JP7735656B2 - Faucet-mounted water purifier - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a faucet-mounted water purifier that is attached to a faucet in a home or other facility.

Faucet-mounted water purifiers are known, equipped with replaceable filtration cartridges filled with filtering media such as hollow fiber membranes and activated carbon, which are attached to household faucets and used to filter tap water. Filter cartridges can become clogged with iron rust and other substances contained in tap water, reducing the flow rate, or can absorb large amounts of organic matter contained in tap water, reducing the adsorption performance of the activated carbon. Therefore, users must periodically replace the filtration cartridge with a new one to continue using it. If the replacement interval is appropriate, users can always drink safe, delicious purified water, which is beneficial for their health.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-179244 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-111476

If iron rust or other substances clog the hollow fiber membrane and cause a decrease in flow rate, users will easily notice. However, if a large amount of organic matter is adsorbed and the activated carbon's adsorption performance decreases, users will not easily notice because there is almost no change in taste or color. The decrease in activated carbon's adsorption performance is correlated with the total amount of filtered water that has passed through, so it is possible to measure and accumulate the filtration flow rate, but because the amount of filtered water used changes daily, measurement is cumbersome and troublesome.

In response to this, Patent Document 1 proposes a faucet-mounted water purifier that measures and accumulates the flow rate of tap water flowing into the filtration cartridge, and displays a visual indication for the user when a predetermined total volume of filtered water has been reached. Even if there is no change in the taste or color of the purified water, users can see the display and know when it is time to replace the filtration cartridge without having to take any tedious measurements. They will not drink purified water that has not been sufficiently filtered due to reduced adsorption performance.

However, because the flow rate detection unit is located upstream of the filtration cartridge, iron rust and other contaminants in tap water can flow into the flow rate detection unit. This causes the iron rust to get caught on the rotating blades that incorporate the magnets in the flow rate detection unit (hereinafter referred to as the magnet-embedded rotating blades), preventing them from rotating and making it impossible to measure the flow rate.

In response to this, Patent Document 2 proposes a faucet-mounted water purifier equipped with a flow rate detector downstream of the filtration cartridge. Purified water with iron rust and other impurities removed flows into the flow rate detector, so there is no risk of iron rust getting caught on the built-in magnet and preventing the rotating blades from rotating. This allows the filtration flow rate to be accurately measured and accumulated, and the time to replace the filtration cartridge can be displayed.

However, because the purified water pipeline for the purified water flowing out of the filtration cartridge is located below the raw water pipeline for the raw water flowing into the filtration cartridge, and the magnetic switch for the flow rate detection unit is located outside of this purified water pipeline, there is a problem in that the width of the faucet-mounted water purifier becomes large. Furthermore, when assembling a faucet-mounted water purifier, the flow rate detection unit must be located near the purified water pipeline, which is located in a recessed area below the raw water pipeline, which is time-consuming and reduces assembly efficiency.

In consideration of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a faucet-mounted water purifier that prevents iron rust and other contaminants from entering the flow rate detection section, making it impossible to measure, has good assembly efficiency, is not large in width, and notifies the user when it is time to replace the filtration cartridge.

The faucet-mounted water purifier of the present invention, which solves the above problems,
A water purifier that is supported and fixed to a faucet and includes a flow path switching valve having a raw water inlet that receives raw water, a filtration cartridge that purifies the raw water, a purified water outlet that discharges purified water, a raw water pipe that connects the flow path switching valve to the filtration cartridge, and a purified water pipe that connects the filtration cartridge to the purified water outlet,
A flow rate detector is provided in the purified water pipeline,
The purified water pipe is disposed above the raw water pipe when the water purifier is supported and fixed to the faucet.

In the faucet-mounted water purifier of the present invention, the flow rate detection unit has a rotatable water wheel and a magnetic switch,
The water wheel has a resin cylindrical portion, blades, and a magnet fixed inside the cylindrical portion, and is disposed inside the purified water pipeline;
It is preferable that the magnetic switch is disposed in the purified water pipe at a position above the purified water pipe when the water purifier is supported and fixed to the faucet.

The faucet-mounted water purifier of the present invention has a raw water pipeline connecting the flow path switching valve to the filtration cartridge, and a purified water pipeline connecting the filtration cartridge to the purified water outlet. A flow rate detection unit is provided in the purified water pipeline, allowing purified water from which iron rust and other impurities have been removed to flow into the flow rate detection unit. As a result, problems such as iron rust getting caught on the built-in magnet and preventing the rotating blades from rotating do not occur, and the filtration flow rate can be accurately measured and accumulated, and the time to replace the filtration cartridge can be displayed.

In addition, because the purified water pipeline is located above the raw water pipeline, there is no need to place the flow rate detector near the pipeline, which is located in a recessed area, and the flow rate detector can be placed closer to the user. As a result, there is no need for laborious assembly or reduced assembly efficiency, and manufacturing costs can be reduced.

