Water purifier

Abstract

This invention discloses a water purifier, relating to the field of water treatment technology. The water purifier includes: a tank with an outlet capable of discharging hot water; a heating element for heating the water inside the tank; a tank mounting base having a first cavity into which the tank extends, with a gap between the outer wall of the tank and the inner wall forming the first cavity; and a purified water generation unit including: a filter element assembly and a pump device for pressurizing the filter element assembly, wherein the purified water outlet of the filter element assembly is connected to the inlet of the tank. This application solves the problem of high cost in existing vacuum insulated tanks used for storing hot water.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of water treatment technology, and in particular to a water purifier. Background Technology

[0002] As people's requirements for drinking water quality continue to increase, water purifiers are being used more and more widely in daily life. Existing water purifiers already have the function of instantly providing hot water. In one type, the principle is to input the filtered water into an insulated tank for heating, so that hot purified water can be quickly provided when the user needs it.

[0003] Regarding the insulation design of insulated containers, to improve insulation performance and avoid frequent reheating due to rapid cooling of hot purified water, double-layered insulated containers with a vacuum sandwich are currently considered ideal, as they effectively reduce heat transfer and provide good insulation. However, the manufacturing process of these vacuum insulated containers is relatively complex, resulting in higher material costs and increasing the overall production cost of the water purifier, which is detrimental to the product's market promotion and widespread adoption. Besides vacuum insulated containers, other insulation methods include wrapping the container with insulating cotton or foam materials. However, these materials are prone to producing odors during use, which users may notice, reducing the user experience.

[0004] In summary, existing methods for insulating water purifier tanks suffer from high costs or the generation of odors. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a lower-cost method that can effectively keep the tanks warm, in order to meet market demands and improve the overall performance and competitiveness of water purifier products. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In order to overcome the above-mentioned defects of the prior art, the technical problem to be solved by the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a water purifier that can solve the problem of high cost of vacuum insulated tanks used for storing hot water in the prior art.

[0006] The specific technical solution of this invention is as follows:

[0007] A water purifier, the water purifier comprising:

[0008] The tank body, the outlet of which can output hot water;

[0009] A heating element for heating the water inside the tank;

[0010] A tank mounting base having a first cavity into which the tank extends, and a gap between the outer wall of the tank and the inner wall forming the first cavity;

[0011] A water purification unit includes: a filter element assembly and a pump device for pressurizing the filter element assembly, wherein the water purification outlet of the filter element assembly is connected to the inlet of the tank.

[0012] Preferably, the sidewalls and bottomwalls of the tank are single-layer structures.

[0013] Preferably, the water purifier includes a sealing structure that seals the gap.

[0014] Preferably, the tank mounting base has an opening communicating with the first cavity, and the tank is installed into the first cavity through the opening;

[0015] The sealing structure includes a sealing element disposed between the outer wall of the end of the tank near the opening and the inner wall of the tank mounting base forming the first cavity.

[0016] Preferably, the seal is made of a heat-insulating material.

[0017] Preferably, the gap is filled with insulating gas.

[0018] Preferably, the insulating gas includes at least one of the following: air, argon, krypton, and xenon.

[0019] Preferably, the water purifier further includes:

[0020] A support member is disposed in the gap, at least a portion of which abuts against or connects to the inner wall of the tank mounting base forming the first cavity, and supports the tank.

[0021] Preferably, the tank mounting base has an opening communicating with the first cavity, and the tank is installed into the first cavity through the opening;

[0022] The support member supports the end of the tank that is away from the opening.

[0023] Preferably, the support member is made of thermal insulation material.

[0024] Preferably, the tank is arranged in a horizontal direction, and the support includes a support body disposed at the end of the tank and a support portion extending radially along the tank. The support body includes an annular body sleeved on the outer wall of the tank, and the support portion is connected to the annular body and abuts against the inner wall forming the first cavity. The axial dimension of the support portion in the tank is smaller than the axial dimension of the annular body in the tank.

[0025] Preferably, the support body includes a bottom support portion opposite to the bottom wall of the tank, and the support includes a limiting portion extending axially along the tank and connected to the bottom support portion. The limiting portion abuts against the bottom wall forming the first cavity, and the radial dimension of the limiting portion in the tank is smaller than the radial dimension of the bottom support portion in the tank.

