Hot tank assembly and purifying and heating all-in-one machine

Abstract

The hot tank assembly comprises a tank body, a heating piece, a water suction pump and a hot water outlet pipe, and the tank body is provided with a heating cavity, a water inlet and a water outlet, the heating piece is mounted on the tank body; a water pumping port of the water pump is communicated with the water outlet; one end of the hot water outlet pipe communicates with a water outlet of the water suction pump, and the other end of the hot water outlet pipe penetrates through the heating cavity and is provided with a backflow opening which communicates with the heating cavity and is used for enabling part of hot water in the hot water outlet pipe to flow back into the heating cavity. According to the hot tank assembly, the risk of air blockage of the water suction pump can be reduced, and the working stability and reliability of the water suction pump are guaranteed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of water purification equipment technology, and in particular to a hot tank assembly and an integrated water purification and heating machine equipped with the hot tank assembly. Background Technology

[0002] In related technologies, an integrated water purifier and heater is a water purification device that combines water purification and heating functions. When the water pump is pumping hot water, air bubbles will be generated at its intake, which can easily cause air blockage in the water pump and seriously affect its normal operation. Utility Model Content

[0003] This application provides a hot water tank assembly and an integrated water purification and heating machine, aiming to reduce the risk of air blockage in the water pump of existing integrated water purification and heating machines.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, a first aspect of this application provides a hot tank assembly, comprising:

[0005] A tank body, the tank body having a heating chamber and an inlet and an outlet respectively connected to the heating chamber;

[0006] Heating element, installed in the tank;

[0007] A water pump, wherein the pump's inlet is connected to the outlet; and

[0008] A hot water outlet pipe has one end connected to the drain outlet of a water pump, and the other end passing through the heating chamber and having a return port. The return port is connected to the heating chamber and is used to return a portion of the hot water in the hot water outlet pipe to the heating chamber.

[0009] In some embodiments, the outlet is higher than the bottom of the tank.

[0010] In some embodiments, the heating element is disposed within the heating chamber, and the water outlet at least partially overlaps with the heating element in the height direction.

[0011] In some embodiments, the hot tank assembly further includes a detection component for detecting the water level in the heating chamber. The detection component includes a high water level probe and a low water level probe, which are spaced apart at the top of the tank and extend into the heating chamber.

[0012] In some embodiments, the end of the high water level probe is above the heating element, and the low water level probe is below the highest position of the heating element.

[0013] In some embodiments, the hot water outlet pipe extends from the bottom of the tank into the heating chamber and exits from the top of the tank.

[0014] In some embodiments, the top of the tank is provided with an exhaust port, the hot water outlet pipe extends out from the exhaust port, and there is a gap between the hot water outlet pipe and the wall of the exhaust port.

[0015] In some embodiments, the hot tank assembly further includes a tee pipe having a first connector, a second connector, and a third connector connected together, wherein the first connector is directly opposite the second connector, and the inner diameter of the first connector is larger than the inner diameter of the second connector.

[0016] The first connector is connected to the exhaust port, and the hot water outlet pipe passes through the first connector and is sealed to the inner wall of the second connector, so that the hot water outlet pipe communicates with the second connector and the first connector is sealed to the second connector;

[0017] The gap between the hot water outlet pipe and the wall of the exhaust port is connected to the third connector.

[0018] In some embodiments, the hot tank assembly further includes an exhaust pipe connected to the exhaust port, a hot water outlet pipe passing through the exhaust pipe, and a gap between the hot water outlet pipe and the inner wall of the exhaust pipe, the first connector being sleeved on the exhaust pipe, and the gap between the hot water outlet pipe and the inner wall of the exhaust pipe communicating with the third connector.

[0019] In some embodiments, the height of the return port is not lower than the lowest point of the exhaust pipe;

[0020] And / or, the exhaust pipe portion extends into the heating chamber.

[0021] In some embodiments, the height of the reflux port is not higher than the height of the third connector.

[0022] In some embodiments, the hot tank assembly further includes a condenser tube having a condensation chamber, through which the third connector passes.

[0023] In some embodiments, the condenser tube further has an inlet connector and an outlet connector respectively connected to the condensation chamber, the outlet connector being connected to the inlet connector.

[0024] In some embodiments, the outlet connector is higher than the inlet connector and is diagonally positioned opposite the inlet connector.

[0025] A second aspect of this application provides an integrated air purifier and heater, comprising:

[0026] The housing assembly has a hot tank cavity and a filter element cavity;

[0027] A filter assembly, installed in the filter cartridge chamber, has a raw water inlet and a pure water outlet; and

[0028] The hot tank assembly described above is installed in the hot tank cavity, and the water inlet is connected to the pure water outlet.

