Supports: cabinet structure – Spaced insulated wall – Refrigerator cabinet
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-16
2001-07-10
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3624)
Supports: cabinet structure
Spaced insulated wall
Refrigerator cabinet
C428S069000, C062S465000, C220S592270, C052S588100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257684
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a heat insulation wall. The heat insulation wall has two outer, at least essentially vacuum-tight surface layers. These surface layers are disposed at a distance from one another and are connected to one another in vacuum-tight fashion by means of a connecting profile, which extends along their contour. The connecting profile has an essentially U-shaped design in cross section and is composed of a plurality of profile sections. The surface layers together with the connecting profile enclose an evacuable space. The evacuable space is filled with an evacuable thermal insulation material.
The outer wall shells of heat insulation walls based on vacuum insulation technology are generally formed from stainless or corrosion-protected steel plate and are spaced apart from one another. The outer wall shells are connected to one another by a connecting profile, which is fastened in vacuum-tight fashion by welding to both wall shells. In the majority of cases, the connecting profile is subdivided into individual lengthwise sections, in order to make production cost-effective and, moreover, to enable the production tolerances and form tolerances to be compensated at its joining site between the two outer shell walls. However, this type of construction and assembly of a connecting profile requires connecting the individual sections to one another in vacuum-tight fashion. The point of connection in these connecting profiles has been designed both as a butt joint and as a lap joint, the joining sites being connected to one another by welding. In order to be able to introduce or transfer tension forces onto the connecting profiles required for their proper welding and, at the same time, to avoid heat-induced distortion between the parts being connected during the welding operation (such distortion is a possible cause of leaks), the thickness of the material from which the connecting profiles are made has been chosen to be in the same order of magnitude as that of the shell walls.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a heat insulation wall which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known heat insulation walls of this general type and which requires only simple constructional measures to avoid the prior art disadvantages affecting a heat insulation wall.
This object is achieved in accordance with the invention by supporting the profile sections of the connecting profile at their joining sites by means of a support element which is fastened to the surface layers. The support element acts as a bearing for the profile sections and is connected to the profile sections in vacuum-tight fashion.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a heat insulation wall, comprising two mutually spaced apart outer surface layers having a contour, and being at least substantially vacuum-tight; a connecting profile extending along the contour, connecting the two outer surface layers in a vacuum-tight fashion, and enclosing, together with the two outer surface layers, an evacuable space, the connecting profile composed of a plurality of profile sections; a thermal insulation material filled in the evacuable space; and a support element fastened to the outer surface layers and supporting the profile sections, the profile sections being vacuum-tightly connected to the support element.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, each of the profile sections has a joining site, and the support element supports the profile sections at the joining sites.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the connecting profile is at least substantially U-shaped and has a sheet-shaped, thin-walled base bearing against the support element.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the profile sections have facing ends, the support element has a U-shaped profile and has a base supporting the facing ends of the profile sections.
In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, the support element has a U-shaped profile, a base, and end faces fastened to the outer surface layers.
In accordance with yet a further feature of the invention, the support element has legs and tabs provided at the end faces adjacent to the legs, the tabs project in a direction from the base to the legs and are fastened to the outer surface layers.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the support element is cup-shaped and has at least two cup walls, the cup walls are at least approximately parallel and opposite to one another and fastened to the outer surface layers.
In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, a cover element covers the profile sections at the joining sites in a region of the support element, the cover element being connected to the support element in a vacuum-tight fashion.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, a cover element covers one of the profile sections at an end thereof, the end forming a joining site in a region of the support element, the cover element being connected to the support element in a vacuum-tight fashion.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, a cover element has a flat profile, covering at least substantially a joining site in a region of the base of the connecting profile, and is connected in a vacuum-tight fashion to the support element at free ends of the profile sections.
In accordance with yet a further feature of the invention, the cover element has a U-shaped profile, a base, and legs and is connected in vacuum-tight fashion to the profile sections and the support element, the base together with the legs cover at least substantially a site of join between the profile sections.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the profile sections have legs and a tongue-and-groove connection for joining the profile sections at least at the legs.
In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, a refrigeration device, comprises a heat insulation housing and a heat insulation door, the housing and the door including a heat insulation wall in accordance with the appended claims.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, a domestic stove, comprises a heat insulating stove muffle surrounding an oven space, the stove muffle including a heat insulation wall in accordance with the appended claims.
The introduction of support elements between the surface layers provides not only an assembly aid, in the form of a bearing, for the individual lengthwise sections of the connecting profile at their joint site (joining site) but also a supporting measure which is able to accommodate the profile-section ends that are to be connected to one another in vacuum-tight fashion, against the tensions which are necessary in the course of the welding operation in order to avoid instances of distortion, in the direction of the space filled with thermal insulation material.
The bearing also ensures that the profile sections, which require a vacuum-tight fastening with respect to the surface layers, are disposed substantially at the same height. Thus facilitating not only a vacuum-tight fastening along the legs of the profile sections by means of welding, for example, but also facilitating the vacuum-tight connection of the profile-section ends to the bearing likewise by means of welding, for example. Moreover, the introduction of the bearings allows the base of the profile sections to be designed with particularly thin walls, in the manner of a foil. Thin walls may be used because the base is no longer required to absorb tensions which occur in the course of the insertion and subsequent vacuum-tight welding of the profile sections to the surface layers. The foil-like or sheet-like design of the profile-section base significantly reduces its thermal conduction. This allows filling the space with inexpensive thermal insulation materials, such as open-cell polyurethane foam or open-cell polystyrene foam, for example, witho
Hirath Jurgen
Schutte Markus
Anderson Jerry A.
BSH Bosch und Siemens Haus-geraete GmbH
Cuomo Peter M.
Greenberg Laurence A.
Lerner Herbert L.
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