Abstract:
The present invention provides a heat exchanger for bathing shower comprising a heat exchanging slab and two sealing covers. The heat exchanging slab is extruded by alloy metal material into simple overall structure to reduce processing steps, total manufacturing cost and selling price. A close water circulation entirety with circulation directing means is created therein to improve heat exchanging efficiency and energy saving effect of the water heater. Thereby, purchasing intention of consumers is increased in consequence of satisfaction of the purchasing ability. Thus, not only the speed and range of the promotion is benefited, but also the environmental protection in energy saving and carbon reducing effect is expedited.

Description:
FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an energy saving heat exchanger for a bathing shower, the heat exchanger having a simple structure that significantly decreases manufacturing time and costs and provides enhanced energy saving efficiency so as to make the heat exchanger more affordable and attractive to consumers. Thus, the invention not only provides increased popularity but also offers environmental protection due to increased energy saving and reduced carbon emissions. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    For the purpose of reducing their carbon footprint, many heat exchangers for bathing showers used in households have been introduced in the market. The design concept is that incoming cold tap water running through the heat exchanger is heated up by hot waste water from the shower, which serves as a thermal source, so that the temperature of the tap water output from the heat exchanger becomes warmer than that of the incoming tap water, the output being directed into an inlet pipe for the water heater of the bathing shower. As a result, the temperature of the inlet water for the water heater of the bathing shower is increased to save energy required for heating the water. Taking China Utility Model Patent No. CN201016505 for title “Water heater of energy saving type” publicized on Feb. 6, 2008 as an example, as shown in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the water heater  10  is made of a metal heat absorbing slab  20 , which comprises a hollow chamber  21  with a top surface  24 , a water inlet pipe  23  and a water outlet pipe  22  such that said hollow chamber  21 , which allows cold tap water W 1  flows therein, has one end thereof with water outlet pipe  22  connected to a water intake  11  of the water heater  10  and the other end thereof with water inlet pipe  23  connected to a source of cold tap water W 1  (as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). Firstly, upon a shower user M starting shower, certain hot shower water W, which comes from the water heater  10  and flow through a water outlet pipe  12 , will spray out of the shower sprayer  13 ; Secondly, the hot shower water W will drop on the top surface  24  of the metal heat absorbing slab  20  after shower on the body of the shower user M, meanwhile certain cold tap water W 1  will flow into the chamber  21  of the metal heat absorbing slab  20  via the water inlet pipe  23  to absorb thermal energy of the dropped hot shower water W on the top surface  24  of the metal heat absorbing slab  20  so that the cold tap water W 1  becomes warm heat-exchanged water W 2 ; Thirdly, the warm heat-exchanged water W 2  then flows out of the water outlet pipe  22  of the metal heat absorbing slab  20 ; and Finally, the warm heat-exchanged water W 2  flows into the water heater  10  via the water intake  11  thereof for serving as warm feeding water (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). Thereby, the energy saving effect for electricity of gas consumption of the water heater  10  is achieved. 
         [0003]    Please refer to  FIGS. 4 and 5  that show another embodiment for the water heater  10  of a metal heat absorbing slab  200 . The metal heat absorbing slab  200  comprises a spiral metal tube  201  having multiple continual coils with a gap S for each pair of adjacent coils, one end thereof with water outlet pipe  22  connected to a water intake  11  of the water heater  10  and the other end thereof with water inlet pipe  23  connected to a source of cold tap water W 1 . Similar to the circumstance in the metal heat absorbing slab  20 , likewise, the operation for the metal heat absorbing slab  200  is recapped below: Firstly, upon a shower user M starting shower, certain hot shower water W, which comes from the water heater  10  and flow through a water outlet pipe  12 , will spray out of the shower sprayer  13 ; Secondly, the hot shower water W will drop on the top surface of the metal heat absorbing slab  200  after shower on the body of the shower user M, meanwhile certain cold tap water W 1  will flow into the spiral metal tube  201  of the metal heat absorbing slab  200  via the water inlet pipe  23  to absorb thermal energy of the dropped hot shower water W on the top surface of the metal heat absorbing slab  200  so that the cold tap water W 1  becomes warm heat-exchanged water W 2 ; Thirdly, the warm heat-exchanged water W 2  then flows out of the water outlet pipe  22  of the metal heat absorbing slab  200 ; and Finally, the warm heat-exchanged water W 2  flows into the water heater  10  via the water intake  11  thereof for serving as warm feeding water (as shown in  FIG. 4 ). Thereby, the energy saving effect for electricity of gas consumption of the water heater  10  is achieved. 
