U.S. patent application number 15/372706 was filed with the patent office on 2017-10-26 for hot water barrel structure for water dispenser.
The applicant listed for this patent is Sejin Hightech Co., Ltd. Invention is credited to Young Bae KIM, Young Bong KIM.
Application Number | 20170307252 15/372706 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59352129 |
Filed Date | 2017-10-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170307252 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KIM; Young Bong ; et
al. |
October 26, 2017 |
HOT WATER BARREL STRUCTURE FOR WATER DISPENSER
Abstract
Provided is a hot water barrel structure for a water dispenser,
the hot water barrel structure including: a hot water barrel having
a water reservoir therein; a partition plate provided in the hot
water barrel and dividing the water reservoir into an upper water
reservoir part and a lower water reservoir part; an inlet pipe
supplying water that is to be heated to the lower water reservoir
part of the hot water barrel; a heater provided at the hot water
barrel and heating water introduced to the lower water reservoir
part to produce hot water; and a hot water pipe provided at the
upper water reservoir part of the hot water barrel.
Inventors: |
KIM; Young Bong; (Incheon,
KR) ; KIM; Young Bae; (Incheon, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Sejin Hightech Co., Ltd |
Incheon |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
59352129 |
Appl. No.: |
15/372706 |
Filed: |
December 8, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24H 1/181 20130101;
F24H 9/124 20130101; F24H 1/201 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F24H 1/18 20060101
F24H001/18; F24H 9/12 20060101 F24H009/12; F24H 1/20 20060101
F24H001/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 25, 2016 |
KR |
10-2016-0050259 |
Claims
1. A hot water barrel structure for a water dispenser, the hot
water barrel structure comprising: a hot water barrel having a
water reservoir therein; a partition plate provided in the hot
water barrel and dividing the water reservoir into an upper water
reservoir part and a lower water reservoir part; an inlet pipe
supplying water that is to be heated to the lower water reservoir
part of the hot water barrel; and a heater provided at the hot
water barrel and heating water introduced to the lower water
reservoir part to produce hot water.
2. The hot water barrel structure of claim 1, wherein a
circumference of the partition plate dividing the water reservoir
into the upper and lower water reservoir parts is spaced apart from
an inner circumferential surface of the hot water barrel by a
predetermined distance, such that a flow hole through which hot
water is supplied from the lower water reservoir part to the upper
water reservoir part is secured.
3. The hot water barrel structure of claim 2, wherein a linear
partition plate portion is further provided at the circumference of
the partition plate by extending at least in a direction toward the
lower water reservoir part, such that the flow hole between the
partition plate and the hot water barrel is formed as a band-shaped
flow hole having an increased vertical width by the linear
partition plate portion.
4. The hot water barrel structure of claim 1, wherein the partition
plate is provided with a flow hole that communicates with both
surfaces thereof, the flow hole comprising a plurality of the flow
holes that is provided at a location adjacent to a circumference of
the partition plate.
5. The hot water barrel structure of claim 1, wherein the inlet
pipe is configured with a coil pipe portion at a part placed in the
lower water reservoir part of the hot water barrel.
6. The hot water barrel structure of claim 5, wherein the partition
plate is provided with a pipe connection hole that communicates
with both surfaces thereof, and the inlet pipe includes: a linear
pipe portion vertically extending through inside the water
reservoir of the hot water barrel; and the coil pipe portion
connected to the linear pipe portion, wherein the pipe connection
hole is coupled with the linear pipe portion, and the coil pipe
portion is placed in the lower water reservoir part divided by the
partition plate.
7. The hot water barrel structure of claim 6, wherein the heater is
provided in the lower water reservoir part so as to be placed in an
inner area of the coil pipe portion.
8. The hot water barrel structure of claim 7, wherein the heater is
configured as a coil heater.
9. The hot water barrel structure of claim 7, wherein the hot water
barrel is further provided with an outer heater on an outer
circumferential surface thereof such that the outer heater is
placed on a circumference of the lower water reservoir part.
