AU2004233499A1 - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): MATSUSHITA REFRIGERATION COMPANY Invention Title:

REFRIGERATOR

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2

O

c K DESCRIPTION 0 4 REFRIGERATOR FIELD OF THE INVENTION SThe present invention relates to a refrigerator.

SThe present application is a divisional application of Sapplication no. 2001222296.

oBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Energy saving in electric appliances is an unavoidable important problem to address in recent years.

Also in a heat insulation box used for a refrigerator and other various kinds of electric appliances, improvement in the performance of the heat insulator is becoming essential. On the other hand, positive efforts to conserve terrestrial environment is becoming important.

One of urgent requests to electric appliances is energy saving: thus, improving heat insulating property of heatrelated electric apparatus is becoming an important problem to address.

One of heat insulators that have recently been developing mainly by manufacturers of electric appliances and heat insulators for energy and space saving is a vacuum heat insulator that has excellent heat insulating property. An example of the vacuum heat insulator is made by covering a core made of a rigid urethane foam having continuous pore with a gas-barrier laminated film and evacuating the inside thereof. This vacuum heat insulator has heat insulating property approximately 2.5 times the heat insulating property of conventional rigid or soft urethane foam or resin foam.

Japanese Patent Examined Publication No. H05-63715 discloses a vacuum heat insulator using a fibrous aggregate. A use of the fibrous aggregate of glass Ht\Priyanka\Keep\peci\P54843 Div.doc 24/11/04 rifibers, ceramic fibers, or resin fibers as a core of a vacuum heat insulator provides a light and deformable Z vacuum, heat insulator.

Moreover, according to Japanese Patent Examined Publication No. 30-3139, a vacuum heat insulator made of a core of glass fibers each having a diameter of 250pm or smaller is proposed. inside of the vacuum heat insulator is maintained to a degree of vacuum of 0.75 Pa or lower.

Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 60-208226 discloses randomly laminated inorganic fibers having a o small diameter in a direction perpendicular to a heat CA transfer direction, and another fibers are sewn perpendicularly to the laminated inorganic fibers halfway to form a core of a vacuum heat insulator.

An example of binding fibers Using a binder is disclosed in the Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No.

H09-138058. In this invention, a fiber material such as glass Wool is molded using an organic binder, and used as a core of a vacuum heat insulator.

However, these conventional techniques have following problems and thus are difficult to be put to practical use.

For example, the vacuum heat insulator disclosed in Japanese Patent Examined Publication No. 30-3139 is difficult to be formed into a specific shape because it is made of glass fibers only. When a sheet-form vacuum heat insulator is to be produced, using the fibers as a core of the vacuum heat insulator requires much manpower because the fibers themselves do not have shape-keeping property.

Since the inorganic fibers are sewn with other fibers in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 208226, the shape-keeping property is imparted to the fibers themselves and the problem of the shape-keeping property is solved. However, as general methods cannot be used to sew the fibers, while reducing the heat conduction, the process has a problem of high production cost.

Hs\Priyanka\Keep\speci\254643 Div.doc 24/11/04 (NJapanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 11-138058 purposes binding fibers using an organic binder as a Z method of imparting the shape-keeping property to fiber In material. However, the publication only discloses the type of the binder and does not disclose an amount of the binder or a composition of the fiber. Thus, there is a problem that it is difficult to bind fibers using the binder while maintaining the heat insulating property M suitable for a vacuum heat insulator. In addition, when 'set 10 organic fibers are used for a core, the core generates o gases during a long-term usage, thus, the heat insulating property may be degraded.

In order to improve a heat insulating property of a heat insulation box, a heat insulation box that uses a heat insulator using a resin foam or powder as the core has been proposed. Such a core has a problem of long-term heat insulating property or workability. As described above, the co nventional techniques have the problems such as a poor workability of the vacuum heat insulator, or a premature stage of product development, and the advantages of fiber aggregates are not utilized sufficiently.

In consideration of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a heat insulation box excellent in heat insulating property and in productivity by using a core made of laminated sheets of an inorganic fiber, the core of the heat insulator is excellent in long-term reliability and in workability.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION A refrigerator including: a heat insulation box, said box comprising: an inner box having an opening; an outer box; a lid for closing the opening; and a vacuum heat insulator disposed between said inner box and said outer box; and foamed resin filled in a space between said inner Hi\PriyankaL\Keep\epec1\PS4a43 Div.doc 24/11/04 ri box and said outer box, and a cooling system, Z characterized in that, hydrocarbon is employed as a foaming agent for said foamed resin and as a refrigerant of said cooling system, and said vacuum heat insulator including: a core made of a fibrous laminate of at least Mn two layers of inorganic fiber sheets; and a laminated film sandwiching said core.

