Water supply structure and electric appliance

Abstract

The application relates to a water supply structure and an electric appliance. The water supply structure comprises a main shell having a containing cavity and a locking groove communicating with the containing cavity; and a water tank comprising a tank body which is detachably installed in the containing cavity, and a locking piece which is movably installed in the tank body and can be reciprocally moved between a locking position and an unlocking position under control. When the locking piece is in the locking position, the locking piece is inserted into the locking groove; and when the locking piece is in the unlocking position, the locking piece is separated from the locking groove. The water tank realizes locking and unlocking of the water tank through reciprocating movement of the locking piece. An operator only needs to move the locking piece to realize disassembly and assembly of the water tank, so that the disassembly and assembly mode of the water tank is simplified, and the use experience of a cooling fan provided with the water tank is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of humidification equipment technology, and in particular to a water supply structure and electrical equipment. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of technology and the improvement of living standards, people's requirements for the comfort of their living environment are also gradually increasing. As an evaporative cooling device that falls between a fan and an air conditioner, evaporative air coolers are widely used in people's production and daily life, effectively improving their living and working environments. An evaporative air cooler typically includes a water tank, a water pump, an evaporator, and a fan. The water pump draws water from the tank and distributes it to the evaporator to form a water film. External airflow is drawn in at high speed by the fan, causing the water on the water film to rapidly evaporate from a liquid state to a gaseous state, absorbing heat from the airflow. The cool air is then delivered at high speed through the air vents, achieving the cooling function.

[0003] In existing evaporative air coolers, the water tank is usually designed as either fixed or detachable. Fixed water tanks require the entire device to be flipped or washed when adding water, cleaning, and maintaining it, which is not only cumbersome but also prone to causing water to overflow. Detachable water tanks are more complicated to disassemble, which affects the operator's experience. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a water supply structure and electrical equipment to address the issue of the complex disassembly and assembly of water tanks.

[0005] A water supply structure, comprising:

[0006] The main housing has a receiving cavity and a locking groove communicating with the receiving cavity;

[0007] Water tank, including:

[0008] The housing is detachably installed within the receiving cavity;

[0009] A locking element is movably mounted on the housing, and the locking element can be controllably reciprocated between a locked position and an unlocked position;

[0010] When the locking member is in the locked position, it is inserted into the locking slot; when the locking member is in the unlocked position, it is disengaged from the locking slot.

[0011] In one embodiment, the housing has a guide groove, and the locking member is received within the guide groove and reciprocates along the guide groove.

[0012] In one embodiment, the housing is provided with a support wall, and when the locking member moves from the locked position to the unlocked position, the locking member abuts against the support wall.

[0013] In one embodiment, the housing is further provided with a limiting wall, and when the locking component moves from the unlocked position to the locked position, the locking member abuts against the limiting wall.

[0014] In one embodiment, the water tank further includes a reset member located between the locking member and the tank body. The reset member can undergo recoverable deformation under external force to apply a force to the locking member, causing it to move from the unlocked position to the locked position.

[0015] In one embodiment, a fixing post protrudes from one of the locking member and the housing, and a limiting groove is formed on the other of the locking member and the housing. One end of the reset member is sleeved on the fixing post, and the other end of the reset member is limited in the limiting groove.

[0016] In one embodiment, the fixing post has a protruding support post. When the locking member moves from the unlocking position to the locking position, the support post supports and abuts against the locking member or the housing with the limiting groove.

[0017] In one embodiment, the reset element is sleeved outside the support column.

[0018] An electrical appliance comprising the aforementioned water supply structure.

[0019] In one embodiment, the electrical device is a cooling fan.

[0020] The water tank is locked and unlocked by the reciprocating movement of the locking mechanism. The operator only needs to move the locking mechanism to disassemble and assemble the water tank, thereby simplifying the disassembly and assembly process and improving the user experience of the cooling fan equipped with the water tank. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this application, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. The illustrative embodiments of the invention and their descriptions are used to explain the invention and do not constitute an improper limitation of the invention.

[0022] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a water supply structure according to an embodiment of this application.

[0024] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a water supply structure according to an embodiment of this application.

[0025] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the water tank in an embodiment of the water supply structure of this application.

[0026] Figure 4 for Figure 2 A magnified view of part A of the water supply structure shown.

[0027] Figure 5 This is a partially enlarged view of a water supply structure according to an embodiment of this application.

