COMPENSATION ASSEMBLY AND HOT WATER STORAGE TANK

The invention relates to a compensation assembly for use in a hot water device and an associated hot water device. The hot water device includes a water tank for holding water to be heated, and the compensation assembly includes a compensation vessel and a ventilation component that allows air to be exchanged between the compensation vessel and the atmosphere. The ventilation component includes a blocking element designed to prevent water from leaking from the compensation vessel via the ventilation component.

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Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Phase of PCT Application No. PCT/EP2021/079974 filed Oct. 28, 2021, which claims priority to German Patent Application No. 102020134298.5 filed Dec. 18, 2020, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a compensation assembly and an associated hot water storage tank.

BACKGROUND

EP 2 827 077 discloses a water tank for receiving water to be heated and a non-elastic compensation vessel for receiving a water quantity which is present in a fitting connected to the drain when water from the tap is stopped, and for receiving a water quantity corresponding to an expansion quantity during heating of the cold water in the water tank. The compensation vessel is hermetically sealed with respect to the outside environment of the hot water storage tank and is in fluid communication with a feed-side water jet pump in such a way that the water jet pump allows generating negative pressure within the compensation vessel.

In practical use, however, such hermetic compensation vessels have been found to have various drawbacks; for example, it is difficult to empty the compensation vessel in a safe and reliable manner.

Against this background, the present disclosure describes an improved compensation assembly and an associated hot water storage tank.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment, a a hot water storage tank for domestic use or the like has a water tank for holding water to be heated and a compensation assembly, wherein the compensation assembly comprises a compensation vessel and a ventilation component, wherein the ventilation component allows air to be exchanged between the compensation vessel and the atmosphere. The ventilation component includes a blocking element, in particular a swell plate and/or a ball valve, which blocking element is designed to prevent water from leaking from the compensation vessel via the ventilation component.

The ventilation component or ventilation assembly allows a reliable prevention of harmful negative pressure being generated within the compensation vessel.

In case of error, that is, when water leaks from the hot water storage tank via the ventilation component, the blocking element can block the leaking of water. While this will interfere with the drip protection functionality, for example, the dripping from the fitting will be an indicator for the user signaling that the hot water storage tank does not work properly. In this way, the user will be able to readily identify the error case.

In one or more embodiments, the ventilation component has a sealing unit designed as a valve, and when the compensation vessel is full, an opening between the ventilation component and the compensation vessel will be sealed by the sealing unit, which includes a ball, for example, floating onto a sealing element so that overflowing of the compensation vessel is prevented.

Here, the blocking element will not close the compensation vessel every time it is full, which is not desired in the first place. Instead, the blocking element, for example the swell plate, will only block water if leaking occurs even though the sealing unit is present.

Both the sealing unit designed as a valve and a different blocking element are suitable for preventing the leaking of water from the compensation vessel by themselves. The combination of both measures, e.g., the sealing unit and the swell plate, constitutes one embodiment, which prevents the leaking of water even when the sealing unit fails.

The sealing unit may have a ball and a vertical guide for guiding the ball onto the sealing element and/or away from it.

The ball has a lower density than water in order to float on the water. The density of the ball may be reduced low by being hollow, for example.

The compensation vessel may comprises a lower compensation vessel half-shell and an upper compensation vessel half-shell, wherein the lower compensation vessel half-shell has a coupling portion for coupling to the water tank of the hot water storage tank and the upper compensation vessel half-shell is designed for coupling to a cold water feed line.

The compensation assembly is designed for direct attachment to the water tank or the storage tank by functional integration of the coupling portion into the lower compensation vessel half-shell. In this way, an additional coupling member is omitted, making it possible to reduce the number of parts. This means that, in the most basic configuration, the compensation assembly is formed as two vessel half-shells, which are preferably manufactured by injection molding.

In one or more embodiments, a receiving portion for an emptying component, e.g., a nozzle of a water jet pump, is integrated into the lower and/or the upper compensation vessel half-shells, with the nozzle being formed between the connected compensation vessel half-shells.

The emptying component makes it possible that, by means of the water jet of the water flowing into the hot water storage tank, a negative pressure is generated within the compensation vessel, which then leads to the content of the compensation vessel being emptied into the hot water storage tank.

The upper compensation vessel half-shell and the lower compensation vessel half-shell may each have a circumferential friction-welded edge for making a vibration-friction-welded connection between the upper compensation vessel half-shell and the lower compensation vessel half-shell.

