HEATING ASSEMBLY AND WATER HEATER

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001]This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202011627188.4, filed Dec. 30, 2020 and entitled “Heating Assembly and Water Heater” and Chinese Patent Application No. 202023338322.7, filed Dec. 30, 2020 and entitled “Heating Assembly and Water Heater”, the entire contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

[0002]The present disclosure relates to the technical field of hot water facilities, and in particular, to a heating assembly and a water heater.

BACKGROUND

[0003]In the related art, heating assemblies of instant water heater products generally adopt a configuration including heating cups connected in series through multiple pipelines, with water flowing in from the heating cup on one side and flowing out from another heating cup on the other side. Instant water heater products need to have a high heating power to meet the requirement of instantly heating water at room temperature to hot water suitable for bathing. Therefore, in product design, it is necessary to design the volume of the heating cup to be small and the power of the heating tube to be large. For the heating assembly using the configuration including heating cups connected in series through multiple pipelines, the last group of heating cups along the water flow direction keeps operating at high temperature for a long time due to thermal hysteresis of the heating tube, resulting in a high failure rate and short service life of the heating tube.

SUMMARY

[0004]The present disclosure aims to resolve at least one of the problems in the related art. To this end, the present disclosure provides a heating assembly, which adopts a configuration including a plurality of heating cups connected in parallel through multiple pipelines, so that the workload of the heating element can be reduced, the failure rate can be lowered, and the service life is extended.

[0005]The present disclosure further provides a water heater having the heating assembly.

[0006]In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a heating assembly including a plurality of cup bodies, arranged in parallel, where a water flow chamber is provided in each of the plurality of cup bodies, and a communicating pipe is arranged between adjacent cup bodies to communicate the adjacent water flow chambers; a water inlet pipe, sequentially connected to the plurality of cup bodies, and provided with a plurality of drainage holes, where each of the water flow chambers is in communication with the water inlet pipe through at least one of drainage holes; a water outlet, connected to one of the plurality of cup bodies or one of the communicating pipes to discharge liquid in the water flow chambers; and a plurality of heating elements, respectively connected to the plurality of cup bodies correspondingly to heat the liquid in the water flow chambers.

[0007]The heating assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure at least has the following beneficial effects.

[0008]The heating assembly includes a plurality of cup bodies arranged in parallel. The water inlet pipe is sequentially connected to the plurality of cup bodies and is provided with drainage holes for respectively supplying water to the water flow chambers. The heating elements are respectively configured to heat the liquid in the corresponding water flow chambers. The plurality of drainage holes enable the water flow uniformly through the plurality of cup bodies, thereby reducing the differences in flow rate and pressure between the plurality of cup bodies, and achieving a more uniform heating effect. The communicating pipe is configured to communicate the plurality of water flow chambers. The water outlet pipe is connected to a cup body or a communicating pipe to discharge the liquid in the plurality of water flow chambers, such that the liquid can complete the heat exchange flow through the plurality of water flow chambers respectively and then be discharged through the water outlet pipe at once, thereby improving the heat exchange performance, increasing the amount of water discharged, and improving the stability of the discharged water temperature. In addition, the plurality of heating elements can heat the water in the plurality of cup bodies respectively, such that the workload of the heating elements is reduced, thereby reducing the failure rate of the heating elements and the service life is extended.

[0009]According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the water inlet pipe includes a diversion pipe segment, the plurality of drainage holes are arranged on the diversion pipe segment. Each of the plurality of cup bodies is correspondingly provided with a through hole, through which the diversion pipe segment sequentially passes, such that the plurality of drainage holes are respectively located in the plurality of water flow chambers correspondingly.

[0010]According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, each of the drainage holes are formed on a wall of the diversion pipe segment, and the drainage holes is arranged facing a water outlet end of a corresponding cup body.

[0011]According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, each of the plurality of cup bodies are integrally formed. Each of the plurality of cup bodies has a water inlet end in a length direction of the cup body. The water inlet pipe is respectively connected to the water inlet ends of the plurality of cup bodies.

[0012]According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the water inlet pipe includes an extension pipe segment. One end of the extension pipe segment is connected to the diversion pipe segment, and the other end of the extension pipe segment extends in the length direction of the cup body.

[0013]According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the water inlet pipe includes a bent pipe segment. One end of the bent pipe segment is connected to the extension pipe segment, and the other end of the bent pipe segment extends away from the cup body.

[0014]According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the heating assembly includes a water inlet joint. The bent pipe segment is connected to the water inlet joint, and the water inlet joint is arranged parallel to or perpendicular to the cup bodies.

