Gas water heater control method

Abstract

The application discloses a gas water heater control method, the gas water heater includes heating mechanism, water inlet main pipe, water outlet main pipe, bypass pipe and flow regulating valve, the heating mechanism has water inlet end and water outlet end, the water inlet end of the flow regulating valve is connected with the water inlet main pipe, two water outlet ends of the flow regulating valve are respectively connected with the water inlet end of the heating mechanism and the bypass pipe, one of the water outlet main pipe is connected with the water outlet end of the heating mechanism, and the other is connected with the bypass pipe, the gas water heater control method includes: entering the bypass adjustment condition judgment step, when the entering bypass adjustment condition is satisfied, entering the bypass adjustment step; bypass adjustment step, the bypass ratio of the flow regulating valve is obtained, and the flow regulating valve is adjusted according to the bypass ratio to enter the water inlet end of the heating mechanism and the flow of the bypass pipe. The method can accurately control the proportion of high-temperature water and low-temperature water by obtaining the bypass ratio of the flow regulating valve, which is beneficial to maintaining the constant water temperature of the water outlet main pipe.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of household appliance technology, specifically, it relates to a control method for a gas water heater. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, water heaters are common household appliances. Based on their heat source, water heaters can be categorized into gas water heaters, electric water heaters, and solar water heaters. During use, the hot water output from the water heater is supplied to the user via a terminal device (such as a faucet or showerhead).

[0003] In actual use, water heaters experience temperature changes when the water is turned off and then turned back on for a short period. Taking gas water heaters as an example, during normal use, when the user turns off the water and then turns it back on, the water temperature initially rises, then falls, and then stabilizes, thus affecting the user experience.

[0004] Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by this invention is how to propose a gas water heater control method that can provide constant temperature water under different operating conditions. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention addresses the technical problem in existing technologies where water temperature fluctuations are common in certain usage scenarios, leading to excessively cold or hot water. It proposes a gas water heater control method that can solve the aforementioned problems.

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

[0007] A method for controlling a gas water heater, the gas water heater including a heating mechanism, an inlet main pipe, an outlet main pipe, a bypass pipe, and a flow regulating valve, wherein the heating mechanism has an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end of the flow regulating valve is connected to the inlet main pipe, the two outlet ends of the flow regulating valve are respectively connected to the inlet end of the heating mechanism and the bypass pipe, one end of the outlet main pipe is connected to the outlet end of the heating mechanism, and the other end is connected to the bypass pipe, the gas water heater control method including:

[0008] The condition for entering bypass adjustment is determined when the condition for entering bypass adjustment is met.

[0009] The bypass adjustment step involves obtaining the bypass ratio of the flow regulating valve and adjusting the flow rate of the flow regulating valve into the inlet of the heating mechanism and into the bypass pipe according to the bypass ratio.

[0010] Compared with the prior art, the advantages and positive effects of the present invention are:

[0011] The gas water heater control method of the present invention regulates the flow rate at the two outlets by means of a flow regulating valve. This allows for separate control of the flow rate entering the heating mechanism and the flow rate entering the bypass pipe. The water entering the bypass pipe is cold water, which is used to mix with the high-temperature water output by the heating mechanism. This is used to reduce the outlet water temperature of the main outlet pipe when the water temperature output by the heating mechanism is too high. In particular, when the water is turned off for a set time and then used again, the fluctuation range of the outlet water temperature can be reduced, and the user's shower experience can be improved.

[0012] By obtaining the bypass ratio of the flow regulating valve, the ratio of high-temperature water to low-temperature water can be precisely controlled, which helps to maintain a constant outlet water temperature in the main outlet pipe.

[0013] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer after reading the detailed embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0014] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying 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.

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the flow regulating valve of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the flow regulating valve of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 3 This is a partial exploded view of an embodiment of the flow regulating valve of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 4 This is a partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the flow regulating valve of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 5 This is one of the structural schematic diagrams of the valve shell in an embodiment of the flow regulating valve of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 6 This is a second schematic diagram of the valve housing structure in an embodiment of the flow regulating valve of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view of the valve housing in an embodiment of the flow regulating valve of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 8 This is one of the structural schematic diagrams of the first blocking component in an embodiment of the flow regulating valve of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 9 This is a second schematic diagram of the structure of the first blocking component in an embodiment of the flow regulating valve of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the flow regulating valve of the present invention in its first position;

[0025] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the flow regulating valve of the present invention between the first position and the second position;

[0026] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the flow regulating valve of the present invention in the second position;

[0027] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the flow regulating valve of the present invention between the second and third positions;

[0028] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the flow regulating valve of the present invention in the third position;

[0029] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the water heater of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0030] 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.

[0031] Example 1

[0032] This embodiment proposes a control method for a gas water heater, wherein the gas water heater used in this control method is such as... Figure 15 As shown, the device includes a heating mechanism 3000, an inlet main pipe 1000, an outlet main pipe 2000, a bypass pipe 5000, and a flow regulating valve 4000. The heating mechanism 3000 has an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end 151 of the flow regulating valve 4000 is connected to the inlet main pipe 1000. The flow regulating valve 4000 has two outlet ends, one of which is connected to the inlet end of the heating mechanism, and the other outlet end is connected to the bypass pipe 5000. One branch of the outlet main pipe 2000 is connected to the outlet end of the heating mechanism, and the other branch is connected to the bypass pipe 5000.

