Heater and household appliance

Abstract

The present invention belongs to the field of heating technology and discloses a heater and household appliance. The heater comprises: a heating container having a water inlet and a water outlet; a heating element disposed within the heating container; and an expansion portion disposed within the heating container and extending from the top to the bottom of the heating container, thereby forming an annular cavity within the heating container. The water inlet and the water outlet are both connected to the annular cavity. By providing the expansion portion within the heating container, the present invention can reduce the amount of water contained within the heating container, thereby increasing the heating speed while maintaining the same heating element power.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of heating technology, and in particular to a heater and a household appliance. Background Art

[0002] In our daily lives, we often use household appliances such as water heaters, electric kettles, and water purifiers. These appliances are all equipped with heaters to heat water. Existing heaters heat water through heating tubes. However, the large cylinders of existing heaters hold too much water, making it difficult for the heating tubes to quickly heat the water inside. Consequently, the heating speed is slow, failing to meet users' needs for quick access to hot water. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a heater and a household appliance that can heat water quickly and meet the user's requirement for quick use of hot water.

[0004] As conceived above, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is:

[0005] A heater comprising:

[0006] A heating container is provided with a water inlet and a water outlet;

[0007] A heating element is disposed in the heating container;

[0008] The expansion portion is arranged in the heating container and extends from the top to the bottom of the heating container, so that an annular cavity is formed in the heating container, and the water inlet and the water outlet are both connected to the annular cavity.

[0009] Preferably, a guide plate is further included, which is arranged between the water inlet and the heating element and is used to guide the water flowing in through the water inlet to the heating element.

[0010] Preferably, the expansion portion is a piezoelectric ceramic, and the positive and negative electrodes of the piezoelectric ceramic are connected to a piezoelectric controller.

[0011] Preferably, the expansion portion is a hollow tube.

[0012] Preferably, the hollow tube is a flexible tube, and the flexible tube is filled with an expansion material, and the expansion material can change the outer diameter of the hollow tube.

[0013] Preferably, the heating element is a spiral heating tube, and the heating tube is sleeved outside the expansion portion.

[0014] Preferably, a filter is provided at the water inlet and / or the water outlet.

[0015] Preferably, a descaling device is further included, which is arranged on the top of the heating container and can release a descaling agent into the heating container.

[0016] The present invention also provides a household appliance comprising the above heater.

[0017] Preferably, the household appliance is a water heater, a kettle or a water purifier.

[0018] Beneficial effects of the present invention:

[0019] By setting an expansion part in the heating container, the effective volume of the heating container can be reduced, thereby reducing the amount of water contained therein. Under the same power of the heating element, the heating speed can be increased to meet the user's requirement for quick use of hot water.

[0020] By providing a guide plate, the guide plate guides the water flowing out of the water inlet to the heating element, so that the water directly contacts the heating element, further improving the heating effect.

[0021] By setting the expansion part as piezoelectric ceramics, the piezoelectric ceramics can expand under the action of DC voltage, thereby increasing the outer diameter of the piezoelectric ceramics, and making the volume of the annular cavity smaller. That is, through piezoelectric ceramics, the volume of water can be changed according to user needs to better meet user requirements. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a heater provided in Example 1 of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 It is a structural diagram of the heater provided in the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] In the picture:

[0025] 1. Heating container; 2. Heating element; 3. Expansion unit; 4. Drain plate; 5. Filter; 6. Descaling device; 7. Water pipe; 8. Pump; 11. Water inlet; 12. Water outlet. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] To make the technical problems solved by the present invention, the technical solutions adopted, and the technical effects achieved more clearly, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of them. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without making any creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0027] In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "connected," "connected," and "fixed" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they may refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integration; mechanical connections or electrical connections; direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and internal communication between two components or interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention in specific circumstances.

[0028] In the present invention, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, a first feature being "above" or "below" a second feature may include the first and second features being in direct contact, or may include the first and second features being in contact not directly but through another feature between them. Furthermore, a first feature being "above," "above," and "above" a second feature may include the first feature being directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or may simply mean that the first feature is higher in level than the second feature. A first feature being "below," "below," and "below" a second feature may include the first feature being directly below or obliquely below the second feature, or may simply mean that the first feature is lower in level than the second feature.

[0029] Example 1

[0030] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of the heater described in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. Figure 1 As shown, the heater includes a heating container 1, a heating element 2, an expansion portion 3 and a guide plate 4, wherein:

[0031] The heating container 1 has a water-holding cavity, which is connected to a water inlet 11 and a water outlet 12. The water inlet 11 is used to deliver heated water into the cavity of the heating container 1, and the water outlet 12 is used to deliver heated hot water to a user's water supply (such as a faucet or shower connected to a water heater, or a water outlet valve connected to a household appliance such as a water purifier). In this embodiment, the heating container 1 can be cylindrical or have other structures, such as a cubic structure.

[0032] Preferably, in order to reduce heat loss, this embodiment can also provide an insulating layer (not shown in the figure, which is a commonly used insulating layer with insulating effect in the prior art) on the outside or inside of the heating container 1 to improve the thermal insulation effect.

