DE29902488U1 - Heating and pump module - Google Patents

Description

Applicant:

AL-KO AG
Ichenhauser Str. D-89359 Kötz

14

Representative:

Patent Attorneys Dipl.-Ing. H.-D. Ernicke Dipl.-Ing. Klaus Ernicke Schwibbogenplatz 2b D-86153 Augsburg

Date:

File:

12.02.1999 330-667 er/ge

DESCRIPTION Heating and pump module

The invention relates to a heating and pumping module with the features in the preamble of the main claim.

Hot water supplies with an electric or gas-powered instantaneous water heater and a separate pump system are known in practice. In household appliances, electric instantaneous water heaters with a pot-shaped heating tank and a separately arranged pump are used. These devices are tailored to the respective device design and have a corresponding construction and wiring effort. In addition, the heat generator and the external pump are each arranged in different places and connected by pipes.

It is the object of the present invention to show a better possibility for a hot water supply.

The invention solves this problem with the features in the main claim.

The invention proposes the use of a heating and pumping module for a hot water supply. This can be used to heat any liquid. The pump in the heating and pumping module according to the invention is arranged in the heating tank. This offers a particularly compact and easy-to-use design that can also be easily connected to a liquid and energy supply. The small design opens up a wide range of applications for the heating and pumping module, making it particularly suitable for use in leisure, hobby and gardening areas.

A particular advantage is the combination of the heat generator with the heating tank and the pump to form a compact unit. This can be permanently installed as a finished component in any suitable location. The unit can also be mobile and can be housed in a portable or mobile heating device, for example. This offers particular advantages for heating water in outdoor swimming pools or paddling pools and garden water for watering the garden.

The heating tank with the integrated pump forms a unit that is closed to the outside, with the liquid being supplied and drained via sealed tank connections. The heat generator and the heated water therefore have no negative environmental impact. The escape of steam is also avoided. In addition, the heating and pump module can have appropriate thermal insulation on the outside.

In the heating tank, the liquid is heated by a suitable heat generator, e.g. an electric heating coil, a gas burner or another suitable heat exchanger. The heated liquid is preferably sucked in from the inside of the tank by the pump and pumped to the outside. It is recommended that the pump and its drive be housed in a sealed and dry pump holder on the lid or the tank wall. This facilitates electrical insulation and the power supply. The pump can also be thermally insulated more easily.

Alternatively, the pump can be installed directly in the warm liquid bath if the housing is suitably sealed and insulated.

Further advantageous embodiments and areas of application of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1: a heating and pump module for a heater for

Hot water supply in side view,

Figure 2: a sectional view of the module according to section line II-II of Figure 1,

Figure 3: a heater designed as a swimming pool heater

Figure 4: a caravan with a heater for hot water supply and

Figure 5: a heater for use in the garden area

Figures 1 and 2 show a heating and pumping module (10) for a heater (4) or a hot water supply (13) or for heating any other liquid. Figures 3 to 5 show different areas of application for this.

The heating and pump module (10) combines a heat generator (9), in particular an electric flow heater (27), with a pump (25) and drive (26) and a heating tank (37) to form a small device. The heating and pump module (10) is preferably equipped with

30... electrical current via one or more cables (31,35). The heating and pumping module (10) can be housed in a mobile or stationary heating device (4). It is connected on the input side to a suction line (17) and on the output side to a discharge line (19), which can be designed in any way, rigidly, e.g. as pipes, or flexible, e.g. as hoses or the like. The heating and pumping module (10) can also be installed in a

- 4 passage channels
(24) (see Figure 3).

The heating and pump module (10) forms a compact, externally closed, thermally insulated and splash-proof unit that can be easily connected to a suitable energy and liquid supply.

In the embodiment shown, the heat generator (9) has a heating container (37) which is, for example, pot-shaped and is tightly sealed at the top with a lid (39) and suitable seals (40). The water (2) to be heated is located in the heating container (37). The heat is generated by an electric heater, e.g. an external heating coil (11) of an electric resistance heater on the bottom of the heating container (37), and is transferred to the water (2) inside the container. The heating container (37) is made of metal, plastic, a composite material or another suitable material and is, for example, double-walled, with a heat-permeable electrical insulation (38) arranged between the container walls. The heating container (37) can also be electrically insulated in any other way.

