Induction heater and water dispenser

• US 10,472,223 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2016
• Issued: 11/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Moon, Jungmin
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hung D
• Application Number:
  US15/241,164
• Publication Number:
  US 20170050835A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 219628, 219629, 219630
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0004 the beverage being stored in a container, e.g. bottle, cartridge, bag-in-box, bowl
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0864 in the form of a cooling bath
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0895 Heating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/108 for heating a fluid

Abstract

An induction heater and a water dispenser having an induction heater are provided. The induction heater may include a hot water tank assembly formed by coupling edges of a first cover and a second cover to each other and provided with an inner space to heat liquid. The first cover may be configured to have a flat plate shape and to be heated by a working coil. The second cover may include a base configured to face the first cover and separated from the first cover, and a welding portion formed by welding with the first cover and provided on a protruding surface that protrudes from the base toward the first cover.

Claims

1. An induction heater, comprising:

a working coil formed by a conducting wire wound in an annular shape;

a first cover;

a second cover;

a hot water tank assembly formed by coupling edges of the first cover and the second cover to each other, and provided with an inner space to heat liquid, the first cover formed of a metal material and having a flat plate corresponding to the working coil to be heated by the working coil;

a gap spacer formed in an annular shape corresponding to the working coil; and

a temperature sensor provided in holes of the working coil and the gap spacer to face the hot water tank assembly.

2. The induction heater of claim 1, wherein the second cover includes:

a water inlet pipe configured to receive liquid; and

a flow dispersion portion connected to the water inlet pipe and formed to protrude in a direction away from the first cover, wherein a distance between the flow dispersion portion and the first cover may be larger than that between the base and the first cover.

3. The induction heater of claim 1, wherein the second cover includes:

a water outlet pipe configured to discharge liquid; and

a flow joining portion connected to the water outlet pipe and formed to protrude in a direction away from the first cover, wherein a distance between the flow joining portion and the first cover may be larger than that between the base and the first cover.

4. The induction heater of claim 3 wherein the flow joining portion includes:

a separated surface that faces the first cover at a position further separated from the first cover than the base; and

an inclined surface formed at a circumference of the separated surface and connected between the base and the separated surface.

5. The induction heater of claim 4, wherein the inclined surface of the flow joining portion is provided to face the water outlet pipe in an inclined state and separated from the water outlet pipe.

6. The induction heater of claim 1, wherein the second cover includes:

a water inlet pipe configured to receive liquid;

a water outlet pipe configured to discharge liquid;

a flow dispersion portion connected to the water inlet pipe and formed to protrude in a direction away from the first cover, wherein a distance between the flow dispersion portion and the first cover may be larger than that between the base and the first cover; and

a flow joining portion connected to the water outlet pipe and formed to protrude in a direction away from the first cover, wherein a distance between the flow joining portion and the first cover may be larger than that between the base and the first cover.

7. The induction heater any one of claims 2 and 6, wherein the flow dispersion portion includes:

a separated surface that faces the first cover at a position further separated from the first cover than the base; and

an inclined surface formed at a circumference of the separated surface and connected between the base and the separated surface.

8. The induction heater of claims 7, wherein the inclined surface of the flow dispersion portion is provided to face the water inlet pipe in an inclined state and separated from the water inlet pipe.

9. The induction heater of claim 1, wherein the second cover includes a protrusion portion protruding from the base toward the first cover.

21. The induction heater any one of claims 1, 12, 15 and 18, wherein the welding portion has a closed curve shape.

24. The induction heater of claim 7, wherein the first protrusion portion and the second protrusion portion are integrally formed by press processing.

25. The induction heater of claim 7, wherein an extension length of the second protrusion portion is larger than a width of the first protrusion portion.

26. The induction heater of claim 7, wherein the hot water tank assembly includes a plurality of the second protrusion portions, and at least part of the plurality of the second protrusion portions is provided to contact with liquid introduced into the water inlet pipe and liquid to be discharged through the water outlet pipe.

