JP2015174075A - Ion exchanger - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ion exchanger that can prevent entry of insects and the like into a regenerant tank for a relatively long period of time without providing a sealing member, such as a packing, in a lid of the regenerant tank.SOLUTION: An ion exchanger 1 comprises a salt water tank 4. The salt water tank 4 is composed of a salt water tank body 40 having a salt supply port 412 for salt supply and a lid body 624 opening and closing the salt supply port 412. The salt supply port 412 has a cylindrical shape, and an outer periphery of the cylindrical shape is formed with a screw 4121. The lid body 624 includes a lid plate part 6241 and a cylindrical side plate part 6242 extending from a periphery of the lid plate part 6241, and an inner periphery of the side plate part 6242 is formed with a screw 6243. When the salt supply port 412 is covered with the lid body 624 from above and the screw 6243 of the lid body 624 is fastened to the screw 4121 of the salt supply port 412, an inner surface of the lid plate part 6241 of the lid body 624 and an upper edge of the salt supply port 412 are brought into close contact with each other.

Description

  The present invention relates to an ion exchange device such as a water softening device.

  In recent years, the characteristics and effectiveness of soft water have attracted attention as water for domestic use and processing water in the food manufacturing industry, and ion exchange devices for producing soft water (so-called soft water softening devices) have begun to spread. . The ion-exchange device for soft water production produces soft water, which is treated water, by adsorbing and removing hardness components (calcium ions and magnesium ions) contained in raw water such as tap water and groundwater with a cation exchange resin (patent) References 1 and 2).

  In the water softening device as described above, when the ion exchange resin bed reaches a predetermined amount of water, the ion exchange group becomes almost saturated with the hardness component and loses the ion exchange ability (that is, breakthrough state). . Therefore, in the water softening device, before the ion exchange resin bed becomes a breakthrough state, a regeneration operation is performed to restore ion exchange capacity by supplying salt water as a regeneration solution to the pressure tank in which the ion exchange resin bed is accommodated. Is called. Salt water as a regenerating solution is stored in a regenerating solution tank (salt water tank).

  A general water softening device includes a pressure tank in which an ion-exchange resin bed is accommodated, a regenerated liquid tank in which salt water as a regenerated liquid is stored, a raw water introduction unit for introducing raw water, and an ion exchange resin in the pressure tank. And a piping unit having a treated water deriving unit for deriving treated treated water. Furthermore, the home water softening device is configured to include a housing for accommodating a pressure tank, a regenerated liquid tank, and a piping portion in addition to these elements. The pressure tank is provided with a control valve for switching a flow path such as a water flow process and a regeneration process, and the pressure tank is connected to a piping section through the control valve.

  The regenerative liquid tank has a regenerative liquid storage section capable of storing a regenerative liquid generated from a raw material storage section capable of storing a raw material of the regenerative liquid and a raw material stored in the raw material storage section and makeup water introduced from the outside. Have. Inside the regeneration liquid tank, there is provided a regeneration liquid suction device that sucks the regeneration liquid from the vicinity of the bottom of the regeneration liquid storage section in accordance with pressure fluctuations occurring in the piping section. The regeneration solution sucked by the regeneration solution suction device is supplied to the pressure tank and used for regeneration of the ion exchange resin bed. In the upper part of the regenerative liquid tank, a raw material input port for supplying the raw material of the regenerated liquid toward the raw material storage unit is provided, and the raw material input port is covered with a lid.

JP 2009-178665 A JP 2002-28646 A

In recent years, with the popularization of water softening devices in general households, it has become necessary to install water softening devices in various places. The hard water softening device is installed not only inside a building such as a condominium but also outside a detached house, for example. When the water softening device is installed outside the house, it is necessary to prevent insects and the like from entering the regenerated liquid tank. Therefore, for example, providing a sealing member such as packing on the lid of the regenerated liquid tank is one countermeasure.
However, the water softening device is a facility that is continuously used for a relatively long period of time, and entry of insects or the like into the regenerated liquid tank must be prevented for a relatively long period of time. However, if a sealing member such as a packing is used outdoors, it is inevitable that the seal member deteriorates over time due to changes in the outside air temperature and other environments. Therefore, the measure of providing a seal member such as packing on the lid of the regenerative liquid tank has a problem that it is difficult to prevent insects and the like from entering the regenerative liquid tank for a relatively long period of time.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide an ion exchange device that can prevent insects and the like from entering a regenerative liquid tank for a relatively long period of time without providing a seal member such as packing on the lid of the regenerative liquid tank. And

