JP2015110434A - Drinking water dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a drinking water dispenser by which drinking water stored in a drinking water supply container can be used without waste, and which can suppress an increase in a temperature (degradation of cooling efficiency) of the drinking water stored in a cold water tank.SOLUTION: A drinking water dispenser 100 includes: a container placing part 1 on which a drinking water supply container 110 is placed; a cold water tank 2 arranged below the container placing part 1; a cooling mechanism 13 for cooling the cold water tank 2; a hot water tank 5 arranged below the cold water tank 2; a water supply pipe 7 for connecting the cold water tank 2 and the hot water tank 5; and heating means 6 for heating the hot water tank. Steam generated in the hot water tank 2 is condensed in a space above a water surface of drinking water stored in the cold water tank 2 through a third flow passage 8, and is refluxed as water droplets. Thereby, drinking water stored in the drinking water supply container 110 can be used without waste.

Description

  The present invention relates to a drinking water dispenser capable of adjusting and discharging the temperature of drinking water stored in a drinking water supply container.

  Conventionally, a drinking water dispenser is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  The drinking water dispenser of Patent Document 1 includes a cold water tank, a cooling mechanism that cools the cold water tank, a hot water tank that is installed below the cold water tank, a water supply pipe that connects the cold water tank and the hot water tank, and a hot water tank And heating means for heating. As a result, the heating means heats the drinking water flowing from the cold water tank through the water supply pipe into the hot water tank.

  Moreover, the drinking water dispenser of patent document 2 is provided with the warm water tank provided with the steam vent valve, and the electromagnetic induction heating apparatus which heats a warm water tank. Accordingly, the electromagnetic induction heating device heats the hot water tank, thereby heating the drinking water stored in the hot water tank.

JP 2008-56338 A JP 2009-249033 A

  However, in the drinking water dispenser described in Patent Document 1, water vapor generated when the heating means heats the drinking water flowing into the hot water tank flows into the drinking water in the cold water tank through the water supply pipe. There was a problem that the cooling efficiency of the was lowered.

  On the other hand, in the drinking water dispenser described in Patent Document 2, when the electromagnetic induction heating device heats the hot water tank and the drinking water stored in the hot water tank is heated to generate water vapor, the water vapor is discharged from the steam vent valve. There is a problem that drinking water is wasted because it is discharged.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a drinking water dispenser according to an aspect of the present invention includes a container placement unit for placing a drinking water supply container, a cold water tank disposed below the container placement unit, and the container Adjusting the flow rate of the drinking water flowing through the first flow path, the first flow path communicating the internal space of the drinking water supply container mounted on the mounting section and the internal space of the cold water tank, An adjustment valve that maintains the water level of the internal space of the cold water tank at a predetermined water level, a hot water tank disposed below the cold water tank, a hot water tank heating mechanism that heats the drinking water contained in the hot water tank, and A second flow path communicating the internal space of the cold water tank below the water level and the internal space of the hot water tank, and the internal space of the hot water tank and the internal space of the cold water tank above the water level are communicated A third flow path to For example, the third flow path is configured to include a constriction having a cross-sectional area of 1/2 or less with respect to the average cross-sectional area of the third flow path at a height above said water level.

  According to this configuration, the water vapor generated when the hot water tank heating mechanism heats the drinking water stored in the hot water tank passes through the third flow path and is above the surface of the drinking water stored in the cold water tank. Flows into the space. In this space, water vapor is condensed into water droplets and mixed with drinking water. Therefore, the drinking water accommodated in the drinking water supply container can be used without waste.

  And since the constriction part has suppressed effectively the heat transfer from the part by the side of a warm water tank to the part by the side of a cold water tank rather than the constriction part of a 3rd flow path, the raise of the temperature of the drinking water accommodated in the cold water tank (Decrease in cooling efficiency) can be suppressed.

  The present invention can use the drinking water stored in the drinking water supply container without waste, and can suppress an increase in the temperature of the drinking water stored in the cold water tank (decrease in cooling efficiency). There is an effect.