[0033] In this embodiment, a filter 5 may be further provided at the water inlet 11 and / or the water outlet 12 to filter impurities in the water. When the filter 5 is provided at both the water inlet 11 and the water outlet 12, the filtering effect of the filter 5 at the water outlet 12 is higher than that of the filter 5 at the water inlet 11, thereby ensuring that the hot water used by the user is purer and more hygienic.

[0034] In the present embodiment, preferably, a descaling device 6 can also be provided in the heating container 1. Specifically, the descaling device 6 is provided at the top of the heating container 1 and can release a descaling agent into the heating container 1. In the present embodiment, a descaling agent is placed in the descaling device 6, and the descaling device 6 can be a descaling agent releasing device commonly used in the prior art, which only needs to release the descaling agent. For example, it can be a small box provided at the top of the heating container 1, a descaling agent is placed in the small box, and a valve is provided at the bottom of the small box, the valve is connected to a control system (a common control structure in the prior art, which can be a control system on a carrier using the heater of the present embodiment, such as a control system of a water heater or a control system of a water purifier). When the descaling agent needs to be released, the valve is opened and the descaling agent is released to perform a descaling operation. After the descaling operation is completed, the dirt can be discharged through the water outlet 12.

[0035] Preferably, the above-mentioned descaling device 6 can also be configured as a structure with a spraying function, that is, the descaling device 6 is provided with a nozzle, through which the descaling agent can be sprayed into the heating container 1, thereby being able to remove dirt on the heating container 1 and the heating element 2.

[0036] The heating element 2 is disposed within the heating container 1 and can heat the water within the heating container 1 (the heating element 2 can be connected to the control system of a household appliance such as a water heater or water purifier). In this embodiment, the heating element 2 can be a heating component composed of multiple rear-film heating plates, or a spiral heating tube. A spiral heating tube is preferred in this embodiment. In this case, the descaling device 6 can be disposed above the heating tube to facilitate descaling of the heating tube by a descaling agent.

[0037] The expansion portion 3 is provided in the middle portion of the heating container 1. Specifically, the expansion portion 3 extends from the top to the bottom of the heating container 1, so that an annular cavity is formed in the heating container 1. The water inlet 11 and the water outlet 12 are both connected to the annular cavity. By changing the volume of the expansion portion 3, the rated volume of the annular cavity can be changed, thereby changing the volume of water contained in the heating container 1. For example, if the volume of the expansion portion 3 is increased, the volume of the annular cavity can be reduced. At this time, based on the heating element 2 of the same power, the volume of water in the annular cavity becomes smaller. Therefore, the heating element 2 can quickly heat a small volume of water, thereby improving the heating speed and meeting the user's requirement for quick use of hot water.

[0038] In this embodiment, the expansion portion 3 can be an annular or cylindrical piezoelectric ceramic, and the inner and outer side walls of the piezoelectric ceramic are respectively provided with a positive electrode and a negative electrode. The positive and negative electrodes of the piezoelectric ceramic are connected to a piezoelectric controller (not shown in the figure, the piezoelectric controller can be connected to the control system of the household appliance), and the piezoelectric controller is used to transmit a DC voltage to the piezoelectric ceramic. The piezoelectric ceramic is a functional ceramic material that can convert mechanical energy and electrical energy into each other, and is an inorganic non-metallic material. When the piezoelectric ceramic is in an electric field of a DC voltage (i.e., when energized), the piezoelectric ceramic will expand, and the volume of the annular cavity will become smaller. When the piezoelectric ceramic loses power, it will return to its original state, and the volume of the annular cavity will also return to its original size. In addition, in this embodiment, a DC voltage is preferably applied to the piezoelectric ceramic. Since no current will flow through the piezoelectric ceramic when it undergoes electrostriction under a DC voltage, it can also prevent the heating container 1 and the water in the heating container 1 from being electrified, thereby avoiding the hidden danger of electric shock to the user. By using the above-mentioned piezoelectric ceramics, users can also select the amount of water heated per unit time according to their needs, that is, change the volume of the annular cavity to change the amount of water heated at the same time.

[0039] In this embodiment, the heating element 2 is sleeved outside the expansion portion 3. When the heating element 2 is a spiral heating tube, the maximum outer diameter of the expansion portion 3 is smaller than the inner diameter of the spiral.

[0040] The above-mentioned guide plate 4 is arranged between the water inlet 11 and the heating element 2, and is used to guide the water flowing in through the water inlet 11 to the heating element 2. That is, the water flowing into the heating container 1 through the water inlet 11 will flow along the guide plate 4 and eventually flow to the heating element 2. At this time, the water will first come into contact with the heating element 2, then fall to the bottom of the heating container 1 and gradually accumulate and rise, and be heated again by the heating element 2 (at this time, the water outlet 12 is in a closed state). During this process, the heating element 2 will first perform preliminary heating on the water (water has a flow rate on the guide plate 4, and under the action of its own gravity, it will quickly flow through the heating element 2, so the heating element 2 first performs preliminary heating), and then will heat the accumulated and risen water again until it reaches the temperature required by the user. The heated water will then be transported out through the water outlet 12 for the user to use.