In addition, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the faucet-mounted water purifier has a flow rate detection unit that includes a rotatable water wheel and a magnetic switch, and the water wheel has a resin tubular portion, blades, and a magnet fixed inside the tubular portion. The water wheel is disposed inside the purified water pipe, and the magnetic switch is disposed above the purified water pipe. Therefore, the magnetic switch is disposed outside the purified water pipe, and the width dimension does not increase. As a result, when a user of the water purifier washes dishes, their hands are easily visible because they are unlikely to be hidden by the water purifier.

1 is a front view of a water purifier showing an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a top view of a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a right side view of a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the water purifier shown in FIG. 2 taken along line AA. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the water purifier shown in FIG. 2 taken along line B-B. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a filtration cartridge of a water purifier showing an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view of a valve body used in a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the water purifier shown in FIG. 2 taken along the line EE. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the water purifier shown in FIG. 2 taken along the line CC. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a power supply unit 101 used in a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a portion A of the water purifier shown in FIG. 9 . FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a flow rate detection unit 102 used in a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a right side view of a flow path switching valve body 13 of a water purifier showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 2 is a front view of a control unit 104 of the water purifier showing an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an illustration showing the switching states of a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention, namely, "purified water," "raw water straight," and "raw water shower." 3 is an enlarged view of the control unit 104 in the DD cross section of the water purifier shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a water wheel support member 123 of a water purifier showing an embodiment of the present invention.

Below, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, using as an example a water purifier that can be attached to a faucet in a home kitchen, etc.

Figure 1 is a front view of a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention. The water purifier 1 of the present invention is composed of a main body 2 incorporating a flow path switching valve, and a filter cartridge 3 containing filter media, as shown in Figure 6. The main body 2 is provided with a lever 5, and by operating the lever 5, raw water flowing in from the faucet 4 through the raw water inlet can be selectively discharged as shower water (raw water shower), as straight water (raw water straight), or supplied to the filter cartridge 3. The raw water supplied to the filter cartridge 3 is filtered using an adsorbent such as activated carbon or a hollow fiber membrane, and then discharged as purified water from the purified water outlet.

First, we will explain the main body 2. Figure 2 is a top view of a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a right side view of a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is a vertical cross section taken along line A-A in Figure 2, and Figure 5 is a vertical cross section taken along line B-B in Figure 2.

As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the main body 2 is composed of a flow path switching valve main body 13 equipped with three valve bodies 11a, 11b, and 11c and a valve stem 12; a lower body 16 equipped with a raw water shower port 14, a raw water straight port 15, and a purified water outlet 19; an upper body 17 equipped with an opening from which the flow path switching valve main body 13 protrudes; a lever 5 for switching operations; a cartridge cap 91 for securing the filtration cartridge 3; and an electrical unit that calculates the flow rate and displays the results.

A ring-shaped packing 36 is attached to the flow path switching valve body 13, and an attachment nut 38 is threaded onto the flow path switching valve body 13 via an adapter 37 attached to the tip of the faucet 4, thereby attaching the main body 2 to the faucet 4.

The interior of the flow path switching valve body 13 is divided into an upper chamber 23 and a lower chamber 24 by a partition plate 22 that has three water passages 21a, 21b, and 21c. Three valve bodies 11a, 11b, and 11c are arranged in the upper chamber 23 to correspond to the three water passages 21a, 21b, and 21c.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a valve body used in a water purifier according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 7, valve bodies 11a, 11b, and 11c are each composed of a valve 58a, 58b, and 58c, and a valve seal 57a, 57b, and 57c. When valve seal 57a of valve body 11a is pressed against partition plate 22, water passage 21a is closed. The same applies to valve bodies 11b and 11c.

The valve shaft 12 is inserted so that the valve bodies 11a, 11b, and 11c move up and down in response to its rotation. The lower chamber 24 is provided with a flow path 31a leading from the water passage 21a to the raw water supply port 26 (see Figure 9) that supplies raw water to the filtration cartridge 3, a flow path 31b leading from the water passage 21b to the raw water straight port 15, and a flow path 31c leading from the water passage 21c to the raw water shower port 14.

As shown in Figure 4, valve stem 12 is provided with valve stem cam portions 27a, 27b, and 27c at positions facing water passages 21a, 21b, and 21c. These valve stem cam portions 27a, 27b, and 27c are provided at circumferential intervals of, for example, 40° apart around the valve stem 12. By rotating the valve stem 12 by 40°, they can be selectively directed upward, pushing up one of the valve cam portions 47a, 47b, and 47c provided on valves 58a, 58b, and 58c to open the water passage. The two valve bodies that cannot be pushed up are pushed down by the corresponding valve stem cam portions, closing the water passage.

