forms a first surface charge on the surface of the first part; and
mixing the first part with the second part forming the filler material, wherein the second part comprises a material having a second surface charge opposite the first surface charge.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
treating a surface of the first part, wherein the treating prepares the surface to receive the coating comprising the first charge.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
feeding the filler material into the internal cavity; and
evacuating air from the internal cavity, compacting the liner and wrapper to the filler material.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first surface charge is positive and the second surface charge is negative.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first charge comprises a positive charge and the treating of the first part by preparing the surface to receive the coating comprises soaking the first part in an acid.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the acid is hydrochloric acid and the treating hydrolyzes the surface of the first part.

7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
rinsing and drying the first part after the treating and before coating the surface.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first part is a plurality of glass bubbles.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second part is a fumed silica.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the chemical comprising the first charge is a silane.

11. A method for preparing a vacuum insulated panel comprising:
preparing a filler material comprising a plurality of glass spheres and a fumed silica by:
coating the glass spheres in a positively charged coating having a positive surface charge; and
mixing the glass spheres with the fumed silica, wherein the fumed silica comprises a negative surface charge, wherein the glass spheres and the fumed silica are mixed forming a homogeneous mixture;

dispensing the filler material in an internal space; and
compacting the filler material within the internal space.

12. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:
providing a liner forming an interior wall of a refrigerator compartment.

13. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:
providing a wrapper configured to enclose an exterior wall of the liner, opposite the interior wall.

14. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:
connecting the liner and the wrapper together forming the internal space.

15. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the internal space is evacuated thereby compacting the filler material.

16. The method according to claim 11 , wherein coating the glass spheres comprises applying a silane material having a positive charge to the surface of the glass spheres.

17. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising:
hydrolyzing the glass spheres in an acid bath, providing for a bond between a hydroxide and the silane material.

18. A method for preparing a panel insulated with a filler material comprising:
preparing the filler material to be disposed in a cavity of the panel, wherein the filler material comprises a first part and a second part, and preparing the filler material comprises:
treating a surface of the first part, wherein the treating prepares the surface to receive a coating comprising a first charge;
applying the coating to the surface of the first part forming the first charge over the surface; and
mixing the first part with the second part forming the filler material, wherein the second part comprises a material having a second charge opposite the first charge.

19. The method according to claim 18 , further comprising:
providing the panel forming the cavity;
feeding the filler material into the cavity; and
compacting the filler material within the cavity.

20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein compacting the filler material comprises evacuating air from the cavity.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Nigam Ashish
• Raskar Devidas B

Classifications

• F16L59/065 Primary

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

• F25D23/063

  formed by an assembly of panels · CPC title

• F25D2201/14

  using subatmospheric pressure · CPC title

• C04B2111/28

  Fire resistance, i.e. materials resistant to accidental fires or high temperatures · CPC title

• C04B2111/00612

  as one or more layers of a layered structure · CPC title