Heating modules and drinking water equipment

Abstract

This application discloses a heating module and a water dispensing device. The heating module is detachably coupled to the main unit of the water dispensing device. The heating module includes a housing and a heating element. The housing is detachably connected to the outer wall of the main unit and has an inlet and an outlet connector for communication with the main unit. The heating element is disposed within the housing, and the inlet connector, the heating element, and the outlet connector are interconnected. This application's technical solution enables the water dispensing device to flexibly configure its heating function, better meeting user needs and providing a better user experience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of drinking water technology, and in particular to a heating module and a drinking water device using the heating module. Background Technology

[0002] In modern life, drinking water facilities are commonly used in offices, schools, public places, and homes to provide people with convenient and easily accessible drinking water.

[0003] In related technologies, existing drinking water equipment cannot flexibly select heating functions, resulting in many products being divided into heating models and non-heating models. The two types of products have different architectures and structures, making them incompatible and occupying multiple minimum stock keeping units (SKUs), which brings a lot of trouble to the later maintenance and operation of the products. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a heating module and a water drinking device, which enables the water drinking device to flexibly configure heating functions to meet user needs and provide users with a better experience.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a heating module for detachably engaging with the main unit of a water dispenser, the heating module comprising:

[0006] A housing for detachable connection to the outer wall of the main unit, and having an inlet and an outlet connector for communication with the main unit; and

[0007] A heating element is disposed inside the housing, and the water inlet connector, the heating element, and the water outlet connector are connected.

[0008] In some embodiments, it also includes:

[0009] An electrical connector, disposed on the housing, is used to mate with the main unit to achieve electrical connection; and

[0010] A control component is disposed within the housing and electrically connected to the electrical connector and the heating element for controlling the heating operation of the heating element.

[0011] In some embodiments, the heating module is mounted on the host unit from top to bottom.

[0012] In some embodiments, the housing has a mounting base for abutting against the outer wall of the main unit, and the water inlet and outlet connectors are located on the side of the heating tube near the mounting base and extend at least partially beyond the mounting base.

[0013] In some embodiments, the control element is located on the side of the heating tube opposite to the mounting base.

[0014] In some embodiments, the housing comprises the following components arranged sequentially along the height direction:

[0015] A first housing portion, wherein the control element is disposed within the first housing portion; and

[0016] The second shell is located below the first shell. The water inlet connector, heating pipe and water outlet connector are all located in the second shell. The surface of the second shell that faces away from the first shell is the mounting bottom surface.

[0017] In some embodiments, the horizontal cross-section of the first housing portion is larger than the horizontal cross-section of the second housing portion, and the electrical connector extends at least partially beyond the surface of the first housing portion facing the mounting base.

[0018] In some embodiments, the heating module further includes:

[0019] A water pump is disposed inside the housing and located between the water inlet connector and the heating pipe, and the water pump is electrically connected to the control unit.

[0020] In some embodiments, the heating module further includes

[0021] A first temperature-sensing element is disposed within the water inlet connector and electrically connected to the control component to detect the temperature of the liquid within the water inlet connector; and / or,

[0022] A second temperature-sensing element is disposed inside the heating tube and electrically connected to the control element for detecting the temperature of the liquid inside the heating tube; and / or,

[0023] A third temperature sensing element is disposed inside the water outlet connector and electrically connected to the control component to detect the temperature of the liquid inside the water outlet connector.

[0024] In some embodiments, it also includes:

[0025] A water quality detection element is installed inside the water outlet connector to detect the quality of the liquid inside the water outlet connector.

[0026] In some embodiments, the heating element is an instantaneous heating element, and the heating power is not less than 2000 watts.

[0027] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a drinking water device, which includes:

[0028] The heating module as described above; and

[0029] The main unit has a water channel structure, the housing is detachably connected to the outer wall of the main unit, and the water channel structure is connected to the water inlet connector and the water outlet connector respectively.

