Increased vacuum port area for achieving faster vacuum evacuation time in vacuum insulated structures
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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
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a single vacuum port is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the vacuum evacuation time increases
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 time required to achieve vacuum while maintaining a manageable structural complexity through standardized port designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum evacuation system transitions from a single-point (0D) or linear (1D) approach to a distributed three-dimensional network of ports across multiple surfaces. This spatial distribution enables parallel evacuation pathways, reducing evacuation time without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Speed
If multiple vacuum ports are used, then the vacuum evacuation speed is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum port system is segmented into multiple identical or standardized ports located on different walls. Each port performs the same function, allowing for modular manufacturing and assembly. This segmentation achieves high evacuation speed through parallel processing while controlling complexity through standardization.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple vacuum ports serve the universal function of air evacuation simultaneously. Each port is designed with the same basic structure and filtering mechanism, allowing them to be produced using the same tooling and assembly procedures. This multi-functionality approach achieves rapid evacuation without proportionally increasing manufacturing complexity.
3Reliability
If filter media is added at each vacuum port, then the insulative material is protected from being drawn out, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter media is merged with the vacuum port structure, forming an integrated component rather than a separate attachment. This combination ensures that the filtering function is built into each port, reliably preventing insulative material from being drawn out during evacuation while avoiding the complexity of separate filtering systems.
Solution Approach 2:
Filter media with porous structure is incorporated at each vacuum port to allow air passage while blocking insulative material particles. The porous material provides effective filtration in a compact form, protecting the insulation integrity without significantly increasing the overall device complexity.
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 approach significantly reduces the time required to place the insulative material in a vacuum state, enabling faster appliance construction and improved energy efficiency by ensuring a strong vacuum is maintained quickly, thus enhancing production and product quality.
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
Implementation Method 2
air can be drawn from the insulation space past the filter media and through each vacuum port to maintain a negative pressure in the insulation space
Data Source
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.