JP2000354860A - Filter assembly for water purifier - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To extend the life by clogging of a filter for a water purifier while enhancing its water purifying capacity. SOLUTION: In a filter assembly constituted so that a hollow cylindrical filter material 14 is arranged in a hollow case 12 and unpurified water is supplied from the inflow port 12a of the case 12 to be transversely passed through the filter material 14 while purified water is taken out of the outflow port of the case, a cover member 16 covering a part of the outer surface of the filter material 14 and a water barrier member 20 cutting off the axial flow of water through the hollow center part of the filter material in the region where the cover member 16 covers the outside of the filter material 14 at the hollow center part of the filter material 14 are provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a filter assembly usable for various water purifiers, and more particularly to a filter assembly for a water purifier capable of maintaining a stable water purification capacity for a long period of time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are various conventional filters for water purifiers, such as a hollow filter using activated carbon or the like and having a hollow inside, and a filter formed in a flat plate shape. In the case of a conventional hollow filter, chlorine or the like is removed while water passes from the outside of the filter to the hollow portion, so that the water purification capacity is determined by the thickness of the filter. Also, while increasing the thickness of the filter medium to increase the water purification capacity, in order to prevent the filter for the water purifier from becoming large, the filter medium is formed in a cylindrical shape, water is supplied from one longitudinal end thereof, and water is supplied from the other end. There is one that takes out purified water.

[0003]

When a filter for a water purifier is used, impurities adhere to the filter, causing clogging. For example, in the case of a cylindrical filter, clogging mainly occurs on the water inlet side surface of the water purifier filter. Therefore, although the filter can be used without clogging inside the filter, there is a problem that the life of the filter is reduced due to clogging of the water inlet side surface.

[0004] In a conventional hollow water purifier filter, a single pass of water only passes through a filter medium such as activated carbon once. For this reason, the water purification capacity depends on the thickness of the filter medium, and there is a problem that the size of the water purifier filter is increased in order to improve the water purification capacity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to maintain a long life due to clogging of a filter for a water purifier and to improve the water purification capacity.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of compartments are provided so as to be in contact with each of two opposing surfaces of a filter medium, and one of the plurality of compartments is provided with a plurality of compartments. Water is circulated in the compartment provided on the opposite surface of the filter medium across the filter medium, and this is sequentially repeated.Water flows several times during the flow of water from the inlet to the outlet of the water purifier. In the filter assembly for a water purifier adapted to purify water by traversing the filter medium, when flowing from the first compartment to the compartment provided on the opposite surface of the filter medium across the filter medium. The filter assembly for a water purifier is configured such that the surface area of the filter medium at a portion where water passes through the filter gradually decreases from the upstream side to the downstream side.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a cylindrical filter medium having a hollow central portion is disposed in a hollow case, water is supplied from an inlet of the case, and an outer surface and an inner surface of the filter medium are provided. A filter member for covering a part of the outer surface of the filter medium; and a hollow center portion of the filter medium, And a water blocking member that is disposed in a region where the covering member covers the outside of the filter medium, and that blocks water from flowing through a hollow central portion of the filter medium. Is the gist.

According to the present invention, a cylindrical filter medium having a hollow central portion is disposed in a hollow case, water is supplied from an inlet of the case, and an outer surface of the filter medium and an inner surface of the filter medium are provided. In the filter assembly for a water purifier, wherein the water is traversed and circulated between the filter member and a surface of the filter member, the cover member covering a part of the outer surface of the filter medium is formed by the cover member and the hollow member. A filter for a water purifier, wherein a surface area of a region in contact with the space is smaller than a surface area of a region that is not covered with the covering member in the filter medium. This is a summary of the assembly.

