Water heater inner cylinder end access hole structure and sealing method thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses a water heater inner barrel end access hole structure and a sealing method thereof.The method is applied to a barrel-shaped inner and outer container structure water heater, an inner container comprises an inner container barrel body and an end socket arranged at the end of the inner container barrel body, and an access hole opening coaxial with the axial center line of the inner container is formed in the end socket located at one end of an access hole; the opening of the access hole is formed through die profiling, and the edge of the access hole extends inwards to form an annular flat sealing surface; a sealing ring is arranged on the annular flat sealing face, the outer side of the sealing ring is compressed in the axial direction of the inner container through a flange and a bolt assembly, and the flange is fixedly connected to a flange base welded to the end socket, so that the sealing ring achieves pressure-bearing sealing of the access opening in the axial compression state. Meanwhile, the outer cover with a step type profiling structure is arranged at the end part of the outer container and is matched with the annular foaming sponge strip and the blister outer cover for sealing, so that the outer side of the access hole is protected and sealed, and the sealing reliability and the structural stability of the access hole are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of water heater manufacturing technology, and more specifically, to a structure for an inspection port at the end of the inner cylinder of a water heater and its sealing method. Background Technology

[0002] Existing water heaters typically employ a cylindrical inner tank structure. To facilitate inspection and maintenance of internal components, an access port is usually provided on the tank. These access ports are mostly located on the side wall of the tank, and the corresponding sealing structures are designed primarily around the side wall openings. The stress path, sealing method, and assembly form of this type of access port structure are all adapted to the curved shape of the tank's side wall. However, when the access port is located at the end of the tank, its structural conditions and stress environment differ fundamentally from those of a side wall access port. Therefore, the existing structural design and sealing methods of side wall access ports are difficult to directly apply to the end of the tank.

[0003] Specifically, the end of the cylinder is usually connected to the cylinder body via an end cap. The end cap itself is a pressure-bearing structure, and its shape is mostly dome-shaped. If an inspection port is set on the end cap, it is necessary not only to create an opening in this critical pressure-bearing part of the end cap, but also to consider the overall stress of the end cap, the sealing reliability of the inspection port, and the feasibility of assembly and maintenance. In the existing technology, there are few dedicated structures for setting inspection ports at the end of the cylinder. Some solutions still follow the sealing concept of side wall inspection ports, which creates an unreasonable stress path on the end end cap of the flange or sealing structure. This can easily lead to uneven sealing stress and structural stress concentration, thereby affecting the pressure-bearing capacity and long-term reliability of the inner liner end. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a structure for the inspection port at the end of the inner cylinder of a water heater and a sealing method thereof, so as to solve the above-mentioned problems existing in the prior art.

[0005] The application is as follows: A structure for an inspection port at the end of the inner tank of a water heater and its sealing method are disclosed. The water heater includes an inner tank and an outer tank disposed on the outside of the inner tank. The inner tank includes an inner tank body and a dome-shaped end cap disposed at the end of the inner tank body. The end cap is dome-shaped and is sealed to the inner tank body. The end cap located at one end of the inspection port is provided with an inspection port opening coaxial with the axial center line of the inner liner. The inspection port opening is formed by pressing with a special mold. The edge of the inspection port of the end cap extends inward horizontally after being pressed to form a flat annular sealing surface. A sealing ring is provided on the annular flat sealing surface; A flange is provided on the outside of the sealing ring, and the flange applies a clamping force to the sealing ring along the axial direction of the inner liner through a bolt assembly; The flange is fixedly connected to the flange seat provided on the end cap, and the flange seat is welded and fixed to the end cap; By pressing the sealing ring axially with the flange, an axial pressure seal is formed on the annular flat sealing surface, thereby achieving a reliable seal at the inspection port.

[0006] Furthermore, the sealing ring is an integral annular structure with an "I"-shaped cross-section. The internal grooves precisely fit into the annular flat sealing surface, and the sealing method is axial compression sealing. The force direction of the sealing ring is consistent with the axial direction of the inner liner.

[0007] Furthermore, the inspection port opening and its annular flat sealing surface of the end cap are integrally formed by a special mold forming process.