[0033] The main inlet pipe 1000 is used to connect to the tap water pipe. The cold water entering from the tap water pipe can flow directly to the inlet of the heating mechanism through the flow regulating valve 4000, or it can be divided into two paths, one of which flows to the inlet of the heating mechanism and the other flows to the bypass pipe 5000. In addition, the flow regulating valve 4000 can also adjust the flow ratio of the two outlets.

[0034] When no cold water enters the bypass pipe 5000, the hot water output from the outlet of the heating mechanism 3000 enters the main outlet pipe 2000 and is directly supplied to the user. When cold water enters the bypass pipe 5000, the cold water in the bypass pipe 5000 mixes with the hot water output from the outlet of the heating mechanism 3000, and the mixed water is supplied to the user through the main outlet pipe 2000.

[0035] When the gas water heater is initially turned on or when it is turned on again after a long time since the last use, the heating element 3000 is at a low temperature. After ignition and combustion, the water output from its outlet will go through a process of first being at a low temperature and then gradually rising to close to the set temperature. Under this condition, it is generally not necessary to open the bypass pipe 5000 to allow cold water to mix with the water output from the heating element.

[0036] When a gas water heater is operating and the user turns off the water and then turns it back on after a certain period, the heating element 3000 is still hot. Upon restarting, the water temperature will rise above the set temperature, then gradually decrease to the set temperature. If this water is directly supplied to the user after restarting, the user will experience discomfort and there is a risk of scalding. To avoid this problem, cold water can be introduced through the bypass pipe 5000 and mixed with the hot water output from the heating element 3000 before being supplied to the user.

[0037] In some embodiments of the present invention, the gas water heater control method includes:

[0038] The condition for entering bypass adjustment is determined when the condition for entering bypass adjustment is met.

[0039] The bypass adjustment step involves obtaining the bypass ratio of the flow regulating valve and adjusting the flow rate of the flow regulating valve into the inlet of the heating mechanism and into the bypass pipe according to the bypass ratio.

[0040] It is not necessary to activate the bypass adjustment at all times. Therefore, some embodiments of the present invention are provided with conditions for entering the bypass adjustment. When it is determined that the conditions for entering the bypass adjustment are met, the water flow of one bypass pipe 5000 can be turned on.

[0041] In some embodiments of the present invention, the purpose of opening the bypass adjustment is to reduce the outlet water temperature of the heating mechanism 3000 and prevent it from being too high. Therefore, in order to achieve the purpose of reducing the mixed water temperature, the flow regulating valve 4000 has at least two adjustment methods: one is to reduce the water entering the heating mechanism 3000 for heating, and the other is to increase the cold water entering the bypass pipe 5000. In this solution, by adjusting the bypass ratio of the flow regulating valve 4000, the flow rate of its two outlet ends is controlled, thereby achieving the invention objective of keeping the temperature of the water finally output from the main outlet pipe 2000 constant.

[0042] In some embodiments of the present invention, the condition determination step for entering bypass adjustment includes:

[0043] Determine whether to shut off the water supply or stop the zero-cold-water circulation heating. If either condition for shutting off the water supply or stopping the zero-cold-water circulation heating is met, proceed to the bypass adjustment step.

[0044] Water shut-off refers to the user turning off the water supply during the operation of the gas water heater. This shut-off can occur due to routine user needs, such as turning off the water to use soap, shower gel, or wash hair. A sudden increase in water temperature upon restarting the water supply typically occurs when the water is turned off and then restarted. Therefore, this solution uses the determination of whether the water supply has been shut off as one of the conditions for initiating bypass regulation, achieving precise control.

[0045] Zero-cold-water circulation heating typically occurs when the user is not using the gas water heater. To ensure warm water is available the first time the user turns on the water or after a significant period of inactivity, zero-cold-water circulation is used to recirculate and heat the cold water in the pipes. During zero-cold-water circulation, the bypass pipe 5000 cannot be opened. Therefore, in this embodiment, stopping the zero-cold-water circulation heating is used as another condition for determining whether to enter the bypass adjustment step.

[0046] By using the above two conditions, situations that are unlikely to enter the bypass adjustment step can be excluded, and the system can be initially screened to control entry into the bypass adjustment step.

[0047] In some embodiments of the present invention, before determining whether to shut off the water or stop the zero-cold-water circulation heating, the method further includes:

[0048] Obtain the outlet water temperature of the heating unit;

[0049] Determine whether the outlet water temperature of the heating mechanism exceeds the lower limit of the preset temperature. When the outlet water temperature of the heating mechanism exceeds the first lower limit of the preset temperature, determine whether to shut off the water or stop the zero cold water circulation heating.

[0050] As mentioned earlier, this solution enables bypass regulation, especially when the outlet water temperature of the heating mechanism is too high. In this embodiment, by further judging the outlet water temperature of the heating mechanism, even if the two conditions mentioned above are met, if the outlet water temperature of the heating mechanism is not too high, it is still not necessary to enter the bypass regulation step. Therefore, this judgment step can further narrow down the range that can enter bypass regulation, avoiding the situation where the outlet water temperature of the main water pipe 2000 is too low due to accidental entry into bypass regulation, which would be counterproductive.

