IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,415,228
Granted Patent B2
US 11,415,228 · App. 17/059,149 · Granted Aug 16, 2022

Water outlet valve structure and humidifier having the same

Inventors: Zhongping Huang (Zhuhai, CN); Yihong Zhang (Zhuhai, CN); Zhenhua Lin (Zhuhai, CN); Zhicong Chen (Zhuhai, CN); Gang Liang (Zhuhai, CN); Jiandong Bai (Zhuhai, CN); Yuliang Xu (Zhuhai, CN); Jianhua Zhang (Zhuhai, CN)
Assignee: GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES, INC. OF ZHUHAI
F16K1/38F16K1/46F16K21/18F16K31/22Y10T137/7475Y10T137/7485
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,415,228
App. No.
17/059,149
Granted
Aug 16, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Water outlet valve structure and a humidifier having the same. Opening or closing of the water outlet valve structure is controlled by a control structure. The water outlet valve structure includes a flow channel including an inlet and an outlet. The control structure is capable of sealing or opening the outlet of the flow channel. The outlet of the flow channel is capable of being sealed or opened by the control structure of the water outlet valve structure, to control the open and close of the flow channel, thereby simplifying the water outlet valve structure. In a further aspect, since only the outlet is sealed, specific requirements for the structure of the control structure are relatively low, thereby allowing the control structure to be simplified.

Claims (59)

1. A water outlet valve structure, wherein:

the water outlet valve structure comprises a control structure, opening or closing of the water outlet valve structure is controlled by the control structure, the water outlet valve structure comprises a flow channel comprising an inlet and an outlet, and the control structure is capable of sealing or opening the outlet of the flow channel;

the water outlet valve structure further comprises a housing and a valve core assembly, the flow channel is located in the housing, the valve core assembly is capable of moving between an open position and a closed position to open or close the flow channel, the control structure is capable of controlling the valve core assembly in a non-contact manner through controlling movement of the valve core assembly from the closed position to the open position;

the flow channel comprises a water inflow channel and a water outflow channel; the water inflow channel is a tubular structure of which a first end is an opening and a second end is sealed; one end of the water outflow channel is in communication with the water inflow channel, and another end of the water outflow channel constitutes an outlet of the water outflow channel; an included angle is formed between an extension direction of the water inflow channel and an extension direction of the water outflow channel; and

the control structure is a lever structure comprising a first side structure located on one side of a fulcrum and a second side structure located on another side of the fulcrum; the valve core assembly is capable of opening or closing the first end of the water inflow channel; the first side structure is opposite to the valve core assembly, and is capable of driving the valve core assembly to move from the closed position to the open position, and the second side structure is opposite to the outlet of the water outflow channel, and is capable of sealing the outlet of the water outflow channel.

2. The water outlet valve structure according to claim 1 , wherein:

a water storage structure is disposed below the outlet of the flow channel; the control structure comprises a floating portion disposed in the water storage structure; the floating portion is capable of rising or descending with a liquid level in the water storage structure;

when the liquid level rises to a seal location, the floating portion seals the outlet of the flow channel; and

when the liquid level descends, the floating portion descends, and the outlet of the flow channel is open.

3. The water outlet valve structure according to claim 1 , comprising a water outflow structure disposed at the outlet of the flow channel; wherein,

the water outflow structure has a sealing portion;

the sealing portion has a water outlet; and

the sealing portion is capable of abutting against the control structure, thereby having the water outlet sealed by the control structure.

4. The water outlet valve structure according to claim 1 , wherein:

the valve core assembly comprises a first magnetic member;

the control structure comprises a second magnetic member disposed at a portion corresponding to the valve core assembly; and

a magnetic force generated between the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member is capable of controlling movement of the valve core assembly.

5. The water outlet valve structure according to claim 1 , wherein:

the first end of the water inflow channel and the outlet of the water outflow channel are capable of being simultaneously opened or simultaneously sealed.

6. The water outlet valve structure according to claim 1 , wherein:

the valve core assembly seals the first end of the water inflow channel when the valve core assembly is located at the closed position; and

the first side structure is capable of providing a pushing force to move the valve core assembly upward to the open position, thereby opening the first end of the water inflow channel.

7. The water outlet valve structure according to claim 1 , comprising a water outflow structure disposed at the outlet of the flow channel; wherein:

the water outflow structure has a sealing portion;

the sealing portion has a water outlet; and

the sealing portion is capable of abutting against a portion of the second side structure, thereby sealing the water outlet.

8. The water outlet valve structure according to claim 7 , wherein:

the water outlet faces downward; and

the sealing portion is located at a lower side of the water outflow structure.

9. The water outlet valve structure according to claim 7 , wherein

the water outflow structure further comprises a mounting portion inserted into the flow channel from the outlet of the flow channel; and

the mounting portion and the sealing portion constitute an L-shaped structure, and form an L-shaped flow channel in the water outflow structure.

10. The water outlet valve structure according to claim 9 , wherein:

a joining portion is formed on a side wall of the mounting portion;

a notch is formed on a side wall of the water outflow channel; and

the joining portion is capable of being inserted into and snap-fitted with the notch during mounting.

11. The water outlet valve structure according to claim 1 , wherein:

the lever structure is a float comprising a floating portion and a driving portion;

the floating portion constitutes the second side structure; and

the driving portion constitutes the first side structure.

12. The water outlet valve structure according to claim 1 , wherein:

the valve core assembly is capable of opening or closing a first end of the flow channel; and

the control structure is capable of driving the valve core assembly to move from a closed position to an open position.

13. The water outlet valve structure according to claim 12 , wherein:

the second side structure is opposite to the outlet of the flow channel, and is capable of sealing the outlet of the flow channel.

14. The water outlet valve structure according to claim 13 , comprising a blocking portion capable of deforming; wherein:

the first end of the water inflow channel constitutes the first end of the flow channel;

the second end of the water inflow channel is sealed by the blocking portion; and

the first side structure provides a pushing force to the valve core assembly in a contact manner.

15. The water outlet valve structure according to claim 14 , wherein:

the blocking portion comprises a blocking cover and a mounting structure;

the blocking cover seals the second end of the water inflow channel;

the blocking cover is made of a flexible material; and

the mounting structure fixes the blocking cover to the housing.

16. The water outlet valve structure according to claim 15 , wherein:

the mounting structure is an annular structure; and

the first side structure is capable of being in contact with the blocking cover and capable of providing the pushing force to deform the blocking cover.

17. A humidifier, comprising a water tank, a water storage structure, and the water outlet valve structure according to claim 1 ; wherein:

the water outlet valve structure is disposed at a water outlet of the water tank, and the water storage structure has the control structure disposed therein.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 26, 2020
From: HUANG, ZHONGPING; ZHANG, YIHONG; LIN, ZHENHUA; CHEN, ZHICONG; LIANG, GANG; BAI, JIANDONG; XU, YULIANG; ZHANG, JIANHUA
To: GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES, INC. OF ZHUHAI
Reel/Frame 054475/0875 →
Priority Claims (2)
CN 201810978815.5 · Aug 27, 2018 · national
CN 201810978890.1 · Aug 27, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210199200A1 · Jul 1, 2021
Cited By (2)
US 12,228,216 US 12,638,094