10. The hot water barrel structure of claim 9, wherein the outer
heater is configured as a band heater.
11. The hot water barrel structure of claim 1, wherein a drain pipe
is connected to the lower water reservoir part of the hot water
barrel, and a hot water pipe is connected to the upper water
reservoir part of the hot water barrel.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims priority to Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2016-0050259, filed Apr. 25, 2016, the entire
contents of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a hot water
barrel structure for a water dispenser. More particularly, the
present invention relates to a hot water barrel structure for a
water dispenser, wherein the barrel structure is capable of
preventing hot water from not being properly supplied to a user
when the user continuously dispenses hot water from a cold and hot
water dispenser.
Description of the Related Art
[0003] In general, a cold and hot water dispenser is configured
such that a heater and a cooling system are provided therein, a
water bottle seating part into which a cylindrical water bottle is
received in an upside down position is installed at an upper
portion of thereof, and a tap is provided at a front side thereof,
thereby enabling a user to conveniently dispense cold or hot water.
In other words, by mounting cold water and hot water taps on the
front side of the dispenser, cold water is dispensed when the user
presses the cold water tap, and hot water is dispensed when the
user presses the hot water tap.
[0004] However, a conventional cold and hot water dispenser is
problematic in that when a certain amount of hot water is dispensed
from the hot water tap, soon after lukewarm water is dispensed
rather than hot water, so it is difficult to dispense a desired
amount of hot water. For example, when a user wishes to dispense an
amount of hot water sufficient for making three cups of coffee,
lukewarm water is dispensed rather than hot water such that the
coffee cannot be properly dissolved in the lukewarm water. Thus,
there is a problem in that hot water is not properly dispensed even
when only a small amount of hot water is used, thereby causing user
inconvenience and customer complaints.
[0005] The foregoing is intended merely to aid in the understanding
of the background of the present invention, and is not intended to
mean that the present invention falls within the purview of the
related art that is already known to those skilled in the art.
DOCUMENTS OF RELATED ART
[0006] (Patent Document 1) Korean Utility Model Registration No.
20-0357515 (2004 Jul. 2019)
[0007] (Patent Document 2) Korean Utility Model Registration No.
20-0400754 (2005 Nov. 2002)
[0008] (Patent Document 3) Korean Utility Model Registration No.
20-0459856 (2012 Apr. 2009)
[0009] (Patent Document 4) Korean Patent No. 10-1041276 (2011 Jun.
2007)
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in
mind the above problems occurring in the related art, and the
present invention is intended to propose a hot water barrel
structure for a water dispenser, wherein the barrel structure is
capable of preventing hot water from not being properly supplied to
a user by implementing a structure in which a hot water barrel is
continuously filled with hot water even when the user continuously
dispenses hot water from a cold and hot water dispenser.
[0011] In order to achieve the above object, according to one
aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hot water
barrel structure for a water dispenser, the hot water barrel
structure including: a hot water barrel having a water reservoir
therein; a partition plate provided in the hot water barrel and
dividing the water reservoir into an upper water reservoir part and
a lower water reservoir part; an inlet pipe supplying water that is
to be heated to the lower water reservoir part of the hot water
barrel; a heater provided at the hot water barrel and heating water
introduced to the lower water reservoir part to produce hot water;
and a hot water pipe provided at the upper water reservoir part of
the hot water barrel and guiding hot water to be discharged to a
place where hot water is dispensed.
[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a
circumference of the partition plate dividing the water reservoir
into the upper and lower water reservoir parts may be spaced apart
from an inner circumferential surface of the hot water barrel by a
predetermined distance, such that a flow hole through which hot
water is supplied from the lower water reservoir part to the upper
water reservoir part may be secured.
[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
partition plate may be provided with a pipe connection hole that
communicates with both surfaces thereof, and the inlet pipe may
include: a linear pipe portion vertically extending through inside
the water reservoir of the hot water barrel; and the coil pipe
portion connected to the linear pipe portion, wherein the coil pipe
portion may be placed in the lower water reservoir part divided by
the partition plate.
