Water dispenser abstract
A water dispenser includes a storage tank for receiving purified
water, and supplying the water to hot and cold water tanks disposed
beneath the storage tank. Dispensing valves are connected to the
hot and cold water tanks for dispensing water therefrom. A water
level detector is provided for maintaining a water level in the
storage tank at a predetermined first elevation. An expansion tank
has an outlet and inlet situated at a second elevation disposed
above the first elevation. The inlet of the expansion tank communicates
with the top of the hot water tank so that the presence of water
in the storage tank situated above the second elevation forces water
to flow from the hot water tank and through the expansion tank.
Also, excess water in the hot water tank caused by thermal expansion
is forced through the expansion tank.
Water dispenser claims
What is claimed is:
1. A water dispenser comprising:
a purified water storage tank;
a hot water tank disposed below the storage tank and communicating
therewith for receiving water from the storage tank and heating
that water;
a cold water tank disposed below the storage tank and communicating
therewith for receiving water from the storage tank and cooling
that received water;
a dispensing structure communicating with the hot and cold water
tanks for dispensing water therefrom;
a water level detector for maintaining a water level at a predetermined
first elevation in the storage tank; and
an expansion tank for discharging excess water, said expansion
tank having an inlet communicating with the hot water tank for receiving
excess water therefrom, and a discharge outlet communicating with
the inlet for discharging the excess water from the expansion tank,
the inlet and outlet both situated at a same second elevation disposed
above the first elevation, whereby excess water disposed in the
storage tank above the second elevation forces water to flow from
hot water tank and through the expansion tank.
2. The water dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the expansion
tank includes a vent hole arranged for venting both the expansion
tank and the hot water tank.
3. The water dispenser according to claim 2 further including a
moisture absorbing member extending across the vent hole for filtering
water vapor contained in hot water received from the hot water tank.
4. The water dispenser according to claim 2 wherein the inlet and
outlet are disposed in a bottom wall of the expansion tank.
5. The water dispenser according to claim 4 wherein the vent hole
is formed in a top wall of the expansion tank.
6. The water dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the expansion
tank is mounted on the storage tank.
7. The water dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the hot water
tank communicates with the inlet of the expansion tank by a conduit
extending from a top wall of the hot water tank.
8. A water dispenser comprising:
a purified water storage tank;
a hot water tank disposed below the storage tank and communicating
therewith for receiving water from the storage tank and heating
that water;
a cold water tank disposed below the storage tank and communicating
therewith for receiving water from the storage tank and cooling
that received water;
a dispensing structure communicating with the hot and cold water
tanks for dispensing water therefrom;
a water level detector for maintaining a water level at a predetermined
first elevation in the storage tank; and
an expansion tank for discharging excess water, said expansion
tank having an inlet communicating with the hot water tank for receiving
excess water therefrom, and a discharge outlet communicating with
the inlet for discharging the excess water from the expansion tank,
the inlet situated at a second elevation disposed above the first
elevation, whereby excess water disposed in the storage tank above
the second elevation forces water to flow from hot water tank and
through the expansion tank, wherein the expansion tank includes
a vent hole arranged for venting both the expansion tank and the
hot water tank, both the inlet and outlet disposed in a bottom wall
of the expansion tank.
9. A water dispenser comprising:
a purified water storage tank;
a hot water tank disposed below the storage tank and communicating
therewith for receiving water from the storage tank and heating
that water;
a cold water tank disposed below the storage tank and communicating
therewith for receiving water from the storage tank and cooling
that received water;
a dispensing structure communicating with the hot and cold water
tanks for dispensing water therefrom;
a water level detector for maintaining a water level at a predetermined
first elevation in the storage tank; and
an expansion tank for discharging excess water, said expansion
tank having an inlet communicating with the hot water tank for receiving
excess water therefrom, and a discharge outlet communicating with
the inlet for discharging the excess water from the expansion tank,
the inlet situated at a second elevation disposed above the first
elevation, whereby excess water disposed in the storage tank above
the second elevation forces water to flow from hot water tank and
through the expansion tank, wherein the hot water tank communicates
with the inlet of the expansion tank by a conduit extending from
a top wall of the hot water tank.
Water dispenser description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cold/hot water dispenser for
easily discharging hot water volume-expanded in a hot water tank
as well as for controlling water level of a purified water storage
tank.
