Waterway assembly and cooking utensil

Abstract

The utility model provides a waterway assembly and a cooking utensil, and relates to the technical field of kitchen appliances. The waterway assembly comprises a water tank, a water suction pump, a drainage pump, a water inlet pipe, a drainage pipe, a multi-way connector and a filter part, the water suction pump is connected between the water tank and the water inlet pipe, and the drainage pump is connected between the water tank and the drainage pipe; the water inlet pipe, the drain pipe and the steam generation assembly are respectively connected with the multi-way joint; the steam generation assembly is communicated with the cooking cavity; the multi-way connector is provided with a water passing cavity, and the filtering piece is arranged in the water passing cavity and surrounds the circumferential inner wall of the water passing cavity. The water inlet pipe is communicated with the inner side of the filtering part. The water drainage pipe and the steam generation assembly are communicated with the outer side of the filtering part. The cooking utensil is beneficial for filtering scale generated by the steam generation assembly, so that the scale is prevented from damaging the drainage pump in the drainage process, normal work of the drainage pump is guaranteed, the service life of the drainage pump and the service life of the water path assembly are prolonged, the service life of the cooking utensil is prolonged, and user experience is improved.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of kitchen appliances, and in particular to a waterway assembly and a cooking appliance. BACKGROUND

[0002] Electric steam ovens, steam and baking integrated machines, micro steam integrated machines and the like use steam generated by steam generators to cook food.

[0003] When the steam generator generates steam, due to differences in water quality, scale will be generated in the pipeline after long-term operation of the steam generator, and a descaling agent (acidic solvent) needs to be used for descaling and back-pumping. After the descaling agent dissolves the scale, it forms blocks of different sizes. At the end of cooking, the residual water in the pipeline is pumped back to the water tank by the drain pump through the drain pipe.

[0004] However, during the drainage process, the drain pump is easily damaged. CONTENT OF THE UTILITY MODEL

[0005] The present application provides a waterway assembly and a cooking appliance to solve the technical problem that the drain pump is easily damaged during the drainage process.

[0006] The first aspect of the embodiments of the present application provides a waterway assembly for a cooking appliance, the cooking appliance having a cooking cavity; the waterway assembly comprising a water tank, a water pumping pump, a drain pump, a water inlet pipe, a drain pipe, a multi-way joint and a filter, the water pumping pump being connected between the water tank and the water inlet pipe, the drain pump being connected between the water tank and the drain pipe; the water inlet pipe, the drain pipe and the steam generation assembly being connected with the multi-way joint respectively; the steam generation assembly being in communication with the cooking cavity; the multi-way joint having a water passage cavity, the filter being arranged in the water passage cavity and surrounding the circumferential inner wall of the water passage cavity; the water inlet pipe being in communication with the inner side of the filter, the drain pipe and the steam generation assembly being in communication with the outer side of the filter.

[0007] In some embodiments, one end of the filter facing the water inlet pipe is open, the water pumping pump is configured to sequentially pump the water in the water tank into the steam generation assembly through the water inlet pipe and the water passage cavity, and the drain pump is configured to sequentially pump the water in the steam generation assembly into the water tank through the water passage cavity and the drain pipe, and the water flowing through the water passage cavity passes through the filter.

[0008] In some embodiments, the multi-way joint comprises a first joint, a second joint and a third joint; the first joint is located at the axial end of the water passage cavity, and the first joint is connected with the water inlet pipe; the second joint and the third joint are respectively in communication with the water passage cavity along the radial direction of the water passage cavity, the second joint is connected with the drain pipe, and the third joint is connected with the steam generation assembly.

[0009] In some embodiments, the side wall of the filter piece is provided with an opening, which communicates the inside and outside of the filter piece; the opening is opposite to the third joint.

[0010] In some embodiments, the inner wall of the multi-way joint is provided with one of a positioning groove and a positioning rib, and the side wall of the filter piece is provided with the other one of the positioning groove and the positioning rib, and the positioning rib is inserted into the positioning groove.

[0011] In some embodiments, the waterway assembly further comprises an exhaust air duct, a condensing cavity, a condensate return pipe, and a condensate return box; the exhaust air duct communicates with the cooking cavity, the condensing cavity communicates with the exhaust air duct, the condensate return box is arranged in the condensing cavity and receives condensate, the first end of the condensate return pipe communicates with the condensate return box, and the second end of the condensate return pipe communicates with the water inlet pipe.

[0012] In some embodiments, the waterway assembly further comprises a water level monitoring assembly, which is connected between the multi-way joint and the steam generating assembly, and is configured to control the start and stop of the water pump and the drain pump.