It is a perspective view which shows the structural example of the drinking water dispenser which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a partially broken side view which shows the structural example of the drinking water dispenser of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the structural example of the constriction part of the drinking water dispenser of FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment. In the following description, the same or corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference symbols throughout the drawings, and redundant description thereof is omitted.
(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a drinking water dispenser 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partially broken side view showing a configuration example of the drinking water dispenser 100.

  The drinking water dispenser 100 is a device that cools or heats the drinking water stored in the drinking water supply container 110 to a predetermined temperature and discharges it.

  In this Embodiment, the drinking water supply container 110 is formed in the whole cylinder shape, the upper end is opened and the lower end is obstruct | occluded. Then, the upper end portion of the drinking water supply container 110 is squeezed to form the neck 111.

  As shown in FIG.1 and FIG.2, the drinking water dispenser 100 is the container mounting part 1 in which the drinking water supply container 110 is mounted, the cold water tank 2 arrange | positioned under the container mounting part 1, A water supply pipe 3 constituting the first flow path C1, an adjustment valve 4, a hot water tank 5 disposed below the cold water tank 2, a hot water tank heating mechanism 6, and a connecting pipe 7 constituting the second flow path C2. And a steam vent pipe 8 constituting the third flow path C3. In the present embodiment, the drinking water dispenser 100 includes a cold water discharge port 9, a cold water discharge tube 10, a hot water discharge port 11, a hot water discharge tube 12, a cold water tank cooling mechanism 13, and an inside of the cold water tank 2. A partition plate 16 provided in the frame, a frame body 14 in which the respective constituent elements are arranged in a predetermined positional relationship, and a casing 15 in which the respective constituent elements are accommodated.

  The container placing unit 1 is provided on the top of the drinking water dispenser 100. And the container mounting part 1 has the recessed part 20 formed so that the neck part 111 of the drinking water supply container 110 might be inserted, and to engage with the neck part 111. FIG. Accordingly, the drinking water supply container 110 is placed in an inverted state on the container placement unit 1. Therefore, the drinking water accommodated in the drinking water supply container 110 placed on the container placing portion 1 flows out of the drinking water supply container 110 by gravity and flows into the water supply pipe 3 described later. Yes.

  The cold water tank 2 is a hollow container made of resin, for example, and is supported by the frame body 14. For example, the cold water tank 2 is covered with a heat insulating material. Thereby, the cooling efficiency of the drinking water accommodated in the cold water tank 2 by the cold water tank cooling mechanism 13 can be improved.

  The water supply pipe 3 has a container placement unit 1 so as to constitute a first flow path C1 that communicates the internal space of the drinking water supply container 110 placed on the container placement unit 1 and the internal space of the cold water tank 2. And the cold water tank 2 are connected.

  The regulating valve 4 opens and closes the water supply pipe 3. The regulating valve 4 is, for example, a floating portion (not shown) having a specific gravity smaller than that of drinking water, and a first flow path of the water supply pipe 3 in conjunction with the rising of the floating based on the rising level of the drinking water in the cold water tank 2. A valve portion (not shown) that closes C1 and opens the first flow path C1 of the water supply pipe 3 in conjunction with the lowering of the floating portion based on the lowering of the drinking water level in the cold water tank 2; Have The regulating valve 4 closes the first flow path C1 of the water supply pipe 3 when the water level of the cold water tank 2 exceeds the water level L, and the first flow path of the water supply pipe 3 when the water level of the cold water tank 2 becomes the water level L or less. It is configured to open C1. Therefore, the regulating valve 4 is adjusted so that the water level of the cold water tank 2 maintains the water level L.

  In the present embodiment, the water level L refers to the height position of the water surface relative to the reference surface, with the placement surface of the drinking water dispenser 100 as the reference surface.

  The cold water tank cooling mechanism 13 is a mechanism that cools the lower drinking water out of the drinking water stored in the cold water tank 2. Even if the cold water tank cooling mechanism 13 cools the lower drinking water, no convection occurs between the cold water tank cooling mechanism 13 and the cold water tank cooling mechanism 13, among the drinking water stored in the cold water tank 2. The lower drinking water can be selectively cooled. Since the cold water tank cooling mechanism 13 is constituted by, for example, a well-known heat pump mechanism, further detailed description is omitted.

