INSTANTANEOUS HEATING APPARATUS
An instantaneous heating apparatus is disclosed. The instantaneous heating apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a water inlet part into which water flows from the outside; a flow part in which the water, flowing into the water inlet part, flows; a heating part for heating the water flowing in the flow part; and a water outlet part for discharging, to the outside, the water heated by the heating part, wherein the flow part can comprise: a passage forming member disposed inside the heating part; and a close-pressing part for bringing the passage forming member into close contact with the heating part such that a heating passage is formed between the heating part and the passage forming member.
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The present disclosure relates to an instantaneous heating apparatus heating introduced water to a predetermined temperature within a relatively short period of time and supplying the heated water to users and, more particularly, to an instantaneous heating apparatus capable of significantly reducing deformation of a heating passage in which water is heated while flowing.
BACKGROUND ARTA hot water tank is an apparatus that heats stored water to a predetermined temperature and then supplies the heated water to users. For this purpose, the hot water tank needs to constantly maintain the stored water at a predetermined temperature. For example, when the temperature of water heated to a predetermined temperature becomes lower than the predetermined temperature, the hot water tank repeats the reheating of the water to the predetermined temperature or higher, so that the stored water is maintained constantly at the predetermined temperature.
In this way, since the hot water tank needs to maintain the stored water constantly at the predetermined temperature, a relatively large amount of energy is required to heat water, and because water is stored in the hot water tank for a long period of time, there has been a problem with hygiene, due to the corrosion of the internal surface of the hot water tank or to water scale thereon by the water.
In order to solve this problem of such a hot water tank, an instantaneous heating apparatus has been developed, which heats water to a predetermined temperature within a relatively short period of time and supplies the heated water to users.
Accordingly, since the instantaneous heating apparatus heats only a required amount of water to a predetermined temperature and supplies the heated water to users, a relatively small amount of energy is required to heat the water and, since the instantaneous heating apparatus does not store the water, it becomes hygienic.
Such an instantaneous heating apparatus is configured to directly heat flowing water, in general. For this purpose, the instantaneous heating apparatus includes a heating passage in which the water is heated while flowing.
The heating passage heats the flowing water directly and has the longest length possible, so as to increase a time to heat the water. To this end, the heating passage is formed by combining various types of members rather than only one member. For example, the heating passage is formed by inserting one member inside another member, in a fitting fashion.
Meanwhile, the heating passage has a predetermined volume such that the water is not locally overheated while flowing.
However, when the heating passage is formed in the combination of the members as described above, the heating passage is deformed relatively frequently in the formation of the heating passage or in the use of the instantaneous heating apparatus, so that the heating passage might not have the predetermined volume.
Accordingly, the water flowing in the heating passage is locally overheated relatively frequently in a deformed portion of the heating passage, and water splashing may occur when water is discharged through a discharge member such as a cock or a faucet.
When water splashes, as described above, user accidents, such as burns caused by the splash of water, may occur.
DISCLOSURE Technical ProblemThe present disclosure has been made to recognize at least one of the requirements or problems occurring in the related art as described above.
An aspect of the present disclosure may provide a significant reduction of the deformation of a heating passage formed in an instantaneous heating apparatus, such that water is heated while flowing in the heating passage.
Another aspect of the present disclosure may provide a significant reduction of the occurrence of water splashing when the water flowing in the heating passage is locally overheated and discharged to the outside.
Another aspect of the present disclosure may provide for the prevention of user accidents, such as burns caused by water splashed when water is overheated and discharged.
Technical SolutionAn instantaneous heating apparatus, in relation to an embodiment for realizing at least one of the tasks above, may have the following features.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an instantaneous heating apparatus may include: a water inlet part, into which water flows from the outside; a flow part in which the water flowing into the water inlet part flows; a heating part for heating the water flowing in the flow part; and a water outlet part for discharging the water, heated by the heating part, to the outside, in which the flow part may include: a passage forming member disposed inside the heating part; and a close-pressing part for bringing the passage forming member into close contact with the heating part, such that a heating passage is formed between the heating part and the passage forming member.
The close-pressing part may include a pressing member inserted in an insertion part formed inside the passage forming member so as to press the passage forming member toward the heating part.
