A water heater housing, a water heater and a method of assembling a water heater housing

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of household appliances, and in particular to a water heater shell, a water heater and a water heater shell assembling method. The water heater shell comprises a shell inner barrel and a first end cover assembly. The first end opening of the shell inner barrel is inwardly bent to form a first flange. The first end cover assembly is installed at the first end opening. The first end cover assembly comprises a first end cover and a decorative cover. The first end cover is located at the inner side of the shell inner barrel, and the outer end surface of the first end cover is attached to the inner side surface of the first flange. The decorative cover is located at the outer side of the shell inner barrel and partially attached to the outer side surface of the first flange. The decorative cover is connected to the first end cover. The shell inner barrel and the end cover of the water heater shell are firmly connected, and the overall appearance of the water heater is of high integrity and aesthetic value, and the production quality is high.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of household appliance technology, and in particular to a water heater housing, a water heater, and a method for assembling the water heater housing. Background Technology

[0002] A water heater is a device that uses various physical principles to raise the temperature of cold water to produce hot water within a certain time. Based on different principles, they can be divided into electric water heaters, gas water heaters, solar water heaters, magnetic water heaters, air source water heaters, and central heating water heaters, among others. Electric water heaters are widely used due to their high safety, convenient installation, and high degree of automation.

[0003] The water heater casing mainly consists of an outer inner tank and end caps located on both sides of the inner tank. In related technologies, both ends of the inner tank have arc-shaped inner folds formed by arc extrusion molding, and the end caps are provided with a second snap-fit ​​structure that engages with the arc-shaped inner folds. However, the above connection structure has the following problems: 1) The contact area between the inner tank and the end caps is small, resulting in poor connection strength. During use, the arc-shaped inner folds are prone to detaching from the second snap-fit ​​structure, affecting the overall appearance and aesthetics of the water heater, and also affecting its service life; 2) The inner tank requires high processing precision. If the width of the arc-shaped inner folds is large, it will be difficult to assemble with the end caps, or the end caps may be pried open or broken at the location where the second snap-fit ​​structure is located, requiring replacement with new end caps and increasing the production cost of the water heater.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a water heater housing, a water heater, and a method for assembling the water heater housing to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a water heater shell, a water heater, and a method for assembling the water heater shell, which can achieve a firm assembly of the outer shell, inner tank, and end cap, improve the overall appearance and aesthetics of the water heater, improve the production quality of the water heater, reduce the processing difficulty of the outer shell and inner tank, and reduce processing costs.

[0006] To achieve this objective, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: A water heater housing, comprising: The outer casing has a barrel in which the first end opening is bent inward to form a first flange. A first end cap assembly is installed at the first end opening. The first end cap assembly includes a first end cap and a decorative cover. The first end cap is located inside the inner side of the outer casing, and the outer end face of the first end cap is in contact with the inner side of the first flange. The decorative cover is located outside the outer casing and is in contact with the outer side of the first flange. The decorative cover is connected to the first end cap.

[0007] As a preferred embodiment of the water heater housing provided by the present invention, the ratio of the width of the first flange to the maximum radial dimension of the inner tub of the housing is X1, wherein X1 ≥ 10%.

[0008] As a preferred embodiment of the water heater housing provided by the present invention, the decorative cover is provided with a first anti-deviation post, and the first end cover is provided with a first anti-deviation groove that is inserted into the first anti-deviation post.

[0009] As a preferred embodiment of the water heater housing provided by the present invention, the outer edge of the first end cap is bent toward the inner side of the inner tank of the outer shell to form a first bent edge, and the first bent edge abuts against the inner wall of the inner tank of the outer shell.

[0010] As a preferred embodiment of the water heater housing provided by the present invention, the second end opening of the inner tank of the outer shell is bent inward to form a second flange; The water heater housing also includes a second end cap assembly, which is installed at the second end opening. The second end cap assembly includes a second end cap and a maintenance cover. The second end cap is located inside the inner tub of the housing, and the outer end face of the second end cap is in contact with the inner side of the second flange. The maintenance cover is located outside the inner tub of the housing and is in contact with the outer side of the second flange. The maintenance cover is connected to the second end cap.

[0011] As a preferred embodiment of the water heater housing provided by the present invention, the ratio of the width of the second flange to the maximum radial dimension of the inner tub of the housing is X2, wherein X2 ≥ 10%.

[0012] As a preferred embodiment of the water heater housing provided by the present invention, the second end cap includes: The outer end face of the annular end cap body is in contact with the inner side of the second flange; An electrical compartment is installed inside the annular end cap body. The electrical compartment has a mounting opening in the middle for installing the inner liner. The electrical compartment is used to install components.

[0013] As a preferred embodiment of the water heater housing provided by the present invention, the outer edge of the annular end cap body is bent toward the inner side of the inner tank of the outer shell to form a second bent edge, and the second bent edge partially abuts against the inner wall of the inner tank of the outer shell.