BRIEF DESCRITPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a vacuum heat insulator part useful in an embodiment according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows a cut-off portion provided along a side of an inorganic fiber sheet of a core of a vacuum heat insulator in an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 shows a cut-off portion provided in a part of an inorganic fiber sheet of an uppermost layer in an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 shows a cut-off portion provided in a part of an inorganic fiber sheet of an intermediate layer in an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 shows cut-off portions provided in parts of all inorganic fiber sheets in an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a refrigerator in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a schematic view of a heat insulation box in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a schematic view of the heat insulation box.

Fig. 9 is a schematic view of a heat insulation box in another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

fl'\Priyankn\Keep\.peci\54842 Div.doc 24/21/04 6ci Fig. 10 is a schematic view of a heat insulation box.

Z Fig. 11 is a schematic view of a lid in an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of a heat insulation box in another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view of a refrigerator in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the M present invention.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view of an insulation box in oanother exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Ci Fig. 15 is a sectional view of a water heater in another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Exemplary embodiments are described hereinafter using specific examples.

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a vacuum heat insulator. Vacuum heat insulator 1 comprises core 2, enveloping member 3, and adsorbent 4.

One side of the enveloping member 3 is made of a four-layer laminated film. The outermost layer of the laminated film is a polyamide layer (16pm) as a surface protection layer and the inner layer thereof is a polyethylene terephthalate layer (12pm). Enveloping member 3 further has an aluminum foil (6pm) as an intermediate layer and a high-density polyethylene layer (50pm) for heat-sealing.

Another side of the enveloping member 3 is made of a four-layer laminated film comprising surface protection layers of a polyamide layer (16Am) and a polyethylene terephthalate layer (12pm), an intermediate film layer made of an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer resin composite film (15pm) having a vacuum deposited aluminum on an inner side thereof, and a heat seal layer made of a H,\Priyanka\Keep\.pecl\P54843 Div.doc 24/11/04 -7high-density polyethylene layer In the vacuum heat insulator 1 of the embodiment a laminated film of an aluminum foil is used for one side of the enveloping member 3 and another side thereof is made of a laminated film having the vacuum deposited aluminum.

Thus, heat conduction is adjusted according to a temperature of the subject the vacuum heat insulator contacts. As a result, the heat insulator in its entirety can inhibit heat leak caused by the highly heat conductive aluminum foil, and an amount of gases entering into the heat insulator can be suppressed because of an existence of the deposited metal film excellent in gas barrier property.

In other words, because the aluminum foil is a metal film, it permits no gas entry even at an elevated ambient temperatures. However, the resin layer having vacuum deposited aluminum has permeability to gases with temperature increase. The gas-permeability decreases the degree of vacuum in the vacuum heat insulator, thus deteriorating the heat insulating property. To avoid the degradation, it is effective to place the aluminum foil side of enveloping member 3 of the vacuum heat insulator on a side exposed to higher temperatures. Thus, the structure of the vacuum heat insulator of the present invention can suppress degradation of the performance caused by the heat leak and the gas entry at the same time.

However, the structure of the vacuum heat insulator of the embodiment needs not to be limited to the above structure. On the assumption of cost reduction of the enveloping member and use of the heat insulator at high temperatures, crystalline polypropylene (50pm) can be used as the heat seal layer in the above structure of enveloping member 3, for example. This structure can improve heat-resistant temperature of the vacuum heat insulator.

Alternatively, eliminating the polyamide layer of H,\Priyanka\Keep\apeci\P54843 Div.doe 24/11/04 -8- (N the outermost layer and slightly thickening the polyethylene ter ehthalate layer can reduce the cost due Z to the elimination of the polyamide layer. in this case, in degradation of bending resistance resulting from the elimination of the polyamide can be solved by a thickening of the polyethylene terephthalate layer.

Moreover, depending on circumstances where the heat insulator is used, materials and structures of the en enveloping member 3 should be selected.

Then the heat insulator is used at a relatively low o temperatures, such as in a refrigerator or cooler box, high-density polyethylene or the like is suitable as a material for the heat seal layer. When the heat insulator is used at a relatively high temperatures, such as in a water heater, the crystalline polypropylene, the ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer resin, the polyethylene terephthalate resin or a polyethylene naphthalate resin are suitable.