[0026] Preferably, the tank is arranged vertically, and the support includes a support body disposed at the end of the tank and a support portion extending axially along the tank. The support body includes a bottom support portion opposite to the bottom wall of the tank. The support portion is connected to the bottom support portion and abuts against the bottom wall forming the first cavity. The radial dimension of the support portion in the tank is smaller than the radial dimension of the bottom support portion in the tank.

[0027] Preferably, the support body includes an annular body sleeved on the outer wall of the tank, and the support includes a limiting portion extending radially along the tank and connected to the annular body. The limiting portion abuts against the inner wall forming the first cavity, and the axial dimension of the limiting portion in the tank is smaller than the axial dimension of the bottom support portion in the tank.

[0028] Preferably, the thickness of the gap on the outer wall of the tank in the direction forming the inner wall of the first cavity is between 4 mm and 20 mm.

[0029] Preferably, the tank has an open opening;

[0030] The water purifier also includes a cover, and the opening is installed on the opening.

[0031] Preferably, the water purifier includes:

[0032] A functional component that is inserted from the cover into the interior of the tank.

[0033] Preferably, the functional part includes at least one of the following: the heating element, the water inlet component, the water outlet component, and the temperature measuring element.

[0034] Preferably, a sealing element is provided between the outer wall of the tank body near the opening and the inner wall of the tank body mounting base forming the first cavity, the sealing element being located between the outer wall of the cover and the inner wall of the tank body mounting base forming the first cavity.

[0035] Preferably, the gap includes:

[0036] The annular space formed between the outer wall of the tank and the inner wall of the first cavity;

[0037] The space formed between the outer bottom wall of the tank and the inner bottom wall of the first cavity.

[0038] Preferably, the surface of the tank mounting base forming the inner wall of the first cavity is smooth.

[0039] Preferably, the surface of the tank mounting base forming the inner wall of the first cavity has a highly reflective thermal radiation reflective layer.

[0040] Preferably, the outer surface of the tank has a heat-insulating coating.

[0041] Preferably, the water purifier includes:

[0042] A heat radiation reflective film is disposed in the first cavity, and the heat radiation reflective film covers the outer wall surface of the tank.

[0043] Preferably, the water purifier includes:

[0044] case;

[0045] A filter element assembly mounting base has a second cavity into which the filter element assembly extends. The second cavity is arranged parallel to the first cavity. The tank mounting base and the filter element assembly mounting base are disposed within the housing.

[0046] Preferably, the filter element assembly mounting base and the tank mounting base are integrated into one unit.

[0047] Preferably, the tank mounting base is made of a material with low thermal conductivity.

[0048] The technical solution of the present invention has the following significant beneficial effects:

[0049] The water purifier in this application utilizes a pump to pressurize the raw water, thereby increasing the filtration rate of the filter assembly. The purified water produced by the filter assembly is then stored in a tank. The tank uses a heating element to heat the stored purified water to the required temperature. Since the tank mounting base has a first cavity, the tank extends into this cavity, and a gap exists between the outer wall of the tank and the inner wall forming the first cavity. This gap provides insulation, reducing the rate at which the temperature of the purified water inside the tank decreases. Furthermore, the formation of this gap is very convenient and simple, requiring virtually no additional cost, thus significantly reducing the production cost of the water purifier. This solves the problem of high cost in existing vacuum insulated tanks used for hot water storage. Simultaneously, utilizing the gap to improve the insulation effect of the tank prevents the generation of any odor.

[0050] Specific embodiments of the invention are disclosed in detail below with reference to the description and accompanying drawings, indicating how the principles of the invention can be employed. It should be understood that the embodiments of the invention are not therefore limited in scope. Features described and / or shown for one embodiment may be used in the same or similar manner in one or more other embodiments, combined with features in other embodiments, or substituted for features in other embodiments. Attached Figure Description

[0051] The accompanying drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. Furthermore, the shapes and proportions of the components in the drawings are merely illustrative to aid in understanding the invention and do not specifically limit the shapes and proportions of the components. Those skilled in the art, guided by the teachings of this invention, can select various possible shapes and proportions to implement the invention according to specific circumstances.

[0052] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the water purifier in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0053] Figure 2 This is a front view of the tank mounting base with a tank in the water purifier in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0054] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Cross-sectional view at point AA;

[0055] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the tank and the cover with functional components and support members of the water purifier in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0056] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the support member in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0057] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure at point BB.