In other words, by rotating the valve shaft 12 a predetermined angle using the valve operating unit 18 (described below), one of the water passages 21a, 21b, or 21c can be opened, allowing the user to select whether the raw water flowing in from the faucet 4 is to be discharged as shower water, straight water, or supplied to the filtration cartridge 3.

Valve bodies 11a, 11b, and 11c use a valve as a core body with an umbrella-shaped rubber valve seal attached, but the shape of the valve seal is not limited to this and can also be conical or cylindrical.

Figure 9 is a cross section taken along the line C-C in Figure 2. As shown in Figure 9, the rear side of the flow path switching valve body 13 is provided with a raw water supply port 26 that supplies raw water to the filtration cartridge 3 and a purified water inlet 29 that receives purified water from the filtration cartridge 3. The raw water supply port 26 is connected to the flow path 31a via the raw water pipe 20, and the purified water inlet 29 is connected to the purified water outlet 19 via the purified water pipe 30. The purified water pipe 30 is provided with a water wheel 122 and a water wheel support member 123 of the flow rate detection unit 102 (described below), and the water wheel 122 rotates when purified water flows through the water wheel. The purified water pipe 30 is located above the raw water pipe 20. The magnetic switch holder 125 of the flow rate detection unit 102 is located on the upper side of the purified water pipe 30. Here, "above" refers to the vertically upward direction when the water purifier 1 is supported and fixed to a faucet.

Next, we will briefly explain the filtration cartridge 3. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the filtration cartridge 3 installed in a water purifier according to one embodiment of the present invention. The filtration cartridge 3 is provided at the bottom of the container 61 with a raw water inlet 62 that receives raw water from the raw water inlet 26 and a purified water inlet 63 that supplies purified water to the purified water inlet 29. O-rings 73 and 74 are provided on the raw water inlet 62 and the purified water inlet 63, respectively, to prevent water leakage when connected to the raw water inlet 26 and the purified water inlet 29. A cylindrical protrusion 61a is formed on the inner bottom surface of the container 61, and the lower end of a cylindrical body 64 of the hollow fiber membrane module is fitted into the cylindrical protrusion 61a via an O-ring 65. Ring-shaped filters 66 and 67 are fixed to the upper and lower outer peripheries of the cylindrical body 64 to hold an adsorbent layer 70 that treats raw water passing between the outer periphery of the cylindrical body 64 and the inner wall surface of the container 61.

The interior of the cylinder 64 contains a hollow fiber membrane bundle 68, which is made by bundling multiple hollow fiber membranes and bending them into an inverted U shape. Both ends of the hollow fiber membranes are sealed (potted) at the bottom of the cylinder 64 with a curable resin 69 (sealant) filled between each hollow fiber and between the hollow fibers and the cylinder 64. Before inserting each hollow fiber membrane into the container 61, the potting is partially cut and removed, leaving the ends open toward the purified water supply port 63.

An adsorbent layer 70 made of activated carbon, zeolite, ion exchange resin, chelating resin, etc. is disposed between the outer surface of the cylinder 64 and the inner wall surface of the container 61.

The top of the container 61 is open to allow for easy filling with the hollow fiber membrane bundle 68 and adsorbent, and a transparent cap 71 is fitted and ultrasonically welded to allow for checking for internal contamination.

The filtration cartridge 3 configured as described above is loaded into the main body 2 as shown in Figure 8. The cartridge cap 91 is fixed to the lower body 16 and upper body 17 in a position that covers the filtration cartridge 3, and serves to secure the filtration cartridge 3 in a predetermined position.

Next, we will explain the valve operating unit 18 that rotates the valve stem 12 using Figures 3 and 8. Figure 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line E-E in Figure 2.

The valve operating part 18 connects a convex part on the shaft end of the lever 5 with a convex part on the shaft end of the valve shaft 12 via the lever connecting part 8, allowing the valve shaft 12 to rotate in response to operation of the lever 5. A groove part on the lever connecting part 8 is sandwiched between the upper body 17 and the lower body 16, allowing it to rotate relative to the axis of the valve shaft 12.

The spring 7 and steel balls 6a and 6b are inserted into a hole on the cylindrical side of the valve stem 12 near where the lever connection part 8 and the valve stem 12 abut, with part of the steel ball 6b protruding from the hole 9.

Figure 13 is a right side view of the flow path switching valve body 13 of a water purifier showing an embodiment of the present invention. The steel balls 6b fit into three recesses 10 provided in the flow path switching valve body 13 at the position where the valve stem 12 is inserted. When the lever 5 is rotated, the steel balls 6b move to adjacent recesses 10 of the flow path switching valve body 13, and the elastic force of the spring 7 causes the steel balls 6b to bounce off the recesses 10, creating a clicking sensation that notifies the user that the switching operation has been performed. The number of steel balls can be one. Also, although a compression spring is used, a leaf spring mechanism can be used to reproduce the clicking sensation.

