COOLING DEVICE FOR NEAR INSTANTANEOUS WATER HEATER FOR KITCHEN OR BATH PRODUCTS

Abstract

The present application relates to a near instantaneous water heater for kitchen or bath products such as a toilet bidet or bidet. The water heater includes a cold water chamber such that water entering the water heater flows through the cold water chamber before it is heated within a heating chamber. A heating element that heats the water in the heating chamber is provided current for heating by a driver (e.g., a silicon controlled rectifier). A thermally conductive member is provided to thermally couple the driver with water in the cold water chamber, thereby using the water in the cold water chamber to cool the driver.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201120170873.9, filed May 25, 2011, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a heater for heating water used in kitchen or bath products (e.g., faucets, toilet bidet, bidet, smart toilet, or any other kitchen or bath product having a need for locally heated water).

In some existing water heaters, a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) is used for controlling the temperature of the water in and output by the heater. Conventionally, the SCR is mounted on the circuit board. When the SCR is at an ON state for operation and providing driving current to the heating element, due to the internal resistance of the SCR, the SCR will also generate heat and thus its temperature increases. High temperature can damage the SCR or the circuit board. Conventional heaters sometimes mount cooling fins on the SCR for improved heat dissipation. Conventional heaters may also use the body of the hot water chamber to cool the SCR (e.g., to remove heat from the SCR beyond the level of the heat in the hot water chamber). A need exists for improved cooling of the SCR (or another heating driver) in water heating devices for kitchen or bath appliances.

SUMMARY

One embodiment of the invention relates to a near instantaneous water heater for kitchen or bath products such as a toilet bidet or bidet. The water heater includes a cold water chamber such that water entering the water heater flows through the cold water chamber before it is heated within a heating chamber. A heating element that heats the water in the heating chamber is provided current for heating by a driver (e.g., a silicon controlled rectifier). A thermally conductive member is provided to thermally couple the driver with water in the cold water chamber, thereby using the water in the cold water chamber to cool the driver.

An objective of the present invention is to provide an instantaneous (i.e., near instantaneous) water heater for kitchen or bath products which can achieve an effective cooling for the SCR (or another heating driver). To achieve this objective, embodiments of the present invention include a cold water chamber provided on the casing of the water heater and a heat conductive member thermally conductively connecting the cold water chamber and the silicon controlled rectifier (or another type of heating driver). The water heater device may include a heating element, a casing, and a circuit board mounted on the casing. The casing may include a water inlet, an outlet and a heating water chamber. The heating element can be within the heating water chamber or otherwise configured to heat the water within the heating water chamber. The circuit board can have a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) connected thereto.

Each of the cold water chamber and the heating water chamber may include an inlet and an outlet. The inlet of the cold water chamber may be fluidly coupled with the inlet of the casing. The outlet of the cold water chamber may be fluidly coupled with the inlet of the heating water chamber. The outlet of the heating water chamber may be fluidly coupled with the outlet of the casing. The heat conductive member may be mounted at the top of the cold water chamber, and may make contact with water in the cold water chamber (or with an intermediate and thermally conductive coupler).

In some embodiments, the casing has a structure with a rectangular flat shape. The cold water chamber is provided at the top of the casing with an opening. The opening of the cold water chamber has a substantially rectangular shape with its short sides having an arched shape. The cold water chamber is provided at a top surface at a corner of the casing. Its long side lateral face is located on a first short side lateral face of the casing, and the long side has a length less than that of the short side of the casing. The cold water chamber has a short side lateral face located on a first long side lateral face of the casing.

In some embodiments, the circuit board and the heat conductive member on top of the cold water chamber are mounted in parallel on the top surface of the casing. The heat conductive member includes a body portion and a connection portion. The body portion is mounted at the opening on top of the cold water chamber and contacts or otherwise thermally couples with water in the cold water chamber. The connection portion is connected with the silicon controlled rectifier and the circuit board.

In varying embodiments, a screw hole is provided outside each of the four corners of the cold water chamber. The body portion of the heat conductive member has a shape to match the opening on top of the cold water chamber, and extends towards the surroundings horizontally. The extending portions at the surroundings are provided with screw holes matching the screw holes outside the four corners of the cold water chamber, respectively.

