Water tank with sealing element

Abstract

A water tank is provided, which includes a body which has one open side and accommodates water therein, a cover which finishes the body and has a temperature control member that heats or cools the water accommodated in the body, and a sealing portion for making the body and the cover mutually engaged with each other to seal up the interior of the body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water tank comprising:
 a body which has one open side and accommodates water therein;   a cover which finishes the body and has a temperature control member that heats or cools the water accommodated in the body; and   a sealing portion for making the body and the cover mutually engaged with each other to seal up the interior of the body.   
     
     
         2 . The water tank according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing portion comprises:
 a first bent portion which is inserted into an inner wall of an expanded tube portion formed along an edge on an open side of the cylindrical body and is formed along an edge of the cover so as to form a valley that is parallel to the inner wall; and   a second bent portion which extends from the first bent portion, is engaged with the expanded tube portion through a curling process, and is compressed along an outer wall of the body.   
     
     
         3 . The water tank according to  claim 1 , wherein the first bent portion comprises:
 the other side wall slantingly bent from the inner wall of the body along the edge of the cover;   a bottom extending in parallel to the cover from an end portion of the other side wall to the inner wall of the body; and   one side wall extending from an edge of the bottom and being bent to be in contact with the inner wall of the body;   wherein the valley is formed on the one side wall, the other side wall, and the bottom, and the second bent portion extends from the one side wall to be engaged with the expanded tube portion.   
     
     
         4 . The water tank according to  claim 3 , wherein the second bent portion is engaged with the expanded tube portion and forms a cross section of a circle along the outer wall of the body, or is closely formed. 
     
     
         5 . A water tank comprising:
 a body including an inner cylinder that has one open side and is in the form of a cylinder, an outer cylinder that is arranged to surround the inner cylinder and is in the form of a cylinder, and an airtight space portion that is formed between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder through mutual bonding of end portions of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder in a body;   a cover having a border which is engaged with a border on an open side of the body by a curling process or welding; and   a packing interposed on a mutual engagement region of the body and the cover;   wherein the space portion is filled with a thermal insulation material or is kept in a vacuum state.   
     
     
         6 . A water tank comprising:
 a cylindrical upper body having an open lower side;   a cylindrical lower body having an open upper side and an upper border which is engaged with a lower border of the upper body by a curling process or welding; and   a packing interposed on a mutual engagement region of the upper body and the lower body;   wherein each of the upper body and the lower body includes an inner cylinder that has one open side and is in the form of a cylinder, an outer cylinder that is arranged to surround the inner cylinder and is in the form of a cylinder, and an airtight space portion that is formed between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder through mutual bonding of end portions of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder in a body; and   the space portion is filled with a thermal insulation material or is kept in a vacuum state.   
     
     
         7 . A water tank comprising:
 a cylindrical inner cylinder which has one open side;   a body engagement portion which is formed along a circumferential direction from an outer periphery on an open side of the inner cylinder, and which has a thread formed on the outer periphery and a fitting portion formed on one side to vertically extend along a circumferential direction;   a cylindrical outer cylinder which is fit-engaged with the fitting portion so that an inner periphery of an end portion becomes in contact with an outer periphery of the fitting portion, is arranged to surround the inner cylinder, and has an airtight space portion that is formed between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder;   a cover which covers an open side of the inner cylinder;   a cover engagement portion which is formed along the circumferential direction from the outer periphery of the cover, and which has a screw groove formed on the inner periphery that corresponds to the thread so that the cover engagement portion is screw-engaged with the body engagement portion; and   a packing interposed between the inner cylinder and a border on the side of mutual engagement of the inner cylinder and the cover;   wherein the space portion is filled with a thermal insulation material or is kept in a vacuum state.   
     
     
         8 . The water tank according to  claim 7 , wherein a fitting protrusion is formed to project from the outer periphery of the fitting portion, and a fitting groove into which the fitting protrusion is fitted is formed on the inner periphery of the end portion of the outer cylinder. 
     
     
         9 . A water tank mounted on a hot/cold water dispenser, a water purifier, or a vending machine, comprising:
 a body including an inner cylinder that has one open side and is in the form of a cylinder, an outer cylinder that is arranged to surround the inner cylinder and is in the form of a cylinder, and an airtight space portion that is formed between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder through mutual bonding of end portions of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder in a body;   a thermal insulation material which fills into the space portion;   a body engagement portion which is formed along a circumferential direction from an outer periphery of the body and which has a thread formed on the outer periphery;   a cover which covers an open side of the body;   a cover engagement portion which is formed along the circumferential direction from the outer periphery of the cover, and which has a screw groove formed on the inner periphery that corresponds to the thread so that the cover engagement portion is screw-engaged with the body engagement portion; and   a packing interposed on a border on a mutual engagement side between the body and the cover.   
     