[0058] The reference numerals in the above figures are as follows:

[0059] 1. Tank body; 2. Heating element; 3. Tank mounting base; 31. First cavity; 32. Opening; 4. Water purification unit; 41. Filter element assembly; 42. Pump device; 5. Gap; 51. Annular space; 52. Interval space; 6. Sealing structure; 7. Support component; 71. Support component body; 711. Annular body; 7111. Protrusion; 712. Base support; 72. Support part; 73. Limiting part; 8. Cover; 9. Shell; 10. Filter element assembly mounting base; 101. Second cavity; 11. Water pump. Detailed Implementation

[0060] The details of the present invention can be more clearly understood by referring to the accompanying drawings and the description of specific embodiments. However, the specific embodiments of the present invention described herein are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the invention in any way. Under the teachings of this invention, those skilled in the art can conceive of any possible modifications based on the invention, all of which should be considered within the scope of the invention. It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. When an element is referred to as being "connected" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. The terms "mounted," "connected," and "connected" should be interpreted broadly, for example, they can refer to mechanical or electrical connections, or internal communication between two elements, and can be direct or indirect connections through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms according to the specific circumstances. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only embodiments.

[0061] 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 the application. The term "and / or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0062] In order to solve the problem of high cost of vacuum insulated tanks used for storing hot water in existing technologies, this application proposes a water purifier. Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the water purifier in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 This is a front view of the tank mounting base with a tank in the water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 for Figure 2 Cross-sectional view at point AA, as shown Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the water purifier includes: a tank 1, the outlet of which can output hot water; a heating element 2, which is used to heat the water in the tank 1; a tank mounting base 3, the tank mounting base 3 having a first cavity 31, the tank 1 extending into the first cavity 31, and a gap 5 between the outer wall of the tank 1 and the inner wall forming the first cavity 31; and a purified water generating unit 4, the purified water generating unit 4 including: a filter element assembly 41, and a pump device 42 for pressurizing the filter element assembly 41, the purified water outlet of the filter element assembly 41 being able to communicate with the inlet of the tank 1.

[0063] The water purifier in this application can use a pump device 42 to pressurize the raw water, thereby increasing the filtration rate of the filter element assembly 41. The purified water filtered by the filter element assembly 41 is input into the tank 1 for storage. The tank 1 uses a heating element 2 to heat the purified water stored inside to the required temperature. Since the tank mounting base 3 has a first cavity 31, the tank 1 extends into the first cavity 31, and there is a gap 5 between the outer wall of the tank 1 and the inner wall forming the first cavity 31. This gap 5 has a heat preservation function, which can keep the tank 1 warm and reduce the rate at which the temperature of the purified water in the tank 1 drops. In addition, since the formation of the gap 5 is very convenient and simple, it basically does not require any additional cost, thus greatly reducing the production cost of the water purifier and solving the problem of high cost of vacuum insulated tanks used for storing hot water in the prior art. At the same time, the use of the gap 5 to improve the heat preservation effect of the tank 1 will not produce any odor.

[0064] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the tank 1 in this application is used to hold water and can receive purified water output from the filter assembly 41. As a feasible option, to reduce the cost of the tank 1, the side walls and bottom walls of the tank 1 are single-layered. To ensure sufficient strength, the tank 1 can generally be made of metal materials, such as carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, etc. Of course, in other feasible embodiments, the tank 1 can also be made of plastic materials, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, etc. The tank 1 can also be made of composite materials, such as fiberglass. This application does not impose any specific material limitations on the tank 1, as long as it meets the usage requirements.

[0065] like Figure 3 As shown, heating element 2 is used to heat the water inside the tank 1. Heating element 2 is generally an electric heating element. Heating element 2 can be installed in various ways. Heating element 2 can be inserted into the tank 1, thus directly contacting the water inside the tank 1 for heating. Heating element 2 can also be attached to the outer wall of the tank 1, or achieve efficient heat transfer through a thermally conductive material to the outer wall of the tank 1, and then transfer heat between the outer wall and the water inside the tank 1, thereby heating the water inside the tank 1.

[0066] The purified water generation unit 4 is used to filter the input raw water to obtain purified water, and then input the purified water into the tank 1. The purified water generation unit 4 includes: a filter element assembly 41 and a pump device 42 for pressurizing the filter element assembly 41. The filter element assembly 41 can be any filter element assembly 41 capable of filtering water in the prior art. It can be a single filter element, multiple filter elements, or a composite filter element, etc., and no limitation is made in this application. Generally speaking, the filter element assembly 41 includes a fine filter element, which can filter the raw water with high precision to obtain purified water, such as a reverse osmosis membrane filter element, a nanofiltration membrane filter element, an ultrafiltration membrane filter element, etc. The filter element assembly 41 may also include a pre-filter element and / or a post-filter element, etc.