[0030] In some embodiments, the outer wall of the host includes a top surface and a bottom surface disposed opposite each other along the height direction, the top surface being recessed downward to form a groove, and the housing being fitted into the groove from top to bottom.

[0031] In some embodiments, the waterway structure includes:

[0032] The inlet and outlet are both located at the bottom of the groove. The inlet is connected to the outlet connector, and the outlet is connected to the inlet connector.

[0033] In some embodiments, the upper surface of the housing is flush with the top surface of the host unit;

[0034] And / or, the outer wall surface of the host also includes a front surface and a rear surface disposed opposite to each other in the front-rear direction of the host, the groove extends from the top surface of the host and communicates with the rear surface, and the rear side surface of the housing is flush with the rear surface of the host.

[0035] Based on the above embodiments, by employing a heating module that can be detachably coupled to the main unit of the water dispenser, the problem of the inability to flexibly select heating functions in existing water dispensers is solved. The housing of this heating module can be detachably connected to the outer wall of the main unit, and its internal water inlet connector, heating pipe, and water outlet connector are interconnected. This allows for convenient and quick installation and removal of the heating module from the main unit, achieving flexible configuration of the heating function. Users can choose whether to use the heating function according to their own needs, without needing to distinguish between different heating and non-heating models as with traditional water dispensers. This avoids products having different product architectures and structures due to different heating functions, enhancing product compatibility. Simultaneously, it reduces the number of minimum inventory units required for different models, lowering the cost and difficulty of later product maintenance and operation, and improving overall operational efficiency and maintenance convenience. Attached Figure Description

[0036] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application 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 only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0037] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the drinking water equipment of this application;

[0038] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the heating module and the main unit of the drinking water equipment of this application.

[0039] Explanation of icon numbers:

[0040] 100. Drinking water equipment; 10. Heating module; 11. Housing; 11a. Mounting bottom surface; 111. First housing part; 112. Second housing part; 1121. Water inlet connector; 1122. Water outlet connector; 11A. Upper surface; 11B. Rear side; 12. Heating tube; 13. Electrical connector; 14. Control component; 15. Water pump; 20. Main unit; 21. Water circuit structure; 211. Water inlet; 212. Water outlet; 22. Groove; 23. Top surface; 24. Bottom surface; 25. Front surface; 26. Rear surface.

[0041] The realization of the purpose, functional features and advantages of this application will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0042] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the embodiments of this application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0043] Where the following description relates to the accompanying drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings denote the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with this application. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of this application as detailed in the appended claims.

[0044] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "first," "second," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances. Furthermore, in the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0045] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this application. The term "and / or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0046] Reference Figure 1The first aspect of this application discloses a drinking water device 100, which includes a main unit 20. The main unit 20 is the core component of the drinking water device 100, containing devices for storing and transporting water, such as a water tank and a water circuit structure 21. The water tank stores water, and the water circuit structure 21 transports water from the water tank to subsequent processing or output stages of the drinking water device 100, providing a stable water flow to the user. It is also equipped with a control unit, such as electronic circuits, chips, or a controller. This control unit controls various operations of the drinking water device 100 according to user operating instructions and preset programs, coordinating the work of various internal parts of the drinking water device 100 to ensure normal operation. The main unit 20 is equipped with various sensors, such as a water level sensor, which detects the water level in the water tank to prevent overflow. Furthermore, some drinking water devices 100 have a filter device in the main unit 20, which can filter out impurities, odors, bacteria, etc., in the water, improving the quality of drinking water and providing users with healthier and safer drinking water.

[0047] In related technologies, existing drinking water equipment 100 cannot flexibly select the heating function, resulting in many products being divided into heating models and non-heating models. The two types of products have different architectures and structures, are incompatible, and occupy multiple minimum stock keeping units (SKUs), which brings a lot of trouble to the later maintenance and operation of the products.

