Vacuum Insulated Panel Bracket Assembly to Prevent Gas Permeation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vacuum insulated doors pose challenges in mounting bin assemblies and storage shelves due to the risk of gas permeation through fasteners, which can lead to a loss of vacuum and reduced insulative properties.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an outer and inner panel coupled by a trim breaker to form a vacuum cavity, with bracket assemblies positioned within the cavity and aligned with elongate slots in the inner panel, allowing access while maintaining the vacuum seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If fasteners are used to mount bin assemblies on the inner panel, then the bin assemblies can be securely supported, but gas permeation occurs through the fasteners causing loss of vacuum
Solution Approach 1:
A bracket assembly serves as an intermediary component between the inner panel and bin assemblies. The bracket is positioned within the vacuum cavity and extends through an elongate slot in the inner panel, allowing bin assemblies to be mounted on the bracket rather than directly fastening to the inner panel. This intermediary arrangement provides secure support while maintaining vacuum integrity through the slot design.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system transitions from a two-dimensional surface mounting approach to a three-dimensional spatial arrangement. The bracket assembly extends into the vacuum cavity space, utilizing the third dimension (depth) to provide mounting functionality without compromising the two-dimensional vacuum seal of the inner panel surface.
2Reliability
If the inner panel is made solid without slots, then vacuum integrity is maintained, but access to bracket assemblies is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The inner panel transitions from a uniformly solid structure to a locally modified structure with elongate slots. These slots are strategically positioned only where bracket assembly access is needed, while the majority of the inner panel remains solid to maintain vacuum integrity. This local modification approach provides necessary access without compromising overall vacuum sealing.
3Strength
If multiple fasteners are installed in the inner panel for bin assembly mounting, then support strength is improved, but gas permeation risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket assembly acts as an intermediary that eliminates the need for multiple fasteners penetrating the inner panel. By positioning the bracket within the vacuum cavity and extending it through a single elongate slot, the system provides multiple mounting points for bin assemblies without requiring multiple penetrating fasteners, thus reducing gas permeation risk while maintaining mounting strength.
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum insulated panel includes an outer panel and an inner panel operably coupled to one another to define a vacuum cavity therebetween. The inner panel includes a body portion having inner and outer surfaces and first and second slots disposed through the body portion that are spaced-apart from one another. A first bracket assembly is operably coupled to the inner surface of the inner panel and covers the first slot of the inner panel. A second bracket assembly is operably coupled to the inner surface of the inner panel and covers the second slot of the inner panel. The Frist and second bracket assemblies are coupled to the inner panel in a sealed manner so as to maintain a vacuum drawn in the vacuum cavity.