Tank mounting structure for water heater and water heater

Abstract

A tank mounting structure for a water heater and a water heater tank are provided. The tank mounting structure for the water heater includes a support base having a communication groove and a water heater tank disposed on the support base to be supported by the support base. An accommodation cavity is defined between the water heater tank and the support base. The communication groove is in communication with the accommodation cavity and an external space of the water heater tank.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202421526216.7 filed on Jun. 28, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to the technical field of water heater technologies, and more particularly, to a tank mounting structure for a water heater and a water heater.BACKGROUND

[0003] A water heater includes a housing and a water heater tank. Insulation materials such as foam are injected between the housing and the water heater tank to form an insulating layer. However, it is difficult for the insulation materials, such as the foam, to reach an area under the water heater tank, leading to heat loss from the area.SUMMARY

[0004] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a tank mounting structure for a water heater. The tank mounting structure for the water heater includes a support base having a communication groove and a water heater tank. The water heater tank is disposed on the support base to be supported by the support base, and an accommodation cavity is defined between the water heater tank and the support base. The communication groove is in communication with the accommodation cavity and an external space for the water heater tank.

[0005] Embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a water heater. The water heater includes the tank mounting structure for the water heater as described above and an insulating layer. The insulating layer is adapted to be filled in the external space of the water heater tank, the communication groove, and the accommodation cavity.

[0006] Other advantages of the present disclosure will be provided at least in part in the following description, will become apparent at least in part from the following description, or can be learned from practicing of the present disclosure.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] To more clearly illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure or technical solutions in the related art, accompanying drawings required to be used in the description of the embodiments or the related art are briefly described below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings in the following descriptions are only some embodiments of the present disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other designs can be obtained from structures illustrated in these accompanying drawings without creative labor.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a water heater according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0009] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a water heater according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0010] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a water heater according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0011] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of part A shown in FIG. 3.

[0012] FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing flow of a material constituting an insulating layer according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a water heater tank according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a water heater tank according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a support base (top-down view) according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a support base (bottom-up view) according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a support base according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGSwater heater 100; housing 1000; bottom 1100; side portion 1200; water heater tank 2000; top plate 2100; panel 2200; bottom plate 2300; intersection 2400; support base 3000; inner protrusion 3100; first raised portion 3110; support platform 3200; outer protrusion 3300; second raised portion 3310; recess 3400; communication groove 3500; communication hole 3600; accommodation cavity 4100; accommodation cavity / external space 4200.

[0019] Implementations of the objects, functional features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be further described in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Technical solutions according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described clearly and completely below in combination with accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present disclosure. Obviously, the embodiments described below are only part of the embodiments of the present disclosure, rather than all embodiments of the present disclosure. Based on the embodiments in the present disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative labor fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0021] It should be noted that all directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, rear, etc.) in the embodiments of the present disclosure are only used to explain relative positions between various components, movements of various components, or the like under a predetermined posture (as illustrated in the figures). When the predetermined posture changes, the directional indications also change accordingly.

[0022] In the present disclosure, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, terms, such as “connect”, “fix” or the like, should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it may be fixed connection, detachable connection, or integral connection; mechanical connection or electrical connection; direct connection or indirect connection through an intermediate; or internal communication of two components or interaction relationship between two components, unless otherwise clearly limited. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the present disclosure can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0023] In addition, descriptions, such as “first”, “second” and the like, in the present disclosure are only used for descriptive purposes, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features. Therefore, the features associated with “first” and “second” may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of the features. In addition, the technical solutions according to various embodiments of the present disclosure can be combined, but these combinations must be based on the fact that they can be realized by those skilled in the art. When a combination of the technical solutions is contradictory or unattainable, the combination of the technical solutions neither exists nor falls within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0024] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a tank mounting structure for a water heater is provided. As illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, in some embodiments, the tank mounting structure for the water heater includes a support base 3000 having a communication groove 3500 and a water heater tank 2000 disposed on the support base 3000 to be supported by the support base 3000. In addition, an accommodation cavity 4100 is defined between the water heater tank 2000 and the support base 3000, and the communication groove 3500 is in communication with the accommodation cavity 4100 and an external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000.

