# US 2019/0170174 A1 · Multi-layer encapsulation system for joint sealing of vacuum insulated cabinets

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- Number: US 2019/0170174 A1
- Document ID: US20190170174A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/308,524
- Filed: 2017-02-14
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2017-02-14
- Assignees: Whirlpool Corporation
- Applicants: Whirlpool Corporation
- Inventors: Lakshya J. Deka; Hua Liu; Abhay Naik
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190170174A1

## CPC

- F16B 11/006: {by gluing (gluing of plastics material B29C65/48)}
- F25D 23/06: Walls (F25D23/08 takes precedence; containers with thermal insulation B65D81/38)
- F25D 23/065: {Details}
- F25D 23/085: {Breaking strips}
- 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
- F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D)
- 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)
- 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, an inner liner, a trim breaker having a channel that receives at least one of a wrapper edge of the outer wrapper and a liner edge of the inner liner, and a composite encapsulation system that hermetically seals an insulating cavity defined between the outer wrapper and the inner liner. The composite encapsulation system includes a base adhesive and an outer adhesive, wherein the base adhesive defines a structural adhesive component and the outer adhesive defines a sealing adhesive component.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-44. (canceled)

### Claim 45

An appliance comprising:
an outer wrapper;
an inner liner;
a trim breaker having a channel that receives at least one of a wrapper edge of the outer wrapper and a liner edge of the inner liner;
a composite encapsulation system that seals an insulating cavity defined between the outer wrapper and the inner liner, the composite encapsulation system including a base adhesive and an outer adhesive, wherein the base adhesive defines a structural adhesive component and the outer adhesive defines a sealing adhesive component.

### Claim 46 (depends on 45)

The appliance of claim 45, wherein the channel includes a wrapper channel that receives the wrapper edge and a separate liner channel that receives the liner edge.

### Claim 47 (depends on 45)

The appliance of claim 45, wherein the outer adhesive is applied after the base adhesive defines a cured state.

### Claim 48 (depends on 45)

The appliance of claim 45, wherein the base and outer adhesives are separated by a medial buffer layer and the medial buffer layer prevents contact between the base and outer adhesives.

### Claim 49 (depends on 48)

The appliance of claim 48, wherein the outer adhesive is injected over the medial buffer layer.

### Claim 50 (depends on 49)

The appliance of claim 49, wherein the medial buffer layer is a solid member that is disposed over the base adhesive.

### Claim 51 (depends on 49)

The appliance of claim 49, wherein the medial buffer layer is a spray-type material.

### Claim 52 (depends on 49)

The appliance of claim 49, wherein the base adhesive bonds to a lower surface of the medial buffer layer and the outer adhesive bonds to an upper surface of the medial buffer layer to define the composite encapsulation system as a monolithic adhesive.

### Claim 53 (depends on 45)

The appliance of claim 45, wherein the base adhesive is an epoxy-type adhesive.

### Claim 54 (depends on 45)

The appliance of claim 45, wherein the inner liner and the outer wrapper are metallic and the trim breaker is plastic.

### Claim 55 (depends on 45)

The appliance of claim 45, wherein the insulating cavity defines an at least partial vacuum.

### Claim 56 (depends on 45)

The appliance claim 45, wherein the outer adhesive includes at least one of a silicone-type adhesive and a polyurethane adhesive.

### Claim 57 (depends on 45)

The appliance of claim 45, wherein an insulation material within the insulating cavity at least partially engages the base adhesive.

### Claim 58

A method for forming an insulating cabinet for an appliance, the method comprising steps of:
delivering a base adhesive in an uncured state into a channel of a trim breaker;
disposing a wrapper edge of an outer wrapper into the channel so that the base adhesive in the uncured state surrounds both sides of the wrapper edge within the channel;
disposing a liner edge of an inner liner into the channel so that the base adhesive in the uncured state surrounds both sides of the liner edge within the channel;
curing the base adhesive;
disposing an outer adhesive over the base adhesive, wherein the outer adhesive covers the base adhesive and engages the outer wrapper and inner liner at the trim breaker; and
curing the outer adhesive such that the base adhesive and outer adhesive cooperate to define structural and sealing components of a composite encapsulation system.

### Claim 59 (depends on 58)

The method of claim 58, wherein after the base adhesive is cured, a medial buffer layer is disposed over the cured base adhesive and the outer adhesive is disposed directly onto and over the medial buffer layer, wherein the medial buffer layer at least partially separates the base and outer adhesives.

### Claim 60 (depends on 58)

The method of claim 58, further comprising steps of:
disposing an insulation material within an insulating cavity defined between the inner liner and the outer wrapper; and
expressing gas from the insulating cavity and the insulation material defined within the insulating cavity to define an at least partial vacuum within the insulating cavity, wherein the base adhesive and outer adhesive each permit at least partial movement of the inner liner and the outer wrapper while maintaining a seal between the inner liner and the trim breaker and between the outer wrapper and the trim breaker.

### Claim 61 (depends on 59)

The method of claim 59, wherein the medial buffer layer is a solid member that is disposed over the base adhesive, and wherein the outer adhesive is free of direct contact with the base adhesive.

### Claim 62 (depends on 59)

The method of claim 59, wherein the base adhesive engages a lower surface of the medial buffer layer and the outer adhesive binds to an upper surface of the medial buffer layer.

### Claim 63

A method for forming an insulating cabinet for an appliance, the method comprising steps of:
delivering a base adhesive in an uncured state into a wrapper channel and a liner channel of a trim breaker;
disposing a wrapper edge of an outer wrapper into the wrapper channel so that the base adhesive in the uncured state surrounds both sides of the wrapper edge within the wrapper channel;
disposing a liner edge of an inner liner into the liner channel so that the base adhesive in the uncured state surrounds both sides of the liner edge within the liner channel;
curing the base adhesive to define a structural adhesive component;
disposing a medial buffer layer onto at least a portion of the cured base adhesive;
disposing an outer adhesive over the medial buffer layer, wherein the outer adhesive extends from an outer edge of the trim breaker to an outside surface of the outer wrapper and also extends from an inner edge of the trim breaker to an inside surface of the inner liner;
curing the outer adhesive to define a composite encapsulation system having the structural adhesive component and the outer adhesive in a cured state that defines a sealing component, wherein the structural adhesive component and the sealing component are separated by the medial buffer layer, wherein the base adhesive engages a lower surface of the medial buffer layer and the outer adhesive binds to an upper surface of the medial buffer layer.

### Claim 64 (depends on 63)

The method of claim 63, wherein the outer adhesive is disposed at least at the outside surface of the outer wrapper and the inside surface of the inner liner.