LIQUID HEATING DEVICE

Abstract

A liquid heating device includes a liquid storage barrel, a heating barrel, a discharging tube and a controller. The liquid storage barrel stores a liquid to be heated, and is provided with a control valve at its bottom part. The heating barrel is disposed at a space below the liquid storage barrel, and is provided with an entrance at its top end. The controller is connected to the control valve, and controls operations of the control valve to allow the liquid in the liquid storage barrel to pass through the control valve and enter the heating barrel through the entrance. An internal capacity of the liquid storage barrel is greater than an internal capacity of the heating barrel. The heating barrel includes an electric heating structure mainly formed by an electric heating element and an electric conducting line. The discharging tube is a tube connected to the heating barrel, and discharges the heated liquid from the heating barrel.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

a) Field of the Invention

The invention relates in general to heating equipment, and more particularly, to a liquid heating device for providing a heated liquid.

b) Description of the Prior Art

In various different medical, plant cultivation or ambient temperature and humidity control environments, heated water is frequently needed, e.g., water for medical spray steam inhalers, irrigation water for the plant seedling cultivation stage, and water for humidifiers.

In the foregoing environments, water is used at a high frequency and in a small amount. A liquid heating device generally applied for heating is capable of performing a one-time heating process for a large amount of liquid. However, the processed liquid in a large amount may not be quickly consumed, hence wasting resources caused by heating.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To adapt to the application pattern of using a heated liquid at a high frequency and in a small amount, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a liquid heating device for providing a heated liquid at a high frequency and in a small amount.

Thus, the present invention provide a liquid heating device comprises a liquid storage barrel, a heating barrel, a discharging tube and a controller; wherein: the liquid storage barrel is a container for storing a liquid to be heated, and is provided with a control valve at a bottom part thereof; the heating barrel is disposed at a space below the liquid storage barrel, and is provided with an entrance at a top end thereof; the controller is connected to the control valve, and controls operations of the control valve to allow the liquid stored in the liquid storage barrel to pass through the control valve and flow into the heating barrel through the entrance; an internal capacity of the liquid storage barrel is greater than an internal capacity of the heating barrel; the heating barrel comprises an electric heating structure; the electric heating structure is mainly formed by an electric heating element and an electric conducting line, and generates heat energy for heating the liquid in the heating barrel; the discharging tube is a tube connected to the heating barrel, and discharges the heated liquid from the heating barrel; and the controller is formed by an electromechanical element, is electrically connected to the electric heating structure, controls heating temperature and time of the electrical heating structure; the discharging tube is provided with a drain element, and the controller is connected to the drain element to control operations of the drain element.

The conduit is disposed between the liquid storage barrel and the heating barrel, and is in communication with the liquid storage barrel and the heating barrel; the control valve is disposed at the conduit to accordingly allow the liquid stored in the liquid storage barrel to flow into the heating barrel.

The liquid heating device above-mentioned, wherein the pre-heating structure is provided at an exterior of the conduit; the pre-heating structure is mainly formed by the electric heating structure and the electric conducting line, and generates heat energy for heating the liquid passing through the conduit; the controller is electrically connected to the pre-heating structure to control the heating temperature and time of the pre-heating structure.

The liquid heating device above-mentioned, wherein the electric heating element is a resistive heating element.

The liquid heating device above-mentioned, wherein the electric heating element is an electric heating plate or an electric heating coil.

The liquid heating device above-mentioned, wherein the electric heating element is an electromagnetic heating element.

The liquid heating device above-mentioned, wherein the electric heating element is an electromagnetic coil.

The liquid heating device above-mentioned, wherein the controller comprises a programmable controller or a microprocessor.

The liquid heating device above-mentioned, wherein the drain element is a pump.

The liquid heating device above-mentioned, wherein the drain element is a tube valve.

