Heating and refrigerating water device

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a water dispensing system, and more particularly to a heating and refrigerating water device, wherein the water is heated and refrigerated within a single thermos container so as to simplify the structural design of the water device.

2. Description of Related Arts

Electric water dispensers are considered as one of the major home appliances for applying hot and cold water. Generally speaking, there are two types of electric water dispenser which are a water boiler and a water dispenser.

A conventional water boiler generally comprises an outer casing, an inner thermos container disposed in the outer casing, and a boiling device adapted to boil the water in the thermos container so as to keep the water at a predetermined temperature therein. Since the boiling device can boil the water at a relatively high temperature, such as 100° C., to kill the bacterial in the water, tape water is safe to use as a source to fill in the thermos container. However, mineral or other impure substance will form as a layer on an inner wall of the thermos container over a period of continuous use. In other words, the water will be polluted once the impure layer is formed on the thermos container. In order to reduce the possibility of water pollution, the user must clean the thermos container frequently. Therefore, most water boilers are designed that the thermos container can be detached from the outer casing for hygiene purpose.

It is no doubt that the water boiler can minimize the microorganism in the water by boiling the water at higher temperature and reducing the pollution of the water by cleaning the thermos container. However, the water boiler can only provide hot water. In other words, in order to refrigerate the water, other water refrigerating device must be used. Therefore, most families employ the water boiler only at the winter time and store it at the summer time.

In order to provide both hot water and cold water in one water dispenser, the dispenser generally comprises a water reservoir for storing a predetermined volume of water, a water heating device for boiling the water from the water reservoir and a water refrigerating device for refrigerating the water therefrom. Accordingly, the water boiling device comprises a first water container communicating with the water reservoir and a boiling device for heating up the water within the first water container. The water refrigerating device comprises a second container communicating with the water reservoir and a refrigerating device for cooling the water within the second water container. Therefore, the user is able to select the water to be either heated up or refrigerated via the water boiling device and the water refrigerating device respectively.

However, the water dispenser requires two individual water containers to boil and refrigerate the water respectively such that the structural design of the water dispenser is complicated so as to highly increase the manufacturing cost of the water dispenser. In addition, each of the first and second water containers is a sealed container and is permanently installed into the water dispenser such that the user is not able to remove the water containers from the water dispenser in order to clean the water containers. It is worth to mention that an impure layer will gradually formed on an inner wall of the each of the water containers over a period of continuous so as to pollute the water.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

A main object of the present invention is to provide a heating and refrigerating water device, wherein the water is either heated or refrigerated within a single thermos container so as to simplify the structural design of the water device.

Another object of the present is to provide a heating and refrigerating water device, wherein the thermos container is able to be removed for cleaning purpose so as to minimize the water pollution.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a heating and refrigerating water device, which can incorporate with the conventional water dispensing system without altering the original structure thereof so as to reduce the manufacturing cost of the conventional water dispensing system incorporating with the heating and refrigerating water device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a heating and refrigerating water device, wherein both the heating unit and the semi-conductor refrigerating unit are controlled by one single control circuitry so as to simplify the electrical configuration of the heating and refrigerating water device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a heating and refrigerating water device, wherein no expensive or mechanical structure is required to employ in the present invention in order to achieve the above mentioned objects. Therefore, the present invention successfully provides an economic and efficient solution not only for providing a single-container configuration of the heating and refrigerating water device but also for enhancing the practice use of the heating and refrigerating water device.

Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a heating and refrigerating water device, comprising:

• • a thermos container for receiving a predetermined amount of water therein;
  • a temperature control arrangement, which is thermally communicated the thermos container, comprising a heating unit and a semi-conductor refrigerating unit; and
  • a control circuitry, which is adapted for electrically connecting with a power source, electrically connected with the temperature control arrangement, wherein the control circuitry is controlled to selectively activate the heating unit and the semi-conductor refrigerating unit for respectively heating up and refrigerating the water within the thermos container.

These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a heating and refrigerating water device incorporating with a water boiler according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a first alternative mode of the heating and refrigerating water device according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a second alternative mode of the heating and refrigerating water device according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a heating and refrigerating water device incorporating with a water dispenser according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a first alternative mode of the heating and refrigerating water device according to the above second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a second first alternative mode of the heating and refrigerating water device according to the above second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a heating and refrigerating water device according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a heating and refrigerating water device according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the heating and refrigerating water device, which is incorporated with a conventional water boiler, comprises a thermos container 10 for receiving a predetermined amount of water therein and a temperature control arrangement 20, which is thermally communicated the thermos container 10, comprising a heating unit 21 and a semi-conductor refrigerating unit 22.

