Water heater system including upper pipes and lower pipes

Abstract

Provided is a water heater system including upper pipes and lower pipes. The water heater system including upper pipes and lower pipes includes an upper direct water inlet which is combined to the upper part of a housing and is connected to a direct water pipe while being opened so that direct-supplied water may be entered therethrough or is connected to an direct water pipe while being closed so that direct-supplied water may not be entered therethrough, a lower direct water inlet which is combined to the lower part of the housing and is connected to a direct water pipe while being opened so that direct-supplied water may be entered therethrough or is connected to an direct water pipe while being closed so that direct-supplied water may not be entered therethrough, an upper hot water outlet which is combined to the upper part of the housing and is connected to one side of a hot water pipe while being opened so that hot water may be discharged therethrough or is connected to one side of the hot water pipe while being closed so that hot water may not be entered therethrough, a lower hot water outlet which is combined to the lower part of the housing and is connected to one side of the hot water pipe while being opened so that hot water may be discharged therethrough or is connected to one side of the hot water pipe while being closed so that hot water may not be entered therethrough, an upper hot water return hole which is combined to the upper part of the housing and is connected to the other side of the hot water pipe while being opened so that disused hot water from hot water discharged through the upper hot water outlet may be entered therethrough or is connected to the other side of the hot water pipe while being closed so that disused hot water may not be entered therethrough, a lower hot water return hole which is combined to the lower part of the housing and is connected to the other side of the hot water pipe while being opened so that disused hot water from hot water discharged through the lower hot water outlet may be entered therethrough or is connected to the other side of the hot water pipe while being closed so that disused hot water may not be entered therethrough.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2025-0016154, filed on Feb. 7, 2025, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a water heater system including upper pipes and lower pipes, and more particularly, to a water heater system including upper pipes and lower pipes where a direct water inlet, a hot water outlet, and a hot water return hole are respectively installed to a upper part and a lower part thereof so that the water system may be installed in various environments so as to be extensively used, heat loss from the pipes thereof may be minimized, and hot water supply capacity may be improved.2. Description of the Related Art

[0003] Generally, in a water heater, low-temperature direct-supplied water entering into a direct water pipe is supplied to a heat exchanger and is heated using a burner. Then, the heated water is discharged through a connection pipe and is temporarily stored in a buffer tank. Hot water stored in the buffer tank is delivered to a user through a hot water pipe. In this regard, the water heater may include a direct water inlet connected to a direct water pipe so as for direct-supplied water to be entered to the water heater, a hot water outlet which delivers hot water included in the water heater to a hot water pipe, and a hot water return hole through which hot water remained after being used in the hot water pipe is entered into the water heater.

[0004] A general water heater is classified into two structures including a structure where the direct water inlet, the hot water outlet, and the hot water return hole are installed only in the lower part of the water heater (a top-down water heater) and a structure where the direct water inlet, the hot water outlet, and the hot water return hole are installed only in the upper part of the water heater (a bottom-up water heater) and is manufactured as an individual product. Accordingly, a user may experience inconvenience in installing the water heater since the structure of the water system needs to be distinguished between a top-down water heater and a bottom-up water heater according to its installation environment such as an installation place and space.

[0005] Also, if a water heater with a wrong direction is purchased and installed, for example, if a top-down water heater is installed in an environment where a bottom-up water heater should be installed or if a bottom-up water heater is installed in an environment where a top-down water heater should be installed, pipes connecting between the water heater and the direct water pipe and the hot water pipe lengthen so that an installation cost may be increased, the appearance is spoiled due to the pipes exposed to the outside, excessive heat loss may be generated while hot water moves through the pipes exposed to the outside, and thereby, an operation cost for the water heater may be increased. In addition, if such a water heater with a wrong direction is installed, pipes lengthen and a number of joints needs to be used so that a pressure difference in direct-supplied water and hot water increases and thus, hot water supply capacity decreases. Therefore, a user may experience inconvenience due to changes in an amount of hot water and temperature of hot water.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention provides a water heater system including upper pipes and lower pipes where a direct water inlet, a hot water outlet, and a hot water return hole are respectively installed to a upper part and a lower part thereof so that the water system may be installed in various environments so as to be extensively used, heat loss from the pipes thereof may be minimized, and hot water supply capacity may be improved.