[0014] As a preferred embodiment of the water heater housing provided by the present invention, the inner wall of the electrical compartment is provided with a mounting groove for mounting a control board, and a wire hole is provided through the side wall of the electrical compartment. The wire hole is located below the mounting groove and is used for passing through a signal wire, which is used to electrically connect the control board and the display panel of the water heater.

[0015] As a preferred embodiment of the water heater housing provided by the present invention, the maintenance cover is provided with a second anti-deviation post, and the second end cover is provided with a second anti-deviation groove that is inserted into the second anti-deviation post.

[0016] The present invention also provides a water heater, comprising: The water heater casing as described above; An inner tank is located inside the water heater shell and is used to store water. The inlet and outlet water pipe assembly can pass through the water heater shell and be inserted into the inner tank to input cold water into the inner tank and output hot water from the inner tank.

[0017] As a preferred embodiment of the water heater provided by the present invention, the water heater further includes an anti-electric shock wall cover, which is magnetically fixed to the outer shell of the water heater housing.

[0018] As a preferred embodiment of the water heater provided by the present invention, the anti-electric shock wall cover includes: The cover body is magnetically fixed to the outer shell of the water heater housing; The mounting part is connected to the main body of the cover. The mounting part is used for the installation of the inlet and outlet water pipe assembly, and the mounting part is provided with dotted lines distributed in a grid pattern.

[0019] The present invention also provides a method for assembling a water heater housing, for assembling the water heater housing as described above, the method comprising the following steps: Place the first end cap inside the outer casing; The outer casing with the first end cap assembled is fitted onto the auxiliary assembly fixture, so that the top clamping plate of the auxiliary assembly fixture presses the first end cap against the first flange of the outer casing. Connect the decorative cover to the first end cap.

[0020] The beneficial effects of this invention are: The water heater housing provided by this invention, by respectively setting a first end cap and a decorative cap on both sides of a first flange of the outer casing, thereby pressing and fixing the first flange by the first end cap and the decorative cap, can increase the contact area between the outer casing and the first end cap assembly, improve the structural strength of the end of the outer casing, enhance the deformation resistance and shock resistance of the water heater housing, prevent cracking at the connection point between the outer casing and the first end cap assembly during use, and extend the service life of the water heater. Simultaneously, the first flange also plays a limiting and positioning role during the assembly of the outer casing and the first end cap assembly, thereby ensuring the assembly accuracy of the outer casing and the first end cap assembly. Furthermore, it can ensure uniform stress on the contact surfaces between the first flange and the first end cap, and between the first flange and the decorative cap, and effectively improve the sealing effect at the connection point between the outer casing and the first end cap assembly. In addition, compared to the related technology that forms an arc-shaped inner flange on the outer casing through an arc extrusion molding process, processing the first flange on the outer casing can reduce the processing difficulty and cost of the outer casing.

[0021] The water heater provided by the present invention, by applying the above-mentioned water heater shell, can improve the overall appearance and aesthetics of the water heater, improve the production quality of the water heater, reduce the processing difficulty of the inner tank of the outer shell, and reduce the processing cost.

[0022] The water heater shell assembly method provided by the present invention is used to assemble the above-mentioned water heater shell. By setting an auxiliary assembly fixture, the clamping plate of the auxiliary assembly fixture can clamp the first end cover onto the first flange of the inner tank of the outer shell. Relying on the clamping force provided by the auxiliary assembly fixture, the first flange of the inner tank of the outer shell is tightly fitted with the outer end face of the first end cover. Then, the decorative cover is fixedly connected to the first end cover from the outside of the inner tank of the outer shell, so that the decorative cover and the first end cover cooperate to clamp the first flange, thereby improving the assembly stability between the inner tank of the outer shell and the first end cover assembly and reducing the risk of the first end cover shifting inward under tension when the decorative cover and the first end cover are assembled. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 This is a structural schematic diagram of an electric water heater provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of an electric water heater provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the inner barrel of the outer shell provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 A magnified view of a portion at point A.

[0027] Figure 5 yes Figure 3A magnified view of a section at point B.

[0028] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first end cap provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the decorative cover provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 8 yes Figure 2 A magnified view of a section at point C.

[0031] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second end cap provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the maintenance cover provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the anti-electric shock wall cover provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the auxiliary assembly tooling provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] In the picture: 10. Water heater casing; 11. Outer shell; 1101. First end opening; 1102. Second end opening; 1103. First flange; 1104. Second flange; 111. Bottom straight section; 112. Top straight section; 113. Front straight section; 114. Rear straight section; 115. First arc-shaped transition section; 116. Second arc-shaped transition section; 117. First straight transition section; 118. Second straight transition section; 12. First end cap assembly; 121. First end cap; 1211. First snap-fit ​​hole; 1212. First anti-deviation groove; 1213. First bent edge; 122. Decorative cover; 1221. First buckle; 1222. First anti-deviation post; 123. Support member; 13. Second end cap assembly; 131. Second end cap; 1311. Annular end cap body; 13111. Second snap-fit ​​hole; 13112. Second bent edge; 13113. Second anti-deviation groove; 1312. Electrical compartment; 13120. Mounting port; 13121. Wiring hole; 13122. Mounting groove; 13123. Receiving cavity; 132. Maintenance cover; 1321. Second buckle; 1322. Second anti-deviation post; 14. Hanging rack; 20. Inner liner; 30. Inlet and outlet water pipe assembly; 40. Anti-electric shock wall cover; 41. Cover body; 411. Magnetic fastener; 42. Mounting part; 100. Auxiliary assembly tooling; 101. Top clamping plate; 102. Support base. Detailed Implementation

