# US 9,752,818 B2 · Umbilical for pass through in vacuum insulated refrigerator structures

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- Number: US 9,752,818 B2
- Document ID: US9752818B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/978,843
- Filed: 2015-12-22
- Published: 2017-06-22
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2015-12-22
- Assignees: Whirlpool Corporation
- Applicants: Whirlpool Corporation
- Inventors: Abhay Naik
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9752818B2

## CPC

- F25D 23/061: {with conduit means}
- F16L 5/10: by using sealing rings or sleeves only
- F16L 7/00: Supporting pipes or cables inside other pipes or sleeves, e.g. for enabling pipes or cables to be inserted or withdrawn from under roads or railways without interruption of traffic (sleeves for supporting pipes, cables or protective tubing, between relatively movable points F16L3/01)
- F25D 23/00: General constructional features (F25D21/00 takes precedence)
- F25D 23/028: {Details}
- H02G 1/00: Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing or dismantling electric cables or lines
- H02G 3/0481: {with a circular cross-section (H02G3/0468, H02G3/0475 take precedence)}
- F25D 2201/1262: with open cells
- F25D 2201/14: using subatmospheric pressure
- F25D 2400/40: Refrigerating devices characterised by electrical wiring
- 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
- H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES

## Abstract

A method of routing utility lines in a vacuum insulated refrigerator structure includes forming a shell and an elongated umbilical comprising an elongated impervious sleeve and a core structure defining at least two elongated internal passageways extending lengthwise along the umbilical. The method includes sealingly connecting a first end of the sleeve to the shell at a first opening, and sealingly connecting a second end of the sleeve to the shell at a second opening. A vacuum is formed in an internal cavity of the shell. Utility lines are routed through at least one of the elongated internal passageways whereby portions of the utility lines are disposed inside the umbilical, and opposite ends of the utility lines extend out of the opposite ends of the umbilical.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of routing utility lines in a vacuum insulated refrigerator structure, the method comprising:
forming a shell having an internal cavity, the shell having at least first and second openings to the internal cavity;
forming an elongated non-linear umbilical having at least one bend, the umbilical comprising an elongated impervious sleeve and an elongated core structure disposed inside the sleeve, wherein the core structure defines at least two elongated internal passageways extending lengthwise along the umbilical, surrounding the core structure;
sealingly connecting a first end of the sleeve to the shell at the first opening;
sealingly connecting a second end of the sleeve to the shell at the second opening;
forming a vacuum in the internal cavity of the shell; and
routing utility lines through the at least two elongated internal passageways whereby portions of the utility lines are disposed inside the umbilical, and opposite ends of the utility lines extend out of opposite ends of the umbilical.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
the vacuum insulated refrigerator structure comprises a refrigerator door including a dispensing unit that is accessible from an outer side of the refrigerator door, wherein the dispensing unit is configured to dispense at least one of ice and liquid water;
the utility lines include at least one water line that is connected to the dispensing unit, and at least one electrical line that is connected to the dispensing unit.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein:
the shell includes a liner having a peripheral edge that is sealed to a peripheral edge of a wrapper.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein:
the liner is formed by thermoforming a sheet of polymer or by bending sheet metal;
the wrapper is formed by bending the sheet metal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
the sleeve has cylindrical inner and outer surfaces.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
the sleeve has rectangular inner and outer surfaces.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
the sleeve has elliptical inner and outer surfaces.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
the sleeve comprises an impermeable polymer material.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
the sleeve comprises a metal material.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
the elongated core structure comprises a foam material.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
the elongated core structure comprises a polymer material.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
the first end of the sleeve is sealingly connected to the shell at the first opening by an adhesive.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, including:
providing a fitting;
utilizing the fitting to sealingly connect the first end of the sleeve to the shell.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
the first end of the sleeve is welded and/or glued to the shell.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
the elongated core structure is inserted into the sleeve before the first and second ends of the sleeve are sealingly connected to the shell.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
the shell comprises a liner and a wrapper that are interconnected around a perimeter of the vacuum insulated refrigerator structure during assembly to form a substantially impervious structure;
the first and second ends of the sleeve are sealingly connected to the shell before the liner and wrapper are assembled.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
the utility lines are inserted into the elongated internal passageways of the core structure before the first and/or second ends of the sleeve are connected to the shell.

### Claim 18

A vacuum insulated refrigerator structure comprising:
an airtight shell defining an internal vacuum cavity;
a tubular umbilical member defining an elongated non-linear internal space having at least one bend, and having a central portion disposed in the internal vacuum cavity, and opposite end portions that are sealingly connected to the airtight shell, each opposite end portion having an opening that permits access to the elongated internal space from outside of the airtight shell;
an elongated internal core structure disposed within the elongated internal space and having opposite ends disposed adjacent the openings at the opposite ends of the tubular umbilical member, the internal core structure having at least first and second elongated internal passageways;
first and second utility lines disposed in the first and second elongated internal passageways, respectively, and having opposite ends extending out of the openings at the opposite ends of the tubular umbilical member.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The vacuum insulated refrigerator structure of claim 18, wherein:
the tubular umbilical member comprises a multi-layer polymer material including a barrier layer that is substantially impervious to at least one gas.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The vacuum insulated refrigerator structure of claim 18, including:
porous filler material disposed in the vacuum cavity.