JP3876782B2 - Water purifier - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a water purifier for purifying tap water or the like, and more particularly to a water purifier suitable for being installed and used below a kitchen.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, contamination by various organic and inorganic substances in tap water has become a problem, which is caused by increased pollution of water sources, aging of water supply tanks and piping of high-rise houses and buildings, and the like. For this reason, in order to obtain safe water, the water purifier which has the filtration cartridge which has arrange | positioned filter media, such as a hollow fiber membrane and activated carbon, has prevailed widely.
[0003]
In a water purifier equipped with such a filter medium and a hollow fiber membrane, chlorine ions that cause odor are removed by adsorption or decomposition in a chlorine removal filter medium such as an activated carbon layer, and then the hollow fiber membrane removes the chlorine ion. Iron rust and germs are blocked, and it becomes safe and delicious purified water and is discharged from the purified water discharge part.
[0004]
In particular, an undersink type water purifier that is used under the kitchen, such as the lower part of the sink, has the advantage that it does not get in the way of the installation location and the appearance around the sink is good. An example of such a water purifier is described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-71587.
[0005]
By the way, the filter medium and the hollow fiber membrane deteriorate with use and accumulate dirt, so that it is necessary to periodically replace the filtration cartridge in order to obtain safe and delicious purified water. In such a replacement operation of the filtration cartridge, if the internal pressure remains in the filtration cartridge, there is a problem that water remaining in the filtration cartridge, the connection hose, etc. overflows. In particular, in a water purifier of a type directly connected to the middle of a water pipe such as an under sink type, the internal pressure in the water purifier is high, and such a problem is large.
[0006]
As means for solving such a problem, a pressure relief valve is provided in the water purifier, and the internal pressure is released by opening the pressure relief valve before the operation of replacing the filtration cartridge. However, this method has a problem in that the number of work steps is increased and the structure of the water purifier becomes complicated in the replacement operation of the filtration cartridge.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
An object of this invention is to provide the water purifier with which replacement | exchange of a filtration cartridge is easy in view of said problem.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention relates to a raw water inlet and a purified water outlet, a filtration cartridge provided between the raw water inlet and the purified water outlet, a raw water passage communicating the raw water inlet and the filtration cartridge, a filtration cartridge and a purified water guide. A water purifier having a water purifying channel communicating with an outlet, wherein the raw water channel is provided with means for simultaneously closing the raw water channel and releasing the internal pressure of the filtration cartridge . Here, the means for simultaneously closing the raw water flow path and releasing the internal pressure of the filtration cartridge is preferably a three-way switching valve.
[0010]
Here, a check valve is provided upstream of the three-way switching valve in the raw water flow path, a check valve is provided in the water purification flow path, the filtration cartridge is provided with activated carbon and a hollow fiber membrane, It is preferable that it is installed below.
[0011]
In addition, a water purification system including any one of the above water purifiers, a water purification nozzle, and a water tap to the water purification nozzle is also a preferable aspect.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Although one embodiment of the water purifier of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment.
[0013]
The water purifier 17 of the present invention is composed of a holder 1 and a filtration cartridge 2 as shown in the schematic longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 1, for example, and the holder 1 is composed of a main body 4 and a switching mechanism 3. Installed below.
[0014]
The main body 4 includes a raw water inlet 7 and a purified water outlet 8, a raw water channel 50 and a purified water channel 51, and a three-way switching valve 60 provided in the raw water channel. The three-way switching valve 60 is provided so as to communicate the upstream side and the downstream side of the raw water passage 50 at the open position, and to communicate the outside air and the downstream side of the raw water passage 50 at the closed position. That is, when the three-way switching valve 60 is in the open position, the raw water is introduced into the filtration cartridge 2 through the raw water flow path 50, while when the three-way switching valve 60 is switched to the closed position, At the same time as the upstream side is closed, the filtration cartridge 2 is communicated with the outside air through the three-way switching valve 60, and the internal pressure in the filtration cartridge 2 is released.