[0036] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar components or components having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0037] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected," "linked," and "fixed" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection or a detachable connection; a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; or the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0038] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature being directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature being directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0039] like Figures 1-2 As shown, this embodiment provides a water heater, specifically a wall-mounted electric water heater, which can be mounted on the wall to be installed. The water heater includes a water heater shell 10, an inner tank 20, and an inlet / outlet water pipe assembly 30. The back of the water heater shell 10 is fixed to the wall to be installed; the inner tank 20 is disposed inside the water heater shell 10 and is used to store water. The water heater shell 10 provides support and protection for the inner tank 20, and also has a certain heat preservation effect on the hot water in the inner tank 20; the inlet / outlet water pipe assembly 30 can pass through the water heater shell 10 and be inserted into the inner tank 20, thereby inputting cold water into the inner tank 20 and outputting hot water from the inner tank 20.

[0040] It should be noted that the inner liner 20 provided in this embodiment can be made of metal or non-metal. In addition, the inner liner 20 can be of various types such as round, flat, oval, and double. This embodiment does not make specific limitations on the material and form of the inner liner 20.

[0041] It should be noted that this embodiment does not limit the specific structure of the inlet and outlet water pipe assembly 30 or its assembly method with the water heater shell 10. In related technologies, the inlet and outlet water pipe assembly 30 that can be applied to the field of water heaters to input cold water into the inner tank 20 and output hot water from the inner tank 20 are all within the protection scope of this embodiment.

[0042] In some embodiments, the water heater housing 10 includes an outer casing 11 and a mounting bracket 14. The mounting bracket 14 is disposed on the back of the outer casing 11 and is used to fix the outer casing 11 to the wall to be installed. The inner tank 20 is installed inside the outer casing 11. By providing the mounting bracket 14, not only can the stable fixation between the water heater housing 10 and the wall to be installed be ensured, but the installation is also made more convenient.

[0043] In some embodiments, at least two brackets 14 are provided, spaced apart along the left and right sides of the inner tank 11 of the outer casing, to further improve the stability of the connection between the water heater casing 10 and the wall to be installed. In this embodiment, two brackets 14 are provided, symmetrically arranged on the back of the water heater casing 10, to ensure the stability of the water heater installation while ensuring uniform force distribution on the water heater casing 10, and to reduce the number of brackets 14, thereby reducing processing costs and improving assembly efficiency. Of course, in other embodiments, designers can also adjust the specific number of brackets 14 according to actual installation requirements.

[0044] like Figures 2-3 As shown, the water heater housing 10 also includes a first end cap assembly 12 and a second end cap assembly 13. The inner tank 11 of the outer casing is a shell-shaped structure with openings at both ends. The first end cap assembly 12 covers the first end opening 1101 of the inner tank 11, and the second end cap assembly 13 covers the second end opening 1102 of the inner tank 11. The second end cap assembly 13 has an installation port 13120 (e.g., ...). Figure 9 As shown, the inner liner 20 is installed at the mounting port 13120, thereby limiting and protecting the inner liner 20. The outer shell, the inner barrel 11, the first end cap assembly 12, and the second end cap assembly 13 cooperate to form a sealed pressure-bearing cavity, which can improve the protection of the inner liner 20 on the one hand, and play a role in heat insulation on the other hand, thereby reducing heat loss.

[0045] like Figures 4-7As shown, the first end opening 1101 of the outer casing barrel 11 is bent inward to form a first flange 1103; the first end cap assembly 12 includes a first end cap 121 and a decorative cap 122. The first end cap 121 is located inside the outer casing barrel 11, and the outer end face of the first end cap 121 is in contact with the inner side of the first flange 1103. The decorative cap 122 is located outside the outer casing barrel 11 and is in contact with the outer side of the first flange 1103. The decorative cap 122 is connected to the first end cap 121. By setting the first end cap 121 and the decorative cap 122 on both sides of the first flange 1103 of the outer casing 11, the first flange 1103 is pressed and fixed by the first end cap 121 and the decorative cap 122. On the one hand, this increases the contact area between the outer casing 11 and the first end cap assembly 12, improves the structural strength of the end of the outer casing 11, enhances the deformation resistance and shock resistance of the water heater shell 10, prevents cracking at the connection between the outer casing 11 and the first end cap assembly 12 during use, and extends the service life of the water heater. At the same time, the first flange 1103 can also play a limiting and positioning role when the outer casing 11 and the first end cap assembly 12 are assembled, thereby ensuring the assembly accuracy of the outer casing 11 and the first end cap assembly 12. On the other hand, it can make the contact surfaces between the first flange 1103 and the first end cap 121 and between the first flange 1103 and the decorative cap 122 evenly stressed, and can effectively improve the sealing effect at the connection between the outer casing 11 and the first end cap assembly 12. Furthermore, compared to the related technology that forms an arc-shaped inner folded edge on the outer casing barrel 11 through an arc extrusion molding process, processing the first flange 1103 on the outer casing barrel 11 can reduce the processing difficulty of the outer casing barrel 11 and reduce the processing cost.

