Foaming water tank for electric water heaters and electric water heaters

Abstract

This invention discloses a foaming water tank for an electric water heater and an electric water heater. The foaming water tank for the electric water heater includes: an outer shell, which comprises two shells, one of which has a first notch on its edge; an inner tank, the interior of which forms a water storage cavity, and a water pipe is disposed on the inner tank; and a baffle plate, the edge of which has a second notch. The inner tank is located between the two shells, which are connected together. The baffle plate is disposed in the first notch, and a through space is formed between the first and second notches to accommodate the water pipe. This reduces overflow during the foaming process, improves foaming quality, and enhances the heat preservation performance of the water heater.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of household appliance technology, and particularly relates to a foaming water tank for an electric water heater and an electric water heater. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, water heaters are common household appliances, categorized into electric water heaters, heat pump water heaters, and solar water heaters. Electric water heaters are widely used due to their convenience. Among these, electric water heaters can be further divided into storage-type and instantaneous types based on their heating power. Storage-type electric water heaters, equipped with a water tank, offer advantages such as large water output and stable water temperature, making them more popular among families.

[0003] A typical storage-type electric water heater usually includes a water tank, an electric heating element, and an electronic control board. The water tank consists of an outer shell and an inner tank, with the inner tank housed within the outer shell. An insulation layer forms between the outer shell and the inner tank to improve the water tank's heat retention performance. Inlet and outlet pipes are connected to the inner tank and extend to the outside of the outer shell. With the design of flattened electric water heaters, the outer shell is no longer a cylindrical structure but requires a front and rear shell assembly to house the inner tank. At the same time, notches are provided on the front and rear shells to accommodate the inlet and outlet pipes of the inner tank.

[0004] During the foaming process, because the notches on the front and rear shells are joined together to accommodate the inlet and outlet pipes, the foaming material is prone to overflow due to incomplete sealing, thus affecting the foaming quality of the product. Therefore, the technical problem this invention aims to solve is how to design a technology to reduce foaming material overflow, thereby improving foaming quality and enhancing the heat insulation performance of the water heater. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention provides a foaming water tank and an electric water heater for electric water heaters, which reduces overflow during the foaming process of the water tank, improves the foaming quality, and enhances the heat preservation performance of the water heater.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned technical objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] In one aspect, the present invention provides a foaming water tank for an electric water heater, comprising:

[0008] The outer casing includes two housings, one of which has a first notch on its edge;

[0009] The inner liner has a water storage cavity inside, and a water pipe is installed on the inner liner;

[0010] A shield, wherein a second notch is provided on the edge of the shield;

[0011] The inner liner is located between the two shells, which are connected together. The baffle is disposed in the first notch, and a through space is formed between the first notch and the second notch to accommodate the water pipe.

[0012] In one embodiment of this application, the housing is divided into a front housing and a rear housing, the rear housing is provided with the first notch, and the baffle is detachably connected to the rear housing.

[0013] In one embodiment of this application, the inner wall of the rear shell is provided with a snap-fit ​​portion, and the shield plate is provided with a snap-fit ​​mating portion, which is snapped onto the snap-fit ​​portion.

[0014] In one embodiment of this application, the snap-fit ​​portion includes slots distributed on both sides of the first notch, and the snap-fit ​​mating portion includes inserts distributed on both sides of the second notch. The inserts are provided with first claws, and the inserts are inserted into the slots on the corresponding sides. The first claws are engaged at the ends of the slots.

[0015] In one embodiment of this application, the rear shell is provided with a boss protruding towards the interior of the rear shell, and the first notch is formed on one side of the boss; the end of the shielding plate that is adjacent to the second notch is also provided with a bending plate, and the bending plate shields the side of the first notch.

[0016] In one embodiment of this application, a second claw is provided on each side of the bending plate, and the second claw is engaged with the edge of the first notch.

[0017] In one embodiment of this application, a liner is further provided between the front shell and the rear shell, and the front shell is disposed on the rear shell through the liner; the liner is abutted against the bending plate.

[0018] In one embodiment of this application, a cover plate is provided on the liner, and the cover plate covers the outside of the shielding plate.

[0019] In one embodiment of this application, extension plates are further provided on both sides of the cover plate, and the cover plate and the two extension plates form a U-shaped groove structure, with the boss located in the U-shaped groove structure.

[0020] In one embodiment of this application, a first arc-shaped rib is provided at the edge of the first notch, and a second arc-shaped rib is provided at the edge of the second notch; the ends of the first arc-shaped rib and the second arc-shaped rib abut against each other.

[0021] In one embodiment of this application, a connecting pipe is provided on the inner liner, and the water pipe extends into the inner liner through the connecting pipe. A sealing element is wrapped around the connecting pipe, and the sealing element is located between the edge of the connecting pipe and the edge of the first notch and the edge of the second notch.

[0022] In another aspect, the present invention also provides an electric water heater, including the aforementioned foaming water tank for electric water heaters.

[0023] Compared with the prior art, the advantages and positive effects of the present invention are as follows: by providing a first notch on the shell and simultaneously configuring a baffle plate to cover the water pipe, the second notch on the baffle plate cooperates with the first notch to surround the outer periphery of the water pipe, minimizing the gap formed between the water pipe and the shell. In this way, during the foaming process, the overflow of foaming material from around the water pipe can be effectively reduced, thereby reducing the overflow during the foaming process of the water tank, improving the foaming quality and improving the heat preservation performance of the water heater. Attached Figure Description

[0024] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the electric water heater of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the electric water heater of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A magnified view of a portion of region A in the middle;

[0028] Figure 4 for Figure 2 A magnified view of a portion of region B in the middle;

[0029] Figure 5 for Figure 2 A magnified view of a portion of region C in the middle;

[0030] Figure 6 This is an exploded view of an embodiment of the electric water heater of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 7 for Figure 6 A magnified view of a portion of region D in the middle;

[0032] Figure 8 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the electric water heater of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 9 for Figure 8 A magnified view of a portion of region E in the middle;

[0034] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the liner plate in one embodiment of the electric water heater of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the baffle plate in one embodiment of the electric water heater of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the front panel structure in another embodiment of the electric water heater of the present invention.