The pump (25) has an integrated electric drive (26) and is located in the heating container (37). With appropriate design and insulation, it can be located in the water bath (2). In the preferred embodiment, the pump (25) is housed dry in a sealed and insulating pump holder (41). The pump holder (41), which is also pot-shaped, is smaller than the interior of the heating container (37) and can be connected to the lid (39) or integrated into it. The electric pump cable (31) is led dry to the outside through the lid (39). In the embodiment shown, the pump holder (41) is located approximately in the middle of the heating container (37) and has a distance of

to the container bottom. Alternatively, the pump holder (41) can also be located elsewhere, e.g. near the side wall, and can be designed differently, e.g. by being integrated into the container side wall.

The pump (25) housed in the interior is connected to the water bath (2) in the heating tank (37) via an intake port (29). The intake port (29) protrudes outwards through the wall of the pump holder (41) in a sealed manner.

&iacgr;&ogr; On the output side, the pump (25) is connected via an outlet nozzle (28) to a container outlet (50) to which the output line or the passage channel (24) is connected. The outlet nozzle (28) also penetrates the wall of the pot-like pump holder (41) in a sealed manner and is then led out through the water bath (2) and the wall of the heating container (37) via the container outlet (50). The heating container (37) has a nozzle-like container inlet (49) at another suitable location through which the water to be heated can flow into the interior of the container. The container inlet (49) is connected to the intake line (17) or the passage channel (24) on the supply side.

The water (2) flowing in via the tank inlet (49) is heated by the heating coil (11) in the heating tank (37). The pump (25) sucks in the warm water through the intake port (29) and pumps it out through the outlet port (28). The negative pressure created in the sealed heating tank (37) causes fresh water to flow in via the intake line (17) or the passage channel (24) and the tank inlet (49). The flow can also be secured in another way by a dry-running protection device or the like. In addition, the circuit can be reversed by having the pump (25) suck in the cool water (2) from the correspondingly connected intake line (17) and pump it into the heating tank (37) for heating and forwarding to the also differently connected output line (18).

The pump (25) can be designed in any suitable manner and is preferably safe to run dry. For example, it is a cost-effective and compact vane pump. Alternatively, it can also be a piston pump, a gear pump or the like. It has a suitable, preferably electric drive (26) which is housed in a common housing. The drive (26) can be designed as a direct current or alternating current motor. The pump power cable (31) and the cable (35) for the heating coil (11) can be connected to one another via a distributor and connected to a common power cable.

To switch the heating coil (11) and the pump (25) on and off, a switch (32) can be arranged directly on the heating and pump module (10) or at another suitable location, e.g. on the heater (4). The switch (32) allows the components to be switched selectively, whereby the pump (25) and the heating coil (11) can be operated separately. In particular, the pump (25) can also run without the heat generator (9) and pump the water.

In the embodiment shown, the heating and pump module (10) functions as a continuous flow heater (27) that continuously heats the permanently circulating water in the heating tank (37). Alternatively, the water (2) can also be pumped in cycles. In the preferred embodiment, the heating output is controllable and adjustable. In addition, the pump output can be changed and controlled or regulated in a suitable manner.

The heating output of the heating and pump module (10) shown can be between 1 and 3 KW. The heating and pump module (10) also has a dry-run protection and a thermal protection. The pump output can be, for example,

between approx. 100 and 200 l/h. Additional features can include a thermostat and a temperature controller or a temperature regulator for the water or heating temperature. Protection class IPX 8/7 is preferred for electrical protection. Depending on the application of the heating and pump module (10), special filters, algae protection, etc. can also be used.

The heating and pump module (10) is preferably installed in independent heating devices (4) that can be used in any area for hot water supply (13). The leisure, hobby and garden areas are preferred. In addition, the heating and pump module (10) can also be used in any other way, for example by integrating it into an existing water supply device and in particular by retrofitting it. Figures 3 to 5 show various examples of use for this.

Figure 3 shows a swimming pool (1) set up outdoors, for example in the garden of a nearby residential building, which is filled with water (2).

Furthermore, a portable heating device (4) with the heating and pump module (10) can be seen next to the swimming pool on the ground (3), which is used to heat the water (2) in the swimming pool (1). The heating and pump module (10) is housed in a splash-proof manner inside the removable device housing (5).

The heating device (4) of Figure 3 is designed as a toy (20). The housing (5) is shaped like a mythical creature, especially a dragon or turtle. It has a body in which the heating and pumping module (10) is housed. The body has four feet (7) with which

it stands on the ground (3). Alternatively or additionally, rolling means (8) can also be present. A receiving device (42), e.g. a reel, for the power cable (35) is housed on the underside of the body, which is located at a distance from the ground (3). The housing (5) can have a seat, a saddle or the like for children on the top.