The heating and refrigerating water device further comprises a control circuitry 30, which is adapted for electrically connecting with a power source P, electrically connected with the temperature control arrangement 20, wherein the control circuitry 30 is controlled to selectively activate the heating unit 21 and the semi-conductor refrigerating unit 22 for respectively heating up and refrigerating the water within the thermos container 10.

According to the preferred embodiment, the thermos container 10 is made of thermal resistance material, such as ceramics, glass, or stainless steel, such that the thermos container 10 can be cleaned easily, wherein the water within the thermos container 10 is adapted to be boiled at a higher temperature, such as 1001C, via the heating unit 21 or to be refrigerated at a lower temperature via the semi-conductor refrigerating unit 22.

The thermos container 10, having a water chamber 11 and a top opening 12 communicating with the water chamber 11, is embodied as an inner casing of the conventional water boiler, wherein a sealing cover 13 is detachably covered at the top opening 12 to sealedly enclose the water chamber 11 for allowing the water chamber 11 to be cleaned. In addition, the thermal container 10 further has an inner thermal insulating layer 14 formed at an inner wall of the thermos container 10 for retaining the water therewithin at a predetermined temperature.

Accordingly, the conventional water boiler generally comprises a water dispensing unit which comprises a water pumping pipe extended into the water chamber 11 and a water pump arranged to pump the water within the water chamber 11 to a water outlet via the water pumping pipe. The water, having a predetermined volume such as 1 to 3 liters, is filled into the water chamber 11 for being either heated up by the heating unit 21 or refrigerated by the semi-conductor refrigerating unit 22. In other words, when the heating and refrigerating water device is incorporated with the conventional water boiler, the water boiler is adapted to not only boil the water within the thermos container 10 but also refrigerate the water therewithin.

As shown in FIG. 1, the heating unit 21 comprises an elongated heater 211 electrically connected to the control circuitry 30 wherein the elongated heater 211 is substantially extended to a bottom portion of the water chamber 11 of the thermos container 10 for heating up the water therewithin. Accordingly, the elongated heater 211 can be a conventional heating wire having a L-shaped supported by the sealing cover 13 to extend within the water chamber 11 of the thermos container 10 by generating heat energy along the elongated heater 211.

The semi-conductor refrigerating unit 22 comprises a refrigerant member 221 as a cooling source electrically connected to the control circuitry 30 and a transmitting member 222 extended from the refrigerant member 221 into the water chamber 11 of the thermos container 10 for refrigerating the water therewithin. Accordingly, the refrigerant member 221, which is supported on the sealing cover 13, is a semi-conductor refrigerating chip arranged to perform a heat exchange wherein the transmitting member 222 is downwardly extended from the refrigerant member 221 into the water chamber 11 through the sealing cover 13 such that the water within the water chamber 11 can be refrigerated through the transmitting member 222.

It is worth to mention that heat is generated by the refrigerant member 221 while heat exchange, the semi-conductor refrigerating unit 22 further comprises means for dispersing the heat therefrom. Accordingly, the heat dispersing means comprises a heat dispersing unit 223 mounted to the refrigerant member 221 for dispersing the heat generated therefrom. As shown in FIG. 1, the heat dispensing unit 223 comprises a heat sink 2231 and a fan 2232 for efficiently diffusing the heat from the refrigerant member 221.

According to the preferred embodiment, the control circuitry 30 is electrically connected to the temperature control arrangement 20 to control a direction of a current so as to control the activations of the heating unit 21 and the semi-conductor refrigerating unit 22. Accordingly, the activation between the heating unit 21 and the semi-conductor refrigerating unit 22 is controlled by the current direction of the control circuitry 30. When the current passes the control circuitry 30 at one direction, the heating unit 21 is activated for heating up the water within the thermos container 10 while the semi-conductor refrigerating unit 22 is remained deactivated. When the current passes the control circuitry 30 at an opposed direction, the semi-conductor refrigerating unit 22 is activated for refrigerating the water within the thermos container 10 while the heating unit 21 is deactivated. Therefore, by controlling the flow of current, the control circuitry 30 selectively controls the activations of the heating unit 21 and the semi-conductor refrigerating unit 22.

