PREMIXER AND GAS DEVICE

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202411304702.9, filed on Sep. 18, 2024, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of gas heating technologies, and more particularly, to a premixer and a gas device.

BACKGROUND

Gas devices such as gas water heaters, wall-mounted boilers, and gas stoves are usually classified into different types of diffusion combustion, partial premixed combustion, and fully premixed combustion. Fully premixed combustion refers to a process in which air and gas are fully mixed in advance at a certain ratio to form premixed air, which is then ignited and burned in a burner.

With the increasing demand for a heating quality of gas devices from users, a gas hot water device is required to have more precise power control capabilities. Therefore, the gas device needs to have a wider power modulation range to meet users' needs for different power levels. A premixer is an important component in a fully premixed gas device that regulates stability of gas-to-air equivalence ratio and affect a load modulation ratio. A structure and performance of the premixer may directly affect a load modulation range of the gas device.

The greater the load modulation range of the gas device, the better the user experience in heating applications. However, in the related art, a heat load modulation range of the premixer is relatively small.

SUMMARY

The main objective of the present disclosure is to provide a premixer and a gas device, aiming at broadening a heat load modulation ratio of the premixer.

To achieve the above objectives, the present disclosure provides a premixer. The premixer includes: a housing having an inner cavity, an air inlet, and a gas inlet, each of the air inlet and the gas inlet being in communication with the inner cavity; a liner arranged in the inner cavity, the liner having an air flow channel in communication with the air inlet and a gas flow channel in communication with the gas inlet; and a modulation plate arranged in the inner cavity and coaxially arranged with the liner, the modulation plate having an air outlet in communication with the air flow channel and a gas outlet in communication with the gas flow channel. One of the liner and the modulation plate is configured to rotate coaxially relative to another of the liner and the modulation plate, to modulate a first communication area between the air outlet and the air flow channel and a second communication area between the gas outlet and the gas flow channel.

To achieve the above objectives, the present disclosure further provides a gas device. The gas device includes the premixer as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To more clearly illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure, accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments are briefly described below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings in the following descriptions are only some embodiments of the present disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from structures illustrated in these accompanying drawings without creative labor.

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of a premixer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a premixer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a partial schematic structural view of a premixer in a high-load state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a partial schematic structural view of a premixer in a low-load state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a premixer viewed from a perspective according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a premixer viewed from another perspective according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a partial schematic structural view of a premixer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a partial exploded structural view of a premixer viewed from a perspective according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a partial exploded structural view of a premixer viewed from another perspective according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

Reference		Reference
numerals	Name	numerals	Name
100	Premixer	25	Limit groove
10	Housing	26	Gas retention chamber
11	Air inlet	20a	Avoidance channel
12	Gas inlet	20b	Avoidance groove
13	Gas connector	30	Modulation plate
14	Second sealing ring	31	Air outlet
20	Liner	32	Gas outlet
21	Air flow channel	33	Limit post
211	High-load air flow	40	Drive assembly
	channel
212	Low-load air flow	41	Drive motor
	channel
22	Gas flow channel	411	Output shaft
221	High-load gas flow	4111	Output gear
	channel
221a	Gas sub-channel	42	Transmission shaft
222	Low-load gas flow	421	First sealing ring
	channel
23	Front liner segment	422	Transmission gear
24	Rear liner segment

Implementations of the objects, functional features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be further described in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Technical solutions according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below in combination with accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present disclosure. Obviously, the embodiments described below are only a part of the embodiments of the present disclosure, rather than all embodiments of the present disclosure. On a basis of the embodiments of the present disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative labor shall fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

It should be noted that all directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, rear, etc.) in the embodiments of the present disclosure are only used to explain relative positions between various components, movements of various components, or the like under a predetermined posture. When the predetermined posture changes, the directional indications also change accordingly.

