Electric water heater

Abstract

This application relates to an electric water heater, including a shell assembly, an inner tank, a base, and a maintenance cover. The shell assembly has a receiving cavity and an opening communicating with the receiving cavity. The base is detachably disposed on the opening. The base has a first mounting cavity and a second mounting cavity facing away from each other. The inner tank is detachably disposed on the first mounting cavity and located within the receiving cavity. The maintenance cover is detachably disposed on the shell assembly and covers the second mounting cavity. By using the detachable base as a core component, the maintenance position is moved to the bottom of the shell assembly, making the maintenance space more open and convenient for tool operation. Disassembly and installation of the maintenance cover are very convenient, fundamentally realizing modular maintenance and replacement. This allows for the detachable replacement of individual components, avoiding the scrapping of the entire unit, greatly improving the maintainability and lifespan of the product, and preventing the waste of resources and economic losses caused by "minor damage leading to major failure."

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of electric water heater technology, and more particularly to an electric water heater. Background Technology

[0002] Existing storage-type electric water heaters mainly consist of an inner tank, outer shell, left and right end caps, inspection cover, insulation layer, and control system. To achieve good insulation, the gap between the inner tank and outer shell is filled with polyurethane or similar materials through integral foaming, forming a solidified insulation layer. This tightly binds the inner tank, outer shell, and end caps into a non-removable unit. Furthermore, for easy access to and maintenance of electrical components such as the heating element and magnesium rod, the inspection cover is typically located on the side end cap of the water heater, i.e., the right side of the device.

[0003] However, electric water heaters are typically wall-mounted about 1.8 meters off the ground and often flush against the wall to save space. This results in extremely limited space for lateral maintenance, making it difficult for repair personnel to use tools when removing the access cover. The operation is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and very inconvenient. Furthermore, because the foam insulation layer binds the components together, the product's maintainability is extremely poor. In particular, external parts (such as the outer casing and end caps) cannot be replaced individually if deformed or scratched due to impact, or if the internal tank needs replacement. Often, destructive dismantling or even scrapping of the entire water heater is required, leading to unnecessary economic losses and resource waste. Utility Model Content

[0004] This application provides an electric water heater to solve the technical problems of inconvenient side inspection and non-replaceable parts.

[0005] Therefore, this application provides an electric water heater, comprising:

[0006] The housing assembly has a receiving cavity and an opening communicating with the receiving cavity;

[0007] A base is detachably disposed in the opening; the base has a first mounting cavity and a second mounting cavity facing away from each other;

[0008] The inner liner is detachably disposed in the first mounting cavity and located within the receiving cavity;

[0009] An inspection cover is detachably disposed on the housing assembly and covers the second mounting cavity.

[0010] In some preferred embodiments, the sidewall of the base is provided with a third mounting cavity.

[0011] In some preferred embodiments, a control panel is also included, which is detachably mounted on the base and covers the third mounting cavity.

[0012] In some preferred embodiments, the control panel has an extension on the side facing the third mounting cavity.

[0013] In some preferred embodiments, the housing assembly includes a housing and a left end cap and a right end cap respectively disposed at both ends of the housing; the housing, the left end cap, and the right end cap enclose the receiving cavity.

[0014] The two ends of the control panel are detachably connected to the left end cover and the right end cover, respectively.

[0015] In some preferred embodiments, the outer casing is integrally formed with the left end cover, the right end cover, and the control panel.

[0016] In some preferred embodiments, the housing is detachably connected to the left end cover, the right end cover, and the control panel, respectively.

[0017] In some preferred embodiments, the housing includes a rear housing and a front housing, the rear housing being detachably connected to the front housing;

[0018] Alternatively, the rear shell and the front shell are integrally formed.

[0019] The beneficial effects of this application are:

[0020] The electric water heater includes a shell assembly, an inner tank, a base, and an inspection cover; the shell assembly has a receiving cavity and an opening communicating with the receiving cavity; the base is detachably disposed on the opening; the base has a first mounting cavity and a second mounting cavity facing away from each other; the inner tank is detachably disposed on the first mounting cavity and located within the receiving cavity; the inspection cover is detachably disposed on the shell assembly and covers the second mounting cavity.