  The present invention includes a pressure tank in which an ion exchange resin bed for producing treated water by introducing raw water is accommodated, a regenerated liquid tank in which a regenerated liquid for regenerating the ion exchange resin bed is stored, a raw water introduction unit, and A regenerating liquid tank having a raw material charging port at an upper portion for introducing a raw material of the regenerating liquid, and detachable from the regenerating liquid tank main body. And a lid that opens and closes the raw material charging port, and the raw material charging port has a cylindrical shape with a predetermined height extending upward at the upper part of the regeneration liquid tank body, and is formed on the outer periphery of the cylindrical shape. Is provided with a screw, and the lid body has a lid plate portion having a diameter larger than the diameter of the cylindrical shape of the raw material charging port, and a cylindrical side plate portion extending from the periphery of the lid plate portion, Inner circumference of side plate Is provided with a screw to be screwed with the screw of the raw material charging port, and when the lid body is put on the raw material charging port from above and the screw of the lid body is tightened against the screw of the raw material charging port Furthermore, the present invention relates to an ion exchange apparatus in which the inner surface of the lid plate portion of the lid body and the upper edge of the raw material inlet are in close contact.

  Further, when the screw of the lid body is tightened with respect to the screw of the raw material charging port, the inner surface of the lid plate portion of the lid body and the upper edge of the raw material charging port do not use a seal member. It is preferable to closely contact.

  Moreover, the diameter of the raw material inlet is preferably in the range of 200 to 300 mm, and the installation height of the raw material inlet is preferably in the range of 700 to 1000 mm from the installation surface.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the distance from the side surface of the apparatus on the side where the raw material is charged to the center of the raw material charging port is in the range of 200 to 350 mm.

  In addition, when the lid is put on the raw material charging port from above and the screw of the lid is tightened with respect to the screw of the raw material charging port, the turning angle of the lid is in the range of 45 ° to 180 °. It is preferable that

  In addition, the lid body or the regenerated liquid tank main body includes an inner surface of the lid plate portion of the lid body and the raw material inlet port when the screw of the lid body is tightened with respect to the screw of the raw material inlet port. It is preferable to have a means for confirming the position where the upper edge is in close contact.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the material of the said regeneration liquid tank main body and the said cover body of the said regeneration liquid tank is selected from a polypropylene, polyethylene, a polystyrene, and a vinyl chloride resin.

  According to the present invention, there is provided an ion exchange device capable of preventing the entry of insects and the like into a regenerative liquid tank for a relatively long period of time without providing a seal member such as a packing on the cover of the regenerative liquid tank. Can do.

It is a perspective view of the water softening apparatus 1 as one Embodiment of the ion exchange apparatus of this invention. It is an expansion perspective view of water softening device 1 of this embodiment. It is a front view which makes a part of the water softening apparatus 1 of this embodiment a cross section. It is a right view which shows a part of the water softening apparatus 1 of this embodiment in cross section. It is a top view which makes a part of the water softening apparatus 1 of this embodiment a cross section. It is a perspective view which shows the control valve and bypass valve in a connection state in the water softening apparatus 1 of this embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the state which disconnected the control valve and the bypass valve in the water softening apparatus 1 of this embodiment. It is a whole block diagram which shows the water flow process of the water softening apparatus 1 of this embodiment. It is a whole block diagram which shows the reproduction | regeneration process of the water softening apparatus 1 of this embodiment. It is a whole block diagram which shows the extrusion process of the water softening apparatus 1 of this embodiment. It is a whole block diagram which shows the rinse process of the water softening apparatus 1 of this embodiment. It is a whole block diagram which shows the water replenishment process of the water softening apparatus 1 of this embodiment. It is a whole block diagram which shows the state which disconnected the control valve and the bypass valve in the water softening apparatus 1 of this embodiment. It is an expanded sectional view of the lower part of the salt water tank 4 in the water softening apparatus 1 of this embodiment. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the internal structure of the air check housing part 120 of the salt water tank 4 in the water softening apparatus 1 of this embodiment. It is an expanded sectional view of the salt injection port 412 and the cover body 624 of the salt water tank 4 in the water softening apparatus 1 of this embodiment.

