A water tank mounting structure

Abstract

The application relates to a water tank mounting structure, comprising a water tank and a mounting seat, wherein the mounting seat comprises an L-shaped support formed by a bottom plate and a first side plate and a second side plate extending upwards from two adjacent sides of the bottom plate; the L-shaped support defines a mounting area which is open at the top and has a first open side and a second open side; the first open side is opposite to the first side plate, and the second open side is opposite to the second side plate; the water tank is configured to be put into or taken out of the mounting area from the first open side or the second open side; when the water tank is placed in the mounting area, the water tank is positioned by the first side plate and the second side plate. Compared with a traditional tank type containing cavity which is completely enclosed from the bottom and four sides, the application reduces material consumption and production cost. Meanwhile, the application reduces cleaning dead angles, makes the inside more easily cleaned, and improves sanitary conditions. Moreover, the water tank can be taken out or put in from two open sides, and for a water tank with large capacity or inconvenient placement position, the water tank is more convenient to take out or put in, and user experience is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of water tank installation technology, and in particular to a water tank installation structure. Background Technology

[0002] In existing devices with removable water tanks, the mounting base of the main unit typically uses a box-like cavity that completely surrounds the tank from the bottom and all four sides to place and secure it. When removing the water tank, due to lateral constraints, the tank must be removed vertically upwards from the top of the mounting cavity. For larger tanks or tanks in inconvenient locations, this method of removal and placement is both laborious and inconvenient, resulting in a poor user experience. Utility Model Content

[0003] The purpose of this application is to provide a water tank installation structure to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, this application provides the following technical solution:

[0005] A water tank mounting structure includes a water tank and a mounting base, the mounting base including an L-shaped bracket formed by a base plate and a first side plate and a second side plate extending upward from adjacent sides of the base plate.

[0006] The L-shaped bracket defines a mounting area that is open at the top and has a first open side and a second open side; wherein the first open side is opposite to the first side plate and the second open side is opposite to the second side plate.

[0007] The water tank is configured to be able to be placed into or removed from the installation area from either the first or second open side.

[0008] When the water tank is placed in the installation area, it is positioned by the first side plate and the second side plate.

[0009] Furthermore, when the water tank is placed in the installation area, its first outer side surface contacts and adheres to the inner wall surface of the first side plate, and its second outer side surface contacts and adheres to the inner wall surface of the second side plate.

[0010] Furthermore, the width of the water tank is adapted to the width of the installation area. When the water tank is placed in the installation area, its third outer surface spatially constitutes the boundary of the first open side, and its fourth outer surface spatially constitutes the boundary of the second open side.

[0011] Furthermore, the water tank is also provided with a U-shaped handle, the two ends of which are respectively hinged to the first outer side and the third outer side;

[0012] When the water tank is placed in the installation area and the handle is rotated to the storage position, the arch of the handle protrudes beyond the outline of the water tank in the direction of the open side of the installation area.

[0013] Furthermore, a locking mechanism is provided between the water tank and the mounting base to fix the water tank in place in the installation area.

[0014] Furthermore, the locking mechanism includes a lock seat disposed on the water tank and a latch disposed at a corresponding position on the mounting base.

[0015] Furthermore, a water level sensing module is provided on the first side plate and / or the second side plate.

[0016] Furthermore, the bottom of the water tank is provided with a water outlet, and a valve body assembly is provided at the water outlet. A pushing member is fixed on the base plate of the mounting base. When the water tank is installed in place, the pushing member pushes the valve core of the valve body assembly to open it.

[0017] Furthermore, the valve body assembly includes an elastic element that provides a normally closed force to the valve core to seal the outlet.

[0018] Furthermore, the pushing member is a hollow tubular structure, with a water supply channel inside that communicates with the outside.

[0019] The technical solutions provided in this application have the following advantages compared with the prior art:

[0020] The water tank installation structure provided in this application embodiment uses an L-shaped bracket consisting of a base plate and a first side plate and a second side plate extending upward from adjacent sides of the base plate, forming an installation area with an open top and having a first open side and a second open side. The water tank can be placed into or removed from the installation area from the first open side or the second open side according to actual needs, and is positioned by relying on the first side plate and the second side plate after placement.

[0021] Compared to traditional box-type containers that are completely enclosed from the bottom and all four sides, this open structure reduces material consumption and lowers production costs. It also reduces cleaning dead zones, making the interior easier to clean and improving hygiene. Furthermore, the water tank can be accessed from both open sides, making it more convenient for larger tanks or those in inconveniently placed, thus enhancing the user experience. Attached Figure Description

[0022] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

[0023] 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.

[0024] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference numerals in the accompanying drawings. These illustrations do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings are denoted as similar elements. Unless otherwise stated, the figures in the drawings are not to be limited by scale.