Alternatively, the enveloping member can be made of one kind of laminated film without differentiating a front and a back sides of the heat insulator. In this case, the sealing types of the enveloping member 3 are not limited to a three-side seal. So-called "gusset bag" or "pillow bag" can be used. The use of these bags can reduce a number of protrusions along outer periphery of enveloping member 3 resulting from the heat-sealing and further reduce a number of steps of folding the protrusions.

Adsorbent 4 is placed in a cut-off portion provided in a part of laminated core 2 except the uppermost and lowermost sheets. This placement can address the problem that the protruded adsorbent 4 may break enveloping member 3 in the production of the vacuum heat insulator.

As a material of adsorbent 4, the COMBO GETTER supplied by SEAS Getters is excellent, which can absorb and remove moisture and carbon dioxide as well as oxygen and nitrogen. Therefore, degradation of degree of vacuum of the vacuum heat insulator 1 can be inhibited for a long 3t:\Priyanka\Keep\speci\P54843 Div.doc 24111/04 (N period of time. Other examples of the usable material include moisture adsorbent, such as calcium oxide and Z calcium chloride, and AGELESS (a registered trademark of IC) Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co., Inc). As a carbon dioxide adsorbent, any materials comprising calcium hydroxide can be used. When these inorganic compounds are further combined with the above COMBO GETTER of the SEAS Getter, the effect as adsorbent is improved and the property of vacuum heat insulator 1 can be maintained for a long period of time.

o Core 2 is laminated with four sheets of inorganic fiber 2a. Cut-off portion 2b is provided along a side of -inorganic fiber 2a. Adsorbent 4 is disposed in the cutoff portion 2b. This structure prevents adsorbent 4 from forming a protrusion on the surface of the heat insulator.

This structure makes the fluid resistance of the gases on the surface of the sheet different from that between the plurality of laminated sheets at a time of evacuation of the heat insulator. As a result, vortex flow occurs in an air flow of sucked air, and the vortex flow improves evacuation efficiency, thus remarkably improving the productivity.

As another example of core 2, as shown in Fig. 3, recess 2b can be formed in the first layer of the inorganic fiber 2a to house the adsorbent 4.

Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 4, through hole 2c can be formed through an intermediate layer of inorganic fiber 2a to house the adsorbent 4. Alternatively, as shown in Fig.

through holes 2d can be formed through all the layers of the inorganic fiber 2a to house the adsorbent 4.

The number of sheets 2a to be laminated is not specifically limited. However, in order to prevent adsorbent 4 from forming a protrusion, at least three sheets are preferable. In consideration of improvement in productivity, at least four sheets are more preferable.

In the present embodiment, the core 2 containing to 65 wt. Of Si0 2 10 to 20 wt. of A1 2 0 3 and CaO each, Rs\Priyanka\Keep\speCi\V54s43 -Div.dac 24/11104 01 (N and 1 to 4 wt. of MgO, is used as the composition of the material.

Z S10 2 is used as a major constituent because the material has a low heat conductivity and low cost. The content of S10 2 suitable for the vacuum heat insulator 1 preferably ranges from 50 to 65 wt.% in the composition of the material, and more preferably from 55 to 60 wt.% thereof.

A1 2 0 3 is contained to improve a heat resistance of the core 2. In consideration of the heat conductivity of o A1 2 0 3 itself, less content is more preferable. When the balance of the heat resistance and heat conductivity is considered, the recommendable amount of A1 2 0 3 to be added ranges 10 to 20 If an amount of A1 2 0 3 is less than 10 the heat resistance is poor. If an amount exceeds 20 the heat insulating property of the vacuum heat insulator I tend to degrade.

on the other hand, CaO serves to adsorb moisture, and an added amount of 10 to 20 wt.% of CaO provides excellent heat insulating property. Even when the amount is increased to more than 2Owt.%, the effect is not so improved. If the amount is less than 10 the effect of improving the performance of the vacuum heat insulator 1 by moisture adsorption is not recognised.

The addition of MgO is effective in improving mutual cohesive force of the fibers. Particularly when fiber sheets are produced by wet paper forming method, the addition of MgO is more effective. With addition of 1 to 4 wt.% of MgO, improvement in cohesive force is recognised, and with an amount exceeding 4 the effect remains the same. When the added amount of MgO is reduced, the cohesive force decreases. Therefore, addition of 1 to 4 wt.% of MgO is preferable.

The material'compositions of the fiber used for core 2 are described as above. Because the diameter and a bulk density of the fiber also influence the heat insulating property of the vacuum heat insulator 1, optimum physical Iiz\Priyanka\Keep\spei\54LS43 Div~doc 24/11/04 ci properties should be specified.

