HEATING BLOCK FOR AN ELECTRIC CONTINUOUS FLOW HEATER AND ELECTRIC CONTINUOUS FLOW HEATER

Abstract

The invention is directed to a heating block (100) for a continuous flow heater in which a water flow system with channels is arranged in the heating block (100). A heating path (300) of the water flow system forms a hottest channel (340) with a hottest heating element (341) during operation of the continuous flow heater. The hottest channel (340) is arranged downstream of at least one channel (310, 320, 330) of the heating path (300) in a flow direction (110). The hottest channel (340) of the heating path (300) is surrounded by at least four channels which are located between an outer surface (120) of the heating block (100) and the hottest channel (340). Accordingly, the hottest channel (340) of the continuous flow heater is surrounded by at least four channels and is shielded relative to an air space (160).

Claims

1. Heating block for a continuous flow heater comprising: a water flow system, wherein the water flow system is arranged in the heating block, and has a heating path, a channel of the heating path being the hottest during operation, wherein a hottest heating element is arranged in the hottest channel, and the hottest channel is arranged downstream of at least one channel of the heating path in a flow direction, wherein the hottest channel of the heating path is surrounded by at least four channels which are located between an outer surface of the heating block and the hottest channel so that the channel which is hottest during operation of the continuous flow heater is surrounded by at least four channels and is shielded relative to an air space.

2. Heating block according to claim 1, wherein the hottest channel is surrounded by at least two channels which are unheated, and the hottest channel is surrounded by at least two further channels of the heating path so that the hottest channel is shielded relative to an outer surface by at least two unheated channels and by at least two heated channels.

3. Heating block for a continuous flow heater comprising: at least two channels having a heating element in each instance, wherein the heating channel with the heating element is hotter than heating elements during operation of the continuous flow heater, wherein at least two unheated channels as insulating leading section are located upstream of channels with heating bodies in a flow direction, and at least two channels as insulating trailing channels are arranged downstream of heating channels in the flow direction, wherein the hottest channel is surrounded by at least four channels so that the hottest channel is sealed relative to, and sealed off from, an air space by the surrounding channels in case of a defect in the hottest channel.

4. Heating block according to claim 3, wherein the heating path is formed of three channels with a heating element and the hottest heating channel, and wherein the hottest channel is located downstream of the three channels viewed in flow direction.

5. Heating block according to claim 4. wherein the hottest channel is surrounded in the heating block by at least two channels and particularly at least two, three or more than three unheated channels relative to an air space.

6. Heating block according to claim 5, wherein the channels are arranged at least partially parallel to one another and parallel to the hottest channel.

7. Electric continuous flow heater with a heating block according to claim 3.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view a heating block with exposed cross-sections;

[0022] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a heating block;

[0023] FIG. 3 shows a flow plan of the water flow system;

[0024] FIG. 4 shows electric connections of the heating body;

[0025] FIG. 5 shows a connection circuit board for the electric heating body;

[0026] FIG. 6 shows a star point bridge with connection of the heating body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] It will be appreciated by those ordinarily skilled in the art that the foregoing brief description and the following detailed description are exemplary (i.e., illustrative) and explanatory of the subject matter as set forth in the present disclosure, but are not intended to be restrictive thereof or limiting of the advantages that can be achieved by the present disclosure in various implementations.

[0028] It is noted that in this disclosure and particularly in the claims and/or paragraphs, terms such as “comprises”, “comprised”, “comprising” and the like can have the meaning attributed to it in U.S. Patent law; e.g., they can mean “includes”, “included”, “including”, and the like.

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a heating block 100 with an inlet 104 and an outlet 105 of an electric continuous flow heater. The heating block 100 is made of plastic and has a head 101. A water flow system is located in the heating block. Viewed in a flow direction 110, the water flow system comprises a leading section 200, followed by heating path 300 and a trailing section 500 following the heating path 300.

[0030] The leading section 200 and the trailing section 500 are provided for electric insulation relative to heating elements 311, 321, 331 and a hottest heating element 341 which are located in heating path 300. The leading section 200 is divided into a quantity of channels. Accordingly, the leading section 200 is divided into unheated and insulating channels 210, 220, 230, 240, 250.

