US20090067824A1

US20090067824A1 - Water heater Module

Info

Publication number: US20090067824A1
Application number: US11/898,386
Authority: US
Inventors: Hua-Hsin Tsai
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-09-12
Filing date: 2007-09-12
Publication date: 2009-03-12

Abstract

A water heater module includes a heating member for generating heat source, an intermediate tube receiving the heating member therein and having plural convection holes for water to flow into or out of the intermediate tube, and an outer tube fitted on the intermediate tube and having a water intake and a water outlet to be respectively connected with a water outlet and a water intake of another module. The water heater module has a simple structure and is able to quickly heat cold water into hot water, and when hot water forms, pressure will increase to speed up the flowing rate of the hot water for quickly supplying a user with hot water. After hot water is heated one by one in plural modules combined together, the temperature will increase, and hence electric power of the module can be adjusted to economize electric energy of the water heater.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a water heater module, particularly to one simple in structure, and able to quickly supply users with hot water and have efficacy of economizing electric energy of a water heater.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, during cold wintertime, people are accustomed to washing tableware or taking a bath with hot water to avoid an uncomfortable feeling caused by cold water. Water heaters for heating cold water into hot water are classified into conventional gas water heaters and newly invented electric water heaters and solar water heaters. The gas heater is likely to produce carbon monoxide and cause toxicosis to users, so the gas heater is unsafe in use; besides, the solar water heater is restricted by weather, and the users feel inconvenient to use it. The electric water heater can supply a heat source conveniently and is safe in use so it is widely used by consumers.
Apart from having a function of heating, the electric water heater is usually provided with a temperature-sensing device or an electricity-saving device for always maintaining the temperature of hot water at a certain level, avoiding squandering electric energy.
For instance, “a heating sensing starter for an instant heating-type electric water heater” is a device having a function of maintaining the temperature of hot water at a certain level for supplying users with hot water for use all the time. Such a device consists of a heating cylinder bored with a water intake and a water outlet, a heater installed in the heating cylinder, a temperature sensor positioned near the heater for sensing the temperature difference value, an auxiliary sensor and a safety valve.
When a water-feeding switch is started and cold water flows into the heating cylinder through the water intake, the temperature sensor will detect a temperature difference value and start the heater to carry out heating until the feeding water and the heating temperature reach a balanced condition; and then, when water is stopped feeding, the temperature sensor will stop the heater from heating based on the temperature difference value of the rising water temperature in the heating cylinder.
In another case, the electric water heater is additionally provided with an electricity-saving device for saving electric energy. The electricity-saving device specially used for the electric water heater is installed at a power input terminal which is one end of an electric water heater. The electricity-saving device has its display faceplate provided thereon with a properly shaped change-over control unit for setting power starting time and power conducting time. The change-over control unit is connected with a timing electronic circuit board in the interior of the electricity-saving device to form a loop circuit.
Thus, a user can set an unspecified power starting time and a power conducting time in advance according to what he needs to enable the electric water heater to be powered automatically and carry out heating within the set time and automatically cut off electricity when the set time comes to a close, for effectively saving electricity of the electric water heater.
However, the electric water heaters mentioned above must be provided with an expensive electronic equipment in order to quickly carry out water heating and effectively economize electricity, and thus, the cost and selling price of the electric water heater are increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first objective of this invention is to offer a water heater module simple in structure and convenient to be manufactured.
A second objective of this invention is to offer a water heater able to quickly supply users with hot water.
A third objective of this invention is to offer a water heater able to economize electric energy.
A fourth objective of this invention is to offer a water heater suitable for individual use.
The water heater module in the present invention is provided with a heating member for generating heat source, an intermediate tube receiving the heating member therein and disposed with a plurality of convection holes for water to flow into or out of the intermediate tube therethrough, and an outer tube covered around the intermediate tube and bored with a water intake and a water outlet respectively and correspondingly to be connected with a water outlet and a water intake of another water heater module. Accordingly, cold water in the module can quickly be heated into hot water, and when hot water forms, the pressure will be increased to speed up the flowing rate of the hot water for quickly supplying users with hot water. Further, every time when hot water is heated one by one in plural water heater modules, the temperature will increase continuously, and hence electric power of the module can be adjusted according to the temperature of the hot water flowing into the module for achieving the effect of economizing electric energy of the water heater. Furthermore, the number of the modules can be increased or reduced according to the temperature of hot water a user prefers for individual use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