[0007] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a water heater system including upper pipes and lower pipes including an upper direct water inlet which is combined to the upper part of a housing and is connected to a direct water pipe while being opened so that direct-supplied water may be entered therethrough or is connected to an direct water pipe while being closed so that direct-supplied water may not be entered therethrough, a lower direct water inlet which is combined to the lower part of the housing and is connected to a direct water pipe while being opened so that direct-supplied water may be entered therethrough or is connected to an direct water pipe while being closed so that direct-supplied water may not be entered therethrough, an upper hot water outlet which is combined to the upper part of the housing and is connected to one side of a hot water pipe while being opened so that hot water may be discharged therethrough or is connected to one side of the hot water pipe while being closed so that hot water may not be entered therethrough, a lower hot water outlet which is combined to the lower part of the housing and is connected to one side of the hot water pipe while being opened so that hot water may be discharged therethrough or is connected to one side of the hot water pipe while being closed so that hot water may not be entered therethrough, an upper hot water return hole which is combined to the upper part of the housing and is connected to the other side of the hot water pipe while being opened so that disused hot water from hot water discharged through the upper hot water outlet may be entered therethrough or is connected to the other side of the hot water pipe while being closed so that disused hot water may not be entered therethrough, a lower hot water return hole which is combined to the lower part of the housing and is connected to the other side of the hot water pipe while being opened so that disused hot water from hot water discharged through the lower hot water outlet may be entered therethrough or is connected to the other side of the hot water pipe while being closed so that disused hot water may not be entered therethrough, a first connection pipe connecting between the upper direct water inlet and the lower direct water inlet, a second connection pipe connecting between the upper hot water outlet and the lower hot water outlet, a third connection pipe connecting between the upper hot water return hole and the lower hot water return hole, a heat exchanger connected to the first connection pipe to raise the temperature of direct-supplied water entered from the first connection pipe and to discharge hot water through an outlet, a buffer tank which stores hot water discharged from the heat exchanger in a state that scale or foreign substances included in the hot water is filtered and discharges the stored hot water to the second connection pipe through the outlet and a bypass pipe connecting between the first connection pipe, the second connection pipe, and the third connection pipe.

[0008] In the water heater system including upper pipes and lower pipes, one of the upper direct water inlet and the lower direct water inlet may be connected to the direct water pipe and the other one is closed, one of the upper hot water outlet and the lower hot water outlet may be connected to one side of the hot water pipe and the other one may be closed, and one of the upper hot water return hole and the lower hot water return hole may be connected to the other side of the hot water pipe and the other one may be closed.

[0009] In the water heater system including upper pipes and lower pipes, one of the upper direct water inlet and the lower direct water inlet may be connected to the direct water pipe and the other one may be closed, one of the upper hot water outlet and the lower hot water outlet may be connected to one side of the hot water pipe and the other one may be connected to a heating hot water return hole of a heating device, and one of the upper hot water return hole and the lower hot water return hole may be connected to the other side of the hot water pipe and the other one may be connected to the heating hot water outlet of the heating device.

[0010] The water heater system including upper pipes and lower pipes may further include a bypass valve installed to the bypass pipe to change a direction of water flowing in the bypass pipe, a check valve installed to a connection pipe connecting between the third connection pipe and the bypass pipe and a control unit which controls the bypass valve and the check valve so that one mode from among a hot water use mode, an inner circulation mode, and an outer circulation mode is applied, wherein the hot water use mode enables a user to use hot water, the inner circulation mode enables hot water to circulate inside of the water heater system including upper pipes and lower pipes, and the outer circulation mode enables hot water to circulate outside of the water heater system including upper pipes and lower pipes and then, to enter into the water heater system including upper pipes and lower pipes again.

[0011] In the hot water use mode, the control unit may control the bypass valve so that water may move from the first connection pipe toward the second connection pipe through the bypass pipe, in the inner circulation mode, the control unit may control the check valve to be off and the bypass valve so that water may move from the second connection pipe toward the first connection pipe through the bypass pipe, and in the outer circulation mode, the control unit may control the check valve to be on and the bypass valve to be off.

[0012] The buffer tank may include a housing comprising a hollow therein, an inlet on the side surface thereof to which hot water is entered, and an outlet on the upper part thereof through which hot water entered into the inlet is discharged, a filter having a cone shape or a truncated pyramid shape which is combined to the inside of the housing, wherein the side surface thereof is disposed to correspond to the inlet, and a collecting unit which is formed at the lower part of the filter and collects scale or foreign substances filtered in the filter, wherein while hot water entered into the inlet passes through the outer side surface of the filter and is entered into the filter, scale or foreign substances included in the hot water may be filtered, filtered hot water entered into the filter may move to the upper part of the housing and may be discharged to the outlet, and the scale or foreign substances filtered from the outer side surface of the filter may be collected in the collecting unit.

[0013] The filter may have an upper diameter larger than a lower diameter or an upper horizontal cross-section larger than a lower horizontal cross-section.

[0014] The buffer tank may further include a filter cleaning unit combined to the housing to contact the outer side surface of the filter which rotates along the outer side surface of the filter and removes the scale or foreign substances stuck to the outer side surface of the filter from the filter.

[0015] The housing may include an upper body including the inlet and the outlet formed thereon, the hollow therein, and the lower part thereof which is opened and a lower body combined to the lower part of the upper body which is detachable, wherein the filter cleaning unit has a linear shape or a plate shape and is combined to the upper part of the lower body so that the side surface thereof along a longitudinal direction of the linear shape or the plate shape may contact the outer side surface of the filter and rotate along the outer side surface of the filter and as the lower body rotates, the scale or foreign substances stuck to the outer side surface of the filter may be removed from the filter.

[0016] The collecting unit may have a space on the lower body along a lower direction of the filter.

[0017] The filter cleaning unit may include a combining unit combined to the lower part of the housing to be rotatable and a separator unit having a linear shape or a plate shape which is combined to the upper part of the combining unit so that the side surface thereof along a longitudinal direction of the linear shape or the plate shape may contact the outer side surface of the filter and rotate along the outer side surface of the filter and as the combining unit rotates, the scale or foreign substances stuck to the outer side surface of the filter may be removed from the filter.