[0067] like Figure 3 As shown, the tank mounting base 3 supports the tank 1, allowing the tank 1 to be stably installed in the water purifier. The tank mounting base 3 may have a first cavity 31 into which the tank 1 extends, creating a gap 5 between the outer wall of the tank 1 and the inner wall forming the first cavity 31. This gap 5 typically contains gas and has an insulating effect, significantly reducing the direct contact area between the tank 1 and the tank mounting base 3, thus reducing heat transfer between them and achieving heat preservation of the tank 1, slowing down the rate at which the temperature of the purified water inside the tank 1 decreases. To reduce the convection between the gas in the gap 5 and the outside air, which would reduce the insulating effect of the gap 5, the water purifier may further include a sealing structure 6, which seals the gap 5. Preferably, the thickness of the gap 5 in the direction from the outer wall of the tank 1 to the inner wall forming the first cavity 31 can be controlled between 4mm and 20mm; gaps that are too large or too small will weaken their insulating effect. The lower limit of the thickness of gap 5 in the direction from the outer wall of the tank 1 to the inner wall forming the first cavity 31 should be controlled above 4mm. Although the thermal conductivity of air is low, too small a gap will still lead to a significant reduction in the heat preservation effect. The upper limit of the thickness of gap 5 in the direction from the outer wall of the tank 1 to the inner wall forming the first cavity 31 should be controlled below 20mm. The heat preservation layer formed by the gap surrounds the tank. If the gap is too large, there will be several problems: ① The external space for heat radiation will increase, and the amount of heat radiation will reduce the heat preservation performance; ② The gap is too large, which will increase the difficulty of sealing and increase the amount of airflow to the outside, resulting in a decrease in heat preservation performance; ③ The heat preservation gap is too large, which will lead to an increase in the size of the whole machine. In home application scenarios, if the heat preservation gap exceeds 20mm, the size of the whole machine may not meet the requirements of the space under the cabinet.

[0068] As a feasible option, such as Figure 3As shown, the gap 5 may include: an annular space 51 formed between the outer wall of the tank body and the inner wall of the first cavity 31; and a space 52 formed between the outer bottom wall of the tank body 1 and the inner bottom wall of the first cavity 31. This arrangement ensures that both the outer bottom wall and the outer side of the outer wall of the tank body 1 have gaps 5, thereby maximizing the heat insulation effect of the tank body 1.

[0069] To ensure that gap 5 is sealed and that tank 1 can be installed into the first cavity 31, as follows: Figure 3 As shown, the can mounting base 3 may have an opening 32 communicating with the first cavity 31, and the can 1 is installed into the first cavity 31 through the opening 32. The sealing structure 6 may include a sealing element disposed between the outer wall of the can 1 near the opening 32 and the inner wall of the can mounting base 3 forming the first cavity 31. For example, the sealing element may be in the form of a sealing ring. In addition, due to the presence of the sealing element, the sealing element can support the can 1 at the end near the opening 32, so that a gap 5 is formed between the outer wall of the can 1 and the inner wall forming the first cavity 31.

[0070] Preferably, the sealing element is positioned as close as possible to one end of the opening 32 of the tank 1. This reduces the degree of heat exchange between the side wall of the tank 1 and the outside air, improves the heat preservation performance of the water inside the tank 1, and slows down the rate at which the temperature of the purified water inside the tank 1 drops.

[0071] Alternatively, gap 5 can be filled with an insulating gas. The insulating gas can be a gas with low thermal conductivity and / or low cost; for example, the insulating gas can include at least one of the following: air, argon, krypton, and xenon, etc.

[0072] Because tank 1 needs to hold hot water, it is quite heavy. While the gap 5 between the outer wall of tank 1 and the inner wall forming the first cavity 31 improves the insulation effect of tank 1, it also needs to support the weight of tank 1 to ensure stable installation in the water purifier. Therefore, Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the tank and the cover with functional components and support members of the water purifier in an embodiment of the present invention, as shown below. Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, the water purifier includes a support member 7, which is disposed in the gap 5. At least a portion of the support member 7 abuts against or connects to the inner wall of the tank mounting base 3 forming the first cavity 31, and supports the tank 1. Since the tank mounting base 3 has an opening 32 communicating with the first cavity 31, and the tank 1 is installed into the first cavity 31 through the opening 32, the end of the tank 1 facing away from the opening 32 requires more support. Therefore, preferably, the support member 7 supports the end of the tank 1 facing away from the opening 32.