[0021] By using the detachable base as a core component, the maintenance position is moved to the bottom of the outer casing assembly, making the maintenance space more open and convenient for tool operation. The removal and installation of the maintenance cover are very convenient. Specifically, when it is necessary to replace the heater or magnesium rod, simply open the maintenance cover and operate directly in the second mounting cavity. When the core component or the outer part is damaged, the inner liner module can be removed from the first mounting cavity for replacement by removing the base. This fundamentally realizes modular maintenance and replacement, allowing each component to be disassembled and replaced, avoiding the scrapping of the entire machine, greatly improving the maintainability and life cycle of the product, and avoiding the waste of resources and economic losses caused by "minor damage leading to major failure". Attached Figure Description

[0022] 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, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0023] Figure 1 This application provides a structural schematic diagram of an electric water heater;

[0024] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Explosion diagram of the first embodiment;

[0025] Figure 3 for Figure 1 Explosion diagram of the second embodiment;

[0026] Figure 4 for Figure 1 Explosion diagram of the third embodiment;

[0027] Figure 5 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the middle base;

[0028] Figure 6 for Figure 5 Another perspective structural diagram.

[0029] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0030] 1. Outer shell assembly; 11. Outer shell; 111. Front shell; 112. Rear shell; 12. Left end cover; 13. Right end cover; 2. Control panel; 21. Extension; 3. Inner liner; 4. Base; 41. First mounting cavity; 42. Second mounting cavity; 43. Third mounting cavity; 5. Inspection cover. Detailed Implementation

[0031] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0032] The following disclosure provides numerous different embodiments or examples for implementing various structures of this application. To simplify the disclosure, specific examples of components and arrangements are described below. These are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of this application. Furthermore, reference numerals and / or letters may be repeated in different examples. Such repetition is for simplification and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and / or arrangements discussed.

[0033] like Figures 1 to 6 As shown, this application provides an electric water heater, including a shell assembly 1, an inner tank 3, a base 4, and an inspection cover 5; the shell assembly 1 has a receiving cavity and an opening communicating with the receiving cavity; the base 4 is detachably disposed at the opening; preferably, the opening is located at the bottom of the shell assembly 1; as shown Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the base 4 has a first mounting cavity 41 and a second mounting cavity 42 facing away from each other; the inner liner 3 is detachably disposed in the first mounting cavity 41 and located within the receiving cavity; preferably, the inner liner 3 is used to store hot water for bathing or heat exchange medium, and is equipped with a heater, temperature probe, etc.; the outer surface is covered by an insulation layer, which can be a vacuum insulation board, foam material, insulation cotton, or a combination of multiple insulation materials; the inspection cover 5 is detachably disposed in the outer shell assembly 1 and covers the second mounting cavity 42. Preferably, the inspection cover 5 is fixed to the base 4 with screws or clips, which facilitates the maintenance of the control system and water system.

[0034] The outer shell assembly 1 forms a receiving cavity and has a sufficiently large opening at the bottom or front for the installation position of the detachable base 4. This allows the outer shell 11 to no longer be fixed to the inner liner 3 with foam adhesive, but to be an independent inner liner 3 module that can be accommodated. Thus, if the outer shell assembly 1 is damaged due to a collision or if the appearance is simply changed, the damaged outer shell assembly 1 can be removed and replaced without touching the internal core components, thus saving costs.

[0035] The base 4 is detachably mounted at the opening of the outer casing 11 and has a first mounting cavity 41 and a second mounting cavity 42 facing away from each other. The first mounting cavity 41 faces the receiving cavity, while the second receiving cavity faces away from it. The first mounting cavity 41 supports and fixes the inner tank 3, so that the weight of the entire inner tank 3 is transferred to the outer casing assembly 1 and the wall through this detachable base 4. The second mounting cavity 42 is used to centrally install electrical components that require maintenance, such as the main controller, instant heater, and water circuit components. By physically isolating the water storage inner tank 3 and the electrical components in different chambers, the operating space is completely independent when repairing electrical components, without affecting the vacuum and insulation of the inner tank 3.

[0036] The inner tank 3 is the core component for water storage and pressure bearing. It is detachably installed in the first mounting cavity 41 of the base 4, and the inner tank 3 has its own independent insulation layer, such as a vacuum insulation layer. Therefore, it no longer needs to rely on the foam material between the outer shell 11 and the inner tank 3 for insulation, thus achieving a detachable connection with the base 4. When the inner tank 3 needs to be replaced (the most common reason being corrosion and leakage of the inner tank 3), the maintenance personnel do not need to damage the entire water heater, including the outer shell 11 and the insulation layer. They only need to turn off the water and power, remove the entire base 4 from the bottom or front, and remove the inner tank 3 along with the base 4. Separate the old inner tank 3 from the first mounting cavity 41, replace it with the new inner tank 3, and reinstall the base 4 with the new inner tank 3 back into the receiving cavity of the outer shell assembly 1. This avoids the situation where the entire machine is scrapped due to damage to the inner tank 3, saving users a lot of money and meeting environmental protection requirements.