[0028] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0029] 100. Water supply structure; 10. Main shell; 10a. Locking groove; 30. Water tank; 32. Box body; 321. Main box body; 3212. Box body; 3214. Top cover; 3216. Sealing cover; 3218. Mounting part; 3218a. Limiting groove; 323. Decorative cover; 323a. Connecting port; 323b. Handle groove; 3232. Support wall; 3234. Guide wall; 3236. Limiting wall; 34. Locking element; 341. Locking part; 3412. Buckle; 343. Pressing part; 3432. Pressing top wall; 3434. Pressing side wall; 3436. Fixing column; 3438. Supporting column; 345. Handle part; 345a. Handle groove; 36. Reset part; 200. Wet curtain assembly. Detailed Implementation

[0030] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of this application. However, this application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this application. Therefore, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0031] In the description of this application, it should be understood that if terms such as "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" appear, these terms indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and 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, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0032] Furthermore, where the terms "first" and "second" appear, these terms are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, where the term "multiple" appears, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0033] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0034] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the use of descriptions such as "above" or "below" the second feature indicates that the first and second features are in direct contact or indirect contact via an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. Similarly, "below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0035] It should be noted that if an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. If an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. If so, the terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this application are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0036] See Figure 1This application provides an electrical device equipped with a water supply structure 100. The structure of the water supply structure 100 in this application will be described below using a cooling fan as an example. This embodiment is only used as an example and does not limit the technical scope of this application. It is understood that in other embodiments, the electrical device may also be other devices equipped with the water supply structure 100, such as humidifiers, air purifiers, etc., and is not limited here.

[0037] The evaporative air cooler includes a water supply structure 100 and an air outlet structure. The air outlet structure is installed at one end of the water supply structure 100 and includes an air duct assembly and a wet curtain assembly 200. The wet curtain assembly 200 and the water supply structure 100 are connected by a pipe. Thus, the air duct assembly generates a directional airflow, and water from the water supply structure 100 enters the wet curtain assembly 200 and evaporates on it, absorbing heat and humidifying and cooling the airflow passing through the wet curtain assembly 200.

[0038] In the following embodiments, the height direction of the water supply structure 100 is defined as the first direction (i.e., Figure 1 In the Z direction), the width direction of the water supply structure 100 is defined as the second direction (i.e., Figure 1 In the X direction), the first direction and the second direction intersect. In a preferred embodiment, the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other.

[0039] Please see Figures 3 to 5 As shown, the water supply structure 100 includes a main housing 10 and a water tank 30, with the water tank 30 detachably mounted on the main housing 10. Specifically, in one embodiment, the main housing 10 has a receiving cavity extending along a first direction, with an opening on one side in a second direction. The water tank 30 is rotatably mounted in the receiving cavity about a support point at the bottom of the receiving cavity as its rotation axis. Furthermore, the main housing 10 also has a locking groove 10a, located at the top of the receiving cavity and communicating with it. The water tank 30 is locked relative to the main housing 10 through the locking groove 10a to prevent the water tank 30 from detaching from the receiving cavity.

[0040] The water tank 30 includes a tank body 32 and a locking element 34. The tank body 32 is detachably installed within a receiving cavity, and the locking element 34 is movably installed on the tank body 32. The locking element 34 can be controllably moved back and forth between a locked position and an unlocked position. Figure 5 As shown, when the locking member 34 is in the locked position, the locking member 34 is inserted into the locking groove 10a, thus fixing the water tank 30 relative to the receiving cavity. Figure 4 As shown, when the locking member 34 is in the unlocked position, the locking member 34 disengages from the locking groove 10a, so the water tank 30 can be disengaged from the receiving cavity.

[0041] Thus, the water tank 30 is locked and unlocked by the reciprocating movement of the locking member 34. The operator only needs to move the locking member 34 to disassemble and assemble the water tank 30, thereby simplifying the disassembly and assembly of the water tank 30 and improving the user experience of the cooling fan equipped with the water tank 30.

[0042] Please continue reading. Figure 4 and Figure 5 The housing 32 includes a main housing 321 and a decorative cover 323. The main housing 321 has a hollow shell structure extending in a first direction and has a water storage cavity for storing water. The decorative cover 323 is an elongated panel extending in the first direction, which is detachably installed on one side of the main housing 321 in a second direction and exposes the receiving cavity.