Accordingly, the heating and refrigerating water device further comprises a temperature sensor switch 40 electrically connected to the control circuitry 30 for detecting a water temperature within the thermos container 10, so as to activate the temperature control arrangement 20 for maintaining the water within the thermos container 10 at a predetermined temperature. The temperature sensor switch 40 is preset to have a top temperature limit and a bottom temperature limit that when the water temperature within the thermos container 10 is above the top temperature limit, the temperature sensor switch 40 automatically deactivates the control circuitry 30 to switch off the heating unit 21, and when the water temperature within the thermos container 10 is below the bottom temperature limit, the temperature sensor switch 40 automatically deactivates the control circuitry 30 to switch off the semi-conductor refrigerating unit 22.

In other words, the water temperature within the thermos container 10 is retained at a safety temperature to prevent the water from being over boiled or over refrigerated by the heating unit 21 or the semi-conductor refrigerating unit 22. Therefore, the heating unit 21 will heat up the water and the semi-conductor refrigerating unit 22 will refrigerate the water until the water temperature reaches the top and bottom temperature limits respectively.

As shown in FIG. 1, the temperature control arrangement 20 can be removed from the thermos container 10 by detaching the sealing cover 13 therefrom such that the thermos container 10 is adapted to be detached for cleaning purpose so as to prevent the water from being polluted.

FIG. 2 illustrates a first alternative mode of the temperature control arrangement 20A which comprises a heating unit 21A and at least a semi-conductor refrigerating unit 22A. The heating unit 21A comprises a heater wire 211A mounted at a bottom wall of the thermos container 10 in a coil manner for heating up the water therewithin. Accordingly, the thermos container 10 can be easily cleaned by simply remove the sealing cover 13 from the thermos container 10 so as to prevent the water from being polluted.

The semi-conductor refrigerating unit 22A comprises a refrigerant member 221A as a cooling source electrically connected to the control circuitry 30 and a transmitting member 222A extended from the refrigerant member 221A into the water chamber 11 of the thermos container 10 for refrigerating the water therewithin. Accordingly, the refrigerant member 221, which is supported on a sidewall of the thermos container 10, is a semi-conductor refrigerating chip arranged to perform a heat exchange wherein the transmitting member 22A is extended from the refrigerant member 221A into the water chamber 11 through the sidewall thereof such that the water within the water chamber 11 can be refrigerated through the transmitting member 222A.

Accordingly, in order to effectively refrigerate the water within the thermos container 10, two or more semi-conductor refrigerating units 22A are used to speed up the refrigeration process of the water. As shown in FIG. 2, two refrigerant members 221A are alignedly supported on the sidewall of the thermos container 10 wherein the two transmitting member 222A are respectively extended from the refrigerant members 221A into the water chamber 11 of the thermos container 10 through the sidewall thereof.

FIG. 3 illustrates another alternative mode of the semi-conductor refrigerating unit 22B which comprises a refrigerant member 221B as a cooling source electrically connected to the control circuitry 30 and a transmitting member 222B extended from the refrigerant member 221B to a sidewall of the thermos container 10 for refrigerating the water therewithin.

Accordingly, the transmitting member 222B is formed as the sidewall of thermos container 10 such that when the water is contained within the thermos container 10, the water is refrigerated by the sidewall of the thermos container 10 via the transmitting member 222B. In addition, two or more semi-conductor refrigerating units 22B can be used for effectively refrigerating the water in the thermos container 10 wherein the two semi-conductor refrigerating units 22B are radially mounted on the sidewall of the thermos container 10, as shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 4, a heating and refrigerating water device according to a second embodiment illustrates an alternative mode of the first embodiment of the present invention, wherein the heating and refrigerating water device is incorporated with a conventional water dispenser.

Accordingly, the conventional water dispenser comprises a water reservoir for storing a predetermined volume of water therein, wherein the water is guided to flow from the water reservoir to the heating and refrigerating water device of the present invention for either heating or refrigerating the water.

