CN212299390U - Instant heating unit and toilet bowl - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model provides an instant heating unit for heating toilet's sparge water, instant heating unit includes: a housing having a water inlet through which wash water to be heated flows into the housing and a water outlet through which the wash water flows out of the housing; a heating device configured in a hollow tubular shape, which is disposed inside the housing and extends in a longitudinal direction of the housing; an annular gap is formed between the outer surface of the heating device and the inner surface of the housing, and wash water flows from the water inlet into the heating device, flows from the inside of the heating device to the annular gap, and flows out of the water outlet via the annular gap. Because different flows in the annular gap can form vortex or turbulent flow, the heating homogenization of the interior of the flushing water is enhanced, and the consistency of the water temperature is improved.

Description

Instant heating unit and toilet bowl

Technical Field

The utility model relates to a sanitary wares field mainly relates to a toilet bowl that is used for the instant heating unit of the sparge water of toilet bowl and contains this kind of instant heating unit.

Background

Modern toilet bowls, especially intelligent toilet bowls, are mostly equipped with a water jet device for cleaning private parts of human bodies. When the weather changes to cold or according to different requirements of users, the water in the water spraying device can be used after being heated. Such heating devices are generally provided with an instant heating type heating device for heating washing water contained therein to a desired temperature in a short time, thereby achieving a rapid heating effect.

In the instant heating apparatus, since water is located at different positions in the heater, the temperature of water near the heater body may be higher and the temperature of water farther from the heater body may be lower due to thermal conductivity and the like, and thus the temperature of washing water may be non-uniform, which may cause discomfort to a user using a washing function.

In order to solve this problem, it is known in the prior art to provide an instant heating unit in which a heating rod for heating washing water is disposed, and a layer of spiral resin structure is added to the inner wall of the housing of the instant heating unit in order to form a whole length between the outer wall of the heating rod and the inner wall of the housing for the washing water to flow through the heating rod in a spiral pattern, and to increase the contact time with the heating rod, thereby obtaining more uniform heating.

However, in this prior art, the clearance between the heating rod and the spiral resin structure cannot actually ensure accuracy, and there is a high possibility that an undesired spatial clearance is generated therebetween, so that the water does not actually flow through the heating rod strictly following a predetermined spiral pattern under pressure, but directly flows from a space or passage having the smallest flow resistance between the heating rod and the spiral resin structure, thereby failing to ensure that the flushing water can be uniformly heated.

In addition, since the thickness of the spiral resin structure on the inner wall of the housing is very small, for example, only in the order of millimeter, when the thermal unit is empty-burned, the resin has a problem of poor flame retardant effect due to the small thickness, which is very disadvantageous for the safety design of the entire system.

It is also known in the prior art to provide an instant heating unit provided with heating wires in the form of springs. The spring heating wire is made of metal materials, such as steel wires. In the instant heating unit, washing water flows around the spring heating wire, increasing the heating area, and the metal also uniformly distributes the heating heat, thereby having high heating efficiency. However, this prior art has the disadvantage that metals, such as steel wires, are prone to corrosion, which adversely affects the quality of the flushing water, whereas the composition is very high if copper wires are used.

For this reason, there is also a constant need in the field of toilets for instant heating units that provide a function of uniformly heating flush water with a simple and reliable structure.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

In order to achieve the instant heating effect of reliably providing heated uniform washing water with a simple structure, the present invention provides an instant heating unit for heating washing water of a toilet bowl, the instant heating unit including: a housing having a water inlet through which wash water to be heated flows into the housing and a water outlet through which the wash water flows out of the housing; a heating device configured in a hollow tubular shape, arranged inside the housing, and extending in a longitudinal direction of the housing; wherein an annular gap is formed between an outer surface of the heating device and an inner surface of the housing, and the washing water flows into the inside of the heating device from the water inlet, flows to the annular gap from the inside of the heating device, and flows out of the water outlet via the annular gap.

By means of the annular gap flowing through the interior of the hollow tubular heating means between the outer surface of the heating means and the inner surface of the housing, vortices or turbulences can be formed by means of different flows of different portions of the flushing water in the annular gap (for example, a middle portion and two side portions close to the fixed surface) to enhance the homogenization of the heating of the interior of the flushing water, to improve the uniformity of the water temperature and to improve the flushing experience for the user.