[0043] Furthermore, the main housing 321 includes a housing body 3212, a top cover 3214, and a sealing cover 3216. The housing body 3212 is a hollow elongated cylindrical structure with one open end. The length of the housing body 3212 extends along a first direction, and the open end of the housing body 3212 faces the end of the receiving cavity where a locking groove 10a is provided. The top cover 3214 is a hollow cylindrical structure with one open end. The open end of the top cover 3214 is connected to the open end of the housing body 3212 by welding or other means. The housing body 3212 and the top cover 3214 together form a water storage cavity for storing water. The top cover 3214 also has a water inlet communicating with the water storage cavity on the side away from the decorative cover 323 in a second direction. The sealing cover 3216 is detachably installed at the water inlet to close the water storage cavity. Since the top cover 3214 and the housing body 3212 are formed separately and then connected to each other by welding or other means, the manufacturing process is simplified and the production difficulty is reduced compared to the one-piece molding method.

[0044] Furthermore, the upper cover 3214 includes an upper cover body and an upper cover connecting portion connected to one end of the upper cover body. The upper cover connecting portion is connected to the open end of the box body 3212 by welding or other means. The upper cover connecting portion is eccentrically positioned relative to the upper cover connecting portion in the second direction away from the decorative cover 323. A guide groove for installing the locking member 34 is formed between the upper cover connecting portion and the decorative cover 323. Therefore, the locking member 34 can be accommodated in the guide groove and reciprocate along the first direction.

[0045] The decorative cover 323 extends from one end of the main housing 321 to the other end of the main housing 321 along the first direction. The main housing 321 and the decorative cover 323 are connected to each other by means of snap-fit ​​connection, etc. The decorative cover 323 has a communication port 323a at one end near the locking groove 10a of the main housing 10, and the locking member 34 is exposed through the communication port 323a.

[0046] Furthermore, the decorative cover 323 is also provided with a handle groove 323b, which is spaced apart in the first direction on the side of the communication opening 323a away from the locking groove 10a. Since the handle groove 323b is provided on the decorative cover 323 rather than the main body 321, the user can lift the entire water tank 30 through the handle groove 323b, effectively preventing the upper cover 3214 of the main body 321 from being subjected to force and avoiding water leakage due to breakage at the weld between the tank body 3212 and the upper cover 3214.

[0047] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the top wall of the handle groove 323b near the connecting opening 323a forms a support wall 3232 for supporting the locking member 34. The portion of the decorative cover 323 located between the handle groove 323b and the connecting opening 323a forms a guide wall 3234 for covering and limiting the locking member 34. The end of the decorative cover 323 near the locking groove 10a also has a limiting wall 3236 for limiting the locking member 34. It is understood that the limiting method of the locking member 34 is not limited to this; the wall surface for limiting the locking member 34 can be located at different positions on the decorative cover 323 to meet different limiting requirements.

[0048] When the locking member 34 moves from the locked position to the unlocked position, it abuts against the support wall 3232 along the first direction. The support wall 3232 prevents the abutting member from moving further away from the locking groove 10a, thus limiting the movement of the locking member 34. When the locking member 34 moves from the unlocked position to the locked position, it abuts against the limiting wall 3236 along the first direction. The limiting wall 3236 prevents the locking part 341 from moving further towards the locking groove 10a, thus limiting the movement of the locking member 34. Furthermore, during the movement of the locking member 34, the guide wall 3234 acts as a guide, ensuring that the movement direction of the locking member 34 remains parallel to the first direction.

[0049] The locking member 34 includes a locking part 341, a pressing part 343, and a handle part 345. The locking part 341 and the pressing part 343 are respectively disposed at opposite ends of the handle part 345 in a first direction. A latch 3412 protrudes from the side of the locking part 341 facing away from the handle part 345. The latch 3412 can extend into or disengage from the locking groove 10a of the main housing 10 in the first direction, so that the locking member 34 can switch between a locked state and an unlocked state. Moreover, when the locking member 34 is in the locked state, the locking part 341 abuts against the limiting wall 3236 of the decorative cover 323 in the first direction.

