# US 11,029,080 B2 · Use of rigid or permeable conduits for achieving faster vacuum evacuation time in vacuum insulated structures

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- Number: US 11,029,080 B2
- Document ID: US11029080B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/302,923
- Filed: 2017-01-18
- Published: 2019-09-19
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-01-18
- Assignees: Whirlpool Corporation
- Applicants: Whirlpool Corporation
- Inventors: Abhay Naik; Subrata Shannigrahi; Gustavo Frattini
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029080B2

## CPC

- F25D 23/063: {formed by an assembly of panels}
- F16L 59/065: using vacuum (F16L59/075 takes precedence)
- F25D 23/062: {defining a cabinet}
- F25D 2201/14: using subatmospheric pressure
- Y02B 40/00: Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers
- F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B)
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An appliance comprising:
an outer wrapper including a plurality of walls defining an external surface;
an inner liner;
a trim breaker sealing the outer wrapper to the inner liner to define an insulation space;
a vacuum port disposed on the external surface of the outer wrapper;
an insulative material disposed between the outer wrapper and the inner liner; and
an elongate channel integrally formed with the outer wrapper and including an elongate filter media disposed along at least a portion of a length of the elongate channel and forming a portion of a wall of the elongate channel, and
wherein the elongate channel is in fluid communication with the vacuum port such that air can be drawn from the insulation space past the elongate filter media, into the elongate channel, and through the vacuum port.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The appliance of claim 1, wherein the vacuum port is disposed proximate a corner defined by the outer wrapper.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The appliance of claim 1, wherein the outer wrapper and the inner liner are formed from a metallic material.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The appliance of claim 1, wherein the elongate filter media is formed from one of a sintered metal, a porous plastic, and a fiberglass material.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The appliance of claim 1, wherein the elongate channel protrudes outside a planar extent of the external surface of the outer wrapper.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The appliance of claim 1, wherein the elongate channel includes a loop configuration, wherein a first end and a second end of the loop terminate at the vacuum port.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The appliance of claim 1, wherein the elongate channel includes a first end in communication with the vacuum port and a second end that terminates a predetermined distance from the vacuum port.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The appliance of claim 1, wherein the elongate filter media comprises a planar filter screen extending along at least a portion of the length of the elongate channel.

### Claim 9

An appliance comprising:
an outer wrapper defining a top wall, a bottom wall, a rear wall, and first and second side walls;
an inner liner sealed to the outer wrapper to define an insulation space;
a vacuum port disposed on one of the top wall, the bottom wall, the rear wall, the first side wall and the second side wall of the outer wrapper;
a channel integrally formed with the outer wrapper disposed within the insulation space and in fluid communication with the vacuum port, the channel including a first branch and a second branch extending from the vacuum port and along the top wall, bottom wall, and first and second side walls, wherein the first branch and second branch are coupled in a loop configuration that terminates at the vacuum port;
an insulative material disposed between the outer wrapper and the inner liner; and
a filter media disposed along the channel such that air can be drawn from the insulation space past the filter media, into the channel, and through the vacuum port.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The appliance of claim 9, wherein the vacuum port is disposed proximate a corner defined by the outer wrapper.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The appliance of claim 9, wherein the outer wrapper and the inner liner are formed from a metallic material.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The appliance of claim 9, wherein the filter media is formed from one of a sintered metal, a porous plastic, and a fiberglass material.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The appliance of claim 9, wherein the channel protrudes outside a planar extent of an external surface of the outer wrapper.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The appliance of claim 9, wherein the channel is formed by the filter media and disposed between the inner liner and the outer wrapper.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The appliance of claim 9, wherein the channel extends along at least two of the top wall, the bottom wall, the rear wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall of the outer wrapper.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The appliance of claim 9, wherein the filter media comprises a filter screen having a curved cross-section forming a portion of the channel.

### Claim 17

An appliance comprising:
an outer wrapper defining a top wall, bottom wall, rear wall, and first and second side walls;
an inner liner sealed to the outer wrapper to define an insulation space;
a vacuum port disposed on the outer wrapper;
a channel extending through the insulation space and in fluid communication with the vacuum port;
an insulative material disposed between the outer wrapper and inner liner; and
a filter media forming at least a portion of a wall of the channel between the channel and the insulative material such that air can be drawn from the insulation space past the filter media, into the channel and through the vacuum port, and
wherein the channel is formed by the filter media and the outer wrapper, and wherein the channel protrudes outside a planar extent of an external surface of the outer wrapper.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The appliance of claim 17, wherein the vacuum port is disposed proximate a corner defined by the outer wrapper.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The appliance of claim 17, wherein the filter media is formed from one of a sintered metal, a porous plastic, and a fiberglass material.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The appliance of claim 17, wherein the channel includes a first end in communication with the vacuum port and a second end that terminates a predetermined distance from the vacuum port.