Vacuum adiabatic body and refrigerator

• US 10,760,849 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2016
• Issued: 09/01/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Jung, Wonyeong, Youn, Deokhyun, Lee, Sungsub
• Primary Examiner(s): Trpisovsky, Joseph F
• Application Number:
  US15/749,143
• Publication Number:
  US 20180224193A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,492 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 59/065 using vacuum F16L59/075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 19/006 Thermal coupling structure or interface
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2201/14 using subatmospheric pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/062 defining a cabinet
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/063 formed by an assembly of panels
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/064 formed by moulding, e.g. moulding in situ
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/082 Strips
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/085 Breaking strips

Abstract

A vacuum adiabatic body includes: a first plate member; a second plate member; a sealing part sealing the first plate member and the second plate member to provide a third space; a supporting unit maintaining the third space; a heat resistance unit for decreasing a heat transfer amount between the first plate member and the second plate member; and an exhaust port through which a gas in the third space is exhausted. The vacuum adiabatic body further includes a peripheral adiabatic part provided to an outer wall of an edge portion of the third space to improve the adiabatic performance of the edge portion of the third space, and the peripheral adiabatic part is provided as a separate adiabatic member. Accordingly, an adiabatic effect may be improved and volume of an outer door in a door-in-door refrigerator may be increased.

Claims

1. A vacuum adiabatic body comprising:

a first plate defining at least one portion of a first side of a wall adjacent to a first space having a first temperature;

a second plate defining at least one portion of a second side of the wall adjacent to a second space having a second temperature different than the first temperature;

a seal that seals the first plate and the second plate to provide a third space that has a third temperature between the first and second temperatures and is in a vacuum state;

an exhaust port through which a gas in the third space is ejected,

a support provided in the third space to maintain a gap in the third space;

a thermal insulator that reduces heat transfer between the first plate and the second plate;

a peripheral adiabatic mold provided adjacent to a distal end portion of the third space to improve adiabatic performance at the distal end of the third space;

a hinge mounted to an inner panel; and

upper and lower covers that protect upper and lower sides of the vacuum adiabatic body,

wherein the peripheral adiabatic mold is provided as a separate adiabatic member than the third space in a vacuum state formed by the first plate and the second plate,

wherein the peripheral adiabatic mold is accommodated in a region defined by at least the second plate and the inner panel, and the peripheral adiabatic mold contacts the second plate and the inner panel.

2. The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral adiabatic mold includes a foaming urethane or a separate molded product.

3. The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 1, further comprising the inner panel provided adjacent at least a portion of the peripheral adiabatic mold.

4. The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 3, wherein a gasket is mounted to the inner panel.

5. The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 4, wherein the thermal insulator includes at least one conductive resistance sheet having a thickness that is less than each of the first and second plates, the at least one conductive resistance sheet having a prescribed shape in which at least a portion is curved to decrease heat conduction flowing along the wall adjacent the third space,

the conductive resistance sheet is heat-insulated by the peripheral adiabatic mold, and

the gasket and the conductive resistance sheet are provided on opposite sides of the peripheral adiabatic mold and positioned to correspond to each other.

6. The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 3, wherein the inner panel is configured to protect the first plate.

7. The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 3, further comprising a basket mounted on the inner panel.

8. The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral adiabatic mold includes a first peripheral adiabatic mold and a second peripheral adiabatic mold, and the first peripheral adiabatic mold and the second peripheral adiabatic mold are made of different materials.

9. The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust port is provided on the first plate.

10. A refrigerator comprising:

a main body provided with an internal space to accommodate storage goods; and

a door provided to open and close the main body from an external space,

wherein, in order to supply a refrigerant into the main body, the refrigerator includes;

a compressor that compresses the refrigerant;

a condenser that condenses the compressed refrigerant;

an expander that expands the condensed refrigerant; and

an evaporator that evaporates the expanded refrigerant to take heat,

wherein the door includes a vacuum adiabatic body,

wherein the vacuum adiabatic body includes;

a first plate defining at least one portion of a first side of a wall adjacent to the internal space having a first temperature;

a second plate defining at least one portion of a second side of the wall adjacent to the external space having a second temperature;

a seal that seals the first plate and the second plate to provide a vacuum space that has a third temperature between the first and second temperatures and is in a vacuum state;

an exhaust port through which a gas in the vacuum space is ejected;

a support provided in the vacuum space;

a thermal insulator that reduces surface conduction heat transfer between the first plate and the second plate; and

a peripheral adiabatic mold that provides thermal insulation at a distal end region of the vacuum adiabatic body,

wherein the exhaust port is disposed at the first plate.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the peripheral adiabatic mold includes a foaming urethane or a separate molded product.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 10, further comprising an inner panel that protects at least a portion of the peripheral adiabatic mold.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the peripheral adiabatic mold includes a first peripheral adiabatic mold and a second peripheral adiabatic mold, and the second peripheral adiabatic mold is a mold that is formed separate from the first peripheral adiabatic mold.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 13, wherein the second peripheral adiabatic mold contacts the thermal insulator.

15. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the exhaust port is provided on the first plate.