[0018] The filter may have a shape which enables the upper surface thereof to filter the scale or foreign substances so that the scale or foreign substances may be secondarily filtered while being transmitted from the upper part of the filter to the outlet.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a water heater system including upper pipes and lower pipes according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating an internal configuration of the water heater system including upper pipes and lower pipes of FIG. 1;

[0022] FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrams schematically illustrating use examples of the water heater system including upper pipes and lower pipes of FIG. 1;

[0023] FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating a case where a heating device is combined to the water heater system including upper pipes and lower pipes of FIG. 1;

[0024] FIG. 6 illustrates a buffer tank included in the water heater system including upper pipes and lower pipes of FIG. 2;

[0025] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the buffer tank of FIG. 6 according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0026] FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the buffer tank of FIG. 6 according to an embodiment of the present invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] The exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and description of the drawings so as to fully understand advantages and objectives of the present invention.

[0028] Hereinafter, embodiment of the present invention will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals denote like elements.

[0029] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a water heater system 100 including upper pipes and lower pipes according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating an internal configuration of the water heater system 100 including upper pipes and lower pipes of FIG. 1, FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrams schematically illustrating use examples of the water heater system 100 including upper pipes and lower pipes of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating a case where a heating device 530 is combined to the water heater system 100 including upper pipes and lower pipes of FIG. 1.

[0030] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, direct-supplied water enters into the water heater system 100 including upper pipes and lower pipes according to an embodiment of the present invention through an upper direct water inlet 101 or a lower direct water inlet 102 and thereby, hot water passing through a heat exchanger 150 may be discharged from the water heater system 100 through an upper hot water outlet 105 or a lower hot water outlet 106. Also, hot water disused and remained after passing through a hot water pipe may be entered into the water heater system 100 including upper pipes and lower pipes through an upper hot water return hole 103 or a lower hot water return hole 104.

[0031] The water heater system 100 including upper pipes and lower pipes may include the upper direct water inlet 101, the lower direct water inlet 102, the upper hot water return hole 103, the lower hot water return hole 104, the upper hot water outlet 105, and the lower hot water outlet 106. The upper direct water inlet 101 is combined to the upper part of a housing and is connected to a direct water pipe while being opened so that direct-supplied water may be entered therethrough or is connected to an direct water pipe while being closed so that direct-supplied water may not be entered therethrough. The lower direct water inlet 102 is combined to the lower part of the housing and is connected to a direct water pipe while being opened so that direct-supplied water may be entered therethrough or is connected to an direct water pipe while being closed so that direct-supplied water may not be entered therethrough. For example, when direct-supplied water is entered through the upper direct water inlet 101, the lower direct water inlet 102 may be closed and blocked and when direct-supplied water is entered through the lower direct water inlet 102, the upper direct water inlet 101 may be closed and blocked.

[0032] The upper hot water outlet 105 is combined to the upper part of the housing and is connected to one side of a hot water pipe while being opened so that hot water may be discharged therethrough or is connected to one side of the hot water pipe while being closed so that hot water may not be entered therethrough. The lower hot water outlet 106 is combined to the lower part of the housing and is connected to one side of the hot water pipe while being opened so that hot water may be discharged therethrough or is connected to one side of the hot water pipe while being closed so that hot water may not be entered therethrough. For example, when hot water is discharged through the upper hot water outlet 105, the lower hot water outlet 106 may be closed and blocked and when hot water is discharged through the lower hot water outlet 106, the upper hot water outlet 105 may be closed and blocked.

[0033] The upper hot water return hole 103 is combined to the upper part of the housing and is connected to the other side of the hot water pipe while being opened so that disused hot water from hot water discharged through the upper hot water outlet 105 may be entered therethrough or is connected to the other side of the hot water pipe while being closed so that disused hot water may not be entered therethrough. The lower hot water return hole 104 is combined to the lower part of the housing and is connected to the other side of the hot water pipe while being opened so that disused hot water from hot water discharged through the lower hot water outlet 106 may be entered therethrough or is connected to the other side of the hot water pipe while being closed so that disused hot water may not be entered therethrough. For example, when hot water is discharged through the upper hot water return hole 103, the lower hot water return hole 104 may be closed and blocked and when hot water is discharged through the lower hot water return hole 104, the upper hot water return hole 103 may be closed and blocked.

[0034] The upper direct water inlet 101 and the lower direct water inlet 102 may be connected by using a first connection pipe 110, the upper hot water outlet 105 and the lower hot water outlet 106 may be connected by using a second connection pipe 120, and the upper hot water return hole 103 and the lower hot water return hole 104 may be connected by using a third connection pipe 140. Also, the first connection pipe 110 and the second connection pipe 120 may be connected by using a bypass pipe 130, wherein the bypass pipe 130 may be connected to the third connection pipe 140. The bypass pipe 130 may include a bypass valve 160 connected thereto to change a direction of hot water or direct-supplied water moving from the bypass pipe 130 and the third connection pipe 140 may include a check valve 180 combined thereto to control whether hot water entered to the bypass pipe 130 through the upper hot water return hole 103 or the lower hot water return hole 104 is partially or entirely transmitted to the bypass pipe 130. The first connection pipe 110 may include a flow valve 170 and a flow censor 194 connected thereto. The flow valve 170 controls flow of direct-supplied water moving through the first connection pipe 110 and the flow censor 194 senses flow of water entered to the heat exchanger 150 through the first connection pipe 110. Also, temperature sensors 191 and 192 may be each combined to an inlet and an outlet of the heat exchanger 150 and thereby, may sense the temperature of water entered to the heat exchanger 150 and discharged from the heat exchanger 150. Moreover, the second connection pipe 120 may include a temperature sensor 193 combined thereto to sense the temperature of hot water discharged through the upper hot water outlet 105 or the lower hot water outlet 106.