In addition, descriptions, such as “first,” “second,” or the like, in the present disclosure are only used for descriptive purposes, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features. Therefore, the features associated with “first” and “second” may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of the features. In addition, the term “and/or” or “or/and” used throughout the whole text refers to three alternative schemes. Taking “A and/or B” as an example, the three possible schemes include a scheme of A alone, a scheme of B alone, or a scheme where both A and B are satisfied simultaneously. In addition, combinations can be performed on the technical solutions according to various embodiments of the present disclosure, but these combinations must be based on the fact that they can be realized by those skilled in the art. When a combination of the technical solutions is contradictory or unattainable, the combination of the technical solutions neither exists nor falls within the protection scope of the appended claims of the present disclosure.

Gas devices such as gas water heaters, wall-mounted boilers, and gas stoves are usually classified into diffusion combustion, partial premixed combustion, and fully premixed combustion. Fully premixed combustion refers to a process in which air and gas are fully mixed in advance at a certain ratio to form premixed air, which is then ignited and burned in a burner.

With the increasing demand for a heating quality of gas devices from users, a gas hot water device is required to have more precise power control capabilities. Therefore, the gas device needs to have a wider power modulation range to meet users' needs for different power levels. A premixer is an important component in a fully premixed gas device that regulates stability of gas-to-air equivalence ratio and affect a load modulation ratio. A structure and performance of the premixer may directly affect a load modulation range of the gas device.

The greater the load modulation range of the gas device, the better the user experience in heating applications. However, in the related art, a heat load modulation range of the premixer is relatively small.

Based on this, the present disclosure provides a premixer 100, which aims to broaden a heat load modulation ratio of the premixer 100. The premixer 100 may be applied to gas devices such as gas water heaters, wall-mounted boilers, and gas stoves. The gas device may also include a burner and a fan. Air and a gas flowing out of an air outlet 31 and a gas outlet 32 of the premixer 100, respectively, are mixed into the premixed air. Then, the premixed air enters the burner under the action of the fan and flows out of the burner through a fire hole of the burner to realize ignition combustion. A structure of the present premixer 100 may be described below by way of an example.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the premixer 100 includes a housing 10, a liner 20, and a modulation plate 30. The housing 10 has an inner cavity, an air inlet 11, and a gas inlet 12. Each of the air inlet 11 and the gas inlet 12 is in communication with the inner cavity. The liner 20 is arranged in the inner cavity and has an air flow channel 21 in communication with the air inlet 11 and a gas flow channel 22 in communication with the gas inlet 12. The modulation plate 30 is arranged in the inner cavity and coaxially arranged with the liner 20. The modulation plate 30 has an air outlet 31 in communication with the air flow channel 21 and a gas outlet 32 in communication with the gas flow channel 22. One of the liner 20 and the modulation plate 30 is configured to rotate coaxially relative to another of the liner 20 and the modulation plate 30, to modulate a first communication area between the air outlet 31 and the air flow channel 21 and a second communication area between the gas outlet 32 and the gas flow channel 22.

In this embodiment, the housing 10 can support the lining 20 and the modulation plate 30. The housing 10 has the inner cavity, the air inlet 11, and the gas inlet 12. It should be understood that air entering from the air inlet 11 can flow to the air flow channel 21 of the liner 20 and then flow out from the air outlet 31 of the modulation plate 30. The gas entering from the gas inlet 12 may flow to the gas flow channel 22 of the liner 20 and then flow out of the gas outlet 32 of the modulation plate 30. Prior to this, the one of the liner 20 and the modulation plate 30 is configured to rotate coaxially relative to the other of the liner 20 and the modulation plate 30, to modulate a first communication area between the air outlet 31 and the air flow channel 21 and a second communication area between the gas outlet 32 and the gas flow channel 22. In this way, an air quantity and a gas quantity can be modulated. That is, a mixing ratio of the air and the gas can be modulated to realize thermal load modulation of the premixer 100 over a wide range.