[0015]According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the water inlet pipe is connected to one end in a length direction of each of the cup bodies, and the water outlet is connected to the other end of one of the cup bodies in the length direction.

[0016]According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the water inlet pipe is connected to a lower part of each of the cup bodies, and the water outlet is provided at an upper part of one of the cup bodies.

[0017]According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the communicating pipe is connected to an upper part of the cup body. The communicating pipe and the plurality of cup bodies are integrally formed.

[0018]According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a height at which the water outlet is located on a cup body is greater than or equal to a height at which the communicating pipe is located on a cup body.

[0019]According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the water outlet and the cup body are integrally formed, and the water outlet is connected to a water outlet pipe or a water outlet joint.

[0020]According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, each of the heating elements includes a heating tube located in a water flow chamber. The heating tube is in a sealed connection with an upper part of a cup body.

[0021]In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, an embodiment provides a water heater, which includes the heating assembly described above and a controller, where the plurality of heating elements are arranged in parallel and are respectively connected to the controller.

[0022]The water heater according to an embodiment of the present disclosure at least has the following beneficial effects.

[0023]The water heater has the heating assembly of the embodiment of the first aspect, which includes a plurality of cup bodies arranged in parallel. The water inlet pipe is sequentially connected to the plurality of cup bodies and is provided with drainage holes for respectively supplying water to the water flow chambers. The heating elements are respectively configured to heat the liquid in the corresponding water flow chambers. The plurality of drainage holes enable the water flow uniformly through the plurality of cup bodies, thereby reducing the differences in flow rate and pressure between the plurality of cup bodies, and achieving a more uniform heating effect. The communicating pipe is configured to communicate the plurality of water flow chambers. The water outlet pipe is connected to a cup body or a communicating pipe to discharge the liquid in the plurality of water flow chambers, such that the liquid can complete the heat exchange flow through the plurality of water flow chambers respectively and then be discharged through the water outlet pipe at once, thereby improving the heat exchange performance, increasing the amount of water discharged, and improving the stability of the discharged water temperature. In addition, the plurality of heating elements can heat the water in the plurality of cup bodies respectively, such that the workload of the heating elements is reduced, thereby reducing the failure rate of the heating elements and the service life is extended.

[0024]According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the water heater includes a housing. The heating assembly is arranged in the housing, the water inlet pipe is connected to a water inlet joint, the water outlet is connected to a water outlet joint, and the water inlet joint and the water outlet joint are arranged on two side walls of the housing respectively.

[0025]According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the housing includes a back shell. The heating assembly further includes a mounting bracket configured to assemble the cup bodies. The mounting bracket is fixed to the back shell.

[0026]According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the water heater includes a plurality of temperature sensors connected to the controller to detect a temperature in each of the plurality of water flow chambers.

[0027]According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the water heater includes silicon controlled rectifiers configured to adjust heating power of each of the heating elements, where the silicon controlled rectifiers are arranged on an extension pipe segment of the water inlet pipe.

[0028]According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a flow sensor is arranged on the water inlet pipe, the flow sensor is connected to the controller, and the controller is configured to control heating power of each heating element according to a water inlet flow rate in the water inlet pipe and a water inlet temperature in the plurality of water flow chambers.

[0029]The additional aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will be provided in the following description, some of which will become apparent from the following description or may be learned from practices of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0030]The present disclosure is further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. In the drawings:

[0031]FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a heating assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0032]FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a heating assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, with the heating element removed;

[0033]FIG. 3 is a top view of FIG. 2;

[0034]FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 3;

[0035]FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of part C in FIG. 4;

[0036]FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 3;

[0037]FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a heating assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0038]FIG. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a heating assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0039]FIG. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a heating assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0040]FIG. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of a water heater according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0052]Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail hereinafter in conjunction with accompanying drawings in which the same or like reference numeral refer to the same or like elements or elements having the same or like functions. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are illustrative and are intended for illustrating only and are not to be construed as limiting the present disclosure.

[0053]In the description of the present disclosure, it should be understood that the description involving orientations or positional relationships indicated by the terms such as “on/upper” and “below/lower” are based on orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are used only for ease and brevity of illustration and description, rather than indicating or implying that the mentioned apparatus or element must have a particular orientation or must be constructed and operated in a particular orientation. Therefore, such terms should not be construed as limiting of the present disclosure.

[0054]In the description of the present disclosure, “multiple” and “a plurality of” mean two or more. If used herein, the terms such as “first”, “second” and the like are merely used for distinguishing features, and are not intended to indicate or imply relative importance, or implicitly point out the number of the indicated features, or implicitly point out the order of the indicated features.