[0013] In some embodiments, the pipe diameter of the water inlet pipe is greater than the pipe diameter of the drain pipe.

[0014] In some embodiments, the side wall of the filter piece is a filter screen, and the mesh diameter of the filter screen is less than 3 mm.

[0015] A second aspect of the embodiments of the present application provides a cooking appliance, which comprises a housing and a waterway assembly; the housing has a cooking cavity, the waterway assembly is arranged outside the housing, a steam generating assembly of the waterway assembly communicates with the cooking cavity, and the steam generating assembly is configured to deliver high-temperature steam to the cooking cavity.

[0016] This application provides a water system assembly and a cooking appliance. The water system assembly includes a water tank, a water pump, a drain pump, an inlet pipe, a drain pipe, a multi-way connector, and a filter element. The filter element is disposed within the multi-way connector. The inlet pipe communicates with the inner side of the filter element, and the drain pipe and the steam generating assembly are respectively communicated with the outer side of the filter element. Thus, at the end of cooking, the drain pump pumps residual water back to the water tank through the drain pipe. The filter element filters out scale generated by the steam generating assembly, preventing scale from damaging the drain pump during drainage, ensuring the normal operation of the drain pump, extending the service life of the drain pump and the water system assembly, and consequently extending the service life of the cooking appliance, improving the user experience. Furthermore, since the steam generating assembly is connected to the cooking cavity, it helps prevent food residue from entering the water system through the pipe opening during cooking, effectively preventing water system blockage and further ensuring the normal operation of the water system assembly.

[0017] In addition to the technical problems solved by the embodiments of this application, the technical features constituting the technical solutions, and the beneficial effects brought about by the technical features of these technical solutions described above, other technical problems that can be solved by the water system components and cooking appliances provided by this application, other technical features included in the technical solutions, and the beneficial effects brought about by these technical features will be further explained in detail in the specific embodiments. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the water system components and the cooking cavity provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the filter element of the water circuit assembly provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the multi-port connector of the water system component provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0022] Figure 4 This is a top view of the assembly of the filter and multi-port connector provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0023] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0024] 100 - Waterway components;

[0025] 110-Water tank; 120-Water pump; 130-Drain pump; 141-Inlet pipe; 142-Drain pipe; 150-Steam generating assembly; 151-Steam generator; 152-Steam generating pipeline; 160-Multi-port connector; 161-Water passage chamber; 162-First connector; 163-Second connector; 164-Third connector; 165-Positioning rib; 170-Filter element; 171-Opening; 172-Positioning groove; 173-Filter screen; 1731-Mesh; 181-Steam exhaust pipe; 182-Condensate return box; 183-Condensate return pipe; 190-Water level monitoring assembly; 200-Cooking cavity. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The working principle of a steam generator is as follows: a water pump injects water from the water tank into the boiler chamber of the steam generator, which is then heated to boiling point by an electric heating element to form high-temperature steam. This high-temperature steam is then blown into the steaming chamber by a hot air blower. The high-temperature steam circulates continuously inside the steaming chamber, evaporating the moisture from the food to achieve the purpose of steaming or cooking.

[0027] When cooking is finished, the drain pump pumps the remaining water back to the water tank through the drain pipe. In related technologies, this is generally done directly using the drain pump. However, when the steam generator produces steam, due to variations in water quality, scale and other impurities will accumulate in the pipes over time. This requires descaling with an acidic solvent and subsequent back-pumping. The descaling agent dissolves the scale, creating clumps of varying sizes. Direct back-pumping could damage the drain pump; furthermore, since the steam generator is connected to the cooking chamber, food residue may enter the water system through the pipes during cooking, easily causing blockages and affecting the normal operation of the water system.

[0028] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this application provides a water circuit assembly and a cooking appliance. The water circuit assembly includes a filter element, which can filter out scale generated by the steam generating assembly, thereby effectively preventing scale from damaging the drain pump during drainage, ensuring the normal operation of the drain pump, extending the service life of the drain pump and the water circuit assembly, and thus extending the service life of the cooking appliance and improving the user experience. In addition, it helps to prevent food residue from entering the water circuit through the pipe opening during cooking, effectively preventing water circuit blockage and further ensuring the normal operation of the water circuit assembly.

[0029] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar components or components having the same or similar functions throughout. The described embodiments are some, but not all, embodiments of this application. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain this application, and should not be construed as limiting this application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0030] Reference Figure 1 As shown, this application provides a cooking appliance, including a housing and a water channel assembly 100. The housing has a cooking cavity 200, and the water channel assembly 100 is disposed on the outside of the housing.

