Flow control valve and water heater

Abstract

The utility model discloses a flow control valve and a water heater, and relates to the technical field of water heaters, the flow control valve comprises a valve body, the valve body is provided with a water inlet, a water outlet, a first flow channel and a second flow channel, the water inlet and the water outlet are communicated through the first flow channel and the second flow channel, and the first flow channel and the second flow channel are arranged in parallel; the adjusting mechanism comprises a blocking assembly and a driving assembly in driving fit with the blocking assembly, the blocking assembly is movably arranged in the valve body, the blocking assembly is provided with a blocking position for blocking the first flow channel, and the first flow channel is opened to the maximum opening position; and the driving assembly is located at any middle opening position between the plugging position and the maximum opening position and used for driving the plugging assembly to move so as to conduct stepless adjustment on the opening degree of the first flow channel. According to the technical scheme, the adjusting precision of the flow control valve can be improved, and when the flow control valve is applied to the water heater, the water outlet constant-temperature performance of the water heater can be guaranteed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of water heaters, in particular to a flow control valve and a water heater. Background Art

[0002] In the related art, the flow valve used for water heaters can usually only achieve flow regulation in two fixed gears, and the flow regulation accuracy is low. When the water inlet flow of the water heater fluctuates, the flow valve cannot be accurately adjusted to the corresponding flow according to actual needs, resulting in large fluctuations in the outlet water temperature of the water heater, affecting the constant temperature performance of the outlet water of the water heater. Utility Model Content

[0003] The main purpose of the utility model is to provide a flow control valve and a water heater, aiming to improve the adjustment accuracy of the flow control valve. When applied to the water heater, the constant temperature performance of the water outlet of the water heater can be guaranteed.

[0004] To achieve the above purpose, the flow control valve proposed by the utility model includes:

[0005] a valve body having a water inlet, a water outlet, and a first flow channel and a second flow channel connecting the water inlet and the water outlet, wherein the first flow channel and the second flow channel are arranged in parallel; and

[0006] The regulating mechanism comprises a blocking component and a driving component drivingly cooperated with the blocking component, wherein the blocking component can be movably arranged in the valve body, and the blocking component has a blocking position for blocking the first flow channel, a maximum opening position for opening the first flow channel to the maximum, and any intermediate opening position between the blocking position and the maximum opening position, and the driving component is used to drive the blocking component to move so as to perform stepless adjustment on the opening of the first flow channel.

[0007] In one embodiment, the first flow channel has a flow port, the driving assembly includes a stepless driving member and a transmission member drivingly connected to the stepless driving member, the transmission member is arranged on the side of the blocking assembly away from the flow port, and the stepless driving member is used to drive the transmission member to approach or move away from the blocking assembly so that the blocking assembly can block or open the flow port and can achieve stepless adjustment of the flow gap between the blocking assembly and the flow port.

[0008] In one embodiment, the stepless driving member is used to drive the transmission member to rotate and / or linearly move so as to approach or move away from the blocking component.

[0009] In one embodiment, the drive assembly also includes a guide sleeve fixed to the valve body, the stepless drive member has a power output shaft, the transmission member is coaxially extended with the power output shaft, one end of the transmission member is transmission-connected to the power output shaft, the other end of the transmission member passes through the guide sleeve and is used to cooperate with the driving of the sealing assembly, the transmission member is threadedly connected to the guide sleeve, and the stepless drive member is used to drive the power output shaft to rotate, so as to drive the transmission member to rotate and move axially.

[0010] In one embodiment, the transmission member includes a guide section and a threaded section, one end of the guide section is provided with a socket for inserting the power output shaft, the threaded section is provided at the end of the guide section away from the socket, the guide sleeve has a guide hole for accommodating the guide section, and a through hole for the threaded section to pass through, the guide section is slidably matched with the inner wall of the guide hole, and the threaded section is threadedly connected to the inner wall of the through hole.

[0011] In one embodiment, the sealing assembly is clamped between the valve body and the guide sleeve, and the sealing assembly can generate flexible deformation driven by the water pressure of the incoming water to open the flow port. The side of the sealing assembly facing away from the flow port and the guide sleeve together define a cavity. The sealing assembly has a vent that connects the cavity with the first flow channel, and the end of the transmission member facing away from the stepless drive member is inserted into the cavity and is used to open or block the vent.

[0012] In one embodiment, the valve body includes a valve body and a cover, the first flow channel and the second flow channel are constructed inside the valve body, the water inlet and the water outlet are respectively provided at both ends of the valve body, a mounting cavity is provided on a side of the valve body close to the first flow channel, a mounting port is provided on a side of the mounting cavity away from the flow port, the blocking assembly and the guide sleeve are accommodated in the mounting cavity, the cover covers the mounting port and limits the guide sleeve, the stepless drive member is fixed to the cover, the cover is also provided with a through hole for partially accommodating the guide sleeve, and the transmission member is movably arranged in the guide sleeve.

[0013] In one embodiment, the stepless driving element is a stepless stepping motor.

[0014] In one embodiment, the second flow channel is a normally open channel, and the flow control valve further includes a flow stabilizing member disposed in the second flow channel.

[0015] In one embodiment, the flow control valve further includes a water flow sensor disposed on the valve body. The water flow sensor and the adjustment mechanism are respectively electrically connected to a control module. The water flow sensor is configured to detect the water inlet flow rate of the valve body and feedback a water flow signal to the control module, and the control module is configured to control the adjustment mechanism to adjust the opening degree of the first flow channel according to the water flow signal feedback by the water flow sensor;

[0016] And / or, the flow control valve further includes a temperature sensor disposed on the valve body. The temperature sensor and the adjustment mechanism are respectively electrically connected to the control module. The temperature sensor is configured to detect the water flow temperature in the valve body and feedback a temperature signal to the control module, and the control module is configured to control the adjustment mechanism to adjust the opening degree of the first flow channel according to the temperature signal feedback by the temperature sensor.