[0015]
As a means for simultaneously closing the raw water flow path and releasing the internal pressure of the filtration cartridge, a three-way switching valve is preferable because it is easy to operate, simple in structure, and low in cost. The passage may be closed and the internal pressure of the filtration cartridge may be released at the same time.
[0016]
One end of a raw water introduction pipe 9 is connected to the raw water introduction port 7, and a water pipe 20 is connected to the other end of the raw water introduction pipe 9 through a water tap 19 as shown in FIG. A check valve 5 is built in the raw water flow path 50. The check valve 5 can prevent germs and filter media from flowing backward from the filtration cartridge 2 toward the raw water introduction pipe 9 when water flow is stopped. The check valve 5 is preferably provided on the upstream side of the three-way switching valve 60 because it does not hinder the function of opening the internal pressure in the filtration cartridge 2 by switching the three-way switching valve 60.
[0017]
A purified water outlet pipe 11 is connected to the purified water outlet 8, and the other end of the purified water outlet pipe 11 is connected to a purified water nozzle 21 installed at the top of the sink as shown in FIG. A check valve 6 for preventing a backflow from the water purification nozzle 21 is built in the water purification passage 51 at a position directly downstream of the filtration cartridge, that is, at a position connected to the water purification outlet 23 of the filtration cartridge 2.
[0018]
The check valve 6 prevents the accumulated water in the purified water outlet pipe 11 and the purified water flow path 51 from leaking when the filtration cartridge 2 is removed from the holder 1. Moreover, according to this check valve 6, even if miscellaneous bacteria enter from the water purification nozzle 21 when water flow is stopped, it can be prevented that the filter cartridge 2 enters and propagates.
[0019]
Further, a bypass channel 10 that bypasses the filtration cartridge 2 and communicates the raw water channel 50 and the purified water channel 51 and a switching mechanism 3 that opens and closes the bypass channel 10 are provided.
[0020]
The switching mechanism 3 includes a spool shaft 12 that opens and closes the bypass flow path 10, a spool shaft attachment means 14 that is provided in the raw water flow path 50 and attaches the spool shaft 12. The inner diameter portion of the spool shaft attachment means 14 and the outer diameter portion of the spool shaft 12 are provided with a screw having the same pitch, and the spool shaft 12 moves in the axial direction of the bypass flow path when rotated. Further, since the movement distance of the spool shaft 12 is regulated by the cap nut 13 attached to the spool shaft attachment means 14, the spool shaft 12 is not excessively rotated and is not unexpectedly removed from the holder 1. Further, since the spool shaft 12 is provided with a seal ring 12a that is watertightly engaged with the spool shaft attachment means 14, water does not leak from the spool shaft 12.
[0021]
In addition to the method using a manual valve, the switching mechanism 3 may be provided with a solenoid valve or the like, and may employ a method of automatic cleaning using a timer or automatic switching using a switch periodically.
[0022]
Further, the check valve 6 operates as follows when the bypass passage 10 is released, for example, as shown in the partially enlarged view of FIG. That is, the raw water flows to both the filtration cartridge 2 and the purified water outlet 8 via the bypass flow path 10, but the water pressure of the purified water supply port 16 receives a large resistance at the activated carbon layer 27 when passing through the filtration cartridge 2, so Since the pressure is lower than the water pressure at the outlet 8, the check valve 6 is closed and purified water does not flow out of the filtration cartridge 2. For this reason, the raw water that has passed through the bypass channel 10 flows to the water purification nozzle 21.
[0023]
The filtration cartridge 2 is preferably configured by accommodating a chlorine removal filter medium such as a hollow fiber membrane module or activated carbon in a container 24 having a raw water inlet 22 and a purified water outlet 23 on the same plane.