The housing (5) preferably has a liquid inlet (22) on the back, which is connected to a water supply in any way. This can be an external water supply, e.g. a water pipe. However, a suction hose (17) (not shown) can also be attached here. On the front of the housing (5) there is a slim and preferably multiply bendable neck (21) which has a spray head (47) with a liquid outlet (23) at the end. The head (47) can spray the heated and/or purified water (2) directly into the swimming pool (1). Alternatively, the liquid outlet (23) can also be designed in any other way and can have, for example, a discharge hose (18) (not shown).

The spray head (47) is designed, for example, as an animal head and has eyes and a mouth-shaped liquid outlet (23). The spray head (47) can contain additional functional components. In the preferred embodiment, it can be divided or opened in another way. A water treatment device (48) is housed inside. This can be a tablet compartment in the water flow area, which contains chlorine tablets, de-algae chemicals or other chemical products or physical devices for water treatment. A filter device (45) can also be housed in the spray head (47).

The heater (4) can have an earthing system. In the embodiment shown, a pointed spike is attached to a base (7) for this purpose as an earth conductor (46), which drills into the earth when the heater (4) is placed on the floor (3).

Inside the housing (5), the heating device (4) can have a fixed passage channel (14) to which the heating and pump module (10) is connected. Furthermore, a filter device (45) can be arranged in the passage channel (24). This can be accommodated in front of or behind the heating and pump module (10) in the housing (5) or alternatively or additionally positioned in the spray head (47) in the manner mentioned above.

The filter device (45) prevents the heating and pump module (10) from becoming dirty or clogged and retains impurities sucked in via the liquid inlet (22). The filter device (45), which is only shown schematically, preferably contains a filter insert, e.g. designed like a basket, which has the actual filter structure - for example a sieve or net-like structure - and which can be removed for cleaning or rinsing. The filter insert could also be replaced on an exchange basis with a clean filter insert. The integrated filter device (45) means that an additional filter for cleaning the swimming pool water (2) is not required.

The operating switch (32) is also arranged on the outside of the housing (5), which preferably has at least two switch positions or two switch buttons. The heating device (4) shown in Figure 3 can have a dual function as a pure circulation and filter device without heating and as a heating device with heating. The various functions can be selected using the switch (32) and the module components can be switched on individually.

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- 10 -

The electrical energy required to operate the heating and pumping module (10) is supplied via a suitable electrical cable (35), which should be of at least H 05 RNF quality. It has a conventional plug-in device at the free end, which enables connection to a power grid, whereby operation can conveniently take place at 220 volts. In order to enable operation further away from the power grid, the power cable (35) can have a sufficient length, e.g. at least 5 m.

Alternatively or additionally, it is also conceivable to provide at least part of the required energy via solar energy and to equip the heating device (4) with solar cells, for example.

Particularly if a higher heating output is desired, a heat generator (9) or continuous flow heater (27) can be provided that is operated with gaseous fuel. In this case, the heating container (37) has a corresponding gas burner or heat exchanger instead of the heating coil (11). In addition, a suitable gas tank, in particular a replaceable gas cartridge, is located on board the device housing (5).

The heater (4) is suitably splash-proof and has appropriate electrical insulation. In an alternative design, the heater (4) can also be operated in the swimming pool (1) and can be designed to float if necessary.

The heating device (4) can be used not only in connection with swimming pools (1) but also for heating the water (2) of other water basins or liquids of any other liquid containers, whereby, for example, in addition to leisure applications, applications

·

- Ii -

would be possible in the industrial sector.

Figure 4 shows another application area of the pump module (10) or the heater (4) in the camping and leisure sector. Here, the pump module (10) is used for the hot water supply (13) of a caravan, mobile home, camper van or similar vehicle. Alternatively, it can also be a stationary accommodation, e.g. in a leisure hut, a gazebo or the like. The pump module (10) is here

e.g., it is arranged on a water supply, e.g., a fresh water tank (16) and its intake hose (17) is immersed in the water (2). The output hose (18) is connected to an internal pipe system or a distribution system in the caravan (12). The pipe (14) leads, for example, to a shower (30), a faucet or similar other water dispenser. The tank (16) contains cold fresh water, which can be used for other purposes, e.g., for the hot water supply (13).

as flushing water. The heating and pump module (10) can be arranged at any suitable location and can also be present in multiple locations. The heat generator (9) can be operated with the gas supply that is usually available anyway in a caravan (12) or similar.

.*■

or can be powered by solar cells, gas or electricity.

The heating and pump module (10) can be integrated into the water supply (13) as a single module at a later date or can be included from the outset. In the application area shown, it is preferably permanently mounted and installed in a suitable location.