Figure 15 is an illustration of the "Purified Water," "Straight Raw Water," and "Raw Water Shower" switching states of a water purifier showing an example of one embodiment of the present invention. The upper body 17 is printed with a "Purified Water" illustration 171a, a "Straight Raw Water" illustration 171b, and a "Raw Water Shower" illustration 171c, which show the switching states shown in Figure 15. The indication of the switching state may be text only, or both text and illustrations.

Next, we will explain the electrical unit that integrates the flow rate and displays the results. The electrical unit is composed of the power supply unit 101 shown in Figure 4, and the flow rate detection unit 102, control unit 104, and reset unit 153 shown in Figure 9.

Figure 10 is an exploded perspective view of the power supply unit 101 used in a water purifier according to one embodiment of the present invention. The power supply unit 101 is composed of a battery holder 115 sandwiched between the upper body 17 and lower body 16, a coin-type manganese dioxide lithium battery 111 (hereinafter referred to as battery 111), an anode metal fitting 113, a cathode metal fitting 114, and a removable battery cover 112 that secures the battery in a watertight manner.

The battery cover 112 has a cylindrical battery attachment section 116 and an O-ring 117 around its outer periphery, which prevents water from entering the battery attachment section 116 when the battery cover 112 is attached to the battery holder 115 via the bayonet mechanism. The cylindrical battery attachment section 116 has a notch 118 that allows users to easily insert their fingers into and remove the battery. The surface of the battery cover 112 also has a recess 119 for inserting and turning a coin, with letters and illustrations engraved around the periphery indicating the battery specifications and the direction of rotation for opening and closing. Therefore, after confirming the battery specifications and the direction of rotation of the battery cover 112, the user can use a coin to remove the battery cover 112 from the battery holder 115 and replace the battery.

The anode metal fitting 113 and cathode metal fitting 114, located inside the battery holder 115, are each connected to the control unit 104 shown in Figure 9 via lead wires, and power from the battery 111 is supplied to the control unit 104. The lead wires and battery holder 115 are sealed with silicone rubber, preventing water from seeping down the lead wires into the anode metal fitting 113, cathode metal fitting 114, and even the battery mounting section 116. As long as the anode metal fitting 113, cathode metal fitting 114, and the exposed core wires of the lead wires can be waterproofed, urethane resin potting or sealing with a rubber cap can be used instead of silicone rubber.

The battery may be a primary or secondary battery, and may be a lithium battery such as a manganese dioxide lithium battery, which can provide a stable supply of power for a long period of time at a relatively high voltage, or an alkaline battery, manganese battery, silver oxide battery, or zinc-air battery. Furthermore, small batteries such as button or coin types are preferred, as they are lightweight and do not require a large installation space. Small batteries do not significantly increase the size or weight of the main body, and do not result in a significant increase in cost.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the flow rate detection unit 102 used in the water purifier according to one embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in Figure 9 and Figure 11, which is an enlarged view of part 102 in Figure 9, the flow detection unit 102 is composed of a water wheel 122 containing a magnet 121, a water wheel support member 123 that rotatably supports the water wheel 122, a magnetic switch 124 that is energized in response to the rotation of the magnet, and a magnetic switch holder 125 that supports and fixes the magnetic switch 124.

As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the waterwheel 122 comprises a cylindrical resin tube 131 with multiple blades 132 formed around its outer periphery. A magnet 121 and a metal shaft 126 are fixed coaxially with the tube 131. The magnet 121 is integrally molded within the tube 131 to prevent contact with water. To prevent the magnet 121 from falling off or rusting, it is preferable to insert the magnet 121 into a magnet mounting hole provided in the molded waterwheel component and then weld the opening of the magnet mounting hole with a resin cover or seal it with a curable resin (sealant). Polyurethane is preferred as the curable resin, as it is more safe, but epoxy resin, other sealants, and adhesives may also be used. Coating the magnet itself is also preferable to prevent the magnet 121 from rusting. In addition to rare earth magnets with strong magnetic force, ferrite magnets and other magnets may also be used for the magnet 121.

As shown in Figure 9, the water turbine 122 is supported from the downstream side by a water turbine support member 123 so that it can rotate within the purified water pipeline 30. A metal shaft 126 of the water turbine 122 is inserted into a blind hole in the water turbine support member 123 to prevent the water turbine 122 from shifting downstream. As shown in Figure 17, a plurality of ribs 127 extending in the axial direction are provided on the outer circumferential surface of the water turbine support member 123, and when inserted into the purified water pipeline 30, the ribs 127 deform slightly to firmly secure the water turbine 122. The water turbine 122 may be an axial flow type whose rotation axis is parallel to the direction of purified water supply, or may be perpendicular.