[0051] In some embodiments of the present invention, the bypass adjustment step is further followed by: determining whether water use should be restarted within a set time period; if water use is not restarted, determining the exit condition for the bypass adjustment step based on the current entry condition for bypass adjustment.

[0052] In this solution, entering the bypass adjustment step also has a crucial condition: the time between restarting the water supply and shutting it off should not be too long. If too much time passes, the temperature of the heating element (3000°C) will naturally decrease, preventing the outlet water temperature from rising upon restarting the water supply. Therefore, once the water supply is not restarted within the set time, the bypass adjustment step can be exited, reducing the power consumption of the gas water heater.

[0053] As mentioned earlier, there are two conditions for entering bypass regulation: one is to determine whether to shut off the water, and the other is to stop the zero-cold water circulation heating. In this solution, the conditions for exiting bypass regulation are further determined based on the current entry conditions, so as to achieve precise matching between exit and entry and meet different operating environments.

[0054] In some embodiments of the present invention, if the entry condition for bypass regulation is met by shutting off the water supply, then the condition for exiting the bypass regulation step is:

[0055] When the outlet water temperature of the heating mechanism is lower than the second lower limit, the bypass adjustment step is exited, and the second lower limit is less than the first lower limit.

[0056] In some embodiments of the present invention, if the entry condition for bypass regulation is the cessation of zero-cold-water circulation heating, then the condition for exiting the bypass regulation step is:

[0057] When the outlet water temperature of the heating mechanism is lower than the third lower limit, the bypass adjustment step is exited. The third lower limit is greater than the second lower limit and less than the first lower limit.

[0058] That is, if the entry condition for bypass regulation is to meet the water shut-off condition, the bypass regulation step will only exit when the current outlet water temperature of the heating unit is lower than a relatively small temperature threshold. This is because the water shut-off is the reason for entering bypass regulation, so there is a certain probability that the user will turn the water back on. Therefore, by setting the exit condition threshold higher, the flow regulating valve 4000 is ready to perform bypass regulation when the user turns it back on.

[0059] If the entry condition for bypass regulation is to stop the zero-cold-water circulation heating, the bypass regulation step will exit when the outlet water temperature of the current heating unit is lower than a relatively high temperature threshold. This is because stopping the zero-cold-water circulation heating indicates that the user is not using water, and the temperature of the zero-cold-water circulation heating will not be too high. Therefore, by setting the exit condition threshold lower, the bypass regulation can be exited when it is met.

[0060] In some embodiments of the present invention, the first lower limit value = T0 + 2℃, where T0 represents the set temperature.

[0061] The second lower limit value = T0-5℃.

[0062] The third lower limit value = T0-2℃.

[0063] In some embodiments of the present invention, it is further included to determine whether to exit the bypass adjustment step based on the water flow rate at the inlet of the heating mechanism corresponding to the current position of the flow regulating valve. When the water flow rate meets the set conditions, it is determined to exit the bypass adjustment step.

[0064] The set outlet water temperature T0 is a constraint on the outlet water temperature of the main outlet pipe 2000, so that the closer the outlet water temperature of the main outlet pipe 2000 is to the set outlet water temperature T0, the better the effect.

[0065] In some embodiments of the present invention, the bypass ratio is determined as follows:

[0066] h = S * (T2 - T0) / (T2 - T1);

[0067] Where T2 is the outlet water temperature of the heating mechanism, T1 is the inlet water temperature of the main inlet pipe, T0 is the set temperature, and S is the preset coefficient.

[0068] In some embodiments of the present invention, in the step of determining whether to turn on the water supply again within a set time period, when the water supply is turned on again, the continuous water supply time is timed and determined. If the continuous water supply time does not exceed the first set time, the bypass adjustment step continues to operate.

[0069] If the continuous water usage time exceeds the first set time, continue to determine whether the continuous water usage time exceeds the second set time. If the continuous water usage time exceeds the second set time, exit the bypass adjustment step.

[0070] When the continuous water usage time does not exceed the second set time, the current bypass ratio is obtained, and it is determined whether to exit the bypass adjustment step based on the current bypass ratio, wherein the first set time is less than the second set time.

[0071] In some embodiments of the present invention, determining whether to exit the bypass adjustment step based on the current bypass ratio includes:

[0072] When the bypass ratio is not greater than the first bypass ratio setting value, the bypass adjustment step is exited directly.

[0073] When the bypass ratio is not greater than the second bypass ratio setting value and the outlet water temperature of the heating mechanism is lower than the fourth lower limit value, the bypass adjustment step is exited.

[0074] Example 2

[0075] This embodiment proposes a flow regulating valve 4000, such as Figures 1-14 As shown, it includes:

[0076] Valve housing 1, which is provided with an inlet end 11, a first outlet end 12 and a second outlet end 13;

[0077] Valve core assembly 2 includes a drive component 21, a first flow control component 22, and a second flow control component 23. The first flow control component 22 and the second flow control component 23 are disposed inside the valve housing 1. The first flow control component 22 is arranged at the first water outlet 12 and is used to control the flow rate at the first water outlet 12. The second flow control component 23 is arranged at the second water outlet 13 and is used to control the flow rate at the second water outlet 13.

[0078] The flow regulating valve has a first position, a second position, and a third position.