[0025] The support base 3000 is provided, such that the water heater tank 2000 is disposed on the support base 3000 to be supported by the support base 3000. In addition, when the water heater tank 2000 is placed on the support base 3000, the accommodation cavity 4100 is formed between the water heater tank 2000 and the support base 3000. The communication groove 3500 is formed at the support base 3000 and in communication with the accommodation cavity 4100 and the external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000. In a manufacturing process of a water heater 100, a material (such as a foam material) constituting an insulating layer can enter the accommodation cavity 4100 from the external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000 through the communication groove 3500, or the material constituting the insulating layer can enter the external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000 from the accommodation cavity 4100 through the communication groove 3500 to be filled in the external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000, the communication groove 3500, and the accommodation cavity 4100, which improves insulation performance of the water heater tank 2000.

[0026] In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the water heater 100 is described in detail below. Reference can be made to orientations in the following context and the environment in which the water heater 100 is mounted for use, with the water heater 100 near the ground as below (bottom) and away from the ground as above (top).

[0027] The water heater 100 includes a housing 1000 constituting an outer surface structure of the water heater 100. The water heater tank 2000 needs to be mounted in the housing 1000 to be covered by the housing 1000. The water heater tank 2000 has an upright columnar structure as a whole. The housing 1000 needs to conform to an overall outline of the water heater tank 2000. That is, the housing 1000 also needs to have an upright columnar structure. When the water heater tank 2000 is mounted in the housing 1000, the accommodation cavity 4200 is formed between the water heater tank 2000 and a side portion 1200 of the housing 1000. The accommodation cavity 4200 constitutes the external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000, which is configured to be provided with the insulating layer (not illustrated in the figures). For example, a foam material is injected into the external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000 to form the insulating layer, which provides insulation for the water heater tank 2000.

[0028] In this embodiment, the support base 3000 is provided to enhance the insulation for the water heater tank 2000. The water heater tank 2000 is disposed on the support base 3000 to be supported by the support base 3000. That is, the water heater tank 2000 is supported by the support base 3000 under an action of gravity. In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the support base 3000 is disposed in the housing 1000, and the support base 3000 is placed at a bottom 1100 of the housing 1000. The support base 3000 has the communication groove 3500. When the water heater tank 2000 is placed on the support base 3000, the accommodation cavity 4200 is formed between the water heater tank 2000 and the side portion 1200 of the housing 1000. The accommodation cavity 4200 constitutes the external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000, and the accommodation cavity 4100 is formed between the water heater tank 2000 and the support base 3000. For example, the water heater tank 2000 includes a top plate 2100, a panel 2200, and a bottom plate 2300. The panel 2200 has an upright columnar structure. The top plate 2100 is disposed at a top end of the panel 2200 and arches upwardly, and has a substantially arc structure arching upwardly. The bottom plate 2300 is disposed at a bottom end of the panel 2200 and is recessed upwardly, i.e., the bottom plate 2300 is recessed towards an interior of the water heater tank 2000. The bottom plate 2300 has a substantially arc-shaped structure. An intersection 2400 of the bottom plate 2300 and the panel 2200 is supported by the support base 3000. The bottom plate 2300 is recessed upwardly to form the accommodation cavity 4100 between the bottom plate 2300 and the support base 3000.

[0029] The communication groove 3500 is in communication with the accommodation cavity 4100 and the external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000. When the material constituting the insulating layer is injected into the external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000, these materials enter the accommodation cavity 4100 from the external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000 through the communication groove 3500 (as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 5), or when the material constituting the insulating layer is injected into the accommodation cavity 4100, these materials enter the external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000 from the accommodation cavity 4100 through the communication groove 3500. In this way, the material constituting the insulating layer not only surrounds the water heater tank 2000 in a circumferential direction of the water heater tank 2000, but also extends underneath the water heater tank 2000 to enhance heat insulation for the water heater tank 2000.

[0030] As illustrated in FIG. 8, in some embodiments, a plurality of communication grooves 3500 are provided. The plurality of communication grooves 3500 mean two or more communication grooves. The same applies hereafter, that is, at least two communication grooves 3500 are provided. The plurality of communication grooves 3500 are arranged at intervals in a circumferential direction of the support base 3000.

