Vacuum insulated structure with adhesive having platy additive to lower permeation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum insulated appliances face challenges in maintaining a partial vacuum due to gas permeation through the adhesive used in the trim breaker assembly, which affects the insulation properties and operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a platy additive into the adhesive disposed in the trim breaker assembly's grooves, which forms a polymer network upon curing, suspends the platy additive and reduces gas permeation through the adhesive.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional adhesive is used in the trim breaker assembly, then the adhesive provides sealing function, but gas permeation occurs through the adhesive which compromises vacuum maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining conventional adhesive with platy additives (such as glass flakes, mica, or metal flakes) to create a composite adhesive material. This composite structure reduces gas permeation through the adhesive while maintaining its sealing function, thereby resolving the contradiction between providing adequate sealing and preventing gas permeation that compromises vacuum maintenance.
2Reliability
If the adhesive is made more impermeable to gas, then vacuum maintenance improves, but the adhesive formulation becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the physical and chemical parameters of the adhesive through the addition of platy additives. These additives change the adhesive's structure and gas permeation characteristics without fundamentally altering the adhesive formulation process or requiring complex multi-component systems, thus improving vacuum maintenance while keeping the formulation relatively simple.
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 use of a platy additive in the adhesive significantly reduces gas permeation, effectively maintaining the partial vacuum within the insulation cavity, thereby enhancing the insulation properties and operational longevity of the appliance.
Implementation Method 1
The adhesive includes a platy additive to reduce gas permeation therethrough to maintain the at least partial vacuum in the insulation cavity
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum insulated appliance includes a cabinet defining at least one compartment. The cabinet includes a wrapper and a liner assembly. The wrapper and the liner assembly define an insulation cavity therebetween. The insulation cavity is under an at least partial vacuum. A trim breaker assembly is 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. An adhesive is disposed in the wrapper groove and the at least one liner groove, with the adhesive sealing the insulation cavity. The adhesive includes a platy additive to reduce gas permeation therethrough to maintain the at least partial vacuum in the insulation cavity.