     
         10 . A water tank comprising:
 a body including an inner cylinder that has one open side and accommodates water therein and an outer cylinder that forms a space between an outer surface of the inner cylinder and surrounds the inner cylinder;   a cover which finishes the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder and has a temperature control member that heats or cools the water accommodated in the body; and   a sealing portion which is mounted between the inner cylinder and the cover or between the outer cylinder and keeps the sealing state of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder;   wherein the outer cylinder is integrally engaged with an edge of one open side of the inner cylinder, and   a vacuum state is kept between an inner surface of the outer cylinder and an outer surface of the inner cylinder.   
     
     
         11 . The water tank according to  claim 10 , wherein the sealing portion comprises:
 a first engagement member which is engaged with an outer side of an edge of the outer cylinder and has a screw portion formed along the outer periphery thereof;   a second engagement member which is engaged with an outer surface of the cover and has a screw portion formed along the inner periphery thereof to be screw-engaged with the first engagement member; and   a packing which is interposed between the end portion of the body and the edge on the inner side of the cover and makes the interior of the body airtight;   wherein on the outer cylinder, support protrusions are formed to project along the outer periphery of the outer cylinder to support one side of the first engagement member; and   on the cover, support protrusions are formed to project along the outer periphery of the cover to support one side of the second engagement member.   
     
     
         12 . The water tank according to  claim 10 , wherein the sealing portion comprises:
 a locking portion which is engaged with an outer side of an edge of the outer cylinder and has a locking protrusion formed to project from one side;   a fastening portion which includes a fixing member fixed to an outer surface of the cover and a wing having a locking piece formed thereon to be engaged with the locking protrusion portion and projecting toward the outer surface of the outer cylinder to make the cover engaged with or disengaged from the body; and   a packing interposed between the end portion of the body and the edge on the inner side of the cover to seal the interior of the body.   
     
     
         13 . The water tank according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a third bent portion that is formed on the edge portion of the body and is bent to the outside to be engaged with the packing; and   a fourth bent portion that is bent to face the third bent portion so that the packing is pressingly fixed along the edge of the cover.   
     
     
         14 . The water tank according to  claim 13 , further comprising a projection unit that projects to the packing side on one side of any one or both of the third bent portion and the fourth bent portion. 
     
     
         15 . The water tank according to  claim 13 , wherein the packing comprises:
 at least one ring-shaped protrusion flange formed along a surface opposite to the third bent portion or the fourth bent portion toward the third bent portion or the fourth bent portion;   a plurality of small protrusions formed apart from one another on the interior or exterior of the protrusion flange along the surface opposite to the third bent portion or the fourth bent portion; and   an extension portion extending in upward and downward directions, being in contact with the inner side edges of the body and the cover, and being integrally formed on the inner end portion of the packing.   
     
     
         16 . The water tank according to  claim 10 , wherein the sealing portion comprises:
 a finishing surface extending along the edge of the cover and being engaged with the inner cylinder or the outer cylinder; and   a sealing member mounted on the finishing surface to keep the sealing state as being in contact with the outer cylinder.   
     
     
         17 . The water tank according to  claim 16 , wherein the finishing surface of the cover is screw-engaged with the outer cylinder engaged with the inner cylinder, and the sealing member becomes in contact with the outer side edge of the outer cylinder. 
     
     
         18 . The water tank according to  claim 16 , wherein the finishing surface of the cover is screw-engaged with the inner cylinder engaged with the outer cylinder, and the sealing member becomes in contact with the outer side edge of the outer cylinder. 
     
     
         19 . The water tank according to  claim 16 , wherein the sealing member is interposed between the edges of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder which are integrally engaged by welding. 
     
     
         20 . The water tank according to  claim 17 , wherein the cover comprises:
 a shielding plate sealing up one open side of the inner cylinder; and   a contact groove formed between the shielding plate and the finishing surface along the edge of the shielding plate to face the edge of the interior of the inner cylinder;   wherein the finishing surface is screw-engaged with the end side outer surface of the outer cylinder, and   the sealing member is interposed between the contact groove and the finishing surface, and is in close contact with the edge of the inner cylinder and the outer side of the edge of the outer cylinder.   
     