[0029] In some embodiments, the filtering component includes:

[0030] The filter element has a raw water inlet and a pure water outlet;

[0031] A pure water outlet pipe is connected to the pure water outlet.

[0032] The integrated air purifier and heating unit also includes:

[0033] A booster pump is connected to the pure water outlet pipe;

[0034] A faucet, connecting the pure water outlet pipe and the hot water outlet pipe;

[0035] A first temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature inside the heating chamber;

[0036] A second temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature in the pure water outlet pipe; and

[0037] The controller is used to receive the detection values ​​from the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor, and control the operating power of the water pump and the booster pump to generate water at a set temperature at the faucet.

[0038] In the hot water tank assembly provided in this embodiment, the hot water outlet pipe is provided with a return port that communicates with the heating chamber. When the water pump performs the operation of drawing hot water, some of the hot water inside the hot water outlet pipe can flow back into the heating chamber through the return port. This is equivalent to reducing the actual head of the water pump. According to fluid mechanics principles, a reduced head will correspondingly reduce the pressure difference between the water pump inlet and outlet. Under a lower pressure difference environment, dissolved gases in the water are less likely to escape in large quantities due to pressure changes, forming bubbles, thereby effectively reducing the risk of airlock in the water pump and ensuring the stability and reliability of the water pump operation.

[0039] Meanwhile, one end of the hot water outlet pipe passes through the heating chamber, ensuring that the remaining water in the outlet pipe remains at a high temperature due to the continuous heating environment within the chamber. When the user subsequently starts the process of collecting the first cup of hot water, the first water to flow out of the outlet pipe is this continuously heated and kept at a high temperature, effectively avoiding the problem of the first cup of water being too cold in traditional designs and significantly improving the user experience. Attached Figure Description

[0040] 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 only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0041] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the integrated air purifier and heat pump provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0042] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the hot tank assembly provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0043] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the hot tank assembly provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0044] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the exhaust pipe and tee pipe provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0045] Figure 5 for Figure 3 Enlarged view of point A in the middle;

[0046] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the condenser tube and the third connector provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0047] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the condenser tube and the third connector provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0048] Explanation of icon numbers:

[0049] 10. Shell assembly; 101. Filter chamber; 102. Heating tank chamber; 1021. Air inlet; 1022. Air outlet; 20. Heating tank assembly; 21. Tank body; 22. Heating element; 27. Hot water outlet pipe; 271. Return port; 23. Detection assembly; 24. Exhaust pipe; 211. Tank body; 212. Tank top cover; 213. Tank bottom cover; 201. Heating chamber; 214. Water inlet; 216. Water outlet; 217. Exhaust port; 233. High water level probe; 234. Low water level probe; 30. Water pump; 50. Filter assembly; 26. T-connector; 261. First connector; 262. Second connector; 263. Third connector; 28. Condenser pipe; 280. Condenser chamber; 281. Water inlet connector; 282. Water outlet connector.

[0050] The realization of the purpose, functional features and advantages of this application will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0051] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the embodiments of this application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0052] In the following description, when referring to the accompanying drawings, the same numbers in different drawings denote the same or similar elements unless otherwise indicated. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with this application. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of this application as detailed in the appended claims.

[0053] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "first," "second," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances. Furthermore, in the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0054] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this application. The term "and / or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0055] In the accompanying drawings of this embodiment, the same or similar reference numerals correspond to the same or similar components. In the description of this application, it should be understood that if terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, they are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, the terms used to describe positional relationships in the drawings are only for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting this application. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0056] This application provides a hot water tank assembly and an integrated water purification and heating machine, which can reduce the risk of air blockage in the water pump of existing integrated water purification and heating machines.

[0057] Specifically, please refer to Figures 1 to 3 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the integrated air purifier and heat pump provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 2This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the hot tank assembly provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the hot tank assembly provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0058] The integrated air purifier and heating unit in this embodiment can be a household integrated air purifier and heating unit, such as an under-sink integrated air purifier and heating unit.

[0059] The integrated air purifier and heat pump unit in this embodiment includes a housing assembly 10, a filter assembly 50, and a heat tank assembly 20.