For example, the heating device may define an interior chamber within which flush water flows and a longitudinal centerline. In this way, the rinsing water can flow directly from the water inlet into the interior of the heating device for optional preheating and/or for a large storage volume of the rinsing water in the instant heating unit.

Preferably, the heating device is arranged centrally within the housing, so that in each cross section along the longitudinal centre line the gap width of the annular gap is evenly distributed circumferentially. When the gap width of the annular gap is circumferentially uniform, the degree of heating of the washing water flowing in the annular gap at each position in the circumferential direction is uniform, so that a more uniform heating temperature is obtained.

Advantageously, the annular gap comprises a narrowing section, the gap width of which in the longitudinal direction of the housing is designed to narrow in the direction of the water inlet. In particular, flushing water can flow in the annular gap from a direction away from the water inlet towards the water inlet. By means of the narrowed annular gap, the vortex formed in the washing water can be further fully mixed, so that the purpose of improving the heating uniformity is achieved.

Advantageously, the cross section of the narrowing section is designed in the longitudinal direction to be continuously and uniformly reduced in the direction of the water outlet. By means of the uniformly graduated annular gap, the self-disturbing forces of the rinsing water can be significantly increased.

Most advantageously, the annular gap is dimensioned so small that the flushing water flowing through the narrowed section towards the outlet is swirled. For example, the size of the annular gap is 2-5 mm. In this size range, the water temperature distribution of the heated washing water is most uniform.

In a particularly simple construction, the heating device is arranged such that the flushing water flows in its interior in the opposite direction to the flow in the annular gap. This allows the flushing water flowing through the interior of the heating device to flow directly into the annular gap after deflection at its longitudinal ends, so that an increase in heating efficiency is achieved in a compact space.

In some embodiments, the housing further comprises a transition opening through which the washing water leaves the annular gap laterally into the mixing section, and a mixing section which opens directly into the water outlet. Thus, heated flushing water may not flow directly out of the water outlet after leaving the annular gap, but through a section of mixing water area, to improve flexibility of channel design and increase the possibility of improving water temperature uniformity.

In particular, a first turbulence mechanism is provided within the mixing section, the first turbulence mechanism comprising a baffle capable of defining a tortuous path for the flow of the flushing water within the mixing section. Through the arrangement of the tortuous flow path, the washing water can further generate a vortex in the water mixing area, and the uniformity of the temperature is further enhanced.

In addition, the instant heating unit further comprises a second flow disturbing mechanism comprising a blade, and flushing water leaving the inner cavity impinges on the blade and flows towards the annular gap. The blades can be used for realizing the turning of flushing water, and simultaneously, eddy or turbulent flow can be generated in the flushing water flowing to the annular gap, so that the heating uniformity of the flushing water in the annular gap is enhanced.

Advantageously, the second flow perturbation means is arranged at or near the end of the housing of the instant heating unit remote from the water inlet. Thereby, the second flow perturbation means can be easily attached to the housing and the generation of flow perturbation within the flushing water is achieved in a compact volume.

In particular, the blades of the second spoiler mechanism can be rotated. The rotatable blades enhance the vortex formation of the flush water, either by active rotation or by impact of the flush water, thereby further homogenizing the water temperature.

It is also advantageous that a water-cooled heat-conducting plate, which can be brought into contact with the washing water inside the housing, is attached to the instant heating unit, the water-cooled heat-conducting plate serving to dissipate heat from the control circuit. Thus, the control circuit can be cooled by the flushing water, thereby improving the efficiency of the system.

In addition, the instant heating unit includes a separate temperature safety device that includes a temperature sensor that shuts off the flow of the rinse water into the instant heating unit when the temperature sensor detects that the rinse water exceeds a predetermined temperature. The separate temperature sensor is controlled independently of the controller for controlling the heating power. This independence ensures that the temperature sensor still gives an alarm when the heating device is not operating due to the control circuit being broken down by a large current, to inform the system or the user that the water temperature is at an inappropriately high level.

The utility model also provides a toilet bowl, this toilet bowl includes: an instant heating unit as described above; a water inlet pipe connected to a water inlet of the instant heating unit to allow washing water to flow into the instant heating unit; the flushing device, i.e. the water outlet of the thermal unit, is connected to the flushing device such that the heated flushing water can be flushed.

