Trim breaker with light-diffusing optical fiber for vacuum insulated structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for manufacturing vacuum insulated appliances face challenges in efficiently curing light reactive adhesives within complex geometries, such as those found in trim breaker assemblies, which are critical for maintaining the vacuum integrity and structural integrity of these appliances.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of light-diffusing optical fibers within grooves in the trim breaker assembly, coupled with a light source, to uniformly disperse light for curing light reactive adhesives, ensuring thorough bonding and vacuum maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional curing methods are used for light reactive adhesives in complex geometries, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but the curing is incomplete and non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The trim breaker assembly is segmented into multiple components (wrapper, liner assembly, trim breaker) with grooves that accommodate optical fibers. This segmentation allows light to be delivered to specific regions requiring curing, achieving uniform curing in complex geometries while maintaining manageable assembly complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
Optical fibers serve as intermediaries between the light source and the adhesive regions. The fibers transmit and diffuse light uniformly throughout the grooves, enabling complete curing of light reactive adhesives in complex geometries without requiring direct light source access to all areas
2Productivity
If light is concentrated in specific areas for curing, then the curing speed increases, but the bonding completeness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical fibers are positioned specifically within grooves of the trim breaker assembly where adhesive application occurs. This local placement concentrates light delivery exactly where bonding is needed, maintaining high curing speed while ensuring complete bonding through targeted illumination of all adhesive regions
3Strength
If the adhesive is applied in complex geometries, then the structural integrity is improved, but the curing completeness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The solution transitions from attempting to cure adhesive from external sources to delivering light through the third dimension via optical fibers embedded within grooves. This internal light delivery approach enables complete curing throughout complex geometries, ensuring bonding completeness while maintaining the structural integrity provided by complex adhesive application patterns
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
The solution enables efficient and uniform curing of adhesives, enhancing the structural integrity and vacuum retention of vacuum insulated appliances by ensuring complete bonding of components, thereby improving manufacturing efficiency and reducing air infiltration.
Implementation Method 1
A wrapper light-diffusing optical fiber is disposed in the wrapper groove. The wrapper light-diffusing optical fiber is configured to diffuse light within the wrapper groove.
Implementation Method 2
The wrapper light guide is configured to diffuse light within the outside wrapper groove to cure the light reactive adhesive disposed therein
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum insulated refrigerator includes a cabinet defining at least one compartment. The cabinet includes a wrapper, a liner assembly, and a trim breaker assembly coupled to the wrapper and the liner assembly. The trim breaker assembly defines a wrapper groove to receive an edge of the wrapper and at least one liner groove to receive at least one edge of the liner assembly. A wrapper light-diffusing optical fiber is disposed in the wrapper groove. The wrapper light-diffusing optical fiber is configured to diffuse light within the wrapper groove. At least one liner light-diffusing optical fiber is disposed in the at least one liner groove. The at least one liner light-diffusing optical fiber is configured to diffuse light within the at least one liner groove. A light reactive adhesive is disposed in the wrapper groove and in the at least one liner groove.