阅读说明：本技术 阀组件及恒温阀和热水器 (Valve module, thermostatic valve and water heater ) 是由 卢淑霞 于 2020-06-01 设计创作，主要内容包括：本申请实施例提供一种阀组件及恒温阀和热水器,其中,阀组件包括同轴设置的阀芯和阀套,阀套内限定有阀芯腔,阀套的周壁设有与阀芯腔连通的冷水进孔和热水进孔,阀芯具有调节部,调节部被构造为中空结构以在其内部限定出预混合腔,调节部设有与预混合腔连通的调节孔和预混合水出孔,调节部可转动地设于阀芯腔内,以使调节孔与冷水进孔和热水进孔中的至少一个连通。根据本申请实施例的阀组件具有结构简单、调节方便等优点,并且阀芯与阀套之间的配合度较高,具有较广的使用范围。(The embodiment of the application provides a valve module, a thermostatic valve and a water heater, wherein, the valve module includes a valve core and a valve sleeve which are coaxially arranged, a valve core cavity is limited in the valve sleeve, a cold water inlet hole and a hot water inlet hole which are communicated with the valve core cavity are arranged on the peripheral wall of the valve sleeve, the valve core is provided with an adjusting part, the adjusting part is constructed into a hollow structure so as to limit a premixing cavity in the valve core, the adjusting part is provided with an adjusting hole and a premixing water outlet hole which are communicated with the premixing cavity, and the adjusting part is rotatably arranged in the valve core cavity so as to enable the adjusting hole to be communicated with at least one of the cold water inlet hole and the hot water inlet hole. The valve component has the advantages of simple structure, convenience in adjustment and the like, and the valve core and the valve sleeve are high in matching degree and wide in application range.)

1. A valve assembly comprising a valve cartridge and a valve housing coaxially disposed, the valve housing defining a cartridge chamber therein, a peripheral wall of the valve housing being provided with a cold water inlet hole and a hot water inlet hole communicating with the cartridge chamber, the valve cartridge having an adjustment portion configured as a hollow structure to define a pre-mixing chamber therein, the adjustment portion being provided with an adjustment hole and a pre-mixing water outlet hole communicating with the pre-mixing chamber, the adjustment portion being rotatably provided in the cartridge chamber to communicate the adjustment hole with at least one of the cold water inlet hole and the hot water inlet hole.

2. The valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the regulating portion is configured in a cylindrical shape, the regulating hole is provided in a peripheral wall of the regulating portion, and the premix water outlet hole is provided at an end portion of the regulating portion in an axial direction.

3. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the cold water inlet hole and the hot water inlet hole are opened in directions perpendicular to each other.

4. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer peripheral wall of the adjustment portion is provided with a sealing groove, and a sealing member is provided in the sealing groove to seal a gap between the outer peripheral wall of the adjustment portion and the inner peripheral wall of the spool chamber.

5. A thermostatic valve, comprising:

the valve assembly of any of claims 1-4;

the valve assembly comprises a shell, wherein a mounting cavity is limited in the shell and used for accommodating a valve sleeve of the valve assembly, the mounting cavity is provided with a cold water inlet, a hot water inlet and a premixed water outlet, the cold water inlet and the cold water inlet are arranged just opposite to each other, the hot water inlet and the hot water inlet are arranged just opposite to each other, and the premixed water outlet are arranged just opposite to each other.

6. The thermostatic valve according to claim 5, wherein the end of the valve housing is provided with a positioning boss, and the mounting cavity is provided with a positioning groove, the positioning boss fitting into the positioning groove.

7. The thermostat valve as claimed in claim 6, wherein the positioning boss is provided with a stopper protrusion, and an inner wall of the positioning groove is provided with a stopper groove, the stopper protrusion fitting into the stopper groove.

8. The thermostat valve of claim 5, wherein the housing is provided with a hot water input port communicating with the hot water inlet through a hot water input flow passage, a cold water input port communicating with the cold water inlet through a cold water input flow passage, and a mixed water output port communicating with the premixed water outlet through a mixed water output flow passage.

9. The thermostat valve as claimed in claim 8, wherein a water blocking member is provided in the hot water input flow passage, the water blocking member is configured as a hollow structure to define a water passing cavity, a lower end of the water passing cavity is opened to form a water outlet end, the water outlet end is communicated with the hot water inlet, a lower edge of a peripheral wall of the water blocking member is provided with a water blocking protruding ring, the water blocking protruding ring abuts against an inner wall of the hot water input flow passage to define a retention cavity between the peripheral wall of the water blocking member and the inner wall of the hot water input flow passage, wherein a water passing hole is provided on the peripheral wall of the water blocking member to communicate the retention cavity with the water passing cavity, and the water passing hole is provided away from the hot water inlet hole in an axial direction of the hot water input flow passage.

10. The thermostat valve of claim 8, wherein a central axis of the mixed water output flow passage is parallel to a central axis of the installation cavity and is staggered in an up-down direction, and the pre-mixed water outlet communicates the installation cavity and the mixed water output flow passage in the up-down direction.

11. The thermostat valve as claimed in claim 10, wherein the inner wall of the mixed water output flow channel is provided with a turbulence protrusion extending in an axial direction of the mixed water output flow channel, and the turbulence protrusions are spaced in a circumferential direction of the mixed water output flow channel.

12. The thermostat valve of claim 8, wherein the cold water input port has an opening direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the cold water input flow passage, and the cold water input port has the same opening direction as the mixed water output port.

13. The thermostat valve of claim 8, further comprising:

the cold water output part, the cold water output part is equipped with the cold water delivery outlet, the axial both ends of cold water input runner have first output and second output respectively, first output with the cold water import intercommunication of installation cavity, the second output with the cold water output part is connected to through cold water output runner with the cold water delivery outlet intercommunication, wherein, the cold water delivery outlet with the opening direction of hot water input port is the same.

