IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,768,026
Granted Patent B2
US 11,768,026 · App. 16/767,899 · Granted Sep 26, 2023

Vacuum adiabatic body and refrigerator

Inventors: Hyeunsik Nam (Seoul, KR); Daewoong Kim (Seoul, KR); Bongjin Kim (Seoul, KR)
Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
F25D21/14F25D23/065F16L59/065F25D2201/14F25D2321/146F25D2323/024
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,768,026
App. No.
16/767,899
Granted
Sep 26, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vacuum adiabatic body according to the present invention includes a supporting block which is fastened to an outer surface of any one plate placed outside the control space in a plate member which provides a wall of the vacuum adiabatic body. Accordingly, since the vacuum adiabatic bodies in a state of being not in contact with each other can be fastened to each other, various products corresponding to the needs of the consumer can be provided.

Claims (64)

1. A vacuum adiabatic body comprising:

a first plate of a first temperature;

a second plate of a second temperature;

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

at least one support in the third space;

a support block that is fastened to an outer surface of the second plate, the support block having a recess; and

a division panel provided in the recess and configured to divide the recess into a first recess in which a controller is received and a second recess in which a pipeline for at least one of a defrost water and an electric line path is received,

wherein the second recess includes a through-hole in which part of the pipeline is to pass through.

2. The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 1 , wherein the support block includes a plurality of support blocks provided on a flat surface at vertexes of the second plate, and

wherein the vacuum adiabatic body comprises a panel member to connect two adjacent support blocks, of the plurality of support blocks, in order to shield the recess.

3. A refrigerator comprising:

at least two vacuum adiabatic bodies, each adiabatic body defining a storage space, and each adiabatic body having a first plate that defines at least a portion of a first side of a wall adjacent to a first space, a second plate that defines at least a portion of a second side of the wall adjacent to a second space having a second temperature, a seal that seals the first plate to the second plate to provide a third space that has a third temperature and is in a vacuum state, at least one support in the third space, and an opening that forms with respect to a storage space;

an auxiliary body that attaches to an outer surface of a first one of the at least two vacuum adiabatic bodies, and connects the at least two vacuum adiabatic bodies;

an evaporator provided in an inner part of the storage space;

a machine chamber provided outside the storage space;

a refrigerant pipe that connects the machine chamber and the evaporator; and

a drain pipe that penetrates the vacuum adiabatic body to guide defrost water generating at the evaporator to outside of the vacuum adiabatic body,

wherein a heat transfer rate of a space defined by the auxiliary body is higher than a heat transfer rate in the third space,

wherein at least one of the defrost water and an electric line path penetrates the third space, and through-holes for pipelines are provided on the first plate and the second plate, and

wherein the auxiliary body includes a plurality of support blocks that maintain a gap between the at least two vacuum adiabatic bodies, and at least one plate coupling the plurality of support blocks to form the space.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 3 ,

wherein the at least one plate includes a hinge fastener to which a door hinge is attached to support rotation of a door, and

wherein each of the vacuum adiabatic bodies include a separate door.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 3 ,

wherein a controller is provided in an inner space of the auxiliary body, and supplies power to an electric component for operation of the refrigerator.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 5 ,

wherein a path for discharging the defrost water from the evaporator in the storage space is positioned in the inner space of the auxiliary body.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 6 ,

wherein the auxiliary body includes a division panel that separates into a first space in which the path for discharging the defrost water is provided and a second space at which the controller is provided.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 3 , further comprising:

a division panel that divides an inner space of the auxiliary body into at least two spaces.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 8 ,

wherein a defrost water tray is provided at one of the at least two spaces.

10. A refrigerator comprising:

a first main body having a first cavity provided by a first plate and a second plate;

a second main body having a second cavity provided by a third plate and a fourth plate;

a first seal that seals the first plate to the second plate and a second seal that seals the third plate to the fourth plate so that the first plate and the third plate define at least a portion of a first side of a wall adjacent to a first space, the second plate and the fourth plate define at least a portion of a second side of the wall adjacent to a second space having a second temperature, and a third space is provided to have a third temperature, and is in a vacuum state;

at least one support in the third space;

a door to close at least a portion of an opening of at least the first main body;

a gasket installed to at least one of the door and the first main body so as to seal a portion in which the door is to control the first main body; and

a support block that is positioned between the first main body and the second main body, and is fastened to an outer surface of the second plate, the support block having a recess to receive a controller.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 10 ,

wherein a gap is provided between the second plate and the fourth plate based on the support block, and a through-hole is provided for communicating between the first main body and the second main body.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 10 ,

wherein a gap is provided between the second plate and the fourth plate based on the support block, and a discharge flow path of defrost water generated in the third space is provided.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 10 ,

wherein a gap is provided between the second plate and the fourth plate based on the support block, and a cold air flow path is provided to communicate between the first main body and the second main body.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 10 ,

wherein a gap is provided between the second plate and the fourth plate based on the support block, and a refrigerant flow path is provided to communicate between the first main body and the second main body.

15. The refrigerator according to claim 10 ,

wherein a gap is provided between the second plate and the fourth plate based on the support block, and an electric line path is provided to communicate between the first main body and the second main body.

16. The refrigerator according to claim 10 ,

wherein the controller is positioned at a gap formed based the support block between the second plate and the fourth plate.

17. The refrigerator according to claim 10 ,

wherein at least two support blocks are provided and at least one surface of one of the at least two support blocks is opened.

18. The refrigerator according to claim 10 , further comprising:

a door hinge fastened to the support block, and connects the door to the first main body.

19. The refrigerator according to claim 10 ,

wherein the first main body and the second main body are vertically stacked.

20. The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 1 ,

wherein the support block includes:

a first part and a second part spaced apart from the first part;

two support parts to connect the first and second parts; and

an opening surface formed between the two support parts and configured to provide access from outside therethrough for fastening and dismounting through an outer surface of the vacuum adiabatic body.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 28, 2020
From: NAM, HYEUNSIK; KIM, DAEWOONG; KIM, BONGJIN
To: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Reel/Frame 052778/0073 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2017-0171661 · Dec 13, 2017 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200370817A1 · Nov 26, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,253,296