Refrigerator comprising vacuum space

• US 9,651,292 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2014
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Myungryul, Jhee, Sung, Jung, Wonyeong
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Melvin
• Application Number:
  US14/532,144
• Publication Number:
  US 20150053699A1
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 62440, 62444, 62447, 62371, 312401, 312405, 3124061
• 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:

an inner case comprising storage space;

an outer case spaced apart from the inner case by a vacuum space configured to insulate the outer case from the inner case; and

supporting portions disposed in the vacuum space and configured to space the outer case from the inner case, the supporting portions comprising inner supporting portions and outer supporting portions,

wherein;

each of the inner supporting portions comprises;

an inner base portion directly disposed on the outer surface of the inner case; and

an inner supporting member projecting from the inner base portion to the outer case,

each of the outer supporting portions comprise;

an outer base portion directly disposed on the inner surface of the outer case; and

an outer supporting member projecting from the outer base portion to the inner case,

the inner base portions are connected to each other and surround the inner case,

the outer base portions are connected to each other and surround the outer case, and

the inner supporting members and the outer supporting members have a shape of a boss or a column.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the supporting portions have a shape of a boss or a column.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the inner supporting portions are alternately arranged with the outer supporting portions.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein:

the inner supporting portions contact the outer surface of the inner case and project from the outer surface of the inner case to the inner surface of the outer case, and

the outer supporting portions contact the inner surface of the outer case and project from the inner surface of the outer case to the outer surface of the inner case.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the inner supporting members are spaced apart from each other on the connected inner base portions.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the outer supporting members are spaced apart from each other on the connected outer base portions.

7. A refrigerator comprising:

an inner case comprising storage space;

an outer case spaced apart from the inner case by a vacuum space configured to insulate the outer case from the inner case; and

supporting portions disposed in the vacuum space and configured to space the outer case from the inner case, the supporting portions comprising inner supporting portions and outer supporting portions,

wherein;

each of the inner supporting portions comprises;

an inner base portion directly disposed on the outer surface of the inner case; and

an inner supporting member projecting from the inner base portion to the outer case,

each of the outer supporting portions comprise;

an outer base portion directly disposed on the inner surface of the outer case; and

an outer supporting member projecting from the outer base portion to the inner case,

the inner base portions are connected to each other and surround the inner case,

the outer base portions are connected to each other and surround the outer case, and

the inner base portions are arranged in a ring shape, and the outer base portions are arranged in a ring shape.

8. A refrigerator comprising:

an inner case comprising storage space;

an outer case spaced apart from the inner case by a vacuum space configured to insulate the outer case from the inner case; and

supporting portions disposed in the vacuum space and configured to space the outer case from the inner case, the supporting portions comprising inner supporting portions and outer supporting portions,

wherein;

each of the inner supporting portions comprises;

an inner base portion directly disposed on the outer surface of the inner case; and

an inner supporting member projecting from the inner base portion to the outer case,

each of the outer supporting portions comprise;

an outer base portion directly disposed on the inner surface of the outer case; and

an outer supporting member projecting from the outer base portion to the inner case,

the inner base portions are connected to each other and surround the inner case,

the outer base portions are connected to each other and surround the outer case, and

the refrigerator further comprises at least one of;

an inside forming portion projecting, at least in part, outwardly from the inner case to support the inner case; and

an outside forming portion projecting, at least in part, inwardly from the outer case to support the outer case.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein a projection of the inside forming portion or the outside forming portion is smaller than a distance between the inner case and the outer case.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the supporting portions are disposed on flat surfaces adjacent to the inside forming portion or the outside forming portion.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein each of the inside forming portion and the outside forming portion comprises a first forming portion arranged in a first direction and a second forming portion arranged in a second direction crossing the first forming portion.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein each of the inside forming portion and the outside forming portion comprises at least two sloped surfaces.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 8, further comprising:

a reinforcing frame disposed on at least one of the outer surface of the inner case and the inner surface of the outer case, the reinforcing frame being arranged in a direction crossing a direction in which the inside forming portion and the outside forming portion are arranged.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 13, wherein the reinforcing frame is arranged in a ring shape surrounding the outer surface of the inner case.

15. The refrigerator according to claim 13, wherein the reinforcing frame is arranged in a ring shape to support the inner surface of the outer case.

16. The refrigerator according to claim 13, wherein the reinforcing frame has a height smaller than a distance between the inner case and the outer case.

17. A refrigerator comprising:

an inner case comprising storage space;

an outer case spaced apart from the inner case by a vacuum space configured to insulate the outer case from the inner case; and

supporting portions disposed in the vacuum space and configured to space the outer case from the inner case, the supporting portions comprising inner supporting portions and outer supporting portions,

wherein;

each of the inner supporting portions comprises;

an inner base portion directly disposed on the outer surface of the inner case; and

an inner supporting member projecting from the inner base portion to the outer case,

each of the outer supporting portions comprise;

an outer base portion directly disposed on the inner surface of the outer case; and

an outer supporting member projecting from the outer base portion to the inner case,

the inner base portions are connected to each other and surround the inner case,

the outer base portions are connected to each other and surround the outer case, and

the refrigerator further comprises a getter arranged in the vacuum space and configured to remove gas from the vacuum space.

18. A refrigerator comprising:

an inner case comprising storage space;

an outer case spaced apart from the inner case by a vacuum space configured to insulate the outer case from the inner case; and

supporting portions to contact and support an outer surface of the inner case and an inner surface of the outer case, and to maintain a gap between the inner case and the outer case, each of the supporting portions comprising;

a base portion contacting one of the outer surface of the inner case or the inner surface of the outer case, and

a supporting member projecting from the base portion,

wherein;

the base portions of each of the supporting portions are connected to each other and the supporting members are spaced apart on the connected base portions, and

the supporting portions have a shape of a boss or a column.

19. The refrigerator according to claim 18, wherein the supporting portions are provided in the vacuum space to maintain the gap between the inner case and the outer case.

20. A refrigerator comprising:

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

a door having a function of opening/closing a refrigerating chamber in the storage chamber,

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 and sealed to maintain a vacuum state for heat insulating between the inner case and the outer case, a front of the vacuum space being covered with a front cover which connects and seals front edges of the inner case and the outer case; and

supporting portions 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,

wherein the supporting portions comprises at least one of;

inner supporting portions projected from the outside surface of the inner case to make a surface to surface contact with the inside surface of the outer case; and

outer supporting portions projected from the inside surface of the outer case to make a surface to surface contact with the outside surface of the inner case.

21. The refrigerator according to claim 20, wherein the supporting portions have a shape of a boss or a column.

22. The refrigerator according to claim 20, wherein:

each of the inner supporting portions comprises;

an inner base portion disposed on the outer surface of the inner case; and

an inner supporting member projecting from the inner base portion to the outer case, and

each of the outer supporting portions comprise;

an outer base portion disposed on the inner surface of the outer case; and

an outer supporting member projecting from the outer base portion to the inner case.

23. The refrigerator according to claim 22, wherein the inner base portions are connected to each other and surround the inner case, or the outer base portions are connected to each other and surround the outer case.

24. The refrigerator according to claim 22, wherein the inner supporting members or the outer supporting members have a shape of a boss or a column.

25. The refrigerator according to claim 22, wherein the inner supporting members are spaced apart from each other on the connected inner base portions or the outer supporting members are spaced apart from each other on the connected outer base portions.

26. The refrigerator according to claim 22, wherein the inner base portions or the outer base portions are arranged in a ring shape.