[0037] The inspection cover 5, serving as a protective cover for electrical components, is detachably mounted on the housing assembly 1. Its position corresponds to the second mounting cavity 42 of the base 4, and it is used to open or close the second mounting cavity 42. Since the second mounting cavity 42 houses all electrical components, the position of the inspection cover 5 defines the work area for maintenance personnel. Preferably, the inspection cover 5 can be located below the bottom or front of the equipment. Due to its suspended installation, there is no obstruction at the bottom, and maintenance or disassembly is not limited by the installation space. Thus, during maintenance, personnel only need to operate from directly below the water heater, where the space is open and tools can be easily used. This completely solves the problem of narrow operating space, eliminating the need for maintenance personnel to operate awkwardly in a small side space, greatly reducing labor intensity and time costs, and improving maintenance efficiency and safety.

[0038] In other words, by using the detachable base 4 as the core component, the maintenance position is moved to the bottom of the outer shell assembly 1, making the maintenance space more open and convenient for tool operation. The disassembly and installation of the maintenance cover 5 are very convenient. Specifically, when it is necessary to replace the heater or magnesium rod, simply open the maintenance cover 5 and operate directly in the second mounting cavity 42. When the core component or the outer part is damaged, the inner liner 3 module can be removed from the first mounting cavity 41 by disassembling the base 4 for replacement. This fundamentally realizes modular maintenance and replacement, enabling the disassembly and replacement of each component, avoiding the scrapping of the entire machine, greatly improving the maintainability and life cycle of the product, and avoiding the waste of resources and economic losses caused by "small damage leading to big failure".

[0039] In this embodiment, as Figure 5As shown, the side wall of the base 4 is provided with a third mounting cavity 43, in which an operator and other electrical control systems are installed. This makes full use of the internal space of the load-bearing structure of the base 4, avoiding the random routing of wires or fixing of circuit boards in the foam layer, making the internal structure neater and more reliable. In addition, the control circuit is directly installed in the third mounting cavity 43 of the base 4, which is located at the bottom of the equipment, realizing the downward concentration of maintenance and facilitating maintenance.

[0040] In this embodiment, as Figures 1 to 4 As shown, it also includes a control panel 2, which is detachably mounted on the base 4 and covers the third mounting cavity 43. The control panel 2 is separated from the outer casing 11 and integrated into the detachable base 4 module. Thus, the control panel 2 is no longer part of the water heater's fixed frame, but becomes a component of a replaceable functional module. Simultaneously, it is connected to the operator and control circuitry within the third mounting cavity 43 via cables. The position of the user control panel (usually in the lower middle part) conforms to ergonomics, while also directing electrical connection points to the bottom maintenance area, enabling centralized maintenance from narrow side access to downward access, making maintenance work more focused and convenient.

[0041] In another embodiment, the control panel 2 is detachably connected to the outer casing assembly 1 via clips, screws, or other means, and is positioned corresponding to the third mounting cavity 43; the control panel 2 is connected to the main control board inside the third mounting cavity 43 via a data cable. From the outside, it is integrated with the outer casing 11, and the user experience is no different from that of a traditional water heater.

[0042] In this embodiment, as Figures 2 to 4 As shown, the control panel 2 has an extension 21 on the side facing the third mounting cavity 43, making the control panel 2 L-shaped. The extension 21 connects to the inspection cover 5, combining the connection / disconnection process of the control panel 2 wiring harness with the disassembly / installation process of the inspection cover 5. Specifically, when the maintenance personnel unscrew the screws and remove the inspection cover 5, the data cable plug of the control panel 2 is automatically unplugged from the operator and other electrical control systems in the third mounting cavity 43 via the L-shaped extension 21. When the inspection cover 5 is pushed back into its original position, it is automatically inserted back into the electrical control system. This greatly reduces the difficulty of operation, saves time, and avoids secondary damage caused by improper operation. In other words, the control panel 2 and its controlled core circuit are integrated into the same detachable module, allowing for repair by replacing the entire base 4 assembly, thus achieving plug-and-play maintenance.