[0031] In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000 surrounds the water heater tank 2000 in the circumferential direction of the water heater tank 2000, and is an annular space as a whole. The circumferential direction can be understood as a direction surrounding a center of the water heater tank 2000 in a horizontal direction. As an example, the material constituting the insulating layer is injected into the external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000. With the plurality of communication grooves 3500 arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the support base 3000, the material constituting the insulating layer can enter the accommodation cavity 4100 from a plurality of directions through the communication grooves 3500, lowering flow resistance of these materials and reducing voids in the accommodation cavity 4100, which can further improve insulation performance.

[0032] Further, the communication groove 3500 has a volume not greater than 40% of a volume of the support base 3000. For example, the volume of the communication groove 3500 is 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, or 35% of the volume of the support base 3000. It should be understood that the water heater tank 2000 is placed on the support base 3000 to be supported by the support base 3000, and thus a weight of the water heater tank 2000 is applied to the support base 3000, such that the support base 3000 needs to have a certain structural strength. Since the provision of the communication groove 3500 is equivalent to forming a hollow structure at the support base 3000, the volume occupied by the communication groove 3500 should not be too large. In this embodiment, a volume ratio of the communication groove 3500 is limited to reduce performance requirements for the material used to form the support base 3000 while the structural strength of the support base 3000 is ensured. It should be understood that the volume of the communication groove 3500 may be greater than 40%. However, in this case, requirements for the material constituting the support base 3000 are higher.

[0033] As illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIG. 8, in some embodiments, an end of the communication groove 3500 in communication with the external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000 is opened upwards.

[0034] In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the water heater tank 2000 is placed on the support base 3000. In this case, the water heater tank 2000 is supported by the support base 3000 under the action of gravity and located above the support base 3000. In this case, the external space 4200 of the water heater 100 is also located above the support base 3000. The end of the communication groove 3500 in communication with the external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000 is opened upwards. When the material constituting the insulating layer is injected into the external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000, these materials enter the communication groove 3500 from top to bottom, which facilitates flow of these materials to the accommodation cavity 4100 and further reduces flow resistance of these materials.

[0035] As illustrated in FIG. 9, in some embodiments, the communication groove 3500 is exposed from a bottom surface of the support base 3000. In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the support base 3000 is placed on the bottom 1100 of the housing1000. The support base 3000 and the bottom 1100 of the housing 1000 are not sealed. When the materials constituting the insulating layer are injected into the external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000, as these materials are continuously injected, air in the external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000 may need to be discharged from the housing 1000, in which the housing 1000 is not completely sealed and has small gaps, and the communication groove 3500 is exposed from the bottom surface of the support base 3000. The air can enter the communication groove 3500 from the external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000, and then flow between the support base 3000 and the bottom 1100 of the housing 1000 through the communication groove 3500 to be discharged from the housing 1000. It is more convenient for the air to be discharged from the housing 1000 by increasing the air flow path.

[0036] Further, as illustrated in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, in some embodiments, the support base 3000 has a communication hole 3600. The communication hole 3600 is in communication with the accommodation cavity 4100 and exposed from the bottom surface of the support base 3000. As mentioned above, the support base 3000 is placed on the bottom 1100 of the housing 1000. The connection between the support base 3000 and the bottom 1100 of the housing 1000 is not sealed.

[0037] When the material constituting the insulating layer is injected into the external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000 and enters the accommodation cavity 4100 through the communication groove 3500, the air in the accommodation cavity 4100 can flow out of the bottom surface of the support base 3000 through the communication hole 3600, which increases the air flow path to facilitate air out of the accommodation cavity 4100 and reduce accumulation of the air in the accommodation cavity 4100 as much as possible.

[0038] As illustrated in FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 6, FIG. 7, and FIG. 8, in some embodiments, the support base 3000 has a recess 3400. When the water heater tank 2000 is placed on the support base 3000, the water heater tank 2000 is inserted into the recess 3400. With the support base 3000 having the recess 3400, when the water heater tank 2000 is mounted, the water heater tank 2000 is inserted into the recess 3400, which not only can support the water heater tank 2000 but also realize positioning of the water heater tank 2000, to prevent an assembly position of the water heater tank 2000 from being shifted. In this way, the water heater tank 2000 can be accurately mounted in place.