  Hereinafter, a water softening device 1 as an embodiment of an ion exchange device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The hard water softening device 1 of the present embodiment generates soft water by replacing hardness components contained in raw water such as tap water, ground water, and industrial water with sodium ions (or potassium ions). The hard water softening device 1 is used for the purpose of supplying soft water as various types of water to demand points. The water softening device 1 is connected to residential buildings such as houses and condominiums, customer-collecting facilities such as hotels and public baths, refrigeration equipment such as boilers and cooling towers, and water-using equipment such as food processing devices and cleaning devices. In particular, the hard water softening device 1 is suitable for using tap water as raw water in a general household.

  The water softening device 1 of this embodiment supplies water to a demand point (not shown) such as a bathroom with treated water (soft water) W2 obtained by softening raw water W1 with an ion exchange resin bed 211 (described later). Step, regeneration step of supplying salt water W3 to regenerate the ion exchange resin bed 211, extrusion step of pushing out the salt water W3 supplied to the ion exchange resin bed 211, rinse step of washing the salt water W3 remaining on the ion exchange resin bed 211 And the structure which can perform the water replenishment process which supplies makeup water to a regeneration liquid tank is provided.

  First, with reference to FIGS. 1-5, FIG. 8, each component which comprises the water softening apparatus 1 of this embodiment is demonstrated. In the following description, “line” is a general term for a flow path, a path, a pipeline, and the like.

  The water softening apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a pressure tank 2, a salt water tank 4 as a regenerated liquid tank, a piping unit 5, and a housing 6. Inside the pressure tank 2 is accommodated an ion exchange resin bed 211 for producing soft water W2 as treated water by introducing raw water (for example, tap water) W1. Inside the salt water tank 4, salt water W 3 as a regenerating liquid for regenerating the ion exchange resin bed 211 in the pressure tank 2 is stored. The piping part 5 has the raw | natural water introduction part 51 which introduce | transduces the raw | natural water W1, and the soft water derivation | leading-out part 52 as a treated water derivation | leading-out part which derives the soft water W2. The housing 6 accommodates the pressure tank 2, the salt water tank 4 and the piping part 5.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 8, the pressure tank 2 is a cylindrical body (for example, a cylinder) having a rounded bottom, and has an opening 21 at the top. Inside the pressure tank 2, a liquid collection / distribution pipe 231 (see FIG. 8) extending from the center of the opening 21 to the vicinity of the bottom of the pressure tank 2 is provided. A top screen 241 is provided in an area of the opening 21 of the pressure tank 2 excluding the liquid collection and distribution pipe 231. A bottom screen 242 is provided between the lower end of the liquid collection and distribution pipe 231 and the bottom of the pressure tank 2. Therefore, the liquid that has flowed into the pressure tank 2 from the upper end of the liquid collection / distribution pipe 231 descends in the liquid collection / distribution pipe 231 and exits from the lower end through the bottom screen 242 to the outside of the liquid collection / distribution pipe 231. The interior space of the pressure tank 2 outside the pipe 231 rises and exits from the pressure tank 2 through the top screen 241. On the other hand, the liquid flowing into the pressure tank 2 through the top screen 241 descends the internal space of the pressure tank 2, enters the collection / distribution pipe 231 through the bottom screen 242, and rises in the collection / distribution pipe 231. Then, it goes out of the pressure tank 2 from its upper end.

  An ion exchange resin bed 211 made of cation exchange resin beads and a support bed 212 made of filtered gravel are accommodated in the internal space of the pressure tank 2 outside the liquid collection and distribution pipe 231. The support floor 212 is disposed on the bottom side of the pressure tank 2. The support floor 212 functions as a fluid rectifying member for the ion exchange resin bed 211. The ion exchange resin bed 211 is laminated above the support floor 212. The ion exchange resin bed 211 functions as a treatment material that softens the raw water W1.

