JP2015110435A - Drinking water dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a drinking water dispenser which can smoothly supply a hot water tank with drinking water stored in a cold water tank.SOLUTION: A drinking water dispenser 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; a first flow passage C1 which communicates between an internal space of the drinking water supply container placed on the container placing part and an internal space of the cold water tank; a regulating valve 4 which regulates a flow rate of drinking water flowing in the first flow passage and maintains a water level of the internal space of the cold water tank at a predetermined water level L; a hot water tank 5 arranged below the cold water tank; and a second flow passage which is a second flow passage C2 for communicating the internal space of the cold water tank and an internal space of the hot water tank, and has a vertical part extending vertically over a height range including the water level, a first communication part for connecting an upper end of the vertical part and the internal space of the cold water tank higher than the water level, and a second communication part which is branched from a part below the water level of the vertical part and is connected to the internal space of the cold water tank lower than the water level.

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, and a water supply pipe that connects the cold water tank and the hot water tank. ing. Thereby, the drinking water accommodated in the cold water tank flows into the hot water tank through the water supply pipe.

JP 2008-56338 A

  However, in the drinking water dispenser described in Patent Document 1, for example, bubbles mixed in drinking water stored in a cold water tank flow into the water supply pipe together with the drinking water, accumulate in the water supply pipe, and inhibit the flow of drinking water. There was a problem.

  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, A regulating valve that keeps 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 second flow that communicates the internal space of the cold water tank and the internal space of the hot water tank A first portion extending in a vertical direction over a height range including the water level, and a first portion connecting the upper end of the first portion and the internal space of the cold water tank above the water level. 2 parts and below the water level of the first part Branched from portions are configured to and a second passage and a third portion connected to the inner space of the cold water tank below the water level.

According to this configuration, when the drinking water mixed with bubbles flows from the cold water tank into the first portion through the third portion of the second flow path, the bubbles rise toward the upper end of the first portion, The water surface that is located in the first part will pop off and disappear. Therefore, it is possible to prevent bubbles from accumulating in the second flow path and to inhibit the flow of drinking water in the second flow path, and supply the drinking water stored in the cold water tank to the hot water tank without delay. be able to.
be able to.

  The present invention produces an effect that the drinking water stored in the cold water tank can be supplied to the hot water tank without any delay.

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 principal part expansion partially broken side view which shows the structural example of the upper part of the 2nd flow path 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, and a connection pipe 7 constituting the second flow path C2 are provided. Further, in the present embodiment, the drinking water dispenser 100 includes a steam vent pipe 8, a cold water discharge port 9, a cold water discharge pipe 10, a hot water discharge port 11, a hot water discharge pipe 12, and a hot water tank heating mechanism 6. The cooling water tank cooling mechanism 13, a frame body 14 that arranges the respective components in a predetermined positional relationship, and a housing 15 that houses the respective components therein.

  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. A first connection port 42 and a second connection port 43 described later are provided on the peripheral wall of the cold water tank 2.

  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 the first flow of the water supply pipe 3 in conjunction with the rising of the floating based on the rising of the drinking water level in the cold water tank 2. A valve portion (not shown) that closes the passage 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 And 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.

  FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial cutaway side view of an essential part showing a configuration example of the upper part of the second flow path C2 of the drinking water dispenser 100.

  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 communicates the internal space of the cold water tank 2 and the internal space of the hot water tank 5. And as shown in FIG. 3, the 2nd flow path C2 is the vertical part 31 (1st part) extended in the up-down direction over the height range containing the water level L, the upper end of the vertical part 31, and the water level L. The first communication portion 32 (second portion) that connects the internal space of the chilled water tank 2 above and the chilled water tank 2 that is branched from the portion below the water level L of the vertical portion 31 and below the water level L. And a second communication portion 33 (third portion) connected to the internal space.

  That is, the connecting pipe 7 includes, for example, a resin hose and a pipe joint. The upper end portion 7 a of the connection pipe 7 is attached to a first connection port 42 provided above the water level L of the peripheral wall of the cold water tank 2. The internal space of the upper end portion 7a constitutes the first communication portion 32 of the second flow path C2. And the intermediate part 7c extended toward the lower end part 7b (refer FIG. 2) from the upper end part 7a of the connection pipe 7 is extended in the up-down direction. The internal space of the intermediate portion 7c constitutes the vertical portion 31 of the second flow path C2.

