Patent ID: 12188687

While various embodiments are amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the claimed inventions to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the subject matter as defined by the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure relates to an expansion control device. The expansion control device may include and a water heater comprising the same. The expansion control device may further include a water flow sensor, a water inlet, a water heater, a controller, and an electric driving part. The water flow sensor may be arranged in the water inlet waterway. The technical solutions of embodiments of the application will be described clearly and completely with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are some but not all of the embodiments of the application. Based on the embodiments of the application, all other embodiments obtained by those having ordinary skills in the art without going through any creative work shall fall within the scope of protection of the application.

In the description of the application, it should be noted that, the orientation or positional relationships indicated by the terms “center”, “up”, “down”, “left”, “right”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “inside”, “outside” and the like are orientation or positional relationships based on the accompanying drawings, which are only for convenience and simplification of the description of this application, but are not intended to indicate or imply that the indicated device or element must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and thus, cannot be understood as a limitation to the application. Moreover, the terms “first”, “second” and “third” are used for descriptive purposes only and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

In the description of the application, it should be noted that unless expressly stipulated and defined otherwise, terms such as “installation”, “connected” and “connection”, etc., should be understood broadly, for example, the connection may be fixed connection, or detachable connection or integral connection; may be direct connection, may also be indirect connection through an intermediate medium, and may also be internal communication of two elements. The specific meaning of the above terms in the application can be understood by those having ordinary skills in the art according to a specific case.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an expansion tank control device1000may be used in a water heater assembly100, as shown inFIG.1toFIG.3. The expansion tank control device1000may comprise a water flow sensor101, a controller103, an electric driving part104, and a push plate105, all arranged within in a housing110with the remaining components of the water heater assembly100. The housing110may include a single piece, or one or more connecting sidewalls110a-110d, and optionally an electric plug116or other power source, such as a battery pack. The water flow sensor101may be arranged in a water inlet waterway112of the water heater (as shown in the figure, the water flow sensor101is arranged between a water source114and a heating tank102), and the water flow sensor101may comprise, but is not limited to, a flow sensor, a water pressure sensor or a conductivity sensor. In embodiments, the water flow sensor101sends out a first electric signal after detecting a water flow in the water inlet waterway112, and the water flow sensor101sends out a second electric signal after detecting that no water flow exists in the water inlet waterway112.

In a non-limiting example, the first electric signal may be a high level signal and the second electric signal may be a low level signal. An input end of the controller103is connected with an output end of the water flow sensor101. The controller103outputs a driving electric signal after receiving the first electric signal output by the water flow sensor101, and outputs a reset electric signal after receiving the second electric signal output by the water flow sensor101.

The electric driving part104may be arranged on a shell1061of the expansion tank106. A controlled end of the electric driving part104is connected with an output end of the controller103, and a driving end of the electric driving part104is provided with a push plate105. The controlled end of the electric driving part104drives the push plate105to move in a direction towards the expansion tank106after receiving the driving electric signal, and the controlled end of the electric driving part104drives the push plate105to move in a direction away from the expansion tank106after receiving the reset electric signal.

Specifically, with reference toFIG.2andFIG.3, when a faucet is turned on, the water inlet waterway112between the water source114and the water heater is opened, cold water enters the water heater through a water inlet1021, and the water flow sensor101detects the water flow and outputs a first electric signal to the controller103. The controller103then controls the electric driving part104to move, and the driving end of the electric driving part104extends and moves to the right, driving the push plate105to push and press the expansion tank106. The expansion tank106may be made of silica gel, or another suitable material. After being pushed by the push plate105, the water stored in the expansion tank is discharged through a drain pipe107, and the discharged water enters the heating tank102through a water inlet hose108. The hot water in the heating tank102is discharged to a water outlet1022through a drain hose109, and the water outlet1022is communicated with the faucet (not shown), and thus the faucet discharges the hot water.