2. Description of the Prior Art
According to a prior art cold/hot water dispenser, a water purifying
chamber E having a purified water storage tank 3 therein, as illustrated
in FIGS. 1 to 3 is formed in a body 1. A cold and hot water chamber
H is formed below the water purifying chamber E and has a cold water
tank 7 and a hot water tank 9 therein in which purified water from
the purified water storage tank 3 is transformed respectively to
cold water and hot water and is stored. A filtering chamber G is
formed behind the cold and hot water chamber H and has a plurality
of filtering members 12 therein for purifying tap water provided
from a water faucet (not shown). An operation chamber F is formed
below the cold and hot water chamber H and the filtering chamber
G and has a cooling system for transforming the purified water to
cool water. A control chamber I is formed below the cold and hot
water chamber H and has various electronic devices arranged therein.
In the filtering chamber G, a sterilizer 13 is installed for sterilizing
harmful bacteria contained in the filtered water passing through
the plurality of filtering members 12. And a compressor 15 is installed
below the sterilizer 13 for increasing the pressure of the filtered
water to transmit the water through the filters 12.
In the operation chamber F, there is installed at the front thereof
a compressor 50 for compressing a refrigerant of low pressure and
low temperature to that of high pressure and high temperature. A
fan 19 is located at the rear of the compressor 17 for condensing
the refrigerant and for cooling the compressor 17 at the same time.
A motor 21 rotates the fan 19. And a condenser 23 is located at
the rear of the motor 21 and is connected with the compressor 17
by a refrigerant pipe not shown for condensing high pressure and
high temperature refrigerant gas received from the compressor 17
to refrigerant liquid.
In the hot water tank 9 there is a heater 25 installed for heating
the purified water supplied by a first outlet pipe 24 from the purified
water storage tank 3. A hot water supplying pipe 29 is attached
on a lateral surface of the hot water tank 9 via a hot water supply
valve 27. A ventilating pipe 28 is installed at a side of the hot
water tank 9 for facilitating the discharge of hot water through
the hot water supply valve 27 by conducting air into the hot water
tank 9 and at the same time for conducting an outflow of hot water
when the volume thereof is expanded excessively, and an end of the
ventilating pipe 28 is connected with an upper end of the purified
water storage tank 3 so that hot water conducted through the pipe
28 can flow into the purified water storage tank 3.
Around the cool water tank 7 there is an evaporator 33 installed
for cooling the purified water supplied by a second outlet pipe
31 from the purified water storage tank 3. A cool water supplying
pipe 37 is attached on a lateral surface of the cool water tank
7 via a cool water supply valve 35. A ventilating pipe 44 is installed
at a side of the cool water tank 7 for facilitating the discharge
of cool water tank 7 by conducting air into the cool water tank
7.
A cover member 39 is screw-coupled on the purified water storage
tank 3 for enabling the inside of the tank 3 to be cleaned, and
water level detecting means 41 is installed at a lateral side of
the cover member 39 for detecting the water level in the tank 3.
Ventilating holes 3c and 39a are formed beside the water level detecting
means 41 or at a side of the cover member 39 for permitting the
purified water stored in the purified water storage tank 3 to flow
into the cool and hot water tanks 7 and 9 by admitting air into
the tank 3. That air is also able to flow into the hot water tank
9 via the ventilating pipe 28. A purified water supply pipe 43 is
installed at a lateral side of the purified water storage tank 3
for providing the purified water storage tank 3 with the filtered
water passing through the sterilizer 13.
Numerals 45 47 49 and 51 indicate partition members for enclosing
respectively the water purifying chamber E, the cool and hot water
chamber H, the filtering chamber G, the operation chamber F, and
the control chamber I, and at the same time for supporting various
elements thereon. The numeral 53 indicates an operation panel for
establishing a start and stop of the cool/hot purifier, and a temperature
of water, and the numeral 55 indicates a water retainer for preventing
water leakage out of the body 1 in case that the discharged water
overflows a cup held by a user who operates the cold and hot water
valves 35 and 27 to get water. The numeral 57 indicates a bracket
member for fixing the filter means 12 and the numeral la indicates
discharging holes where the hot air is discharged outward after
cooling the condenser 23.
In a cold/hot water purifier thus constructed, when a switch provided
at the control panel 53 is manipulated, the compressor 100 operates,
whereby fresh water is supplied from a faucet and flows successively
through the plurality of filtering members 12 to be filtered, and
the pressure of water during passage through the filtering members
12 is maintained by the compressor 15.
The filtered water passing successively through various filtering
members 15 is supplied into the purified water storage tank 3 via
the purified water supply pipe 43 after being sterilized in the
sterilizer 13 and, then, the finally purified water is stored respectively
in the cold water tank 7 and the hot water tank 9. At this time,
air is provided through the ventilating holes 3c formed on the purified
water storage tank 3 to facilitate the outflow of the purified water.