  And in the part below the water level L of the intermediate part 7c of the connection pipe 7, the T-shaped pipe joint 34 which has a branch port is provided. The branch port 34 a of the pipe joint 34 is connected to the second connection port 43 provided below the water level L on the peripheral wall of the cold water tank 2 by the branch portion 7 d of the connection pipe 7. A branch portion 7 d that connects the pipe joint 34 of the pipe joint 34 and the second connection port 43 constitutes the second communication portion 33. 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 out to the second communication portion 33 and passes through the connection pipe 7. It flows into the hot water tank 5. 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 this state, the surface of the drinking water inside the connecting pipe 7 is located at the water level L. That is, the water level L of the connecting pipe 7 is located in the vertical portion 31. Therefore, the drinking water accommodated in the cold water tank 2 does not flow into the first communication portion 32 positioned above the water level L.

  When the drinking water mixed with air bubbles flows from the cold water tank 2 into the vertical portion 31, the air bubbles rise toward the upper end of the vertical portion 31, and are repelled and disappear on the water surface located in the vertical portion 31. Therefore, it is possible to prevent bubbles from accumulating in the connection pipe 7 and hindering the flow of drinking water in the connection pipe 7.

  The bubbles are mixed with the bubbles mixed in the drinking water stored in the drinking water supply container 110, and the drinking water mixed when the drinking water stored in the drinking water supply container 110 flows into the cold water tank 2. In other words, bubbles that are mixed in the drinking water due to being broken, bubbles generated when the gas dissolved in the drinking water is broken from the drinking water when the equilibrium state is broken, and the like are included.

  And since the upper end part 7a (1st communication part 32) of the connection pipe 7 is connected to the 1st connection port 42 of the cold water tank 2, the case where the upper end part of the connection pipe 7 is directly open | released by air | atmosphere. In comparison, it is possible to prevent contamination of the connection pipe 7 with various bacteria.

  In addition, it is preferable that the 2nd connection port 43 is provided in the height position into which the upper drinking water flows into the 2nd communication part 33 among the drinking water accommodated in the cold water tank 2. FIG. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the drinking water stored in the lower part of the cold water tank 2 having a temperature lower than that of the drinking water stored in the upper part of the cold water tank 2 from flowing into the hot water tank 5. A decrease in the temperature of the drinking water 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, a check valve 21 is provided at a height position below the second communication portion 33 of the connection pipe 7. 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.

  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 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.

  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.

[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. At this time, when the drinking water mixed with air bubbles flows from the cold water tank 2 into the vertical portion 31 of the connecting pipe 7, the air bubbles rise toward the upper end portion 7a of the connecting pipe 7, and are shed and disappear on the water surface. Therefore, it is possible to prevent bubbles from accumulating in the connection pipe 7 and hindering the flow of drinking water in the connection 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. . 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 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, when drinking water mixed with air bubbles flows from the cold water tank 2 into the vertical portion 31 of the connection pipe 7, the air bubbles rise toward the upper end portion 7a of the connection pipe 7 and repel on the water surface. Disappear. Therefore, it is possible to prevent bubbles from accumulating in the connection pipe 7 and hindering the flow of drinking water in the connection pipe 7.

  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 7a Upper end part 7b Lower end part 7c Middle part 7d Branch part 8 Steam vent pipe 9 Cold water discharge port 10 Cold water discharge pipe 11 Hot water discharge port 12 Hot water discharge tube 13 Cold water tank cooling mechanism 14 Frame 15 Housing 20 Recess 21 Check valve 31 Vertical portion 32 First communication portion 33 Second communication portion 34 Fitting 34a Branch port 42 First connection port 43 First 2 connection port 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 second flow path communicating the internal space of the cold water tank and the internal space of the hot water tank, the first portion extending in a vertical direction over a height range including the water level; and the first portion A second portion connecting the upper end of the cold water tank and the internal space of the cold water tank above the water level, and a branch of the cold water tank below the water level branched from the portion below the water level of the first portion A drinking water dispenser comprising: a second flow path having a third portion connected to the internal space.

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