A gas water heater anti-freezing protection device

Abstract

This utility model discloses an antifreeze protection device for a gas water heater, relating to the field of gas water heater technology. It includes a heating module inside the water heater and sequentially connected inlet pipe, spiral heat exchange pipe, and outlet pipe. An external trigger pipe is installed on the water heater, one end connected to the water supply pipe and the other end connected to the inlet pipe via a double-leaf butterfly check valve. A temperature / pressure sensor is installed inside the pipe. A three-way valve at the bottom of the water heater connects to the outlet pipe, inlet pipe, and solenoid valve, respectively. The solenoid valve is connected to an upward-opening tank body. A protruding post at the bottom of the tank body contains an inverted U-shaped groove penetrating the outside. A miniature vent valve is installed at the highest point of the spiral heat exchange pipe, and one-way air supply valves are installed at the corresponding ends of the inlet / outlet pipes. Under normal operating conditions, water flows through the spiral heat exchange pipe to heat and supply water. During antifreeze operation, the dual sensors trigger a dual-signal system, closing the check valve and opening the solenoid valve. Accumulated water flows into the tank body through the three-way valve and is siphoned out. The vent valve breaks the air blockage, and the air supply valve stabilizes the siphon. The system automatically resets after the operation is complete.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of gas water heater technology, and in particular to a gas water heater antifreeze protection device. Background Technology

[0002] As a commonly used hot water supply device, gas water heaters consist of three interconnected internal water flow paths: first, the inlet pipe (the pipe from which tap water enters the unit and is transported to the heat exchange components); second, the heat exchange tubes (the core heating component where tap water exchanges heat with the heating module); and third, the outlet pipe (the pipe from which the hot water flows out after heat exchange and is transported to the user's end outside the unit). In frigid regions during winter or when the ambient temperature is below 0°C, residual water in the above-mentioned pipe paths is prone to freezing and expansion (water expands by approximately 9% when it freezes). The heat exchange tubes, in particular, have a higher risk of freezing due to their complex structure (e.g., the spiral section is prone to air and water accumulation). This can ultimately lead to pipe cracking or joint leakage, affecting the lifespan and safety of the equipment. This is a core pain point for gas water heater applications in low-temperature regions.

[0003] Currently, there are three main types of antifreeze technologies in the industry: One method is electric heating antifreeze technology, which involves wrapping electric heating tape around the outside of the inlet pipe, heat exchange pipe, and outlet pipe. When the temperature is low, the tape is energized to generate heat and prevent ice from forming. However, this method requires continuous energy consumption (1-2 kWh per day in winter), which does not meet the energy-saving requirements. Furthermore, the aging of the heating tape poses a risk of leakage.

[0004] The second method is manual drainage antifreeze technology, which relies on users to manually open the drain valve to empty the water in the pipeline. The operation is cumbersome and easy to forget. In addition, due to the influence of the water inlet pipeline (usually "bottom to top") and the heat exchange tube (spiral winding structure), air can easily accumulate in the pipe and form air blockage. The water is not completely drained, and the residual water will still freeze.

[0005] Thirdly, there is the single-sensor automatic drainage technology, which triggers the drainage valve only through a temperature sensor. It is prone to misjudgment due to temperature fluctuations (false drainage or leakage). Furthermore, it lacks auxiliary venting and air replenishment structures, and the problems of water inlet pipe blockage, air blockage, and residual water in heat exchange tubes cannot be solved, resulting in low reliability of antifreeze.

[0006] In summary, existing antifreeze devices have drawbacks such as high energy consumption, reliance on manual labor, low triggering accuracy, and incomplete purging of the entire pipeline, making it difficult to meet the safety and energy-saving requirements of gas water heaters in low-temperature environments. Utility Model Content

[0007] To address the aforementioned problems, the purpose of this utility model is to provide a gas water heater antifreeze protection device to solve the problem of high energy consumption in existing antifreeze devices.