[0017] The present utility model further provides a water heater including the flow control valve as described above.

[0018] The technical solution of the present utility model adopts a dual-channel design for the flow control valve, so that a first flow channel and a second flow channel are arranged in parallel inside the valve body. Among them, the first flow channel is a servo flow channel with adjustable flow rate controlled by an adjustment mechanism, and the second flow channel is a normally open flow channel with a fixed flow rate. The opening degree of the first flow channel is steplessly adjusted by the adjustment mechanism. When the plugging component is in the maximum opening position, the opening degree of the first flow channel reaches the maximum. At this time, the output flow rate of the flow control valve is the sum of the maximum flow rate of the first flow channel and the flow rate of the second flow channel, realizing large flow rate output; when the driving component drives the plugging component to move to any intermediate opening position, the opening degree of the first flow channel is at any intermediate opening degree. At this time, the output flow rate of the flow control valve is the sum of any intermediate flow rate of the first flow channel and the flow rate of the second flow channel, realizing any medium flow rate output; when the driving component drives the plugging component to move to the plugging position, the first flow channel is closed. At this time, the output flow rate of the flow control valve is the flow rate of the second flow channel, realizing small flow rate output. In this way, the output flow rate of the flow control valve can be continuously and smoothly steplessly adjusted between small flow rate, any medium flow channel, and large flow rate, making the flow control valve have higher flow rate adjustment accuracy and a wider application range. When the flow control valve is applied to a water heater, the flow control valve can be disposed on the water inlet pipe of the water heater. When the water inlet flow rate fluctuates, the water inlet flow rate is adjusted to the actual required flow rate through the flow control valve to avoid large fluctuations in the outlet water temperature and ensure the constant temperature performance of the water heater outlet water. Description of the Drawings

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for the description of the embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, without creative efforts, other drawings can also be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings.

[0020] Figure 1 Structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the flow control valve provided by the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 For Figure 1 Cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of the flow control valve in

[0022] Figure 3 For Figure 2 Cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of the plugging assembly in when it is in the plugged position;

[0023] Figure 4 For Figure 3 Partial enlarged view of part A in ;

[0024] Figure 5 For Figure 2 Cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of the plugging assembly in when it is in the maximum open position;

[0025] Figure 6 For Figure 5 Partial enlarged view of part B in ;

[0026] Figure 7 Exploded structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the flow control valve provided by the present invention;

[0027] Figure 8 Cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the guide sleeve;

[0028] Figure 9 Cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the valve body.

[0029] Explanation of the reference numerals in the drawings:

[0030] 100. Flow control valve; 10. Valve body; 101. Water inlet; 102. Water outlet; 103. First flow channel; 1031. Flow-through port; 104. Second flow channel; 105. Installation cavity; 1051. Installation port; 11. Valve body; 12. Sealing cover; 121. Through hole; 20. Adjusting mechanism; 21. Driving assembly; 211. Stepless driving member; 2111. Power output shaft; 212. Transmission member; 2121. Guide section; 2122. Thread section; 213. Guide sleeve; 2131. Guide hole; 2132. Perforation; 213a. Guide cylinder; 213b. Compression gland; 214. Plug; 215. Sealing member; 22. Plugging assembly; 221. Flexible plugging member; 222. Support member; 2221. Vent hole; 201. Cavity; 30. Flow stabilizing member; 40. Water flow sensor; 41. Rotor; 42. Hall induction element; 50. Temperature sensor.

[0031] The realization, functional features and advantages of the present utility model will be further described in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed implementation manners

[0032] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present utility model, rather than all of the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present utility model without making creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0033] It should be noted that if there are directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back,...) involved in the embodiments of the present utility model, the directional indications are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement conditions between the components in a specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indications will also change accordingly.

[0034] In addition, if there are descriptions involving "first", "second", etc. in the embodiments of the present utility model, the descriptions of "first", "second", etc. are only for descriptive purposes and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the quantity of the indicated technical features. Thus, the features defined with "first", "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one such feature. In addition, if "and / or" or "and / or" appears throughout the text, its meaning includes three parallel scenarios. Taking "A and / or B" as an example, it includes scenario A, or scenario B, or the scenario where both A and B are satisfied simultaneously. In addition, the technical solutions between various embodiments can be combined with each other, but it must be based on the ability of those of ordinary skill in the art to implement. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection required by the present utility model.

[0035] In the related art, the flow valve for a water heater can usually only achieve flow regulation with two fixed gears, and the flow regulation accuracy is relatively low. When the inlet water flow of the water heater fluctuates, the flow valve cannot accurately adjust to the corresponding flow according to actual needs, resulting in a large fluctuation in the outlet water temperature of the water heater and affecting the constant temperature performance of the water heater's outlet water.

[0036] Taking a gas water heater as an example, in one embodiment, the gas water heater includes a burner, a heat exchanger, and a blower. The burner is connected to an intake pipe, the water inlet end of the heat exchanger is connected to a water inlet pipe, and the water outlet end of the heat exchanger is connected to a water outlet pipe. When the water heater operates, external cold water is transported to the heat exchanger through the water inlet pipe, and external gas source transports gas to the burner through the intake pipe. The gas burns in the burner to generate high-temperature flue gas, and the high-temperature flue gas is driven by the blower to flow to the heat exchanger to heat the cold water in the heat exchanger, thereby generating hot water and outputting it through the water outlet pipe to provide hot water for users.