14. The thermostat valve of claim 5, further comprising a drive portion, the drive portion comprising:

the output end of the motor is in transmission connection with the valve core;

the motor is arranged on the support, and the support is connected to the shell through a fastener.

15. The thermostat valve of claim 14, further comprising:

and the control device is electrically connected with the motor and is used for controlling the rotation direction and the rotation angle of the motor.

16. The thermostat valve of claim 15, further comprising a flow sensor electrically connected to the control device for detecting a flow rate of the cold water entering the cold water inlet, a first temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the cold water entering the cold water inlet, and a second temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the mixed water exiting the premixed water outlet.

17. A water heater characterized in that it comprises a thermostatic valve according to any one of claims 5-16.

Technical Field

The application relates to the technical field of water heaters, in particular to a valve component, a thermostatic valve and a water heater.

Background

The electronic thermostatic valve in the market at present has various design schemes, and the regulating proportion of cold water and hot water is automatically regulated by adopting a motor and a regulating valve core. The ceramic chip adjusting valve core is provided in the related art, the opening degree of cold and hot water of the ceramic chip valve core is adjusted by adjusting the steering angle, but the structure is complex, the requirement on the matching of the valve core is high, and when the water quality is poor, the phenomena of blockage or cold and hot water mixing are easy to occur, so that the adjusting precision is not high.

Disclosure of Invention

Embodiments of the present application provide a valve assembly, a thermostatic valve and a water heater to solve or alleviate one or more technical problems in the prior art.

In a first aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a valve assembly including a valve core and a valve sleeve coaxially disposed, a valve core chamber defined in the valve sleeve, a peripheral wall of the valve sleeve being provided with a cold water inlet hole and a hot water inlet hole communicated with the valve core chamber, the valve core having an adjustment portion, the adjustment portion being configured as a hollow structure to define a premixing chamber therein, the adjustment portion being provided with an adjustment hole communicated with the premixing chamber and a premixing water outlet hole, the adjustment portion being rotatably disposed in the valve core chamber to communicate the adjustment hole with at least one of the cold water inlet hole and the hot water inlet hole.

In one embodiment, the adjusting portion is configured in a cylindrical shape, the adjusting hole is provided in a peripheral wall of the adjusting portion, and the premix water outlet hole is provided at an end portion of the adjusting portion in an axial direction.

In one embodiment, the opening directions of the cold water inlet hole and the hot water inlet hole are perpendicular to each other.

In one embodiment, a sealing groove is formed in the outer peripheral wall of the regulating portion, and a sealing member is arranged in the sealing groove to seal a gap between the outer peripheral wall of the regulating portion and the inner peripheral wall of the valve core cavity.

In a second aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a thermostatic valve, including:

a valve assembly according to the above embodiment of the present application;

the valve assembly comprises a shell, wherein a mounting cavity is limited in the shell and is used for accommodating a valve sleeve of the valve assembly, the mounting cavity is provided with a cold water inlet, a hot water inlet and a premixed water outlet, the cold water inlet and the cold water inlet are arranged in a right-to-right mode, the hot water inlet and the hot water inlet are arranged in a right-to-right mode, and the premixed water outlet are arranged in a right-to-right mode.

In one embodiment, the end of the valve housing is provided with a positioning boss, the mounting cavity is provided with a positioning groove, and the positioning boss is fitted in the positioning groove.

In one embodiment, the positioning boss is provided with a limiting protrusion, the inner wall of the positioning groove is provided with a limiting groove, and the limiting protrusion is matched in the limiting groove.

In one embodiment, the housing is provided with a hot water input port in communication with the hot water inlet through a hot water input flow passage, a cold water input port in communication with the cold water inlet through a cold water input flow passage, and a mixed water output port in communication with the premixed water outlet through a mixed water output flow passage.

In an embodiment, a water blocking piece is arranged in the hot water input flow channel, the water blocking piece is constructed to be a hollow structure so as to limit a water passing cavity, the lower end of the water passing cavity is opened to form a water outlet end, the water outlet end is communicated with the hot water inlet, a water blocking convex ring is arranged on the lower edge of the peripheral wall of the water blocking piece and is abutted to the inner wall of the hot water input flow channel, a detention cavity is limited between the peripheral wall of the water blocking piece and the inner wall of the hot water input flow channel, a water passing hole is formed in the peripheral wall of the water blocking piece so as to communicate the detention cavity with the water passing cavity, and the water passing hole is arranged in the axial direction of the hot water input flow channel and is far away from the hot water inlet hole.

In one embodiment, the central axis of the mixed water output flow passage is parallel to the central axis of the installation cavity and is staggered in the vertical direction, and the premixed water outlet is communicated with the installation cavity and the mixed water output flow passage in the vertical direction.

In one embodiment, the inner wall of the mixed water output channel is provided with turbulence protrusions extending in the axial direction of the mixed water output channel, and the plurality of turbulence protrusions are spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the mixed water output channel.

In one embodiment, the cold water inlet port has an opening direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the cold water inlet flow passage, and the cold water inlet port and the mixed water outlet port have the same opening direction.

In one embodiment, the thermostatic valve further comprises:

the cold water output part is provided with a cold water output port, the two axial ends of the cold water input runner are respectively provided with a first output end and a second output end, the first output end is communicated with the cold water inlet of the installation cavity, the second output end is connected with the cold water output part and is communicated with the cold water output port through the cold water output runner, and the opening directions of the cold water output port and the hot water input port are the same.