In practical applications, a gas connector 13 may be arranged at the gas inlet 12, to facilitate connection and mounting of the gas inlet 12 and an external gas supply device. In another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, to improve connection tightness between the gas connector 13 and the gas inlet 12 to prevent gas leakage, a second sealing ring 14 may be mounted between the gas connector 13 and the gas inlet 12 to seal a connection between the gas connector 13 and the gas inlet 12. In another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, to facilitate mounting of the second sealing ring 14, a recess may be formed at an outer side wall of the gas inlet 12 of the housing 10. Therefore, the second sealing ring 14 is mounted at the recess to be clamped between the recess and the gas connector 13.

In practical applications, the air inlet 11 may be arranged at a peripheral wall surface of the inner cavity of the housing 10, or may be arranged at an end wall surface of the inner cavity of the housing 10. Similarly, the gas inlet 12 may be arranged at the peripheral wall surface of the inner cavity of the housing 10 or may be arranged at the end wall surface of the inner cavity of the housing 10.

In an embodiment, the housing 10 may have the air inlet 11 formed at one end wall surface of the inner cavity of the housing 10, and have a mixed air outlet formed at another end wall surface of the inner cavity of the housing 10. The air and the gas flowing out from the air outlet 31 and the gas outlet 32 may enter the burner from the mixed air outlet after being mixed.

In practical applications, a shape and a structure of the air inlet 11 may be determined as desired. For example, the air inlet 11 may be circular, sector-shaped, square, strip-shaped, or in some other shapes. The shape and the structure of the gas inlet 12 may also be determined as desired. For example, the gas inlet 12 may be circular, sector-shaped, square, strip-shaped, or in some other shapes.

In this embodiment, the one of the liner 20 and the modulation plate 30 is configured to rotate coaxially relative to the other of the liner 20 and the modulation plate 30. It should be understood that the inner liner 20 is fixed with respect to the housing 10, and the modulation plate 30 is configured to rotate coaxially relative to the liner 20. Alternatively, the modulation plate 30 is fixed with respect to the housing 10, and the liner 20 is configured to rotate coaxially relative to the modulation plate 30. With such a design, under rotation of the liner 20 or the modulation plate 30, the first communication area between the air outlet 31 and the air flow channel 21 can be accurately modulated, and at the same time, the second communication area between the gas outlet 32 and the gas flow channel 22 can be accurately modulated, to realize proportional flow modulation of air and a gas in a high-load state and a low-load state. In this way, the heat load modulation ratio of the premixer 100 is effectively broadened.

In practical applications, when the liner 20 is fixed with respect to the housing 10, the liner 20 may be fixed in the inner cavity of the housing 10 by a clamp, a screw, or the like. Alternatively, the liner 20 may be integrally formed in the inner cavity of the housing 10. When the modulation plate 30 is fixed with respect to the housing 10, the modulation plate 30 may be fixed in the inner cavity of the housing 10 by the clamp, the screw, or the like. Alternatively, the modulation plate 30 may be integrally formed in the inner cavity of the housing 10.

In this embodiment, the liner 20 is a venturi liner. That is, fluid flowing through the venturi liner produces a venturi effect, which is manifested by a phenomenon that a flow velocity of the fluid increases when the restricted flow passes through a reduced flow cross-section, and the flow velocity is inversely proportional to the flow cross-section. From Bernoulli's law, an increase of the flow velocity is accompanied by a decrease of a fluid pressure, which is a common Venturi phenomenon. In simple terms, this effect refers to generation of a low pressure near high-speed flowing fluid, resulting in adsorption.

In summary, in the technical solution of the present disclosure, the liner 20 and the modulation plate 30 are coaxially arranged in the inner cavity of the housing 10. When the one of the liner 20 and the modulation plate 30 is configured to rotate coaxially relative to the other of the liner 20 and the modulation plate 30, the first communication area between the air outlet 31 and the air flow channel 21 can be accurately modulated, and the second communication area between the gas outlet 32 and the gas flow channel 22 can be accurately modulated. In this way, switching between a high-load state and a low-load state during rotation can be realized, allowing for proportional flow modulation of air and a gas in the high-load state and in the low-load state. In addition, the heat load modulation ratio of the premixer 100 is effectively broadened, realizing a wide load modulation range for the gas device, which improves the user experience in heating applications.

