Cooling tank, water purifier having same, and cooling tank manufacturing method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling tanks for water purifiers face issues with insufficient thermal insulation and dew condensation performance due to gaps between the tank body and external thermal insulating materials, leading to mold growth and poor cleanliness.
Innovation Solution
A cooling tank design featuring a foaming case that surrounds the tank body, with a foamed thermal insulating material formed by injecting a foaming agent between the tank body and the foaming case, minimizing non-foamed regions and shielding the material from external air, and incorporating an air outlet system to discharge air during the foaming process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a thermal insulating material is installed on the surface of the tank body, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but gaps between the tank body and insulating material allow air penetration and dew condensation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the tank body and thermal insulating material into a single integrated structure by injecting foaming agent into the space between them, forming foam that fills all gaps and adheres to both surfaces, eliminating the separation and air penetration issues of traditional separate installation methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses foam material with controlled porosity formed by the foaming agent to provide thermal insulation while maintaining a sealed structure that prevents dew condensation, leveraging the insulating properties of the porous foam while avoiding the harmful effects of air penetration through the pores
2Manufacturing precision
If nude foaming method is used to form thermal insulating material directly on tank body, then integration is improved, but foam powder particles are generated during post-processing operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the problematic post-processing operations (grinding, deburring, vinyl removal) from the manufacturing process by using a foaming case that contains the foaming agent, allowing the foam to cure completely before any contact with the tank body, thus eliminating foam powder generation during processing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a foaming case as an intermediary container that holds the foaming agent and controls the foaming process, preventing direct exposure of the tank body to loose foam powder and enabling clean integration without post-processing contamination
3Ease of manufacture
If foamed thermal insulating material is directly exposed to ambient air, then ease of manufacture is improved, but air moves through fine pores causing mold growth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a sealed environment using the foaming case that isolates the foamed thermal insulating material from ambient air during and after the foaming process, preventing air (oxygen) from reaching the pores and thus preventing mold growth, while still allowing easy manufacturing through the contained foaming process
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enhances dew condensation and thermal insulation performance, reduces mold growth, and facilitates easy cleaning by minimizing contact with external air and preventing the entry of contaminants.
Implementation Method 1
a foamed thermal insulating material is formed by injecting a foaming agent between a foaming case and a tank body
Implementation Method 2
a foamed thermal insulating material formed by a foaming process after a foaming agent is introduced into a foaming space between the external peripheral surface of the tank body and the foaming case
Implementation Method 3
thermally exchanging the cooled ice-condensed solution or ice with the purified water flowing through the cold water pipe
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a cooling tank comprising a tank body in which a water accommodation space is formed, a foaming case for encompassing the outer peripheral surface of the tank body, and a foam insulating material formed by a foaming agent flowing into the foaming space between the outer peripheral surface of the tank body and the foaming case, and then foaming, wherein the foam insulating material is integrated with the tank body and the case through foaming, and the case has an air outlet through which air of the foaming space is discharged during a foaming process.