In one embodiment, the thermostatic valve further comprises a drive portion comprising:

the output end of the motor is in transmission connection with the valve core;

the support, the motor is installed in the support, and the support passes through the fastener and connects in the casing.

In one embodiment, the thermostatic valve further comprises:

and the control device is electrically connected with the motor and is used for controlling the rotating direction and the rotating angle of the motor.

In one embodiment, the thermostatic valve further comprises a flow sensor electrically connected to the control device for detecting a flow rate of the cold water entering the cold water inlet, a first temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the cold water entering the cold water inlet, and a second temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the mixed water exiting the premix water outlet.

In a third aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a water heater including a thermostat valve according to the above-described embodiments of the present application.

The valve module of this application embodiment has advantages such as simple structure, regulation convenience through adopting above-mentioned technical scheme, and the cooperation degree between case and the valve barrel is higher, and the temperature is adjusted accurately.

The foregoing summary is provided for the purpose of description only and is not intended to be limiting in any way. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features of the present application will be readily apparent by reference to the drawings and following detailed description.

Drawings

In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to the same or similar parts or elements throughout the several views unless otherwise specified. The figures are not necessarily to scale. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only some embodiments in accordance with the disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope.

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic structural view of a valve assembly according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 2 shows an exploded schematic view of a thermostatic valve according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 3 shows a schematic structural view of a thermostatic valve according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a thermostatic valve according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 5 shows a partial structural section of a thermostatic valve according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a thermostatic valve according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7 shows a partial structural section of a thermostatic valve according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 8 shows a partial structural section of a thermostatic valve according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 9 shows a partial structural section of a thermostatic valve according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 10 shows a partial structural section of a thermostatic valve according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 11 shows a schematic structural diagram of a water heater according to an embodiment of the present application.

Description of reference numerals:

a water heater 1;

a thermostatic valve 100;

a valve assembly 10; a valve core 11; an adjustment portion 11 a; a premixing chamber 111; an adjustment aperture 112; a mixed water outlet 113; a seal groove 114; a valve housing 12; a spool chamber 121; a cold water inlet 122; a hot water inlet 123; a positioning boss 124; a stopper protrusion 125; a seal 13;

a housing 20; a mounting cavity 20 a; a cold water inlet 201; a hot water inlet 202; a pre-mix water outlet 203; a positioning groove 204; a limit groove 205; a hot water inlet 21; a hot water input flow passage 211; a cold water input port 22; a cold water input channel 221; a mixed water outlet 23; a mixed water output flow channel 231; the spoiler protrusion 231 a;

a water-retaining member 30; a water passing cavity 31; a retention chamber 32; water passing holes 33;

a cold water output 40; a cold water outlet 41; a cold water output flow passage 42;

a hot water input joint 51; a positioning plug 511; a nut 512; a cold water input connection 52; a mixed water output joint 53; a cold water output connection 54;

a drive section 60; a motor 61; a bracket 62;

a flow sensor 71; a first temperature sensor 72; a second temperature sensor 73;

a body 200.

Detailed Description

In the following, only certain exemplary embodiments are briefly described. As those skilled in the art will recognize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present application. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

A valve assembly 10 and a thermostat valve 100 having the valve assembly 10 according to an embodiment of the present application are described below with reference to fig. 1 to 10. The thermostat valve 100 according to the embodiment of the present application may be used in a gas water heater 1, an electric water heater 1, and other water heating devices.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, a valve assembly 10 according to an embodiment of the present application includes a valve core 11 and a valve housing 12.

Specifically, the spool 11 and the sleeve 12 are coaxially disposed. A spool chamber 121 is defined in the valve housing 12, and the peripheral wall of the valve housing 12 is provided with a cold water inlet hole 122 and a hot water inlet hole 123 communicating with the spool chamber 121. The valve spool 11 has an adjustment portion 11a, the adjustment portion 11a is configured as a hollow structure to define a premix chamber 111 inside thereof, and the adjustment portion 11a is provided with an adjustment hole 112 and a premix water outlet hole 113 communicating with the premix chamber 111. The adjusting portion 11a is rotatably disposed in the valve core chamber 121, so that the adjusting hole 112 communicates with at least one of the cold water inlet hole 122 and the hot water inlet hole 123. It is understood that the adjusting hole 112 is in communication with the cold water inlet hole 122 and/or the hot water inlet hole 123, meaning that the adjusting hole 112 has an overlapping area with the cold water inlet hole 122 and/or the hot water inlet hole 123, such that the cold water and/or the hot water enters the premixing chamber 111 through the overlapping area.

In one example, the valve housing 12 is configured as a hollow structure to define the spool chamber 121, and both ends of the valve housing 12 in the axial direction are provided in an open manner, and the cold water inlet hole 122 and the hot water inlet hole 123 are arranged on the peripheral wall of the valve housing 12 at a spacing in the circumferential direction of the valve housing 12. The cold water entering the cold water inlet 122 may be tap water or other normal temperature water, and the hot water entering the hot water inlet 123 may be high temperature water heated by the heating device of the water heater 1.

The adjustment portion 11a is inserted into the valve core chamber 121 and is rotatable around a central axis of the adjustment portion 11a, the adjustment opening is provided on a peripheral wall of the adjustment opening and has a certain opening angle in a circumferential direction of the adjustment portion 11a, and an end portion of the adjustment portion 11a in an axial direction is open to form the premixed water outlet hole 113. The premix water outlet 113 is disposed through an axially open end of the valve sleeve 12, so that water in the premix chamber 111 can flow out through the premix water outlet 113.