[0037] During the operation of the water heater, due to the unstable water pressure in the water supply pipeline, the inlet water volume usually fluctuates. When the inlet water flow fluctuates, if the original combustion load is still used for combustion heating, it will cause fluctuations in the outlet water temperature and affect the constant temperature performance of the water heater's outlet water. In the related art, generally only the gas volume is adjusted to ensure a constant outlet water temperature, but there is a delay from the change in gas volume to heat exchange, and the problem of water temperature fluctuation cannot be solved quickly and efficiently.

[0038] Based on this, the utility model provides a flow control valve 100, which can improve the flow regulation accuracy of the flow control valve 100 by optimizing the structure of the flow control valve 100, so that the flow control valve 100 can realize stepless flow regulation of small flow, large flow, and any intermediate flow between small flow and large flow, so that its application range is wider. When the flow control valve 100 is applied to a water heater, the flow control valve 100 can be arranged on the water inlet pipe of the water heater. When the water inlet flow fluctuates, the water inlet flow is adjusted to the actual required flow by the flow control valve 100 to avoid large fluctuations in the outlet water temperature, so as to ensure the outlet water constant temperature performance of the water heater. And it can quickly and efficiently solve the problem of water temperature fluctuation by adjusting the gas volume and the water inlet flow, and ensure the outlet water constant temperature performance of the water heater. Of course, the flow control valve 100 is not limited to being used in water heaters, but can also be applied to other equipment that requires precise flow control. Below, an example is given for the implementation of the flow control valve 100.

[0039] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2 In one embodiment of the utility model, the flow control valve 100 includes a valve body 10 and an adjusting mechanism 20. The valve body 10 has a water inlet 101, a water outlet 102, and a first flow channel 103 and a second flow channel 104 connecting the water inlet 101 and the water outlet 102, and the first flow channel 103 and the second flow channel 104 are arranged in parallel. The adjusting mechanism 20 includes a blocking component 22 and a driving component 21 drivingly matched with the blocking component 22. The blocking component 22 is movably arranged in the valve body 10. The blocking component 22 has a blocking position for blocking the first flow channel 103, a maximum opening position for opening the first flow channel 103 to the maximum, and any intermediate opening position between the blocking position and the maximum opening position. The driving component 21 is used to drive the blocking component 22 to move so as to perform stepless adjustment on the opening of the first flow channel 103.

[0040] In this embodiment, the valve body 10 is used to construct an internal flow channel structure and can serve as a mounting carrier for the adjusting mechanism 20. The valve body 10 has at least two parallel flow channels. The external water flow enters the valve body 10 through the water inlet 101 and can be divided into two paths. One path can flow from the first flow channel 103 to the water outlet 102, and the other path can flow from the second flow channel 104 to the water outlet 102. The first flow channel 103 is a servo flow channel with adjustable flow rate controlled by the adjusting mechanism 20, and the second flow channel 104 is a normally open flow channel with a fixed flow rate. By continuously adjusting the opening degree of the first flow channel 103 through the adjusting mechanism 20, the flow rate of the first flow channel 103 can be continuously adjusted, and thus the total output flow rate of the flow control valve 100 can be continuously adjusted. Continuous adjustment means that within the adjustment range of a certain parameter (such as opening degree, flow rate, etc.), continuous and smooth adjustment can be achieved without being limited to preset gears or levels, with higher freedom and the ability to meet more complex usage requirements in more scenarios.

[0041] For example, as Figure 5 and Figure 6 shown, when the plugging assembly 22 is in the maximum opening position, the opening degree of the first flow channel 103 reaches the maximum. At this time, the output flow rate of the flow control valve 100 is the sum of the maximum flow rate of the first flow channel 103 and the flow rate of the second flow channel 104, realizing a large flow rate output; when the driving assembly 21 drives the plugging assembly 22 to move to any intermediate opening position, the opening degree of the first flow channel 103 is at any intermediate opening degree. At this time, the output flow rate of the flow control valve 100 is the sum of any intermediate flow rate of the first flow channel 103 and the flow rate of the second flow channel 104, realizing any medium flow rate output; as Figure 3 and Figure 4 shown, when the driving assembly 21 drives the plugging assembly 22 to move to the plugging position, the first flow channel 103 is closed. At this time, the output flow rate of the flow control valve 100 is the flow rate of the second flow channel 104, realizing a small flow rate output. It should be noted that any intermediate opening position refers to any position between the plugging position and the maximum opening position. That is to say, there are countless intermediate opening positions, and each intermediate opening position corresponds to an intermediate opening degree of the first flow channel 103, so that the opening degree of the first flow channel 103 can achieve continuous, smooth, and uninterrupted stepless adjustment. Exemplarily, the maximum flow rate of the first flow channel 103 is 4 L / min, and the fixed flow rate of the second flow channel 104 is 4 L / min. Then the maximum flow rate of the flow control valve 100 is 8 L / min, and the minimum flow rate is 4 L / min. The flow control valve 100 can achieve any flow rate adjustment between 4 L / min and 8 L / min. For example, 4 L / min, 5 L / min, 6 L / min, 7 L / min, 8 L / min, etc.

