Drinking water device

Abstract

The embodiment of the present application provides a kind of drinking water equipment, comprising: machine body;Water storage container, it is set in machine body, for storing drinking water;Cooling box, for storing cooling medium, with water storage container and side by side it is set in machine body, and located the front side of water storage container;Heat exchange component is set in the upper of cooling box, heat exchange component can be communicated with water storage container and cooling box, to make drinking water in water storage container can be in heat exchange component with the cooling medium of cooling box Heat exchange.Drinking water equipment proposed in this aspect embodiment, cooling box and heat exchange component are all set in the front side of machine body, so that cooling box and heat exchange component are closer to the position of water outlet nozzle, drinking water after heat exchange in heat exchange component can directly flow out via water outlet nozzle, shorten the flow path of drinking water, so as to reduce the time length of drinking water flowing in pipeline, so that water outlet speed is faster, also make actual water temperature and preset temperature more close.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of drinking water device technology, specifically to a drinking water device. Background Technology

[0002] Existing electric water heaters require a water-cooled heat exchange system to provide hot water that can be drunk immediately. However, the water-cooled heat exchange system of existing electric water heaters is generally located at the rear of the unit, which occupies extra space, resulting in low space utilization and a long front-to-back length of the unit. Furthermore, since users draw water from the front of the unit, placing the water-cooled heat exchange system at the rear also results in a long water delivery channel and a slow speed of hot water output. Utility Model Content

[0003] This application aims to at least solve the problem in the prior art or related technologies that the water-cooled heat exchange system of the electric water bottle is located on the rear side of the machine, resulting in a long water delivery channel and slow heat exchange.

[0004] Therefore, the first aspect of this utility model provides a drinking water device, including: a body (10); a water storage container disposed in the body for storing drinking water; a cooling tank for storing a cooling medium, disposed side by side with the water storage container in the body and located in front of the water storage container; and a heat exchange component disposed above the cooling tank, wherein the heat exchange component is capable of communicating with the water storage container and the cooling tank so that the drinking water in the water storage container can exchange heat with the cooling medium in the cooling tank in the heat exchange component.

[0005] The water dispensing device proposed in this embodiment, with its front-side water outlet more in line with user habits (most models have the water outlet located at the front), also places the cooling tank and heat exchanger at the front, bringing them closer to the water outlet. This allows the drinking water, after heat exchange in the heat exchanger, to flow directly through the outlet, shortening the flow path and reducing the time the water spends in the pipes, resulting in faster water output and a water temperature closer to the preset temperature. Furthermore, the heat exchanger is positioned above the cooling tank, bringing it even closer to the water outlet, allowing the drinking water to flow out more quickly after heat exchange.

[0006] In some embodiments, the heat exchange component is positioned above the highest liquid level of the water storage container.

[0007] In these embodiments, on the one hand, the drinking water in the heat exchange component can flow back to the storage container under gravity after heat exchange, allowing for reuse and avoiding water waste. Additionally, it prevents drinking water from remaining in the heat exchange tubes for extended periods and cooling down, which could lead to a significant temperature difference between the outlet and set temperatures when water is drawn again. Furthermore, it also prevents bacterial growth caused by prolonged stagnation of drinking water in the heat exchange tubes. On the other hand, since the initially unheated raw water in the storage container can flow into the pipeline, the heat exchange component being higher than the maximum water level in the storage container effectively prevents excessive raw water in the pipeline, thus avoiding any impact on the user's drinking water health.

[0008] In some embodiments, an installation space is provided on the left or right side of the internal cooling box of the device. The water drinking device also includes a cooling pipe and a first water pumping device disposed on the cooling pipe. The two ends of the cooling pipe are respectively connected to a heat exchange component and a cooling box. At least one section of the cooling pipe and the first water pumping device are disposed in the installation space.

[0009] In these embodiments, the cooling pipes and the first water pumping device of the water drinking equipment are centrally located in the installation space on the left or right side of the cooling box. On the one hand, this can minimize the space occupied by the cooling pipes and the first water pumping device in the machine body. By utilizing the space that was not fully utilized by the electric water bottle to arrange the cooling box, cooling pipes, and the first water pumping device, the size of the machine body can be effectively reduced, which is conducive to the miniaturization of the product. On the other hand, it also makes the distance between the heat exchange components, the cooling box and the cooling pipes and the first water pumping device smaller, shortening the flow path of the cooling medium, so that the cooling medium can reach the heat exchange components faster and improve the heat exchange efficiency.

[0010] In some embodiments, the drinking water device further includes a drinking water pipe, with its two ends connected to a heat exchange component and a water storage container, respectively, and at least one section of the drinking water pipe is disposed in the installation space.