[0073] In order to reduce the heat transfer of the hot water in the tank 1 to the tank mounting base 3 through the support member 7, it is feasible to make the support member 7 out of heat insulation material.

[0074] In one embodiment, the tank 1 can be arranged horizontally. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the support member in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 for Figure 5 A structural diagram of section BB is shown below. Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the support member 7 includes a support body 71 disposed at the end of the tank 1 and a support portion 72 extending radially along the tank 1. The support body 71 includes an annular body 711 sleeved on the outer wall of the tank 1, and the support portion 72 is connected to the annular body 711 and abuts against the inner wall forming the first cavity 31. The support portion 72 serves to support the tank 1 to bear the weight of the tank 1 and the water inside it. The axial dimension of the support portion 72 in the tank 1 is smaller than the axial dimension of the annular body 711 in the tank 1. In this way, while ensuring the supporting effect, the heat of the hot water in the tank 1 can be minimized from being transferred to the tank mounting base 3 through the support portion 72.

[0075] In this embodiment, such as Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the support body 71 may include a bottom support portion 712 opposite to the bottom wall of the tank 1. The support 7 includes a limiting portion 73 extending axially along the tank 1 and connected to the bottom support portion 712, the limiting portion 73 abutting against the bottom wall forming the first cavity 31. When the tank 1 is installed into the first cavity 31, the limiting portion 73 can prevent the tank 1 from being inserted too deeply into the first cavity 31, causing the outer bottom wall of the tank 1 to contact the inner bottom wall of the first cavity 31, thus reducing the heat preservation effect of the hot tank. The radial dimension of the limiting portion 73 in the tank 1 may be smaller than the radial dimension of the bottom support portion 712 in the tank 1, thereby minimizing the transfer of heat from the hot water in the tank 1 to the tank mounting base 3 through the limiting portion 73.

[0076] As a feasible option, such as Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the center of the base 712 can be hollowed out, thereby reducing the contact area between the base 712 and the bottom wall of the tank 1, and reducing the amount of heat transferred from the tank 1 to the base 712. Similarly, the inner wall of the annular body 711 can have multiple protrusions 7111 distributed circumferentially. The protrusions 7111 extend axially along the tank 1, and their presence reduces the contact area between the inner wall of the annular body 711 and the outer wall of the tank 1, reducing the amount of heat transferred from the tank 1 to the annular body 711. Through the above methods, the heat of the hot water in the tank 1 can be further reduced from being transferred to the tank mounting base 3 through the support member 7.

[0077] In another embodiment, the tank 1 is arranged vertically, and the support member 7 includes a support body 71 disposed at the end of the tank 1 and a support portion 72 extending axially along the tank 1. The support body 71 includes a bottom support portion 712 opposite to the bottom wall of the tank 1, and the support portion 72 is connected to the bottom support portion 712 and abuts against the bottom wall forming the first cavity 31. The radial dimension of the support portion 72 in the tank 1 is smaller than the radial dimension of the bottom support portion 712 in the tank 1. This method ensures effective support while minimizing the transfer of heat from the hot water inside the tank 1 to the tank mounting base 3 via the support portion 72.

[0078] In this embodiment, the support body 71 may include an annular body 711 sleeved on the outer wall of the tank 1. The support 7 includes a limiting portion 73 extending radially along the tank 1 and connected to the annular body 711, the limiting portion 73 abutting against the inner wall forming the first cavity 31. When the tank 1 is installed into the first cavity 31, the limiting portion 73 can prevent the tank 1 from tilting during insertion into the first cavity 31, causing the outer wall of the tank 1 to contact the inner wall of the first cavity 31, thus reducing the heat preservation effect of the hot tank. The axial dimension of the limiting portion 73 in the tank 1 is smaller than the axial dimension of the base portion 712 in the tank 1, thereby minimizing the transfer of heat from the hot water in the tank 1 to the tank mounting base 3 through the limiting portion 73.