[0035] The heat exchanger 150 may be connected to the first connection pipe 110 to raise the temperature of direct-supplied water entered from the first connection pipe 110 and to discharge hot water through the outlet. Also, hot water discharged from the heat exchanger 150 is entered to a buffer tank 195, wherein the buffer tank 195 may store hot water discharged from the heat exchanger 150 in a state that scale or foreign substances included in the hot water is filtered and may discharge the stored hot water to the second connection pipe 120 through the outlet. The buffer tank 195 will be described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 6 through 8. The second connection pipe 120 may include a pump 196 combined to the inlet of the buffer tank 195.

[0036] The water heater system 100 including upper pipes and lower pipes may further include a control unit (not illustrated). The control unit may control the bypass valve 160 and the check valve 180 so that one mode from among a hot water use mode, an inner circulation mode, and an outer circulation mode is applied, wherein the hot water use mode enables a user to use hot water, the inner circulation mode enables hot water to circulate inside of the water heater system 100 including upper pipes and lower pipes, and the outer circulation mode enables hot water to circulate outside of the water heater system 100 including upper pipes and lower pipes and then, to enter into the water heater system 100 including upper pipes and lower pipes again.

[0037] In the hot water use mode, the control unit may control the bypass valve 160 so that water moves from the first connection pipe 110 toward the second connection pipe 120 through the bypass pipe 130 and in the inner circulation mode, the control unit may control the bypass valve 160 so that water moves from the second connection pipe 120 toward the first connection pipe 110 through the bypass pipe 130. Hereinafter, a case when a user desires to use hot water is referred to as a ‘hot water use mode’ and a case when a user does not use hot water and hot water is circulated within the water heater system is referred to as an ‘inner circulation mode’. Such a mode may be selected by inputting a signal from outside or may be selected according to a change in an amount of hot water. When a mode is selected, the control unit may control the bypass valve 160 according to the selected mode. The control unit may not be combined to a specific location and thereby, is omitted in the drawings.

[0038] In the hot water use mode, the bypass valve 160 is used in the water heater system 100 including upper pipes and lower pipes so that direct-supplied water flowing in the first connection pipe 110 is transmitted toward the second connection pipe 120 and hot water flowing in the second connection pipe 120 is mixed with direct-supplied water transmitted through the bypass pipe 130 to be transmitted to the upper hot water outlet 105 or the lower hot water outlet 106. Accordingly, the temperature of discharged hot water may be closely controlled. In the hot water use mode, the control unit may control the check valve 180 to be closed so that hot water discharged through the upper hot water outlet 105 or the lower hot water outlet 106 may be entirely transmitted to a user through a tap. Also, the control unit may control the check valve 180 to be on so that if there is hot water entered through the upper hot water return hole 103 or the lower hot water return hole 104, the entered hot water may be transmitted to the bypass pipe 130.

[0039] In the inner circulation mode, hot water flowing in the second connection pipe 120 is transmitted toward the first connection pipe 110 and direct-supplied water flowing in the first connection pipe 110 is mixed with hot water transmitted through the bypass pipe 130 to be transmitted to the heat exchanger 150. Then, hot water discharged from the heat exchanger 150 is transmitted again to the bypass pipe 130 so that hot water is circulated within the water heater system 100 so as to prevent the water heater system 100 from freezing and bursting and hot water at constant temperature may be immediately discharged if a user wants to use hot water. In the inner circulation mode, the control unit may control the check valve 180 to be off so that hot water may not be transmitted to the bypass pipe 130 through the third connection pipe 140.

[0040] In the outer circulation mode, the control unit may control the bypass valve 160 to be off and the check valve 180 to be opened so that hot water transmitted through the second connection pipe 120 may not be transmitted to the bypass pipe 130 and at the same time, hot water transmitted through the upper hot water return hole 103 or the lower hot water return hole 104 may be transmitted to the bypass pipe 130 through the third connection pipe 140.

[0041] Also, in the outer circulation mode, the control unit may control the flow valve 170 so that direct-supplied water may not be entered. The outer circulation mode enables hot water to continuously flow through a pipe connected between the upper hot water outlet 105 and the upper hot water return hole 103 or a pipe connected between the lower hot water outlet 106 and the lower hot water return hole 104 so that the pipe may be prevented from freezing and bursting and hot water at constant temperature may be immediately discharged if a user wants to use hot water. The pipe connected between the upper hot water outlet 105 and the upper hot water return hole 103 or the pipe connected between the lower hot water outlet 106 and the lower hot water return hole 104 may be connected to a tap. In addition, since hot water flows through almost every connection pipes in the water heater system 100, the water heater system may also be prevented from freezing and bursting.

