Machine head assembly and heat pump water heater

Abstract

Provided are a machine head assembly and a heat pump water heater. The machine head assembly comprises: a housing (100) provided with a first mounting port (110); a junction box (200) disposed at the first mounting port (110); and a connection port plug (300) disposed on a sidewall of the junction box (200) facing the outside of the housing (100), and configured to be connected to a connection terminal plug (410) of a DR module (400). Thus, the invention improves the safety of heat pump water heaters during use.

Description

Head assembly and heat pump water heater

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the Patent Office of China on August 31, 2023, with application number 2023111222565 and invention name "A head assembly and a heat pump water heater", and the Chinese patent application filed with the Patent Office of China on August 31, 2023, with application number 2023223711093 and invention name "A head assembly and a heat pump water heater", the contents of which should be understood as being incorporated into this application by reference. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to, but is not limited to, the technical field of electrical equipment, and more specifically, to a head assembly and a heat pump water heater. Background Art

[0003] The DR module (DR module stands for Demand Respond module) is designed to balance the supply and demand of the power system by adjusting users' electricity consumption behavior. In the United States, the electricity market is managed by the ISO (Independent System Operator). The DR module was developed by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) as a standard for communication between smart grid devices and energy management systems. It supports two-way communication between devices such as smart thermostats, electric vehicles, and solar panels and the power grid. In order to respond to local grid response functions, heat pump water heaters need to be equipped with a DR module that can communicate two-way with the power grid. This DR module serves as a bridge for communication between the power grid and the heat pump water heater.

[0004] Related technology provides a heat pump water heater whose head assembly includes a housing, an electrical control box, a junction box, a display panel, and a DR module. The electrical control box is vertically mounted within the housing, the display panel is mounted on the side wall of the housing and is provided with a connection port plug, the DR module is mounted directly in front of the display panel, the connection terminal plug of the DR module is plugged into the connection port plug, and the junction box is mounted on the side wall of the housing. Improving the safety of heat pump water heaters has always been a technical problem that those skilled in the art have been working to solve.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] The following is a summary of the subject matter described in detail herein. This summary is not intended to limit the scope of the claims.

[0007] An embodiment of the present invention provides a head assembly for a heat pump water heater, comprising: a shell having a first mounting port; a junction box disposed at the first mounting port; and a connection port plug disposed on a side wall of the junction box facing the outside of the shell and configured to be connected to a connection terminal plug of a DR module.

[0008] In some exemplary embodiments, the junction box includes: a box body, disposed at the first installation port, with an opening of the box body facing the outside of the shell; and a box cover, mounted on the opening of the box body, with the connection port plug disposed on the box cover.

[0009] In some exemplary embodiments, the head assembly also includes: an electrical control box, located outside the junction box and arranged inside the shell, and the box body is provided with a first wire passing port; a connecting line, one end of which is electrically connected to the electrical control box, and the other end extends into the box body from the first wire passing port and is electrically connected to the connection port plug.

[0010] In some exemplary embodiments, the box cover includes: a first cover body, which covers the opening of the box body and is provided with a second installation port, the connection port plug is provided at the second installation port, and the connection port of the connection port plug faces the outside of the shell.

[0011] In some exemplary embodiments, the box cover further includes: a second cover body, which is provided on a side of the first cover body facing away from the box body and covers the connection port plug.

[0012] In some exemplary embodiments, the box cover further includes: the DR module having the connection terminal plug, located on a side of the first cover body facing away from the box body, and the connection terminal plug is plug-connected to the connection port plug.

[0013] In some exemplary embodiments, the first cover is an integral structure.

[0014] In some exemplary embodiments, the first cover body is a split structure and includes a first sub-cover and a second sub-cover. The first sub-cover is installed on the opening of the box body and is provided with an avoidance port. The second sub-cover is installed on the avoidance port and is provided with a second installation port. The second installation port is connected to the interior of the box body through the avoidance port.

[0015] In some exemplary embodiments, the first mounting opening is located on an end wall of the housing.