With an alternative configuration of the connection of the compensation vessel half-shells, the invention still allows further simplification and a reduction in the number of parts by the functional integration of the receiving portion for the emptying component into the compensation vessel.

The compensation assembly may further include an emptying component, which emptying component includes a nozzle of a water jet pump, e.g., a venturi nozzle, for sucking compensation water from the compensation vessel.

The nozzle may have a parabolically tapered cross-sectional contour. This cross-sectional contour creates a linearly decreasing cross-sectional area. In this way, the increase in the flow rate within the venturi nozzle is obtained with a low pressure loss.

The nozzle may include a material different from the material of the compensation vessel, and may be brass and/or bronze.

Brass and bronze exhibit an advantageous resistivity against cavitation.

Alternatively, the nozzle may be designed to be integrated into the compensation vessel as one piece, in particular the upper compensation vessel half-shell or the lower compensation vessel half-shell. In other words, the nozzle is then molded onto the respective vessel half-shell.

The compensation vessel, in particular the upper compensation vessel half-shell and the lower compensation vessel half-shell, is formed as easily demoldable plastic parts. Here, easily demoldable is to be understood as having as low a number of undercuts and as low a complexity of parts as possible.

In one or more embodiments, an opening between the emptying component and the compensation vessel is sealed by a sealing unit, such as a ball overlying a sealing element, when the compensation vessel is empty, so that a negative pressure within the compensation vessel is prevented.

In addition to the negative pressure, an introduction of air into the storage tank from the compensation vessel is avoided as well.

The sealing unit may have a ball and a vertical guide for guiding the ball onto the sealing element and/or away from it.

The opening between the emptying component and the compensation vessel as well as the opening between the ventilation component, i.e., the compensation vessel, and the atmosphere are sealed by sealing units having identical parts. In this way, a reduction in the use of different parts may be achieved.

In a further aspect, a hot water storage tank, such as for domestic use, may include a storage tank, a cold water feed for connecting to a water supply network, a hot water drain to provide hot water for a fitting connectible thereto, and a compensation assembly according to the invention.

The hot water storage tank according to the invention may be combined with any designs of the compensation assembly described as preferred designs to obtain the same advantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows, schematically and exemplarily, a hot water storage tank,

FIG. 2 shows, schematically and exemplarily, the hot water storage tank without a housing for illustrative purposes,

FIG. 3 shows, schematically and exemplarily, the hot water storage tank of FIG. 2 in cross-section,

FIG. 4 shows, schematically and exemplarily, a detailed view of the hot water storage tank,

FIG. 5 shows, schematically and exemplarily, a sectional view of the hot water storage tank,

FIG. 6 shows, schematically and exemplarily, a sectional view of the hot water storage tank,

FIG. 7 shows, schematically and exemplarily, a sectional view of the hot water storage tank,

FIG. 8 shows, schematically and exemplarily, a sectional view of the hot water storage tank,

FIG. 9 shows, schematically and exemplarily, an exploded view of the hot water storage tank,

FIG. 10 shows, schematically and exemplarily, an exploded view of the hot water storage tank,

FIG. 11 shows, schematically and exemplarily, a sectional view of the hot water storage tank,

FIG. 12 shows, schematically and exemplarily, a sectional view of the hot water storage tank, and

FIG. 13 shows, schematically and exemplarily, a sectional view of the hot water storage tank.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a hot water storage tank 1 in a perspective view. The actual storage tank is arranged inside a housing composed of two housing half-shells 2, 3 and enclosed by a heat insulation. In the storage tank there is potable water, which is usually heated to a desired temperature by means of an electric heater in order to be provided as hot water at a tapping location.

On the front side, a control element 4 is arranged, which is used to adjust the temperature of the water in the storage tank, for example.

On its top side, the hot water storage tank 1 has a cold water connection 6 and a hot water connection 8. Via the cold water connection 6, cold water is fed into the storage tank, and via the hot water connection 8, the heated water reaches the tapping location.

The hot water storage tank 1 is usually operated in an unpressurized manner, that is, inside the storage tank there is merely atmospheric pressure, but no typical line pressure of a water conduit. Thus, tapping is initiated by opening a valve or the like in the pipe section connected to the cold water connection 6. Due to an overpressure which will then occur at the cold water connection 6, the incoming cold water will push the heated water out of the hot water connection 8.