35. A water dispenser including the induction heater according to any one of claims 1, 10, 13, 16, and 30.

10. An induction heater, comprising:

a working coil formed by a conducting wire wound in an annular shape;

a first cover;

a second cover; and

a hot water tank assembly formed by coupling edges of the first cover and the second cover to each other, and provided with an inner space to heat liquid, the first cover formed of a metal material having a flat plate corresponding to the working coil to be heated by the working coil,

wherein the second cover includes;

a base configured to face the first cover, separated from the first cover and forming the inner space with the first cover;

a water inlet pipe configured to receive liquid; and

a flow dispersion portion connected to the water inlet pipe and formed to protrude in a direction away from the first cover, wherein a distance between the flow dispersion portion and the first cover is larger than that between the base and the first cover,

wherein the flow dispersion portion includes;

a water inlet pipe connection surface protruding in the direction away from the first cover, and connected to the water inlet pipe;

a separated surface that faces the first cover at a position further separated from the first cover than the base; and

an inclined surface formed at a circumference of the separated surface, connected between the base and the separated surface, provided to face the water inlet pipe in an inclined state, and separated from the water inlet pipe.

11. The induction heater of claim 10, wherein the second cover includes a protrusion portion protruding from the base toward the first cover.

12. The induction heater of claim 11, wherein the second cover includes a welding portion formed by welding with the first cover and formed on a protruding surface that protrudes from the base toward the first cover.

19. The induction heater any one of claims 12, 15 and 18, wherein at least one welding portion is formed at each side of the protrusion portion.

20. The induction heater any one of claims 12, 15 and 18, wherein the protrusion portion includes a first portion and a second portion that extend in opposite directions to each other around the welding portion.

22. The induction heater any one of claims 12, 15 and 18, wherein the induction heater includes a temperature sensor provided at an opposite side to the second cover based on the first cover, and the welding portion is provided to not overlap with the temperature sensor.

23. The induction heater any one of claims 5, 12, 15, and 18, wherein the protrusion portion includes:

a first protrusion portion that extends toward the water inlet pipe and the water outlet pipe; and

a second protrusion portion that extends in a direction which crosses an extension direction of the first protrusion portion.

27. The induction heater of claim 23, wherein the first protrusion portion includes a first portion and a second portion extended in opposite directions to each other around the welding portion, and at least one of the second protrusion portion is formed at an end portion of the first portion and an end portion of the second portion, respectively.

28. The induction heater any one of claims 2, 6, 10, and 16, wherein the flow dispersion portion is integrally formed with the base by press processing.

13. An induction heater, comprising:

a working coil formed by a conducting wire wound in an annular shape;

a first cover;

a second cover; and

a hot water tank assembly formed by coupling edges of the first cover and the second cover to each other, and provided with an inner space to heat liquid, the first cover formed of a metal material and having a flat plate corresponding to the working coil to be heated by the working coil,

wherein the second cover includes;

a base configured to face the first cover, separated from the first cover, and forming the inner space with the first cover;

a water outlet pipe configured to discharge liquid; and

a flow joining portion connected to the water outlet pipe and formed to protrude in a direction away from the first cover, wherein a distance between the flow joining portion and the first cover is larger than that between the base and the first cover, and

wherein the flow joining portion includes;

a water outlet pipe connection surface protruding in the direction away from the first cover, and connected to the water outlet pipe;

a separated surface that faces the first cover at a position further separated from the first cover than the base; and

an inclined surface formed at a circumference of the separated surface, connected between the base and the separated surface, provided to face the water outlet pipe in an inclined state, and separated from the water outlet pipe.

14. The induction heater of claim 13, wherein the second cover includes a protrusion portion protruding from the base toward the first cover.

15. The induction heater of claim 14, wherein the second cover includes a welding portion formed by welding with the first cover and formed on a protruding surface that protrudes from the base toward the first cover.

29. The induction heater any one of claims 6, 13 and 16, wherein the flow joining portion is integrally formed with the base by press processing.

