CN110380251A - Technique for the contact plate of electric heater connection component and for obtaining contact plate - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a kind of contact plates (10) of the connection component (1) of electric heater for shower, tap or the other point of use for needing hot water, plate (10) is equipped with drive system (11) and load-bearing part (17), drive system (11) includes the multiple electrical contacts (14 provided by the first punch components (12) and the second punch components (13), 15,16).The invention also includes the manufacturing process of contact plate (10).According to the present invention, contact plate (10) includes the associated component that quantity is reduced, and it is obtained by the technique of the manufacture and assembly manipulation that include quantity reduction, so that it is guaranteed that biggish simplification and flexibility in the production of contact plate (10), and therefore reduce failure generation and cost.

Description

Contact plate for an electric water heater connection assembly and process for obtaining the contact plate

technical field

The present invention relates to a contact plate for a connection assembly of an electric water heater for a shower, faucet or other point of use requiring hot water. The invention also relates to a method for obtaining a contact plate.

Background technique

Currently, there are many forms of water heating on the market, whether for showers, faucets, or any suitable application. Water heating is carried out by three different methods: i) regenerative heaters, whether running on gas or electricity; ii) channel heaters, whether running on gas or electricity; and iii) solar heaters . In Brazil, the most common method of heating water is the electric channel heater.

Electric channel heaters have several advantages over the other types of heating mentioned earlier, such as:

i) the fact that the heating is instant without the need to pre-heat the water or to reserve large quantities of heated water;

ii) throughout the use of the electric channel heater, the water temperature will not decrease or change as in the case of solar heaters;

iii) Electric channel heaters have a reduced size, so they do not require a large installation space;

iv) Electric channel heaters are very versatile and can be installed directly at the point of use or wherever hot water is required.

In addition, electric channel heaters are usually automatic, i.e. the heater is turned on only when the associated water meter is turned on, so that the heater is only on during the day when the water meter associated with the heater is turned on Or instantly provide hot water and consume electricity at night.

Given the many advantages offered by electric channel heaters, the device should generally be refined to ensure user safety, increased product durability, and reduced cost.

Conventional electric heaters used in showers or electric hot water faucets comprise a heating assembly through which water flows and is in contact with a heating element (so-called electrical resistance) associated with the electrical grid. Only when the water meter is turned on so that the water path operates the connection components included in the electric heater, current can pass through the resistance.

The connection assembly basically comprises a carrier, associated to the carrier at least one flexible plunger (also referred to as a diaphragm) and at least one drive system comprising sets of electrical contacts connected to power conductors. After the water passes through the connection assembly, it exerts a weight on the flexible plunger, which then bends, making contact with the electrical contacts of the drive system, which in turn make contact with the conductors that power the resistors to initiate the water movement. heating.

The drive system of the electric heater includes a plurality of electrical contacts that are manufactured separately, mounted on a carrier and welded together, or joined by other suitable mechanisms. The linkage of the drive system to the carrier forms a contact plate, which is then attached to the body/housing of the electric heater. The energy conductors are attached to the contact plates after being installed and fixed on the heater body.

The manufacture and assembly of the contact plate obtained in the state of the art generally comprises the following steps:

i) a first electrical contact of the stamping drive system;

ii) a second electrical contact of the punch drive system;

iii) the third electrical contact of the punch drive system;

iv) mounting each of the electrical contacts obtained in steps (i), (ii) and (iii) on a carrier; and

v) Soldering the electrical contacts on the carrier to form a contact plate.

It is important to note that the described steps (i), (ii) and (iii) can be deployed in a series of additional steps, each step including stamping individual electrical contacts. Thus, the number of stamping steps will correspond to the number of electrical contacts provided on the contact plate. Thus, for four electrical contacts, four stages of stamping would be required; for five electrical contacts, five stages of stamping would be required, and so on.

Therefore, as can be seen, the manufacture and assembly of the contact plates of the connector assemblies of electric heaters is generally slow and expensive, with a high probability of failure due to the large number of separate components and operations involved.

Therefore, it is necessary to obtain a contact plate for a connection assembly of an electric water heater, which includes a reduced number of associated components, and which also includes a smaller number of operations in the manufacturing and assembly process, thereby ensuring the production of the contact plate. greater simplicity and flexibility, and thus less failures, less manufacturing time and less cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first object of the present invention is to provide a contact plate for a connection assembly of an electric water heater comprising a reduced number of associated components, thus ensuring greater ease and flexibility in the manufacture of the contact plate assembly and thus reducing failures and reduced production costs.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a process for obtaining a contact plate comprising a reduced number of associated components, wherein the process includes a reduced number of manufacturing and assembly operations.

The object of the invention is achieved by a contact plate of a connection assembly of an electric water heater, wherein the contact plate is provided with a drive system and a carrier, the drive system comprising a plurality of electrical contacts, wherein the drive system and its electrical contacts are formed by a first A stamped part and a second stamped part are provided.