According to the present invention, the performance of the filter medium is maximized without waste, the initial water purification performance of the filter medium is maintained for a long time, the life of the filter medium due to clogging is maintained long, and the water purification capacity is improved. It becomes possible. Further, the filter assembly of the present invention includes a tank for water to be purified and a pump, and is used as a filter assembly for a circulating water purifier and other various water purifiers for circulating the water inside the tank. In addition, it can itself be used as a water purifier.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The first embodiment is an embodiment closer to the principle of the present invention, in which a first and a second plate are provided on opposite sides of a filter medium 100 having a rectangular flat plate shape having a uniform thickness and easily passing water in the thickness direction. When the side walls 110 and 120 are
0 is arranged in parallel. First sidewall 110
Has partitions 112 and 114, so that the filter medium 1
00 and the first side wall 110 between the first and third compartments 10
2, 106 are formed. Similarly, the second side wall 120 has partitions 122, 124, which allow the filter media 10
Between the second and fourth side walls 120 and the second and fourth compartments 10
4 and 106 are formed. More specifically, the first compartment 1
02 and the second compartment 104, the second compartment 104 and the third compartment 106, the third compartment 106 and the fourth compartment 108 are offset from each other in the direction of the axis O1, Filter media 1
The compartments provided on each of the two opposing surfaces of 00 are staggered as a whole. Also, according to the principles of the present invention, each partition 1 of the first and second side walls 110, 120
12, 114; 122, 124 are dimensions L1 between the partitions.
, L2, L3, L4, L5, L6 are spaced apart from each other so as to become gradually smaller.

The operation of the first embodiment will be described below.
Raw water indicated by an arrow 1, for example, tap water, flows into the first compartment 102 from one side of the lower part of the filter medium 100 in FIG. 3, the filter medium 100 is again traversed in the opposite direction from the first compartment 102 into the second compartment 104, and as shown by the arrow 4, the filter medium 100 is again removed from the second compartment 104. It crosses in the opposite direction and flows into the third compartment 106, and from the third compartment 106 again traverses the filter medium 100 in the opposite direction into the fourth compartment 108 as shown by arrow 5. As shown by the arrow 6, the filter medium 100 is again passed in the opposite direction from the fourth compartment 108 to the outlet 130 as the purified water 7.
Leaks to

Since the fluid generally flows so as to minimize the pressure loss, water flowing in the thickness direction of a rectangular flat plate having a constant thickness is provided with a filter medium 100 having a filter medium 100 which minimizes the pressure loss. In the embodiment, two opposed flat plate-shaped filter media 100 are arranged.
By arranging a plurality of first to fourth compartments 102-108 alternately on each of the surfaces, water does not flow in the direction of the axis O1 in the filter medium 100, but traverses and circulates through the filter medium 100. The first to fourth compartments 102 to 108 can be sequentially circulated. In addition to this, while suppressing the pressure loss, the water to be purified is filtered by the filter medium 100 as indicated by arrows 2 to 6.
Is repeatedly traversed and circulated five times to be highly purified in a short time.

Further, if the purified water from the outlet 130 is directly used, the purified water that has passed through the filter medium 100 and the unpurified water do not mix with each other, so that highly purified water can be obtained. Becomes possible.

Further, the water to be purified is in the state of the raw water 1 which is the most polluted, and is gradually purified every time it passes through the filter medium 100 as shown by arrows 2 to 6, and the contaminants to be purified by the filter medium 100, for example, Since the content of harmful substances such as rust and other floating substances, odor causing substances such as chlorine odor and mold odor, and trihalomethane decreases as going downstream, the amount of the filter medium 100 required for its removal also gradually decreases. come. Since the water purification capacity is determined by the volume of the filter medium through which the water to be purified passes, in the present embodiment including the filter medium 100 having a rectangular flat plate shape having a constant thickness, the filter medium is traversed from a certain compartment across the filter medium 100. The surface area of the filter medium 100 at the portion where water passes when flowing to the compartment provided on the opposite side is gradually reduced from the upstream side to the downstream side.

