WO2005121668A1

WO2005121668A1 - An insulated unit

Info

Publication number: WO2005121668A1
Application number: PCT/IB2005/051872
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alper Soysal; Fatih Ozkadi; Ahmet Dincer
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2004-06-11
Filing date: 2005-06-08
Publication date: 2005-12-22

Abstract

This invention relates to an insulated unit (1) which comprises vacuum insulated panels (5) wherein means are provided to fix them to their proper position during the production process.

Description

Description AN INSULATED UNIT

[001] This invention relates to an insulated unit comprising a vacuum insulated panel.

[002] In such insulated units as the bodies of cookers, washers, washers / dryers and especially cooling devices, an insulation material preferably polyurethane foam is applied between the inner and outer walls forming the body. In cooling devices, between the inner and outer walls, besides the insulation material, there is provided one or more than one vacuum insulated panel (VIP) in order to increase the thermal insulation thereby reducing the energy consumption and to increase the rigidity of the cooling cabinet.

[003] The vacuum insulated panel is produced by combining several materials such as fiberglass, silica, perlite, aerogel, extruded open-cell polystyrene, recycled urethane fluff (RUF) and similar insulation materials and chemical absorbers and / or stainless steel, and afterwards by evacuating and sealing. A vacuum insulated panel produced by the method mentioned stays at a constant vacuum level. The vacuum level of the vacuum insulated panel differs depending on the insulation materials utilized. As a result, because of its low heat conductivity, the vacuum insulated panel has such properties that the heat transfer from the surroundings to the interior of the cooling device is reduced.

[004] Vacuum insulated panels are utilized together with an insulation material, preferably polyurethane foam, located between the walls forming the body. It is disadvantageous that the location of the vacuum insulated panel is changed to a different position than its desired position along the production line until the insulation material is cast. Particularly in cooling devices, alternative methods are developed in order for vacuum insulated panels to be fixed at the application area until the polyurethane foam casting procedure.

[005] In the current state of the art, by means of various adhesives it is achieved that, during the production procedure, vacuum insulated panels are fixed at their proper position.

[006] In the current state of the art, in the United States Patent Document US 4681788, a description is given of an application wherein the vacuum insulated panel is positioned to the wall by means of blocks located between the mentioned wall and the panel.

[007] In the current state of the art, in the European Patent Document EP 0434225, a description is given of several vacuum insulated panels positioned inside the wall of the cooling device, which comprise two evacuated sections and a gas-impermeable barrier film laminate. The mentioned vacuum insulated panels are positioned to the cabinet preferably by adhering and furthermore, vacuum insulated panels can also be adhered to the wall by means of blocks. [008] The object of the present invention is the realization of an insulated unit which comprises vacuum insulated panels wherein means are provided to fix them to their proper position during the production process. [009] The insulated unit designed to fulfill the objectives of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures where: [010] Fig.l - is a schematic side view of an insulated unit.

[011] Fig.2 - is a side view of a supporting element, in open position.

[012] Fig.3 - is a side view of a supporting element with a connection element positioned on it. [013] Fig.4 - is a schematic side view of a supporting element.

[014] Fig.5 - is a schematic view of a vacuum insulated panel which is a press fit to the supporting elements positioned onto a surface as a frame. [015] Fig.6 - is a schematic view of a vacuum insulated panel which is fixed by being wedged between the supporting elements, in an alternative embodiment of the present invention. [016] Elements shown in figures are numbered as follows: 1. Insulated unit 2. Body 3. Outer wall 4. Inner wall 5. Vacuum insulated panel 6. Insulation material 7. Supporting element 8. Connection element 9. Profile 10. Stopper

