JP2003285052A - Cartridge for water purifier - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cartridge for a water purifier which is not a water purifier directly connected to a faucet, using three elements, that are, activated carbon, a hollow fiber membrane, and an ion exchange functional material, which, as are well known, purify raw water by properly selecting them, arranges the three elements so as to make the best use of their purification function, compactly houses them in a cylindrical housing, is easily set up, and is fitted to a faucet. <P>SOLUTION: A cylindrical hollow fiber membrane body is installed in the cylindrical housing so as to leave a ring space between them. An activated carbon bed is packed in the space. A ring ion exchange body filled in the ring space so as to cover the activated carbon bed is installed. A communication part which covers the ion exchange body and through which water passes from the ion exchange body to the hollow fiber membrane body is formed. A housing opening is closed by a cap. The raw water that has flowed in passes through the activated carbon bed and the ion exchange body and flows into the hollow fiber membrane body to be discharged from the outlet of purified water. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water purifier for purifying drinking water such as tap water, and particularly for a water purifier for purifying drinking water such as tap water by passing it through activated carbon, an ion exchanger and a hollow fiber membrane. Regarding the cartridge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Patent No. 2760960, Japanese Patent No. 2760977, and Japanese Patent No. 2760 are known as water purification cartridges for purifying drinking water such as tap water through activated carbon and a hollow fiber membrane.
760978, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-333446 as a water purifier having a similar structure.

[0003] In these, the inner case is arranged inside the outer case with a space therebetween, the inner case is filled with a hollow fiber membrane for water purification, and an activated carbon for water purification is provided in a space between the outer case and the inner case. Is provided with a water inlet and a purified water outlet on one closed side of the outer case, the other side of the outer case is covered with a cap, and the space inside the cap changes the flow direction of water by 180 degrees. The hollow fiber membrane forms a diverting passage, the water flowing from the water inlet passes through the activated carbon, and the water flowing toward the cap is diverted by the diverting passage in which the central portion of the cap is curved inward. Is configured to pass through.

In addition, a hollow fiber membrane module is provided inside a cylindrical housing in which a hollow fiber membrane for separating bacteria and turbidity components contained in raw water is bent and housed in a U-shape. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-232361 discloses a structure in which an absorber for removing the musty odor and the chlorine odor in raw water is provided on the outer periphery of the body of the fiber membrane module. This absorbent body is formed by supporting an absorbent having an ion exchange capacity such as titanium silicate on a microporous material such as fibrous activated carbon, non-woven fabric, or foam material. This makes it a water purifier that can remove heavy metal ions such as lead in addition to bacteria and turbidity components.

Further, a water purifier in which a filter body in which activated carbon and an ion exchange resin are mixed, activated carbon and a hollow fiber membrane are arranged in this order in accordance with a water passage is disclosed in JP-A-7-204631 and JP-A-9-26431.
No. 38642.

[0006] As described above, a water purifier for purifying raw water by appropriately using activated carbon, a hollow fiber membrane, and an ion-exchange functional material is known.
It is not a tap water faucet directly connected water purifier with an ion exchange function housed in a cylindrical water purifier housing.

[0007]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention considers the arrangement of activated carbon, an ion exchange functional body, and a hollow fiber membrane so as to make the best use of their respective purifying functions, and compactly stores them in a cylindrical housing. A cartridge for a water purifier that is attached to a tap water faucet having a structure that is easy to assemble.

[0008]

A water purifier cartridge according to the present invention has an annular shape between a housing having a raw water inlet and a water outlet at one end and an opening at the other end, and an inside of the housing between the housing and the housing. A hollow fiber membrane body that is filled with a hollow fiber membrane for water purification and communicates with the purified water outlet in a cylindrical case with a space, and a hollow fiber membrane body that is filled with the space so as to surround the hollow fiber membrane body and communicates with the raw water inlet port. An activated carbon layer for water purification, a water passage portion formed in the hollow fiber membrane body at the other end side of the housing, and an annular shape fitted in the annular space so as to cover the activated carbon layer at the other end side of the housing. Of the ion exchanger, and a cap that covers the water passage portion and the ion exchanger to form a communication portion that allows water to flow from the ion exchanger to the hollow fiber membrane, and that closes the other end side opening of the housing. Prepare A water passage is formed in which raw water flowing in from the raw water inlet passes through the activated carbon layer and an ion exchanger, flows into the hollow fiber membrane body from the water passage, and takes out purified water from the purified water outlet. is there.

