Scale collector

Abstract

The scale collector comprises a box body, a water inlet pipeline and a water outlet pipeline, at least parts of the water inlet pipeline and the water outlet pipeline penetrate into the box body, the box body comprises a first cavity and a second cavity which are separated and communicated in the water inlet direction of the water inlet pipeline, and an umbrella-shaped turbulent flow piece is arranged at the bottom of the box body; and the umbrella-shaped spoiler is at least arranged in at least one of the first cavity and the second cavity. Compared with the prior art, the scale collector achieves efficient collection of scale particles in hard water, solves the problems that in the prior art, citric acid cleaning operation is tedious, the corrosion risk exists, and a filter screen is prone to being blocked, remarkably improves the operation efficiency of water equipment and prolongs the service life of the water equipment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a scale collector, belonging to the field of water treatment. Background Technology

[0002] Scale is a deposit formed when calcium and magnesium ions in water are heated. In regions with predominantly basaltic geology (such as the UK), the water hardness is extremely high, causing water-using appliances such as water heaters to easily form large amounts of scale on the heating pipes and inner walls during long-term use, thus affecting the quality of subsequent drinking water.

[0003] Currently, the common method for removing limescale from inside water heaters is chemical cleaning with citric acid solution. This method works by reacting citric acid with calcium carbonate limescale to form soluble citrate, thus achieving the purpose of descaling.

[0004] However, existing citric acid cleaning solutions have significant shortcomings: First, they are cumbersome to operate, requiring shutdown for drainage, liquid injection and soaking, and multiple rinsing, which affects the continuous supply of hot water; second, they pose a risk of corrosion, as improper concentration or time control may damage metal parts; and third, they are a passive treatment that cannot prevent scale from continuously adhering to the core heating components, and scale will accumulate rapidly after cleaning.

[0005] In addition, a filter screen will be added to the water outlet, but the filter screen is easily clogged by limescale and needs to be cleaned frequently, which affects the user experience.

[0006] In view of this, it is indeed necessary to propose a scale collector to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0007] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides a scale collector that can collect scale and ensure the quality of the output water.

[0008] The technical solution of this invention is: A scale collector includes a housing and an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe that at least partially penetrate the housing. The housing includes a first chamber and a second chamber that are separated and connected along the water inlet direction of the inlet pipe. A conical baffle is provided at the bottom of the housing, and the conical baffle is provided in at least one of the first chamber and the second chamber.

[0009] As a further improvement of the present invention, in the vertical direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane, the first chamber and the second chamber are arranged vertically spaced and connected, and the water inlet pipe is located inside the first chamber.

[0010] As a further improvement of the present invention, a partition plate is provided between the first chamber and the second chamber, and the partition plate is recessed from the first chamber toward the second chamber.

[0011] As a further improvement of the present invention, the isolation plate includes a water storage platform parallel to the horizontal direction and a guide wall located on the outer periphery of the water storage platform and inclined and contracting toward the water storage platform, the guide wall being located inside the first chamber.

[0012] As a further improvement of the present invention, the water storage platform is provided with a through hole, the outlet of the water inlet pipe is directly opposite the through hole, and the diameter of the through hole is larger than the diameter of the outlet of the water inlet pipe.

[0013] As a further improvement of the present invention, the water storage platform is also provided with a perforation, and the wall of the second chamber is provided with a through hole. The water outlet pipe passes through the perforation and the through hole, so as to be located inside the first chamber and the second chamber at the same time.

[0014] As a further improvement of the present invention, the inlet end of the water outlet pipe is located inside the first chamber and near the top of the first chamber, and a gap is left between the inlet end of the water outlet pipe and the top of the first chamber.

[0015] As a further improvement of the present invention, a gap is left between the outlet end of the water inlet pipe and the water storage platform, or the outlet end of the water inlet pipe passes through the through hole to enter the interior of the second chamber.

[0016] As a further improvement of the present invention, the partition plate has a baffle surface for enclosing the second chamber, the baffle surface being funnel-shaped and contracting toward the second chamber, and the baffle surface also having an outwardly protruding portion.

[0017] As a further improvement of the present invention, the protrusions are arranged in a stepped manner on the enclosure surface.

[0018] As a further improvement of the present invention, the umbrella-shaped baffle includes a support rod disposed at the bottom of the second chamber and a baffle portion disposed on the support rod, the baffle portion having a conical surface disposed toward the first chamber.

[0019] As a further improvement of the present invention, the first chamber and the second chamber are connected by a through hole, and the conical surface is directly opposite the through hole.

