Refrigerator comprising vacuum space

• US 8,899,068 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2011
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Jung, Wonyeong, Lee, Myungryul, Jhee, Sung
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Melvin
• Application Number:
  US13/241,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20120103006A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 624/40, 624/44, 624/47, 220/592.05, 220/592.09, 312/406
• US Class Current: 62/440
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 11/00 Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2201/14 using subatmospheric pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/02 Doors; Covers F25D23/08 takes precedence locks or fastenings E05B65/0042
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/062 defining a cabinet
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/066 Liners
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/067 Supporting elements

Abstract

This invention relates to refrigerators, and more particularly to a refrigerator in which a vacuum space is formed between an outer case and an inner case of a body thereof for enhancing a heat insulating function. The refrigerator includes a body having a storage space for storing a predetermined storage object, wherein the body includes an inner case having the storage space, an outer case having an inside surface spaced a predetermined gap from an outside surface of the inner case to house the inner case, and a vacuum space provided between the inner case and the outer case sealed to maintain a vacuum state for heat insulating between the inner case and the outer case.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a body having a storage space for storing a predetermined storage object,

wherein the body includes;

an inner case having the storage space,

an outer case having an inside surface spaced a predetermined gap from an outside surface of the inner case to house the inner case,

a vacuum space provided between the inner case and the outer case sealed to maintain a vacuum state for heat insulating between the inner case and the outer case, and

a getter arranged in the vacuum space for absorbing gas from the vacuum space,

wherein the refrigerator further comprises a reinforcing member mounted to at least one of the outside surface of the inner case and the inside surface of the outer case for reinforcing strength of the inner case or the outer case, the reinforcing member being a reinforcing rib projected from at least one of the outside surface of the inner case or the inside surface of the outer case to a height lower than a width of the vacuum space formed between the inner case and the outer case.

2. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a supporting portion provided to contact with, and support, the outside surface of the inner case and the inside surface of the outer case to maintain a spaced state of the inner case and the outer case.

3. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reinforcing rib is plural arranged at the outside surface of the inner case or the inside surface of the outer case spaced from one another.

4. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reinforcing rib includes;

inside reinforcing ribs provided to the outside surface of the inner case, and

outside reinforcing ribs provided to an inside surface of the outer case,

wherein the inside reinforcing ribs and the outside reinforcing ribs are arranged alternately not to interfere with each other.

5. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one of the inside reinforcing ribs and the outside reinforcing ribs are arranged to cross one another to reinforce strength of at least one of the inner case and the outer case.

6. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reinforcing rib is arranged at the outside surface of the inner case or at the inside surface of the outer case in a first direction.

7. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reinforcing rib includes;

a first reinforcing rib arranged at at least one of the outside surface of the inner case or the inside surface of the outer case in a first direction, and

a second reinforcing rib arranged in a second direction which crosses the first direction to cross the first reinforcing rib.

15. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a porous material arranged in the vacuum space for preventing at least one of heat radiation, and heat conduction caused by gas between the inner case and the outer case from taking place.

8. A refrigerator comprising:

a body having a storage space for storing a predetermined storage object,

wherein the body includes;

an inner case having the storage space,

an outer case having an inside surface spaced a predetermined gap from an outside surface of the inner case to house the inner case,

a vacuum space provided between the inner case and the outer case sealed to maintain a vacuum state for heat insulating between the inner case and the outer case, and

a getter arranged in the vacuum space for absorbing gas from the vacuum space,

wherein the refrigerator further comprises a reinforcing member mounted to at least one of the outside surface of the inner case and the inside surface of the outer case for reinforcing strength of the inner case or the outer case, the reinforcing member having a forming portion provided to, and projected from, at least one of the inner case and the outer case for reinforcing strength of the inner case or the outer case, and

wherein the forming portion is plural formed in a first direction.

9. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 8, wherein the forming portion formed in the first direction includes;

an inside forming portion formed at the inner case, and

an outside forming portion formed at the outer case.

10. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a reinforcing frame provided to at least one of the outside surface of the inner case and the inside surface of the outer case, arranged in a direction to cross a direction in which the forming portion is arranged for reinforcing strength of the inner case or the outer case.

11. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 10, wherein the reinforcing frame arranged at the outside surface of the inner case is arranged in a ring shape surrounding the outside surface of the inner case connected end to end.

12. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 10, wherein the reinforcing frame arranged at the inside surface of the outer case is arranged in a ring shape for supporting the inside surface of the outer case connected along the inside surface of the outer case.

13. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 10, wherein the reinforcing frame has a height smaller than a width of the vacuum space formed between the inner case and the outer case.

14. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 8, wherein the forming portion includes;

a first forming portion arranged in the first direction, and

a second forming portion arranged in the second direction which crosses the first direction.

16. A refrigerator comprising:

a body having a storage space for storing a predetermined storage object;

wherein the body includes;

an inner case having the storage space,

an outer case having an inside surface spaced a predetermined gap from an outside surface of the inner case to house the inner case, and

a vacuum space provided between the inner case and the outer case sealed to maintain a vacuum state for heat insulating between the inner case and the outer case,

a supporting portion provided to support the inner case and the outer case at a time to maintain a spaced state of the inner case and the outer case;

a reinforcing member mounted to at least one of the outside surface of the inner case and the inside surface of the outer case for reinforcing strength of the inner case or the outer case, and

a getter arranged in the vacuum space for absorbing gas from the vacuum space,

wherein the reinforcing member is a reinforcing rib projected from at least one of the outside surface of the inner case or the inside surface of the outer case to a height lower than a width of the vacuum space formed between the inner case and the outer case.