As for the fiber diameter of the core 1, 1 to 3g is Z preferable. For a fiber diameter smaller than 1pm, V) manpower in production of the fibers remarkably increases.

Moreover, as a special equipment for producing fibers themselves is required, industrially economical production becomes difficult. in addition, fibers are excessively entangled with each other to form large fibrous aggregates en and thus large pores are formed. This increases the gas heat conductivity based on gas heat conduction, thus o degrading the heat insulating property.

When the fiber diameter is larger than 3Am, pores formed by aggregation of the fibers are large. For this reason, the heat conduction by gases gives greater influence; thus, the heat insulating property degrades.

In order to inhibit the heat conduction by gases, a degree of vacuum of approximately 13 Pa, which allows efficient industrial production, is insufficient, and a degree of vacuum of approx. 0.13 Pa is required. But, an efficient industrial production is difficult.

Therefore, in consideration of industrial productivity, a fiber diameter ranging from 1 to 3pm is suitable. A fiber diameter ranging 2 to 3pm is more preferable.

On the other hand, even the material having such a fiber diameter range may adversely affect the heat insulating property of the vacuum heat insulator if the bulk density of the fiber itself is not appropriate. When the bulk density of the fiber is higher than 0.3 g/CM 3 the solid heat conduction of the fiber itself gives greater influence, and degrades the heat insulating property. In addition, such a high bulk density reduces flexibility of the heat insulator imparted by the use of a fiber material, thus making the heat insulator unsuitable for an application to protruded and recessed portions.

When the bulk density of the fiber is lower than 0.1 g/cm 3 the proportion of the f ibers in a given space Hu\Priyankca\Keep\speci\P54843 Div-doe 24/11/04 'set -12 (N reduces and air gap increases. This results in an increase of the gas heat conduction, thus degrading the Z heat insulating property of the vacuum heat insulator.

tfl Another problem is that atmospheric compression at a time of production of the vacuum heat insulator increases the degree of deformation and makes it difficult to produce a vacuum heat insulator of stable shape.

As a result, the bulk density of a fiber material suitable for the vacuum heat insulator preferably ranges from 0.1 to 0.3 g/CM 3 and more preferably from 0.1 to 0.2 o) g/cm 3 In order to form fibers into a sheet, it is desirable to bind the fibers using a binder. However, inappropriate type of the binder or an amount of the binder affects the heat insulating property of the vacuum heat insulator.

For example, using of an inorganic material as a binder results in a high density of the sheet. Even with organic binders, thermosetting resins, such as phenolic resin, cause gasification of unreacted monomers in a vacuum atmosphere. The gasification degrades the degree of vacuum, thus adversely affecting the heat insulating property of the vacuum heat insulator.

On the other hand, when thermoplastic resins are used as a binder, the above adverse effect caused by unreacted monomers can be reduced. When the sheets are produced by the wet paper forming method, a use of watersoluble polymers is preferable. From such a viewpoint, water-soluble acrylic resins are suitable. Being watersoluble polymers, the water-soluble acrylic resins can uniformly disperse on the surface of fibers, even when a sheet is produced by the method. Thus, a fibrous sheet having uniform bonding strength can be obtained.

Even when the water-soluble acrylic resins are used as a binder, the amount to be added is an important factor. For an amount of less than 3 a sheet of fibers can be formed but is broken when wound like a roll.

H.\Priya.ka\Keep\epeci\p54843 Div-dac 24/11/04 'set 13 ri Thus, stable production is difficult. For an amount exceeding 10 the viscosity of the slurry used in Z production by the wet paper forming method is high, thus IC) deteriorating the productivity.

For these reasons, the suitable amount of the acrylic binder to be added ranges from 3 to 5 An amount from 3 to 4 wt.% is more preferable.

However, when the productivity of the sheets of fibers can be neglected, excellent heat-insulating property as a vacuum heat insulator can be obtained even o using no binder.

Ci Hereinafter a specific method of producing the vacuum heat insulator 1 is described.

The core 2 of the above structure is dried in a drying oven at a temperature of 130 0 C for one hour.

Thereafter, enveloping member 3 is filled with the core together with adsorbent 4, evacuated, and then sealed to form vacuum heat insulator 1.

A heat conductivity of the vacuum heat insulator 1 obtained in this manner ranges 0.0035 to 0.0038 WK/mK at an average temperature of 24 0 C. It has proved that the value is approximately twice as excellent as those of a conventional vacuum heat insulator using silica power and a vacuum heat insulator using an open-pored urethane foam.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a refrigerator.