[0079] During the sequential operation of the flow regulating valve from the first position, the second position, and the third position, the driving component 21 drives the first flow control component 22 to gradually reduce the flow rate at the first outlet 12. During the reverse operation, the driving component 21 drives the first flow control component 22 to gradually increase the flow rate at the first outlet 12.

[0080] During the process of the flow regulating valve moving from the second position to the third position, the driving component 21 drives the second flow control component 23 to gradually increase the flow rate of the first outlet 12. During the reverse operation, the driving component 21 drives the second flow control component 23 to gradually decrease the flow rate of the first outlet 12.

[0081] Specifically, the flow regulating valve is assembled from a valve housing 1 and a valve core assembly 2. The valve housing 1 is equipped with an inlet end 11, a first outlet end 12 and a second outlet end 13, so that the valve housing 1 as a whole has a three-way structure.

[0082] During assembly, the drive component 21, the first flow control component 22, and the second flow control component 23 are assembled on the valve body 1. The drive component 21 can drive the first flow control component 22 and the second flow control component 23 to move inside the valve body 1. The moving first flow control component 22 can adjust the water flow rate of the first water outlet 12. Similarly, the second flow control component 23 can adjust the water flow rate of the second water outlet 13.

[0083] The flow regulating valve has three specific positions: In the first position, the first flow control component 22 controls the first outlet 12 to be at its maximum opening, and the second flow control component 23 closes the second outlet 13; in the second position, the second flow control component 23 is in a critical state of opening and closing the second outlet 13; in the third position, the first flow control component 22 controls the first outlet 12 to be at its minimum opening, and the second flow control component 23 controls the second outlet 13 to be at its maximum opening.

[0084] In one embodiment of this application, during the process of the flow regulating valve moving from the first position to the second position, the second flow control component 23 closes the second water outlet 13, and during the reverse operation, the second flow control component 23 closes the second water outlet 13.

[0085] In practical applications, the flow regulating valve is installed on the water heater. A water heater typically includes a main body with a main inlet port and a main outlet port, a heating element, and the aforementioned flow regulating valve. The inlet pipe of the flow regulating valve is connected to the main inlet port, the first outlet pipe is connected to the inlet of the heating element, and the second outlet pipe and the outlet of the heating element are connected to the main outlet port. The main inlet port is connected to the water supply pipe in the user's home (such as a tap water pipe), while the main outlet port is connected to the water-using terminal (such as a shower head or faucet) through the user's home water pipe.

[0086] In practical use, it is used to open the water terminal to output hot water. At this time, the heating mechanism is activated to heat the water flowing through it.

[0087] like Figures 10-14 As shown, the dashed arrows represent the direction of water flow.

[0088] During normal heating process, such as Figure 10As shown, the flow regulating valve is in the first position. At this time, the first flow control component 22 adjusts the first outlet 12 to the maximum opening to obtain the maximum water flow. At the same time, the second flow control component 23 is in the position of closing the second outlet 13, that is, the bypass flow path is cut off.

[0089] During normal water use, the power of the heating mechanism may decrease due to external factors. In this case, it is necessary to adjust the flow rate at the first outlet 12. The flow regulating valve will then switch between the first and second positions. Figure 11 As shown, the drive component 21 operates to drive the first flow control component 22 and the second flow control component 23. The first flow control component 22 adjusts the opening of the first water outlet 12 to reduce the water flow and thus maintain a constant water temperature output by the water heater. The second flow control component 23 does not open the second water outlet 13. During this process, based on the difference between the water outlet temperature and the set temperature, the drive component 21 drives the first flow control component 22 to move in both directions to dynamically adjust the water outlet temperature.

[0090] If the water temperature from the water heater remains consistently high, it is necessary to further reduce the water flow into the heating mechanism and simultaneously activate the bypass flow. At this time, the flow regulating valve will change between the second and third positions, actuating the drive component 21 to activate the first flow control component 22 and the second flow control component 23. The first flow control component 22 will correspondingly decrease the opening of the first outlet 12 to reduce the water flow, and conversely, it will correspondingly increase the opening of the first outlet 12 to increase the water flow. Thus, by changing between the second and third positions, the water control device can regulate the water flow ratio between the first outlet 12 and the second outlet 13, thereby dynamically adjusting the bypass ratio to maintain a constant water temperature output from the water heater.

[0091] In addition, when the user uses the water heater normally, and then uses the water twice in a short period of time, the flow regulating valve will change between the second and third positions to reduce the flow of cold water into the heating unit and increase the mixing ratio of hot and cold water output by the heating unit. This will increase the minimum temperature of the water flowing out of the water heater and decrease the maximum temperature of the water flowing out of the water heater, thereby meeting the requirement of constant temperature water output from the water heater and improving the user's showering experience.

[0092] In one embodiment of this application, the first flow control component 22 includes a rotating moving component 221 and a first blocking component 222, wherein the first blocking component 222 is disposed on the rotating moving component 221;

[0093] The second flow control component 23 includes a mounting component 231 and a second blocking component 232, wherein the second blocking component 232 is disposed on the mounting component 231;

[0094] The driving component 21 is connected to the rotating moving component 221 and is used to drive the rotating moving component 221 to rotate. The rotating moving component 221 rotates relative to the valve housing 1 and moves relative to it. The first blocking component 222 is disposed inside the valve housing 1 and located on one side of the first water outlet 12. The mounting component 231 is slidably disposed on the rotating moving component 221. The second blocking component 232 is arranged opposite to the second water outlet 13.