It can be understood that, during the rotation of the valve core 11, the adjusting hole 112 can communicate with the cold water inlet hole 122 and be isolated from the hot water inlet hole 123, at this time, the cold water can enter the premixing cavity 111 through the overlapping area of the adjusting hole 112 and the cold water inlet hole 122, and then flow out through the premixing water outlet 203, the hot water cannot enter the premixing cavity 111, that is, the water output by the valve assembly 10 is cold water; or, the adjusting hole 112 may be communicated with the hot water inlet hole 123 and isolated from the cold water inlet hole 122, at this time, the hot water may enter the premixing chamber 111 through the overlapping area of the adjusting hole 112 and the hot water inlet hole 123, and then flow out through the premixed water outlet 203, the cold water cannot enter the premixing chamber 111, that is, the water output by the valve assembly 10 is hot water; or, the adjusting hole 112 may be communicated with both the hot water inlet hole 123 and the cold water inlet hole 122, at this time, the hot water may enter the premixing chamber 111 through an overlapping area of the adjusting hole 112 and the hot water inlet hole 123, and the cold water may enter the premixing chamber 111 through an overlapping area of the adjusting hole 112 and the cold water inlet hole 122, the hot water and the cold water are mixed in the premixing chamber 111 to form mixed water at a certain temperature, and then the mixed water flows out through the premixing water outlet 203, that is, the water output by the valve assembly 10 is warm water.

Preferably, the cold water inlet hole 122 and the hot water inlet hole 123 may be configured in a regular shape. For example, the cold water inlet 122 and the hot water inlet 123 may be formed in a triangular shape as shown in fig. 1, or in other regular shapes such as a circular shape. Therefore, the communication area between the adjusting hole 112 and the cold water inlet hole 122 or the hot water inlet hole 123 can be accurately adjusted by controlling the axial rotation angle of the adjusting part 11a, so that the mixing ratio of the cold water and the hot water entering the premixing cavity 111 can be accurately controlled, and the accurate adjustment of the constant temperature water can be realized.

In one example, the opening angle of the adjustment hole 112 in the circumferential direction of the adjustment portion 11a is 180 degrees. The opening angle of the adjustment hole 112 in the circumferential direction of the adjustment portion 11a may be understood as a central angle of an arc formed by a projection of the adjustment hole 112 on a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the adjustment portion 11 a.

It should be noted that, in the example of the present application, the valve body 11 may be rotated to an angle at which the regulation hole 112 is not communicated with both the cold water inlet hole 122 and the hot water inlet hole 123, that is, a portion of the outer peripheral wall of the regulation portion 11a other than the regulation hole 112 simultaneously closes the cold water inlet hole 122 and the hot water inlet hole 123, that is, the cross-sectional area of the overlapped area of the regulation hole 112 with the cold water inlet hole 122 and the hot water inlet hole 123 is zero. At this time, neither the cold water nor the hot water can enter the premix chamber 111 through the adjustment hole 112, and thus the flow rate of the water flowing out through the premix water outlet hole 113 is zero, thereby achieving the closing function of the valve assembly 10.

Preferably, the adjustment portion 11a is configured to be cylindrical, i.e., the outer circumferential wall of the adjustment portion 11a is configured to be cylindrical. Accordingly, the inner peripheral wall of the spool chamber 121 of the valve housing 12 is configured into a cylindrical shape that fits the outer peripheral wall of the adjustment portion 11a, so that the outer peripheral wall of the adjustment portion 11a is disposed in abutment with the inner peripheral wall of the valve housing 12. Thus, a good sealing property between the outer circumferential wall of the adjusting part 11a and the inner circumferential wall of the valve housing 12 can be ensured, so that hot water can enter the premixing chamber 111 only through the overlapping area of the hot water inlet hole 123 and the adjusting hole 112, and cold water can enter the premixing chamber 111 only through the overlapping area of the cold water inlet hole 122 and the adjusting hole 112, thereby preventing hot water or cold water from streaming through a gap between the outer circumferential wall of the adjusting part 11a and the inner circumferential wall of the valve housing 12, and accurately controlling the ratio of the cold water and the hot water entering the premixing chamber 111. In addition, the matching degree of the valve core 11 and the valve sleeve 12 is ensured, and the structure of the valve core 11 and the valve sleeve 12 is simpler, so that the processing difficulty of the valve core 11 and the valve sleeve 12 is reduced.

The valve assembly in the related art controls the mixing ratio of cold water and hot water by adjusting the stroke of the valve core, specifically, the valve core adjusts the size of an opening of a cold water port or a hot water port by adjusting the number of thread turns of the valve core, and the valve core shaft of the valve core is long, the stroke is large, and the problem of large axial offset exists, so that the adjustment precision is not high. According to the valve assembly 10 of the embodiment of the present application, by providing the hot water inlet hole 123 and the cold water inlet hole 122 on the valve sleeve 12 and providing the premixing chamber 111 and the adjusting hole 112 and the premixing water outlet hole 113 communicating with the premixing chamber 111 on the valve core 11, the communication area of the adjusting hole 112 and the hot water inlet hole 123 and the cold water inlet hole 122 can be adjusted by controlling the angle of the valve core 11 rotating in the circumferential direction relative to the valve sleeve 12, so as to adjust the ratio of the cold water and the hot water entering the premixing chamber 111 to output constant temperature water at a certain temperature. Therefore, the valve assembly 10 of the embodiment of the application can accurately adjust the mixing ratio of cold water and hot water by controlling the rotation angle of the valve core 11, and the valve core 11 and the valve sleeve 12 do not have axial relative movement, so that the technical problem that the adjustment accuracy of the valve assembly in the related art is not high due to large axial offset of the valve core is solved.

