Patent Publication Number: US-11022341-B2

Title: Storage type electric water heater with hot air generating function

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation of International Application No. PCT/KR2018/009734 filed Aug. 23, 2018, which claims benefit of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2017-0133939 filed Oct. 16, 2017, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a storage type electric water heater with a hot air generating function and, more particularly, to a storage type electric water heater with a hot air generating function, which can supply water at a high temperature and has the hot air generating function to generate hot air. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Most of water heaters currently on the market have water tanks and store a certain amount of water in the water tanks. This type of water heater has a problem in that water stored in a water tank should be continuously heated, so energy for heating water and unused hot water are wasted. 
       FIG. 1  is a view showing a conventional electric water heater. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the conventional electric water heater  1  includes: a storage tank  10  storing water therein; a heater  20  provided in a lower portion of the storage tank  10 ; a water supply tube  11  provided in a lower side of the storage tank  10 ; and a tap hole  12  provided in an upper side of the storage tank  10 . Water supplied to the storage tank  10  through the water supply tube  11  is directly heated by the heater  20  and then supplied to a user through the tap hole  12 . 
     However, since the conventional electric water heater  1  is a direct heating type that is configured such that the heater  20  directly heats a large amount of water stored in the storage tank  10  and then hot water is supplied to the user, it takes a long time to heat the stored water. 
     Meanwhile, a bathroom in which the electric water heater is installed often does not have a heating facility. Therefore, during winter, it is necessary to have a separate heating facility like a mobile heater in the bathroom. However, moving the mobile heater every time when the user uses the bathroom is very cumbersome, and the mobile heater makes the bathroom more cramped. 
     DISCLOSURE 
     Technical Problem 
     Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a storage type electric water heater with a hot air generating function, which can instantaneously supply a large amount of water at a high temperature. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a storage type electric water heater with a hot air generating function, wherein, when a user uses hot water, it is possible to reduce cold by using the hot water as a heat source to generate hot air without adding a separate heating facility. 
     Technical Solution 
     In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a storage type electric water heater with a hot air generating function includes: an inner housing provided with an inner space for storing water therein; an outer housing surrounding the inner housing while being spaced apart from the inner housing; a hot water generating means having an inlet tube integrally passing through first sides of the inner housing and the outer housing, an outlet tube integrally passing through second sides of the inner housing and the outer housing, a heat exchange tube received in the inner space of the inner housing and having a first end connected to the inlet tube and a second end connected to the outlet tube, and a heater mounted in the inner housing to supply heat to the heat exchange tube; and a hot air generating means having an air intake port provided at a first side of the outer housing, an exhaust port provided at a second side of the outer housing, and an exhaust fan mounted in a separation space between the outer housing and the inner housing. 
     The inner housing may be made of a heat conductive material, and be configured to transfer heat generated by the heater in the inner space to the separation space. 
     The outer housing may be provided with a heat insulating portion made of a heat insulating material on an inner surface of the outer housing, and the heat insulating portion may have an intake air guide hole penetrating the heat insulating portion at a position corresponding to the air intake port, and an exhaust air guide hole penetrating the heat insulating portion at a position corresponding to the exhaust port. 
     The separation space may have a plurality of air guide portions, which protrude from an inside of the outer housing or from an outside of the inner housing and has a first side extending toward the air intake port and a second side extending toward the exhaust port. 