In another embodiment, when the faucet is turned off, the water inlet waterway112between the water source114and the water heater100is closed, the water flow sensor101detects no water flow and then outputs a second electric signal to the controller103, then the controller103controls the electric driving part104to move, and a driving section of the electric driving part104withdraws and moves to the left, driving the push plate105to be far away from the expansion tank106. The water in the heating tank102is stored in the expansion tank106through the water inlet hose108and the drain pipe107under pressure. In this case, a part of the cavity is released from the top of the heating tank102. When an electric heater1023executes a heating operation, the cavity may be used to absorb the expansion of the water in the heating tank102during the heating process and prevent the water in the heating tank102from overflowing from the faucet. In the structure shown in the figure, the water flow sensor101is arranged at a front end of the expansion tank106, which can further avoid the occurrence of a detection signal from the water flow sensor101in the process of releasing the water in the heating tank102to the expansion tank106when the faucet is turned off, thereby improving the reliability of the expansion tank106.

In the foregoing embodiment, the electric driving part104may be realized by an electric cylinder, an electric worm gear or the like, i.e., a member capable of extending or retracting the driving end. The controller103may be realized directly by a control module of the water heater itself.

According to the embodiment above, the water flow sensor101is used to detect whether the faucet is turned on. When the faucet is turned on, water flow can be detected in the water inlet waterway112of the water heater100, and the controller103controls the electric driving part104to drive the push plate105to move in the direction towards to the expansion tank106so as to push out the water stored in the expansion tank106. When the faucet is turned off, no water flow is detected in the water inlet waterway of the water heater, and the controller103controls the electric driving part104to drive the push plate105to move in the direction away from the expansion tank106so as to suck part of the water in the heating tank102into the expansion tank106and form a cavity at the top of the heating tank102. This helps to absorb the volume expansion of the water in the heating process and prevent the hot water from flowing out from a water outlet of the faucet. In the above solution, the functions of the expansion tank106are realized by the electric driving part104, which is not influenced by a water pressure, and is more reliable.

According toFIG.2andFIG.3, the expansion tank control device1000further comprises a venturi pipe1062, which is arranged on the water inlet waterway of the water heater and located at an outlet of the expansion tank106, and may be connected with the drain pipe107of the heating tank102. In one embodiment, the venturi pipe1062is arranged at a downstream position of the waterway of the water flow sensor101to provide a supporting force for the water flow sensor101. The venturi tube1062may have a jet orifice structure. When cold water passes through the venturi tube1062, a negative pressure is generated at the drain pipe107. Through the negative pressure of the venturi effect and the driving effect of the electric driving part104, the drainage effect of the expansion tank106may reduce a thrust of the electric driving part104, improving the control effect and reducing the cost.

Further, the expansion tank control device1000may comprise a fixed seat arranged on the shell1061of the expansion tank106, and the electric driving part104is arranged on the fixed seat. The shell1061of the expansion tank106may be made of a rigid material, and the fixed seat can also be made of a rigid material. The internal members of the water heater100may all be made of waterproof and non-oxidizable materials. In some embodiments, a through hole is formed on the fixed seat, and the driving end of the electric driving part104may move along the through hole.

As shown inFIG.3, a through hole corresponding to the push plate105may be formed on the shell1061of the expansion tank, and the push plate105can pass through the through hole. The electric driving part104may be a member capable of extending or retracting the driving end. For example, as shown inFIG.3, the electric driving part104comprises an electromagnet1041. A controlled end of the electromagnet1041is powered on after receiving the driving electric signal, and a driving end of the electromagnet moves in the direction close to the expansion tank106. The controlled end of the electromagnet1041may be powered off after receiving the reset electric signal, and the driving end of the electromagnet moves in the direction far away from the expansion tank. The push plate105presses or moves far away from the expansion tank106under the action of the electromagnet1041.

Referring toFIG.4, a chute1063is formed in the through hole; and an outer wall of the nut1044is formed with a rib1045matched with the chute1063. The rib1045moves along the chute1063to ensure the stability of the push plate105in pushing and pressing the expansion tank106. The expansion tank control device1000further comprises a fixing piece1064. The fixed seat comprises a pair of fixing lugs1065, and fixing holes are formed on the fixing lugs1065. A connecting hole is formed on a shell of the electric driving part104, and the fixing piece1064penetrates through the connecting hole and the fixing hole in turn to fix the electric driving part104. InFIG.4, the motor is fixed in the fixing hole with a screw, so as to improve the stability of the motor1042in the working process.

As shown inFIG.4, the push plate105may be placed between the shell1061of the expansion tank and the expansion tank106, the electric driving part104is arranged on the other side of the shell1061of the expansion tank, and the driving end of the electric driving part104may penetrate through the through hole, and the through hole is adapted to a shape of the driving end.