Moreover, compared with the adjusting valve core with the ceramic chip in the related art, the adjusting valve core adjusts the mixing ratio of cold water and hot water by controlling the steering angle of the ceramic chip, but the structure of the ceramic chip is complex, the matching degree requirement of the adjusting valve core on the ceramic chip is high, and the adjusting precision is low. The valve element 11 of the valve assembly 10 according to the embodiment of the present application only needs to define the premixing chamber 111 inside the adjusting portion 11a, and the adjusting hole 112 and the premixing water outlet hole 113 which are communicated with the premixing chamber 111 are provided on the adjusting portion 11a, so that the mixing ratio of the cold water and the hot water entering the mixing chamber can be adjusted by controlling the valve element 11 to rotate in the circumferential direction thereof. Therefore, the valve element 11 of the valve assembly 10 in the embodiment of the application has a simple structure, is convenient to adjust, is beneficial to improving the matching degree between the valve element 11 and the valve sleeve 12, and solves the technical problem that the matching degree of the valve assembly in the related art is low due to the complex structure of the ceramic chip.

In addition, by providing the valve core 11 and the valve sleeve 12 which are in running fit with each other, compared with a thermostatic valve in which the valve sleeve is directly assembled on a housing in the related art, the valve assembly 10 of the embodiment of the present application can reduce the processing difficulty of the housing 20 adapted to the valve assembly 10, which is beneficial to improving the application range of the valve assembly 10.

In one embodiment, as shown in fig. 1 and 2, the cold water inlet 122 and the hot water inlet 123 are opened in directions perpendicular to each other. For example, the axial directions of the valve element 11 and the valve sleeve 12 may be arranged in the front-rear direction in the drawing, the opening direction of the cold water inlet hole 122 may be arranged in the right direction in the drawing, and the opening direction of the hot water inlet hole 123 may be arranged in the upward direction in the drawing.

It is understood that the cold water inlet hole 122 and the hot water inlet hole 123 are formed in the circumferential wall of the valve housing 12, and the opening directions of the cold water inlet hole 122 and the hot water inlet hole 123 are formed in the radial direction of the valve housing 12. Since the opening direction of the premix water outlet hole 113 of the premix chamber 111 is arranged in the axial direction of the premix chamber 111 and the valve body 11 and the valve sleeve 12 are arranged coaxially, that is, the opening direction of the premix water outlet hole 113 is arranged in the axial direction of the valve sleeve 12, the opening direction of the premix water outlet hole is perpendicular to the opening direction of the cold water inlet hole 122 and the opening direction of the premix water outlet hole 113 is also perpendicular to the opening direction of the hot water inlet hole 123. Thus, by providing the cold water inlet hole 122 perpendicular to the opening direction of the hot water inlet hole 123, the opening directions of any two of the premixed water outlet hole 113, the cold water inlet hole 122, and the hot water inlet hole 123 can be made perpendicular. In this way, the flow directions of the cold water and the hot water entering the premixing chamber 111 are perpendicular to each other, so that the mixing effect of the cold water and the hot water can be improved, the three openings of the valve assembly 10 are arranged in a three-dimensional coordinate structure, and the spatial layout of the cold water input flow passage 221, the hot water input flow passage 211 and the mixed water output flow passage 231 respectively connected with the three openings of the valve assembly 10 is reasonable.

In one embodiment, as shown in fig. 2 and 4, a sealing groove 114 is provided on the outer peripheral wall of the adjuster portion 11a, and a seal 13 is provided in the sealing groove 114 to seal a gap between the outer peripheral wall of the adjuster portion 11a and the inner peripheral wall of the spool chamber 121. Wherein, the material of the sealing member 13 may be polytetrafluoroethylene.

In one example, the outer peripheral wall of the regulating portion 11a is provided with a seal groove 114 extending along the circumferential direction thereof, and the seal member 13 is configured in a ring shape and mounted in the seal groove. Further, the plurality of seal grooves 114 are provided at intervals in the axial direction of the adjustment portion 11a, and the plurality of seal members 13 are provided in one-to-one correspondence with the seal grooves 114. This improves the sealing property between the outer peripheral wall of the adjuster 11a and the inner peripheral wall of the valve sleeve 12, thereby preventing the water in the premix chamber 111 from leaking through the gap between the adjuster 11a and the valve sleeve 12.

As shown in fig. 2 to 10, a thermostat valve 100 according to an embodiment of the present application includes a valve assembly 10 and a housing 20. The thermostat valve 100 may be an electronic thermostat valve 100 that is regulated by an electronic drive (e.g., the motor 61).

Specifically, as shown in fig. 4 and 6, the housing 20 defines therein a mounting chamber 20a for mounting the valve housing 12 of the valve assembly 10, the mounting chamber 20a having a cold water inlet 201, a hot water inlet 202 and a premixed water outlet 203. The cold water inlet 201 is arranged opposite to the cold water inlet 122, the hot water inlet 202 is arranged opposite to the hot water inlet 123, and the premixed water outlet 203 is arranged opposite to the premixed water outlet 113.

In one example, the opening direction of the hot water inlet port 202 is set downward such that the hot water inlet port 202 corresponds to the position of the hot water inlet hole 123 of the valve housing 12. The opening direction of the cold water inlet 201 is set to the left so that the cold water inlet 201 corresponds to the position of the cold water inlet hole 122 of the valve housing 12. The direction of the premixed water outlet 203 is set to the right so that the premixed water outlet 203 corresponds to the position of the premixed water outlet hole 113 of the valve cartridge 11. It will be appreciated that the cold water inlet 201 is used to input cold water into the cold water inlet hole 122 of the valve housing 12, the hot water inlet 202 is used to input hot water into the hot water inlet hole 123 of the valve housing 12, and the premixed water outlet 203 is used to discharge the mixed water flowing out of the premixed water outlet 113.