Refrigerator 5 of the present embodiment uses, as heat insulator, 1, the vacuum heat insulator described in the first embodiment. The refrigerator 5 has a freezer compartment 6 at a bottom and a machine room 7 at a back bottom portion. A refrigerant piping 8 is attached to outer box 9 with aluminum tape. A lid 10 closes an opening of the inner box. A rigid urethane foam (not shown) using cyclopentane as a foaming agent is filled in a space between an inner box (not shown) and outer box 9.

On both side faces of a freezer compartment 6 of the refrigerator 5, vacuum.heat insulator 1 produced in H:\Priyaflka\KOCP\spsct\P54S443 filld 24/11/04 'set -14- (Naccordance with the first embodiment is provided. Between the vacuum heat insulator 1 on the sidewall. of the Z freezer compartment and outer box 9 to which the vacuum heat insulator is to be attached, high-temperature refrigerant piping 8 is provided. moreover, the heat insulator 1 is shaped to substantially cover the sidewalls of the freezer compartment. Furthermore, the aluminium.

foil side of the composite film of the vacuum heat Mn insulator 1 is placed on a side exposed to the hightemperature refrigerant piping 8.

o This structure allows efficient heat insulation of Ci the sidewalls of the freezer compartment and inhibits entry of the heat from the high-temperature refrigerant piping into the freezer compartment thus providing a refrigerator having low power consumption. Moreover, this structure can also inhibit the degradation of the heat insulating property caused by liquefaction and decrease of a urethane blowing agent that occurs when it is cooled to a temperature of -18 0

C.I

In addition, the refrigerator 5 also has the vacuum heat insulator 1 between machine room 7 and the freezer compartment 6. The temperature is highest in machine room 7 because the compressor operates therein. Therefore, the use of the vacuum heat insulator I is effective.

Having flexibility, the vacuum heat insulator 1 of the present embodiment can be applied along the stereoscopic shape of the machine room. Moreover, having high heat resistance, the vacuum heat insulator 1 can be used for the space between the machine room 7 and the freezer compartment 6, and can be provided in a machine room. Thus, a refrigerator excellent in energy saving and cost-performance can be provided.

Figure 7 is a sectional view of a heat insulation box. The heat insulation box 101 forming a refrigerator 3S uses vacuum heat insulator 1 of the first embodiment. The lid 10 (not shown) closes an opening 105 of the inner box.

The heat insulation box 101 comprises an inner box 102 of Ht\PriYantka\KeeP\apeci\P548c3 Div.doc 24/11/04 (N a vacuum-molded ABS resin, an outer box 103 of a pressmolded iron sheet, and a flange 104. To form the heat Z insulation box 101, the vacuum heat insulator 1 is V) provided inside of the box beforehand and then rigid urethane foam 106 is filled and foamed into a space other than the vacuum heat insulator 1.

Fig. 8 is a schematic view of the heat insulation box 101. A top wall of the heat insulation box is en provided with one sheet of the vacuum heat insulator 1, a 10 back wall one sheet, and side walls two sheets. According o to the shape of the heat insulation box 101, the sheet of CA vacuum heat insulator 1 used for each side wall is cut along one side to fit to a shape of the sidewall.

Fig. 9 is a schematic view of a heat insulation box.

Heat insulation box 108 is used as a cooler, and comprises a box 109 and lid 110.

Fig. 10 is a schematic view of another box.

Box 109 is integrally molded by adhering the vacuum heat insulator 1 onto an inner surface of an outer box 112 using double-sided adhesive tapes in a space fonmed by the inner box 111 and the outer box 112 made of polypropylene, and thereafter filling and foaming the space between inner box 111 and outer box 113 other than vacuum heat insulator 1 with rigid urethane foam 106.

Fig. 11 is a schematic view of a lid.

The vacuum heat insulator 1 including the adsorbent 4 is disposed in a foamed polystyrene 113, and packed in a space formed by an inner frame 114 and an outer frame 115.

With reference to Fig. 10, vacuum heat insulator 1 is made by bending a sheet of vacuum heat insulator into the C-shape to fit to a shape of heat insulation box 109.

Having a sheet-form core, vacuum heat insulator 1 can be bent into the C-shape easily. This improves a coverage of the vacuum heat insulator 1 on the heat insulation box 109, thus improving the heat insulating property of the heat insulation box 109.