[0014] The present invention can prevent hot water from not being
properly supplied to a user by implementing the structure in which
the hot water barrel is continuously filled with hot water even
when the user continuously dispenses hot water from the cold and
hot water dispenser, thereby preventing user inconvenience and
resolving customer complaints received when hot water is not
properly dispensed.
[0015] Further, when the inlet pipe is provided with the coil pipe
portion provided in the lower water reservoir part that is divided
by the partition plate, raw water entering into the inlet pipe
flows in the coil pipe portion for a long time. In this process,
efficiency of heat transfer with heat generated from the heater is
further increased, thereby increasing efficiency of converting raw
water to hot water in the lower water reservoir part of the hot
water barrel, and hot water heated with high heat transfer
efficiency is supplied to the upper water reservoir part, thereby
reliably preventing lukewarm water from being dispensed from the
cold and hot water dispenser.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The above and other objects, features and other advantages
of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the
following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a hot water barrel
structure for a water dispenser according to the present
invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along
line A-A' of FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along
line B-B' of FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a heater and a modified
embodiment of an inlet pipe that is a main part of the present
invention;
[0021] FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along
line A-A' of FIG. 1 in a state where the inlet pipe of FIG. 4 is
provided in the hot water barrel of FIG. 1; and
[0022] FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along
line B-B' of FIG. 1 in a state where the inlet pipe of FIG. 4 is
provided in the hot water barrel of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] Hereinbelow, exemplary embodiments of the present invention
will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings. Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals will
refer to the same or like parts. In the following description, it
is to be noted that, when the functions of conventional elements
and the detailed description of elements related with the present
invention may make the gist of the present invention unclear, a
detailed description of those elements will be omitted.
[0024] Further, when describing the components of the present
invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a) or (b) may be
used. Since these terms are provided merely for the purpose of
distinguishing the components from each other, they do not limit
the nature, sequence or order of the components. It will be
understood that when an element is referred to as being "coupled"
or "connected" to another element, it can be directly coupled or
connected to the other element or intervening elements may be
present therebetween.
[0025] With reference to drawings, a hot water barrel structure for
a water dispenser includes: a hot water barrel 10 having a water
reservoir therein; a partition plate 20 provided in the hot water
barrel 10 and dividing the water reservoir into an upper water
reservoir part 12 and a lower water reservoir part 14; an inlet
pipe 30 supplying water that is to be heated to the lower water
reservoir part 14 of the hot water barrel 10; a heater 40 provided
at the hot water barrel 10 and heating water introduced to the
lower water reservoir part 14 to produce hot water; and a hot water
pipe 50 provided in the upper water reservoir part 12 of the hot
water barrel 10.
[0026] The hot water barrel 10 has the water reservoir therein, and
is formed into a cylindrical shape without being limited thereto. A
drain pipe connection hole (not shown) is provided at a bottom
portion of the hot water barrel 10, and an inlet pipe passage hole
(not shown) and a hot water pipe connection hole (not shown) are
provided on an upper surface portion of the hot water barrel
10.
[0027] A drain pipe 16 is connected to the lower water reservoir
part 14 of the hot water barrel 10. Specifically, the drain pipe 16
is connected to the bottom portion of the hot water barrel 10 that
comprises the lower water reservoir part 14. Here, an end of the
drain pipe 16 is coupled with the drain pipe connection hole of the
bottom portion of the hot water barrel 10.
[0028] The partition plate 20 is provided in the water reservoir of
the hot water barrel 10. In the present invention, the hot water
barrel 10 has a cylindrical shape, and thereby the partition plate
20 has a disc shape. The partition plate 20 divides the water
reservoir of the hot water barrel 10 into the upper water reservoir
part 12 and the lower water reservoir part 14. Further, the
partition plate 20 is provided with a flow hole 22 that
communicates with both surfaces thereof at a location adjacent to a
circumference thereof. A plurality of flow holes 22 is formed along
the circumference of the partition plate 20 with respect to a
center of the partition plate 20 at regular intervals. Further, the
partition plate 20 is provided with a pipe fitting hole 20H that
communicates with both surfaces thereof.