[0095] Specifically, for the first flow control component 22, the rotating moving component 221 is connected to the drive component 21 outside the valve housing 1, so that the drive component 21 drives the rotating moving component 221 to rotate. During the rotation of the rotating moving component 221 relative to the valve housing 1 driven by the drive component 21, the rotating moving component 221 can also move relative to the valve housing 1 along its axis.

[0096] Thus, during the process of adjusting the opening of the first water outlet 12 to control the water flow rate, the first blocking component 222 is arranged on one side of the pipe opening of the first water outlet 12, and the flow rate of the first water outlet 12 is adjusted by rotation. The first blocking component 222 adjusts the flow rate of the first water outlet 12 by rotation, making the flow rate adjustment more precise and achieving the requirement of gradual adjustment to meet the adjustment requirements of the water flow rate entering the heating mechanism under different operating conditions of the water heater.

[0097] During the process of adjusting the opening of the second water outlet 13 to control the water flow, the second blocking component 232 is arranged opposite to the pipe opening of the second water outlet 13, and the flow rate of the second water outlet 13 is adjusted by relative movement. The second blocking component 232 adjusts the flow rate of the second water outlet 13 by relative movement, making the flow rate adjustment more efficient, so as to quickly adjust the water temperature and enable the water heater to meet the requirement of constant temperature water output.

[0098] In another embodiment of this application, the first shielding component 222 is a sleeve structure, and a water flow channel is formed between the first shielding component 222 and the rotating moving component 221. A water inlet 2221 is provided on the side wall of the first shielding component 222. The water flowing into the inlet 11 flows into the first outlet 12 through the water flow channel and the water inlet 2221 in sequence.

[0099] Specifically, in order to facilitate the adjustment of the flow rate of the first water outlet 12 by rotation, the first blocking component 222 adopts a sleeve structure. The first blocking component 222 is mounted on the rotating moving component 221 and rotates with it. The water inlet 2221 can rotate relative to the pipe opening of the first water outlet 12. During the rotation, the overlap area between the water inlet 2221 and the pipe opening of the first water outlet 12 will change, thereby dynamically adjusting the flow rate of the first water outlet 12.

[0100] In one embodiment, a water trough 2222 communicating with the water inlet 2221 is also provided on the outer surface of the side wall of the first shielding member 222. The water trough 2222 extends about the axis of the rotating moving member 221 in a direction away from the water inlet 2221.

[0101] Specifically, during the adjustment process, the water flow rate at the first outlet 12 can be quickly adjusted by adjusting the overlap area between the water inlet 2221 and the pipe opening of the first outlet 12. After the water inlet 2221 and the pipe opening of the first outlet 12 are separated, the water tank 2222 remains connected to the pipe opening of the first outlet 12, thereby allowing for more precise adjustment of the water flow rate through the water tank 2222.

[0102] In one embodiment, the cross-sectional area of ​​the water flow in the water tank 2222 gradually decreases in the direction away from the water inlet 2221 around the axis of the rotating moving component 221. Specifically, the cross-sectional area of ​​the water flow in the water tank 2222 is in a gradually changing state, so that the water flow rate at the outlet of the first water pipe can be adjusted more precisely and finely during the process of the driving component 21 driving the rotating moving component 221 to rotate in one direction.

[0103] The gradient structure of the water tank 2222 enables more precise adjustment during high-precision bypass ratio adjustment, thereby accurately regulating the outlet water temperature of the water heater to meet more precise water temperature regulation.

[0104] In some embodiments, a first baffle 121 is provided in the first water outlet 12, and a first water outlet 122 is provided on the first baffle 121. The first water outlet 122 is used to communicate with the water inlet 2221 and the water tank 2222.

[0105] Specifically, in order to conveniently control the opening of the first water outlet 12 and precisely adjust the water flow, a first water outlet 122 is provided on the first partition 121 to cooperate with the water inlet 2221 and the water tank 2222. As the first blocking component 222 rotates with the rotating moving component 221, the water inlet 2221 and the water tank 2222 can rotate relative to the first water outlet 122 and achieve communication, thereby more precisely controlling the water flow of the first water outlet 12.

[0106] In some embodiments, the first partition 121 is also provided with an auxiliary water outlet 123, and the water inlet 11 is connected to the auxiliary water outlet 123.

[0107] Specifically, by configuring an auxiliary outlet 123 on the first partition 121, the auxiliary outlet 123 is in a normally open state and is always connected to the inlet end 11. In this way, the basic water flow requirements of the first outlet end 12 can be guaranteed through the auxiliary outlet 123.

[0108] The first outlet 122 can be a strip-shaped hole, which extends around the axis of the rotating moving part 221.

[0109] Specifically, the first outlet 122 of the strip-shaped hole structure can better cooperate with the water inlet 2221 and water tank 2222 on the rotating first blocking component 222. During the rotation of the first blocking component 222, the water inlet 2221 and water tank 2222 will overlap and cooperate sequentially along the length direction of the first outlet 122, thereby improving the degree of cooperation and satisfying the function of precisely controlling the water flow rate.