In addition, the combined design of the housing 10 and the liner 20 is adopted, which not only facilitates control of a profile and a flow area of the air flow channel 21, but also synchronously forms a gas pressure stabilizing retention chamber. With a negative pressure provided by a downstream fan, a mixing ratio of the gas and the air can be accurately controlled, enabling consistency of an excess air coefficient of the premixed air to be greatly improved.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first communication area is positively correlated with the second communication area.

In this embodiment, the first communication area is positively correlated with the second communication area. It should be understood that when the first communication area between the air outlet 31 and the air flow channel 21 increases, the second communication area between the gas outlet 32 and the gas flow channel 22 also increases. When the first communication area between the air outlet 31 and the air flow channel 21 decreases, the second communication area between the gas outlet 32 and the gas flow channel 22 also decreases. Changes in the first communication area and changes in the second communication area may have a linear relationship or a non-linear relationship.

In this way, a mixing ratio of an air flow rate and a gas flow rate can effectively meet combustion requirements of the burner, to achieve a better combustion effect.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the first communication area is greater than the second communication area.

In this embodiment, the first communication area is greater than the second communication area. It should be understood that, during coaxial rotation of the one of the liner 20 and the modulation plate 30 relative to the other of the liner 20 and the modulation plate 30, the first communication area between the air outlet 31 and the air flow channel 21 is greater than the second communication area between the gas outlet 32 and the gas flow channel 22.

In this way, the amount of air flowing out of the air outlet 31 can be greater than the amount of gas flowing out of the gas outlet 32, to meet a ratio of air to gas required by the gas device, and thus an amount of gas used can be reduced on the basis that the combustion requirements can be met.

In practical applications, a shape and a structure of a cross-section of each of the air flow channel 21 and the gas flow channel 22 may be determined as desired. For example, the shape and the structure of the cross-section of each of the air flow channel 21 and the gas flow channel 22 may be circular, sector-shaped, square, strip-shaped, trapezoidal, semi-annular, or in some other shapes. A shape and a structure of a cross-section of each of the air outlet 31 and the gas outlet 32 may be determined as desired. For example, the shape and the structure of each of the air outlet 31 and the gas outlet 32 may be circular, sector-shaped, square, strip-shaped, trapezoidal, semi-annular, or in some other shapes.

As an example, as illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, at least one of the air flow channel 21 or the air outlet 31 has a cross-section with a semi-annular shape. At least one of the gas flow channel 22 or the gas outlet 32 has a cross-section with a semi-annular shape.

In this embodiment, the cross-section of at least one of the air flow channel 21 or the air outlet 31 is of the semi-annular shape. It should be understood that when the cross-section of the air flow channel 21 is of the semi-annular shape, the cross-section of the air outlet 31 may be semi-annular, or may be circular, sector-shaped, square, strip-shaped, trapezoidal, or in some other shapes. When the cross-section of the air outlet 31 is of the semi-annular shape, the cross-section of the air flow channel 21 may be circular, sector-shaped, square, strip-shaped, trapezoidal, or in some other shapes. A cross-section of at least one of the gas flow channel 22 or the gas outlet 32 is of the semi-annular shape. It should be understood that when the cross-section of the gas flow channel 22 is of the semi-annular shape, the cross-section of the gas outlet 32 may be semi-annular, or may be circular, sector-shaped, square, strip-shaped, trapezoidal, or in some other shapes. When the cross-section of the gas outlet 32 is of the semi-annular shape, the cross-section of the gas flow channel 22 may be circular, sector-shaped, square, strip-shaped, trapezoidal, or in some other shapes.

In this way, during coaxial rotation of the one of the liner 20 and the modulation plate 30 relative to the other of the liner 20 and the modulation plate 30, the air flow channel 21 and the air outlet 31 are always in communication with each other, and the gas flow channel 22 and the gas outlet 32 are also always in communication with each other. There is no interruption, and thus continuous operation of a downstream burner can be ensured.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the air flow channel 21 includes a high-load air flow channel 211 and a low-load air flow channel 212 spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the liner 20. The cross-section of the air outlet 31 is of the semi-annular shape. The gas flow channel 22 includes a high-load gas flow channel 221 and a low-load gas flow channel 222 spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the liner 20. The cross-section of the gas outlet 32 is of the semi-annular shape.

