Refrigerator and vacuum insulation module thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018017314-A1
Application number	US-201515540220-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 16, 2015
Priority date	Dec 26, 2014
Publication date	Jan 18, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Provided is a refrigerator including an inner case, a storage compartment formed inside the inner case, an outer case provided outside the inner case, and a plurality of vacuum insulation modules provided between the inner case and the outer case to insulate the storage compartment, and each of the plurality of vacuum insulation modules includes a vacuum insulator, and a cartridge which accommodates the vacuum insulator and supports the inner case and the outer case. The cartridge has a mutual coupling portion coupled to the cartridge of an adjacent vacuum insulation module. Accordingly, the vacuum insulator can be easily manufactured without an additional support frame or a foaming process, and sufficient strength and coupling force can be secured by using only the vacuum insulator.

First claim

1 . A refrigerator, comprising:
an inner case; a storage compartment formed inside the inner case; an outer case provided outside the inner case; and a plurality of vacuum insulation modules provided between the inner case and the outer case to insulate the storage compartment; wherein each of the plurality of vacuum insulation modules includes
a vacuum insulator including an outer cover material in which the inside is sealed in a vacuum state, and a core material provided inside the outer cover material, and
a cartridge which accommodates the vacuum insulator, supports the inner case and the outer case, and has a mutual coupling portion coupled to the cartridge of an adjacent vacuum insulation module.

2 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the mutual coupling portion includes convex portions and concave portions engaged with the cartridge of an adjacent vacuum insulation module.

3 . The refrigerator of claim 2 , wherein the convex portion and the concave portion have a square shape.

4 . The refrigerator of claim 2 , wherein the convex portion has a dovetail shape which thickens toward the outside.

5 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the mutual coupling portion includes a fastening hole to couple to the cartridge of an adjacent vacuum insulation module by an additional fastening member.

6 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the mutual coupling portion includes a side coupling portion coupled to the cartridge of a vacuum insulation module adjacently disposed on the same plane.

7 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the mutual coupling portion includes a corner coupling portion coupled to the cartridge of a vacuum insulation module adjacently disposed to a corner.

8 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , further comprising a connecting member provided so as to mutually couple the cartridge of a vacuum insulation module adjacently disposed to a corner.

9 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge includes a bottom portion, a side wall, and an accommodation space formed by the bottom portion and the side wall portion to accommodate the vacuum insulator.

10 . The refrigerator of claim 9 , wherein the side wall portion of the cartridge includes a contact protrusion portion projecting toward the inner case or the outer case to contact the inner case or the outer case.

11 . The refrigerator of claim 9 , wherein the side wall portion of the cartridge includes a thermal conductivity reduction portion reducing a heat conduction area between the inner case and the outer case.

12 . The refrigerator of claim 11 , wherein the thermal conductivity reduction portion includes a groove or a hole formed in the side wall portion of the cartridge.

13 . The refrigerator of claim 9 , wherein the side wall portion of the cartridge has a larger thickness than the bottom portion of the cartridge.

14 . The refrigerator of claim 9 , wherein the cartridge includes a refrigerant pipe through-hole through which a refrigerant pipe passes, and the refrigerant pipe is accommodated in the accommodation space of the cartridge.

15 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge includes an iron core embedded inside the cartridge.

16 . A vacuum insulation module, comprising:
a vacuum insulator including an outer cover material in which the inside is sealed in a vacuum state, and a core material provided inside the outer cover material; and a cartridge including a bottom portion, a side wall portion, and an accommodation space formed by the bottom portion and the side wall portion to accommodate the vacuum insulator, wherein the cartridge includes a mutual coupling portion for coupling.

17 . The vacuum insulation module of claim 16 , wherein the mutual coupling portion includes convex portions and concave portions engaged with the cartridge of an adjacent vacuum insulation module.

18 . The vacuum insulation module of claim 16 , wherein the mutual coupling portion includes a fastening hole to couple to the cartridge of an adjacent vacuum insulation module by an additional fastening member.

19 . The vacuum insulation module of claim 16 , wherein the cartridge includes an iron core embedded inside the cartridge.

20 . A refrigerator, comprising:
a main body; a storage compartment formed inside the main body; and a door coupled to the main body to open or close the storage compartment, wherein the door includes
a front side plate,
a back side plate, and
a vacuum insulation module provided between the front side plate and the back side plate to insulate the storage compartment,
wherein the vacuum insulation module includes
a vacuum insulator including an outer cover material sealed in a vacuum state, and a core material provided inside the outer cover material, and
a cartridge which accommodates the vacuum insulator, and supports the front side plate and the back side plate.

21 - 23 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Jeong Hyun Ku
• Kim Dae Hwan
• Jang Choong Hyo
• Kuk Keon
• Kim Jun O

Classifications

• F25D2201/14

  using subatmospheric pressure · CPC title

• F25D23/02

  Doors; Covers (F25D23/08 takes precedence {locks or fastenings E05B65/0042}) · CPC title

• F25D23/067

  Supporting elements · CPC title

• F25D23/06 Primary

  Walls (F25D23/08 takes precedence; containers with thermal insulation B65D81/38) · CPC title

• F25D2500/02

  Geometry problems · CPC title