Vacuum insulated structure with thermal bridge breaker with heat loop

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a wrapper having an opening with a front edge. A liner includes an opening and a front edge. A thermal bridge interconnects the wrapper and the liner to form a vacuum insulated cavity therebetween. The thermal bridge includes an outwardly opening channel and first and second inwardly opening channels. The front edge of wrapper is received in the first inwardly opening channel, and the front edge of the liner is received in the second inwardly opening channel. The second inwardly opening channel is inset relative to the first inwardly opening channel on the thermal bridge. A conduit is disposed within the outwardly opening channel and is configured to circulate a heated medium. The wrapper and liner are contemplated to be comprised of conductive materials, such sheet metal, while the thermal bridge is comprised of a thermally resistant material, such as a polymeric material.

1 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a wrapper having a first opening and a first edge extending around the first opening;   a liner having a second opening and a second edge extending around the second opening, wherein the liner is disposed inside the wrapper;   a thermal bridge interconnecting the wrapper and the liner to form a cavity therebetween, wherein the thermal bridge includes a body portion having first and second channels opening in a first direction and a third channel opening in a second direction that is opposed to the first direction, and further wherein the first and second edges are disposed in the first and second channels, respectively; and   a conduit received in the third channel, wherein the conduit is configured to circulate a heated medium.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity positioned between the liner and the wrapper is a vacuum insulated cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein third channel and the conduit surround the first opening and the second opening. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal bridge includes a sealing surface, and further wherein the first channel and the third channel are disposed on opposite sides of the sealing surface. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , wherein the thermal bridge includes an inwardly projecting extension, and further wherein the second channel is disposed on the inwardly projecting extension in an inwardly offset position relative to the first channel. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit includes tubing configured to circulate heated refrigerant through the tubing. 
     
     
         7 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a wrapper having an opening and a front edge extending around the opening of the wrapper;   a liner having an opening and a front edge extending around the opening of the liner; and   a thermal bridge interconnecting the wrapper and the liner to form a vacuum insulated cavity therebetween, wherein the thermal bridge includes a body portion having an outwardly opening channel disposed on a front side of the thermal bridge and first and second inwardly opening channels disposed on a rear side of the thermal bridge, wherein the front edge of wrapper is received in the first inwardly opening channel and the front edge of the liner is received in the second inwardly opening channel, and further wherein the second inwardly opening channel is inset relative to the first inwardly opening channel.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein the wrapper is comprised of a sheet metal material. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein the liner is comprised of a sheet metal material. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 9 , wherein the thermal bridge is comprised of a material having a lower coefficient of thermal conductivity as compared to the sheet metal material of the wrapper and the liner. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein the front edge of the wrapper includes a plurality of engagement features disposed thereon. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the front edge of the liner includes a plurality of engagement features disposed thereon. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein the front side of the thermal bridge defines a forward facing sealing surface. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , including:
 a conduit received in the outwardly opening channel, wherein the conduit is configured to transport a heated medium.   
     
     
         15 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a wrapper having a first opening and a first edge extending around the first opening;   a liner having a second opening and a second edge extending around the second opening;   a thermal bridge having a first portion with a first channel disposed thereon, the thermal bridge further including a second portion inwardly extending from the first portion and having a second channel disposed thereon, wherein the first and second channels are vertically and horizontally offset from one another, and further wherein the first and second edges are received in the first and second channels, respectively; and   a refrigerated compartment having an outer opening, wherein the refrigerated compartment includes a front portion defined by the second portion of the thermal bridge and a rear portion defined by the liner, wherein the second edge of the liner is inset from the outer opening of the refrigerated compartment.   
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 15 , wherein the wrapper is comprised of a sheet metal material. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 15 , wherein the liner is comprised of a sheet metal material. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of  claim 15 , wherein the thermal bridge is comprised of a polymeric material. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator of  claim 15 , wherein the first portion of the thermal bridge defines an upright sealing surface for the refrigerator, and further wherein the second portion of the thermal bridge includes a inwardly projecting extension extending orthogonally to the upright sealing surface. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator of  claim 19 , including:
 an outwardly opening channel disposed on an opposite side of the upright sealing surface relative to the first inwardly opening channel; and   a conduit received in the outwardly opening channel, wherein the conduit contains a heated medium.