[0048] To resolve the above issues, please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 1 and Figure 2 A second aspect of this application provides a heating module 10 for detachable engagement with the main unit 20 of a water dispensing device 100. In an embodiment of this application, the heating module 10 includes a housing 11 and a heating tube 12.

[0049] The housing 11 is detachably connected to the outer wall of the main unit 20. The housing 11 can be made of metal such as aluminum alloy. Aluminum alloy has high strength, effectively ensuring the stability of the housing 11's structure and preventing deformation or damage during daily use and various operating conditions. Simultaneously, its relatively light weight prevents excessive load on the main unit 20 of the water dispenser 100, helping to maintain the overall balance and stability of the main unit 20. The housing 11 is fixed to the outer wall of the main unit 20 using detachable methods such as screw connections or snap-fit ​​connections. When using snap-fit ​​connections, the clips are typically designed as elastic plastic or metal parts. One end of the clip is fixed to the edge of the housing 11, and the corresponding outer wall of the main unit 20 has a matching slot. During assembly, the operator precisely aligns the housing 11 with the outer wall of the main unit 20, applies slight pressure, and the clip deforms elastically, snapping into the slot and then returning to its original shape, thus achieving a tight and stable connection. The advantage of this snap-fit ​​connection method is that it requires no additional tools, making the operation simple and quick. It helps assemblers complete the assembly task rapidly, and when the heating module 10 needs to be replaced for maintenance, maintenance personnel can easily disassemble it by simply prying open the clips, significantly reducing time costs. If screw connections are used, stainless steel screws are generally employed, as their excellent corrosion resistance effectively avoids rust and prevents the connection from weakening due to rust. Before assembly, holes need to be drilled in corresponding locations on the outer walls of the housing 11 and the main unit 20. During installation, the operator passes the screw through the hole on the housing 11 and screws it into the pre-set threaded hole on the outer wall of the main unit 20, gradually tightening the screw until the two are tightly fitted. This connection method creates a very strong connection, ensuring that even under certain external impacts, the heating module 10 remains firmly fixed and will not accidentally loosen, thus guaranteeing the stable operation of the water dispenser 100. Of course, the housing 11 and the outer wall of the main unit 20 can also be fixed using a magnetic connection, which will not be discussed here.

[0050] The housing 11 has an inlet connector 1121 and an outlet connector 1122 for connecting and communicating with the main unit 20. The heating tube 12 is disposed inside the housing 11, and the inlet connector 1121, the heating tube 12 and the outlet connector 1122 are connected.

[0051] Specifically, the water passage structure 21 of the main unit 20 is connected to the inlet connector 1121 and the outlet connector 1122 respectively. After the housing 11 and the main unit 20 are assembled, the drinking water device 100 starts operating, and the water source can flow smoothly into the inlet connector 1121 of the housing 11 without any obstruction through the water passage structure 21 of the main unit 20. After entering the housing 11, the water flows through the heating pipe 12 in sequence. The heating pipe 12 quickly heats the water according to the preset processing flow, so that the water temperature reaches the standard suitable for drinking. The treated water then flows through the outlet connector 1122, and according to the equipment settings, either flows back to the main unit 20 to participate in the subsequent circulation or is directly output, ensuring the continuity and efficiency of the water flow transportation and processing of the entire drinking water device 100.

[0052] Based on the above embodiments, by employing a heating module 10 that is detachably coupled to the main unit 20 of the water dispenser 100, the problem of the inability to flexibly select heating functions in existing water dispensers 100 is solved. The housing 11 of the heating module 10 is detachably connected to the outer wall of the main unit 20, and its internal water inlet connector 1121, heating tube 12, and water outlet connector 1122 are interconnected. This allows the heating module 10 to be easily and quickly installed and removed from the main unit 20, achieving flexible configuration of the heating function. Users can choose whether to use the heating function according to their own needs, without needing to distinguish between different heating and non-heating models as with traditional water dispensers 100. This avoids products having different product architectures and structures due to different heating functions, enhancing product compatibility. Simultaneously, it reduces the number of minimum inventory units occupied by different models, lowering the cost and difficulty of later product maintenance and operation, and improving overall operational efficiency and maintenance convenience.