[0008] Furthermore, the flange seat is an annular structure and is fixed to the end cap by welding, which is used to bear the axial clamping force of the flange and transmit the clamping force to the end cap.

[0009] Furthermore, the outer liner includes an outer liner body and an outer cover disposed at the end of the outer liner body, and the outer cover at one end of the inspection port is provided with an outer cover opening coaxial with the inspection port.

[0010] Furthermore, the edge of the outer cover opening forms a stepped molding structure upwards, which serves to waterproof and guide water flow in the inspection port area.

[0011] Furthermore, an annular foamed sponge strip is provided on the outer periphery of the flange. The foamed sponge strip is used to fill the gap between the flange and the outer cover. It is fixedly connected to the outer cover by a flat-head riveting nut, which serves to provide waterproofing, dustproofing and cushioning.

[0012] Furthermore, a blister-formed outer cover seal is provided on the outer side of the outer cover opening. The blister-formed outer cover seal is connected to the flat-head riveting nut by screws, thereby achieving the closure of the outer liner end.

[0013] Furthermore, the sealing method includes the following steps: The groove of the "I"-shaped sealing ring is fitted into the annular flat sealing surface extending from the inspection port opening of the end cap. The sealing ring is pressed axially along the inner liner by the flange, so that the sealing ring forms an axial pressure state on the annular flat sealing surface of the end cap, thereby achieving pressure sealing at the inspection port. At the same time, the stepped molding structure of the outer cover and the foam sponge strip provide protective sealing to the outside of the inspection port.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the embodiments of the present invention achieve the following beneficial effects: This invention utilizes a specialized mold forming process to create a flat, annular sealing surface on the end cap of the inner liner. A flange is then used to press the sealing ring axially along the inner liner, achieving a seal through axial pressure. The force direction aligns with the main load-bearing direction of the inner liner, resulting in a stable and controllable seal. Furthermore, the flange's clamping force is transmitted to the end cap via the flange seat, making the stress distribution in the access area more rational, reducing localized stress concentration, and improving the structural safety of the inner liner under long-term pressure conditions. Because the sealing ring is pressed on a continuous, flat, annular sealing surface, it avoids the uneven stress distribution problems caused by curved surface contact or localized contact, resulting in more uniform stress distribution across the circumference of the sealing ring, thus improving the long-term reliability of the access seal. Simultaneously, this invention functionally separates the pressure-bearing seal at the inner liner end from the waterproof and dustproof protective structure at the outer liner end. The inner liner side primarily undertakes the pressure sealing function, while the outer liner side mainly serves as a protective and flow-guiding mechanism, effectively preventing interference between different functions and enhancing the overall structural stability. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the water heater cylinder provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the water heater cylinder provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the sealing structure at the inspection port provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the upper outer cover provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the upper end cap structure provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Among them: 1-inner liner body, 2-upper end cap, 3-lower end cap, 4-annular flat sealing surface, 5-sealing ring, 6-flange, 7-flange seat, 8-bolt assembly, 9-outer liner body, 10-upper outer cover, 11-lower outer cover, 12-stepped molding structure, 13-foamed sponge strip, 14-blister outer cover. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] Example 1

[0019] Please refer to Figure 1-5 In one specific embodiment, the water heater of the present invention includes an inner tank and an outer tank structure disposed on the outside of the inner tank.

[0020] like Figure 2 As shown, the inner liner is a pressure-bearing component, including an inner liner body 1 and an upper end cap 2 and a lower end cap 3 respectively disposed at both axial ends of the inner liner body 1.

[0021] The upper and lower end caps 3 are generally dome-shaped structures, and their outer edges are fixedly connected to the inner cylinder body 1 to form a closed pressure-bearing cavity.

[0022] The upper end cap 2, located at one end of the inspection port, has an inspection port opening at its center, which is coaxial with the axial centerline of the inner liner. The inspection port opening is formed using a special mold pressing process to ensure stable opening edge dimensions and high forming accuracy.

[0023] like Figure 3 and Figure 5 As shown, at the edge of the access opening, the material of the upper end cap 2 is formed by molding to extend inward horizontally to create an annular flat sealing surface 4. The sealing surface is a continuous ring shape and serves as the reference contact surface for sealing the access opening.