[0011] In these embodiments, the drinking water pipe of the water-drinking device is also centrally located in the installation space on one side of the cooling box. On the one hand, the gap between the cooling pipe, the first water pumping device and the cooling box can be used to install the drinking water pipe, reducing the space occupied in the body and effectively reducing the size of the body, which is conducive to the miniaturization of the product. On the other hand, it also makes the distance between the heat exchange component and the drinking water pipe smaller, shortening the flow path of the drinking water, so that the drinking water can reach the heat exchange component faster and improve the heat exchange efficiency.

[0012] In some embodiments, the drinking water pipe includes at least one transparent area, and a viewing window is provided on the body at a position corresponding to the transparent area.

[0013] In these embodiments, the drinking water pipe is connected to the water storage container. Due to the principle of equal water level in the communicating vessel, the water level in the drinking water pipe is the same as the water level in the water storage container. Thus, the water level in the water storage container can be observed through the viewing window and the transparent area.

[0014] In some embodiments, an opening communicating with the cooling box is provided on the front wall or side wall of the body, and the cooling box can be pulled out through the opening.

[0015] In these embodiments, the method of pulling out the cooling box is more labor-saving and easier to operate; specifically, the cooling box can be pulled out to add cooling medium and clean the cooling box, etc. After adding cooling medium, the cooling box can be pushed back into the body through the opening.

[0016] In some embodiments, the cooling tank includes: a tank body, the top of which has a water inlet, and the side wall of the tank body has a water outlet, which is located above the highest liquid level of the tank body; and a water pipe disposed in the tank body, one end of which is connected to the water outlet, and the other end of which extends to the lower part of the tank body.

[0017] In these embodiments, the top of the housing is provided with a water inlet for adding or replacing the cooling medium. The water inlet is usually set relatively large to facilitate the addition or replacement of the cooling medium and the cleaning of the inside of the housing. For example, the top of the housing can be set as an open structure as the water inlet, or a large water inlet can be partially opened at the top of the housing. Furthermore, the water outlet is set above the highest liquid level in the housing so that the liquid inside the housing will not flow out through the water outlet when the housing is removed. Furthermore, the cooling medium at the bottom of the housing can be led out through a water pipe to ensure sufficient circulation of the cooling medium in the cooling tank.

[0018] In some embodiments, the water drinking device further includes a water outlet located on the outer side of the front sidewall of the device body. The water outlet is connected to a water storage container via a heat exchange assembly. The water drinking device also includes a control panel mounted on the front sidewall of the device body and located on the upper part of the front sidewall. The heat exchange assembly is located on the rear side of the control panel, and the water outlet is located below the control panel.

[0019] In these embodiments, the water outlet is located on the outer side of the front wall of the unit, making it convenient for users to collect water from the front of the unit. Furthermore, the control panel is located on the front wall of the unit and at the top, making it convenient for users to operate the water dispenser from the front. Furthermore, the heat exchange component is located on the rear side of the control panel, and the water outlet is located below the control panel, so that the heat exchange component is closer to the water outlet. The drinking water that has undergone heat exchange in the heat exchange component can flow directly out through the water outlet, further shortening the flow path of the drinking water, thereby reducing the time that the drinking water flows in the pipeline, making the water output speed faster, and also making the actual water output temperature closer to the preset temperature.

[0020] In some embodiments, the heat exchange assembly includes an inner tube and an outer tube sleeved outside the inner tube, wherein one of the inner tube and the outer tube is used to transport drinking water and the other is used to transport a cooling medium.

[0021] In these embodiments, the design of double-layer water pipes as heat exchange components increases the heat exchange area between drinking water and the cooling medium, improving heat exchange efficiency and enabling rapid cooling of drinking water to obtain drinking water at a suitable temperature. Furthermore, the double-layer water pipe structure is simple, simplifying the structure of the heat exchange component compared to the method of using a heat exchange box and water pipes in related technologies, thus facilitating manufacturing.

[0022] In some embodiments, the outer tube is connected to the cooling tank for conveying the cooling medium, and the inner tube is connected to the water storage container for conveying drinking water. The end of the outer tube is sealed to the outer wall of the inner tube, and an outer tube outlet is provided on the side wall of the outer tube. The outer tube outlet is located above the cooling tank and is connected to the water inlet.

