公开(公告)号：US11433590B2

公开(公告)日：2022-09-06

申请号：US17128265

申请日：2020-12-21

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Eric J. Dherde ,  Gustavo Frattini ,  Abhay Naik

IPC: B29L31/00 ,  B29C51/10 ,  F25D23/06 ,  F16L59/02 ,  F16L59/065

Abstract: An insulated structural cabinet for an appliance includes outer walls that are attached together to define a structural envelope that is operable from an expanded state that includes an expanded interior volume of the interior cavity, to a final state that includes a contracted interior volume of the interior cavity, wherein the contracted interior volume is less than the expanded interior volume. An insulating material disposed throughout the interior cavity in the expanded state. Operation of the structural envelope to the final state densifies the insulating material. Operation of the structural envelope to the final state is performed by a vacuum pump that expresses air from the interior cavity. The structural envelope is also operable from a performed state to the expanded state via an expanding device, and subsequently operable from the expanded state to the final state.

公开(公告)号：US20220107236A1

公开(公告)日：2022-04-07

申请号：US17551933

申请日：2021-12-15

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Paul B. Allard ,  Sai B. Krishna ,  Abhay Naik ,  Sanjesh Kumar Pathak

IPC: G01L19/08 ,  G01L1/04

Abstract: An appliance includes a metallic liner and an outer metallic wrapper. An insulating cavity is defined between the metallic liner and outer metallic wrapper. The appliance further includes a pressure sensing device disposed within the cavity. The pressure sensing device is located to detect a pressure status and transmit the pressure status through at least one of the metallic liner and outer metallic wrapper.

公开(公告)号：US20220099124A1

公开(公告)日：2022-03-31

申请号：US17545077

申请日：2021-12-08

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Lakshya J. Deka ,  Hua Liu ,  Abhay Naik

IPC: F16B11/00 ,  F25D23/08 ,  F25D23/06

Abstract: An appliance includes an outer wrapper, an inner liner, a trim breaker having a channel that receives at least one of a wrapper edge of the outer wrapper and a liner edge of the inner liner, and a composite encapsulation system that hermetically seals an insulating cavity defined between the outer wrapper and the inner liner. The composite encapsulation system includes a base adhesive and an outer adhesive, wherein the base adhesive defines a structural adhesive component and the outer adhesive defines a sealing adhesive component.

公开(公告)号：US11243021B2

公开(公告)日：2022-02-08

申请号：US16192102

申请日：2018-11-15

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Abhay Naik ,  Lakshya Deka ,  Paul B. Allard ,  Jerry M. Visin

IPC: F25D23/02

Abstract: A refrigerator includes an insulated cabinet structure and a cooling system. A door assembly includes a perimeter structure that is movably mounted to the insulated cabinet structure and an outer door that is movably mounted to the perimeter structure whereby the outer door can be moved between open and closed positions relative to the perimeter structure when the perimeter structure is in its closed position The outer door may comprise a vacuum insulated structure including porous core material disposed in a cavity of the outer door.

公开(公告)号：US11231223B2

公开(公告)日：2022-01-25

申请号：US17063155

申请日：2020-10-05

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Alberto R. Gomes ,  Lynne F. Hunter ,  Abhay Naik ,  Lorraine J. Westlake

IPC: F25D23/06

Abstract: An appliance includes an outer wrapper and an inner liner placed within the outer wrapper and spaced apart from the outer wrapper to define an insulating space. A trim breaker extends between the inner liner and the outer wrapper to define a structural cabinet. The trim breaker defines a front face of the cabinet. The trim breaker defines a gas conduit disposed within a wall of the structural cabinet proximate the insulating space. The gas conduit is adapted to define selective communication between the insulating space and an exterior of the structural cabinet. An insulating material is disposed within the insulating space, wherein the gas conduit is substantially free of the insulating material.