[0024] A sealing ring 5 is placed on the annular flat sealing surface 4 and is continuously distributed around the inspection port.

[0025] A flange 6 is provided on the outside of the sealing ring 5. The flange 6 is connected to the flange seat 7 by a plurality of bolt assemblies 8 distributed circumferentially, thereby applying a clamping force to the sealing ring 5 along the axial direction of the inner liner.

[0026] The flange seat 7 is a fixed structure, which is welded onto the upper end cap 2 to bear and transmit the axial clamping force applied by the flange 6. Through the above structural cooperation, the sealing ring 5 is axially compressed on the annular flat sealing surface 4, thereby achieving a reliable pressure-bearing seal at the inspection port.

[0027] Based on the above embodiments, the sealing ring 5 is an integral annular structure in the shape of an "I". Its internal groove fits into the annular flat sealing surface 4 extending from the inspection port opening of the upper end cap 2. Its material can be an elastic material that is resistant to high temperature and aging.

[0028] In the installed state, the force direction of the sealing ring 5 is consistent with the axial direction of the inner liner. The preload applied by the flange 6 through the bolt assembly 8 acts on the sealing ring 5 axially, causing the sealing ring 5 to undergo axial compression deformation, thereby forming a stable sealing contact on the annular flat sealing surface 4.

[0029] Since this sealing method does not rely on radial or curved surface bonding, it can effectively avoid uneven sealing caused by changes in structural curvature.

[0030] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the inspection port opening of the upper end cap 2 and its annular flat sealing surface 4 are integrally formed by a special mold pressing process.

[0031] The annular flat sealing surface 4 formed by the mold pressing method has high flatness and dimensional consistency, which is conducive to the uniform force on the sealing ring 5 in the circumferential range, thereby further improving the reliability of the inspection port seal.

[0032] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the flange seat 7 is an annular structure and is fixed to the upper end cap 2 by welding, which is used to bear the axial clamping force of the flange 6 and transmit the clamping force to the upper end cap 2.

[0033] The flange seat 7 is fixed to the upper head 2 by welding. The welding area is located in the non-sealing area of ​​the upper head 2, thereby avoiding the influence of welding heat on the sealing surface. The flange seat 7 is used to evenly transfer the axial clamping force generated by the flange 6 to the upper head 2, so that the upper head 2 maintains a stable structural state during the stress process.

[0034] Furthermore, such as Figure 1 As shown, in this embodiment, the outer liner includes an outer liner body 9 and an upper outer cover 10 and a lower outer cover 11 disposed at the end of the outer liner body 9. The upper outer cover 10 located at one end of the inspection port is provided with an outer cover opening coaxial with the inspection port, so that the inspection port structure can be installed and removed from the end of the outer liner.

[0035] Furthermore, such as Figure 4 As shown, in this embodiment, the edge of the opening of the upper outer cover 10 forms a stepped molding structure 12. The stepped molding structure 12 forms a height difference at the end of the outer liner, making it difficult for external water to enter the inspection port area along the opening direction of the upper outer cover 10, thereby playing a role in waterproofing and guiding the inspection port area.

[0036] Furthermore, such as Figure 3 As shown, in this embodiment, an annular foamed sponge strip 13 is provided on the outer periphery of the flange 6. The foamed sponge strip 13 is used to fill the gap between the flange 6 and the upper outer cover 10, forming a flexible buffer layer at the end of the outer liner. It is fixedly connected to the outer cover by a flat-head riveting nut. The flat-head riveting nut is set on the upper outer cover 10 so that the foamed sponge strip 13 can be reliably positioned and facilitates subsequent assembly and disassembly, thus playing a role in waterproofing, dustproofing and buffering.

[0037] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a blister outer cover 14 is provided on the outside of the opening of the upper outer cover 10. The blister outer cover 14 is connected to the flat-head riveting nut by screws, thereby fixing the blister outer cover 14, the foam sponge strip 13 and the upper outer cover 10 into one piece, so that the end of the outer liner forms a complete closed structure, improving the overall protective performance and appearance consistency.