The above and other aspects of the invention will become better understood with regard to the following detailed description of the preferred but non-limiting embodiments. The following description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a block diagram according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The above and other aspects of the invention will become better understood with regard to the following detailed description of the preferred but non-limiting embodiments. The following description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1 showing a liquid heating device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, the liquid heating device includes a liquid storage barrel 10, a conduit 20, a heating barrel 30, a discharging tube 40 and a controller 50. The liquid storage barrel 10 is a container that stores a pre-processed (e.g., filtered) liquid to be heated. The conduit 20 is disposed between the liquid storage barrel 10 and the heating barrel 30, and is in communication with the liquid storage barrel 10 and the heating barrel 30. An internal capacity of the liquid storage barrel 10 is greater than an internal capacity of the heating capacity 30, and the liquid stored in the liquid storage barrel 10 is allowed to flow into the heating barrel 30. The heating barrel 30 includes an electric heating structure (not shown) mainly formed by an electric heating element and an electric conducting line. For example, depending on applications, the electric heating element may be selected from a resistive heating element (e.g., an electric heating plate or an electric heating coil), an electromagnetic heating element (e.g., an electromagnetic heating coil used in an electromagnetic stove), or the electric heating element in another form. The electric heating structure generates heat energy that accordingly heats the liquid in the heating barrel 30. Details of the configuration of the electric heating structure are generally known to one person having ordinary skill in the art, and shall be omitted herein. The discharging tube 40 is a tube connected to the heating barrel 30, and discharges the heated liquid from the heating barrel 30. The controller 50 is formed by an electromechanical element, and may selectively include a programmable controller or a microprocessor. Further, the controller 50 is electrically connected to the electric heating structure to accordingly control heating temperature and time of the electric heating structure. Details of the configuration of the controller 50 are generally known to one person having ordinary skill in the art, and shall be omitted herein.

The conduit 20 includes a control valve 22. The controller 50, further connected to the control valve 22, controls operations of the control valve 22 to accordingly control an on/off status of an internal flow of the conduit 20. The discharging tube 40 includes a drain element 42, which is a pump or a valve. The control 50, further connected to the drain element 42, controls operations of the drain element 42 to accordingly control the liquid in the heating barrel 30 to pass through the discharging tube 40 and to be discharged.

In the first embodiment, when the liquid heating process is performed, the controller 50 controls the control valve 22 to operate to cause the conduit 20 to be in an open state. The liquid stored in the liquid storage barrel 10 passes through the conduit 20 and flows into the heating barrel 30. Next, the controller 50 controls the control valve 22 to operate to cause the conduit 20 to be in a closed state, and activates the electric heating structure to cause the electric heating structure to generate heat energy that heats the liquid in the heating barrel 30. After the liquid in the heating barrel 30 is heated to a predetermined temperature and a required heating time is maintained, the controller 50 controls the electric heating structure to stop operating to complete the heating process, and activates the drain element 42 to operate. Thus, the heated liquid in the heating barrel 30 is discharged by the drain element 42 through the discharging tube 40 to serve for various purposes. Optimal values of operation parameters of the foregoing heating temperature and heating time may be determined according to components of the liquid, and may be set and entered into the controller 50 by a user.

Further, when the controller 50 includes the programmable controller or the microprocessor, two different modes, a quantitative mode or a timed mode, may be performed through operations of the programmable controller or the microprocessor.

In the quantitative mode, the controller 50 controls a volume of the liquid flowing into the heating barrel 30 through controlling an open period of the control valve 22 to accordingly quantitatively generate the heated liquid, thereby satisfying an application requirement of a high frequency and a small amount.

In the timed mode, the controller 50 controls and keeps the control valve 22 open at a predetermined time to accordingly generate the heated liquid in a timed manner. Alternatively, a time interval of opening the control valve 22 is controlled to control the frequency of generating the heated liquid.

A second embodiment is provided as a variation from the foregoing embodiment. Details of structures in the second embodiment identical to those in the first embodiment are omitted herein. As shown in FIG. 2, the second embodiment includes the liquid storage barrel 10, the conduit 20, the heating barrel 30, the discharge tube 40 and the controller 50. A pre-heating structure 24 is provided at an exterior of the conduit 20, and is mainly formed by the electric heating element and the electric conducting line. For example, depending on applications, the heating element may be selected from the resistive heating element (e.g., the electric heating plate or the electric heating coil), the electromagnetic heating element (e.g., the electromagnetic heating coil used in the electromagnetic stove), or the electric heating element in another form. Accordingly, the pre-heating structure 24 generates heat energy for heating the liquid flowing through the conduit 20. Thus, the pre-heating structure 24 causes the liquid be heated before the liquid enters the heating barrel 30, such that the time needed for heating the liquid in the heating barrel 30 is reduced. The controller 50 is electrically connected to the pre-heating structure 24, and accordingly controls the heating temperature and time of the pre-heating structure 24.

A third embodiment is provided as a variation from the first embodiment. Details of structures in the third embodiment identical to those in the first embodiment are omitted herein. As shown in FIG. 3, the third embodiment includes the liquid storage barrel 10, the conduit 20, the heating barrel 30, the discharging tube 40 and the controller 50. The discharging tube 40 includes a drain element 42. The drain element 42 is a tube valve or a pump. The controller 50 is connected to the drain element 42, and controls operations of the drain element 42 to accordingly control the liquid in the heating barrel 30 to discharge through the discharging tube 40.

