Feed water heater with recovery device for swelling water

A heater with a recovery device for swelling water is provided. A water inlet pipe and a water outlet pipe are longitudinally provided on the heater. The recovery device is transversely disposed on the heater and connected with the water inlet pipe, such that the recovery device is coupled on to reduce the entire size. The recovery device is adapted to recycle and store the swelling hot water in the heater so as to provide an energy-saving effect and to stop water from dripping.

The current application claims a foreign priority to application number 103222654 filed on Dec. 22, 2014 in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an energy-saving device, and more particularly to a feedwater heater with a recovery device for swelling water.

2. Description of the Prior Art

FIG. 1is a schematic view showing the system arrangement of a conventional feedwater heater. The feedwater heater has a heating container1. The heating container1is connected with a water inlet pipe2and a water outlet pipe3. The water inlet pipe2is connected to a water outlet valve5of a faucet4. The water outlet pipe3is connected to a water outlet6of the faucet4. When the water outlet valve5is opened by the user, the cold water in the water inlet pipe2will flow into the heating container1to be heated by the heating container1. Afterward, the hot water flows out through the water outlet pipe3for use.

However, when the water outlet valve5is closed by the user, the hot water and the steam in the heating container1will rise due to the principle of thermal expansion as well as rising of hot air, which causes the water outlet6of the faucet4to drip water easily. Besides, the hot energy in the heating container1may lose. When the user wants to get hot water next time, the heating container1will carry out the heating operation again. This consumes energy very much and is not environmental-friendly. Accordingly, the inventor of the present invention has devoted himself based on his many years of practical experiences to solve these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a feedwater heater with a recovery device for swelling water. The heater comprises a heating container. The bottom of the heating container is provided with a heating pipe. A water inlet pipe and a water outlet pipe are provided on the heating container. The recovery device is connected to the water inlet pipe. The water inlet pipe and the water outlet pipe are longitudinally disposed above the heating container. The water inlet pipe is provided with a first coupling member thereon. The first coupling member is transversely provided with a first passage. The first passage communicates with the water inlet pipe. The recovery device is transversely disposed above the heating container and provided with a second coupling member corresponding to the first coupling member. The first coupling member is coupled with the second coupling member, enabling the recovery device to be fixed on the water inlet pipe of the heater. The second coupling member is transversely provided with a second passage corresponding to the first passage. The first passage communicates with the second passage. The second passage communicates with the interior of the recovery device.

When the water outlet pipe of the heater is opened, the cold water in the water inlet pipe will pass through the first passage quickly and the air in the recovery device will be sucked out to form a vacuum. When the water outlet pipe is closed, the recovery device sucks the hot water in the heating container and the rising steam, enabling the heating container to form negative pressure to stop the water outlet pipe from dripping water so as to provide an energy-saving effect.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 2is a perspective view of the present invention.FIG. 3is an exploded view of the present invention.FIG. 4is a sectional view of the present invention.FIG. 5is a schematic view showing the assembly of the present invention.FIG. 6is a schematic view of the present invention when in use. The present invention discloses a feedwater heater200with a recovery device100for swelling water. The heater200comprises a heating container210. The bottom of the heating container210is provided with a heating pipe220. A water inlet pipe40and a water outlet pipe50are provided on the heating container210. The recovery device100is connected to the water inlet pipe40.

The water inlet pipe40and the water outlet pipe50are longitudinally disposed above the heating container210. The water inlet pipe40is provided with a first coupling member41thereon. The first coupling member41is a longitudinal board formed with a plurality of locking holes43. The first coupling member41is transversely provided with a first passage42. The first passage42communicates with the water inlet pipe40. The water inlet pipe40is formed with a narrow section44above the first passage42. The narrow section44has a pipe diameter less than that of the water inlet pipe40and the first passage42. A lower end of the water inlet pipe40is further connected with an extension pipe45. A lower edge of the extension pipe45is close to the heating pipe220. A central portion of the extension pipe45is transversely provided with a stopper46for stopping water current. The area of the stopper46is slightly less than the cross-section of the extension pipe45, such that an interval is formed between the stopper46and the inner wall of the extension pipe45for the water current to pass therethrough so as to buffer the water current.

