U.S. patent application number 13/455129 was filed with the patent office on 2013-02-28 for water dispenser.
This patent application is currently assigned to INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE. The applicant listed for this patent is Yi-Ray Chen, Ya-Wen Chou, Ming-Lang Hung, Yan-Ching Lee, Jyi-Ching Perng. Invention is credited to Yi-Ray Chen, Ya-Wen Chou, Ming-Lang Hung, Yan-Ching Lee, Jyi-Ching Perng.
Application Number | 20130047631 13/455129 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47741661 |
Filed Date | 2013-02-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130047631 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hung; Ming-Lang ; et
al. |
February 28, 2013 |
WATER DISPENSER
Abstract
A water dispenser including a water inlet system, a drinking
water storage system, a heat-exchange water system, a refrigeration
system, a heating system and a water outlet system is provided. The
drinking water storage system connects the water inlet system. The
refrigeration system connects the drinking water storage system and
has a water cooling tank and a first thermoelectric element. The
cooling side of the first thermoelectric element contacts the water
cooling tank. The heating system connected the drinking water
storage system has a low-temperature water heating tank and a
second thermoelectric element. A heating side of the second
thermoelectric element contacts the low-temperature water heating
tank. The heat-exchange system connects the water inlet system, a
heating side of the first thermoelectric element and a cooling side
of the second thermoelectric element. The water outlet system
connects the refrigeration system and the heating system.
Inventors: |
Hung; Ming-Lang; (Taipei
City, TW) ; Perng; Jyi-Ching; (Hsinchu County,
TW) ; Chou; Ya-Wen; (Tainan City, TW) ; Chen;
Yi-Ray; (Kaohsiung City, TW) ; Lee; Yan-Ching;
(Hsinchu City, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hung; Ming-Lang
Perng; Jyi-Ching
Chou; Ya-Wen
Chen; Yi-Ray
Lee; Yan-Ching |
Taipei City
Hsinchu County
Tainan City
Kaohsiung City
Hsinchu City |
|
TW
TW
TW
TW
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH
INSTITUTE
Hsinchu
TW
|
Family ID: |
47741661 |
Appl. No.: |
13/455129 |
Filed: |
April 25, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/3.64 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 31/542
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/3.64 |
International
Class: |
F25B 21/02 20060101
F25B021/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 23, 2011 |
TW |
100130089 |
Claims
1. A water dispenser comprising: a water inlet system; a drinking
water storage system connecting the water inlet system; a
refrigeration system connecting the drinking water storage system
and having a water cooling tank and a first thermoelectric element,
wherein a cooling side of the first thermoelectric element contacts
the water cooling tank; a heating system connecting the drinking
water storage system and having a low-temperature water heating
tank and a second thermoelectric element, wherein a heating side of
the second thermoelectric element contacts the low-temperature
water heating tank; a heat-exchange water system for the first and
second thermoelectric elements, wherein the heat-exchange water
system connects the water inlet system, a heating side of the first
thermoelectric element and a cooling side of the second
thermoelectric element; and a water outlet system connecting the
heating system and the refrigeration system.
2. The water dispenser as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a
water purification system connecting between the water inlet system
and the drinking water storage system.
3. The water dispenser as claimed in claim 2, wherein the water
purification system is a reverse osmosis system.
4. The water dispenser as claimed in claim 2, wherein the water
inlet system has a raw water inlet connecting the water
purification system.
5. The water dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water
inlet system has a drainage outlet connecting the heat-exchange
water system.
6. The water dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water
inlet system has a pure water inlet connecting the drinking water
storage system.
7. The water dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water
outlet system has a cold water control valve connecting the water
cooling tank.
8. The water dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drinking
water storage system compartmentally connecting the water cooling
tank by an integral orifice plate.
9. The water dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water
outlet system has a hot water control valve connecting the
low-temperature water heating tank.
10. The water dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heating
system further includes a high-temperature water heating tank and
an immersion-type electrical heater; the high-temperature water
heating tank connects the low-temperature water heating tank and
the immersion-type electrical heater is disposed in the
high-temperature water heating tank.
11. The water dispenser as claimed in claim 10, wherein the heating
system further has a pressure equalizing pipe connecting the
low-temperature water heating tank and the high-temperature water
heating tank, and the low-temperature water heating tank having a
pressure relief valve.
12. The water dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
low-temperature water heating tank has a pressure relief valve.
13. The water dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water
outlet system has a warm water control valve connecting the
drinking water storage system.
