公开(公告)号：US11435023B2

公开(公告)日：2022-09-06

申请号：US16652650

申请日：2017-10-26

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Abhay Naik ,  Ashish Nigam

IPC: F26B5/04 ,  F16L59/065 ,  F25D23/06

Abstract: An auger feeder includes a hopper having an inner hopper wall and an outer hopper wall where the inner hopper wall includes an air permeable surface. A space is positioned between the inner and outer hopper walls. A heater is coupled to an outside edge of the inner hopper wall or an outside edge of the outer hopper wall while a feed screw is positioned along an inside edge of the inner hopper wall. The auger feeder additionally includes an evacuator coupled to a vacuum port that is positioned in the outer hopper wall. The auger feeder also includes an aperture exit positioned at a bottom of the inner and outer hopper walls.

公开(公告)号：US20220205708A1

公开(公告)日：2022-06-30

申请号：US17136147

申请日：2020-12-29

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Arunkumar Harikrishnasamy ,  Sai B. Krishna ,  Abhay Naik

IPC: F25D23/06 ,  F25D11/02

Abstract: A vacuum insulated structure includes a first cover member of a unitary sheet member defining a perimeter portion, an outer frame portion defined radially inward of the perimeter portion, and an inner area surrounded and supported by the outer frame portion. The inner area defines a first planar level with a portion of the outer frame portion extending to a second planar level parallel to and spaced apart from the first planar level in an axial direction. The vacuum insulated structure further includes a second cover member of a unitary sheet and a thermal bridge interconnecting the first cover member and the second cover member at the perimeter portions thereof to define an insulating cavity therebetween. The outer frame portion deforms such that the inner area moves axially inward away from the second planar level under a force of the vacuum within the insulating cavity.

公开(公告)号：US20220196200A1

公开(公告)日：2022-06-23

申请号：US17688975

申请日：2022-03-08

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Paul B. Allard ,  Jeffrey Beckner ,  Sunil S. Ekshinge ,  Abhay Naik ,  Sanjesh Pathak

IPC: F16L59/065 ,  F25D23/06 ,  F25D23/08

Abstract: An appliance includes a panel having a raised landing outwardly extending from a first surface of the panel. A vacuum port is disposed on the raised landing. A system of channels is disposed over the first surface of the panel and outwardly extends therefrom. The system of channels substantially covers the first surface of the panel. The first surface of the panel is covered with a filter member that covers the system of channels. The raised landing, and vacuum port thereof, is fluidically coupled to the system of channels at multiple connecting locations.

公开(公告)号：US20220120490A1

公开(公告)日：2022-04-21

申请号：US17565600

申请日：2021-12-30

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：US20220118659A1

公开(公告)日：2022-04-21

申请号：US17563682

申请日：2021-12-28

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Abhay Naik ,  Christian Myles Russell

IPC: B29C43/04 ,  F25D23/06

Abstract: A method of fabricating a vacuum insulated refrigerator structure includes positioning a first barrier film in a female mold cavity. Porous filler material is positioned on the barrier film, and a second barrier film is positioned over the porous filler material. A male mold is brought into contact with the second barrier film to deform and compress the porous filler material into a 3D shape. A vacuum is formed between the first and second barrier films, and the first and second peripheral edge portions are sealed together to form a vacuum insulated core. The vacuum insulated core may be positioned between a liner and a wrapper to form an insulated refrigerator cabinet, door, or other vacuum insulated component.

公开(公告)号：US20220107046A1

公开(公告)日：2022-04-07

申请号：US17553010

申请日：2021-12-16

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Paul B. Allard ,  Mohamed Alshourbagy ,  Lakshya J. Deka ,  Eric J. Dherde ,  Gustavo Frattini ,  Alberto R. Gomes ,  Lynne F. Hunter ,  Giulia Marinello ,  Abhay Naik ,  Sanjesh Kumar Pathak ,  Jerry M. Visin

IPC: F16L59/065 ,  F25D23/06 ,  F25D23/08

Abstract: An appliance includes a metallic outer wrapper having sidewalls, a wrapper backwall and a machine wall. At least one metallic inner liner has liner walls and a liner backwall, wherein the metallic outer wrapper and the at least one metallic inner liner are coupled together at a trim breaker to define a structural cabinet having a hermetically sealed interior cavity defined between the metallic outer wrapper and the at least one metallic inner liner. The trim breaker defines a front face of the structural cabinet. At least one trim breaker conduit extends through the wrapper and liner backwalls wherein the trim breaker conduit defines a conduit through the structural cabinet, and wherein the structural cabinet is hermetically sealed at the trim breaker conduit.

公开(公告)号：US20210325106A1

公开(公告)日：2021-10-21

申请号：US17360077

申请日：2021-06-28

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Giulia Marinello ,  Alberto R. Gomes ,  Lynne F. Hunter ,  Julia B. Burke ,  Daniel Chow ,  Abhay Naik

IPC: F25D27/00 ,  F25D23/06 ,  F25D23/08

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a vacuum insulated cabinet and a surround lighting feature. The vacuum insulated cabinet includes a liner disposed within a wrapper, which are interconnected by a thermal bridge to form a vacuum cavity therebetween. A wall covering assembly includes a top wall disposed adjacent to and spaced-apart from a top wall of the liner. The wall covering assembly also includes a rear wall disposed adjacent to and spaced-apart from a rear wall of the liner. In assembly, the liner and the wall covering assembly cooperate to define a refrigerator compartment. A cavity is formed between liner and the wall covering assembly. A surround lighting assembly is disposed around an opening into the refrigerator compartment and is powered by a wiring system concealed by the wall covering assembly.

公开(公告)号：US11085690B2

公开(公告)日：2021-08-10

申请号：US16303549

申请日：2017-01-18

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：US20210207878A1

公开(公告)日：2021-07-08

申请号：US17208082

申请日：2021-03-22

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

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

IPC: F25D23/06

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：US11035607B2

公开(公告)日：2021-06-15

申请号：US16302939

申请日：2017-01-18

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Abhay Naik ,  Subrata Shannigrahi ,  Gustavo Frattini

IPC: F25D23/06 ,  F16L59/065

Abstract: An appliance includes an outer wrapper having a plurality of joined walls that define a plurality of vertices and edges. An inner liner is sealed with the outer wrapper to define an insulation space. A vacuum port is disposed on an external surface of the outer wrapper. A channel is in fluid communication with the vacuum port and extends along at least one edge defined by first and second walls of the outer wrapper. An insulative material is disposed between the outer wrapper and the inner liner. A filter media is disposed along the channel such that air can be drawn from the insulation space past the filter media, into the channel, and through each vacuum port.