The recovery device100is transversely disposed above the heating container210and provided with a second coupling member11corresponding to the first coupling member41. The first coupling member41is coupled with the second coupling member11, enabling the recovery device100to be fixed on the water inlet pipe40of the heater200. The second coupling member11is also a longitudinal board formed with a plurality of locking holes13corresponding to the locking holes43of the first coupling member41for a plurality of locking members300to lock the first coupling member41and the second coupling member11. The second coupling member11is transversely provided with a second passage12corresponding to the first passage42. The first passage42communicates with the second passage12, and the second passage12communicates with the interior of the recovery device100. In this embodiment, the recovery device100has a U shape formed with a longitudinal hollow portion14at a central section thereof for the water inlet pipe40and the water outlet pipe50to pass therethrough. The recovery device100is composed of an upper casing30and a lower casing10. A pressure membrane20is provided between the upper casing30and the lower casing10. The lower casing10is formed with a storage trough15and a first limit groove16around an outer edge of the storage trough15. The pressure membrane20is made of a soft material, such as rubber, PU (Polyurethane), and the like. One side of the pressure membrane20, facing the lower casing10, is formed with a concave trough21and a first limit protrusion22disposed around the concave trough21and corresponding to the first limit groove16of the lower casing10to seal the storage trough15of the lower casing10. Another side of the pressure membrane20, corresponding to the first limit protrusion22, is further provided with a second limit protrusion23. The upper casing30is formed with a balance trough31and a second limit groove32disposed around the balance trough31and corresponding to the second limit protrusion23of the pressure membrane20to seal the side of the pressure membrane20. Furthermore, the upper casing30is formed with an air hole33communicating with the balance trough31.

The recovery device100further comprises an outer cover60to fit on the recovery device100. The outer cover60has two through holes61,62for insertion of the water inlet pipe40and the water outlet pipe50, such that the recovery device100is combined with the heater200.

FIG. 5is a schematic view showing the assembly of the present invention.FIG. 6is a schematic view of the present invention when in use.FIG. 7is a partial schematic view of the present invention when in use. The recovery device100is transversely disposed on the heater200. The water inlet pipe40and the water outlet pipe50pass through the hollow portion14of the recovery device100, enabling the recovery device100to be placed on the heater200totally. Through the first coupling member41of the water inlet pipe40to connect the second coupling member11of the recovery device100, the recovery device100is tightly coupled to the heater200. Thereby, the first passage42of the first coupling member41communicates with the second passage12of the second coupling member11, such that the recovery device100communicates with the water inlet pipe40of the heater200and the recovery device100is combined with the heater20so as to reduce the entire volume greatly and to decrease the space occupied.

FIG. 8is a schematic view of the operation of the present invention, showing the heater in an inflow state.FIG. 9is a schematic view of the operation of the present invention, showing the heater in a heating state.FIG. 10is a schematic view of the operation of the present invention, showing the heater in a water supply state. Referring toFIG. 3andFIG. 7, when the water outlet pipe50of the heater200is to output water, the cold water in the water inlet pipe40will flow quickly. Because the water inlet pipe40has the narrow section44above the first passage42, the water current generates an acceleration effect to form negative pressure when passing the narrow section44and the air between the pressure membrane20and the storage trough15is brought away through the first passage42and the second passage12, enabling the storage space defined between the storage trough15and the pressure membrane20to form a vacuum. The pressure membrane2is shrunk and deformed in the direction of the lower casing10. The external air enters the balance trough31through the air hole33of the upper casing30to balance the air pressure. After that, when the water outlet pipe50stops outputting water, the water current stops running and the negative pressure disappears. The pressure membrane2is deformed in the direction of the upper casing30. During deformation, the pressure membrane2sucks the hot water in the heating container210by heating and the rising steam, such that the heating container210is formed with negative pressure to stop the water outlet pipe50from dripping water and to prevent the heat energy in the heating container210from losing, providing an energy-saving effect. Because heat makes hot water expand and cold makes it contract to reduce the volume, the pressure membrane20sucks more water when restored to increase the negative pressure in the heating container210. This enhances the dripless and energy-saving effects of the recovery device of the heater greatly.

It is noted that when the heater200heats the water in the heating container210, the steam by hating will pass through the water inlet pipe40, the first passage42, and the second passage12in sequence to be delivered to the storage space between the storage trough15and the pressure membrane20so as to retrieve the steam energy. The temperature of the water stored in the storage space between the storage trough15and the pressure membrane20can be kept so as to shorten the time to heat the water in the heating container210effectively.

It is noted that the stopper46provided in the extension pipe45makes the water in the water inlet pipe40flush the stopper46first and then pass through the interval between the stopper46and the inner wall of the extension pipe45to flow into the heating container210. This avoids the water current of the water inlet pipe40from flushing the heating container210directly to cause that the temperate of the water in the heating container210drops drastically and that the heating pipe220is heated repeatedly to waste energy.

The features and expected effects of the recovery device of the feedwater heater of the present invention are described as follows:

1. When the heater200heats the water in the heating container210, the steam generated by hating can be recycled and stored in the storage space between the storage trough15and the pressure membrane20as to retrieve the steam energy. The temperature of the water stored in the storage space between the storage trough15and the pressure membrane20can be kept so as to shorten the time to heat the water in the heating container210effectively.

2. When the water outlet valve of the water outlet pipe50is closed, the pressure membrane2sucks the hot water in the heating container210to the storage trough15, enabling the heating container210to form negative pressure to stop the water outlet pipe50from dripping water and to prevent the heat energy in the heating container210from losing so as to provide an energy-saving effect.

3. The recovery device100is coupled on the heater20to reduce the entire volume greatly and to decrease the space occupied.