[0039] As can be seen from the above, the accommodation cavity 4200 needs to be formed between the water heater tank 2000 and the side portion 1200 of the housing 1000. The accommodation cavity 4200 constitutes the external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000. A corresponding material needs to be injected into the external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000 to form the insulating layer. In this embodiment, positioning and support of the water heater tank 2000 are realized by providing the support base 3000, preventing the assembly position of the water heater tank 2000 from being shifted to allow a thickness of the external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000 to be uniform.

[0040] The support base 3000 is disposed in the housing 1000 and placed to the bottom 1100 of the housing 1000. The support base 3000 has the recess 3400. The water heater tank 2000 is inserted into the recess 3400 during assembly of the water heater tank 2000, thereby forming the positioning and the support of the water heater tank 2000. For example, the water heater tank 2000 includes the top plate 2100, the panel 2200 having an upright cylindrical structure, and the bottom plate 2300. The water heater tank 2000 is also described below with this structure as an example. The top plate 2100 is disposed at the top end of the panel 2200 and arches upwardly, which is substantially in the arc-shaped structure that arches upwardly. The bottom plate 2300 is disposed at the bottom end of the panel 2200 and is recessed upwardly, i.e., the bottom plate is recessed towards the interior of the water heater tank 2000. The bottom plate 2300 has a substantially arc-shaped structure. The intersection 2400 of the bottom plate 2300 and the panel 2200 is inserted into the recess 3400 to be located on and supported by the support base 3000.

[0041] The water heater tank 2000 may not be inserted into the recess 3400 in a single operation during mounting. In this case, the water heater tank 2000 is required to be lifted again and then continue to be lowered. After many attempts, the water heater tank 2000 can be inserted into the recess 3400. The recess 3400 is provided to accurately mount the water heater tank 2000 in place, ensuring a uniform thickness of the external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000.

[0042] It should be understood that when the support base 3000 is placed on the bottom 1100 of the housing 1000, the position of the support base 3000 needs to be fixed relative to the housing 1000. For example, the support base 3000 can be fixed to the bottom 1100 of the housing 1000 during manufacturing of the housing 1000, or the support base 3000 can be abutted with the side portion 1200 of the housing 1000. Since there is no need to provide an insulating layer between the support base 3000 and the side portion 1200 of the housing 1000, a radial size of the support base 3000 can match a radial size of the housing 1000. When the support base 3000 is disposed and placed on the bottom 1100 of the housing 1000, the support base 3000 can be abutted with the side portion 1200 of the housing 1000 to limit the relative position of the support base 3000 with respect to the housing 1000.

[0043] As illustrated in FIG. 8, in some embodiments, the recess 3400 is in an annular shape, which may be a circular annular shape, a square annular shape, or other shapes, as long as the annular shape can be formed, to better realize the positioning of the water heater tank 2000. With this arrangement, the water heater tank 2000 can be positioned around the water heater tank 2000, that is, the recess surrounds the water heater tank 2000 in the horizontal direction, and thus the positioning of the water heater tank 2000 can be further improved. In particular, since the bottom plate 2300 is disposed at the bottom end of the panel 2200 and is recessed upwardly, the intersection 2400 of the bottom plate 2300 and the panel 2200 forms an annular structure. The recess 3400 is in the annular shape, such that better matching is achieved to improve positioning. It should be understood that the recess 3400 is in the annular shape. The recess 3400 may be a continuous and complete annular shape, or the recess 3400 may include a plurality of parts and arrangement of the plurality of parts may be in the annular shape.

[0044] As illustrated in FIG. 8 and FIG. 10, in some embodiments, the recess 3400 is gradually flared from a bottom to an opening of the recess 3400, facilitating insertion of the water heater tank 2000 into the recess 3400.

[0045] In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the recess 3400 is opened upwards. The water heater tank 2000 is placed on the support base 3000 from top to bottom. In a process of moving the water heater 100 from top to bottom, the water heater tank 2000 is inserted from the opening of the recess 3400 until the water heater tank 2000 is abutted with the bottom of the recess 3400. In this way, the water heater tank 2000 is assembled in place. As mentioned above, the water heater tank 2000 may not be inserted into the recess 3400 in a single operation during mounting. In this case, multiple attempts may be required to allow the water heater tank 2000 to be inserted into the recess 3400. Therefore, in this embodiment, the recess 3400 is designed to be gradually flared from the bottom to the opening of the recess 3400. That is, the opening is relatively large and the bottom is relatively small. The larger opening is convenient for the water heater tank 2000 to pass therethrough and be inserted into the recess 3400. Furthermore, the smaller bottom can effectively limit displacement of the water heater tank 2000 in the horizontal direction. The water heater tank 2000 has a smaller movement margin after the water heater tank 2000 is placed on the support base 3000.