[0020] The beneficial technical effects of this invention are as follows: The scale collector of this invention comprises an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe that at least partially penetrate the interior of the housing. The housing includes a first chamber and a second chamber, separated and connected along the water inlet direction of the inlet pipe. An umbrella-shaped baffle is provided at the bottom of the housing, and the umbrella-shaped baffle is located in at least one of the first and second chambers. Thus, by providing two chambers, secondary sedimentation of the scale-containing water is achieved, and the baffle prevents the deposited scale from being flushed away. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the scale collector according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the combined structure of the first tank and the water inlet pipe.

[0023] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the combined structure of the second chamber and the outlet pipe.

[0024] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 Cross-sectional view.

[0025] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the scale collector that conforms to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 Cross-sectional view. Detailed Implementation

[0027] In order to better understand the technical means of the present invention and to implement it in accordance with the contents of the specification, the specific embodiments of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. The following examples are used to illustrate the present invention, but are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0028] Please see Figures 1 to 4 As shown, the present invention provides a scale collector 100, which is installed before the water outlet of a water-using device to pre-treat the water to be put into use, so as to collect and precipitate particulate matter (scale) formed by calcium and magnesium ions in the water, thereby ensuring the quality of the water outlet.

[0029] The scale collector 100 mainly includes a housing 1, and an inlet pipe 2 and an outlet pipe 3 that at least partially penetrate the interior of the housing 1. The housing 1 provides space for containing water and settling scale. The inlet pipe 2 is used to introduce water to be treated into the housing 1, and the outlet pipe 3 is used to lead the water, which has undergone sedimentation and has reduced scale content, out of the housing 1 and transport it to downstream water-using equipment.

[0030] The interior of the housing 1 includes a first chamber 11 and a second chamber 12, separated along the water inlet direction of the water inlet pipe 2. The first chamber 11 and the second chamber 12 are interconnected, allowing water to flow from the first chamber 11 into the second chamber 12. This separation design extends the water flow path, which helps suspended scale particles in the water to settle under gravity.

[0031] Preferably, in the vertical direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane, the first chamber 11 is located above the second chamber 12, and the two are spaced apart vertically and connected. A portion of the water inlet pipe 2 is located inside the first chamber 11 to inject water into the first chamber 11.

[0032] Optionally, the box 1 is stacked vertically, and the volume of the first box 14 with the first chamber 11 is smaller than the volume of the second box 15 with the second chamber 12.

[0033] Specifically, an umbrella-shaped baffle 4 is provided at the bottom of the housing 1. The umbrella-shaped baffle 4 is provided in at least one of the first chamber 11 and the second chamber 12. In this embodiment, the umbrella-shaped baffle 4 is provided at the bottom of the second chamber 12. When water flows into the housing 1 and flows to the bottom, the umbrella-shaped baffle 4 can buffer and guide the flow. On the one hand, it prevents the water flow from directly impacting the scale that has settled at the bottom, preventing the sediment from being resuspended (i.e., "back-mixing"). On the other hand, it can guide the water flow to spread evenly in all directions, which is conducive to further collision and sedimentation of fine particles.

[0034] In other embodiments, when the first chamber 11 and the second chamber 12 are arranged side by side, the umbrella-shaped baffle 4 can be simultaneously disposed at the bottom of the first chamber 11 and the second chamber 12 to buffer and guide secondary sedimentation.

[0035] This configuration extends the sedimentation path using two chambers and stabilizes the bottom sedimentation layer using the umbrella-shaped baffle 4, thereby significantly improving the collection efficiency of scale particles in hard water and effectively reducing the amount of scale entering the downstream water heater.

[0036] In this embodiment, a partition plate 13 is provided between the first chamber 11 and the second chamber 12. The partition plate 13 is located inside the housing 1 and serves to separate the two chambers. Preferably, the partition plate 13 is recessed from the first chamber 11 toward the second chamber 12, that is, when viewed from above, the middle part of the partition plate 13 is recessed downwards.

[0037] Specifically, the isolation plate 13 includes a water storage platform 131 and a guide wall 132. The water storage platform 131 is generally parallel to the horizontal direction and is used to temporarily support and buffer the incoming water flow. The guide wall 132 is located on the outer periphery of the water storage platform 131 and slopes and tapers towards the water storage platform 131. The guide wall 132 is located inside the first chamber 11, forming a funnel-shaped or bowl-shaped collection structure. This structure allows water falling from above to be guided by the guide wall 132 and converge towards the central water storage platform 131.