[0110] Since the first baffle 121 is equipped with a first water outlet 122 and an auxiliary water outlet 123, in order to more accurately control and adjust the water flow of the first water outlet 12, during the sequential operation of the flow regulating valve from the first position, the second position and the third position, the first water outlet 122 is connected to the water inlet 2221 and the water tank 2222.

[0111] In another embodiment, a second baffle 131 is provided in the second water outlet 13, and a second water outlet 132 is provided on the second baffle 131.

[0112] Specifically, for the second outlet 13, in order to meet the requirement of precise control of water flow, a second baffle 131 can be set inside the second outlet 13, and a second outlet 132 is correspondingly set on the second baffle 131. The second outlet 132 is arranged opposite to the second flow control component 23. During the flow control process, the second flow control component 23 will move with the rotating moving component 221. During the movement of the second flow control component 23, the second blocking component 232 can open and close the second outlet 132, and the water flow of the second outlet 132 can be precisely adjusted by controlling the distance between the second blocking component 232 and the second outlet 132.

[0113] In one embodiment, the outlet areas of the auxiliary outlet 123 and the second outlet 132 are designed to be the same. Thus, when the flow regulating valve is in the third position, the first outlet 122 is blocked by the first blocking component 222, and water enters the first outlet 12 through the auxiliary outlet 123. Simultaneously, the second outlet 132 in the second outlet 13 is fully open. This ensures that the flow rates of the auxiliary outlet 123 and the second outlet 132 are substantially the same, thereby satisfying the requirement that the flow rates of the first outlet 12 and the second outlet 13 are substantially the same.

[0114] In this state, the flow regulating valve controls the water flow through the small area of ​​the auxiliary outlet 123 and the second outlet 132, thereby reducing the total water intake of the flow regulating valve, making the heat released from the heating mechanism in the water heater more slowly, and making the minimum temperature of the mixed water larger, closer to the target outlet water temperature, so as to improve the user experience.

[0115] In one embodiment, in order to securely install the rotating moving part 221 and ensure that the rotating moving part 221 can rotate inside the valve body 1 while also moving smoothly, a support hole 133 is also provided on the second partition 131, and the other end of the rotating moving part 221 is inserted into the support hole 133.

[0116] Specifically, during assembly, the rotating moving component 221 is inserted into the valve housing 1, with one end of the rotating moving component 221 inserted into the support hole 133, and the other end connected to the drive component 21 outside the valve housing 1. In this way, both ends of the rotating moving component 221 can obtain good support, ensuring that the rotating moving component 221 can rotate and move stably within the valve housing 1.

[0117] In some embodiments, to ensure that the second outlet 13 is closed when the flow regulating valve is operating between the first and second positions, and open when operating between the second and third positions, the mounting component 231 is also designed as a sleeve structure. The mounting component 231 is sleeved on the rotating moving component 221, and an elastic component 233 is provided between the mounting component 231 and the rotating moving component 221. The elastic component 233 is used to apply a spring force to the mounting component 231 in the direction of the second partition 131. A baffle 223 is provided at the other end of the rotating moving component 221, and the baffle 223 is located between the second partition 131 and the mounting component 231.

[0118] Specifically, the mounting component 231 is fitted onto the rotating moving component 221, and the mounting component 231 is slidable relative to the rotating moving component 221. The elastic component 233 is designed to apply elastic force to the mounting component 231.

[0119] When the flow regulating valve is in the first position and the second position, there is a certain gap between the baffle 223 and the mounting component 231. The elastic component 233 applies elastic force to the mounting component 231 so that the mounting component 231 does not move relative to the valve body 1, and the second outlet 132 on the second partition 131 is closed by the second blocking component 232. At this time, the rotating moving component 221 can rotate and move relative to the mounting component 231.

[0120] When the flow regulating valve is in the second position and the third position, the baffle 223 will abut against the mounting component 231 so that the mounting component 231 moves together with the rotating moving component 221. At this time, the second blocking component 232 will open the second outlet 132.

[0121] Among them, the elastic component 233 is a spring, and the rotating moving component 221 is provided with a stepped surface; the mounting component 231 is provided with a spring seat 234, and the spring seat 234 is provided with a through hole (unmarked). The rotating moving component 221 passes through the through hole, and the spring is sleeved on the rotating moving component 221. The spring is located between the spring seat 234 and the stepped surface.

[0122] Specifically, the spring is also fitted around the outside of the rotating moving part 221, located between the stepped surface and the spring seat 234, so that the spring force can be applied to the mounting part 231.

[0123] In another embodiment, in order to better meet the requirements of water flow rate regulation, the water inlet volume of the inlet 11 can also be adjusted as needed. The first shielding component 222 is also provided with a shielding extension 2223. The shielding extension 2223 extends away from the water inlet 2221 along the axis of the rotating moving component 221. The shielding extension 2223 is used to partially shield the pipe opening of the inlet 11.

[0124] Specifically, as the flow regulating valve operates sequentially from the first position, the second position, and the third position, the first blocking component 222, along with the rotation of the rotating moving component 221, gradually approaches the inlet of the water inlet 11. Then, the blocking extension 2223 partially blocks the inlet of the water inlet 11, thereby reducing the inlet flow rate of the water inlet 11.

