Separable hot water tank

This application is based on and claims priorities from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2008-36100, 10-2008-49733 and 10-2008-54602, filed on Apr. 18, 2008, May 28, 2008 and Jun. 11, 2008, respectively and Korean Utility Model Application No. 20-2008-9159 and 20-2008-10144, filed on Jul. 9, 2008 and Jul. 29, 2008, respectively in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

1. Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a hot water tank mounted on a hot/cold water dispenser, a water purifier, a vending machine, or the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to a separable hot water tank, which has a separable structure to facilitate its cleaning and is provided with a vacuum space formed on an outer wall thereof to improve heat resistance.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Generally, in a hot/cold water dispenser, a water purifier, a vending machine, or the like, a cold water tank for quickly cooling and discharging drinking water flowing therein and a hot water tank for quickly heating and discharging the drinking water are provided.

In the case of using the hot water tank for a long time, a microorganism may propagate itself, and a foreign substance such as fur may form on an inner wall of the hot water tank, so that a user may be in bad health.

In order to solve this problem, it is required to clean the interior of the hot water tank at proper times. However, since most hot water tanks have sealed and fixed structures in watertight state, it is impossible to clean the interior of the hot water tank.

In this case, the hot water tank itself should be replaced, and this causes a user inconvenience with a burden of replacement costs.

In order to solve this problem, it is preferable that one side of the hot water tank is separable. However, even if one side of a hot water tank, which is provided to a general consumer, is separable, its separating process is greatly complicated and/or is laborious. In addition, the hot water tank as described above is disadvantageous in complexity of its structure or manufacturing cost.

On the other hand, water in the hot water tank is heated by a heating means provided inside or outside the hot water tank, and a pipe heater, which is connected inside the hot water tank and is heated by an external power supply, is commonly used as the heating means.

In order to prevent the external shape of the hot water tank from being deformed when the water in the hot water tank is heated by the pipe heater, it is required that the hot water tank is heat-resistant. Also, the hot water tank requires convenience in formation, durability, and the like. In consideration of such requirements, it is general that the hot water tank is made of a metallic material, such as stainless steel, aluminum, and the like.

However, since the hot water tank made of a metallic material has a high thermal conductivity, water in the hot water tank easily gets cold, and thus it is required that the water in the hot water tank is continuously heated by the pipe heater to cause the increase of power consumption.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art while advantages achieved by the prior art are maintained intact.

One object of the present invention is to provide a hot water tank that has a separable structure to facilitate cleaning of the interior thereof and separation or engagement thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hot water tank that can be cleaned without the necessity of disconnecting or connecting electric lines connected to a pipe heater or a temperature sensor mounted thereon.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a hot water tank that can prevent a fire caused by the short circuit through prevention of electric connection parts of a pipe heater and a temperature sensor from being in contact with water.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a hot water tank that has a superior heat-resistant structure to minimize power consumption.

In order to accomplish these objects, in one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a separable hot water tank coupled to a water heating means and mounted on a hot/cold water dispenser, a water purifier, or a vending machine, which includes a body which is provided with a water storage space formed therein and of which either of upper and lower sides is open; a cover separably engaged with the open side of the body; and a sealing means, interposed between mutual engagement portions of the body and the cover, for sealing up the interior of the body. A cover screw part and a body screw part may be provided in the mutual engagement portions of the body and the cover, respectively, so that the cover and the body can be screw-engaged with each other.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a separable hot water tank coupled to a water heating means and mounted on a hot/cold water dispenser, a water purifier, or a vending machine, which includes a body which is provided with a water storage space formed therein and of which either of upper and lower sides is open; a locking part provided on an outer surface of the open side of the body and having a locking protrusion formed on one side thereof; a cover for covering the open side of the body; a fastening part composed of a fixing member fixed to an outer surface of the cover, and a wing body connected to the fixing member in an upward/downward movable state and having a locking piece formed to project from one side surface thereof to lock into the locking protrusion, so as to make the cover lock into the body with pressure or make the cover unlock from the body; and a sealing means, interposed between mutual engagement portions of the body and the cover, for sealing up the interior of the body.

In still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a separable hot water tank coupled to a water heating means and mounted on a hot/cold water dispenser, a water purifier, or a vending machine, which includes an upper body having an open lower side; a lower body having an open upper part and separably engaged with the upper body; and a sealing means interposed between mutual engagement portions of the upper and lower bodies. Upper and lower screw parts may be provided in mutual engagement portions of the upper and lower bodies, respectively, so that the upper and lower bodies can be screw-engaged with each other.