14. The water dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first
thermoelectric element comprises: a base plate having a first
surface and a second surface in relative; the second surface has
first flow interference channels; at least one thermoelectric chip
installed on the first surface of the base plate; a cover plate
assembled onto the second surface of the base plate, the surface of
the cover plate that faces the second surface of the base plate
having second flow interference channels, and the cover plate also
having a water inlet and a water outlet connecting the
heat-exchange water system; and a seal ring installed between the
cover plate and the base plate.
15. The water dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second
thermoelectric element comprises: a base plate having a first
surface and a second surface in relative; the second surface has
first flow interference channels; at least one thermoelectric chip
installed on the first surface of the base plate; a cover plate
assembled onto the second surface of the base plate, the surface of
the cover plate that faces the second surface of the base plate
having second flow interference channels, and the cover plate also
having a water inlet and a water outlet connecting the
heat-exchange water system; and a seal ring installed between the
cover plate and the base plate.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan
application serial no. 100130089, filed on Aug. 23, 2011. The
entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby
incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this
specification.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] The technical field relates to a water dispenser.
[0004] 2. Background
[0005] In general, commercial water dispensers were divide into two
categories based on different temperature control functions: one is
hot-warm type, second is hot-warm and cold type. Based on the
custom, the temperature of drinking water is roughly divided into
three different ranges. The cold water ranged from 4 to 8.degree.
C., the warm water ranged from room temperature to 50.degree. C.,
and the hot water temperature ranged from 50 to 95.degree. C. For
the conventional water dispenser, the water heated by heater and
cooled by compressor. There are many drawbacks of this type water
dispenser including heating efficiency, using not
environment-friendly refrigerant, high weight, large volume, issue
of noise and vibration.
[0006] Some of the new type water dispensers use thermoelectric
element to generate cold water. When heating or refrigeration, it
relies only on the heat energy transfer of electrical carriers
within the thermoelectric element and lack of mechanical moving
devices. The system has higher stability and lower maintenance
requirement, therefore has a great potential of application on
small home appliances. When using the thermoelectric element for
heating, a heat-exchange mechanism of the cooling side should also
be designed. The air heat-exchanger comprised a heat sink at the
cooling side of the thermoelectric element and a fan system drive
flow to dissipate the heat. But, the air heat-exchange system has
inherently lower heat-exchange efficiency than fluid heat-exchange
system. Both of the two side of thermoelectric element directly
attach to the water cooling tank and the water heating tank, so
when being functional the thermoelectric element may heat up
drinking water in the hot water tank and lower the temperature of
drinking water in the water cooling tank in the same time.
Nevertheless, the unbalanced refrigeration and heating requirement
at the two sides of one thermoelectric chip would cause the
thermoelectric element to dysfunction; therefore, no actual product
is currently being launched in the market yet.
SUMMARY
[0007] One of exemplary embodiments comprises the water dispenser
including a water inlet system, a drinking water storage system, a
heat-exchange water system, a refrigeration system, a heating
system, and a water outlet system. The drinking water storage
system connects with the water inlet system. The refrigeration
system, which includes a water cooling tank and a first
thermoelectric element, connects with the drinking water storage
system. A cooling side of the first thermoelectric element contacts
the water cooling tank. There are two temperature stages of water
heating system. The first temperature stage water heating tank and
a second thermoelectric element connects with the drinking water
storage system. The heating side of the second thermoelectric
element contacts with the first stage water heating tank. The
heat-exchange system connects the water inlet system, a heating
side of the first thermoelectric element and a cooling side of the
second thermoelectric element. The water outlet system connects the
heating system and the refrigeration system.
[0008] Several exemplary embodiments accompanied with figures are
described in detail below to further describe the disclosure in
details.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The accompanying drawings are included to provide further
understanding, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of
this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments
and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles
of the disclosure.
[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of
a water dispenser.
[0011] FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of the water dispenser
having a water purification system.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a first
thermoelectric element in FIG. 2.
[0013] FIG. 4 is another schematic diagram illustrating the first
thermoelectric element in FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of
a water dispenser. Refer to FIG. 1, the embodiment of the water
dispenser 1000 comprises a water inlet system 1100, a drinking
water storage system S12, a heat-exchange water system 1200, a
refrigeration system 1300, a heating system 1400, and a water
outlet system 1500. The drinking water storage system S12 connects
with the water inlet system 1100. The refrigeration system 1300,
which includes a water cooling tank 1320 and a first thermoelectric
element 1310, connects with the drinking water storage system S12.
