CABINET FOR A REFRIGERATION UNIT

A refrigeration unit includes a cabinet and a compressor positioned within a machine compartment at least partially defined by the cabinet. The cabinet includes a wrapper that includes a first glass panel, a liner that includes a second glass panel, and insulation material disposed between the liner and the wrapper.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to a cabinet for a refrigeration unit. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a vacuum insulated cabinet for a refrigeration unit that includes a glass panel.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a refrigeration unit includes a cabinet and a compressor positioned within a machine compartment at least partially defined by the cabinet. The cabinet includes a wrapper that includes a first glass panel, a liner that includes a second glass panel, and insulation material disposed between the liner and the wrapper.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a vacuum insulated cabinet of a refrigeration unit includes a liner that defines a storage compartment of the refrigeration unit, a wrapper, and insulation material disposed within an interior volume defined by the liner and the wrapper, wherein at least one of the liner and the wrapper includes a plastic overmolded glass panel.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of manufacturing an insulated cabinet for a refrigeration unit comprises the steps of overmolding a glass panel of the cabinet with plastic, depositing insulation material within an interior volume defined by the cabinet, and evacuating air from the interior volume defined by the cabinet to form a vacuum sealed environment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now toFIGS.1-6, a refrigeration unit10includes a cabinet12. The cabinet12includes a wrapper14. The wrapper14includes a first glass panel16. The cabinet12further includes a liner18that includes a second glass panel20. Insulation material22is disposed between the liner18and the wrapper14of the cabinet12. The cabinet12at least partially defines a machine compartment21of the refrigeration unit10. A compressor23is positioned within the machine compartment21. The compressor23is a component of a refrigerant circuit that cools the refrigeration unit10. The refrigerant circuit can include a variety of other components (e.g., evaporator, capillary tube, condenser, etc.).

Referring now toFIGS.1-3, the cabinet12of the refrigeration unit10can be an insulated cabinet12. For example, the cabinet12can be a vacuum insulated cabinet12, as described further herein. The cabinet12can include the wrapper14and the liner18. The liner18can be positioned inboard of the wrapper14. For example, in the embodiment illustrated inFIG.4, the liner18defines a storage compartment24of the refrigeration unit10and the wrapper14is positioned outboard of the liner18. It is contemplated that the refrigeration unit10can include a plurality of storage compartments24, such as a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment, in various embodiments. The cabinet12defines an interior volume26. As illustrated inFIG.3, the liner18and the wrapper14of the cabinet12define the interior volume26which is disposed between the liner18and the wrapper14of the cabinet12. Insulation material22(e.g., powder, foam, panels, etc.) can be disposed within the interior volume26defined by the liner18and wrapper14. For example, as illustrated inFIG.3, the insulation material22is disposed between the liner18and the wrapper14within the interior volume26of the cabinet12.

Referring now toFIGS.4and5, the cabinet12of the refrigeration unit10can include a trim breaker28. As illustrated inFIG.4, the trim breaker28can be positioned at a front perimeter30of the cabinet12that extends about an opening32to the storage compartment24defined by the liner18of the cabinet12. In various embodiments, the trim breaker28can partially define the interior volume26of the cabinet12. For example, the trim breaker28can define the interior volume26of the cabinet12together with the liner18and the wrapper14of the cabinet12. As illustrated inFIG.5, the wrapper14terminates at a terminal end34of the wrapper14proximate to the front perimeter30of the cabinet12, and the liner18terminates at a terminal end36of the liner18proximate to the front perimeter30of the cabinet12. In the illustrated embodiment, the trim breaker28is coupled to the terminal end34of the wrapper14and the terminal end36of the liner18and spans the gap between the respective terminal ends34,36of the wrapper14and liner18to enclose the interior volume26defined by the cabinet12. The trim breaker28can be coupled to the wrapper14and liner18in a variety of manners, such as via an adhesive.