[0042] As described above, in the water heater system 100 including upper pipes and lower pipes, one of the upper direct water inlet 101 and the lower direct water inlet 102 may be connected to the direct water pipe and the other one may be closed. Also, one of the upper hot water outlet 105 and the lower hot water outlet 106 may be connected to one side of the hot water pipe and the other one may be closed. In addition, one of the upper hot water return hole 103 and the lower hot water return hole 104 may be connected to the other side of the hot water pipe and the other one may be closed.

[0043] For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the lower direct water inlet 102 may be connected to the direct water pipe so that direct-supplied water may be entered therethrough, and the upper direct water inlet 101 may be closed so that direct-supplied water may not be entered therethrough. The lower hot water outlet 106 may be connected to one side of the hot water pipe so that hot water may be discharged therethrough and the upper hot water outlet 105 may be closed so that hot water may not be discharged therethrough. The lower hot water return hole 104 may be connected to the other side of the hot water pipe so that hot water may be entered therethrough and the upper hot water return hole 103 may be closed so that hot water may not be entered therethrough. For another example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the upper direct water inlet 101 may be connected to the direct water pipe so that direct-supplied water may be entered therethrough, and the lower direct water inlet 102 may be closed so that direct-supplied water may not be entered therethrough. The upper hot water outlet 105 may be connected to one side of the hot water pipe so that hot water may be discharged therethrough and the lower hot water outlet 106 may be closed so that hot water may not be discharged therethrough. The upper hot water return hole 103 may be connected to the other side of the hot water pipe so that hot water may be entered therethrough and the lower hot water return hole 104 may be closed so that hot water may not be entered therethrough. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the water heater system 100 may be used as an existing top-down water heater system and in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the water heater system 100 may be used as an existing bottom-up water heater system. In these cases, flowing of hot water or direct-supplied water may be controlled by using the methods described above and thereby, the water heater system 100 including upper pipes and lower pipes according to an embodiment of the present invention may be used to perform all operations as the bottom-up water heater system and the top-down water heater system.

[0044] Also, in the water heater system 100 including upper pipes and lower pipes, one of the upper direct water inlet 101 and the lower direct water inlet 102 may be connected to the direct water pipe and the other one may be closed. One of the upper hot water outlet 105 and the lower hot water outlet 106 may be connected to one side of the hot water pipe and the other one may be connected to a heating hot water return hole 510 of a heating device 500. One of the upper hot water return hole 103 and the lower hot water return hole 104 may be connected to the other side of the hot water pipe and the other one may be connected to a heating hot water outlet 520 of the heating device 500. The heating device 500 may receive hot water discharged from the water heater system 100 including upper pipes and lower pipes and generate heating water or heating air to be discharged through an outlet 530 for heating. That is, the heating device 500 may generate and discharge air for heating by heating air using high-temperature hot water discharged from the water heater system 100 including upper pipes and lower pipes or may generate and discharge heating water by using high-temperature hot water discharged from the water heater system 100 including upper pipes and lower pipes. Also, the heating device 500 may transmit hot water in which heat is lost from hot water entered thereinto or remaining hot water to the upper hot water return hole 103 or the lower hot water return hole 104 again.

[0045] For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the lower direct water inlet 102 may be connected to the direct water pipe so that direct-supplied water is entered therethrough and the upper direct water inlet 101 may be closed so that direct-supplied water is not entered therethrough. The lower hot water outlet 106 may be connected to one side of the hot water pipe so that hot water is discharged therethrough and the upper hot water outlet 105 may be connected to the heating hot water return hole 510 of the heating device 500. The lower hot water return hole 104 may be connected to the other side of the hot water pipe so that hot water is entered therethrough and the upper hot water return hole 103 may be connected to the heating hot water outlet 520 of the heating device 500. In this case, the water heater system 100 including upper pipes and lower pipes according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the lower direct water inlet 102, the lower hot water outlet 106, and the lower hot water return hole 104 so that direct-supplied water and hot water may be entered and discharged therethrough and thereby, the water heater system 100 may function as a water heater as described above. Also, the water heater system 100 includes the upper hot water outlet 105, the upper hot water return hole 103, and the heating device 500 and thereby, generates air for heating and heating water so as to enable heating.

[0046] As described above, in the water heater system 100 including upper pipes and lower pipes according to an embodiment of the present invention, if the heating device 500 such as an air handler is to be connected thereto and used, the hot water outlet and the hot water return hole disposed at one side thereof may be used for supplying hot water and the hot water outlet and the hot water return hole disposed at the other side thereof may be connected to the heating device for supplying heat so that an efficient use may be available.

[0047] FIG. 6 illustrates the buffer tank 195 included in the water heater system 100 including upper pipes and lower pipes of FIG. 2, FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the buffer tank 195 of FIG. 6 according to an embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the buffer tank 195 of FIG. 6 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 8, while the buffer tank 195 installed to the water heater system 100 including upper pipes and lower pipes is combined to the inside of the water heater system, temporarily stores hot water to reduce a temperature variation occurring due to a momentary change in hot water flow, and transmits the stored hot water, scale or foreign substances included in the hot water may be filtered. In this regard, the buffer tank 195 may include a housing 610, a filter 620, and a collecting unit 635.