[0055]In the description of the present disclosure, unless otherwise explicitly defined, the terms such as “configure”, “install/mount” and “connect” should be understood in a broad sense, and those having ordinary skills in the art can reasonably determine the specific meanings of the above terms in the present disclosure based on the specific contents of the scheme.

[0056]Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a heating assembly 1000, which is applied to a hot water device, particularly a high-power instant hot water device, such as an instant water heater, an instant water dispenser, a smart toilet, a bathroom device, etc. The heating assembly 1000 of the embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of cup bodies 100 and a plurality of heating elements 200. The plurality of heating elements 200 are respectively connected to the plurality of cup bodies 100 to heat liquid in the plurality of cup bodies 100. The plurality of cup bodies 100 are arranged in parallel to form a parallel heating cup structure. The parallel structure herein may be understood as a configuration formed with the plurality of cup bodies 100 side by side, with one end of each of the plurality of cup bodies 100 being respectively in communication with a water inlet pipe and the other end of each of the plurality of cup bodies 100 being in communication with a water outlet pipe. A water flow chamber 110 is provided in each of the cup bodies 100, and water flows in the water flow chamber 110 of the cup body 100. The heating element 200 can heat water in the water flow chamber 110, thus the cold water passing through the water flow chamber 110 can be heated to hot water. The parallel heating cup structure enables all of the plurality of heating elements 200 to operate under a normal load, and by means of the simultaneous operation of the plurality of heating cups, a large flow of hot water is provided.

[0057]Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4, it can be understood that the heating assembly 1000 of the embodiment of the present disclosure further includes a water inlet pipe 300 and a water outlet 400. The water inlet pipe 300 is respectively connected to the plurality of cup bodies 100. In particular, the water inlet pipe 300 is sequentially connected to outer walls of the plurality of cup bodies 100, and pass through the plurality of cup bodies 100; or is divided into a plurality of branches respectively passing through the plurality of cup bodies 100, which is not particularly limited herein.

[0058]The water inlet pipe 300 is provided with a plurality of drainage holes 310, and each of the water flow chambers 110 is in communication with the water inlet pipe 300 through at least one drainage hole 310, i.e., one or more drainage holes 310 may be provided in the water flow chamber 110 of each cup body 100, which is not particularly limited herein. In this embodiment, the plurality of drainage holes 310 are respectively in communication with the water flow chambers 110 of the cup bodies 100 in one-to-one correspondence, the drainage holes 310 are configured to inject water into the water flow chambers 110, and the drainage holes 310 are constructed in such a manner that a water flow from the water inlet pipe 300 uniformly flows through the plurality of cup bodies 100, thereby reducing the differences in flow rate and pressure between different cup bodies 100, achieving a more uniform heating effect, and improving the heating performance of the heating assembly 1000.

[0059]Referring to FIG. 4, it can be understood that a communicating pipe 500 is arranged between adjacent cup bodies 100 to communicate the adjacent water flow chambers 110. The water outlet 400 and the water inlet pipe 300 are spaced apart from each other on the cup bodies 100 in a length direction (i.e., an up-down direction in FIG. 4), thus constructing a structure of a plurality of heating cups arranged in parallel. In an embodiment, the water outlet 400 may be provided in a middle or upper part of the cup body 100, and the water inlet pipe 300 is arranged in a lower part of the cup bodies 100. The water outlet 400 is connected to one of the cup bodies 100 or connected to one of the communicating pipes 500, to discharge hot water in the plurality of water flow chambers 110 out of the cup bodies 100. As such, the liquid can respectively flow through the plurality of water flow chambers 110 to exchange heat and then be discharged through the water outlet 400, thereby improving the heat exchange performance, increasing the amount of water discharged, and improving the stability of the outlet water temperature. In addition, the heating elements 200 respectively heat the water in the plurality of cup bodies 100, such that the workload of the heating elements 200 is reduced, thereby reducing the failure rate of the heating elements 200 and prolonging the service life of the heating elements 200.

[0060]It can be understood that, compared with the configuration including a plurality of heating cups connected in series, the heating assembly 1000 of the embodiment of the present disclosure can avoid short service life of the heating elements 200 as well as broken wire, pipes cracking, electric current leakage of the heating elements 200, avoid a temperature rise of the inner chamber after water supply is shut down, and avoid the problem that the user is suddenly burned by excessively hot water a few seconds upon startup during normal use.