With reference to Fig. 11, lid 110 comprises a Ht\Priyank&\Keep\uPeci\P54843 Div.doc 24/11/04 'set 16 (N-foamed polystyrene 113 having a recess that has been formed to fit to the shape of the vacuum heat insulator, Z and the vacuum heat insulator 1 buried into the recess.

tfl The polystyrene is placed in a space formed by the inner frame 114 and the outer frame 115 made of polypropylene.

As the vacuum heat insulator 1 used for lid 110 is smaller than the vacuum heat insulator used for the box 109, a ratio of areas of sealing portions in the enveloping member increases in the vacuum heat insulator 1. This is considered to give greater influence of gases o entering from the sealing portions of the enveloping member with long period time, and increases an aged degradation of the performance of the vacuum heat insulator, and thus degrade the heat insulating property.

For this reason, adsorbent 4 is used for the vacuum heat insulator 1 for the lid 110.

It is desirable to use an adsorbent 4 that is made of a room temperature activation type getter material for adsorbing and removing at least nitrogen, oxygen, moisture, and carbon dioxide. Specific examples include an oxygen adsorbent essentially consisting of iron powder, which is commercially available under a trade name of AGELESS, f or example.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of a heat insulation box.

Heat insulation box 118 forming a refrigerator comprises an inner box 119 of a vacuum-molded ABS resin, and an outer box 120 of a press-molded iron sheet. Vacuum heat insulator 1 is provided between the inner box 119 and the outer box 112, and the space other than vacuum heat )insulator 1 is filled and foamed with rigid urethane foam 121.

A thermoplastic resin 122 is applied to an inner surface of the outer box 120 beforehand so.-as to fit to an outer periphery of core 2 and have a width of 10 mmn.

Thermoplastic resin 122 is heat-sealed to the heat seal layer of the enveloping member 3 of the vacuum heat Ua\Priyaxnka\%Kep\upeci\P54sbo Div.doc 2411/04 'set 17 riinsulator 1. Desirable thermoplastic resins include highdensity polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, and Z polypropylene.

Because a laminated sheet of an inorganic fiber that is light, excellent in surface planarity, and thin is used as the core, an adhesive property between the vacuum heat insulator and the inner surface of the outer box is excellent. This improves the heat insulating property.

en In addition, being light and thin, the vacuum heat "set 10 insulator is not displaced by its own weight when attached o to the inner surface of the outer box. Furthermore, having a thin core, the vacuum heat insulator 1 does not hinder the fluidity of the rigid urethane foam when it is filled into the space between the inner box 119 and the outer box 112 and foamed. Thus, the rigid u'rethane foam can be uniformly filled without forming any void.

Therefore, the heat insulating property of the entire heat insulation box improves.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view of a refrigerator in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Heat insulation box 201 comprises an inner box 202 of a vacuum-molded ABS resin and outer box 103 of a pressmolded iron sheet, which are engaged with each other via a flange. Vacuum heat insulator 1 is provided inside of the box 201 beforehand, and then rigid urethane foam 204 is filled into the space other than the vacuum heat insulator and foamed.

Heat insulation box 201 is horizontally divided by a partition 205. The upper part forms a refrigerator compartment and the lower part forms a freezer compartment. Two evaporators 206 ate provided. one is used for cooling the refrigerator compartment and another is used for cooling the freezer compartment.

In addition, a compressor 208, a control circuit board 209, and a condenser 200 are disposed in a machine HS\Priyanka\Keep\speci\P54843 Div.doc 24/11/04 t 18

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C( room 207 at the bottom of the refrigerator. The evaporator 206 for cooling the freezer compartment is Z disposed outside of the machine room and inside of the IC) inner box 202. The heat insulation box 201 is formed so as to house the evaporator in this manner.

Because the vacuum heat insulator 1 has excellent Sheat insulating property, even a thin sheet of the vacuum heat insulator 1 can provide sufficient heat insulation, Mthus greatly contributing to increasing the volume of the storage space in the refrigerator. Especially, although o the disposing of the two evaporators decreases a volume of the refrigerator compartment the use of the thin and excellent vacuum heat insulator 1 can inhibit the decrease in the volume of the storage space in the refrigerator.

A disposing a plurality of sheets of vacuum heat insulator 1 on the back, side, and top walls of the refrigerator can further increase the volume of the storage space in the refrigerator. However, the disposing of a large number of vacuum heat insulator 1 may increase the cost.

As for a method of disposing the vacuum heat insulator, the vacuum heat insulator 1 is attached to the inside of the outer box 203 with a double-sided adhesive tapes or the like, and thereafter the space between the inner box 202 and outer box 203 is filled and foamed with a rigid urethane foam 204.