[0037] Figure 13 This is one of the structural schematic diagrams of a flat inner tank in another embodiment of the electric water heater of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 14 This is a second schematic diagram of the flat inner tank in another embodiment of the electric water heater of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 15 for Figure 14 MM-direction sectional view;

[0040] Figure 16 for Figure 15 A magnified view of a portion of region N;

[0041] Figure 17 This is a schematic diagram of the connecting pipe structure in another embodiment of the electric water heater of the present invention.

[0042] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0043] Outer shell 1;

[0044] Rear shell 11, first screw hole 111, mounting platform 112, second positioning groove 113, stepped surface 114, retaining rib 115, first notch 116, snap-fit ​​part 117, boss 118, first arc-shaped rib 1161;

[0045] Liner plate 12, first through hole 121, first snap-fit ​​part 122, second screw hole 123, first guide groove 124, second guide groove 125, positioning rib 126, extension edge 127, cover plate 128, extension plate 129;

[0046] Card slot 1221, first positioning slot 1222;

[0047] Front shell 13, second snap-fit ​​part 130, front panel 131, housing 132, second through hole 133, groove 134, slot 135, second tongue 136, extension part 137;

[0048] Claw 1301, First insertion tongue 1302;

[0049] Decorative cover 14;

[0050] 15. Cover plate, 151. Second notch, 152. Snap-fit ​​part, 1511. Second arc-shaped rib, 153. Bending plate, 1521. First claw, 1531. Second claw, 154.

[0051] Mounting port 101, annular shielding part 102;

[0052] Inner liner 2;

[0053] 21. Water tank shell; 22. Connecting pipe; 23. Inlet pipe; 24. Outlet pipe;

[0054] Recessed structure 211, straight extension 212, end face 221, insertion part 222;

[0055] Flange connection port 201, connecting bracket 202, fixing hole 203;

[0056] Electric heating component 3;

[0057] First line segment a, second line segment b, third line segment c, fourth line segment d;

[0058] Hanging rack 100. Detailed Implementation

[0059] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0060] It should be noted that in the description of this invention, the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," which indicate directions or positional relationships, are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. These are merely for ease of description and do not indicate or imply that the device or element must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0061] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0062] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" the second feature includes the first feature directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0063] The following disclosure provides many different embodiments or examples for implementing various structures of the invention. To simplify the disclosure, specific examples of components and arrangements are described below. These are merely examples and are not intended to limit the invention. Furthermore, reference numerals and / or letters may be repeated in different examples; such repetition is for simplification and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and / or arrangements discussed. In addition, examples of various specific processes and materials are provided in this invention, but those skilled in the art will recognize the application of other processes and / or the use of other materials.

[0064] An electric water heater is a type of water heater that uses electricity as its primary energy source. The high-temperature heat generated after the power is turned on directly heats the water stored in the water heater to produce hot water.

[0065] Electric water heaters typically consist of a water tank, an electric heating element, and an electronic control board. The water tank has a storage cavity to store water to be heated. The electric heating element is inserted into the storage cavity of the water tank. The electronic control board is used to control the electric heating element to operate by turning the power on and off, so that the water in the tank is heated to the set temperature.

[0066] For the water tank of an electric water heater, the tank generally consists of an outer shell and an inner tank, with an insulation layer between them. The outer shell is usually made of plastic to meet the requirements of aesthetic and diverse designs; the inner tank can be made of metal or plastic, depending on the needs.

[0067] In addition, the insulation layer formed between the outer shell and the inner liner is commonly made of materials such as asbestos, sponge, foam plastic, and polyurethane foam. In conventional technology, foaming is usually used to form the insulation layer in order to achieve good insulation effect.

[0068] For water tanks with metal inner liner, corrosion can easily occur inside due to water quality. Therefore, magnesium rods are installed on the water tank and inserted into the water storage cavity inside the tank.

[0069] Magnesium has the lowest electrochemical potential among metals and is physiologically non-toxic. Therefore, it is ideal for making magnesium rods to protect the inner liner. The size of the magnesium rod directly affects the duration and effectiveness of the protection; the larger the magnesium rod, the better the protection and the longer the protection time.

[0070] The water tank is also equipped with an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe. The inlet pipe is used to deliver cold water into the water storage cavity formed inside the water tank, while the hot water in the water storage cavity is output from the outlet pipe.

[0071] For electric heating components, electric heating methods such as electric heating wires, magnetic energy, or silicon tube heating can be used to heat the water stored in the water storage chamber.

[0072] The control board is used to receive detection signals from relevant sensors (such as water temperature sensors and flow sensors) and control the power supply to and from the electric heating components.

[0073] When the electric water heater is working, the electric control board controls the electric heating element to be powered on and heated. When the water temperature in the tank reaches the set value, the electric control board controls the electric heating element to be powered off.

[0074] A water tank for an electric water heater according to an embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that the water tank of this embodiment can be installed on a vertically extending wall or on a horizontally extending wall.

[0075] For ease of description, the following description uses the example of a water tank installed on a vertical wall to illustrate the structure of the water tank.

[0076] Example 1, as Figures 1-10 As shown, the present invention also provides an electric water heater using an insulated water tank. The insulated water tank employs a flat design to reduce the effective indoor space occupied by the electric water heater. The insulated water tank includes an outer shell 1, an inner tank 2, and an electric heating element 3 assembled together. Since both the outer shell 1 and the inner tank 2 have a flat structure, the following structural improvements are made to the outer shell 1, the inner tank 2, and the electric heating element 3.