[0060] The housing assembly 10 serves as the external support structure for the integrated air purifier and heater, and may include an outer shell. The outer shell may have a regular geometric shape, such as a cube or cuboid. Such regular shapes offer several advantages: firstly, they facilitate mold making and standardized assembly of components during manufacturing, effectively improving production efficiency and reducing costs; secondly, in installation and usage scenarios, a regular-shaped outer shell is easier to adapt to the surrounding environment, allowing for more organized placement, whether in a kitchen cabinet or other specific location, saving space and maintaining an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

[0061] The housing assembly 10 has two internal chambers: a heating tank chamber 102 and a filter element chamber 101. The heating tank chamber 102 primarily houses the heating tank assembly 20, providing a stable installation space and ensuring its stability during heating and insulation processes. The filter element chamber 101 houses the filter element 50. The two chambers are relatively independent, preventing mutual interference between the different heating tank assemblies 20 and filter elements 50, and also facilitating subsequent maintenance, repair, or replacement of each component.

[0062] The housing assembly 10 serves as the external support and protection structure for the entire hot tank assembly 20. In addition to having functional partitions such as the hot tank cavity 102 and the filter element cavity 101, it also has a heat dissipation function in this embodiment to ensure that the internal hot tank assembly 20 and other components can be stably installed and operate in a normal temperature environment.

[0063] Exemplarily, the housing assembly 10 also has an air inlet 1021 and an air outlet 1022 respectively connected to the hot tank cavity 102. The air inlet 1021, the hot tank cavity 102, and the air outlet 1022 together constitute a cooling air duct. The air inlet 1021 is located at the bottom of the housing and is connected to the bottom of the hot tank cavity 102, allowing outside cold air to smoothly enter the area where the hot tank cavity 102 is located from the bottom of the equipment. The air outlet 1022 is located at the top of the housing and is connected to the top of the hot tank cavity 102, facilitating the discharge of hot air generated by the hot tank assembly 20 during operation from the top air outlet 1022 under the action of thermal buoyancy and other forces. The layout of the entire cooling air duct forms a thermal convection channel. Cold air enters from the bottom air inlet 1021, flows through the heat tank assembly 20, absorbs heat and becomes hot air, and then is discharged from the top air outlet 1022, thereby effectively removing the heat emitted by the heat tank assembly 20, maintaining the heat tank assembly 20 and its surrounding environment within a relatively suitable temperature range, and ensuring the normal operation of the equipment.

[0064] In this embodiment, the filter assembly 50 is installed inside the filter cartridge cavity 101. The filter assembly 50 has a raw water inlet and a pure water outlet. The raw water inlet can be directly connected to an external tap water supply pipe, serving as the entry point for tap water to enter the integrated water purifier and heat exchanger for filtration. The pure water outlet is connected to the water inlet 214 of the heating tank assembly 20, allowing the filtered pure water to flow smoothly into the heating tank assembly 20 for subsequent heating or heat preservation operations, or it can be directly supplied to the user through a tap.

[0065] The filter assembly 50 in this embodiment has multi-stage filtration capabilities, including PAC (polyaluminum chloride) filtration and RO (reverse osmosis) filtration. PAC filtration, as a pre-filtration stage, utilizes the flocculation effect of PAC to aggregate suspended particles, colloids, and other impurities in tap water into larger flocs, facilitating their removal by subsequent filtration. PAC filtration effectively intercepts large particles such as sediment and rust in the water, reducing the burden on subsequent RO filtration and extending the lifespan of the RO membrane.

[0066] RO filtration is the core component of the entire filtration process. The RO reverse osmosis membrane has extremely small pores, allowing only water molecules to pass through under pressure, while retaining most impurities such as bacteria, viruses, and heavy metal ions, resulting in highly pure water. Through the synergistic effect of these two filtration stages, the water flowing from the 50% pure water outlet of the filter module achieves a very high purity, meeting users' requirements for healthy and high-quality drinking water.

[0067] During the filtration process, due to the filtration characteristics of the RO reverse osmosis membrane, a small amount of wastewater will be generated after the tap water is filtered. This wastewater will be discharged through the wastewater outlet set on the filter component 50.

[0068] In this embodiment, the hot tank assembly 20 is a key component of the integrated water purification and heating machine, which can reduce the risk of air blockage caused by the water pump.

[0069] Specifically, the hot water tank assembly 20 includes a tank body 21, a heating element 22, a water pump 30, and a hot water outlet pipe 27. The tank body can be cylindrical, cuboid, or similar. For example, the tank body 21 has an elongated cylindrical structure with an axial dimension greater than its radial dimension. This elongated cylindrical tank body 21 design offers several advantages. From a space utilization perspective, its vertical extension allows for increased internal water storage capacity within a limited floor space, thus meeting a certain amount of hot water supply demand. This makes it suitable for various devices with specific space requirements, such as integrated water purifiers and heaters installed in kitchen cabinets. From a heat transfer perspective, the elongated cylindrical structure allows for relatively stable stratification of water within the tank body 21, facilitating more uniform heat conduction in the vertical direction. Compared to irregularly shaped or short and thick tank body structures, this reduces localized heat accumulation or dead zones in heat transfer.