In one embodiment, as shown in fig. 3, 4 and 6, the housing 20 is provided with a hot water input port 21, a cold water input port 22 and a mixed water output port 23. The hot water input port 21 communicates with the hot water inlet 202 through a hot water input flow passage 211, the cold water input port 22 communicates with the cold water inlet 201 through a cold water input flow passage 221, and the mixed water output port 23 communicates with the premixed water outlet 203 through a mixed water output flow passage 231.

In one example, the hot water input flow passage 211 is disposed in the up-down direction in the drawing, the upper end of the hot water input port 21 is a water inlet end and forms the hot water input port 21, and the lower end of the hot water input port 21 is a water outlet end and forms the hot water inlet 202 of the installation cavity 20 a. The cold water input channel 221 is arranged along the left-right direction in the figure, the water inlet end of the cold water input channel 221 forms the cold water input port 22, and the water outlet end of the cold water input channel 221 forms the cold water inlet 201 of the installation cavity 20 a. The mixed water output flow path 231 is arranged in the front-rear direction in the drawing, the front end of the mixed water output flow path 231 is a water inlet end and forms the premixed water outlet 203 of the installation cavity 20a, and the rear end of the mixed water output flow path 231 is a water outlet end and forms the mixed water output port 23.

Optionally, the hot water inlet 21 is provided with a hot water inlet fitting 51. Specifically, the hot water input connector 51 includes a positioning plug 511 and a nut 512, the positioning plug 511 is configured as a hollow structure, two axial ends of the positioning plug 511 are opened, a portion of the positioning plug 511 is inserted into the hot water input flow passage 211, and an outer circumferential wall of the positioning plug 511 is in threaded connection with an inner circumferential wall of the hot water input flow passage 211. The part of the positioning plug 511 extending out of the hot water input flow passage 211 is in clamping fit with the nut 512, and the inner peripheral wall of the nut 512 is provided with a thread structure for connecting a hot water input pipe of a water heater. Wherein, a sealing member 13 may be provided between the positioning plug 511 and the inner wall of the hot water input flow passage 211. Further, the cold water inlet 22 may be provided with a cold water inlet joint 52, the mixed water outlet 23 may be provided with a mixed water outlet joint 53, and both the cold water inlet joint 52 and the mixed water outlet joint 53 may have the same structure as the hot water inlet joint 51.

Alternatively, as shown in fig. 4, a water blocking member 40 is provided in the hot water input flow passage 211, the water blocking member 40 is configured as a hollow structure to define a water passing chamber 31, a lower end of the water passing chamber 31 is opened to form a water outlet end, and the water outlet end is communicated with the hot water inlet 202. The lower edge of the peripheral wall of the water blocking member 40 is provided with a water blocking protrusion ring which abuts against the inner wall of the hot water input flow passage 211 to define the retention chamber 32 between the peripheral wall of the water blocking member 40 and the inner wall of the hot water input flow passage 211. Wherein, the water through hole 33 is provided on the peripheral wall of the water blocking member 40 to communicate the retention chamber 32 with the water through chamber 31, and the water through hole 33 is disposed away from the hot water inlet hole 123 in the axial direction of the hot water input flow channel 211, that is, the water through hole 33 is disposed adjacent to the upper end of the water blocking member 40.

It should be noted that, after the water outlet end of the water heater 1 is shut off, hot water is retained in the hot water output pipe of the water heater 1, and when the water heater 1 is refilled, high-temperature hot water in the hot water output pipe directly enters the premixing cavity 111 through the hot water input flow passage 211, so that the water stop and temperature rise phenomena are caused. By providing the water blocking member 40 in the hot water input flow passage 211, when the water heater 1 is refilled, the hot water entering the hot water input flow passage 211 enters the retention chamber 32 first, and when the water level of the hot water in the retention chamber 32 reaches the height of the water passing hole 33, the hot water in the retention chamber 32 enters the water passing chamber 31 through the water passing hole 33 and then enters the premixing chamber 111 through the hot water inlet 202 to be mixed with the cold water. Therefore, the flow path of hot water in the hot water input flow channel 211 can be prolonged, so that the time for the hot water to enter the premixing cavity 111 is prolonged, the mixing ratio of cold water and the hot water in the premixing cavity 111 can be increased in the period of time, the temperature of the mixed water output from the premixing water outlet 113 is temporarily reduced, and the technical problem of water heater water stop temperature rise in the related art is solved.

Alternatively, as shown in fig. 4 and 5, the central axis of the mixed water output flow passage 231 is parallel to the central axis of the mounting cavity 20a and is staggered in the up-down direction, and the premixed water outlet 203 communicates the mounting cavity 20a and the mixed water output flow passage 231 in the up-down direction. It can be understood that, after the cold water and the hot water enter the premixing chamber 111 and are primarily mixed, the cold water and the hot water flow out of the premixing water outlet 113 to the mounting chamber 20a, flow along the mounting chamber 20a to the premixing water outlet 203, flow downward through the premixing water outlet 203 to the mixed water output flow channel 231, and are secondarily mixed in the mixed water output flow channel 231. Thereby, the mixing effect of the cold water and the hot water can be improved, so that the thermostatic effect of the mixed water output from the thermostatic valve 100 can be better.

Further, as shown in fig. 5, the inner wall of the mixed water output flow channel 231 is provided with a turbulence protrusion 231a, the turbulence protrusion 231a extends along the axial direction of the mixed water output flow channel 231, and the plurality of turbulence protrusions 231a are distributed at intervals in the circumferential direction of the mixed water output flow channel 231. From this, mix the water and can form the vortex when protruding 231a of a plurality of vortex in mixing water output flow channel 231 to further improve the mixed effect of cold water and hot water, further guarantee the constancy of temperature of the mixed water of thermostatic valve 100 output.