[0023] In these embodiments, using an outer tube to transport the cooling medium and an inner tube to transport drinking water facilitates the dissipation of some of the heat absorbed by the cooling medium through the outer tube, improving heat exchange efficiency. Furthermore, since the drinking water is at a higher temperature, it avoids excessive heat buildup caused by the drinking water flowing through the outer tube, which could lead to overheating of components around the heat exchange assembly. For example, excessive temperature rise in components such as control panels could affect the lifespan of electrical components. Further, the outlet of the outer tube is located above the cooling tank and connected to the inlet, allowing the cooled medium, after heat exchange, to flow out through the outlet and into the inlet below, thus enabling the cooled medium to return to the cooling tank for reuse.

[0024] In some embodiments, a partition is provided in the body, which divides the inner cavity of the body into a first receiving cavity and a second receiving cavity distributed in the front-to-back direction. The cooling box and heat exchange assembly are disposed in the first receiving cavity, and the water storage container is disposed in the second receiving cavity.

[0025] In these embodiments, the space in the machine body is divided into two spaces by a partition. The cooling box and heat exchange components are set in the first receiving cavity, which is separate from the water storage container. This can avoid the water storage container being set close to the cooling box and cooling pipe, which would cause the heat in the water storage container to dissipate too quickly. Also, the high temperature of the water storage container may affect the service life of the first pumping device. In addition, the heat exchange components and cooling box can be installed on the partition nearby, which is convenient for the installation of the cooling box and heat exchange components.

[0026] In some embodiments, the first pumping device is a diaphragm pump. This configuration allows the diaphragm pump to have a self-locking function, meaning that when the first pumping device stops working, it can close the water circuit, preventing water leakage when the user removes the cooling tank. Furthermore, the diaphragm pump can pump water even when there is no water in the pipes. Additionally, the diaphragm pump can also have a back-pumping function, which can clear the water from the cooling pipes and return all the water in the cooling pipes to the cooling tank. This prevents the cooling medium remaining in the cooling pipes from cooling the hot water when it is not needed, for example, when the user needs to use hot water.

[0027] In some embodiments, the drinking water equipment further includes a second pumping device, which connects the water storage container and the heat exchange assembly. The second pumping device is an impeller pump. With this configuration, the second pumping device can be used to transport drinking water from the water storage container to the heat exchange assembly. The second pumping device is an impeller pump without a self-locking function. Since higher water temperatures make it easier for scale to form, to avoid scale clogging, the second pumping device can use an impeller pump without a self-locking function, which extends its service life compared to a diaphragm pump with a self-locking function.

[0028] Other aspects and / or advantages of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be clear from the description or may be learned by practice of the present invention. Attached Figure Description

[0029] The above and other objects and features of this utility model will become clearer from the following description of embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a drinking water device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the outer shell of a drinking water device that conceals the first receiving cavity according to an embodiment of the present utility model; Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of a drinking water device according to an embodiment of the present invention, along the longitudinal direction. Figure 4This is a cross-sectional view of another drinking water device along the longitudinal direction according to one embodiment of the present utility model; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a heat exchange component of a drinking water device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a structural schematic diagram of the cooling box of a drinking water device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the cooling tank of a drinking water device according to an embodiment of the present invention, along the longitudinal direction.

[0030] Figures 1 to 7 Explanation of icon numbers: 10. Main body, 110. Viewing window, 120. First receiving cavity, 130. Second receiving cavity, 140. Partition, 150. Water outlet, 160. Control panel. 20 water storage containers, 210 drinking water pipes, 310 Cooling tank, 311 Tank body, 312 Outlet, 313 Water inlet pipe, 314 Inlet, 315 Handle, 320 Cooling pipe, 330 First pumping device. 40 Heat exchanger assembly, 410 Inner tube, 411 Inner tube outlet, 412 Inner tube inlet, 420 Outer tube, 421 Outer tube outlet, 422 Outer tube inlet. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The following detailed embodiments are provided to aid the reader in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the methods, apparatus, and / or systems described herein. However, various changes, modifications, and equivalents of the methods, apparatus, and / or systems described herein will become apparent upon understanding this disclosure. For example, the order of operations described herein is merely illustrative and is not limited to those orders set forth herein, but may be changed as will become clear upon understanding this disclosure, except for operations that must occur in a specific order. Furthermore, for clarity and conciseness, descriptions of features known in the art may be omitted.

[0032] The features described herein may be implemented in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples described herein. Rather, the examples described herein are provided only to illustrate some of the many feasible ways of implementing the methods, apparatus, and / or systems described herein, which will become clear upon understanding the disclosure of this application.

[0033] As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any one of the associated listed items and any combination of any two or more.