Referring now toFIGS.2-5, the cabinet12includes a glass panel38. In various embodiments, the cabinet12includes a plurality of glass panels38. For example, the cabinet12can include the first glass panel16and the second glass panel20. The glass panel38can have a thickness of less than 1 millimeter (mm). For example, the glass panel can have a thickness between about 0.4 millimeters and 1 millimeter. In some implementations, the wrapper14includes the glass panel38. In some examples, the liner18includes the glass panel38. In an exemplary embodiment, the wrapper14includes the first glass panel16and the liner18includes the second glass panel20. The glass panel38of the cabinet12can be substantially impermeable with respect to air, such that the interior volume26of the cabinet12may be evacuated to form a vacuum insulated cabinet12.

Referring still toFIGS.2-5, in various embodiments, the glass panel38of the cabinet12can be a plastic overmolded glass panel38. In other words, the glass panel38can be overmolded with plastic. It is contemplated that the glass panel38can be overmolded with plastic in a variety of manners (e.g., cast overmolding, injection overmolding, etc.). In the embodiment illustrated inFIG.5, the wrapper14includes the first plastic overmolded glass panel16, and the liner18includes the second plastic overmolded glass panel20. As illustrated inFIG.5, the wrapper14includes a plastic inner wrapper layer40that is positioned between the insulation material22disposed within the interior volume26of the cabinet12and the first glass panel16of the wrapper14. The wrapper14further includes a plastic outer wrapper layer42that is positioned outboard of the first glass panel16such that the first glass panel16is positioned between the plastic inner and outer wrapper layers40,42. The liner18illustrated inFIG.5includes a plastic outer liner layer44. The plastic outer liner layer44is positioned between insulation material22disposed within the interior volume26defined by the cabinet12and the second glass panel20. The liner18further includes a plastic inner liner layer46that is positioned inboard of the second glass panel20such that the second glass panel20is positioned between the plastic inner and outer liner layers46,44. As illustrated inFIG.5, the plastic inner liner layer46defines the storage compartment24of the refrigeration unit10.

In some embodiments, the plastic inner liner layer46is coupled to the plastic outer wrapper layer42. For example, as illustrated inFIG.3, wherein at least one glass panel38is disposed within the wrapper14, the liner18, and along the front perimeter30of the cabinet12, the plastic inner liner layer46and the plastic outer wrapper layer42are integrally molded. In the illustrated embodiment, the plastic inner liner layer46and the plastic outer wrapper layer42converge proximate to the front perimeter30of the cabinet12. In various embodiments, the plastic outer liner layer44can be coupled to the plastic inner wrapper layer40. For example, as illustrated inFIG.3, the plastic outer liner layer44and the plastic inner wrapper layer40are integrally molded. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG.3, wherein the at least one glass panel38of the cabinet12extends along the front perimeter30of the cabinet12and the plastic inner and outer liner layers46,44are integrally molded with the plastic outer and inner wrapper layers40,42, respectively, the cabinet12may define the interior volume26without the trim breaker28, as illustrated inFIG.3.

Referring now toFIG.6, a method100of manufacturing an insulated cabinet12for a refrigeration unit10includes a step110of overmolding a glass panel38of the cabinet12with plastic. In various embodiments, the glass panel38of the cabinet12can form a portion of the wrapper14of the cabinet12and/or a portion of the liner18of the cabinet12. It is contemplated that the step110of overmolding the glass panel38of the cabinet12with plastic may be executed in a variety of manners, such as injection overmolding or cast overmolding. Further the step110of overmolding the glass panel38of the cabinet12with plastic may include overmolding the first glass panel16to form at least a portion of the wrapper14and/or overmolding the second glass panel20to form at least a portion of the liner18.

The method100of manufacturing the insulated cabinet12for the refrigeration unit10may include a step120of installing the trim breaker28of the cabinet12. In various embodiments, the trim breaker28may be installed at the front perimeter30of the cabinet12. The step120can entail coupling the trim breaker28to the terminal ends34,36of the wrapper14and liner18, respectively, as illustrated inFIG.5, wherein the trim breaker28spans the gap between the terminal ends34,36of the wrapper14and the liner18. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG.5, the interior volume26defined by the cabinet12is partially defined by the trim breaker28of the cabinet12.

