JP2005083597A - Storage type water heater - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a storage type water heater capable of thinning a tank unit accommodating a hot water storage tank, while inhibiting the increase of the weight of the hot water storage tank. <P>SOLUTION: This storage type water heater comprises a heating means such as a heat pump, and a hot water storage tank 2 for storing the hot water heated by the heating means. The hot water storage tank 2 is formed by molding a metallic plate into the cylindrical shape, and has a barrel part 2A having openings at its both sides, an upper cover part 2B (first cover part) for closing one of the openings of the barrel part 2A, and a bottom part 2C (second cover part) for closing the other opening of the barrel part 2A. The openings of the barrel part 2A includes a first part of a first width (L1 in drawing) and a second part of a second width (L2 in drawing) smaller than the first width (L1). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a hot water storage type hot water supply device, and more particularly to a hot water storage type hot water supply device including a heating unit such as a heat pump and a tank unit.

  As the hot water storage tank in the hot water storage type hot water heater, a cylindrical one is often used from the viewpoint of equalizing the internal pressure. In a tank unit containing such a hot water storage tank, the cross section in the extending direction of the tank has a shape close to a square.

  On the other hand, it is required to reduce the thickness of the unit due to restrictions on the space for storing the tank unit.

  4A and 4B are diagrams showing an example of a tank unit in a conventional hot water storage type hot water heater, in which FIG. 4A shows a top view and FIG. 4B shows a front view. In FIG. 4, in response to the above-described demand for thinning, two relatively small cylindrical hot water storage tanks are arranged, and the tank unit is thinned while ensuring the total capacity of the hot water storage tanks.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 8-271530 (conventional example 1) discloses a hot water storage tank composed of segments obtained by pressing a thin steel plate. Here, the segment includes a bulging portion in which a thin plate is bulged, and a flange portion in which the thin plate around the bulging portion is extended to the outside of the bulging portion over the entire circumference of the bulging portion. The hot water storage tank is formed by integrally joining the flange portions.
JP-A-8-271053

  However, the hot water storage tank as described above has the following problems.

  In the structure as shown in FIG. 4, the tank weight increases as compared with the case where the tank unit having the same capacity is configured by one tank. This is disadvantageous, for example, from the viewpoint of improving the efficiency of installation work.

  Moreover, also in the prior art 1, the flange part formed along the outer periphery of a bulging part and its joining material (bolt etc.) may become a factor of the weight increase of a hot water storage tank.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a hot water storage type hot water heater in which a tank unit for storing the hot water storage tank is made thin while suppressing an increase in the weight of the hot water storage tank. Is to provide.

  A hot water storage type water heater according to the present invention includes a heating means and a hot water storage tank for storing hot water heated by the heating means, and the hot water storage tank is formed by forming a metal plate into a cylindrical shape, and has openings on both sides. A body portion, a first lid portion that closes one opening of the body portion, and a second lid portion that closes the other opening of the body portion, and the opening of the body portion is a first having a first width. A portion and a second portion having a second width smaller than the first width.

  Thereby, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the tank unit that stores the hot water storage tank while suppressing an increase in the weight of the hot water storage tank.

  It is preferable to form the body part with a curved surface.

  By forming the body portion with a curved metal plate, it is possible to prevent the hot water storage tank from being damaged due to stress concentration.

  The body is preferably made of a single metal plate.

  Thereby, since the joint location of a metal plate can be reduced, the reliability of a hot water storage tank improves.

  It is preferable that the hot water storage type water heater further includes a reinforcing member attached to the trunk portion.

  This can prevent the hot water storage tank from being deformed.

  The hot water storage type water heater may be one in which a hot water storage tank is placed horizontally.

  In this case, the load acting on the hot water storage tank can be reduced. As a result, the hot water storage tank can be reduced in weight. Further, when the tank unit for storing the hot water storage tank is installed, the space on the upper surface of the unit can be saved.

  Here, “horizontal placement” means the installation direction of the tank unit in which the body portion of the cylindrical hot water storage tank extends in the horizontal direction and the first and second lid portions are arranged in the horizontal direction.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the tank unit which accommodates this hot water storage tank can be made thin, suppressing the weight increase of a hot water storage tank in a hot water storage type hot water supply machine.