In one embodiment, as shown in fig. 2, the end of the valve housing 12 is provided with a locating boss 124, the mounting cavity 20a is provided with a locating recess 204, and the locating boss 124 fits within the locating recess 204. Specifically, the positioning boss 124 is formed by an outer peripheral wall of the valve housing 12 projecting outward, and the positioning boss 124 is located at a front end of the outer peripheral wall of the valve housing 12. The inner peripheral wall of the mounting chamber 20a is provided with a positioning groove 204 which is matched with the positioning boss 124, and the positioning boss 124 is matched in the positioning groove 204 to realize the positioning matching of the valve sleeve 12 and the mounting chamber 20a when the valve sleeve 12 is mounted on the housing 20.

Optionally, the positioning boss 124 is provided with a limiting protrusion 125, the inner wall of the positioning groove 204 is provided with a limiting groove 205, and the limiting protrusion 125 fits in the limiting groove 205. Specifically, the limiting protrusion 125 is formed by extending the rear end surface of the positioning boss 124 rearward, the limiting groove 205 is formed by recessing the inner wall of the positioning groove 204, and the limiting protrusion 125 is adapted to be clamped in the limiting groove 205 to ensure circumferential positioning between the valve sleeve 12 and the cavity of the valve sleeve 12, thereby preventing the valve sleeve 12 from rotating in the circumferential direction relative to the cavity of the valve sleeve 12.

In one embodiment, as shown in fig. 2 and 6, the thermostatic valve 100 further includes a cold water output portion 40, the cold water output portion 40 is provided with a cold water output port 41, both ends of the cold water input flow passage 221 in the axial direction have a first output port and a second output port, respectively, the first output port is communicated with the cold water inlet 201 of the installation cavity 20a, and the second output port is connected with the cold water output portion 40 and communicated with the cold water output port 41 through a cold water output flow passage 42. It will be appreciated that after cold water enters the cold water input channel 221 from the cold water input port 22, a portion of the cold water enters the cold water input port 201 through the first output port, and another portion of the cold water enters the cold water output channel 42 through the second output port and exits the cold water output port 41. The cold water outlet 41 may be provided with a cold water output connection 54, the cold water output connection 54 being connected to a cold water input pipe of the water heater 1 for delivering cold water to be heated to the water heater 1. The cold water outlet joint 54 may have the same structure as the hot water inlet joint 51.

In one embodiment, the cold water outlet 41 opens in the same direction as the hot water inlet 21. Therefore, the cold water output port 41 and the hot water input port 21 are conveniently connected with the cold water input pipe and the hot water output pipe at the bottom of the body of the water heater 1 respectively, the thermostatic valve 100 is convenient to install on the water heater 1, and the spatial arrangement is reasonable.

Further, the opening direction of the cold water input port 22 is perpendicular to the axial direction of the cold water input flow channel 221, and the opening direction of the cold water input port 22 is the same as that of the mixed water output port 23, so that the cold water input pipe and the mixed water outlet pipe are both located at the rear side of the thermostatic valve 100 and are respectively connected with the cold water input port 22 and the mixed water output port 23.

In one example, as shown in fig. 3, 4, and 6, the cold water input flow passage 221 is provided in the left-right direction in the drawing, the cold water output port 41 is provided in the same opening direction as the hot water input port 21 and both in the upward direction in the drawing, and the cold water input port 22 is provided in the same opening direction as the mixed water output port 23 and both in the rearward direction in the drawing.

In one embodiment, as shown in fig. 2-4, the thermostatic valve 100 further includes a driving part 60, and the driving part 60 includes a motor 61 and a bracket 62. Wherein, the output end of motor 61 is connected with valve core 11 in a transmission manner, motor 61 is installed on support 62, and support 62 is connected to housing 20 through a fastener.

Optionally, the thermostatic valve 100 further comprises a control device (not shown in the figures) electrically connected to the motor 61 for controlling the rotation direction and the rotation angle of the motor 61, and thus the rotation angle of the valve core 11 relative to the valve housing 12.

The relationship between the rotation angle of the spool 11 and the mixing ratio of the cold water and the hot water entering the premixing chamber 111 will be described as a specific example. The rotation range of the adjusting portion 11a relative to the valve core chamber 121 is 275 degrees.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 7, when the rotation angle of the valve core 11 is 0 degree, the adjusting hole 112 communicates with the hot water inlet hole 123, the communication area between the adjusting hole 112 and the hot water inlet hole 123 is the cross-sectional area of the hot water inlet hole 123, and the adjusting hole 112 does not communicate with the cold water inlet hole 122, at this time, the flow rate of the cold water entering the premixing chamber 111 is zero, and the flow rate of the hot water entering the premixing chamber 111 reaches the maximum. Therefore, the full-boiling hot water function of the thermostatic valve 100 can be realized, and the full-boiling hot water function is suitable for the condition that the water heater 1 needs to be emptied after being installed for the first time or the condition that the mixed water temperature needs to be guaranteed by full-boiling hot water when the hot water quantity of the water heater 1 is insufficient.

As shown in fig. 8, in the process that the valve core 11 rotates from 0 degree to 90 degrees clockwise, the position of the adjusting hole 112 rotates from the hot water inlet hole 123 to the cold water inlet hole 122, the adjusting hole 112 is communicated with both the hot water inlet hole 123 and the cold water inlet hole 122, the flow areas of the adjusting hole 112 and the hot water inlet hole 123 are gradually reduced, the flow areas of the adjusting hole 112 and the cold water inlet hole 122 are gradually increased, the mixing ratio of the hot water and the cold water entering the premixing cavity 111 is gradually reduced, and by controlling the rotation angle of the valve core 11 within the range, different mixing ratios of the cold water and the hot water can be realized, so that mixed water with a certain temperature is formed, and the function of mixing warm water of the thermostatic valve 100 is realized. When the rotation angle reaches 90 degrees, the flow area between the adjusting hole 112 and the hot water inlet hole 123 is zero, and the flow area between the adjusting hole 112 and the cold water inlet hole 122 is the largest.

