JP5962783B2 - Electric water heater - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric water heater in which a liquid (for example, water) in a liquid container is heated by a heating means such as an electric heater, and more particularly to a structure of an electric water heater in which steam at the time of water boiling is not emitted to the outside. Is.

  Such an electric water heater generally has a container body provided with an inner container for containing a liquid (for example, water) and a heating means for heating the liquid (for example, water) in the inner container, and an upper opening of the container body. The lid body covers a lid, and a steam discharge port for discharging steam to the outside at the time of boiling is provided on the upper surface of the lid body.

  The steam exhaust port introduces steam from the steam inlet port portion on the inner surface side of the lid, passes through the steam discharge passage through the overturn stop valve, and extends upward from the slit-shaped steam discharge port formed on the upper surface side to the indoor space. It is made to discharge (for example, refer patent document 1).

  As a result, the pressure in the inner container at the time of boiling decreases, and the liquid (for example, hot water) in the inner container boils in a smooth shape, and after the boiling for a predetermined time is continued, the temperature is kept as needed. It will be transferred to the state.

  However, in the case of the electric water heater having the above-described configuration, there are cases where the electric water heater is used while being placed on the floor surface. In such a case, a child or the like may touch the steam discharged from the steam discharge port. Moreover, if a large amount of steam is emitted, the humidity in the room becomes high, the bran and the wallpaper become wet, and if the boiling state continues more than necessary, there is a problem that power consumption increases. Therefore, it is preferable to prevent the steam itself from being emitted to the outside or to reduce the amount of generated steam itself by some method.

  In this regard, an electric rice cooker has been proposed in which steam is not discharged from a steam outlet formed in the lid (see Patent Document 2).

  However, it is structurally impossible to apply the technology in such an electric rice cooker to an electric water heater. For example, in the case of a type in which the steam path is cooled by passing it through a water tank, when the steam path is submerged, the steam outlet is blocked, and a dangerous state of natural discharge from the discharge port unique to the electric water heater occurs. In addition, there is a possibility that the inside of the inner container becomes negative pressure after boiling, and the water in the water tank may be sucked up. is there.

  Furthermore, in the case of using a fan to cool the steam to a temperature where it cannot be seen, it is very costly and the lid of the electric water heater is often detachable. There are problems such as inability.

JP 2009-189519 A Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-140836

  As described above, in the case of an electric water heater, there is a problem that it is preferable not to emit steam itself or to reduce the amount of steam generated itself.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an electric water heater having a steam-less structure that eliminates the need for a steam discharge port for discharging steam to the outside from the lid and prevents the steam from being discharged to the outside. Is intended to provide.

In the present invention, as means for solving the above-mentioned problems, a container body provided with an inner container for storing a liquid and a heating means for heating the inner container, and a lid for closing the upper side opening of the container body In the electric water heater comprising: a steam inlet on the rear side and communicating with the inside of the inner container; and a steam outlet on the front side and opening outside the lid at the outer surface portion excluding the upper surface portion. has, a steam route leading to the steam outlet from their steam inlet toward the front side from the rear side of the lid is provided while rising slope, provided with a space for heat dissipation on the upper part, the vapor at the boiling Is raised from the rear side of the lid toward the front side, and flows in an inclined state.

  According to such a configuration, during boiling, the steam generated in the inner container is introduced from the steam inlet on the rear side of the lid, and then flows in the steam path leading to the steam outlet on the front side of the lid. Most of the water is condensed, so that almost no steam is emitted from the steam outlet portion on the front side of the lid.

Moreover, the vapor through passage from the steam inlet to the steam outlet, so the steam inlet on the rear side of the lid, also the steam outlet is located at the front side of the lid, the distance between the front and rear portions thereof lid It can be of sufficiently long distance utilizing also the steam route leading to the steam outlet from the steam inlet is provided in a state of climbing inclined toward the front side from the rear side of the lid.

Therefore, the steam generated in the inner container at the time of boiling has a sufficiently long distance using the distance between the front and rear parts of the lid body, and the steam is inclined upward from the rear side of the lid body toward the front side. The path can be efficiently flowed using the rising characteristics of the steam, and the condensation efficiency can be improved. On the other hand, the condensed water condensed on the same steam path can be recirculated from the steam inlet into the inner container.

