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：US20210108851A1

公开(公告)日：2021-04-15

申请号：US17130554

申请日：2020-12-22

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Paul B. Allard ,  Sarah Galea ,  Dustin M. Miller ,  Vikas C. Mruthyunjaya ,  Abhay Naik ,  Sanjesh Kumar Pathak

IPC: F25D23/02 ,  F25C5/20 ,  F25D23/04 ,  F25D23/06 ,  F25D23/12

Abstract: A door panel for a refrigerating appliance includes an inner liner. An outer wrapper is attached to the inner liner and defines an insulating structure with an insulating cavity disposed therein. An insulating material is defined within the insulating cavity. A dispenser structure is defined within a central portion of the inner liner and the outer wrapper. The dispenser structure defines an insulated dispenser portion therein. A dispenser conduit extends from an interior area disposed above the dispenser structure to an external dispensing cavity and passing through the insulated dispenser portion.

公开(公告)号：US20210018255A1

公开(公告)日：2021-01-21

申请号：US17064710

申请日：2020-10-07

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Lakshya J. Deka ,  Dustin M. Miller ,  Tao Liu

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

Abstract: A vacuum insulated cabinet structure includes an exterior wrapper with a front edge extending around an opening thereof. A liner includes a front edge extending around an opening of the liner, wherein the liner is disposed inside of the wrapper. A thermal bridge includes an outer coupling portion and an inner coupling portion. In assembly, the outer coupling portion is overmolded to the front edge of the wrapper, and the inner coupling portion is overmolded to the front edge of the liner to form a sealed vacuum cavity (VC) between the wrapper and the liner. The thermal bridge is formed in a mold in which the wrapper and liner are partially disposed to form a unitary composite structure.

公开(公告)号：US20180311884A1

公开(公告)日：2018-11-01

申请号：US16016102

申请日：2018-06-22

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Paul B. Allard ,  Dustin M. Miller ,  Subrata Shannigrahi ,  Hua Liu

IPC: B29C51/02 ,  B29C51/06 ,  B29C51/08 ,  B65D81/38 ,  F25D23/06

CPC classification number: B29C51/02 ,  B29C51/06 ,  B29C51/082 ,  B29C2791/001 ,  B29K2101/12 ,  B29K2105/04 ,  B29K2995/0067 ,  B29L2031/7622 ,  B65D81/3806 ,  B65D81/3823 ,  F25D23/064 ,  F25D23/065 ,  F25D23/085 ,  F25D2201/1262 ,  F25D2201/14

Abstract: A method of fabricating a vacuum insulated appliance structure includes molding a first layer of a first polymer material. A second layer of a second polymer material is molded to (e.g. over) at least a portion of the first layer, and a third layer of a third polymer material is molded to (e.g. over) at least a portion of the second layer to form a first component. At least one of the layers is impervious to one or more gasses. One or more additional components are secured to the first component to form a vacuum cavity. The vacuum cavity is filled with a porous material, and the vacuum cavity is evacuated to form a vacuum.

公开(公告)号：US12038340B2

公开(公告)日：2024-07-16

申请号：US17552526

申请日：2021-12-16

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Paul Bennett Allard ,  Sunil Shivaji Ekshinge ,  Dustin M. Miller ,  Omkar Mithari ,  Abhay Naik ,  Rafael Dutra Nunes

IPC: G01L19/00 ,  F25D23/02 ,  G01L19/14 ,  G01L21/00

CPC classification number: G01L19/147 ,  F25D23/028 ,  G01L21/00 ,  Y10T428/231

Abstract: A door assembly includes a structural wrapper defining an insulating cavity. The structural wrapper defines a sensor port. A sensor assembly is coupled to an outer surface of the structural wrapper proximate to the sensor port. The sensor assembly includes a connector having a base coupled to a housing. The base is coupled to the structural wrapper. The connector defines an interior in fluid communication with the insulating cavity. A pressure sensor is disposed within the housing. The pressure sensor is configured to sense a pressure within the insulating cavity. At least one plate is disposed at an open end of the housing. The pressure sensor includes sensor pins that extend through the at least one plate.