A cooling side of the first thermoelectric element 1310 directly
contacts the water cooling tank 1320. The heating system 1400,
which includes a low-temperature water heating tank 1420 and a
second thermoelectric element 1410, connects with the drinking
water storage system S12. A heating side of the second
thermoelectric element 1410 directly contacts the low-temperature
water heating tank 1420. The heat-exchange water system 1200 for
the first and second thermoelectric elements 1310 and 1410 connects
with the water inlet system 1100 and also connects to the heating
side of the first thermoelectric element 1310 and the cooling side
of the second thermoelectric element 1410. The water outlet system
1500 connects the heating system 1400 and the refrigeration system
1300.
[0015] In the embodiment of the water dispenser 1000, the cooling
side of the first thermoelectric element 1310 contacts the cooling
water tank 1320 of the refrigeration system 1300, the heating side
(heat dissipation side) of the first thermoelectric element 1310
connects with the heat-exchange water system 1200, and subsequently
the first thermoelectric element 1310 maintains normal function
through using cooling water supplied by the heat-exchange water
system 1200 to remove heat from the heating side (heat dissipation
side). Therefore, the first thermoelectric element 1310 may
sustainably and steadily cool the water inside the water cooling
tank 1320. In addition, the cooling side of the second
thermoelectric element 1410 also connects with the heat-exchange
water system 1200, and the second thermoelectric element 1410
maintains normal function through using cooling water supplied by
the heat-exchange water system 1200 to provide heat to the cooling
side of the second thermoelectric element 1410. With the heating
side of the second thermoelectric element 1410 contacting the
low-temperature water heating tank 1420 of the heating system 1400,
the second thermoelectric element 1410 may sustainably and steadily
heat the water of low-temperature water heating tank 1420 of the
heating system 1400 to produce hot water. Since the refrigeration
system 1300 and the heating system 1400 have independent
thermoelectric elements and heat-exchange devices, the heating
capability of the heating system 1400 is not affected by the action
of the refrigeration system 1300. On the other hand, the cooling
capability of the refrigeration system 1300 is not affected even if
a great amount of hot water is taken from the low-temperature water
heating tank 1420 of the heating system 1400.
[0016] Accordingly, the embodiment of the water dispenser 1000 may
maintain a steady supply of hot and ice water and also produce warm
water by mixing hot water with ice water. Furthermore, the
thermoelectric element has superior heat-exchange efficiency than
an electrical heater and a compressor in low noise, no mechanical
wear, and environmental compliance. By properly regulating the
temperature of the cooling water of the heat-exchange water system
1200, the first thermoelectric element 1310 and the second
thermoelectric element 1410 can conduct heating and refrigeration
at the same time with good system efficiency.
[0017] The embodiment of the water inlet system 1100 connects water
source with water inlet 1120, a pure water inlet 1110 and a
drainage outlet 1130. However, in other embodiments, the water
inlet system may also comprise one or more types of water inlet and
drainage outlet. The embodiment of the heating system 1400 has a
second thermoelectric element 1410, a low-temperature water heating
tank 1420, a high-temperature water heating tank 1430, and an
immersion-type electrical heater 1440. The embodiment of the
heat-exchange water system 1200 has a cooling water reservoir 1210.
The embodiment of the water outlet system 1500 has a cold water
control valve 1530, a warm water control valve 1520 and a hot water
control valve 1510; nevertheless, other embodiment of the water
outlet system may also has only two or more water outlets. The cold
water control valve 1530 connects with the water cooling tank 1320.
The embodiment of the water dispenser 1000 further has a water
purification system 1600, a plurality of water pumps 1700, a
plurality of pipelines 1800, a plurality of control valves 1900, a
plurality of level monitors 1910, and a plurality of temperature
sensors 1920. The control valves 1900 control the water flow
through the water passage, and the water pumps 1700. The following
descriptions below show the connections between the aforementioned
components as well as the detailed structure for some of the
components.
[0018] The outside purified water inlet 1110 connects to the
drinking water storage system S12 through the pipelines 1800 and
the control valves 1900 Imported water flowing through the water
inlet 1110 has been purification before drove into the water
dispenser 1000. Imported water inlet 1120 directly connects to the
heat-exchange water reservoir 1210 through the pipelines 1800 and
the control valves 1900. The imported water inlet 1120 connects the
water purification system 1600 through the pipelines 1800. The
imported water inlet 1120 connects the cold water reservoir 1210
with the pipelines 1800 and the control valves 1900. The imported
water inlet 1120 connects to the drinking water storage system S12
through the pipelines 1800. Water imports into the heat-exchange
water reservoir 1210 may replenish heat-exchange cooling water and
also adjust the water temperature. The drainage outlet 1130
connects to the heat-exchange water reservoir 1210, the water
cooling tank 1320 and the high-temperature water heating tank 1430
with the pipelines 1800 and the control valves 1900 for evacuating
water within the heat-exchange water reservoir 1210, the water
cooling tank 1320 and the high-temperature water heating tank 1430
in order to facilitate cleaning and transportation.