         [0004]    However, some drawbacks still exist in the China Utility Model Patent No. CN201016505 as following: 
         [0005]    1. Please refer to  FIGS. 1 through 3  for metal heat absorbing slab  20 . In order to keep the hot shower water W drop on the top surface  24  of the metal heat absorbing slab  20 , the shower user M must stand on the top surface  24  of the metal heat absorbing slab  20  so that the metal top surface  24  with hollow chamber  21  beneath will be indented deformation owing to body weight strain of the shower user M for long term use (as hypothetical line shown in  FIG. 3 ). Because metal heat absorbing slab  20  is fabricated by metal welding process, water leakage is incurred from certain metal welding seams on the metal heat absorbing slab  20  being fractured due to indented deformation thereon so that not only the heat exchanging effect will be lost but also certain fractured metal welding seams may cause accidental hurt to the shower user M inadvertently. Moreover, because no circulation directing means is designed in the hollow chamber  21 , water turbulences will happen in the chamber  21  after cold tap water W 1  flows into therein via the water inlet pipe  23  (as indicting arrow heads shown in  FIG. 3 ) so that the energy saving effect will be considerably decreased in consequence of lowering heat exchanging efficiency. 
         [0006]    2. Please refer to  FIGS. 4 and 5  for metal heat absorbing slab  200 . Likewise, in order to keep the hot shower water W drop on the top surface of the metal heat absorbing slab  200 , the shower user M must stand on the top surface of the metal heat absorbing slab  200 . Because metal heat absorbing slab  200  is formed by spiral metal tube  201  having multiple continual coils with a gap S for each pair of adjacent coils, the round top surface thereof becomes slippery once hot shower water W drops thereon so that the shower user M stands thereon often suffered from injure inadvertently incurred by falling down due to such round slippery surface (as shown in  FIG. 4 ). That is a menace to the safety of the shower user M. Moreover, all the gaps S between each pair of adjacent coils in the spiral metal tube  201  cause no heat exchanging function as the hot shower water W passes therein without contacting to the spiral metal tube  201  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ) so that the energy saving effect will be considerably decreased in consequence of lowering heat exchanging efficiency. 
         [0007]    3. The key process for the manufacturing of metal heat absorbing slab  20  in  FIG. 1  and metal heat absorbing slab  200  in  FIG. 4  is metal welding process, which cause relative high labor cost in manufacturing expense as metal welding process is often worked by high-skilled technician with high salary to maintain high yield. Moreover, the multiple continual coils with a gap S for each pair of adjacent coils for fabricating the spiral metal tube  201  must processed by a tube-bending machine of high accuracy together with metal welding process for welding connection with water inlet pipe  23  and water outlet pipe  22  respectively so that overall manufacturing cost keep soaring high without possibility of lowering down. Thus, the ex-factory price and retail price for the product of metal heat absorbing slab  20  and  200  become particular high with difficulty for lowering down so that not only the purchasing intention of the consumer is retarded but also the product itself becomes unpopular. Therefore, how to contrive an improved product of heat exchanger for bathing shower with simplified structure and relative low manufacturing cost to satisfy with the purchasing ability and intention of customers seem very critical. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The primary object of the present invention is to provide a “heat exchanger for bathing shower” with overall simplified structure and supporting strength to bear normal weight of human body, particularly for one has internal circulation directing means to substantially increase energy saving effect in consequence of considerably improving heat exchanging efficiency so that the heat exchanger fabricated by the present invention not only substantially shortens overall process steps and decreases manufacturing cost without necessity to hire metal welding technicians of high salary with result in reducing selling price for being affordable by the purchasing ability of the consumers and for appealing the purchasing intention of the consumers but also enhance overall energy saving effect and prolong service life span with result in encouraging the purchasing intention of the consumers. Thus, the present invention not only facilitates promotion and increases popularity of bathing shower heat exchangers, but also achieves environmental protection by energy saving and reduced carbon footprint. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is the first structural schematic view for China Utility Model Patent No. CN201016505. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view taken along line  2 - 2  as indicated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an operational schematic view for China Utility Model Patent No. CN201016505. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is the second structural schematic view for China Utility Model Patent No. CN201016505. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is the third structural schematic view for China Utility Model Patent No. CN201016505. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective exploded view showing a heat exchanger for bathing shower of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a sectional schematic view showing a heat exchanger for bathing shower of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view taken along line  8 - 8  as indicated in  FIG. 7 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a schematic view showing an installation and operation method of a heat exchanger for bathing shower of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a schematic view showing a manufacturing process for a heat exchanging slab of the present invention via extruding method. 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing a drilling process for a heat exchanging slab of the present invention via drilling tool. 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a sectional schematic view showing a heat exchanger for bathing shower in another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is a sectional view taken along line  13 - 13  as indicated in  FIG. 12 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is a schematic view of the first exemplary embodiment showing a different combination of variant heat exchangers for bathing shower of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  is a schematic view of the second exemplary embodiment showing a different combination of variant heat exchangers for bathing shower of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  is a schematic view of the third exemplary embodiment showing a different combination of variant heat exchangers for bathing shower of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 17  is a schematic view of the fourth exemplary embodiment showing a different combination of variant heat exchangers for bathing shower of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0026]      FIG. 6  through  FIG. 8 , a “heat exchanger for bathing shower” of the present invention includes a heat exchanging slab  30  and two sealing covers  40  such that one of the sealing covers  40  is created with a water intake  41  and a water outtake  42 , wherein: 
         [0027]    The heat exchanging slab  30 , which is a flat planar cuboid extruded by alloy metal material, includes a flat top surface  31 , a flat bottom surface  32 , a front hatch  33 , a rear hatch  34 , two parallel upright flanks  35 , a plurality of parallel water passages  36  penetrated through between the front hatch  33  and rear hatch  34  such that each pair adjacent water passages  36  is partitioned by a septum  37  with a circulating bore  38  created thereon in interlaced stagger manner, which means a bore in upper section of one septum and another bore in lower section of the other septum for each pair of adjacent septa  37  (as shown in  FIG. 7 ); and 
         [0028]    each of two sealing covers  40  respectively covers on the front hatch  33  and rear hatch  34  of the heat exchanging slab  30  to closely seal all ends of the water passages  36  in water-tight manner by welding way so that all the water passages  36  together with septa  37  and circulating bores  38  form a close water circulation entirety. 
         [0029]      FIG. 7  through  FIG. 9 , illustrate installation and operation method for a heat exchanger for bathing shower of the present invention. By means of pipe fittings, connect a water inlet pipe  23  of tap water to the water intake  41  on the sealing cover  40  while connect a water intake  11  of a water heater  10  to the water outtake  42  on the same sealing cover  40  to finish the installation before operation (as shown in  FIG. 9 ). Firstly, upon a shower user M starting shower, certain hot shower water W, which comes from the water heater  10  and flow through a water outlet pipe  12 , will spray out of the shower sprayer  13 ; Secondly, the hot shower water W will drop on the flat top surface  31  of the heat exchanging slab  30  after shower on the body of the shower user M, meanwhile certain cold tap water W 1  will flow into the water passages  36  of the heat exchanging slab  30  via the water inlet pipe  23  and circulate among all water passages  36  by means of every circulating bore  38  on each septum  37  (as indicating arrow heads shown in  FIG. 7 ) to absorb thermal energy of the dropped hot shower water W on the top surface  31  of the heat exchanging slab  30  so that the cold tap water W 1  becomes warm heat-exchanged water W 2 ; Thirdly, the warm heat-exchanged water W 2  then flows out of the water outtake  42  on the sealing cover  40  of the heat exchanging slab  30 ; and Finally, the warm heat-exchanged water W 2  flows into the water heater  10  orderly via the water outlet pipe  22  and the water intake  11  thereof for serving as warm feeding water (as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 9 ). Thereby, the energy saving effect for electricity of gas consumption of the water heater  10  is achieved. 
         [0030]    It is known from  FIGS. 8 and 9  that the plural septa  37  formed between each pair adjacent water passages  36  in the heat exchanging slab  30  of the present invention also serve as props between the flat top surface  31  and flat bottom surface  32  of the heat exchanging slab  30  to be strong enough to completely support normal body weight of a shower user M so that not only the service life span of the heat exchanging slab  30  can be extended due to no indented deformation thereon, but also the shower user M suffered from injure inadvertently incurred by falling down due to such round slippery surface happened as in the metal heat absorbing slab  200  of the China Patent for title “Water heater of energy saving type” in Number of CN201016505 at New Model invention can be avoided because the flat top surface  31  on the heat exchanging slab  30  offers stable platform for shower user M to stand thereon (as shown in  FIG. 8 ). 
