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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a wrapper having a wall portion and a flange portion with a transverse portion disposed therebetween, wherein the flange portion of the wrapper extends outwardly in a forward direction from the transverse portion of the wrapper and is substantially parallel to the wall portion of the wrapper;   a liner spaced-apart from the wrapper to define a vacuum insulated cavity therebetween, wherein the liner includes a wall portion and a flange portion with a transverse portion disposed therebetween, wherein the transverse portion of the liner is an angled portion extending outwardly towards the wrapper, and further wherein the flange portion of the liner extends outwardly in a forward direction from the transverse portion of the liner and is substantially parallel to the wall portion of the liner, and further wherein the transverse portion of the wrapper is an angled portion extending inwardly towards the liner;   a thermal bridge having a first channel, a second channel and a third channel, wherein a portion of the flange portion of the wrapper is received in the first channel, and further wherein a portion of the flange portion of the liner is received in the second channel; and   a conduit received in the third channel, wherein the conduit is configured to circulate a heated medium around a perimeter of the refrigerator.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second channels of the thermal bridge are spaced-apart from one another. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second channels are rearwardly opening channels. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 3 , wherein the third channel is a forwardly opening channel. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , wherein the thermal bridge includes an upper opening and a lower opening with a mullion portion disposed therebetween. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein the conduit surrounds the upper and lower openings of the thermal bridge. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , wherein the thermal bridge includes a sealing surface, and further wherein the third channel is disposed along the sealing surface. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein the first channel is inset from the sealing surface a first distance and the second channel is inset from the sealing surface a second distance that is greater than the first distance. 
     
     
         9 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a liner received within a cavity of a wrapper to define a vacuum insulated cavity therebetween, wherein the wrapper and the liner each include a wall portion and a flange portion with an angled transverse portion disposed therebetween, wherein the transverse portion of the wrapper is angled inwardly towards the liner, wherein the transverse portion of the liner is angled outwardly towards the wrapper, and further wherein the flange portion of the wrapper extends further in a forward direction than the flange portion of the liner; and   a thermal bridge interconnecting the wrapper and liner and having first and second channels, wherein a portion of the flange portion of the wrapper is received in the first channel, and further wherein a portion of the flange portion of the liner is received in the second channel.   
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second channels are rearwardly opening channels. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the thermal bridge includes a sealing surface, and further wherein the first channel is inset from the sealing surface a first distance and the second channel is inset from the sealing surface a second distance that is greater than the first distance. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the thermal bridge includes a third channel disposed along the sealing surface. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein the third channel is a forwardly opening channel. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , including:
 a conduit received in the third channel, wherein the conduit is configured to circulate a heated medium around a perimeter of the refrigerator.   
     
     
         15 . 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. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 15 , including:
 an adhesive disposed within the first channel to adhere the flange portion of the wrapper to the thermal bridge in an airtight manner for retaining a vacuum in the vacuum insulated cavity.   
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 16 , including:
 an adhesive disposed within the second channel to adhere the flange portion of the liner to the thermal bridge in an airtight manner for retaining the vacuum in the vacuum insulated cavity.