Abstract:
A method of routing utility lines in a vacuum insulated refrigerator structure includes forming a shell and an elongated umbilical comprising an elongated impervious sleeve and a core structure defining at least two elongated internal passageways extending lengthwise along the umbilical. The method includes sealingly connecting a first end of the sleeve to the shell at a first opening, and sealingly connecting a second end of the sleeve to the shell at a second opening. A vacuum is formed in an internal cavity of the shell. Utility lines are routed through at least one of the elongated internal passageways whereby portions of the utility lines are disposed inside the umbilical, and opposite ends of the utility lines extend out of the opposite ends of the umbilical.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various types of insulated cabinets and doors have been developed for refrigerators and the like. Refrigerator doors and/or cabinets may comprise vacuum insulated structures having an outer wrapper that is sealed to an inner liner to form a vacuum cavity that is filled with porous material. Power and/or water lines may need to be run through the insulated structure to provide for various refrigerator components such as ice and water dispensers. However, routing utilizing lines through insulated structures may be problematic. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A method of routing utility lines in a vacuum insulated refrigerator structure includes forming a shell having an internal cavity. The shell has at least first and second openings to the internal cavity. The method includes forming an elongated umbilical comprising an elongated impervious sleeve and an elongated core structure defining at least two elongated internal passageways extending lengthwise along the umbilical. The method includes sealingly connecting a first end of the sleeve to the shell at the first opening, and sealingly connecting a second end of the sleeve to the shell at the second opening. A vacuum is formed in the internal cavity of the shell. The method further includes routing utility lines through the at least two elongated internal passageways whereby portions of the utility lines are disposed inside the umbilical, and opposite ends of the utility lines extend out of the opposite ends of the umbilical. The utility lines may comprise power and/or water and/or refrigerant and/or control lines or the like. 
     Another aspect of the present disclosure is a vacuum insulated refrigerator structure including an airtight shell defining an internal vacuum cavity. The vacuum insulated refrigerator structure also includes a tubular umbilical member defining an elongated internal space and having a central portion disposed in the internal vacuum cavity. Opposite end portions of the tubular umbilical member are sealingly connected to the airtight shell. Each opposite end portion has an opening that permits access to the elongated internal space from outside of the airtight shell. The vacuum insulated refrigerator structure further includes an elongated internal core structure disposed within the elongated internal space and having opposite ends disposed adjacent the openings at the opposite ends of the tubular umbilical member. The internal core structure has at least first and second elongated internal passageways. First and second utility lines are disposed in the first and second elongated internal passageways, respectively. The first and second utility lines have opposite ends extending out of the openings at the opposite ends of the tubular umbilical member. 
     These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present disclosure will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a refrigerator according to one aspect of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a partially schematic cross sectional view of the refrigerator of  FIG. 1  taken along the line II-II; 
         FIG. 3  is a partially schematic fragmentary view of the refrigerator of  FIG. 1  taken along the line III-III; 
         FIG. 4  is a partially schematic fragmentary cross sectional view of a portion of the refrigerator of  FIG. 2  taken along the line IV-IV; 
         FIG. 5  is a fragmentary isomeric view of an umbilical according to one aspect of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of an umbilical according to another aspect of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of an umbilical according to another aspect of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the disclosure as oriented in  FIG. 1 . However, it is to be understood that the disclosure may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a refrigerator  1  according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes an insulated cabinet  2  having an insulated/refrigerated interior space  22  ( FIG. 2 ) and front doors  4  and  6 . Door  4  includes a handle  8 , and door  6  includes a handle  10 . Door  4  may be movably mounted to cabinet  2  by one or more hinges  18  ( FIG. 2 ). In the illustrated example, the door  6  comprises a drawer that can be translated linearly as indicated by the arrow “A.” Door  4  is rotatably mounted to the cabinet  2  by hinges or the like in a known manner, and rotates about a vertical axis as indicated by the arrow “B.” Refrigerator  1  may include additional doors (not shown) in various shapes and configurations as may be required for a particular application. Refrigerator  1  may include a conventional powered cooling system (not shown) that is mounted in machine compartment  5 . The cooling system may include a compressor, condenser, evaporator, and other related components that cool one or more refrigerated and/or freezer compartments. Alternatively, refrigerator  1  may include a thermoelectric cooling system. 