[0077] For the inner liner 2, in order to meet the requirements of water inlet and outlet, a water inlet pipe 23 and a water outlet pipe 24 need to be connected to the inner liner 2. As for the outer shell, it includes two shells, one of which has a first notch 116 on its edge.

[0078] In order to reduce the overflow of foaming material to the outside of the outer shell through the water inlet pipe 23 or the water outlet pipe 24 during the foaming process, a baffle plate 15 is also included. The edge of the baffle plate 15 is provided with a second notch 151. The inner liner is located between the two shells and the two shells are connected together. The baffle plate 15 is disposed in the first notch 116, and a through space for accommodating the water pipe is formed between the first notch 116 and the second notch 151.

[0079] In the actual assembly process, the inner liner is installed between the two shells, and the water inlet pipe 23 and water outlet pipe 24 on the inner liner are respectively inserted into the corresponding first notch 116. Each first notch 116 is equipped with a baffle plate 15 for protection, thereby reducing the gap between the water pipe and the shell, so as to reduce the occurrence of foam material overflow.

[0080] Taking the water inlet pipe 23 as an example, after the inner liner is placed in the shell with the first notch 116, the water inlet pipe 23 is placed in the first notch 116; then, the baffle plate 15 is installed in the first notch 116. By using the cooperation between the first notch 116 and the second notch 151, the connection gap between the water inlet pipe 23 and the shell is smaller, so as to more effectively reduce the leakage of foaming material and thus improve the foaming quality.

[0081] The outer shell is divided into a front shell 13 and a rear shell 11 that are spliced ​​together. The rear shell 11 has a first notch 116 and a baffle plate 15 is detachably connected to the rear shell 11.

[0082] In order to facilitate the fixed installation of the baffle 15 on the rear shell 11, the inner wall of the rear shell 11 is provided with a snap-fit ​​part 117, and the baffle 15 is provided with a snap-fit ​​mating part 152, which is snapped onto the snap-fit ​​part 117.

[0083] Specifically, during the actual assembly process, after the inner liner is installed on the rear shell 11, the baffle 15 cooperates with the snap-fit ​​part 117 through the snap-fit ​​part 152, so that the baffle 15 can be easily snapped onto the rear shell 11 without the need for additional tools for assembly.

[0084] There are many ways to represent the actual physical form of the snap-fit ​​part 152 and the snap-fit ​​part 117.

[0085] For example, the snap-fit ​​part 117 includes slots distributed on both sides of the first notch 116, and the snap-fit ​​mating part 152 includes inserts distributed on both sides of the second notch 151. The inserts are provided with first claws 1521. The inserts are inserted into the slots on the corresponding sides, and the first claws 1521 are engaged at the end of the slots.

[0086] Specifically, during the assembly process, the shield 15 is inserted into the slots on both sides of the first notch 116 via the inserts on both sides, and after the shield 15 is assembled in place, it is positioned by using the first claw 1521 to lock into the end of the slot.

[0087] To improve the smoothness and stability of installation, the two sides of the baffle plate 15 are respectively provided with sliding grooves 154, and the edge of the first notch 116 can be inserted into the sliding groove 154 to facilitate sliding insertion.

[0088] In some embodiments, in order to improve the strength of the mounting structure, a boss 118 protruding towards the inside of the rear shell 11 is provided on the rear shell 11, and a first notch 116 is formed on one side of the boss 118; a bending plate 153 is also provided at the end of the shielding plate 15 that is perpendicular to the second notch 151, and the bending plate 153 shields the side of the first notch 116.

[0089] Specifically, the boss 118 protrudes towards the interior of the rear shell 11, and a first notch 116 is formed on one side of the boss 118. The overall structure of the boss 118 is strong, which can meet the requirement of effectively positioning and supporting the water pipe through the boss 118 during the foaming process. At the same time, the notch 116 formed on the end face of the boss 118 is used to place the water pipe, and the boss 118 can better meet the requirement of firmly installing the baffle 15. Furthermore, the notch 116 formed on the side of the boss 118 is covered by a bent plate 153, which enhances the connection strength between the baffle 15 and the rear shell 11.

[0090] In another embodiment, a second claw 1531 is provided on both sides of the bending plate 153, and the second claw 1531 is engaged with the edge of the first notch 116.

[0091] Specifically, after the baffle plate 15 is installed in place, the second claw 1531 will be engaged with the edge of the notch on the side of the boss 118, thereby making the bent plate 153 also firmly fixed on the boss 118.

[0092] In some embodiments, a liner 12 is provided between the front shell 13 and the rear shell 11, with the front shell 13 mounted on the rear shell 11 via the liner 12; the liner 12 rests against the bent plate 153.

[0093] Specifically, the liner 12 is fixed to the rear shell 11 with screws, while the front shell 13 can be snapped onto the liner 12 to cover the screws on the liner 12. The liner 12 can also be abutted against the bent plate 153, and the surface of the bent plate 153 is flush with the side surface of the boss 118 to better improve the sealing of the connection between the rear shell 11 and the liner 12.

[0094] In one embodiment, a cover plate 128 is provided on the liner 12, and the cover plate 128 covers the outside of the shielding plate 15.

[0095] Specifically, the cover plate 128 covers the outside of the boss 118 and the baffle plate 15, thereby further shielding the foaming material during the foaming process and making it easier to prevent leakage. Preferably, extension plates 129 are also provided on both sides of the cover plate 128, forming a U-shaped groove structure with the cover plate 128 and the two extension plates 129, and the boss 118 is located in the U-shaped groove structure. After the liner 12 is assembled on the rear shell 11, the cover plate 128 and the extension plates 129 on both sides can partially wrap around the baffle plate 15 and the boss 118, which improves the reliability of the connection between components and further helps to prevent the foaming material from overflowing from the connection gaps.

[0096] In some embodiments, the edge of the first notch 116 is provided with a first arcuate rib 1161, and the edge of the second notch 151 is provided with a second arcuate rib 1511; the ends of the first arcuate rib 1161 and the second arcuate rib 1511 abut against each other.