In this embodiment, the air flow channel 21 includes the high-load air flow channel 211 and the low-load air flow channel 212 spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the liner 20. It should be understood that an area of the high-load air flow channel 211 is greater than an area of the low-load air flow channel 212, to enable amount of air flowing through the high-load air flow channel 211 to be greater than amount of air flowing through the low-load air flow channel 212. The gas flow channel 22 includes the high-load gas flow channel 221 and the low-load gas flow channel 222 spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the liner 20. It should be understood that an area of the high-load gas flow channel 221 is greater than an area of the low-load gas flow channel 222, to enable an amount of gas flowing through the high-load gas flow channel 221 to be greater than an amount of gas flowing through the low-load gas flow channel 222.

In this way, during coaxial rotation of the one of the liner 20 and the modulation plate 30 relative to the other of the liner 20 and the modulation plate 30, under a low-load state, the air outlet 31 is only in communication with the low-load air flow channel 212, and the gas outlet 32 is also only in communication with the low-load gas flow channel 222. With the negative pressure provided by the downstream fan of the premixer 100, an input power of the premixer 100 under the low-load state can be modulated within a predetermined range, and thus the proportional flow modulation of air and the gas under the small-load state can be realized. In this way, air-to-gas ratio requirements under the low-load state can be met. In the high-load state, the air outlet 31 is in communication with the high-load air flow channel 211 and the low-load air flow channel 212 simultaneously. In addition, the gas outlet 32 is also in communication with the high-load gas flow channel 221 and the low-load gas flow channel 222 simultaneously. With the same fan speed, since the area of the air flow channel 21 and the gas flow channel 22 is significantly increased, the input power of the premixer 100 is also significantly improved. The proportional flow modulation of air and the gas under the high-load state can be realized. In this way, air-to-gas ratio requirements under the high-load state can be met.

Further, a circumferential angle of the high-load air flow channel 211 is the same as a circumferential angle of the high-load gas flow channel 221. In this way, a proportional flow rate of air and gas can be modulated more accurately under the high-load state.

Further, the low-load air flow channel 212 and the low-load gas flow channel 222 are spaced apart from each other in a radial direction of the liner 20. In this way, the proportional flow rate of air and gas can be modulated more accurately under the low-load state.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the high-load gas flow channel 221 includes at least two gas flow sub-channels 221a arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the liner 20.

In this way, in the process of switching from the high-load state to the low-load state, the gas outlet 32 may be in communication with all the gas flow sub-channels 221a and the low-load gas flow channel 222. Then, when a quantity of the gas outlet 32 in communication with the gas sub-channel 221a is gradually reduced until the gas outlet 32 is only in communication with the low-load gas flow channel 222, the low-load state is switched. In this process, a communication area between the gas outlet 32 and the gas channel 22 can be gradually reduced, and the proportional flow rate of air and gas can be more accurately modulated.

In practical applications, a cross-section of the gas sub-channel 221a may be the same as or different from a cross-section of the low-load gas flow channel 222, as long as a total size of cross-sections of the at least two gas flow sub-channels 221a is ensured to be greater than the cross-section of the low-load gas flow channel 222.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, at least two groups of the high-load air flow channels 211 and at least two groups of the low-load air flow channels 212 are provided and respectively arranged in an annular array along a central axis of the liner 20.

In this embodiment, the at least two groups of the high-load air flow channels 211 and the at least two groups of the low-load air flow channels 212 are arranged in an annular array along the central axis of the liner 20. It should be understood that the at least two groups of the high-load air flow channels 211 and the at least two groups of the low-load air flow channels 212 are staggered in the circumferential direction of the liner 20.