[0031] In this embodiment, the type of cooking equipment is not limited. For example, the cooking equipment in this embodiment can be an oven, a steam oven, a steam-oven combination appliance, or a steam-oven-microwave combination appliance, etc. In this embodiment, a steam-oven combination appliance is mainly used as an example for explanation.

[0032] A steam oven is an all-in-one appliance that combines the functions of a gas stove, steamer, and oven. Because one appliance can function as multiple independent kitchen appliances, it allows for simultaneous stir-frying / stewing on the top and steaming / baking on the bottom, freeing up kitchen space. Its principle is to use the appliance's heating system to heat water into steam, which is then used to steam, bake, or cook food.

[0033] It should be noted that the outer shell has an inner liner, and the cooking cavity 200 is formed within the inner liner. The inner liner is one of the core components of the steam oven and is used for cooking food. The material of the inner liner is not limited. For example, the inner liner can be made of stainless steel, which can withstand high-temperature water and detergents, and also has antibacterial properties and is easy to clean; alternatively, the inner liner can be made of plastic, which has certain impact resistance and electrical insulation properties; or, the inner liner can be made of ceramic, which has the advantages of being smooth, slow-deteriorating, and corrosion-resistant, and can also improve the washing effect. This embodiment does not limit this aspect.

[0034] In this embodiment, the water circuit assembly 100 is disposed on the outside of the housing. This allows for better control of water volume and supply, ensuring a stable water supply during cooking and avoiding problems such as unstable water supply due to internal structural limitations. Furthermore, placing the water circuit assembly 100 on the outside facilitates daily maintenance and management, making it easier to inspect and replace parts, ensuring the long-term stable operation of the cooking appliance. Finally, a stable water supply ensures continuity and consistency during cooking, thereby improving cooking efficiency.

[0035] In this embodiment of the application, during the steaming process of the cooking appliance, the steam generating component 150 of the water circuit component 100 is connected to the cooking cavity 200, and the steam generating component 150 is configured to deliver high-temperature steam to the cooking cavity 200.

[0036] It should be noted that, referring to Figure 1 As shown, the steam generating assembly 150 includes a steam generator 151 and a steam generating pipe 152. The steam generator 151 is connected to the cooking cavity 200 through the steam generating pipe 152. The basic principle of the steam generator 151 is to use a heating element to heat water and convert it into steam, and then deliver the high-temperature steam to the cooking cavity 200 through the steam generating pipe 152, thereby realizing the cooking function.

[0037] The specific process is as follows: The water circuit assembly 100 supplies water into the heating chamber of the steam generating assembly 150. During this process, the water and fuel, such as coal, oil, or natural gas, exchange heat in the combustion chamber. The fuel burns in the burner, and the heat generated is transferred to the water, causing its temperature to gradually rise. As the water temperature rises, when the water temperature reaches the boiling point, the water begins to vaporize. Vaporization is an endothermic process, and heat needs to be continuously supplied to maintain vaporization. When the water is completely vaporized, the generated high-temperature steam will accumulate on the top of the steam generator 151 and be transported to the cooking chamber 200 through the steam generating pipeline 152.

[0038] To ensure the proper functioning of the cooking appliances, drainage is necessary after cooking. This drainage primarily involves the drain pump 130 drawing residual water from the steam generating pipe 152 and the cooking cavity 200 back into the water tank 110. This effectively prevents corrosion of the water tank 110, prevents the water lines from freezing and damaging the pipes, and also helps clean the pipes, preventing bacterial growth. Therefore, regular drainage ensures the cleanliness of the cooking appliances, extends their lifespan, and guarantees their normal operation.

[0039] To prevent scale buildup from damaging the drain pump 130 when it pumps residual water back to the water tank 110 during drainage, this application provides a water circuit assembly 100. The specific structure of the water circuit assembly provided in this application embodiment is described in detail below.

[0040] Reference Figure 1 As shown in the figure, this application embodiment provides a water circuit assembly 100, which may include a water tank 110, a water pump 120, a drain pump 130, an inlet pipe 141, and a drain pipe 142. The water pump 120 is connected between the water tank 110 and the inlet pipe 141, and the drain pump 130 is connected between the water tank 110 and the drain pipe 142.

[0041] Understandably, the water tank 110 is mainly used to store water to provide the necessary water source during cooking; the water pump 120 is used to lift water from a low position to a high position to meet the water pressure requirements inside the cooking cavity 200; the drain pump 130 is used to drain the water inside the cooking cavity 200 to clean the equipment or prevent water stagnation; the water inlet pipe 141 is used to introduce water from the water tank 110 into the cooking cavity 200 to meet the water needs of the cooking appliances; the drain pipe 142 is used to drain the water that has been used inside the cooking cavity 200 to prevent water from accumulating inside the cooking cavity 200.