[0061]Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, it can be understood that the water inlet pipe 300 includes a diversion pipe segment 330. The plurality of drainage holes 310 are arranged on the diversion pipe segment 330. Each of the plurality of cup bodies 100 has a through hole (not shown) which the diversion pipe segment 330 can sequentially passes through, such that the plurality of drainage holes 310 are respectively located in the plurality of water flow chambers 110. The design in which the diversion pipe segment 330 passes through the cup bodies 100 can increase the structural strength of the water inlet pipe 300, enhance the stability of the connection between the water inlet pipe 300 and the cup bodies 100, and reduce the risk of the water inlet pipe 300 falling off or bending. In addition, the diversion pipe segment 330 is welded to the outer walls of the cup bodies 100 to form a stable connection structure, which is a convenient process to be carried out. Referring to FIG. 6, the diversion pipe segment 330 may run through the cup bodies 100 at a central portion, and an end of the diversion pipe segment 330 may be located in or extend out of the last cup body 100 in an extending direction of the diversion pipe segment 330, which is not particularly limited herein. The drainage holes 310 are respectively provided in the water flow chambers 110, such that water can be directly injected into the corresponding water flow chambers 110, thereby reducing the risk of water leakage of the water inlet pipe 300.

[0062]Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, it can be understood that the drainage holes 310 are formed on a wall of the diversion pipe segment 330. A through hole is assigned for each of the cup bodies 100, and each of the drainage holes 310 is arranged facing a water outlet end of the cup body 100. In the heating assembly 1000, the water flow is guided by the drainage holes 310 to form a vortex in the cup bodies 100. The vortex can increase the contact area between the water and surfaces of the heating elements 200 and the duration of contact between the water and the surfaces of the heating elements 200, to quickly take away heat from the heating elements 200 to reduce the heat density during operation of the heating elements 200, thereby prolonging the service life of the heating elements 200 and reducing the failure rate of the heating elements 200. With the diversion pipe segment 330 passing through and connected to the lower parts of the cup bodies 100, the drainage holes 310 can be designed to have different diameters, to be at different positions in an axial direction of the diversion pipe segment 330, to be at different positions in a circumferential direction of the diversion pipe segment 330, to have different orientations, or to have other characteristics. In addition, according to the structure and position of each cup body 100 of the heating assembly 1000, the drainage holes 310 are separately designed, such that the water inlet flow rate per unit time in the corresponding cup body 100 can be adjusted, to control the water inlet flow rate per unit time in each cup body 100 to be the same. As such, water can enter the cup bodies 100 more uniformly, thereby reducing the differences in flow rate and pressure between the plurality of cup bodies 100, achieving a more uniform heating effect, and improving the heating performance of the heating assembly 1000. The uniform distribution of water flow plays a critical role in the control and safety of the heating assembly 1000.

[0063]It should also be noted that the heating assembly 1000 of an embodiment of the present disclosure adopts a modular design in which the water inlet pipe 300 and the plurality of cup bodies 100 are assembled in split pieces rather than the conventional integral structure. In this embodiment, after parameters of the plurality of drainage holes 310 in the diversion pipe segment 330 are adjusted, the diversion pipe segment 330 can be conveniently inserted into the cup bodies 100 to complete assembly, such that the water inlet flow rate of each cup body 100 can be separately adjusted, thereby facilitating the adjustment, avoiding the disadvantage that the conventional integral structure requires designing of a new set of molds after each adjustment, saving the cost of molds, and greatly reducing the production costs.

[0064]Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, it can be understood that each of the plurality of cup bodies 100 are integrally formed, to achieve a higher structural strength, a reduced risk of water leakage, an improved product quality, a simplified installation process, and an improved assembly efficiency. It can be understood that the cup bodies 100 may be made of a metal material such as stainless steel and copper, to facilitate processing and molding, and achieve a stable structure and satisfactory durability. One end of each of the plurality of cup bodies 100 in a length direction of the cup body 100 is a water inlet end, and the water inlet pipe 300 is respectively connected to the water inlet ends of the plurality of cup bodies 100, such that the water flow from the water inlet pipe 300 can be more uniformly distributed to the cup bodies 100. The heating elements 200 respectively heat the water in the cup bodies 100, such that cold water passing through the water flow chambers 110 is heated into hot water with a stable water temperature at the water outlet 400.

[0065]Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, it can be understood that the water inlet pipe 300 includes an extension pipe segment 340. One end of the extension pipe segment 340 is connected to the diversion pipe segment 330, and the other end of the extension pipe segment 340 extends in the length direction of the cup body 100. The extension pipe segment 340 allows for the adjustment of the mounting position of the water inlet pipe 300 in the up-down direction shown in FIG. 1, such that the water inlet pipe 300 can be conveniently mounted to adapt to the requirements of different installation environments.

