JP2002102847A - Faucet with water purifier - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that when a water purifier is fitted on a tip of a water output of a faucet, hot water is erroneously fed into the purification cartridge, and scales adherent to the cartridge are released and discharged from the purified water output. SOLUTION: The water purifier 26 which purifies city water and discharges purified water is fitted to the tip part of the water discharge port. In the upstream part of the purification cartridge 34 of the water purifier 26, a shape memory alloy spring 70 as a hot water detecting means for detecting whether raw water which is introduced unpurified city water is hot water or water and a hot water change-over valve 64 which changes over the flow of the raw water automatically from a purified water discharge channel 48 which passes through the cartridge 34 to a raw water discharge channel 42 which does not pass through the cartridge 34 on the basis of the detection of the spring 70 when the raw water is hot water are installed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a faucet with a water purifier provided with a water purifier at the tip of a water discharge port.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, water has been discharged from a water outlet of a faucet after removing and purifying chlorine and the like in tap water. In this case, a so-called built-in type, in which a water purifier is formed separately from a faucet and installed inside a cabinet such as a kitchen, is widely used.

FIG. 7 shows an example. In the figure, reference numeral 200 denotes a faucet for a sink 206 installed on a counter 204 of a kitchen cabinet 202, a faucet main body 208, a spout 210 extending therefrom, and a single lever type upper part of the faucet main body 208. A main operation unit 212. The faucet 200 controls the water discharge and water discharge from the distal end of the water discharge port 210, specifically, the discharge port 216 of the water discharge head 214, and the temperature control of the water discharge by turning the main operation unit 212 up and down and left and right. Do.

[0004] Reference numerals 218 denote supply pipes for supplying water and hot water to the faucet body 208, respectively, and one ends of the supply pipes are connected to the faucet body 208. Reference numeral 220 denotes a so-called built-in type water purifier installed inside the kitchen cabinet 202, and a take-out line 22 for taking out tap water from the faucet main body 208 and guiding the tap water to the water purifier 220.
2 and a return pipe 224 for returning purified water to the faucet main body 208 are connected to the water purifier 220 and the faucet main body 208, respectively.

In this example, when the lever-type sub-operation unit 226 of the faucet 200 is operated, the tap water sent to the faucet main body 208 through the supply pipe 218 is sent to the water purifier 220 through the outlet pipe 222. Be guided. Then, the purified water purified by the water purifier 220 is returned to the return line 224.
Is returned to the faucet body 208 again through the outlet 2
The liquid is discharged to the outside from the discharge port 216 at the front end through 10.

[0006]

Incidentally, this type of water purifier 220 has a purifying function section such as a purifying cartridge for purifying by passing tap water. In the case of the purifying function unit, for example, a purifying cartridge, it is necessary to replace the purifying cartridge at regular intervals. In the case of this kind of built-in type water purifier 220, it is necessary to open the cabinet 202 once to replace the purifying cartridge. In such a state, the plate and other various items placed in the cabinet 202 must be taken in and out, and there is a problem that replacement of the cleaning cartridge requires a great deal of trouble.

Further, in the case of this type of built-in type water purifier 220, the faucet 200 is of the type shown in FIG. 8, that is, the water discharge head 214 can be pulled out together with the flexible hose 228 connected thereto. There is a problem that it is difficult to apply to the faucet 200. This is because in the case of the faucet 200 shown in FIG. 8, there is a problem that a large amount of purified water purified by the water purifier 220 stays in the long hose 228.

On the other hand, it is conceivable to provide a water purifier at the tip of the water outlet 210. In this case, the faucet 200 shown in FIG.
In addition, the present invention can be applied to the faucet 200 that can be pulled out, and also has an advantage that the operation for exchanging the cleaning cartridge becomes easy. In this case, usually, a switching operation unit for switching between the discharge of raw water and the discharge of purified water is provided at the end of the water discharge port 210, and the switching valve is switched by operating the switching operation unit, so that the raw water or purified water is discharged from the discharge port 216. Is discharged.