Moreover, since the space for heat radiation is provided in the upper part of the steam path, it is easy to radiate heat and the dew condensation effect is high. Moreover, since the steam path rises and inclines from the rear side of the lid toward the front side, the heat radiation space provided in the upper part of the steam path can be enlarged on the rear side.

Furthermore, its in the case of these, the vapor outlet, since the open the lid outside the outer surface position except for the upper surface of the lid comprising an outer peripheral surface in the closed state, the cover closed status flowing vapor in the vapor path In this case, it is opened in a predetermined portion of the inner container or the container body without being opened to the outside.

  Therefore, even if a small amount of steam is emitted from the steam outlet, the steam is not directly discharged from the lid to the external space, and almost no steam can be achieved.

  As described above, in the configuration of the present invention, since steam is hardly discharged from the water heater itself, the safety of the electric water heater is ensured without forming a steam outlet on the upper surface of the lid. In addition, the simple configuration of forming a vapor path in the lid body makes it possible to eliminate the upward discharge of vapor from the lid side, and there is no risk of children touching the discharged vapor, increasing the humidity in the room. It wo n’t be a problem.

It is a perspective view of the electric water heater concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the electric water heater concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view at the time of the cover body opening of the electric water heater concerning embodiment of this invention. It is the X section enlarged view of FIG. It is a perspective view of the cover in the electric water heater concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state which removed the upper plate of the cover body in the electric water heater concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the vapor | steam path | route structure part attached to the cover body in the electric water heater concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the steam path | route structure part shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the flow of the vapor | steam in the vapor | steam path | route in the electric water heater concerning embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the flow of the vapor | steam and condensed water from an inner container to a vapor | steam sensor part in the vapor | steam path | route in the X section enlarged view shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the flow of the vapor | steam and condensed water from a vapor | steam sensor part to a vapor | steam path structure part in the vapor | steam path | route in the X section enlarged view shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the flow of the dew condensation water in the cover body at the time of the cover body opening in the electric water heater concerning embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the flow of the dew condensation water in the vapor | steam path | route at the time of the front inclination of the electric water heater concerning embodiment of this invention, or the time of forward fall. It is explanatory drawing which shows the flow of the dew condensation water in the vapor | steam path | route at the time of the lid body opening of the electric water heater concerning embodiment of this invention at the time of back tilting, or backward fall.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  This electric water heater has a water heater and a heat retaining function, and includes a container body 1 having an inner container 3 for storing a liquid (for example, water), a lid body 2 for opening and closing the upper side opening of the container body 1, An AC heater is connected to an electric heater 4 that is a heating means for heating the inner container 3 at the time of boiling and keeping warm, a hot water supply passage 5 for pouring hot water in the inner container 3 to the outside, and an AC power source. And an electric hot water supply pump 6 for pouring hot water in the inner container 3 to the outside through the hot water supply passage 5. Reference numeral 5 a denotes an outlet (that is, a discharge port) of the hot water supply passage 5, and 5 b denotes a transparent measuring tube provided in a straight pipe portion located at the front portion of the container body 1 in the hot water supply passage 5.

  The container body 1 includes a cylindrical outer case 7 made of a synthetic resin that forms an outer surface portion (in the case of the present embodiment, a rectangular tube shape), the inner container 3 that forms an inner surface portion, and the outer case 7. And the inner container 3 are integrally coupled and fixed on the upper side, and the synthetic resin annular shoulder member 8 which is mounted when the lid 2 is closed, and the synthetic resin dish-shaped plate constituting the bottom surface portion. And the bottom member 9. Reference numeral 10 denotes a transparent measuring window provided at a position where the measuring tube 5b can be seen at the front portion of the outer case 7.

  The inner container 3 has a bottomed cylindrical inner cylinder 3A made of stainless steel and a cylindrical outer cylinder 3B which is also made of stainless steel and has no bottom part, joined to each other at the upper end side part and the lower end side part. It is made of a heat insulating structure with a vacuum double wall structure having a high heat insulation performance in which a vacuum heat insulating space is provided between the cylinder 3A and the outer cylinder 3B, and at the bottom, the inner cylinder 3A and the outer cylinder 3B on the outer peripheral side A single plate portion 3a constituted only by the bottom surface portion of the inner cylinder 3A is formed except for the joint portion. The single plate portion 3a is formed so as to protrude slightly higher upward, and the electric heater 4 (for example, a mica heater in which two sets of heating elements having different wattages are held on a mica plate) is formed on the lower surface side thereof. Is attached.

