Insulated structural cabinet for an appliance

• Main Authors: Naik, Abhay, Dherde, Eric J, Frattini, Gustavo
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 06.09.2022
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; BLASTING; COLD ROOMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT COVERED BY ANY OTHERSUBCLASS; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; HEATING; ICE-BOXES; INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULARARTICLES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; LIGHTING; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PIPES; REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; REFRIGERATORS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; TRANSPORTING; WEAPONS; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

An insulated structural cabinet for an appliance includes outer walls that are attached together to define a structural envelope that is operable from an expanded state that includes an expanded interior volume of the interior cavity, to a final state that includes a contracted interior volume of the interior cavity, wherein the contracted interior volume is less than the expanded interior volume. An insulating material disposed throughout the interior cavity in the expanded state. Operation of the structural envelope to the final state densifies the insulating material. Operation of the structural envelope to the final state is performed by a vacuum pump that expresses air from the interior cavity. The structural envelope is also operable from a performed state to the expanded state via an expanding device, and subsequently operable from the expanded state to the final state.