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, the tank body is provided with a heating cavity, a water inlet and a water outlet, the water inlet and the water outlet communicate with the heating cavity, and the water outlet is formed in the side portion of the tank body; the heating piece is mounted on the tank body; a water pumping port of the water pump is communicated with the water outlet; the hot water outlet pipe comprises a water outlet pipe, one end of the water outlet pipe communicates with a water pumping opening of the water pump, the other end of the water outlet pipe communicates with the water outlet, and the inner diameter of the water outlet pipe is increased in the direction from the water pumping opening of the water pump to the water outlet. According to the hot tank assembly, bubbles can be prevented from being gathered at the water pumping opening, and therefore the risk that the water pump generates air blockage is reduced.

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] The tank has a heating chamber and an inlet and an outlet respectively connected to the heating chamber, with the outlet located on the side of the tank.

[0006] Heating element, installed in the tank;

[0007] A water pump, the pump's intake port being connected to the outlet port; and

[0008] A hot water outlet pipe includes an outlet pipe, one end of which is connected to the water inlet of the water pump, and the other end is connected to the water outlet. The inner diameter of the outlet pipe is increased in the direction from the water inlet of the water pump toward the water outlet.

[0009] In some embodiments, the hot water outlet pipe further includes a drain pipe, which is connected to the drain outlet of the water pump. The drain pipe is connected to a return branch, one end of which is connected to the drain pipe and the other end of which is connected to the heating chamber.

[0010] In some embodiments, the return branch is connected to the top of the tank and communicates with the heating chamber.

[0011] In some embodiments, the heating element is disposed in the heating chamber and extends toward the bottom of the tank without contacting the bottom of the tank, and the water outlet at least partially coincides with the heating element in the height direction.

[0012] In some embodiments, the water outlet is at a preset distance from the bottom of the tank, and the preset distance is not less than 5 mm.

[0013] In some embodiments, the inner wall of the outlet pipe is partially inclined upward in the direction from the water pump inlet toward the outlet.

[0014] In some embodiments, the central axis of the outlet pipe is perpendicular to the central axis of the tank body.

[0015] In some embodiments, the hot tank assembly further includes an exhaust pipe and a condenser pipe, the exhaust pipe being connected to the top of the tank and communicating with the heating chamber, the condenser pipe having a condensation chamber, and the exhaust pipe passing through the condensation chamber.

[0016] 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.

[0017] In some embodiments, the outlet connector is higher than the inlet connector and is diagonally positioned opposite the inlet connector.

[0018] 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 toward the bottom of the tank.

[0019] In some embodiments, the end of the high water level probe is above the heating element, and the end of the low water level probe is below the highest position of the heating element.

[0020] A second aspect of this application provides an integrated air purifier and heating system, comprising:

[0021] The housing assembly has a hot tank cavity and a filter element cavity;

[0022] A filter assembly, installed in the filter cartridge chamber, has a raw water inlet and a pure water outlet; and

[0023] The hot tank assembly described above is installed in the hot tank cavity, and the water inlet is connected to the pure water outlet.

[0024] In some embodiments, the filtering component includes:

[0025] The filter element has a raw water inlet and a pure water outlet;

[0026] A pure water outlet pipe is connected to the pure water outlet.

[0027] The integrated air purifier and heating unit also includes:

[0028] A booster pump is connected to the pure water outlet pipe;

[0029] A faucet, connecting the pure water outlet pipe and the hot water outlet pipe;

[0030] A first temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature inside the heating chamber;

[0031] A second temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature in the pure water outlet pipe; and

[0032] 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.

[0033] In the hot water tank assembly provided in this embodiment, the two ends of the outlet pipe are connected to the inlet of the water pump and the outlet of the tank, respectively. When the water pump starts, its inner diameter increases along the direction from the inlet of the water pump to the outlet of the tank, meaning the inner wall of the upper part of the outlet pipe is inclined upwards towards the heating chamber. Thus, air bubbles generated at the inlet during the pumping process will rise upwards along the inclined direction of the inner wall until they enter the heating chamber, effectively preventing air bubble accumulation at the inlet and reducing the risk of air blockage in the water pump. Attached Figure Description

[0034] 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.