[0079] like Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, the tank 1 may have an opening, which is positioned opposite to the bottom wall of the tank 1. The water purifier may include a cover 8, which is installed on the opening and is used to seal the opening of the tank 1. The water purifier may include functional components for use in conjunction with the tank 1. The functional components may include at least one of the following: the heating element 2, the water inlet component, the water outlet component, the temperature measuring element, the liquid level measuring element, etc. To prevent the functional components from being inserted into the tank 1 through the tank mounting base 3 via the gap 5, the side wall and / or the bottom wall of the tank 1, thus reducing the heat preservation effect of the gap 5 on the water in the tank 1, preferably, the functional components are inserted into the tank 1 from the cover 8. The water purifier may include a hot water outlet end and a water pump 11 connected to the hot water outlet end. The inlet of the water pump 11 may be connected to the water outlet component, thereby drawing hot water from the tank 1 and supplying it to the hot water outlet end for output to the user.

[0080] In the above embodiments, as feasible, such as Figure 3 As shown, the sealing element can be located between the outer wall of the cover 8 and the inner wall of the tank mounting base 3 forming the first cavity 31. In this way, the degree of heat exchange between the side wall of the tank 1 and the outside air can be minimized, thereby improving the heat preservation performance of the water in the tank 1 and reducing the rate at which the temperature of the purified water in the tank 1 drops.

[0081] The temperature drop of the hot water in tank 1 is due to two main reasons: heat loss through heat conduction between tank 1 and the gas in gap 5, and heat loss through heat radiation emitted by tank 1 itself. To reduce heat loss from heat radiation in tank 1, it is feasible to make the inner wall surface of the first cavity 31 of the tank mounting base 3 smooth. A smooth wall surface makes the reflection of heat radiation more regular. When heat radiation (mainly infrared and other electromagnetic waves) irradiates a smooth wall surface, this regular reflection causes the heat radiation to be reflected back in a certain direction, which is advantageous for situations where the tank mounting base 3 needs to reduce the absorption of heat radiation. From a microscopic perspective, a rough wall surface has more surface defects and microstructures. These microstructures can increase the interaction between heat radiation and the wall surface, making the wall surface more likely to absorb heat radiation; while a smooth wall surface, relatively speaking, has fewer opportunities for heat radiation to interact with the wall surface through absorption. According to Kirchhoff's law, the emissivity of an object equals its absorptivity, so the emissivity of a smooth wall surface is also relatively low, which is beneficial for maintaining the temperature of tank 1 and the hot water inside tank 1.

[0082] In one feasible embodiment, the surface of the tank mounting base 3 forming the inner wall of the first cavity 31 has a highly reflective heat radiation reflective layer. This layer reflects most of the heat radiation energy of the tank 1 and the hot water inside back, thereby reducing heat transfer via radiation and providing good heat insulation. For example, the heat radiation reflective layer can be in the form of a coated metal film, such as aluminum. In another feasible embodiment, the water purifier may include a heat radiation reflective film disposed in the first cavity 31, covering the outer wall of the tank 1. In this embodiment, the heat radiation reflective film only needs to be inserted into the first cavity 31 and may not be coated or plated onto the inner wall surface of the first cavity 31. For example, the heat radiation reflective film can be a film made of a metal material, such as aluminum foil; it can also be a film made of multi-layer composite materials, such as fabrics with metal coatings, multi-layer insulation materials (e.g., multiple reflective screens (such as aluminum foil) and spacers (such as polyester mesh) alternately stacked), etc.

[0083] To further reduce heat loss due to heat conduction between the tank 1 and the gas in the gap 5, it is feasible to have an insulating coating on the outer surface of the tank 1. A gap 5 can still exist between the insulating coating and the inner wall forming the first cavity 31. The insulating coating can be made of a material with a lower thermal conductivity than the gas. For example, the insulating coating can be a ceramic fiber coating, a polyurethane foam coating, an aerogel coating, etc., which will not be listed here.

[0084] As a feasible option, the tank mounting base 3 can be made of a material with low thermal conductivity. Furthermore, considering that the tank mounting base 3 also needs to have a certain strength, low processing cost, and low material cost, generally speaking, materials with low thermal conductivity, such as plastics, are preferred.

