公开(公告)号：US10989461B2

公开(公告)日：2021-04-27

申请号：US16309752

申请日：2016-10-04

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Eric J. Dherde ,  Alberto R. Gomes

IPC: F25D23/06

Abstract: An appliance includes an outer wrapper and an inner liner that are connected to define a structural cabinet with an insulating cavity defined between the outer wrapper and the inner liner. An insulating material is disposed within the insulating cavity, wherein an at least partial vacuum is defined within the insulating cavity. The at least partial vacuum defines a pressure differential between the exterior of the structural cabinet and the insulating cavity, the pressure differential defining an inward compressive force. Wrapper structural reinforcements are disposed proximate the outer wrapper. Liner structural reinforcements are disposed proximate the inner liner, wherein each of the wrapper and liner structural reinforcements extend into the insulating cavity and are free of engagement with one another. The wrapper and liner structural reinforcements are positioned to resist the inward compressive force.

公开(公告)号：US20210025539A1

公开(公告)日：2021-01-28

申请号：US17064853

申请日：2020-10-07

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Paul B. Allard ,  Mohamed Alshourbagy ,  Lakshya J. Deka ,  Eric J. Dherde ,  Gustavo Frattini ,  Alberto R. Gomes ,  Lynne F. Hunter ,  Giulia Marinello ,  Abhay Naik ,  Sanjesh Kumar Pathak ,  Jerry M. Visin

IPC: F16L59/065 ,  F25D23/06 ,  F25D23/08

Abstract: An appliance includes a metallic outer wrapper having sidewalls, a wrapper backwall and a machine wall. At least one metallic inner liner has liner walls and a liner backwall, wherein the metallic outer wrapper and the at least one metallic inner liner are coupled together at a trim breaker to define a structural cabinet having a hermetically sealed interior cavity defined between the metallic outer wrapper and the at least one metallic inner liner. The trim breaker defines a front face of the structural cabinet. At least one trim breaker conduit extends through the wrapper and liner backwalls wherein the trim breaker conduit defines a conduit through the structural cabinet, and wherein the structural cabinet is hermetically sealed at the trim breaker conduit.

公开(公告)号：US20200278150A1

公开(公告)日：2020-09-03

申请号：US16876187

申请日：2020-05-18

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Eric J. Dherde ,  Lorraine J. Westlake

IPC: F25D23/06 ,  B21D22/02

Abstract: A vacuum insulated cabinet structure includes first and second cover members having pre-deformed portions and perimeter portions. The perimeter portions of the first and second cover members are disposed along first and second planar levels and the pre-deformed portions of the first and second cover members include portions thereof extending outwardly relative to the first and second planar levels. A thermal bridge interconnects the first cover member and the second cover member at the perimeter portions thereof to define an insulating cavity therebetween. The insulating cavity is a sealed cavity having a vacuum drawn therefrom. The pre-deformed portions of the first and second cover members move inwardly towards the first and second planar levels under a force of the vacuum within the insulating cavity.

公开(公告)号：US10697698B2

公开(公告)日：2020-06-30

申请号：US16309539

申请日：2016-12-23

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Eric J. Dherde ,  Lorraine J. Westlake

IPC: F16L59/065 ,  F25D23/06 ,  B21D22/02

Abstract: A vacuum insulated cabinet structure includes first and second cover members having pre-deformed portions and perimeter portions. The perimeter portions of the first and second cover members are disposed along first and second planar levels and the pre-deformed portions of the first and second cover members include portions thereof extending outwardly relative to the first and second planar levels. A thermal bridge interconnects the first cover member and the second cover member at the perimeter portions thereof to define an insulating cavity therebetween. The insulating cavity is a sealed cavity having a vacuum drawn therefrom. The pre-deformed portions of the first and second cover members move inwardly towards the first and second planar levels under a force of the vacuum within the insulating cavity.

公开(公告)号：US20190011174A1

公开(公告)日：2019-01-10

申请号：US15577010

申请日：2016-12-02

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Eric J. Dherde ,  Michael A. Fiori ,  Lynne F. Hunter

IPC: F25D23/02 ,  F25D23/06 ,  E05D15/26

Abstract: An appliance is provided herein. The appliance includes a cabinet having a wrapper, a liner, and a trim breaker. The wrapper, the liner, and the trim breaker define an insulating cavity therebetween. An insulating material is disposed within the insulating cavity. A frame includes an upper frame portion, a vertical frame portion, and a lower frame portion. The frame is at least partially disposed within the insulating cavity. An upper hinge mount is disposed on the upper frame portion. A lower hinge mount is disposed on the lower frame portion. The lower frame portion has a closed outer periphery. A door is rotationally mounted to the cabinet via an upper hinge mounted to the upper hinge mount and a lower hinge mounted to the lower hinge mount.