  The hot water tank 5 is a cylindrical hollow container made of metal, for example, and is supported by the frame body 14.

  The warm water tank heating mechanism 6 is a mechanism that heats the drinking water stored in the warm water tank 5. In the present embodiment, the hot water tank heating mechanism 6 is a band heater wound around the lower part of the peripheral wall of the hot water tank 5. When the warm water tank heating mechanism 6 heats the lower part of the warm water tank 5, the lower drinking water among the drinking water accommodated in the warm water tank 5 and the upper drinking water among the drinking water accommodated in the warm water tank 5. Since convection occurs between them, the entire drinking water stored in the hot water tank 5 is heated. And the warm water tank heating mechanism 6 has a sensor which detects the temperature of the warm water tank 5, and when this sensor detects that the temperature of the warm water tank 5 has become a predetermined temperature or more, the warm water tank heating mechanism 6 It is configured to stop heating. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the hot water tank 5 from being aired.

  The connection pipe 7 connects the cold water tank 2 and the hot water tank 5 so as to constitute a second flow path C2 that connects the internal space of the cold water tank 2 below the water level L and the internal space of the hot water tank 5. doing. The connection pipe 7 is, for example, a resin hose.

  The end of the connection pipe 7 on the cold water tank 2 side is attached below the water level L of the peripheral wall of the cold water tank 2. As described above, since the hot water tank 5 is disposed below the cold water tank 2, the drinking water stored in the cold water tank 2 naturally flows into the hot water tank 5 through the connection pipe 7. ing. And the hot water tank 5 will be in the state always filled with drinking water at the time of use so that it may mention later. In addition, it is preferable that the edge part by the side of the cold water tank 2 of the connection pipe 7 is attached to the cold water tank 2 so that upper drinking water among the drinking water accommodated in the cold water tank 2 flows into the connection pipe 7. Accordingly, the lower drinking water cooled by the cold water tank cooling mechanism 13 out of the drinking water stored in the cold water tank 2 flows into the hot water tank 5 and the heating efficiency of the hot water tank 5 by the hot water tank heating mechanism 6 decreases. Can be suppressed.

  The end of the connection pipe 7 on the warm water tank 5 side is attached to the lower part of the peripheral wall of the warm water tank 5. Thereby, the drinking water supplied to the lower part of the internal space of the hot water tank 5 is heated by the hot water tank heating mechanism 6 and rises to the upper part of the hot water tank heating mechanism 6 by convection.

  Furthermore, the connecting pipe 7 has a check valve 21. The check valve 21 is configured to allow drinking water flowing in the connection pipe 7 to pass only in the direction from the cold water tank 2 side to the hot water tank 5 side. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the drinking water warmed by the hot water tank heating mechanism 6 from flowing back into the cold water tank 2 through the connection pipe 7 and heating the drinking water stored in the cold water tank 2. Therefore, the cooling efficiency of the drinking water accommodated in the cold water tank 2 by the cold water tank cooling mechanism 13 can be improved.

  The steam vent pipe 8 discharges water vapor generated when the hot water tank heating mechanism 6 heats the drinking water stored in the hot water tank 5 from the hot water tank 5 and prevents the hot water tank 5 from being blown. It is. The steam vent pipe 8 is configured to form a third flow path C3 that communicates the internal space of the hot water tank 5 and the internal space of the cold water tank 2 above the water level L of the cold water tank 2 with the hot water tank 5. The cold water tank 2 is connected. The steam release pipe 8 is, for example, a resin hose.

  The end of the steam vent pipe 8 on the warm water tank 5 side is attached to the top plate of the warm water tank 5. As a result, the water vapor generated in the hot water tank 5 rises in the drinking water stored in the hot water tank 5 and flows into the steam vent pipe 8.

