A scale inhibiting assembly, a heating device and a household appliance

Abstract

The application discloses a scale inhibition assembly, a heating device and a household appliance, and relates to the technical field of scale inhibition devices.The scale inhibition assembly comprises an outer shell body, at least one accommodating cavity is formed in the outer shell body, two hollow interfaces are connected to the outer shell body and are used as a water inlet end and a water outlet end respectively, and the water inlet end and the water outlet end are connected to the accommodating cavity respectively; a series connection is formed between the accommodating cavities, water flows into one end of the accommodating cavity through the water inlet end, and then flows out from the other end of the accommodating cavity through the water outlet end; a filter part is arranged in each of the two hollow interfaces; and a scale inhibitor is filled in the accommodating cavity.The application can select a proper number of accommodating cavities according to the specific use scene of the household appliance, the length of the contact path of water and the scale inhibitor and the sectional area of the accommodating cavity change due to different numbers of the accommodating cavities, the water flow and the scale inhibition effect of the scale inhibition assembly change, and thus the scale inhibition assembly is suitable for different use scenes and the versatility of the scale inhibition assembly is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of scale inhibition devices, specifically a scale inhibition component, a heating device, and a household appliance. Background Technology

[0002] Many common household appliances, such as garment steamers, steam cleaners, water dispensers, tea makers, water purifiers, and coffee makers, are equipped with heating functions and require internal heating devices. However, most heating devices with scale-inhibiting functions used in household appliances on the market currently lack scale-inhibiting capabilities. Without this ability, impurities in the water will form scale in the pipes over time, easily causing blockages and preventing the appliances from functioning properly.

[0003] In response to the above problems, some scale inhibitor components suitable for household appliance heating devices have emerged in the prior art, such as the Chinese utility model patent with Chinese patent publication number CN223255041U, which discloses a scale inhibitor core component, scale inhibitor mechanism and water outlet device.

[0004] However, this type of scale inhibitor is usually only suitable for specific household appliances, such as garment steamers and steam cleaners, which are used in steam applications. These appliances typically have a low water flow rate per unit time and require a high level of scale inhibition. On the other hand, appliances like water dispensers, tea makers, and coffee makers, whose heating devices are used to dispense hot water and whose water source is usually purified drinking water, require scale inhibitors with a high water flow rate per unit time and have slightly lower requirements for scale inhibition. For manufacturers of heating devices for household appliances, the urgent problem to be solved is how to make scale inhibitors meet the needs of different applications in various household appliances. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a scale inhibitor component, a heating device, and a household appliance to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a scale inhibitor component, comprising a housing; at least one receiving cavity is provided inside the housing; The outer shell has two hollow interfaces, which serve as the water inlet and the water outlet, respectively, and the water inlet and the water outlet are connected to the receiving cavity. The receiving cavities are connected in series. When water flows into one end of the receiving cavity through the inlet end, it flows out from the other end of the receiving cavity through the outlet end. Both hollow connectors have internal filters. The containment cavity is filled with a scale inhibitor, which chelates ions in the flowing cold water that are prone to forming scale, thereby preventing or prolonging the formation time of scale. The amount of scale inhibitor used is determined based on the actual flow rate and the required amount of scale inhibitor for the product's service life.

[0007] Preferably, the outer shell has three accommodating cavities inside, and the three accommodating cavities are not connected by a water flow channel between the same side ends of the inlet and outlet, so that the three accommodating cavities are connected in series.

[0008] Preferably, the outer shell has two receiving cavities, and the two receiving cavities are not connected by a water flow channel formed between the same side ends of the inlet and outlet ends, so that the two receiving cavities are connected in series.

[0009] Preferably, a cover plate is sealed on the outer shell at the position corresponding to the water channel, and the shape of the cover plate matches the end of the receiving cavity that forms the water channel.