[0053] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2In some embodiments, the outer wall of the main unit 20 includes a top surface 23 and a bottom surface 24 arranged opposite each other along the height direction. The top surface 23 is recessed downward to form a groove 22, and the housing 11 is embedded in the groove 22 from top to bottom. When the installer assembles the unit, the housing 11 is aligned with the groove 22 from top to bottom. The groove 22 acts as a precise positioning mold, guiding the housing 11 to be smoothly embedded vertically, effectively avoiding positional deviations during embedding, greatly ensuring assembly accuracy, making the assembly process smoother, and thus improving assembly efficiency. This integrated embedded design, where the housing 11 is precisely embedded in the groove 22 on the top surface 23 of the outer wall of the main unit 20, achieves efficient integration of the heating module 10 and the main unit 20 in terms of space utilization. Compared to traditional connection methods, it not only reduces assembly errors caused by loose assembly of components, but also ensures a tight fit in the vertical direction, significantly reducing the lateral space occupied by the overall device. This makes the drinking water device 100 more compact and simple in appearance, better adaptable to usage scenarios with demanding space requirements.

[0054] Furthermore, the water channel structure 21 includes an inlet 211 and an outlet 212, both located at the bottom of the groove 22. The inlet 211 is connected to the outlet connector 1122, and the outlet 212 is connected to the inlet connector 1121. Thus, when assembling the housing 11 and the main unit 20, since the inlet 211 and the outlet 212 are on the same plane and their positions are fixed and easily visible, the installers can easily find the correct connection position. The outlet 212 can be directly and accurately connected to the inlet connector 1121 of the housing 11, and the inlet 211 can be tightly connected to the outlet connector 1122 without any deviation. On the one hand, this greatly shortens the water flow path and effectively reduces the energy loss of water during the process of flowing through it, enabling water to circulate more efficiently between the main unit 20 and the casing 11. On the other hand, this design, which concentrates the interface at the bottom of the tank and is easy to position, makes the assembly process particularly intuitive and simple. Operators do not need to spend a lot of time repeatedly comparing and debugging to achieve water flow smoothly and accurately, which greatly reduces the probability of assembly errors and improves the overall assembly efficiency in all aspects.

[0055] In addition, in some embodiments, the main unit 20 is also equipped with a prompting structure (not shown), such as a visually striking indicator light or a speaker that emits a clear warning sound. When, during assembly, the inlet 211 is not properly connected to the outlet connector 1122, or the outlet 212 is not properly connected to the inlet connector 1121, the prompting structure will activate immediately. The indicator light may flash red to strongly visually alert the operator to the connection problem; the speaker will emit a continuous warning sound to draw the operator's attention audibly. In this way, the assembler can detect abnormal water circuit connections immediately, correct errors promptly, and avoid subsequent equipment malfunctions due to unnoticed connection mistakes, further ensuring assembly quality.

[0056] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 Optionally, the upper surface 11A of the housing 11 is flush with the top surface 23 of the main unit 20. On the one hand, from the perspective of overall appearance, the water dispenser 100 presents a simple and smooth line, without any abrupt height differences, making it more visually harmonious and unified. On the other hand, in daily use and maintenance scenarios, the flush surface avoids the accumulation of dust and debris in uneven areas, reduces cleaning dead corners, lowers the difficulty of cleaning, and makes equipment maintenance more convenient.