[0008] The technical solution of this utility model is as follows: A gas water heater antifreeze protection device includes a water heater with a heating module and an instantaneous heat exchange tube inside. The instantaneous heat exchange tube includes an inlet pipe, a heat exchange tube, and an outlet pipe connected in sequence. The heat exchange tube is installed against the outside of the heating module. A trigger tube is installed outside the water heater. One end of the trigger tube is connected to the water supply pipe, and the other end is connected to the inlet pipe through a double-leaf butterfly-shaped fluorine-lined check valve. The inner wall of the trigger tube is equipped with a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor. Both are in direct contact with the water flow in the tube to ensure detection accuracy and are spaced a certain distance from each other to avoid signal interference. The temperature sensor can monitor the temperature of the water flowing into the water supply pipe in real time, while the pressure sensor monitors the water pressure change in the tube. Both serve as the trigger for the antifreeze program, and the subsequent antifreeze action is activated only when the low temperature and abnormal water pressure conditions are met, avoiding misjudgment due to temperature fluctuations.

[0009] The water heater has a T-junction at the bottom, which is fixed to the bottom of the water heater by a bracket. The first port of the T-junction is connected to the outlet pipe through the first connecting pipe, the second port is connected to the inlet pipe through the second connecting pipe, and the third port is connected to a solenoid valve. Its main function is to control the connection and disconnection between the T-junction and the subsequent drainage structure. It is only energized and opened when the antifreeze program is triggered, and is normally closed to reduce power consumption.

[0010] The solenoid valve is connected to an upward-opening barrel at the end away from the tee. The upward-opening design of the barrel allows air to be expelled from the barrel when water flows in, preventing air from accumulating and forming an airlock, which would affect the efficiency of water collection. A protruding post is provided on the inner end face of the bottom of the barrel. The protruding post is integrally formed with the barrel. The height of the protruding post is lower than the opening of the barrel and can be submerged by water in the outlet and inlet pipes, creating liquid seal conditions for the subsequent activation of the siphon channel.

[0011] The protruding column is provided with an inverted U-shaped channel that forms a siphon channel. One end of the channel is close to the bottom of the tank, and the other end passes through the tank and the water heater in sequence and connects to the outside of the water heater, forming a directional drainage path.

[0012] Furthermore, a miniature vent valve is installed at the highest point of the instantaneous heat exchanger pipe. This valve automatically activates based on the pressure difference generated by air accumulation within the pipe. When air accumulates at the highest point, forming an airlock, the valve automatically opens to release the air and eliminate the obstruction. After the air is completely released, the valve automatically closes under water pressure, ensuring a sealed pipe. This ensures that water in the inlet pipe, heat exchanger pipe, and outlet pipe flows unobstructed to the tank, preventing residual water due to airlocks and reducing the need for repeated restarts of the antifreeze process due to incomplete drainage. This improves antifreeze reliability and indirectly reduces energy consumption. A one-way air supply valve is installed directly above the connection between the inlet pipe and the second connecting pipe, or directly above the connection between the outlet pipe and the first connecting pipe. This valve allows only external air to enter the pipe in one direction. During siphon drainage, the rapid water flow creates localized negative pressure within the pipe, causing the air supply valve to automatically open and introduce air to quickly balance the pressure and maintain the siphon effect. Under normal operating conditions, the valve closes under water pressure to prevent water leakage. This structure avoids water flow interruption caused by negative pressure, ensures continuous drainage of accumulated water, improves the stability of antifreeze drainage, and requires no additional power to drive it.

[0013] Furthermore, the heat exchange tube is spiral-shaped and is wound downwards along the height of the heating module to form a natural slope, allowing water inside the tube to flow downhill by gravity along the spiral path, avoiding dead corners and ensuring thorough siphon drainage, thus enhancing the antifreeze effect.

[0014] Furthermore, a detachable filter screen is provided on the inner side of the trigger tube near the water supply pipe. The filter screen is fixed to the inner wall of the trigger tube by a snap fastener. The filter screen has elastic lugs that are spaced apart on its annular wall. The trigger tube has an annular groove that matches the elastic lugs. The filter screen can filter out impurities such as mud, sand and rust in the water supply, preventing them from entering the water inlet pipe, check valve, solenoid valve or siphon channel. This avoids pipe blockage, drainage failure or component jamming due to impurities, and ensures the stable operation of the antifreeze program.