[0035] 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;

[0036] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the hot tank assembly provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0037] Figure 3 This is another structural schematic diagram of the hot tank assembly provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0038] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the hot tank assembly hidden behind the tank according to an embodiment of this application;

[0039] Figure 5 A top-view structural schematic diagram of the hot tank assembly provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0040] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A cross-sectional view along the AA direction;

[0041] Figure 7 for Figure 3 Enlarged view of point B in the middle;

[0042] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the condenser pipe and the exhaust pipe provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0043] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the condenser and exhaust pipe provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0044] Explanation of icon numbers:

[0045] 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; 23. Detection assembly; 24. Exhaust pipe; 27. Hot water outlet pipe; 28. Condensate pipe; 211. Tank body; 212. Tank top cover; 213. Tank bottom cover; 201. Heating chamber; 214. Water inlet; 216. Water outlet; 233. High water level probe; 234. Low water level probe; 271. Water outlet pipe; 272. Drain pipe; 273. Return branch; 280. Condensate chamber; 281. Water inlet connector; 282. Water outlet connector; 30. Water pump; 50. Filter assembly.

[0046] 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

[0047] 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.

[0048] 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.

[0049] 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.

[0050] 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.

[0051] 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.

[0052] 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.

[0053] Specifically, please refer to Figures 1 to 7 , 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 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the hot tank assembly provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 3 This is another structural schematic diagram of the hot tank assembly provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the hot tank assembly hidden behind the tank according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 5 A top-view structural schematic diagram of the hot tank assembly provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 6 for Figure 5 A cross-sectional view along the AA direction; Figure 7 for Figure 3 Enlarged view of point B in the middle.

[0054] 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.

[0055] 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.

[0056] 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.

[0057] 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.

[0058] 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.

[0059] 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.

[0060] 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.

[0061] 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.

[0062] 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.

[0063] 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.

[0064] 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.

[0065] 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 21 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.

[0066] 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.

[0067] The tank body 21 is provided with an inlet 214 and an outlet 216 that are 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 is located on the side of the tank body 21, that is, the outlet 216 is located in the tank body 211.

[0068] The heating element 22 is installed on the tank body 21, and can be installed on the tank body 211, the tank top cover 212, etc. The heating element 22 is used to heat the water in the heating chamber 201. The heating element 22 can take many forms, such as common resistance heating wires, electric heating tubes, etc.

[0069] The water pump 30 has its suction port connected to the water outlet 216 of the tank 21, and is mainly used to provide power for the flow of water in the hot tank assembly 20. When the hot tank assembly 20 is working, the water pump 30 starts and draws the hot water in the heating chamber 201 out of the water outlet 216 and delivers it to the hot water outlet pipe 27 through the suction port, thereby realizing the delivery of hot water.

[0070] The hot water outlet pipe 27 in this embodiment is a key component in solving the airlock problem of the water pump 30. Specifically, the hot water outlet pipe 27 includes an outlet pipe 271, one end of which is connected to the water inlet of the water pump 30, and the other end is connected to the outlet 216. In this embodiment, the inner diameter of the outlet pipe 271 is designed to increase in the direction from the water inlet of the water pump 30 toward the outlet 216 of the tank 21, that is, the inner wall of the upper part of the outlet pipe 271 is inclined upward toward the heating chamber 201. The increase in inner diameter can be a step-like increase, that is, the inner diameter of the pipe increases in a step-like manner at different positions; or it can be a continuous gradual increase, that is, the inner diameter of the pipe gradually and continuously increases from the water inlet of the water pump 30 to the outlet. This method makes the transition of water flow in the outlet pipe 271 smoother, reducing water flow turbulence and resistance.