As a result, the activated carbon layer is blocked by the ion exchanger, and the activated carbon layer can be held between the housing and the hollow fiber membrane. Then, tap water has residual carbon, odor, coloring components due to rust, organic substances such as trihalomethane and pesticides removed by an activated carbon layer, and then heavy metal ions are removed by an ion exchanger, followed by bacteria by a hollow fiber membrane. By removing fine turbidity components and fine harmful substances, purified water can be taken out from the purified water outlet. Even if bacteria propagate in the ion exchanger, they are safe because the bacteria are removed by the hollow fiber membrane.

The water purifier cartridge of the present invention is
In the above, the ion exchanger is an annular molded body of ion exchange fibers, the ion exchanger is a mixed annular molded body of an ion exchange functional material and fibrous activated carbon, the ion exchanger Is an annular molded body in which ion-exchange fibers and fibrous activated carbon are mixed.

As a result, residual chlorine, odor, turbidity components due to rust and dirt, organic substances such as trihalomethane and pesticides,
In addition to removing bacteria, it can effectively remove heavy metal ions such as lead.

Further, the water purifier cartridge of the present invention is
In the above, the ion exchanger is supported by an annular elastic seal member that engages with an annular collar formed on the outside of the cylindrical case.

Therefore, the annular elastic sealing material can support the ion exchanger and can block one end side of the activated carbon layer in a state where there is no water leakage from the surroundings of the ion exchanger, so that the activated carbon layer reaches the ion exchanger. The purifying function in the route can be sufficiently performed.

The water purifier cartridge of the present invention is
In the above, the cap is configured to be screwed onto the outside of the opening on the other end side of the housing to hold down the ion exchanger.

As a result, the ion exchanger can be held in a regular position and function as a sealing member for the activated carbon layer.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 shows a central longitudinal side view of a water purifier cartridge of the present invention. In this, the water purifier cartridge 1 has a cylindrical housing 2 having a raw water inlet 7 and a water outlet 8 at one end and an opening 21 at the other end.
The hollow fiber membrane body 3 is provided inside the housing 2 with an annular space 6 extending vertically in a cylindrical shape between the housing 2 and the housing 2. This hollow fiber membrane body 3 has a cylindrical case 4
A porous hollow fiber membrane 5 for water purification is bent into an inverted U shape and filled therein, and one end side (lower end side) communicates with the purified water outlet 8. The space 6 is filled with activated carbon for water purification so as to surround the hollow fiber membrane body 3 to form a cylindrical activated carbon layer 12 for water purification, and one end side (lower end side) of the activated carbon layer 12 for water purification is formed. It communicates with the raw water inlet 7. At the end (upper end) of the hollow fiber membrane body 3 on the side of the other end opening 21 of the housing 2, a water passage 9 is formed by a plurality of slits 22 formed at the end (upper end) of the case 4. . Housing 2
At the other end opening 21 side (upper end portion), an annular ion exchanger 20 is fitted and held along the annular space 6 so as to cover the activated carbon layer 12. The housing 11 covers the water passage portion 9 and the ion exchanger 20 to form a communication portion 10 that allows water to flow from the ion exchanger 20 to the hollow fiber membrane 5 so as to block the other end side opening 21 of the housing 2. It is screwed to the outside of.