[0010] A heating device is provided, wherein the heating device is equipped with the aforementioned scale inhibition component, the heating device further includes a bracket on which the scale inhibition component is mounted, and a water pump is also mounted on the bracket near the water outlet of the scale inhibition component, the water pump being connected to the water outlet of the scale inhibition component through a connecting pipe. The bracket is also equipped with a heating module, and the heating module is connected to two water nozzles, which serve as a water inlet and a steam nozzle, respectively. The water inlet is connected to the water inlet on the bracket, and the steam nozzle is connected to the steam outlet on the bracket. The water outlet of the water pump is connected to the water inlet through a connecting pipe.

[0011] Preferably, the scale inhibitor component is detachably connected to the bracket, and a fixing sleeve is fixedly connected to the bracket, and the water pump is connected by the fixing sleeve. The fixing sleeve is provided with a protruding extension, which cooperates with the corresponding hole groove of the bracket to achieve a snap-fit ​​fixation.

[0012] Preferably, a sealing element is provided at the connection position between the water inlet and the water inlet on the bracket, and a sealing element is also provided at the connection position between the steam nozzle and the steam outlet on the bracket, in order to prevent water or steam leakage at the connection position.

[0013] Preferably, the heating module is further provided with a temperature controller for controlling the heating temperature.

[0014] Preferably, the bracket is provided with four corner contact parts at its four corners, and the heating module contacts and is fixed to the bracket through the corner contact parts.

[0015] A household appliance includes a heating device as described above.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are: This application, by providing different numbers of receiving cavities inside the outer casing, allows for the selection of an appropriate number of receiving cavities based on the specific usage scenario of the household appliance. Different numbers of receiving cavities result in variations in the contact path length between water and scale inhibitor within the internal space of the outer casing, as well as changes in the cross-sectional area of ​​the receiving cavities. This alters the water flow rate through the scale inhibitor component and the scale inhibition effect (a longer contact path between water and scale inhibitor leads to a longer contact time, resulting in a better scale inhibition effect). Consequently, this application is suitable for different usage scenarios, improving the versatility of the scale inhibitor component and reducing production costs for manufacturers of household appliance heating devices.

[0017] The scale inhibitor component of this application features an overall modular design, which is fixed to the bracket using a snap-fit ​​structure. This facilitates the installation and disassembly of the scale inhibitor component, as well as the replacement or regeneration of the scale inhibitor. Furthermore, the modular design of the scale inhibitor component can reduce production costs, simplify the assembly process, and extend the time before scale forms during product use, thereby improving the product's service life. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the scale inhibitor component of this utility model; Figure 2 This utility model Figure 1 A left-view diagram; Figure 3 This utility model Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure at point AA; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the second embodiment of the scale inhibitor component of this utility model; Figure 5 This utility model Figure 4 A left-view diagram; Figure 6 This utility model Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure at point BB; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the third embodiment of the scale inhibitor component of this utility model; Figure 8 This utility model Figure 7 A left-view diagram; Figure 9 This utility model Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure at the CC section; Figure 10 This is a bottom view of the heating device of this utility model. Figure 11 This utility model Figure 10 Schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure at point DD; Figure 12 This is a top view of the heating device of this utility model.

[0019] In the picture: 11. Hollow interface; 12. Receiving cavity; 13. Filter section; 14. Water flow channel; 15. Outer shell; 16. Cover plate; 2. Support frame; 21. Steam outlet; 22. Water inlet; 3. Heating module; 31. Water tap; 32. Contact part; 4. Water pump; 5. Fixing sleeve; 51. Extension; 6. Connecting pipe; 7. Seal; 8. Temperature controller. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0021] In the description of the embodiments of this utility model, it should be noted that the terms "inner", "outer", "upper", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship in which the utility model product is usually placed when in use. They are only for the convenience of describing this utility model 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 utility model.