[0034] Although terms such as “first,” “second,” and “third” may be used herein to describe various components, assemblies, regions, layers, or parts, these components, assemblies, regions, layers, or parts should not be limited by these terms. Rather, these terms are used only to distinguish one component, assembly, region, layer, or part from another. Thus, without departing from the teaching of the examples described herein, the first component, first assembly, first region, first layer, or first part referred to as the first component, first assembly, first region, first layer, or first part may also be referred to as the second component, second assembly, second region, second layer, or second part.

[0035] In the specification, when an element such as a layer, region, or substrate is described as being "on" another element, "connected to," or "bonded to" another element, the element may be directly "on" another element, directly "connected to," or "bonded to" the other element, or one or more other elements may be present in between. Conversely, when an element is described as being "directly on" another element, "directly connected to," or "directly bonded to" another element, no other elements may be present in between.

[0036] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing various examples only and is not intended to limit disclosure. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” indicate the presence of the described features, quantities, operations, components, elements, and / or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, quantities, operations, components, elements, and / or combinations thereof. The term “a plurality” represents any quantity of two or more.

[0037] The directional terms "upper," "lower," "top," and "bottom" used in this application are all based on the orientation of the product when it is placed upright in normal use.

[0038] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical and scientific terms, shall have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains after understanding the invention. Unless expressly defined herein, terms such as those defined in a general dictionary shall be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant field and in this invention, and shall not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formalistic manner.

[0039] Furthermore, in the description of the examples, detailed descriptions of well-known related structures or functions will be omitted when it is believed that such detailed descriptions would lead to a vague interpretation of the present invention.

[0040] The following will combine Figures 1 to 7 This application describes drinking water devices according to some embodiments.

[0041] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, an embodiment of the first aspect of this utility model provides a drinking water device, which includes a body 10, a cooling tank 310, a water storage container 20, and a heat exchange assembly 40. The water storage container 20 is disposed in the body 10 and is used to store drinking water. The cooling tank 310 is used to store a cooling medium and is disposed side by side with the water storage container 20 in the body 10, located in front of the water storage container 20. The heat exchange assembly 40 is disposed above the cooling tank 310 and can communicate with the water storage container 20 and the cooling tank 310 so that the drinking water in the water storage container 20 can exchange heat with the cooling medium in the cooling tank 310 in the heat exchange assembly 40.

[0042] The water dispensing device proposed in this embodiment, with water dispensing at the front of the body 10, better suits user habits. Since the water outlet 150 of most models is located at the front of the body 10, the cooling tank 310 and heat exchange component 40 are also located at the front of the body 10, bringing them closer to the water outlet 150. The drinking water, after heat exchange in the heat exchange component 40, can flow directly through the water outlet 150, shortening the flow path of the drinking water and reducing the time it spends flowing in the pipeline, resulting in faster water dispensing and a water temperature closer to the preset temperature. Furthermore, the heat exchange component 40 is positioned above the cooling tank 310, bringing it even closer to the water outlet 150, allowing the drinking water, after heat exchange in the heat exchange component 40, to flow out of the water outlet 150 more quickly.

[0043] Compared to related technologies where the heat exchange component 40 and cooling tank 310 are located at the rear of the body 10, the drinking water device proposed in this embodiment has several advantages. First, since there are generally no components at the rear of the body 10, placing the heat exchange component 40 and cooling tank 310 there would inevitably increase the length of the body 10 in the front-to-back direction, resulting in low space utilization and a longer body 10. Second, since the water outlet 150 is located at the front of the body 10, placing the heat exchange component 40 and cooling tank 310 there would inevitably cause drinking water and cooling medium to travel a long path from back to front to reach the water outlet 150, resulting in a long flow path and slow water output. Third, since the water storage container 20 is connected to the drinking water pipe 210, a long section of raw water will not be heated when the water in the water storage container 20 enters the drinking water pipe 210, and a long section of residual water will remain in the drinking water pipe 210 after use, which is prone to bacterial growth. The water dispenser proposed in this embodiment places the cooling tank 310 and the heat exchange component 40 in front of the body 10, with the heat exchange component 40 positioned above the cooling tank 310. By utilizing the space that was not fully utilized in the original water dispenser to arrange the cooling tank 310 and the heat exchange component 40, the length of the body can be effectively reduced. Furthermore, the closer proximity to the water outlet 312 also shortens the water outlet path and slows down the water flow rate. In addition, the shorter pipe can also reduce the amount of water stored in the pipe.

[0044] It is understandable that cold water is generally used as the cooling medium, which has advantages such as safety and low cost, and can be used at any time. It can be quickly replaced when the temperature of the cold water in the cooling tank 310 rises.