[0029] The circumference of the partition plate 20 is spaced apart
from an inner circumferential surface of the hot water barrel 10 by
a predetermined distance, such that an outer flow hole 24 through
which hot water flows from the lower water reservoir part 14 to the
upper water reservoir part 12 is secured. Here, hot water flows
from the lower water reservoir part 14 to the upper water reservoir
part 12 also through the flow holes 22 of the partition plate
20.
[0030] The inlet pipe 30 is provided in the water reservoir of the
hot water barrel 10. The inlet pipe 30 includes a water supply
connection pipe portion 32, and a linear pipe portion 34 to which
an upper end of the water supply connection pipe portion 32 is
connected. The water supply connection pipe portion 32 is installed
outside the hot water barrel 10, and the linear pipe portion 34 is
provided in the water reservoir of the hot water barrel 10 while
passing through the inlet pipe passage hole provided on the upper
surface portion of the hot water barrel 10. The linear pipe portion
34 is installed in the hot water barrel 10 in a vertical direction.
The linear pipe portion 34 of the inlet pipe 30 is coupled with the
pipe fitting hole 20H of the partition plate 20. In other words,
the linear pipe portion 34 of the inlet pipe 30 is inserted into
the pipe fitting hole 20H of the partition plate 20 in a state
where the linear pipe portion 34 is vertically erected in the water
reservoir of the hot water barrel 10. The linear pipe portion 34 of
the inlet pipe 30 is fixed to the pipe fitting hole 20H of the
partition plate 20 by welding, etc. such that the partition plate
20 can be supported by the inlet pipe 30 in such a manner as to be
installed in the water reservoir of the hot water barrel 10 in a
horizontal direction. Accordingly, the partition plate 20 divides
the water reservoir of the hot water barrel 10 into the upper and
lower water reservoir parts 12 and 14, respectively.
[0031] A lower end portion of the linear pipe portion 34 of the
inlet pipe 30 is provided in the lower water reservoir part 14
divided by the partition plate 20. In other words, a start end of
the inlet pipe 30 is connected to a water supply part (cold water
supply part, not shown), and a terminal end of the inlet pipe 30 is
placed in the lower water reservoir part 14 divided by the
partition plate 20. Here, the terminal end of the inlet pipe 30 is
placed at a position substantially adjacent to the bottom portion
of the hot water barrel 10 that comprises the lower water reservoir
part 14. The lower end portion of the linear pipe portion 34 of the
inlet pipe 30 represents the terminal end of the inlet pipe 30,
such that a lower end portion of the inlet pipe 30 is provided in
the lower water reservoir part 14 of the hot water barrel 10
divided by the partition plate 20.
[0032] Accordingly, raw water (namely, cold water that will be
heated) entering into the inlet pipe 30 passes the upper water
reservoir part 12 of the hot water barrel 10 and is supplied to the
lower water reservoir part 14 below the partition plate 20. Here,
the lower end portion of the inlet pipe 30 (namely, the terminal
end) is placed substantially adjacent to the bottom portion of the
hot water barrel 10, such that raw water fills the lower water
reservoir part 14 from the bottom thereof.
[0033] Meanwhile, the circumference of the partition plate 20 that
divides the water reservoir of the hot water barrel 10 into the
upper water reservoir part 12 and the lower water reservoir part 14
is spaced apart from the inner circumferential surface of the hot
water barrel 10 by the predetermined distance, such that the outer
flow hole 24 through which hot water is supplied from the lower
water reservoir part 14 to the upper water reservoir part 12 is
secured with a predetermined width. Here, a diameter of the inlet
pipe 30 is smaller than that of the hot water barrel 10, such that
the outer flow hole 24 may be formed with a predetermined width
between the circumference of the partition plate 20 and the inner
circumferential surface of the hot water barrel 10 in the state
where the partition plate 20 is installed in the horizontal
direction by being supported by the inlet pipe 30. Here, the outer
flow hole 24 secured between the circumference of the partition
plate 20 and the inner circumferential surface of the hot water
barrel 10 has an annular shape when viewed from the top of the hot
water barrel 10. Of course, if the hot water barrel 10 has a shape
other than the cylindrical shape, and correspondingly the partition
plate 20 has a shape other than the disc shape, the outer flow hole
24 may have a shape other than the annular shape.