[0015] Furthermore, the opening of the barrel is provided with a dust cover; the edge of the opening of the barrel is provided with a number of support protrusions distributed circumferentially; the inner edge of the dust cover is provided with mounting slots that are adapted to each of the support protrusions; the dust cover is fixed by engaging with the support protrusions through the mounting slots; the annular wall of the dust cover between adjacent mounting slots is provided with a notch that penetrates the inner and outer sides; the notch forms an airflow channel.

[0016] Furthermore, the first connecting pipe, the second connecting pipe, the tee, the solenoid valve, and the outer wall and bottom surface of the tank are all covered with an insulation layer. On the one hand, when the antifreeze program is not activated, it can effectively slow down the heat loss of residual water in these components—preventing the water from cooling down rapidly or even freezing due to the low ambient temperature, preventing pipe blockage and solenoid valve jamming, and ensuring that the water can flow smoothly to the tank and be siphoned out when the antifreeze program is activated. On the other hand, under normal water supply conditions, it can reduce the heat loss of hot water in the pipes, reduce the workload required by the heating module to maintain the water temperature, and indirectly achieve low energy consumption.

[0017] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: 1. The solenoid valve of this utility model is energized only when the antifreeze is triggered, and is turned off during normal operation to reduce power consumption; the insulation layer covering the first connecting pipe, tee, and tank body can reduce the heat loss of hot water during daily use; the temperature and pressure sensing elements are triggered by dual signals to avoid false activation in non-freezing scenarios; drainage relies on the siphon principle (after the tank body protrusion forms a liquid seal, the inverted U-shaped channel automatically drains water by physical pressure difference), without the need for additional power (such as an electric water pump), further reducing power consumption.

[0018] 2. In this utility model, the temperature sensor inside the trigger pipe monitors the water temperature and the pressure sensor monitors the water pressure. Antifreeze is activated only when both signals are synchronously satisfied, avoiding false triggering by a single sensor. During antifreeze, the double-lobed butterfly-shaped fluoropolymer-lined check valve automatically closes and the solenoid valve automatically opens. After drainage, both automatically reset, requiring no manual operation throughout the process.

[0019] 3. The heat exchange tube of this utility model is spiral and winds downward along the heating module to form a natural slope, guiding the water in the tube to flow to a lower position; the miniature exhaust valve at the highest point of the instantaneous heat exchange tube can discharge the air accumulated in the pipe to eliminate air blockage; the one-way air supply valve at the corresponding end of the inlet / outlet pipe can balance the local negative pressure in the pipe during siphon drainage and maintain the siphon effect; the protruding post at the bottom of the tank, together with the inverted U-shaped through groove, triggers the siphon to discharge the water in the inlet pipe, heat exchange tube and outlet pipe to the outside of the water heater, realizing the drainage of water in the entire pipeline. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model.

[0021] Figure 2 This is an enlarged schematic diagram of part A of this utility model.

[0022] Figure 3 This is a disassembly diagram of the barrel body and dust cover of this utility model.

[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram showing the disassembly of the trigger tube and filter screen of this utility model.

[0024] Reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1. Glue storage box; 1-1. Glue outlet; 1-2. Guide groove; 1-3. Mounting platform; 1-3.1. Rotary buckle; 1-3.2. Ear piece; 1-4. Handle; 1-5. Mounting bracket; 1-5.1. Waist-shaped hole; 1-6. Rotary shaft support seat; 2. Feeding roller; 2-1. L-shaped connecting shaft; 3. L-shaped mounting bracket; 3-1. Rectangular through groove; 4. Push rod; 4-1. Stop ring; 4-2. Nut; 5. Spring; 6. Glue dispensing roller. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments.