The close-pressing part may further include a pressing force acting member applying a pressing force to the pressing member.
The pressing member may be provided in plural, and a plurality of pressing members may be coupled to each other to form a hollow, elliptical or polygonal cylinder corresponding to the shape of the insertion part.
The pressing force acting member may have the shape of a cylindrical, elliptical or polygonal column corresponding to the hollow, elliptical or polygonal cylinder formed by coupling the pressing members.
The external diameter of the pressing force acting member may be greater than the internal diameter of the hollow, elliptical or polygonal cylinder formed by coupling the pressing members.
The pressing force acting member may have a fitting protrusion fitted into a fitting hole formed in the insertion part.
The passage forming member may be formed of silicon.
The passage forming groove forming the heating passage may be formed on the outer circumference of the passage forming member.
The passage forming groove may have a spiral shape.
A water inlet passage and a water outlet passage may be formed in the water inlet part and the water outlet part, respectively.
A portion of the water inlet part and a portion of the water outlet part may be inserted in one side and the other side of the insertion part, respectively, formed inside the passage forming member.
A first connection hole and a second connection hole, connecting each of the water inlet passage and the water outlet passage to the heating passage, may be formed in the one side and the other side of the passage forming member, respectively.
The water inlet part or the water outlet part may include a temperature sensor, measuring the temperature of water flowing in the water inlet passage or the water outlet passage.
The heating part may include: a heating member having the passage forming member disposed therein; and a heater attached to the heating member to heat the heating member.
The heater may be a surface-type heater.
The instantaneous heating apparatus may further include a cover part covering the water inlet part, the heating part and the water outlet part.
The cover part may include: a water inlet-side cover member covering the water inlet part and a portion of the heating part; and a water outlet-side cover member coupled to the water inlet-side cover member to cover the remainder of the heating part and the water outlet part.
Advantageous EffectsAccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure as described above, the passage forming member may come into close contact with the heating part by the close-pressing part so as to form the heating passage, in which water maybe heated while flowing, between the heating part and the passage forming member.
Further, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the deformation of the heating passage maybe significantly reduced.
Further, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the occurrence of the water splashing when water flowing in the heating passage is locally overheated and discharged to the outside may be significantly reduced.
Further, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, user accidents, such as burns caused by water splashed when water is overheated and discharged, may be prevented.
To help understand the foregoing features of the present invention, an instantaneous water heater in relation to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Thus, the present invention can be variably modified within the scope of the present invention through the embodiments described below, and such modifications are within the scope of the present invention. In order to help understand the embodiments described hereinafter, like or similar reference numerals are used for relevant components among the components having the same function in the respective embodiments in the accompanying drawings.
Hereinafter, an embodiment of an instantaneous heating apparatus according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to
In addition,
An embodiment of the instantaneous heating apparatus according to the present disclosure may include a water inlet part 200, a flow part 300, a heating part 400, and a water outlet part 500.
Water may flow into the water inlet part 200 from the outside, as illustrated in
The water inlet passage 210 may have, for example, an ‘L’ shape, as illustrated in
The water inlet part 200 may include a water inlet nipple 220. A portion of the foregoing water inlet passage 210 may be formed in the water inlet nipple 220. The water inlet nipple 220 may be connected to a water supply (not illustrated) such as a storage tank or a water filter by, for example, a fitting member (not illustrated) or the like.
Accordingly, as illustrated in
A sealing member insertion groove 230 may be formed on the water inlet part 200. A sealing member O such as, for example, an O-ring or the like, as illustrated in
The water inlet part 200 may include a temperature sensor (not illustrated). The temperature sensor may be provided in the water inlet part 200 in order to measure the temperature of water flowing in the water inlet passage 210 of the water inlet part 200.
For example, the temperature sensor may be provided in the water inlet nipple 220 of the water inlet part 200. However, the position of the temperature sensor in the water inlet part 200 is not particularly limited, and the temperature sensor may be provided in any position of the water inlet part 200.
In addition, the temperature of the water flowing in the water inlet passage 210, measured by the temperature sensor, may be used, for example, to adjust the heating value of the heating part 400 when water flowing in a heating passage R is heated by the heating part 400, to be described later.