That is, in FIG. 1, the size L 1 of the filter medium 100 through which the raw water 1 passes into the first compartment 102, and the filter medium 100 passing from the first compartment 102 to the second compartment 104.
L2, the dimension L3 of the filter medium 100 passing from the second compartment 104 to the third compartment 106, the dimension L4 of the filter medium 100 passing from the third compartment 106 to the fourth compartment 108, the fourth dimension Media 100 passing from the compartment 108 to the outlet 130
Is gradually reduced. Thus, the performance of the filter medium 100 having a limited area can be maximized without waste, and the initial purification performance when the filter medium 100 is replaced can be maintained for a long period of time.
In other words, in the purification device according to the related art, the entire filter medium starts to be contaminated simultaneously with the passage of water, so that the water purification performance gradually decreases from the start of use. However, as in the present embodiment, the size of the filter medium 100 through which the water to be purified passes. By gradually decreasing from the upstream side to the downstream side, it becomes possible to adapt to the water purification capacity required for the water passing through each part of the filter medium 100,
The performance of the filter medium 100 having a limited area is maximized without waste, and the initial water purification performance of the filter medium 100 can be maintained for a long period of time.

Further, since the portion of the filter medium 100 through which the most contaminated source water first passes has the largest surface area in the filter medium 100, it is difficult for the water purification capacity to decrease due to clogging, so that the filter assembly is difficult to use. The service life can be extended. Therefore, it is possible to realize a filter assembly for a water purifier having a high water purification capacity, a long life, and a reduced size.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which the principle of the present invention is applied to a more specific filter assembly. In FIG. 1, the filter medium 100 is replaced with an axis O parallel to its surface.
1 is rotated around the center and the whole is formed into a cylindrical shape.

A filter assembly 10 according to a second embodiment shown in FIG. 3 includes a case 12 formed in a hollow cylindrical shape from a metal material such as stainless steel or a plastic material;
A cylindrical, preferably constant-thickness cylindrical filter medium 14 having a hollow center and disposed concentrically with the case 12 within the case 12, and a covering member 1 covering a part of the outer surface of the filter medium 14.
6 is provided. At the upper end of the case 12, an inlet 12a for supplying the raw water 1 to be purified and an outlet 12b for extracting the purified water 7 are provided.

The filter medium 14 can be formed from, for example, a porous body containing activated carbon or zeolite. The lower end of the filter medium 14 is closed by an end plate 18, and
The upper part of the filtering agent 14 is covered with a covering member 16. Further, the covering member 1 is formed in the hollow center of the filter medium 14.
In a region where the filter material 6 covers the outside of the filter medium 14, a water blocking member 20 for preventing water from flowing through the hollow center portion in the axial direction is provided.
Are arranged. The water blocking member 20 has a rod-shaped connecting member 20a and flanges 20b and 20c provided at both ends of the connecting member 20a, and can be formed of a plastic material or a rubber material. The flanges 20a and 20b are engaged with the inner surface of the hollow portion so that water can be substantially prevented from flowing axially through the hollow portion of the filter medium. In the present embodiment, a first compartment 22 is formed between the end plate 18 and the flange 20b at the lower end of the water blocking member 20 in the hollow center portion of the filter medium 14, and the two flanges of the water blocking member 20 are formed. A third compartment 26 is formed between 20a and 20b.

The covering member 16 is made of a metal material such as stainless steel or a plastic material, and covers a part of the outer surface of the filter medium 14 and is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape having a diameter larger than the diameter of the filter medium 14. A space is formed between the covering member 16 and the filter medium 14. This space is
A partition 16a provided between the covering member 16 and the filter medium 14,
16b divides into second and fourth compartments 24,28. The partitions 16a, 16b substantially prevent water from flowing between the second and fourth compartments 24, 28 along the outer surface of the filter media and can be formed, for example, from O-rings. In the present embodiment, the surface area of the area covered by the covering member 16 in the filter medium 14 is smaller than the surface area of the area not covered by the covering member.

Hereinafter, the operation of the second embodiment will be described.
Raw water indicated by arrow 1, for example, tap water, is supplied into the case 12 from the inlet 12 a, flows through the space between the inner surface of the case 12 and the outer surface of the covering member 16, and passes through the filter medium 14 as indicated by arrow 2. Radially inwardly into the first compartment 22 and then radially outwardly again through the filter media 14 from the first compartment 22 as shown by arrow 3 to the second compartment 22. Room 2
4 and again radially inward through the filter media 14 from the second compartment 24 as shown by arrow 4 to a third compartment 26.
From the third compartment 26 as shown by the arrow 5 and again into the fourth compartment 28 traversing the filter media 14 radially outward and into the fourth compartment 28 as shown by the arrow 6. From the compartment 28, the filter medium 14 again crosses the filter medium 14 inward in the radial direction, and flows out to the outlet 12 b as the purified water 7.