[0042] The technical solution of the present utility model adopts a dual-channel design for the flow control valve 100, so that the first flow channel 103 and the second flow channel 104 arranged in parallel are constructed inside the valve body 10. Among them, the first flow channel 103 is a servo flow channel with adjustable flow controlled by the adjusting mechanism 20, and the second flow channel 104 is a normally open flow channel with a fixed flow. The opening degree of the first flow channel 103 is steplessly adjusted by the adjusting mechanism 20. When the blocking component 22 is in the maximum opening position, the opening degree of the first flow channel 103 reaches the maximum. At this time, the output flow of the flow control valve 100 is the sum of the maximum flow of the first flow channel 103 and the flow of the second flow channel 104, realizing large-flow output; when the driving component 21 drives the blocking component 22 to move to any intermediate opening position, the opening degree of the first flow channel 103 is at any intermediate opening degree. At this time, the output flow of the flow control valve 100 is the sum of any intermediate flow of the first flow channel 103 and the flow of the second flow channel 104, realizing any medium-flow output; when the driving component 21 drives the blocking component 22 to move to the blocking position, the first flow channel 103 is closed. At this time, the output flow of the flow control valve 100 is the flow of the second flow channel 104, realizing small-flow output. In this way, the output flow of the flow control valve 100 can be continuously and smoothly steplessly adjusted between small flow, any medium flow channel, and large flow, so that the flow control valve 100 has higher flow adjustment accuracy and a wider application range. When the flow control valve 100 is applied to a water heater, the flow control valve 100 can be arranged on the water inlet pipe of the water heater. When the inlet water flow fluctuates, the inlet water flow is adjusted to the actual required flow through the flow control valve 100 to avoid large fluctuations in the outlet water temperature and ensure the constant-temperature performance of the water heater's outlet water.

[0043] Please combine Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 6 , in an embodiment, the first flow channel 103 has a flow-through port 1031. The driving component 21 includes a stepless driving member 211 and a transmission member 212 drivingly connected to the stepless driving member 211. The transmission member 212 is arranged on the side of the blocking component 22 away from the flow-through port 1031. The stepless driving member 211 is used to drive the transmission member 212 to approach or move away from the blocking component 22, so that the blocking component 22 can block or open the flow-through port 1031, and can steplessly adjust the flow-through gap between the blocking component 22 and the flow-through port 1031.

[0044] In this embodiment, the plugging assembly 22 can be configured to move from the plugging position or any intermediate position towards the direction close to the maximum opening position by relying on the inlet water pressure, and move from the maximum opening position or any intermediate position towards the direction close to the plugging position by relying on the driving assembly 21. For example, in the initial state, the plugging assembly 22 is in the plugging position to plug the flow-through port 1031, and at this time, the first flow channel 103 is closed. When it is necessary to open the first flow channel 103, the stepless driving member 211 drives the transmission member 212 away from the plugging assembly 22, so that there is a certain interval between the transmission member 212 and the plugging assembly 22. In this way, under the drive of the inlet water pressure, the plugging assembly 22 can be pushed to move from the plugging position towards any intermediate opening position or the maximum opening position. When it is necessary to reduce the opening degree of the first flow channel 103, the driving assembly 21 is used to drive the transmission member 212 to abut against the plugging assembly 22 and move towards the flow-through port 1031, so that the flow-through gap between the plugging assembly 22 and the flow-through port 1031 gradually decreases.

[0045] For example, when the first flow channel 103 needs to be opened to the maximum opening degree, the stepless driving member 211 drives the transmission member 212 to move to the maximum displacement away from the plugging assembly 22, so that a maximum gap is formed between the transmission member 212 and the plugging assembly 22. Under the driving of the incoming water pressure, the plugging assembly 22 can be pushed to move towards the side away from the flow-through port 1031 until it abuts against the transmission member 212. At this time, the flow-through gap between the plugging assembly 22 and the flow-through port 1031 is the largest, that is, the opening degree of the first flow channel 103 reaches the maximum. When the first flow channel 103 needs to be opened to the first intermediate opening degree, the stepless driving member 211 drives the transmission member 212 to move to the first intermediate position away from the plugging assembly 22, so that a first intermediate gap is formed between the transmission member 212 and the plugging assembly 22. Under the driving of the incoming water pressure, the plugging assembly 22 can be pushed to move towards the side away from the flow-through port 1031 until it abuts against the transmission member 212. At this time, a first intermediate flow-through gap is formed between the plugging assembly 22 and the flow-through port 1031, so that the first flow channel 103 reaches the first intermediate opening degree; when the first flow channel 103 needs to be opened to the second intermediate opening degree, the stepless driving member 211 drives the transmission member 212 to move to the second intermediate position away from the plugging assembly 22, so that a second intermediate gap is formed between the transmission member 212 and the plugging assembly 22. Under the driving of the incoming water pressure, the plugging assembly 22 can be pushed to move towards the side away from the flow-through port 1031 until it abuts against the transmission member 212. At this time, a second intermediate flow-through gap is formed between the plugging assembly 22 and the flow-through port 1031, so that the first flow channel 103 reaches the second intermediate opening degree. In this way, stepless adjustment of the opening degree of the first flow channel 103 from small to large can be achieved. Conversely, when the opening degree of the first flow channel 103 needs to be reduced, the stepless driving member 211 can be used to drive the transmission member 212 to move towards the plugging assembly 22, so that the transmission member 212 pushes the plugging assembly 22 towards the flow-through port 1031, so that the flow-through gap between the plugging assembly 22 and the flow-through port 1031 gradually decreases, and stepless adjustment of the opening degree of the first flow channel 103 from large to small is realized.

[0046] Of course, in some embodiments, the transmission member 212 and the plugging assembly 22 can also be fixedly connected, and the stepless driving member 211 is used to drive the transmission member 212 to move, and then the transmission member 212 directly drives the plugging assembly 22 to open or plug the flow-through port 1031, so as to realize the adjustment of the opening degree of the first flow channel 103.

[0047] In addition, there are various ways for the stepless driving member 211 to drive the transmission member 212 to move, including but not limited to, the stepless driving member 211 driving the transmission member 212 to perform a rotational movement to approach or move away from the plugging assembly 22; or, the stepless driving member 211 driving the transmission member 212 to perform a linear movement to approach or move away from the plugging assembly 22; or, the stepless driving member 211 driving the transmission member 212 to perform a rotational movement while realizing a linear movement to approach or move away from the plugging assembly 22. Among them, the stepless driving member 211 includes but is not limited to a stepless stepping motor, a stepless linear motor, and the like.