However, if a water purifier is provided at the end of the water discharge port 210 as described above, there is a risk that hot water may erroneously flow into a purifying function unit such as a purifying cartridge in the state of purified water spouting. There is a possibility that the dirt adsorbed on the cleaning agent or the like is released from the purification cartridge or the like due to the inflow of hot water, and is discharged from the discharge port 216 as it is. Alternatively, in the case where a hollow paper membrane or the like is used for the purification function unit, there is a disadvantage that the function is impaired by the inflow of hot water.

[0010]

The faucet with a water purifier of the present invention has been devised to solve such a problem. The water purifier with a water purifier provided with a water purifier for purifying and flowing out the tap water at the tip of the water discharge port, wherein the water purifier includes a purifying function unit such as a purifying cartridge. In the upstream part, based on the detection by the hot water detecting means for detecting whether the raw water which is the tap water before purification that has flowed in is the hot water or the water, and when the raw water is the hot water, ,
A hot water switching valve for automatically switching a flow of raw water from a purified water flow path passing through the purification function section to a raw water flow path not passing through the purification function section is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the hot water detecting means is extended by the incoming hot water, and the hot water switching valve is opened at the cutoff position of the clean water flow passage and the raw water flow passage. It is characterized in that it is a thermosensitive elastic body that is forcibly moved to a position.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the hot water detecting means is a shape memory alloy spring.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in accordance with any one of the first to third aspects, the flow of the raw water flowing into the upstream portion of the automatic hot water switching valve is purified by the user through the raw water flow path. A switching valve for switching the flow path or vice versa is further provided.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, a display unit for displaying whether the discharged water is purified water or raw water is provided, and the hot water switching valve is connected to the purified water flow path. When the switching operation is performed from the open position to the shut-off position or vice versa, the display unit automatically switches from a state of displaying purified water to a state of displaying raw water or vice versa.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, a temperature display section for displaying a raw water temperature is provided at a tip of the water outlet.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to sixth aspects, the housing of the water purifier is integrally formed with a faucet.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention, the water purifier is provided at the tip of the water discharge port, and when hot water flows into the upstream of the purifying function section such as the purifying cartridge.
The hot water switching valve is switched based on the detection by the hot water detecting means, and the flow of the raw water is automatically switched from the purified water flow path passing through the purification function section to the raw water flow path not passing through it. ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when hot water flows in by mistake, it can prevent that hot water flows into a purification | cleaning function part.

Therefore, according to the present invention, when hot water flows into the purifying function unit, the dirt adsorbed by the purifying function unit is released and discharged from the discharge port, or the function of the purifying function unit flows in. It is possible to prevent the hot water from being damaged.

In the present invention, the hot water detecting means is extended by the incoming hot water, and the hot water switchable valve is forcibly moved to a shut-off position of the purified water flow path and an open position of the raw water flow path. (Claim 2). With this configuration, hot water can be detected with a simple configuration and the hot water switching valve can be switched. In this case, the thermosensitive elastic body can be made to have a built-in wax and expand and contract by utilizing expansion of the wax.

However, the hot water detecting means may be constituted by a shape memory alloy spring according to claim 3 (claim 3).
In this way, when hot water flows in, the hot water switching valve can be switched with good responsiveness.

In the present invention, a switching valve for switching the flow of raw water from the raw water flow path to the purified water flow path or vice versa by a user's operation can be provided upstream of the hot water switching valve. Item 4). That is, in the present invention, a hot water switching valve that automatically performs a switching operation can be provided separately from a switching valve that switches a flow path by a user's operation.

However, in some cases, the switching valve for switching the flow path by the user's operation can be automatically switched to the raw water flow path open side based on the detection of hot water by the hot water detection means. is there. In this case,
The switching valve switched by the user's operation also serves as the hot water switching valve.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display unit for displaying whether the discharged water is purified water or raw water, and the hot water switching valve switches from the open position of the purified water flow path to the shutoff position or vice versa. At that time, the display unit is configured to automatically switch from the state of displaying purified water to the state of displaying raw water or vice versa, so that the flow path is switched, that is, from the discharge port The user can easily recognize whether the discharged water is purified water or raw water.