16. An induction heater, comprising:

a working coil formed by a conducting wire wound in an annular shape;

a first cover;

a second cover; and

a hot water tank assembly formed by coupling edges of the first cover and the second cover to each other, and provided with an inner space to heat liquid, the first cover formed of a metal material and having a flat plate corresponding to the working coil to be heated by the working coil,

wherein the second cover includes;

a base configured to face the first cover, separated from the first cover, and forming the inner space with the first cover;

a water inlet pipe configured to receive liquid;

a water outlet pipe configured to discharge liquid;

a flow dispersion portion connected to the water inlet pipe and formed to protrude in a direction away from the first cover, wherein a distance between the flow dispersion portion and the first cover is larger than that between the base and the first cover; and

a flow joining portion connected to the water outlet pipe and formed to protrude in a direction away from the first cover, wherein a distance between the flow joining portion and the first cover is larger than that between the base and the first cover,

wherein the flow dispersion portion includes;

a water inlet pipe connection surface protruding in the direction away from the first cover, and connected to the water inlet pipe;

a first separated surface that faces the first cover at a position further separated from the first cover than the base; and

a first inclined surface formed at a circumference of the first separated surface, connected between the base and the first separated surface, provided to face the water inlet pipe in an inclined state, and separated from the water inlet pipe,

wherein the flow joining portion includes;

a water outlet pipe connection surface protruding in the direction away from the first cover, and connected to the water outlet pipe;

a second separated surface that faces the first cover at a position further separated from the first cover than the base; and

a second inclined surface formed at a circumference of the second separated surface, connected between the base and the second separated surface, provided to face the water outlet pipe in an inclined state, and separated from the water outlet pipe.

17. The induction heater of claim 16, wherein the second cover includes a protrusion portion protruding from the base toward the first cover.

18. The induction heater of claim 17, wherein the second cover includes a welding portion formed by welding with the first cover and formed on a protruding surface that protrudes from the base toward the first cover.

30. An induction heater, comprising:

a working coil formed by a conducting wire wound in an annular shape;

a first cover;

a second cover;

a hot water tank assembly formed by coupling edges of the first cover and the second cover to each other, and provided with an inner space to heat liquid, and having a water inlet pipe configured to receive liquid and a water outlet pipe configured to discharge liquid, the first cover formed of a metal material and having a flat plate corresponding to the working coil to be heated by the working coil; and

an outer case configured to support the hot water tank assembly,

wherein the working coil is mounted on the outer case with the working coil placed between the hot water tank assembly and the outer case,

wherein the second cover includes;

a base configured to face the first cover, to be separated from the first cover, and to form the inner space with the first cover; and

a protrusion portion protruding from the base toward the first cover,

wherein the protrusion portion includes;

a plurality of first protrusions that extend toward the water inlet pipe and the water outlet pipe; and

a plurality of second protrusions that extend in a direction that crosses an extension direction of the first protrusion portion,

wherein the plurality of first protrusions are spaced apart from the water inlet pipe and the water outlet pipe, and the plurality of first protrusions are spaced apart from each other, and

wherein the plurality of second protrusions are spaced apart from the water inlet pipe and the water outlet pipe, and the plurality of second protrusions are spaced apart from each other.

31. The induction heater of claim 30, further comprising a gap spacer formed in a flat plate and provided between the working coil and the hot water tank assembly,

wherein two surfaces of the gap spacer are pressurized by coupling the hot water tank assembly and the outer case, and the gap spacer is configured to maintain a constant thickness to constantly maintain a gap between the working coil and the hot water tank assembly.

32. The induction heater of claim 31, wherein the gap spacer is formed in an annular shape corresponding to the working coil, and

a temperature sensor is provided in holes of the working coil and the gap spacer to face the hot water tank assembly.

33. The induction heater of claim 31, wherein the gap spacer is formed of a flame-retardant material having a thermal resistance.

34. The induction heater of claim 31, wherein the gap spacer is formed of an electrically insulating material.