In addition, for the refrigerator of the present embodiment, the heat insulating part in partition 205 is also integrally filled with rigid urethane foam 204. The vacuum heat insulator 1 is also disposed in partition 205 to reduce a thickness of the partition. This contributes to increasing the volume of the storage space in the refrigerator.

In the present embodiment, the upper part of the heat insulation box 201 divided by the partition 205 is a refrigerator compartment, and the lower part is a freezer compartment. The refrigerator compartment may be further H,\Priyanka\Kxep\ipeci\P5443 Div.doc 24/11/04 (N divided to provide a refrigerator compartment and a crisper, for example. The freezer compartment may be Z further divided to provide a freezer compartment, icetfl maker, and partially freezing compartment.

The vacuum heat insulator 1 provided in a heat insulating part for separating machine room 207 and the freezer compartment is bent and shaped to fit to the machine room 207. Using the sheet-shape core, the vacuum heat insulator 1 can be bent easily with excellent '4 10 productivity.

o Then a plurality of sheets of the vacuum heat insulator are combined for insulation in a conventional manner, gaps between each sheet of the vacuum heat insulator cause degradation of the heat insulating property. In contrast, as shown in embodiments of the present invention, the use of a sheet of the vacuum heat insulator that can be bent results in.-an improvement in the heat insulating property that leads to an energy saving by a shorter operating time of the compressor 208.

In the present embodiment, the freezer compartment, the compressor 208, the control circuit board 209, and the condenser 200 are insulated by the vacuum heat insulator 1 at a time.

Therefore, a temperature increase in the freezer compartment caused by a heat generated from the compressor, the control circuit board, and the condenser can be inhibited. In the present embodiment, because each of the compressor and freezer compartment, the control circuit board and freezer compartment, and the condenser and freezer compartment need not be insulated separately, the heat insulation can be performed very efficiently.

In addition, because inorganic fibers are nonflammable, the vacuum heat insulator has a non-flammable structure and unlikely to generate toxic gases.

Therefore, the refrigerator using this vacuum heat insulator is also non-flammable. For such a reason, the refrigerator is also excellent in safety.

N.\Priyanka\KceP\speci\P5S43 Div.dac 24/11/04 200 (N Furthermore, even when flammable substances such as carbon-hydride are used for the refrigerator as a foaming Z agent of the foamed resin, refrigerant, or the like, the V) vacuum heat insulator has a non-flazmmable structure because the inorganic fibers are used. Thus, the refrigerator of the present embodiment can be a refrigerator excellent in safety.

en Fig. 14 is a sectional view of heat insulation box 210 forming an insulation box, in another embodiment of o the present invention.

Insulation box 210 comprises a body 211, a lid 212, an outer box 213, an inner box 214, a cold storage unit 215, a heat insulator 216, and a vacuum heat insulator 1.

In application to the insulation box 210, because vacuum heat insulator 1 of the embodiment has flexibility, it can integrally be attached to the insulation box of substantially cubic shape if it is bent beforehand. Thus, because a number of joints of vacuum heat insulator 1 can be reduced, heat leak from the joints can be reduced.

Moreover, when protrusions and recesses for housing the cold storage unit 215 are formed in the lid 212, the vacuum heat insulator 1 can be attached to the protrusions and recesses because it has flexibility. Thus, the heat insulation property can be efficiently improved.

Because the insulation box 210 of the present embodiment can sufficiently use effects of the vacuum heat insulator 1, the heat insulating property that the conventional insulation box could not provide can be obtained. Therefore, such an insulation box can be used as a medical cold-box requiring stricter temperature control, as well as a leisure cooler.

The materials of the cold storage unit 215 are not specifically limited. Commercially available general cold storage agents can be used. The insulator 216 is not specifically limited as well. Examples of the usable heat insulator include commercially available foamed resins H±\PriyAnka\flcP\s1PeCi\P54843 Div.dec 24111/04 21

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C( such as a rigid urethane foam and polystyrene foam, and fiber materials such as glass wool.

Z Vacuum heat insulator 1 can be attached to either V' one of the outer box 213 and the inner box 214 in the body 211. In either case, the same effect can be obtained.

SFig. 15 is a sectional view of a water heater in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The water Mheater 317 comprises a body 318, a hot water reservoir 319, a lid 320, a heater 321, and vacuum heat insulators o 1. The vacuum heat insulator 1 is attached so as to wind around the outside of the hot water reservoir 319. In addition, the vacuum heat insulator 1 is bent and extended to the vicinity of the heater 321. Furthermore, the vacuum heat insulator 1 is provided in a recess in the lid 320.