  A control valve 3 as a flow path control valve unit is attached to the opening 21 at the top of the pressure tank 2. As shown in FIG. 8, the control valve 3 includes a flow path switching valve 31, an attachment / detachment receiving portion 3211 of a bypass valve 32 described later, an ejector 33, a strainer 34, a brine valve 35, a drain valve 36, and raw water. Line L12, soft water lines L21, L22, L23, and L24, dilution water lines L31 and L32, salt water lines L41, L42, L43, and L44, and drainage lines L51, L52, L53, and L54 are provided. As will be described later, the soft water lines L21 to L24, the dilution water lines L31 and L32, and the salt water line L44 also function as raw water lines. The soft water line L21 also functions as a salt water line.

  The flow path switching valve 31 includes a cylindrical valve housing 311 having an open end, and a cylindrical valve body 312. One end of the valve main body 312 is opened, is accommodated inside the valve housing 311, and can slide along the axial direction of the valve housing 311. The valve housing 311 includes four holes 3111 to 3114 at a predetermined interval along the axial direction on the peripheral wall thereof. The valve body 312 includes three seal portions 3121 to 3123. The three seal portions 3121 to 3123 protrude outward from the peripheral wall at a predetermined interval along the axial direction. The valve body 312 has one hole 3124 at the top.

  The open end of the flow path switching valve 31 is watertightly attached to the upper end of the collection and distribution pipe 231 of the pressure tank 2. One end of the raw water line L12 is connected to a later-described second flow path L2 of the attachment / detachment receiving portion 3211 of the bypass valve 32. The other end of the raw water line L12 is connected to the first hole 3111 of the valve housing 311 of the flow path switching valve 31. One end of the soft water line L21 is watertightly connected to a region excluding the liquid collection and distribution pipe 231 at the opening 21 of the pressure tank 2. The other end of the soft water line L21 is connected to a connection point between one end of the soft water line L22 and one end of the salt water line L44. The other end of the soft water line L22 is connected to the third hole 3113 of the valve housing 311 of the flow path switching valve 31. One end of the soft water line L23 is connected to the second hole 3112 of the valve housing 311 of the flow path switching valve 31. The other end of the soft water line L23 is connected to a connection point between one end of the soft water line L24 and one end of the dilution water line L31. The other end of the soft water line L24 is connected to a third flow path L3, which will be described later, of the attachment / detachment receiving portion 3211 of the bypass valve 32.

  The other end of the dilution water line L31 is connected to one side of the strainer 34. One end of a dilution water line L32 is connected to the other side of the strainer 34. The other end of dilution water line L32 is connected to one side of ejector 33. The other end of the salt water line L44 is connected to the other side of the ejector 33. One end of a salt water line L43 is connected to the suction port of the ejector 33. The other end of the salt water line L43 is connected to one side of the brine valve 35. One end of a salt water line L42 is connected to the other side of the brine valve 35. The other end of the salt water line L <b> 42 is connected to one side of the salt water flow meter 44 provided outside the control valve 3. One end of a salt water line L41 is connected to the other side of the salt water flow meter 44. The other end of the salt water line L <b> 41 is connected to a salt water take-out portion of the salt water tank 4. One end of the drain line L51 is connected to the fourth hole 3114 of the valve housing 311 of the flow path switching valve 31. The other end of the drain line L51 is connected to one side of the drain valve 36. One end of a drain line L52 is connected to the other side of the drain valve 36. The other end of the drain line L52 is connected to a connection point between one end of the drain line L53 and one end of the drain line L54. The other end of the drain line L53 is connected to the overflow part of the salt water tank 4. The other end of the drainage line L54 is released to a drainage groove or the like outside the system.

  Connected to the control valve 3 are a raw water line L11 from the raw water introduction part 51 of the pipe part 5 to the control valve 3 and a soft water line L25 from the control valve 3 to the soft water outlet part 52 of the pipe part 5. Specifically, a bypass valve 32 is provided in the raw water line L11 and the soft water line L25 in the vicinity of the control valve 3. The bypass valve 32 can directly connect the raw water line L11 and the soft water line L25, and can disconnect the pressure tank 2 including the control valve 3 from the raw water line L11 and the soft water line L25.