As shown in FIG. 4, the heating and refrigerating water device comprises a thermos container 10′, a temperature control arrangement 20′ comprising a heating unit 21′ and a semi-conductor refrigerating unit 22′, and a control circuitry 30′, which is adapted for electrically connecting with a power source P, electrically connected with the temperature control arrangement 20′, wherein the control circuitry 30′ is controlled to selectively activate the heating unit 21′ and the semi-conductor refrigerating unit 22′ for respectively heating up and refrigerating the water within the thermos container 10′.

The thermos container 10′ has a water chamber 11′ and a top opening 12′ communicating with the water chamber 11′, wherein a sealing cover 13′ is detachably covered at the top opening 12′ to sealedly enclose the water chamber 11′ and an inner thermal insulating layer 14′ formed at an inner wall of the thermos container 10′ for retaining the water therewithin at a predetermined temperature.

The thermos container 10′ further has a water inlet 15′ provided at the sealing cover 13′ for guiding the water entering into the water chamber 11′ from the water reservoir and a water outlet 16′ provided at a bottom portion of the thermos container 10′ for dispensing the water from the water chamber 11′.

As shown in FIG. 4, the heating unit 21′ comprises an elongated heater 211′ electrically connected to the control circuitry 30′ wherein the elongated heater 221′, which is supported by the sealing coving 13′, is substantially extended to a bottom portion of the water chamber 11′ of the thermos container 10′ for heating up the water therewithin.

The semi-conductor refrigerating unit 22′ comprises a refrigerant member 221′ as a cooling source electrically connected to the control circuitry 30′ and a transmitting member 222′ extended from the refrigerant member 221′ into the water chamber 11′ of the thermos container 10′ for refrigerating the water therewithin. Accordingly, the refrigerant member 221′, which is supported on the sealing cover 13′, is a semi-conductor refrigerating chip arranged to perform a heat exchange such that the water within the water chamber 11′ can be refrigerated through the transmitting member 222′.

The semi-conductor refrigerating unit 22′ further comprises means for dispersing the heat generated therefrom. Accordingly, the heat dispersing means comprises a heat dispersing unit 223′ mounted to the refrigerant member 221′ for dispersing the heat generated therefrom. As shown in FIG. 4, the heat dispensing unit 223′ comprises a heat sink 2231′ and a fan 2232′ for efficiently diffusing the heat from the refrigerant member 221′.

According to the second embodiment, the control circuitry 30′, which is embodied to have the same electrical configuration of the first embodiment, is electrically connected to the temperature control arrangement 20′ to control the activations of the heating unit 21′ and the semi-conductor refrigerating unit 22′. When the current passes the control circuitry 30′ at one direction, the heating unit 21′ is activated for heating up the water within the thermos container 10′ while the semi-conductor refrigerating unit 22′ is remained deactivated. When the current passes the control circuitry 30′ at an opposed direction, the semi-conductor refrigerating unit 22′ is activated for refrigerating the water within the thermos container 10′ while the heating unit 21′ is deactivated. Therefore, by controlling the flow of current, the control circuitry 30′ selectively controls the activations of the heating unit 21′ and the semi-conductor refrigerating unit 22′.

Accordingly, the heating and refrigerating water device further comprises a temperature sensor switch 40′ electrically connected to the control circuitry 30′ for detecting a water temperature within the thermos container 10′, so as to activate the temperature control arrangement 20′. The temperature sensor switch 40′ is preset to have a top temperature limit and a bottom temperature limit that when the water temperature within the thermos container 10′ is above the top temperature limit, the temperature sensor switch 40 automatically deactivates the control circuitry 30′ to switch off the heating unit 21′, and when the water temperature within the thermos container 10′ is below the bottom temperature limit, the temperature sensor switch 40′ automatically deactivates the control circuitry 30′ to switch off the semi-conductor refrigerating unit 22′.

Therefore, during operation of the water dispenser, the water is guided to flow from the water reservoir to the thermos container 10′ through the water inlet 15′. The user is able to select the water to be either heated up by the heating unit 21′ or refrigerated by the semi-conductor refrigerating unit 22′ within the thermos container 10′, such that after the water treatment, the water is dispensed from the thermos container 10′ to outside through the water outlet 16′.

FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative mode of the temperature control arrangement 20C which comprises a heating unit 21C and at least a semi-conductor refrigerating unit 22C. The heating unit 21C comprises a heater wire 211C mounted at a bottom wall of the thermos container 10′ in a coil manner for heating up the water therewithin.