  The lid 2 includes a synthetic resin upper plate 11 and a synthetic resin lower plate 12 whose outer peripheral edges are coupled to each other with respect to the upper plate 11. The end portion 8a is supported by a hinge pin 13 and a hinge lock 14 so that the end portion 8a can be opened and closed in a vertical direction and is detachable.

  Further, in the lid body 2, a steam path 15 connecting a steam inlet 16 communicating with the inside of the inner container 3 and a steam outlet 17 opening at a position other than the upper surface of the lid body 2 (for example, the lower surface side). Is formed. The steam path 15 is formed in a steam recovery unit 18 disposed in the lid 2. In order to enhance the cooling effect of the steam S flowing in the steam path 15, a heat radiation space 32 is provided between the steam recovery unit 18 and the upper plate 11 of the lid 2. Between the recovery unit 18 and the lower plate 12 of the lid body 2, a heat insulating material 28 that prevents heat transfer from the inner container 3 is provided. In addition, if an aluminum foil or the like having a heat radiation effect is attached to the upper surface of the steam recovery unit 18 (that is, the upper surface of an upper constituent member 18b described later), the cooling effect on the steam S is further increased.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the steam recovery unit 18 is configured by integrally combining a lower constituent member 18 a made of synthetic resin and an upper constituent member 18 b made of synthetic resin, and has a rear end portion. (That is, the rectangular portion 19 located on the rear end side of the lid body 2), a semicircular enlarged portion 20 located on the front side of the rectangular portion 19, and one end side of the enlarged portion 20 (that is, an upper view). And a projecting portion 21 projecting forward from the left side. The steam inlet 16 is provided at a rear portion of the enlarged portion 20, and the steam outlet 17 is provided at a tip portion of the protruding portion 21.

  In this case, the steam outlet 17 does not communicate entirely with the inner container 3 but partially communicates with the inner container 3 and partially exits the hot water supply passage 5 within the shoulder member 8. (That is, it is opened adjacent to the discharge port) 5a.

  If it does in this way, the steam introduction to the steam path 15 will concentrate on the steam inlet 16, and the steam path 15 can be used effectively as a dew passage for the steam S.

Further, in the present embodiment, the steam outlet 17 is configured to open to the lower surface side of the lid body 2, but the installation position and the opening position of the steam outlet 17 are the outer surface portion of the lid body 2. In addition, the lid 2 may be configured to open to any position as long as the lid 2 is located at a position other than the upper surface portion serving as the outer peripheral surface in the closed state in which the upper opening of the container body 1 is covered.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the steam path 15 includes a first passage 15 a that guides the steam S introduced from the steam inlet 16 to the rear side (that is, the rear end portion of the rectangular portion 19), and the first passage. A second passage 15b that makes a U-turn from the rear end of 15a and extends to the front side (that is, the rear side of the enlarged portion 20), and a third passage that extends to the left and right at an intermediate position of the enlarged portion 20 following the second passage 15b. A passage 15c, a fourth passage 15d extending left and right at the intermediate position of the enlarged portion 20 following the third passage 15c, and a fifth extending left and right at the front end of the enlarged portion 20 following the fourth passage 15d. The passage 15e includes a fifth passage 15e and a sixth passage 15f that extends to the front end of the protruding portion 21 and reaches the steam outlet 17. That is, the steam path 15 is a long path detoured in a zigzag shape on the left and right instead of the shortest distance from the steam inlet 16 to the steam outlet 17 as a whole so that the steam S flowing through the steam path 15 is likely to condense. is there. If it does in this way, even if an electric water heater falls on either the right or left side, the hot water in the inner container 3 will not leak from the place where either one of zigzag shape becomes an upper side. The communication part (that is, the U-turn part) between the first passage 15a and the second passage 15b faces the steam sensor 22 attached to the shoulder member 8 so as to detect the temperature of the steam S. A communication hole (condensation water outlet) 23 is formed, and an opening edge of the communication hole 23 is provided with a seal packing 24 for sealing the communication hole 23 when the lid body 2 is closed. . Accordingly, the first passage 15a and the second passage 15b are communicated only when the lid body 2 is closed, and when the lid body 2 is opened, the dew condensation water passes through the communication hole 23. W is to flow out (that is, reflux into the inner container 3). These first to sixth passages 15a to 15f are defined by ribs 25 that project integrally from the upper surface of the lower component member 18a. Note that the steam path 15 may have a substantially circular shape that passes through the outer periphery of the cover 2 or a passage that spirally detours in addition to the shape meandering in a zigzag direction from side to side as in the present embodiment.