[0046] It should be explained that, for ease of description, the side of the first flange 1103 facing the inner liner 20 is defined as the inner side of the first flange 1103, and the side of the first flange 1103 away from the inner liner 20 is defined as the outer side of the first flange 1103.

[0047] In some embodiments, the ratio of the width of the first flange 1103 to the maximum radial dimension of the inner barrel 11 of the outer shell is X1, where X1 ≥ 10%, to ensure a large contact area between the first flange 1103 and the first end cap 121, and between the first flange 1103 and the decorative cap 122, thereby further ensuring the structural strength of the end of the inner barrel 11 of the outer shell. Exemplarily, X1 can be 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, etc. It should be noted that the value of X1 is not limited to the above range, and designers can adaptively adjust the value of X1 according to actual processing and assembly requirements.

[0048] As Figure 1 and Figure 3As shown, the outer casing 11 includes a bottom flat portion 111 formed at the bottom, a top flat portion 112 formed at the top, a front flat portion 113 formed at the front, and a rear flat portion 114 formed at the rear. A second arc-shaped transition section 116 connects the front flat portion 113 and the top flat portion 112. A first arc-shaped transition section 115 connects the bottom flat portion 111 and the rear flat portion 114. A first straight transition section 117 connects the front flat portion 113 and the bottom flat portion 111. A second straight transition section 118 connects the rear flat portion 114 and the top flat portion 112. A bracket 14 is connected to the rear flat portion 114, which is used to contact the wall surface to be installed. Water inlet / outlet pipe assemblies 30 are inserted into the first arc-shaped transition section 115. By designing the rear side of the outer casing 11 to be flat, forming a rear flat portion 114, the rear flat portion 114 contacts the wall surface when the water heater is mounted, which helps improve the mounting stability of the electric water heater. Furthermore, by designing the front and rear sides of the outer casing 11 to be flat, forming opposing front flat portions 113 and rear flat portions 114, the width of the water heater in the front-to-back direction is reduced, making the water heater flatter and facilitating installation in narrow spaces.

[0049] The second arc-shaped transition section 116 connects the front straight portion 113 and the top straight portion 112. The first straight transition section 117 connects the front straight portion 113 and the bottom straight portion 111. The front straight portion 113, a portion of the first arc-shaped transition section 115, and a portion of the first straight transition section 117 form the front of the water heater housing 10. The first arc-shaped transition section 115 connects the bottom straight portion 111 and the rear straight portion 114. The second straight transition section 118 connects the rear straight portion 114 and the top straight portion 112. The rear straight portion 114, a portion of the second arc-shaped transition section 116, and a portion of the second straight transition section 118 form the back of the water heater housing 10. The arrangement of the first arc-shaped transition section 115 and the second arc-shaped transition section 116 increases the internal space of the outer casing 11 to accommodate the inner tank 20, thereby increasing the water storage capacity of the inner tank 20. The maximum radial dimension of the outer casing barrel 11 refers to the diameter of the first arc-shaped transition section 115 (or the second arc-shaped transition section 116).

[0050] It should be noted that in this embodiment, "up," "down," "top," "bottom," "front," and "back" refer to the actual installation space of the water heater. When the water heater is installed on the wall to be installed, the side of the water heater housing 10 facing the wall is the back, and the side of the water heater housing 10 away from the wall is the front. When the user faces the front of the water heater, the user's left hand is left, the user's right hand is right, the direction above the user's head is up, and the direction below the user's feet is down.

[0051] In some embodiments, the outer casing 11 is formed by multiple bending processes, and its riveting position is located at the second straight transition section 118. During use, the stress at the second straight transition section 118 is minimal, which can prevent the outer casing 11 from cracking. Furthermore, the second straight transition section 118 is planar, which reduces the processing difficulty.

[0052] like Figure 4 As shown, the outer edge of the first end cap 121 is bent inward toward the inner side of the outer casing 11 to form a first bent edge 1213, and the first bent edge 1213 partially abuts against the inner wall of the outer casing 11. By providing the first bent edge 1213 on the first end cap 121, the first bent edge 1213 can abut against the inner wall of the outer casing 11 to form a circumferential limit on the outer casing 11, thereby preventing the outer casing 11 from becoming concave or flattened during pressure, foam filling, or transportation, ensuring the roundness of the outer casing 11, thereby improving the overall appearance quality and aesthetics of the water heater casing 10, and extending the service life of the water heater.