[0038] The water storage platform 131 is provided with a through hole 133, which serves as the main communication channel between the first chamber 11 and the second chamber 12. The outlet (i.e., the final outlet of the water flow) of the water inlet pipe 2 is positioned directly opposite the through hole 133, allowing water flowing from the water inlet pipe 2 to directly flow into the area of ​​the through hole 133. To ensure smooth water flow and avoid blockage, the diameter of the through hole 133 is larger than the diameter of the outlet of the water inlet pipe 2. Furthermore, when water flows through the through hole 133 into the second chamber 12, which is already filled with water, the clean water at the top can be forced into the first chamber 11 through the larger diameter through hole 133.

[0039] The water storage platform 131 is also provided with perforations. Correspondingly, the wall of the second chamber 12 is provided with a through hole 121. The water outlet pipe 3 passes through both the perforation and the through hole 121, so that the water outlet pipe 3 can be located inside both the first chamber 11 and the second chamber 12 at the same time. This arrangement allows the water inlet of the water outlet pipe 3 to be set in the first chamber 11 at a higher position to draw in the clearer water from the upper layer, while the pipe body of the water outlet pipe 3 passes through the second chamber 12 and leads out of the tank body 1, resulting in a compact structure.

[0040] The inlet of the water outlet pipe 3 is located inside the first chamber 11 and near the top of the first chamber 11. Furthermore, a gap is left between the inlet of the water outlet pipe 3 and the top of the first chamber 11 to prevent scum or foam from being sucked in due to excessive water level or siphon effect. This design ensures that the water drawn from the scale collector 100 is clear water with settled scale.

[0041] Optionally, a gap may be left between the outlet end of the water inlet pipe 2 and the water storage platform 131. That is, the water inlet pipe 2 is suspended a certain distance above the water storage platform 131, and the water flow falls from a height, impacting the water storage platform 131, which helps the gas in the water flow to be released and the initial sedimentation of particulate matter.

[0042] In other embodiments, the outlet end of the inlet pipe 2 passes through the through hole 133 and directly enters the interior of the second chamber 12. This design is suitable for special working conditions where it is desirable to directly introduce inlet water into the lower chamber for bottom sedimentation.

[0043] In this embodiment, the partition plate 13 further has a baffle surface 134 for enclosing the second chamber 12. The baffle surface 134 is a portion extending downward from the edge of the partition plate 13, defining the upper space of the second chamber 12. Preferably, the baffle surface 134 is funnel-shaped, tapering towards the second chamber 12, i.e., gradually narrowing inward from top to bottom. This shape can guide the water flowing down from the through-hole 133 to flow more concentratedly towards the center of the second chamber 12, increasing the flow rate and turbulence of the water.

[0044] Furthermore, the enclosure surface 134 is provided with outwardly protruding portions 135. The protruding portions 135 can disrupt the laminar flow of the water, generating local eddies, promoting the collision and aggregation of fine particles in the water, thereby accelerating sedimentation. As a preferred structure, the protruding portions 135 are arranged in a stepped pattern on the enclosure surface 134, that is, multiple protruding portions 135 are spaced apart along the circumference or longitudinal direction of the enclosure surface 134, forming a stepped structure to continuously change the direction of water flow and optimize the turbulence effect.

[0045] Of course, in other embodiments, the protrusion 135 may not be a stepped arrangement, but may be a collision object of other shapes, as long as it can be superior to settlement.

[0046] In this embodiment, the umbrella-shaped spoiler 40 includes a support rod 41 and a spoiler portion 42. The support rod 41 is disposed at the bottom of the second chamber 12, serving a fixing and supporting function. The spoiler portion 42 is disposed at the top end of the support rod 41, and the spoiler portion 42 has a conical surface 421 facing the first chamber 11. The conical surface 421 can be a smooth conical surface or a curved surface with microstructures.

[0047] The conical surface 421 is directly opposite the through hole 133 connecting the first chamber 11 and the second chamber 12. Water flowing down from the through hole 133 directly impacts the conical surface 421. The conical surface 421 evenly disperses the vertically falling impact water flow in all directions, greatly slowing down the water flow velocity and preventing direct erosion of the sediment layer at the bottom of the second chamber 12. At the same time, the slow diffusion of water along the conical surface 421 also provides good settling conditions for suspended particles in the water.