[0070] Furthermore, the tank body 21 includes a tank body 211, a top cover 212, and a bottom cover 213. The height of the tank body 211 is greater than its width. The tank body 211 is connected to the top cover 212 and the bottom cover 213, and the three together enclose the heating chamber 201. The tank body 211 forms the side of the tank body 21, the top cover 212 forms the top of the tank body 21, and the bottom cover 213 forms the bottom of the tank body 21. The three components—tank body 211, top cover 212, and bottom cover 213—can be manufactured separately using appropriate processes. For example, the tank body 211 can be formed by rolling, and the top cover 212 and bottom cover 213 can be manufactured by stamping or other processes, and then sealed together. This ensures the overall structural strength of the tank body 21 while improving efficiency and reducing costs during production.

[0071] The tank body 21 is provided with an inlet 214 and an outlet 216 respectively connected to the heating chamber 201. The inlet 214 is used to introduce pre-treated water (such as filtered pure water) into the heating chamber 201. Its position can be set on the top cover 212 of the tank to ensure that the incoming water is first distributed in the upper layer of hot water, thereby reducing the impact on the middle and lower water layers in the heating chamber 201. The outlet 216 can be set in the tank body 211 or the bottom cover 213. In one embodiment, the outlet 216 is set in the tank body 211 and is higher than the bottom cover 213. By placing the outlet 216 above the bottom cover 213, the water flowing out of the heating chamber 201 comes from a relatively high temperature area, thereby solving the problem of low initial water temperature. This ensures that the user's first cup of water is at the expected temperature, meeting the user's need for immediate use of hot water, such as for brewing beverages, greatly improving the user experience.

[0072] In this embodiment, the heating element 22 is installed in the tank 21 to heat the water in the heating chamber 201. The heating element 22 can be a heating wire, an electric heating tube, a heating rod, etc. In one embodiment, the heating element 22 is disposed inside the heating chamber 201, and the water outlet 216 at least partially overlaps with the heating element 22 in the height direction. In this way, when water flows out of the water outlet 216, the water is already in a sufficiently heated area, ensuring that the flowing hot water has a high temperature.

[0073] The water pump 30 in this embodiment plays a crucial role in the entire hot water extraction process of the hot water tank assembly 20. It provides power for the extraction and delivery of hot water, ensuring that water can flow smoothly from the heating chamber 201 for user use.

[0074] The water pump 30's intake port is connected to the outlet port 216. For example, the outlet port 216 is located on the tank body 211, and the water pump 30's intake port is connected to the outlet port 216 via a water pipe. The water pump 30 is fixed to the housing assembly 10, which can be fixed by bolts or screws; alternatively, the housing of the water pump 30 forming the intake port is directly connected to the tank body 211 fixed at the outlet port 216, eliminating the need for a water pipe connection between the water pump 30's intake port and the outlet port 216. The water pump 30's drain port is connected to the hot water outlet pipe 27. Thus, the heated hot water in the heating chamber 201 can smoothly enter the hot water outlet pipe 27 under the action of the water pump 30, and then flow to the subsequent water intake stage.

[0075] In this embodiment, one end of the hot water outlet pipe 27 is connected to the drain port of the water pump 30, and the other end passes through the heating chamber 201. Specifically, the hot water outlet pipe 27 is provided with a return port 271 that communicates with the heating chamber 201. When the water pump 30 draws hot water, some of the hot water in the hot water outlet pipe 27 can flow back to the heating chamber 201 through the return port 271. Based on fluid mechanics principles, by changing the flow path of the hot water, the actual head of the water pump 30 is reduced. Simultaneously, the portion of the hot water outlet pipe 27 passing through the heating chamber 201 ensures that the remaining water in the hot water outlet pipe 27 remains in a heated environment.

[0076] In this embodiment, when the water pump 30 operates to draw hot water, the hot water flows along the hot water outlet pipe 27. Since the hot water outlet pipe 27 is equipped with a return port 271, some of the hot water flows back to the heating chamber 201 through the return port 271. According to fluid mechanics principles, this is equivalent to reducing the actual head of the water pump 30. The reduced head results in a corresponding decrease in the pressure difference between the water pump inlet 214 and outlet 216. Under this lower pressure difference environment, dissolved gases in the water are less likely to escape in large quantities due to pressure changes, forming bubbles, thereby effectively reducing the risk of airlock in the water pump and ensuring the stability and reliability of the water pump 30's operation.

