Patent ID: 11971209
Assignee: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
Field: Other special machines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F  B | IPC B  F

Claim 8:
9. A method for adding a vacuum insulation material into a vacuum insulated refrigerator structure, the method comprising:
providing a powder processor including:
a hopper that includes an air permeable surface;
a feed screw operably coupled to the hopper;

an evacuator coupled to a vacuum port disposed on the hopper; and
an aperture exit positioned at a bottom of the hopper;

loading a vacuum insulation material to the hopper;
mixing the vacuum insulation material with the feed screw;
applying heat and a first vacuum to the vacuum insulation material to form a dry and degassed vacuum insulation material;
applying a second vacuum to a vacuum insulated structure using a gas permeable feature;
loading the dry and degassed vacuum insulation material into the vacuum insulated structure through the aperture exit and a loading port;
removing the powder processor and continuing to apply the second vacuum to the loading port of the vacuum insulated structure; and
sealing the loading port to form the vacuum insulated structure.