Vacuum insulated panel for counteracting vacuum bow induced deformations

Abstract

A vacuum insulated cabinet structure includes first and second cover members having pre-deformed portions and perimeter portions. The perimeter portions of the first and second cover members are disposed along first and second planar levels and the pre-deformed portions of the first and second cover members include portions thereof extending outwardly relative to the first and second planar levels. A thermal bridge interconnects the first cover member and the second cover member at the perimeter portions thereof to define an insulating cavity therebetween. The insulating cavity is a sealed cavity having a vacuum drawn therefrom. The pre-deformed portions of the first and second cover members move inwardly towards the first and second planar levels under a force of the vacuum within the insulating cavity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vacuum insulated structure, comprising:
 first and second cover members coupled to one another to define a cavity therebetween, wherein the first and second cover members include body portions having a first deformability factor; and   first and second panel members disposed within the cavity and coupled to one another to define an interior cavity, wherein the first and second panel members include body portions having a second deformability factor that is higher than the first deformability factor, wherein the cavity defined by the first and second cover members includes an internal pressure sufficient to deform at least one of the first and second panel members, and further wherein the internal pressure is insufficient to deform the first and second cover members.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum insulated structure of  claim 1 , including:
 an evacuation port accessing the cavity.   
     
     
         3 . The vacuum insulated structure of  claim 1 , including:
 an insulating material disposed within the cavity.   
     
     
         4 . The vacuum insulated structure of  claim 3 , wherein the insulating material includes one of fumed silica, glass beads, processed rice husks, and a combination thereof, and further wherein the insulating material has a thermal conductivity of 5 mW/m·K or lower. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum insulated structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first cover member includes a substantially planar outer surface, and further wherein the second cover member includes a substantially planar outer surface. 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum insulated structure of  claim 1 , wherein the internal pressure of the cavity is less than 10 mbar. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum insulated structure of  claim 1 , including:
 a thermal bridge coupled between the first and second cover members.   
     
     
         8 . The vacuum insulated structure of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity is a sealed cavity, and further wherein the interior cavity is a sealed cavity. 
     
     
         9 . The vacuum insulated structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second cover members and the first and second panels are comprised of a sheet metal material. 
     
     
         10 . A vacuum insulated structure, comprising:
 an exterior wrapper having a plurality of sidewalls;   at least one liner having a plurality of sidewalls;   a thermal bridge interconnecting the exterior wrapper and the at least one liner to define an insulating cavity therebetween, wherein the insulating cavity is operable between at-rest and evacuated states; and   one or more internal chamber structures disposed within the cavity, wherein each internal chamber structure includes an interior cavity with a first interior volume when the insulating cavity is in the at-rest state, wherein the interior cavity of each internal chamber structure includes a second interior volume when the insulating cavity is in the evacuated state, wherein the second interior volume is greater than the first interior volume.   
     
     
         11 . The vacuum insulated structure of  claim 10 , wherein an internal pressure of the insulating cavity in the evacuated state is less than 10 mbar. 
     
     
         12 . The vacuum insulated structure of  claim 10 , including:
 an insulating material disposed within the insulating cavity.   
     
     
         13 . The vacuum insulated structure of  claim 12 , wherein the insulating material includes one of fumed silica, glass beads, processed rice husks, and a combination thereof, and further wherein the insulating material has a thermal conductivity of 5 mW/m·K or lower. 
     
     
         14 . The vacuum insulated structure of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of sidewalls of the exterior wrapper define planar outer surfaces. 
     
     
         15 . A method of making a vacuum insulated structure, the method comprising:
 providing first and second panel members;   coupling the first and second panel members to one another to define an internal chamber structure having a sealed interior cavity with a first interior volume;   providing an exterior wrapper having a receiving cavity;   positioning at least one liner in the receiving cavity of the exterior wrapper;   positioning at least one internal chamber structure between the exterior wrapper and the at least one liner;   providing a thermal bridge interconnecting the exterior wrapper and the at least one liner to define an insulating cavity therebetween having an interior volume with the at least one internal chamber disposed therein;   drawing a vacuum in the insulating cavity; and   deforming the at least one internal chamber structure, such that the interior cavity of the at least one internal chamber structure outwardly deforms to provide a second interior volume that is greater than the first interior volume.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of drawing a vacuum includes decreasing an internal pressure of the insulating cavity to less than 10 mbar. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the interior volume of the insulating cavity defined between the exterior wrapper and the at least one liner is unchanged. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , including the step of:
 introducing an insulation material into the insulating cavity defined between the exterior wrapper and the at least one liner.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the insulation material has a thermal conductivity of 5 mW/m·K or lower. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the exterior wrapper and the at least one liner have sidewalls which include a first deformability factor, and further wherein the first and second panel members have a second deformability factor that is higher than the first deformability factor of the sidewalls of the exterior wrapper and the at least one liner.