In the water heater 317 of such a structure, as the inorganic fiber material having high heat resistance is used as the core, the vacuum heat insulator 1 is unlikely to be degraded by heat. Thus, the heat insulator has no problem when the water heater is used even for a long period of time. Moreover, having flexibility, the vacuum heat insulator 1 can be bent, extended to the vicinity of the heater, and used in the recess in the lid.

Because the vacuum heat insulator 1 has high heat resistance and flexibility, water heater 317 of the present embodiment can efficiently reduce the power consumption and realize downsizing.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABLITY As described above, the vacuum heat insulator of embodiments of the present invention uses laminated sheets of an inorganic fiber as the core. The heat insulation box of the embodiments uses the vacuum heat insulator of the embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, because the vacuum heat insulator generates very little H,\Priyanka\Keep\cpeci\P54943 Div.doe 24/11/04 22 Ci gas with time and has excellent workability, a heat insulation box excellent in long-term reliability and Z productivity can be obtained. In addition, the use of a C thin sheet-form material as the core makes the heat insulation box thinner, thus contributing to a space saving of the heat insulation box.

Because the core used for the embodiments can be shaped easily, lamination and machining such as a bending nand a forming of a cut-off portion, recess, or through hole can be performed easily. Therefore, a vacuum heat o insulator suitable for a required heat insulation portion can be produced easily and applied to a heat insulation box, such as a refrigerator. In other words, coverage of the vacuum heat insulator in the heat insulation box increases and thus the heat insulating property of the heat insulation box also improves. In addition, the vacuum heat insulator uses a thin sheet-form core.

Therefore, when used for a partition in the heat insulation box, the vacuum heat insulator can provide a thin partition, thus allowing efficient use of the space in the heat insulation box.

For these reasons, the use of the vacuum heat insulator of embodiments of the present invention for the equipment requiring heat insulation, such as a refrigerator, accomplish improvement in the productivity and energy saving as well as downsizing of the equipment.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part M.\Priyanka\Keep\speci\P54843 Div.doe 24/11/04 'set 23 CA of the coumin general knowledge in the art, in Australia or in any other country.

H.\Priyanka\Keep\apeci\P54A43 fliv-cOC 24/11/04

Claims (9)

1. 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said laminated film sandwiching the core has a different lamination structure on one side of the core relative to the film on the other side of the core.
2. 3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said vacuum heat insulator further includes an adsorbent.
3. 4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein at least one side of said laminated film has one of a metalized film layer and a metal layer. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 through 4, wherein said inorganic fiber sheet contains at least SiO 2 H.\Priyanka\Keep\Bpeci\P54843 Div.doe 24/11/04 'set 25 ri6. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 through 5, further including a freezer compartment at a Z bottom thereof and a machine room outside of said freezer compartment, wherein said vacuum heat insulator covers sidewalls of said freezer compartment.
4. 7. The refrigerator according to'claim 6, further including high-temperature refrigerant piping provided M between said vacuum heat insulator and said outer-box. 01 o8. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein said' Ci vacuum heat insulator is provided between said machine room and said freezer compartment.
5. 9. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 through 5, further comprising independent compartments having different temperature ranges, and an evaporator for each of said compartments, wherein said vacuum heat insulator is disposed in a heat insulating portion behind at least one of said evaporators. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein said vacuum heat insulator is disposed in a partition between said independent compartments.
6. 11. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 through 5, wherein said vacuum heat insulator is disposed in a partition between said cooling system and said inner box.
7. 12. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 through 5, further comprising a control circuit board, wherein said vacuum heat insulator is disposed in a partition between said control circuit board and said inner box.
8. 13. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 Ha\Priyankca\Keep\speci\P54S43 Dtvdoc 24/11/04 -26 0 C- through 5, further comprising a condenser in a bottom thereof, wherein said vacuum heat insulator is disposed in Z a partition between said condenser and said inner box.
9. 14. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 through further comprising a thermoplastic resin layer on at least a portion of an inner surface of a space Sbetween said outer box and said inner box, wherein said M vacuum heat insulator is adhered to said inner surface via said thermoplastic resin layer by a hot melt bonding. 0 CI 15. The refrigerator of any one of claims 1 to 14, and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 2 5 th day of October 2004 MATSUSHITA REFRIGERATION COMPANY By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia H;\Priyanka\te0p\peci\P54t43 Div.doc 34/11/04