Vacuum Storage Compartment Constrcution in a Cooling Apparatus Body

Abstract

A cooling apparatus body ( 11 ), for example, for a refrigerator ( 10 ), has a first compartment ( 15 ) intended for storage of items at atmospheric pressure and a second compartment ( 16 ) for storage of items at subatmospheric pressure, the two compartments being surrounded by surrounds formed by a thermal insulation element ( 13 ). The second compartment ( 16 ) is lined within the associated surround by a separately constructed hermetic liner ( 23 ) bonded to that surround. The liner ( 23 ) can be an integrally formed box-shaped component produced by, for example, injection moulding or blow moulding from plastics material. The resistance of the liner ( 23 ) to the internal load of subatmospheric pressure is provided primarily by the thermal insulation lining surround and the bond therewith, so that the liner, whilst providing a hermetic barrier relative to the surround, can be of inexpensive lightweight construction.

1 - 21 . (canceled)  
   
   
       22 . A cooling apparatus body comprising: 
 a first compartment for storage at atmospheric pressure; and    a second compartment for storage below atmospheric pressure, the compartments being surrounded by surrounds formed by an internal thermal insulation element and the second compartment being lined within the respective surround by a separately constructed hermetic liner bonded to that surround.    
   
   
       23 . The body according to  claim 22 , wherein the liner is an integrally formed component.  
   
   
       24 . The body according to  claim 22 , wherein the liner is substantially box-shaped with mutually opposite side walls, a top wall, a bottom wall and a back wall.  
   
   
       25 . The body according to  claim 24 , wherein at least one of the junctions of the walls is radiussed.  
   
   
       26 . The body according to  claim 22 , wherein at least part of the outer surface of the liner is structured to increase the surface area bonded with the respective surround.  
   
   
       27 . The body according to  claim 26 , wherein the structuring is provided by ribs.  
   
   
       28 . The body according to  claim 22 , wherein the liner is made of a plastic material.  
   
   
       29 . The body according to  claim 28 , wherein the plastic material is polystyrene.  
   
   
       30 . The body according to  claim 22 , wherein the liner has a wall thickness of about three millimeters.  
   
   
       31 . The body according to  claim 22 , wherein the liner has integrally formed functional elements.  
   
   
       32 . The body according to  claim 31 , wherein the functional elements comprise guides for a drawer of the second compartment.  
   
   
       33 . The body according to  claim 22 , wherein the thermal insulation element comprises polyurethane.  
   
   
       34 . The body according to  claim 22 , wherein the surrounds of the first and second compartments include a common partition separating the compartments.  
   
   
       35 . The body according to  claim 22 , wherein the first compartment is disposed above the second compartment.  
   
   
       36 . The body according to  claim 22 , wherein the surround of the first compartment is lined by a lining.  
   
   
       37 . The body according to  claim 36 , wherein the facing wall is made from polystyrene.  
   
   
       38 . The body according to  claim 22 , wherein the second compartment is closed by a separate door accessible by way of a main door of the apparatus.  
   
   
       39 . The body according to  claim 22 , wherein the cooling apparatus body includes a refrigerator.  
   
   
       40 . A method of manufacturing a cooling apparatus body comprising a first compartment for storage at atmospheric pressure, and a second compartment for storage below atmospheric pressure, the compartments being surrounded by surrounds formed by an internal thermal insulation element and the second compartment being lined within the respective surround by a separately constructed hermetic liner bonded to that surround, the method comprising the acts of 
 disposing at least one first internal wall member, which defines the first compartment, in an external casing at a spacing therefrom,    disposing a second internal wall member, which defines the second compartment, in the casing at a spacing therefrom and from the first wall member or members and filling the space between the casing and the wall members with thermal insulation material hardenable to bond to the casing and the wall members and to provide the thermal insulation element.    
   
   
       41 . A refrigerator comprising: 
 a body;    a first compartment within the body for storage at atmospheric pressure; and    a vacuum compartment within the body for storage below atmospheric pressure in the vacuum compartment, the compartments being surrounded by an internal thermal insulation element and the vacuum compartment being lined with a separately constructed hermetic liner.    
   
   
       42 . The refrigerator according to  claim 22 , further comprising a vacuum pump generating a below atmospheric pressure within the vacuum compartment.