公开(公告)号：US20210254883A1

公开(公告)日：2021-08-19

申请号：US17307084

申请日：2021-05-04

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Paul B. Allard ,  Gustavo Frattini ,  Hua Liu

IPC: F25D23/02 ,  B32B7/12 ,  B32B15/082 ,  B32B37/12 ,  F16L59/065

Abstract: A method of forming an insulated door panel includes folding side flanges of a metallic sheet to define side edges of a structural outer panel that extend from a front panel. A gap is defined between each set of adjacent side edges. Interior blocks are secured to an interior of the structural outer panel proximate each gap to define adhesive cavities. Exterior blocks are positioned at an exterior surface of the structural outer panel at each gap to further define the adhesive cavities. An adhesive is disposed within each adhesive cavity and is contained therein by the interior and exterior blocks. The adhesive is cured to a solid sealing member that adheres the interior blocks to the interior surface of the structural outer panel to form a sealed structural panel. The exterior blocks are removed and each solid sealing member defines a hermetic seal at each gap.

公开(公告)号：US10906231B2

公开(公告)日：2021-02-02

申请号：US16301921

申请日：2016-09-30

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

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

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

Abstract: A method of forming a vacuum insulated structure includes providing a structural envelope an insulating cavity defined within the structural envelope. An expanding device is attached to opposing outer walls of the structural envelope and the interior cavity is expanded by pulling the opposing outer walls away from one another to define an expanded state. An insulating material is disposed within the insulating cavity to occupy substantially all of the insulating cavity in the expanded state. Gas is expressed from the insulating cavity to collapse the structural envelope to a final state and a final interior volume that is less than the expanded interior volume. The final state of the structural envelope defines a densified state of the insulating material within the insulating cavity. The vacuum port is then closed to hermetically seal the insulating cavity.

公开(公告)号：US20200256504A1

公开(公告)日：2020-08-13

申请号：US16637570

申请日：2017-10-05

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Gustavo Frattini ,  Abhay Naik

IPC: F16L59/065 ,  F25D23/06

Abstract: An appliance includes an outer wrapper and an inner liner that form a structural cabinet having an insulating cavity defined between the inner liner and the outer wrapper. An elliptical insulation port is defined within the outer wrapper, wherein the elliptical insulation port is configured to allow passage of a cylindrical insulation conduit when the insulation conduit is positioned at an oblique angle relative to the structural cabinet. An insulation material is disposed within the insulating cavity. A sealing cap covers the elliptical insulation port, wherein the sealing cap includes a protrusion that extends at least partially into the insulating cavity.

公开(公告)号：US20190331398A1

公开(公告)日：2019-10-31

申请号：US16308965

申请日：2017-02-28

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Paul B. Allard ,  Gustavo Frattini ,  Hua Liu

IPC: F25D23/02 ,  B32B7/12 ,  B32B15/082 ,  B32B37/12 ,  F16L59/065

Abstract: A method of forming an insulated door panel includes folding side flanges of a metallic sheet to define side edges of a structural outer panel that extend from a front panel. A gap is defined between each set of adjacent side edges. Interior blocks are secured to an interior of the structural outer panel proximate each gap to define adhesive cavities. Exterior blocks are positioned at an exterior surface of the structural outer panel at each gap to further define the adhesive cavities. An adhesive is disposed within each adhesive cavity and is contained therein by the interior and exterior blocks. The adhesive is cured to a solid sealing member that adheres the interior blocks to the interior surface of the structural outer panel to form a sealed structural panel. The exterior blocks are removed and each solid sealing member defines a hermetic seal at each gap.

公开(公告)号：US20190143257A1

公开(公告)日：2019-05-16

申请号：US16302958

申请日：2017-12-15

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Gustavo Frattini ,  Ashish Nigam

IPC: B01D53/04 ,  B01J20/28 ,  B01J20/06 ,  H01J7/18 ,  F17C3/08 ,  B01J20/04 ,  F25D23/06

Abstract: A getter assembly for a vacuumed compartment having a plate. A primary getter material is deposited on the plate. A cover layer is deposited over the primary getter material on the plate.

