Control device for expansion tank and water heater

Abstract

An expansion tank control device and a water heater and expansion tank including the expansion tank control device. The device may include a water flow sensor arranged in a water inlet waterway of a water heater to detect water flow in the water inlet waterway. The device can further include a controller outputting a driving electric signal after receiving a first electric signal output by the water flow sensor, and a reset electric signal after receiving a second electric signal output by the water flow sensor. The expansion tank can include an electric driving part arranged on a shell of the expansion tank, and a push plate on a driving end of the part, a controlled end of the electric driving part driving the push plate to move toward the expansion tank after receiving the driving electric signal or away from the expansion tank after receiving the reset electric signal.

1 . An expansion tank control device, comprising:
 a water flow sensor configured to be positioned in a water inlet waterway of a water heater, wherein the water flow sensor is configured to send a first electric signal after detecting a water flow in the water inlet waterway, and a second electric signal after detecting that no water flow exists in the water inlet waterway; and   an electric driving part coupled to an expansion tank, wherein a driving end of the electric driving part is provided with a push plate, the push plate being configured to move in a direction toward the expansion tank in response to the first electric signal, and in a direction away from the expansion tank in response to the second electric signal.   
     
     
         2 . The expansion tank of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a controller, wherein an input end of the controller is connected to an output end of the water flow sensor, and wherein the controller is configured to output a driving electric signal after receiving the first electric signal by the water flow sensor, and is configured to output a reset electric signal after receiving the second electric signal by the water flow sensor.   
     
     
         3 . The expansion tank of  claim 2 , wherein a controlled end of the electric driving part is connected to an output end of the controller, and wherein the controlled end of the electric driving part is configured to move the push plate in a direction toward the expansion tank upon receiving the driving electric signal, and the controlled end of the electric driving part is configured to move the push plate in a direction away from the expansion tank upon receiving the reset electric signal. 
     
     
         4 . The expansion tank of  claim 2 , wherein the electric driving part comprises an electromagnet;
 wherein, upon receiving the driving electric signal, a controlled end of the electromagnet is powered on and a driving end of the electromagnet moves in a direction toward the expansion tank; and   wherein, upon receiving the reset electric signal, the controlled end of the electromagnet is powered off and the driving end of the electromagnet moves in a direction away from the expansion tank.   
     
     
         5 . The expansion tank control device of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a fixed seat configured to be positioned on a shell of the expansion tank, wherein the electric driving part is arranged on the fixed seat, and   structure defining a through hole formed on the fixed seat, wherein the driving end of the electric driving part moves along the through hole.   
     
     
         6 . The expansion tank control device of  claim 5 , wherein the electric driving part comprises a motor, a screw rod and a nut, the nut being positioned in the through hole, the push plate operably coupled to the nut, and one end of the screw rod is coupled to an output shaft of the motor, while another end of the screw rod is coupled to the nut;
 wherein, upon receiving the driving electric signal, a controlled end of the motor rotates the screw rod in a first direction, and the nut moves along the through hole in a direction toward the expansion tank; and   wherein, upon receiving the reset electric signal, the controlled end of the motor rotates the screw rod in an opposite direction, and the nut moves along the through hole in a direction away from the expansion tank.   
     
     
         7 . The expansion tank control device of  claim 6 , wherein a chute is formed in the through hole, and an outer wall of the nut is formed with a rib configured to engage with the chute. 
     
     
         8 . The expansion control device of  claim 7 , wherein the rib moves along the chute to create stability of the push plate in pushing and pressing the expansion tank. 
     
     
         9 . The expansion control device of  claim 1 , wherein the electric driving part further comprises an electric cylinder or an electric worm gear capable of extending or retracting the driving end. 
     
     
         10 . A water heater, comprising:
 a water inlet waterway;   a heating tank;   an expansion tank control device including an expansion tank and a water flow sensor positioned between a water source and the heating tank, wherein the water flow sensor is configured to send a first electric signal after detecting a water flow in the water inlet waterway, and a second electric signal after detecting that no water flow exists in the water inlet waterway; and   a venturi pipe positioned on the water inlet waterway at an opening of the expansion tank.   
     
     
         11 . The water heater of  claim 10 , wherein the flow sensor is a water pressure sensor or a conductivity sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The water heater of  claim 10 , wherein the expansion tank control device further comprises an electric driving part coupled to an expansion tank, wherein a driving end of the electric driving part is provided with a push plate, the push plate being configured to move in a direction toward the expansion tank in response to the first electric signal, and in a direction away from the expansion tank in response to the second electric signal. 
     
     
         13 . The water heater of  claim 10 , wherein the venturi pipe is arranged at a downstream position of a waterway of the water flow sensor to provide a supporting force for the water flow sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The water heater of  claim 10 , wherein, upon receiving a detected signal from the water flow sensor, water is released from the heating tank to the expansion tank. 
     
     
         15 . An expansion tank control device, comprising:
 a water flow sensor configured to be positioned in a water inlet waterway of a water heater, wherein the water flow sensor is configured to send a first electric signal after detecting a water flow in the water inlet waterway, and a second electric signal after detecting that no water flow exists in the water inlet waterway;   an expansion tank having a shell and a fixed seat formed on the shell; and   an electric driving part coupled to the expansion tank via the fixed seat,   wherein the fixed seat includes structure defining a through hole, and wherein a driving end of the electric driving part is configured to move along the through hole.   
     
     
         16 . The expansion tank control device of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a fixing piece, and   wherein the fixed seat further comprises a pair of fixing lugs having structure defining fixing holes,   wherein the fixing piece is configured to penetrates through a connecting hole formed in a shell of the electric driving part and the fixing hole to fix the electric driving part to the expansion tank.   
     
     
         17 . The expansion tank control device of  claim 15 , wherein a driving end of the electric driving part is provided with a push plate, the push plate being configured to move in a direction toward the expansion tank in response to the first electric signal, and in a direction away from the expansion tank in response to the second electric signal. 
     
     
         18 . The expansion tank of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a controller, wherein an input end of the controller is connected to an output end of the water flow sensor, and wherein the controller is configured to output a driving electric signal after receiving the first electric signal by the water flow sensor and is configured to output a reset electric signal after receiving the second electric signal by the water flow sensor.   
     
     
         19 . The expansion tank of  claim 18 , wherein a controlled end of the electric driving part is connected to an output end of the controller, and wherein the controlled end of the electric driving part is configured to move the push plate in a direction toward the expansion tank upon receiving the driving electric signal, and the controlled end of the electric driving part is configured to move the push plate in a direction away from the expansion tank upon receiving the reset electric signal. 
     
     
         20 . The expansion tank control device of  claim 15 , wherein the electric driving part comprises a motor, a screw rod and a nut;
 wherein a chute is formed in the through hole;   wherein an outer wall of the nut is formed with a rib configured to engage with the chute; and   wherein the rib moves along the chute to create stability of the push plate in pushing and pressing the expansion tank.