[0019] The water purification system 1600 locates between the water
inlet system 1100 and the heat-exchange water system 1200, and
connect with pipelines. The water purification system 1600 may be a
reverse osmosis system or other types of the water purification
system. The embodiment of the water purification system 1600 is a
three pieces reverse osmosis drinking water purifier comprising a
cotton filter 1610, a reverse osmosis filter 1620 and a
postposition activated carbon filter 1630. Imported water is
transported to the cotton filter 1610 to filter out sand and gravel
and then through the control valves 1900 into the reverse osmosis
filter 1620 to filter out the bacteria, compounds and heavy metals.
Herein the control valves 1900 is used to control water storage
within the system. Lastly, a drinking water purification process is
completed with an odor removal through the postposition activated
carbon filter. Some waste water generated by the water filtration
through the reverse osmosis filter 1620 is transported to the
heat-exchange water reservoir 1210.
[0020] The water purification system 1600 in FIG. 1 may be replaced
by the water purification system 2600 in FIG. 2. The water
purification system 2600 comprises a cotton filter 2610, an
activated carbon filter 2620, a small pore size cotton filter 2630,
a reverse osmosis filter 2640, and a postposition activated carbon
filter 2650. Imported water filters out the impurities through the
cotton filter 2610, the activated carbon filter 2620 and the small
pore size cotton filter 2630, is pressurized into the reverse
osmosis filter 2640 by a water pump 1700, and is further
transported into the postposition activated carbon filter 2650 for
odor removal, thus completing a much purified drinking water
purification process.
[0021] The heat-exchange water reservoir 1210 is for storing waste
water generated by the water purification system 1600 or water
imported by the inlet 1120. The level monitor 1950 is for detecting
the water level within the heat-exchange water reservoir 1210 and
controlling the control valves 1900 to timely replenish and drain
water. The temperature sensor 1920 is for detecting the water
temperature within the heat-exchange water reservoir 1210. The
control valves 1900 are activated to drain high temperature water
and replenish low temperature water when the water temperature is
too high.
[0022] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the drinking water
storage system S12 separated from the water cooling tank 1320 by an
integral orifice plate 1322. The drinking water storage system S12,
which is for storing purified drinking water, connects the water
purification system 1600 with the pipelines 1800. The drinking
water storage system S12 also connects with the pure water inlet
1110 through the pipelines 1800 and the control valves 1900 for
importing purified drinking water that has been processed before
entering the water dispenser 1000. The water cooling tank 1320 is
for storing cold water. The integral orifice plate 1322 contains
many holes for connecting with the drinking water storage system
S12 and with the water cooling tank 1320, in order to facilitate
the replenishment of water into the water cooling tank 1320, and it
may be used as a thermal insulation layer for preventing the
thermal convection from affecting the water temperature
distribution during cooling by the water cooling tank 1320. The
level monitor 1910 is for detecting the water level of the drinking
water storage system S12 and further regulating the water level of
the drinking water storage system S12 with the opening and closing
of the control valves 1900. The drinking water storage system S12
has a water replenishment cover plate 1324 capable of being opened
for adding external drinking water as well as being closed for
protecting the purity of drinking water within the drinking water
storage system S12. The drinking water storage system S12 connects
with the low-temperature water heating tank 1420 through the
pipelines 1800 so as to let the low-temperature water heating tank
1420 to have replenishment of drinking water for heating and to
share the level monitor 1910 of the drinking water storage system
S12 for saving the number of parts. The pipelines 1800 that
connects the drinking water storage system S12 with the
low-temperature water heating tank 1420 also connects the warm
water control valve 1520 for providing warm water.
[0023] The first thermoelectric element 1310 is attached at the
water cooling tank 1320. Refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the embodiment
of the first thermoelectric element 1310 comprises a base plate
1312, at least one thermoelectric chip 1314, a cover plate 1316,
and a seal ring 1318. The embodiment of the disclosure involves two
thermoelectric chips 1314 for example, but it may be one or more.
Moreover, in FIG. 3 two perspectives of the base plate 1312 are
shown at the same time for simple illustration, but it is in fact
just one base plate 1312. The base plate 1312 has a first surface
1312A and a second surface 1312B opposite to each other. The second
surface 1312B has first flow interference channels 1312C. The
thermoelectric chip 1314 is installed on the first surface 1312A of
the base plate 1312 to have directly contact with the water cooling
tank 1320. The cover plate 1316 is assembled onto the second
surface 1312B of the base plate 1312. A surface of the cover plate
1316, which faces the second surface 1312B, has second flow
interference channels 1316A. The cover plate 1316 also has a water
inlet 1316B and a water outlet 1316C connecting with the
heat-exchange water system 1200. The seal ring 1318 is installed
between the cover plate 1316 and the base plate 1312. Materials for
the base plate 1312 and the cover plate 1316 are better with high
thermal conductivity such as copper or alumina. The base plate 1312
and the cover plate 1316 may be fixed using screw or other means.