     The plurality of air guide portions may be arranged in parallel at side portions of the inner housing, and each of the air guide portions is formed in a zigzag shape or a wavy shape. 
     The inner housing may include: an upper portion; a lower portion located below the upper portion; a front portion located at a front between the upper portion and the lower portion; a rear portion located at a rear of the front portion; and a pair of side portions located at both sides between the front portion and the rear portion, the air intake port may be located to face any one of the upper portion and the lower portion, the exhaust port may be located to face a remaining one of the upper portion and the lower portion, and the air guide portions may protrude from the pair of side portions and extend in directions toward the upper portion and the lower portion. 
     The heat exchange tube may include: a first coil tube provided in an upper side of the inner space; a second coil tube provided in a lower side of the inner space; a first connection tube connecting the inlet tube and the first coil tube; a second connection tube connecting the first coil tube and the second coil tube; and a third connection tube connecting the second coil tube and the outlet tube, the heater may be located in a center part of the second coil tube. 
     A diaphragm may be further provided between the first coil tube and the second coil tube. 
     The diaphragm may be configured to cover an outer circumference of the second coil tube, and to block a flow of water which is stored in the housing and rises due to heat-exchange with the heater or the second coil tube. 
     The diaphragm may include: a pair of side walls protruding upwardly from a bottom inside the inner housing; and a connecting portion connecting upper sides of the pair of side walls to each other, with the second coil tube and the heater being provided between the pair of side walls. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     As described above, according to the present invention, since the heater is provided in the second coil tube, the heater directly heats water flowing through the second coil tube, thereby enabling instantaneous tapping of a large amount of hot water. 
     In addition, since water moved to the second coil tube firstly increases in temperature by the heater, and secondarily increases in temperature by the hot water between the diaphragm and the second coil tube, the water moved to the second coil tube is tapped at a high temperature that is equal to or higher than 40° C. 
     In addition, since external cold water does not flow into the inner housing, the temperature of water in the inner housing does not decrease sharply. Since water stored in the inner housing is not periodically replaced, the inside of the inner housing is not contaminated by foreign materials in water. 
     In addition, since the hot air generating means is provided between the inner housing and the outer housing, air flowing into the separation space is discharged to the outside of the separation space through the exhaust port in a heated state at a high temperature. Accordingly, during winter, the temperature around the outer housing can be increased without using a mobile heater. 
     In addition, since air moving along the separation space is guided to the exhaust port as slowly as possible while being guided by the air guide portion, air moving along the air guide portion is heat-exchanged with the side portions heated by the heater while being in contact with the side portions for a long period of time, and heat-efficiency can be improved. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a view showing a conventional electric water heater. 
         FIG. 2  is a view schematically showing a storage type electric water heater with a hot air generating function according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view showing an outer housing of the storage type electric water heater with the hot air generating function according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along A-A′ line of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a view schematically showing the inside of the storage type electric water heater with the hot air generating function according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a view schematically showing a hot water generating means of the storage type electric water heater with the hot air generating function according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view taken along B-B′ line of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 &lt;Description of Reference Numbers&gt; 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 100: storage type electric water heater with 
                   