[017] The insulated unit (1) in accordance with the present invention comprises a body (2) that is formed by an outer wall (3) and inner wall (4), an insulation material (6) that fills the space between the outer wall (3) and inner wall (4), one or more than one vacuum insulated panel (5) placed into or onto the body (2), a supporting element (7) that incorporates profiles (9) which consecutively fit into each other partially or completely and move telescopically if subjected to a force and that elongates or shortens with respect to the movement of said profiles (9) and, whereby the vacuum insulated panel (5) is attached to the surface where it is to be mounted, one or more than one connection element (8) whereby the supporting element (7) is fixed onto the vacuum insulated panel (5) and / or to the surface where the vacuum insulated panel (5) is to be mounted (Figure 1). [018] By means of connection elements (8), supporting elements (7) are fixed onto the surface of the outer and inner walls (3 and 4) where the vacuum insulated panel (5) is to be positioned, preferably such that the mentioned surface is limited. After that, the length of the supporting element (7) is adjusted with respect to the dimensions of the vacuum insulated panel (5) by moving the profiles (9), inside each other, which (9) are positioned telescopically one in another and, by means of the connection elements (8) the profiles (9) that come out of the supporting element (7) are fixed onto the surface (Figure 2, Figure 3). Then, the vacuum insulated panel (5) is fixed onto the mentioned supporting elements (7) by means of connection elements (8) (Figure 5). As the vacuum insulated panel (5) may be fastened onto the supporting elements (7) by means of connection elements (8), it can also be fixed by being wedged between the oppositely placed supporting elements (7) (Figure 6).

[019] Connection elements (8) are utilized in order to fix the position of the supporting elements (7). By means of the said connection elements (8), the supporting elements (7) are fastened either onto the vacuum insulated panel (5) or to the surface where the vacuum insulated panel (5) is to be mounted. Thereby, while the supporting elements (7) are positioned between the vacuum insulated panel (5) and the surface where said vacuum insulated panel (5) is to be mounted, the vacuum insulated panel (5) is fixed, onto the mentioned surface. As mechanical or chemical materials may be used as the connection element (8), in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, adhesives are utilized. Furthermore, the connection element (8) may be attached to the end of the supporting element (7) and / or to the end of the profiles (9) which are incorporated by the supporting element (7).

[020] The supporting element (7) comprises a profile (9) and at least one additional profile (9) that can fit into the afore-mentioned profile (9) and the length of which is larger than, smaller than or equal to the length of the said first profile (9). As the cross- section of the profiles (9) may be "U", "C" or "L" shaped, the profiles (9) may be pipes with quadrangular or circular cross-sections as well. In each profile (9), there may be one or more than one profile (9) which has the mentioned structural properties. Moreover, each profile (9) comprises one or more than one stopper (10) at its outer and inner surface whereby it is prevented from detaching from the profile (9) that it is fitted into. When one of the profiles (9) that are positioned one in another is pulled out, it partially comes out of the profile (9) that it is fitted into and, as the stoppers (10) on the mentioned profile (9) contact with the stoppers (10) on the profile (9) that it is fitted into, the motion stops preventing the inner profile (9) from coming out of the other profile (9) completely. In that way, a telescopic supporting element (7) is obtained which may elongate and, shorten down to the length of the longest profile (9) as desired (Figure 2, Figure 3 and Figure 4). [021] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is achieved both that thermal insulation is ensured by minimizing the heat transfer between the interior of the insulated unit (1) and its surroundings by filling the volume between the outer wall (3) and the inner wall (4) with an insulation material (6), preferably polyurethane foam, and that structural rigidity of the body (2) is increased by assembling the outer wall (3) and inner wall (4) together with the insulation material (6). The insulation material (6), for instance polyurethane foam, is filled into the space between the outer wall (3) and inner wall (4) as liquid wherein it solidifies and covers the mentioned space between the outer wall (3) and inner wall (4) so that there are not any gaps left. Thereby, it is also accomplished that heat leakages are minimized by forming a heat barrier.

[022] In order to improve the insulation of the body (2) which comprises an outer wall (3), an inner wall (4) and an insulation material (6) there between (3 and 4), one or more than one vacuum insulated panel (5) is positioned between the mentioned inner wall (4) and outer wall (3) before the insulation material (6) is applied.

[023] In the afore-mentioned embodiment of the present invention, by means of the connection elements (8), supporting elements (7) are fastened onto the wall (3 and 4) where the vacuum insulated panel (5) is to be mounted. After that, the length of the supporting elements (7) is adjusted with respect to the length of the vacuum insulated panel (5) by pulling the profiles that are positioned telescopically one in another and, the vacuum insulated panels (5) are fastened onto the wall (3 and 4) by means of connection elements (8) by being adhered onto the mentioned supporting elements (7). Thereby, it is ensured that the vacuum insulated panel (5) is fixed at a desired position until insulation material (6) is applied between the inner wall (4) and outer wall (3).