[0053] like Figures 6-7 As shown, the decorative cover 122 is detachably connected to the first end cover 121 to facilitate the assembly of the outer casing 11 and the first end cover assembly 12. In this embodiment, the decorative cover 122 is provided with a first buckle 1221, and the first end cover 121 is provided with a first snap-fit ​​hole 1211. The first buckle 1221 and the first snap-fit ​​hole 1211 engage with each other, thereby achieving a detachable connection between the first end cover 121 and the decorative cover 122. The structure is simple, easy to assemble and disassemble, and the connection is secure. Of course, in other embodiments, the first buckle 1221 can also be provided on the first end cover 121, and the first snap-fit ​​hole 1211 can be provided on the decorative cover 122, achieving the same effect. Furthermore, this embodiment does not limit the connection method between the first end cover 121 and the decorative cover 122; they can also be connected by screws, plug-in connections, etc.

[0054] In some embodiments, the decorative cover 122 is provided with a first anti-deviation post 1222, and the first end cover 121 is provided with a first anti-deviation groove 1212 that corresponds to and is inserted into the first anti-deviation post 1222. By providing the correspondingly inserted first anti-deviation post 1222 and first anti-deviation groove 1212, precise positioning can be achieved when assembling the decorative cover 122 and the first end cover 121, thereby ensuring the assembly accuracy of the decorative cover 122 and the first end cover 121. In other embodiments, the first anti-deviation post 1222 can also be provided on the first end cover 121, and the first anti-deviation groove 1212 can be provided on the decorative cover 122, achieving the same effect.

[0055] Optionally, in this embodiment, there are two first anti-deviation posts 1222, each corresponding to a first anti-deviation groove 1212, to further improve the assembly accuracy of the decorative cover 122 and the first end cover 121. Of course, in other embodiments, the number of first anti-deviation posts 1222 can also be set to one, three, etc., and this embodiment does not limit the specific number of first anti-deviation posts 1222 and first anti-deviation grooves 1212.

[0056] When the inner barrel 11 of the outer shell is assembled with the first end cap assembly 12, since the first anti-deviation groove 1212 is provided on the outer end face of the first end cap 121 and the first flange 1103 is in contact with the outer surface of the outer end face of the first end cap 121, after the first anti-deviation post 1222 and the first anti-deviation groove 1212 are inserted, the first anti-deviation post 1222 and the first flange 1103 form a mutually snap-fit ​​connection structure, thereby further improving the connection strength between the inner barrel 11 of the outer shell and the first end cap assembly 12.

[0057] like Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, the first end cap assembly 12 also includes a support member 123, which is disposed between the first end cap 121 and the inner liner 20 to support the inner liner 20, ensuring that it is coaxially aligned with the outer casing 11 and preventing the inner liner 20 from tilting during use. Optionally, the support member 123 is provided with a limiting groove that fits against the bottom of the inner liner 20 to increase the contact area between the inner liner 20 and the support member 123, further improving the supporting effect of the support member 123 on the inner liner 20.

[0058] like Figures 8-10 and combined Figure 2 As shown, the outer casing 11 is bent inward at one end along its axial direction to form a second flange 1104; the second end cap assembly 13 includes a second end cap 131 and a maintenance cover 132. The second end cap 131 is located inside the outer casing 11, and its outer end face is in contact with the inner side of the second flange 1104. The maintenance cover 132 is located outside the outer casing 11 and is partially in contact with the outer side of the second flange 1104. The maintenance cover 132 is connected to the second end cap 131. The decorative cover 122 can be configured to have the same outer surface as the maintenance cover 132 to further improve the aesthetic appearance of the water heater.

[0059] By setting the second end cap 131 and the maintenance cap 132 on both sides of the second flange 1104 of the outer casing 11, the second flange 1104 is pressed and fixed by the second end cap 131 and the maintenance cap 132. On the one hand, this increases the contact area between the outer casing 11 and the second end cap assembly 13, improves the structural strength of the end of the outer casing 11, enhances the deformation resistance and shock resistance of the water heater shell 10, prevents cracking at the connection between the outer casing 11 and the second end cap assembly 13 during use, and extends the service life of the water heater. At the same time, the second flange 1104 can also play a limiting and positioning role when assembling the outer casing 11 and the second end cap assembly 13, thereby ensuring the assembly accuracy of the outer casing 11 and the second end cap assembly 13. On the other hand, it can make the contact surfaces between the second flange 1104 and the second end cap 131 and between the second flange 1104 and the maintenance cap 132 evenly stressed, and can effectively improve the sealing effect at the connection between the outer casing 11 and the second end cap assembly 13. Furthermore, compared to the related technology that forms an arc-shaped inner folded edge on the outer casing barrel 11 through an arc extrusion molding process, processing the second flange 1104 on the outer casing barrel 11 can reduce the processing difficulty of the outer casing barrel 11 and reduce the processing cost.