[0057] Optionally, the outer wall of the main unit 20 also includes a front surface 25 and a rear surface 26 arranged opposite to each other along the front-rear direction of the main unit 20. A groove 22 extends from the top surface 23 of the main unit 20 and communicates with the rear surface 26. The rear side surface 11B of the housing 11 is flush with the rear surface 26 of the main unit 20. Thus, from an aesthetic perspective, the entire water dissipation device 100 presents a high degree of uniformity and regularity; on the other hand, heat dissipation performance is also significantly optimized. After the assembly of the housing 11 and the main unit 20, both the upper surface 11A and the rear side surface 11B of the housing 11 are connected to the outside, reducing obstacles to heat dissipation and ensuring the stable operation of the heating module 10 and the main unit 20.

[0058] In some embodiments, the heating element 12 is an instant heating element with a heating power of not less than 2000 watts. Traditional storage-type drinking water devices 100 require continuous energy consumption to maintain water temperature and ensure a constant supply of hot water, resulting in significant energy waste due to heat loss. This application, however, utilizes a high power of not less than 2000 watts combined with the rapid heat conduction characteristics of the instant heating element, enabling cold water to be quickly heated to a suitable drinking temperature. The instant heating element, with its special structure, can efficiently transfer heat to the flowing water in a very short time, greatly shortening the heating waiting time, meeting people's immediate hot water needs, and improving ease of use. In terms of space utilization, the product size is effectively reduced, and its spatial adaptability is greatly improved. Previously, devices equipped with large storage tanks were bulky and required significant installation space. Since there is no need for an internal hot water storage component, the structural design can be simplified and optimized, resulting in a significantly smaller overall size. This allows for flexible integration into various cramped spaces, catering to diverse usage scenarios.

[0059] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments, the heating module 10 further includes an electrical connector 13 and a control component 14. The electrical connector 13 is disposed on the housing 11 and is used to connect with the host 20 to achieve electrical connection. Once the connection is completed, a stable current can be smoothly transmitted to the heating module 10 where the heating tube 12 is located, eliminating power supply failures caused by connection problems, ensuring that the entire heating process is not affected by power interruption, and continuously supplying energy to the heating tube 12.

[0060] The control component 14 is housed within the housing 11 and electrically connected to the electrical connector 13 and the heating element 12 to control the heating operation of the heating element 12. The control component 14 can be a precision PCB (Printed Circuit Board) integrating various electronic components, possessing powerful signal processing and control capabilities. The electrical connector 13 also enables different control modes. In one configuration, the control component 14 is housed within the housing 11, and the main unit 20 is electrically connected to the control component 14 within the housing 11 via the electrical connector 13, thereby precisely controlling the heating operation of the heating element 12. After the housing 11 and the main unit 20 are assembled, when the control unit of the main unit 20 receives a command, it is quickly transmitted to the control component 14 within the housing 11 via the electrical connector 13. The control component 14 then drives the heating element 12 to operate at an appropriate power to quickly reach the ideal water temperature. In another embodiment, the control component 14 is integrated into the control unit within the main unit 20. At this time, when the user issues a command, the control unit inside the main unit 20 responds quickly, generating a corresponding control signal, which is then precisely transmitted to the heating module 10 via the electrical connector 13. This design, which uses the electrical connector 13 to quickly control the heating element 12, enhances the centralized control capability of the main unit 20, reduces the number of components within the housing 11, and optimizes the overall structure.

[0061] Furthermore, the heating module 10 is installed on the main unit 20 from top to bottom. During assembly, the operator can easily insert the heating module 10 into the designated position using gravity, following the structure of the main unit 20, without the need for complex auxiliary tools or extra effort to adjust the angle, effectively improving assembly efficiency and reducing labor and time costs. During equipment operation, this top-down layout allows heat to dissipate more smoothly and naturally upwards.

