Method for ensuring reliable core material fill around the pass throughs in a vacuum insulated structure

A method of adding a vacuum core material fill around an elongated umbilical in a vacuum insulated refrigerator structure, the method comprising:

• forming a shell having a liner and a wrapper, wherein the shell forms an internal cavity and the shell has a widened portion in the wrapper;
• positioning an elongated umbilical in the widened portion of the shell, wherein the elongated umbilical has one or more elongated internal passageways extending lengthwise within the umbilical;
• coupling a first end of the elongated umbilical to the shell with a first fitting at a first opening;
• coupling a second end of the elongated umbilical to the shell with a second fitting at a second opening;
• inserting a gas permeable vacuum tube between the widened portion of the wrapper and the elongated umbilical;
• forming a vacuum in the internal cavity of the shell with the gas permeable vacuum tube while adding vacuum core material fill;
• and
• routing one or more utility lines through the one or more elongated internal passageways, wherein a portion of the one or more utility lines are disposed inside the elongated umbilical and opposite ends of the utility lines extend out of opposite ends of the elongated umbilical.

A vacuum insulated refrigerator structure comprising:

• a shell defining an internal vacuum cavity;
• an elongated umbilical member defining an elongated internal space and having a central portion disposed in the internal vacuum cavity, and opposite end portions that are sealingly connected to the shell, each opposite end portion having an opening that permits access to the elongated internal space from outside of the shell;
• a gas permeable vacuum tube disposed in the internal vacuum cavity between the elongated umbilical member and the shell;
• vacuum core material fill positioned in the internal cavity;
• and first and second utility lines disposed in the first and second elongated internal passageways, respectively, and having opposite ends extending out of the openings at the opposite ends of the elongated umbilical member.