[0016] In some exemplary embodiments, the first installation opening is located on a peripheral wall of the housing, and the junction box and the electric control box are spaced apart in a circumferential direction of the housing.

[0017] In some exemplary embodiments, the shell is further provided with a third mounting port, and in the radial direction of the shell, the third mounting port is located on the outside of the electrical control box; the head assembly also includes: a display panel, which is installed on the third mounting port from the outside to the inside along the radial direction of the shell.

[0018] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a heat pump water heater, comprising the head assembly described in any of the above embodiments.

[0019] The technical solution provided by the embodiment of the present invention is that since users know that the junction box is a dangerous component for connecting high-voltage wires, this solution arranges the connection port plug on the side wall of the junction box facing the outside of the shell. Users will pay more attention to the connection port plug and will not actively touch the connection port plug or even the DR module. Therefore, the head assembly of this solution is applied to the heat pump water heater, and the heat pump water heater is safer to use.

[0020] Still other aspects will become apparent upon reading and understanding the accompanying drawings and detailed description.

[0021] Summary of the Figures

[0022] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a partially exploded structure of a heat pump water heater provided by some embodiments;

[0023] FIG2 is another partial exploded structural schematic diagram of the heat pump water heater shown in FIG1 ;

[0024] FIG3 is a schematic structural diagram of the heat pump water heater shown in FIG1 ;

[0025] FIG4 is a schematic structural diagram of another use state of the heat pump water heater shown in FIG3 ;

[0026] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the DR module in FIG4 ;

[0027] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of a partially exploded structure of a heat pump water heater provided in some other embodiments;

[0028] FIG7 is a partial exploded structural diagram of the first cover, the connection port plug, the connection line, and the second cover in FIG6 ;

[0029] FIG8 is another partial exploded structural schematic diagram of the heat pump water heater shown in FIG6 ;

[0030] FIG9 is a schematic structural diagram of the heat pump water heater shown in FIG6 ;

[0031] FIG10 is a schematic structural diagram of the heat pump water heater shown in FIG9 in another usage state.

[0032] Among them, the correspondence between the figure marks and the component names is: 100 shell, 110 first mounting port, 120 third mounting port, 200 junction box, 210 box body, 211 first wire passing port, 220 first cover body, 221 second mounting port, 230 first sub-cover, 231 avoidance port, 240 second sub-cover, 241 second mounting port, 242 second wire passing port, 250 second cover body, 300 connection port plug, 310 connection line, 400DR module, 410 connection terminal plug, 500 electrical control box, 600 protective part, 700 display panel, 800 power cord.

[0033] Details

[0034] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that, unless there is a conflict, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of the present application can be combined with each other in any manner.

[0035] Analysis and research found that the connection port plug is connected to the power supply line and signal line, the power supply is a strong wire, and the display panel is a component that users often touch. Setting the connection port plug on the display panel poses a major safety hazard.

[0036] An embodiment of the present invention provides a head assembly for a heat pump water heater, as shown in Figures 1 to 10, including: a shell 100, the shell 100 is provided with a first mounting port 110; a junction box 200, the junction box 200 is provided at the first mounting port 110; and a connection port plug 300, the connection port plug 300 is provided on the side wall of the junction box 200 facing the outside of the shell 100, and is configured to be connected to the connection terminal plug 410 of the DR module 400.

[0037] Since users know that the junction box 200 is a dangerous component for connecting high-voltage wires (a warning sign is generally set near the junction box 200), this solution sets the connection port plug 300 on the side wall of the junction box 200 facing the outside of the shell 100. Users will pay more attention to the connection port plug 300 and will not actively touch the connection port plug 300 or even the DR module 400. Therefore, the head assembly of this solution is applied to the heat pump water heater, and the heat pump water heater is safer to use.