[0048] As Figure 4 shown, in one embodiment, the driving assembly 21 further includes a guide sleeve 213 fixedly arranged on the valve body 10. The stepless driving member 211 has a power output shaft 2111. The transmission member 212 extends coaxially with the power output shaft 2111. One end of the transmission member 212 is in transmission connection with the power output shaft 2111. The other end of the transmission member 212 passes through the guide sleeve 213 and is used for driving cooperation with the plugging assembly 22. The transmission member 212 is in threaded transmission connection with the guide sleeve 213. The stepless driving member 211 is used to drive the power output shaft 2111 to rotate, so as to drive the transmission member 212 to rotate and move axially.

[0049] In this embodiment, the transmission member 212 is a transmission rod extending coaxially with the power output shaft 2111 of the stepless driving member 211. The power output shaft 2111 and one end of the transmission member 212 can be in transmission connection by means of plugging fit, that is, when the power output shaft 2111 rotates, it can drive the transmission member 212 to rotate together; and, the transmission member 212 can also have a degree of freedom of movement along the axial direction relative to the power output shaft 2111. The transmission member 212 and the guide sleeve 213 are in threaded transmission connection to form a nut-screw structure. When the guide sleeve 213 is fixed, the transmission member 212 can move axially while rotating, so that the transmission member 212 can generate an axial displacement, so that the transmission member 212 can approach or move away from the plugging assembly 22. Optionally, the stepless driving member 211 adopts a stepless stepping motor, and the rotation angle of the stepless stepping motor is used to control the flow regulation of the first flow channel 103.

[0050] In some embodiments, the stepless driving member 211 can also be used to directly drive the transmission member 212 to perform a linear reciprocating movement, so as to realize the stepless adjustment of the axial displacement of the transmission member 212. Optionally, the stepless driving member 211 adopts a stepless linear motor.

[0051] As Figure 4 and Figure 8As shown, in one embodiment, the transmission member 212 includes a guide section 2121 and a threaded section 2122. One end of the guide section 2121 is provided with a socket for inserting the power output shaft 2111. The threaded section 2122 is provided at the end of the guide section 2121 away from the socket. The guide sleeve 213 has a guide hole 2131 for accommodating the guide section 2121, and a through hole 2132 for the threaded section 2122 to pass through. The guide section 2121 is slidably matched with the inner wall of the guide hole 2131, and the threaded section 2122 is threadedly connected to the inner wall of the through hole 2132.

[0052] In this embodiment, when the power output shaft 2111 drives the transmission member 212 to rotate, the transmission member 212 is connected to the inner wall thread of the guide sleeve 213 through the threaded section 2122, so that the transmission member 212 can generate axial movement, and through the sliding cooperation between the guide section 2121 and the inner wall of the guide hole 2131, the axial movement of the transmission member 212 can be guided, so that the movement of the transmission member 212 is more stable and reliable, which is beneficial to improve the adjustment accuracy of the adjustment mechanism 20.

[0053] like Figure 4 As shown, optionally, in one embodiment, the outer diameter of the guide segment 2121 is greater than the outer diameter of the threaded segment 2122, so that a limiting surface is formed at one end of the guide segment 2121 close to the threaded segment 2122, and the guide sleeve 213 is provided with a stop surface opposite to the limiting surface at the outer edge of the through hole 2132. In this way, through the cooperation of the limiting surface and the stop surface, the maximum stroke of the transmission member 212 moving toward the blocking component 22 can be limited, and the transmission member 212 can be prevented from slipping out of the guide sleeve 213.

[0054] like Figure 4 As shown, optionally, in one embodiment, a seal 215 is provided between the guide section 2121 and the inner wall of the guide hole 2131, and the seal 215 is used to seal the guide section 2121 and the inner wall of the guide hole 2131. In this way, it is possible to prevent the water in the valve body 10 from leaking outward through the guide hole 2131 of the guide sleeve 213, thereby damaging the stepless drive 211, and prolonging the service life of the stepless drive 211. In order to facilitate the installation of the seal 215, optionally, the outer peripheral surface of the guide section 2121 is provided with an annular sealing groove, and the seal 215 is accommodated in the sealing groove. In order to further improve the sealing reliability, optionally, the outer peripheral surface of the guide section 2121 is provided with a plurality of seals 215 at intervals along the axial direction, so as to achieve multiple sealing effects. Among them, the seal 215 includes but is not limited to the use of sealing rings, sealants, etc.

[0055] like Figure 4As shown, in one embodiment, the plugging assembly 22 is clamped between the valve body 10 and the guide sleeve 213. The plugging assembly 22 can undergo flexible deformation under the drive of the inlet water pressure to open the flow-through port 1031. A cavity 201 is jointly defined by the side of the plugging assembly 22 facing away from the flow-through port 1031 and the guide sleeve 213. The plugging assembly 22 has a vent hole 2221 that communicates the cavity 201 with the first flow channel. One end of the transmission member 212 facing away from the stepless drive member 211 is inserted into the cavity 201 and is used to open or block the vent hole 2221.