[0025] Figure 1 This is an exploded view of the water tank installation structure provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0026] Figure 2 An assembly perspective view of the water tank installation structure provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0027] Figure 3 This is a perspective view of the mounting base provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0028] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of the water tank provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0029] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of the water tank installation structure provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0030] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A magnified schematic diagram of the structure of A in the middle.

[0031] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0032] 1. Water tank; 11. First outer side; 12. Second outer side; 13. Third outer side; 14. Fourth outer side; 15. Handle;

[0033] 2. Mounting base; 20. Base plate; 21. First side plate; 22. Second side plate;

[0034] 3. L-shaped bracket; 30. Installation area; 31. First open side; 32. Second open side;

[0035] 4. Locking mechanism; 41. Lock seat; 42. Locking latch;

[0036] 5. Water level sensing module;

[0037] 6. Valve body assembly; 61. Valve core; 62. Elastic element;

[0038] 7. Jacking components. Detailed Implementation

[0039] 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.

[0040] 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.

[0041] For ease of description, spatial relative terms may be used in the text to describe the relative position or movement of one element or feature relative to another element or feature, as shown in the figure. These relative terms include, for example, "inside," "outside," "middle," "outer," "below," "below," "above," "front," "back," etc. Such spatial relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation, other than those depicted in the figure. For example, if the device in the figure undergoes a positional flip, orientation change, or change of motion, these directional indications will change accordingly. For instance, an element described as "below other elements or features" or "below other elements or features" will subsequently be oriented "above other elements or features" or "above other elements or features." Therefore, the example term "below" can include both upper and lower orientations. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or in other directions), and the spatial relative descriptors used in the text will be interpreted accordingly.

[0042] This application provides a water tank installation structure that can solve the technical problems of high material consumption, inconvenient cleaning, and laborious removal and placement of water tanks in the prior art.

[0043] For details, please refer to Figures 1 to 6 The present application provides a water tank installation structure, including a water tank 1 and a mounting base 2. The mounting base 2 includes an L-shaped bracket 3 formed by a base plate 20 and a first side plate 21 and a second side plate 22 extending upward from adjacent sides of the base plate 20.

[0044] The L-shaped bracket 3 defines a mounting area 30 that is open at the top and has a first open side 31 and a second open side 32; wherein the first open side is opposite to the first side plate 21 and the second open side is opposite to the second side plate 22.

[0045] The water tank 1 is configured to be able to be inserted into or removed from the installation area from either the first or second open side.

[0046] When the water tank 1 is placed in the installation area, it is positioned by the first side plate 21 and the second side plate 22.

[0047] In the above technical solution, the L-shaped bracket 3 forms an installation area 30 with an open top and having a first open side 31 and a second open side 32. The first open side 31 is opposite to the first side plate 21, and the second open side 32 is opposite to the second side plate 22, providing an open space for the placement and removal of the water tank 1.

[0048] The water tank 1 is designed to be inserted or removed from either the first open side 31 or the second open side 32 of the installation area 30. Users can choose to place the water tank 1 into or remove it from either open side, depending on the actual usage scenario and convenience. For example, when space is limited and there are obstacles on one side, the user can choose to place or remove the water tank from the other open side.

[0049] When the water tank 1 is placed in the installation area, it is positioned by relying on the first side plate 21 and the second side plate 22. Specifically, the outer surface of the water tank 1 will contact the inner wall surface of the first side plate 21 and the second side plate 22. Through this contact and constraint, the water tank 1 maintains a stable position in the installation area and will not shake or shift during equipment operation.

[0050] This embodiment of the application uses the aforementioned L-shaped bracket 3 structure to replace the traditional closed box-type housing cavity. This not only simplifies the structure and saves materials and costs, but also eliminates multiple side walls, leaving no hard-to-clean corners inside the installation area, making it easy to wipe clean. Simultaneously, the side-mounted method of the water tank makes the operation path more flexible, eliminating the need for users to lift the water tank vertically upwards. This is especially convenient for operating large-capacity water tanks in confined spaces, effectively improving ease of use and user experience.

[0051] In a preferred embodiment, when the water tank 1 is placed in the installation area 30, its first outer side 11 is in contact with the inner wall surface of the first side plate 21, and its second outer side 12 is in contact with the inner wall surface of the second side plate 22.

[0052] The contact-fit design increases the friction and constraint between the water tank 1 and the mounting base 2. After the water tank 1 is placed, the side plate provides some obstruction and support to the outer surface of the water tank 1, preventing displacement or tipping due to equipment vibration, shaking, or external forces during use. This improves the stability and reliability of the water tank 1 installation and ensures the normal operation of the overall equipment. When assembling the water tank 1, the user only needs to place the water tank 1 into the installation area, and positioning is completed by the natural contact fit of its outer surface; the operation is simple and convenient.