[0125] By reducing the water flow rate at the inlet 11, the effect of reducing the water flow rate at the first outlet 12 can be better achieved. Furthermore, when the flow regulating valve is in the third position, the first outlet 12 discharges water through the smaller auxiliary outlet 123, and simultaneously, the second outlet 13 also discharges water through the smaller second outlet. At this time, the shielding extension 2223 maximizes the shielding of the inlet 11, thereby more effectively reducing the water inflow and further reducing the total water inflow. This allows for more efficient regulation of hot and cold water, ensuring a constant water temperature at the user's end.

[0126] In one embodiment, the water inlet 2221 and the shielding extension 2223 are staggered about the axis of the rotating moving component 221.

[0127] Specifically, the inlet end 11 and the first outlet end 12 are arranged on the side of the valve housing 1, the second outlet end 13 is arranged at one end of the valve housing 1, and the drive component 21 is arranged at the other end of the valve housing 1.

[0128] The inlet 11 and the first outlet 12 are arranged substantially perpendicular to the axis of the rotating moving component 221, while the second outlet 13 is arranged along the axis of the rotating moving component 221. The inlet 11 and the first outlet 12 are arranged in opposite directions. To achieve this, the inlet 2221 and the shielding extension 2223 are staggered to meet the requirements of water flow regulation at different positions of the inlet 11 and the first outlet 12.

[0129] In some embodiments of this application, in order to meet the installation requirements of the rotating moving component 221 and simultaneously enable the driving component 21 to move synchronously while driving the rotating moving component 221 to rotate, a sliding guide portion 2211 and a threaded portion 2212 are sequentially provided at one end of the rotating moving component 221 from the outside to the inside; the sliding guide portion 2211 is connected to the driving component 21, and the sliding guide portion 2211 rotates with the driving component 21 and can slide relative to the driving component 21; the valve core assembly 2 also includes a bushing 24, which is provided with a threaded hole (not marked), through which the rotating moving component 221 passes, and the threaded portion 2212 is threadedly connected in the threaded hole, and the bushing 24 is disposed on the valve body 1.

[0130] Specifically, after the rotating moving part 221 is inserted into the valve housing 1, the end located inside the valve housing 1 is supported and mounted by the second partition 131. The end located outside the valve housing 1 is mounted on the valve housing 1 by a bushing 24, and the sliding guide part 2211 is connected to the drive part 21. The bushing 24 is connected and engaged with the rotating moving part 221, so that the rotating moving part 221 can reciprocate during rotation by using the threaded part 2212 to engage with the threaded hole.

[0131] The sliding guide 2211 can be represented by a gear structure provided in the rotating moving part 221. The guide ribs are distributed on the outer periphery of the rotating moving part 221. The driving part 21 can be a motor, and an internal gear ring structure is provided on the rotating shaft of the motor. The gear structure and the gear ring structure can meet the requirements of the rotating moving part 221 to rotate, and also meet the requirements of the sliding motion of the rotating moving part 221 during rotation.

[0132] In one embodiment of this application, in order to meet the requirements for sealing installation between the valve housing 1 and related assembly components, a first sealing ring 25 is also provided between the rotating moving part 221 and the inner wall of the bushing 24.

[0133] Specifically, after the bushing 24 is sealed and installed on one end of the valve body 1, the rotating moving part 221 is installed in the bushing 24, and the bushing 24 and the rotating moving part 221 are sealed by the first sealing ring 25.

[0134] Similarly, a second sealing ring 26 is provided between the rotating moving part 221 and the inner wall of the mounting part 231.

[0135] Specifically, the mounting component 231 is fitted over the rotating moving component 221, and the connection between the two is sealed by the second sealing ring 26, so that the water entering the valve body 1 from the inlet end 11 will not flow into the second outlet end 13 through the gap formed between the mounting component 231 and the rotating moving component 221 and be output, thereby ensuring the sealing performance and improving the water flow control accuracy of the second outlet end 13.

[0136] In one embodiment, the second partition 131 forms a groove structure 134, and the bottom of the groove structure 134 is provided with a support hole 133 and a second water outlet 132; the second shielding member 232 is an annular structure and is sleeved on the rotating moving member 221, and the second shielding member 232 is used to seal the outer edge of the groove structure 134.

[0137] Specifically, in order to open and close the second water outlet 132 through the second blocking component 232, the second water outlet 132 is arranged in the groove structure 134 formed by the second partition 131. When closing the second water outlet 132, it is only necessary to block and close the edge of the groove structure 134 to close the second water outlet 132.

[0138] The mounting component 231 has an annular groove (not marked) on its end face opposite to the second partition 131, and the second blocking component 232 is disposed in the annular groove. Specifically, the second blocking component 232 can be a sealing component such as a rubber ring or a silicone ring. The second blocking component 232 is installed in the annular groove of the mounting component 231, and the second outlet 132 is closed by sealing the edge of the groove structure 134 with the second blocking component 232.

[0139] In addition, the second partition 131 is provided with an outwardly extending first inclined surface around the groove structure 134. The first inclined surface forms a flared structure. The end of the mounting component 231 opposite to the second partition 131 is provided with a second inclined surface. The second inclined surface forms a conical structure.

[0140] Specifically, the cone-shaped structure formed by the mounting component 231 and the flared structure formed on the second partition 131 work together to more precisely adjust the flow rate regulation accuracy of the second water outlet 132, thereby achieving more refined bypass ratio control when the water heater controls the outlet temperature, which is more conducive to maintaining a constant water temperature.