[0049] The housing 610 may include a hollow therein, an inlet 611 on the side surface thereof, and an outlet 615 on the upper part thereof, wherein hot water is entered through the inlet 611 and hot water entered into the housing 610 through the inlet 611 is discharged through the outlet 615. The housing 610 illustrated in FIG. 6 is only an exemplary form and is not restricted to the form of FIG. 6. The housing may have other various forms if hot water may be entered and discharged therethrough as described below. The housing 610 may have an one-body form or a form where an upper body 630 and a lower body 631 are combined as illustrated in FIG. 7. The upper body 630 may include the inlet 611, through which hot water is entered, on the side thereof and the outlet 615, through which hot water entered through the inlet 611 is discharged, on the upper part thereof. Also, the lower body 631 may be combined to the lower part of the upper body 630 and may be detachable. For example, in a case when the inside of the buffer tank 195 is cleaned or internal components of the buffer tank 195 is replaced, the lower body 631 and the upper body 630 may be separated from each other and combined to each other again after cleaning or replacing the internal components.

[0050] The filter 620 may have a cone shape or a truncated pyramid shape and may be combined to the inside of the housing 610. In the drawing, the filter 620 is a truncated cone, however, is not restricted to the shape shown in the drawing. The filter 620 may have various shapes such as a cone, a pyramid, a circular truncated cone, and a truncated prism. The filter 620 may have an upper diameter larger than a lower diameter or an upper horizontal cross-section larger than a lower horizontal cross-section. That is, when the filter 620 is cut along a direction perpendicular to a rotation axis, the upper cross-section may be larger than the lower cross-section and when the filter 620 is cut along a direction parallel to a rotation axis, the filter 620 may have a cross-section in a shape of an inverted triangle or an inverted trapezoid. Also, the side surface of the filter 620 may be disposed to correspond to the inlet 611 of the housing 610. That is, the location of the inlet 611 may correspond to the side surface of the filter 620 so that hot water entered through the inlet 611 may pass through the outer side surface of the filter 620 and enter inside of the filter 620.

[0051] In addition, the collecting unit 635 may be formed at the lower part of the filter 620 and collect scale or foreign substances filtered in the filter 620. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the collecting unit 635 may have a space for collecting scale or foreign substances on the lower body 631 along a lower direction of the filter 620. When the housing 610 is in an one-body form, a space for collecting scale or foreign substances may be included on the inner lower surface of the housing 610 along a lower direction of the filter 620.

[0052] When it is assumed that hot water is entered into the buffer tank 195, hot water is entered into the housing 610 through the inlet 611. In this case, since the inlet 611 is disposed to correspond to the side surface of the filter 620, hot water may simultaneously enter into the housing 610 and pass through the outer side surface of the filter 620. As described, while hot water passes through the outer side surface of the filter 620, scale or foreign substances included in the hot water may be filtered by using the filter 620. Here, the filtered scale or foreign substances are dropped to a lower direction and are collected in the collecting unit 635. A part of the filtered scale or foreign substances may be caught in the filter 620. In this case, since the filter 620 has a cone shape or a truncated pyramid shape having an upper surface larger than a lower surface, the scale or foreign substances caught in the filter 620 may be easily dropped to a lower direction. That is, when the filter 620 is in a cylindrical form, there is a high possibility that the scale or foreign substances are caught in the filter 620. However, in the present invention, since the filter 620 has a cone shape or a truncated pyramid shape, there is a high possibility that the scale or foreign substances are dropped downward by free fall so that more scale or foreign substances may be collected in the collecting unit 635 and the filter 620 may be used for a long period of time.

[0053] The filtered hot water passed through the outer side surface of the filter 620 and entered into the filter 620 may move to the upper part of the housing 610 and may be discharged through the outlet 615. In this case, the upper surface of the filter 620 may be opened to immediately move the filtered hot water to the outlet 615 or the upper surface of the filter 620 may have a filtering function as the side surface thereof so that the scale or foreign substances may be secondarily filtered while being transmitted from the upper part of the filter 620 to the outlet 615. In this case, the filtered scale or foreign substances may be dropped and collected in the collecting unit 635 formed within the lower part of the filter 620.

[0054] In addition, buffer tank 195 may further include a filter cleaning unit 640 combined to the housing 610 to contact the outer side surface of the filter 620. The filter cleaning unit 640 may rotate along the outer side surface of the filter 620 and remove the scale or foreign substances stuck to the outer side surface of the filter 620 from the filter 620. As described above, the scale or foreign substances filtered while hot water entered into the inlet 611 passes through the filter 620 drop downwards and are collected in the collecting unit 635, however, a part of the scale or foreign substances may be caught in the filter 620. Also, as time passes, the amount of the scale or foreign substances caught in the filter 620 increases and thereby, a function of the filter 620 may be declined. In this regard, according to the present invention, the filter cleaning unit 640 is used to remove the scale or foreign substances stuck to the filter 620. That is, the filter cleaning unit 640 automatically or manually rotates so that the filter cleaning unit 640 may contact the outer side surface of the filter 620 and thereby, the scale or foreign substances stuck to the filter 620 may be removed.