Preferably, the toilet stool further includes a water inlet sensor and a water outlet sensor to monitor a temperature of washing water, and the toilet stool further includes a controller, wherein the water inlet sensor and the water outlet sensor transmit information of the monitored temperature of the water to the controller, thereby controlling heating power of the heating device. The toilet may include a separate temperature sensor controlled independently of the controller to improve the safety of the heating system.

Drawings

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a structural perspective exploded view of an instant heating unit of an intelligent toilet according to one embodiment of the present invention;

2A-2B schematically illustrate a top view and a cross-sectional view of an internal structure taken along line A-A of an instant heating unit according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A-3C schematically illustrate a schematic diagram of an annular gap of an instant heating unit according to the embodiment of FIGS. 2A-2B, respectively;

4A-4B schematically illustrate a side view of an instant heating unit and a cross-sectional view of an internal structure taken along line B-B, respectively, showing a mixing section and a first turbulator mechanism, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

5A-5B schematically illustrate an external perspective view of an instant heating unit equipped with a second turbulator mechanism and a perspective view of the second turbulator mechanism, respectively, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 6 schematically illustrates an external perspective view of an instant heating unit equipped with a separate temperature sensor in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

fig. 7 schematically shows another embodiment of an annular gap of an instant heating unit according to the invention.

List of reference numerals:

100, namely a thermal unit;

110 an outer shell;

112 water inlet;

114 water outlet;

116 a transition opening;

120 a heating device;

122 (of the heating device);

124 longitudinal centerline;

130 an annular gap;

132 a narrowed section;

134 small diameter section;

136 a large diameter section;

140 a water mixing section;

142a first spoiler mechanism;

142a baffle plate;

144 a tortuous path;

150 second spoiler mechanisms;

152 a blade;

154 central axis;

160 water-cooling heat-conducting plates;

170 a controller;

180 temperature sensor;

182 a water inlet sensor;

184 water out sensor.

Detailed Description

It should be noted that the drawings referred to are not all drawn to scale but may be exaggerated to illustrate various aspects of the present invention, and in this regard, the drawings should not be construed as limiting.

In the present invention, the term "toilet bowl" refers to the entire cleaning system for flushing a toilet, including, for example, a seat body having a dirt receiving groove, a toilet bowl lid, a toilet bowl tank, various pipes, wires, joints, fittings, etc. However, it can be understood that the utility model discloses a toilet bowl is including any module that needs to heat the sparge water function, nevertheless the utility model discloses a type of toilet bowl itself is not limited, and intelligent toilet bowl, hydrocone type toilet bowl, various traditional toilet bowls are all in for example the utility model discloses an within range.

It will be appreciated that although the instant heating unit of the present invention is used to heat the flush water of a toilet, it is not excluded that the instant heating unit may be connected to other components of the toilet or other plumbing fixture to heat other intakes or drains.

Furthermore, although the unit for heating the flushing water of the toilet bowl is referred to in the present invention as "instant heating unit", the instant heating unit of the present invention does not exclude any components that may be present for heat storage flushing water. That is, the instant heating unit of the present invention has at least a function of instantly heating washing water, but may be integrated with other heating functions.

In the following, the longitudinal direction of the instant heating unit or of the heating device located in the instant heating unit is defined as the longitudinal direction of the instant heating unit, while the direction at an angle to the longitudinal direction, in particular at a substantially right angle, is defined as the lateral direction of the instant heating unit.

In addition, in the present disclosure, devices or components such as the controller 170, the temperature sensor 180, the heat conducting member, etc. may be independent of but assigned to the instant heating unit, but may also be integrated with (i.e., part of) the instant heating unit.

In order to heat the flushing water of the toilet, the instant heating unit 100 of the present invention needs to be connected with a water inlet pipe and a water outlet pipe (not shown). The inlet conduit may be a conduit completely separate from the inlet conduit of the toilet bowl, but may also be a branch conduit of the inlet conduit of the toilet bowl. An outlet pipe (not shown) is typically connected to the flushing device, for example its flushing nozzle, to provide heated water for user flushing.