[0056] In this embodiment, the guide sleeve 213 can not only transmit and guide the transmission member 212, but also limit the plugging assembly 22. The plugging assembly 22 is a deformable structure. The outer edge of the plugging assembly 22 is clamped between the valve body 10 and the guide sleeve 213 to ensure that the edge position of the plugging assembly 22 is fixed. At the same time, the middle position of the plugging assembly 22 can be deformed under the drive of an external force to open or block the flow-through port 1031. A cavity 201 is defined between one side of the plugging assembly 22 and the guide sleeve 213, and a first flow channel 103 is defined between the other side of the plugging assembly 22 and the valve body 10. The plugging assembly 22 also has a vent hole 2221 that communicates the cavity 201 with the first flow channel. Thus, when the transmission member 212 moves away from the plugging assembly 22, the vent hole 2221 opens, and the gas in the cavity 201 can be discharged through the vent hole 2221 under the action of the water flow pressure, so that the plugging assembly 22 can produce a large deformation amount, and the first flow channel 103 can have a large opening stroke. When the transmission member 212 drives the plugging assembly 22 to block the flow-through port 1031, the transmission member 212 can block the vent hole 2221. At this time, the fluid entering the cavity 201 can generate a pressure on the plugging assembly 22 towards the flow-through port 1031, so that the plugging assembly 22 can be more tightly pressed against the periphery of the flow-through port 1031, thereby improving the sealing reliability at the plugging position. In this way, the first flow channel 103 can not only achieve a large flux, but also ensure the sealing reliability.

[0057] As Figure 6 and Figure 7As shown, in one embodiment, the plugging component 22 includes a flexible plugging member 221 and a support member 222. The edge of the flexible plugging member 221 is sandwiched between the valve body 10 and the guide sleeve 213. The support member 222 is connected to the middle position of the flexible plugging member 221. The deformation of the flexible plugging member 221 can drive the support member 222 to move. The support member 222 can improve the overall structural strength of the plugging component 22 and ensure the sealing reliability. Among them, the flexible plugging member 221 can be made of a deformable flexible material such as rubber, silicone, etc. The support member 222 can be made of metal or plastic. Optionally, the support member 222 includes a support provided on the side of the flexible blocking member 221 away from the flow port 1031, and a vent column provided in the middle of the support and extending toward the flow port 1031, the flexible blocking member 221 has a through hole for the vent column to pass through, and the vent column is provided with a vent hole 2221 that passes through from top to bottom; the end of the transmission member 212 away from the stepless driving member 211 is used to abut against the end face of the vent column to block the vent hole 2221. Optionally, the end of the transmission member 212 away from the stepless driving member 211 is provided with a plug 214, and the plug 214 is used to open or block the vent hole 2221. Among them, the plug 214 can be made of flexible materials such as rubber or silicone, and has better sealing performance. Optionally, a slot is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the ventilation column, and the portion of the flexible sealing member 221 provided with the through hole 2132 is snapped into the slot to ensure the reliability of the connection between the support member 222 and the flexible sealing member 221 .

[0058] like Figure 6 and Figure 8 As shown, optionally, in one embodiment, the guide sleeve 213 includes a guide cylinder 213a and a pressure cover 213b, the pressure cover 213b includes an end plate and a side panel extending from the periphery of the end plate toward the sealing assembly 22, and the guide cylinder 213a is arranged on the side of the end plate away from the side panel; a guide hole 2131 is formed in the guide cylinder 213a, and a through hole 2132 is provided in the end plate; the pressure cover 213b is crimped to the outer edge of the flexible sealing member 221 to limit the sealing assembly 22.

[0059] Please refer to Figure 2 , Figure 7 and Figure 9In one embodiment, the valve body 10 includes a valve body 11 and a cover 12, a first flow channel 103 and a second flow channel 104 are constructed inside the valve body 11, a water inlet 101 and a water outlet 102 are respectively provided at both ends of the valve body 11, a mounting cavity 105 is provided on a side of the valve body 11 close to the first flow channel 103, a mounting port 1051 is provided on a side of the mounting cavity 105 away from the flow port 1031, a blocking component 22 and a guide sleeve 213 are accommodated in the mounting cavity 105, the cover 12 covers the mounting port 1051 and limits the guide sleeve 213, a stepless driving member 211 is fixed to the cover 12, the cover 12 is also provided with a through hole 121 for partially accommodating the guide sleeve 213, and a transmission member 212 is movably arranged in the guide sleeve 213.

[0060] In this embodiment, during assembly, the plugging assembly 22 and the guide sleeve 213 can be installed into the installation cavity 105 of the valve body 10 through the installation opening 1051, and the cover 12 is placed at the installation opening 1051, and the bottom of the cover 12 is pressed against the side of the guide sleeve 213 away from the plugging assembly 22, so as to limit the guide sleeve 213 and the plugging assembly 22, making the overall assembly structure more stable and reliable. Optionally, the guide sleeve 213 includes a guide cylinder 213a and a pressure cap 213b, the pressure cap 213b is covered and arranged on the side of the plugging assembly 22 close to the installation opening 1051, and the edge of the pressure cap 213b is pressed and matched with the edge of the plugging assembly 22; the guide cylinder 213a is arranged on the side of the pressure cap 213b away from the plugging assembly 22, and the transmission member 212 is movably arranged in the guide cylinder 213a, and the guide cylinder 213a can guide the axial movement of the transmission member 212. The cover 12 may include a cover plate and a cylinder, a through hole 121 for accommodating the guide cylinder 213a is formed inside the cylinder, one end of the cylinder is crimped to the end surface of the pressure cover 213b, the cover plate is arranged at the end of the cylinder away from the pressure cover 213b, and the cover plate is used to cover the installation port 1051. The stepless driving member 211 is fixed to the end surface of the cover plate, and the power output shaft 2111 of the stepless driving member 211 can be inserted into the through hole 121 to be driven and connected with the transmission member 212. Optionally, the cover 12 is detachably connected to the valve body 11, including but not limited to screw connection, snap connection and other methods for detachable connection, so that it can facilitate the replacement and maintenance of components such as the transmission member 212, the guide cylinder 213a and the sealing assembly.

