Water storage device

Abstract

The invention relates to a water storage device, in particular for sanitary water, comprising a water tank and a housing for said water tank, the housing comprising a first and a second end covering, the first end covering forming a bottom portion of the housing in the normal position of use of the water storage device and the second end covering forming a top portion of the housing in the normal position of use of the water storage device, the water storage device comprising a means for securing the water tank to the housing, the securing means being a foam, preferably made of polyurethane, the covering forming the top portion being made of a material having a surface energy lower than a surface tension of said foam and comprising at least one tab provided with a surface (35) for gripping said securing foam. Abstract figure: Figure 5

Description

Title of the invention: Water storage device Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for storing water, in particular sanitary water, for a water heating system. Prior art

[0002] Nowadays, it is known to equip a home with a system for heating domestic water intended to supply hot water to water points in a home. Advantageously, the system comprises a water heater positioned inside the home, provided with a water tank and a housing for receiving said water tank.

[0003] In a known manner, the water tank is insulated and held in the housing by means of a securing means in the form of an expanded foam which fixes, by chemical bonds, the water tank and the coverings.

[0004] However, the chemical bonds created may not be sufficient to satisfactorily hold the water tank in its housing. This is particularly the case when the foam is made of polyurethane and the housing is made of polypropylene.

[0005] The aim of the invention is to remedy this drawback.

[0006] For this purpose, a water storage device, in particular sanitary water, is proposed, comprising a water tank and a housing for said water tank, the housing comprising a first and a second end covering, the first end covering forming a bottom portion of the housing in the normal position of use of the water storage device and the second end covering forming a top portion of the housing in the normal position of use of the water storage device, the water storage device comprising a means for securing the water tank to the housing, the securing means being a foam, preferably polyurethane, the covering forming the top portion being made of a material having a surface energy lower than a surface tension of said foam and comprising at least one tab provided with a surface for attaching said securing foam.

[0007] According to another aspect, the covering forming the top part comprises four tabs for attaching the foam.

[0008] According to another aspect, at least one of the tabs comprises a stiffening element.

[0009] According to another aspect, the hanging surface is arranged horizontally in the position of use of the heating system.

[0010] According to another aspect, the stiffening element comprises a strip inclined relative to the gripping surface.

[0011] According to another aspect, the stiffening element has a wave-shaped section.

[0012] According to another aspect, the covering forming the top part is made of polypropylene or Teflon.

[0013] According to another aspect, the securing foam is made of polyurethane.

[0014] According to another aspect, the covering forming a bottom part comprises at least one tab provided with a surface for attaching said securing foam.

[0015] The invention also relates to a water heating system comprising a water heater provided with a water storage device as described above. Brief description of the drawings

[0016] Other characteristics, details and advantages will appear on reading the detailed description below, and on analyzing the attached drawings, in which: Fig.l

[0017] [Fig.l] shows a perspective view of a water heating system according to one embodiment. Fig. 2

[0018] [Fig.2] shows a perspective view of the water heater of [Fig.l], through the transparency of a side cladding. Fig. 3

[0019] [Fig.3] shows a perspective view of a cladding of the heating system of [Fig.2], Fig. 4

[0020] [Fig.4] shows a truncated perspective view of the cladding of [Fig.2]. Fig. 5

[0021] [Fig.5] shows a view of a section of a detail DI of the cladding of [Fig.4]. Fig. 6

[0022] [Fig.6] shows a section of a detail D2 of the cladding of [Fig.4]. Description of the embodiments

[0023] As can be seen from the figures, the invention relates to a water storage device, in particular sanitary water, referenced 1. Such a storage device can be either isolated or, for example, included in a water heating system, referenced 100, as is the case in figures 1 to 6. The heated water is then intended to supply a network of conduits in a home.

[0024] It is noted that, in the figures, the system 100 is illustrated in a service position, also called normal use position, which corresponds to a position in in which the system 100 is ready to operate, for example arranged in or around the dwelling, preferably in a sheltered room.

[0025] To simplify the spatial orientation, a triplet of orthogonal axes (X, Y, Z) has been drawn in the figures, the X and Y axes being horizontal while the Z axis is vertical, in the service position of the system. Cylindrical coordinates (r, O, z) have also been shown in the figures.

[0026] The storage device 1 comprises a housing 2 shaped to receive a water tank 4 and the water tank 4 itself.

[0027] The housing 2 is delimited by a first and a second end covering, 20, 21 as well as a third covering 22, detailed below.

[0028] The end coverings 20, 21 face each other and are arranged on either side of the covering 22.