Therefore, the instant heating unit 100 according to the present invention includes a housing 110, a water inlet 112 and a water outlet 114 (shown in fig. 5A) to be connected with the above-mentioned water inlet pipe and water outlet pipe (not shown), respectively. The housing 110 is preferably generally cylindrical in shape, and may include other structures extending from the cylindrical structure. As schematically shown in fig. 2B, the water inlet 112 and the water outlet 114 may be formed at different positions on the housing 110. It will be appreciated that the flushing water to be heated flows into the housing 110 via the water inlet 112, while the heated flushing water flows out of the housing 110 via the water outlet 114, for example to the aforementioned flushing device. According to the present invention, i.e. the water inlet 112 and the water outlet 114 of the thermal unit 100 are typically one each, but it is not excluded that a plurality of water inlets 112 and/or a plurality of water outlets 114 may be included to provide the possibility of different water flow paths or positions, e.g. to different water outlets (not shown) if not for a water spray device.

To perform the heating function, the thermal unit 100 comprises a heating device 120, which heating device 120 is arranged inside the housing of the thermal unit 100. The heating device 120 is capable of at least heating water flowing over its outer surface (e.g., the heating element of the heating device 120 is near or at the outer surface). Preferably, the heating device 120 may also heat the water flowing through the inside thereof. In the present invention, the heating device 120 can be configured as a heating tube, in particular as a hollow heating tube. Thus, the heating device 120 defines an interior cavity 122 and a longitudinal centerline 124.

Preferably, the longitudinal centerline 124 of the heating device 120 coincides with the longitudinal centerline of the interior cavity of the housing 110 of the thermal unit 100. That is, the heating device 120 is designed to be centered at a position inside the housing 110 of the instant heating unit 100. The heating device 120 may also be arranged eccentrically with respect to the inner cavity of the housing 110 of the thermal unit 100.

In the present invention, the washing water flowing into the housing 110 of the instant heating unit 100 via the water inlet 112 flows into the heating device 120, i.e. the inner cavity 122 of the hollow heating tube, as shown in fig. 2B. The rinsing water can be preheated in the interior 122 of the heating device 120, for example by a rise of 1-2 degrees celsius, but it can also be passed through the interior 122 without preheating. Furthermore, when the heating device 120 does not include an inner chamber, the flush water may not flow into the inner chamber, but directly into the annular gap 130, which is described in more detail below.

The size of the heating device 120 may be determined according to different requirements, but the inner cavity 122 of the heating device 120 is generally larger in size, so that a larger amount of heating water (to avoid the idle burning condition) can be obtained. In this case, even if water is cut off, the danger of dry-heating the heat unit 100 does not easily occur. The rinsing water accumulated in the instant heating unit 100 preferably needs to be drained after each water cut or power cut in order to avoid various sanitary problems that are easily caused by the accumulated water.

According to the present invention, an annular gap 130 may be formed between the outer surface of the heating device 120 and the inner surface of the outer shell 110. Here, the term "annular gap" refers to a three-dimensional space formed between the outer surface of the heating device 120 and the inner surface or inner wall of the housing 110, and is called an annular gap since the gap has an annular shape surrounding the heating device. The "width" of the "annular gap" may refer to the distance dimension (the dimension in the radial direction) between the outer surface of the heating device 120 and the inner surface or the inner wall of the housing 110.

Preferably, the heating device 120 may be arranged inside the outer shell 110 such that the gap width of the annular gap 130 is circumferentially uniform in each of its cross sections (i.e., each of an infinite number of cross sections perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline) along the longitudinal centerline (whether the longitudinal centerline of the inner cavity 122 of the heating device 120 or the inner cavity of the outer shell 110). Briefly, in this embodiment, the annular gap 130 has a uniform circumferential width throughout, as viewed in any cross-section. It is understood that the width dimension of the annular gap 130 may be different or the same as viewed along different cross-sections of the longitudinal centerline.

According to the present invention, the flushing water will flow to this annular gap 130 of the instant heating unit 100 after passing through the inner chamber 122 of the heating device 120. In this case, the rinsing water can flow directly into the annular gap 130 after flowing through the interior 122 of the heating device 120, but can also flow into the annular gap 130 after passing through further components or channels. In the embodiment shown in fig. 2B, the flushing water flows in from the water inlet 112 on the right in the figure, flows through the inner chamber 122 of the heating device 120 in a direction from right to left, and then flows directly into the annular gap 130 at its left-hand end, in which gap 130 the flushing water flows from left to right. In some embodiments, the annular gap 130 does not extend over the entire longitudinal length of the heating device 120, but only over a portion of its length. The latter is also conceivable.