[0026] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, a gas water heater antifreeze protection device includes a water heater with a heating module and an instantaneous heat exchange tube inside. The instantaneous heat exchange tube includes an inlet pipe, a heat exchange tube, and an outlet pipe connected in sequence. The heat exchange tube is set against the outside of the heating module. A trigger tube is provided outside the water heater. One end of the trigger tube is connected to the water supply pipe, and the other end is connected to the inlet pipe through a double-leaf butterfly-shaped fluorine-lined check valve. The inner wall of the trigger tube is provided with a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor. Both are in direct contact with the water flow in the pipe to ensure detection accuracy, and are spaced a certain distance from each other to avoid signal interference. The temperature sensor can monitor the temperature of the water flowing into the water supply pipe in real time, and the pressure sensor monitors the water pressure change in the pipe. Both serve as the trigger for the antifreeze program. The subsequent antifreeze action is only activated when the low temperature and abnormal water pressure conditions are met, avoiding misjudgment due to temperature fluctuations.

[0027] The water heater has a T-junction at the bottom, which is fixed to the bottom of the water heater by a bracket. The first port of the T-junction is connected to the outlet pipe through the first connecting pipe, the second port is connected to the inlet pipe through the second connecting pipe, and the third port is connected to a solenoid valve. Its main function is to control the connection and disconnection between the T-junction and the subsequent drainage structure. It is only energized and opened when the antifreeze program is triggered, and is normally closed to reduce power consumption.

[0028] The solenoid valve is connected to an upward-opening barrel at the end away from the tee. The upward-opening design of the barrel allows air to be expelled from the barrel when water flows in, preventing air from accumulating and forming an airlock, which would affect the efficiency of water collection. A protruding post is provided on the inner end face of the bottom of the barrel. The protruding post is integrally formed with the barrel. The height of the protruding post is lower than the opening of the barrel and can be submerged by water in the outlet and inlet pipes, creating liquid seal conditions for the subsequent activation of the siphon channel.

[0029] The protruding column is provided with an inverted U-shaped channel that forms a siphon channel. One end of the channel is close to the bottom of the tank, and the other end passes through the tank and the water heater in sequence and connects to the outside of the water heater, forming a directional drainage path.

[0030] Furthermore, a miniature vent valve is installed at the highest point of the instantaneous heat exchanger pipe. This valve automatically activates based on the pressure difference generated by air accumulation within the pipe. When air accumulates at the highest point, forming an airlock, the valve automatically opens to release the air and eliminate the obstruction. After the air is completely released, the valve automatically closes under water pressure, ensuring a sealed pipe. This ensures that water in the inlet pipe, heat exchanger pipe, and outlet pipe flows unobstructed to the tank, preventing residual water due to airlocks and reducing the need for repeated restarts of the antifreeze process due to incomplete drainage. This improves antifreeze reliability and indirectly reduces energy consumption. A one-way air supply valve is installed directly above the connection between the inlet pipe and the second connecting pipe, or directly above the connection between the outlet pipe and the first connecting pipe. This valve allows only external air to enter the pipe in one direction. During siphon drainage, the rapid water flow creates localized negative pressure within the pipe, causing the air supply valve to automatically open and introduce air to quickly balance the pressure and maintain the siphon effect. Under normal operating conditions, the valve closes under water pressure to prevent water leakage. This structure avoids water flow interruption caused by negative pressure, ensures continuous drainage of accumulated water, improves the stability of antifreeze drainage, and requires no additional power to drive it.

[0031] Furthermore, the heat exchange tube is spiral-shaped and is wound downwards along the height of the heating module to form a natural slope, allowing water inside the tube to flow downhill by gravity along the spiral path, avoiding dead corners and ensuring thorough siphon drainage, thus enhancing the antifreeze effect.

[0032] Furthermore, a detachable filter screen is provided on the inner side of the trigger tube near the water supply pipe. The filter screen is fixed to the inner wall of the trigger tube by a snap fastener. The filter screen has elastic lugs that are spaced apart on its annular wall. The trigger tube has an annular groove that matches the elastic lugs. The filter screen can filter out impurities such as mud, sand and rust in the water supply, preventing them from entering the water inlet pipe, check valve, solenoid valve or siphon channel. This avoids pipe blockage, drainage failure or component jamming due to impurities, and ensures the stable operation of the antifreeze program.