Furthermore, a ventilation assembly 80 is arranged on the top side. The ventilation assembly 80 is in fluid communication with a compensation assembly 70, which will be described in detail with reference to the figures below. By means of the ventilation assembly 80, no permanent negative pressure, which might lead to damage on or destruction of the hot water storage tank 1, will be generated within the storage tank, in particular within a compensation vessel connected thereto. Moreover, the ventilation assembly 80 is configured to prevent liquid, i.e., water, from leaking from the inside of the storage tank, as will also be described in detail below.

FIG. 2 shows, schematically and exemplarily, the hot water storage tank 1 without the insulation and the housing half-shells 2, 3 (cf. FIG. 1). On a top side of the actual storage tank 10 the compensation assembly 70 can be seen. It comprises, in particular, a compensation vessel composed of an upper compensation vessel half-shell 72 and a lower compensation vessel half-shell 74.

The two half-shells of the compensation vessel are connected to one another by vibration friction welding or other means. For this purpose, the upper compensation vessel half-shell 72 and the lower compensation vessel half-shell 74 have circumferential friction-welded edges 73, 75. The friction-welded edges 73, 75 are configured for access by a suitable machine. Vibration friction welding provides a particularly low-cost and reliable, permanent connection between the two half-shells. Other ways of connecting two half-shells are possible as well.

FIG. 3 shows, schematically and exemplarily, the hot water storage tank 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2 in cross-section so that a heater 12 arranged inside the storage tank 10 as well as a temperature sensor 16 can be seen.

The heater 12 designed as an electric heater having multiple windings should be regarded as an example only; other variations for heating the water inside the storage tank 10 are conceivable as well. The heater 12 is electrically connected to a power supply at connections 13 and 14, which are formed on the outside of the storage tank on the top side.

Likewise, the temperature sensor 16, which is exemplarily configured as an integral temperature sensor, is connected to control electronics via a connection 17.

For simplicity, the control electronics is not illustrated in any of the figures, with the configuration required for control and/or regulation of a hot water storage tank 1 being known to those skilled in the art.

It can be seen that a cold water pipe 20 in fluid communication with the cold water inlet 6 has its opening 22 in the lower region of the storage tank 10. Thus, when tapping is performed at a fitting (not shown), cold water flows into the storage tank 10 at the bottom, is heated by the heater 12 and leaves the storage tank 10 via an opening 32 of the hot water pipe 30, which is arranged in the upper region of the storage tank 10.

FIG. 4 shows, schematically and exemplarily, the compensation assembly 70 of FIG. 3 in an enlarged view. The cold water feed 6 and the ventilation assembly are connected to the compensation assembly 70 while the hot water pipe 30 bypasses the compensation assembly 70 in a recess to reach the hot water connection 8. This prevents the occurrence of an undesired heat transfer from the hot water pipe 30 to the inside of the compensation vessel.

A connecting portion 76 of the lower compensation vessel half-shell 74 can also be seen. This connecting portion 76, which may be formed integrally with the lower compensation vessel half-shell 74, is designed to connect to a corresponding connecting portion 18 (cf. FIG. 12) of the storage tank 10. The connecting portion 18 serves to attach the cold water pipe 20 inside the storage tank.

In FIGS. 5 to 7 below, sections along the planes A-A (FIG. 5), B-B (FIG. 6) and C-C (FIG. 7) are shown to allow identification of the inner components of the compensation assembly 70.

For covering the top side of the housing of the hot water storage tank, cover flaps 42, 44, 46 are provided. Furthermore, for attachment and sealing, multiple clamps 48a-48d and seals 50a-50i are provided. The seals may be O-rings.

Various pipe sections 62, 30 and 82 have raised edges 63, 33, 83 and 84 to ensure a secure attachment of the further components in the longitudinal direction of the pipe sections 62, 30 and 82.

A sieve 64 is arranged in the cold water connection 6 so that no contaminants present in the water such as chunks of limescale can get into the storage tank 10.

The cold water connection 6 is coupled to the pipe section 62 via a coupling 66. Before flowing into the storage tank 10 via the cold water piper 20, the cold water passes through an emptying component 90 designed to suck out the content of the compensation vessel in case of compensation water being contained therein.

A venturi nozzle 92 is provided for this purpose, creating a cross-sectional taper in order to increase the flow rate. The venturi nozzle 92 may be made of a metallic material, e.g., copper, and clamped into a dedicated receiving portion 76 between the upper compensation vessel half-shell 72 and the lower compensation vessel half-shell 74. In this way, the particularly favorable configuration of the compensation vessel allows the functional integration of the emptying component.