[0060] It should be explained that, for ease of description, the side of the second flange 1104 facing the inner liner 20 is defined as the inner side of the second flange 1104, and the side of the second flange 1104 away from the inner liner 20 is defined as the outer side of the second flange 1104.

[0061] In some embodiments, the width of the second flange 1104 is X2 as a percentage of the maximum radial dimension of the inner casing 11, where X2 ≥ 10%. This design ensures a large contact area between the second flange 1104 and the second end cap 131, and between the second flange 1104 and the maintenance cover 132, thereby guaranteeing the structural strength of the end of the inner casing 11. It also facilitates the assembly of the second end cap 131 and the inner casing 11, improving the ease of assembly. For example, X2 can be 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, etc. It should be noted that the value of X2 is not limited to the above range, and designers can adaptively adjust the value of X2 according to actual processing and assembly requirements.

[0062] like Figures 8-10 As shown, the second end cap 131 includes an annular end cap body 1311 and an electrical chamber 1312. The outer end face of the annular end cap body 1311 is in contact with the inner side of the second flange 1104. The electrical chamber 1312 is installed inside the annular end cap body 1311, and the above-mentioned mounting opening 13120 is formed in the middle of the electrical chamber 1312. The electrical chamber 1312 is used to install components.

[0063] In some embodiments, the maintenance cover 132 is detachably connected to the second end cover 131 to facilitate disassembly by operators for maintenance of components installed in the electrical compartment 1312. Optionally, in this embodiment, the maintenance cover 132 is provided with a second buckle 1321, and the second end cover 131 (specifically, the annular end cover body 1311) is provided with a second snap-fit ​​hole 13111. The second buckle 1321 engages with the second snap-fit ​​hole 13111, thereby achieving a detachable connection between the maintenance cover 132 and the second end cover 131. This structure is simple, easy to assemble and disassemble, and provides a secure connection. Of course, in other embodiments, the second buckle 1321 can also be provided on the second end cover 131, and the second snap-fit ​​hole 13111 can be provided on the maintenance cover 132, achieving the same effect. Furthermore, this embodiment does not limit the detachable connection method of the maintenance cover 132 and the second end cover 131; they can also be connected by screws, plugs, or other methods.

[0064] In some embodiments, the outer edge of the annular end cap body 1311 is bent inward toward the inner side of the outer casing 11 to form a second bent edge 13112, and the second bent edge 13112 partially abuts against the inner wall of the outer casing 11. By providing the second bent edge 13112 on the annular end cap body 1311, the second bent edge 13112 can abut against the inner wall of the outer casing 11 to form a circumferential limit on the outer casing 11, thereby preventing the outer casing 11 from becoming concave or flattened during pressure, foam filling, or transportation, ensuring the roundness of the outer casing 11, thereby improving the overall appearance quality and aesthetics of the water heater casing 10, and extending the service life of the water heater.

[0065] In some embodiments, the maintenance cover 132 is provided with a second anti-deviation post 1322, and the second end cover 131 is provided with a second anti-deviation groove 13113 that corresponds to and engages with the second anti-deviation post 1322. By providing the correspondingly engaged second anti-deviation post 1322 and second anti-deviation groove 13113, precise positioning can be achieved during the assembly of the maintenance cover 132 and the second end cover 131, thereby ensuring the assembly accuracy of the maintenance cover 132 and the second end cover 131. In other embodiments, the second anti-deviation post 1322 can also be provided on the second end cover 131, and the second anti-deviation groove 13113 can be provided on the maintenance cover 132, achieving the same effect.

[0066] Optionally, in this embodiment, there are two second anti-deviation posts 1322, each corresponding to a second anti-deviation groove 13113, to further improve the assembly accuracy of the maintenance cover 132 and the second end cover 131. Of course, in other embodiments, the number of second anti-deviation posts 1322 can also be set to one, three, etc., and this embodiment does not limit the specific number of second anti-deviation posts 1322 and second anti-deviation grooves 13113.

[0067] When the outer casing barrel 11 is assembled with the second end cap assembly 13, since the second anti-deviation groove 13113 is provided on the outer end face of the second end cap 131 and the second flange 1104 is in contact with the outer end face of the second end cap 131, after the second anti-deviation post 1322 is inserted into the second anti-deviation groove 13113, the second anti-deviation post 1322 and the second flange 1104 form a mutually snap-fit ​​connection structure, thereby further improving the connection strength between the outer casing barrel 11 and the second end cap assembly 13.

[0068] like Figure 1 and Figure 11 As shown, the water heater provided in this embodiment also includes an anti-electric shock cover 40, which is magnetically connected to the inner tank 11 of the outer casing. By setting the anti-electric shock cover 40, the inlet and outlet water pipe assemblies 30 can be shielded, improving the aesthetic appearance of the water heater; on the other hand, the display panel can also be fixed. By connecting the anti-electric shock cover 40 to the inner tank 11 of the outer casing magnetically, there is no need to set hooks on the anti-electric shock cover 40 or hook holes on the inner tank 11 of the outer casing, thus avoiding the impact on the structural strength of the water heater casing 10 caused by opening hook holes.