[0097] Specifically, the first arc-shaped rib 1161 and the second arc-shaped rib 1511 cooperate to wrap around the outside of the water pipe of the inner liner. The first arc-shaped rib 1161 and the second arc-shaped rib 1511 form a wider contact area with the water pipe to extend the path of the foaming material overflow, thereby further preventing the foaming material from overflowing.

[0098] Preferably, the inner liner is provided with a connecting pipe 22, the water pipe extends into the inner liner through the connecting pipe 22, and a sealing element (unmarked) is wrapped around the connecting pipe 22. The sealing element is located between the connecting pipe 22 and the edge of the first notch 116 and the edge of the second notch 151.

[0099] Specifically, a connecting pipe 22 with a larger outer diameter is added to the inner liner to install the water inlet pipe 23 and the water outlet pipe 24. Furthermore, the connecting pipe 22 can fit more tightly with the first notch 116 and the second notch 151. During the foaming process, a sealing element (such as foam or double-sided adhesive strip) wrapped around the connecting pipe 22 is used to seal the connection gap between the connecting pipe 22 and the notch, effectively preventing the foaming material from overflowing.

[0100] For the exterior of the rear shell 11, a decorative cover 14 can also be provided. The decorative cover 14 can cover the groove structure formed on the outer wall of the rear shell 11 to form the protrusion. Furthermore, the decorative cover 14 is provided with holes for inserting the water inlet pipe 23 and the water outlet pipe 24.

[0101] Example 2, as follows Figures 1-11 As shown, based on the above embodiment 1, in order to meet the requirements of preventing foam overflow and at the same time meet the requirements of later maintenance and replacement of electric heating components, an installation port 101 is provided on the front part of the outer shell 1, and an annular shielding part 102 is also provided on the inner wall of the outer shell 1, with the annular shielding part 102 arranged around the installation port 101.

[0102] The inner liner 2 has a flange connection port 201 on its front.

[0103] The inner liner 2 is located inside the outer shell 1. The annular shielding part 102 surrounds the outside of the flange connection port 201. An insulation layer (not shown) is provided between the outer shell 1 and the inner liner 2. The electric heating component 3 is provided on the flange connection port 201 and extends into the interior of the inner liner 2.

[0104] Specifically, the water tank adopts a flat design, with its thickness being smaller than its height and length. In order to meet the installation requirements of the electric heating component 3, and also to meet the maintenance requirements of the electric heating component 3 in the future, an installation port 101 is provided at the front of the outer shell 1. Correspondingly, a flange connection port 201 is provided at the front of the inner tank 2.

[0105] When it is necessary to assemble the electric heating component 3, the electric heating component 3 can be inserted from the mounting port 101 and extended into the inner liner 2 through the flange connection port 201 to complete the assembly. Similarly, when the electric heating component 3 is replaced during later maintenance, it can be removed from the inner liner 2 through the mounting port 101 and taken out easily.

[0106] Meanwhile, for water tanks with a flat structure, the electric heating element 3 is installed at the front of the inner tank 2 to make full use of the area of ​​the front surface of the inner tank 2 to securely and reliably install the electric heating element 3.

[0107] More importantly, during foaming, to reduce or prevent the foaming material from overflowing around the flange connection port 201 of the inner liner 2, an annular shielding portion 102 extending towards the flange connection port 201 is formed on the inner wall of the outer shell 1. The annular shielding portion 102 has a cylindrical structure and surrounds the periphery of the mounting port 101. After the inner liner 2 is installed in the outer shell 1, the annular shielding portion 102 will surround the periphery of the flange connection port 201, thereby forming an area between the annular shielding portion 102 and the flange connection port 201 to prevent leakage of the foaming material.

[0108] A foaming cavity is formed between the outer shell 1 and the inner liner 2. After the foaming material is injected into the foaming cavity, when the foaming material flows to the flange connection port 201, the foaming material can be blocked by the annular shielding part 102, thereby reducing the leakage of the foaming material from the flange connection port 201.

[0109] In some embodiments, in order to improve the spill prevention effect, the edge of the annular shield 102 is attached to the outer wall of the inner liner 2.

[0110] Specifically, after the inner liner 2 is installed into the outer shell 1, the edge of the annular shield 102 will be attached to the outer wall of the inner liner 2. In this way, during the foaming process, the annular shield 102 can better prevent the foaming material from leaking from the flange connection port 201.

[0111] In a preferred embodiment, a gap is formed between the edge of the annular shield 102 and the outer wall of the inner liner 2 for ease of assembly. Furthermore, to reduce leakage of the foaming material from the gap, a first flexible sealing portion (not shown) can be provided on the outside of the annular shield 102, which covers the gap.

[0112] Specifically, during assembly, the first flexible sealing part is first wrapped around the outside of the annular shield 102 and extends to the edge of the annular shield 102. After the inner liner 2 is inserted into the outer shell 1, because the first flexible sealing part is elastic and deformable, it will tightly abut against the outer wall of the inner liner 2, so as to effectively seal the gap formed between the annular shield 102 and the inner liner 2.

[0113] Similarly, a second flexible sealing part can be provided on the outside of the flange connection 201, which covers the gap.

[0114] Specifically, during the assembly process, a second flexible sealing part is first wrapped around the flange connection port 201 on the inner liner 2. After the inner liner 2 is installed into the outer shell 1, because the second flexible sealing part is elastic and deformable, the annular blocking part 102 is pressed on the second flexible sealing part to effectively seal the gap formed between the annular blocking part 102 and the inner liner 2.

[0115] In actual use, the specific physical manifestation of the flexible sealing part can be made of components such as rubber cotton or sealing gaskets, which will not be restricted or elaborated here.

[0116] In another embodiment, in order to better block the foam material flowing to the flange connection port 201 by the annular blocking part 102, the outer diameter of the annular blocking part 102 gradually decreases along the direction from the mounting port 101 to the flange connection port 201.