As shown in Figure 11, the magnetic switch 124 is inserted into the magnetic switch holder 125 and sealed with hardening resin 137 (sealant). The magnetic switch 124 is connected to the control unit 104 by a lead wire, and the pulse signal generated by the magnetic switch 124 is transmitted to the control unit 104. The magnetic switch holder 125 housing the magnetic switch 124 is fixed so that it abuts against the upper outer circumferential side of the purified water pipeline 30 and is positioned near the water wheel 122.

A pair of ribs 133 on the purified water pipeline 30 upstream of the water turbine 122 support its tubular portion 131 to prevent the water turbine 122 from moving away from its designated position in the purified water pipeline 30. The ribs 133 support the tubular portion 131, not the blades 132, and therefore do not interfere with the rotation of the water turbine. The ribs 133 also have the effect of straightening the purified water flowing into the water turbine 122. Although a pair of ribs 133 are provided, it is preferable to arrange multiple ribs radially around the axis of the purified water pipeline 30, as long as the flow rate does not decrease.

In the flow rate detection unit 102 configured in this manner, the flow of purified water causes the water wheel 122 to rotate, which in turn causes the magnet 121 integrated with the water wheel 122 to rotate, changing the magnetic field accordingly. When the magnet 121 rotates once, the magnetic switch 124 emits a two-cycle pulse signal, which is transmitted to the control unit 104. The magnetic switch may be a reed switch or a hall sensor.

Because the flow rate detection unit 102 is located downstream of the filtration cartridge 3, iron rust and other contaminants do not flow in, and iron rust does not get caught on the multiple blades 132 of the water wheel 122, preventing it from rotating. As a result, the flow rate of purified water can be accurately measured and accumulated, and the time to replace the filtration cartridge 3 can be displayed.

In addition, because the magnetic switch holder 125 of the flow rate detection unit 102 is positioned on the outer periphery of the purified water pipe 30 at the upper side, the width of the water purifier 1 does not increase if the magnetic switch holder is positioned laterally outside the purified water pipe. As a result, when a user of the water purifier washes dishes, their hands are less likely to be hidden by the water purifier, making them easier to see.

Furthermore, because the purified water pipeline 30 is located above the raw water pipeline 20, there is no need to place the flow rate detector 102 near the pipeline, which is located deep inside. Because the flow rate detector 102 can be placed in the purified water pipeline 30, which is closer to the user, there is no need for laborious assembly or reduced assembly efficiency, and manufacturing costs can be reduced.

Next, we will explain the control unit 104 and LCD display 105. Figure 16 is an enlarged view of the control unit 104 in the D-D cross section of the water purifier shown in Figure 2.

The control unit 104 is composed of a circuit board 151 on which a CPU is mounted, and a transparent board holder 152 that houses the circuit board 151. The CPU receives power from the power supply unit 101, performs calculations based on pulse signals from the flow rate detection unit 102, and sends output signals to the liquid crystal display 105.

This LCD display 105 can be placed away from the circuit board and connected with lead wires, etc., but signals can be transmitted more reliably if it is supported and fixed directly to the circuit board 151.

In addition, to prevent water from seeping in from the outside and causing the circuit board 151 to malfunction, it is preferable to waterproof the circuit board 151 and the LCD display 105 by fixing the opening to the board holder 152 through the opening and sealing the opening with a curable resin 155 (sealant). Alternatively, a lid can be used to weld and fix the circuit board 151 to the board holder 152 for waterproofing. Waterproofing in this manner eliminates the need to waterproof each component individually, simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing manufacturing costs. Two-component polyurethane or epoxy resin can be used as the curable resin.

The LCD display 105 is supported and fixed to the circuit board 151 and is located at the upper front of the main body 2. Furthermore, the LCD display 105 is erected so that its surface is tilted backward at an angle of 20 degrees to 40 degrees relative to the vertical axis when the water purifier 1 is supported and fixed to the faucet. When the tilt angle is 40 degrees or less, the LCD display 105 does not protrude too far forward, so the water purifier does not obstruct the user's view of the water shower's discharge status. As a result, the surface of dishes is easily visible when washing dishes. Furthermore, while the user must look down at the LCD display 105 from a fairly high position, when the tilt angle is 20 degrees or more, the display on the LCD display 105 is not difficult to see when looking down from above. In other words, the user does not have to bend down to view the LCD display 205 from a low position. When the tilt angle is between 20 and 40 degrees, the discharge status of the raw water shower is easy to see, and the display on the LCD display 105 is relatively easy to read.