This embodiment will be described in more detail. The housing 2 and the cap 11 each having a cylindrical shape are made of synthetic resin. The housing 2 integrally forms a raw water inlet 7, a purified water outlet 8 and a positioning boss 13, and a screw formed on the inner surface of the cap 11 on the outer periphery of the end of the opening 21 on the opposite side of the raw water inlet 7 side. A screw portion 17 that is screwed with the portion 16 is formed. Both ends of the hollow fiber membrane body 3 are open, and one end side (lower end side) of the hollow fiber membrane body 3 is fitted and assembled to the circular mounting portion 14 in the housing portion 2 via the annular sealing material 15 in a watertight state. A substantially uniform annular space 6 extending vertically is formed between them.

The activated carbon layer 12 is made of granular activated carbon so that a large purification surface area can be obtained. However, depending on the quality of the raw water purified by the cartridge 1, it is preferable to employ a type of activated carbon having a function suitable for it. 18, 1
Reference numeral 9 is a water-permeable partition that partitions the activated carbon of the activated carbon layer 12 so as not to leak to the raw water inlet 7. Partition 19 is a relatively rigid synthetic resin board or the like, and partition 18 is a non-woven fabric or fibrous activated carbon. The purpose can be achieved by configuring.

The hollow fiber membrane body 3 has various configurations, and the outline of the forming method will be described for one of the configurations. That is, polysulfone, which is a raw material for hollow fibers, is dissolved in a solvent to make it muddy, and this is passed through a mold to make hollow fibers.
A bundle is formed with this hollow fiber to form a hollow fiber membrane 5, which is folded into a U shape and filled in a predetermined cylindrical case 4, and the cut end surface of each hollow fiber of the hollow fiber membrane body 3 is heated. After melting and sealing, it is set in a device and a urethane resin, which is a potting material (sealing material), is filled in the gap between the end portions of each hollow fiber. By this filling, the gap between the ends of each hollow fiber is sealed by the sealing material 23. After that, the end of this sealing portion is cut to expose the hollow surface of the hollow fiber membrane 5. The hollow fiber membrane body 3 thus formed is water-tightly fitted and assembled to the circular mounting portion 14 in the housing portion 2 via the annular sealing material 15, and set in the housing 2.

One form of the ion exchanger 20 is an annular shaped body of ion exchange fibers. Another form of the ion exchanger 20 is an annular molded body in which an ion exchange functional material and fibrous activated carbon are mixed. Further, another form of the ion exchanger 20 is an annular molded body in which ion exchange fibers and fibrous activated carbon are mixed. In any of these forms, the ion exchanger 20 has an inner peripheral surface closely attached to an annular seal rubber 25 which is an annular elastic sealing material, and a protective coating 26 formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof is inside the opening 21 of the housing 2. Close to the edges. With this configuration, water that has passed through the activated carbon layer 12 passes through the ion exchanger 20 without leaking water from the periphery of the ion exchanger 20.

The ion exchanger 20 is supported by an annular seal rubber 25 which is locked on the annular collar 24 while being placed on the annular collar 24 formed on the outside of the cylindrical case 4.
Therefore, with the annular seal rubber 25 placed on the annular collar 24, the ion exchanger 20 is slightly press-fitted from the opening 21 side of the housing 2 so as to come into close contact with the annular seal rubber 25 and the inner end of the opening 21 of the housing 2. Assembled by inserting in a relationship. Also, as another method,
With the annular seal rubber 25 combined with the inside of the ion exchanger 20, the annular seal rubber 25 is inserted between the inner end of the opening 21 of the housing 2 and the annular collar 24 in a slightly press-fitting relationship. Assembling is finished in the state of being put on 24.

After such assembly, the cap 11
By screwing with the housing 2, the upper end portion of the ion exchanger 20 is brought into contact with the cap 11 and positioned, and is held in a stable state. 27 is an annular sealing material between the cap 11 and the housing 2.

The cartridge 1 of the present invention constitutes a water purifier by being combined with a water purifier body (not shown), and this water purifier is for a water tap faucet direct connection type water purifier attached to a tap water tap. Positioning boss 1 for cartridge 1
Attach the water purifier body to the tap water tap while fitting and positioning 3 in the hole of the water purifier body. In this state, tap water flows from the raw water inlet 7 through the water purifier body, and purified water can be taken out from the water purification outlet 8.