[0071] The inner diameter design of the aforementioned outlet pipe 271 is key to solving the airlock problem of the water pump 30 in this hot water tank assembly 20. When the water pump 30 starts to draw hot water, dissolved gases in the water escape due to pressure changes, forming bubbles. In traditional pipe structures, these bubbles tend to accumulate at the inlet, causing airlock. However, in this hot water tank assembly 20, because the inner diameter of the outlet pipe 271 increases along the direction from the water pump 30 inlet to the outlet 216 of the tank body 21, and the inner wall is inclined upwards, the bubbles generated at the inlet during the water pumping process are guided by the inclined direction of the inner wall and float upwards. As the bubbles rise, they eventually enter the heating chamber 201. This effectively avoids the accumulation of bubbles at the inlet, greatly reducing the risk of airlock in the water pump 30, ensuring the continuous and stable operation of the water pump 30, and ensuring the normal operation of the hot water tank assembly 20.

[0072] Furthermore, the inner wall of the outlet pipe 271 is inclined upwards in the direction from the water inlet of the water pump 30 towards the outlet 216. When the water pump 30 starts and draws hot water, dissolved gases in the water escape and form bubbles under pressure changes. Due to the inclined design of the inner wall of the outlet pipe 271, these bubbles float upwards along the inclined inner wall. In this way, the buoyancy of the bubbles and the flow characteristics of water are utilized to guide the bubbles upwards. Compared with traditional horizontal or vertical inner walls, the inclined inner wall provides a natural upward channel for the bubbles, allowing them to leave the water inlet area of ​​the water pump 30 more smoothly, avoiding the accumulation of bubbles at the water inlet, thereby effectively reducing the risk of air blockage in the water pump 30.

[0073] In some embodiments, the central axis of the outlet pipe 271 is perpendicular to the central axis of the tank body 211. This perpendicular relationship helps optimize the layout of the hot water outlet pipe 27 within the tank body 21, making the hot water outlet pipe 27 more rationally matched with the tank body 211. On the one hand, the vertical arrangement facilitates the installation of the water pump 30; on the other hand, this layout is beneficial to the flow of water within the outlet pipe 271, reducing water flow turbulence and energy loss caused by unreasonable structural layout, and improving the efficiency of hot water delivery. It is understood that during actual manufacturing or installation, due to the existence of human error, even if there is a certain deviation in the perpendicular relationship between the central axis of the outlet pipe 271 and the central axis of the tank body 211, as long as it is within a reasonable tolerance range (e.g., a deviation of ±5°), they can still be considered perpendicular to each other.

[0074] In one embodiment, the water outlet 216 is at a preset distance from the bottom cover 213, which is no less than 5 mm. This avoids drawing water directly from the bottom of the hot tank, as the water at the bottom is typically at a lower temperature during the initial heating process. By placing the water outlet 216 at least 5 mm above the bottom cover 213, the water flowing from the heating chamber 201 comes from a relatively warmer area, thus solving the problem of low initial water temperature and ensuring that the user receives the expected temperature for the first cup of water, meeting the user's need for immediate hot water use.

[0075] In one embodiment, the heating element 22 is disposed within the heating chamber 201 and extends toward the bottom cover 213 without contacting it. During the heating process of the hot water tank, conventional heating methods may result in the water at the bottom of the tank heating up too slowly because heat needs to be gradually transferred downwards from the location of the heating element 22 to the water at the bottom of the tank, a relatively long distance with a certain time delay in heat transfer. However, in this embodiment, the heating element 22 is positioned close to the bottom cover 213, enabling heat to be transferred more directly and quickly to the water at the bottom of the hot water tank, significantly accelerating the heating rate of this portion of the water.

[0076] like Figure 2 and Figure 4As shown, the heating element 22 is arranged in a spiral shape, with its two ends parallel to each other. These two ends extend from the tank body 211 and are mounted on the same generatrix L of the tank body 211. Each end can be connected to a terminal block to provide power, supplying electrical energy to the heating element 22 to generate heat, which in turn heats the water in the heating chamber 201. The fact that the two ends extend parallel to each other and are mounted on the same generatrix L of the tank body 211 means they are located on a vertical plane. This design has several advantages: First, the bottom of the spiral heating element 22 is close to a plane, allowing it to be positioned as close as possible to the bottom cover 213. When the bottom is close to a plane, the distance between the heating element 22 and the bottom cover 213 ensures a more uniform and stable proximity to the water at the bottom of the tank without contact, thus more efficiently transferring heat to the water at the bottom of the tank. This accelerates the heating rate of the water at the bottom of the tank, solving the problem of slow heating of the water at the bottom in traditional designs, and further ensuring the uniformity of heating of the water throughout the tank. Secondly, having both ends on the same busbar L facilitates the installation of the heating element 22 on the tank body 211. During the production and assembly process, operators can more easily and accurately fix the heating element 22 on the tank body 211 according to the clearly defined installation position requirements, which improves production efficiency and also helps to ensure the stability of the installation of the heating element 22.