[0141] In one embodiment, the side wall of the rotating moving component 221 is provided with an outwardly extending connecting rod 27, and the first blocking component 222 is provided with a connecting hole 2224, in which the connecting rod 27 is inserted.

[0142] Specifically, by cooperating with the connecting rod 27 and the connecting hole 2224, the first flow control component 22 is installed on the rotating moving component 221. On the one hand, this satisfies the installation requirements of the first flow control component 22, and on the other hand, the connecting rod 27 being set on the rotating moving component 221 will not obstruct the flow of water, thus meeting the requirement of smooth water delivery.

[0143] Compared with the prior art, the advantages and positive effects of the present invention are as follows: by setting a valve core assembly in the valve housing, the driving component in the valve core assembly can drive the first flow control component and the second flow control component to move inside the valve housing. The first flow control component can continuously adjust the flow rate of the first outlet pipe during the movement, thereby meeting the purpose of adjusting the water flow to meet the needs of water heater heating power changes. The second flow control component can adjust the bypass flow rate to accurately control the mixing amount of hot and cold water during the short-term switching of water, thereby reducing the water temperature fluctuation of the water heater outlet. By accurately adjusting the water flow rate through the flow regulating valve to reduce the water temperature fluctuation of the water heater outlet, the user experience is improved.

[0144] 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 gas water heater control method, characterized by, The gas water heater comprises a heating mechanism, a water inlet main pipe, a water outlet main pipe, a bypass pipe and a flow regulating valve. The heating mechanism has a water inlet end and a water outlet end. The water inlet end of the flow regulating valve is connected with the water inlet main pipe. Two water outlet ends of the flow regulating valve are respectively connected with the water inlet end of the heating mechanism and the bypass pipe. One of the water outlet main pipes is connected with the water outlet end of the heating mechanism, and the other is connected with the bypass pipe. The control method of the gas water heater comprises: a condition judgment step of entering bypass regulation, when the condition of entering bypass regulation is met, a bypass regulation step is entered; the condition judgment step of entering bypass regulation comprises: determining whether to stop water or to stop zero cold water circulation heating, when any of the conditions of stopping water or stopping zero cold water circulation heating is met, the bypass regulation step is entered; the bypass regulation step, the bypass ratio of the flow regulating valve is obtained, and the flow of the flow regulating valve entering the water inlet end of the heating mechanism and the bypass pipe is adjusted according to the bypass ratio; the bypass regulation step further comprises: determining whether to start using water again within a set time, when using water is not started again, the condition of exiting the bypass regulation step is determined according to the current entering condition of entering the bypass regulation; if the entering condition of entering the bypass regulation is to enter by meeting the condition of stopping water, the condition of exiting the bypass regulation step is: before determining whether to stop water or to stop zero cold water circulation heating, further comprising: obtaining the water outlet temperature of the heating mechanism; determining whether the water outlet temperature of the heating mechanism exceeds the lower limit value of the preset temperature, when the water outlet temperature of the heating mechanism exceeds the first lower limit value of the preset temperature, determining whether to stop water or to stop zero cold water circulation heating; when the water outlet temperature of the heating mechanism is lower than the second lower limit value, the bypass regulation step is exited, and the second lower limit value is smaller than the first lower limit value; if the entering condition of entering the bypass regulation is to enter by stopping zero cold water circulation heating, the condition of exiting the bypass regulation step is: when the water outlet temperature of the heating mechanism is lower than the third lower limit value, the bypass regulation step is exited, and the third lower limit value is greater than the second lower limit value and smaller than the first lower limit value.

2. The gas water heater control method of claim 1, wherein, further comprising determining whether to exit the bypass regulation step according to the water flow entering the water inlet end of the heating mechanism corresponding to the current position of the flow regulating valve, when the water flow meets the set condition, determining to exit the bypass regulation step.

3. The gas water heater control method of claim 1 or 2, wherein, the determination method of the bypass ratio is: h = S * (T2-T0) / (T2-T1); wherein, T2 is the water outlet temperature of the heating mechanism, T1 is the water inlet temperature of the water inlet main pipe, T0 is the setting temperature, and S is the preset coefficient.

4. The gas water heater control method of claim 1, wherein, in the step of determining whether to start using water again within a set time, when using water is started again, the continuous water use time of starting using water again is timed and determined, when the continuous water use time does not exceed the first set time, the work continues to be kept in the bypass regulation step; when the continuous water use time exceeds the first set time, it is continuously determined whether the continuous water use time exceeds the second set time, when the continuous water use time exceeds the second set time, the bypass regulation step is exited; When the continuous water use time does not exceed the second set time, the current bypass ratio is obtained, and it is determined whether to exit the bypass adjustment step according to the current bypass ratio, wherein the first set time is less than the second set time.

5. The control method of the gas water heater according to claim 4, wherein The determining whether to exit the bypass adjustment step according to the current bypass ratio comprises: When the bypass ratio is not greater than a first bypass ratio set value, directly exit the bypass adjustment step; When the bypass ratio is not greater than a second bypass ratio set value and the outlet water temperature of the heating mechanism is lower than a fourth lower limit value, then exit the bypass adjustment step.

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