[0042] In this embodiment, the materials of the water tank 110, water pump 120, drain pump 130, inlet pipe 141, and drain pipe 142 are not limited. For example, the water tank 110 can be made of stainless steel, which has good corrosion resistance and heat resistance, ensuring water quality safety; the water pump 120 and drain pump 130 can be made of stainless steel or plastic; the inlet pipe 141 and drain pipe 142 can be made of polyethylene, which has good chemical corrosion resistance, pressure resistance, and temperature resistance, ensuring that the inlet pipe 141 and drain pipe 142 will not be damaged by chemical substances or temperature changes during use. This embodiment does not limit these aspects, and the specific materials can be selected according to actual needs.

[0043] In this embodiment, multiple pipes are connected to facilitate changing the water flow direction during cooking, ensuring the proper functioning of the cooking appliances. Referring to this embodiment... Figure 1 As shown, it may also include a multi-port connector 160, with a water inlet pipe 141, a drain pipe 142, and a steam generating assembly 150 respectively connected to the multi-port connector 160; the steam generating assembly 150 is connected to the cooking cavity 200.

[0044] In this embodiment, the number of joints in the multi-way connector 160 is not limited; it can be selected according to actual needs. This embodiment mainly uses a tee connector as an example. A tee connector is a pipe connector whose main function is to branch pipes from the main pipe. Specifically, a tee connector can have one inlet and two outlets; or, a tee connector can have two inlets and one outlet. This embodiment mainly uses a tee connector with one inlet and two outlets as an example. These three openings connect to different pipe sections to achieve water flow splitting or merging.

[0045] To prevent scale buildup from damaging the drain pump 130 during drainage, in this embodiment of the application, reference is made to... Figure 2 As shown, it also includes a filter element 170. It should be noted that the placement of the filter element 170 is not further limited in this embodiment.

[0046] In this embodiment, the example of the filter element 170 being disposed within the multi-way connector 160 is used for illustration. This approach offers several advantages: firstly, it fully utilizes pipe space, saving space and resulting in a more compact and aesthetically pleasing overall layout; secondly, the design of the multi-way connector 160 allows for preliminary purification of water as it passes through the filter element 170 before being distributed to the necessary devices, reducing the filtration burden on subsequent equipment and improving the overall water treatment efficiency of the system; and thirdly, the integration of the filter element 170 within the multi-way connector 160 allows for the connection of multiple devices with just one multi-way connector 160 during installation, facilitating both installation and maintenance.

[0047] In this embodiment, the specific structure of the filter element 170 is not limited. For example, the filter element 170 can be a cylindrical filter; or, the filter element 170 can be a triangular filter; or, the filter element 170 can be a filter of other shapes. This embodiment does not limit this.

[0048] In this embodiment, refer to Figure 2 As shown, the explanation mainly uses the cylindrical filter screen structure of filter element 170 as an example. In this way, on the one hand, compared to a planar filter, the cylindrical design helps to provide a larger filtration surface area, allowing more water to pass through the filter screen simultaneously, thereby improving filtration efficiency; on the other hand, the cylindrical structure has good mechanical strength and stability, able to withstand the pressure and impact of water flow, avoiding deformation or damage; furthermore, the cylindrical filter screen can effectively remove suspended particles, scale, or other impurities from the water, providing a higher quality filtration effect.

[0049] In this embodiment, the multi-port connector 160 has a water passage cavity 161, and a filter element 170 is disposed within the water passage cavity 161 and surrounds the circumferential inner wall of the water passage cavity 161. A water inlet pipe 141 communicates with the inner side of the filter element 170, thus introducing water supply into the inner side of the filter element 170. When the water flows through the filter element 170, impurities can be intercepted on the inner side of the filter element 170, making the water flow inside the filter element 170 smoother and improving filtration efficiency. A drain pipe 142 and a steam generator assembly 150 are respectively connected to the outer side of the filter element 170, facilitating the discharge of intercepted impurities. Furthermore, when it is necessary to clean or replace the filter element 170, accumulated impurities can be discharged through the drain pipe 142, improving cleaning and maintenance efficiency.

[0050] Therefore, the water circuit component 100 provided in this embodiment can filter the scale generated by the steam generating component 150, thereby preventing the scale from damaging the drain pump 130 during the drainage process, ensuring the normal operation of the drain pump 130, extending the service life of the drain pump 130 and the water circuit component 100, and thus extending the service life of the cooking appliance and improving the user experience.

