Electrical water heater

• US 7,315,692 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2005
• Issued: 01/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hung Chow
• Original Assignee: Hung Chow
• Inventors: Chow, Hung
• Primary Examiner(s): Campbell; Thor S.
• Application Number:
  US11/118,238
• Publication Number:
  US 20060243272A1
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 392/455
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/21083 with variable operating parameters, e.g. temperature or boiling period
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/21091 of electronic type

Abstract

The present invention discloses an electrical water heater including a container body which is adapted to contain a predetermined volume of water, a heating unit mounted to the heater body for heating the water, and a temperature control unit for operating the heating unit to heat the water. The temperature control unit includes a temperature adjuster for setting a heat-up temperature of the water, a thermal sensor for instantly monitoring a temperature of the water, a controlling circuit electrically coupled to the thermal sensor and the temperature adjustor for comparing the heat-up temperature and the temperature, whenever the temperature and the heat-up temperature are not matched, the controlling circuit is capable of outputting an operative signal to heating unit to manage a heating process.

Claims

1. An electrical water heater for accurately heating a predetermined amount of water at a predetermined temperature, comprising:

a water container which comprises a container body having a water cavity adapted for containing said water therewithin, and a container base provided underneath said container body for supporting said container body;

a water heater unit provided in said container base to terminally communicate with said water within said water cavity, in such a manner that said water heater unit is adapted for heating up said water at said predetermined temperature in an accurately controllable manner;

a temperature control unit, which comprises;

a thermal sensor provided in said container base to accurately detect a temperature of said water within said water cavity, wherein said thermal sensor comprises;

a sensor probe supported in said water container to protrude into said water cavity in such a manner that a head portion of said sensor probe is arranged to physically contact with said water for sensitively and accurately detecting a temperature change of said water within said water cavity; and

a temperature controller comprising a controlling circuit electrically communicated with said sensor probe, wherein said controlling circuit comprises a central processor unit for being selectively programmed to preset said predetermined temperature, a relay circuit electrically connected between said water heater unit and said central processor unit for selectively diverting an electrical current flowing between said water heater unit; and

a bridge rectifier circuit electrically connecting said central processor unit and said relay circuit to external power source to provide an optimal electrical power for said central processor unit and said relay circuit, wherein when said water temperature detected by said sensor probe is below said predetermined temperature, said central processor unit is arranged to deactivate said relay circuit for allowing an electric current flowing through said water heater unit so as to heat up said water within said water cavity until said a temperature of said water reaches said predetermined temperature, and when said water temperature as detected by said sensor probe is above said heat-up temperature, said central processor unit is arranged to activate said relay circuit so as to cut off said electric current flowing through said water heater unit so as to stop heating up said water within said water cavity.

2. The electrical water heater, as recited in claim 1, wherein said relay circuit comprises a relay, a diode electrically connected with said relay, and a triode electrically connected with said diode and said central processor unit, in such a manner that when said central processor unit determines said water temperature is below said predetermined temperature, said central processor unit is arranged to feed a high electrical level to said triode so as to deactivate said relay for said water heater unit to electrically connect with said electric current for heating up said water within said water cavity.

3. The electrical water heater, as recited in claim 1, wherein said sensor probe of said thermal sensor has a rounded head portion protruded from said container base to physically contact with said water within said water cavity, and comprises a thermistor embedded within said sensor head portion to electrically connect with said central processor unit, wherein said temperature of said water within said water cavity is arranged to be accurately and sensitively converted into a corresponding electrical signal of said thermistor and transmitted to said central processor unit for said central processor unit to compare a detected temperature with said predetermined temperature in a real-time basis.

4. The electrical water heater, as recited in claim 2, wherein said sensor probe of said thermal sensor has a rounded head portion protruded from said container base to physically contact with said water within said water cavity, and comprises a thermistor embedded within said sensor head portion to electrically connect with said central processor unit, wherein said temperature of said water within said water cavity is arranged to be accurately and sensitively converted into a corresponding electrical signal of said thermistor and transmitted to said central processor unit for said central processor unit to compare a detected temperature with said predetermined temperature in a real-time basis.

5. The electrical water heater, as recited in claim 3, wherein said temperature controller further comprises a temperature adjustor comprising a temperature setting switch electrically connected to said controlling circuit to selectively input said predetermined water temperature to be pre-programmed into said central processor unit, so that said central processor unit is adapted to timely activate said relay circuit for heating up said water within said water cavity when said water temperature is below said predetermined temperature.