[0038] In some examples, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, 6, 8, and 9, the junction box 200 includes: a box body 210, which is mounted at the first mounting opening 110 from the outside of the housing 100, with the opening of the box body 210 facing the outside of the housing 100; and a box cover, which is mounted on the opening of the box body 210 from the outside of the housing 100, and a connection port plug 300 is provided on the box cover, with the connection port of the connection port plug 300 facing the outside of the housing 100. When the DR module 400 needs to be installed, the connection terminal plug 410 of the DR module 400 is plugged into the connection port plug 300 from the outside of the box body 210. This solution simplifies the installation process of the DR module 400. Moreover, the connection terminal plug 410 and the connection port plug 300 are hidden on the side of the DR module 400 facing the housing 100, and the user cannot touch the connection terminal plug 410 and the connection port plug 300, which is safer.

[0039] In some examples, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 6, and 8, the head assembly further includes: an electric control box 500, which is located outside the junction box 200 and within the housing 100, and the box body 210 is provided with a first wire opening 211; a connecting line 310, one end of which is electrically connected to the electric control box 500, and the other end of which extends into the box body 210 through the first wire opening 211 and is electrically connected to the connection port plug 300, that is, the connection port plug 300 is electrically connected to the electric control box 500 through the connecting line 310. The connecting line 310 includes a power supply line and a signal line, wherein the power supply line is a high-voltage line and the signal line is a low-voltage line.

[0040] As shown in Figures 1 and 6 , a protective member 600 is provided between the first wire-passing opening 211 and the connecting line 310. The protective member 600 isolates the wall of the first wire-passing opening 211 from the connecting line 310, protecting the connecting line 310 and preventing the wall of the first wire-passing opening 211 from scratching the connecting line 310. The protective member 600 may be a silicone member or a rubber member, etc., which can achieve the purpose of this application. The purpose does not deviate from the design concept of this application and will not be repeated here. All of them should fall within the scope of protection of this application.

[0041] The first mounting port 110 may be located on the end wall (i.e., the top wall) of the shell 100; or, as shown in Figures 1 to 4, 6, and 8 to 10, the first mounting port 110 may be located on the peripheral wall of the shell 100. In this case, the DR module 400 will not form an upward convex structure on the top wall of the shell 100. In this way, the packaging structure on the top of the shell 100 is simpler and the protection effect is better. The junction box 200 and the electric control box 500 can be arranged to be spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the shell 100 to avoid interference between the junction box 200 and the electric control box 500.

[0042] In some examples, as shown in Figures 6 to 10, the box cover includes: a first cover body 220, the first cover body 220 is covered at the opening of the box body 210 and is provided with a second mounting port 221, and the connection port plug 300 is fixed at the second mounting port 221 from the side of the first cover body 220 facing away from the shell 100, so that when the DR module 400 is inserted, the connection port plug 300 on the first cover body 220 will not be pressed off by the connection terminal plug 410 and fall into the box body 210.

[0043] In some examples, as shown in Figures 1 to 3 and 6 to 9, the box cover further includes a second cover 250. The second cover 250 is located on a side of the first cover 220 facing away from the box body 210 and covers the connection port plug 300. In scenarios where the DR module 400 is not required, the second cover 250 covers the connection port plug 300, preventing users from touching the connection port plug 300 and causing electric shock, thereby improving safety. The second cover 250 is configured as an insulating member, such as a plastic member.

[0044] In some examples, as shown in Figures 4, 5, and 10, the box cover further includes a DR module 400 having a connection terminal plug 410. The DR module 400 is located on a side of the first cover 220 facing away from the box body 210, and the connection terminal plug 410 is plugged into the connection port plug 300. To install the DR module 400, the second cover 250 is first removed, and then the connection terminal plug 410 of the DR module 400 is plugged into the connection port plug 300. The DR module 400 is then fixed to the first cover 220 using screws, snaps, or other structures to prevent the DR module 400 from falling off.

[0045] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 6 to 10 , the first cover 220 is an integral structure, and is configured as a sheet metal member. This provides the first cover 220 with improved strength and fire resistance. Furthermore, the structure of the junction box 200 is simpler, resulting in lower manufacturing costs. Alternatively, the first cover 220 may be secured to the box body 210 via screws.