               
               
                 hot air generating function 
               
               
                 110: inner housing 
                 110a: fist inner housing 
               
               
                 110b: second inner housing 
                 111: inner space 
               
               
                 112: upper portion 
                 113: lower portion 
               
               
                 114: front portion 
                 115: rear portion 
               
               
                 116: side portion 
                 120: outer housing 
               
               
                 120a: first outer housing 
                 120b: second outer 
               
               
                   
                 housing 
               
               
                 122: inlet 
                 124: outlet 
               
               
                 126: drain 
                 128: drain tube 
               
               
                 129: heat insulating portion 
                 129a: air intake 
               
               
                   
                 guide hole 
               
               
                 129b: exhaust guide hole 
                 130: separation space 
               
               
                 132: air guide portion 
                 140: hot water generating 
               
               
                   
                 means 
               
               
                 142: inlet tube 
                 144: outlet tube 
               
               
                 146: heat exchange tube 
                 146a: first coil tube 
               
               
                 146b: second coil tube 
                 146c: first connection tube 
               
               
                 146d: second connection tube 
                 146e: third 
               
               
                   
                 connection tube 
               
               
                 148: heater 
                 150: diaphragm 
               
               
                 152: side wall 
                 154: connecting portion 
               
               
                 160: hot air generating means 
                 162: air intake port 
               
               
                 164: exhaust port 
                 166: exhaust fan 
               
               
                 170: water supply member 
                 172: float 
               
               
                 174: float switch 
                 176: supply tube 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     BEST MODE 
     Hereinafter, a storage type electric water heater with a hot air generating function according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 2  is a view schematically showing the storage type electric water heater with the hot air generating function according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 3  is an exploded view showing an outer housing of the storage type electric water heater with the hot air generating function according to the present invention.  FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along A-A′ line of  FIG. 2 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 4 , the storage type electric water heater  100  with the hot air generating function according to the present invention includes an inner housing  110 , an outer housing  120 , a hot water generating means  140 , and a hot air generating means  160 , and may further include a diaphragm  150  and a water supply member  170 . 
     The inner housing  110  is provided with an inner space  111  for storing water therein. The inner housing  110  is configured of a first inner housing  110   a  and a second inner housing  110   b  such that a front inner housing and a rear inner housing are separated from each other on the basis of the inner space  111 . That is, when the first inner housing  110   a  and the second inner housing  110   b  are coupled to each other, the inner space  111  is provided therein. Referring to a detailed structure of the inner housing  110 , the inner housing  110  includes: an upper portion  112  located at an upper side of the inner housing  110 ; a lower portion  113  located below the upper portion  112 ; a front portion  114  located at the front between the upper portion  112  and the lower portion  113 ; a rear portion  115  located at the rear of the front portion  114 ; and a pair of side portions  116  located at both sides between the front portion  114  and the rear portion  115 . The inner housing  110  is formed of a heat conductive material such as aluminum and copper, and is configured to easily transfer heat generated by a heater  148  in the inner space  111  to a separation space  130 . That is, the heater  148  heats water stored in the inner space  111 , and hot water stored in the inner space  111  heats the inner housing  110 . 
     Meanwhile, the side portions  116  have an air guide portion  132  of the hot air generating means  160 . The air guide portion  132  functions to guide air flowing into the separation space  130  between the inner housing  110  and the outer housing  120  by an exhaust fan  166  to an exhaust port  164 . A plurality of air guide portions  132  protrudes from the side portions  116  in parallel, and extends in directions of the upper portion  112  and the lower portion  113 . Each of air guide portions  132  is formed in a zigzag shape or a wavy shape so that air moving along the air guide portion  132  is guided to the exhaust port  164  as slowly as possible. Thus, since air moving along the air guide portion  132  is heat-exchanged with the side portions  116  heated by the heater while being in contact with the side portions  116  for a long period of time, heat exchange efficiency is improved. 