[0050] The handle portion 345, the locking portion 341, and the pressing portion 343 together form a handle groove 345a recessed towards the upper cover 3214. The open end of the handle groove 345a faces the decorative cover 323 to communicate with the connecting port 323a. The side surface of the handle portion 345 facing the decorative cover 323 forms the groove sidewall of the handle groove 345a. The side surface of the locking portion 341 facing the pressing portion 343 forms the groove top wall of the handle groove 345a. The side surface of the pressing portion 343 facing the locking portion 341 forms the groove bottom wall of the handle groove 345a. The handle groove 345a communicates with the connecting port 323a, so the operator can insert their hand through the connecting port 323a into the handle groove 345a and press the pressing portion 343 in a direction away from the locking groove 10a, thereby causing the buckle 3412 to disengage from the locking groove 10a.

[0051] The pressing part 343 includes a pressing top wall 3432 and a pressing side wall 3434. The pressing top wall 3432 is formed at one end of the pressing part 343 near the locking part 341, and the end of the pressing top wall 3432 facing the locking part 341 forms a plane perpendicular to the first direction, thereby forming the bottom wall of the handle groove 345a. The pressing side wall 3434 extends from the edge of the pressing top wall 3432 along the first direction toward the support wall 3232 of the decorative cover 323. In this way, the operator can apply pressure to the locking member 34 by pressing the top wall 3432, and when the locking member 34 is in the unlocked state, the pressing side wall 3434 abuts against the support wall 3232 of the decorative cover 323 along the first direction.

[0052] Furthermore, the main housing 321 also includes a mounting portion 3218, one end of which is connected to the side of the upper cover 3214 facing the decorative cover 323, and the other end of which extends toward the decorative cover 323 in a second direction to form a guide gap with the guide wall 3234. The pressing side wall 3434 of the pressing portion 343 is movably limited in the guide gap in a first direction.

[0053] Thus, the locking member 34 can reciprocate along the first direction under the limit of the guide gap. Since the pressing side wall 3434 is always kept between the mounting part 3218 and the decorative cover 323 and is limited by both, the locking member 34 has high stability and is not easy to shake during the process, which improves the user experience.

[0054] In some embodiments, the water tank 30 further includes a reset member 36, which is located between the mounting portion 3218 and the pressing bottom wall of the pressing portion 343. The reset member 36 can generate a recoverable deformation under the action of external force to apply a force to the locking member 34 to move it from the unlocked position to the locked position. Specifically, in one embodiment, the reset member 36 is a compression spring.

[0055] When the operator presses the pressing part 343, the reset member 36 switches from its initial state to a compressed state under external force, allowing the pressing part 343 to move downwards until the latch 3412 disengages from the locking groove 10a. When the pressing part 343 is released, the pressure acting on the reset member 36 disappears, and the reset member 36 returns from the compressed state to its initial state, thereby pushing the latch 3412 back into the locking groove 10a. Thus, after the water tank 30 is installed in place, the locking member 34 can be automatically moved to the locked position by the reset member 36 without manual operation by the operator, thereby improving the ease of installation and removal of the water tank 30 and preventing the water tank 30 from falling out due to the operator forgetting to lock it.

[0056] Furthermore, a fixing post 3436 protrudes from the pressing top wall 3432 of the pressing part 343 towards the mounting part 3218 of the water tank 30, and a limiting groove 3218a is provided on the side of the mounting part 3218 facing the pressing top wall 3432. One end of the reset member 36 is sleeved on the fixing post 3436, and the other end is limited in the limiting groove 3218a. It can be understood that in some other embodiments, the fixing post 3436 may also be provided in the pressing part 343, and the limiting groove 3218a may be formed in the pressing top wall 3432. Since one end of the reset member 36 is limited by the limiting groove 3218a, the installation of the reset member 36 is more convenient. Only one end of the reset member 36 needs to be aligned with the limiting groove 3218a, without the need to apply additional force for fixing.

[0057] In a preferred embodiment, the fixing post 3436 has a protruding support post 3438. One end of the support post 3438 is connected to the fixing post 3436, and the other end of the support post 3438 extends toward the limiting groove 3218a in the first direction. The reset member 36 is sleeved on the support post 3438. When the locking member 34 is in the unlocked state, the support post 3438 abuts against the mounting portion 3218 or the pressing portion 343 with the limiting groove 3218a, thereby limiting the travel of the locking member 34 in the first direction together with the support wall 3232. Moreover, the support post 3438 can restrict the shape of the reset member 36 to ensure that the reset member 36 remains vertical during compression and elongation.