While the venturi nozzle 92 is formed as a separate part made of metal in this design, the cross-sectional taper may also be integrated directly into the compensation vessel half-shell, in particular the upper compensation vessel half-shell 72, without making demolding difficult by undercuts or the like.

After the venturi nozzle 92, the cross-section increases again before the entry of water into the storage tank 10.

The venturi nozzle 92 makes sure that when water flows in, water present in the compensation vessel is drained via an opening 100, which can best be seen in FIG. 7.

The opening 100 connects the venturi nozzle 92 to a sealing portion 98, which has a ball 96 overlying it in sealing fashion when all of the water has been drained from the compensation vessel. The ball 96 has a low density so that it floats on inflowing water and does not overlie the sealing portion 98 anymore. Due to this, the water may be drained from the compensation vessel by means of the venturi nozzle 92 again. Using a guide element 94, which is open towards the compensation vessel, the movement of the ball 96 is restricted to substantially the vertical direction.

An arrangement similar to the emptying component 90 can be seen in the region of the ventilation assembly 80. Here as well, a ball 86 is guided along a guide element 95 in the vertical direction. In accordance with a water level in the compensation vessel. Upon reaching a certain level, the ball 86 creates a seal against a sealing portion 88 so no water can leave the hot water storage tank 1 via the ventilation opening. Most preferably, identical components are used for all of the emptying component 90 and the ventilation component and/or the ventilation assembly 80. This reduces the total number of different parts.

FIG. 8 shows a further section in plane A-A without the hot water pipe 30 and other pipes shown for illustrative purposes. In this section, the features 78 for introducing and fixing the clamps can be seen at the upper end of the upper compensation vessel half-shell 72.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show exploded views of the compensation assembly 70, with FIG. 10 including a cross-section along plane A-A as well.

In addition to section B-B shown in FIG. 6, a further section made between section A-A and section B-B is illustrated in FIG. 11. Here, the opening 100 between the sealing portion 98 and the venturi nozzle 92 can be seen.

FIG. 12 shows a perspective cross-sectional view which is similar to the view shown in FIG. 4, but makes a section through the venturi nozzle 92 further back in the reference plane.

It is further possible to see the connection between the connecting portion 76 of the lower compensation vessel half-shell 74 and the corresponding connecting portion 18 of the storage tank 10 as well as the connection between the hot water pipe 30 and a corresponding connecting portion 19 on the storage tank 10, which also forms the hot water outlet 32.

In addition, this view shows a ventilation cap 81, which forms part of the ventilation assembly 80 and is configured to ensure a closing of the ventilation opening in case of water leaks. For this purpose, the ventilation cap 81 may preferably include at least one swell plate. Upon contact with water, the at least one swell plate swells to such an extent that the ventilation opening is reliably closed.

Here, a user will detect malfunction of the hot water storage tanks 1 due to dripping of the fitting, for example, as no expansion water and no dripping water present in the fitting can be received by the compensation vessel when the swell plate closes the ventilation opening.

FIG. 13 shows, schematically and exemplarily, a detailed view of the upper part of the storage tank as well as of the compensation assembly 70 in the sectional view of FIG. 12.

LIST OF REFERENCES

    • 1 hot water storage tank
    • 2, 3 housing half-shell
    • 4 control element
    • 6 cold water connection
    • 8 hot water connection
    • 10 storage tank
    • 12 heater
    • 13, 14 heater connection
    • 16 temperature sensor
    • 17 temperature sensor connection
    • 18, 19 connecting portion
    • 20 cold water pipe
    • 22 opening of cold water pipe
    • 30 hot water pipe
    • 32 opening of hot water pipe
    • 33 raised edge
    • 42, 44, 46 cover cap
    • 48a,b,c,d clamp
    • 50a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,i seal
    • 62 pipe section
    • 63 raised edge
    • 64 sieve
    • 66 coupling
    • 70 compensation assembly
    • 72 upper compensation vessel half-shell
    • 73 circumferential friction-welded edge
    • 74 lower compensation vessel half-shell
    • 75 circumferential friction-welded edge
    • 76 receiving portion
    • 78 features
    • 80 ventilation assembly
    • 81 ventilation cap
    • 82 pipe section
    • 83 raised edge
    • 84 raised edge
    • 85 guide element
    • 86 ball
    • 88 sealing portion
    • 90 emptying component
    • 92 venturi nozzle
    • 94 guide element
    • 96 ball
    • 98 sealing portion
    • 100 opening

Claims

1. A compensation assembly for use in a hot water device having a water tank for holding water to be heated, the compensation assembly comprising:

a compensation vessel; and
a ventilation component, wherein the ventilation component allows air to be exchanged between the compensation vessel and the atmosphere, the ventilation component including a blocking element, said blocking element being configured to prevent water from leaking from the compensation vessel via the ventilation component.