In the present embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the portion of the filter medium 14 through which water passes when flowing from a certain compartment across the filter medium 14 to the compartment provided on the opposite surface. Is gradually reduced from the upstream side to the downstream side. Thus, the same advantageous effects and effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained, and in the second embodiment, the whole filter assembly 10 is formed in a cylindrical shape, preferably a cylindrical shape, so that a compact design is possible. Becomes

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The third embodiment has a configuration in which the filter medium 100 shown in FIG. 1 is formed in a disk shape by rotating the filter medium 100 about an axis O2 perpendicular to the surface.

A filter assembly 30 according to a third embodiment shown in FIG. 4 includes a disk-shaped filter medium 32 having a constant thickness, and stainless steel ropes provided on both sides of the filter medium 32 facing each other and surrounding the filter medium 32. Cases 34 and 36 formed in a hollow disk shape from a metal material or a plastic material. Cases 34 and 36 are provided on one side of filter medium 32, FIG.
In the embodiment, the upper case 3 provided above the filter medium 32
4 and the opposite side of the filter medium 32, in the embodiment of FIG.
And a lower case 36 provided on the lower side. An inlet 34a for supplying the raw water 1 to be purified is provided at the center of the upper case 34, and an outlet 36a for removing the purified water 7 is provided at the center of the lower case 36. ing. The inflow port 34a and the outflow port 36a are preferably arranged coaxially with each other.

The filter medium 32 can be formed of, for example, a porous body containing activated carbon or zeolite. In the present embodiment, a covering member 38 is provided between the filter medium 32 and the upper case 34. The covering member 38 can be formed from a metal material such as stainless steel or a plastic material.
Covers part of the upper surface. Covering member 38 and filter medium 3
2, a space is formed between the cover member 38 and the filter medium 32 by two concentric circular partitions 38a, 38b. 4
No. 8 In this embodiment, a space is also formed between the filter medium 32 and the lower case 36, and this space is
The first and third compartments 42 and 46 are divided by a concentric partition 36 b provided between the second case 36 and the lower case 36.

The operation of the third embodiment will be described below.
Unpurified raw water indicated by arrow 1, for example, tap water,
4a is supplied into the case 34, 36, and the case 34,
36, and flows through the space between the inner surface of the cover member 38 and the outer surface of the covering member 38, and crosses the filter medium 32 downward as indicated by the arrow 2 to form the first
, And then from the first compartment 42 again upwardly across the filter medium 32 into the second compartment 44 as shown by arrow 3 and as shown by arrow 4 Second compartment 1
04 again traverses the filter medium 32 downwardly and returns to the third compartment 46.
From the third compartment 46 as shown by the arrow 5 and again into the fourth compartment 48 traversing the filter medium 32 upward, and as shown by the arrow 6, the fourth compartment 48 Again from filter media 3
2 crosses downward, and flows out to an outlet 36 a as purified water 7.

In the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, when the water flows from a certain compartment across the filter medium 32 to a compartment provided on the opposite surface, the filter medium 32 through which water passes. The surface area of the part is gradually reduced from the upstream side to the downstream side, that is, from the outer peripheral compartment to the central compartment. Thereby, the same advantageous effects as in the first embodiment,
The effect can be obtained, and in the third embodiment, the entirety of the filter assembly 30 is formed in a disk shape, so that the inflow port 34 and the outflow port 36 can be coaxially arranged.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Filter assembly 12 ... Case 12a ... Inlet 12b ... Outlet 14 ... Filter medium 16 ... Coating member 18 ... End plate 20 ... Water blocking member

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] July 28, 1999 (July 7, 1999
8)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0016

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Further, since the portion of the filter medium 100 through which the most dirty raw water first passes has the largest surface area of the filter medium 100, the water purification capacity is hardly reduced due to clogging, and the life of the filter assembly is reduced. Can be lengthened. Therefore, it is possible to realize a filter assembly for a water purifier having a high water purification capacity, a long life, and a reduced size.