The method100of manufacturing the insulated cabinet12for the refrigeration unit10can further include a step130of depositing insulation material22within the interior volume26defined by the cabinet12. The insulation material22can be deposited within the interior volume26defined by the cabinet12in a variety of manners. For example, the insulation material22may be an insulated powder that is delivered into the interior volume26through an aperture defined by the cabinet12. In another example, the insulation material22may include insulation panels that are fitted with a portion of the cabinet12, such as the liner18or wrapper14, prior to assembly of the liner18and wrapper14of the cabinet12.

The method100of manufacturing the insulated cabinet12for the refrigeration unit10may include a step140of evacuating air from the interior volume26defined by the cabinet12to form a vacuum sealed environment. In various embodiments, the insulation material22deposited within the interior volume26remains within the interior volume26as the interior volume26is evacuated of air. Evacuation may occur, in an exemplary embodiment, by utilizing a vacuum operably coupled with a conduit (not shown) that extends outside of the interior volume26yet is in fluid communication with the interior volume26. The conduit may be crimped upon completion of the evacuation process to seal the interior volume26of the cabinet12.

The cabinet12of the present disclosure may provide a variety of advantages. First, the glass panel38of the cabinet12being impermeable with respect to air can allow for an interior environment of the cabinet12to be evacuated and sealed in a generally airtight manner. Second, the cabinet12being formed of one or more relatively thin and lightweight glass panels38that are overmolded with plastic rather than a metal panel may reduce the weight of the cabinet12, which may allow for convenient handling of the refrigeration unit10by a user. Third, the cabinet12including the glass panel38that extends along the front perimeter30of the cabinet12and not including metal may allow for the trim breaker28to be omitted from the cabinet12, which may reduce the complexity of assembling and the number of parts required to manufacture the cabinet12.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, A refrigeration unit includes a cabinet and a compressor positioned within a machine compartment at least partially defined by the cabinet. The cabinet includes a wrapper that includes a first glass panel, a liner that includes a second glass panel, and insulation material disposed between the liner and the wrapper.

According to another aspect, the wrapper further includes a plastic inner wrapper layer positioned between the insulation material and the first glass panel, and a plastic outer wrapper layer positioned outboard of the first glass panel such that the first glass panel is positioned between the plastic inner and outer wrapper layers.

According to another aspect, the liner further includes a plastic outer liner layer positioned between the insulation material and the second glass panel, and a plastic inner liner layer positioned inboard of the second glass panel such that the second glass panel is positioned between the plastic inner and outer liner layers.

According to another aspect, the plastic inner liner layer defines a storage compartment.

According to another aspect, the plastic inner liner layer is coupled to the plastic outer wrapper layer.

According to another aspect, the plastic inner liner layer and the plastic outer wrapper layer are integrally molded.

According to another aspect, the plastic outer liner layer is coupled to the plastic inner wrapper layer.

According to another aspect, the plastic outer liner layer and the plastic inner wrapper layer are integrally molded.

According to another aspect, a trim breaker is coupled to a terminal end of the wrapper and a terminal end of the liner.

According to another aspect, the trim breaker is positioned at a front perimeter of the cabinet that extends about an opening to a storage compartment of the cabinet.

According to another aspect, the first glass panel is overmolded with plastic.

According to another aspect, the second glass panel is overmolded with plastic.

According to another aspect, the cabinet is a vacuum insulated cabinet.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a vacuum insulated cabinet of a refrigeration unit includes a liner that defines a storage compartment of the refrigeration unit, a wrapper, and insulation material disposed within an interior volume defined by the liner and the wrapper, wherein at least one of the liner and the wrapper includes a plastic overmolded glass panel.

According to another aspect, a trim breaker is coupled to a terminal end of the liner and a terminal end of the wrapper at a front perimeter of the cabinet that surrounds an opening to the storage compartment.

According to another aspect, the liner includes the plastic overmolded glass panel.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of manufacturing an insulated cabinet for a refrigeration unit comprises the steps of overmolding a glass panel of the cabinet with plastic, depositing insulation material within an interior volume defined by the cabinet, and evacuating air from the interior volume defined by the cabinet to form a vacuum sealed environment.

According to another aspect, the glass panel forms a portion of a wrapper of the cabinet.

According to another aspect, the glass panel forms a portion of a liner of the cabinet.

According to another aspect, the method further includes the step of installing a trim breaker of the cabinet. The interior volume defined by the cabinet is partially defined by the trim breaker.