[0048] Preferably, the area of ​​the conical surface 421 can be enlarged as much as possible to be larger than the diameter of the through hole 133, so that the water flow can be diffused further. The distance between the support rod 41 and the bottom of the second chamber 12 is used for the accumulation of deposited material. In this embodiment, hard water containing scale particles enters the scale collector 100 from the inlet pipe 2. It first enters the first chamber 11, where the water flow impacts the water storage platform 131 or falls directly through the through-hole 133. During this process, some large scale particles initially settle under gravity. Subsequently, the water flows through the through-hole 133 into the second chamber 12. As it falls through the through-hole 133, the water impacts the conical surface 421 of the umbrella-shaped flow deflector 4 below, where it is evenly dispersed and its flow rate is slowed, before slowly spreading outwards. In the second chamber 12, the water flow path is longer, and due to the turbulence from the enclosure surface 135 and the protrusion 136, small particles have ample time to collide, aggregate, and settle to the bottom. Finally, the clarified water is drawn in from the inlet end of the outlet pipe 3 near the top of the first chamber 11, flows out of the scale collector 100 through the outlet pipe 3, and is supplied downstream.

[0049] Optionally, in this embodiment, the scale collector 100 can be a disposable product to ensure sealing. In other embodiments, a drain port at the bottom of the housing 1 can be provided to easily drain the deposited scale, allowing for reuse.

[0050] Please see Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, optionally, the scale collector 100 may include a third housing 16 independent of the first housing 14 and the second housing 15. The third housing 16 contains a third cavity 17 that communicates with the first cavity 11 of the first housing 14, and the water outlet pipe 3 is partially disposed within the third cavity 17. That is, the third housing 16 and the third cavity 17 serve as separate water outlet components, avoiding the inlet pipe 2 and the outlet pipe 3 being too concentrated. In this case, the height of the first housing 14 is much smaller than that of the second housing 15, so that after being combined with the second housing 15, it remains approximately at the height of the second housing 15, ensuring its aesthetic appeal. The first cavity 11 expands its volume through the recess of the partition plate 13 and guides it to the third cavity 17.

[0051] In summary, the scale collector of the present invention, by setting up a first chamber 11 and a second chamber 12 distributed vertically, combined with a unique isolation plate 13 structure and an umbrella-shaped baffle 4 at the bottom, effectively achieves efficient collection of scale particles in hard water, solves the problems of cumbersome citric acid cleaning operation, corrosion risk and easy clogging of filter screen in the prior art, and significantly improves the operating efficiency and life of water-using equipment.

[0052] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the technical principles of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A scale collector, characterized in that, The device includes a housing and an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe that at least partially penetrate the housing. The housing includes a first chamber and a second chamber that are separated and connected along the water inlet direction of the inlet pipe. The bottom of the housing is provided with an umbrella-shaped baffle, and the umbrella-shaped baffle is provided in at least one of the first chamber and the second chamber.

2. The scale collector according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the vertical direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane, the first chamber and the second chamber are arranged vertically spaced and connected, and the water inlet pipe is located inside the first chamber.

3. The scale collector according to claim 2, characterized in that, A partition plate is provided between the first chamber and the second chamber, and the partition plate is recessed from the first chamber toward the second chamber.

4. The scale collector according to claim 3, characterized in that, The isolation plate includes a water storage platform parallel to the horizontal direction and a guide wall located on the outer periphery of the water storage platform and inclined and tapering towards the water storage platform, the guide wall being located inside the first chamber.

5. The scale collector according to claim 4, characterized in that, The water storage platform is provided with a through hole, the outlet of the water inlet pipe is directly opposite the through hole, and the diameter of the through hole is larger than the diameter of the outlet of the water inlet pipe.

6. The scale collector according to claim 5, characterized in that, The water storage platform is also provided with a perforation, and the wall of the second chamber is provided with a through hole. The water outlet pipe passes through the perforation and the through hole, so as to be located inside the first chamber and the second chamber at the same time.

7. The scale collector according to claim 6, characterized in that, The inlet end of the water outlet pipe is located inside the first chamber and near the top of the first chamber, with a gap between the inlet end of the water outlet pipe and the top of the first chamber.

8. The scale collector according to claim 5, characterized in that, There is a gap between the outlet end of the water inlet pipe and the water storage platform, or the outlet end of the water inlet pipe passes through the through hole to enter the second chamber.

9. The scale collector according to claim 3, characterized in that, The partition plate has a baffle surface for enclosing the second chamber, the baffle surface being funnel-shaped and contracting toward the second chamber, and the baffle surface also having an outwardly protruding portion.

10. The scale collector according to claim 9, characterized in that, The protrusions are arranged in a stepped pattern on the enclosure surface.

11. The scale collector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The umbrella-shaped baffle includes a support rod disposed at the bottom of the second chamber and a baffle portion disposed on the support rod, the baffle portion having a conical surface facing the first chamber.

12. The scale collector according to claim 11, characterized in that, The first chamber and the second chamber are connected by a through hole, and the conical surface is directly opposite the through hole.

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