[0022] Please see Figure 1-9This utility model provides a scale inhibition component, including a housing 15; the housing 15 has at least one receiving cavity 12 inside; two hollow interfaces 11 are connected to the housing 15, serving as an inlet and an outlet respectively, and the inlet and outlet are respectively connected to the receiving cavity 12. The hollow interfaces 11 are preferably fixedly connected to the housing 15 by welding; wherein, the receiving cavities 12 are connected in series, when cold water flows into one end of the receiving cavity 12 through the inlet, it flows out from the other end of the receiving cavity 12 through the outlet, and is pumped by a water pump 4. The input is fed into the heating module 3; both hollow interfaces 11 are equipped with a filter section 13, which is preferably a fine metal filter screen, used to filter the product after the scale inhibitor and the ions in the cold water that are prone to form scale, preventing them from entering the heating module 3; the receiving cavity 12 is filled with scale inhibitor, which will chelate the ions in the flowing cold water that are prone to form scale, preventing or prolonging the formation time of scale. The amount of scale inhibitor is determined based on the actual flow rate of water entering the scale inhibitor component and the scale inhibitor dosage required for the water volume of the product's service life.

[0023] Specifically, in this application, by providing different numbers of receiving cavities 12 inside the outer casing 15, the appropriate number of receiving cavities 12 can be selected according to the specific usage scenario of the household appliance. Different numbers of receiving cavities 12 will cause changes in the contact path length between water and scale inhibitor and the cross-sectional area of ​​the receiving cavity 12 within the internal space of the outer casing 15. This will cause changes in the water flow rate and scale inhibition effect (the longer the contact path between water and scale inhibitor, the longer the contact time, resulting in a better scale inhibition effect), thus making it suitable for different usage scenarios, improving the versatility of the scale inhibition component, and thereby reducing the production cost for manufacturers of household appliance heating devices.

[0024] like Figures 1-3 As shown, in one embodiment of this application, the outer shell 15 has three receiving cavities 12 inside. In a preferred embodiment, the three receiving cavities 12 are arranged in a triangular shape, and a water flow channel 14 is formed between the same side ends of the three receiving cavities 12 that are not connected to the water inlet and water outlet, so that the three receiving cavities 12 are connected in series.

[0025] Specifically, in the first embodiment of the scale inhibitor component, three receiving cavities 12 are provided inside the outer shell 15. The presence of these cavities within the outer shell 15 results in a longer contact path between the water and the scale inhibitor. Simultaneously, the cross-sectional area of ​​the receiving cavity 12 is the largest, which reduces the unit water flow rate through the scale inhibitor component and improves the scale inhibition effect. This is suitable for steam usage scenarios such as garment steamers and steam cleaners, and allows less scale to pass through the heating module 3, preventing damage to the heating module 3 and extending the service life of the appliance.

[0026] like Figures 2-6As shown, in one embodiment of this application, the outer shell 15 has two receiving cavities 12 inside. In a preferred embodiment, the two receiving cavities 12 are arranged side by side, and a water flow channel 14 is formed between the same side ends of the two receiving cavities 12 that are not connected to the water inlet and water outlet, so that the two receiving cavities 12 are connected in series.

[0027] Specifically, in the second embodiment of the scale inhibitor component, two receiving cavities 12 are provided inside the outer shell 15. The contact path length between water and scale inhibitor is moderate within the space inside the outer shell 15, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the receiving cavity 12 is moderate, so that the unit water flow rate through the scale inhibitor component is moderate and the scale inhibition effect is moderate, which is suitable for application scenarios where the scale inhibition effect is not high.

[0028] like Figures 7-9 As shown, in one embodiment of this application, a receiving cavity 12 is provided inside the outer casing 15. The third embodiment of the scale inhibitor component in this application, similar to scale inhibitor components in existing technology scenarios, uses a single-cavity configuration, resulting in a larger water output per unit time. However, due to the short contact time between cold water and the scale inhibitor (the short path of cold water through the scale inhibitor), the scale inhibition effect is slightly lower. This is suitable for applications requiring hot water, such as water dispensers, coffee machines, and tea machines. Furthermore, in these scenarios, the cold water source is typically pure drinking water or tap water filtered by a filtration unit, thus the requirement for a slightly lower scale inhibition effect is less stringent.