  The end of the steam vent pipe 8 on the cold water tank 2 side is attached above the water level L of the peripheral wall of the cold water tank 2. Thus, the water vapor that has flowed into the steam vent pipe 8 flows through the steam vent pipe 8 into a space above the surface of the drinking water stored in the cold water tank 2. In this space, the water vapor is condensed into water droplets and mixed with drinking water stored in the cold water tank 2. Therefore, the drinking water supplied from the drinking water supply container 110 to the cold water tank 2 can be used without waste.

  And as above-mentioned, since the flow path which the cold water tank 2, the connecting pipe 7, the hot water tank 5, and the steam vent pipe 8 comprise has a pipe structure with both ends open without a gap, When the drinking water flows into the tank 5 and the hot water tank 5 becomes full, the drinking water flows from the hot water tank 5 into the steam vent pipe 8, and the water level of the steam vent pipe 8 is the same as the water level L of the cold water tank 2. It becomes. Accordingly, the water vapor flowing from the hot water tank 5 into the steam vent pipe 8 rises in the form of bubbles in the steam vent pipe 8 up to the water surface of the steam vent pipe 8.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration example of the narrowed portion 22.

  The narrowed portion 22 is provided in the third flow path C3, and is configured to have a cross-sectional area of 1/2 or less with respect to the average cross-sectional area of the third flow path C3 at a height position above the water level L. Part.

  In the present embodiment, the narrowed portion 22 is configured by inserting a cylindrical body 23 into, for example, the vapor vent pipe 8 as shown in FIG. The cylindrical body 23 is made of a silicone resin, for example, and is a thick cylindrical body having a through hole 24 formed so as to extend from one end to the other end. The outer diameter of the cylindrical body 23 is formed to be the same as or slightly larger than the inner diameter of the steam vent pipe 8 so that the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 23 is in close contact with the inner face of the steam vent pipe 8. It is configured. Therefore, the third flow path C3 is narrow at the portion where the cylindrical body 23 is located. The cross-sectional area of this portion is configured to have a cross-sectional area of 1/2 or less with respect to the average cross-sectional area of the third flow path C3. As a result, the portion of the steam vent pipe 8 closer to the hot water tank 5 (upstream side) than the cylindrical body 23 (narrowed portion 22) to the portion closer to the cold water tank 2 (downstream side) than the cylindrical body 23 (narrowed portion 22). Heat transfer can be effectively suppressed. That is, the heat transfer from the hot water tank 5 side, which is a high temperature, to the cold water tank 2 side, which is a low temperature, can be effectively reduced, and the temperature of the drinking water stored in the cold water tank 2 is increased (decrease in cooling efficiency). Can be reduced.

  The cold water discharge port 9 is a water tap for discharging the drinking water stored in the cold water tank 2. The cold water discharge port 9 has a discharge button (not shown), and when the discharge button is depressed, the cold water discharge port 9 is opened, and the drinking water stored in the cold water tank 2 is discharged. When the discharge button is released, the cold water discharge port 9 is closed, and the discharge of the drinking water stored in the cold water tank 2 is stopped. In addition, opening and closing of the cold water discharge port 9 by operation of this discharge button is an illustration, and it is not restricted to this. The cold water discharge port 9 is provided so as to protrude from the front surface of the housing 15 at a height position below the water level L as shown in FIG.

  One end of the cold water discharge pipe 10 is connected to the cold water tank 2 below the connection position between the connection pipe 7 and the cold water tank 2. Then, one end of the cold water discharge pipe 10 is preferably attached to the cold water tank 2 so that lower drinking water out of the drinking water stored in the cold water tank 2 flows into the connection pipe 7. Accordingly, the drinking water cooled by the cold water tank cooling mechanism 13 can be configured to flow into the cold water discharge pipe 10. The other end of the cold water discharge pipe 10 is connected to the cold water discharge port 9.