[0062] Furthermore, the housing 11 has a mounting base 11a, which abuts against the outer wall of the main unit 20. The inlet connector 1121 and outlet connector 1122 are located on the side of the heating pipe 12 closest to the mounting base 11a and extend at least partially beyond it. During assembly, the operator simply needs to gently lower the housing 11 along the outer wall of the main unit 20, and the mounting base 11a will precisely position itself and naturally conform to the outer wall of the main unit 20. This simple operation greatly improves the convenience of assembly and saves assembly time. Moreover, the inlet connector 1121 and outlet connector 1122 are located on the side of the heating pipe 12 closest to the mounting base 11a and extend at least partially beyond it. This layout makes the water circuit connection more intuitive and efficient. Maintenance personnel or operators can easily locate the connectors without strenuous searching, reducing the risk of incorrect water pipe connections due to misoperation and shortening the water circuit assembly time.

[0063] Furthermore, the control component 14 is located on the side of the heating tube 12 facing away from the mounting base 11a. During equipment operation, since the side of the control component 14 closest to the heating tube 12 is relatively far away from the water inlet connector 1121 and the possible water flow environment, the risk of short circuits and component damage caused by water vapor erosion is effectively avoided, ensuring the stable operation of the control component 14, extending its service life, and thus ensuring the reliability of the entire heating control system.

[0064] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments, the housing 11 includes a first housing portion 111 and a second housing portion 112 arranged sequentially along the height direction, and the control member 14 is disposed inside the first housing portion 111. The second housing portion 112 is located below the first housing portion 111, and the water inlet connector 1121, the heating pipe 12, and the water outlet connector 1122 are all disposed in the second housing portion 112. The surface of the second housing portion 112 facing away from the first housing portion 111 is the mounting bottom surface 11a.

[0065] During equipment operation, since the water circuit components are concentrated in the second shell 112, cold water enters through the inlet connector 1121, flows through the heating pipe 12, is heated, and then flows out through the outlet connector 1122, thus confining the entire water circulation path within this area. The control component 14 is securely positioned in the upper first shell 111, with a clear separation between the two. In this way, even if water pipes burst or joints loosen in the second shell 112, the accumulated water below is unlikely to penetrate into the upper first shell 111, effectively preventing direct contact between water and the control component 14. This fundamentally eliminates the risk of short circuits or damage to the control component 14 caused by water leakage, greatly ensuring the safety and stability of equipment operation. During assembly, operators, based on the component layout, first handle the water circuit connections in the lower second shell 112. The mounting bottom surface 11a faces outwards, and the joints are clearly visible, making operation simple. After completion, the control component 14 in the first shell 111 is installed, without interference, improving assembly efficiency. Routine maintenance is equally convenient. When maintenance personnel open the outer casing, they can immediately identify the area where the problem is located. If it involves water circuits, they can find the second casing 112; if it involves control components 14, they can check the first casing 111, simplifying the process.

[0066] Furthermore, the horizontal cross-section of the first housing 111 is larger than that of the second housing 112, and the electrical connector 13 extends at least partially from the surface of the first housing 111 facing the mounting base 11a. Because the horizontal cross-sections of the first housing 111 and the second housing 112 are different, operators can easily distinguish them during assembly and readily identify the approximate installation area of ​​each component, eliminating the need for complex identification and making the installation process more intuitive. The fact that the electrical connector 13, the outlet connector 1122, and the inlet connector 1121 are concentrated on the same side is ingenious. When assembling the equipment, operators do not need to frequently change their operating positions around the equipment; by standing in one position, they can complete the connection work with the external power supply line, inlet pipe, and outlet pipe in one go. With direct vision on this side, each connector can be easily reached for precise alignment, significantly saving assembly time, improving overall efficiency, and reducing assembly errors caused by cumbersome operations. Furthermore, the first housing 111 is relatively spacious, providing ample room for the control component 14. This not only facilitates the installation and debugging of the control component 14 but also creates favorable conditions for its heat dissipation, ensuring that the control component 14 always operates stably. Even if the equipment operates continuously for a long time, the control component 14 can maintain good performance and avoid failures caused by overheating.