[0053] Meanwhile, the width of the water tank 1 is adapted to the width of the installation area 30. When the water tank 1 is placed in the installation area 30, its third outer side 13 spatially constitutes the boundary of the first open side 31 of the installation area 30, and its fourth outer side 14 spatially constitutes the boundary of the second open side 32 of the installation area 30.

[0054] Understandably, the width of water tank 1 is matched with the width of installation area 30, which makes full use of the space in installation area 30 and avoids space waste or space congestion caused by mismatch between water tank 1 and installation area 30. This reasonable space utilization makes the overall structure of the equipment more compact, and achieves stable installation of water tank 1 in a limited space. It is conducive to the miniaturization and integration design of the equipment, and is suitable for various scenarios with space requirements, such as small household appliances or industrial equipment with limited space.

[0055] Specifically, please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 The third outer side 13 is used as the boundary of the first open side 31 of the installation area 30, and the fourth outer side 14 is used as the boundary of the second open side 32 of the installation area 30, so that the third outer side 13, the fourth outer side 14, the first side plate 21 and the second side plate 22 together form a cube, forming a simple and unified visual whole, which enhances the aesthetics of the product.

[0056] Furthermore, the water tank 1 of this application is also provided with a U-shaped handle 15, the two ends of which are respectively hinged to the first outer side 11 and the third outer side 13. When the water tank 1 is placed in the installation area 30 and the handle 15 is rotated to the storage position, the arch of the handle 15 protrudes beyond the outline of the water tank 1 in the direction of the open side of the installation area 30.

[0057] The U-shaped handle 15 provides a convenient point of leverage for users to move the water tank 1. When the water tank 1 needs to be moved, the user can rotate the handle from the retracted position to the extended position and easily lift or move the water tank 1 by holding the handle 15 with one or both hands. Compared to water tanks without handles, this design greatly improves the efficiency and comfort of handling, especially when the water tank 1 is heavy or needs to be moved frequently, reducing the physical burden on the user.

[0058] In addition, the storage position of the handle 15 is set such that its arch protrudes towards the open side of the installation area 30. This structure ensures that the operating end of the handle 15 is always in an easily accessible spatial position, avoiding the inconvenience of operation caused by the handle 15 being completely hidden inside the outline of the water tank 1, and ensuring that the user can quickly and effortlessly turn the handle 15 out of the storage position.

[0059] Please refer to Figure 1 In one embodiment, a locking mechanism 4 is provided between the water tank 1 and the mounting base 2 to fix the water tank 1 in the mounting area 30 after it is placed in place.

[0060] The locking mechanism 4 effectively prevents the water tank 1 from shifting or falling off during use due to equipment vibration, shaking, or external forces. In equipment that requires frequent movement or is in a vibrating environment, such as vehicle-mounted water tank equipment or water tanks on industrial vibrating equipment, the locking mechanism 4 ensures that the water tank 1 is always stably installed within the installation area 30, guaranteeing normal equipment operation and avoiding problems such as water leakage and connection interruption caused by the displacement of the water tank 1.

[0061] In a preferred embodiment, the locking mechanism 4 includes a lock seat 41 disposed on the water tank 1 and a latch 42 disposed at a corresponding position on the mounting base 2.

[0062] Once the water tank 1 is in place, the locking seat 41 and the latch 42 interact to achieve locking. Taking a common snap-locking mechanism as an example, the locking seat 41 is a structure with a groove or a locking hole, while the latch 42 is a spring-loaded or movable locking block. When the water tank 1 is placed in the correct position, the latch 42, under its own elastic force or external driving force, enters the groove or locking hole of the locking seat 41, thereby fixing the water tank 1 in the installation area. Some locking mechanisms 4 may also be equipped with auxiliary devices, such as springs or magnets, to enhance the stability and reliability of the locking. Springs can provide continuous elastic force, keeping the latch firmly locked in the locking seat; magnets can attract the latch through magnetic force, helping it to quickly and accurately enter the locking seat.

[0063] It should be noted that a water level sensing module 5 is provided on the first side plate 21 and / or the second side plate 22 of this application.

[0064] In a preferred embodiment, the water level sensing module 5 is disposed on the second side plate 22. In practical applications, the water level sensing module 5 can promptly detect situations where the water level in the water tank 1 is too low or too high. For example, in a water dispenser, if the equipment continues to operate when the water level is too low, the heating element may burn out, damaging the equipment or even causing a safety accident. After the water level sensing module 5 detects a low water level signal, the control system will immediately stop heating or other related operations to protect the equipment safety.

[0065] When the water level is too high, the water level sensing module 5 sends a full water signal, and the control system can take measures to prevent the water tank 1 from overflowing, such as closing the inlet valve and starting the drainage device, to avoid water damage and environmental pollution.