  As described above, since there is a height difference between the water level L of the cold water tank 2 and the cold water discharge port 9, the drinking water contained in the cold water tank 2 can be determined by opening the cold water discharge port 9. The lower drinking water is cooled by a cold water tank cooling mechanism 13 (details will be described later), and is naturally discharged from the cold water discharge port 9 through a flow path that connects the internal space of the cold water tank 2 and the cold water discharge port 9. The

  The hot water discharge port 11 is a water tap for discharging drinking water stored in the hot water tank 5. The hot water discharge port 11 has a discharge button (not shown), and when the discharge button is depressed, the hot water discharge port 11 is opened and the drinking water stored in the hot water tank 5 is discharged. When the discharge button is released, the hot water discharge port 11 is closed and the discharge of the drinking water stored in the hot water tank 5 is stopped. In addition, opening and closing of the hot water discharge port 11 by operation of this discharge button is an illustration, and it is not restricted to this. The hot water discharge port 11 is provided at a height position below the water level L so as to protrude from the front surface of the housing 15 as shown in FIG.

  One end of the hot water discharge pipe 12 is connected to the top plate of the hot water tank 5 or the vicinity thereof. Thereby, the warm water heated by the warm water tank heating mechanism 6 flows into the warm water discharge pipe 12. The other end of the hot water discharge pipe 12 is connected to the hot water discharge port 11.

  As described above, since there is a height difference between the water level L of the cold water tank 2 and the hot water discharge port 11, the upper side of the drinking water stored in the cold water tank 2 is opened by opening the hot water discharge pipe 12. The drinking water is naturally discharged from the hot water discharge port 11 through a flow path that connects the internal space of the cold water tank 2 and the hot water discharge port 11. That is, of the drinking water stored in the cold water tank 2, the upper drinking water passes through the connecting pipe 7 and flows into the hot water tank 5 and is heated by the hot water tank heating mechanism 6. Then, it passes through the hot water discharge pipe 12 and is discharged from the hot water discharge port 11.

  The partition plate 16 is a plate-like body, and the first space A1 where the end of the connection pipe 7 on the cold water tank 2 side is located in the internal space of the cold water tank 2 and the end of the cold water discharge pipe 10 on the cold water tank 2 side. Is divided into a second region A2 below the first region A1. Thereby, the heat transfer between the drinking water located in 1st area | region A1 and the drinking water located in 2nd area | region A2 can be suppressed, and the cooling efficiency of the drinking water located in 2nd area | region A2 is improved. be able to.

  And the partition plate 16 has the communicating hole 30 which connects 1st area | region A1 and 2nd area | region. Therefore, the drinking water located in 1st area | region A1 flows in into 2nd area | region A2 via the communicating hole 30. FIG. The communication hole 30 is formed at a symmetrical position about 180 degrees with respect to the position of the end of the cold water discharge pipe 10 on the cold water tank 2 side, with the central axis C of the cold water tank 2 as the axis of symmetry when viewed from above and below. ing. Therefore, since the end of the cold water discharge pipe 10 on the cold water tank 2 side and the communication hole 30 are located away from each other, the drinking water flowing into the second area A2 from the first area A1 is sufficiently supplied by the cold water tank cooling mechanism 13. It is possible to prevent the water from flowing into the cold water discharge pipe 10 without being cooled. The partition plate 16 may be formed with another communication hole smaller than the communication hole 30.

[Example of use]
Next, the usage example of the drinking water dispenser 100 is demonstrated.

  First, the drinking water accommodated in the drinking water supply container 110 passes through the water supply pipe 3 and flows into the cold water tank 2. And the adjustment valve 4 opens and closes the 1st flow path C1, and adjusts so that the water level of the cold water tank 2 may maintain the water level L. FIG.

  Next, of the drinking water stored in the cold water tank 2, the lower drinking water is cooled by the cold water tank cooling mechanism 13.

  Next, when the user opens the cold water discharge port 9, the drinking water cooled by the cold water tank cooling mechanism 13 is discharged from the cold water discharge port 9 through the cold water discharge pipe 10.

  On the other hand, the upper drinking water out of the drinking water stored in the cold water tank 2 flows into the hot water tank 5 through the connecting pipe 7.

  Next, the drinking water that has flowed into the hot water tank 5 is heated by the hot water tank heating mechanism 6 and rises in the hot water tank 5 by convection.

  Next, when the user opens the warm water discharge port 11, the drinking water heated by the warm water tank heating mechanism 6 is discharged from the warm water discharge port 11 through the warm water discharge pipe 12.