[0067] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2Optionally, the heating module 10 also includes a water pump 15, which is located inside the housing 11 and between the water inlet connector 1121 and the heating tube 12. The water pump 15 is electrically connected to the control unit 14. During operation, after the water flow from the main unit 20 enters the water inlet connector 1121, the water pump 15 immediately plays a crucial role. Because the water pump 15 is positioned appropriately between the water inlet connector 1121 and the heating tube 12, it can operate precisely according to the instructions issued by the control unit 14. For example, during peak water usage periods, the power of the water pump 15 can be increased to accelerate the water flow to the heating tube 12, ensuring a sufficient water supply and allowing the heating tube 12 to operate at full capacity and efficiently, quickly producing a large amount of hot water. Furthermore, the electrical connection between the water pump 15 and the control unit 14 enhances the intelligence of the entire water system. The control unit 14 can monitor parameters such as water temperature and water flow in real time. Once it detects that the water temperature has dropped due to a sudden increase in water consumption, it quickly instructs the water pump 15 to adjust its speed to maintain a stable water flow into the heating element 12, ensuring the continuity and stability of hot water supply and avoiding excessive water temperature fluctuations, so that users can always obtain hot water at a suitable temperature. Furthermore, placing the water pump 15 inside the housing 11 not only makes full use of the internal space but also protects it from external impacts, moisture, and other adverse factors, ensuring stable operation.

[0068] In some embodiments, the heating module 10 further includes a first temperature sensing element (not shown), disposed within the water inlet connector 1121 and electrically connected to the control unit 14, for detecting the temperature of the liquid within the water inlet connector 1121. When water from the main unit 20 flows into the water inlet connector 1121, the first temperature sensing element can quickly and accurately detect the liquid temperature and transmit this information to the control unit 14 in real time. If the inlet water temperature is also low, the control unit 14, based on the received temperature information and according to a preset algorithm, drives the heating element 12 to increase its power in advance, or adjusts the water pump 15 to appropriately slow down the water flow rate, thereby ensuring that the subsequent hot water production efficiency is not affected by the low-temperature inlet water.

[0069] Optionally, the heating module 10 also includes a second temperature sensing element (not shown), disposed inside the heating tube 12 and electrically connected to the control unit 14, for detecting the temperature of the liquid inside the heating tube 12. During equipment operation and water use, if fluctuations in water consumption cause a change in the load on the heating tube 12, it immediately sends feedback to the control unit 14. The control unit 14 then precisely adjusts the heating power to ensure that the water temperature always meets the user's set temperature requirements, effectively improving the user's control accuracy over the water temperature.

[0070] Optionally, the heating module 10 also includes a third temperature sensing element (not shown), located inside the water outlet connector 1122 and electrically connected to the control unit 14, for detecting the temperature of the liquid inside the water outlet connector 1122. If a slight deviation in water temperature occurs due to a brief thermal imbalance or turbulent water flow inside the device, it will immediately send a signal to the control unit 14. Upon receiving the signal, the control unit 14 will promptly fine-tune the operating status of the heating element 12 or the water pump 15 to ensure that the hot water temperature received by the user is suitable. It should be noted that the first, second, and third temperature sensing elements can all be NTC (Negative Temperature Coefficient Thermistor). The characteristics of NTC enable it to sensitively capture changes in the inlet water temperature, quickly and accurately detect the liquid temperature, and transmit this information to the control unit 14 in real time, thereby improving detection efficiency.

[0071] Optionally, the heating module 10 also includes a water quality detection element (not shown), disposed within the water outlet connector 1122, for detecting the quality of the liquid within the water outlet connector 1122. This ensures that the user is provided with safe and hygienic liquid. This application embodiment does not specifically limit the type of water quality detection element; exemplarily, the water quality detection element can be an electrochemical sensor, a biosensor, etc. The water quality detection element can be electrically connected to the control unit 14. It is understood that once a water quality parameter deviates from the safety standard, it immediately transmits a signal to the control unit 14. The control unit 14 responds quickly, activating an early warning system, such as an indicator light or alarm, to visually inform the user of the water quality abnormality, reminding them to replace the filter element in time to purify the water, or to contact professional maintenance personnel to troubleshoot and address potential equipment problems.