[0029] Furthermore, a cover plate 16 is sealed on the outer casing 15 at the position corresponding to the water channel 14, and the shape of the cover plate 16 matches the end of the receiving cavity 12 that forms the water channel 14.

[0030] like Figures 10-12 As shown, a heating device is provided, which is equipped with the aforementioned scale inhibitor component. The heating device also includes a bracket 2, on which the scale inhibitor component is mounted. The scale inhibitor component is detachably connected to the bracket 2, and a fixing sleeve 5 is fixedly connected to the bracket 2. A water pump 4 is connected to the fixing sleeve 5 by engaging with the fixing sleeve 5. The fixing sleeve 5 is provided with a protruding extension 51, which engages with a corresponding slot in the bracket 2 to achieve a snap-fit ​​fixation, facilitating the disassembly and maintenance of the water pump 4. The water pump 4 and the outlet end of the scale inhibitor component are connected through a connecting pipe 6. A heating module 3 is also installed on the bracket 2. The heating module 3 is preferably an electric heating tube, and two water nozzles 31 are connected to the heating module 3, serving as a water inlet and a steam nozzle, respectively. The water inlet is connected to the water inlet 22 provided on the bracket 2, and the steam nozzle is connected to the steam outlet 21 provided on the bracket 2. The outlet end of the water pump 4 is connected to the water inlet 22 through the connecting pipe 6. It should also be noted that the installation order between the water pump 4 and the scale inhibitor is not limited to the scale inhibitor before the water pump 4. The water pump 4 can also be installed first and the scale inhibitor after the water pump 4. The installation order can be flexibly selected according to the specific user's needs.

[0031] Specifically, the scale inhibition technology used in existing household appliances such as ironing equipment usually requires regular replacement or regeneration of the scale inhibitor, which involves a large amount of material. Furthermore, most scale inhibitor components in existing household appliances are integrated with the heating element, making replacement and maintenance difficult. The complex structure also leads to higher product costs, complicated assembly processes, and a greater risk of product quality issues. In this application, the scale inhibition component features a modular design, using a snap-fit ​​structure to fix it to the bracket 2, facilitating installation and disassembly of the component and convenient replacement or regeneration of the scale inhibitor. The modular design also reduces production costs, simplifies assembly processes, extends the time before scale buildup occurs during product use, and improves product lifespan.

[0032] When the heating device is powered, the water pump 4 operates to pump external cold water, which flows sequentially through the scale inhibitor component, the water pump 4, the connecting pipe 6, and the inlet 22 in the bracket 2 into the heating module 3 for heating. The heating module 3 heats the cold water to the corresponding temperature of hot water or steam according to the preset temperature controller 8, and discharges it through the steam nozzle. At the same time, before heating, all the cold water undergoes scale removal under the action of the scale inhibitor in the scale inhibitor component, which slows down the rate of scale formation during the heating process, thereby achieving the corresponding scale inhibition effect.

[0033] Furthermore, a sealing element 7 is provided at the connection position between the water inlet and the water inlet 22 on the bracket 2, and a sealing element 7 is also provided at the connection position between the steam nozzle and the steam outlet 21 on the bracket 2. This is to prevent water or steam leakage at the connection position. In addition, the steam outlet 21 prevents the connecting pipe 6 from directly contacting the heating module 3, thereby avoiding the problem of deformation, melting or burning of the connecting pipe 6 and extending the service life of the connecting pipe 6.

[0034] The heating module 3 is also equipped with a thermostat 8 for controlling the heating temperature. The thermostat 8 controls the heating power of the heating module 3, thereby controlling the output of hot water or steam. The heating module 3 is also equipped with an NTC and a fuse. The fuse protects the entire heating device by cutting off power when the thermostat 8 malfunctions. The NTC senses the temperature and transmits relevant information to the thermostat 8 for decision-making.