  The third passage 15c includes a passage enlargement portion 15c1 that is located on the outlet side of the second passage 15b and has a passage cross-sectional area that is widened, and a right side of the passage enlargement portion 15c1 that is positioned when the electric water heater is inclined forward or A trap portion 15c2 that traps the dew condensation water W when the vehicle falls forward (see FIG. 13) is formed, and the fourth passage 15d is located on the outlet side of the third passage 15c and has an enlarged passage cross-sectional area. 15d1 and a trap portion 15d2 which is located on the left end side of the passage expanding portion 15d1 and traps the condensed water W when the electric water heater is tilted forward or falls forward (see FIG. 13), is formed in the fifth passage 15e. Is located on the outlet side of the fourth passage 15d and has a passage enlarged portion 15e1 with an enlarged passage cross-sectional area, and is located on the right end side of the passage enlarged portion 15e1 when the electric water heater is inclined forward or A trap portion 15e2 is formed for trapping the dew condensation water W when the vehicle falls over (see FIG. 13), and the sixth passage 15f is located on the outlet side of the fifth passage 15e when the electric water heater is inclined forward or forward. Condensed water W is trapped at the time of falling (see FIG. 13). Trap part 15f2 is located on the outlet side of the sixth passage 15f and traps condensed water W when the electric water heater is tilted forward or falls forward (see FIG. 13). ) A trap portion 15f3 is formed. In the present embodiment, the passage expanding portions 15c1, 15d1, and 15e1 are configured such that the passage is enlarged on the same plane as the third to fifth passages 15c to 15e, but the passage sectional area is increased. In other words, the passage cross-sectional area can be increased in the vertical direction (that is, the depth direction).

The steam recovery unit 18 is attached so that the steam path 15 is inclined downward from the steam outlet 17 side toward the steam inlet 16 side (ie, the hinge pin 13 side) when the lid 2 is closed. It has been. In other words, the steam via path 15, at the time of closure of the lid 2, is made in its entirety as the steam inlet 16 side of the structure in which riser inclined toward the side steam outlet 17. As a result , the steam S at the time of boiling rises from the rear side of the lid body 2 toward the front side by using the convection and flows in an inclined state.

Further, since the steam path 15 is configured to rise and incline from the steam inlet 16 side toward the steam outlet 17 side, the heat radiation space 32 provided in the upper part of the steam path 15 is vertically oriented on the rear side. (See FIG. 4).

  Further, a metal inner cover member 26 having a steam inlet 26 a to the steam inlet 16 is fixed to the lower surface side of the lower plate 12 in the lid 2, and the outer peripheral edge of the inner cover member 26 is fixed. A seal packing 27 made of heat-resistant rubber that is pressed against the upper end opening of the inner container 3 when the lid 2 is closed is provided on the entire circumference.

  In the drawings, reference numeral 29 is a lid opening / closing lever for regulating the opening / closing state of the lid body 2, 30 is an operation panel portion having an operation surface of various switches and a display surface of liquid crystal display means, and 31 is used when carrying an electric water heater. It is a handle.

  With the above configuration, after starting boiling, the steam S from the inner container 3 led to the steam inlet 16 through the steam inlet 26a at the lower part of the lid 2 is, as shown in FIG. When the steam temperature is first detected by the steam sensor 22 and it is determined that there is a boiling state, the electric heater 4 enters the heat retaining heating state. Therefore, since it can detect earlier than the boiling detection with the bottom sensor which detects the temperature of the bottom part of the conventional inner container 3, the vapor | steam S produced from the hot water in the inner container 3 decreases, and it also becomes energy-saving. Thereafter, in the process of flowing through the steam passage 15, when the steam S enters the third passage 15c from the second passage 15b, the pressure is reduced in the passage expanding portion 15c1 in the third passage 15c, and condensation is promoted.