[0031] Following the leading section 200 in flow direction 110 is the heating path 300, already mentioned, in which heating channels 310, 320, 330 and a hottest channel 340 are arranged in the embodiment example. A heating element 311, 321, 331 is arranged in a channel 310, 320, 330, respectively. The heating element 341 which is hottest during operation is arranged in the hottest channel 340. Therefore, during operation of the electric continuous flow heater 1, the hottest heating element 341 in the hottest channel 340 is the hottest because the hottest heating element further heats the water which has already been preheated by heating elements 311, 321, 331 so that the hottest heating element 341 is also the hottest in this case particularly at the end of the hottest channel 340 in flow direction 110.

[0032] Further, a flow unit 140 and an adjusting valve 130 are arranged at the heating block. The adjusting valve is preferably arranged in the leading section 200, where the flow unit 140 is also arranged.

[0033] The heating block 100 is shown in section in FIG. 2. The hottest heating body 341 which is arranged in the hottest channel 340 is surrounded by seven channels in the embodiment example. The seven channels seal off the hottest heating body 341 from an air space 160 and, accordingly, the hottest channel 340 is also shielded from, or at a distance from, an outer surface 120 of the heating block 100.

[0034] In the embodiment example, the hottest channel 340 is surrounded by three channels 310, 320, 330 which are heated. Further, the hottest channel 340 is surrounded by two parallel channels 410 and 420 in which the water coming from channel 320 and 330 is guided to the hottest channel 340 during operation of the continuous flow heater. The two parallel channels 410 and 420 serve to guide the already preheated water to the start of the hottest channel 340 during operation of the continuous flow heater 1. The deflection of the already preheated water takes place, seen in flow direction 110, downstream of the unheated parallel channels 410 and 420 in a foot 102 as is shown schematically in FIG. 3.

[0035] In the embodiment example shown in FIG. 4, the electrical connection of heating elements 311, 321 and 331 and of the hottest heating element 341 is carried out by a printed circuit board 600. In this embodiment, the printed circuit board 600 has a finger 601, 602, 603, 604 for connecting each heating element 311, 321 and 331 and the hottest element 341. These fingers 601, 602, 603, 604 are component parts of the printed circuit board 600, and conductor paths which are provided for the flow of electric current to heating elements 311, 321 and 331 and to the hottest element 341 are located on the fingers. In an embodiment, the printed circuit board 600 is arranged in head 101 in the area of the adjusting valve 130. The hottest channel 340 and the hottest heating element 341 are supplied with power via finger 604.

[0036] Heating elements 311, 321, 331 and the hottest heating element 341 are guided or stretch from head 101 to foot 102, and a star point bridge 103 by which the heating coils are electrically connected and accordingly arranged in a so-called electric star point as is shown in FIG. 6 is arranged in the area of the foot 102.

[0037] The trailing section 500 is divided into a plurality of channels 510, 520, 530 which are arranged in series one after the other.

[0038] Fingers 601, 602, 603, 604 of the heating body connection printed circuit board 600 are preferably configured to be resilient so that a tolerance compensation is achieved with respect to heating body connection pins of the heating bodies, preferably in head 101. The heating body connection pins can be located at different heights in the head 101 as a result of assembly tolerances and/or compressive stresses in the water. The printed circuit board 600 other serves to protect against wiring errors because only one assembling direction is possible and correct.

[0039] The printed circuit board 600, as “break-off circuit,” is preferably a component part of a main printed circuit board. The printed circuit board 600 is attached to the main printed circuit board, preferably at a predetermined breaking line.

[0040] The main circuit board is preferably manufactured together with the printed circuit board 600. This is preferably carried out in THT mounting and/or SMD mounting, and electronic components are connected by a solder wave to conductor paths of the printed circuit board 600 and main circuit board. During the production of the continuous flow heater, the printed circuit board 600 is broken off from the main circuit board and arranged at head 101.

[0041] While this invention has been described in conjunction with the specific embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of the invention as set forth above are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventions as defined in the following claims.