[0035] The bracket 2 is also provided with four corner contact parts 32 at the four corners, and the heating module 3 contacts and is fixed to the bracket 2 through the corner contact parts 32.

[0036] A household appliance includes a heating device installed as described above, wherein the heating device is applicable to household appliances such as garment steamers, steam cleaners, water dispensers, tea dispensers, water purifiers, coffee makers, etc.

[0037] Although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative style is merely for clarity. Those skilled in the art should consider the specification as a whole. The technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0038] Therefore, the above description is only a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit the scope of this application; that is, all equivalent modifications made in accordance with the scope of the claims of this application shall be within the protection scope of the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A scale inhibitor component, characterized in that; Including the outer shell (15); At least one receiving cavity (12) is provided inside the outer shell (15); The outer shell (15) is connected to two hollow interfaces (11), which serve as the water inlet and the water outlet respectively, and the water inlet and the water outlet are respectively connected to the receiving cavity (12); The receiving cavities (12) are connected in series. When water flows into one end of the receiving cavity (12) through the inlet end, it flows out from the other end of the receiving cavity (12) through the outlet end. Both hollow interfaces (11) are equipped with filter sections (13). The containment cavity (12) is filled with a scale inhibitor. This scale inhibitor chelates ions that are prone to forming scale in the flowing cold water, preventing or prolonging the formation time of scale. The amount of scale inhibitor used is determined based on the actual flow rate and the scale inhibitor required for the product's service life.

2. The scale inhibitor component according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer shell (15) has three accommodating cavities (12) inside, and the three accommodating cavities (12) are not connected to the same side of the inlet and outlet ends to form a water flow channel (14), so that the three accommodating cavities (12) are connected in series.

3. The scale inhibitor component according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer shell (15) has two accommodating cavities (12) inside, and the two accommodating cavities (12) are not connected to the same side of the inlet and outlet ends, forming a water flow channel (14), so that the two accommodating cavities (12) are connected in series.

4. The scale inhibitor assembly according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that: The outer shell (15) is sealed with a cover plate (16) at the position corresponding to the water channel (14), and the shape of the cover plate (16) matches the end of the receiving cavity (12) that forms the water channel (14).

5. A heating device, characterized in that: The heating device is equipped with a scale inhibitor component as described in any one of claims 1-4. The heating device also includes a bracket (2), on which the scale inhibitor component is installed. A water pump (4) is also installed on the bracket (2) near the outlet of the scale inhibitor component. The water pump (4) is connected to the outlet of the scale inhibitor component through a connecting pipe (6). The bracket (2) is also equipped with a heating module (3), and the heating module (3) is connected to two water nozzles (31), which serve as a water inlet and a steam nozzle respectively. The water inlet is connected to the water inlet (22) provided on the bracket (2), and the steam nozzle is connected to the steam outlet (21) provided on the bracket (2). The water outlet of the water pump (4) is connected to the water inlet (22) through the connecting pipe (6).

6. The heating device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The scale inhibitor component is detachably connected to the bracket (2), and a fixing sleeve (5) is fixedly connected to the bracket (2), and the water pump (4) is connected by the fixing sleeve (5). The fixing sleeve (5) is provided with a protruding extension (51), which cooperates with the corresponding hole slot of the bracket (2) to achieve the snap-fit ​​fixation.

7. The heating device according to claim 5, characterized in that: A sealing element (7) is provided at the connection position between the water inlet and the water inlet (22) provided on the bracket (2), and a sealing element (7) is also provided at the connection position between the steam nozzle and the steam outlet (21) provided on the bracket (2) to prevent water or steam from leaking out at the connection position.

8. The heating device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The heating module (3) is also equipped with a temperature controller (8) for heating temperature control.

9. The heating device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The bracket (2) is also provided with four corner contact parts (32) at the four corners. The heating module (3) contacts and is fixed to the bracket (2) through the corner contact parts (32).

10. A household appliance, characterized in that: The household appliance includes a heating device as described in any one of claims 5-9.

Images