[0024]
The hollow fiber membrane module is accommodated in a case 26 in which a plurality of hollow fiber membranes 25 are aligned and bent into a U shape and both ends are opened, and the hollow fiber membranes 25 and each other, The space is sealed and fixed with a synthetic resin 28. At this time, the end of each hollow fiber membrane 25 is opened. In addition, the hollow fiber membrane module is disposed in the center of the container 24 so that the open end of the hollow fiber membrane faces the water purification outlet 23. At this time, the case 26 is inserted into the case storage body via the seal ring 32. 31 is attached.
[0025]
The case housing 31 is provided with a primary filter 29 provided with a net for preventing activated carbon 27 (chlorine removal filter medium) from leaking from the container 24, and the case housing 31 has a seal ring 33. The container 24 is detachably provided. A secondary filter 30 is fixed to the end of the container 24 opposite to the primary filter 29, and activated carbon 27 is formed in the space formed by the primary filter 29, the secondary filter 30, the case 26 and the container 24. Contained.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 3, the filtration cartridge 2 configured as described above is integrally connected to the holder 1 via the seal ring 33 as shown in FIG. 3 to form the water purifier 17. However, the filtration cartridge 2 uses a tool or the like. In order to enable easy mounting on the holder 1 without one touch, the main body 4 constituting the holder 1 is provided with a convex portion 4a, and the container 24 constituting the filtration cartridge 2 is provided with a concave portion 2a. It is preferable to employ a so-called bayonet mechanism.
[0027]
In the above-described water purifier 17, when the normal use state, that is, the three-way switching valve 60 is set to the open position, the switching mechanism 3 and the bypass passage 10 are closed, and the water tap 19 is opened, the tap water (raw water) is the raw water introduction pipe 9. It reaches the filtration cartridge 2 more. At this time, since the holder 1 and the filtration cartridge 2 are connected by the bayonet mechanism via the seal ring 34, water leakage from both does not come off due to the influence of water pressure, and the activated carbon 27 is reached. The tap water from which the chlorine contained in the activated carbon 27 has been removed and the sterilizing effect has disappeared is then filtered through the hollow fiber membrane 25 to become purified water. The purified water is directly connected to the purified water outlet pipe 11 from the purified water outlet 23 via the purified water supply port 16. Then, the water is discharged from the water purification nozzle 21 of the water tap 19. At this time, since the purified water outlet 23 and the purified water supply port 16 are in close contact with each other via the seal ring 35, water does not leak outside from this portion.
[0028]
Here, when exchanging the filtration cartridge 2, the three-way switching valve 60 is first switched to the closed position, and then the filtration cartridge 2 is removed. The filtration cartridge 2 having the bayonet structure as described above can be removed with a single touch by simply twisting the cartridge and removing the fitting between the convex portion 4a and the concave portion 2a. By switching the three-way switching valve 60 to the closed position, as shown in FIG. 5, the upstream side of the raw water flow path is closed, so that the water from the raw water flow path 50 and the raw water introduction pipe 9 is removed even if the filtration cartridge 2 is removed. Is prevented from leaking. At the same time, the filtration cartridge 2 is communicated with the outside air through the three-way switching valve 60, and the internal pressure in the filtration cartridge 2 is released. Therefore, it is possible to prevent water from overflowing due to the internal pressure when removing the filtration cartridge 2. . Further, the check valve 6 prevents the accumulated water in the purified water outlet pipe 11 and the purified water flow path 51 from leaking.