[0085] As a feasible option, such as Figure 1 As shown, the water purifier may include: a housing 9; a filter element mounting base 10, the filter element mounting base 10 having a second cavity 101, the filter element assembly 41 extending into the second cavity 101, and the tank mounting base 3 and the filter element mounting base 10 disposed within the housing 9. The filter element assembly 41 can be directly removed from the second cavity 101 by pulling it out or by pulling it out and rotating it, thus facilitating the replacement of the filter element assembly 41. Furthermore, the second cavity 101 can be arranged parallel to the first cavity 31, which allows the components within the housing 9 to be more compact, greatly reducing the volume of the water purifier; for example, the water purifier housing 9 can be generally rectangular.

[0086] As a feasible option, such as Figure 1As shown, the filter element assembly mounting base 10 and the tank mounting base 3 can be integrated. For example, the filter element assembly mounting base 10 and the tank mounting base 3 can be a single mounting base, on which both the tank 1 and the filter element assembly 41 can be mounted simultaneously. This structure makes the mounting bases inside the water purifier housing 9 more secure and stable, eliminating the need for reconnection.

[0087] Preferably, the first chamber 31 can be located above the second chamber 101. This reduces the degree of temperature rise of the filter element assembly 41 caused by the hot water in the tank 1, thus lowering the temperature of the purified water output by the filter element assembly 41. Furthermore, in the height direction, the pump device 42 can be located between the first chamber 31 and the second chamber 101. For example, when a user needs room temperature water from the water purifier, the filter element assembly 41 outputs filtered water to provide the user with room temperature water. Since the filter element assembly 41 stores a certain amount of water, if the filter element assembly 41 is significantly affected by the hot water in the tank 1, the water stored in the filter element assembly 41 will heat up considerably. In this case, the temperature of the purified water output by the filter element assembly 41 will be too high, and the water obtained by the user will not be truly room temperature water but will feel like lukewarm water. This will reduce the user's experience, especially in hot summer weather, where the user may feel the water temperature is too high.

[0088] When there is a gap 5 between the outer wall of the tank 1 in the water purifier and the inner wall forming the first cavity 31, the heat preservation effect of the tank 1 is basically equivalent to that of the prior art where the tank 1 is covered with heat preservation materials such as glass fiber cotton, EPP foam, and PE cotton. Since the tank 1 in this application can adopt a single-layer structure, its cost is much lower than that of a double-layer insulated tank with a vacuum interlayer. The actual heat preservation performance of the tank 1 in this application is only slightly lower than that of a double-layer insulated tank with a vacuum interlayer. For example, under the same conditions, in order to keep the hot water in the tank 1 at a higher temperature, the heating element 2 needs to consume about 0.5 kWh of electricity to supplement the heat when using a double-layer insulated tank with a vacuum interlayer, while the tank 1 in this application needs to consume about 0.7 kWh of electricity to supplement the heat.

[0089] All articles and references disclosed herein, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated herein by reference for various purposes. The term “substantially constitutes…” used to describe a combination should include the identified element, component, part, or step, as well as other elements, components, parts, or steps that do not substantially affect the essential novelty of the combination. The use of the terms “comprising” or “including” to describe combinations of elements, components, parts, or steps herein also contemplates embodiments substantially constituted by such elements, components, parts, or steps. The use of the term “may” herein is intended to indicate that any described attribute “may” include is optional. Multiple elements, components, parts, or steps can be provided by a single integrated element, component, part, or step. Alternatively, a single integrated element, component, part, or step can be divided into multiple separate elements, components, parts, or steps. The disclosure of “a” or “an” used to describe an element, component, part, or step does not imply exclusion of other elements, components, parts, or steps.

[0090] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner, with each embodiment focusing on its differences from other embodiments. Similar or identical parts between embodiments can be referred to interchangeably. The above embodiments are only for illustrating the technical concept and features of the present invention, and are intended to enable those skilled in the art to understand the content of the present invention and implement it accordingly. They should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention. All equivalent changes or modifications made according to the spirit and essence of the present invention should be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A water purifier, characterized in that, The water purifier includes: The tank body, the outlet of which can output hot water; A heating element for heating the water inside the tank; A tank mounting base having a first cavity into which the tank extends, and a gap between the outer wall of the tank and the inner wall forming the first cavity; A water purification unit includes: a filter element assembly and a pump device for pressurizing the filter element assembly, wherein the water purification outlet of the filter element assembly is connected to the inlet of the tank.

2. The water purifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The side walls and bottom walls of the tank are single-layer structures.

3. The water purifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water purifier includes a sealing structure that seals the gap.