A fourth embodiment is provided as a variation from the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the fourth embodiment includes the liquid storage barrel 10, the heating barrel 30, the discharging tube 40 and the controller 50. The liquid storage barrel 10 is a container for storing the liquid to be heated, and includes the control valve 22 at a bottom part. The heating barrel 30 is disposed at a space below the liquid storage barrel 10, and includes an entrance (not shown) at its top end. The controller 50 is connected to the control valve 22, and controls operations of the valve 22 to accordingly control the liquid in the liquid storage barrel 10 to pass through the control valve 22 and flow into the heating barrel 30 through the entrance. The internal capacity of the liquid storage barrel 10 is greater than the internal capacity of the heating barrel 30. The heating barrel 30 includes the electric heating structure (not shown) mainly formed by the electric heating element and the electric conducting line. For example, depending on applications, the heating element may be selected from the resistive heating element (e.g., the electric heating plate or the electric heating coil), the electromagnetic heating element (e.g., the electromagnetic heating coil used in the electromagnetic stove), or the electric heating element in another form. Accordingly, the electric heating structure generates heat energy for heating the liquid in the heating barrel 30. Details of the configuration of the electric heating structure are generally known to one person having ordinary skill in the technical field of electric heating, and shall be omitted herein. The discharging tube 40 is a tube connected to the heating barrel 30, and discharges the heated liquid from the heating barrel 30. The controller 50 is formed by the electromechanical element, and may selectively include the programmable controller or the microcontroller. The controller 50 is electrically connected to the electric heating structure to accordingly control the heating temperature and time of the electric heating structure. Details of the configuration of the controller 50 are generally known to one person having ordinary skill in the art, and shall be omitted herein.

The discharging tube 40 includes the drain element 42, which may be selected from the pump or the tube valve. The controller 50 is connected to the drain element 42, and controls operations of the drain element 42 to accordingly control the liquid in the heating barrel 30 to discharge through the discharging tube 40.

In the fourth embodiment, the conduit may be provided between the liquid storage barrel and the heating barrel to form a fifth embodiment.

The conduit is in communication with the liquid storage barrel and the heating barrel. Further, the control valve is disposed at the conduit to allow the liquid stored in the liquid storage barrel to flow into the heating barrel.

As demonstrated by the above embodiments, the present invention is capable of performing a liquid heating process at a high frequency and in a small amount to satisfy the application requirement of a high frequency and in a small amount.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements and procedures.

Claims

1. A liquid heating device, comprising a liquid storage barrel, a heating barrel, a discharging tube and a controller; wherein:

the liquid storage barrel is a container for storing a liquid to be heated, and is provided with a control valve at a bottom part thereof;

the heating barrel is disposed at a space below the liquid storage barrel, and is provided with an entrance at a top end thereof;

the controller is connected to the control valve, and controls operations of the control valve to allow the liquid stored in the liquid storage barrel to pass through the control valve and flow into the heating barrel through the entrance;

an internal capacity of the liquid storage barrel is greater than an internal capacity of the heating barrel;

the heating barrel comprises an electric heating structure, the electric heating structure is mainly formed by an electric heating element and an electric conducting line, and generates heat energy for heating the liquid in the heating barrel;

the discharging tube is a tube connected to the heating barrel, and discharges the heated liquid from the heating barrel; and

the controller is formed by an electromechanical element, is electrically connected to the electric heating structure, controls heating temperature and time of the electrical heating structure, the discharging tube is provided with a drain element, and the controller is connected to the drain element to control operations of the drain element.

2. The liquid heating device according to claim 1, wherein a conduit is disposed between the liquid storage barrel and the heating barrel, and is in communication with the liquid storage barrel and the heating barrel; the control valve is disposed at the conduit to accordingly allow the liquid stored in the liquid storage barrel to flow into the heating barrel.

3. The liquid heating device according to claim 2, wherein a pre-heating structure is provided at an exterior of the conduit; the pre-heating structure is mainly formed by the electric heating structure and the electric conducting line, and generates heat energy for heating the liquid passing through the conduit; the controller is electrically connected to the pre-heating structure to control the heating temperature and time of the pre-heating structure.

4. The liquid heating device according to claim 1, wherein the electric heating element is a resistive heating element.

5. The liquid heating device according to claim 4, wherein the electric heating element is an electric heating plate or an electric heating coil.

6. The liquid heating device according to claim 1, wherein the electric heating element is an electromagnetic heating element.

7. The liquid heating device according to claim 6, wherein the electric heating element is an electromagnetic coil.

8. The liquid heating device according to claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a programmable controller or a microprocessor.

9. The liquid heating device according to claim 1, wherein the drain element is a pump.

10. The liquid heating device according to claim 1, wherein the drain element is a tube valve.