Patent · US Expired

Integrated vacuum panel insulation for thermal cabinet structures

US6109712A · kind A · utility

121Cited by
32References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 16, 1998
Grant dateAug 29, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 16, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF25D2201/14
  • WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A cabinet structure is thermally insulated by placing a first insulation material directly upon a surface of the cabinet structure and then covering the insulation material with a barrier sheet that is affixed along an annular edge portion thereof to the cabinet structure. In this manner, the insulation material is retained within a chamber defined between the barrier sheet and the cabinet structure. This chamber is then evacuated to a low pressure, generally in the order of 0.1-10 mm Hg, and sealed. This integrated vacuum panel insulation arrangement is particularly advantageous for use in constructing entire thermal cabinets by providing a blank that defines multiple walls of the cabinet; arranging the insulation on the inner surfaces of the blank; placing one or more barrier sheets over the insulation; attaching edges of the barrier sheet(s) to the inner surfaces of the walls so as to define respective chambers between the barrier sheet(s) and the respective inner wall surfaces; evacuating each of the chambers; and sealing the chambers. When used with a cabinet that includes an additional liner, this insulation arrangement is preferably used on the shell of the cabinet and, foll…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.