[0077] Furthermore, the outlet 216 is at least partially aligned with the heating element 22 in the height direction. In this way, when water flows out of the outlet 216, the water is already in a sufficiently heated area, ensuring that the hot water flowing out is at a high temperature.

[0078] Furthermore, the spiral centerline of the heating element 22 coincides with the central axis of the tank body 211. When the spiral centerline of the heating element 22 coincides with the central axis of the tank body 211, the heat generated by the heating element 22 can be evenly distributed to the surrounding water with the center of the tank body 211 as the center of symmetry. In this way, the water in all locations inside the heated tank can receive an equal amount of heat in a similar amount of time, avoiding situations where the local water temperature is too high or too low due to uneven heating.

[0079] In one embodiment, please continue to refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 The hot water outlet pipe 27 also includes a drain pipe 272, which is connected to the drain outlet of the water pump 30. The drain pipe 272 is also connected to a return branch pipe 273, one end of which is connected to the drain pipe 272, and the other end is connected to the heating chamber 201. For example, the return branch pipe 273 is connected to the tank top cover 212 and communicates with the heating chamber 201.

[0080] In this embodiment, when the water pump 30 draws hot water, the drain pipe 272 discharges the hot water, and at the same time, a portion of the hot water is returned to the heating chamber 201 through the return branch pipe 273, so that the hot water forms a circulation during the flow process, thereby improving the utilization efficiency of the hot water.

[0081] In this embodiment, the return branch pipe 273 is a key component of the hot water outlet pipe 27, playing a crucial role in recirculation. When the water pump 30 is operating, some of the hot water in the drain pipe 272 can flow back to the heating chamber 201 through the return branch pipe 273. According to fluid mechanics principles, the recirculation of some hot water reduces the actual head of the water pump 30, thereby reducing the pressure difference between the inlet 214 and outlet 216 of the water pump 30. Under a lower pressure difference, dissolved gases in the water are less likely to escape in large quantities due to pressure changes, forming bubbles, effectively reducing the risk of airlock in the water pump 30.

[0082] When the heating tank assembly 20 starts operating, external water enters the heating chamber 201 through the inlet 214 of the tank 21, and the heating element 22 heats the water. After the water pump 30 starts, on the one hand, the hot water in the heating chamber 201 is drawn out from the outlet 216 and supplied to the water supply or other subsequent operations through the drain pipe 272; on the other hand, some of the hot water flows back to the heating chamber 201 through the return branch pipe 273. The hot water return design reduces the actual head of the water pump 30 and reduces the pressure difference between the inlet 214 and the outlet 216 of the water pump 30. According to the principles of fluid mechanics, the lower pressure difference environment inhibits the escape of dissolved gases in the water, thereby avoiding the formation of a large number of bubbles and reducing the risk of air blockage in the water pump 30. At the same time, the return of hot water also helps to maintain the uniformity of water temperature in the heating chamber 201 and improve the overall utilization efficiency of hot water.

[0083] In one embodiment, please continue to refer to Figure 3 and Figure 6 The hot tank assembly 20 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.

[0084] 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.

[0085] Furthermore, the end of the high water level probe 233 is higher than the heating element 22, and the low water level probe 234 is lower than the highest position N of the heating element 22. The highest position N of the heating element 22 refers to the position of the end face of the heating element 22 closest to the tank top cover 212.