[0055] As illustrated om FIG. 7 or 8, the filter cleaning unit 640 may have a plate shape or, although not illustrated, the filter cleaning unit 640 may have various shapes such as a linear shape. That is, if one side surface disposed along a longitudinal direction of the filter cleaning unit 640 may contact the outer side surface of the filter 620 and rotate along the outer side surface of the filter 620, the filter cleaning unit 640 may have various shapes. Also, the length of the one side surface along a longitudinal direction of the filter cleaning unit 640 may be the same as the outer side surface of the filter 620 or may be longer than the outer side surface of the filter 620. The filter cleaning unit 640 may be combined to the housing 610 or may be combined to the lower body 631. In addition, the filter cleaning unit 640 may include a combining unit combined to the lower part of the housing 610 to be rotatable and a separator unit may be combined to the upper part of the combining unit. As described above, the separator unit may have a linear shape or a plate shape and may be combined to the upper part of the combining unit so that the side surface thereof along a longitudinal direction of the linear shape or the plate shape may contact the outer side surface of the filter 620 and rotate along the outer side surface of the filter 620. Then, as the combining unit rotates, the scale or foreign substances stuck to the outer side surface of the filter 620 may be removed from the filter 620. As described above, if the filter cleaning unit 640 according to the present invention contacts the outer side surface of the filter 620 and rotates along the outer side surface of the filter 620 so as to enable the filter cleaning unit 640 to remove the scale or foreign substances stuck to the outer side surface of the filter 620, the filter cleaning unit 640 may have various combination relations or other various shapes.

[0056] The water heater system including upper pipes and lower pipes according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the direct water inlets, the hot water outlets, and the hot water return holes respectively installed to the upper part and the lower part of the water heater system. Accordingly, when a top-down water heater system needs to be installed, the direct water inlet, the hot water outlet, and the hot water return hole which are installed to the lower part of the water heater system may be used, and when a bottom-up water heater system needs to be installed, the direct water inlet, the hot water outlet, and the hot water return hole which are installed to the upper part of the water heater system may be used. In this regard, the water system may be all applied in various environments so as to be extensively used and the existing bottom-up water heater system and top-down water heater system may be replaced with one water heater system so that it is easy for a user to purchase and install the water heater system. Also, since the water heater system including upper pipes and lower pipes according to an embodiment of the present invention may be generally installed in a place where the bottom-up water heater system or the top-down water heater system needs to be selectively installed, separate pipes are not needed at the outside so that an installation cost may be reduced, the appearance is not spoiled due to non-existence of pipes exposed to the outside, heat loss may hardly occur while hot water moves through the pipes, and thereby, an operation cost for the water heater system may be minimized. In addition, the water heater system including upper pipes and lower pipes according to an embodiment of the present invention does not need additional pipes and additional joints and thereby, may reduce a pressure difference in direct-supplied water / hot water. Accordingly, when an amount of hot water used by a user is instantaneously changed, changes in an amount of hot water or temperature of hot water may be minimized. Moreover, when the water heater system including upper pipes and lower pipes according to an embodiment of the present invention is replaced with a pre-installed product, the water heater system may be replaced with any product installed in any environment so that compatibility is excellent so as to minimize replacement of products and an installation cost. Furthermore, when the water heater system including upper pipes and lower pipes according to an embodiment of the present invention is to be used and connected with the heating device such as an air handler, the hot water outlet and the hot water return hole disposed at one side thereof may be used for supplying hot water and the hot water outlet and the hot water return hole disposed at the other side thereof may be connected with the heating device for supplying heat. Accordingly, if any one of the water heater system and the heating device does not work, the other one may be stably operated and thereby, a stable system may be maintained.

[0057] The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings and specification. The terminologies used herein are for the purpose of describing the present invention only and is not intended to be limiting of the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. Therefore, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and other equivalent embodiments may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A water heater system including upper pipes and lower pipes comprising:an upper direct water inlet which is combined to the upper part of a housing and is connected to a direct water pipe while being opened so that direct-supplied water may be entered therethrough or is connected to an direct water pipe while being closed so that direct-supplied water may not be entered therethrough;a lower direct water inlet which is combined to the lower part of the housing and is connected to a direct water pipe while being opened so that direct-supplied water may be entered therethrough or is connected to an direct water pipe while being closed so that direct-supplied water may not be entered therethrough;an upper hot water outlet which is combined to the upper part of the housing and is connected to one side of a hot water pipe while being opened so that hot water may be discharged therethrough or is connected to one side of the hot water pipe while being closed so that hot water may not be entered therethrough;a lower hot water outlet which is combined to the lower part of the housing and is connected to one side of the hot water pipe while being opened so that hot water may be discharged therethrough or is connected to one side of the hot water pipe while being closed so that hot water may not be entered therethrough;an upper hot water return hole which is combined to the upper part of the housing and is connected to the other side of the hot water pipe while being opened so that disused hot water from hot water discharged through the upper hot water outlet may be entered therethrough or is connected to the other side of the hot water pipe while being closed so that disused hot water may not be entered therethrough;a lower hot water return hole which is combined to the lower part of the housing and is connected to the other side of the hot water pipe while being opened so that disused hot water from hot water discharged through the lower hot water outlet may be entered therethrough or is connected to the other side of the hot water pipe while being closed so that disused hot water may not be entered therethrough;a first connection pipe connecting between the upper direct water inlet and the lower direct water inlet;a second connection pipe connecting between the upper hot water outlet and the lower hot water outlet;a third connection pipe connecting between the upper hot water return hole and the lower hot water return hole;a heat exchanger connected to the first connection pipe to raise the temperature of direct-supplied water entered from the first connection pipe and to discharge hot water through an outlet;a buffer tank which stores hot water discharged from the heat exchanger in a state that scale or foreign substances included in the hot water is filtered and discharges the stored hot water to the second connection pipe through the outlet; anda bypass pipe connecting between the first connection pipe, the second connection pipe, and the third connection pipe.