[0046] As illustrated in FIG. 10, in some embodiments, the support base 3000 includes an inner protrusion 3100, an outer protrusion 3300 spaced apart from the inner protrusion 3100, and a support platform 3200 disposed between the inner protrusion 3100 and the outer protrusion 3300.

[0047] In this way, the above recess 3400 is defined among the inner protrusion 3100, the support platform 3200, and the outer protrusion 3300. When the water heater tank 2000 is placed on the support base 3000, the water heater tank 2000 covers the inner protrusion 3100.

[0048] In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the recess 3400 is defined among the inner protrusion 3100, the support platform 3200, and the outer protrusion 3300. That is, a surface of the inner protrusion 3100 facing towards the outer protrusion 3300 constitutes a wall of the recess 3400, a surface of the outer protrusion 3300 facing towards the inner protrusion 3100 constitutes another wall of the recess 3400, a surface of the support platform 3200 facing towards a space between the inner protrusion 3100 and the outer protrusion 3300 constitutes the bottom of the recess 3400, and the opening of the recess 3400 is formed between the inner protrusion 3100 and the outer protrusion 3300. When the water heater tank 2000 is placed on the support base 3000, the water heater tank 2000 is inserted into the recess 3400 through the opening of the recess 3400 and abutted with the support platform 3200 to be supported by the support platform 3200. The cooperation between the inner protrusion 3100 and the outer protrusion 3300 can limit the water heater tank 2000 in the horizontal direction. Further, the water heater tank 2000 covers the inner protrusion 3100. In particular, the bottom plate 2300 of the water heater tank 2000 covers the inner protrusion 3100.

[0049] When the support base 3000 includes the inner protrusion 3100, the outer protrusion 3300, and the support platform 3200, as illustrated in FIG. 10, a part of the communication groove 3500 is formed on each of the inner protrusion 3100, the outer protrusion 3300, and the support platform 3200. The communication groove 3500 extends substantially in the radial direction of the support base 3000 to realize the communication between the accommodation cavity 4100 and the external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000.

[0050] As mentioned above, the intersection 2400 of the bottom plate 2300 and the housing 2200 of the water heater tank 2000 is in the annular structure. Therefore, the recess 3400 with the annular shape facilitates realizing the cooperation between the intersection 2400 of the bottom plate 2300 and the housing 2200 and the recess 3400. For this reason, the outer protrusion 3300 is designed to surround the inner protrusion 3100 on the basis that the support base 3000 includes the inner protrusion 3100, the support platform 3200, and the outer protrusion 3300. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the inner protrusion 3100 is located substantially at a center of the support base 3000, and the outer protrusion 3300 surrounds the inner protrusion 3100, thereby forming the annular recess 3400.

[0051] It should be understood that the inner protrusion 3100, the support platform 3200, and the outer protrusion 3300 may be independent parts connected by various connection ways. For example, the inner protrusion 3100, the support platform 3200, and the outer protrusion 3300 are fixed together through bonding, screwing, engagement, fusion, welding, or the like. The support base 3000 mainly functions to realize the positioning and the support of the water heater tank 2000.

[0052] Therefore, the structure of the support base 3000 can be relatively simple. The support base 3000 may be manufactured through an integral molding process. That is, the support base 3000 is integrally formed with the inner protrusion 3100, the support platform 3200, and the outer protrusion 3300, resulting in a high manufacturing efficiency and allowing the support base 3000 to have higher structural strength (as opposed to the technical solution in which the independent parts are connected through connection ways). Further, more effective support is achieved for the water heater tank 2000 having a predetermined weight. The support base 3000 is unlikely to be broken when the weight of the water heater tank 2000 is applied to the support base 3000. For example, the inner protrusion 3100, the support platform 3200, and the outer protrusion 3300 are integrally formed with the support base 3000 through injection molding.