At the same time, the compressor 17 and the motor 21 are operated
and the gaseous refrigerant passing the compressor 17 is condensed
in the course of passing through the condenser 60. At this time,
the fan 19 is revolved by the motor 19 and blows air around the
condenser 23 and the compressor 17 to liquidity the refrigerant
flowing in the condenser 23 and at the same time to cool the compressor
17 and then flows out to the outside through the outlet holes 1a.
The liquid refrigerant of high pressure flows from the condenser
23 into a capillary tube (not shown) and is changed to liquid refrigerant
of low pressure by the effects of adiabatic expansion in the capillary
tube and then flows into the evaporation tube 33 installed at a
side of the cold water tank 7. The refrigerant vaporized while passing
through the evaporation pipe 33 flows as a gas into the compressor
31 and is changed to high temperature and high pressure. Thus, the
refrigerant repeats a cycle thereof.
Further, electric power is applied to the heater 25 installed in
the hot water tank 9 by electric power supply means not shown, and
the heat generated in the heater 25 is applied to the purified water
stored in the hot water tank 9 so that the purified water stored
in the hot water tank 9 is heated.
Next, when the purified water reaches a predetermined height in
the purified water tank 3 and the temperature of the cold water
and the hot water respectively in the cold water tank 7 and the
hot water tank 9 become a pre-determined temperature, the operation
of the compressor 15 and the heater 25 is stopped according to signals
from a water level sensor and a temperature sensor (not shown),
and at the same time the refrigerant circulation cycle is also stopped.
Meanwhile, when a user wants to dispense hot or cold purified water
into a vessel such as cup (not shown), he or she uses the vessel
to push the hot water or cold water disposal valve 27 or 35 to discharge
the hot water or cold water. At this time, air is provided to the
cold water tank 7 through the ventilating pipe 44 and the air provided
through ventilating holes 3c of the purified water storage tank
3 is discharged through a ventilating pipe 28 into the hot water
tank 9 so that the discharging of the cold water and hot water
is facilitated. During the water receiving operation proceeds as
above, water leakage is prevented because water overflowing the
user's hand-held cup is gathered in the water retainer 55.
However, there is a problem in a water dispenser according to the
prior art thus constructed, that the ventilating pipe 28 enables
hot water to flow into the purified water storage tank 3 to increase
the cooling requirements in the cold water tank 7.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is provided to solve the aforementioned
problem and it is an object of the present invention to provide
a cold/hot water dispenser which can discharge easily excess hot
water caused by volume expansion in the hot water tank and to discharge
excess water in the purified water storage tank.
To accomplish the object of the present invention, there is provided
a cold/hot water dispenser, the dispenser including an expansion
tank installed at location higher than the highest water level of
the purified water storage tank for maintaining the water level
of the purified water storage tank at a predetermined water level.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a fuller understanding of the nature and object of the invention,
reference should be made to the following detailed description taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view for illustrating a cold/hot water
dispenser according to the prior art;
FIG. 2 is a sectional side view for illustrating a side surface
of a cold/hot water dispenser according to the prior art;
FIG. 3 is a sectional rear view for illustrating a cold/hot water
dispenser according to the prior art;
FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the water tanks and pipes of a cold/hot
water dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a disposition of
an expansion tank in the cold/hot water dispenser according to the
embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view showing the expansion tank according
to an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A cold/hot water dispenser according to the preferred embodiment
of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference
to FIGS. 4 to 6. Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals
are used for the designation of like or equivalent parts in FIGS.
1 to 3 for simplicity of illustration and explanation, so another
detailed description thereof will be omitted.
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 a cold/hot water dispenser according
to an embodiment of the present invention has a purified water storage
tank 3 installed at a location for storing the purified water filtered
by filtering members (not shown). A cold water tank 7 and a hot
water tank 9 are installed below the purified water storage tank
3 for receiving the purified water from the purified water storage
tank 3 and changing the purified water to a cold water and a hot
water. A first outlet pipe 31 is disposed between the purified water
storage tank 3 and the cold water tank 7 so that the purified water
can flow easily into the tank 7 and a second outlet pipe 24 is
disposed between the purified water storage tank 3 and the hot water
tank 9 so that the purified water can flow easily into the hot water
tank 9. Cold water and hot water dispensing valves 35 and 27 are
installed respectively at a side of the cold water tank 7 and the
hot water tank 9 for dispensing water. Ventilating pipes 28 and
44 are connected to the cold water tank 7 and the hot water tank
9 respectively, for supplying air to the cold water and hot water
tanks 7 and 9 in order to facilitate the water dispensing. A small
sized expansion tank 100 is installed at a location higher than
the highest water level in the purified water storage tank 3. The
tank 100 is mounted at a side of the purified water storage tank
3 for discharging easily the hot water rising along the ventilating
pipe 28 of the hot water tank 9 according to a thermal volume expansion
and at the same time for facilitating the dispensing of water from
the hot water tank 9 by passing air thereto, and also for preventing
the purified water from exceeding a predetermined level in the storage
tank.