[0077] The way the hot water outlet pipe 27 is inserted into the heating chamber 201 in this embodiment has several advantages. First, the hot water outlet pipe 27 can be inserted into the heating chamber 201 from the bottom cover 213, or from different positions on the tank body 211, and can also exit from the corresponding position on the tank body 211, or from the top cover 212, depending on the actual structural design requirements. Regardless of the specific insertion and exit positions, the purpose is to ensure that the water remaining in the hot water outlet pipe 27 is in the heating environment within the heating chamber 201. After the user takes water, water will inevitably remain inside the hot water outlet pipe 27. If there is no proper handling method, this residual water will cause the first cup of water to be cold when water is taken again. By inserting the hot water outlet pipe 27 into the heating chamber 201, when heating is restarted, this residual water can be heated by the heat emitted by the heating element 22 within the heating chamber 201. Therefore, even after a long interval or when taking water for the first time, the residual cold water will not be directly discharged, avoiding a bad user experience. Secondly, for the cold water at the bottom of the hot water tank, which is initially at a lower temperature, the heat within the heating chamber 201 can be used to fully heat this portion of cold water as it flows through the hot water outlet pipe 27 into the heating chamber 201. In one embodiment, the hot water outlet pipe 27, which passes through the heating chamber 201, at least partially overlaps with the heating element 22 in the height direction. Thus, by utilizing the partial overlap between the hot water outlet pipe 27 and the heating element 22, the cold water flowing through the hot water outlet pipe 27 is fully heated, further increasing the overall temperature of the final hot water output. This ensures that the hot water received by the user remains at a high and stable temperature, meeting the needs of various hot water usage scenarios.

[0078] Furthermore, one end of the hot water outlet pipe 27 extends from the bottom cover 213 into the heating chamber 201 and exits through the top cover 212. On one hand, because the hot water outlet pipe 27 runs through the entire heating chamber 201 from the bottom cover 213 to the top cover 212, its length within the heating chamber 201 is relatively long, resulting in a larger contact area with the hot water and the heat emitted by the heating element 22, allowing for more thorough heat absorption. After the user takes water, the residual water in the hot water outlet pipe 27 can be heated more comprehensively and effectively in the next heating process, thus better solving the problem of low initial water temperature due to residual water in the hot water outlet pipe 27. On the other hand, the hot water outlet pipe 27 runs vertically through the tank 21. Compared to some complex and circuitous water path layouts, its vertical arrangement is more regular, effectively saving space inside the tank 21 and making the overall structure of the heating tank assembly 20 more compact.

[0079] Furthermore, the tank top cover 212 is provided with an exhaust port 217, through which the hot water outlet pipe 27 exits, and there is a gap between the hot water outlet pipe 27 and the wall of the exhaust port 217. During the heating process of the hot tank, high-temperature steam is generated inside the tank 21, requiring an exhaust channel to maintain the pressure balance inside the tank 21 and avoid safety hazards or affecting the normal operation of the equipment due to excessive pressure. By having the hot water outlet pipe 27 exit through the exhaust port 217 with a gap, this space is cleverly utilized to achieve the steam exhaust function. The high-temperature steam can smoothly exit the tank 21 through the gap between the hot water outlet pipe 27 and the wall of the exhaust port 217, ensuring effective steam discharge without the need for an additional large-area exhaust channel, further saving design space in the tank 21.

[0080] Please see Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 , Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the three-way pipe 26 and the exhaust pipe 24 provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 5 for Figure 3 Enlarged view of point A in the middle.

[0081] In some embodiments, the hot water tank assembly 20 further includes a three-way pipe 26 having a first connector 261, a second connector 262, and a third connector 263 connected in series. The first connector 261 is directly opposite the second connector 262, and the inner diameter of the first connector 261 is larger than the inner diameter of the second connector 262. The first connector 261 is connected to the vent 217. A hot water outlet pipe 27 passes through the first connector 261 and partially extends into the second connector 262. The partially extended hot water outlet pipe 27 is sealed to the inner wall of the second connector 262. This sealed connection allows the hot water outlet pipe 27 to communicate with the second connector 262, while simultaneously sealing the connection between the first connector 261 and the second connector 262. This ensures that hot water flows along a predetermined path—from the hot water outlet pipe 27 into the second connector 262 and then out—preventing hot water leakage to other unwanted locations and ensuring the stability and accuracy of hot water discharge.