[0029]
Further, when the water purifier 17 is stopped for a long period of time after the water flow is stopped and the switching mechanism 3 is closed, the water remaining in the water purification nozzle 21 is free of chlorine having a sterilizing effect. Various bacteria invade from the tip of the nozzle 21 and propagate, and eventually reach the water purification channel 51. However, when the bypass channel 10 is released and the faucet 19 is opened, tap water containing chlorine having a sufficient sterilizing effect passes through the raw water inlet 7, the raw water channel 50, and the bypass channel 10 from the raw water inlet tube 9. Thus, it reaches the purified water passage 51, the purified water outlet 8, the purified water outlet pipe 11, and the purified water nozzle 21, and all the contaminated water passages can be sterilized. In this way, by blocking the water flow path with a check valve provided on the downstream side of the filtration cartridge in the water purification flow path, contamination of the filtration cartridge can be prevented even if water does not flow for a long time and water remains. In addition, even if the water purification channel is contaminated, the water can be sterilized to sterilize the pipe, and safe and delicious water can be continuously supplied.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
Water purifier of the present invention, by providing a means for performing the internal pressure release closure and filtration cartridge of raw water flow path to the raw water flow path at the same time, preferably, means for performing internal pressure release closure and filtration cartridge of the raw water flow path at the same time By using the three-way switching valve, a complicated structure is not required, and the filtration cartridge can be easily replaced with a small number of steps.
[0031]
In addition, by providing a check valve upstream of the three-way switching valve in the raw water flow path, it is possible to prevent germs and filter media from flowing back from the filtration cartridge to the raw water introduction pipe side when water flow is stopped.
[0032]
Further, by providing a check valve in the purified water flow path, it is possible to prevent the accumulated water in the purified water outlet pipe and the purified water flow path from leaking when the filtration cartridge is removed.
[0033]
In addition, by providing a bypass flow path that bypasses the filtration cartridge and communicates the raw water flow path and the purified water flow path, even if the purified water flow path etc. is contaminated, the water can be sterilized and the pipe can be sterilized. Can be continuously supplied.
[0034]
Moreover, since the filtration cartridge is equipped with a hollow fiber membrane in addition to the chlorine-removing filter medium such as activated carbon, bacteria contained in the raw water can be filtered, so that safer and more delicious water can be supplied. .
[0035]
In addition, in the case of a water purifier installed under the kitchen, and a water purifier equipped with a water purifier nozzle and a faucet to the water purifier, it will be installed under the kitchen so that the area around the sink will look good. It is suitable without affecting.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a water purifier showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view when the water purifier is installed on the sink.
FIG. 3 is a use state diagram of the water purifier of FIG. 1;
4 is a partial cross-sectional view (bypass channel open state) in the vicinity of the bypass channel in the water purifier of FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view (three-way switching valve open state) in the vicinity of the raw water flow path in the water purifier of FIG. 1;
[Explanation of symbols]
4 Main body 5, 6 Check valve 7 Raw water introduction port 8 Purified water outlet 9 Raw water inlet tube 10 Bypass channel 11 Purified water outlet tube 12 Spool shaft 19 Water tap 20 Water pipe 21 Purified nozzle 24 Container 50 Raw water channel 51 Purified water channel

Claims (8)

The raw water inlet and the purified water outlet, the filtration cartridge provided between the raw water inlet and the purified water outlet, the raw water passage communicating the raw water inlet and the filtration cartridge, and the filtration cartridge and the purified water outlet are communicated. A water purifier comprising a water purification channel, wherein the raw water channel is provided with means for simultaneously closing the raw water channel and releasing the internal pressure of the filtration cartridge. The water purifier according to claim 1, wherein the means for simultaneously closing the raw water flow path and releasing the internal pressure of the filtration cartridge is a three-way switching valve. The water purifier according to claim 2 , wherein a check valve is provided upstream of the three-way switching valve in the raw water flow path. The water purifier in any one of Claims 1-3 which provided the check valve in the purified water flow path. The water purifier in any one of Claims 1-4 which provided the bypass flow path which bypasses a filtration cartridge and connects a raw | natural water flow path and a purified water flow path. The water purifier according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the filtration cartridge includes activated carbon and a hollow fiber membrane. Ing is installed kitchen downward, water purifier according to any one of claims 1 to 6. A water purification system comprising the water purifier according to any one of claims 1 to 7, a water purification nozzle, and a water tap to the water purification nozzle.

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