  The bypass valve 32 includes a valve housing 321 having four flow paths L1 to L4 therein, and a valve body 322 that is housed in the valve housing 321 and can switch the flow of the flow paths L1 to L4. The first flow path L1 and the fourth flow path L4 of the valve housing 321 are arranged on a straight line. The second flow path L2 and the third flow path L3 are arranged in parallel to each other. The directions of the first flow path L1 and the fourth flow path L4 and the directions of the second flow path L2 and the third flow path L3 are orthogonal to each other. The distal ends of the valve housing 321 on the second flow path L2 side and the third flow path L3 side are configured to be detachable from the valve housing 321 as attachment / detachment receiving portions 3211.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the attachment / detachment receiving portion 3211 of the bypass valve 32 is provided on the control valve 3 side. The detachable receiving portion 3211 has two cylindrical inner peripheral surfaces 3212 and 3213. A portion constituting the second flow path L2 and the third flow path L3 side of the bypass valve 32 includes two cylindrical portions 3214 and 3215. The cylindrical portions 3214 and 3215 have cylindrical outer peripheral surfaces, and O-rings 3216 and 3217 are attached to the outer peripheral surfaces, respectively. The bypass valve 32 is connected to the control valve 3 by press-fitting the cylindrical portions 3214 and 3215 into the inner peripheral surfaces 3212 and 3213 of the attachment / detachment receiving portion 3211 and screwing the left and right connection fittings 3231 and 3232 together. At this time, the bypass valve 32 and the control valve 3 are connected in a watertight manner by the action of the O-rings 3216 and 3217. When the left and right connecting fittings 3231 and 3232 are removed and the handle 324 is operated, the cylindrical portions 3214 and 3215 are pulled out from the inner peripheral surfaces 3212 and 3213 of the attachment / detachment receiving portion 3211 against the resistance of the O-rings 3216 and 3217. Can do. That is, the bypass valve 32 is disconnected from the control valve 3.

  During normal use of the bypass valve 32, the valve body 322 is in the position shown in FIGS. At this time, the first flow path L1 and the second flow path L2 of the bypass valve 32 communicate with each other. The third flow path L3 and the fourth flow path L4 of the bypass valve 32 communicate with each other. When the bypass valve 32 is disconnected, the valve body 322 is in the position shown in FIG. At this time, the first flow path L1 and the fourth flow path L4 of the bypass valve 32 communicate with each other. The second flow path L2 and the third flow path L3 of the bypass valve 32 communicate with each other.

  One end of the raw water line L11 is connected to the first flow path L1 of the bypass valve 32. One end of the soft water line L25 is connected to the fourth flow path L4 of the bypass valve 32. The other end of the raw water line L11 and the other end of the soft water line L25 are connected to a water supply pipe (for example, a water pipe) at the installation site. That is, the other end of the raw water line L11 is connected to the upstream side of the water pipe, and the other end of the soft water line L25 is connected to the downstream side of the water pipe. The other end of the raw water line L11 connected to the water pipe constitutes a raw water introduction part 51 for introducing the raw water W1. The other end of the soft water line L25 connected to the water pipe constitutes a soft water deriving unit 52 as a treated water deriving unit for deriving soft water W2 as treated water.

  In the raw water line L11, a water flow meter 511, a ball stop cock 512 with a check valve, a strainer 513, a pressure reducing valve 514, a relief valve 515, and a flow switch 516 are provided in this order from the side close to the raw water introduction part 51. . A negative pressure release valve 517 and a filter 518 are provided on the downstream side of the flow switch 516. The water flow meter 511 measures the water flow rate of the raw water W1. The ball stop cock 512 with a check valve restricts the flow of the raw water W1 in one direction and prevents the raw water W1 from flowing backward. The strainer 513 prevents the distribution of fine particles contained in the raw water W1. The pressure reducing valve 514 reduces the raw water W1 to a predetermined water pressure. The relief valve 515 protects the pressure tank 2 and the control valve 3 by allowing excess pressure to escape outside the system when the water pressure of the raw water W1 or the back pressure from the secondary side of the apparatus exceeds a predetermined value. When the flow switch 516 detects that the raw water W1 having a predetermined flow rate has circulated, the flow switch 516 outputs a detection signal to a control unit (not shown). The negative pressure release valve 517 opens and sucks air when negative pressure is generated in the system. The soft water line L25 is provided with a strainer 521 with a cock and a ball stop cock 522 with a check valve in order from the side closer to the bypass valve 32. The strainer 521 with a cock can capture foreign matter (fine particles or crushed pieces of ion exchange resin) mixed in the soft water W2, and discharges the foreign matter outside the system by opening the cock. The ball stop cock 522 with a check valve restricts the flow of the soft water W2 in one direction and prevents the soft water W2 from flowing back. These components in the raw water line L11 and the soft water line L25 constitute the piping unit 5.