With this arrangement, the at least two groups of the high-load air flow channels 211 and the at least two groups of the low-load air flow channels 212 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the liner 20, ensuring strength of the liner 20 itself while meeting air demands. In addition, the high-load air flow channel 211 and the low-load air flow channel 212 are avoided from collectively being arranged at a side of the liner 20, resulting in easy deformation of the liner 20.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, at least two groups of the high-load gas flow channels 221 and at least two groups of the low-load gas flow channels 222 are provided and respectively arranged in the annular array along the central axis of the liner 20.

In this embodiment, the at least two groups of the high-load gas flow channels 221 and the at least two groups of the low-load gas flow channels 222 are arranged in the annular array along the central axis of the liner 20. It should be understood that the at least two groups of the high-load gas flow channels 221 and the at least two groups of the low-load gas flow channels 222 are staggered in the circumferential direction of the liner 20.

With this arrangement, the at least two groups of the high-load gas flow channels 221 and the at least two groups of the low-load gas flow channels 222 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the liner 20, ensuring the strength of the liner 20 itself while meeting gas demands. In addition, the high-load gas flow channel 221 and the low-load gas flow channel 222 are avoided from collectively being arranged at the side of the liner 20, resulting in easy deformation of the liner 20.

In an embodiment, the at least two groups of the high-load air flow channels 211 and the at least two groups of the low-load air flow channels 212 are provided. The at least two groups of the high-load gas flow channels 221 and the at least two groups of the low-load gas flow channels 222 are also provided. Each group of the at least two groups of the high-load gas flow channels 221 includes two gas flow sub-channels 221a, in such a manner that the liner 20 can have four air flow channels 21 and six gas flow channels 22. In other embodiments of the present disclosure, two air flow channels 21 may also be provided, and the gas flow channel 22 may be designed as two semi-annular gaps. By modulating a rotation angle of the liner 20 or a rotation angle of the modulation plate 30, the first communication area and the second communication area can be changed from 0 to a maximum value, controlling the input power of the premixer 100, and thus realizing a wide load modulation range of the gas device.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, in a radial direction of the liner 20, the gas flow channel 22 is located outside the air flow channel 21 with respect to the central axis of the liner 20.

In this way, since a cross-sectional area of the air flow channel 21 is usually greater than a cross-sectional area of the gas flow channel 22, by placing the gas flow channel 22 outside the air flow channel 21, the gas flow channel 22 with a smaller cross-sectional area can be made closer to an edge of the liner 20. On the one hand, it is more convenient to process and form the gas flow channel 22 with the smaller cross-sectional area. On the other hand, the strength of the liner 20 can be ensured, preventing the edge of the liner 20 from being deformed.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, FIG. 5 to FIG. 7, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the liner 20 is fixed to the housing 10. The premixer 100 further includes a drive assembly 40 connected to the modulation plate 30 in a power transmission manner. The drive assembly 40 is configured to drive the modulation plate 30 to rotate relative to the liner 20.

In this way, since an overall volume of the liner 20 is greater than an overall volume of the modulation plate 30, the drive assembly 40 can drive the modulation plate 30 to rotate relative to the liner 20 with a smaller driving force, to realize the switching between the high-load state and the low-load state.

In practical applications, the drive assembly 40 may be a structure in which a drive motor 41 is in fit with a transmission shaft 42. Alternatively, the drive assembly 40 may be a rotary motor directly. Further, the drive assembly 40 may also be a structure in which the drive motor 41 is in fit with a gear-rack mechanism, etc., as long as the drive assembly 40 can drive the modulation plate 30 to rotate coaxially relative to the liner 20.

As an example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6, the drive assembly 40 includes a drive motor 41 and a transmission shaft 42. The drive motor 41 is arranged at the housing 10, and has an output shaft 411 extending into the inner cavity. The transmission shaft 42 is connected to the output shaft 411 in a power transmission manner at one end of the transmission shaft 42 and connected to the modulation plate 30 in a power transmission manner at another end of the transmission shaft 42.

