Patent ID: 11959696
Assignee: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
Field: Other consumer goods (Other fields)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 6:
7. A method of measuring pressure within a vacuum insulated cabinet structure, the method comprising the steps of:
(i) providing a vacuum insulated cabinet structure having a storage compartment and an insulating space positioned between interior and exterior walls of the storage compartment, a first temperature sensor positioned on the interior wall of the storage compartment, a second temperature sensor positioned on the exterior wall of the storage compartment, a third temperature sensor positioned outside of the storage compartment;
(ii) sensing a first temperature level of the interior wall of the storage compartment using the first temperature sensor;
(iii) sensing a second temperature level of the exterior wall of the storage compartment using the second temperature sensor;
(iv) calculating a first temperature differential between the second temperature level and the first temperature level;
(v) sensing an ambient temperature level for an environment in which the storage compartment is disposed using the third temperature sensor;
(vi) calculating an overall heat transfer coefficient (Q) using the ambient temperature level, the second temperature level, and a convective heat transfer coefficient for the exterior wall of the storage compartment;
(vii) determining a first conductivity level (K) using the first temperature differential, the overall heat transfer coefficient (Q) and a thickness of the insulating space; and
(viii) determining a first pressure level (P) within the insulating space using the first conductivity level (K).