[0045] It is understood that in some embodiments, the water storage container 20 may be equipped with a heating device capable of heating drinking water, thereby enabling the water supply equipment to provide hot water. This configuration allows the water storage container 20 to provide a large capacity of hot water, ensuring a high flow rate of hot water from the water supply equipment, and offering advantages such as fast and stable hot water output. Furthermore, an insulation layer may be provided outside the water storage container 20 to reduce the cooling rate inside the container and extend the heat preservation time of the hot water.

[0046] In some other embodiments, an instant heating element can be installed on the drinking water pipe 210 between the heat exchange component 40 and the water storage container 20 to heat the drinking water, thereby realizing the hot water supply function of the drinking water equipment. The technical solution of heating drinking water with an instant heating element can heat drinking water on demand, which can save energy; furthermore, since the water storage container 20 stores room temperature drinking water, a heat preservation layer is not required on the outside of the water storage container 20, thus reducing costs.

[0047] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the heat exchange component 40 is positioned above the highest liquid level of the water storage container 20.

[0048] In these embodiments, on the one hand, the drinking water in the heat exchange component 40 can flow back to the water storage container 20 under gravity after heat exchange, allowing for reuse and avoiding water waste. Additionally, it prevents the drinking water from remaining in the heat exchange tubes for extended periods and cooling down, thus avoiding the possibility of some cold water mixing in and causing a significant temperature difference between the outlet and set temperatures. Furthermore, it also prevents the growth of bacteria caused by prolonged stagnation of drinking water in the heat exchange tubes. On the other hand, since the initially unheated raw water in the water storage container 20 can flow into the pipeline, the fact that the heat exchange component 40 is above the maximum water level in the water storage container 20 effectively prevents excessive raw water in the pipeline, thus avoiding any impact on the user's drinking water health.

[0049] In some embodiments, the drinking water equipment further includes a second pumping device (not shown) capable of conveying drinking water from the storage container 20 to the heat exchange assembly 40. As an example, optionally, since higher water temperatures make scale formation easier, to prevent scale blockage of the second pumping device, a non-locking impeller pump can be selected, which extends its service life compared to a diaphragm pump with a lock-in function. Because the impeller pump lacks a lock-in function, the heat exchange assembly 40 and the storage container 20 are in communication. Due to the principle of equal water levels in communicating vessels, the initially unheated raw water in the storage container 20 can flow into the pipeline through the second pumping device. The heat exchange assembly 40 being higher than the highest water level in the storage container 20 effectively prevents excessive raw water in the pipeline, thus avoiding problems with the user's drinking water health.

[0050] It is worth noting that since most impeller pumps need to be filled with liquid before they can operate, the second pumping device is placed below the water storage container 20, so that the water in the water storage container 20 can flow directly into the second pumping device.

[0051] In some embodiments, there is mounting space on the left or right side of the cooling box 310 inside the body 10. As an example, optionally, such as... Figure 2 As shown, the installation space is located on the left side of the cooling box 310. The drinking water equipment also includes a cooling pipe 320 and a first water pumping device 330 installed on the cooling pipe 320. The two ends of the cooling pipe 320 are respectively connected to the heat exchange component 40 and the cooling box 310. The first water pumping device 330 can be used to transport the cooling medium in the cooling box 310 to the heat exchange component 40 through the cooling pipe 320. At least one section of the cooling pipe 320 and the first water pumping device 330 are both installed in the installation space.

[0052] In these embodiments, the cooling pipe 320 and the first water pumping device 330 of the water drinking device are centrally located in the installation space on the left side of the cooling box 310. On the one hand, this can minimize the space occupied by the cooling pipe 320 and the first water pumping device 330 in the body 10. By utilizing the space that was not fully utilized by the electric water bottle to arrange the space of the cooling box 310, the cooling pipe 320, and the first water pumping device 330, the volume of the body 10 can be effectively reduced, which is conducive to the miniaturization of the product. On the other hand, it also makes the distance between the heat exchange component 40, the cooling box 310 and the cooling pipe 320 and the first water pumping device 330 smaller, shortening the flow path of the cooling medium, so that the cooling medium can reach the heat exchange component 40 more quickly and improve the heat exchange efficiency.

[0053] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 As shown, the drinking water equipment also includes a drinking water pipe 210, with both ends of the drinking water pipe 210 connected to a heat exchange component 40 and a water storage container 20, respectively, and at least one section of the drinking water pipe 210 is disposed in the installation space.

