Getter activation under vacuum

A getter assembly for a vacuumed compartment having a plate. A primary getter material is deposited on the plate. A cover layer is deposited over the primary getter material on the plate.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to an activation system, and more particularly to a getter activation under vacuum system.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

There is no solution to activate a getter after evacuation. This disclosure solves this problem, creating the possibility to expose (open) the getter after (or during) evacuation.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

One aspect of the disclosure includes a getter assembly for a vacuumed compartment having a plate. A primary getter material is deposited on the plate. A cover layer is deposited over the primary getter material on the plate.

Another aspect of the disclosure includes a getter assembly for a vacuumed compartment having a container. A primary getter material is deposited within the container. A cover layer is deposited over the primary getter material within the container. The primary getter material, the cover layer, and the container are covered by a protective enclosure.

Yet another aspect of the disclosure includes a getter assembly for a vacuumed compartment having a container. A first getter material is deposited within the container. A cover layer is deposited over the first getter material within the container. A vessel is disposed within the container and includes a second getter material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIGS. 1-24, reference numeral10generally designates a getter assembly for a vacuumed compartment, such as a refrigerator body1(FIG. 1). The getter assembly10includes a container12. A getter material14is deposited within the container12. A cover layer16is deposited over the getter material14within the container12. It will be understood that the vacuumed compartment could be an appliance cabinet, a vacuumed insulation panel, a vacuumed insulation system, etc.

Currently, it is necessary to open the getter packing before starting evacuation. For this reason, the existing getters consider a time up to 15 minutes of working time. In some cases, this 15 minutes time frame is not enough to install the getter in the product and achieve the final vacuum pressure, which restricts the possible locations of the getter in the product. For example, in the case of a refrigerator, the best location to install a getter is in the area of the machine compartment, but it is not possible to install the getter in the machine compartment and finish evacuation within 15 minutes. For cases that need more than 15 minutes, it is necessary to use more getters to overcome the excessive working time.

This disclosure brings the opportunity to activate the existing getters, with no changes in their chemistry, during or after the system evacuation. The idea is to create an enclosure that is capable to be opened when it is inside the structure, during or after the system evacuation. This enclosure can be made of glass or plastic or any other material that can be broken or perforated. The getter inside the enclosure can be under vacuum or in an inert gas atmosphere. If the getter is under vacuum inside the enclosure, the enclosure can be opened (broken or perforated) either during evacuation or after evacuation. If the getter is under an inert gas atmosphere inside the enclosure, the enclosure has to be opened (broken or perforated) during evacuation. If the enclosure is glass or other rigid and brittle material, the enclosure has to be installed facing an external wall and can be opened (broken) with an impact from outside. If the enclosure is plastic or other flexible material, the enclosure has to be installed in front of the vacuum port and can be perforated by a needle or a set of needles through the vacuum port, during or after evacuation. As previously noted, the getters set forth herein are configured to absorb released gases disposed within vacuumed spaced in an appliance, such as a refrigerator1(FIG. 1).

With reference again toFIGS. 2A and 2B, the illustrated embodiment includes the container12, which may include a stamped or otherwise printed indicia of the source of the getter assembly10. The container12may be constructed of a variety of metals, including stainless steel. In addition, the container12is configured to house two different getter materials, the first getter material14is disposed along a bottom wall20of the container12. The separate vessel22includes a second getter material24disposed along a bottom wall26of the vessel22. It is generally contemplated that the vessel22may be spaced a predetermined distance from the bottom wall20of the container12. In addition, it is contemplated that a top portion of both the vessel22and the container12are filled with the cover layer16that prevents premature activation of the getter assembly10.

With reference now toFIGS. 3A-7, alternate constructions of a getter assembly10are illustrated. InFIG. 3A, a getter assembly10that includes only one getter material14is illustrated. The getter material14is filled within the confines of the container12, although the getter material14may fill less than the total volume of the container12.FIG. 3Billustrates a non-hazardous material, possibly a desiccant, disposed over the getter material14. The non-hazardous material defines a cover layer16designed to prevent premature exposure of the getter material14. The cover layer16may be configured to slowly erode away or evaporate, thereby exposing the getter material14underneath. The getter material14may include a variety of materials, including cobalt, lithium, barium, etc. In addition, the getter material14may be comprised of BaLi4, CaO, or Co3O4.

With reference now toFIG. 4, another form of a getter assembly10is illustrated that includes a cover layer16constructed from a non-hazardous material, and a first getter material14and a second getter material24disposed below the cover layer16. The first getter material14may have a first predetermined activation time and the second getter material24may have a second predetermined activation time.

FIG. 5illustrates yet another construction with a non-hazardous cover layer16disposed over a first, or primary, getter material14, and a second, or secondary, getter material24disposed within a small vessel22disposed inside the container12. It will be understood that the terms “first” and “primary” are interchangeable throughout the application and claims, as well as the terms “second” and “secondary.” The small vessel22may be open on a top or side of the small vessel22so that exposure of the second getter material24occurs after the first getter material14has eroded or evaporated.