[0053] As illustrated in FIG. 8, in some embodiments, the inner protrusion 3100 includes a first raised portion 3110, which is abutted with a portion of the water heater tank 2000 covering the inner protrusion 3100. It should be understood that when the water heater tank 2000 is placed on the support base 3000, a corresponding portion of the water heater tank 2000 covers the inner protrusion 3100. In this embodiment, the inner protrusion 3100 includes the first raised portion 3110. The portion of the water heater tank 2000 covering the inner protrusion 3100 is supported by the first raised portion 3110, which is beneficial to prevent the water heater tank 2000 from cracking under water pressure.

[0054] As an example, the water heater tank 2000 includes the top plate 2100, the panel 2200, and the bottom plate 2300. The panel 2200 has the upright cylindrical structure. The top plate 2100 is disposed at the top end of the panel 2200 and arches upwardly, and is substantially in the arc-shaped structure arching upwardly. The bottom plate 2300 is disposed at the bottom end of the panel 2200 and is recessed upwardly, i.e., the bottom plate is recessed towards the interior of the water heater tank 2000. The bottom plate 2300 has a substantially arc-shaped structure. The intersection 2400 of the bottom plate 2300 and the panel 2200 is inserted into the recess 3400 to be located on and supported by the support base 3000. The bottom plate 2300 is recessed upwardly, such that the intersection 2400 of the bottom plate 2300 and the panel 2200 form the annular structure to enhance placing stability of the water heater tank 2000, and the pressure-bearing capacity of the bottom plate 2300 is also strengthened. It should be understood that the water heater tank 2000 is in the upright cylindrical shape. When the water heater tank 2000 stores a predetermined amount of water, the weight of the water is applied to the bottom plate 2300. The bottom plate 2300 is recessed upwardly, such that the structural strength of the bottom plate 2300 can be strengthened, which is more conducive to bearing pressure. Other technical effects of designing the bottom plate 2300 to be recessed upwardly can be further provided, and thus details thereof will be omitted herein. When the water heater tank 2000 is placed on the support base 3000, the bottom plate 2300 of the water heater tank 2000 covers the inner protrusion 3100, and the bottom plate 2300 constitutes the part of the water heater tank 2000 covering the inner protrusion 3100. In this case, the first raised portion 3110 of the inner protrusion 3100 contacts with the bottom plate 2300 to support the bottom plate 2300, and thus the bottom plate 2300 is unlikely to be broken.

[0055] Further, as illustrated in FIG. 8, in some embodiments, the inner protrusion 3100 includes a plurality of first raised protrusions 3110. That is, at least two first raised protrusions 3110 are provided. The plurality of first raised protrusions 3110 are arranged at intervals in a circumferential direction of the inner protrusion 3100. The circumferential direction can be understood as a direction around a center of the inner protrusion 3100 in the horizontal direction. Since the portion of the water heater tank 2000 covering the inner protrusion 3100 has a predetermined coverage range, in this embodiment, disposing the plurality of first raised portions 3110 arranged at intervals can facilitate realizing large-scale support for the portion of the water heater tank 2000 covering the inner protrusion 3100 by the plurality of first raised portions 3110.

[0056] For example, the water heater tank 2000 covers the inner protrusion 3100 by the bottom plate 2300. The large-scale support for the bottom plate 2300 can be achieved by the plurality of first raised portions 3110. It should be understood that the plurality of first raised portions 3110 are provided and arranged at intervals, which can not only realize the large-scale support for the bottom plate 2300 but also facilitate to reduce usage of materials, thereby reducing cost and avoiding excessive weight of the support base 3000.

[0057] As illustrated in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, in some embodiments, the first raised portion 3110 is shaped to conform to the portion of the water heater tank 2000 covering the inner protrusion 3100. The so-called “conform” configuration means that the first raised portion 3110 is similar in surface shape to the portion of the water heater tank 2000 covering the inner protrusion 3100 in contact with the first raised portion 3110. For example, since the bottom plate 2300 is recessed upwardly and has the substantially arc-shaped structure, a surface of the first raised portion 3110 in contact with the bottom plate 2300 also has a corresponding arc-shaped structure, such that when the first raised portion 3110 supports the bottom plate 2300, the first raised portion 3110 is in surface contact with the bottom plate 2300, reducing concentration of pressure in a small range and thus avoiding deformation of the bottom plate 2300.