公开(公告)号：US20240271860A1

公开(公告)日：2024-08-15

申请号：US18646157

申请日：2024-04-25

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Gustavo Frattini ,  Anna Jedralski ,  Ashish Nigam ,  Subrata Shannigrahi

IPC: F25D23/06 ,  B29B9/16

CPC classification number: F25D23/064 ,  B29B9/16 ,  F25D2201/12 ,  F25D2201/14

Abstract: A filling system for a vacuum insulated structure includes a powder processor configured to load an internal cavity of the vacuum insulated structure with a heated and at least partially degassed vacuum insulation material. The powder processor includes a hopper with inner and outer hopper walls. The inner hopper wall includes an air permeable surface. A heater is positioned in a space defined between the inner and outer hopper walls. A feed screw is positioned along an inside edge of the inner hopper wall. A vacuum port is positioned on the outer hopper wall. An aperture exit is positioned at a bottom of the hopper. At least one evacuator is coupled to the vacuum port of the powder processor. The at least one evacuator is configured to couple to a vacuum port of the vacuum insulated structure and apply a vacuum to the internal cavity of the vacuum insulated structure.

公开(公告)号：US12055344B2

公开(公告)日：2024-08-06

申请号：US17835018

申请日：2022-06-08

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Paul B. Allard ,  Lakshya J. Deka ,  Gustavo Frattini ,  Lynne F. Hunter ,  Hua Liu ,  Abhay Naik ,  Eric J. Vasko ,  Jerry M. Visin

IPC: F25D23/08

CPC classification number: F25D23/082 ,  F25D23/085 ,  F25D2201/14

Abstract: An appliance includes an outer wrapper, an inner liner, a trim breaker having a wrapper channel that receives a wrapper edge of the outer wrapper and a liner channel that receives a liner edge of the inner liner, and an insulation material disposed within an insulating cavity defined therebetween. A multi-component thermal encapsulation material defines pre-mix, application and sealing states. The pre-mix state is defined by the distinct components of the thermal encapsulation material being separated from one another, the application state defined by the distinct components combined together into an uncured state of the thermal encapsulation material, and the sealing state defined by the thermal encapsulation material disposed within the wrapper and liner channels and surrounding the wrapper and liner edges, respectively, in the sealing state that defines a hermetic seal between the trim breaker and the outer wrapper and the inner liner.

公开(公告)号：US11971209B2

公开(公告)日：2024-04-30

申请号：US17272695

申请日：2018-09-05

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Gustavo Frattini ,  Anna Jedralski ,  Ashish Nigam ,  Subrata Shannigrahi

IPC: F25D23/06 ,  B29B9/16

CPC classification number: F25D23/064 ,  B29B9/16 ,  F25D2201/12 ,  F25D2201/14

Abstract: A filling system for a vacuum insulated structure is provided having a powder processor including a hopper having an inner hopper wall and an outer hopper wall. The filling system also includes a vacuum insulated structure having a liner positioned inside a wrapper, a trim breaker coupling an outer liner edge and an outer wrapper edge to form a shell defining an internal cavity with at least one gas permeable feature positioned in the internal cavity configured to help apply a vacuum. A loading port is positioned on a surface of the shell. The powder processor loads the shell with a heated and at least partially degassed vacuum insulation material through the loading port while a vacuum is applied to the shell through the at least one gas permeable feature.

公开(公告)号：US11911950B2

公开(公告)日：2024-02-27

申请号：US17872208

申请日：2022-07-25

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

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

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

CPC classification number: B29C51/10 ,  F16L59/028 ,  F16L59/065 ,  F25D23/065 ,  F25D23/066 ,  B29L2031/7622 ,  F25D2201/14

Abstract: A method of forming a vacuum insulated structure includes providing a structural envelope an insulating cavity defined within the structural envelope. An expanding device is attached to opposing outer walls of the structural envelope and the interior cavity is expanded by pulling the opposing outer walls away from one another to define an expanded state. An insulating material is disposed within the insulating cavity to occupy substantially all of the insulating cavity in the expanded state. Gas is expressed from the insulating cavity to collapse the structural envelope to a final state and a final interior volume that is less than the expanded interior volume. The final state of the structural envelope defines a densified state of the insulating material within the insulating cavity. The vacuum port is then closed to hermetically seal the insulating cavity.

公开(公告)号：US20230243458A1

公开(公告)日：2023-08-03

申请号：US18297867

申请日：2023-04-10

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

CPC classification number: F16L59/065 ,  F25D23/062 ,  F25D23/087 ,  F25D23/006

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.