[0033] Furthermore, the opening of the barrel is provided with a dust cover; the edge of the opening of the barrel is provided with a number of support protrusions distributed circumferentially; the inner edge of the dust cover is provided with mounting slots that are adapted to each of the support protrusions; the dust cover is fixed by engaging with the support protrusions through the mounting slots; the annular wall of the dust cover between adjacent mounting slots is provided with a notch that penetrates the inner and outer sides; the notch forms an airflow channel.

[0034] Furthermore, the first connecting pipe, the second connecting pipe, the tee, the solenoid valve, and the outer wall and bottom surface of the tank are all covered with an insulation layer. On the one hand, when the antifreeze program is not activated, it can effectively slow down the heat loss of residual water in these components—preventing the water from cooling down rapidly or even freezing due to the low ambient temperature, preventing pipe blockage and solenoid valve jamming, and ensuring that the water can flow smoothly to the tank and be siphoned out when the antifreeze program is activated. On the other hand, under normal water supply conditions, it can reduce the heat loss of hot water in the pipes, reduce the workload required by the heating module to maintain the water temperature, and indirectly achieve low energy consumption.

[0035] Working principle of this utility model: I. Daily Water Supply Operation Water flow path and component movement: 1. Water flow path: The double-leaf butterfly-shaped fluoropolymer-lined check valve maintains forward conduction. The tap water in the water supply pipe passes sequentially through the trigger pipe (with built-in filter screen to filter impurities such as mud and rust to avoid clogging subsequent components) → double-leaf butterfly-shaped fluoropolymer-lined check valve → inlet pipe. After the tap water enters the inlet pipe, it flows to the spiral heat exchange tube and flows downward along the spiral path on the outer wall of the heating module (adhering to the heating module to achieve heat exchange and temperature rise). The heated hot water is then transported to the external water-using end through the outlet pipe.

[0036] 2. Component movement: Miniature air vent valve: If air accumulates in the spiral heat exchange tube, inlet pipe or outlet pipe due to water supply fluctuations, forming an air blockage, the air vent valve will automatically open after sensing the air pressure difference in the pipe to release the air and eliminate water flow obstruction. After the air is released, it will automatically close by the water pressure in the pipe to ensure smooth water flow. One-way air supply valve: During normal water supply, it is kept closed by the water pressure inside the pipe to prevent water from leaking out of the air supply port; Solenoid valve and tank: When the solenoid valve is in the de-energized and closed state, it cuts off the passage between the inlet / outlet water pipe and the tank, preventing water from flowing into the tank; Insulation layer: Covers the first connecting pipe, the second connecting pipe, the tee, the solenoid valve and the outside of the tank, reduces the heat loss of the residual water in the pipe, reduces the load on the heating module to maintain the water temperature, and indirectly achieves energy saving.

[0037] II. Antifreeze Triggering Condition 1. Triggering judgment phase: When the temperature of the water flowing into the water supply pipe drops to the threshold, the temperature sensor inside the pipe is triggered to output a "low temperature signal"; the water in the pipe initially freezes and expands in volume, causing the pressure sensor to detect a sudden increase in water pressure and output an "abnormal pressure signal"; the signals from the temperature sensor and the pressure sensor are transmitted synchronously to the water heater control module. When both signals are satisfied at the same time, the control module determines that it is in an "ice-freezing risk state" and starts the antifreeze program.

[0038] Pipeline switching and water accumulation phase: When the double-leaf butterfly-type fluoropolymer-lined check valve closes, it cuts off the passage between the water supply pipe and the inlet pipe, preventing new cold water from entering the pipeline; at the same time, the solenoid valve is energized and opened, establishing a drainage path of "inlet / outlet pipe → tee → solenoid valve → tank". Residual water in the inlet pipe, outlet pipe, and spiral heat exchanger tubes, under the combined action of gravity (the spiral heat exchanger tubes wind downwards along the heating module to form a natural slope, avoiding dead corners for water accumulation) and subsequent siphon negative pressure, flows into the tee through the second connecting pipe and the first connecting pipe, and then into the tank through the opened solenoid valve; if there is still residual air in the pipes during the water collection process, the miniature vent valve will automatically open again to vent the air, ensuring that the accumulated water flows into the tank without obstruction.