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0017

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 shows an embodiment in which the principle of the present invention is applied to a more specific filter assembly. In FIG. 1, the filter medium 100 is replaced by an axis O parallel to its surface.
1 is rotated around the center and the whole is formed into a cylindrical shape.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0018

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

A filter assembly 10 according to a second embodiment shown in FIG. 2 includes a hollow cylindrical case 12 made of a metal material such as stainless steel or a plastic material;
A cylindrical, preferably constant-thickness cylindrical filter medium 14 having a hollow center and disposed concentrically with the case 12 within the case 12, and a covering member 1 covering a part of the outer surface of the filter medium 14.
6 is provided. At the upper end of the case 12, an inlet 12a for supplying the raw water 1 to be purified and an outlet 12b for extracting the purified water 7 are provided.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0023

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the third embodiment, the filter medium 100 shown in FIG. 1 is rotated about an axis O2 perpendicular to the surface of the filter medium 100, and is entirely formed in a disk shape.

[Procedure amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0024

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

A filter assembly 30 according to a third embodiment shown in FIG. 3 includes a disk-shaped filter medium 32 having a constant thickness, and a stainless steel rope provided on both sides of the filter medium 32 facing each other and surrounding the filter medium 32. Cases 34 and 36 formed in a hollow disk shape from a metal material or a plastic material. Case 34, 36, one side of the filter medium 32, FIG. 3
In the embodiment, the upper case 3 provided above the filter medium 32
4, the opposite side of the filter medium 32, the filter medium in the embodiment of FIG 32
And a lower case 36 provided on the lower side. An inlet 34a for supplying raw water 1 to be purified is provided at the center of the upper case 34, and an outlet 36a for taking out purified water 7 is provided at the center of the lower case 36. ing. The inflow port 34a and the outflow port 36a are preferably arranged coaxially with each other.

[Procedure amendment 6]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Fig. 1

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of compartments are provided so as to be in contact with each of two opposing surfaces of a filter medium, and a plurality of compartments are provided on one side of the plurality of compartments across the filter medium and on an opposite surface of the filter medium. The water was circulated through the filter medium, and the water was circulated multiple times while the water circulated from the inlet to the outlet of the water purifier. In the filter assembly for a water purifier, the surface area of the filter medium at a portion through which water passes when flowing from the first compartment to the compartment provided on the opposite surface of the filter medium across the filter medium is upstream. Filter assembly for a water purifier that is gradually reduced from the downstream to the downstream. 2. The filter assembly for a water purifier according to claim 1, wherein said filter medium is formed in a disk shape. 3. A cylindrical filter medium having a hollow center portion is disposed in a hollow case, water is supplied from an inlet of the case, and the water is supplied between an outer surface and an inner surface of the filter medium. In the filter assembly for a water purifier, which circulates and circulates and removes purified water from an outlet of the case, a covering member that covers a part of an outer surface of the filter material, A water blocking member disposed in a region covering the outside and blocking water from flowing through a hollow central portion of the filter medium. 4. The filter assembly for a water purifier according to claim 3, wherein a space is provided between the covering member and the filter medium. 5. The filter assembly according to claim 3, wherein the space is divided into a plurality of sections. 6. A space is provided between the covering member and the hollow filter medium, and a surface area of the filter medium in contact with the space is smaller than a surface area of a region not covered by the covering member. The filter assembly for a water purifier according to any one of claims 3 to 5. 7. A cylindrical filter medium having a hollow center portion is disposed in a hollow case, water is supplied from an inlet of the case, and the water is supplied between an outer surface and an inner surface of the filter medium. In the filter assembly for a water purifier configured to circulate and circulate and remove purified water from an outlet of the case, a space is formed between the cover member and the hollow filter medium, the covering member covering a part of the outer surface of the filter medium. And a surface area of a region of the filter medium that is in contact with the space is smaller than a surface area of a region that is not covered by the covering member.