[0058] As illustrated in FIG. 8, in some embodiments, the outer protrusion 3300 includes a plurality of second raised protrusions 3310. That is, at least two second raised protrusions 3310 are provided. The plurality of second raised protrusions 3310 are arranged at intervals around the inner protrusion 3100, and the second raised protrusions 3310 are higher than the recess 3400.

[0059] It should be understood that when the water heater tank 2000 is placed on the support base 3000, since the water heater tank 2000 has a predetermined height, the water heater tank 2000 is likely to swing with respect to the support base 3000. The second raised portion 3310 is in a raised shape, such that a contact range (i.e., a contact range in an up-down direction) of the second raised portion 3310 and the water heater tank 2000 is increased. In this way, restraint on the water heater tank 2000 can be strengthened, and thus the water heater tank 2000 can be effectively prevented from swinging.

[0060] In addition, in this embodiment, at least two second raised portions 3310 are provided. Adjacent two of the at least two second raised protrusions 3310 are arranged at intervals, which can effectively reduce the usage of materials to reduce the cost and avoid excessive weight of the support base 3000.

[0061] Further, as illustrated in FIG. 8, in some embodiments, a side of the second raised protrusion 3310 facing towards the inner protrusion 3100 is designed to be inclined from bottom to top away from the inner protrusion 3100. In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, since the second raised portion 3310 is raised and higher than the recess 3400, the water heater tank 2000 penetrates the second raised portion 3310 in the process of inserting the water heater tank 2000 into the recess 3400 so that the water heater tank 2000 may contact with the second raised portion 3310. The side of the second raised portion 3310 facing towards the inner protrusion 3100 is designed to be inclined from bottom to top away from the inner protrusion 3100, such that guidance of mounting of the water heater tank 2000 can be provided and thus it is more convenient for the water heater tank 2000 to be inserted in alignment with the recess 3400.

[0062] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a water heater 100 is provided. As illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 10, the water heater 100 includes the insulating layer and the tank mounting structure for the water heater as described above. The tank mounting structure for the water heater includes the support base 3000 having the communication groove 3500 and the water heater tank 2000 disposed on the support base 3000 to be supported by the support base 3000. In addition, the accommodation cavity 4100 is defined between the water heater tank 2000 and the support base 3000, and the communication groove 3500 is in communication with the accommodation cavity 4100 and the external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000. The insulating layer is filled in the external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000, the communication groove 3500, and the accommodation cavity 4100.

[0063] The water heater 100 includes the housing 1000 constituting an outer surface structure of the water heater 100. The water heater tank 2000 needs to be mounted in the housing 1000 to be covered by the housing 1000. The water heater tank 2000 has an upright columnar structure as a whole. The housing 1000 needs to conform to an overall outline of the water heater tank 2000. That is, the housing 1000 also needs to have an upright columnar structure. When the water heater tank 2000 is mounted in the housing 1000, the accommodation cavity 4200 is formed between the water heater tank 2000 and the side portion 1200 of the housing 1000. The accommodation cavity 4200 constitutes the external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000 that is configured to be provided with the insulating layer (not illustrated in the figures). For example, the foam material is injected into the external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000 to form the insulating layer, which provides heat insulation for the water heater tank 2000.

[0064] In this embodiment, the support base 3000 is provided to strengthen the heat insulation for the water heater tank 2000. The water heater tank 2000 is placed on the support base 3000 to be supported by the support base 3000. That is, the water heater tank 2000 is supported by the support base 3000 under the action of gravity. In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the support base 3000 is disposed in the housing 1000, and placed to the bottom 1100 of the housing 1000. The support base 3000 has the communication groove 3500. When the water heater tank 2000 is placed on the support base 3000, the accommodation cavity 4200 is formed between the water heater tank 2000 and the side portion 1200 of the housing 1000. The accommodation cavity 4200 constitutes the external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000, and the accommodation cavity 4100 is formed between the water heater tank 2000 and the support base 3000. For example, the water heater tank 2000 includes the top plate 2100, the panel 2200, and the bottom plate 2300. The panel 2200 has the upright cylindrical structure. The top plate 2100 is disposed at the top end of the panel 2200 and arches upwardly, and has the substantially arc-shaped structure arching upwardly. The bottom plate 2300 is disposed at the bottom end of the panel 2200 and is recessed upwardly, i.e., the bottom plate 2300 is recessed towards the interior of the water heater tank 2000. The bottom plate 2300 has the substantially arc-shaped structure. The intersection 2400 of the bottom plate 2300 and the panel 2200 is supported by the support base 3000. The bottom plate 2300 is recessed upwardly to form the accommodation cavity 4100 between the bottom plate 2300 and the support base 3000.