The expansion tank 100 (see FIG. 6) has a body 110 forming a water
passage L therein. A ventilating hole 111 is formed at a top side
of the body 100 for passing air. An inlet 112 is formed at the lower
side of the body 100 for supplying air into the hot water tank 9
or for conducting an overflow of hot water from the hot water tank
9 into the inlet 112. An outlet 113 is formed in the lower side
next to the inlet 112 for discharging that overflowing hot water
outside of the dispenser. A discharging pipe 120 is fitted to the
outlet 113 for discharging the overflowed hot water from the dispenser.
A moisture absorbing member 114 such as sponge, cotton etc. is disposed
in the apertured body 110 for filtering vapor contained in the air
discharged when hot water ascends in the body 110. A fixing unit
115 is formed at a side of the body 110 and a screw 130 is provided
for fixing the body 110 to the tank 3. The inlet 112 and the outlet
113 are formed at the same height (elevation) so that the hot water
from the inlet 112 can be easily reversed in direction through the
outlet 113.
An accommodation groove 3d (FIG. 5) for fixing the expansion tank
100 to the tank 3 is formed long along the purified water storage
tank 3. The ventilating pipe 28 and the discharging pipe 120 are
disposed in the accommodation groove 3d. The expansion tank 100
is coupled with a flange 3e formed in the accommodation groove 3d
of the purified water storage tank 3 to complete the square shape
of the top of the purified water storage tank 3.
In FIG. 4 the numeral 43 indicates a purified water supply pipe
for conducting the purified filtered water from the filtering members
into the purified water storage tank 3 and the numeral 3c indicates
a ventilating hole for passing air into the purified water storage
tank 3 so that the purified water stored in the purified water storage
tank 3 can flow smoothly to the cold and hot water tanks 7 and 9.
Now, the operation and effects of the cold/hot water dispenser
thus constructed according to the present invention will be described.
The purified water filtered by the filtering members (not shown)
flows into the purified water storage tank 3 through the purified
water supply pipe 43 and the purified water stored in the purified
water storage tank 3 is provided respectively to the cold and hot
water tanks 7 and 9 through the first and second outlet pipes 31
and 24. At this time, air is provided through the ventilating hole
3c formed on the purified water storage tank 3 and the air lets
the purified water stored in the purified water storage tank 3 flow
smoothly to the cold and hot water tanks 7 and 9.
As described above, the purified water provided to the cold and
hot water tanks 7 and 9 is changed respectively to cold water and
hot water by an evaporator and a heater (not shown), and a user
receives the cold water and hot water by manipulating the cold and
hot water dispensing valves 27 and 35. At this time, the air ventilated
through the ventilation pipe 44 formed at a side of the cold water
tank 7 facilitates discharge of the cold water. Air is also communicated
with the hot water tank 9 through the ventilation pipe 28 and the
expansion tank 100. That is, the air enters via the ventilation
hole 111 of the body 110 to facilitate discharge of the hot water.
Meanwhile, hot water flows to the outlet 113 through the water passage
L formed within the body 110 when the hot water is volume-expanded
in the hot water tank 9 and overflows through the ventilation pipe
28; the hot water from the outlet 113 is discharged out of the dispenser
through the discharge pipe 120. At this time, the moisture absorbing
member 114 filters-out vapors generated by the hot water, so that
water leakage through the ventilation hole 111 is prevented.
Further, if excess water is present in the tank 3 causing the
water level in the purified water storage tank 3 to become higher
than the elevation A of the upper end of the ventilation pipe 28
the excess purified water in the purified water storage tank 3 overflows
via pipes 24 and 28 and the discharge pipe 120.
As is apparent from the foregoing, there is an advantage in the
cold/hot water dispenser according to the present invention in that
the hot water overflow caused by volume expansion of heated water
in the hot water tank can be discharged; the hot water tank is ventilated;
and the water level in the tank 3 is prevented from exceeding a
predetermined water level, so that the expansion tank can be made
compact. |