  Embodiments of a hot water storage type hot water heater according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

(Embodiment 1)
1A and 1B are diagrams showing a tank unit of a hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus according to Embodiment 1, wherein FIG. 1A shows an upper cross-sectional view (II cross section), and FIG. 1B shows a front view.

  The hot water storage type hot water heater according to the present embodiment includes a heating means and a hot water storage tank 2 for storing hot water heated by the heating means, and the hot water storage tank 2 is formed by forming a metal plate into a cylindrical shape. A body portion 2A having an opening at the top, an upper lid portion 2B (first lid portion) for closing one opening of the body portion 2A, and a bottom portion 2C (second lid portion) for closing the other opening of the body portion 2A. The opening of the body portion 2A has a first portion having a first width (L1 in FIG. 1) and a second portion having a second width (L2 in FIG. 1) smaller than the first width (L1). 2 parts.

  Examples of the heating means include a heat pump and an electric heater. 1A shows a cross section II, but the outer shape of the cross section of the body portion 2A shown here is substantially equal to the shape of the opening.

  Referring to FIG. 1, hot water storage tank 2 is housed alone in tank unit 1. The hot water storage tank 2 is connected to a water pipe and is connected to a water supply pipe 3 for supplying water to the hot water storage tank 2, a water inlet pipe 4 leading from the hot water storage tank 2 to the heating means, and hot water heated by the heating means 2 A hot water supply pipe 5 leading to the hot water supply pipe 6 for supplying hot water in the hot water storage tank 2 is connected.

  The mixing pipe 3 </ b> A branched from the water supply pipe 3 is connected to the hot water supply pipe 6 through the mixing valve 8. Therefore, the temperature of the hot water supplied from the hot water supply pipe 6 can be adjusted by adjusting the opening and closing of the mixing valve 8.

  The body portion 2A is formed, for example, by rolling a metal plate such as a stainless steel plate into a cylindrical shape, and joining the joint by welding or the like. As shown in FIG. Having an axial cross section. Thereby, thickness reduction of the tank unit 1 can be performed. Moreover, this cylindrical member (body part 2A) can be easily produced by a simple process.

  A reinforcing plate 7 as a reinforcing member is mounted inside the trunk portion 2A along the minor axis direction of the ellipse. Thereby, it can prevent that trunk | drum 2A deform | transforms, and since the metal plate which forms trunk | drum 2A can be made thin, the hot water storage tank 2 can be reduced in weight. The reinforcing member is not limited to that shown in FIG. 1, and for example, a rod-like or frame-like member may be installed, or these members may be installed at a plurality of locations. Moreover, the case where a reinforcement member is mounted | worn along an elliptical major axis direction, or the case where this reinforcement member is installed in the exterior of trunk | drum 2A are also considered.

  The cross section of the body portion 2A is not limited to an elliptical shape, and any shape can be applied. Here, it is preferable to form the trunk portion 2A with a curved surface (more preferably with an elliptical cross-sectional shape). Thereby, stress concentration is less likely to occur, and the hot water storage tank 2 can be prevented from being damaged.

  It is preferable that the body portion 2A is made of a single metal plate. Thereby, joint locations, such as welding mentioned above, can be reduced. As a result, the reliability of the hot water storage tank is improved. In addition, the manufacturing process of the tank can be further simplified.

  The upper lid portion 2B and the bottom portion 2C are joined to the upper and lower sides of the trunk portion 2A, for example, by fitting. As a result, a space in which the hot water storage tank 2 stores cold / hot water is formed between the body portion 2A, the upper lid portion 2B, and the bottom portion 2C.

  When installing a hot water storage type water heater, space saving and efficiency of installation work have become problems.

  On the other hand, in the hot water storage type hot water heater according to the present embodiment, the tank unit for storing the hot water storage tank can be made thin while suppressing an increase in the weight of the hot water storage tank. Space-saving and labor-saving can be achieved with respect to restrictions in

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 2 is a view showing a tank unit of a hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus according to Embodiment 2, wherein (a) shows a top view and (b) shows a front view.