When wash water flows in the annular gap 130, since the annular gap 130 is defined by the outer wall (outer surface) of the heating means 120 and the inner wall (inner surface) of the housing 110 of the heat unit 100, the wash water is divided into a portion relatively closer to the fixed surface (may also be referred to as "both side portions") and a portion relatively farther from the fixed surface (may also be referred to as "middle portion"). Since the flow velocity of the middle portion of the washing water passing through the annular gap 130 is higher than the flow velocity of both sides (the water flow near the solid surface is decelerated by the adhesion force of the fixed surface so that the middle flow velocity thereof is higher than the flow velocity of both sides), small vortexes (self-turbulence) are generated in the water based on the flow velocity difference, and these small vortexes can promote the washing water to be heated more sufficiently and uniformly. In particular, the annular gap 130 is sized so small that the flushing water flowing through the narrowed section 132 to the outlet creates a vortex sufficient to even out the heating. Preferably, the annular gap 130 may have a size of 2 to 5 mm, for example 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5 mm.

As shown in fig. 3A-3C, it is particularly advantageous that the annular gap 130 may include a narrowed section. The cross section of the narrowing section is designed to narrow in the direction toward the water outlet 114 along the longitudinal direction of the thermal unit 100. The narrowed section can be at any position of the annular gap 130 in the longitudinal direction. It is also conceivable, however, for the entire annular gap 130 to be designed so as to narrow toward the water outlet 114. When the annular gap 130 includes a narrowed section, the small vortices generated as the flushing water flows over can be more thoroughly mixed, thereby increasing the turbulence amplitude and thus making the heating of the flushing water more uniform.

In the embodiment of fig. 3A-3C, the cross section of the narrowing section is designed to be continuously decreasing in the longitudinal direction in the direction of the water outlet 114 (see also fig. 2B). More preferably, narrowed section 132 has a length that is as long as possible, i.e., a continuously narrowed range that is as long as possible (e.g., from one end of housing 110 of thermal unit 100 to the other), so that a uniformly continuous, small slope may be achieved, which facilitates turbulent flow and more uniform heating. However, it is also conceivable for the cross section of the narrowing section 132 to be discontinuously reduced, for example in steps, or intermittently reduced. When continuously narrowing, the cross-section of the narrowing section 132 may be uniformly narrowing, i.e. the narrowing slope is constant in the longitudinal direction, but may also be variable, for example first larger then smaller, or smaller then larger, etc., towards the outlet 114. In another embodiment as shown in fig. 7, the annular gap comprises a narrowed section 132 and a non-narrowed section, the non-narrowed section comprising a large diameter section 136 (right-hand section in the figure) and a small diameter section 134 (left-hand section in the figure), and the narrowed section 132 is located between the large diameter section 136 and the small diameter section 134. As can be seen in fig. 7, in this embodiment, the narrowing in the narrowing section 132 is still uniform narrowing, i.e. the slope remains uniform.

Preferably, the flow of the flushing water in the inner chamber 122 of the heating means 120 is in the opposite direction to the flow of the flushing water in the annular gap 130. It is also contemplated that the flow directions of the two may be the same or at an angle, depending on the arrangement of the outer wall (outer surface) of the heating device 120 and the inner wall (inner surface) of the housing 110 of the thermal unit 100 (e.g., there may be other intermediate elements within the annular gap 130 such that the flow directions are not substantially parallel to each other) or whether there may be other deflecting structure between the heating device 120 and the inner wall of the housing 110 (e.g., flushing water that may flow out of the inner chamber 122 may be deflected before entering the annular gap 130).

Furthermore, a transition opening 116 may be formed or cut into the housing 110 of the instant heating unit 100, which transition opening 116 is used to allow heated rinsing water to leave the annular gap 130, but not yet flow out of the instant heating unit 100 via the water outlet 114. As shown in fig. 2B, the transition opening 116 is disposed at one side, e.g., an upper side, of the housing 110. Thus, the heated flushing water leaves the annular gap 130 laterally via the laterally arranged transition openings 116.

In order to further homogenize the temperature inside the rinsing water at various points before the heated rinsing water leaves the instant heating unit 100 via the water outlet 114, a mixing section 140 may be provided in the housing 110 of the instant heating unit 100, which mixing section 140 communicates at one end with the transition opening 116 and at the other end with the water outlet 114, so that the rinsing water leaves the annular gap 130 via the transition opening 116 in a lateral direction into the mixing section 140 and then to said water outlet 114.