  The flow path switching valve 31 generates an upward flow of the raw water W1 by collecting the raw water W1 to the bottom screen 242 of the pressure tank 2 while collecting the raw water W1 to the bottom screen 242 with respect to sampling and regeneration, thereby treating the treated water. The flow of water (raw water W1, soft water W2) in the water flow process for producing the soft water W2 and the salt water W3 by collecting the water at the bottom screen 242 while distributing the salt water W3 as the regenerated liquid to the top screen 241. This is a valve capable of switching the flow of the salt water W3 in the regeneration process for generating the downward flow of W3 and regenerating the ion exchange resin bed 211.

  In the flow path switching valve 31, when the first seal portion 3121 of the valve body 312 is located between the first hole 3111 and the second hole 3112 of the valve housing 311, the second seal portion 3122 of the valve body 312 is The third seal portion 3123 of the valve body 312 is located between the fourth hole 3114 of the valve housing 311 and the open end portion, and is located between the third hole 3113 and the fourth hole 3114 of the valve housing 311. At this time, the first hole 3111 of the valve housing 311 has a predetermined gap between the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the valve housing 311 and the outer surface of the peripheral wall of the valve body 312, the space inside the top of the valve housing 311, and the top of the valve body 312. It communicates with the space inside the valve body 312 through the hole 3124. That is, the first hole 3111 of the valve housing 311 communicates with the upper end portion of the liquid collection and distribution pipe 231 of the pressure tank 2. The second hole 3112 and the third hole 3113 of the valve housing 311 communicate with each other through a predetermined gap between the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the valve housing 311 and the outer surface of the peripheral wall of the valve body 312. The fourth hole 3114 of the valve housing 311 does not communicate with the other holes or the space inside the valve body 312. Hereinafter, this positional relationship is referred to as a first state of the flow path switching valve 31 (see a water flow process described later).

  In the flow path switching valve 31, when the first seal portion 3121 of the valve body 312 is positioned between the first hole 3111 and the top portion of the valve housing 311, the second seal portion 3122 of the valve body 312 is The third seal portion 3123 of the valve body 312 is located between the third hole 3113 and the fourth hole 3114 of the valve housing 311. At this time, the first hole 3111 of the valve housing 311 communicates with the second hole 3112 of the valve housing 311 through a predetermined gap between the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the valve housing 311 and the outer surface of the peripheral wall of the valve body 312. The third hole 3113 of the valve housing 311 does not communicate with other holes or the space inside the valve body 312. The fourth hole 3114 of the valve housing 311 communicates with the opening end side of the valve body 312. That is, the fourth hole 3114 of the valve housing 311 communicates with the upper end of the liquid collection and distribution pipe 231 of the pressure tank 2. Hereinafter, this positional relationship is referred to as a second state of the flow path switching valve 31 (refer to a regeneration process and an extrusion process described later).

  In the flow path switching valve 31, when the second seal portion 3122 of the valve body 312 is located at a position corresponding to the second hole 3112 of the valve housing 311 and does not block the second hole 3112, the first seal of the valve body 312. The part 3121 is located between the first hole 3111 and the top part of the valve housing 311, and the third seal part 3123 of the valve body 312 is located between the third hole 3113 and the fourth hole 3114 of the valve housing 311. To do. At this time, the second hole 3112 of the valve housing 311 has a predetermined gap between the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the valve housing 311 and the outer surface of the peripheral wall of the valve body 312, as in the second state of the flow path switching valve 31. The valve housing 311 communicates with the first hole 3111, and also communicates with the third hole 3113 of the valve housing 311 through a predetermined gap between the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the valve housing 311 and the outer surface of the peripheral wall of the valve body 312. The fourth hole 3114 of the valve housing 311 communicates with the opening end side of the valve body 312. That is, the fourth hole 3114 of the valve housing 311 communicates with the upper end of the liquid collection and distribution pipe 231 of the pressure tank 2. Hereinafter, this positional relationship is referred to as a third state of the flow path switching valve 31 (see a rinsing step described later).