Figure 5 shows another variant of use in which the heating and pump module (10) is again used in conjunction with a mobile heating device (4). The heating device (4) has a suitable housing (5) with a carrying handle

·

(19) or a suitable chassis. In addition, the actuating switch (32) mentioned above can be arranged on the outside of the housing (5).

The heater (4) is used here for watering the garden. Watering the lawn and other crops and ornamental plants with heated water is beneficial for growth in many cases. The intake hose (17) of the heating and pump module (10) is connected to the

In this example, the water is hung in a rain barrel (16) or cistern located near the house (33). The intake hose (17) can also be connected to a water pipe in the house (33). The output hose (18) leads to a water dispenser, e.g. a lawn sprinkler (15).

Any modifications to the heating devices (4) and the heating and pump module (10) described in the exemplary embodiments are possible. Other small and easy-to-use heat sources can also be used as heat generators (9) for the heating device (4). In particular, a gas heater with a gas cartridge can serve as the heat generator. The heat transfer can take place via a suitable heat exchanger. In a further modification to the embodiment shown, the flow heater (27) can be heated electrically in another way, e.g. inductively by high-frequency alternating currents. Furthermore, the heat generator (9) can work intermittently, whereby a water reservoir is heated and pumped around in cycles.

In a further modification, the heater (4) can have another suitable dry-running protection device on the water intake side, which provides, for example, a check valve in the intake hose (17) or at the liquid inlet (22). This means that a column of water remains on the intake side when the pump (25) is switched off.

- 13 - LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

1 Swimming pool 2 Water 3 Underground 4 heater 5 Housing 6 Holding device, handle 7 Support, foot CX) Rolling stock 9 Heat generator 10 Heating and pump module 11 Heat exchanger, heating coil, heat exchanger 12 Caravan, Motorhome 13 Water supply, hot water supply 14 Management, distribution 15 Lawn sprinkler 16 Water supply, rain barrel, water tank 17 Intake line, intake hose 18 Discharge line, discharge hose 19 Carrying handle 20 Play equipment 21 Neck 22 _f liquid inlet 23 Fluid outlet 24 Passage channel 25 pump 26 Drive motor 27 Instantaneous water heater 28 Duct section, outlet nozzle 29 Duct section, intake manifold 30 Shower 31 Pump cable 32 Actuator switch 33 House 34 35 Cable, power cable

- 14 - Heating tank insulation 36 Lid 37 poetry 38 Pump holder 39 Pick-up device, reel 40 41 42 Filter device 43 Earth conductor 44 spray nozzle 45 Water treatment facility, tablet compartment 46 Container inlet 47 Container outlet 48 49 50

Claims (14)

1. Heating and pumping module for heating and conveying liquids, consisting of a heat generator with a heating tank and a pump, characterized in that the pump ( 25 ) is arranged in the heating tank ( 37 ). 2. Heating and pumping module according to claim 1, characterized in that the heat generator ( 9 ) is combined with the heating container ( 37 ) and the pump ( 25 ) to form a compact structural unit. 3. Heating and pumping module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the heating container ( 37 ) can be tightly closed by a lid ( 39 ) and has a container inlet ( 49 ) and a container outlet ( 50 ) for the liquid ( 2 ). 4. Heating and pumping module according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the pump ( 25 ) is arranged in a sealed pump holder ( 41 ) and has outwardly leading suction and outlet nozzles ( 29 , 28 ). 5. Heating and pumping module according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the pump holder ( 41 ) is attached to the lid ( 39 ) or the container wall. 6. Heating and pumping module according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the pump ( 25 ) is connected on the suction side to the interior of the heating container ( 37 ) and on the pressure side to the container outlet ( 50 ). 7. Heating and pumping module according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the pump ( 25 ) has an integrated drive ( 26 ). 8. Heating and pumping module according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the heat generator ( 9 ) is designed as a gas or electric heater. 9. Heating and pumping module according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the heat generator ( 9 ) is designed as a continuous flow heater ( 27 ). 10. Heating and pumping module according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the heat generator ( 9 ) has an electrical heating coil ( 11 ) on the outside at the bottom of the heating container ( 37 ). 11. Heating and pumping module according to claim 10, characterized in that the heating container ( 37 ) has an electrically insulated ( 38 ) wall. 12. Heating and pumping module according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the heat generator ( 9 ) and the pump ( 25 ) can be switched separately. 13. Heating and pumping module according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the heating and pumping module ( 10 ) is arranged in a portable heating device ( 4 ) for heating water ( 2 ) of swimming and paddling pools ( 1 ) or water ( 2 ) for garden irrigation. 14. Heating and pumping module according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the heating and pumping module ( 10 ) is arranged in a water supply ( 13 ) for a caravan or a mobile home.