[0065] The communication groove 3500 is in communication with the accommodation cavity 4100 and the external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000. When the materials constituting the insulating layer are injected into the external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000, these materials enter the accommodation cavity 4100 from the external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000 through the communication groove 3500, or when the materials constituting the insulating layer are injected into the accommodation cavity 4100, these materials enter the external space 4200 of the water heater tank 2000 from the accommodation cavity 4100 through the communication groove 3500. In this way, the material constituting the insulating layer not only surrounds the water heater tank 2000 in the circumferential direction of the water heater tank 2000 but also enters underneath the water heater tank 2000 to enhance the heat insulation for the water heater tank 2000.

[0066] It should be understood that since the water heater 100 adopts the above support base 3000 according to the above embodiments, the water heater 100 at least has the advantageous effects brought by the technical solutions of the above embodiments, and thus details thereof will be omitted herein.

[0067] Although some embodiments of the present disclosure are described above, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments. Under the concept of the present disclosure, any equivalent structure transformation made with reference to the contents of the specification and the accompanying drawings of the present disclosure, or any direct or indirect application of the contents of the specification and the accompanying drawings of the present disclosure in other related fields, shall fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A tank mounting structure for a water heater, the tank mounting structure comprising:a support base having a communication groove; anda water heater tank disposed on the support base to be supported by the support base, an accommodation cavity being defined between the water heater tank and the support base, and the communication groove being in communication with the accommodation cavity and an external space of the water heater tank.

2. The mounting structure for the water heater according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of communication grooves are provided, the plurality of communication grooves being arranged at intervals in a circumferential direction of the support base.

3. The tank mounting structure for the water heater according to claim 1, wherein an end of the communication groove in communication with the external space of the water heater tank is opened upwards.

4. The tank mounting structure for the water heater according to claim 3, wherein the communication groove is exposed from a bottom surface of the support base.

5. The tank mounting structure for the water heater according to claim 1, wherein the support base has a communication hole, the communication hole being in communication with the accommodation cavity and exposed from a bottom surface of the support base.

6. The tank mounting structure for the water heater according to claim 1, wherein the support base has a recess, the water heater tank being inserted into the recess.

7. The tank mounting structure for the water heater according to claim 6, wherein the water heater tank comprises a panel and a bottom plate disposed at a bottom end of the panel and recessed upwardly, an intersection of the bottom plate and the panel being inserted into the recess, and the accommodation cavity being defined between the bottom plate and the support base.

8. The tank mounting structure for the water heater according to claim 6, wherein the recess is in an annular shape; and / orthe recess is gradually flared from a bottom to an opening of the recess.

9. The tank mounting structure for the water heater according to claim 6, wherein the support base comprises:an inner protrusion;an outer protrusion spaced apart from the inner protrusion; anda support platform disposed between the inner protrusion and the outer protrusion, the recess being defined among the support platform, the inner protrusion, and the outer protrusion, and the water heater tank covering the inner protrusion.

10. The tank mounting structure for the water heater according to claim 9, wherein a part of the communication groove is formed on each of the inner protrusion, the outer protrusion, and the support platform.

11. A water heater, comprising:the tank mounting structure for the water heater according to claim 1; andan insulating layer adapted to be filled in the external space of the water heater tank, the communication groove, and the accommodation cavity.

12. The water heater according to claim 11, further comprising a housing, the support base being disposed in the housing and placed at a bottom of the housing, the water heater tank being disposed in the housing, the accommodation cavity being defined between the water heater tank and a side portion of the housing, and the accommodation cavity constituting the external space of the water heater tank.

13. The water heater according to claim 12, wherein a material constituting the insulating layer is adapted to be injected into the external space of the water heater tank, the communication groove, and the accommodation cavity to form the insulating layer, wherein the material constituting the insulating layer is configured to force an air out of the housing during an injection of the material.

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