Channel system for a vacuum insulated structure
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsPaul B. Allard, Jeffrey Beckner, Sunil S. Ekshinge, Abhay Naik, Sanjesh Pathak
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An appliance includes a panel having a raised landing outwardly extending from a first surface of the panel. A vacuum port is disposed on the raised landing. A system of channels is disposed over the first surface of the panel and outwardly extends therefrom. The system of channels substantially covers the first surface of the panel. The first surface of the panel is covered with a filter member that covers the system of channels. The raised landing, and vacuum port thereof, is fluidically coupled to the system of channels at multiple connecting locations.
Claims20
An appliance, comprising:
- an outer wrapper having a plurality of channels disposed along a first surface of the outer wrapper, wherein the plurality of channels defines a channel loop having a first portion substantially covering a width of the first surface of the outer wrapper and a second portion substantially covering a length of the first surface of the outer wrapper, and further wherein the channel loop is positioned along an outer perimeter of the of the plurality of channels and includes one or more vertically disposed intermediate channels positioned within the channel loop;
- an inner liner operably coupled to the outer wrapper in a substantially air-tight manner to define an insulation space therebetween;
- and
- a vacuum port fluidically coupled to the plurality of channels.
An appliance, comprising:
- a panel having a raised landing outwardly extending therefrom;
- a vacuum port disposed on the raised landing;
- a system of channels having two or more interconnected channels disposed on the panel and outwardly extending therefrom, wherein the system of channels substantially covers the panel;
- first and second interconnecting channels, wherein both the first and second interconnecting channels include first ends fluidically coupled to the raised landing and second ends fluidically coupled to the system of channels at first and second connecting locations along the system of channels;
- and
- a filter member substantially covering the panel.
An appliance, comprising:
- an outer wrapper having a first surface with a series of channels disposed thereon, wherein the series of channels includes multiple interconnected and multidirectional channels defining first and second airflow paths along the series of channels, and further wherein the first and second airflow paths substantially cover the first surface of the outer wrapper;
- an inner liner operably coupled to the outer wrapper in a substantially air-tight manner to define an insulation space therebetween;
- a vacuum port disposed on the outer wrapper, wherein the vacuum port is fluidically coupled to both the first and second airflow paths of the series of channels;
- and
- a filter member covering the series of channels and the vacuum port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.