The connection portion of the heat conductive member can include a first connection terminal and a second connection terminal. The first connection terminal is a plate-shaped structure further extending from the extending portion of the body portion. The plate-shaped structure is mounted on the circuit board. The silicon controlled rectifier is mounted on the plate-shaped structure. The second connection terminal and the first connection terminal are located on the same side, presenting a step structure further extending from the extending portion of the body portion. The step structure has a step face matching the lateral face of the circuit board for mounting.

The body portion of the heat conductive member may have a portion matching the opening on top of the cold water chamber which is a step shape groove structure, the step shape groove has a bottom face extending into the cold water chamber.

The bottom face of the step shape groove structure may have an area less than or equal to that of the opening on top of the cold water chamber.

A seal ring may be provided between the body portion of the heat conductive member and the opening on top of the cold water chamber.

The heat conductive member may be a heat conductive copper plate, aluminum plate, or other metal heat conductive member having excellent heat conductive performance.

The outlet of the cold water chamber is fluidly coupled, via an intermediate passage, with the inlet of the heating water chamber. One or more partitions may be provided in the cold water chamber and/or the heating water chamber to improve thermal performance.

The heating element can include a heating plate with a rectangular shape and two power supply wires with a rectangular bended shape, the two power supply wires with a rectangular bended shape are provided on a short side of the heating plate. The power supply wires may have one axis located on the same plane with the heating plate and the other axis perpendicular to the plane of the heating plate.

The casing is provided, on its second short side lateral face, with a first opening matching the thickness of the heating plate; the heating plate extends from the first opening, parallel to top and bottom surfaces of the casing, into the casing, the power supply wires are exposed from the second short side lateral face of the casing.

The heating plate may be a silicon nitride heating plate or an alumina heating plate.

The water heater device may include a flow meter mounted on the second long side lateral face of the casing. The flow meter may include an inlet connected with an external water source and an outlet.

The inlet of the casing may be a segment of tubular structure provided at the top surface of the casing. The tubular structure may have one terminal connected to the cold water chamber and the other terminal may extend out of the second long side lateral face of the casing and be connected with the outlet of the flow meter via a water hose.

A flow meter fixing post and two flow meter fixing plates may be provided on the second long side lateral face of the casing. The flow meter may be mounted on the second long side lateral face of the casing by the flow meter fixing post and the two flow meter fixing plates.

The instantaneous heater (i.e., water heater device) may further include a temperature controller. The outlet of the casing and the flow meter may be located in parallel on the second long side lateral face of the casing. The temperature controller mounting structure may be located around the outlet of the casing.

The temperature controller may be mounted, by the temperature controller mounting structure, in a position of the outlet of the casing. The temperature controller may include an inlet connected with the outlet of the casing and an outlet for discharging hot water.

The instantaneous heater may include a relief valve. The a second opening may be located on top surface of the casing near a position corresponding to the outlet of the casing. The second opening may be in fluid communication with the outlet of the casing, with a relief valve mounting structure provided around the second opening. The relief valve may be mounted, by the relief valve mounting structure, in a position of the second opening.

According to varying embodiments of the present invention, an instantaneous water heater (i.e., water heater device) for a kitchen or bath product (e.g., a bidet, a toilet bidet, a faucet, etc.) may advantageously include a cold water chamber connected with a water inlet for the device and the cold water chamber may be used as a heat sink for a current or power driver for a heating element. For example, the cold water chamber may be thermally coupled to a silicon controlled rectifier by a heat conductive member in contact with water in the cold water chamber. The water entering the instantaneous heater first passes through the cold water chamber before entering the heating water chamber for heating. Advantageously, cooling of silicon controlled rectifier can thereby be achieved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a near instantaneous water heater for a kitchen or bath product (e.g., bidet with heated stream), according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective structural diagram of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a structural diagram of the heat conductive member in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective structural diagram of the casing in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a section view along a line A-A in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a section view along a line B-B in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the heating element utilized in the embodiment of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring generally to the Figures, a water heater device for locally heating water for kitchen or bath products (e.g., a toilet bidet or bidet having a controllably heated spray) is shown and described. The water heater device includes a casing with a cold water chamber connected with the water inlet. A heat conductive (i.e., thermally conductive) member (e.g., piece, plate, bar, tab, cover, etc.) thermally couples the cold water chamber and the silicon controlled rectifier (SCR). The heat conductive member may directly contact the water in the cold water chamber. Using the heat conductive member and the cold water chamber, effective or efficient cooling of the silicon controlled rectifier can advantageously be achieved by using the cold water (e.g., before the cold water is then heated).