[0041] It should be noted that in this embodiment, if the user only needs to use hot water at a lower temperature, the water outlet 12 can be opened directly. At this time, the heating element 2 heats the water in the initial heating stage, that is, the water is in direct contact with the heating element 2, and can be heated to the hot water at a lower temperature required by the user.

[0042] Preferably, one end of the guide plate 4 of this embodiment is placed directly above the heating element 2. At this time, the water flow guided by the guide plate 4 is directly poured onto the heating element 2, which can achieve a better initial heating effect.

[0043] This embodiment also provides a household appliance, including the above-mentioned heater, which can achieve the effect of quickly heating water and meet the user's demand for quick use of hot water. The above-mentioned household appliance can be a water heater, a kettle, a water purifier, or other household appliances that need to heat water.

[0044] Example 2

[0045] like Figure 2 As shown, this embodiment provides a heater. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the expansion portion 3 of this embodiment is a hollow tube. This design facilitates heater assembly, facilitates material sourcing, and reduces manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the hollow structure of the hollow tube also reduces the overall weight of the heater. This embodiment allows the use of hollow tubes of varying outer diameters to vary the rated volume of the annular cavity.

[0046] Preferably, the hollow tube in this embodiment is a flexible tube with deformable properties. An expandable material can be filled within the flexible tube, which can change the outer diameter of the hollow tube and, in turn, the volume of the annular cavity. For example, when the expandable material expands, the volume of the annular cavity decreases. When the expandable material returns to its original size, the volume of the annular cavity returns to its original size.

[0047] In this embodiment, the expansion material can be a material that expands when exposed to water. Therefore, in this embodiment, a through hole can be provided on the top of the heating container 1, and the through hole is connected to the hollow tube, and further, a water spray structure is provided at the through hole, such as Figure 2 As shown, a water pipe 7 can be installed at the through hole, equipped with a pump 8. When the outer diameter of the flexible tube needs to be increased, pump 8 is turned on, allowing water pipe 7 to deliver a small amount of water into the flexible tube, causing the expansion material to expand, thereby expanding the flexible tube and increasing its outer diameter. Pump 8 is then turned off, and no water enters the flexible tube. The expansion material gradually dries and returns to its original shape over time. At this point, the flexible tube also returns to its original shape due to its own characteristics, and the annular cavity returns to its rated volume.

[0048] The other structures of the heater in this embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment and will not be described in detail.

[0049] This embodiment also provides a household appliance, including the above-mentioned heater, which can achieve the effect of quickly heating water and meet the user's demand for quick use of hot water. The above-mentioned household appliance can be a water heater, a kettle, a water purifier, or other household appliances that need to heat water.

[0050] Example 3

[0051] This embodiment provides a heater, which differs from the first embodiment in that the expansion portion 3 of this embodiment can also be a structure formed by placing ceramic balls and / or medical stones within a net, or a silicone structure attached to the cylinder wall. In this case, the expansion portion 3 does not have a deformation function and only needs to reduce the cavity volume of the container 1. Other structures that can reduce the cavity volume of the container 1 are also within the scope of protection of this embodiment.

[0052] The above embodiments merely illustrate the basic principles and features of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Various changes and modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Such changes and modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the present invention. The scope of protection claimed in the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A heater, characterized in that: include: A heating container (1) is provided with a water inlet (11) and a water outlet (12); A heating element (2) is arranged in the heating container (1); An expansion portion (3) is disposed in the heating container (1) and extends from the top to the bottom of the heating container (1), so that an annular cavity is formed in the heating container (1), and the water inlet (11) and the water outlet (12) are both connected to the annular cavity; The water inlet (11) is arranged at the top of the heating container (1), and the water outlet (12) is arranged at the bottom of the heating container (1); It also includes a guide plate (4), which is arranged between the water inlet (11) and the heating element (2) and is used to guide water flowing in through the water inlet (11) to the heating element (2).

2. The heater according to claim 1, wherein The expansion portion (3) is a piezoelectric ceramic, and the positive and negative electrodes of the piezoelectric ceramic are connected to a piezoelectric controller.

3. The heater according to claim 1, wherein The expansion portion (3) is a hollow tube.

4. The heater according to claim 3, characterized in that The hollow tube is a flexible tube filled with expansion material, and the expansion material can change the outer diameter of the hollow tube.

5. The heater according to claim 1, wherein The heating element (2) is a spiral heating tube, and the heating tube is sleeved outside the expansion portion (3).

6. The heater according to claim 1, wherein A filter screen (5) is provided at the water inlet (11) and / or the water outlet (12).

7. The heater according to claim 1, wherein It also comprises a descaling device (6), which is arranged on the top of the heating container (1) and can release a descaling agent into the heating container (1).

8. A household appliance, characterized in that: The heater comprises the heater described in any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The household appliance according to claim 8, characterized in that The household appliance is a water heater, a kettle or a water purifier.

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