As shown in fig. 9, in the process of rotating the valve element 11 clockwise from 90 degrees to 180 degrees, the position of the adjustment hole 112 corresponds to the position of the cold water inlet hole 122, and the outer surface of the adjustment portion 11a, which is not provided with the adjustment hole 112, blocks the hot water inlet hole 123, in this process, the adjustment hole 112 is only communicated with the cold water inlet hole 122, the flow area is gradually reduced to zero, and the cold water enters the premixing chamber 111 and then flows out from the premixing water outlet hole 113. The cold water output function of the thermostatic valve 100 is realized, and the cold water output function is suitable for the condition that the temperature of cold water in summer is high and high-temperature hot water does not need to be mixed.

As shown in fig. 10, in the process that the rotation angle of the valve core 11 is rotated from 180 degrees to 275 degrees, the adjusting hole 112 is not communicated with the hot water inlet hole 123 and the cold water inlet hole 122, and the portion of the adjusting portion 11a not opened with the adjusting hole 112 simultaneously blocks the cold water inlet hole 122 and the hot water inlet hole 123, and in this process, the flow rates of the cold water and the hot water entering the premixing chamber 111 are both zero, so as to realize the cold and hot water full-closing function of the thermostatic valve 100.

Preferably, the thermostat valve 100 further includes a flow sensor 71, a first temperature sensor 72, and a second temperature sensor 73 electrically connected to the control device, wherein the flow sensor 71 is used to detect a flow rate of the cold water entering the cold water inlet hole 122, the first temperature sensor 72 is used to detect a temperature of the cold water entering the cold water inlet hole 122, and the second temperature sensor 73 is used to detect a temperature of the mixed water flowing out of the premixed water outlet hole 113.

In one example, the flow sensor 71 may be provided on the cold water input channel 221 of the housing 20. For example, the flow sensor 71 may include a rotor assembly and a hall sensor, the rotor assembly is disposed in the cold water input channel 221, and the hall sensor detects a rotation speed of the rotor assembly to detect a flow rate of the cold water entering the cold water input channel 221. The first temperature sensor 72 may be provided on the cold water input flow passage 221 of the housing 20 to detect the temperature of the cold water entering the cold water input flow passage 221. The second temperature sensor 73 may be provided on the mixed water output flow channel 231 of the housing 20 to detect the temperature of the mixed water output in the mixed water output flow channel 231.

A control method of the thermostat valve 100 according to an embodiment of the present application is described below. When cold water is input from the cold water input port 22, the flow sensor sends detected flow data of the cold water to the control device, the first temperature sensor 72 sends detected temperature data of the cold water to the control device, and the control device controls the motor 61 to drive the valve core 11 to rotate to an initial angle according to the temperature of the cold water, the temperature of the hot water and the pre-adjusted temperature of mixed water so as to adjust the initial mixing ratio of the cold water and the hot water. The second temperature sensor 73 sends the output temperature data of the mixed water to the control device, and when the temperature of the mixed water deviates from the preset temperature, the control device adjusts the rotation angle of the motor 61 again (positive regulation or negative regulation) to regulate the temperature of the mixed water to the preset temperature.

As shown in fig. 11, the embodiment of the present application further provides a water heater 1. The water heater 1 includes a thermostat valve 100 according to an embodiment of the present application and a body 200. Wherein, the water heater 1 can be a gas water heater 1 or an electric water heater 1.

Other configurations of the water heater 1 of the above embodiment can be adopted by various technical solutions known to those skilled in the art now and in the future, and will not be described in detail here.

The valve component 10 of the embodiment of the application has the advantages of simple structure, convenience in adjustment and the like by adopting the technical scheme, the matching degree between the valve core 11 and the valve sleeve 12 is high, and the water temperature is adjusted accurately.

In the description of the present specification, it is to be understood that the terms "central," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," "circumferential," and the like are used in the orientations and positional relationships indicated in the drawings for convenience in describing the present application and to simplify the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the referenced devices or elements must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and are therefore not to be considered limiting of the present application.

Furthermore, the terms "first", "second" and "first" are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of the present application, "a plurality" means two or more unless specifically limited otherwise.

In this application, unless expressly stated or limited otherwise, the terms "mounted," "connected," "secured," and the like are to be construed broadly and can include, for example, fixed connections, removable connections, or integral parts; the connection can be mechanical connection, electrical connection or communication; either directly or indirectly through intervening media, either internally or in any other relationship. The specific meaning of the above terms in the present application can be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art as appropriate.

In this application, unless expressly stated or limited otherwise, the first feature "on" or "under" the second feature may comprise direct contact of the first and second features, or may comprise contact of the first and second features not directly but through another feature in between. Also, the first feature being "on," "above" and "over" the second feature includes the first feature being directly on and obliquely above the second feature, or merely indicating that the first feature is at a higher level than the second feature. A first feature being "under," "below," and "beneath" a second feature includes the first feature being directly above and obliquely above the second feature, or simply meaning that the first feature is at a lesser level than the second feature.

The above disclosure provides many different embodiments or examples for implementing different structures of the application. The components and arrangements of specific examples are described above to simplify the present disclosure. Of course, they are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present application. Moreover, the present application may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples, such repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.

The above description is only for the specific embodiments of the present application, but the scope of the present application is not limited thereto, and any person skilled in the art can easily conceive various changes or substitutions within the technical scope of the present application, and these should be covered by the scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.