[0082] The existing gap between the walls of the hot water outlet pipe 27 and the vent 217 is connected to the third connector 263 after the connection with the three-way pipe 26. In this way, the high-temperature steam generated during the heating process of the hot water tank can enter the third connector 263 through the gap between the walls of the hot water outlet pipe 27 and the vent 217, and then smoothly exit the tank 21. The design of the three-way pipe 26 effectively distinguishes the discharge paths of hot water and high-temperature steam, allowing them to be discharged independently and avoiding mutual interference. This ensures that the temperature of the hot water received by the user is not affected by the steam, and also ensures that the high-temperature steam in the tank 21 can be discharged promptly and smoothly.

[0083] Furthermore, the hot tank assembly 20 also includes an exhaust pipe 24 connected to the exhaust port 217. The exhaust pipe 24 can be fixed to the exhaust port 217 by welding to ensure a firm and airtight connection and prevent steam leakage. The first connector 261 of the three-way pipe 26 is fitted onto the exhaust pipe 24 to form a stable and reliable connection, while the gap between the hot water outlet pipe 27 and the inner wall of the exhaust pipe 24 is connected to the third connector 263 of the three-way pipe 26. In this way, the high-temperature steam generated during the heating process of the hot tank first flows along the gap between the hot water outlet pipe 27 and the inner wall of the exhaust pipe 24, and then smoothly exits the tank body 21 through the connected third connector 263.

[0084] Please continue reading. Figure 5 In one embodiment, the height of the return port 271 is not lower than the lowest position M of the exhaust pipe 24. When the return water flows out of the return port 271, the inner wall of the exhaust pipe 24 will shield it, preventing the return water from splashing directly onto electrical components in the heating chamber 201, such as the water level probe. This effectively prevents the water level probe from short-circuiting due to water splashing, ensuring the normal operation of the water level detection function and the overall stability of the hot tank assembly 20.

[0085] Furthermore, the exhaust pipe 24 extends into the heating chamber 201, and this extended portion serves as a drainage system. Return water flows vertically back into the heating chamber 201 along the exhaust pipe 24, preventing radial water flow at the lower edge of the exhaust pipe 24. This vertical flow effectively protects other electrical components within the heating chamber, reducing the risk of damage caused by water splashing.

[0086] In one embodiment, the height of the return port 271 is not higher than the height of the third connector 263. This prevents return water from splashing out from the third connector 263, thereby avoiding potential safety hazards and ensuring proper water flow inside the hot tank assembly 20 and stable system operation.

[0087] Please see Figure 6 and Figure 7 , Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the structure of the condenser tube 28 and the third connector 263 provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the internal structure of the condenser tube 28 and the third connector 263 provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0088] In some embodiments, the hot tank assembly 20 further includes a condenser pipe 28 having a condensation chamber 280, through which a third connector 263 passes. Since the high-temperature steam generated during the heating process will subsequently be discharged through the third connector 263, and this high-temperature steam is extremely hot, direct discharge could easily cause burns, posing a safety risk to users. This embodiment utilizes the condenser pipe 28 and its internal condensation chamber 280 to cool the high-temperature steam flowing through the third connector 263. When the high-temperature steam enters the condensation chamber 280 through the third connector 263, it exchanges heat with the cooling water in the condensation chamber 280, transferring heat away and thus lowering the steam temperature. This effectively avoids the burns that could result from direct discharge of high-temperature steam, greatly improving the safety of the equipment.

[0089] Furthermore, the condenser tube 28 also has an inlet connector 281 and an outlet connector 282 respectively connected to the condenser chamber 280, and the outlet connector 282 is connected to the inlet 214 of the tank body 21. The cooling water can be pure water filtered from the filter assembly 50. This method of using filtered pure water as cooling water ensures the purity of the cooling water, avoids contamination of the equipment's interior, and makes full use of the equipment's existing resources. The pure water enters the condenser chamber 280 through the inlet connector 281, exchanges heat with high-temperature steam in the condenser chamber 280, absorbs the heat of the steam, and its temperature rises. It then flows out from the outlet connector 282 and enters the heating chamber 201 through the inlet 214. In this way, the heat of the high-temperature steam is utilized to a certain extent, improving the overall energy efficiency of the equipment.

[0090] Furthermore, the outlet connector 282 is higher than the inlet connector 281, and the inlet connector 281 and outlet connector 282 are approximately diagonally positioned. This layout allows the cooling water to flow a longer and more evenly within the condensation chamber 280, increasing the contact area between the cooling water and the high-temperature steam, thereby improving the condensation effect. Compared to a simple parallel arrangement or other conventional layouts, the diagonal arrangement allows the cooling water to flow fully within the condensation chamber 280, more comprehensively absorbing the heat from the high-temperature steam, ensuring that the steam discharged from the third connector 263 is cooled more thoroughly, further reducing the risk of scalding.