  The salt water tank 4 is a cylindrical body (for example, a square tube) having a bottom portion 411 that is vertically arranged in two stages, and has an opening 412 at the top. The bottom part 411 includes a lowest bottom part 4111 and a raised bottom part 4112 that is one step higher than the bottom part 4111. Inside the salt water tank 4, salt water W3 as a regenerating liquid for regenerating the ion exchange resin bed 211 is stored. On the outer periphery of the salt water tank 4, a step 413 is provided at a predetermined height from the bottom 411. The step portion 413 is a step portion in which the size of the cross section of the salt water tank 4 below this is smaller than the size of the cross section of the salt water tank 4 above this. A recess 414 is provided on the front side of the salt water tank 4. In the recess 414, a raw water connection pipe 519 constituting a part of a raw water line L11 as an inlet pipe to be described later is disposed. A recess 415 is provided on the rear side of the salt water tank 4. A soft water connection pipe 523 that constitutes a part of a soft water line L25 as an outlet pipe, which will be described later, is disposed in the recess 415. The salt water tank 4 includes a salt water supply pipe 42. The salt water supply pipe 42 constitutes a part of the salt water line L41 for supplying the salt water W3 to be stored to the pressure tank 2 in the regeneration process. As the salt water W3, aqueous solutions of sodium chloride and potassium chloride can be used in a water softening apparatus using cation exchange resin beads.

  As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, a regeneration liquid suction device that sucks salt water W <b> 3 from the bottom near the inside of the salt water tank 4 in accordance with pressure fluctuations (for example, negative pressure generated by an ejector) generated in the pipe portion 5. A salt water suction device 45 is provided. The salt water suction device 45 includes a salt water plate 46 as a regeneration solution plate, a salt water well 47 as a regeneration solution well, and a salt water valve device 48 as a regeneration solution valve device. The salt water plate 46 is placed on the step 413 of the salt water tank 4 and is disposed horizontally. The inside of the salt water tank 4 is partitioned by a salt water plate 46 into a salt container 461 as a raw material container and a salt water reservoir 462 as a regenerated liquid reservoir. The salt storage unit 461 is a region that can store a salt S (for example, sodium chloride or potassium chloride) as a raw material of the regenerating solution. The salt water storage unit 462 is a region where salt water W3 generated from the salt S stored in the salt storage unit 461 and makeup water introduced from the outside can be stored.

  The salt S accommodated in the salt accommodating part 461 is placed on the salt water plate 46. A part of the salt S placed on the salt water plate 46 is dissolved into the salt water storage section 462 from the salt water plate 46, and becomes salt water W3 by mixing with the makeup water. The salt water plate 46 has a circular hole 463. The salt water well 47 passes through the circular hole 463 and is installed on the bottom surface of the salt water tank 4. The salt water well 47 is a container for accommodating the salt water valve device 48 separately from the salt S. The lower part of the salt water well 47 and the salt water valve device 48 is installed in the bottom part 4111 of the salt water tank 4. In a portion other than the lower portion of the salt water well 47 and the salt water valve device 48, the bottom portion of the salt water tank 4 is raised one step higher than the bottom portion 4111 as a raised bottom portion 4112. The height of the raised bottom portion 4112 is set to the height of the suction stop position BL (described later) of the salt water valve device 48 in the salt water suction device 45. The cross-sectional area of the bottommost portion 4111 is preferably 1.2 times or less of the area under the salt water well 47 and the salt water valve device 48, for example. The height of the raised bottom 4112 is preferably 2 to 5 cm lower than the suction stop position BL, for example.