[024] While supporting elements (7) could be independently attached onto the vacuum insulated panel (5) or onto the surface where the vacuum insulated panel (5) is to be mounted, they could also be attached as connected to each other forming a frame structure.

[025] In another embodiment of the present invention, supporting elements (7) are positioned so as to form a frame where the vacuum insulated panel (5) is to be fitted onto and, the vacuum insulated panel (5) is fastened by being a press fit or being adhered onto or into the frame formed by the said supporting elements (7) (Figure 5).

[026] The thickness of the supporting element (7) is determined with respect to the thickness of the vacuum insulated panel (5). Thereby, a narrower or thicker vacuum insulated panel (5) might be mounted onto the insulated panel (1), as desired.

[027] Additionally, as the vacuum insulated panel (5) may be positioned into or onto the body (2), it may also be easily applied into or onto the door whereby one can reach the interior of the compartment. By means of the telescopic supporting elements (7) inside the insulated panel (1), the object of the present invention, the vacuum insulated panel (5) is prevented from moving to a different position from the desired position before the casting procedure of the insulation material (6), it is achieved that the vacuum insulated panel (5) can be positioned inside the body (2) without utilizing any adhesive and it is not necessary to produce different supporting elements (7) for vacuum insulated panels (5) with various dimensions since the length of the supporting element (7) is adjustable. In addition to that, supporting elements (7) could easily be manufactured for every vacuum insulated panel (5).

Claims

[001] An insulated unit (1) comprising; a body (2) that is formed by an outer wall (3) and inner wall (4); an insulation material (6) that fills the space between the outer wall (3) and inner wall (4); one or more than one vacuum insulated panel (5) placed into or onto the body (2); and characterized by a supporting element (7) that incorporates profiles (9) which consecutively fit into each other partially or completely and move telescopically if subjected to a force and the length of which is adjusted with respect to the length of the vacuum insulated panel (5) as it elongates or shortens with respect to the movement of said profiles (9) and, whereby the vacuum insulated panel (5) is attached to the surface where it is to be mounted.

[002] An insulated unit (1) as described in Claim 1, characterized by a supporting element (7) which comprises a profile (9) and at least one additional profile (9) that can fit into the afore-mentioned profile (9) and the length of which is larger, smaller than or equal to the length of the said first profile (9).

[003] An insulated unit (1) as described in Claim 2, characterized by aprofile (9) with "U", "C" or "L" shaped cross-sections.

[004] An insulated unit (1) as described in Claims 2 and 3, characterized by a profile (9) in the form of a pipe with quadrangular or circular cross-section.

[005] An insulated unit (1) as described in Claims 1 - 4, characterized by a profile (9) which comprises at least one stopper (10) in the form of a projection at its outer and / or inner surface whereby it is prevented from detaching from the profile (9) that it is fitted into.

[006] An insulated unit (1) as described in any of the above Claims, characterized by one or more than one connection element (8) whereby it is fixed onto the vacuum insulated panel (5) and / or to the surface where the vacuum insulated panel (5) is to be mounted.

[007] An insulated unit (1) as described in Claims 1 - 6, characterized by a supporting element (7) which is fastened between the inner wall (4) and outer wall (3) onto the wall (3 and 4) where the vacuum insulated panel (5) is to be mounted, by means of the connection elements (8) in order to improve the insulation of the body (2).

[008] An insulated unit (1) as described in any of the above Claims, characterized by supporting element (7) which are fastened as connected to each other forming a frame structure.

[009] An insulated unit (1) as described in any of the above Claims, characterized by supporting element (7) which the vacuum insulated panel (5) is press fit to. [010] An insulated unit (1) as described in any of the above Claims, characterized by oppositely placed supporting element (7) where the vacuum insulated panel (5) is fastened by being wedged. [011] An insulated unit (1) as described in any of the above Claims, characterized by supporting element (7) the thickness of which is determined with respect to the thickness of the vacuum insulated panel (5).