Refrigeration appliance with a refrigerant line and water line extending through common pass-through of a vacuum-insulated structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12442590-B2
Application number	US-202318207362-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 8, 2023
Priority date	Jun 8, 2023
Publication date	Oct 14, 2025
Grant date	Oct 14, 2025

Abstract

A refrigeration appliance includes a vacuum-insulated structure that defines an interior compartment. The vacuum-insulated structure defines a pass-through through the vacuum-insulated structure. The pass-through provides access from an external environment to the interior compartment. An evaporator is disposed within the interior compartment. The evaporator is operable to lower or maintain a temperature of the interior compartment below ambient temperature. A refrigerant line extends through the pass-through and into the interior compartment. A water line extends through the pass-through and into the interior compartment. An insulation block is disposed within the interior compartment and between the evaporator and the water line.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigeration appliance, comprising:
a vacuum-insulated structure defining an interior compartment, the vacuum-insulated structure defining a pass-through therethrough providing access from an external environment to the interior compartment;
an evaporator disposed within the interior compartment, the evaporator being operable to lower or maintain a temperature of the interior compartment below ambient temperature;
a pass-through grommet disposed within the pass-through, the pass-through grommet defining a first aperture and a second aperture;
a refrigerant line that extends through the first aperture and into the interior compartment, the refrigerant line in fluid communication with the evaporator;
a water line extending through the second aperture and into the interior compartment;
an insulation block disposed within the interior compartment, the insulation block being disposed between the evaporator and the water line, wherein the insulation block abuts the pass-through grommet; and
a pass-through cover disposed over the pass-through and coupled to the vacuum-insulated structure.

2. The refrigeration appliance of claim 1 , wherein the insulation block extends from a sidewall of the interior compartment to a ceiling of the interior compartment.

3. The refrigeration appliance of claim 1 , wherein the insulation block defines an insulation block channel, and wherein the refrigerant line and the water line extend along the insulation block channel.

4. The refrigeration appliance of claim 3 , wherein the insulation block channel defines a semi-circular shape that coincides with a circular shape of the pass-through.

5. The refrigeration appliance of claim 1 , further comprising:
a heater disposed proximate the insulation block.

6. A refrigeration appliance, comprising:
a vacuum-insulated structure defining an interior compartment, the vacuum-insulated structure defining a pass-through therethrough providing access from an external environment to the interior compartment;
an evaporator disposed within the interior compartment, the evaporator being operable to lower or maintain a temperature of the interior compartment below ambient temperature;
a refrigerant line that extends through the pass-through and into the interior compartment, the refrigerant line in fluid communication with the evaporator;
a water line extending through the pass-through and into the interior compartment; and
an insulation block disposed within the interior compartment and between the evaporator and the water line, wherein the insulation block at least partially encircles the water line, and wherein the insulation block includes a first portion extending toward a sidewall of the interior compartment and a second portion extending toward a ceiling of the interior compartment.

7. The refrigeration appliance of claim 6 , further comprising:
a pass-through grommet disposed within the pass-through.

8. The refrigeration appliance of claim 7 , wherein the pass-through grommet defines a first aperture and a second aperture extending through the pass-through grommet, and wherein the refrigerant line extends through the first aperture and the water line extends through the second aperture.

9. The refrigeration appliance of claim 6 , wherein the first portion, the second portion, the sidewall, and the ceiling at least partially define an insulated region around the water line.

10. The refrigeration appliance of claim 6 , further comprising:
a pass-through cover coupled to the vacuum-insulated structure and disposed over the pass-through.

11. A refrigeration appliance, comprising:
a vacuum-insulated structure defining an interior compartment, the vacuum-insulated structure defining a pass-through therethrough providing access from an external environment to the interior compartment;
an evaporator disposed within the interior compartment, the evaporator being operable to lower or maintain a temperature of the interior compartment below ambient temperature;
a refrigerant line that extends through the pass-through and into the interior compartment;
a water line extending through the pass-through and into the interior compartment; and
an insulation block disposed within the interior compartment and between the evaporator and the water line, wherein the insulation block includes a first portion that extends toward a sidewall of the interior compartment and a second portion that extends toward a ceiling of the interior compartment.

12. The refrigeration appliance of claim 11 , further comprising:
a pass-through grommet disposed in the pass-through, the pass-through grommet defining a first aperture and a second aperture, wherein the refrigerant line extends through the first aperture and the water line extends through the second aperture.

13. The refrigeration appliance of claim 12 , wherein the insulation block abuts the pass-through grommet.

14. The refrigeration appliance of claim 11 , wherein the first portion includes an abutment section coupled to the sidewall, and wherein the abutment section extends downward from the first portion, and wherein the second portion includes a top surface coupled to the ceiling.

15. The refrigeration appliance of claim 11 , wherein the first portion is obliquely orientated relative to the second portion.

16. The refrigeration appliance of claim 11 , further comprising:
a pass-through cover coupled to the vacuum-insulated structure and disposed over the pass-through; and
a heater disposed proximate the insulation block and proximate the water line.

17. The refrigeration appliance of claim 11 , wherein the insulation block at least partially encircles the water line.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Bet Kapil Devidas
• Chauhan Vishal Brahmanand
• Chhajed Rahul Subhash
• More Anup Bapu
• Sarma Abinash

Classifications

• F25D2201/14

  using subatmospheric pressure · CPC title

• F25D23/068

  Arrangements for circulating fluids through the insulating material · CPC title

• F25D21/08

  by electric heating · CPC title

• F25D23/065

  Details · CPC title

• F25D23/061 Primary

  with conduit means · CPC title