The seal ring 1318 is used to seal the space between the cover
plate 1316 and the base plate 1312 to prevent cooling water from
overflow. The first flow interference channels 1312C and the second
flow interference channels 1316A may increase the fluctuation of
cooling water so as to increase the heat-exchange efficiency.
[0024] The base plate 1312, the cover plate 1316 and the inside
cooling water processes the heat-exchange with the heating side of
the thermoelectric chip 1314 to avoid the high temperature caused
failure of the thermoelectric chip 1314. In normal operation
condition, the temperature of the water cooling tank 1320 is
decreased by the thermoelectric chip 1314. The water temperature
within in the water cooling tank 1320 is monitored by the
temperature sensor 1920 and control the on or off of the
thermoelectric chip 1314. The water inlet 1316B connects with the
heat-exchange water reservoir 1210 through the water pump 1700, the
pipelines 1800 and the control valves 1900 to import heat-exchange
water. The water outlet 1316C connects with the heat-exchange water
reservoir 1210 through the pipelines 1800 to export cooling water
to the heat-exchange water reservoir 1210 for recycling.
[0025] The second thermoelectric element 1410 is attached to the
exterior of the low-temperature water heating tank 1420. The
construction of the second thermoelectric element 1410 is same as
the first thermoelectric element 1310, thus no additional
illustration is provided herein. The cooling side of the second
thermoelectric element 1410 connects with the heat-exchange water
reservoir 1210 through the water pump 1700, the pipelines 1800 and
the control valves 1900. Increasing the temperature of the cooling
side of the second thermoelectric element 1410, it enhanced the
heating efficiency of the second thermoelectric element 1410. In
normal operation, the heating effect may be achieved by using the
heating side of the second thermoelectric element 1410 to increase
the temperature of the low-temperature water heating tank 1420. The
cooling side of the second thermoelectric element 1410 is also
connects the heat-exchange water reservoir 1210 with the pipelines
1800. The heat-exchange water was export to the heat-exchange water
reservoir 1210 for recycling. The water temperature within in the
low-temperature water heating tank 1420 is monitored by the
temperature sensor 1920 and control the on or off of the
thermoelectric chip 1314. The control valves 1900 and the pipelines
1800 connect the low-temperature water heating tank 1420 and the
high-temperature water heating tank 1430 for replenishing drinking
water within the high-temperature water heating tank 1430. The
low-temperature water heating tank 1420 has a pressure relief valve
1422 for balancing the pressure within the low-temperature water
heating tank 1420.
[0026] The high-temperature water heating tank 1430 is the second
heating stage after hot water produced from the low-temperature
water heating tank 1420. The immersion-type electrical heater 1440
is disposed in the high-temperature water heating tank 1430 as the
heat source. As the heating performance coefficient of the second
thermoelectric element 1410 is less than 1.0, the immersion-type
electrical heater 1440 will use to obtain higher temperature hot
water. The temperature sensor 1920 is configured within the
high-temperature water heating tank 1430 to control the on or off
of the immersion-type electrical heater 1440. The level monitor
1910 is also configured within the high-temperature water heating
tank 1430 to control the opening or closing of the control valves
1900 that are connected with the low-temperature water heating tank
1420. The heating system 1400 further has a pressure equalizing
pipe 1450 for example. The pressure equalizing pipe 1450 connects
with the low-temperature water heating tank 1420 and the
high-temperature water heating tank 1430 so as to use the pressure
relief valve 1422 of the low-temperature water heating tank 1420 to
balance the pressure within the high-temperature water heating tank
1430. The high-temperature water heating tank 1430 connects with
the hot water control valve 1510 through the pipelines 1800 in
order to provide hot water.
[0027] Generally, in the disclosure of the water dispenser, the
refrigeration system and the heating system use each of the
thermoelectric elements to conduct refrigeration and heating
processes independently; furthermore, the refrigeration system and
the heating system also share the heat-exchange water system, thus
maintaining a steady and excellent temperature control of drinking
water.
[0028] Although the disclosure is disclosed as above, it will be
apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and
variations can be made to the structure of the disclosed
embodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the
disclosure. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the
disclosure cover modifications and variations of this disclosure
provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and
their equivalents.
* * * * *