# US 2019/0170431 A1 · Thermal bridgebreaker and seal features in a thin-walled vacuum insulated structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0170431 A1 - Document ID: US20190170431A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/312,641 - Filed: 2016-07-26 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-26 - Assignees: Whirlpool Corporation - Applicants: Whirlpool Corporation - Inventors: Abhay Naik; Lorraine J. Westlake; Lakshya J. Deka - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190170431A1 ## CPC - F25D 23/085: {Breaking strips} - F25D 23/064: {formed by moulding, e.g. moulding in situ} - B29C 65/48: using adhesives {, i.e. using supplementary joining material; solvent bonding} - F25D 2201/12: using an insulating packing material - F25D 2201/122: of loose fill type - F25D 2201/14: using subatmospheric pressure - F25D 2400/00: General features of, or devices for refrigerators, cold rooms, ice-boxes, or for cooling or freezing apparatus not covered by any other subclass - F25D 2500/02: Geometry problems - 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) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) ## Abstract A vacuum insulated refrigerator structure includes an outer wrapper having a first opening and a first edge extending around the first opening. A liner has a second opening and second edge extending around the second opening. The liner is disposed inside the wrapper with the first and second edges being spaced apart to form a gap therebetween. An insulating thermal bridge extends across the gap, and an airtight vacuum cavity is formed between the wrapper and the liner. The thermal bridge includes elongated first and second channels having sealant disposed therein, and the first and second edges are disposed in the first and second channels, respectively. Porous core material may be disposed in the vacuum cavity. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of making a vacuum insulated refrigerator structure, the method comprising: forming a wrapper from a sheet of material whereby the wrapper has a first opening and a first edge extending around the first opening; forming a liner from a sheet of material whereby the liner has a second opening and a second edge extending around the second opening; positioning the liner inside the wrapper with the first and second edges being spaced apart to form a gap therebetween, and to form a cavity between the wrapper and the liner; positioning an insulating thermal bridge across the gap, wherein the thermal bridge includes elongated first and second channels, and wherein the first and second edges are inserted into the first and second channels, respectively; positioning curable sealant in the first and second channels; causing porous material to at least partially fill the cavity between the wrapper and the liner; forming a vacuum in the cavity; and sealing the cavity to maintain the vacuum. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: at least one of the first and second channels includes a base surface and spaced-apart side surfaces extending transversely from the base surface, and wherein at least one of the side surfaces includes a plurality of bosses protruding into the channel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein: at least one of the first and second channels includes a plurality of bosses protruding into the channel from both side surfaces; and including: causing at least one of the first and second edges to contact at least one boss as the first and second edges are inserted into the first and second channels, respectively. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the first and second channels include a plurality of bosses protruding from the side surfaces thereof; and including: causing at least one of the first and second edges to contact at least one boss as the first and second edges are inserted into the first and second channels, respectively. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein: the bosses are tapered such that the first and second edges of the wrapper and the liner, respectively, slidably engage the bosses as the ring-shaped insulating thermal bridge is positioned across the ring-shaped gap. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, including: utilizing the bosses to position the first and second edge portions of the wrapper and the liner, respectively, away from the side surfaces and to form gaps therebetween. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, including: injecting curable sealant into the gaps between the first and second edge portions and the side surfaces after the ring-shaped insulating thermal bridge is positioned across the ring-shaped gap. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, including: utilizing the bosses to position the first and second edge portions in central portions of the first and second channels, respectively. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, including: positioning curable sealant in the first and second channels before the ring-shaped insulating thermal bridge is positioned across the ring-shaped gap. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, including: thermoforming the liner from a sheet of thermoplastic polymer material; forming the wrapper from sheet metal; and molding the ring-shaped insulating thermal bridge from a polymeric material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: forming the wrapper includes forming the first edge to include four linear portions forming a first rectangle; forming the liner includes forming the second edge to include four linear portions forming a second rectangle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, including: positioning the opening of the liner to face in a forward direction; positioning linear portions of the first and second edges at substantially the same fore-aft position; and at least a portion of the insulating thermal bridge has a U-shape in cross section, and the elongated first and second channels extend along opposite ends of the U-shape. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, including: offsetting at least a portion the second edge inwardly relative to the first edge; at least a portion of the insulating thermal bridge has a J-shape in cross section; and the elongated first and second channels extend along opposite ends of the J-shape. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the porous material comprises at least one core panel; and including: positioning the core panel in the cavity before the insulating thermal bridge is positioned across the gap. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the porous material comprises powder; and including: introducing the porous powder material into the cavity after the insulating thermal bridge is positioned across the gap. ### Claim 16 A vacuum insulated refrigerator structure, comprising: an outer wrapper having a first opening and a first edge extending around the first opening; a liner having a second opening and a second edge extending around the second opening, wherein the liner is disposed inside the wrapper with the first and second edges being spaced apart to form a gap therebetween and to form a vacuum cavity between the wrapper and the liner; an insulating thermal bridge extending across the gap, wherein the thermal bridge includes elongated first and second channels, and wherein the first and second edges are disposed in the first and second channels, respectively; sealant disposed in the first and second channels to seal the vacuum cavity and maintain a vacuum in the vacuum cavity; and porous material disposed in the vacuum cavity. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The vacuum insulated refrigerator structure of claim 16, wherein: at least one of the first and second channels includes a base surface and spaced-apart side surfaces extending transversely from the base surface, and wherein at least one of the side surfaces includes a plurality of bosses protruding into the channel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The vacuum insulated refrigerator structure of claim 17, wherein: the first and second channels include a plurality of bosses protruding from the side surfaces thereof. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The vacuum insulated refrigerator structure of claim 16, wherein: the first and second edges are encapsulated by the sealant. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The vacuum insulated refrigerator structure of claim 16, wherein: the bosses position the first and second edge portions of the wrapper and the liner, respectively, away from the side surfaces to form gaps therebetween that are filled with sealant.