To this end, in the embodiment shown in fig. 2B, the flow path of the flushing water from the water inlet 112 to the water outlet 114 is: enters the housing 110 via the water inlet 112, flows through the inner cavity 122 of the heating device 120, turns into the annular gap 130, flows into the mixing section 140 via the transition opening 116, and finally leaves the housing 110 from the water outlet 114 to the subsequent, e.g. rinsing, device.

As best shown in fig. 4B, the mixing section 140 of the present invention may be provided with a first turbulence mechanism 142 to increase the turbulence inside the wash water, thereby making the water temperature more uniform. As shown in fig. 4B, in a preferred embodiment, the first spoiler mechanism 142 is provided as a baffle 142a that can define a tortuous path 144 for the flow of flushing water within the mixing section 140. In other words, heated flush water entering the mixing section 140 does not flow directly into the water outlet 114, but rather flows along a tortuous path 144 within the mixing section 140 before flowing to the water outlet 114. In order to form such a meandering path 144, at least one, preferably several baffles are arranged within the water mixing section 140. Of course, these baffles 142a are only used to block the flow of flush water from directly flowing to the outlet 114, but do not completely block the flow of flush water.

For example, the baffle 142a may extend from a certain location of the inner wall of the mixing section 140 towards the centre of the mixing section 140, even to an area close to other locations in the inner wall. Preferably, the baffle 142a is a curved baffle to facilitate further turbulence or turbulence of the flush water. As shown in fig. 4B, in a preferred embodiment, the mixing section 140 is provided with a plurality of opposing curved baffles 142a that form a tortuous flow path from the transition opening 116 to the water outlet 114.

It will be appreciated that the more tortuous and longer flow path 144, the more thorough mixing of the heated flush water there will be. It should also be noted, however, that a longer flow path is not preferred, since a longer residence time of the heated rinsing water in the mixing region leads to a drop in the water temperature, which is undesirable. The first spoiler 142 according to the present invention may further comprise any other type of deflecting element, such as a flexible or elastic deflecting bar or strip, etc.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, the instant heating unit 100 may further include a second turbulence mechanism 150, and the second turbulence mechanism 150 is used to generate a vortex or a turbulent flow, thereby enhancing the water temperature uniformity of the washing water. When the second spoiler mechanism 150 is attached to the end of the housing 110 of the instant heating unit 100, the instant heating unit 100 may be referred to as an enhanced instant heating unit 100. Preferably, the second flow perturbation mechanism 150 is arranged at or near the end of the housing 110 of the thermal unit 100 remote from the water inlet 112. As shown in fig. 5A, the second flow disturbing mechanism 150 is arranged at an end of the outer shell 110 opposite to the water inlet 112.

Preferably, as shown in fig. 5B, the second flow perturbation mechanism 150 may comprise a blade 152, and the washing water leaving the inner cavity 122 of the heating device 120 may first impact on the blade 152 and then flow towards the annular gap 130. By this flushing, the flushing water is deflected in its direction and at the same time a mixing vortex is generated, whereby the uniformity of heating of the flushing water with vortex when it flows through the annular gap 130 can be considerably improved.

Further, the second flow perturbation mechanism 150 may include a central axis 154, and the central axis 154 may or may not coincide with a longitudinal centerline of the housing 110 or the heating device 120. The plurality of blades 152 of the second spoiler mechanism 150 are advantageously secured to the central shaft 154 so as to be distributed about the central shaft 154. Preferably, the vanes 152 are themselves curved, for example, but not limited to, being curved in the same direction. It is further preferred that the blades 152 be helical blades so that the washing water generates a helical flow after passing through the second flow disturbing mechanism 150. Furthermore, the blades 152 of the second flow perturbation mechanism 150 of the present invention may be stationary, but may also be designed to move, e.g. rotate, with the water flow.

Further, the central shaft 154 may be fixed to the housing of the second spoiler 150 so as not to be rotatable. In other embodiments, however, the central shaft may also rotate to rotate the blades 152. The rotational driving of the central shaft can be driven by the driving mechanism of the second spoiler 150, but can also be a passive rotation due to the flushing water hitting the blades 152.