     
         21 . The water tank according to  claim 18 , wherein the cover comprises:
 a shielding plate sealing up one open side of the inner cylinder;   a contact groove formed between the shielding plate and the finishing surface along the edge of the shielding plate to face the edge of the interior of the inner cylinder; and   a finishing sleeve extending to be bent from the end portion of the finishing surface, having the sealing member mounted thereon, and surrounding the edges of the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder;   wherein the finishing surface extends from the edge of the contact groove, faces the inner surface on the end portion side of the inner cylinder, and is screw-engaged, and   the sealing member is in close contact with the edges of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder and the inner side of the edge of the inner cylinder.   
     
     
         22 . The water tank according to  claim 18 , wherein the cover comprises:
 a shielding plate sealing up one open side of the inner cylinder; and   a finish sleeve extending to be bent from the end portion of the finishing surface, having the sealing member mounted thereon, surrounding the edges of the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder;   wherein the finishing surface is screw-engaged to face the end side inner surface of the inner cylinder, and   the sealing member is in close contact with the edges of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder and the inner side of the edge of the inner cylinder.   
     
     
         23 . The water tank according to  claim 18 , wherein the cover comprises:
 a shielding plate sealing up one open side of the inner cylinder;   a finish sleeve extending to be bent from the end portion of the finishing surface, and surrounding the edges of the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder;   an engagement valley formed along the outer surface of the finishing surface, and having the ring-shaped sealing member mounted thereon;   wherein the finishing surface is screw-engaged to face the end side inner surface of the inner cylinder, and   the sealing member is in close contact with the end side inner surface of the inner cylinder.   
     
     
         24 . The water tank according to  claim 18 , wherein the cover comprises:
 a shielding plate sealing up one open side of the inner cylinder;   a finish sleeve extending to be bent from the end portion of the finishing surface, and surrounding the edges of the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder;   an engagement valley formed along the outer surface of the finishing surface;   wherein the finishing surface is screw-engaged to face the end side inner surface of the inner cylinder, and   the sealing member is in close contact with the edges of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder and the inner side of the edge of the inner cylinder.   
     
     
         25 . The water tank according to  claim 18 , wherein the sealing member comprises:
 a first sealing member mounted on the finishing sleeve and being in close contact with the edges of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder and the inner side of the edged of the inner cylinder; and   a second sealing member mounted on the engagement valley and being in close contact with the edge inner side of the inner cylinder.   
     
     
         26 . The water tank according to  claim 19 , wherein the cover comprises:
 a shielding plate sealing up one open side of the inner cylinder; and   a contact groove formed between the shielding plate and the finishing surface along the edge of the shielding plate to face the edge of the interior of the inner cylinder;   wherein the finishing surface extends in parallel to the shielding plate from the edge of the contact groove, and   the sealing member extends from the edges of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder which are integrally engaged by welding, and is in close contact between the finishing surface and the bent surface.   
     
     
         27 . The water tank according to  claim 26 , wherein the cover further comprises a seal ring block having one side that is engaged with the contact groove and the finishing surface and the other side that is engaged between the bent surface and the outer surface of the outer cylinder to seal the cover, the inner cylinder, and the outer cylinder. 
     
     
         28 . The water tank according to  claim 27 , wherein the seal ring block comprises:
 a first ring block having a ring protrusion having a shape corresponding to the contact groove, and a finishing groove extending from the ring block and accommodating the finishing surface; and   a second ring block having a stepped portion for safe placement of the bent surface thereon, and being engaged with the first ring block;   wherein the first ring block and the second ring block are penetratingly engaged with each other by a plurality of fixing bolts mounted apart from one another.   
     
     
         29 . The water tank according to  claim 10 , further comprising a vacuum retaining portion formed on one side of the outer cylinder to discharge remaining air between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder. 
     
     
         30 . The water tank according to  claim 29 , wherein the vacuum retaining portion comprises:
 an air discharge tube provided on one side of the outer cylinder; and   a protection cover engaged with one side of the outer cylinder to protect the air discharge tube.   
     
     
         31 . The water tank according to  claim 10 , wherein the sealing portion comprises:
 a first bent portion prepared by bending the engagement surface, which is obtained by bonding the edge of the open side of the inner cylinder and the edge of the open side of the outer cylinder, toward the outer side of the outer cylinder in the form of a flange;   a second bent portion extending from the edge of the cover and formed to surround the upper and lower portions of the engagement surface;   a welding engagement portion prepared along the end portion of the first bent portion; and   a packing material between the upper surface of the engagement surface and the second bent portion.   
     