As illustrated in
For this purpose, the flow part 300 may include a passage forming member 310. The passage forming member 310, as illustrated in
Thus, the heating passage R may be formed between the heating part 400 and the passage forming member 310, as illustrated in
The passage forming groove 312, formed on the passage forming member 310, may be, for example, spiral, as illustrated in
However, the shape of the passage forming groove 312 is not particularly limited, and any shape, such as a zigzag shape or the like, may be used as long as the heating passage R may be formed between the heating part 400 and the passage forming member 310.
A first connection hole 313, connecting the water inlet passage 210 to the heating passage R, may be formed in one side of the passage forming member 310, for example, a lower portion, as illustrated in
Thus, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
Accordingly, the water flowing in the heating passage R may move to the water outlet passage 510 of the water outlet part 500 through the second connection hole 314 and flow in the water outlet part 500, to then be discharged to the outside.
A fitting hole 311a, as illustrated in
The passage forming member 310 may be formed of silicon. Silicon may have a relatively low thermal deformation point, and does not have a bad influence on water, such as the emission of harmful substances such as a carcinogen or the like, when in contact with water.
In addition, since silicon has relatively high elasticity, silicon may allow a portion of the passage forming member 310, except for the passage forming groove 312, to readily come into close contact with the heating part 400 by the close-pressing part 320, as described below, to form the heating passage R.
Thus, when the passage forming member 310 is formed of silicon to form the heating passage R between the passage forming member 310 and the heating part 400, the heating passage R may not be deformed or closed due to thermal deformation and the water flowing in the heating passage R may not be corrupted.
In addition, the close-pressing part 320 may allow the portion of the passage forming member 310, except for the passage forming groove 312, to readily come into close contact with the heating part 400, to easily form the heating passage R.
However, a material forming the passage forming member 310 is not limited to the foregoing silicon, and any well-known material maybe used as long as it may have a relatively low thermal deformation point, does not corrupt water when in contact with the water, and may have relatively high elasticity.
As illustrated in
Accordingly, the deformation of the heating passage R may be significantly reduced as compared to a heating passage R, formed between the passage forming member 310 and the heating part 400, by inserting the passage forming member 310 in the heating part 400 in a fitting manner.
Thus, when the water flowing in the heating passage is locally overheated and discharged to the outside, the occurrence of water splashing may be significantly reduced and user accidents, such as burns caused by water splashed when water is locally overheated and discharged, may be prevented.
For this purpose, the close-pressing part 320 may include a pressing member 321. As illustrated in
Accordingly, as illustrated in
Such a pressing member 321 may be provided in plural. For example, as illustrated in
In addition, the pressing members 321 may be coupled to each other to form a hollow, elliptical, or polygonal cylinder corresponding to the shape of the insertion part 311 of the passage forming member 310. For example, as illustrated in
However, as described above, the number of pressing members 321 may be three or more, and the pressing members 321 may be coupled to each other to form an elliptical or polygonal cylinder.
The pressing member 321 of the foregoing configuration, as illustrated in
The close-pressing part 320 may further include the pressing force acting member 322. The pressing force acting member 322 may apply a pressing force to the pressing member 321.
To this end, the pressing force acting member 322 may have the shape of a cylindrical, elliptical, or polygonal column corresponding to the hollow, elliptical, or polygonal cylinder formed by coupling the pressing members 321, as illustrated in
In addition, the external diameter D1 of the pressing force acting member 322 may be greater than the internal diameter D2 of the hollow, elliptical, or polygonal cylinder formed by coupling the pressing members 321.
Accordingly, when the pressing force acting member 322 is inserted in the hollow, elliptical, or polygonal cylinder formed of the pressing members 321 inserted in the insertion part 311 of the passage forming member 310, pressing force may act on the pressing members 321 to press the passage forming member 310 in the outer direction of the radius while the pressing members 321 are spread.
The heating part 400 may heat water flowing in the flow part 300. That is, as illustrated in
As described above, since the water flowing in the heating passage R is directly heated by the heating part 400, the water may be heated to a desired temperature within a relatively short period of time.