公开(公告)号：US20170159998A1

公开(公告)日：2017-06-08

申请号：US14961956

申请日：2015-12-08

Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation

Inventor： Eric J. Dherde ,  Lorraine J. Westlake

IPC: F25D23/06

CPC classification number: B29C44/5627 ,  B29K2995/0063 ,  B29L2031/7622 ,  F25D23/062 ,  F25D2201/122 ,  F25D2201/124 ,  F25D2201/14

Abstract: A method for forming an insulative member includes forming a wrapper for an insulating structure, the wrapper defining an insulating cavity. A predetermined amount of an insulating media is disposed into the insulating cavity, the insulating media having a pre-compaction density. The insulating media is modified to define a desired insulation density by applying a positive compression to and generating a negative compression within the insulating media during a simultaneous compression phase. At least the simultaneous compression phase is operated until the insulating media reaches a desired insulation density, the desired insulation density being greater than the pre-compaction density. The insulating cavity is sealed to maintain the desired insulation density of the insulation media within the insulating cavity to form the insulating structure.

公开(公告)号：US12186966B2

公开(公告)日：2025-01-07

申请号：US18401889

申请日：2024-01-02

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Eric J. Dherde ,  Gustavo Frattini ,  Abhay Naik

IPC: B29C51/10 ,  B29L31/00 ,  F16L59/02 ,  F16L59/065 ,  F25D23/06

Abstract: A method of forming a vacuum insulated structure includes providing a structural envelope an insulating cavity defined within the structural envelope. An expanding device is attached to opposing outer walls of the structural envelope and the interior cavity is expanded by pulling the opposing outer walls away from one another to define an expanded state. An insulating material is disposed within the insulating cavity to occupy substantially all of the insulating cavity in the expanded state. Gas is expressed from the insulating cavity to collapse the structural envelope to a final state and a final interior volume that is less than the expanded interior volume. The final state of the structural envelope defines a densified state of the insulating material within the insulating cavity. The vacuum port is then closed to hermetically seal the insulating cavity.

公开(公告)号：US20240360947A1

公开(公告)日：2024-10-31

申请号：US18768287

申请日：2024-07-10

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Paul B. Allard ,  Mohamed Alshourbagy ,  Lakshya J. Deka ,  Eric J. Dherde ,  Gustavo Frattini ,  Alberto R. Gomes ,  Lynne F. Hunter ,  Giulia Marinello ,  Abhay Naik ,  Sanjesh Kumar Pathak ,  Jerry M. Visin

IPC: F16L59/065 ,  F25D23/00 ,  F25D23/06 ,  F25D23/08

CPC classification number: F16L59/065 ,  F25D23/062 ,  F25D23/087 ,  F25D23/006 ,  F25D2201/14 ,  F25D2323/021 ,  F25D2400/40

Abstract: An appliance includes a metallic outer wrapper having sidewalls, a wrapper backwall and a machine wall. At least one metallic inner liner has liner walls and a liner backwall, wherein the metallic outer wrapper and the at least one metallic inner liner are coupled together at a trim breaker to define a structural cabinet having a hermetically sealed interior cavity defined between the metallic outer wrapper and the at least one metallic inner liner. The trim breaker defines a front face of the structural cabinet. At least one trim breaker conduit extends through the wrapper and liner backwalls wherein the trim breaker conduit defines a conduit through the structural cabinet, and wherein the structural cabinet is hermetically sealed at the trim breaker conduit.

公开(公告)号：US20230330969A1

公开(公告)日：2023-10-19

申请号：US18341359

申请日：2023-06-26

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Paul B. Allard ,  Lakshya J. Deka ,  Eric J. Dherde ,  Gustavo Frattini ,  Alberto R. Gomes ,  Lynne F. Hunter ,  Dustin M. Miller ,  Abhay Naik ,  Karen J. Querfurth ,  Jerry M. Visin

IPC: B32B15/00 ,  F25D23/02 ,  F25D23/08 ,  B32B7/12 ,  B32B15/08 ,  B32B15/04

CPC classification number: B32B15/00 ,  F25D23/02 ,  F25D23/085 ,  B32B7/12 ,  B32B15/08 ,  B32B15/043 ,  B29C65/72

Abstract: An operable panel for an appliance includes a metallic outer wrapper having a perimetrical wrapper edge that partially defines a perimetrical breaker channel, an inner liner and a plurality of corner brackets disposed proximate the perimetrical wrapper edge. Each corner bracket cooperates with the perimetrical wrapper edge to fully define the perimetrical breaker channel. A trim breaker is adhered to the metallic outer wrapper and the corner brackets at the perimetrical breaker channel and having a liner channel that receives a portion of the inner liner. The trim breaker extends between the inner liner and the outer wrapper. An insulation material is disposed within an insulating cavity defined between the inner liner and the outer wrapper.

公开(公告)号：US11480385B2

公开(公告)日：2022-10-25

申请号：US17227873

申请日：2021-04-12

Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Inventor： Eric J. Dherde ,  Lorraine J. Westlake

IPC: F16L59/065 ,  F25D23/06 ,  B21D22/02 ,  B32B3/00

Abstract: A vacuum insulated cabinet structure includes first and second cover members having pre-deformed portions and perimeter portions. The perimeter portions of the first and second cover members are disposed along first and second planar levels and the pre-deformed portions of the first and second cover members include portions thereof extending outwardly relative to the first and second planar levels. A thermal bridge interconnects the first cover member and the second cover member at the perimeter portions thereof to define an insulating cavity therebetween. The insulating cavity is a sealed cavity having a vacuum drawn therefrom. The pre-deformed portions of the first and second cover members move inwardly towards the first and second planar levels under a force of the vacuum within the insulating cavity.