Vacuum Port Layout for Faster Evacuation in Insulated Structures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vacuum insulated structures face challenges in achieving faster vacuum evacuation times, which hinders the efficient construction and energy consumption of refrigerating appliances.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a design featuring multiple vacuum ports on the top, bottom, and rear walls, along with a filter media to prevent insulative material from being drawn out, allows for faster evacuation of air from the insulation space, thereby reducing the time to achieve negative pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a single vacuum port is used in traditional vacuum insulated structures, then the structure is simpler to manufacture, but the vacuum evacuation time is excessively long
Solution Approach 1:
The single vacuum port is segmented into multiple vacuum ports distributed across different walls (top, bottom, rear, and side walls). This segmentation increases the total vacuum port area, allowing faster evacuation of the insulation space while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standardized port designs
2Productivity
If multiple vacuum ports are added to increase evacuation speed, then the vacuum evacuation time is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum evacuation system is segmented into multiple ports located on different walls, with each port contributing to the overall evacuation capacity. This segmentation enables parallel evacuation pathways, significantly increasing productivity without requiring complex individual port structures
Solution Approach 2:
Each vacuum port serves multiple functions: it acts as an evacuation pathway, a structural feature that can be integrated into wall designs, and a location for filter media installation. This multi-functionality increases evacuation speed while minimizing additional complexity
3Reliability
If filter media is added to prevent insulative material from being drawn out, then the reliability of the vacuum system is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Filter media is introduced as an intermediary component between the insulation space and vacuum ports. This mediator prevents insulative material from being drawn out during evacuation while allowing air to pass through, thereby improving vacuum system reliability without requiring complex sealing or retention mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
Porous filter media is used at the vacuum ports to selectively allow air molecules to pass through while blocking larger insulative material particles. This use of porous materials provides reliable protection against material loss while maintaining simple installation and integration into the vacuum port structure
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 enables quicker attainment of negative pressure within the insulation space, facilitating faster appliance construction and improved energy efficiency.
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
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1A
Figure 2
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.