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an instantaneous heater (i.e., water heater device) is shown, according to an exemplary embodiment. The water heater device includes a casing 1 and a cold water chamber 12 (see FIG. 2) provided on, partially in, or in the casing 1. The water heater device further includes a circuit board 2 having a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) 21 (or another current driver for a resistive heating element) mounted on the board 2. The water heater device further includes a heat conductive member 22 thermally coupling with the cold water chamber 12 and the SCR 21. The water heater device further includes a flow meter 3, a heating element 42 (only two power supply wires 41 of the heating element 42 can be seen in FIG. 1, 2), a temperature sensor 5, a temperature controller 6, and a relief valve 7.

In the instantaneous heater, the casing has a structure of a flat shape, like a rectangular shape, and in addition to the cold water chamber 12, it is further provided with an inlet, an outlet and a heating water chamber, wherein the heating water chamber is provided inside the casing 1. Moreover, the cold water chamber 12 is communicated with the inlet of the casing 1 and the heating water chamber, respectively, and the heating water chamber is communicated with the outlet of the casing 1.

The cold water chamber 12 includes an opening 120. The opening 120 is shown to have a rectangular shape with its short sides having an arched shape. A screw hole is located outside each of four corners of the cold water chamber 12. The cold water chamber 12 is located at a corner of a top surface of the casing 1, with one of its long side lateral faces being located on a first short side lateral face of the casing 1. The cold water chamber 12 is shown to have a long side with a length of less than that of the short side of the casing. The cold water chamber 12 has a short side lateral face located on a first long side lateral face of the casing 1.

As illustrated, the heat conductive member 22 is mounted, via a seal ring 23, at the opening 120 on top of the cold water chamber 12. The heat conductive member contacts with water that has not yet been heated in the cold water chamber 12. The circuit board 2 and the heat conductive member 22 mounted at the opening 120 of the cold water chamber 12 are shown as mounted in parallel on the top surface of the casing 1. The seal ring 23 functions to prevent water in the cold water chamber 12 from flowing through the interface between the heat conductive member 22 and the opening 120.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the temperature sensor 5 has a structure with a slim cylindrical shape. One end of the temperature sensor 5 is shown as mounted on the top surface of the casing 1 by a sensor fixing piece 51. The temperature sensor 5 includes, at its opposite end, a probe extending into the heating water chamber and located close to the heating element 42 within the casing 1. The relief valve 7 is shown as mounted on the top surface of the casing 1.

The temperature sensor 5 is connected with the controller (e.g., formed by components on the circuit board 2), for monitoring and controlling the temperature of the water in the heating water chamber and the temperature of the heating element. In some embodiments, the temperature sensor 5 may be omitted from a water heater device. The relief valve 7 may be configured to reduce water pressure if the water input to the water heater device is over-pressured. In other embodiments, e.g., where it is ensured that the water is not over-pressured, the relief valve 7 can be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the flow meter 3 and the temperature controller 6 are provided in parallel on the second long side lateral face of the casing 1, which is parallel to the first long side lateral face. The flow meter 3 has an inlet 31 and an outlet. The inlet 31 is connected with an external water source (e.g., upstream water source), and the outlet of the flow meter 3 is connected with the inlet of the casing 1. The temperature controller 6 has an inlet and an outlet 61. The inlet of the temperature controller 6 is connected with the outlet of the casing 1. The outlet 61 of the temperature controller 6 is used for discharging the heated hot water (e.g., to a hose for providing water to a nozzle for spraying human body parts if the water heater device of the present application is installed in a bidet or toilet bidet).

In an embodiment where the water heater device is installed within a smart toilet (e.g., having a bidet feature for heating water to be sprayed at a human body part), the cleaning water enters from the 31 inlet of the flow meter, through the outlet of the flow meter, via the inlet of the casing, and into the cold water chamber 12, then flows into the heating water chamber 13 (identified in FIG. 5) for heating. The heated cleaning water passes through the outlet of the casing and the inlet of the temperature controller 6, and eventually discharges from the outlet 61 of the temperature controller. The hot water discharged from the outlet 61 of the temperature controller 6 is used for spraying the portion of the human body to be cleaned.