[0086] The aforementioned positioning design is primarily to prevent the heating tank assembly 20 from dry-burning. When the water level rises to the position of the high water 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 reasonably control the water intake operation based on the signal fed back by the high water level probe 233 to avoid excessive water overflow. When the water level drops to the position of the low water 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 may cause the heating element 22 to dry-burn. At this time, the low water 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, thereby effectively preventing the heating element 22 from dry-burning without water coverage and protecting the safety of the heating element 22 and the entire heating tank assembly 20.

[0087] In one embodiment, see Figure 3 , Figure 8 and Figure 9 , Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the exhaust pipe and condenser pipe provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the exhaust pipe and condenser pipe provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0088] The hot tank assembly 20 also includes an exhaust pipe 24 and a condenser pipe 28. The exhaust pipe 24 is connected to the tank top cover 212 and communicates with the heating chamber. During the heating process of the hot tank, high-temperature steam is generated inside the tank body 21. The high-temperature steam is discharged through the exhaust pipe 24 to maintain the pressure balance inside the tank body 21 and avoid safety hazards or affecting the normal operation of the equipment due to excessive pressure.

[0089] In this embodiment, the condenser tube 28 has a condensation chamber 280, through which the exhaust pipe 24 passes. Because the high-temperature steam generated during the heating process of the hot tank is discharged through the exhaust pipe 24, 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 tube 28 and its internal condensation chamber 280 to cool the high-temperature steam flowing through the exhaust pipe 24. When the high-temperature steam enters the condensation chamber 280 through the exhaust pipe 24, 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.

[0090] 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.

[0091] 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 exhaust pipe 24 is more thoroughly cooled, further reducing the risk of scalding.

[0092] In some embodiments, the integrated water purifier and heater can also enable users to obtain the set water temperature.

[0093] 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.

[0094] 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.

[0095] 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.

[0096] 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.

[0097] 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.

[0098] 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.

[0099] 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.

[0100] 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℃.

[0101] 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.

[0102] 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.

[0103] 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.

[0104] 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.

[0105] 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 pot assembly, characterized by The hot water outlet pipe further comprises a drain pipe, the drain pipe is communicated with the water outlet of the water pump, the drain pipe is connected with a backflow branch, one end of the backflow branch is communicated with the drain pipe, and the other end of the backflow branch is communicated with the heating cavity. The backflow branch is connected with the top of the tank body and communicates with the heating cavity. The heating element is arranged in the heating cavity and extends towards the bottom of the tank body without contacting the bottom of the tank body, and the water outlet is at least partially overlapped with the heating element in the height direction. The water outlet has a preset distance from the bottom of the tank body, and the preset distance is not less than 5 mm. The inner wall of the water outlet pipe is partially arranged in an inclined upward manner in the direction in which the water outlet of the water pump faces the water outlet.

2. The thermal tank assembly of claim 1, wherein, The central axis of the water outlet pipe is perpendicular to the central axis of the tank body.

3. The thermal tank assembly of claim 2, wherein, The hot water outlet pipe further comprises a drain pipe, the drain pipe is communicated with the water outlet of the water pump, the drain pipe is connected with a backflow branch, one end of the backflow branch is communicated with the drain pipe, and the other end of the backflow branch is communicated with the heating cavity.

4. The thermal tank assembly of claim 1, wherein, The backflow branch is connected with the top of the tank body and communicates with the heating cavity.

5. The thermal tank assembly of claim 1, wherein, The heating element is arranged in the heating cavity and extends towards the bottom of the tank body without contacting the bottom of the tank body, and the water outlet is at least partially overlapped with the heating element in the height direction.

6. The thermal tank assembly of claim 1, wherein, The water outlet has a preset distance from the bottom of the tank body, and the preset distance is not less than 5 mm.

7. The thermal tank assembly of claim 1, wherein, The inner wall of the water outlet pipe is partially arranged in an inclined upward manner in the direction in which the water outlet of the water pump faces the water outlet.

8. The thermal tank assembly of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, The central axis of the water outlet pipe is perpendicular to the central axis of the tank body.

9. The thermal tank assembly of claim 8, wherein, The hot water outlet pipe further comprises a drain pipe, the drain pipe is communicated with the water outlet of the water pump, the drain pipe is connected with a backflow branch, one end of the backflow branch is communicated with the drain pipe, and the other end of the backflow branch is communicated with the heating cavity.