In addition to the first and second flow perturbation mechanisms 142 and 150, the instant heating unit 100 may further include other flow perturbation mechanisms for assisting in generating vortex flow to enhance heating uniformity. For example, the other flow disturbing mechanism may be a high-frequency vibrating element that generates a wave using vibration.

The instant heating unit 100 according to the present invention generally includes a controller 170, and the controller 170 is mainly used to control the heating power of washing water, etc. The controller 170 typically includes control circuitry that is typically hot and requires specialized cooling components.

In the present invention, it is advantageous to use the washing water as a medium for cooling the control circuit. This is because although the washing water is heated by the heating means in the instant heating unit 100, it is heated only to a sensible comfort temperature of twenty several degrees celsius, which is still in the temperature range of the cooling water compared to a temperature of more than 60 degrees celsius of the control circuit.

For this, it is preferable that a water-cooled heat conductive plate 160, a heat conductive block, or other similar elements are attached to the outer case 110 of the instant heating unit 100, as schematically shown in fig. 2B. The water-cooling heat-conducting plate 160 can be in contact with a control circuit, and meanwhile, the low-temperature flushing water is also in direct contact with the water-cooling heat-conducting plate 160, so that the heat of the control circuit can be dissipated through the water-cooling heat-conducting plate 160, and the purpose of controlling the temperature within a reasonable range is achieved. Preferably, the water-cooled heat conductive plate 160 may be installed at an end of the outer case 110 of the heat unit 100 opposite to the water inlet 112. As clearly shown in fig. 1, the water-cooled heat conducting plate 160 may have an L-shape to increase a surface area in contact with washing water and improve heat dissipation efficiency. The present invention contemplates other shapes or configurations of the water-cooled heat transfer plate 160.

As can be seen from fig. 1, when the water-cooled heat conductive plate 160 is attached to the outer case 110 of the instant heat unit 100, the instant heat unit 100 is not provided with the aforementioned second flow disturbing mechanism 150. It is also contemplated that both devices may be provided with the thermal unit 100, such as the water-cooled heat-conducting plate 160 extending only in the longitudinal direction, with the second flow perturbation mechanism 150 still being provided at one longitudinal end.

Furthermore, to improve the safety of the instant thermal unit 100 of the present invention, the instant thermal unit 100 may also advantageously include a temperature safety device. The temperature safety device may include at least one independent temperature sensor 180. The temperature safety device can shut off the entry of the washing water into the instant heating unit 100 when the temperature sensor 180 detects that the washing water exceeds a predetermined temperature. Advantageously, power, such as a water inlet valve, may be cut off directly in the circuit, thereby shutting off the water supply (i.e., the flush water no longer enters the instant heating unit). Since the circuit does not need to pass through an MCU (such as a heating power controller), the normal operation of the circuit is not influenced even if software has problems.

Advantageously, the separate temperature sensor 180 is arranged in the vicinity of the water outlet 114 of the housing 110, for example at the mixing section 140 (i.e. in the upper region of the housing 110 shown in fig. 6).

The independent temperature sensor 180 means a temperature sensor other than the water inlet sensor 182 and the water outlet sensor 184 which are generally provided in the thermal unit 100, and more importantly, the independent temperature sensor 180 is controlled independently of the aforementioned controller 170 (the controller 170 is mainly used to control the heating power). This independence ensures that the temperature sensor 180 still provides an alarm to notify the system or user that the water temperature is at an inappropriately high location when the thyristor circuitry of the controller 170 is broken down by a large current causing the heating device 120 to operate indefinitely. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the separate temperature sensor 180 from sensing a high water temperature and cutting off the washing water supplied to the user when the controller 170 itself malfunctions, thereby preventing safety accidents such as scalding from occurring.

Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described in the various figures with reference to embodiments of a toilet bowl including an instant heating unit, it should be understood that embodiments within the scope of the present invention may be applied to other devices having similar heating structures and/or heating functions, in particular plumbing fixture devices, other than an instant heating unit in a toilet bowl.

The foregoing description has set forth numerous features and advantages, including various alternative embodiments, as well as details of the structure and function of the devices and methods. The intent herein is to be exemplary and not exhaustive or limiting.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made, especially in matters of structure, materials, elements, components, shape, size and arrangement of parts including combinations of these aspects within the principles described herein, as indicated by the broad, general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. To the extent that such various modifications do not depart from the spirit and scope of the appended claims, they are intended to be included therein as well.