[0054] In these embodiments, the drinking water pipe 210 of the drinking water device is also centrally located in the installation space on one side of the cooling box 310. On the one hand, the gap space between the cooling pipe 320, the first water pumping device 330 and the cooling box 310 can be used to set up the drinking water pipe 210, reducing the space occupied in the body 10 and effectively reducing the volume of the body 10, which is conducive to the miniaturization of the product. On the other hand, it also makes the distance between the heat exchange component 40 and the drinking water pipe 210 smaller, shortening the drinking water flow path, so that the drinking water can reach the heat exchange component 40 faster and improve the heat exchange efficiency.

[0055] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the drinking water pipe 210 includes at least one transparent area, and a viewing window 110 is provided on the body 10 at a position corresponding to the transparent area.

[0056] In these embodiments, the drinking water pipe 210 is connected to the water storage container 20. Due to the principle of equal water level in the communicating vessels, the water level in the drinking water pipe 210 is the same as the water level in the water storage container 20. Thus, the water level in the water storage container 20 can be observed through the viewing window 110 and the transparent area.

[0057] In some embodiments, as an example, the water storage container 20 may optionally be made of stainless steel, which has the advantages of being safe and non-toxic, ensuring drinking water health, excellent corrosion resistance, long service life, and easy cleaning.

[0058] In some embodiments, the first pumping device 330 is a self-locking and reversible diaphragm pump. This configuration allows the first pumping device 330 to self-lock, ensuring a closed water path when it stops operating. This prevents water leakage when the user removes the cooling tank 310, and the diaphragm pump can pump water even when there is no water in the pipeline. Reversible pumping reverses the flow of cooling medium in the cooling pipe 320, that is, it reverses the flow of cooling medium remaining in the heat exchange assembly 40 and cooling pipe 320 back into the cooling tank 310. This clears the water from the cooling pipe 320 and drains all the water back into the cooling tank 310, preventing the cooling medium remaining in the cooling pipe 320 from cooling the hot water when cooling is not required, for example, when the user needs to use hot water.

[0059] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 As shown, the front wall or side wall of the body 10 is provided with an opening that communicates with the cooling box 310, and the cooling box 310 can be pulled out through the opening.

[0060] In these embodiments, the method of pulling out the cooling box 310 is more labor-saving and easier to operate; specifically, pulling out the cooling box 310 allows for the addition of cooling medium and cleaning of the cooling box 310, and after adding the cooling medium, the cooling box 310 can be pushed back into the body 10 through the opening.

[0061] Furthermore, a pull-out guide structure, such as a slide rail, can be provided between the cooling box 310 and the body 10, which can automatically and accurately align during installation, making it easier to pick up and put down the cooling box 310.

[0062] Furthermore, such as Figure 1 As shown, a handle 315 can be provided on the outside of the cooling box 310 to facilitate pulling out the cooling box 310.

[0063] Regarding the specific structure of the cooling box 310, in some embodiments, such as Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the cooling tank 310 includes: a tank body 311, with a water inlet 314 at the top of the tank body 311, and a water outlet 312 on the side wall of the tank body 311, with the water outlet 312 located above the highest liquid level of the tank body 311; and a water pipe 313 disposed in the tank body 311, with one end of the water pipe 313 connected to the water outlet 312 and the other end of the water pipe 313 extending to the lower part of the tank body 311.

[0064] In these embodiments, the top of the housing 311 is provided with an inlet 314 for adding or replacing the cooling medium. The inlet 314 is usually set to be relatively large to facilitate the addition or replacement of the cooling medium and the cleaning of the inside of the housing 311. For example, the top of the housing 311 can be set as an open structure as the inlet 314. Of course, a larger inlet 314 can also be partially opened at the top of the housing 311. Furthermore, the outlet 312 is set above the highest liquid level of the housing 311 so that the liquid inside the housing 311 will not flow out through the outlet 312 when the housing 311 is removed. Furthermore, the cooling medium at the bottom of the housing 311 can be drawn out through the water pipe 313 so that the cooling medium in the cooling tank 310 can circulate fully.

[0065] Furthermore, a water outlet 150 is provided at the water outlet 312. The water outlet 150 can be made of silicone. When the cooling box 310 is assembled, the cooling pipe 320 can be inserted into the water outlet 150, so that the water outlet 150 and the cooling pipe 320 are connected.

[0066] Furthermore, the water inlet pipe 313 and the inner wall of the box 311 are an integral structure, which makes the connection strength between the water inlet pipe 313 and the box 311 good. In addition, the water inlet pipe 313 and the box 311 can be manufactured as a single piece for mass production.