公开(公告)号：US11994336B2

公开(公告)日：2024-05-28

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: F25D23/08 ,  F25D23/06

CPC classification number: F25D23/062 ,  F25D23/066 ,  F25D2201/14

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：US20230194372A1

公开(公告)日：2023-06-22

申请号：US17552526

申请日：2021-12-16

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Paul Bennett Allard ,  Sunil Shivaji Ekshinge ,  Dustin M. Miller ,  Omkar Mithari ,  Abhay Naik ,  Rafael Dutra Nunes

IPC: G01L19/14 ,  G01L21/00 ,  F25D23/02

CPC classification number: G01L19/147 ,  F25D23/028 ,  G01L21/00

Abstract: A door assembly includes a structural wrapper defining an insulating cavity. The structural wrapper defines a sensor port. A sensor assembly is coupled to an outer surface of the structural wrapper proximate to the sensor port. The sensor assembly includes a connector having a base coupled to a housing. The base is coupled to the structural wrapper. The connector defines an interior in fluid communication with the insulating cavity. A pressure sensor is disposed within the housing. The pressure sensor is configured to sense a pressure within the insulating cavity. At least one plate is disposed at an open end of the housing. The pressure sensor includes sensor pins that extend through the at least one plate.

公开(公告)号：US11313611B2

公开(公告)日：2022-04-26

申请号：US16400093

申请日：2019-05-01

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Paul B. Allard ,  Jeffrey Beckner ,  Kamil EL Sayed ,  Lynne F. Hunter ,  Sai B. Krishna ,  Dustin M. Miller ,  Abhay Naik ,  Karen J. Querfurth ,  Daniel Lottinville

IPC: F25D23/02 ,  E04C2/38 ,  F25D25/02 ,  F25D23/06 ,  F25D23/04 ,  F24C15/02

Abstract: A door panel includes an outer panel having a generally planar body portion with inner and outer surfaces and a sidewall with a front edge. An inner panel includes a generally planar body portion with inner and outer surfaces and a sidewall with a front edge. A trim breaker interconnects the outer panel and the inner panel to form a vacuum cavity therebetween. The trim breaker includes first and second upright members interconnected by upper and lower cross members. The trim breaker further includes an inner channel and an outer channel spaced-apart from one another around the trim breaker. The outer channel is outwardly disposed around the inner channel. The front edge of the inner panel is received in the inner channel of the trim breaker, and the front edge of the outer panel is received in the outer channel of the trim breaker.

公开(公告)号：US20210291490A1

公开(公告)日：2021-09-23

申请号：US17339035

申请日：2021-06-04

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Paul B. Allard ,  Lakshya J. Deka ,  Eric J. Dherde ,  Gustavo Frattini ,  Alberto R. Gomes ,  Lynne F. Hunter ,  Dustin M. Miller ,  Abhay Naik ,  Karen J. Querfurth ,  Jerry M. Visin

IPC: B32B15/00 ,  F25D23/02 ,  F25D23/08 ,  B32B7/12 ,  B32B15/08

Abstract: An operable panel for an appliance includes a metallic outer wrapper having a perimetrical wrapper edge that partially defines a perimetrical breaker channel, an inner liner and a plurality of corner brackets disposed proximate the perimetrical wrapper edge. Each corner bracket cooperates with the perimetrical wrapper edge to fully define the perimetrical breaker channel. A trim breaker is adhered to the metallic outer wrapper and the corner brackets at the perimetrical breaker channel and having a liner channel that receives a portion of the inner liner. The trim breaker extends between the inner liner and the outer wrapper. An insulation material is disposed within an insulating cavity defined between the inner liner and the outer wrapper.

公开(公告)号：US11065842B2

公开(公告)日：2021-07-20

申请号：US16308979

申请日：2016-09-28

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Paul B. Allard ,  Lakshya J. Deka ,  Eric J. Dherde ,  Gustavo Frattini ,  Alberto R. Gomes ,  Lynne F. Hunter ,  Dustin M. Miller ,  Abhay Naik ,  Karen J. Querfurth ,  Jerry M. Visin

IPC: B32B3/10 ,  B32B15/00 ,  F25D23/02 ,  F25D23/08 ,  B32B7/12 ,  B32B15/08 ,  B29C65/72 ,  F25D23/06 ,  B32B7/08

Abstract: An operable panel for an appliance includes a metallic outer wrapper having a perimetrical wrapper edge that partially defines a perimetrical breaker channel, an inner liner and a plurality of corner brackets disposed proximate the perimetrical wrapper edge. Each corner bracket cooperates with the perimetrical wrapper edge to fully define the perimetrical breaker channel. A trim breaker is adhered to the metallic outer wrapper and the corner brackets at the perimetrical breaker channel and having a liner channel that receives a portion of the inner liner. The trim breaker extends between the inner liner and the outer wrapper. An insulation material is disposed within an insulating cavity defined between the inner liner and the outer wrapper.