The heating part 400 may include a heating member 410 and a heater 420.
The passage forming member 310 may be disposed inside the heating member 410. Accordingly, the portion of the passage forming member 310, except for the passage forming groove 312, may come into close contact with the inner surface of the passage forming member 310 to form the heating passage R.
The heating member 410, as illustrated in
The heating member 410 may be formed of stainless steel. Accordingly, since the heating member 410 is heated relatively quickly by the heater 420, to be described below, due to a high thermal conductivity thereof, the heating member 410 may heat the water flowing in the heating passage R more quickly. In addition, the heating member 410 may not be corroded by water.
However, a material forming the heating member 410 is not particularly limited, and any material may be used as long as it may have a high thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance to water.
The heater 420, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
For this purpose, the water outlet passage 510 may be formed in the water inlet part 500.
The water outlet passage 510 may have, for example, an ‘L’ shape, as illustrated in
The water outlet part 500 may include a water outlet nipple 520. A portion of the foregoing water outlet passage 510 may be formed in the water outlet nipple 520. In addition, the water outlet nipple 520 may be connected to a discharge member (not illustrated) such as a cock or a faucet by, for example, a fitting member (not illustrated) or the like.
Accordingly, as illustrated in
A sealing member insertion groove 530 may be formed on the water outlet part 500. A sealing member O such as, for example, an O-ring or the like, as illustrated in
The water outlet part 500 may also include a temperature sensor (not illustrated). The temperature sensor may be provided in the water outlet part 500 in order to measure the temperature of water flowing in the water outlet passage 510 of the water outlet part 500.
For example, the temperature sensor may be provided in the water outlet nipple 520 of the water outlet part 500. However, the position of the temperature sensor in the water outlet part 500 is not particularly limited, and the temperature sensor may be provided in any position of the water outlet part 500.
In addition, the temperature of the water flowing in the water outlet passage 510, measured by the temperature sensor, may be used to adjust the heating value of the heating part 400, such that the water flowing in the heating passage R may not be overheated, when the water flowing in the heating passage R is heated by the aforementioned heating part 400, for example.
As illustrated in
The cover part 600, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
The water inlet-side cover member 610, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
A coupling groove 612 may be formed on the water inlet-side cover member 610, for example, on the inside of the open upper portion of the water inlet-side cover member 610. The coupling groove 612 may have an ‘L’ shape, as illustrated in
A coupling protrusion 622, to be described later, which is formed on the water outlet-side cover member 620, may be inserted in the coupling groove 612. Accordingly, the water outlet-side cover member 620 may be coupled to the water inlet-side cover member 610.
The shape of the coupling groove 612 is not particularly limited, and any well-known shape may be used as long as the coupling protrusion 622 of the water outlet-side cover member 620 may be inserted in the coupling groove 612, such that the water outlet-side cover member 620 may be coupled to the water inlet-side cover member 610.
The water outlet-side cover member 620 may be coupled to the water inlet-side cover member 610. In addition, the water outlet-side cover member 620 may cover the remainder of the heating part 400 and the water outlet part 500.
To this end, the water outlet-side cover member 620 may have the shape of a cylinder whose lower portion is open. However, the shape of the water outlet-side cover member 620 is not particularly limited, and any shape may be used as long as the water outlet-side cover member 620 may cover the remainder of the heating part 400 and the water outlet part 500.
As illustrated in
The coupling protrusion 622 may be formed on the outside of the open lower portion of the water outlet-side cover member 620, for example.
In addition, the lower portion of the water outlet-side cover member 620 maybe inserted in the upper portion of the water inlet-side cover member 610. The coupling protrusion 622 of the water outlet-side cover member 620 may be inserted in the above-mentioned coupling groove 612 of the water inlet-side cover member 610 so that the water outlet-side cover member 620 may be coupled to the water inlet-side cover member 610.
The shape of the coupling protrusion 622 is not particularly limited, and any shape maybe used as long as the coupling protrusion 622 maybe inserted in the coupling groove 612 of the water inlet-side cover member 610.
An installation hole 623 maybe formed in the water outlet-side cover member 620. A bimetal (not illustrated) may be installed in the installation hole 623, or an electric wire or the like connected to the heater 420 may pass through the installation hole 623.