[0061] Optionally, the valve body 11 includes a main body and a mounting portion, the main body is a tubular structure, a first flow channel 103 and a second flow channel 104 are constructed inside the main body, and a water inlet 101 and a water outlet 102 are formed at both ends of the main body; the mounting portion is arranged on the peripheral wall of the main body, a mounting cavity 105 is formed inside the mounting portion, and a mounting port 1051 is formed on a side of the mounting portion away from the main body. Optionally, the main body and the mounting portion are integrally formed.

[0062] like Figure 2As shown, in one embodiment, the second flow channel 104 is a normally open channel, and the flow control valve 100 further includes a flow stabilizing member 30 disposed in the second flow channel 104. By providing the flow stabilizing member 30 in the second flow channel 104, the flow rate output by the second flow channel 104 can be kept stable without flow rate fluctuations, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the flow rate output by the entire flow control valve 100. Optionally, the flow stabilizing member 30 is a flow stabilizing ring having a preset flow rate.

[0063] Based on the above embodiment, as Figure 2 shown, in one embodiment, the flow control valve 100 further includes a water flow sensor 40 disposed in the valve body 10, and the water flow sensor 40 is used to detect the water inflow rate of the valve body 10. Optionally, the valve body 10 further has an inflow channel, one end of the inflow channel communicates with the water inlet 101, the other end of the inflow channel communicates with the water inlet end of the first flow channel 103 and the water inlet end of the second flow channel 104, and the water flow sensor 40 can be used to detect the water flow rate in the inflow channel. As Figure 7 shown, optionally, the water flow sensor 40 includes a rotor 41 and a Hall induction element 42. The rotor 41 is disposed in the inflow channel of the valve body 10, and the Hall induction element 42 is disposed outside the valve body 10 and is correspondingly arranged with the rotor 41. When water flows through the inflow channel, the water acts on the rotor 41, causing the rotor 41 to rotate. During the rotation process, the magnetic induction lines of the magnetic field generated by the Hall induction element 42 are cut. The Hall induction element 42 senses the frequency of the rotor 41 cutting the magnetic induction lines and feeds this frequency back to the electronic control module, thereby calculating the magnitude of the water flow rate.

[0064] In one embodiment, the water flow sensor 40 and the adjustment mechanism 20 are respectively electrically connected to the control module. The water flow sensor 40 is used to detect the water inflow rate of the valve body 10 and feedback a water flow signal to the control module, and the control module is used to control the adjustment mechanism 20 to adjust the opening degree of the first flow channel 103 according to the water flow signal fed back by the water flow sensor 40.

[0065] In this embodiment, when the flow control valve 100 is applied to a water heater, the water inflow rate of the valve body 10 can be detected by the water flow sensor 40, and the control module controls the adjustment mechanism 20 according to the water inflow rate, so that the adjustment mechanism 20 adjusts the opening degree of the first flow channel 103 to an appropriate opening degree, thereby avoiding fluctuations in the outlet water temperature of the water heater caused by fluctuations in the water inflow rate and ensuring the constant temperature performance of the outlet water of the water heater.

[0066] As Figure 2As shown, in one embodiment, the flow control valve 100 further includes a temperature sensor 50 disposed within the valve body 10 for detecting the water flow temperature within the valve body 10. Among them, the temperature sensor 50 can be arranged on one side of the valve body 10 near the water inlet 101 to detect the inlet water temperature of the valve body 10, or the temperature sensor 50 can be disposed on one side of the valve body 10 near the water outlet 102 to detect the outlet water temperature of the valve body 10, or the temperature sensor 50 can be arranged at other positions within the valve body 10. Optionally, the valve body 10 has an outlet water flow channel, one end of the outlet water flow channel communicates with the water outlet 102, the other end of the outlet water flow channel communicates with the water outlet ends of the first flow channel 103 and the second flow channel 104, and the temperature sensor 50 may include a temperature probe inserted into the outlet water flow channel to detect the water flow temperature of the outlet water flow channel.

[0067] In one embodiment, the temperature sensor 50 and the adjustment mechanism 20 are respectively electrically connected to the control module. The temperature sensor 50 is used to detect the water flow temperature within the valve body 10 and feedback a temperature signal to the control module. The control module is used to control the adjustment mechanism 20 to adjust the opening degree of the first flow channel 103 according to the temperature signal feedback by the temperature sensor 50.

[0068] In this embodiment, when the flow control valve 100 is applied to a water heater, the water flow temperature within the valve body 10 can be detected through the temperature sensor 50, and the control module controls the adjustment mechanism 20 according to the water flow temperature, so that the adjustment mechanism 20 adjusts the opening degree of the first flow channel 103 to an appropriate opening degree, thereby avoiding fluctuations in the outlet water temperature of the water heater caused by fluctuations in the water flow temperature and ensuring the constant temperature performance of the outlet water of the water heater.

[0069] In the above embodiment, the electronic control module can be the electronic control module of the water heater main unit, or an independent electronic control module can be configured on the flow control valve 100. The water flow sensor 40, the temperature sensor 50 and the adjustment mechanism 20 can be electrically connected to the electronic control module by wired or wireless means.

[0070] The present utility model also proposes a water heater including a flow control valve 100. The specific structure of the flow control valve 100 refers to the above embodiment. Since this water heater adopts all the technical solutions of the above all embodiments, it at least has all the beneficial effects brought by the technical solutions of the above embodiments, which will not be elaborated here one by one. Among them, the water heater includes but is not limited to gas water heaters, electric water heaters, wall-hung boilers, etc. The gas water heater can be a forced-draft gas water heater or a forced-blow gas water heater, etc.