[0069] In some embodiments, the anti-electric shock cover 40 is provided with a magnetic element 411, and the outer casing 11 is made of metal. The magnetic element 411 can be magnetically attracted to the outer wall of the outer casing 11. This design allows the anti-electric shock cover 40 to be fixed at different positions on the outer casing 11 according to the usage requirements of the water heater, improving the versatility of the water heater. Optionally, the number of magnetic elements 411 is at least two, and each magnetic element 411 is arranged at intervals along the circumference of the anti-electric shock cover 40 to improve the fixing effect between the anti-electric shock cover 40 and the outer casing 11.

[0070] like Figure 11 As shown, the anti-electric shock cover 40 includes a cover body 41 and a mounting part 42. The mounting part 42 is connected to the cover body 41 and is used for the installation of the inlet and outlet water pipe assemblies 30. The mounting part 42 is provided with dotted breaks in a grid pattern. When assembling the water heater, the operator can tear open the dotted breaks at the corresponding positions according to the installation location of the inlet and outlet water pipe assemblies 30, thereby forming an installation area corresponding to the inlet and outlet water pipe assemblies 30, to adapt to the installation requirements of different specifications of inlet and outlet water pipe assemblies 30, further improving the versatility of the water heater.

[0071] In some embodiments, the mounting part 42 is snapped and fixed to the cover body 41 by a snap-fit ​​structure, which can realize the separate processing of the cover body 41 and the mounting part 42, reduce the processing difficulty and improve the processing efficiency.

[0072] like Figure 1 and Figure 9As shown, the inner wall of the electrical compartment 1312 is provided with a mounting groove 13122 for mounting the control board. A wire through hole 13121 is provided through the side wall of the electrical compartment 1312, and the wire through hole 13121 is located below the mounting groove 13122. One end of the signal line is electrically connected to the display board, and the other end of the signal line passes through the wire through hole 13121 and is electrically connected to the control board. Compared with the related technology's solution of connecting the signal line from inside the water heater housing 10, the above design can avoid the foam material inside the water heater housing 10 from sticking to the signal line, thereby facilitating subsequent maintenance operations of the water heater.

[0073] In some embodiments, the electrical compartment 1312 is provided with a housing cavity 13123 for accommodating the battery, and the battery is electrically connected to the control board via an electrical connection wire. Optionally, a protective shell is provided around the battery, and the protective shell and the cavity wall of the housing cavity 13123 cooperate to form a relatively closed chamber, thereby preventing heat in the electrical compartment 1312 from being transferred to the battery surface and affecting the battery's performance.

[0074] like Figure 12 and combined Figure 2 As shown, this embodiment also provides a method for assembling a water heater housing, used to assemble the aforementioned water heater housing 10. The method includes the following steps: Place the first end cap 121 inside the outer casing barrel 11; The outer casing 11 with the first end cap 121 assembled is fitted onto the auxiliary assembly fixture 100 so that the top clamping plate 101 of the auxiliary assembly fixture 100 presses the first end cap 121 against the first flange 1103 of the outer casing 11. Connect the decorative cover 122 to the first end cover 121.

[0075] By setting up an auxiliary assembly fixture 100, the clamping plate 101 of the auxiliary assembly fixture 100 can clamp the first end cap 121 onto the first flange 1103 of the outer casing barrel 11. Relying on the clamping force provided by the auxiliary assembly fixture 100, the first flange 1103 of the outer casing barrel 11 is tightly fitted with the outer end face of the first end cap 121. Then, the decorative cover 122 is fixedly connected to the first end cap 121 from the outside of the outer casing barrel 11, so that the decorative cover 122 and the first end cap 121 cooperate to clamp the first flange 1103, thereby improving the stability of the assembly between the outer casing barrel 11 and the first end cap assembly 12 and reducing the risk of the first end cap 121 shifting inward under tension when the decorative cover 122 and the first end cap 121 are assembled.

[0076] Specifically, the auxiliary assembly fixture 100 includes a support base 102 and a top clamping plate 101 connected to the top of the support base 102. The shape of the top clamping plate 101 is the same as the cross-sectional shape of the inner barrel 11 of the outer shell, so that the inner side of the first flange 1103 is completely attached to the top clamping plate 101, preventing the first flange 1103 from being locally warped and deformed by pressure, further ensuring that the first end cap 121 and the first flange 1103 are tightly attached, and improving the stability of the assembly between the inner barrel 11 of the outer shell and the first end cap assembly 12.

[0077] In some embodiments, the top clamping plate 101 is detachably connected to the support base 102 by fasteners, so that operators can easily replace the top clamping plate 101 of the corresponding size according to different specifications of water heaters, thereby improving the versatility of the auxiliary assembly tooling 100.

[0078] After the first end cap 121, decorative cap 122 and outer casing barrel 11 are assembled, they are removed from the auxiliary assembly fixture 100 and flipped so that the decorative cap 122 faces down; then the support member 123 is inserted into the outer casing barrel 11 through the second end opening 1102; then the inner liner 20 is inserted through the second end opening 1102 of the outer casing barrel 11; finally, the second end cap assembly 13 is installed on the second end opening 1102 of the outer casing barrel 11.