[0072] In the accompanying drawings of this embodiment, the same or similar reference numerals correspond to the same or similar components. In the description of this application, it should be understood that if terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, they are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, the terms used to describe positional relationships in the accompanying drawings are only for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting this patent. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0073] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A heating module, characterized in that, The heating module is designed for detachable connection with the main unit of a water dispenser and includes: A housing for detachable connection to the outer wall of the main unit, and having an inlet and an outlet connector for communication with the main unit; and A heating element is disposed inside the housing, and the water inlet connector, the heating element, and the water outlet connector are connected. An electrical connector is used to mate with the host to achieve an electrical connection. The housing includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion arranged sequentially along the height direction. The second housing portion is located below the first housing portion. The water inlet connector, the heating pipe, and the water outlet connector are all disposed in the second housing portion. The surface of the second housing portion facing away from the first housing portion is the mounting bottom surface. The mounting bottom surface is used to abut against the outer wall surface of the main unit. The water inlet connector and the water outlet connector are located on the side of the heating pipe near the mounting bottom surface and at least partially extend out of the mounting bottom surface. The horizontal cross-section of the first housing portion is larger than the horizontal cross-section of the second housing portion, and the electrical connector extends at least partially out of the surface of the first housing portion facing the mounting base.

2. The heating module as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: A control component is disposed within the housing and electrically connected to the electrical connector and the heating element for controlling the heating operation of the heating element.

3. The heating module as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The heating module is installed on the main unit from top to bottom.

4. The heating module as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The control element is located on the side of the heating tube opposite to the mounting base.

5. The heating module as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The control component is located inside the first housing portion.

6. The heating module as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The heating module also includes: A water pump is disposed inside the housing and located between the water inlet connector and the heating pipe, and the water pump is electrically connected to the control unit.

7. The heating module as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The heating module also includes A first temperature-sensing element is disposed within the water inlet connector and electrically connected to the control component to detect the temperature of the liquid within the water inlet connector; and / or, A second temperature-sensing element is disposed inside the heating tube and electrically connected to the control element for detecting the temperature of the liquid inside the heating tube; and / or, A third temperature sensing element is disposed inside the water outlet connector and electrically connected to the control component to detect the temperature of the liquid inside the water outlet connector.

8. The heating module as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, Also includes: A water quality detection element is installed inside the water outlet connector to detect the quality of the liquid inside the water outlet connector.

9. The heating module as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The heating element is an instant heating element, and its heating power is not less than 2000 watts.

10. A drinking water device, characterized in that, include: The heating module as described in any one of claims 1 to 9; and The main unit has a water channel structure, the housing is detachably connected to the outer wall of the main unit, and the water channel structure is connected to the water inlet connector and the water outlet connector respectively.

11. The drinking water equipment as described in claim 10, characterized in that, The outer wall of the host includes a top surface and a bottom surface that are arranged opposite each other along the height direction. The top surface is recessed downward to form a groove, and the housing is embedded in the groove from top to bottom.

12. The drinking water equipment as described in claim 11, characterized in that, The waterway structure includes: The inlet and outlet are both located at the bottom of the groove. The inlet is connected to the outlet connector, and the outlet is connected to the inlet connector.

13. The drinking water equipment as described in claim 11, characterized in that, The upper surface of the housing is flush with the top surface of the host computer; And / or, the outer wall surface of the host also includes a front surface and a rear surface disposed opposite to each other in the front-rear direction of the host, the groove extends from the top surface of the host and communicates with the rear surface, and the rear side surface of the housing is flush with the rear surface of the host.

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