This invention will be better understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an electric water heater module in the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of plural electric water heater modules connected in series in the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded cross-sectional view of plural electric water heater modules to be connected in parallel in the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the electric water heater modules connected in parallel in the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A preferred embodiment of an electric water heater in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, is formed by combining a plurality of modules (A) together. Each module (A) is provided with a heating member 1, an intermediate tube 2 fitted on the heater 1, an outer tube 3 fitted on the outside of the intermediate tube 2, and a combining sleeve 4.
The heating member 1 is provided with a quartz tube 11 disposed therein with carbon fiber 12 having its electrode connected with a power source.
The intermediate tube 2 is a quartz tube receiving and fixing the heating member 1 therein, bored with a plurality of convection holes 21.
The outer tube 3 has its opposite ends respectively provided with female threads 31, bored with a water intake 32 and a water outlet 33.
The combining sleeve 4 made of ceramic material has the inner side of its opposite ends formed with an engage recess 41 for the intermediate tube 2 to be engaged therein and its circumferential wall disposed with male threads 42 to be threadably combined with the female threads 31 of the outer tube 3.
When plural modules (A) are to be combined together to form a water heater, referring to FIG. 2, a first module (A) has the water intake 32 of its outer tube 3 correspondingly connected with the water outlet 33 of the outer tube 3 of a second module (A) to have the two modules (A) connected in series. A proper number of modules (A) can be combined together by the series connection mode mentioned above in accordance with the amount of hot water needed by the users.
In using, firstly, cold water to be heated is made to flow into the water intake 32 of the outer tube 3 of the first module (A) and then start the power source is started for the carbon fiber 12 in the heating member 1 electrically being conducted to generate light and heat energy. Next, the cold water to be heated is turned on to flow into the first module (A) through the water intake 32 and then flow into the intermediate tube 2 through the convection holes 21 to be radiated and heated therein by the light and the heat energy emitted by the heating member 1, allowing the cold water to be quickly heated into vapor. Simultaneously, cold water continuously flowing into the intermediate tube 2 will carry out heat convection with the vapor therein and will be quickly mixed into hot water and then the hot water will be forced by pressure of the vapor to quickly flow out of the first module (A) through the water outlet 33 and get into the second module (A) through the water intake 32 of the second module (A). After entering the second module (A), the hot water will be radiated and heated: by the light and the heat energy emitted by the heating member 1 of the second module (A) and quickly converted into vapor, and meanwhile the hot water continuously flowing into the second module (A) will carry out convection and mix with the vapor therein, allowing the temperature of the original hot water to become comparatively higher. By repeating the heating mode mentioned above, the more the modules (A) are provided, the higher the temperature of hot water will become, and according to such a design, when the hot water flows through a subsequent module (A), the temperature of the hot water will continuously rise up, and hence the energy needed by the heating member 1 for heating hot water into vapor will relatively decrease. Therefore, electricity consumption of the heating member 1 of each module for producing light and heat energy can gradually be reduced, for effectively economizing electric energy of the water heater.
Besides, the temperature of cold water in summer is higher than that in winter; therefore, during summer time, the number of the modules (A) can be reduced for use duly to save electric energy of the water heater.
Furthermore, the number of the modules (A) can be increased or decreased in accordance with the temperature of hot water a user prefers to meet a requirement of the individual.
In addition, for heightening heating effect of the water heater of this invention, plural modules (A) can also be connected in parallel. For this purpose, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a hollow connecting sleeve 5 is provided, having its opposite ends respectively formed with male threads 51 to be threadably combined with the female threads 31 of the outer tube 3 of two modules (A). A hollow portion 52 of the connecting sleeve 5 is secured with two opposite fixing nets 53 respectively bored with an insert hole 54 for the intermediate tube 2 of the two modules (A) to be inserted therethrough and connected together, allowing the two modules (A) to communicate with each other. By so designing, water can simultaneously be heated by the heating member 1 of the two modules (A). Thus, plural modules (A) can be connected in series and connected in parallel for greatly increasing heating effect of the water heater.
As can be understood from the above description, this invention has the following advantages.
1. The water heater module of this invention is simple and convenient to be manufactured, provided with a heating tube, a hollow intermediate tube fitted on the heating tube and an outer tube for connecting to other modules. Accordingly, cold water in the module can quickly be heated into hot water by light radiation, heat convection and vapor heating, and when the hot water is formed, pressure will increase to speed up the flowing rate of the hot water, for quickly supplying users with hot water.
2. This invention is provided with a plurality of heating modules able to be connected in series to form a water heater. Thus, after hot water is heated through one module, its temperature will continuously increase, and hence the needed energy for heating subsequent hot water will relatively decrease. In addition, electric power of the module can be adjusted according to the temperature of cold water flowing into the module, to economize the electric energy of the water heater.
3. Except the mode of connecting plural modules in series to form a water heater, the modules can also be connected in parallel for greatly increasing heating effect of the water heater.
4. The water heater of this invention is formed by connecting plural independent modules in series; therefore, the number of the modules can timely be reduced for use according to different temperatures of cold water in summer or in winter to save effect of the electric energy.
5. The water heater of this invention is formed by series connecting plural independent modules together; therefore, the number of the modules can be increased or reduced for use according to the temperature of hot water preferred by the users, allowing the water heater to be suitable for individual use.
While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications may be made therein and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications that may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A water heater module comprising:

a heating member for generating heat source;

an intermediate tube receiving said heating member therein and connecting with said heating member, said intermediate tube bored with a plurality of convection holes; and

an outer tube receiving said intermediate tube and said heating member therein, said outer tube provided with a water intake and a water outlet.

2. The water heater module as claimed in claim 1, wherein two or more than two water heater modules are connected in series by having said water intake of said outer tube of one of said water heater modules connected with said water outlet of said outer tube of another of said water heater modules.

3. The water heater module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said water heater module is provided with a hollow connecting sleeve having its opposite ends respectively connected with one said water heater module for connecting two said water heater modules in parallel.

4. The water heater module as claimed in claim 3, wherein said hollow connecting sleeve has its hollow portion disposed with two opposite fixing nets respectively bored with an insert hole for said intermediate tube of two said water heater modules to be respectively inserted and fitted therein, allowing two corresponding said water heater modules to communicate with each other.

5. The water heater module as claimed in claim 1, wherein two or more than two water heater modules are connected in series by having said water intake of said outer tube of one of said water heater modules correspondingly connected with said water outlet of said outer tube of another of said water heater modules, and two said water heater modules respectively connected in parallel with opposite ends of said hollow connecting sleeve.

6. The water heater module as claimed in claim 5, wherein said hollow connecting sleeve has its hollow portion fixed with two opposite fixing nets respectively bored with an insert hole for said intermediate tubes of two said water heater modules to be inserted and fitted therein for allowing two said water heater modules to communicate with each other.

7. The water heater module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heating member is provided with a quartz tube disposed therein with carbon fiber having its electrode connected with a power source.

8. The water heater module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said intermediate tube is a quartz tube.

9. The water heater module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said water heater module is provided with combining sleeves respectively for fitting opposite ends of said outer tube, said combining sleeves respectively having an inner end bored with an engage recess for engaging said intermediate tube therein.

10. The water heater module as claimed in claim 9, wherein said combining sleeve has its outer circumferential wall provided with male threads and said outer tube has its opposite ends respectively formed with female threads to be threadably combined with said male threads of said combining sleeve.

11. The water heater module as claimed in claim 9, wherein said combining sleeve is made of ceramic material.