4. The water purifier according to claim 3, characterized in that, The tank mounting base has an opening communicating with the first cavity, and the tank is installed into the first cavity through the opening; The sealing structure includes a sealing element disposed between the outer wall of the end of the tank near the opening and the inner wall of the tank mounting base forming the first cavity.

5. The water purifier according to claim 4, characterized in that, The seal is made of heat-insulating material.

6. The water purifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The gap is filled with insulating gas.

7. The water purifier according to claim 6, characterized in that, The insulating gas includes at least one of the following: air, argon, krypton, and xenon.

8. The water purifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water purifier also includes: A support member is disposed in the gap, at least a portion of which abuts against or connects to the inner wall of the tank mounting base forming the first cavity, and supports the tank.

9. The water purifier according to claim 8, characterized in that, The tank mounting base has an opening communicating with the first cavity, and the tank is installed into the first cavity through the opening; The support member supports the end of the tank that is away from the opening.

10. The water purifier according to claim 8, characterized in that, The support is made of heat-insulating material.

11. The water purifier according to claim 8, characterized in that, The tank is arranged horizontally, and the support includes a support body disposed at the end of the tank and a support portion extending radially along the tank. The support body includes an annular body sleeved on the outer wall of the tank. The support portion is connected to the annular body and abuts against the inner wall forming the first cavity. The axial dimension of the support portion in the tank is smaller than the axial dimension of the annular body in the tank.

12. The water purifier according to claim 11, characterized in that, The support body includes a bottom support portion opposite to the bottom wall of the tank. The support includes a limiting portion that extends along the axial direction of the tank and is connected to the bottom support portion. The limiting portion abuts against the bottom wall forming the first cavity. The radial dimension of the limiting portion in the tank is smaller than the radial dimension of the bottom support portion in the tank.

13. The water purifier according to claim 8, characterized in that, The tank is arranged vertically, and the support includes a support body disposed at the end of the tank and a support portion extending along the axial direction of the tank. The support body includes a bottom support portion opposite to the bottom wall of the tank. The support portion is connected to the bottom support portion and abuts against the bottom wall forming the first cavity. The radial dimension of the support portion in the tank is smaller than the radial dimension of the bottom support portion in the tank.

14. The water purifier according to claim 13, characterized in that, The support body includes an annular body sleeved on the outer wall of the tank. The support includes a limiting portion extending radially along the tank and connected to the annular body. The limiting portion abuts against the inner wall forming the first cavity. The axial dimension of the limiting portion in the tank is smaller than the axial dimension of the bottom support portion in the tank.

15. The water purifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The thickness of the gap on the outer wall of the tank in the direction forming the inner wall of the first cavity is between 4 mm and 20 mm.

16. The water purifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tank has an open opening; The water purifier also includes a cover, and the opening is installed on the opening.

17. The water purifier according to claim 16, characterized in that, The water purifier includes: A functional component that is inserted from the cover into the interior of the tank.

18. The water purifier according to claim 17, characterized in that, The functional components include at least one of the following: the heating element, the water inlet component, the water outlet component, and the temperature measuring element.

19. The water purifier according to claim 16, characterized in that, A sealing element is provided between the outer wall of the tank body near the opening and the inner wall of the tank body mounting base forming the first cavity. The sealing element is located between the outer wall of the cover and the inner wall of the tank body mounting base forming the first cavity.

20. The water purifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The gap includes: The annular space formed between the outer wall of the tank and the inner wall of the first cavity; The space formed between the outer bottom wall of the tank and the inner bottom wall of the first cavity.

21. The water purifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The surface of the inner wall of the first cavity formed by the tank mounting base is smooth.

22. The water purifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The surface of the tank mounting base that forms the inner wall of the first cavity has a highly reflective thermal radiation reflective layer.

23. The water purifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer surface of the tank has a heat-insulating coating.

24. The water purifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water purifier includes: A heat radiation reflective film is disposed in the first cavity, and the heat radiation reflective film covers the outer wall surface of the tank.

25. The water purifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water purifier includes: case; A filter element assembly mounting base has a second cavity into which the filter element assembly extends. The second cavity is arranged parallel to the first cavity. The tank mounting base and the filter element assembly mounting base are disposed within the housing.

26. The water purifier according to claim 25, characterized in that, The filter element assembly mounting base and the tank mounting base are integrated.

27. The water purifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tank mounting base is made of a material with low thermal conductivity.

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