Claims (16)

1. An instant heating unit (100) for heating flushing water of a toilet bowl, the instant heating unit (100) comprising:

a housing (110) having a water inlet (112) and a water outlet (114), wherein rinsing water to be heated flows into the housing (110) through the water inlet (112) and flows out of the housing (110) through the water outlet (114);

characterized in that the instant heating unit (100) further comprises:

a heating device (120) configured in a hollow tubular shape, which is arranged inside the housing (110), and which extends in a longitudinal direction of the housing (110);

wherein an annular gap (130) is formed between an outer surface of the heating device (120) and an inner surface of the housing (110), the washing water flowing from the water inlet (112) into the interior of the heating device (120), from the interior of the heating device to the annular gap (130), and out of the water outlet (114) via the annular gap (130).

2. The instant heating unit (100) according to claim 1, wherein said heating means defines an interior chamber (122) and a longitudinal centerline (124) therein, said flush water flowing into said interior chamber.

3. The instant heating unit (100) according to claim 2, wherein the heating device is arranged centrally within the housing (110) such that the gap width of the annular gap (130) is circumferentially evenly distributed in each cross section along the longitudinal centerline.

4. The instant heating unit (100) according to claim 1, characterised in that the annular gap (130) comprises a narrowing section (132) whose gap width in the longitudinal direction of the housing is designed to narrow in the direction of the water inlet (112).

5. The instant heating unit (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that the gap width of the narrowing section is designed to be continuously and uniformly reduced in the longitudinal direction in the direction towards the water inlet (112).

6. The instant heating unit (100) according to claim 4, wherein the size of the annular gap (130) ranges from 2 to 5 mm, so that the rinsing water flowing through the narrowing section towards the water outlet (114) generates a vortex.

7. The instant heating unit (100) according to any of the claims 1-6, wherein the heating means are arranged such that the flow direction of the flushing water inside it is opposite to the flow direction inside the annular gap (130).

8. The instant heating unit (100) according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the housing (110) further comprises a transition opening (116) and a mixing section (140), wherein the flushing water leaves the annular gap (130) laterally via the transition opening (116) into the mixing section (140), and wherein the mixing section (140) opens directly into the water outlet (114).

9. The instant heating unit (100) according to claim 8, wherein a first flow perturbation means (142) is provided within the mixing section (140), the first flow perturbation means (142) comprising a baffle (142a) able to define a tortuous path (144) within the mixing section (140) for the flow of rinsing water.

10. The instant heat unit (100) according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the instant heat unit (100) further comprises a second flow perturbation mechanism (150), the second flow perturbation mechanism (150) comprising a blade (152), the flushing water leaving the interior of the heating device impinging on the blade (152) and flowing towards the annular gap (130).

11. The instant heat unit (100) according to claim 10, wherein the second flow perturbation mechanism (150) is arranged at or near an end of the housing (110) of the instant heat unit (100) distal to the water inlet (112).

12. The instant heating unit (100) according to claim 10, wherein the blades (152) of the second flow perturbation mechanism (150) can be rotated.

13. The instant heat unit (100) according to any of claims 1-6 wherein a water-cooled thermally conductive plate (160) contactable with the flush water inside the housing (110) is attached to the instant heat unit (100), the water-cooled thermally conductive plate (160) being used to dissipate heat from the control circuitry.

14. The instant heating unit (100) according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the instant heating unit (100) comprises a separate temperature safety device comprising a temperature sensor (180) capable of cutting off the flushing water from entering the instant heating unit (100) when the temperature sensor (180) detects that the flushing water exceeds a predetermined temperature.

15. A toilet bowl, characterized in that the toilet bowl comprises:

the instant heating unit (100) of any of claims 1-14;

an inlet pipe connected to the inlet port (112) of the instant heating unit (100) to flow wash water into the instant heating unit (100);

a flushing device to which the water outlet (114) of the instant heating unit (100) is connected so that the heated flushing water can be flushed.

16. The toilet bowl according to claim 15, characterized in that the toilet bowl further comprises an inlet sensor (182) and an outlet sensor (184) to monitor the water temperature of the flush water, and the toilet bowl further comprises a controller (170), wherein the inlet sensor and the outlet sensor send the monitored water temperature information to the controller (170), thereby controlling the heating power of the heating means.

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