VACUUM INSULATOR FOR A REFRIGERATOR APPLIANCE

• Main Authors: GARDNER JOHN ALEXANDER, HANLEY KENNETH JOSEPH, SEVERANCE MARTIN CHRISTOPHER, SRINIVASAN KARTHICK
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 15.03.2012
• Subjects: BLASTING; CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS,e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USERAPPLICATIONS; COLD ROOMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT COVERED BY ANY OTHERSUBCLASS; DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OFGENERAL APPLICATION; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; HEATING; ICE-BOXES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; LIGHTING; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PIPES; REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; REFRIGERATORS; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINSTCLIMATE CHANGE; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; WEAPONS

A vacuum insulator for portions of the refrigeration cycle of a refrigerator appliance is provided. The vacuum insulator can be applied to the suction line leading to the refrigerant compressor, the capillary tube leading to the evaporator inlet, and/or the capillary tube-suction line heat exchanger. An outer insulating layer is used to create a vacuum that serves to insulate the intended portion of the refrigeration cycle.