[0034] In addition, the circumference of the partition plate 20 is
further provided with a linear partition plate portion 21 that
extends from the circumference thereof at least in a direction
toward the lower water reservoir part 14. The outer flow hole 24 is
secured with the predetermined width between the partition plate 20
and the inner circumferential surface of the hot water barrel
10.
[0035] Here, the outer flow hole 24 between the partition plate and
the inner circumferential surface of the hot water barrel 10 may be
configured as a band-shaped flow hole having an increased vertical
width by the linear partition plate portion 21. In the present
invention, the linear partition plate portion 21 may be configured
to extend in two directions of the upper and lower water reservoir
parts 12 and 14. In this case, a vertical width of the linear
partition plate portion 21 may be increased twice.
[0036] The present invention includes the heater 40 provided in the
hot water barrel 10. The heater 40 serves as a heating source that
heats water introduced to the lower water reservoir part 14 of the
hot water barrel 10 to produce hot water. A heater 40 is provided
in the lower water reservoir part 14 of the hot water barrel 10
divided by the partition plate 20. Here, the heater 40 is
configured as a coil heater so that a surface area of heat transfer
with water (raw water) introduced to the lower water reservoir part
14 of the hot water barrel 10 is increased. Of course, the heater
40 may be provided on an outer circumferential surface of the hot
water barrel 10 so as to be installed at a circumference of the
lower water reservoir part 14, rather than being provided in the
lower water reservoir part 14 of the hot water barrel 10. Further,
the heater 40 may be provided in the lower water reservoir part 14
of the hot water barrel 10 and at the same time may be provided on
the outer circumferential surface of the hot water barrel 10. In
other words, the hot water barrel 10 is further provided with an
outer heater 42 on the outer circumferential surface thereof such
that the outer heater 42 is placed on a circumference of the lower
water reservoir part 14. Here, the outer heater 42 is configured as
a band heater. The outer heater 42 may be the band heater having a
predetermined width relative to a vertical direction of the hot
water barrel 10.
[0037] The hot water pipe 50 is provided at the upper water
reservoir part 12 of the hot water barrel 10. The hot water pipe 50
is connected at a first end thereof to the hot water pipe
connection hole provided on the upper surface portion of the hot
water barrel 10, and at a second end thereof to a hot water tap
(valve, not shown) of a cold and hot water dispenser. The first end
of the hot water pipe 50 represents a start end and the second end
thereof represents a terminal end, such that the start end of the
hot water pipe 50 is connected to the upper water reservoir part 12
of the hot water barrel 10, and the terminal end of the hot water
pipe 50 is connected to the hot water tap of the cold and hot water
dispenser. Here, the outer heater 42 may be fixed to the outer
circumferential surface of the hot water barrel 10 by fixing means
(not shown) such as a bracket, a bolt, etc.
[0038] According to the present invention having the
above-described configuration, raw water (cold water that is to be
heated) entering into the inlet pipe 30 is introduced to the lower
water reservoir part 14 of the hot water barrel 10 divided by the
partition plate 20, and is heated by heat of the heater 40. Then,
the hot water produced in the lower water reservoir part 14 is
supplied to the upper water reservoir part 12 through the flow
holes 22 that communicate with both surfaces of the partition plate
20 and through the outer flow hole 24. Thus, the upper water
reservoir part 12 above the partition plate 20 of the hot water
barrel 10 is filled with hot water.
[0039] Meanwhile, the upper water reservoir part 12 of the hot
water barrel 10 is filled with hot water and at the same time the
lower water reservoir part 14 below the partition plate 20 is
filled with hot water heated by the heater 40.