10. The thermal tank assembly of claim 9, wherein, The backflow branch is connected with the top of the tank body and communicates with the heating cavity.

11. The thermal tank assembly of claim 1, wherein, The heating element is arranged in the heating cavity and extends towards the bottom of the tank body without contacting the bottom of the tank body, and the water outlet is at least partially overlapped with the heating element in the height direction.

12. The thermal tank assembly of claim 11, wherein, The water outlet has a preset distance from the bottom of the tank body, and the preset distance is not less than 5 mm.

13. A heat recovery all-in-one machine, characterized by, The inner wall of the water outlet pipe is partially arranged in an inclined upward manner in the direction in which the water outlet of the water pump faces the water outlet. The central axis of the water outlet pipe is perpendicular to the central axis of the tank body. The hot water outlet pipe further comprises a drain pipe, the drain pipe is communicated with the water outlet of the water pump, the drain pipe is connected with a backflow branch, one end of the backflow branch is communicated with the drain pipe, and the other end of the backflow branch is communicated with the heating cavity. The backflow branch is connected with the top of the tank body and communicates with the heating cavity. The heating element is arranged in the heating cavity and extends towards the bottom of the tank body without contacting the bottom of the tank body, and the water outlet is at least partially overlapped with the heating element in the height direction.

14. The heat-only integrated machine of claim 13, wherein, The water outlet has a preset distance from the bottom of the tank body, and the preset distance is not less than 5 mm. The inner wall of the water outlet pipe is partially arranged in an inclined upward manner in the direction in which the water outlet of the water pump faces the water outlet. The central axis of the water outlet pipe is perpendicular to the central axis of the tank body. The hot water outlet pipe further comprises a drain pipe, the drain pipe is communicated with the water outlet of the water pump, the drain pipe is connected with a backflow branch, one end of the backflow branch is communicated with the drain pipe, and the other end of the backflow branch is communicated with the heating cavity. The backflow branch is connected with the top of the tank body and communicates with the heating cavity. The heating element is arranged in the heating cavity and extends towards the bottom of the tank body without contacting the bottom of the tank body, and the water outlet is at least partially overlapped with the heating element in the height direction. The water outlet has a preset distance from the bottom of the tank body, and the preset distance is not less than 5 mm. The inner wall of the water outlet pipe is partially arranged in an inclined upward manner in the direction in which the water outlet of the water pump faces the water outlet. The central axis of the water outlet pipe is perpendicular to the central axis of the tank body. The hot water outlet pipe further comprises a drain pipe, the drain pipe is communicated with the water outlet of the water pump, the drain pipe is connected with a backflow branch, one end of the backflow branch is communicated with the drain pipe, and the other end of the backflow branch is communicated with the heating cavity. The backflow branch is connected with the top of the tank body and communicates with the heating cavity. The heating element is arranged in the heating cavity and extends towards the bottom of the tank body without contacting the bottom of the tank body, and the water outlet is at least partially overlapped with the heating element in the height direction. The water outlet has a preset distance from the bottom of the tank body, and the preset distance is not less than 5 mm. The inner wall of the water outlet pipe is partially arranged in an inclined upward manner in the direction in which the water outlet of the water pump faces the water outlet. The central axis of the water outlet pipe is perpendicular to the central axis of the tank body. The hot water outlet pipe further comprises a drain pipe, the drain pipe is communicated with the water outlet of the water pump, the drain pipe is connected with a backflow branch, one end of the backflow branch is communicated with the drain pipe, and the other end of the backflow branch is communicated with the heating cavity. The backflow branch is connected with the top of the tank body and communicates with the heating cavity. The heating element is arranged in the heating cavity and extends towards the bottom of the tank body without contacting the bottom of the tank body, and the water outlet is at least partially overlapped with the heating element in the height direction. The water outlet has a preset distance from the bottom of the tank body, and the preset distance is not less than 5 mm. The inner wall of the water outlet pipe is partially arranged in an inclined upward manner in the direction in which the water outlet of the water pump faces the water outlet. The central axis of the water outlet pipe is perpendicular to the central axis of the tank body.

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