In this way, the drive motor 41 can be arranged at an outer side of the housing 10. In addition, the output shaft 411 of the drive motor 41 can extend into the inner cavity of the housing 10 to be connected to an end of the transmission shaft 42. Further, the other end of the transmission shaft 42 is connected to the modulation plate 30. Under the action of the drive motor 41, the transmission shaft 42 may be driven to rotate by the output shaft 411, and then the modulation plate 30 may be driven to rotate coaxially relative to the liner 20. Such a design does not require the entire drive motor 41 to be mounted in the inner cavity of the housing 10. In this way, not only assembly difficulty can be reduced, but also an overall volume of the housing 10 can be minimized to lower a cost.

In practical applications, an extension direction of the output shaft 411 of the drive motor 41 may be the same as or different from that of the transmission shaft 42.

In practical applications, the transmission shaft 42 may be connected to the modulation plate 30 by screws, bolts, snap-fit structures, or the like, which are not specifically limited here.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the output shaft 411 extends in a radial direction of the liner 20. The transmission shaft 42 extends in an axial direction of the liner 20. The output shaft 411 is engaged with the transmission shaft 42.

In this way, by allowing the output shaft 411 to extend in the radial direction of the liner 20, the drive motor 41 can be mounted at a side of the housing 10, more facilitating mounting of the drive motor 41. When the output shaft 411 of the drive motor 41 rotates, the modulation plate 30 can be driven to rotate coaxially relative to the liner 20 by the transmission shaft 42 under engagement between the output shaft 411 and the transmission shaft 42.

In this embodiment, the output shaft 411 is provided with an output gear 4111 at an output end of the output shaft 411. The transmission shaft 42 is provided with a transmission gear 422 at an end of the transmission shaft 42 away from the modulation plate 30. The transmission gear 422 is engaged with the output gear 4111.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the liner 20 has an avoidance channel 20a extending along a central axis. The transmission shaft 42 passes through the avoidance channel 20a and is in fit with and spaced from the liner 20.

In this way, by allowing the transmission shaft 42 to pass through the avoidance channel 20a of the liner 20, the transmission shaft 42 can utilize a space of the liner 20 itself, to enable the transmission shaft 42 to have no need to occupy an additional space in the inner cavity, which can reduce the overall volume of the housing 10 to reduce the cost. In addition, by allowing the transmission shaft 42 to be in fit with and spaced from the liner 20, there is no interference between the transmission shaft 42 and the liner 20 during rotation.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 7, a first sealing ring 421 is arranged between an outer wall of the transmission shaft 42 and an inner wall of the avoidance channel 20a.

In this way, by providing the first sealing ring 421 between the outer wall of the transmission shaft 42 and the inner wall of the avoidance channel 20a, a gap between the transmission shaft 42 and the liner 20 can be sealed by the first sealing ring 421, and thus outside air can be prevented from flowing from the gap to the air outlet 31 of the modulation plate 30, affecting precise control of the air flow rate.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the liner 20 includes a front liner segment 23 and a rear liner segment 24 that are arranged in an axial direction. The modulation plate 30 is located at a side of the rear liner segment 24 away from the front liner segment 23. The avoidance channel 20a and the gas flow channel 22 are formed at the rear liner segment 24. The front liner segment 23 is engaged with the rear liner segment 24 to form an avoidance groove 20b in communication with the avoidance channel 20a. An end of the output shaft 411 extends into the avoidance groove 20b to be engaged with the transmission shaft 42.

In this embodiment, the liner 20 includes the front liner segment 23 and the rear liner segment 24 that are arranged in the axial direction. It should be understood that the front liner segment 23 and the rear liner segment 24 form the air flow channel 21. That is, the front liner segment 23 has a front segment channel, the rear liner segment 24 has a rear segment channel, and the front segment channel and the rear segment channel constitute the air flow channel 21. A cross-sectional area of the front segment channel is greater than a cross-sectional area of the rear segment channel. The design of the liner 20 at the front segment can extend a length of the liner 20, helping to reduce abrupt change in the air flow channel 21, and more facilitating air circulation.