[0066]Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, it can be understood that the water inlet pipe 300 includes a bent pipe segment 350. One end of the bent pipe segment 350 is connected to the extension pipe segment 340, and the other end of the bent pipe segment 350 extends away from the cup body 100. The bent pipe segment 350 allows for the change of the extending direction of the water inlet pipe 300, i.e., allows for the adjustment of the mounting position of the water inlet pipe 300 in a left-right direction shown in FIG. 1, such that the water inlet pipe 300 can be conveniently mounted to adapt to the requirements of more diversified installation environments.

[0067]Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, it can be understood that the heating assembly 1000 includes a water inlet joint 320. The bent pipe segment 350 is connected to the water inlet joint 320, and the water inlet joint 320 may be arranged perpendicular to the cup bodies 100 (as shown in FIG. 1) or parallel to the cup bodies 100 (as shown in FIG. 9). As such, different mounting directions can be selected for the water inlet joint 320 according to different mounting environments, to improve the universality of the heating assembly 1000.

[0068]It can be understood that the heating element 200 may be a heating tube, a heating wire, a ceramic heater, or other structures, which is not particularly limited herein, and can be selected according to actual product requirements, e.g., according to parameters such as the amount of water to be output per unit time, the heating power, a product size, etc.

[0069]Referring to FIG. 2, it can be understood that the heating element 200 includes a heating tube (not shown). A plurality of heating tubes are respectively located in the corresponding water flow chambers 110. The water inlet pipe 300 is connected to one end of each of the cup bodies 100 in the length direction (i.e., the up-down direction in FIG. 2), and the water outlet 400 is connected to the other end of one of the cup bodies 100 in the length direction. The water inlet pipe 300 and the water outlet 400 are respectively located at two ends of the cup bodies 100 in the length direction. For example, the water inlet pipe 300 is located in a lower part of each of the cup bodies 100, and the water outlet 400 is located in an upper part of one of the cup bodies 100. This design allows the water in each of the cup bodies 100 in parallel to flow through the entire water flow chamber 110, fully exchange heat with the heating tube, then converge at the water outlet 400 on an end of the cup body 100 to be discharged. As such, the water flow passing through the heating assembly 1000 can be heated more uniformly to achieve a more stable outlet water temperature, and a larger amount of water can be output.

[0070]Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, it can be understood that the water inlet pipe 300 is connected to the lower part of each of the cup bodies 100 and is in communication with the water flow chambers 110, and the water outlet 400 is connected to the upper part of one of the cup bodies 100 and is in communication with the water flow chamber 110 of the cup body 100. Therefore, the water enters the water flow chamber 110 through the lower part of the cup body 100, flows from bottom to top to take away heat of the heating tube, and is discharged out of the water flow chamber 110 through the upper part of the cup body 100. The heating tube heats the water through thermal convection, such that the water temperature rises, with the temperature in the upper part of the cup body 100 being high, and the temperature in the lower part of the cup body 100 being low. Hot water obtained by heating rises, and the unheated cold water still remains in the lower part of the cup body 100. The water flow can effectively take away heat from the surface of the heating tube. In addition, a guide channel structure or a structure in which a plurality of heating tubes are connected in parallel may be provided in the cup body 100, such that in the case of high-power and large-flow being required, the water can be instantly heated by increasing the area and duration of thermal convection, to improve user experience.

[0071]It can be understood that the drainage hole 310 provided at the connection between the water inlet pipe 300 and the cup body 100 provides a function of uniformly distributing the water flow. For the structure in which the plurality of cup bodies 100 are connected in parallel, the uniform distribution of water flow can play a critical role in the control and safety of the heating assembly 1000. In addition, when the heating tube adopts thermal convection for heating, the water temperature in the middle and lower parts of the cup body 100 is low. In this case, after the plurality of cup bodies 100 are connected in parallel and hot water is mixed at the upper part, the sudden rise of the temperature of the water flow can be effectively reduced, and the water temperature can be made more stable and comfortable, thereby further improving user experience.