[0046] It can be, as shown in Figure 7, that the second cover body 250 is provided with a positioning post and a through hole, and the first cover body 220 is provided with a positioning hole and a screw hole, the positioning post is inserted into the positioning hole to position the second cover body 250, and then the screw is passed through the through hole and screwed into the screw hole to fix the second cover body 250 on the first cover plate; or it can be that the second cover body 250 is provided with a positioning hole and a through hole, and the first cover body 220 is provided with a positioning post and a screw hole, the positioning hole is sleeved on the positioning post to position the second cover body 250, and then the screw is passed through the through hole and screwed into the screw hole to fix the second cover body 250 on the first cover plate, etc.; all of the above can achieve the purpose of this application, and its purpose does not deviate from the design concept of this application, and will not be repeated here, and should all fall within the scope of protection of this application.

[0047] In other embodiments, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the first cover body is a split structure and includes a first sub-cover 230 and a second sub-cover 240. The first sub-cover 230 is installed at the opening of the box body 210 from the outer cover of the shell 100 and is provided with a avoidance opening 231. The second sub-cover 240 is installed at the avoidance opening 231 from the side of the first sub-cover 230 facing away from the box body 210 and is provided with a second installation opening 241. The second installation opening 241 is connected to the interior of the box body 210 through the avoidance opening 231, and the connection port plug 300 is installed at the second installation opening 241 from the side of the second sub-cover 240 facing away from the first sub-cover 230.

[0048] The first sub-cover 230 is configured as a sheet metal member, providing greater strength and fire resistance. The second sub-cover 240 also has a second wire opening 242 at its edge, communicating with the second mounting opening 241. The connection port plug 300 passes through the avoidance opening 231 and is positioned on the side of the second sub-cover 240 facing away from the first sub-cover 230. The connection line 310 is positioned within the second mounting opening 241 from the second wire opening 242. The connection port plug 300 is then mounted on the second mounting opening 241 from the side of the second sub-cover 240 facing away from the first sub-cover 230. Optionally, the first sub-cover 230 is secured to the box body 210 via screws.

[0049] It can be that the second sub-cover 240 is provided with a buckle, and the first sub-cover 230 is provided with a buckle position, and the buckle is snapped onto the buckle position to fix the second sub-cover 240 on the first sub-cover 230; or it can be, as shown in Figure 1, the second sub-cover 240 is provided with a through hole, and the first sub-cover 230 is provided with a screw hole, and the screw passes through the through hole and is screwed into the screw hole to fix the second sub-cover 240 on the first sub-cover 230, etc.; all of the above can achieve the purpose of this application, and its purpose does not deviate from the design concept of this application, and will not be repeated here, and should all fall within the scope of protection of this application.

[0050] It can be, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, that the second sub-cover 240 is provided with a buckle, and the second cover body 250 is provided with a buckle position, and the buckle is snapped onto the buckle position to fix the second cover body 250 on the second sub-cover 240; or it can be that the second sub-cover 240 is provided with a screw hole, and the second cover body 250 is provided with a through hole, and the screw passes through the through hole and is screwed into the screw hole to fix the second cover body 250 on the second sub-cover 240, etc.; all of the above can achieve the purpose of the present application, and its purpose does not deviate from the design concept of the present application, and will not be repeated here, and should all fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0051] In some examples, as shown in Figures 2, 3, 4, and 8 to 10, the housing 100 further comprises a third mounting opening 120, which is located radially outward of the electrical control box 500. The head assembly further comprises a display panel 700, which is mounted radially inward from the outside of the housing 100 at the third mounting opening 120. By removing the display panel 700 from the outside of the housing 100, the electrical control box 500 can be accessed through the third mounting opening 120, eliminating the need for a dedicated access opening on the housing 100 for accessing the electrical control box 500. As a result, the housing 100 has greater strength and improved integrity.