公开(公告)号：US20220011041A1

公开(公告)日：2022-01-13

申请号：US17483131

申请日：2021-09-23

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Arunkumar Harikrishnasamy ,  Lynne F. Hunter ,  Abhay Naik ,  Sanket Vivek Phalak ,  Aaron Michael Stewart

IPC: F25D23/06 ,  F25D23/00

Abstract: A cabinet of an appliance includes an outer wrapper defining opposing first and second sidewalls, a rear wall coupling the first and second sidewalls and an access opening and an inner liner defining an interior. The outer wrapper and the inner liner may define a sealed insulating cavity therebetween that is under vacuum. A plurality of reinforcement brackets may be disposed on the outer wrapper. The plurality of reinforcement brackets are configured to prevent deformation of the cabinet during application of the vacuum to the insulating cavity.

公开(公告)号：US20210356195A1

公开(公告)日：2021-11-18

申请号：US16757790

申请日：2017-11-30

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Lakshya J. Deka ,  Lynne F. Hunter ,  Hua Liu ,  Dustin M. Miller ,  Abhay Naik ,  Sanjesh Kumar Pathak

IPC: F25D21/04 ,  F25D23/06 ,  F25D23/08

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a wrapper having an opening with a front edge. A liner includes an opening and a front edge. A thermal bridge interconnects the wrapper and the liner to form a vacuum insulated cavity therebetween. The thermal bridge includes an outwardly opening channel and first and second inwardly opening channels. The front edge of wrapper is received in the first inwardly opening channel, and the front edge of the liner is received in the second inwardly opening channel. The second inwardly opening channel is inset relative to the first inwardly opening channel on the thermal bridge. A conduit is disposed within the outwardly opening channel and is configured to circulate a heated medium. The wrapper and liner are contemplated to be comprised of conductive materials, such sheet metal, while the thermal bridge is comprised of a thermally resistant material, such as a polymeric material.

公开(公告)号：US20210348831A1

公开(公告)日：2021-11-11

申请号：US16870399

申请日：2020-05-08

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Narendra A. Kapure ,  Abhay Naik ,  Sanjesh Kumar Pathak

IPC: F25D23/08 ,  E05C19/16 ,  E06B7/22

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a compartment. A door is hingedly coupled with the cabinet and is configured to selectively seal the compartment. The door includes a door trim breaker. An engagement member extends from the door trim breaker. A first retention ridge extends from a first side of the engagement member, and a second retention ridge extends from a second side of the engagement member. The first retention ridge is offset from the second retention ridge. A gasket is configured to fit over the engagement member and includes a coupling portion defining first and second retention spaces. The first retention space is configured to receive the first retention ridge, and the second retention space is configured to receive the second retention ridge. A contact portion is integrally formed with the coupling portion and is configured to at least partially abut the cabinet when the door is closed.

公开(公告)号：US20210341214A1

公开(公告)日：2021-11-04

申请号：US17370694

申请日：2021-07-08

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Abhay Naik ,  Subrata Shannigrahi ,  Gustavo Frattini

IPC: F25D23/06 ,  B01D46/00

Abstract: An outer wrapper that defines a top wall, a bottom wall, a rear wall, and first and second side walls and includes an inner liner. A trim breaker seals the outer wrapper to the inner liner to define an insulation space. A single vacuum port is disposed on each of the top wall, the bottom wall, and the first and second side walls. A plurality of vacuum ports is disposed on the rear wall. An insulative material is disposed between the outer wrapper and the inner liner. A filter media is disposed proximate each vacuum port such that air can be drawn from the insulation space past the filter media and through each vacuum port.

公开(公告)号：US20210323200A1

公开(公告)日：2021-10-21

申请号：US17361907

申请日：2021-06-29

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Abhay Naik ,  Lakshya J. Deka

IPC: B29C43/00 ,  B29C70/58 ,  B01F7/30 ,  B29C70/00

Abstract: A method for forming a vacuum insulated structure using a prepared core material includes preparing a powder insulation material defining a bulk density, pre-densifying the powder insulation material to form a pre-densified insulation base, crushing the pre-densified insulation base into granular core insulation to define a core density of the granular core insulation, disposing the granular core insulation having the core density into an insulating cavity defined within an insulating structure and expressing gas from the interior cavity of the insulating structure to further densify the granular core insulation to define a target density. The granular core insulation defines the target density disposed within the insulating structure defines the vacuum insulation structure, wherein the target density defines a density in the range of from approximately 80 grams per liter to approximately 350 grams per liter.