     The outer housing  120  surrounds the inner housing  110  while being spaced apart from the inner housing  110 , and the separation space  130  that is an empty space is provided between the outer housing  120  and the inner housing  110 . The outer housing  120  is configured of a first outer housing  120   a  and a second outer housing  120   b  such that a front outer housing and a rear outer housing are separated from each other like the inner housing  110 . An inlet  122  and an outlet  124  are provided in a first side and a second side of a lower side of the second outer housing  120   b  by penetrating the second outer housing  120   b , and a drain  126  penetrates the second outer housing  120   b  at a portion between the inlet  122  and the outlet  124 . A drain tube  128  passes through the drain  126  in a direction of the inner housing  110  to drain water stored in the inner space  111  to the outside. An air intake port  162  of the hot air generating means  160  penetrates the second outer housing at an upper side of the second outer housing  120   b , the exhaust port  164  of the hot air generating means  160  penetrates the first outer housing  120   a  at a lower side of the first outer housing  120   a . Meanwhile, a heat insulating portion  129  may be mounted to cover inner surfaces of first and second outer housings  120   a  and  120   b  facing to each other and the separation space  130 . The heat insulating portion  129  is formed of a heat insulating material such as synthetic resin with excellent heat blocking performance, and functions to prevent external cold air from passing through the first and second outer housings  120   a  and  120   b  into the separation space  130 . The heat insulating portion  129  has an air intake guide hole  129   a  penetrating the heat insulating portion  129  at a position corresponding to the air intake port  162  so that external air flows into the separation space  130  through the air intake port  162 . In addition, the heat insulating portion  129  has an exhaust guide hole  129   b  penetrating the heat insulating portion  129  at a position corresponding to the exhaust port  164  so that air in the separation space  130  is discharged through the exhaust port  164 . 
     The hot water generating means  140  includes an inlet tube  142 , an outlet tube  144 , a heat exchange tube  146 , and the heater  148 . The inlet tube  142  integrally-passes through first sides of the inlet  122  and the inner housing  110 , and is configured of a first side located at the inner space  111  and a second side located below the outer housing  120 . The outlet tube  144  integrally-passes through second sides of the outlet  124  and the inner housing  110 , and is configured of a first side located at the inner space  111  and a second side located below the outer housing  120 . The inlet tube  142  allows external water to flow into the housing, and the outlet tube  144  allows hot water passing through a second coil tube  146   b  to be discharged to the outside of the outer housing  120 . The heat exchange tube  146 , the heater  148 , the diaphragm  150 , and the water supply member  170  will be described with reference to  FIG. 5 . 
     The hot air generating means  160  includes the air intake port  162 , the exhaust port  164 , and the exhaust fan  166 . The air intake port  162  and the exhaust port  164  are provided in the outer housing  120  as described above. The exhaust fan  166  is a general configuration including a fan operated by a motor. The exhaust fan  166  is mounted in a position corresponding to the exhaust port  164  of the separation space  130  to allow external air to flow into the separation space  130  through the air intake port  162 , and to allow air flowing into the separation space  130  to be discharged through the exhaust port  164 . Operation of the hot air generating means  160  will be described with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 5  is a view schematically showing the inside of the storage type electric water heater with the hot air generating function according to the present invention.  FIG. 6  is a view schematically showing the hot water generating means of the storage type electric water heater with the hot air generating function according to the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 to 6 , the hot water generating means  140  includes the inlet tube  142 , the outlet tube  144 , the heat exchange tube  146 , and the heater  148 . The heat exchange tube  146  includes: a first coil tube  146   a  provided in an upper side of the inner space  111 ; the second coil tube  146   b  provided in a lower side of the inner space  111 ; a first connection tube  146   c  connecting the inlet  122  and the first coil tube  146   a ; a second connection tube  146   d  connecting the first coil tube  146   a  and the second coil tube  146   b ; a third connection tube  146   e  connecting the second coil tube  146   b  and the outlet  124 . The first coil tube  146   a  is located at the upper side of the inner space  111 , the second coil tube  146   b  may be located at the lower side of the inner space  111  to be spaced apart downwardly from the first coil tube  146   a . The first and second coil tubes  146   a  and  146   b  are formed by winding a pipe into a coil form. Since the heat-exchange area of the coil form with water stored in the inner space  111  is large, heat exchange efficiency is improved. The heater  148  heats the first coil tube  146   a  or the second coil tube  146   b , for example, the heater  148  is configured to radiate heat by electricity. The heater  148  may be located at the center of the second coil tube  146   b  to supply heat to the second coil tube  146   b . In addition, a temperature sensor (not shown) may be provided in the third connection tube  146   e  or the outlet tube  144 , and a power switch (not shown) may be further provided to turn ON/OFF power of the heater  148  depending on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor. 
     Meanwhile, in the embodiment of the present invention, the first coil tube  146   a  is configured as one, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In some cases, the first coil tube  146   a  may be configured as a plurality of interconnected coil tubes. 