[0072]Referring to FIG. 4, it can be understood that the communicating pipe 500 is connected to the upper part of each of the cup bodies 100. The communicating pipe 500 is in communication with the water flow chambers 110 of the plurality of cup bodies 100. The communicating pipe 500 allows hot water flowing from bottom to top in the water flow chambers 110 of the plurality of cup bodies 100 to converge at the upper part of the respective cup bodies 100, therefore the hot water from the plurality of cup bodies 100 is mixed, such that the difference in water flow temperatures is effectively reduce, thereby avoiding the sudden rise of the temperature of the water flow at the water outlet 400, and making the temperature of the hot water discharged from the water outlet 400 more constant. It should be noted that the communicating pipe 500 and the plurality of cup bodies 100 are integrally formed, to achieve a higher structural strength, a reduced risk of water leakage, an improved product quality, a simplified installation process, and an improve assembly efficiency.

[0073]Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 7, it can be understood that the heating tube is located in the water flow chamber 110, and passes through the center of the water flow chamber 110 to heat the water in the water flow chamber 110. The heating tube may be of a U-shaped structure or a spiral structure, and fins may be provided on the surface of the heating tube. The specific form of the heating tube is not particularly limited herein. A mounting head 210 is arranged on the heating tube. One end of the mounting head 210 is connected to the heating tube, and the other end of the mounting head 210 is sealingly connected to the upper part of the cup body 100, extends out of the cup body 100, and is connected through pins 220 to an external power supply, which supplies electricity to the heating tube.

[0074]Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, it can be understood that the heating tube is sealingly connected to the upper part of the cup body 100. For example, a threaded connection between the mounting head 210 and an upper opening of the cup body 100 is provided to avoid water leakage of the cup body 100 and improve the structural stability of the heating assembly 1000. In addition, this can facilitate the assembly between the cup body 100 and the heating tube, thereby improving the working efficiency of the production line.

[0075]Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, it can be understood that the cup body 100 has an elongated columnar structure, and the heating tube is mounted in the cup body 100, to reduce the amount of water that the heating tube needs to heat per unit time, such that the effect of instantaneously heating water can be achieved even when the water and the heating tube are in contact for a short time.

[0076]It can be understood that a flow guide piece (not shown) is arranged on the inner wall of the cup body 100, and the flow guide piece extends in the length direction of the cup body 100 and has a spiral shape. The heating tube is arranged in the cup body 100 to heat water entering the water flow chamber 110, and the flow guide piece surrounds the outside of the heating tube, such that a spiral guide channel (not shown) is formed between the flow guide piece and the heating tube. The guide channel extends from the lower part of the cup body 100 to the upper part of the cup body 100, and can increase the area and duration of contact between the water flowing through the guide channel and the heating tube, such that the water can fully exchange heat with the heating tube during the spiral rising process. It should be noted that the water inlet pipe 300 is connected to the cup body 100 and is in communication with the guide channel, and the water inlet pipe 300 is configured to transport water into the guide channel at an internal lower end of the cup body 100. The water outlet 400 is in communication with the water flow chamber 110 of one of the cup bodies 100 and is provided at the upper part of the cup body 100, and water flowing from the lower part of the cup body 100 to the upper part of the cup body 100 can be transported to the outside of the cup body 100 through the water outlet 400. Therefore, tap water supplied from the water inlet pipe 300 continuously flows into the cup bodies 100 through the water inlet pipe 300, and the water spirally flows upward from the lower end of each guide channel to the upper end of the guide channel. During the rising process of the water flow, the heating tube continuously heats the flowing water, which fully exchanges heat with the heating tube. Hot water obtained by heating is discharged out of the cup body 100 through the water outlet 400 for use by the user.

[0077]It can be understood that to fit the spiral guide channel, the heating tube adopts a spiral shape, which can further increase the area and duration of contact between the water flowing through the guide channel and the heating tube, such that the water can fully exchange heat with the heating tube during the spiral rising process, to effectively take away heat from the surface of the heating tube and reduce the heat density during operation of the heating tube, thereby reducing the failure rate of the heating tube and prolonging the service life of the heating tube.

[0078]Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, it can be understood that a height at which the water outlet 400 is located is greater than or equal to a height at which the communicating pipe 500 is located, such that hot water in the water flow chambers 110 of the plurality of cup bodies 100 can converge and be fully mixed, and then be discharged through the water outlet 400, thereby making the water output more balanced and stable, and improving user experience.

[0079]Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 9, the water outlet 400 and the cup body 100 are integrally formed, to achieve a higher structural strength, a reduced risk of water leakage, an improved product quality, a simplified installation process, and an improved assembly efficiency. The water outlet 400 may be connected to a water outlet joint 420 (as shown in FIG. 1), and the water outlet 400 may also be connected to a water outlet pipe 410 (as shown in FIG. 9), such that the structural layout and mounting requirements of the heating assembly 1000 can be met.