In this case, when the purified water is discharged, the purified water is discharged as rectified water, and when the raw water (hot water) is discharged from the discharge port by the switching operation of the hot water switching valve, it is automatically discharged as shower water. It can also be made to discharge as. By doing so, it is convenient for the user to be able to more easily recognize that switching from discharge of purified water to discharge of raw water (hot water).

In the present invention, a temperature display unit for displaying the raw water temperature can be provided at the tip of the water outlet (claim 6). By doing so, the user can easily know the raw water temperature, and can recognize that the hot water switching valve has been switched when the temperature rises.

In the present invention, the housing of the water purifier can be formed integrally with the faucet (claim 7). This makes it possible to make the water purifier attached to the faucet compact.

[0027]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a single-lever type mixing faucet (hereinafter referred to as a faucet) of the present embodiment. And The operation unit 16 is a lever type, and in the case of the faucet 10 of the present example, the operation unit 16 is turned up and down to adjust the amount of water discharged and water discharged from a discharge port 44 or 50 described later. In addition, the temperature of the discharged water is adjusted by rotating the water to the left and right.

The spout 14 is a fixed spout main body 1.
8 and a water discharge head 20 that can be pulled out. A flexible hose 22 is connected to the water discharge head 20,
The water discharge head 20 can be pulled out from the storage position together with the hose 22.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a supply pipe for supplying water and hot water to the faucet body 12, respectively. The water and hot water sent through the supply pipe 24 are mixed inside the faucet main body 12, and the mixed water or the water and hot water are guided to the water discharge head 20 through the hose 22 extending from the faucet main body 12. .

In this embodiment, a water purifier 26 is integrated with the water discharge head 20. Reference numeral 28 denotes a seesaw switch type switching operation unit for switching water discharge from a raw water discharge port 44 or a purified water discharge port 50 described later.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of the water purifier 26 specifically. As shown in FIG.
And a housing 30 integrally formed. A housing chamber 32 is formed inside the housing 30,
A purifying cartridge 34 as a purifying function section is detachably housed therein. The housing 30 has an opening 36 formed therein.
It can be detached through. However, the opening 36 is normally closed by a cap 38.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 40 denotes a main flow path of raw water, from which a raw water discharge flow path 42 branches. The raw water discharge channel 42 reaches a raw water discharge port 44 that opens at the lower end surface of the water discharge head 20.

From the main channel 40, a purified water discharge channel 48 is branched via a communication channel 46. The clean water discharge channel 48 reaches a clean water discharge port 50 that opens at the lower end surface of the water discharge head 20. In the drawing, reference numeral 48a denotes a purified water discharge passage 4
8, the upstream portion of the purification cartridge 34,
b represents the downstream part, respectively.

Reference numeral 52 denotes a switching valve for switching the flow of raw water from the main flow path 40 to the raw water discharge flow path 42 or to the communication flow path 46, that is, to the purified water discharge flow path 48. The rotary shaft 54 is configured to slide on a sliding surface 56 about the axis of the rotary shaft 54. More specifically, the see-saw switch-type switching operation unit 28 is connected to the rotating shaft 54, and by switching the switching operation unit 28, the switching valve 52 is moved to the sliding surface 56.
Slide up to switch the flow path.

The switching valve 52 is rotatably accommodated in a valve chamber 58, and the raw water discharge channel 42 and the communication channel 46 can communicate with the main channel 40 via the valve chamber 58. Have been. That is, the raw water spouting channel 42 and the purified water spouting channel 48 can communicate with the main channel 40.

The switching valve 52 is connected to the raw water opening 6 shown in FIG.
By selectively closing and opening the zero or water purification opening 62, the raw water from the main flow path 40 flows into the raw water discharge water path 42 or the purified water discharge water path 48 alternatively. That is, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, when the switching valve 52 closes the water purification opening 62, as shown in FIG.
0 is in communication with the raw water spouting channel 42 via the valve chamber 58. Therefore, when raw water (tap water) is supplied to the water spouting head 20 in this state, the raw water goes around to the raw water spouting channel 42 side. Then, the raw water is discharged from the raw water discharge port 44 on the lower end surface to the outside.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4 (III), the switching valve 52 closes the raw water opening 60 and the water purification opening 6.
Under the condition that the nozzle 2 is opened, the raw water guided to the water discharge head 20 flows from the main flow path 40 into the purified water discharge water path 48 as shown in FIG. After being purified there, the purified water outlet 50
From the outside. That is, the purified water purified by the purification cartridge 34 is discharged from the purified water discharge port 50 to the outside.