[0051] The filter element 170 can be open at one end facing the water inlet pipe 141. The water pump 120 is configured to draw water from the water tank 110 sequentially through the water inlet pipe 141 and the water passage chamber 161 into the steam generating assembly 150, which can generate steam and deliver it into the cooking cavity. The drain pump is configured to drain water from the steam generating assembly 150 sequentially through the water passage chamber 161 and the drain pipe 142 into the water tank 110, and the water flows through the filter element 170 as it passes through the water passage chamber 161, thereby recovering the water from the steam generating assembly 150.

[0052] To further realize the recycling of water supply and improve its utilization rate, in the embodiments of this application, reference is made to... Figure 1 As shown, the water circuit assembly 100 may also include a steam exhaust pipe 181, a steam exhaust duct, a condensate chamber, a condensate return pipe 183, and a condensate return box 182.

[0053] The exhaust duct is located outside the cooking cavity 200 and is connected to the cooking cavity 200 through the exhaust pipe 181. The condensing cavity is connected to the exhaust duct. The condensate return box 182 is set inside the condensing cavity and is used to collect condensate. The first end of the condensate return pipe 183 is connected to the condensate return box 182, and the second end of the condensate return pipe 183 is connected to the water inlet pipe 141.

[0054] The water supply path of the water circuit component 100 provided in this application embodiment is as follows: the water pump 120 draws water from the water tank 110, delivers it to the multi-port connector 160 through the water inlet pipe 141, and then delivers it to the steam generator 151. The steam generator 151 generates steam and delivers it to the cooking cavity 200 to start working.

[0055] It should be noted that, in the above-described water supply path, the water circuit component 100 of this embodiment may further include a steam exhaust path. The steam exhaust path is as follows: steam from the cooking cavity 200 is exhausted through the steam exhaust pipe 181 to the exhaust duct, then condenses in the condensation chamber. The condensate drips into the condensate return box 182 and flows back to the water inlet pipe 141 through the condensate return pipe 183. This facilitates the recycling of the water supply.

[0056] The drainage path of the water circuit component 100 provided in this application embodiment is as follows: when cooking is finished, the drain pump 130 pumps the residual water in the steam generating pipeline 152 and the cooking cavity 200 back to the water tank 110 through the drain pipe 142.

[0057] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the condensate return pipe 183 is connected to the water inlet pipe 141. This is because if the condensate return pipe 183 is connected to the drain pipe 142, the drain pipe 142 would be connected to the outside air through the condensate return pipe 183. This would easily cause the drain pump 130 to run dry during operation, rendering it ineffective. Therefore, this application connects the condensate return pipe 183 to the water inlet pipe 141, which not only facilitates the recycling of water supply but also does not affect the normal operation of the drain pump 130.

[0058] The connection position between the condensate return pipe 183 and the water inlet pipe 141 is not further limited and can be set according to actual needs.

[0059] In one feasible implementation, refer to Figure 3 As shown, the multi-port connector 160 may have a water passage cavity 161; the filter element 170 is located inside the water passage cavity 161. In this embodiment, the filter element 170 may be an annular filter screen, which may be arranged around the circumferential inner wall of the water passage cavity 161.

[0060] This design increases the coverage area of ​​the filter element 170, thereby increasing the filtration area and maximizing the filtration of impurities. This prevents scale from damaging the drain pump 130 during drainage and ensures the normal operation of the drain pump 130.

[0061] In one feasible implementation, refer to Figure 3As shown, the multi-port connector 160 may include a first connector 162, a second connector 163, and a third connector 164; the first connector 162 is located at the axial end of the water passage cavity 161 and is connected to the water inlet pipe 141; the second connector 163 and the third connector 164 are respectively connected to the water passage cavity 161 radially, the second connector 163 is connected to the drain pipe 142, and the third connector 164 is connected to the steam generating assembly 150.

[0062] In this embodiment, the positions of the first connector 162, the second connector 163, and the third connector 164 are not further limited, and can be set according to actual conditions. In this embodiment, the example of the first connector 162 being located between the second connector 163 and the third connector 164 is mainly used for illustration.

[0063] In this embodiment, the location of the filter element 170 is not limited. In this embodiment, the filter element 170 is mainly located in the first connector 162 as an example for explanation.