In this way, by allowing the front liner segment 23 and the rear liner segment 24 to cooperate with each other to form the avoidance groove 20b in communication with the avoidance channel 20a, during assembly, the transmission shaft 42 can pass through the avoidance channel 20a of the rear liner segment 24, and an end of the transmission shaft 42 provided with the transmission gear 422 extends into the avoidance groove 20b. Then, an end of the output shaft 411 provided with the output gear 4111 is inserted into the avoidance groove 20b to allow the output gear 4111 to be engaged with the transmission gear 422. Afterward, the front liner segment 23 is engaged with the rear liner segment 24, making structural assembly more convenient and achievable.

In practical applications, the avoidance groove 20b may be formed at an end surface of the rear liner segment 24 close to the front liner segment 23. Alternatively, the avoidance groove 20 b may be formed at an end surface of the front liner segment 23 close to the rear liner segment 24. Alternatively, a front segment groove may be formed at the end surface of the rear liner segment 24 close to the front liner segment 23, and a rear segment groove may be formed at the end surface of the rear liner segment 23 close to the rear liner segment 24. The front segment groove and the rear segment groove may form the avoidance groove 20b.

In practical applications, the front liner segment 23 may be connected to the rear liner segment 24 by using bolts, snap-fit connections, adsorption, or other similar methods.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, a gas retention chamber 26 is formed between an outer side of the rear liner segment 24 and a wall of the inner cavity. The gas inlet 12 is in communication with the gas flow channel 22 through the gas retention chamber 26.

In this way, the gas enters from the gas inlet 12 into the gas retention chamber 26, and then enters from the gas retention chamber 26 into the gas flow channel 22, enabling a pressure of the inlet gas to be more stable.

As illustrated in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, one of the liner 20 and the modulation plate 30 has a limit groove 25. Another one of the liner 20 and the modulation plate 30 is provided with a limit post 33. The limit post 33 is engaged with the limit groove 25 to limit a relative rotation angle between the liner 20 and the modulation plate 30.

In this way, during coaxial rotation of the one of the liner 20 and the modulation plate 30 relative to the other of the liner 20 and the modulation plate 30, the rotation angle of the one of the liner 20 and the modulation plate 30 relative to the other of the liner 20 and the modulation plate 30 can be limited through cooperation between the limit post 33 and the limit groove 25. In this way, the liner 20 or the modulation plate 30 can be effectively prevented from rotating to a wrong position, and thus control accuracy of the drive motor 41 can be improved.

In one embodiment, the limit groove 25 may be formed at a side of the liner 20 close to the modulation plate 30. In addition, the limit post 33 may be arranged at a side of the modulation plate 30 close to the liner 20.

In another embodiment, the limit post 33 may be arranged at the side of the liner 20 close to the modulation plate 30. In addition, the limit groove 25 may be formed at the side of the modulation plate 30 close to the liner 20.

The present disclosure further provides a gas device. The gas device includes the premixer 100. For a specific structure of the premixer 100, reference can be made to the above-described embodiments. Since the gas device adopts all technical solutions of the above-described embodiments, the gas device at least has all advantageous effects brought by the technical solutions of the above-described embodiments, and thus details thereof will be omitted here.

In this embodiment, the gas device may be gas water heaters, wall-mounted boilers, gas stoves, or the like. The gas device may also include the burner and the fan. After the air and the gas flowing out of the air outlet 31 and the gas outlet 32 of the premixer 100, respectively, are mixed into the premixed air, the premixed air enters the burner under the action of the fan and then flows out of the burner through the fire hole of the burner to realize ignition combustion. In the case that the premixer 100 is modulated, the load modulation range of the gas device can be increased, in such a manner that the user can have a better experience of heating.

Although exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described above, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments. Under the technical concept of the present disclosure, any equivalent structure transformation made using the contents of the specification and the accompanying drawings of the present disclosure, or any direct or indirect application of the contents of the specification and the accompanying drawings of the present disclosure in other related fields, shall equally fall within the scope of the present disclosure.