[0066] Further, please refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6 The bottom of the water tank 1 is provided with a water outlet, and a valve body assembly 6 is provided at the water outlet. A pusher 7 is fixed on the base plate of the mounting base 2. When the water tank 1 is installed in place, the pusher 7 pushes the valve core 61 of the valve body assembly 6 to open it.

[0067] The outlet at the bottom of water tank 1 is the channel through which water flows out of water tank 1. The valve body assembly 6 installed at the outlet is used to control the flow of water. When water tank 1 is not installed or is not installed in place, the valve core 61 of the valve body assembly 6 is in the closed state. At this time, the valve core 61 will tightly seal the outlet and prevent water from flowing out of water tank 1.

[0068] In this application, the valve body assembly 6 includes an elastic element 62 that provides a normally closed force to the valve core 61 to seal the outlet. The closure of the valve core 61 is achieved by the elastic force of the elastic element 62, which continuously applies a force to the valve core 61 to close the outlet.

[0069] A pushing member 7 is fixed on the base plate of the mounting base 2. When the water tank 1 is not installed, the pushing member 7 does not contact the valve core 61 of the valve body assembly 6 and does not exert any force on the valve core 61. When the water tank 1 is placed in the installation area 30 for installation, as the water tank 1 gradually falls and is installed in place, the valve core 61 of the valve body assembly 6 gradually approaches the pushing member 7 on the base plate of the mounting base 2.

[0070] When the water tank 1 is fully installed, the jacking member 7 pushes against the valve core 61 of the valve body assembly 6. The jacking member 7 applies an upward pushing force, which overcomes the closing force of the elastic element 62 on the valve core 61, causing the valve core 61 to move upward and thus opening the outlet. At this point, the water in the water tank 1 can flow out through the outlet and enter subsequent pipes or equipment for use.

[0071] This design automates the installation of the water tank 1 and the activation of water flow. Users simply need to correctly install the water tank 1 onto the mounting base 2; water will flow automatically without the need for manual operation of the valve assembly 6 to open the outlet, greatly improving ease of use. For example, in scenarios requiring frequent water tank replacements, such as replacing the filter tank in a household water purifier, users can quickly complete the tank installation and immediately obtain water flow, saving time and steps.

[0072] It should be noted that the jacking member 7 of this application is a hollow tubular structure, with an internal water supply channel that communicates with the outside. When the jacking member 7 pushes the valve core 61 of the valve body assembly 6 to open the water outlet, the water in the water tank 1 can flow out through the internal water supply channel of the jacking member 7.

[0073] 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.

[0074] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0075] 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.

[0076] 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.

[0077] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature being directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature being directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0078] 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.

[0079] 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.

[0080] 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. A water tank mounting structure, comprising a water tank and a mounting base, characterized in that: The mounting base includes an L-shaped bracket consisting of a base plate and a first side plate and a second side plate extending upward from adjacent sides of the base plate; The L-shaped bracket defines a mounting area that is open at the top and has a first open side and a second open side; wherein the first open side is opposite to the first side plate and the second open side is opposite to the second side plate; The water tank is configured to be able to be inserted into or removed from the installation area from either the first open side or the second open side; When the water tank is placed in the installation area, it is positioned by the first side plate and the second side plate.

2. The water tank installation structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the water tank is placed in the installation area, its first outer side is in contact with the inner wall of the first side plate, and its second outer side is in contact with the inner wall of the second side plate.

3. The water tank installation structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, The width of the water tank is adapted to the width of the installation area. When the water tank is placed in the installation area, its third outer side forms the boundary of the first open side in space, and its fourth outer side forms the boundary of the second open side in space.

4. The water tank installation structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, The water tank is also provided with a U-shaped handle, the two ends of which are respectively hinged to the first outer side and the third outer side; When the water tank is placed in the installation area and the handle is rotated to the storage position, the arch of the handle protrudes beyond the outline of the water tank in the direction of the open side of the installation area.

5. The water tank installation structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, A locking mechanism is provided between the water tank and the mounting base to fix the water tank in place in the installation area.

6. The water tank installation structure according to claim 5, characterized in that, The locking mechanism includes a lock seat disposed on the water tank and a latch disposed at a corresponding position on the mounting base.

7. The water tank installation structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, A water level sensing module is provided on the first side plate and / or the second side plate.

8. The water tank installation structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom of the water tank is provided with a water outlet, and a valve assembly is provided at the water outlet; A pushing component is fixed on the base plate of the mounting base; When the water tank is installed in place, the pushing member pushes the valve core of the valve body assembly to open it.

9. The water tank installation structure according to claim 8, characterized in that, The valve body assembly includes an elastic element that provides a normally closed force to the valve core to seal the outlet.

10. The water tank installation structure according to claim 8, characterized in that, The jacking component is a hollow tubular structure with an internal water supply channel that communicates with the outside.

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