[0040] In this state, when the hot water tap of the cold and hot
water dispenser is opened, firstly the hot water filled in the
upper water reservoir part 12 is dispensed through the hot water
tap, and at the same time hot water is continuously supplied from
the lower water reservoir part 14 in such a manner as to refill the
upper water reservoir part 12 with hot water by the amount of hot
water discharged therefrom. When hot water is supplied from the
lower water reservoir part 14 to the upper water reservoir part 12,
raw water (namely, cold water) by the amount of hot water supplied
from the lower water reservoir part 14 to the upper water reservoir
part 12 is introduced to the bottom of the lower water reservoir
part 14 through the inlet pipe 30. Here, since specific gravity of
hot water is lower than that of cold water, hot water is placed at
a relatively upper portion of the lower water reservoir part 14 and
is supplied to the upper water reservoir part 12 above the
partition plate 20, and cold water introduced to a relatively lower
portion of the lower water reservoir part 14 is heated by the
heater 40 and is supplied from the relatively upper portion of the
lower water reservoir part 14, whereby a hot water supply
circulation system is implemented. Thus, it is possible to prevent
lukewarm water from being dispensed even when a user continuously
dispenses hot water by opening the hot water tap of the cold and
hot water dispenser.
[0041] In other words, in the present invention, the partition
plate 20 divides the water reservoir of the hot water barrel 10
into the upper and lower water reservoir parts 12 and 14,
respectively, such that even when hot water is continuously
discharged from the upper water reservoir part 12, it is possible
that hot water is continuously supplied from the lower water
reservoir part 14 to the upper water reservoir part 12 by the
amount of hot water dispensed by a user. Thus, it is possible to
prevent cold and hot water from being mixed with each other too
quickly and discharged in a lukewarm state. Thus, even when a user
continuously dispenses hot water from the cold and hot water
dispenser, it is possible to prevent lukewarm water having a too
low temperature from being dispensed rather than hot water having a
sufficiently desired temperature. In the absence of the partition
plate 20, cold water introduced to the inlet pipe 30 is quickly
mixed with hot water heated to a high temperature, such that
lukewarm water is supplied rather than hot water having the
sufficiently desired temperature. Meanwhile, in the present
invention, the partition plate 20 divides the water reservoir of
the hot water barrel 10 into the upper and lower water reservoir
parts 12 and 14, respectively, such that cold water is quickly
heated to hot water in the lower water reservoir part 14 in a
continuous manner, and the lower water reservoir part 14 is filled
with hot water by the amount of hot water discharged from the upper
water reservoir part 12. Thus, it is possible to prevent lukewarm
water from being supplied when a user continuously dispenses hot
water from the cold and hot water dispenser.
[0042] In other words, raw water (cold water) quickly enters into
the lower water reservoir part 14 through the inlet pipe 30 and is
subsequently heated by the heater 40, such that even when a user
continuously dispenses hot water from the hot water tap of the cold
and hot water dispenser, lukewarm water can be prevented from being
supplied and hot water having the sufficiently desired temperature
can be continuously supplied to the user.
[0043] As a result, even when a user continuously dispenses hot
water from the cold and hot water dispenser, it is possible to
prevent hot water from being not properly supplied to the user by
implementing a structure in which hot water can continuously fill
the hot water barrel 10 of the dispenser. Thus, it is possible to
prevent user inconvenience and resolve customer complaints received
when hot water is not supplied properly.
[0044] In addition, hot water flows from the lower water reservoir
part 14 to the upper water reservoir part 12 through the outer flow
hole 24 secured between the circumference of the partition plate 20
and the inner circumferential surface of the hot water barrel 10 as
well as the flow holes 22 of the partition plate 20, such that it
is possible to prevent inconvenience to a user, which is caused
when hot water is supplied from the lower water reservoir part 14
too late such that hot water supply is reduced during use of hot
water in the cold and hot water dispenser. In other words, the
outer flow hole 24 between the circumference of the partition plate
20 and the inner circumferential surface of the hot water barrel 10
is meaningful in that hot water supply can be controlled so as not
to be reduced even when the user continuously dispenses hot water
from the cold and hot water dispenser.