The heating element 42 has a heating portion (e.g., a plate structure) provided in the heating water chamber 13 of the casing 1, and the two power supply wires 41 of the heating element 42 are exposed as extending from the second short side lateral face of the casing 1.

In the illustrated embodiment, the heat conductive member 22 is a formed piece of thermally conductive copper plate and has a structure as best shown in FIG. 3. The heat conductive member 22 includes a body portion 221, a first connection terminal 222 and a second connection terminal 223. The body portion 221 of the heat conductive member has a shape to match the opening on top of the cold water chamber 12. The body portion 221 has edges that extend horizontally toward the surround of the opening. The extending portions are shown with screw holes configured to match screw holes outside the four corners of the cold water chamber 12.

As shown in FIG. 3, the body portion 221 of the heat conductive member has a portion matching the opening on top of the cold water chamber 12. The portion for matching the opening on the top of the cold water chamber 12 has a step-shaped groove structure 224. The step-shaped groove structure 224 has a bottom face extending into the cold water chamber. In an exemplary embodiment, the bottom face of the step-shaped groove structure 224 has an area less than or equal to that of the opening on top of the cold water chamber 12. The step shape groove structure can be formed similarly to a funnel having a bottom face, with the bottom face contacting the water in the cold water chamber 12. In other words, the heat conductive member shown in FIG. 3 may have such a step-shaped groove structure 224 for purpose of enabling sufficient contact of the heat conductive member (the member shown in FIG. 3) with the water in the cold water chamber 12. Because the heat conductive member is also coupled to the SCR (e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 1), the heat conductive member allows the water in the cold water chamber 12 to remove heat from the SCR. While one particular structure for the heat conductive member is illustrated in FIG. 3 and in various other Figures, the heat conductive member may take different shapes, sized, and orientations suitable for thermally coupling the current driver (e.g., SCR) with water of the cold water chamber.

The first connection terminal 222 of the heat conductive member illustrated in FIG. 3 is a plate-shaped structure further extending from the body portion 221. A screw hole is shown as provided on the plate-shaped structure of the first connection terminal 222. The SCR is mounted on the plate-shaped structure of the first connection terminal 222 via the screw hole, and the plate-shaped structure is mounted on the circuit board. That is, the plate-shaped structure of the first connection terminal 222 is sandwiched between the circuit board and the SCR. This coupling of the heat conductive member of FIG. 3 to the other elements of the water heater device is best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The second connection terminal 223 and the first connection terminal 222 of the heat conductive member are shown in FIG. 3 as located on the same side, presenting a step structure further extending from the body portion 221. In the illustrated embodiment, the step structure has a step face matching the lateral face of the circuit board. This may facilitate locating the heat conductive member for secure mounting to the circuit board. The heat conductive member may be a heat conductive copper plate. In other embodiments, the heat conductive member can be or include other thermally conductive materials (e.g., aluminum).

Referring now to FIG. 4, the casing 1 is shown as having a flat shape (e.g., a rectangular shape). The casing 1 is further shown to include, on its top surface, a cold water chamber 12, an inlet 11 of the casing, and a sensor mounting hole 52. The casing 1 is yet further shown to include a second opening 17 and a relief valve mounting structure provided around the second opening 17. The casing 1 is further shown to include at least one screw post for facilitating the mounting of the circuit board 2 to the casing 1.

The cold water chamber 12 is shown as located at a corner surrounded by the first short side lateral face of the casing and the first long side lateral face of the casing. On a second long side lateral face of the casing, a flow meter fixing post and a flow meter fixing plate may be provided (e.g., for mounting the flow meter as illustrated in FIG. 1). A temperature controller mounting structure is shown in FIG. 4 as a bracket around the outlet 16 of the casing 1. The second short side lateral face of the casing is provided with a first opening 15 (not shown in FIG. 4, while shown in FIG. 6).