The activated carbon of the activated carbon layer 12 removes residual chlorine, trihalomethanes, pesticides and other organic substances contained in the tap water which is the raw water. In addition to this, when the amount of heavy metals contained in the tap water is small, The heavy metals can be removed using special activated carbon.

The ion exchanger 20 is a molded body of ion exchange fibers. In this case, it is possible to remove nitrate nitrogen and nitrite nitrogen and remove heavy metals such as lead by forming a molded body of anion exchange resin fiber. However, in the anion exchange resin, unreacted substances flow out as colored water at the beginning of use,
There is a risk of damaging the taste of water and the performance may be reduced by removing hypochlorite ions injected for sterilization,
It is recommended to use it mixed with activated carbon. Therefore, it is preferable that the ion exchanger 20 is incorporated in the cartridge 1 as a molded body in which fibrous activated carbon and ion exchange fibers are mixed.

The ion exchanger 20 may be incorporated in the cartridge 1 as a molded body in which fibrous activated carbon and an ion exchange functional material are mixed. The ion exchange functional material includes one kind or plural kinds of zeolite, calcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, titanium silicate and the like.

According to the constitution of the present invention, the ion exchanger 20
Since the activated carbon layer 12 is blocked by the above, the ion exchanger 20 also has a function as a sealing material or a lid for the granular activated carbon layer in the case where the granular activated carbon is injected into the space 6 to form the activated carbon layer 12. As a result, the activated carbon layer 12 can be held in the space 6 between the housing 2 and the hollow fiber membrane body 3. Then, the raw water flowing in from the raw water inlet 7 passes through the activated carbon layer 12 and the ion exchanger 20 to pass from the water passage portion 9 to the hollow fiber membrane body 3
A water passage is formed into which the purified water flows out from the purified water outlet 8.

The tap water, which is the raw water that has flowed in from the raw water inlet 7, has the dust removed by the partition 18, and the activated carbon layer 12 removes residual chlorine, odor, coloring components such as rust, and organic substances such as trihalomethane and pesticides. Then, the heavy metal ions are removed by the ion exchanger 20, and then the bacteria, fine turbidity components,
It is possible to remove fine harmful substances and take out purified water from the purified water outlet 8. Even if bacteria propagate in the ion exchanger 20, it is safe because the bacteria are removed by the hollow fiber membrane body 3.

Further, as described above, the ion exchanger 20 of the water purifier cartridge 1 of the present invention is an annular molded body of ion exchange fibers, and an annular molded body in which an ion exchange functional material and fibrous activated carbon are mixed. And an annular molded body in which ion-exchange fibers and fibrous activated carbon are mixed. As a result, in addition to the removal of residual chlorine, odor, turbidity components due to rust and dirt, organic substances such as trihalomethane and pesticides, and bacteria, it is possible to effectively remove heavy metal ions such as lead. Then, by mixing with activated carbon, it becomes possible to solve the problems when the anion exchange resin is adopted.

Further, the cap 11 of the water purifier cartridge 1 of the present invention is screwed onto the outside of the opening 21 on the other end side of the housing 2 to hold down the ion exchanger 20 so as to connect the water passage portion 9 and the ion exchanger 20. Communication part 10 that covers and curves outwardly convex
Is formed. As a result, the function of holding the ion exchanger 20 and the water that has passed through the ion exchanger 20 can pass through the hollow fiber membrane body 3 on average, and a good purification function of the hollow fiber membrane body 3 can be exhibited.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be considered without departing from the technical scope of the present invention, and include various kinds of embodiments.

[0032]

According to the present invention, tap water is subjected to removal of residual chlorine, odor, coloring components due to rust, organic substances such as trihalomethane and pesticides by an activated carbon layer, and then heavy metal ions are removed by an ion exchanger. By using the hollow fiber membrane, bacteria, fine turbidity components, and fine harmful substances can be removed, and purified water can be taken out from the purified water outlet. if,
Even if bacteria propagate in the ion exchanger, they are safe because the bacteria are removed by the hollow fiber membrane.