A communication channel 46 is provided inside the housing 30.
Hot water switching valve 6 that switches the flow of raw water from the purified water spouting channel 48 to the raw water spouting channel 42 when hot water flows into the water.
4 is provided so as to be slidable up and down in the figure. This hot water switching valve 64 is normally in contact with a partition 66 that defines the communication flow path 46 as shown in FIG. 2, and opens the communication flow path 46 to the purified water discharge water flow path 48. However, when hot water flows into the communication flow path 46, the hot water moves upward in the drawing and abuts against the partition wall 68, thereby shutting off the purified water discharge water flow path 48 and the communication flow path 46 through the raw water discharge water flow. Open to the road 42 side.

The hot water switching valve 64 is urged upward in the figure by a shape memory alloy spring (hot water detecting means) 70 disposed inside the communication flow passage 46, and a bias spring disposed inside the partition wall 68. 72 urges downward in the figure. Here, the shape memory alloy spring 70 and the bias spring 72
Are in the form of coil springs.

Normally, the shape memory alloy spring 70 and the bias spring 72 are in a state where the hot water switching valve 64 is in contact with the partition 66, and when hot water flows into the communication flow passage 46, the shape memory alloy Each spring force is set so that the hot water switching valve 64 comes into contact with the partition wall 68 by the extension of the spring 70.

Reference numeral 73 denotes a display for displaying the operating state of the hot water switching valve 64, which has a shaft 74, and the shaft 74
Swing about the projection 75 as a fulcrum. The shaft 74 has a distal end engaged with the hot water switching valve 64, and is urged downward by a spring 76 at a base end opposite to the distal end with respect to the projection 75. .

When the hot water switching valve 64 is in the state shown in FIG. 2, that is, when the clean water discharge passage 48 is open, the display 73 is at the upper position in the figure and displays this. Closes the purified water spouting channel 48 and opens the communication channel 46 to the raw water spouting channel 42, moves downward in the figure as shown in FIG. The fact that the flow has been switched to the water discharge channel 42 is displayed.

In the faucet 10 of the present embodiment, the water purifier 26 operates as follows. That is, as shown in FIG. 5 (II), when the switching valve 52 is in a state of communicating the main flow path 40 and the raw water discharge flow path 42, the raw water sent to the water discharge head 20 is directly discharged from the raw water discharge head 20. The water flows into the water flow path 42 and is discharged to the outside from the raw water discharge port 44.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5 (I), when the switching valve 52 is in a state in which the main flow path 40 and the purified water spouting flow path 48 are in communication with each other, the raw water from the main flow path 40 is supplied to the purified water spouting water flow path 48. Specifically, after flowing into the upstream portion 48a, the water is purified by flowing through the purification cartridge 34, and is discharged from the purified water discharge port 50 to the outside through the downstream portion 48b.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6 (I), when hot water erroneously flows into the communication channel 46 under the condition that the main channel 40 is in communication with the purified water discharge channel 48, Here, the shape memory alloy spring 70 detects the temperature and expands,
As shown in FIG. 6 (II), the hot water switching valve 64 is moved upward to abut on the partition wall 68.

Here, the purified water spouting channel 48 is shut off, and the communication channel 46 is opened to the raw water spouting channel 42, so that the hot water is prevented from flowing into the purified water spouting channel 48, and the communication is established. The hot water that has flowed into the flow channel 46 flows into the raw water discharge channel 42, and is discharged to the outside from the raw water discharge port 44 as it is.

On the other hand, if cold water flows into the communication flow path 46 in this state, the hot water switching valve 64 automatically moves downward in the figure to move the communication flow path 46 toward the purified water discharge water flow path 48. It is released, and the raw water flows into the purification cartridge 34 side. That is, the state is switched to the state of discharging the purified water again.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the raw water discharge port 44 is provided with a temperature display section 78 for displaying the raw water temperature. The temperature of the raw water can be detected, for example, by providing a temperature sensor in the main flow path 40 through which the raw water flows, and displaying the temperature detected by the temperature sensor on the temperature display section 78.