As shown in FIG. 4, the inlet 11 of the casing is a segment of tubular structure. As finally installed in the kitchen or bath product, the tubular structure has one terminal connected to the cold water chamber 12 and the other terminal extending out of the second long side lateral face of the casing 1 for connecting with the outlet of the flow meter 3 via a water hose. The structures and positions of the flow meter fixing post and the flow meter fixing plate on the second long side lateral face may vary, in different embodiments, based on the structure of the selected flow meter.

As shown in FIG. 4, the position of the second opening 17 on the top surface of the casing 1 is near that of the outlet 16 of the casing 1 on the second long side lateral face of the casing 1. The second opening 17 may be in close fluid connection with the outlet 16 of the casing 1.

The heating water chamber 13 (illustrated in FIG. 5) is provided inside the casing 1, and the heating water chamber 13 is in fluid communication with the cold water chamber 12. The connection structure 14 between the heating water camber 13 and the cold water chamber 12 can be seen by referring to FIGS. 5 and 6.

As shown in FIG. 5, both the cold water chamber 12 and the inlet 11 of the casing 1 are in fluid communication with the heating water chamber 13. The cold water chamber 12 is provided with an inlet 122 and an outlet, and the heating water chamber 13 is also provided with an inlet 131 and an outlet 133. The inlet 122 of the cold water chamber 12 is in fluidly coupled with the inlet 11 of the casing 1. The outlet of the cold water chamber 12 is in fluid communication, via an intermediate passage or connection structure 14, with the inlet 131 of the heating water chamber (illustrated in FIG. 6). The outlet 133 of the heating water chamber 13 is in fluid communication with the outlet 16 of the casing 1.

In the Figures, several partitions 121 are illustrated in the cold water chamber 12 such that a zigzag water flow passage is formed in the cold water chamber 12. After the water flows from the inlet 11 of the casing 1 into the cold water chamber 12, the water flows along the zigzag water flowing passage and, via the intermediate passage 14, eventually flows into the heating water chamber 13. As it is necessary for the cold water in the cold water chamber 12 to pass through the zigzag water flowing passage, the cold water is in contact with the heat conductive member 22 for longer amount of time than if there were straight flow-through, thus advantageously achieving a relatively efficient cooling effect on the SCR 21.

As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, several partitions 132 are also provided in the heating water chamber 13 such that a zigzag water flowing passage is formed in the heating water chamber 13. The heating water chamber 13 also includes a containing space 134 for containing (i.e., holding, housing, etc.) the plate of heating element 42. The heating portion or plate of the heating element 42 is inserted, via the opening 15 on the second short side lateral face of the casing 1, into the containing space 134 such that the heating plate of heating element 42 is located in the zigzag water flowing passage.

The cold water flowing from the cold water chamber 12 through the intermediate passage 14 enters, via the inlet 131 of the heating water chamber, into the zigzag water flowing passage. The water in the zigzag water flowing passage contacts with the heating portion of the heating element 42 and thus is heated. The heated water thereafter flows, via the outlet 133 of the heating water chamber 13, towards the outlet 16 of the casing 1.

In alternative embodiments, the cold water chamber 12 or the heating water chamber 13 can be formed without any partitions or resulting zigzag portions.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the heating element 42 includes a heating plate with a rectangular shape. The heating element 42 is further shown to include two power supply wires 41 having a somewhat rectangular bend. As shown, the two power supply wires 41 with a partially rectangular bend are provided on a short side of the heating element's plate portion. Each power supply wire 41 has one side or axis located on the same plane with the heating plate 42 and the another side or axis perpendicular to the plane of the heating plate 42.

In the present embodiment, the casing is provided, on its second short side lateral face, with a first opening 15 (identified in FIG. 6) matching the thickness of the heating plate of the heating element 42. The heating element 42 extends from the first opening 15, parallel to top and bottom surfaces of the casing, and into the casing. The power supply wires 41 are exposed from the second short side lateral face of the casing 1. The heating member/plate may be a silicon nitride heating plate or an alumina heating plate.

In the illustrated embodiment, the casing 1 is a relatively flat rectangular shape, and the heating portion of the heating element 42 has a plate-shaped structure that somewhat matches the shape of the casing 1. In other embodiments, the casing 1 and the heating element 42 can have a cylinder shape, different shapes, or be of other suitable shapes (e.g., for fitting into a kitchen or bath product, for fitting into a toilet bidet's body so that water can be locally heated at the toilet bidet and provided via a relatively short path to a nozzle for spraying a body part).