[0045] Furthermore, the linear partition plate portion 21 is
provided at the circumference of the partition plate 20, such that
the outer flow hole 24 is formed as the band-shaped flow hole
having an increased band (width) by the linear partition plate
portion 21 between the circumference of the partition plate 20 and
the inner circumferential surface of the hot water barrel 10. Here,
heat is added while hot water passes through the band-shaped flow
hole, and thus it is possible to more reliably prevent lukewarm
water from being supplied when the user continuously dispenses hot
water from the cold and hot water dispenser.
[0046] Further, the heater 40 is configured as a coil heater so as
to increase a contact area with raw water, such that raw water that
introduced to the lower water reservoir part 14 is warmed up more
quickly. Thus, it is possible to more reliably prevent cold water
from being converted to water (namely, lukewarm water) that does
not have a sufficiently desired temperature when cold water is
supplied from the lower water reservoir part 14 to the upper water
reservoir part 12.
[0047] Moreover, when the hot water barrel 10 is further provided
with the outer heater 42 on the outer circumferential surface of,
hot water is produced in the lower water reservoir part 14 of the
hot water barrel 10 by the heater 40 and the outer heater 42 of the
hot water barrel 10, and thus a speed at which cold water is
converted to hot water can be increased at least more than
twice.
[0048] Here, the outer heater 42 is configured as a band heater
having a predetermined width in a vertical direction of the hot
water barrel 10, such that heat is applied from an entire surface
of the outer heater 42 without heat loss, thereby improving
efficiency of producing hot water in the hot water barrel 10.
Further, since the outer heater 42 is the band heater, the outer
heater 42 can be more conveniently installed to be in close contact
with the outer circumferential surface of the hot water barrel
10.
[0049] Meanwhile, in another embodiment of the present invention, a
part of the inlet pipe 30 is configured as a coil pipe portion 36
so as to be provided in the lower water reservoir part 14 of the
hot water barrel 10. Specifically, the inlet pipe 30 includes: a
water supply connection pipe portion 32; a linear pipe portion 34
connected to the water supply connection pipe portion 32 at an
upper end thereof; and a coil pipe portion 36 connected to the
linear pipe portion 34 at an upper end thereof, and the coil pipe
portion 36 is provided in the lower water reservoir part 14 of the
hot water barrel 10.
[0050] In this embodiment, raw water entering into the inlet pipe
30 flows in the coil pipe portion 36 for a long time. In this
process, efficiency of heat transfer with heat generated from the
heater 40 is further increased, thereby increasing efficiency of
heating raw water in the lower water reservoir part 14 of the hot
water barrel 10. Hot water heated with high heat transfer
efficiency is supplied to the upper water reservoir part 12,
thereby preventing lukewarm water from being dispensed from the
cold and hot water dispenser. By preventing lukewarm water from
being dispensed during continued dispense of hot water from the
cold and hot water dispenser, it is possible to reliably prevent
user inconvenience and customer complaints. In other words, raw
water can be heated in a sufficient time while flowing in the coil
pipe portion 36 of the inlet pipe 30, and thus hot water is surely
produced by heating raw water for the sufficient time.
[0051] Here, a heater 40 is provided in the lower water reservoir
part 14 so as to be placed in an inner area of the coil pipe
portion 36 of the inlet pipe 30, and the heater 40 is configured as
a coil heater. In this case, raw water is allowed to stay in the
coil pipe portion 36 for a sufficiently long time while flowing
therein, and the heater 40 heats raw water intensively, such that
the speed of heating cold water can be further enhanced.
[0052] Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has
been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art
will appreciate that various modifications, additions and
substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and
spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying
claims.
[0053] Therefore, the exemplary embodiments of the present
invention described above are provided for allowing those skilled
in the art to more clearly comprehend the scope of the present
invention, and it should be understood that the exemplary
embodiments of the present invention have been described for
illustrative purposes, and should not be construed as being
restrictive.
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