[0080]For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the heating assembly 1000 includes two cup bodies 100 arranged in parallel, and the heating assembly 1000 is mounted in a water heater. During operation of the water heater, tap water enters the heating assembly 1000 through the water inlet pipe 300. Cold water is respectively supplied into the two cup bodies 100 through the drainage holes 310 in the water inlet pipe 300 to form two water flows, which flow in the two cup bodies 100 and exchange heat with the heating elements 200 at the same time. The temperature of the water flow in the two cup bodies 100 continuously rises from bottom to top, and the water flows out at the water outlet 400, to complete the heat exchange process of the water flow, such that the temperature of the water flow rapidly rises. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the configuration including two cup bodies 100 connected in parallel is adopted, two heating tubes are respectively located in the two cup bodies 100, and the two heating tubes share substantially the same electric power, and simultaneously heat the circulating water. In the case of the same flow rate and the same power of the heating tubes, the outlet water temperatures at the tops of the two cup bodies 100 are also basically the same. As such, the heating tubes of the two cup bodies 100 bear the same power, so the heating assembly 1000 can be effectively protected.

[0081]In addition, the upper parts of the two cup bodies 100 are connected through the communicating pipe 500, such that the water flow chambers 110 of the two cup bodies 100 are in communication with each other. The water outlet 400 is connected to the upper part of one of the cup bodies 100, and the water inlet pipe 300 is connected to the lower parts of the two cup bodies 100, which is conducive to the structural layout of the heating assembly 1000, facilitates the arrangement of the positions of the water inlet pipe 300 and the water outlet 400, and facilitates the connection of the water inlet pipe 300 and the water outlet 400. The water inlet pipe 300 and the water outlet 400 may also be both connected to one of the cup bodies 100, or may be located on the same side of the plurality of cup bodies 100 according to product requirements, which is not particularly limited herein.

[0082]For example, referring to FIG. 8, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the heating assembly 1000 may also include three cup bodies 100, which are arranged in parallel. Two communicating pipes 500 are provided, which are respectively located between the upper parts of every two adjacent cup bodies 100, such that the water flow chambers 110 of the three cup bodies 100 are in communication with each other. The water inlet pipe 300 passes through the lower part of the cup body 100 on one side, the water outlet 400 is provided at the upper part of the last cup body 100 in the extending direction of the water inlet pipe 300, and the water outlet 400 and the communicating pipes 500 are located at the same height. The heating assembly 1000 may include four, five, or even more cup bodies 100 connected in parallel according to power and water flow requirements, which is not particularly limited herein.

[0083]Referring to FIG. 10, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a water heater, which is, for example, an instant water heater. It can be understood that the water heater of this embodiment includes the heating assembly 1000 of the embodiment of the first aspect. The heating assembly 1000 includes a plurality of cup bodies 100 arranged in parallel. The water inlet pipe 300 is respectively connected to the plurality of cup bodies 100 and is provided with drainage holes 310 for respectively supplying water to the water flow chambers 110. The heating elements 200 are respectively configured to heat the liquid in the corresponding water flow chambers 110. The plurality of drainage holes 310 allow the water to uniformly flow through the plurality of cup bodies 100, thereby reducing the differences in flow rate and pressure between the plurality of cup bodies 100, and achieving a more uniform heating effect. The communicating pipes 500 are configured to communicate the plurality of water flow chambers 110. The water outlet pipe 410 is connected to the cup body 100 or the communicating pipe 500 to discharge the liquid in the plurality of water flow chambers 110, such that the liquid can respectively flow through the plurality of water flow chambers 110 to exchange heat and then be discharged through the water outlet pipe 410, thereby improving the heat exchange performance, increasing the amount of water discharged, and improving the stability of the outlet water temperature. In addition, the plurality of heating elements 200 are arranged in parallel, and the controller 900 is respectively connected to the plurality of heating elements 200 to respectively heat the plurality of cup bodies 100, such that the workload of the heating elements 200 is reduced, thereby reducing the failure rate of the water heater and prolonging the service life of the water heater.

[0084]Referring to FIG. 10, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the water heater further includes a controller 900. The plurality of heating elements 200 are arranged in parallel and are respectively connected to the controller 900. The controller 900 is configured to control the plurality of heating elements 200 to realize the control of the outlet water temperature and the outlet water flow of the heating assembly 1000, thereby realizing intelligent control of the water heater.

[0085]Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 8, a water outlet joint 420 is arranged at the water outlet 400, and a water inlet joint 320 is arranged at the water inlet pipe 300. For convenience of mounting, the water outlet joint 420 and the water inlet joint 320 are arranged at the same height, for example, are arranged at the upper part of the cup body 100. Referring to FIG. 9, the water outlet joint 420 and the water inlet joint 320 may also be arranged at the lower part of the cup body 100.