[0043] In this embodiment, the outer shell assembly 1 includes an outer shell 11 and a left end cap 12 and a right end cap 13 respectively disposed at both ends of the outer shell 11; the outer shell 11, the left end cap 12, and the right end cap 13 enclose the receiving cavity; the two ends of the control panel 2 are detachably connected to the left end cap 12 and the right end cap 13 respectively. The outer shell assembly 1 is modularly configured, consisting of an outer shell 11 (typically including a top surface, front surface, and back surface), a left end cap 12, and a right end cap 13, which together enclose the receiving cavity for housing the inner liner 3 and the insulation layer. Furthermore, the control panel 2 is also a separate module, with its two ends directly connected to the left and right end caps 13. By using a modular design and detachable connection method, external components can be replaced independently. Specifically, if the left side of the water heater is dented, only the left end cover 12 needs to be replaced; if the front is scratched, the outer shell 11 can be replaced separately; if the control panel 2 malfunctions or is damaged, the control panel 2 can be replaced separately. Damage to these three components is independent of each other. This modular design allows users to avoid replacing the entire outer shell 11 of the water heater due to partial cosmetic damage, which facilitates disassembly and maintenance while greatly reducing maintenance costs and resource waste.

[0044] First Embodiment

[0045] In this embodiment, as Figure 2 As shown, the outer shell 11 is integrally formed with the left end cover 12, the right end cover 13 and the control panel 2. The integrally formed outer shell 11 acts as a sturdy whole to bear the weight and transfer it to the wall, resulting in a more even force distribution and avoiding local stress concentration. At the same time, since the integral shell 11 is very sturdy and does not deform, it provides precise guidance and support for the insertion and removal of the base 4 module, making the disassembly and installation process of the base 4 module smoother and easier.

[0046] Second Embodiment

[0047] In this embodiment, as Figure 3 As shown, unlike the first embodiment, the outer shell 11 is detachably connected to the left end cover 12, the right end cover 13, and the control panel 2. Preferably, the outer shell 11 includes a rear shell 112 and a front shell 111, with the rear shell 112 and the front shell 111 integrally formed. Other structures are consistent with the first embodiment. The outer shell 11, left end cover 12, right end cover 13, control panel 2, and other components are detachably connected, for example, by screws or clips. This allows for individual replacement of external components. Specifically, if the outer shell 11 is scratched or the end cover is deformed, the damaged component can be disassembled and replaced individually without scrapping the entire machine. This greatly improves the maintainability and lifespan of the product and solves the problem of irreplaceable damaged exterior parts.

[0048] Third Embodiment

[0049] In this embodiment, as Figure 4 As shown, unlike the second embodiment, the outer shell 11 includes a rear shell 112 and a front shell 111, with the rear shell 112 and the front shell 111 detachably connected. All other structures are consistent with the second embodiment. The detachable connection of the outer shell 11 components improves maintainability and significantly extends the overall product lifespan.

[0050] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts that are not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions in other embodiments.

[0051] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0052] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0053] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. The illustrative expressions of the above terms in this specification should not be construed as necessarily referring to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. In addition, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification.

[0054] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this application without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. Since these modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims and their equivalents, this application also intends to include these modifications and variations.

[0055] The above description describes specific embodiments of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily conceive of various equivalent modifications or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in this application, and these modifications or substitutions should all be covered within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An electric water heater, characterized in that, include: The housing assembly has a receiving cavity and an opening communicating with the receiving cavity; A base is detachably disposed in the opening; the base has a first mounting cavity and a second mounting cavity facing away from each other; The inner liner is detachably disposed in the first mounting cavity and located within the receiving cavity; An inspection cover is detachably disposed on the housing assembly and covers the second mounting cavity.

2. The electric water heater according to claim 1, characterized in that, The base has a third mounting cavity on its side wall.

3. The electric water heater according to claim 2, characterized in that, It also includes a control panel, which is detachably mounted on the base and covers the third mounting cavity.

4. The electric water heater according to claim 3, characterized in that, The control panel has an extension on the side facing the third mounting cavity.

5. The electric water heater according to claim 3, characterized in that, The outer casing assembly includes an outer casing and a left end cap and a right end cap respectively disposed at both ends of the outer casing; the outer casing, the left end cap, and the right end cap together form the receiving cavity; The two ends of the control panel are detachably connected to the left end cover and the right end cover, respectively.

6. The electric water heater according to claim 5, characterized in that... The outer shell is integrally formed with the left end cover, the right end cover and the control panel.

7. The electric water heater according to claim 5, characterized in that, The outer casing is detachably connected to the left end cover, the right end cover, and the control panel, respectively.

8. The electric water heater according to claim 5, characterized in that, The outer casing includes a rear casing and a front casing, and the rear casing and the front casing are detachably connected; Alternatively, the rear shell and the front shell are integrally formed.

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