2. The water heater system of claim 1, wherein one of the upper direct water inlet and the lower direct water inlet is connected to the direct water pipe and the other one is closed, one of the upper hot water outlet and the lower hot water outlet is connected to one side of the hot water pipe and the other one is closed, and one of the upper hot water return hole and the lower hot water return hole is connected to the other side of the hot water pipe and the other one is closed.

3. The water heater system of claim 1, wherein one of the upper direct water inlet and the lower direct water inlet is connected to the direct water pipe and the other one is closed, one of the upper hot water outlet and the lower hot water outlet is connected to one side of the hot water pipe and the other one is connected to a heating hot water return hole of a heating device, and one of the upper hot water return hole and the lower hot water return hole is connected to the other side of the hot water pipe and the other one is connected to the heating hot water outlet of the heating device.

4. The water heater system of claim 1, further comprising:a bypass valve installed to the bypass pipe to change a direction of water flowing in the bypass pipe;a check valve installed to a connection pipe connecting between the third connection pipe and the bypass pipe; anda control unit which controls the bypass valve and the check valve so that one mode from among a hot water use mode, an inner circulation mode, and an outer circulation mode is applied, wherein the hot water use mode enables a user to use hot water, the inner circulation mode enables hot water to circulate inside of the water heater system including upper pipes and lower pipes, and the outer circulation mode enables hot water to circulate outside of the water heater system including upper pipes and lower pipes and then, to enter into the water heater system including upper pipes and lower pipes again.

5. The water heater system of claim 4, wherein in the hot water use mode, the control unit controls the bypass valve so that water may move from the first connection pipe toward the second connection pipe through the bypass pipe, in the inner circulation mode, the control unit controls the check valve to be off and the bypass valve so that water may move from the second connection pipe toward the first connection pipe through the bypass pipe, and in the outer circulation mode, the control unit controls the check valve to be on and the bypass valve to be off.

6. The water heater system of claim 1, wherein the buffer tank comprises:a housing comprising a hollow therein, an inlet on the side surface thereof to which hot water is entered, and an outlet on the upper part thereof through which hot water entered into the inlet is discharged;a filter having a cone shape or a truncated pyramid shape which is combined to the inside of the housing, wherein the side surface thereof is disposed to correspond to the inlet; anda collecting unit which is formed at the lower part of the filter and collects scale or foreign substances filtered in the filter,wherein while hot water entered into the inlet passes through the outer side surface of the filter and is entered into the filter, scale or foreign substances included in the hot water are filtered, filtered hot water entered into the filter moves to the upper part of the housing and is discharged to the outlet, and the scale or foreign substances filtered from the outer side surface of the filter are collected in the collecting unit.

7. The water heater system of claim 6, wherein the filter has an upper diameter larger than a lower diameter or an upper horizontal cross-section larger than a lower horizontal cross-section.

8. The water heater system of claim 6, wherein the buffer tank further comprises a filter cleaning unit combined to the housing to contact the outer side surface of the filter which rotates along the outer side surface of the filter and removes the scale or foreign substances stuck to the outer side surface of the filter from the filter.

9. The water heater system of claim 8, wherein the housing comprises:an upper body comprising the inlet and the outlet formed thereon, the hollow therein, and the lower part thereof which is opened; anda lower body combined to the lower part of the upper body which is detachable, wherein the filter cleaning unit has a linear shape or a plate shape and is combined to the upper part of the lower body so that the side surface thereof along a longitudinal direction of the linear shape or the plate shape may contact the outer side surface of the filter and rotate along the outer side surface of the filter and as the lower body rotates, the scale or foreign substances stuck to the outer side surface of the filter are removed from the filter.

10. The water heater system of claim 9, wherein the collecting unit has a space on the lower body along a lower direction of the filter.

11. The water heater system of claim 8, wherein the filter cleaning unit comprises:a combining unit combined to the lower part of the housing to be rotatable; anda separator unit having a linear shape or a plate shape which is combined to the upper part of the combining unit so that the side surface thereof along a longitudinal direction of the linear shape or the plate shape may contact the outer side surface of the filter and rotate along the outer side surface of the filter and as the combining unit rotates, the scale or foreign substances stuck to the outer side surface of the filter are removed from the filter.

12. The water heater system of claim 6, wherein the filter has a shape which enables the upper surface thereof to filter the scale or foreign substances so that the scale or foreign substances may be secondarily filtered while being transmitted from the upper part of the filter to the outlet.

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