     An ice/water dispensing unit  12  is mounted in door  4 . Power and/or water lines  14  and  16  may be operably connected to the ice/water dispenser  12  or other components. The refrigerator  1  may include a machine compartment  5  that houses various cooling system components (not shown) outside of a refrigerated compartment  22  ( FIG. 2 ). As discussed in more detail below, power and/or water lines  14  and  16  may be routed through a back wall  3  of cabinet  2  utilizing an umbilical  46  ( FIG. 4 ). Lines  14  and/or  16  may also comprise refrigerant lines and/or control lines. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 2 , one or more seals  20  are utilized to seal fresh food compartment  22  when door  4  is in a closed position. Ice/water dispenser  12  may be at least partially disposed within an inner structure  24  mounted to door  4 . Cabinet  2  may include an outer wrapper member  26 , an inner liner member  28 , and vacuum core material  30 . Liner  28  may be made of thermoformed polymer material or from sheet metal that is bent/formed. Similarly, door  4  may include an outer door panel wrapper member  32 , inner liner  34 , and vacuum core material  36 . The inner and outer members  26 ,  28 ,  32 , and  34  may comprise polymer or metal that is impervious to gasses to permit formation of a vacuum. As discussed in more detail below, the vacuum cores  30  and  36  may comprise a porous/permeable filler material such as silica powder  38 . Filler  30  and  38  may optionally be disposed within an impermeable envelope  40 . Filler  30  and/or  38  may comprise various porous/permeable filler materials such as open cell foam, glass fibers, or other suitable materials. The construction of the liners  28  and  34 , wrappers  26  and  32 , and vacuum core material  36  may be substantially similar to known vacuum insulated refrigerator structures. In general, an interior space  42  of door  4 , and an interior space  44  of cabinet  2  comprise a sealed space which is filled with core material  30  and  38 , and a vacuum is then formed in spaces  42  and  44  during the process of fabricating the cabinet  2  and door  4 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 3 , power lines  14  and/or water lines  16  may be routed through a conduit such as umbilical  46  to provide water and/or power to the ice/water dispenser  12 . Conduit or umbilical  46  is configured to permit routing of utility lines while maintaining a vacuum in the cabinet  2  and/or door  4 . In the illustrated example, a first opening  48  is formed in a lower edge portion  50  of door  4 . Wrapper  32  and liner  34  may comprise separate components that overlap along lower edge  50 , and the opening  48  may extend through outer wrapper  32  and/or inner liner  34 . A first fitting  52  provides an airtight seal at first end  54  of umbilical  46 . A second opening  56  is provided through inner structure  24  at ice/water dispenser  12 . In the illustrated example, the inner structure  24  comprises an impermeable barrier to maintain the vacuum within interior space  42 . A second fitting  58  provides a sealing connection at second end  60  of umbilical  46 . As discussed in more detail below, umbilical  46  includes an elongated internal passageway  62  that is generally at atmospheric pressure to thereby permit routing of power lines  14  and/or water lines  16  through the interior space  42  of door  4  without forming leaks that would otherwise destroy the vacuum in interior space  42 . It will be understood that the shape and location of umbilical  46  may vary depending upon the requirements of a particular application, and the configuration of  FIG. 3  is merely an example of one possible configuration. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 4 , umbilical  46  may be routed through door  4 , door  6 , and/or cabinet  2  as required for a particular application. In  FIG. 4 , umbilical  46  extends through back wall  3  of cabinet  2  between machine compartment  5  and fresh food compartment  22 . With reference to  FIG. 5 , umbilical  46  includes a tubular outer casing  64  and an inner spacer  66  that is disposed within the outer casing  64 . Inner spacer  66  includes a plurality of elongated internal passageways  68 A- 68 D through which utility lines such as power lines  14  and/or water lines  16  are routed. Inner spacer  66  is preferably formed from polyurethane foam or other insulating material to prevent or reduce heat transfer to/from utility lines  14  and  16  into/from the outside of the refrigerator. The outer casing  64  may comprise a metal or plastic conduit. The outer casing  64  is preferably impermeable to air to thereby ensure that a vacuum is maintained within the interior space  42  of door  4 . Thus, if outer casing  64  comprises a polymer material, casing  64  may include one or more layers of polymer that are impermeable to gasses. The spacer  66  may comprise an insulation material such as EPS or PU foam. One or more grooves  70  may be formed in outer surface  72  of spacer  66 . The umbilical  46  may have a generally circular cross sectional shape as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 6 , an umbilical  46 A according to another aspect of the present disclosure has a generally oval or elliptical cross sectional shape, and includes a non-circular outer casing  64 A. A non-circular (e.g. oval or elliptical) inner spacer  66 A includes a plurality of internal passages  68  for routing power lines  14  and/or water lines  16 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 7 , an umbilical  46 B according to another aspect of the present disclosure has a generally rectangular cross sectional shape including an outer casing  64 B, and an inner spacer  66 B having a plurality of passageways  68  that provide for routing of power lines  14  and/or water lines  16 . 
     During assembly, the outer casing  64  is fabricated from metal or impermeable polymer material. The inner spacer  66  is then inserted into outer casing  64 . The power lines  14  and/or water lines are then inserted into the passageways  68  through inner spacer  66 . The opposite ends of the outer casing  64  are then sealingly attached to the outer wrapper  34  and/or inner liner  34  ( FIG. 4 ). The opposite ends of outer casing  64  may be sealed to wrapper  34  and/or liner  34  utilizing adhesive sealants and/or fittings  52  and  58 . Alternatively, if outer casing  64  is metal, the outer casing  64  may be welded to wrapper  32  and/or liner  34  if wrapper  32  and liner  34  are made from a compatible metal that is suitable for welding. The wrapper  32  and liner  34  are then assembled together, and silica material or powder  38  is then positioned between the wrapper  32  and liner  34 . A vacuum is then applied to the interior space  42 , and the interior space is then sealed to form a vacuum therein. 
     It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of the present disclosure, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.