[0058] In some embodiments, since the locking member 34 is in the locked position for a long time during normal use of the cooling fan, when the locking member 34 is in the locked position, the decorative cover 323 simultaneously covers the locking part 341 and the pressing part 343, and only the locking groove 10a is exposed through the communication port 323a. Therefore, the overall appearance of the water tank 30 can be improved and the aesthetics of the water tank 30 can be enhanced.

[0059] In a preferred embodiment, when the locking member 34 is in the locked position, the side surface of the locking part 341 facing the pressing part 343 (i.e., the top wall of the hand latch groove 345a) is flush with one side edge of the connecting port 323a, and / or the side surface of the pressing part 343 facing the locking part 341 (i.e., the bottom wall of the hand latch groove 345a) is flush with one side edge of the connecting port 323a.

[0060] When the locking part 34 is in the unlocked position, the end of the locking part 341 facing the pressing part 343 exposes the connecting port 323a. The decorative cover 323 still completely covers the pressing part 343. The side surface of the pressing part 343 facing the locking part 341 (i.e., the bottom wall of the handle groove 345a) is misaligned with the edge of the connecting port 323a near the pressing part 343. Therefore, a step difference is created between the edge of the pressing part 343 and the edge of the connecting port 323a. The part of the decorative cover 323 that protrudes from the pressing part 343 can make it easier for the operator to hold the water tank 30, making the unlocking process more effortless and further improving the convenience of disassembling and assembling the water tank 30.

[0061] In other embodiments, when the locking member 34 is in the locked position, the side surface of the locking part 341 facing the pressing part 343 is located outside the side edge of the connecting port 323a, and the side surface of the pressing part 343 facing the locking part 341 is located outside the side edge of the connecting port 323a, which can also improve the aesthetics of the water tank 30.

[0062] The aforementioned water supply structure 100 and electrical equipment can lock and unlock the water tank 30 by reciprocating the movement of the locking member 34, providing a simple and easy-to-operate locking structure that effectively improves the ease of disassembly and assembly of the water tank 30. Moreover, the locking member 34 is partially hidden under the decorative cover 323, thereby enhancing the overall aesthetics of the electrical equipment.

[0063] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0064] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this patent application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A water supply structure, characterized in that, include: The main housing (10) has a receiving cavity and a locking groove (10a) communicating with the receiving cavity; Water tank (30), including: The housing (32) is detachably installed within the receiving cavity; A locking element (34) is movably mounted on the housing (32), and the locking element (34) can be controllably moved back and forth between a locked position and an unlocked position; When the locking member (34) is in the locked position, the locking member (34) is inserted into the locking groove (10a); when the locking member (34) is in the unlocked position, the locking member (34) is disengaged from the locking groove (10a).

2. The water supply structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The housing (32) has a guide groove, and the locking member (34) is housed in the guide groove and moves back and forth along the guide groove.

3. The water supply structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The housing (32) is provided with a support wall (3232). When the locking member (34) moves from the locked position to the unlocked position, the locking member (34) abuts against the support wall (3232).

4. The water supply structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The housing (32) is also provided with a limiting wall (3236). When the locking component moves from the unlocking position to the locking position, the locking member (34) abuts against the limiting wall (3236).

5. The water supply structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water tank (30) also includes a reset member (36), which is located between the locking member (34) and the tank body (32). The reset member (36) can generate a recoverable deformation under the action of external force to apply a force to the locking member (34) to move it from the unlocked position to the locked position.

6. The water supply structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, One of the locking member (34) and the housing (32) is provided with a fixing post (3436), and the other of the locking member (34) and the housing (32) is provided with a limiting groove (3218a). One end of the reset member (36) is sleeved on the fixing post (3436), and the other end of the reset member (36) is limited in the limiting groove (3218a).

7. The water supply structure according to claim 6, characterized in that, The fixed post (3436) is provided with a support post (3438). When the locking member (34) moves from the unlocked position to the locked position, the support post (3438) is supported by the locking member (34) or the box (32) which is provided with the limiting groove (3218a).

8. The water supply structure according to claim 7, characterized in that, The reset component (36) is sleeved on the outside of the support column (3438).

9. An electrical appliance, characterized in that, Includes the water supply structure as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The electrical equipment according to claim 9, characterized in that, The electrical device is a fan hood.

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