  Moreover, the water vapor | steam which generate | occur | produced when the warm water tank heating mechanism 6 heats the drinking water accommodated in the warm water tank 5 flows into the steam vent pipe 8, and rises in the form of bubbles in the drinking water in the steam vent pipe 8. . Then, the water vapor is released from the water surface of the steam vent pipe 8 located at the water level L into the air in the steam vent pipe 8. Then, it passes through the narrowed portion 22 and flows into the internal space above the water level L of the cold water tank 2. Then, the water vapor flowing into the internal space above the water level L of the cold water tank 2 is condensed in the cold water tank 2 to form water droplets, and is mixed with the drinking water stored in the cold water tank 2. Therefore, the drinking water stored in the drinking water supply container 110 can be used without waste.

  Thus, in this Embodiment, the drinking water dispenser 100 can cool and heat the drinking water accommodated in the drinking water supply container 110, and can discharge it from the cold water discharge port 9 and the warm water discharge port 11, respectively.

  As described above, the water vapor generated when the hot water tank heating mechanism 6 heats the drinking water stored in the hot water tank 5 flows into the steam vent pipe 8 and bubbles in the drinking water in the steam vent pipe 8. Rise in the form of Then, the water vapor is released from the water surface of the steam vent pipe 8 located at the water level L into the air in the steam vent pipe 8. Then, it passes through the narrowed portion 22 and flows into the internal space above the water level L of the cold water tank 2. Then, the water vapor flowing into the internal space above the water level L of the cold water tank 2 is condensed in the cold water tank 2 to form water droplets, and is mixed with the drinking water stored in the cold water tank 2. Therefore, the drinking water stored in the drinking water supply container 110 can be used without waste.

  Moreover, the 3rd flow path C3 of the drinking water dispenser 100 of this invention is narrow in the part in which the cylindrical body 23 is provided, and a cross-sectional area is 1 / with respect to the average cross-sectional area of the 3rd flow path C3. The cross-sectional area is 2 or less. Accordingly, the portion of the third flow path C3 closer to the hot water tank 5 than the cylindrical body 23 (constriction 22) of the steam vent pipe 8 and the cold water tank 2 than the cylindrical body 23 (constriction 22) of the steam vent pipe 8 are provided. Contact with the side part can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to effectively suppress heat transfer from a portion upstream of the constricted portion 22 of the steam vent pipe 8 having a high temperature to a portion downstream of the constricted portion 22 of the steam vent pipe 8 having a low temperature, An increase in the temperature of the drinking water stored in the cold water tank 2 (decrease in cooling efficiency) can be suppressed.

  From the foregoing description, many modifications and other embodiments of the present invention are obvious to one skilled in the art. Accordingly, the foregoing description should be construed as illustrative only and is provided for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the invention. The details of the structure and / or function may be substantially changed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

  This invention is applicable to the drinking water dispenser which can adjust and discharge the temperature of the drinking water accommodated in the drinking water supply container.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container mounting part 2 Cold water tank 3 Water supply pipe 4 Control valve 5 Hot water tank 6 Hot water tank heating mechanism 7 Connection pipe 8 Steam vent pipe 21 Check valve 22 Narrow part 23 Cylindrical body 24 Through-hole 100 Drinking water dispenser 110 Drinking water supply container

Claims (1)

A container placement unit for placing a drinking water supply container;
A cold water tank disposed below the container placement unit;
A first flow path communicating the internal space of the drinking water supply container placed on the container placement portion and the internal space of the cold water tank;
An adjustment valve that adjusts the flow rate of the drinking water flowing through the first flow path and maintains the water level of the internal space of the cold water tank at a predetermined water level;
A hot water tank disposed below the cold water tank;
A hot water tank heating mechanism for heating the drinking water stored in the hot water tank;
A second flow path communicating the internal space of the cold water tank below the water level and the internal space of the hot water tank;
A third flow path communicating the internal space of the hot water tank and the internal space of the cold water tank above the water level,
The third flow path is a drinking water dispenser including a narrowed portion having a cross-sectional area of 1/2 or less with respect to the average cross-sectional area of the third flow path at a height position above the water level.

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