[0117] Specifically, the cross-section of the annular shield 102 is a funnel-shaped structure. The port size of the annular shield 102 opposite to the inner liner 2 is small. The outer wall of the annular shield 102 forms an inclined surface. On the one hand, the smaller port is used to prevent the foam material from overflowing. On the other hand, the inclined outer wall ensures that the foam material can flow along it to evenly distribute the foam material outside the inner liner 2.

[0118] In some embodiments, to effectively position the inner liner 2 within the outer shell 1 before foaming and to prevent the inner liner 2 from shifting during the foaming process, a connecting bracket 202 with threaded holes (unmarked) is provided on the back of the inner liner 2. Correspondingly, a hanger 100 with mounting holes (unmarked) is provided on the back of the outer shell 1; bolts pass through the mounting holes and extend into the inner shell 1, threadedly connecting to the threaded holes, with the connecting bracket 202 abutting against the inner wall of the outer shell 1.

[0119] Specifically, after the inner liner 2 is inserted into the outer shell 1, the inner liner 2 is fixed to the outer shell 1 by the connecting bracket 202. At the same time, the connecting bracket 202 is connected to the hanging bracket 100 by bolts, and at the same time serves to install the hanging bracket 100.

[0120] In another embodiment, the mounting opening 101 is formed at the front of the housing 1. To optimize the appearance, it can be covered by a front panel 131 disposed at the front of the housing 1. During normal use, the front panel 131 is fixed to the front of the housing 1 to cover the mounting opening 101. When it is necessary to repair the electric heating component 3, the front panel 131 is removed.

[0121] By configuring an installation port at the front of the outer shell to meet the requirements of electric heating component installation and subsequent maintenance, and with an inwardly extending annular shielding part formed around the installation port inside the outer shell, the annular shielding part surrounds the flange connection port of the inner liner. Since the annular shielding part cooperates with the front surface of the inner liner, it can better prevent material overflow around the flange connection port. In this way, during the foaming process, after the foaming material flows between the outer shell and the inner liner, the flow of foaming material to the flange connection port of the inner liner can be blocked by the annular shielding part, thereby reducing the overflow of foaming material, improving foaming quality, and thus improving product quality.

[0122] Example 3, as follows Figures 13-17 As shown, the present invention also provides a flat inner tank 2 for use in an electric water heater. The inner tank 2 has an overall flat structure. The inner tank 2 includes two shells 21 and multiple connecting pipes 22. The shells 21 have an overall arc-shaped structure. At least one shell 21 is provided with a fixing hole 203 that penetrates the arc-shaped structure. The edges of the two shells 21 are welded together, and a water storage cavity is formed between the two shells 21. The connecting pipes 22 are provided on the fixing hole 203 and communicate with the water storage cavity.

[0123] Specifically, the inner liner has a flat structure, meaning its thickness is smaller than its length and height. However, to meet the design requirements of a pressure vessel, the shell 21 has an overall arc-shaped structure, giving the inner liner high pressure resistance.

[0124] As for the connecting pipe 22, its function is to connect the inlet or outlet pipe of the electric water heater. The connecting pipe 22 is directly welded to the outer arc area of ​​the shell 21, thus keeping it away from the weld seam formed at the edge of the shell 21. In this way, it is not necessary to form a straight segment at the edge of the shell 21 or reduce the length of the straight segment at the edge of the shell 21, thereby effectively reducing the overall thickness of the inner tank.

[0125] In actual use, the overall shape of the inner liner 2 can be designed according to needs. For example, the inner liner 2 can be circular, elliptical, or other structures, and there are no restrictions here. In some embodiments, one end face 221 of the connecting tube 22 is provided with a protruding insertion part 222. The insertion part is arranged around the opening of the connecting tube 22 and is inserted into the fixing hole 203. The connecting tube 22 is welded to the fixing hole 203.

[0126] Specifically, to improve the installation reliability of the connecting pipe 22 and enable it to be quickly and accurately installed and fixed on the curved surface, during actual assembly, the connecting pipe 22 can first be inserted into the corresponding fixing hole 203 through the plug-in part. After the plug-in part is inserted into the fixing hole 203, the connecting pipe 22 is pre-installed in the fixing hole 203, thereby accurately positioning the positional relationship between the connecting pipe 22 and the shell 21.

[0127] After pre-installing the connecting pipe 22 into the fixing hole 203, the connecting pipe 22 can be welded to the shell 21. During the welding process, a weld will be formed around the outer circumference of the connecting pipe 22. The specific welding method can be a conventional welding method, which will not be restricted or described in detail here.

[0128] Preferably, the shape of the end face 221 of the connector 22 is matched with the shape of the outer peripheral surface of the fixing hole 203.

[0129] Specifically, since the connecting tube 22 needs to be welded to the arc-shaped structure of the shell 21, the welding position accuracy of the connecting tube 22 determines the yield rate of the product. By designing the shape of the end face 221 to match the shape of the outer circumference of the fixing hole 203, when the connecting tube 22 is pre-installed through the insertion part, the matching of the end face 221 with the arc surface of the shell 21 allows the connecting tube 22 to be accurately pre-positioned and installed.

[0130] Meanwhile, during the welding process, the arc surface of the end face 221 and the shell 21 makes it less likely for the connecting pipe 22 to rotate or tilt, thereby improving the welding quality and making it easier to meet the requirements of welding the connecting pipe 22 on the arc surface of the shell 21.

[0131] In other embodiments, the fixing hole 203 is stamped on the shell 21, and a recessed structure 211 is formed on the shell 21 around the fixing hole 203.

[0132] Specifically, during the punching process, while the fixing hole 203 is formed on the shell 21, a recessed structure 211 is formed on the outer periphery of the fixing hole 203. During the assembly of the connecting pipe 22, the end face 221 will be pre-positioned with the surface abutting the recessed structure 211. Furthermore, during the welding process, the solder will fill the area where the recessed structure 211 is located, thereby making the weld more uniform, improving the welding reliability and sealing performance between the connecting pipe 22 and the shell 21, and reducing or avoiding water leakage.