Figure 14 is a front view of the control unit 104 of a water purifier showing an embodiment of the present invention. The LCD display 105 has a filtration cartridge replacement indicator element 161 that displays a four-digit number using 23 segments, and a battery replacement indicator element 162 that can be turned on, blinking, or off. In addition, three-color LEDs 168 installed in two locations can turn on, blink, or off the backlight, and the color of the backlight can also be changed. Even if the user cannot instantly read the four-digit number, they can know when it is time to replace the filtration cartridge by looking at the on/blinking state and color of the backlight.

To prevent the lead wires extending from the electrical components from being pinched between the upper body 17 and lower body 16 during assembly, a protrusion is provided on the top of the purified water line 30 of the flow path switching valve main body 13. It is also preferable for the board holder 152 to have a protrusion or catch to organize the lead wires extending from the power supply unit 101, flow rate detection unit 102, and reset unit 153.

The reset unit 153 is composed of a reset button 154 and a reset button case 155 for preventing water from entering the reset button. As shown in Figure 2, the tip of the reset button 154 protrudes from the upper rear surface of the side of the water purifier 1, and the user can reset the integrated flow rate data by pressing the reset button 154. Furthermore, the integrated flow rate at which the filtration cartridge 3 must be replaced can be selected depending on the type of filtration cartridge 3 used. The reset button case 155 is made of elastomer, but it may also be made of ABS resin or sealed with polyurethane.
Next, the operation of the water purifier 1 configured as above will be described.

Figure 4 shows raw water being discharged from the raw water shower port 14. When the faucet is opened, raw water flows in through the raw water inlet 28, its force is reduced by the water flow reduction member 39, and then the valve stem cam portion 27c pushes up the valve body 11c, passing through the open water passage 21c, before being discharged from the raw water shower port 14. At this time, the lever 5 is in the position indicated by the "raw water shower" illustration 71c on the upper body 17.

At this point, when lever 5 is rotated until steel ball 6b on valve stem 12 is seated in a recess provided in flow path switching valve body 13 by spring 7, valve stem cam 27b faces upward, replacing valve stem cam 27c on valve stem 12, closing water passage 21c and opening water passage 21b. As a result, raw water passes through water passage 21c and is discharged from raw water straight port 15. At this time, lever 5 is in the position indicated by the "raw water straight" illustration 71b on upper body 17.

When lever 5 is rotated in the opposite direction to the raw water straight, valve shaft 12 rotates in the same way, closing water passage 21b and opening water passage 21a. As a result, raw water flows through water passage 21a and into raw water supply port 26. It then flows into raw water receiving port 62 of filtration cartridge 3 and is filtered by an adsorbent such as activated carbon and a hollow fiber membrane. The filtered water flows from purified water supply port 63 to purified water receiving port 29, passes through purified water pipe 30, and is discharged from purified water outlet 19. At this time, lever 5 is in the position indicated by the "purified water" illustration 71a on upper body 17.

The purified water flowing through the purified water pipeline 30 rotates the water wheel 122, and a pulse signal is sent by the flow rate detection unit 102 to the control unit 104, which then accumulates the purified water flow rate. The remaining life of the filtration cartridge is displayed on the LCD display 105 according to this accumulated purified water flow rate. The filtration cartridge replacement display element 161 displays the value obtained by subtracting the accumulated amount of purified water from the flow rate selected when the filtration cartridge was first used each time purified water is first used. At the same time, the backlight is illuminated for a predetermined period of time in its initial illumination/flashing condition. For example, it lights up blue for seven consecutive seconds. The blue light indicates "go ahead" on a traffic light, and when users see this, they feel reassured that the filtration cartridge can be used.

When the cumulative pulse count corresponding to the cumulative purified water flow rate reaches the first preset value, the backlight that lights up each time purified water is used is changed to the first lighting/flashing condition. For example, it lights up yellow or green for seven seconds continuously. Yellow means "stop with caution" at a traffic light, and users who see it are alerted to the situation. The displayed value remains the same: the purified water passing through the filter cartridge minus the flow rate selected when the cartridge was first used.

Furthermore, once the second set value is reached, the backlight that lights up each time the water filter is used is changed to a second lighting/flashing condition. For example, it will light up red or pink for seven seconds continuously. Red indicates a "stop" traffic light, and when the user sees this, they know that it is time to replace the filter cartridge and prepare a new one. The amount of water passing through the filter will still be displayed as the value subtracted from the flow rate selected when the filter cartridge was first used.

When the value obtained by subtracting the cumulative amount of purified water from the flow rate selected when the filtration cartridge began to be used reaches zero and the filtration cartridge must be replaced, the third lighting/flashing condition is changed. For example, the backlight will be turned off even when purified water is being used. When the user sees this, they will be strongly aware that the filtration cartridge can no longer be used and will replace it.

In the above embodiment, a display method was shown in which the backlight can light up in three colors: blue, yellow (or green), and red (or pink). However, even in embodiments in which the backlight can light up in only one color or two colors, it is possible to separate the display into a first lighting/flashing condition, a second lighting/flashing condition, and a third lighting/flashing condition.