[0064] This design serves two purposes. First, the water pump 120 draws water from the water tank 110 and delivers it to the multi-port connector 160 via the inlet pipe 141. The filter element 170 can then perform preliminary filtration of impurities in the water supply, preventing blockage or damage to the equipment and effectively maintaining it. Second, since the first connector 162 is located between the second connector 163 and the third connector 164, during drainage, scale and other impurities generated by the steam generator 151 will first enter the first connector 162 through the third connector 164. This allows the filter element 170 to filter the scale and other impurities immediately, preventing them from entering the second connector 163 and returning to the drainage pump 130. This minimizes damage to the drainage pump 130, ensures its normal operation, and extends its service life.

[0065] In one feasible implementation, it should be noted that if the filter element 170 also becomes clogged during actual water supply, the water in the water tank 110 cannot smoothly enter the steam generating pipe 152, but will instead flow back to the condensate return box 182 through the condensate return pipe 183. The condensate return box 182 is generally installed on the top of the equipment and is not a closed space; furthermore, electrical components are also installed on the top of the equipment. Additionally, there is no corresponding stop valve or other valve installed on the condensate return pipe 183. Thus, when the water in the condensate return box 182 overflows, it can easily cause water to seep into the electrical components, damaging them and affecting the normal operation of the cooking appliance, resulting in low safety.

[0066] Therefore, in order to prevent damage to electrical components and improve the safety performance of cooking appliances, in the embodiments of this application, reference is made to... Figure 2 As shown, the side wall of the filter element 170 may be provided with an opening 171, which connects the inner and outer sides of the filter element 170; the opening 171 is opposite to the third connector 164.

[0067] It should be noted that the sidewall of the filter element 170 can be a filter screen 173, wherein the filter screen 173 is located on one side of the filter element 170, and the opening 171 is located on the other side of the filter element 170. It can be understood that the filter screen 173 is opposite to the second connector 163.

[0068] In this embodiment, the size of the opening 171 is not limited. For example, the opening 171 can be set to be relatively large, as long as it can ensure that water can smoothly enter the steam generating pipeline 152 through the opening 171, it is within the protection scope of this application. In addition, the shape of the opening 171 is not limited, and can be set according to actual needs.

[0069] Understandably, the size of the opening 171 is larger than the size of the filter screen 173. This ensures that the water supply can smoothly enter the steam generating pipe 152 through the opening 171, and will not flow back to the condensate return box 182 through the condensate return pipe 183.

[0070] In this embodiment, the opening 171 and the third connector 164 are positioned opposite each other. This helps to ensure that the opening 171 faces the side of the steam generator 151. During actual water supply, the water in the water tank 110 can smoothly enter the steam generation pipeline 152 through the opening 171, thereby avoiding backflow into the condensate return box 182 through the condensate return pipe 183.

[0071] In order to further ensure that the opening 171 and the third connector 164 are aligned, in one possible embodiment, the inner wall of the multi-port connector 160 may be provided with a positioning groove, and the side wall of the filter element 170 may be provided with a positioning rib; or, the inner wall of the multi-port connector 160 may be provided with a positioning rib, and the side wall of the filter element 170 may be provided with a positioning groove.

[0072] In the embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, the illustration mainly focuses on the example of a positioning rib 165 provided on the inner wall of the multi-port connector 160 and a positioning groove 172 provided on the side wall of the filter element 170, with the positioning rib 165 inserted into the positioning groove 172. Specifically, the positioning rib 165 is provided on the inner wall of the first connector 162.

[0073] In this way, the rotation of the filter element 170 can be restricted by the cooperation of the positioning rib 165 and the positioning groove 172, which helps to ensure that the filter screen 173 faces the drain pipe 142 and the opening 171 faces the steam generating pipe 152. This maximizes the chance that the water in the water tank 110 can smoothly enter the steam generating pipe 152 through the opening 171, thereby further preventing the water from flowing back into the condensate return box 182 through the condensate return pipe 183.

[0074] In this embodiment, the specific structure of the positioning rib 165 and the positioning groove 172 is not limited. For example, refer to... Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, the positioning groove 172 can extend from top to bottom along the side wall of the filter element 170, and the positioning rib 165 can extend from top to bottom along the inner wall of the multi-port connector 160. This embodiment does not limit this. This design can effectively improve the limiting effect on the filter element 170.

[0075] In order to further prevent water supply from flowing back into the condensate return box 182 through the condensate return pipe 183, in this embodiment of the application, reference is made to... Figure 1 As shown, in addition to the opening 171 on the filter element 170, the water circuit assembly 100 also includes a water level monitoring assembly 190, which is connected between the multi-port connector 160 and the steam generating assembly 150. The water level monitoring assembly 190 is configured to control the start and stop of the water pump 120 and the drain pump 130.