[0038] Based on the above structure, the sealing method of the present invention specifically includes: The groove of the "I"-shaped sealing ring 5 is fitted into the annular flat sealing surface 4 extending from the inspection port opening of the upper end cap 2. The sealing ring 5 is pressed axially along the inner liner by the flange 6 and bolt assembly 8, so that the sealing ring 5 forms an axially compressed state on the annular flat sealing surface 4 of the upper end cap 2, thereby achieving pressure sealing at the inspection port. At the same time, the stepped molding structure 12 of the upper outer cover 10 and the foamed sponge strip 13 provide protective sealing for the outside of the inspection port, thereby improving the waterproof, dustproof and structural stability of the inspection port area while ensuring the reliability of the pressure sealing.

[0039] Numerous specific details are set forth in the specification provided herein. However, it will be understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known methods, structures, and techniques have not been shown in detail so as not to obscure the understanding of this specification.

[0040] Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that although some embodiments herein include certain features included in other embodiments but not others, combinations of features from different embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the invention and form different embodiments. Any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

Claims

1. A structure for an inspection port at the end of the inner cylinder of a water heater and its sealing method, characterized in that, The water heater includes an inner tank and an outer tank located outside the inner tank. The inner tank includes an inner tank body and a cap located at the end of the inner tank body. The cap has a dome-shaped structure and is sealed to the inner tank body. The end cap located at one end of the inspection port is provided with an inspection port opening coaxial with the axial center line of the inner liner. The inspection port opening is formed by pressing with a special mold. The edge of the inspection port of the end cap extends inward horizontally after being pressed to form a flat annular sealing surface. A sealing ring is provided on the annular flat sealing surface; A flange is provided on the outside of the sealing ring, and the flange applies a clamping force to the sealing ring along the axial direction of the inner liner through a bolt assembly; The flange is fixedly connected to the flange seat provided on the end cap, and the flange seat is welded and fixed to the end cap; By pressing the sealing ring axially with the flange, an axial pressure seal is formed on the annular flat sealing surface, thereby achieving a reliable seal at the inspection port.

2. The structure and sealing method of the inspection port at the end of the inner cylinder of a water heater according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sealing ring is an integral annular structure with an "I"-shaped cross-section. The internal grooves precisely fit into the annular flat sealing surface. The sealing method is axial compression sealing, and the force direction of the sealing ring is consistent with the axial direction of the inner liner.

3. The structure and sealing method of the inspection port at the end of the inner cylinder of a water heater according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inspection port opening and its annular flat sealing surface of the end cap are integrally formed by a special mold pressing process.

4. The structure and sealing method of the inspection port at the end of the inner cylinder of a water heater according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flange seat is a ring structure and is fixed to the end cap by welding. It is used to bear the axial clamping force of the flange and transmit the clamping force to the end cap.

5. The structure and sealing method of the inspection port at the end of the inner cylinder of a water heater according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer liner includes an outer liner body and an outer cover located at the end of the outer liner body. The outer cover located at the inspection port end has an outer cover opening that is coaxial with the inspection port.

6. The structure and sealing method of the inspection port at the end of the inner cylinder of a water heater according to claim 5, characterized in that, The edge of the outer cover opening forms a stepped molding structure, which serves to waterproof and guide water flow in the inspection port area.

7. A water heater inner cylinder end inspection port structure and its sealing method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, An annular foam strip is provided on the outer periphery of the flange. The foam strip is used to fill the gap between the flange and the outer cover. It is fixedly connected to the outer cover by a flat-head riveting nut, which serves to provide waterproofing, dustproofing and cushioning.

8. The structure and sealing method of the inspection port at the end of the inner cylinder of a water heater according to claim 5, characterized in that, The outer side of the outer cover opening is provided with a blister outer cover seal, which is connected to the flat-head riveting nut by screws, thereby achieving the closure of the outer liner end.

9. The structure and sealing method of the inspection port at the end of the inner cylinder of a water heater according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sealing method includes the following steps: The groove of the "I"-shaped sealing ring is fitted into the annular flat sealing surface extending from the inspection port opening of the end cap. The sealing ring is pressed axially along the inner liner by the flange, so that the sealing ring forms an axial pressure state on the annular flat sealing surface of the end cap, thereby achieving pressure sealing at the inspection port. At the same time, the stepped molding structure of the outer cover and the foam sponge strip provide protective sealing for the outside of the inspection port.

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