As described above, use of the instantaneous heating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may allow the passage forming member to come into close contact with the heating part by the close-pressing part so as to form the heating passage, in which water is heated while flowing, formed between the heating part and the passage forming member, may significantly reduce the deformation of the heating passage, may significantly reduce the occurrence of water splashing when the water flowing in the heating passage is locally overheated and discharged to the outside, and may prevent user accidents such as burns caused by water splashed, caused by overheating.
The instantaneous water heater as described above is not limited in its application of the configurations of the foregoing embodiments, but the entirety or a portion of the embodiments can be selectively combined to be configured to have various modifications.
Claims
1. An instantaneous heating apparatus comprising:
- a water inlet part into which water flows from the outside;
- a flow part in which the water flowing into the water inlet part flows;
- a heating part for heating the water flowing in the flow part; and
- a water outlet part for discharging the water heated by the heating part to the outside,
- wherein the flow part comprises:
- a passage forming member disposed inside the heating part; and
- a close-pressing part for bringing the passage forming member into close contact with the heating part such that a heating passage is formed between the heating part and the passage forming member.
2. The instantaneous heating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the close-pressing part comprises a pressing member inserted in an insertion part formed inside the passage forming member so as to press the passage forming member toward the heating part.
3. The instantaneous heating apparatus of claim 2, wherein the close-pressing part further comprises a pressing force acting member applying pressing force to the pressing member.
4. The instantaneous heating apparatus of claim 3, wherein the pressing member is provided in plural, and a plurality of pressing members are coupled to each other to form a hollow, elliptical or polygonal cylinder corresponding to the shape of the insertion part.
5. The instantaneous heating apparatus of claim 4, wherein the pressing force acting member has the shape of a cylindrical, elliptical or polygonal column corresponding to the hollow, elliptical or polygonal cylinder formed by coupling the pressing members.
6. The instantaneous heating apparatus of claim 5, wherein the external diameter of the pressing force acting member is greater than the internal diameter of the hollow, elliptical or polygonal cylinder formed by coupling the pressing members.
7. The instantaneous heating apparatus of claim 3, wherein the pressing force acting member has a fitting protrusion fitted into a fitting hole formed in the insertion part.
8. The instantaneous heating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the passage forming member is formed of silicon.
9. The instantaneous heating apparatus of claim 1, wherein a passage forming groove forming the heating passage is formed on the outer circumference of the passage forming member.
10. The instantaneous heating apparatus of claim 9, wherein the passage forming groove has a spiral shape.
11. The instantaneous heating apparatus of claim 1, wherein a water inlet passage and a water outlet passage are formed in the water inlet part and the water outlet part, respectively.
12. The instantaneous heating apparatus of claim 11, wherein a portion of the water inlet part and a portion of the water outlet part are inserted in one side and the other side of the insertion part, respectively, formed inside the passage forming member.
13. The instantaneous heating apparatus of claim 11, wherein a first connection hole and a second connection hole, connecting each of the water inlet passage and the water outlet passage to the heating passage, are formed in the one side and the other side of the passage forming member, respectively.
14. The instantaneous heating apparatus of claim 11, wherein the water inlet part or the water outlet part comprises a temperature sensor measuring the temperature of water flowing in the water inlet passage or the water outlet passage.
15. The instantaneous heating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heating part comprises:
- a heating member having the passage forming member disposed therein; and
- a heater attached to the heating member to heat the heating member.
16. The instantaneous heating apparatus of claim 15, wherein the heater is a surface-type heater.
17. The instantaneous heating apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cover part covering the water inlet part, the heating part and the water outlet part.
18. The instantaneous heating apparatus of claim 17, wherein the cover part comprises:
- a water inlet-side cover member covering the water inlet part and a portion of the heating part; and
- a water outlet-side cover member coupled to the water inlet-side cover member to cover the remainder of the heating part and the water outlet part.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 11, 2015
Publication Date: Feb 1, 2018
Applicant: Coway Co., Ltd. (Chungcheongnam-do)
Inventors: Jae-Man KIM (Seoul), In-Du CHOI (Seoul)
Application Number: 15/550,526