Advantageously, according to embodiments of the present invention, a water heating device for kitchen or bath products provides efficient cooling to a current driver (e.g., SCR) by using the cold water provided to water heating device and before the water is heated.

Claims

1. A water heater device for kitchen or bath products, comprising:

a casing;

a heating element;

a driver configured to provide current to the heating element such that the heating element is heated;

a cold water chamber provided on or in the casing;

a heat conductive member thermally coupling water in the cold water chamber and the driver, wherein water to be heated by the heating element is first provided to the cold water chamber and the heat conductive member operates to remove heat from the driver.

2. The water heater device of claim 1, further comprising:

a heating water chamber downstream of the cold water chamber and housing the heating element.

3. The water heater device of claim 2, wherein the cold water chamber and the heating water chamber each include an inlet and an outlet, and wherein the inlet of the cold water chamber is fluidly coupled to and receives water from a primary water inlet of the water heater device.

4. The water heater device of claim 3, wherein the outlet of the cold water chamber fluidly coupled to and provides water to the inlet of the heating water chamber, and wherein the outlet of the heating water chamber provides heated water to a primary water outlet of the water heater device.

5. The water heater device of claim 4, wherein the heat conductive member is mounted on top of the cold water chamber such that a flat surface area of the heat conductive member engages water in the cold water chamber.

6. The water heater device of claim 5, further comprising:

a circuit board mounted on the casing, wherein the driver is mounted on the heat conductive member and a portion of the heat conductive member is mounted on the circuit board.

7. The water heater device of claim 6, wherein the driver is a silicon controlled rectifier configured to provide the current to the heating element.

8. The water heater device of claim 7, wherein the casing is a substantially rectangular prism.

9. The water heater device of claim 8, wherein the cold water chamber is provided on a side of the casing and wherein the cold water chamber has an opening, wherein a flat portion of the heat conductive member at least partially covers the opening such that water in the cold water chamber is held in contact with the heat conductive member.

10. The water heater device of claim 9, wherein the heat conductive member comprises a body portion and a connection portion, wherein the body portion is mounted at the opening on top of the cold water chamber and contacts with water in the cold water chamber, and wherein the connection portion is connected with the silicon controlled rectifier and the circuit board.

11. The water heater device of claim 10, wherein the circuit board and the heat conductive member on top of the cold water chamber are mounted substantially in parallel on the top surface of the casing.

12. The water heater device of claim 11, wherein the opening of the cold water chamber has a rectangular shape with its short sides having an arched shape, and wherein the cold water chamber is provided at a top surface at a corner of the casing, its long side lateral face is located on a first short side lateral face of the casing, and the long side has a length less than that of the short side of the casing; the cold water chamber has a short side lateral face located on a first long side lateral face of the casing.

13. The water heater device of claim 12, further comprising:

a screw hole is provided outside each of the four corners of the cold water chamber, wherein the body portion of the heat conductive member has a shape to match for coupling into the opening on top of the cold water chamber.

14. The water heater device of claim 13, wherein the body portion extends towards the surroundings horizontally, the extending portions at the surroundings are provided with screw holes matching the screw holes outside the four corners of the cold water chamber.

15. The water heater device of claim 14, wherein the connection portion of the heat conductive member comprises a first connection terminal and a second connection terminal, the first connection terminal is a plate further extending from the extending portion of the body portion, wherein the plate is mounted on the circuit board, and the driver is mounted on the plate.

16. The water heater device of claim 15, wherein the second connection terminal and the first connection terminal extend from a same side of the body portion.

17. The water heater device of claim 16, wherein at least one of the second connection terminal and the first connection terminal include a step configured to match a lateral face of the circuit board for mounting.

18. The water heater device of claim 17, wherein the body portion of the heat conductive member has a portion matching the opening on top of the cold water chamber which is a step shape groove, and the step shape groove has a bottom face extending into the cold water chamber.

19. The water heater device of claim 18, wherein the bottom face of the step shape groove structure has an area less than or equal to that of the opening on top of the cold water chamber.

20. The water heater device of claim 19, further comprising:

a seal ring is provided between the body portion of the heat conductive member and the opening on top of the cold water chamber, and wherein the heat conductive member is copper or aluminum.