For example, in an embodiment where the backlight can only light up in two colors, blue and red, the following display may be used. When use begins, the backlight will light up in blue, and the first lighting/flashing condition will be blue and flashing at two-second intervals. The second lighting/flashing condition will be red and flashing at two-second intervals, and the third lighting/flashing condition will be continuous red. As the backlight color changes from solid blue to flashing and then to continuous red, it creates the image of a pedestrian traffic light, making the user feel strongly that the filtration cartridge needs to be replaced.

Also, in an embodiment where the backlight can only light up in white, the following display can be used. When use begins, the white light will flash at 2-second intervals. The first lighting/flashing condition is white light flashing at 1.5-second intervals, and the second lighting/flashing condition is white light flashing at 1-second intervals. The third lighting/flashing condition is white light flashing continuously. As the flashing intervals become shorter and the light finally turns to continuous light, the user will be more aware that the filtration cartridge needs to be replaced.

If the backlight could only light up in one color as described above, the user would be able to check the usage status of the filtration cartridge. However, a single color tends to leave a weak impression on the user, so it is preferable for the backlight to be able to light up in two or more colors.

When the user replaces the filtration cartridge with a new one and presses and holds the reset button 154, the integrated pulse count corresponding to the integrated flow rate returns to zero, and the filtration cartridge replacement display element 161 also returns to its initial display.

The LCD display 105 flashes the battery replacement indicator 162 when the battery voltage drops below a preset value, prompting the user to replace the batteries. By flashing the battery replacement indicator 162 when the voltage drops below the voltage at which the color adjustment state of the three-color LED changes, it is possible to prevent misidentification caused by a change from the original color. The user does not need to take the time to memorize the battery start date and the battery life listed in the instruction manual. This prevents the loss of accumulated flow data while using the filtration cartridge due to forgetting the battery life, and allows the battery to be replaced at the appropriate time. The battery replacement indicator 162 is configured to turn off when the battery is first used and flash when the battery is nearing the end of its life, but it may also display in stages, similar to the filtration cartridge replacement indicator described above.

The LCD display 105 turns off when purified water is not being used. Specifically, the CPU on the circuit board 151 detects that the flow of purified water has stopped and the pulse signal from the flow rate detector 102 has ceased, switching the device to sleep mode, turning off the LCD display 105, and turning off the backlight. When the lever 5 is rotated in the opposite direction to the raw water shower, purified water passes through the purified water pipe 30 and is discharged from the purified water outlet 19, turning on the LCD display 105 and backlight. Three seconds later, when the faucet is turned off, the LCD display 105 and backlight immediately turn off. This switching significantly reduces battery power consumption and extends battery life. The sleep mode is canceled and the LCD display 105 turns on for a certain period of time immediately after replacing the battery and operating the reset button. This allows the user to confirm that the battery was installed correctly and the data was reset correctly.

[Example 1]
A raw water flow path is provided at the rear side of the flow path switching valve body, connecting the raw water supply port that supplies raw water to the filtration cartridge with the raw water flow path of the flow path switching valve body. Above that, a purified water flow path is provided, connecting the purified water inlet that receives purified water from the filtration cartridge with the purified water outlet. The central axes of the raw water flow path and the purified water flow path are parallel, making it easier to manufacture the mold.

A water wheel and water wheel support member for the flow detection unit are installed in the purified water pipeline, and the water wheel rotates when purified water flows through it. Because the flow detection unit is located downstream of the filtration cartridge, iron rust and other contaminants do not enter the water wheel, and rust does not get caught on the multiple blades of the water wheel, preventing it from rotating. As a result, the purified water flow rate can be accurately measured and accumulated, and the time to replace the filtration cartridge can be displayed.

The purified water pipe is located above the raw water flow path, and the magnetic switch holder for the flow rate detection unit is located on the upper side of the purified water pipe. This eliminates the need to reach into recessed areas, eliminating the need for laborious assembly and reducing assembly efficiency, thereby reducing manufacturing costs. As the magnetic switch holder is not located on the outside of the purified water pipe, the width of the water purifier does not increase, making it easier for users to see their hands when washing dishes.

The LCD display is located at the top front of the main body, tilted backward at an angle of 32 degrees relative to the axis of the flow path switching valve body. The LCD display does not protrude forward, making it difficult to see the discharge status of the raw water shower or the surface of dishes when washing them.

At the start of each water purification session, the remaining life of the filtration cartridge was displayed on the LCD display, and the backlight was illuminated for 7 seconds. For a filtration cartridge with a lifespan of 600L, the backlight was blue when the remaining life was 300-600L, green when the remaining life was 150-300L, and pink when the remaining life was 0-150L. When users saw the pink backlight, they knew it was time to replace the filtration cartridge.