[0029] The covering 20 provides support for the water tank 4 in the housing 2. In the service position of the system 100, the covering 20 is arranged under the water tank 4. Hereinafter, it will be referred to interchangeably as the lower covering or the support covering.

[0030] The support covering 20 comprises a plate 23 arranged horizontally in the service position of the system 100. The plate 23 comprises a central part 24 in the shape of a flat cylinder, and two opposite rectilinear edges 25, 26 tangentially attached to the central part 24. The plate 23 forms the bottom of the housing 2, the bottom 4-1 of the water tank 4 resting in the center of the central part 24.

[0031] In the service position, the covering 21 is arranged above the water tank 4. This will subsequently be referred to as the upper covering.

[0032] The upper covering 21 comprises a plate 27 arranged horizontally in the service position of the system 100. The plate 27 comprises a central part 28 in the shape of a flat cylinder, and two opposite rectilinear edges 29, 30 tangentially attached to the central part 27. The plate 27 forms the top of the compartment 11, the top 4-2 of the water tank 4 resting in the center of the part 27 (see [Fig.4]).

[0033] The plate 27 is delimited by two opposite sides, a lower side Cinf and an upper side Csup. The top 4-2 of the tank 4 is integral with the lower side Cinf. At least the evaporator 6, the compressor 7, the fan 8, the conduits 9 are mounted on the upper side Csup which forms the base of the heat pump compartment 10.

[0034] As can be seen from [Fig. 2], the cladding 20 and the cladding 21 are superimposed on each other, the edge 25, 26 facing the edge 29, 30, respectively. The water tank 4 extends between the claddings 20 and 21.

[0035] The cladding 22 is a cladding, preferably made of sheet metal, provided with a longitudinal wall extending between the support cladding 20 and the upper cladding 21.

[0036] To fix the water tank 4 in the housing 2, the device 1 comprises a securing means, in the form of foam, preferably made of polyurethane. The foam is introduced in liquid form into the housing where it expands and bonds, by chemical bonding, the water tank 4 to each of the coverings 20, 21 and 22.

[0037] The foam is preferably polyurethane.

[0038] Nevertheless, in the context of the invention, the material of the covering 21 has a surface energy lower than the surface tension of the foam, which makes chemical bonding insufficient. In other words, the covering 21 has poor adhesion properties compared to the foam used, which makes it extremely or even impossible to make the assembly integral.

[0039] For example, the covering 21 may be made of Teflon. Advantageously, the covering 21 is made of polystyrene.

[0040] Since the chemical bonding is insufficient, the covering 21 includes elements for mechanical attachment of the foam, as will now be detailed.

[0041] As visible in Figures 3 to 6, the covering 21 comprises at least one tab.

[0042] It is noted that, preferably, the covering 21 is completely made of polypropylene and each tab is made of the same material as the covering 21. Nevertheless, the invention is not limited to this configuration, and each tab can be made of a material other than polypropylene.

[0043] In the illustrated embodiment, the covering 21 comprises four tabs, referenced 31, 32, 33 and 34.

[0044] Each of the tabs 31 to 34 comprises at least one surface 35 for mechanical attachment of the foam when the tab is embedded in the foam. Each attachment surface 35 ensures reinforcement of the attachment of the water tank 4 to the covering 21 via the foam, even if the chemical bonding between the propylene covering and the polyurethane or polypropylene foam loaded with fibers is not sufficient.

[0045] As shown in [Fig. 3], the tabs 31 and 32 are identical and differ from the tabs 33 and 34, which are themselves identical. The tabs 31 and 32 are arranged in a less spatially constrained area than the tabs 33 and 34, positioned in a conduit area 9 of the heat pump device 2.

[0046] With particular reference to Figures 4 to 6, each of the tabs 31, 32 has, in a section along a plane (Y, Z), a first section 36 which projects towards the inside of a contour C of the flat cylinder of the central plate 27. The section 36 is horizontal or inclined at an angle of less than 20°, preferably less than 10°, with a horizontal direction. Each of the tabs 31, 32 also comprises a second section 37 secured by one of its ends to the first section 36 and free by the other of its ends. The section 37 is inclined by at least 45°, preferably 90° (i.e. it is vertical) relative to the section 36.

[0047] Each of the sections 36, 37 delimits two opposite surfaces 35 for attachment of the mousse.

[0048] At a minimum, each of the tabs 36, 37 comprises the first section 36. The section 37 is a rib for stiffening the tab 31, 32, against any risk of tearing, in particular, when the system 100 is moved, by increasing the inertia of the tab.

[0049] It is noted that, when the foam is introduced, it drowns the tabs 31, 32 and attaches to the sections 36 and 37 of each of the tabs 31, 32.