  The hot water storage type hot water heater according to the present embodiment is a modification of the hot water storage type hot water heater according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the hot water storage tank 2 is placed horizontally (the cylindrical hot water storage tank is horizontal). The first embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that it is installed in a state extending to the first embodiment.

  Since other matters are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted here.

  By placing the tubular hot water storage tank 2 horizontally, the water level of the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 2 can be lowered, and the acting load can be reduced. As a result, the tank unit can be reduced in weight. Further, when the tank unit is installed, the space on the upper surface of the unit can be saved.

  In FIG. 2, the hot water storage tank 2 is installed such that the major axis direction (first direction having a large width) in the elliptical cross-sectional shape of the body 2A is horizontal, but the minor axis direction ( The second direction having a small width may be set to be horizontal.

  Below, an example of the whole structure of the hot water storage type water heater which concerns on Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2 is demonstrated.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a hot water storage type hot water heater (heat pump type hot water heater) when a heat pump unit is used as an example of the heating means. The heat pump unit here is an example of a heating unit, and the heating unit is not limited to the heat pump unit.

With reference to FIG. 3, the heat pump hot water heater can be roughly divided into a heat pump unit 10 and a tank unit 1. The heat pump unit 10 has a heat pump circuit configured by connecting a compressor 11, a condenser 12, an expansion valve 13, and an air heat exchanger 14 with refrigerant piping. In addition, the air heat exchanger 14 is provided with a blower fan 15 for promoting heat absorption from the atmosphere in the air heat exchanger 14. In this heat pump circuit, for example, a refrigerant such as CO ₂ circulates. On the other hand, the tank unit 1 has a hot water storage tank 2, a circulation pump 9, a water heat exchanger 16 for exchanging heat with the condenser 12, and a hot water supply circuit configured by connecting the mixing valve 8 with cold / hot water piping.

  The water circulating in the tank unit 1 reaches the water heat exchanger 16 in the heat pump unit 10 through the water inlet pipe 4 and takes heat from the water heat exchanger 16 to become hot water. The hot water is returned to the hot water storage tank 2 through the hot water supply pipe 5, stored in the hot water storage tank 2, and then hot water is supplied from the hot water supply pipe 6. The hot water storage tank 2 is supplied with water through a water supply pipe 3.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is planned from the beginning to combine the characteristic portions of the respective embodiments described above. Moreover, it should be thought that embodiment disclosed this time is an illustration and restrictive at no points. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

It is the figure which showed the tank unit of the hot water storage type water heater which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention, (a) shows an upper cross-sectional view, (b) shows a front view. It is the figure which showed the tank unit of the hot water storage type water heater based on Embodiment 2 of this invention, (a) shows a top view, (b) shows a front view. It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the hot water storage type water heater based on Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is the figure which showed the tank unit of the conventional hot water storage type water heater, (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tank unit, 2 Hot water storage tank, 2A trunk | drum, 2B Top cover part, 2C bottom part, 3,3A Water supply piping, 4 Water supply piping, 5 Hot water piping, 6 Hot water supply piping, 7 Reinforcement plate, 8 Mixing valve, 9 Circulation pump, 10 Heat pump unit, 11 compressor, 12 condenser, 13 expansion valve, 14 air heat exchanger, 15 blower fan, 16 water heat exchanger.

Claims (5)

Heating means;
A hot water storage tank for storing hot water heated by the heating means,
The hot water storage tank is formed by forming a metal plate into a cylindrical shape, and has a body portion having openings on both sides, a first lid portion that closes one opening of the body portion, and the other opening of the body portion. A second lid that closes;
The body opening has a first portion having a first width and a second portion having a second width smaller than the first width.   The hot water storage type water heater according to claim 1, wherein the body portion is formed of a curved surface.   The hot water storage type water heater according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the body portion is made of a single metal plate.   The hot water storage type water heater according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a reinforcing member attached to the body portion.   The hot water storage type hot water supply apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the hot water storage tank is placed horizontally.

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