[0133] In other embodiments, for the shell 21, the edge of the arc-shaped structure formed therein is provided with a straight extension 212, and two of the straight extensions are welded together.

[0134] Specifically, the purpose of further forming a straight extension 212 on the edge of the shell 21 is to facilitate more convenient and reliable welding of the two shells 21 together. Therefore, in the actual product design process, the width of the straight extension 212 only needs to meet the welding requirements, so the width of the straight extension 212 is relatively narrow, and the width of the straight extension 212 can be designed to be less than 10mm.

[0135] In other embodiments, in order to avoid welding stress deformation of the shape of the fixing hole 203 caused by the heat generated during welding of the shell 21, the closest distance L between the fixing hole 203 and the edge of the straight extension is not less than 7mm.

[0136] In one embodiment, to meet the installation requirements of the electric heating component, a flange connection port 201 is provided on one of the tank shells 21. The electric heating component can extend into the water storage cavity through the flange connection port 201 and be connected and fixed to the flange connection port 201.

[0137] In some embodiments, in order to meet the requirements of water tank suspension installation, a connecting frame 202 can be provided on another tank shell 21. The connecting frame 202 can be fixedly installed on the tank shell 21 by welding. In use, the inner tank 2 is fixedly suspended on the wall through the connecting frame 202.

[0138] To effectively improve space utilization, the connecting bracket 202 is positioned in the upper middle part of the shell 21 because the inner liner 2 has the greatest thickness in its middle section. Specifically, when the inner liner 2 is vertically installed on the wall, the distance between the middle of the inner liner 2 and the wall is the smallest, while the distance between the inner liner 2 and the wall gradually increases along the arc surface of the shell 21 towards the edge of the inner liner 2. By connecting the connecting bracket 202 to the upper middle part of the shell 21, the space between the upper part of the inner liner 2 and the wall can be fully utilized to achieve suspended installation.

[0139] In this embodiment of the invention, for the flat inner liner 2, the flat outer shell 1 is specially designed and has the following structural design.

[0140] Based on the above embodiments one, two and three, the embodiments of the present invention also have the following structural design for the outer shell 1.

[0141] Example 4, as follows Figures 1-11 As shown, the outer shell 1 in embodiments two and three above adopts a flat design and an overall curved surface design to achieve a good appearance design effect.

[0142] To achieve a screwless design for the front view, the following structural design is adopted for the outer casing 1.

[0143] The housing 1 includes:

[0144] The rear cover 11 has a first screw hole 111 on its edge, and the back of the rear cover 11 forms a mounting surface.

[0145] The liner 12 has a first through hole 121 on its edge, a first snap-fit ​​part 122 on its outer surface, an installation opening 101 on its surface, and an annular blocking part 102 on its inner wall.

[0146] The front shell 13 has a second snap-fit ​​portion 130 on its inner surface.

[0147] The liner 12 is connected to the rear shell 11, the screw passes through the first through hole 121 and is threaded into the corresponding first screw hole 111, the front shell 13 covers the liner 12, and the first snap-fit ​​part 122 is connected to the corresponding second snap-fit ​​part 130.

[0148] The rear shell 11 and the liner 12 in the outer shell 1 are connected by screws, forming an installation cavity for installing the inner liner. The screw connection between the rear shell 11 and the liner 12 provides sufficient structural strength to meet the structural strength requirements for the subsequent foaming of the insulation layer between the outer shell 1 and the inner liner.

[0149] The connection process between the rear shell 11 and the liner 12 is as follows: after the rear shell 11 and the liner 12 are joined together, the first through hole 121 is aligned with the corresponding first screw hole 111. Then, the screw is passed through the first through hole 121 and threaded into the first screw hole 111. In this way, the rear shell 11 and the liner 12 are securely and reliably fastened together by screws.

[0150] To achieve a screwless appearance, the front cover 13 is mounted on the liner 12 via a snap-fit ​​mechanism. Specifically, after the rear cover 11 and the liner 12 are fixedly connected together, since the first through hole 121 on the liner 12 is visible from the front of the outer shell 1, the front cover 13 is used to cover the first through hole 121 and screws to ensure that the overall appearance does not expose the first through hole 121 and screws.

[0151] The connection process between the front shell 13 and the liner 12 is as follows: the second snap-fit ​​portion 130 on the front shell 13 snaps together with the corresponding first snap-fit ​​portion 122 on the liner 12, thereby securing the front shell 13 onto the liner 12. Simultaneously, the front shell 13 conceals the first through-hole 121, ensuring that the first through-hole 121 is not visible from the outside, achieving a screwless appearance. Furthermore, the snap-fit ​​method conceals the snap-fit ​​connection area, optimizing the overall aesthetics.

[0152] In some embodiments, the specific physical manifestations of the first latching portion 122 and the second latching portion 130 can adopt various structural forms, as illustrated below.

[0153] The second latching part 130 includes a latch 1301, and the first latching part 122 includes a latch slot 1221, with the latch 1301 latched in the latch slot 1221.

[0154] Specifically, when the front shell 13 and the liner 12 are snapped together, the claw 1301 will be snapped into the slot 1221. The claw 1301 and the slot 1221 cooperate with each other to connect the front shell 13 and the liner 12 together.

[0155] In order to improve the connection strength, the second snap-fit ​​part 130 also includes a first tongue 1302, and the first snap-fit ​​part 122 also includes a first positioning groove 1222, with the first tongue 1302 inserted into the first positioning groove 1222.

[0156] Specifically, during assembly, the first tongue 1302 is first inserted into the first positioning groove 1222 to pre-position the front shell 13 and the liner 12. Then, the claw 1301 is engaged in the slot 1221 to complete the assembly between the front shell 13 and the liner 12.