[0067] Furthermore, the distance between the lower end of the water inlet pipe 313 and the bottom wall of the housing 311 can be set from 0.5mm to 20mm, and can be further reduced to 5mm to 10mm, for example, including but not limited to 7mm, 8mm, 9mm, etc. Within this range, on the one hand, it can avoid the problem that the distance between the lower end of the water inlet pipe 313 and the bottom wall of the housing 311 is too small, resulting in insufficient cross-sectional area for water inlet and inability to introduce enough cooling medium; on the other hand, it can avoid the problem that the distance between the lower end of the water inlet pipe 313 and the bottom wall of the housing 311 is too large, resulting in the introduced cooling medium not being the cooling medium at the bottom of the housing 311, causing insufficient circulation of cooling medium in the cooling box 310.

[0068] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3 As shown, the drinking water equipment also includes a water outlet 150, which is located on the outer side of the front wall of the body 10. The water outlet 150 is connected to the water storage container 20 through the heat exchange component 40. The drinking water equipment also includes a control panel 160, which is installed on the front wall of the body 10 and located on the upper part of the front wall. The heat exchange component 40 is located on the rear side of the control panel 160, and the water outlet 150 is located below the control panel 160.

[0069] In these embodiments, the water outlet 150 is located on the outer side of the front wall of the body 10, making it convenient for users to collect water from the front of the body 10. Furthermore, the control panel 160 is located on the front wall of the body 10 and at the top, making it convenient for users to operate the water dispenser from the front. Furthermore, the heat exchange component 40 is located on the rear side of the control panel 160, and the water outlet 150 is located below the control panel 160, so that the heat exchange component 40 is closer to the water outlet 150. The drinking water that has undergone heat exchange in the heat exchange component 40 can flow directly out through the water outlet 150, further shortening the flow path of the drinking water, thereby reducing the time that the drinking water flows in the pipeline, making the water output speed faster, and also making the actual water output temperature closer to the preset temperature.

[0070] Regarding the specific structure of the heat exchange component 40, in some embodiments, such as Figure 5 As shown, the heat exchange assembly 40 includes an inner tube 410 and an outer tube 420 sleeved outside the inner tube 410. One of the inner tube 410 and the outer tube 420 is used to transport drinking water, and the other is used to transport cooling medium.

[0071] In these embodiments, the design of double-layer water pipes as heat exchange components 40 increases the heat exchange area between drinking water and the cooling medium, improving heat exchange efficiency and enabling rapid cooling of drinking water to obtain drinking water at a suitable temperature. Furthermore, the double-layer water pipe structure is simple, simplifying the structure of the heat exchange component 40 compared to the method of using a heat exchange box and water pipes in related technologies, thus facilitating manufacturing.

[0072] In some embodiments, such as Figure 5 As shown, the outer tube 420 is connected to the cooling tank 310 for transporting the cooling medium, and the inner tube 410 is connected to the water storage container 20 for transporting drinking water. The end of the outer tube 420 is sealed to the outer wall of the inner tube 410. The outer tube 420 has an outlet 421 on its side wall. The outlet 421 is located above the cooling tank 310 and is connected to the inlet 314.

[0073] In these embodiments, the outer tube 420 is used to transport the cooling medium, and the inner tube 410 is used to transport drinking water. This facilitates the dissipation of some of the heat absorbed by the cooling medium through the outer tube 420, improving heat exchange efficiency. Furthermore, since the drinking water is at a higher temperature, it prevents excessive heat from flowing through the outer tube 420, which could cause excessive temperature rise in components around the heat exchange assembly 40. For example, excessive temperature rise in components such as the control panel 160 could affect the lifespan of electrical components. Further, the outer tube outlet 421 is located above the cooling tank 310 and connected to the inlet 314, allowing the cooled medium after heat exchange to flow out through the outer tube outlet 421 and into the inlet 314 below it. This enables the cooled medium to return to the cooling tank 310 for reuse.

[0074] As an example, the outer tube outlet 421 may optionally be connected to a pipe and communicate with the inlet 314 of the cooling box 310 via the pipe.

[0075] Furthermore, such as Figure 5 As shown, the end of the outer tube 420 is sealed to the outer wall of the inner tube 410. The outer tube inlet 422 and the outer tube outlet 421 are located on the side wall of the outer tube 420, while the inner tube inlet 412 and the inner tube outlet 411 are through holes at both ends of the inner tube 410. This arrangement allows the positions of the inner tube inlet 412 and the inner tube outlet 411 to be staggered from those of the outer tube inlet 422 and the outer tube outlet 421, which is beneficial for pipe connection.

[0076] Furthermore, in some embodiments, such as Figures 2 to 5 As shown, the tube of the heat exchange component 40 is coiled in a spiral shape, or the tube is bent and folded into multiple layers, which can minimize the space occupied while increasing the tube length of the heat exchange component 40.