The object of the invention is also achieved by a method for obtaining a contact plate of a connection assembly of an electric water heater, the contact plate comprising a drive system and a carrier, the method comprising the steps of: i) punching the first part, which enables the drive system The first part of the drive system is configured with a plurality of electrical contacts, a plurality of fold lines, a plurality of mounting flaps and a plurality of removable parts; ii) stamping the second part, which configures the second part of the drive system with a plurality of electrical contacts, fold lines, mounting flaps and removable parts; iii) folding the first and second parts obtained in steps (i) and (ii) by means of the fold lines components; iv) joining the first and second components obtained in step (iii) with the carrier by means of mounting flaps; and v) removing the removable parts of the first and second components; The bonding between the first and second parts and the carrier implemented in step (iv) is carried out by means of an implantation process, and the removal of the removable parts implemented in step (v) is carried out by means of a cutting process remove.

Description of drawings

The invention will be further described on the basis of implementation examples presented in the accompanying drawings. The attached figure shows:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a state of the art connection assembly;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a contact plate of the present invention;

3 is a top view of the first stamping part of the contact plate drive system of the present invention;

4 is a perspective view of the first stamping member of the contact plate drive system of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the second stamping part of the contact plate drive system of the present invention;

6 is a perspective view of the second stamping member of the contact plate drive system of the present invention;

7 is a perspective view of a contact plate of the present invention with a removable portion of the contact plate protruding;

8 is a top view of a contact plate of the present invention with a removable portion of the contact plate protruding; and

Figure 9 is a top view of the contact plate of the present invention after its removable portion has been removed.

Detailed ways

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a connection assembly 1 of a state of the art electric water heater (not shown). The state of the art connector assembly 1 includes at least one flexible plunger (not shown) received/inserted in a carrier 2 on which is mounted a drive system 3 comprising at least one An assembly composed of individual electrical contacts 4 . The plunger acts by driving the electrical contact 4, which is responsible for transferring the power received to the resistance of the electric heater (not shown).

The contact 4 is associated with at least one supply conductor 5 connected to the power grid, and also with a flexible plunger by means of a connecting conductor (not shown).

As explained above, the assembly and connection between the drive system 3 and the carrier 2 forms a contact plate, which in the state of the art comprises a series of interrelated individual components.

The present invention features an innovative contact plate 10 of the connection assembly 1 of an electric water heater, the contact plate 10 comprising a reduced number of associated components.

As can be seen in FIG. 2 , the contact plate 10 of the invention is provided with a drive system 11 comprising a plurality of electrical contacts, the drive system 11 being mounted on a carrier 17 .

A great advantage of the contact plate 10 of the present invention is its drive system 11 , which includes a plurality of electrical contacts provided by the first stamped part 12 and the second stamped part 13 . As best seen in Figures 3-6, three electrical contacts 14, 15, 16 are preferably provided in the contact plate 10 of the present invention. In alternative constructions, the contact plate 10 includes at least two electrical contacts, or four, or five, or six, or seven, or as many contacts as needed, depending on the design.

FIG. 3 shows the first stamped part 12 forming the drive system 11 , the first stamped part 12 includes a first plurality of electrical contacts 14 , 15 provided by the first stamping die, while FIG. 5 shows the second stamped part 13 , the second stamping part 13 comprises a second assembly of a plurality of electrical contacts 16 provided by the second stamping die.

The electrical contacts 14 , 15 , 16 of the drive system 11 are formed in only two stamping steps performed in the first stamping part 12 and the second stamping part 13 .

After stamping, the first part 12 and the second part 13 are folded for positioning the electrical contacts 14 , 15 , 16 for mounting on the carrier 17 . It is possible to observe the fold line 30 of the drive system 11 in FIGS. 3-6 .

Alternatively, the step of bending the first part 12 and the second part 13 may be performed with a stamping step.

Thereafter, the drive system 11 is fixed to the carrier 17, thereby forming the contact plate 10 of the present invention. This coupling between the drive system 11 and the carrier 17 is preferably (but not necessarily) implemented by means of an implantation process. FIG. 7 shows the drive system 11 superimposed in the carrier 17 .

After this coupling, the drive system 11 continues to be provided with the first stamping part 12 and the second stamping part 13, so that the electrical contacts 14, 15, 16 need to be separated. To this end, the drive system 11 includes a removable portion 20 that will be removed from the system 11 . The removable portion corresponds to the cross-sectional area in FIGS. 7 and 8 .

After the system 11 is engaged with the carrier 17, the detachment of the removable part 20 from the drive system 11 is necessarily completed. This separation is preferably (but not necessarily) accomplished by a cutting process.

The solution proposed by the invention ensures that the electrical contacts 14 , 15 , 16 of the drive system 11 are separated only after the drive system 11 is engaged with the carrier 17 , thereby reducing the number of components for association.

The drive system 11 may employ any shape and number of electrical contacts 14, 15, 16 according to various design requirements.

In addition, the drive system 11 includes mounting flaps 31 (FIGS. 3-6) that ensure proper positioning of the system 11 for engagement with the carrier 17, and which, after assembly, serve for electrical resistance (not shown). ) of the bonded terminals. Depending on the design, these flaps 31 may or may not be removable.