[0157] The openings of the first positioning groove 1222 and the slot 1221 are arranged in opposite directions. This allows the connection between the latch and the slot 1221 to cooperate with the connection between the first tongue 1302 and the first positioning groove 1222, enabling the front shell 13 to be more firmly and reliably installed and fixed on the outer wall of the liner 12.

[0158] In another embodiment, since both the claw 1301 and the first tongue 1302 are located on the inner wall of the front shell 13, during assembly, the inner wall of the front shell 13 and the outer wall of the liner 12 cooperate with each other, making it difficult for the operator to accurately insert the first tongue 1302 into the positioning groove.

[0159] Therefore, a first guide groove 124 and a second guide groove 125 can be provided on the outer surface of the liner 12, with the first guide groove 124 extending to the slot 1221 and the second guide groove 125 extending to the positioning slot.

[0160] Specifically, during assembly, the operator can first place the claw 1301 in the first guide groove 124, while simultaneously positioning the first tongue 1302 in the second guide groove 125.

[0161] Then, the operator will slide the front shell 13 along the first guide groove 124 and the second guide groove 125 so that the first tongue 1302 is accurately inserted into the first positioning groove 1222, and finally the claw 1301 is locked in the slot 1221.

[0162] Under the guidance of the first guide groove 124 and the second guide groove 125, the guide groove can cooperate with the first insert tongue 1302 and the claw 1301 to guide the front shell 13 to slide.

[0163] Therefore, during the initial installation, the front shell 13 and the liner 12 can be far apart to facilitate the operator's observation of the position of the claw 1301 and the first tongue 1302, thereby ensuring that the claw 1301 and the first tongue 1302 are accurately placed in the corresponding guide groove.

[0164] Then, as the slide along the guide groove, the distance between the front shell 13 and the liner 12 gradually decreases. The operator relies on the guiding effect of the guide groove to ensure that the first tongue 1302 is inserted into the first positioning groove 1222 first.

[0165] Finally, the claw 1301 is engaged in the slot 1221 so that the front shell 13 and the liner 12 are securely connected together.

[0166] In other embodiments, in order to further improve the connection strength between the front shell 13 and the liner 12, the following structural improvements are made to the front shell 13.

[0167] Front shell 13 includes:

[0168] Front panel 131;

[0169] The housing 132 has a second snap-fit ​​part 130 and a second through hole 133.

[0170] The liner 12 is also provided with a second screw hole 123. The screw passes through the second through hole 133 and is threaded into the corresponding second screw hole 123. The front panel 131 covers the second through hole 133 and is provided on the front panel 131.

[0171] Specifically, the front shell 13 adopts a split design. The shell 132, as the main body, is mounted on the liner 12 through the second snap-fit ​​part 130 and the first snap-fit ​​part 122. At the same time, the shell 132 and the liner 12 are further securely connected together by screws. The screws connecting the shell 132 and the liner 12 are concealed by the front panel 131 to meet the appearance design requirement of no exposed screws on the front of the shell 1.

[0172] In one embodiment, the housing 132 is provided with a groove 134, a second through hole 133 is located in the groove 134, and the front panel 131 is disposed in the groove 134.

[0173] Specifically, a groove 134 is provided on the front side of the housing 132 to accommodate the front panel 131, making the front side of the housing 1 flatter. Meanwhile, the second through hole 133 is located within the groove 134. Therefore, after the front panel 131 is assembled into the groove 134, the second through hole 133 can be concealed by the front panel 131.

[0174] In another embodiment, in order to enable the front panel 131 to be conveniently and securely mounted on the housing 132, a slot 135 is also provided in the groove 134, and a second tongue 136 is provided on the front panel 131, the tongue being disposed in the corresponding slot 135.

[0175] Specifically, after the housing 132 is installed on the liner 12, the front panel 131 is inserted into the corresponding slot 135 via the tongue configured thereon to complete the installation. The tongue and slot 135 cooperate to achieve a screwless appearance on the front of the housing 1.

[0176] In order to further improve the connection reliability of the front panel 131, the front panel 131 is provided with an extension 137 extending toward the liner 12. The extension 137 is provided with a third screw hole (not shown). The housing 132 is provided with a countersunk hole (not shown). The screw passes through the countersunk hole and is threaded into the third screw hole.

[0177] Specifically, to meet the requirements of the appearance design, depending on the installation position of the outer casing 1, the extension 137 can be arranged on the upper or lower part of the front panel 131. The extension 137 is formed at the bottom of the front panel 131. Correspondingly, a countersunk hole is provided at the bottom of the housing 132. After the front panel 131 is connected by the tongue and slot 135, it is further fixed from the bottom by screws.

[0178] Preferably, a removable plug (not shown) can also be provided on the countersunk hole. After the front panel 131 is fixed to the housing 132 with screws, the plug can be used to cover the screws located in the countersunk hole, further satisfying the design of no exposed screws on the front appearance of the housing 1.

[0179] In some embodiments, in order to facilitate the quick assembly of the liner 12 and the rear shell 11 by the operator on site, an mounting platform 112 is provided on the inner wall of the rear shell 11, and the mounting platform 112 is provided with the first threaded hole.

[0180] Specifically, during the assembly process, the mounting platform 112 can support and position the liner 12, so that operators can quickly connect and assemble the liner 12 with the back cover 11.

[0181] In another embodiment, in order to facilitate the positioning and assembly of the back cover 11 and the liner 12, a second positioning groove 113 can be provided on the mounting platform 112, and the edge of the liner 12 is engaged in the second positioning groove 113.

[0182] Specifically, during the assembly of the rear shell 11 and the liner 12, the edge of the liner 12 can be inserted into the second positioning groove 113 to pre-assemble the rear shell 11 and the liner 12 together.

[0183] Then, adjust the relative position between the rear shell 11 and the liner 12 so that the first through hole 121 is aligned with the first screw hole 111.