[0077] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, a partition 140 is provided in the body 10, which divides the inner cavity of the body 10 into a first receiving cavity 120 and a second receiving cavity 130 distributed in the front-to-back direction. The cooling box 310 and the heat exchange assembly 40 are disposed in the first receiving cavity 120, and the water storage container 20 is disposed in the second receiving cavity 130.

[0078] In these embodiments, the space in the body 10 is divided into two spaces by the partition 140. The cooling box 310 and the heat exchange assembly 40 are arranged in the first receiving cavity 120, which is separate from the water storage container 20. This can prevent the water storage container 20 from being placed close to the cooling box 310 and the cooling pipe 320, which would cause the heat in the water storage container 20 to dissipate too quickly. Also, the high temperature of the water storage container 20 may affect the service life of the first water pumping device 330. In addition, the heat exchange assembly 40 and the cooling box 310 can be installed on the partition 140 nearby, which is convenient for the installation of the cooling box 310 and the heat exchange assembly 40.

[0079] As an example, optionally, a cooling box receiving cavity is provided in the first receiving cavity 120. The cooling box receiving cavity can be fixed to the partition 140 by means of screws or buckles and other connecting parts. The cooling box 310 can be slidably disposed in the cooling box receiving cavity, thereby realizing the pull-out movement of the cooling box 310.

[0080] While the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to the embodiments of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. It should be understood that, to those skilled in the art, these modifications and variations will still fall within the spirit and scope of the embodiments of the present invention as defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A drinking water device, characterized in that, include: Body (10); A water storage container (20) is disposed in the body (10) for storing drinking water; A cooling tank (310) for storing cooling medium is arranged side by side with the water storage container (20) in the body (10) and located in front of the water storage container (20); A heat exchange assembly (40) is disposed above the cooling tank (310). The heat exchange assembly (40) is connected to the water storage container (20) and the cooling tank (310) so that the drinking water in the water storage container (20) can exchange heat with the cooling medium of the cooling tank (310) in the heat exchange assembly (40).

2. The drinking water equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat exchange component (40) is positioned above the highest liquid level of the water storage container (20).

3. The drinking water equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cooling tank (310) inside the body (10) has an installation space on the left or right side. The drinking water device also includes a cooling pipe (320) and a first water pumping device (330) disposed on the cooling pipe (320). The two ends of the cooling pipe (320) are respectively connected to the heat exchange assembly (40) and the cooling tank (310). At least one section of the cooling pipe (320) and the first water pumping device (330) are disposed in the installation space.

4. The drinking water equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that, The drinking water equipment also includes a drinking water pipe (210), the two ends of which are connected to the heat exchange component (40) and the water storage container (20), respectively, and at least one section of the drinking water pipe (210) is disposed in the installation space.

5. The drinking water equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that, The drinking water pipe (210) includes at least one transparent area, and a viewing window (110) is provided on the body (10) at a position corresponding to the transparent area.

6. The drinking water equipment according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that, The front or side wall of the body (10) is provided with an opening that communicates with the cooling box (310), and the cooling box (310) can be pulled out through the opening.

7. The drinking water equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that, The cooling box (310) includes: The tank (311) has a water inlet (314) at its top and a water outlet (312) on its side wall, and the water outlet (312) is located above the highest liquid level of the tank (311). A water inlet pipe (313) is installed in the box (311). One end of the water inlet pipe (313) is connected to the water outlet (312), and the other end of the water inlet pipe (313) extends to the lower part of the box (311).

8. The drinking water equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The drinking water device also includes a water outlet (150), which is located on the outside of the front side wall of the body (10). The water outlet (150) is connected to the water storage container (20) through the heat exchange component (40). The drinking water device also includes a control panel (160), which is installed on the front side wall of the body (10) and located on the upper part of the front side wall. The heat exchange component (40) is located on the rear side of the control panel (160), and the water outlet (150) is located below the control panel (160).

9. The drinking water equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The heat exchange assembly (40) includes an inner tube (410) and an outer tube (420) sleeved outside the inner tube (410). One of the inner tube (410) and the outer tube (420) is used to transport drinking water, and the other is used to transport cooling medium.

10. The drinking water equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The body (10) is provided with a partition (140), which divides the inner cavity of the body (10) into a first accommodating cavity (120) and a second accommodating cavity (130) distributed in the front-to-back direction. The cooling box (310) and the heat exchange assembly (40) are disposed in the first accommodating cavity (120), and the water storage container (20) is disposed in the second accommodating cavity (130).

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