[0076] Specifically, in this embodiment, the water level monitoring component 190 is connected between the third connector 164 and the steam generating component 150. Thus, with the opening 171 provided, if the filter element 170 is still clogged, the water supply will first overflow into the water level monitoring component 190 through the opening 171, instead of flowing back into the condensate return pipe 183. When the water level monitoring component 190 detects the overflow, it controls the water pump 120 and the drain pump 130 to stop. Therefore, this application further ensures that when the filter element 170 is clogged, the water supply can overflow into the water level monitoring component 190, thereby preventing the water supply from entering the condensate return box 182 through the condensate return pipe 183.

[0077] In this embodiment, the specific structure of the water level monitoring component 190 is not limited. For example, the water level monitoring component 190 may include a water level sensor, a data acquisition unit, a data transmission module, a data processing and analysis module, an alarm, and a power supply system. These components work together to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the water level monitoring component 190.

[0078] The water level sensor is the core component of the water level monitoring assembly 190, used to measure the water level height. Common water level sensors may include pressure sensors, float sensors, ultrasonic sensors, etc. This embodiment does not limit the type of sensor; the appropriate sensor type can be selected according to actual needs.

[0079] In one feasible implementation, the diameter of the inlet pipe 141 can be larger than the diameter of the drain pipe 142. It should be noted that there are no further limitations on the diameters of the inlet pipe 141 and the drain pipe 142, which can be selected according to actual needs.

[0080] In this embodiment, the diameter of the inlet pipe 141 is relatively large. This ensures smooth water flow, reduces resistance in the inlet pipe 141, and allows the water pump 120 to pump water more smoothly, thereby improving the efficiency and flow rate of the water pump 120. In addition, the large diameter of the inlet pipe 141 results in a lower water flow velocity, which reduces hydraulic losses and energy consumption in the inlet pipe 141.

[0081] In this embodiment, the diameter of the drain pipe 142 is limited to a small size, which results in a larger water flow velocity, enabling water to be discharged more quickly, reducing the internal pressure of the drain pipe 142, and improving drainage efficiency.

[0082] In one feasible implementation, refer to Figure 2 As shown, the sidewall of the filter element 170 is a filter screen 173, which is composed of a plurality of mesh openings 1731 arranged therein. The diameter of the mesh openings 1731 of the filter screen 173 can be less than 3 mm. For example, the diameter of the mesh openings 1731 of the filter screen 173 can be any value of 0.5 mm, 1 mm, 1.5 mm, 2 mm, 2.5 mm, 3 mm, or less than 3 mm. This embodiment does not limit this, and the specific opening can be made according to the actual situation.

[0083] Understandably, the diameter of the mesh 1731 cannot be too small. If the diameter of the mesh 1731 is too small, it will easily clog the filter screen 173, affecting the passage of water or air, thereby reducing the filtration efficiency. In addition, the filter screen 173 needs to be cleaned and replaced frequently, increasing maintenance costs and time, and affecting the normal operation and service life of the equipment.

[0084] If the diameter of the mesh 1731 is greater than 3mm, more scale and other impurities can easily pass through the filter screen 173, reducing the filtration effect and making the drain pump 130 easily damaged. Therefore, this application limits the diameter of the mesh 1731 of the filter screen 173 to less than 3mm, which can intercept more tiny particles and impurities, improve filtration accuracy, and thus effectively prevent scale and other impurities from entering the drain pump 130, protecting the drain pump 130 from damage.

[0085] In this embodiment, the number of mesh openings 1731 is not limited, and can be opened according to actual conditions; in addition, the arrangement of mesh openings 1731 is not limited. For example, multiple mesh openings 1731 can be evenly arranged, which can ensure that the filtration accuracy of the filter screen 173 is uniform and stable, effectively intercepting impurities and particles. In addition, the uniform mesh arrangement helps to reduce local wear, making the filter screen 173 have a longer service life.

[0086] In this embodiment, the shape of the mesh 1731 is not limited. For example, the shape of the mesh 1731 can be a round hole, an elliptical hole, an oblong hole, a square hole, a triangular hole, a cross hole, etc. This embodiment does not limit this; the specific shape can be selected according to the actual filtering needs and application scenario.

[0087] This application provides a water circuit assembly and a cooking appliance. The water circuit assembly includes a filter element disposed within a multi-port connector. This filter element effectively removes scale generated by the steam generator, preventing damage to the drain pump during drainage, ensuring the normal operation of the drain pump, extending the service life of the drain pump and the water circuit assembly, and consequently extending the service life of the cooking appliance, thus improving the user experience. Furthermore, since the steam generator is connected to the cooking cavity, it helps prevent food residue from entering the water circuit through the pipe opening during cooking, effectively preventing water circuit blockage and further ensuring the normal operation of the water circuit assembly.