6. The electrical water heater, as recited in claim 4, wherein said temperature controller further comprises a temperature adjustor comprising a temperature setting switch electrically connected to said controlling circuit to selectively input said predetermined water temperature to be pre-programmed into said central processor unit, so that said central processor unit is adapted to timely activate said relay circuit for heating up said water within said water cavity when said water temperature is below said predetermined temperature.

7. The electrical water heater, as recited in claim 1, wherein said water heater unit comprises an electro-thermal plate sealedly mounted between said container base and a bottom wall of said container body which is made of thermal conductive material, such that when said electro-thermal plate is activated by said controlling circuit, said electro-thermal plate generates heat through said bottom wall of said container body for heating up said water within said water cavity.

8. The electrical water heater, as recited in claim 5, wherein said water heater unit comprises an electro-thermal plate sealedly mounted between said container base and a bottom wall of said container body which is made of thermal conductive material, such that when said electro-thermal plate is activated by said controlling circuit, said electro-thermal plate generates heat through said bottom wall of said container body for heating up said water within said water cavity.

9. The electrical water heater, as recited in claim 6, wherein said water heater unit comprises an electro-thermal plate sealedly mounted between said container base and a bottom wall of said container body which is made of thermal conductive material, such that when said electro-thermal plate is activated by said controlling circuit, said electro-thermal plate generates heat through said bottom wall of said container body for heating up said water within said water cavity.

10. The electrical water heater, as recited in claim 7, wherein aid temperature adjustor further comprises a display screen electrically connected with said central processor unit and provided on an outer wall of said container base for displaying said predetermined temperature and said temperature of said water within said water cavity in a predetermined temperature scale.

11. The electrical water heater, as recited in claim 8, wherein aid temperature adjustor further comprises a display screen electrically connected with said central processor unit and provided on an outer wall of said container base for displaying said predetermined temperature and said temperature of said water within said water cavity in a predetermined temperature scale.

12. The electrical water heater, as recited in claim 9, wherein aid temperature adjustor further comprises a display screen electrically connected with said central processor unit and provided on an outer wall of said container base for displaying said predetermined temperature and said temperature of said water within said water cavity in a predetermined temperature scale.

13. The electrical water heater, as recited in claim 10, wherein said thermal sensor further comprises a sensor gasket provided on a bottom wall of said container body, wherein said sensor probe is arranged to be embedded by said sensor gasket so as to protect said sensor probe and sealingly demarcate said container body with said container base for preventing water leakage between said container body and said container base.

14. The electrical water heater, as recited in claim 11, wherein said thermal sensor further comprises a sensor gasket provided on a bottom wall of said container body, wherein said sensor probe is arranged to be embedded by said sensor gasket so as to protect said sensor probe and sealingly demarcate said container body with said container base for preventing water leakage between said container body and said container base.

15. The electrical water heater, as recited in claim 12, wherein said thermal sensor further comprises a sensor gasket provided on a bottom wall of said container body, wherein said sensor probe is arranged to be embedded by said sensor gasket so as to protect said sensor probe and sealingly demarcate said container body with said container base for preventing water leakage between said container body and said container base.

16. The electrical water heater, as recited in claim 13, wherein said water container further comprises an outer insulating casing integrally extended from said container base to sealedly enclose said container body in a heat insulating manner, wherein said insulating casing has a top opening communicating with said water cavity and a water filter provided at said top opening for filtering said water to be heated within said water cavity.

17. The electrical water heater, as recited in claim 14, wherein said water container further comprises an outer insulating casing integrally extended from said container base to sealedly enclose said container body in a heat insulating manner, wherein said insulating casing has a top opening communicating with said water cavity and a water filter provided at said top opening for filtering said water to be heated within said water cavity.

18. The electrical water heater, as recited in claim 15, wherein said water container further comprises an outer insulating casing integrally extended from said container base to sealedly enclose said container body in a heat insulating manner, wherein said insulating casing has a top opening communicating with said water cavity and a water filter provided at said top opening for filtering said water to be heated within said water cavity.

19. The electrical water heater, as recited in claim 17, wherein said container base further has a storage cavity and comprises an extractable extension cord which is electrically extended from said controlling circuit and is adapted to be wound up within said storage cavity.

20. The electrical water heater, as recited in claim 18, wherein said container base further has a storage cavity and comprises an extractable extension cord which is electrically extended from said controlling circuit and is adapted to be wound up within said storage cavity.