[0050] With particular reference to Figures 4, 5 and 7, each of the tabs 33, 34 has, in a section along a plane (Y, Z), a first section 37, in the shape of a U, which projects towards the inside of the contour C of the flat cylinder of the central plate 27. Each of the tabs 33, 34 also comprises a second section 37 secured by one of its ends to the first section 37 and free by the other of its ends. The section 36 is arranged horizontally.

[0051] At a minimum, each of the tabs 33, 34 comprises the first section 36. The section 37 is a rib for stiffening the tab 31, 32, against any risk of tearing, in particular, when the device 1 is moved, by increasing the inertia of the tab. The U-shape accommodates the spatially constrained area of the tabs 33, 34.

[0052] It is noted that, when the foam is introduced, it drowns the tabs 33, 34 and attaches to the sections 36 and 37 of each of the tabs 33, 34.

[0053] The tabs 31, 32, 33 and 34 are each arranged near the external corners of the housing, substantially parallelepiped L, because the corners are areas of greater mechanical stress and placing the tabs at close distance ensures a reduction of the lever arm.

[0054] It is noted that the tongue 31 and the tongue 33 are diametrically opposed. Similarly, the tongue 32 and the tongue 34 are diametrically opposed.

[0055] It is also noted that the covering 20 can also be provided with at least one tab, preferably four tabs, for attaching the foam.

[0056] Thus, thanks to the tabs according to the present invention, the reservoir 4 is firmly held by the foam.

[0057] When the water storage device 1 is included in a heating system 100, the device 1 is then a water heater. It is either an electric water heater, in which case the device is provided with at least one electrical resistor for heating the water in the tank 2, or a thermodynamic water heater.

[0058] In this case, the water is heated by a condenser of a heat pump device 2 of the system 100. The condenser is in the form of a coil arranged around the water tank 4. The heat pump device comprises, in addition to the condenser, an evaporator, a compressor, and an expansion valve forming a thermal loop. dynamic. The heat pump device advantageously comprises a fan to force an air flow into the evaporator.

[0059] In a known manner, in the loop, the air flow discharges its calories into the evaporator, where the refrigerant circulates, while the refrigerant exchanges all or part of the calories it contains in the condenser, which heats the water stored in the tank 4.

[0060] As is apparent from the preceding description, the invention applies to a water storage device, either taken alone (water tank) or forming part of a water heater.

[0061] According to the invention, the lower covering 21 comprises one or more tab(s) forming a mechanical attachment between the foam and the covering, which is particularly advantageous when the material of the covering 21 has a surface energy lower than the surface tension of the foam. This is particularly the case for a polyurethane foam, when the covering 21 is made of polypropylene.

[0062] It is noted that, preferably, the housing 2 (i.e. the end coverings 20, 21, and the longitudinal covering 22) is completely made of polypropylene.

[0063] Thus, thanks to the mechanical attachment of the tabs, the tank 4 is firmly held in the housing 2, even when transporting the water storage device 1.

[0064] It is noted that the number of tabs is not limiting and depends in particular on the manufacturing process of the device. The number of four tabs was selected for reasons of molding the part.

Claims

Claims

1. A water storage device, in particular for domestic water, comprising a water tank (4) and a housing (2) for said water tank (4), the housing (2) comprising a first and a second end covering (20, 21), the first end covering (20) forming a bottom portion of the housing (2) in the normal position of use of the water storage device (1) and the second end covering forming a top portion of the housing (2) in the normal position of use of the water storage device (1), the water storage device (1) comprising a means for securing the water tank (4) to the housing (2), the securing means being a foam, preferably polyurethane, the covering forming the top portion (21) being made of a material having a surface energy lower than a surface tension of said foam and comprising at least one tab provided with a surface (35) for gripping said foam. solidarity.

2. Device according to claim 1, in which the covering forming the top part (21) comprises four tabs (31, 32, 33, 34) for attaching the foam.

3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, in which at least one of the tabs comprises a stiffening element (37).

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the hanging surface is arranged horizontally in the position of use of the heating system.

5. Device according to the preceding claim in its dependency on claim 4, in which the stiffening element (37) comprises a strip inclined relative to the gripping surface.

6. Device according to claim 5 in its dependency on claim 4, in which the stiffening element (37) has a wave-shaped section.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the covering forming the top part (21) is made of polypropylene or Teflon.

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the securing foam is made of polyurethane.

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the covering forming a bottom part (20) comprises at least one tab provided with a surface for attaching said securing foam.

10. A water heating system comprising a water heater provided with a water storage device according to one of the preceding claims.

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