     The diaphragm  150  is provided between the first coil tube  146   a  and the second coil tube  146   b , and is configured to cover an outer circumference of the second coil tube  146   b . The diaphragm  150  protrudes upward from an inner bottom of the inner housing  110 , and includes a pair of side walls  152  between which the second coil tube  146   b  and the heater  148  are provided, and a connecting portion  154  connecting upper sides of the pair of side walls  152  to each other. The side walls  152  and the connecting portion  154  are formed in a plate shape, and the second coil tube  146   b  and the heater  148  are provided in a space formed by the side walls  152  and the connecting portion  154 . Thus, a flow of water which is stored in the inner space  111  of the inner housing  110  and rises due to heat-exchange with the heater  148  or the second coil tube  146   b  is blocked by the diaphragm  150 , so the temperature of water located below the diaphragm  150  is higher than the temperature of water located around the first coil tube  146   a.    
     The water supply member  170  controls a level of water stored in the inner space  111  of the inner housing  110  to be constant. The water supply member  170  includes a float  172  installed to ascend or descend by the level of water stored in the inner space  111 , a float switch  174  coupled to the float  172  by a hinge and regulating supply of water depending on a position of the float  172 , and a supply tube  176  supplying water to the float switch  174 . The float  172  is configured to float above a water surface of water stored in the inner space  111  by buoyancy in the water. The supply tube  176  is connected to the inlet  122  and supplies water flowing into the inner housing  110  to the float switch  174 . When the float  172  ascends above a predetermined height of the inner space  111 , the float switch  174  blocks water in the supply tube  176  from being supplied to the inner space  111 , and when the float  172  descends below the predetermined height of the inner space  111 , the float switch  174  allows water in the supply tube  176  to be supplied to the inner space  111 . Accordingly, the level of water stored in the inner space  111  by the water supply member  170  remains constant. 
     Hereinafter, the operation of the storage type electric water heater with the hot air generating function according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described. 
       FIG. 7  is a sectional view taken along B-B′ line of  FIG. 2 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 7 , external water, such as direct receiving type tap water, flowing into the inner space  111  of the inner housing  110  through the inlet passes through the first connection tube  146   c  and moves to the first coil tube  146   a . Here, the inner space  111  of the inner housing  110  contains water, and water in the inner space  111  has a higher temperature than the temperature of the tap water by the heater  148 . Accordingly, water in the first coil tube  146   a  firstly increases in temperature by being heat-exchanged with water in the inner space  111  of the inner housing  110 . 
     Then, water moved along the first coil tube  146   a  passes through the second connection tube  146   d  and moves to the second coil tube  146   b . Since the second coil tube  146   b  is provided with the heater  148 , water moved to the second coil tube  146   b  secondarily increases in the temperature by being heat-exchanged with the heater  148 . Since the diaphragm  150  is provided in the outside of the second coil tube  146   b , the flow of water which is stored in the inner housing  110  and rises due to heat-exchange with the heater  148  or the second coil tube  146   b  is blocked by the diaphragm  150 . Therefore, heat of hot water between the diaphragm  150  and the second coil tube  146   b  is not transferred to the upper side of the inner housing  110  and the hot water is heat-exchanged with the second coil tube  146   b , so water moving along the second coil tube  146   b  increases in temperature. 
     That is, water moved to the second coil tube  146   b  increases in temperature by the heater  148 , and further increases in temperature by the hot water between the diaphragm  150  and the second coil tube  146   b . Accordingly, the water moved to the second coil tube  146   b  is tapped at a high temperature that is equal to or higher than 40° C. 
     In addition, since water flowing into the inner housing  110  through the inlet  122  becomes hot water while passing through the first and second coil tubes  146   a  and  146   b , it is possible to instantaneously tap a large amount of hot water without directly heating a large amount of water in the inner housing  110 . 
     In addition, since external cold water does not flow into the inner housing  110 , the temperature of water in the inner housing  110  cannot decrease sharply, and since water stored in the inner housing  110  is not periodically replaced, the inside of the inner housing  110  cannot be contaminated by foreign materials in water. 
     Meanwhile, when the exhaust fan  166  is operated, external air flows into the separation space  130  through the air intake port  162 , and air flowing into the separation space  130  is discharged through the exhaust port  164 . Since the inner housing  110  is heated by water stored in the inner space  111 , air flowing into the separation space  130  is heat-exchanged with the inner housing  110  and becomes hot air, and is discharged through the exhaust port  164 . 
     Since the electric water heater of the present invention is provided with the hot air generating means  160 , air flowing into the separation space  130  can be discharged to the outside of the separation space  130  through the exhaust port  164  in a heated state at a high temperature. In addition, since air moving along the separation space  130  is guided to the exhaust port  164  as slowly as possible while being guided by the air guide portion  132 , air moving along the air guide portion  132  is heat-exchanged with the side portions  116  heated by the heater  148  while being in contact with the side portions  116  for a long period of time, and heat-exchange efficiency is improved 
     Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.