Referring now toFIG.4andFIG.5, the electric driving part104comprises a motor1042, a screw rod1043, and a nut1044arranged in the through hole. The push plate105is connected with the nut1044and one end of the screw rod1043is connected with an output shaft of the motor1042, and the other end of the screw rod1043is connected with the nut1044. After receiving the driving electric signal, the controlled end of the motor1042drives the screw rod1043to rotate in a first direction (for example, clockwise), and the nut1044moves along the through hole in the direction close to the expansion tank106. After receiving the reset electric signal, the controlled end of the motor1042drives the screw rod1043to rotate in a second direction (for example, anticlockwise), and the nut1044moves along the through hole in the direction far away from the expansion tank106.

According toFIGS.4and5, a structure such as a turbine worm may be used to facilitate the process in the embodiment above. A similar structure may be used according to another embodiment. In the above solution, the electric driving part104can be operated according to the control of the controller and is not affected by the water pressure, thus ensuring that the functions of the expansion tank106are not affected.

As shown inFIG.6, some embodiments of the application provide a water heater assembly100, wherein the water heater assembly100comprises the expansion tank control device1000described in any one of the above, and further comprises a faucet assembly20, which comprises a cold water faucet201and a hot water faucet202. When the hot water faucet202is turned on, the push plate105is driven to push and press the expansion tank106by using the signal of the water flow sensor so as to push out the stored water in the expansion tank106; after the hot water faucet202is turned off, the signal of the water flow sensor indicates that there is no water flow, and the push plate105is driven to withdraw to suck the stored water in the heating tank102into the expansion tank106, and form a cavity at the top of the heating tank102to absorb the volume expansion of the water during heating and prevent the hot water from flowing out from the water outlet of the faucet. The functions of the expansion tank106in this embodiment are not affected by tap water pressure, and are more reliable.

According to another embodiment of the expansion tank control device and the water heater comprising same, the water flow sensor may be used to detect whether a faucet is turned on. When the faucet is turned on, the water flow can be detected in the water inlet waterway of the water heater. The controller controls the electric driving part to drive the push plate to move in the direction towards the expansion tank so as to push out the water stored in the expansion tank. When the faucet is turned off, no water flow is detected in the water inlet waterway of the water heater. The controller then controls the electric driving part to drive the push plate to move in the direction away from the expansion tank so as to suck a portion of the water in the heating tank, into the expansion tank. This action may form a cavity at the top of the heating tank to absorb the volume expansion of the water in the heating process and prevent the hot water from flowing out from a water outlet of the faucet. Use of the electric driving part may result in more reliability, because the electric driving part is not influenced by water pressure.

Various embodiments of systems, devices, and methods have been described herein. These embodiments are given only by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed inventions. It should be appreciated, moreover, that the various features of the embodiments that have been described may be combined in various ways to produce numerous additional embodiments. Moreover, while various materials, dimensions, shapes, configurations and locations, etc. have been described for use with disclosed embodiments, others besides those disclosed may be utilized without exceeding the scope of the claimed inventions.

Persons of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize that the subject matter hereof may comprise fewer features than illustrated in any individual embodiment described above. The embodiments described herein are not meant to be an exhaustive presentation of the ways in which the various features of the subject matter hereof may be combined. Accordingly, the embodiments are not mutually exclusive combinations of features; rather, the various embodiments can comprise a combination of different individual features selected from different individual embodiments, as understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, elements described with respect to one embodiment can be implemented in other embodiments even when not described in such embodiments unless otherwise noted.

Although a dependent claim may refer in the claims to a specific combination with one or more other claims, other embodiments can also include a combination of the dependent claim with the subject matter of each other dependent claim or a combination of one or more features with other dependent or independent claims. Such combinations are proposed herein unless it is stated that a specific combination is not intended.

Any incorporation by reference of documents above is limited such that no subject matter is incorporated that is contrary to the explicit disclosure herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is further limited such that no claims included in the documents are incorporated by reference herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is yet further limited such that any definitions provided in the documents are not incorporated by reference herein unless expressly included herein.

For purposes of interpreting the claims, it is expressly intended that the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) are not to be invoked unless the specific terms “means for” or “step for” are recited in a claim.