FIG. 6illustrates another embodiment that includes a non-hazardous cover layer16disposed over a vessel22that contains a getter material14. Second and third getter materials24,34are disposed below the top getter material14disposed in the vessel22. The second and third getter materials24,34are aligned along the bottom wall20of the container12. As with the other embodiments set forth herein, each getter material may be configured to eliminate particular gases within the vacuumed space of an appliance, such as a refrigerator. When a particular gas molecule comes in contact with the appropriate getter material, the getter material combines with the gas molecule either chemically or by absorption.

FIG. 7illustrates yet another embodiment that includes a cover layer16disposed over a first getter material14and a second getter material24disposed inside a vessel22generally disposed between the cover layer16and the first getter material14. In this instance, the getter material24may act as a transitional getter material that facilitates transition from the getter material24to the getter material14.

With reference toFIGS. 8-10, an assembly is generally illustrated that includes a container12of (FIG. 8) configured for use with a getter material14. InFIG. 9, the small vessel22is disposed inside the container12, the vessel22being configured to receive a getter material14. InFIG. 10, the first getter material14is disposed on the bottom wall20of the container12and a second getter material24is disposed on a bottom wall26of the vessel22. The cover layer16is then disposed over both getter materials14,24within the container12and the vessel22. The vessel22may be installed after the first getter material14is provided in the container12or may be attached to at least one side wall of the container12.

With reference now toFIGS. 11-13, an assembly is generally illustrated that includes the container12of (FIG. 11) configured for use with the getter material14. InFIG. 12, the small vessel22is disposed inside the container12, the vessel22being configured to receive a getter material24. InFIG. 13, a getter material14is disposed on a bottom wall20of the container12and a second getter material24is disposed on a bottom wall26of the vessel22. The cover layer16is then disposed over both the first and second getter materials14,24within the container12and the getter material14within the vessel22. After the components of the getter assembly10have been fully installed, a protective enclosure40is disposed around the getter assembly10as a whole. The protective enclosure40may be constructed of substantially chemically inactive or inert materials, including some polymeric materials and glass, for example.

With reference now toFIGS. 14-16, the illustrated getter assembly10includes a container12of (FIG. 14) configured for use with a getter material14. InFIG. 15, the small vessel22is disposed inside the container12, the vessel22being configured to receive a getter material24. InFIG. 16, the getter material14is disposed on a bottom wall20of the container12and the second getter material24is disposed on a bottom wall26of the vessel22. The cover layer16is then disposed over both getter materials14,24within the container12and the vessel22. After the getter assembly10is complete, a bag enclosure50is disposed around the getter assembly10as a whole and filled with argon. The bag enclosure50may be constructed of a material that breaks down over a period of time or upon exposure to a particular gas.

With reference now toFIG. 17, yet another embodiment of a getter assembly10of the present disclosure is illustrated, which includes the getter material14disposed directly on a plate60.FIG. 18illustrates the cover layer16disposed on the getter material14, which is in turn disposed on the plate60.FIG. 19illustrates the cover layer16disposed over two getter materials14,24, which are then disposed on the plate60.FIG. 20illustrates the getter material14disposed on the plate60and a small vessel22disposed on the plate60. A second getter material24is disposed within the vessel22. A cover layer16is disposed over both the getter material24on the plate60and the getter material14within the vessel22.FIG. 21illustrates a cover layer16disposed over a getter material14disposed on a plate60and a getter material24disposed within a vessel22.FIG. 22illustrates the first getter material14disposed on the plate60and the second getter material24disposed within the vessel22on top of the first getter material14. The vessel22and the second getter material24aegenerally nested within the first getter material14. A cover layer16is then disposed over both getter materials14,24.

FIGS. 23 and 24illustrate a getter material14covered by a cover layer16(FIG. 23).FIG. 24illustrates a cover layer16disposed over a small vessel22with a first getter material14disposed therein and a lower getter material24disposed underneath the vessel22and the cover layer16.

An example of the getter characteristics of this disclosure generally includes a minimum total getter weight (mass) is 5.8 g. A minimum active getter (mass) is 0.09 g BaLi4, 0.45 g Co3O4, and 2.7 g CaO. An initial sorption flow is greater than or equal to 10−6torr 1/s. A total sorption capacity (active gases) is greater than or equal to 10 torr 1.

One method of utilizing the getter assemblies as set forth herein includes providing an appliance or vacuumed insulation panel and placing the getter assembly inside the appliance or vacuumed insulation panel. The appliance or vacuumed insulation panel are then placed in vacuum and are generally inactive during the vacuum. However, the getter assembly could be activated during the vacuum event. During or after the appliance or vacuumed insulation panel has been placed in vacuum, the protective enclosure or bag enclosure is ruptured, thereby exposing the getter material to the vacuumed space defined by the appliance or vacuumed insulation panel. The getter material is then available to react with gas molecules chemically or by absorption. Accordingly, small amounts of gas are removed from the evacuated space by the getter material of the getter assembly. By providing the protective enclosure or bag enclosure around the getter assembly materials, the getter material can be maintained with limited or minimal exposure to gases before the getter assembly is sealed inside the vacuumed space.