         [0031]    Moreover, the circulating bore  38 , which is created on each septum  37  and makes every pair adjacent water passages  36  become water communicable mutually, serves as a circulation directing means in the heat exchanging slab  30  (as indicating arrow heads shown in  FIG. 7 ) for directing the cold tap water W 1  to become a smoothly regular path-oriented stable flow in the heat exchanging slab  30  so that the heat exchanging efficiency of the heat exchanging slab  30  is improved and the energy saving effect of the water heater  10  is substantially increased. 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIG. 10 , the heat exchanging slab  30  of the present invention is manufactured by traditional extruding method. Firstly, by means of extruder A, certain melted aluminum alloy is extruded out of extruding die B into a bar of heat exchanging slab  301 ; Secondly, by means of cutting tool C, the bar of heat exchanging slab  301  is progressively cut into heat exchanging slabs  30  piece by piece; and Finally, as shown in  FIG. 11 , by means of drilling tool D, on each of all septa  37 , near to the front hatch  33  or rear hatch  34 , respectively drill a circulating bores  38  in interlaced stagger manner, which means a bore in upper section of one septum and another bore in lower section of the other septum for each pair of adjacent septa  37  to finish the heat exchanging slab  30  production. Firstly, it is universally known that molding cost for extruding die is only one tenth or less of molding cost for injection mold or die-casting mold; secondly, extruding process, which is a continuous manufacturing process, meets the requirement of mass production; and thirdly, extruding process saves 90% of metal welding process. With foregoing triple favorable benefits for extruding process, which is used in manufacturing the heat exchanging slab  30  of the present invention, the overall manufacturing cost of the present invention can be substantially decreased with result in effectively reducing selling price of the product thereof. Thereby, the consumers are more affordable to purchase the “heat exchanger for bathing shower” of the present invention in consequence of the increasing purchasing intention. Thus, an immediate and noticeable effect for energy saving of electricity and gas consumption in the water heater  10  by promoting usage the “heat exchanger for bathing shower” of the present invention can be quickly achieved. 
         [0033]    Please further refer to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , which show a heat exchanger of cambered for bathing shower in another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The heat exchanger here comprises a cambered heat exchanging slab  50  and two cambered sealing covers  60 , wherein said cambered heat exchanging slab  50  includes a cambered top surface  51 , a cambered bottom surface  52  with two water intakes  501  and a water outtake  502  beneath, a cambered front hatch  53 , a cambered rear hatch  54 , two flanks, a plurality of parallel water passages  56  penetrated through between the front hatch  53  and rear hatch  54  such that each pair adjacent water passages  56  is partitioned by a septum  57  with a circulating bore  58  created thereon in interlaced stagger manner, which means a bore in upper section of one septum and another bore in lower section of the other septum for each pair of adjacent septa  57  (as shown in  FIG. 13 ); and each of two cambered sealing covers  60  respectively covers on the front hatch  53  and rear hatch  54  of the cambered heat exchanging slab  50  to closely seal all ends of the water passages  56  in water-tight manner by welding way so that all the water passages  56  together with septa  57  and circulating bores  58  form a close water circulation entirety to have energy saving effect for the water heater  10 . 
         [0034]    The alloy metal material used in the foregoing heat exchanging slab  30  or cambered heat exchanging slab  50  can be replaced by synthetic non-metal compound material with heat conductivity such as carbon fiber for serving in heat exchanging function with hot shower water W to still maintain energy saving effect for the water heater  10 . 
         [0035]    Please refer to  FIGS. 14 through 17 , which show various exemplary embodiments in different combination of variant heat exchangers for bathing shower of the present invention, wherein  FIG. 14  is an exemplary embodiment showing a combination of inverted triangle for three heat exchanging slabs  30  by means of pipes P to properly connect to each water intake and water outtake thereof respectively to form a close water circulation entirety so that the energy saving effect for the water heater  10  is improved as the heat exchanging time with hot shower water W is prolonged. 
         [0036]      FIG. 15  is another exemplary embodiment showing a combination of mutually skew angle for two heat exchanging slabs  30  by means of pipes P to properly connect to each water intake and water outtake thereof respectively to form a close water circulation entirety so that the energy saving effect for the water heater  10  is improved as the heat exchanging time with hot shower water W is prolonged. 
         [0037]      FIG. 16  is another further exemplary embodiment showing a stack combination of back-to-back arrangement for two cambered heat exchanging slabs  50  by means of pipes P to properly connect to each water intake and water outtake thereof respectively to form a close water circulation entirety so that the energy saving effect for the water heater  10  is improved as the heat exchanging time with hot shower water W is prolonged. 
         [0038]      FIG. 17  is the other exemplary embodiment showing a stack combination of back-to-back arrangement for a heat exchanging slabs  30  in top and a cambered heat exchanging slabs  50  in bottom by means of pipes P to properly connect to each water intake and water outtake thereof respectively to form a close water circulation entirety so that the energy saving effect for the water heater  10  is improved as the heat exchanging time with hot shower water W is prolonged. 
         [0039]    In conclusion of the disclosures heretofore, the present invention not only can indeed achieve the purpose of substantially decreasing overall manufacturing cost owing to innovative simplified structure and relatively less manufacturing process, but also the energy saving effect for electricity and gas used in the water heater  10  can be highly improved. Accordingly, the present invention meets the patentable criterion.