[0091] Please continue reading. Figure 3 The hot tank assembly 20 in this embodiment also includes a detection assembly 23 for detecting the water level in the heating chamber 201. The detection assembly 23 includes a high water level probe 233 and a low water level probe 234. The high water level probe 233 and the low water level probe 234 are spaced apart on the tank top cover 212 and extend into the heating chamber 201.

[0092] The relatively independent arrangement of the high-level probe 233 and the low-level probe 234 on the tank top cover 212 is of great significance. In humid environments, water easily forms a film on the surface of objects. If the probes are too close together or improperly arranged, the water film may cause short circuits between the probes, affecting the accuracy and reliability of water level detection. By arranging them independently at intervals, the formation of a conductive path between the probes by the water film can be effectively avoided, ensuring that each probe can accurately detect water level changes, thus improving the precision and stability of water level detection.

[0093] Furthermore, the high-level probe 233 is positioned above the heating element 22, while the low-level probe 234 is positioned below the highest point of the heating element 22. This positioning design primarily aims to prevent dry burning of the heating tank assembly 20. When the water level rises to the position of the high-level probe 233, it indicates that the water level in the heating chamber 201 has reached a relatively high level. At this time, the control system can rationally control the water intake operation based on the signal fed back from the high-level probe 233, avoiding excessive water overflow. Conversely, when the water level drops to the position of the low-level probe 234, it means that the water volume in the heating chamber 201 is already at a low level, approaching the critical state that could lead to dry burning of the heating element 22. At this time, the low-level probe 234 will promptly send a signal to the control system. Upon receiving the signal, the control system will immediately stop the heating operation of the heating element 22, effectively preventing dry burning of the heating element 22 without water coverage and protecting the safety of the heating element 22 and the entire heating tank assembly 20.

[0094] In some embodiments, the integrated water purifier and heater can also enable users to obtain the set water temperature.

[0095] Specifically, the filter assembly 50 in this embodiment also includes a pure water outlet pipe. One end of the pure water outlet pipe is connected to the pure water outlet of the RO filter element, and the other end has two branches. One branch delivers pure water to the heating chamber 201, and the other branch delivers pure water to the booster pump and the faucet, and intersects with the hot water outlet pipe 27 at the faucet.

[0096] The integrated air purifier and heating unit also includes a booster pump, a faucet, a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a controller.

[0097] The booster pump is connected to the pure water outlet pipe. By adjusting its own duty cycle, it controls the operating power and thus outputs different pure water flow rates. The duty cycle can be determined by the temperature setting selected by the user.

[0098] As a water-using terminal, the faucet is used to receive pure water from the pure water outlet pipe and hot water from the hot water outlet pipe 27, and mix the two to form warm water at the set temperature.

[0099] The first temperature sensor can be installed in the tank 21 or the hot water outlet pipe 27 to monitor the hot water temperature in the heating chamber 201 and feed the data back to the controller.

[0100] The second temperature sensor is installed in the pure water outlet pipe to detect the temperature of the pure water in the outlet pipe and feed the data back to the controller.

[0101] The controller receives data from the first and second temperature sensors and, based on this temperature data, controls the operating power of the water pump 30 and the booster pump to regulate the flow of hot and pure water, ultimately producing water at the user-set temperature at the faucet. In this embodiment, the controller controls the operating power of the water pump 30 and the booster pump by controlling their duty cycles.

[0102] For example, users can select a specific temperature setting on the operating interface of the water purifier and heater according to their water temperature requirements, such as the common 45℃ or 55℃.

[0103] When the user selects a temperature setting, the controller adjusts the booster pump's duty cycle according to a preset relationship. For example, when the user selects a 45℃ temperature setting, the booster pump's duty cycle is set to 85%; if the user selects a 55℃ temperature setting, the duty cycle is set to 75%. This duty cycle adjustment allows the booster pump to deliver pure water to the faucet at a corresponding flow rate. Adjusting the duty cycle essentially controls the booster pump's operating time, thereby controlling the pure water flow rate and ensuring an appropriate amount of low-temperature pure water is involved in the mixing process.

[0104] While the booster pump starts delivering pure water, the first temperature sensor continuously monitors the temperature of the hot water in the heating chamber 201, and the second temperature sensor simultaneously detects the temperature of the pure water in the pure water outlet pipe. These two temperature sensors acquire temperature data in real time and transmit it to the controller, providing temperature data for the calculation and control of the duty cycle of the subsequent water pump 30.

[0105] After receiving the detected values ​​of the pure water temperature and the hot water temperature, the controller calculates the required duty cycle of the water pump 30 based on its internal preset control algorithm. According to the calculated duty cycle of the water pump 30, the controller controls the water pump 30 to deliver hot water to the faucet at a corresponding hot water flow rate. In this way, the hot water flow rate can be matched with the predetermined pure water flow rate, so that the two waters mix at the faucet to reach the user-set temperature.

