Insulated door assembly
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorSunil S. Ekshinge
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vacuum insulated door for an appliance includes an outer wrapper that defines an evacuation port. An inner liner is coupled to the outer wrapper defining an insulating cavity therebetween. A base is coupled to the outer wrapper adjacent to the evacuation port. A servicing tube has a connecting end and a servicing end. The servicing tube is in fluid communication with the insulating cavity via the evacuation port. The connecting end is coupled to the base. A handle has first and second ends coupled to the outer wrapper and a center portion therebetween spaced-apart from the outer wrapper. The first end is coupled to the outer wrapper proximate the evacuation port. The servicing tube extends along an inner surface of the handle.
Claims20
A method of manufacturing a refrigeration appliance, comprising:
- coupling an outer wrapper with an inner liner to form a door;
- dispensing an insulating material into an insulating cavity defined by the outer wrapper and the inner liner;
- coupling an evacuation port assembly to the outer wrapper over an evacuation port to provide fluid communication within the insulating cavity;
- evacuating the insulating cavity via the evacuation port assembly to form a vacuum pressure within the insulating cavity;
- sealing a servicing tube of the evacuation port assembly to retain the vacuum pressure within the insulating cavity;
- coupling a handle to the outer wrapper over the evacuation port assembly;
- and
- coupling the door to a cabinet.
A method of manufacturing a refrigeration appliance, comprising:
- coupling an outer wrapper with an inner liner to form a door;
- coupling a base to the outer wrapper adjacent to an evacuation port;
- coupling a connector to the base;
- coupling a servicing tube to the connector, wherein the servicing tube is in fluid communication with an insulating cavity of the door via the evacuation port;
- drawing fluid from the insulating cavity via the servicing tube and an evacuation device to form an at least partial vacuum in the insulating cavity;
- coupling a handle to the outer wrapper over the servicing tube;
- and
- coupling the door to a cabinet.
A method of manufacturing a refrigeration appliance, comprising:
- coupling an outer wrapper with an inner liner to form a door, the outer wrapper and the inner liner defining an insulating cavity;
- coupling a cabinet wrapper with a cabinet liner to form a cabinet, the cabinet wrapper and the cabinet liner defining an insulation cavity;
- dispensing an insulating material into the insulating cavity of the door and the insulation cavity of the cabinet;
- coupling an evacuation port assembly to the outer wrapper of the door, wherein the evacuation port assembly is arranged over an evacuation port to provide fluid communication within the insulating cavity;
- evacuating the insulating cavity via the evacuation port assembly to form an at least partial vacuum within the insulating cavity;
- coupling a handle to the outer wrapper over the evacuation port assembly;
- and
- coupling the door to a cabinet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.