Further, the ion exchanger of the water purifier cartridge of the present invention is an annular molded body of ion exchange fibers,
It is characterized by being an annular molded body in which an ion exchange functional material and fibrous activated carbon are mixed, and an annular molded body in which ion exchange fibers and fibrous activated carbon are mixed. As a result, in addition to the removal of residual chlorine, odor, turbidity components due to rust and dirt, organic substances such as trihalomethane and pesticides, and bacteria, it is possible to effectively remove heavy metal ions such as lead. Then, by mixing with activated carbon, it becomes possible to solve the problems when the anion exchange resin is adopted.

Further, the cap of the water purifier cartridge of the present invention is constructed so as to be screwed to the outside of the opening on the other end side of the housing to hold down the ion exchanger, and forms a communication portion between the ion exchanger and the water passage portion. At the same time, the ion exchanger can be held in a regular position to function as a sealing member for the activated carbon layer. Therefore, in the case of a structure in which granular activated carbon is injected at intervals to form an activated carbon layer, the ion exchanger functions as a sealing material or a lid for the granular activated carbon, and the activated carbon layer serves as a housing and a hollow fiber membrane body. It can be kept in the interval between them for good cleaning action.

Further, the water purifier cartridge of the present invention is
With the above structure, a water purification activated carbon layer, a hollow fiber membrane, and an ion exchanger are compactly housed in a cylindrical housing, easy to assemble, and suitable as a water purifier cartridge to be attached to a tap water faucet. is there.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a central longitudinal side view of a water purifier cartridge of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Water purifier 2 ... Housing 3 ... Hollow fiber membrane 4 ... Cylindrical case 5: Hollow fiber 6 ... interval 7 ... Raw water inlet 8: Clean water outlet 9: Water flow section 10 ... Communication part 11 ... Cap 12 ... Activated carbon 20 ... Ion exchanger 24 ... Ring collar 25 ... Annular elastic sealing material

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 4D006 GA02 HA03 JB05 JB06 KA31                       KB11 KB12 MA01 MC62X                       NA01 PB06 PB24 PC52                 4D024 AA02 AB00 AB04 AB11 BA02                       BB01 BC01 CA04 CA13 DB05                       DB19                 4D025 AA03 AB33 BA24 BA25 BB14                       DA03 DA05

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A cylindrical case with a cylindrical housing having a raw water inlet and a purified water outlet provided at one end and an opening at the other end, and an annular space between the housing and the housing. On the other end side of the housing, a hollow fiber membrane filled with a hollow fiber membrane and communicating with the purified water outlet, an activated carbon layer filled with the space so as to surround the hollow fiber membrane and communicating with the raw water inlet. A water passage portion formed in the hollow fiber membrane body, an annular ion exchanger fitted into the annular space so as to cover the activated carbon layer on the other end side of the housing, the water passage portion and the ion exchanger. And a cap that forms a communication portion that covers water from the ion exchanger to the hollow fiber membrane to close the opening on the other end side of the housing, and the raw water that flows in from the raw water inlet is the activated carbon layer. ion A water purifier cartridge in which a water passage is formed through which the water passes through an exchanger and flows into the hollow fiber membrane body from the water passage to take out purified water from the purified water outlet. 2. The water purifier cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the ion exchanger is an annular molded body of ion exchange fibers. 3. The water purifier cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the ion exchanger is an annular molded body in which an ion exchange functional material and fibrous activated carbon are mixed. 4. The water purifier cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the ion exchanger is an annular molded body in which ion exchange fibers and fibrous activated carbon are mixed. 5. The purified water according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the ion exchanger is supported by an annular elastic seal member that engages with an annular collar formed on the outside of the case. Dexterous cartridge. 6. The water purifier cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the cap is configured to be screwed onto the outside of the opening on the other end side of the housing to hold down the ion exchanger.