[0039] 3. Siphon drainage and negative pressure balance stage: As water continues to flow into the tank, when the water level overflows the protruding post at the bottom of the tank (creating a liquid seal), the inverted U-shaped channel inside the protruding post triggers a siphon effect. The water inside the tank flows through the inverted U-shaped channel, passing through the tank body and the water heater shell in sequence, and is discharged to the outside of the water heater. During the siphon process, when a local negative pressure is generated in the pipeline due to the rapid flow of water, the one-way air valve at the connection end of the inlet / outlet pipe automatically opens, introducing outside air into the pipeline to balance the air pressure, preventing the negative pressure from interrupting the siphon effect, and ensuring that the water continues to be discharged.

[0040] 4. End of antifreeze and reset phase: The temperature sensor inside the trigger pipe detects that the water temperature flowing into the water supply pipe has risen back to the normal threshold and outputs a normal temperature signal; the pressure sensor detects that the water pressure in the pipe has returned to the normal water supply range and outputs a normal pressure signal; the solenoid valve is de-energized and closed, cutting off the drainage path; the double-disc butterfly fluoropolymer-lined check valve resumes forward conduction, the water supply pipe resumes supplying water to the inlet pipe, and the device returns to normal water supply operation.

[0041] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model, but the protection scope of the present utility model is not limited thereto. Any equivalent substitutions or changes made by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present utility model, based on the technical solution and the inventive concept of the present utility model, should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A gas water heater antifreeze protection device, comprising a water heater, wherein the water heater is provided with a heating module and an instantaneous heat exchange tube, the instantaneous heat exchange tube comprising an inlet pipe, a heat exchange tube and an outlet pipe connected in sequence, characterized in that, The water heater is equipped with a trigger tube on its exterior. One end of the trigger tube is connected to the water supply pipe, and the other end is connected to the inlet pipe through a check valve. The inner wall of the trigger tube is equipped with a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor. The water heater has a three-way valve at the bottom. The first port of the three-way valve is connected to the outlet pipe through a first connecting pipe, the second port is connected to the inlet pipe through a second connecting pipe, and the third port is connected to a solenoid valve. The end of the solenoid valve away from the tee is connected to an upward-opening barrel. A protruding post is provided on the inner end face of the bottom of the barrel. The height of the protruding post is lower than the opening of the barrel and can be submerged by water in the outlet pipe and inlet pipe. The protruding column is provided with an inverted U-shaped channel that forms a siphon channel. One end of the channel is close to the bottom of the tank, and the other end passes through the tank and the water heater in sequence and connects to the outside of the water heater.

2. The gas water heater freeze protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein, A miniature vent valve is provided at the highest point of the instantaneous heat exchange tube; a one-way air supply valve is provided directly above the connection end between the water inlet pipe and the second connecting pipe, or directly above the connection end between the water outlet pipe and the first connecting pipe.

3. The gas water heater freeze protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein, The heat exchange tube is spiral-shaped and is wound downward along the height direction of the heating module on the outer wall of the heating module.

4. The gas water heater freeze protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein, The trigger tube is equipped with a detachable filter screen on the inner side of the port near the water supply pipe. The filter screen is fixed to the inner wall of the trigger tube by a snap fastener.

5. The gas water heater freeze protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein, The check valve is a double-disc butterfly-type fluoropolymer-lined check valve.

6. The gas water heater freeze protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein, The opening of the barrel is provided with a dust cover; the edge of the opening of the barrel is provided with a number of support protrusions distributed circumferentially; the inner edge of the dust cover is provided with a mounting groove that matches the support protrusions one by one; the dust cover is fixed by the mounting groove and the support protrusions; the ring wall of the dust cover between adjacent mounting grooves is provided with a notch that runs through the inner and outer sides; the notch forms an airflow channel.

7. The gas water heater freeze protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein, The first connecting pipe, the second connecting pipe, the tee, the solenoid valve, and the outer wall and bottom outer surface of the barrel are all covered with a heat insulation layer.

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