公开(公告)号：US20220299252A1

公开(公告)日：2022-09-22

申请号：US17833945

申请日：2022-06-07

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：US11300354B2

公开(公告)日：2022-04-12

申请号：US16637570

申请日：2017-10-05

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Gustavo Frattini ,  Abhay Naik

IPC: F25D23/06 ,  F16L59/065 ,  B29L31/00

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：US20210372690A1

公开(公告)日：2021-12-02

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

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：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.

公开(公告)号：US11029080B2

公开(公告)日：2021-06-08

申请号：US16302923

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 walls that define an external surface and an inner liner. A trim breaker seals the outer wrapper to the inner liner to define an insulation space. A vacuum port is disposed on the external surface of the outer wrapper. A channel is in fluid communication with the vacuum port and extends along at least one of the plurality of 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.

公开(公告)号：US20210041158A1

公开(公告)日：2021-02-11

申请号：US15733612

申请日：2018-06-20

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Gustavo Frattini ,  Sarah M. Galea ,  Daniel E. Lottinville ,  Vikas C. Mruthyunjaya ,  Abhay Naik

IPC: F25D23/02 ,  F25C5/20 ,  F25D23/08 ,  F25D11/02

Abstract: A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet; a door operably connected to the cabinet, the door having a closed position relative to the cabinet and an opened position relative to the cabinet, and the door transitions from the closed position to the opened position in a non-circular path; a liquid outlet disposed at the cabinet; and a liquid receiver disposed at the door, the liquid receiver configured to receive liquid exiting the liquid outlet when the door is in the closed position but not in the opened position. The refrigerator can further include a gasket adjacent to the liquid receiver and a gasket adjacent to the liquid outlet. When the door is in the closed position, the gasket of the door can cooperate with the gasket of the cabinet to form a sealed channel to seal liquid transfer from the liquid outlet to the liquid receiver for use at the door.

公开(公告)号：US20190184624A1

公开(公告)日：2019-06-20

申请号：US16301921

申请日：2016-09-30

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

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

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

CPC classification number: B29C51/10 ,  B29L2031/7622 ,  F16L59/028 ,  F16L59/065 ,  F25D23/065 ,  F25D23/066 ,  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：US20190162465A1

公开(公告)日：2019-05-30

申请号：US16312333

申请日：2016-07-26

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Paul B. Allard ,  Gustavo Frattini ,  Alberto Regio Gomes ,  Lynne F. Hunter ,  Dustin M. Miller ,  Abhay Naik ,  Berhanu Allo

IPC: F25D23/08 ,  F25D23/06 ,  F25D23/02

Abstract: A vacuum insulated refrigerator structure being formed from a wrapper extending around a liner is provided. The liner is positioned inside of the wrapper to form a gap there between, and to form a cavity between the wrapper and the liner. An insulating thermal bridge is formed from molding one or more extruded rails to one or more corner pieces in an injection molding device. The insulating thermal bridge is coupled across the gap wherein the insulating thermal bridge includes elongated first and second channels wherein the first and second edges are inserted into the elongated first and second channels, respectively. A curable sealant is contacted to the elongated first and second channels and the cavity is at least partially filled with a porous material between the wrapper and the liner. A vacuum is formed in the cavity and the cavity is sealed to maintain the vacuum.

公开(公告)号：US12188710B2

公开(公告)日：2025-01-07

申请号：US18306683

申请日：2023-04-25

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.