In the water faucet 10 of the present embodiment configured as described above, when hot water erroneously flows in while the main flow path 40 is in communication with the purified water spouting flow path 48, the hot water is supplied to the purifying cartridge. 34 is prevented. Therefore, according to this example, when hot water flows into the purification cartridge 34, the dirt adsorbed on the purification cartridge 34 is released and discharged from the purified water discharge port 50, or the function itself of the purification cartridge 34 flows in. It can be prevented from being damaged by the incoming hot water.

Further, in this embodiment, the hot water detecting means is constituted by the shape memory alloy spring 70, so that the hot water detecting means can be constituted with a simple structure, and the hot water switching is performed with a high response when the hot water flows. The valve 64 can be switched.

Further, in this embodiment, a display 73 is provided, and when the hot water switching valve 64 is switched from the open position of the purified water discharge channel 48 to the shut-off position or vice versa, the display 73 is switched from the state of displaying purified water to the raw water. Is displayed, or the state is automatically switched to the opposite state, so that the user can easily recognize that the flow path has been switched, that is, whether the discharged water is clean water or raw water.

In this embodiment, the housing 3 of the water purifier 26 is also provided.
Since the water purification device 26 is integrally formed with the faucet 10, the water purifier 26 attached to the faucet 10 can be compactly constructed.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, this is merely an example, and the present invention detects when hot water flows into the communication flow path 46 by using a temperature sensor. The present invention deviates from the gist of the present invention in that the hot water switching valve 64 can be switched in a direction to shut off the purified water spouting channel 48 by means different from the above example based on the detection by the above method. It can be configured in a form in which various changes are made within a range not to be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing a faucet according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing the internal structure of the water purifier of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an operation state of the same water purifier different from that of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory view of the switching valve in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an operation state of a switching valve in FIG. 2 together with peripheral portions.

FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory view of the hot water switching valve of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a view showing a conventional faucet together with a built-in type water purifier.

FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of a faucet in which a water discharge head can be pulled out together with a hose.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Single lever type mixing faucet 14 Water outlet 26 Water purifier 30 Housing 34 Purification cartridge (Purification function part) 42 Raw water discharge water channel 48 Clean water discharge water channel 52 Switching valve 64 Hot water switching valve 70 Shape memory alloy spring (hot water detecting means) 73 Display 78 Temperature display

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A faucet equipped with a water purifier provided with a water purifier for purifying and flowing out tap water at a tip end of a water discharge port, wherein the water flows into an upstream portion of a purifying function unit such as a purifying cartridge in the water purifier. Hot water detecting means for detecting whether the raw water that is the tap water before purification is hot water or water, and based on the detection by the hot water detecting means when the raw water is hot water, A hot water switching valve for automatically switching from a purified water flow path passing through the purification function section to a raw water flow path not passing through the purification function section. 2. The hot water detecting means according to claim 1,
A faucet with a water purifier, characterized in that the faucet is a thermosensitive expandable body that is extended by the incoming hot water and forcibly moves the hot water switching valve to a shutoff position of the clean water flow passage and an open position of the raw water flow passage. . 3. The faucet with a water purifier according to claim 2, wherein said hot water detecting means is a shape memory alloy spring. 4. The flow according to claim 1, wherein the flow of raw water flowing into the upstream part of the automatic hot water switching valve is changed from a raw water flow path to a purified water flow path by a user operation. A faucet with a water purifier, characterized by further comprising a switching valve for switching in reverse. 5. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit for displaying whether the discharged water is purified water or raw water, and wherein the hot water switching valve is shut off from an open position of the purified water flow path. A faucet with a water purifier, characterized in that when a switching operation is performed to a position or vice versa, the display unit automatically switches from a state of displaying purified water to a state of displaying raw water or vice versa. 6. The faucet with a water purifier according to claim 1, wherein a temperature display section for displaying a raw water temperature is provided at a tip of the water outlet. 7. The water tap with a water purifier according to claim 1, wherein a housing of the water purifier is formed integrally with the water tap.