[Comparative Example 1]
A raw water flow path was installed behind the flow path switching valve body, connecting the raw water supply port that supplies raw water to the filtration cartridge with the raw water flow path of the flow path switching valve body, and a water wheel and water wheel support member for the flow rate detection unit were installed in the raw water pipe, so that the water wheel would rotate when raw water was passed through.The flow rate of raw water could be measured, but iron rust would get caught on the water wheel blades, causing it to stop rotating frequently.

[Comparative Example 2]
A raw water flow path was provided at the rear side of the flow path switching valve body, connecting the raw water supply port that supplies raw water to the filtration cartridge with the raw water flow path of the flow path switching valve body. Below that, a purified water flow path was provided, connecting the purified water inlet that receives purified water from the filtration cartridge with the purified water outlet. The central axes of the raw water flow path and the purified water flow path were parallel, making it easy to create the mold.

The purified water pipeline is equipped with a water wheel for flow detection and a water wheel support member, which rotates when purified water flows through it. The magnetic switch holder had to be placed on the outside of the purified water pipeline, which increased the width of the water purifier. As a result, users of the water purifier found it difficult to see their hands when washing dishes. Furthermore, assembly required users to reach into recessed areas, which was time-consuming and reduced assembly efficiency.

The LCD display was positioned at the top front of the main body, tilted backward at a 60-degree angle relative to the axis of the flow path switching valve body. The LCD display was easy to read, but because it protruded forward, it was difficult to see the discharge status of the raw water shower, and it was difficult to see the surfaces of dishes when washing them.

1: Water purifier
2: Main body 3: Filtration cartridge
4: Faucet 5: Lever
6a: Steel ball 6b: Steel ball 7: Spring 8: Lever connection portion 9: Hole portion 10: Recessed portion 11a: Valve body 11b: Valve body 11c: Valve body 12: Valve stem 13: Flow path switching valve body 14: Raw water shower port 15: Raw water straight port 16: Lower body 17: Upper body 18: Valve operation portion 19: Purified water outlet 20: Raw water pipe 21a: Water passage 21b: Water passage 21c: Water passage 22: Partition plate 23: Upper chamber 24: Lower chamber 26: Raw water supply port 27a: Valve stem cam portion 27b: Valve stem cam portion 27c: Valve stem cam portion 28: Raw water inlet 29: Purified water receiving port 30: Purified water pipe 31a: Flow path 31b: Flow path 31c: Flow path 36: Packing 37: Adapter
38: Mounting nut 39: Water flow reduction member 47a: Valve cam portion 47b: Valve cam portion 47c: Valve cam portion 57a: Valve seal 57b: Valve seal 57c: Valve seal 58a: Valve 58b: Valve 58c: Valve 61: Container 61a: Cylindrical protrusion 62: Raw water receiving port 63: Purified water supply port 64: Cylinder 65: O-ring 66: Ring-shaped filter 67: Ring-shaped filter 68: Hollow fiber membrane bundle 69: Curable resin 70: Adsorbent layer 73: O-ring 74: O-ring 91: Cartridge cap
101: Power supply unit 102: Flow rate detection unit 104: Control unit 105: Liquid crystal display 111: Battery 112: Battery cover
113: Anode metal fitting 114: Cathode metal fitting 115: Battery holder 116: Battery mounting section 117: O-ring 118: Notch 119: Recess 121: Magnet 122: Water wheel 123: Water wheel support member 124: Magnetic switch 125: Magnetic switch holder 126: Shaft 127: Rib 131: Cylinder section 132: Blade 137: Hardening resin 151: Circuit board 152: Board holder 153: Reset section 154: Reset button 155: Reset button case 161: Filtration cartridge replacement indicator 162: Battery replacement indicator 171a: "Purified water" illustration 171b: "Raw water straight" illustration 171c: "Raw water shower" illustration

Claims (1)

A water purifier that is supported and fixed to a faucet and includes a flow path switching valve having a raw water inlet that receives raw water, a filtration cartridge that purifies the raw water, a purified water outlet that discharges purified water, a raw water pipe that connects the flow path switching valve to the filtration cartridge, and a purified water pipe that connects the filtration cartridge to the purified water outlet,
The water purifier is provided with a main body having an electrical component, and the electrical component is provided with a power supply unit,
A flow rate detector is provided in the purified water pipeline,
The purified water pipeline is disposed above the raw water pipeline when the water purifier is supported and fixed to the faucet,
the flow rate detection unit has a rotatable water wheel and a magnetic switch,
The water wheel has a resin cylindrical portion, blades, and a magnet fixed inside the cylindrical portion, and is disposed inside the purified water pipeline;
In this faucet-mounted water purifier, the magnetic switch is disposed in the purified water pipe at a position above the purified water pipe when the water purifier is supported and fixed to the faucet.