     
         32 . The water tank according to  claim 10 , wherein the sealing portion comprises:
 a first engagement portion in which the engagement surface that is obtained by making the edge on the open side of the inner cylinder engaged with the edge on the open side of the outer cylinder is formed;   a ring-shaped reinforcement piece engaged along the outer side edge of the engagement surface;   a welding engagement portion prepared by performing welding in the form of a ring along the regions where the first engagement portion and the reinforcement piece are in contact with each other;   a second bent portion extending from the edge of the cover that is in contact with the inner side surface of the engagement surface and surrounding the end portion of the engagement surface and the upper and lower portions of the reinforcement piece; and   a packing material filling in the end portion of the first engagement portion and between the upper portion of the reinforcement piece and the second bent portion.   
     
     
         33 . The water tank according to  claim 10 , wherein the sealing portion comprises:
 a first engagement portion in which the engagement surface that is obtained by making the edge on the open side of the inner cylinder engaged with the edge on the open side of the outer cylinder is formed;   a ring-shaped reinforcement piece engaged along the outer side edge of the engagement surface;   a second engagement portion formed through the contact of the edge of the cover and the reinforcement piece;   a first welding engagement portion prepared in the form of a ring along the regions where the first engagement portion and the reinforcement piece are in contact with each other; and   a second welding engagement portion prepared in the form of a ring along the end portions of the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion.   
     
     
         34 . The water tank according to  claim 33 , wherein on the upper surface of the cover, a reinforcement ring protrusion protrudes along the edge on the inner side of the reinforcement piece on which the second engagement portion is formed. 
     
     
         35 . The water tank according to  claim 10 , wherein on the outer surface of the outer cylinder, a pressure member for keeping the shape of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder when the remaining air is discharged is formed. 
     
     
         36 . The water tank according to  claim 35 , wherein the pressure member comprises:
 a first protrusion ring projecting in a ring shape along at least one outer periphery in upward and downward directions; and   at least one second protrusion ring provided on a bottom surface of the outer cylinder through which a drain tube that communicates with the center of the bottom surface of the inner cylinder passes, and projecting in the form of a concentric circle around the drain tube.   
     
     
         37 . The water tank according to  claim 30 , wherein the protection cover comprises:
 a cylindrical wall that is detachably engaged with the outer surface on the lower portion of the outer cylinder;   a bottom surface which extends from the edge of the lower end portion of the cylindrical wall to a drain tube communicating with the center of the bottom surface of the inner cylinder and the center of which is penetrated; and   a contact horn which extends from the edge of the penetrated center of the bottom surface to a bottom surface of the outer cylinder and which is in close contact with the bottom surface of the outer cylinder;   wherein the edge of the end portion of the contact horn is fixed in close contact with a contact ring protrusion that projects in the form of a ring around the drain tube from the bottom surface of the outer cylinder.   
     
     
         38 . The water tank according to  claim 30 , wherein the protection cover is detachably engaged with a stepped engagement surface having a stepped portion along the outer surface on the lower portion of the outer cylinder.
 a first locking ring groove that is recessed along the outer periphery toward a stepped engagement surface is prepared in the protection cover,   a second locking ring groove that is recessed toward the inner cylinder side in a position corresponding to the first locking ring groove is prepared on the stepped engagement surface, and   the first and second locking ring grooves are engaged with each other to achieve the sealing.   
     
     
         39 . The water tank according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a third bent portion that is formed on the edge portion of the body and is bent to the outside to be engaged with the packing; and   a fourth bent portion that is bent to face the third bent portion so that the packing is pressingly fixed along the edge of the cover.   
     
     
         40 . The water tank according to  claim 39 , further comprising a projection unit that projects to the packing side on one side of any one or both of the third bent portion and the fourth bent portion. 
     
     
         41 . The water tank according to  claim 39 , wherein the packing comprises:
 at least one ring-shaped protrusion flange formed along a surface opposite to the third bent portion or the fourth bent portion toward the third bent portion or the fourth bent portion;   a plurality of small protrusions formed apart from one another on the interior or exterior of the protrusion flange along the surface opposite to the third bent portion or the fourth bent portion; and   an extension portion extending in upward and downward directions, being in contact with the inner side edges of the body and the cover, and being integrally formed on the inner end portion of the packing.