[0052] In this application, the junction box 200 and the connection port plug 300 are both installed on the outside of the shell 100, which is not only simple to operate, but also convenient for power-on detection of the connection port plug 300 and power-on detection of the power cord 800 introduced from the electrical control box 500 to the junction box 200.

[0053] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a heat pump water heater, as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 , FIG. 6 , and FIG. 8 to FIG. 10 , including the head assembly described in any one of the above embodiments.

[0054] This heat pump water heater has all the advantages of the head assembly provided by any of the above embodiments, which will not be described in detail here.

[0055] To sum up, the technical solution provided by the embodiment of the present invention is that since users know that the junction box is a dangerous component for connecting high-voltage wires, this solution arranges the connection port plug on the side wall of the junction box facing the outside of the shell. Users will pay more attention to the connection port plug and will not actively touch the connection port plug or even the DR module. Therefore, the head assembly of this solution is applied to the heat pump water heater, and the heat pump water heater is safer to use.

[0056] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "one side", "the other side", "one end", "the other end", "side", "relative", "four corners", "periphery", ""mouth"-shaped structure", etc., indicating the orientation or position relationship, are based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the structure referred to has a specific orientation, is constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on this application.

[0057] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "connection", "direct connection", "indirect connection", "fixed connection", "installation", and "assembly" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connection, detachable connection, or integral connection. The terms "installation", "connection", and "fixed connection" can refer to direct connection, indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or internal communication between two components. For those skilled in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in this application can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0058] Although the embodiments disclosed in this application are as described above, the contents described are merely embodiments adopted to facilitate understanding of this application and are not intended to limit this application. It should be noted that the above embodiments or implementations are merely exemplary and not restrictive. Therefore, this disclosure is not limited to the contents specifically shown and described herein. Various modifications, replacements, or omissions may be made to the forms and details of the implementation without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A head assembly for a heat pump water heater, comprising: The housing is provided with a first mounting opening; A junction box, arranged at the first installation opening; and The connection port plug is arranged on the side wall of the junction box facing the outside of the shell, and is configured to be connected with the connection terminal plug of the DR module.

2. The head assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The junction box comprises: A box body, arranged at the first installation opening, the opening of the box body facing the outside of the shell; The box cover is mounted on the opening of the box body, and the connection port plug is arranged on the box cover.

3. The head assembly according to claim 2, further comprising: An electric control box, located outside the junction box and arranged inside the shell, the box body being provided with a first wire-passing opening; A connecting line has one end electrically connected to the electric control box, and the other end extends from the first wire-passing opening into the box body and is electrically connected to the connecting port plug.

4. The head assembly according to claim 2, wherein: The box cover comprises: The first cover body is covered on the opening of the box body and is provided with a second installation opening. The connection port plug is provided at the second installation opening. The connection port of the connection port plug faces the outside of the shell.

5. The head assembly according to claim 4, wherein: The box cover also includes: The second cover is arranged on a side of the first cover facing away from the box body and covers the connection port plug.

6. The head assembly according to claim 4, wherein: The box cover also includes: The DR module having the connection terminal plug is located on a side of the first cover body facing away from the box body, and the connection terminal plug is plug-connected with the connection port plug.

7. The head assembly according to claim 4, wherein: The first cover body is an integral structure; or The first cover body is a split structure and includes a first sub-cover and a second sub-cover. The first sub-cover is installed on the opening of the box body and is provided with an avoidance opening. The second sub-cover is installed on the avoidance opening and is provided with the second installation opening. The second installation opening is connected to the interior of the box body through the avoidance opening.

8. The head assembly according to claim 3, wherein: The first installation opening is located on the end wall of the housing; or The first installation opening is located on the peripheral wall of the shell, and the junction box and the electric control box are spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the shell.

9. The head assembly according to claim 3, wherein: The housing is further provided with a third mounting opening, and in the radial direction of the housing, the third mounting opening is located outside the electric control box; the head assembly further includes: The display panel is installed at the third installation opening from outside to inside along the radial direction of the shell.

10. A heat pump water heater, comprising the head assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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