[0071] In one embodiment, the water heater includes a burner, a heat exchanger and a blower. The burner is connected with an intake pipe. The water inlet end of the heat exchanger is connected with a water inlet pipe, and the water outlet end of the heat exchanger is connected with a water outlet pipe. The flow control valve 100 is disposed on the water inlet pipe.

[0072] In this embodiment, when the water heater is working, external cold water is conveyed to the heat exchanger through the water inlet pipe, and external gas source conveys gas to the burner through the gas inlet pipe. The gas burns in the burner to generate high-temperature flue gas, and the high-temperature flue gas is driven by the fan to flow to the heat exchanger to heat the cold water in the heat exchanger, thereby generating hot water and outputting it through the water outlet pipe to provide hot water for users. When the water inlet volume fluctuates, on the one hand, the gas volume can be adjusted, and on the other hand, the output flow rate of the flow control valve 100 can be adjusted through the adjusting mechanism 20 of the flow control valve 100, so that the flow rate of the flow control valve 100 can be accurately adjusted to the required flow rate, so as to weaken the influence of the water inlet volume fluctuation on the outlet water temperature, and then ensure the constant temperature performance of the water outlet of the water heater.

[0073] The above is only an exemplary embodiment of the present utility model, and does not limit the patent scope of the present utility model. Any equivalent structural transformation made under the technical concept of the present utility model by using the content of the specification and drawings of the present utility model, or direct / indirect application in other related technical fields is included in the patent protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A flow control valve, characterized in that: include: A valve body having a water inlet, a water outlet, and a first flow channel and a second flow channel connecting the water inlet and the water outlet, wherein the first flow channel and the second flow channel are arranged in parallel; as well as The regulating mechanism comprises a blocking component and a driving component drivingly cooperated with the blocking component, wherein the blocking component can be movably arranged in the valve body, and the blocking component has a blocking position for blocking the first flow channel, a maximum opening position for opening the first flow channel to the maximum, and any intermediate opening position between the blocking position and the maximum opening position, and the driving component is used to drive the blocking component to move so as to perform stepless adjustment on the opening of the first flow channel.

2. The flow control valve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first flow channel has a flow port, and the driving component includes a stepless driving member and a transmission member drivingly connected to the stepless driving member, the transmission member is arranged on the side of the blocking member away from the flow port, and the stepless driving member is used to drive the transmission member to approach or move away from the blocking member so that the blocking member can block or open the flow port and can achieve stepless adjustment of the flow gap between the blocking member and the flow port.

3. The flow control valve according to claim 2, characterized in that: The stepless driving member is used to drive the transmission member to perform rotation and / or linear motion so as to approach or move away from the blocking component.

4. The flow control valve according to claim 2, characterized in that: The drive assembly also includes a guide sleeve fixedly arranged on the valve body, the stepless drive member has a power output shaft, the transmission member is coaxially extended with the power output shaft, one end of the transmission member is transmission-connected with the power output shaft, the other end of the transmission member passes through the guide sleeve and is used to cooperate with the driving of the blocking assembly, the transmission member is threadedly connected with the guide sleeve, and the stepless drive member is used to drive the power output shaft to rotate, so as to drive the transmission member to rotate and move axially.

5. The flow control valve according to claim 4, characterized in that: The transmission member includes a guide section and a threaded section. One end of the guide section is provided with a socket for inserting the power output shaft. The threaded section is provided at the end of the guide section away from the socket. The guide sleeve has a guide hole for accommodating the guide section and a through hole for the threaded section to pass through. The guide section is slidably matched with the inner wall of the guide hole, and the threaded section is threadedly connected to the inner wall of the through hole.

6. The flow control valve according to claim 4, characterized in that: The blocking component is sandwiched between the valve body and the guide sleeve. The blocking component can generate flexible deformation driven by the water pressure of the incoming water to open the flow port. The side of the blocking component away from the flow port and the guide sleeve together define a cavity. The blocking component has an air vent that connects the cavity with the first flow channel. The end of the transmission member away from the stepless driving member is inserted into the cavity and is used to open or block the air vent.

7. The flow control valve according to claim 4, characterized in that: The valve body includes a valve main body and a sealing cover, the first flow channel and the second flow channel are constructed inside the valve main body, the water inlet and the water outlet are respectively provided at two ends of the valve main body, a mounting cavity is provided on a side of the valve main body close to the first flow channel, a mounting opening is provided on a side of the mounting cavity away from the flow port, the blocking assembly and the guide sleeve are accommodated in the mounting cavity, the sealing cover covers the mounting opening and limits the guide sleeve, the stepless driving member is fixed to the sealing cover, the sealing cover is also provided with a through hole for partially accommodating the guide sleeve, and the transmission member is movably arranged in the guide sleeve.

8. The flow control valve according to claim 2, characterized in that: The stepless driving component is a stepless stepping motor.

9. The flow control valve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second flow channel is a normally open channel, and the flow control valve further includes a flow stabilizing member arranged in the second flow channel.

10. The flow control valve according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The flow control valve further includes a water flow sensor disposed on the valve body, the water flow sensor and the regulating mechanism are respectively used to be electrically connected to a control module, the water flow sensor is used to detect the water inlet flow of the valve body and feed back a water flow signal to the control module, and the control module is used to control the regulating mechanism to adjust the opening of the first flow channel according to the water flow signal fed back by the water flow sensor; And / or, the flow control valve also includes a temperature sensor arranged on the valve body, the temperature sensor and the regulating mechanism are respectively used to be electrically connected to a control module, the temperature sensor is used to detect the water flow temperature in the valve body and to feed back a temperature signal to the control module, and the control module is used to control the regulating mechanism to adjust the opening of the first flow channel according to the temperature signal fed back by the temperature sensor.

11. A water heater, characterized in that: Comprising the flow control valve according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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