2. The compensation assembly according to claim 1, wherein the ventilation component has a sealing unit including a sealing element and a floatable ball that is movable between a first position in which the ball is seated on the sealing element and a second position in which the ball is spaced from the sealing element, wherein, when the compensation vessel is full, an opening between the ventilation component and the compensation vessel is sealed by the sealing unit so that overflowing of the compensation vessel is prevented.

3. The compensation assembly according to claim 2, wherein the sealing unit further has a vertical guide for guiding the ball onto the sealing element and/or away from it.

4. The compensation assembly according to claim 1, wherein the compensation vessel comprises a lower compensation vessel half-shell and an upper compensation vessel half-shell, wherein the lower compensation vessel half-shell has a coupling portion for coupling to the water tank of the hot water storage tank and the upper compensation vessel half-shell is designed for coupling to a cold water feed line.

5. The compensation assembly according to claim 4, wherein a receiving portion for an emptying component is integrated into the lower and/or the upper compensation vessel half-shells and formed between the connected compensation vessel half-shells.

6. The compensation assembly according to claim 4, wherein the upper compensation vessel half-shell and the lower compensation vessel half-shell each have a circumferential friction-welded edge for making a vibration-friction-welded connection between the upper compensation vessel half-shell and the lower compensation vessel half-shell.

7. The compensation assembly according to claim 1, further comprising an emptying component including a nozzle of a water jet pump configured to drain compensation water from the compensation vessel.

8. The compensation assembly according to claim 7, wherein the nozzle is a venturi nozzle having a parabolically tapered cross-sectional contour.

9. The compensation assembly according to claim 7, wherein a material of the nozzle is different from a material of the compensation vessel.

10. The compensation assembly according to claim 7, wherein the compensation vessel comprises a lower compensation vessel half-shell and an upper compensation vessel half-shell and the venturi nozzle is designed to be integrated into the upper compensation vessel half-shell or the lower compensation vessel half-shell as one piece.

11. The compensation assembly according to claim 1, wherein the compensation vessel is formed of demoldable plastic parts.

12. The compensation assembly according to claim 1, wherein the compensation vessel comprises a lower compensation vessel half-shell and an upper compensation vessel half-shell and the ventilation component is arranged at the upper compensation vessel half-shell.

13. (canceled)

14. The compensation assembly according to claim 1, wherein the ventilation component has a sealing unit configured to seal an opening between the ventilation component and the compensation vessel when the compensation vessel is full.

15. The compensation assembly according to claim 14, wherein the sealing unit includes a ball having a density that is less than water.

16. The compensation assembly according to claim 7, wherein the nozzle is formed of brass or bronze.

17. The compensation assembly according to claim 7, wherein the nozzle has a parabolically tapered cross-sectional contour.

18. A hot water tank comprising:

a storage tank;
a cold water feed connectable to a water supply network;
a hot water drain configured to provide hot water to a fitting connectable thereto; and
a compensation assembly including: a compensation vessel, and a ventilation component, wherein the ventilation component allows air to be exchanged between the compensation vessel and the atmosphere, the ventilation component including a blocking element configured to prevent water from leaking from the compensation vessel via the ventilation component.

19. The hot water tank according to claim 18, wherein the ventilation component has a sealing unit including a sealing element and a floatable ball that is movable between a first position in which the ball is seated on the sealing element and a second position in which the ball is spaced from the sealing element, wherein, when the compensation vessel is full, an opening between the ventilation component and the compensation vessel is sealed by the sealing unit so that overflowing of the compensation vessel is prevented.

20. The hot water tank according to claim 18 further comprising an emptying component including a venturi nozzle configured to drain compensation water from the compensation vessel to the storage tank.

Patent History
Publication number: 20240044516
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 28, 2021
Publication Date: Feb 8, 2024
Applicant: STIEBEL ELTRON GMBH & CO. KG (Holzminden)
Inventors: Carsten HÜGE (Wehretal), Ralf ZINDEL (Meissner)
Application Number: 18/267,123
Classifications
International Classification: F24D 17/00 (20060101); F24D 3/10 (20060101); F24D 19/08 (20060101); F24H 1/20 (20060101);