[0086]The water outlet joint 420 and the water inlet joint 320 may also be arranged in the middle part of the cup body 100 according to actual requirements.

[0087]Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 10, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the water heater further includes a housing 700. The heating assembly 1000 is arranged in the housing 700, and the housing 700 surrounds the heating assembly 1000 to protect the heating assembly 1000 and provide a dust-proof and collision prevention function. The water inlet joint 320 and the water outlet joint 420 are respectively arranged on two side walls 720 of the housing 700, such that the water heater can be conveniently connected to the water inlet pipe and the water outlet pipe respectively, thereby improving the convenience of mounting. It should be noted that a mounting hole (not shown) is provided in each of the two side walls 720 of the housing 700, and the water inlet joint 320 and the water outlet joint 420 are respectively fixed to the corresponding side walls 720 and partially extend out of the housing 700 through the mounting holes, and therefore can be quickly connected to the water inlet pipe and the water outlet pipe, thereby improving the mounting efficiency.

[0088]Referring to FIG. 7, it can be understood that the heating assembly 1000 includes a mounting bracket 600 configured to fix the plurality of cup bodies 100 arranged in parallel. In addition, the mounting bracket 600 may also be configured to fix the water inlet pipe 300 or the water outlet 400, such that the heating assembly 1000 can be stably mounted on the water heater. The mounting bracket 600 includes a support plate 610 and a mounting lug 620. The support plate 610 is fixedly connected to at least a part of the outer walls of the plurality of cup bodies 100 to assmble the plurality of cup bodies 100. The mounting lug 620 is located at each of two ends of the support plate 610 or arranged in the middle of the support plate 610. The support plate 610 and the plurality of cup bodies 100 can be fixed to the water heater together by the mounting lug 620. Such a design provides a simple and stable structure.

[0089]Referring to FIG. 10, it can be understood that the housing 700 includes a back shell 710, and the mounting bracket 600 is fixed to the back shell 710. As such, the heating assembly 1000 as a whole can be fixed to the housing 700 to form a stable structure, to prevent the heating assembly 1000 from detaching from the housing 700, thereby improving the overall stability of the water heater and improving the safety of storage and transportation.

[0090]Referring to FIG. 10, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the water heater further includes temperature sensors 800. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 6, a thermostat fixing piece 120 is arranged on the outer wall of each of the cup bodies 100 to fix the corresponding temperature sensor 800. The temperature sensors 800 are respectively configured to collect temperature parameters of the water flow chambers 110. The temperature sensors 800 are connected to the controller 900, such that the controller 900 can adjust the performance of the heating assembly 1000 according to the water temperatures in the water flow chambers 110.

[0091]Referring to FIG. 10, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the water heater further includes silicon controlled rectifiers 910. The silicon controlled rectifiers 910 are connected to the controller 900 and are respectively connected to the heating elements 200. The silicon controlled rectifiers 910 and the controller 900 are mounted in the housing 700. The silicon controlled rectifiers 910 are respectively configured to adjust heating power of the heating elements 200. The silicon controlled rectifiers 910 are arranged on the extension pipe segment 340 of the water inlet pipe 300. It should be noted that the silicon controlled rectifiers 910 generate heat during operation, and the arrangement of the silicon controlled rectifiers 910 on the extension pipe segment 340 is conducive to the mounting and layout. The cold water in the water inlet pipe 300 can be used to dissipate heat from the silicon controlled rectifiers 910 to cool the silicon controlled rectifiers 910, thereby improving the performance of the silicon controlled rectifiers 910. In addition, the silicon controlled rectifiers 910 can also increase the temperature of the cold water in the water inlet pipe 300, to reduce energy consumption of the heating assembly 1000.

[0092]Referring to FIG. 10, it can be understood that a flow sensor (not shown) is arranged on the water inlet pipe 300. The flow sensor is connected to the controller 900. According to the water inlet flow rate in the water inlet pipe 300 and water inlet temperatures in the plurality of water flow chambers 110, the controller 900 can control the silicon controlled rectifiers 910 to respectively adjust the heating power of the corresponding heating elements 200, to realize the control of the outlet water temperature of the heating assembly 1000, facilitate the adjustment of the outlet water temperature, and further improve the stability of the outlet water temperature, thereby realizing intelligent control of the water heater.

[0093]The embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail above in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, but the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments, and various changes may be made within the knowledge of those having ordinary skills in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.