[0106] The pure water from the pure water outlet pipe and the hot water from the hot water outlet pipe 27 meet and mix thoroughly at the faucet. Because the flow rates of pure water and hot water were adjusted in the preceding steps by controlling the duty cycle of the booster pump and the water pump 30, the two waters, when mixed, can form warm water at the set temperature based on the principles of heat transfer and mixing. For example, at the 45℃ warm water setting, after the appropriate flow rate of pure water mixes with the corresponding flow rate of hot water, a stable 45℃ warm water temperature is ultimately output from the faucet, thus meeting the user's needs.

[0107] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A hot tank assembly, characterized in that, include: A tank body, the tank body having a heating chamber and an inlet and an outlet respectively connected to the heating chamber; Heating element, installed in the tank; A water pump, wherein the pump's inlet is connected to the outlet; and A hot water outlet pipe has one end connected to the drain outlet of a water pump, and the other end passing through the heating chamber and having a return port. The return port is connected to the heating chamber and is used to return a portion of the hot water in the hot water outlet pipe to the heating chamber.

2. The hot tank assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water outlet is higher than the bottom of the tank.

3. The hot tank assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heating element is disposed inside the heating chamber, and the water outlet at least partially overlaps with the heating element in the height direction.

4. The hot tank assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a detection component for detecting the water level in the heating chamber, the detection component including a high water level probe and a low water level probe, the high water level probe and the low water level probe being spaced apart at the top of the tank and extending into the heating chamber.

5. The hot tank assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, The high water level probe is positioned above the heating element, while the low water level probe is positioned below the highest point of the heating element.

6. The hot tank assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hot water outlet pipe extends from the bottom of the tank into the heating chamber and exits from the top of the tank.

7. The hot tank assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tank is provided with an exhaust port at the top, and the hot water outlet pipe extends out from the exhaust port, with a gap between the hot water outlet pipe and the wall of the exhaust port.

8. The hot tank assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that, It also includes a T-connector, which has a first connector, a second connector and a third connector that are connected to each other, wherein the first connector is directly opposite the second connector and the inner diameter of the first connector is larger than the inner diameter of the second connector; The first connector is connected to the exhaust port, and the hot water outlet pipe passes through the first connector and is sealed to the inner wall of the second connector, so that the hot water outlet pipe communicates with the second connector and the first connector is sealed to the second connector; The gap between the hot water outlet pipe and the wall of the exhaust port is connected to the third connector.

9. The hot tank assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that, It also includes an exhaust pipe connected to the exhaust port, a hot water outlet pipe passing through the exhaust pipe, and a gap between the hot water outlet pipe and the inner wall of the exhaust pipe. The first connector is sleeved on the exhaust pipe, and the gap between the hot water outlet pipe and the inner wall of the exhaust pipe communicates with the third connector.

10. The hot tank assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that, The height of the return port is not lower than the lowest point of the exhaust pipe; And / or, the exhaust pipe portion extends into the heating chamber.

11. The hot tank assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that, The height of the return port is not higher than the height of the third connector.

12. The hot tank assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that, It also includes a condenser tube having a condensation chamber, and the third connector passes through the condensation chamber.

13. The hot tank assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that, The condenser tube also has an inlet connector and an outlet connector that are respectively connected to the condenser chamber, and the outlet connector is connected to the inlet connector.

14. The hot tank assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that, The water outlet connector is higher than the water inlet connector and is diagonally positioned opposite the water inlet connector.

15. A combined air purifier and heater, characterized in that, include: The housing assembly has a hot tank cavity and a filter element cavity; A filter assembly is installed in the filter cartridge cavity and has a raw water inlet and a pure water outlet; as well as The hot tank assembly as described in any one of claims 1 to 14 is installed in the hot tank cavity, and the water inlet is connected to the pure water outlet.

16. The integrated air purifier and heater according to claim 15, characterized in that, The filtering component includes: The filter element has a raw water inlet and a pure water outlet; A pure water outlet pipe is connected to the pure water outlet. The integrated air purifier and heating unit also includes: A booster pump is connected to the pure water outlet pipe; A faucet, connecting the pure water outlet pipe and the hot water outlet pipe; A first temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature inside the heating chamber; A second temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature in the pure water outlet pipe; and The controller is used to receive the detection values ​​from the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor, and control the operating power of the water pump and the booster pump to generate water at a set temperature at the faucet.

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