Multi-Port Vacuum Evacuation Design for Faster Insulation Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vacuum insulated structures face challenges in achieving faster vacuum evacuation times, which hinders the efficiency and speed of manufacturing appliances, particularly refrigerating appliances, and increases energy consumption.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an increased vacuum port area, with multiple vacuum ports on the top, bottom, and side walls, and a plurality on the rear wall, along with a filter media to prevent insulative material from being drawn out, allows for faster air evacuation and maintenance of negative pressure within the insulation space.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If a single vacuum port is used, then the structure is simple, but the vacuum evacuation time is long

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevacuum evacuation timeVSAvoidvacuum port configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The vacuum port is divided into multiple segments distributed across different walls (top, bottom, rear, and side walls). This segmentation allows simultaneous evacuation from multiple locations, dramatically reducing the total evacuation time while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The vacuum ports are distributed across multiple spatial dimensions (different walls and surfaces), transforming a single-point evacuation approach into a multi-dimensional evacuation system. This spatial distribution enables parallel evacuation paths, reducing time loss without significantly increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If multiple vacuum ports are used, then the vacuum evacuation speed increases, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevacuum evacuation speedVSAvoidvacuum port configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The vacuum evacuation function is segmented across multiple ports located on different walls, allowing simultaneous operation. This segmentation increases productivity by enabling parallel evacuation while keeping each individual port simple, thus not significantly increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple vacuum ports perform the same universal function (evacuation) across different locations. This multi-functionality approach increases evacuation speed without requiring complex different mechanisms at each port, maintaining simplicity while improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If filter media is added at vacuum ports, then insulative material is prevented from being drawn out, but the vacuum port area is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsulative material retentionVSAvoidvacuum port area

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Filter media is applied locally at the vacuum port openings rather than throughout the entire structure. This localized application prevents insulative material from being drawn out at the critical evacuation points while minimizing the impact on vacuum port area and maintaining evacuation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Porous filter media is used at the vacuum ports, allowing air to pass through while blocking insulative material particles. The porous structure provides sufficient flow area for vacuum evacuation while effectively retaining insulative material, thus maintaining both reliability and port area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution significantly reduces the time required to place the insulative material in a vacuum state, enabling faster appliance construction and improved energy efficiency by enhancing the speed and quality of vacuum evacuation.

Implementation Method 1

A filter media is disposed proximate each vacuum port such that air can be drawn from the insulation space past the filter media and through each vacuum port

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS11519661B2Increased vacuum port area for achieving faster vacuum evacuation time in vacuum insulated structures

Publication Date: 2022.12.06 WHIRLPOOL CORP

AI summary

An outer wrapper that defines a top wall, a bottom wall, a rear wall, and first and second side walls and includes an inner liner. A trim breaker seals the outer wrapper to the inner liner to define an insulation space. A single vacuum port is disposed on each of the top wall, the bottom wall, and the first and second side walls. A plurality of vacuum ports is disposed on the rear wall. An insulative material is disposed between the outer wrapper and the inner liner. A filter media is disposed proximate each vacuum port such that air can be drawn from the insulation space past the filter media and through each vacuum port.