The semi-conductor refrigerating unit 22C which comprises a refrigerant member 221C as a cooling source electrically connected to the control circuitry 30′ and a transmitting member 222C extended from the refrigerant member 221C to a sidewall of the thermos container 10′ for refrigerating the water therewithin.

Accordingly, the transmitting member 222C is formed on the sidewall of thermos container 10 such that when the water is contained within the thermos container 10′, the water is refrigerated by the sidewall of the thermos container 10′ via the transmitting member 222C. In addition, two or more semi-conductor refrigerating units 22C can be used for effectively refrigerating the water in the thermos container 10′ wherein the two semi-conductor refrigerating units 22B are alignedly mounted on the sidewall of the thermos container 10′, as shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 illustrates that four semi-conductor refrigerating units 22D are used for enhancing the refrigerating operation of the water within the thermos container 10′. The four refrigerant members 221C are radially positioned with respect to the thermos container 10′ wherein the four transmitting members 222D are respectively extended from the refrigerant members 221C to the sidewall of the thermos container 10′ such that the water is refrigerated by the sidewall of the thermos container 10′ via the transmitting members 222D.

As shown in FIG. 7, a heating and refrigerating water device according to a second embodiment illustrates an alternative mode of the first and second embodiments of the present invention, wherein the heating and refrigerating water device is adapted to incorporate with a conventional water boiler as shown in FIG. 1 or a conventional water dispenser having a water inlet and a water outlet as shown in FIG. 4.

The heating and refrigerating water device comprises a thermos container 10″ for receiving a predetermined amount of water therein and a temperature control arrangement 20″, which is thermally communicated the thermos container 10″, comprising a heating unit 21″ and a semi-conductor refrigerating unit 22″.

The heating and refrigerating water device further comprises a control circuitry 30″, which is adapted for electrically connecting with a power source P, electrically connected with the temperature control arrangement 20″, wherein the control circuitry 30″ is controlled to selectively activate the heating unit 21″ and the semi-conductor refrigerating unit 22″ for respectively heating up and refrigerating the water within the thermos container 10″.

As shown in FIG. 7, the semi-conductor refrigerating unit 22″ is integral with the heating device 21″ to form a semi-conductor thermos unit which comprises a transmitting member 222″ extended to contact with a sidewall of the thermos container 10″ for selectively refrigerating and heating the water within the water chamber 11″ through the sidewall of the thermos container 10″.

Accordingly, the semi-conductor thermos unit of the temperature control arrangement 20″ forms as a base of the thermos container 10″ such that the thermos container 10″ is detachably sat on the temperature control arrangement 20″. In other words, at least a bottom portion of the sidewall of the thermos container 10″ contacts with the transmitting member 222″ when the thermos container 10″ sits on the temperature control arrangement 20″. Therefore, when the temperature control arrangement 20″ is activated, the water within the water chamber 11″ of the thermos container 10″ will be refrigerated or heated up by the semi-conductor thermos unit.

The control circuitry 30″ controls a direction of current of the temperature control arrangement 20″, wherein when the current flows at one direction, the control circuitry 30″ activates the semi-conductor thermos unit, i.e. the heating unit 21″, to heat up the water within the thermos container 10″ and when said current flows at an opposed direction, the control circuitry 30″ activates the semi-conductor thermos unit, i.e. the semi-conductor refrigerating unit 22″, to refrigerate the water within the thermos container 10″.

The heating and refrigerating water device further comprises a temperature sensor switch 40″ electrically connected to the control circuitry 30″ for detecting a water temperature within the thermos container 10″, so as to activate the temperature control arrangement 20″ for maintaining the water within the thermos container 10″ at a predetermined temperature.

The temperature control arrangement 20″ further comprises means for dispersing the heat therefrom. Accordingly, the heat dispersing means comprises a heat dispersing unit 223″ mounted to the semi-conductor thermos unit for dispersing the heat generated therefrom. As shown in FIG. 7, the heat dispensing unit 223″ comprises a heat sink 2231″ and a fan 2232″ for efficiently diffusing the heat from the semi-conductor thermos unit.

It is worth to mention that the heating and refrigerating water device, according to the above first, second and third embodiments and their alternatives, can be easily cleaned up through the opening of the thermos container 10, 10′, 10″, so as to prevent the water from being polluted.

One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.

It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.