[0088] It should be noted that, in the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, 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 application according to the specific circumstances.

[0089] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the term "and / or" merely indicates a relationship describing the associated objects, meaning that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, and B existing alone. Additionally, the term "at least one" indicates any combination of at least two of a plurality of options, for example, including at least one of A, B, and C, which can represent any one or more elements selected from a set including communication between A, B, and C.

[0090] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the terms "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application. In addition, the term "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise precisely specified.

[0091] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the terms "first," "second," "third," "fourth," etc. (if present) are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate so that the embodiments of this application described herein can be implemented in orders other than those illustrated or described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or apparatus.

[0092] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. A waterway component, characterized in that, For use in cooking appliances, the cooking appliances having a cooking cavity (200); the water circuit assembly includes a water tank (110), a water pump (120), a drain pump (130), an inlet pipe (141), a drain pipe (142), a multi-way connector (160), a steam generating assembly (150), and a filter (170), the water pump (120) being connected between the water tank (110) and the inlet pipe (141), and the drain pump (130) being connected between the water tank (110) and the drain pipe (142); the inlet pipe (141), the drain pipe (142), and the steam generating assembly (150) are respectively connected to the multi-way connector (160); the steam generating assembly (150) is in communication with the cooking cavity (200); The multi-port connector (160) has a water passage cavity (161), and the filter element (170) is disposed in the water passage cavity (161) and surrounds the circumferential inner wall of the water passage cavity (161); the water inlet pipe (141) is connected to the inner side of the filter element (170), and the drain pipe (142) and the steam generating assembly (150) are both connected to the outer side of the filter element (170).

2. The water system component according to claim 1, characterized in that, The filter element (170) is open at one end facing the water inlet pipe (141), and the water pump (120) is configured to pump water from the water tank (110) into the steam generating assembly (150) sequentially through the water inlet pipe (141) and the water passage chamber (161); the drain pump is configured to discharge water from the steam generating assembly (150) into the water tank (110) sequentially through the water passage chamber (161) and the drain pipe (142), and the water flows through the filter element (170) when passing through the water passage chamber (161).

3. The water system component according to claim 2, characterized in that, The multi-port connector (160) includes a first connector (162), a second connector (163), and a third connector (164); the first connector (162) is located at the axial end of the water passage cavity (161) and is connected to the water inlet pipe (141); the second connector (163) and the third connector (164) are respectively connected to the water passage cavity (161) radially, the second connector (163) is connected to the drain pipe (142), and the third connector (164) is connected to the steam generating assembly (150).

4. The waterway component according to claim 3, characterized in that, The filter element (170) has an opening (171) on its side wall, which connects the inner and outer sides of the filter element (170); the opening (171) is opposite to the third connector (164).

5. The water system component according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner wall of the multi-port connector (160) is provided with one of a positioning groove and a positioning rib, and the side wall of the filter element (170) is provided with the other of the positioning groove and the positioning rib, and the positioning rib is inserted into the positioning groove.

6. The water system component according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The water circuit assembly also includes an exhaust duct, a condensing chamber, a condensate return pipe (183), and a condensate return box (182); the exhaust duct is connected to the cooking cavity (200), and the condensing chamber is connected to the exhaust duct; the condensate return box (182) is disposed in the condensing chamber and receives condensate; the first end of the condensate return pipe (183) is connected to the condensate return box (182), and the second end of the condensate return pipe (183) is connected to the water inlet pipe (141).

7. The water system component according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The water circuit assembly also includes a water level monitoring component (190), which is connected between the multi-port connector (160) and the steam generating assembly (150). The water level monitoring component (190) is configured to control the start and stop of the water pump (120) and the drainage pump (130).

8. The water system component according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The diameter of the inlet pipe (141) is larger than the diameter of the outlet pipe (142).

9. The water system component according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The sidewall of the filter element (170) is a filter screen (173), and the diameter of the mesh (1731) of the filter screen (173) is less than 3 mm.

10. A cooking utensil, characterized in that, The cooking appliance includes a housing and a water circuit assembly as described in any one of claims 1-9; the housing has a cooking cavity (200), the water circuit assembly is disposed on the outside of the housing, a steam generating assembly (150) of the water circuit assembly is in communication with the cooking cavity (200), and the steam generating assembly (150) is configured to deliver high-temperature steam to the cooking cavity (200).

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