[0184] Finally, the screw is passed through the first through hole 121 and threaded into the first screw hole 111 so that the rear shell 11 and the liner 12 are securely and reliably assembled together.

[0185] In order to accurately position the relationship between the rear shell 11 and the liner 12 and improve assembly accuracy, a stepped surface 114 can be provided on the inner wall of the rear shell 11, and a positioning rib 126 can be provided on the outer wall of the liner 12, with the positioning rib 126 abutting against the stepped surface 114.

[0186] Specifically, during the assembly of the rear shell 11 and the liner 12, the pre-positioning process via the positioning groove described above is referenced to ensure that the rear shell 11 and the liner 12 are pre-assembled together. Simultaneously, after the edge of the liner 12 is inserted into the positioning groove, the positioning ribs 126 on the liner 12 will abut against the stepped surface 114, thereby ensuring accurate positioning between the rear shell 11 and the liner 12 and improving the overall assembly quality of the outer shell assembly.

[0187] In one embodiment, the edge of the rear shell 11 is further provided with a baffle 115, the baffle 115 being located outside the stepped surface 114, and the edge of the front shell 13 is provided with an extension edge 127, the extension edge 127 surrounding the outside of the baffle 115.

[0188] Specifically, the front shell 13 can cover the entire outer surface of the liner 12, thus completely concealing the liner 12 from the outside and optimizing the visual appearance. Meanwhile, the retaining rib 115 formed on the edge of the rear shell 11 serves two purposes: firstly, during assembly, the retaining rib 115 can cooperate with the extended edge 127 for pre-positioning, improving assembly efficiency and accuracy; secondly, the retaining rib 115 being concealed by the extended edge 127 formed by the edge of the front shell 13 further enhances the overall appearance.

[0189] In a preferred embodiment, for the docking area between the front shell 13 and the rear shell 11, the edge of the front shell 13 is designed to be aligned with the edge of the rear shell 11, thereby reducing the size of the connection gap between the front shell 13 and the rear shell 11 at the docking area.

[0190] In addition, the number of connection points between the rear shell 11 and the liner 12, and the number of connection points between the front shell 13 and the liner 12, are designed in accordance with the overall dimensions of the shell assembly.

[0191] For example, multiple mounting platforms 112 can be provided on the edge of the rear shell 11, and the multiple mounting platforms 112 are distributed along the edge of the rear shell 11.

[0192] Correspondingly, the liner 12 is provided with a number of first through holes 121 corresponding to the mounting platform 112, so as to connect and fix the rear shell 11 and the liner 12 by multiple screws.

[0193] Similarly, there are multiple snap-fit ​​connections between the front shell 13 and the liner 12, which are not limited here.

[0194] By using a liner to indirectly connect the front and rear shells, the liner and the rear shell are tightly connected together with screws to meet the overall structural strength requirements of the shell. The front shell is connected to the liner by a snap-fit ​​method, which covers the liner and thus the screws, so that the overall shell achieves a screwless appearance, optimizing the overall appearance of the shell and improving the user experience.

[0195] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0196] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and are not intended to limit them. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions claimed by the present invention.

Claims

1. A foaming water tank for an electric water heater, characterized in that, include: The outer casing includes two housings, one of which has a first notch on its edge; The inner liner has a water storage cavity inside and a water pipe is installed on it; the inner liner has a flat structure as a whole. A shield, wherein a second notch is provided on the edge of the shield; The inner liner is located between the two shells, the two shells are connected together, the baffle is disposed in the first notch, and a through space is formed between the first notch and the second notch to accommodate the water pipe passing through; The housing is divided into a front housing and a rear housing. The rear housing is provided with the first notch. The baffle is detachably connected to the rear housing. The inner wall of the rear shell is provided with a snap-fit ​​part, and the baffle plate is provided with a snap-fit ​​mating part, which is snapped onto the snap-fit ​​part.

2. The foaming water tank for an electric water heater according to claim 1, characterized in that, The snap-fit ​​portion includes slots distributed on both sides of the first notch, and the snap-fit ​​mating portion includes inserts distributed on both sides of the second notch. The inserts are provided with first claws, and the inserts are inserted into the slots on the corresponding sides. The first claws are engaged at the ends of the slots.

3. The foaming water tank for an electric water heater according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rear shell is provided with a boss that protrudes towards the interior of the rear shell, and the first notch is formed on one side of the boss; the end of the shield away from the second notch is also provided with a bent plate, and the bent plate shields the side of the first notch.

4. The foaming water tank for an electric water heater according to claim 3, characterized in that, The bending plate is provided with a second claw on each side, and the second claw is engaged with the edge of the first notch.

5. The foaming water tank for an electric water heater according to claim 3, characterized in that, A liner is also provided between the front shell and the rear shell, and the front shell is mounted on the rear shell through the liner; the liner is attached to the bending plate.

6. The foaming water tank for an electric water heater according to claim 5, characterized in that, A cover plate is provided on the liner, and the cover plate covers the outside of the shield.

7. The foaming water tank for an electric water heater according to claim 6, characterized in that, The cover plate is further provided with extension plates on both sides, and the cover plate and the two extension plates form a U-shaped groove structure, with the boss located in the U-shaped groove structure.

8. The foaming water tank for an electric water heater according to claim 1, characterized in that, The edge of the first notch is provided with a first arc-shaped rib, and the edge of the second notch is provided with a second arc-shaped rib; the ends of the first arc-shaped rib and the second arc-shaped rib abut against each other.

9. The foaming water tank for an electric water heater according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The inner liner is provided with a connecting pipe, through which the water pipe extends into the inner liner. A sealing element is wrapped around the connecting pipe, and the sealing element is located between the edge of the connecting pipe and the edge of the first notch and the edge of the second notch.

10. An electric water heater, characterized in that, Includes the foaming water tank for electric water heaters as described in any one of claims 1-9.

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