US 12,298,069 B2
Vacuum insulated appliance with pressure monitoring
Paul B. Allard, Coloma, MI (US); Sunil S. Ekshinge, Pune (IN); Alberto Regio Gomes, St. Joseph, MI (US); Abhay Naik, Stevensville, MI (US); and Sanjesh Kumar Pathak, Stevensville, MI (US)
Assigned to WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed by WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed on Mar. 27, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/618,621.
Application 18/618,621 is a continuation of application No. 17/717,421, filed on Apr. 11, 2022, granted, now 11,959,696.
Prior Publication US 2024/0240854 A1, Jul. 18, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F25D 29/00 (2006.01); F25D 23/06 (2006.01)
CPC F25D 29/006 (2013.01) [F25D 23/065 (2013.01); F25D 2201/126 (2013.01); F25D 2201/14 (2013.01); F25D 2500/04 (2013.01); F25D 2700/12 (2013.01); F25D 2700/14 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A refrigerator, comprising:
a vacuum insulated cabinet structure having a refrigerator compartment and an exterior wrapper with an insulating space disposed therebetween, wherein the refrigerator compartment is positioned within the vacuum insulated cabinet structure and includes an interior wall, and further wherein the exterior wrapper includes an exterior wall that is separated from the interior wall of the refrigerator compartment to define a thickness of the insulating space;
a first sensor positioned on the interior wall of the refrigerator compartment, wherein the first sensor is configured to sense a first temperature level of the interior wall of the refrigerator compartment;
a second sensor positioned on the exterior wall of the exterior wrapper, wherein the second temperature sensor is configured to sense a second temperature level of the exterior wall of the exterior wrapper;
a third sensor positioned within the refrigerator compartment, wherein the third temperature sensor is configured to sense an ambient temperature level within the refrigerator compartment; and
a controller operably coupled to the first, second and third sensors for receiving temperature level data therefrom, wherein the controller is configured to:
calculate an overall heat transfer coefficient (Q) using the ambient temperature level, the first temperature level, and a convective heat transfer coefficient for the interior wall of the storage compartment;
calculate a temperature differential between the second temperature level and the first temperature level;
determine a conductivity level (K) using the temperature differential, the overall heat transfer coefficient (Q) and the thickness of the insulating space; and
determine a pressure level (P) within the insulating space using the conductivity level (K).