  Thereafter, also in the process of flowing through the fourth passage 15d and the fifth passage 15e, the pressure is reduced in the respective passage enlarged portions 15d1 and 15e1, and condensation is promoted. Therefore, in the process of flowing through the steam path 15, most of the steam S is changed to the dew condensation water W, and almost no steam is discharged from the steam outlet 17.

  In addition, the steam outlet 17 is the lid 2 on the lower surface side of the projecting portion 21 that is the outer surface position excluding the upper surface portion that becomes the outer peripheral surface in the closed state of the lid body 2 that closes the upper side opening of the container body 1. It is open to the outside, not entirely communicating with the inner container 3, but partially communicating with the inner container 3, and partially with the outlet of the hot water supply passage 5 in the shoulder member 8 (that is, , Discharge port) 5a.

  Therefore, even if a small amount of steam is emitted from the steam outlet 17, it is not discharged directly from the lid 2 to the external space as in the prior art.

  And the dew condensation water W condensed in the steam path 15 flows toward the steam inlet 16 through the steam path 15 that is inclined downward toward the steam inlet 16 when the lid 2 is closed, The gas is refluxed from the steam inlet 16 into the inner container 3.

  Further, when the electric water heater is tilted forward or falls forward, as shown in FIG. 13, the portion excluding the portion of the condensed water W generated in the steam path 15 that is recirculated from the steam inlet 16 into the inner container 3. Flows in the steam path 15 toward the steam outlet 17, but is stored in the trap portions 15c2, 15d2, 15e2, and the trap portions 15f2, 15f3. In addition, although the dew condensation water W in the part from the inlet side of the trap part 15f3 to the steam outlet 17 may be discharged | emitted from the steam outlet 17, since there is almost no dew condensation water W remaining in the said part, it does not become a problem. .

  Further, when the lid 2 is opened, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 14, a portion excluding the portion of the dew condensation water W generated in the steam path 15 that is recirculated from the steam inlet 16 into the inner container 3. The dew condensation water W flows out from the communication hole 23 where the steam sensor 22 faces (that is, returns to the inner container 3).

  Furthermore, when the electric water heater is tilted backward or falls backward, as shown in FIG. 14, the portion of the condensed water W generated in the steam path 15 that is recirculated from the steam inlet 16 into the inner container 3 is excluded. The portion returns to the communication portion (that is, the U-turn portion) between the first passage 15a and the second passage 15b that the steam sensor 22 faces. Thereafter, when the electric water heater is returned to the normal posture (ie, the upright posture), the condensed water W is returned to the inner container 3 from the steam inlet 16 to the steam path 15, so that the condensed water W is outside. It will no longer leak out.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, since most of the generated steam is condensed and recirculated into the inner container 3, a steam-less type electric water heater is provided at an extremely low cost. Is possible. Moreover, since almost no condensed water W remains in the steam path 15, the user does not have to disassemble the steam recovery unit 18 constituting the steam path 15 and perform maintenance (that is, maintenance-free). Become).

  In the present embodiment, the steam inlet 16 is provided on the hinge pin 13 side and the steam outlet 17 is provided on the front side of the lid body 2. However, the steam inlet 16 is provided on the front side of the lid body 2 and the steam outlet is provided. 17 may be provided on the hinge pin 13 side. In addition, if the steam recovery unit 18 is installed with a gap between the steam collecting unit 18 and the hot water pool portion at the time of falling water, the cooling performance can be easily maintained.

  The invention of the present application is not limited to that described in the above embodiment, and it is needless to say that the design can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the invention.

1 is a container body 2 is a lid 3 is an inner container 4 is a heating means (electric heater)
15 is a steam path 16 is a steam inlet 17 is a steam outlet S is steam W is condensed water

Claims (1)

An electric water heater comprising an inner container that contains a liquid and a container main body provided with a heating means for heating the inner container, and a lid that closes the upper side opening of the container main body, and in the lid, A steam inlet on the rear side that communicates with the inside of the inner container and a steam outlet that is on the front side and opens to the outside of the lid at the outer surface portion excluding the upper surface portion. provided route in a state in which the rear side is rising inclined toward the front side of the lid, provided with a space for heat dissipation on the upper part, the vapor at the boiling from the rear side of the lid toward the front side An electric water heater characterized by flowing in a rising and inclined state.

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