[0079] Obviously, the above embodiments of the present invention are merely examples for clearly illustrating the present invention, and are not intended to limit the implementation of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make other variations or modifications based on the above description. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively describe all embodiments here. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A water heater housing, characterized in that, include: The outer casing (11) has a first end opening (1101) that is bent inward to form a first flange (1103). The first end cap assembly (12) is installed at the first end opening (1101). The first end cap assembly (12) includes a first end cap (121) and a decorative cover (122). The first end cap (121) is located inside the inner side of the outer casing (11), and the outer end face of the first end cap (121) is in contact with the inner side of the first flange (1103). The decorative cover (122) is located outside the outer casing (11) and is in contact with the outer side of the first flange (1103). The decorative cover (122) is connected to the first end cap (121).

2. The water heater housing according to claim 1, characterized in that, The width of the first flange (1103) is X1 as a ratio to the maximum radial dimension of the inner barrel (11) of the outer shell, wherein X1 ≥ 10%.

3. The water heater housing according to claim 1, characterized in that, The decorative cover (122) is provided with a first anti-deviation post (1222), and the first end cover (121) is provided with a first anti-deviation groove (1212) that is inserted into the first anti-deviation post (1222).

4. The water heater housing according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer edge of the first end cap (121) is bent toward the inner side of the outer casing (11) to form a first bent edge (1213), and the first bent edge (1213) partially abuts against the inner wall of the outer casing (11).

5. The water heater casing according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The second end opening (1102) of the inner barrel (11) of the outer shell is bent inward to form a second flange (1104). The water heater housing also includes a second end cap assembly (13), which is installed at the second end opening (1102). The second end cap assembly (13) includes a second end cap (131) and a maintenance cover (132). The second end cap (131) is located inside the inner tub (11) of the outer shell, and the outer end face of the second end cap (131) is in contact with the inner side of the second flange (1104). The maintenance cover (132) is located outside the inner tub (11) of the outer shell and is in contact with the outer side of the second flange (1104). The maintenance cover (132) is connected to the second end cap (131).

6. The water heater housing according to claim 5, characterized in that, The width of the second flange (1104) is X2 as a ratio to the maximum radial dimension of the inner barrel (11) of the outer shell, wherein X2 ≥ 10%.

7. The water heater housing according to claim 5, characterized in that, The second end cap (131) includes: The outer end face of the annular end cap body (1311) is in contact with the inner side of the second flange (1104); An electrical compartment (1312) is installed inside the annular end cap body (1311). The electrical compartment (1312) has a mounting port (13120) in the middle for installing the inner liner (20). The electrical compartment (1312) is used to install components.

8. The water heater housing according to claim 7, characterized in that, The outer edge of the annular end cap body (1311) is bent toward the inner side of the outer shell barrel (11) to form a second bent edge (13112), and the second bent edge (13112) partially abuts against the inner wall of the outer shell barrel (11).

9. The water heater housing according to claim 7, characterized in that, The inner wall of the electrical compartment (1312) is provided with a mounting groove (13122) for installing the control board. A wire hole (13121) is provided through the side wall of the electrical compartment (1312). The wire hole (13121) is located below the mounting groove (13122) and is used for the passage of signal lines. The signal lines are used to electrically connect the control board and the display panel of the water heater.

10. The water heater housing according to claim 5, characterized in that, The maintenance cover (132) is provided with a second anti-deviation post (1322), and the second end cover (131) is provided with a second anti-deviation groove (13113) that is inserted into the second anti-deviation post (1322).

11. A water heater, characterized in that, include: Water heater housing as described in any one of claims 1 to 10; The inner tank (20) is disposed inside the water heater shell and is used to store water; The inlet and outlet water pipe assembly (30) can pass through the water heater housing and be inserted into the inner tank (20) to input cold water into the inner tank (20) and output hot water from the inner tank (20).

12. The water heater according to claim 11, characterized in that, The water heater also includes an anti-electric shock wall cover (40), which is magnetically fixed to the outer shell of the water heater housing (11).

13. The water heater according to claim 12, characterized in that, The anti-electric shock wall cover (40) includes: The cover body (41) is magnetically fixed to the outer shell of the water heater housing (11); The mounting part (42) is connected to the cover body (41). The mounting part (42) is used for the inlet and outlet water pipe assembly (30) to pass through, and the mounting part (42) is provided with dotted lines distributed in a grid pattern.

14. A method for assembling a water heater housing, used for assembling a water heater housing as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The water heater housing assembly method includes the following steps: Place the first end cap (121) inside the outer casing barrel (11); The outer casing (11) with the first end cap (121) assembled is fitted onto the auxiliary assembly fixture (100) so that the top plate (101) of the auxiliary assembly fixture (100) presses the first end cap (121) against the first flange (1103) of the outer casing (11). Connect the decorative cover (122) to the first end cap (121).

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