The present invention also relates to a process for obtaining a contact plate 10 comprising the following steps:

Step i): Stamping the first part by configuring the first part of the drive system 11 with a plurality of electrical contacts 14 , 15 , a plurality of fold lines 30 , a plurality of mounting flaps 31 and a plurality of removable parts 20 component 12;

Step ii): stamping the second part by configuring the second part of the drive system 11 with electrical contacts 16 , fold lines 30 , mounting flaps 31 and removable parts 20 13;

Step iii): Fold the first punched part 12 and the second punched part 13 obtained in steps (i) and (ii) by folding lines 30;

step iv): attaching the first part 12 and the second part 13 obtained in step (iii) to the carrier 17 using the mounting flap 31; and

Step v): Remove the removable parts 20 of the first part 12 and the second part 13 . After manufacturing and assembly step (v), the contact plate 10 is attached to the body/housing (not shown) of the electric water heater, and then to the power conductors (not shown).

In an alternative configuration, the folding step (iii) of the first part 12 and the second part 13 may be performed with punching steps (i) and/or (ii).

As mentioned above, the bonding between the first part 12 and the second part 13 and the carrier 17 carried out in step (iv) is preferably (but not necessarily) carried out by means of an implantation process, and preferably The separation of the removable portion 20 implemented in step (v) is performed (but not necessarily) by means of a cutting process.

In summary, the new contact plate 10 of the present invention includes the drive system 11 provided only in the first stamping part 12 and the second stamping part 13, resulting in a reduced number of associated components and a reduced number of manufacturing and assembly operations craft.

The tooling involved in the manufacturing process (ie stamping) is simpler and less expensive, thus simplifying the manufacture of the part and thus smoothing the process.

Simpler tooling results in better part dimensional tolerances and increases the mechanical strength of the process as well as the mechanical strength of the part. Due to these factors, parts storage and logistics are generally better than those obtained with the state of the art.

Greater productivity is also possible due to the greater ease and flexibility in the production of the contact board 10 , and thus reduced failures and reduced costs of the board 10 , the process and the connection assembly 1 .

Although a preferred example of embodiment has been described, it must be understood that the scope of the present invention encompasses other possible modifications, limited only by the content of the claims, including possible equivalents.

Claims (9)

1. A contact plate of a connection assembly of an electric water heater, the contact plate (10) is provided with a drive system (11) and a carrier (17), the drive system (11) comprising a plurality of electrical contacts (14, 15, 16), characterized in that the drive system (11) and its electrical contacts (14, 15, 16) are provided by a first stamping part (12) and a second stamping part (13). 2. The contact plate according to claim 1, wherein the first part (12) and the second part (13) further comprise a plurality of fold lines (30), a plurality of mounting flaps (31) and a plurality of Removable part (20). 3. A contact plate according to claim 2, characterized in that the mounting flap (31) forms a terminal for insertion of the heating element. 4. A process for obtaining a contact plate (10) of a connection assembly of an electric water heater, wherein the contact plate (10) comprises a drive system (11) and a carrier (17), characterized in that the process comprises The following steps: i) Punching the first part (12), which configures the first part of the drive system (11) with a plurality of electrical contacts (14, 15), a plurality of fold lines (30), a plurality of mounting flaps ( 31) and a plurality of removable parts (20); ii) Punching the second part (13), which configures the second part of the drive system (11) with electrical contacts (16), fold lines (30), mounting flaps (31) ) and a plurality of removable parts (20); iii) folding said first part (12) and second part (13) obtained in steps (i) and (ii) using said folding line (30); iv) using the mounting flap (31) to join the first part (12) and second part (13) obtained in step (iii) with the carrier (17); and v) removing the removable parts (20) of the first part (12) and the second part (13). 5. Process according to claim 4, characterized in that the first part (12) and the second part (13) and the carrier (17) implemented in step (iv) are implemented by means of an implantation process )the connection between. 6. Process according to claim 4, characterised in that the removal of the removable portion (20) carried out in step (v) is carried out using a cutting process. 7. A process for obtaining a contact plate (10) of a connection assembly of an electric water heater, wherein the contact plate (10) comprises a drive system (11) and a carrier (17), characterized in that the process comprises the following steps : i) Punching and folding the first part (12) so that the first part of the drive system (11) is configured with electrical contacts (14, 15), fold lines (30), mounting flaps a sheet (31) and a plurality of removable parts (20), folded by means of said folding lines (30); ii) Punching and folding the second part (13) so that the second part of the drive system (11) is configured with electrical contacts (16), fold lines (30), mounting flaps (31) and a plurality of removable parts (20) for folding by means of said folding lines (30); iii) using said mounting flaps (31) to join said first part (12) and second part (13) obtained in steps (i) and (ii) with said carrier (17); as well as iv) removing the removable part (20) of the first part (12) and the second part (13). 8. Process according to claim 7, characterized in that the first part (12) and the second part (13) and the carrier (17) implemented in step (iii) are implemented by means of an implantation process )the connection between. 9. Process according to claim 7, characterized in that the removal of the removable portion (20) carried out in step (iv) is carried out using a cutting process.