  The salt water valve device 48 controls the flow of makeup water from the control valve 3 and the flow of salt water W3 to the control valve 3, and replenishes when the water level in the salt water tank 4 reaches a preset specified water level WL. Has the function of blocking the flow of water. The salt water valve device 48 includes a water level detection float 101, a float rod 104, a salt water valve pipe 110, and an air check housing part 120. The water level detection float 101 detects the water level of the salt water W <b> 3 stored in the salt water well 47. The water level detection float 101 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a reverse concave shape in a vertical section. The water level detection float 101 is made of a material having a specific gravity smaller than that of makeup water. Therefore, the water level detection float 101 has buoyancy with respect to the makeup water and the salt water W3. The float rod 104 is a rod-like member that moves up and down in conjunction with the water level detection float 101. The upper end of the float rod 104 is connected to the water level detection float 101. The lower end of the float rod 104 is connected to a water replenishing stopper 124 (described later) as a valve body.

  The salt water valve pipe 110 is a cylindrical member through which salt water W3 supplied to the outside from the salt water tank 4 and makeup water supplied to the salt water tank 4 from the outside flow. The lower end of the salt water valve pipe 110 is connected to a second hole 129b of a lower air check housing 129 (described later). The air check housing part 120 includes a salt water valve filter 121, an upper air check housing 122, and a water replenishment stopper 124. The air check housing part 120 includes a ball holder 125 and a float ball 126. The air check housing part 120 includes a lower air check housing 129, a metal ball 130, and a plug 131.

  The upper air check housing 122 has a valve hole 122a in the upper part. The valve hole 122a is an opening through which salt water W3 and makeup water can flow. The upper air check housing 122 is connected to the lower air check housing 129. The water replenishment stopper 124 is a component (valve element) that can open and close the valve hole 122 a of the upper air check housing 122. The water replenishment stopper 124 is connected to the lower end of the float rod 104. The upper end of the float rod 104 is connected to the water level detection float 101. Therefore, the water replenishment stopper 124 moves in the axial direction of the float rod 104 together with the water level detection float 101.

  The ball holder 125 accommodates the float ball 126 and holds it so as to be movable in the vertical direction. The salt water W3 and make-up water can flow through the gap between the upper air check housing 122 and the ball holder 125 in a state where the float ball 126 is pushed up on the upper portion of the ball holder 125. The float ball 126 opens and closes a first hole 129 a (described later) of the lower air check housing 129 according to the water level in the ball holder 125. The float ball 126 is made of a material having a specific gravity smaller than that of makeup water. Therefore, the float ball 126 has buoyancy with respect to the makeup water and the salt water W3.

  The lower air check housing 129 has a first hole portion 129a, a second hole portion 129b, and a water passage hole 132. The first hole 129a is an opening through which salt water W3 and makeup water can flow. The second hole 129b is an opening to which the lower end of the salt water valve pipe 110 is connected. In a state where the metal ball 130 is in contact with the opening of the water passage hole 132, a slight gap is formed between the metal ball 130 and the water passage hole 132.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the salt water tank 4 includes a salt water tank body 40 and a lid 624 (described later). The salt water tank main body 40 has a salt inlet (opening) 412 as a raw material inlet through which a regenerated liquid raw material is introduced. The salt inlet 412 has a cylindrical shape with a predetermined height extending upward at the top of the salt water tank body 40, and a screw 4121 is formed on the outer periphery of the cylindrical shape. The lid 624 is detachable from the salt water tank body 40 and opens and closes the salt inlet 412. The lid body 624 includes a lid plate portion 6241 having a diameter larger than the cylindrical diameter of the salt inlet 412 and a cylindrical side plate portion 6242 extending from the periphery of the lid plate portion 6241. A screw 6243 that is screwed into the screw 4121 of the salt inlet 412 is formed on the inner periphery of the side plate portion 6242. A cylindrical projection 6244 is formed on the inner surface of the lid plate portion 6241 with a predetermined gap between the inner surface of the side plate portion 6242.

  In order to close the salt inlet 412 in the salt water tank 4, a lid 624 is placed on the salt inlet 412 of the salt water tank main body 40 from above, and a screw 6243 of the lid 624 with respect to a screw 4121 of the salt inlet 412. Is tightened. At this time, the annular upper portion of the salt inlet 412 is accommodated in an annular recess 6245 formed between the inner surface of the side plate portion 6242 and the projection 6244 of the lid plate portion 6241 in the lid plate portion 6241. Then, the inner surface of the lid plate portion 6241 of the lid 624 and the upper edge of the salt inlet 412 are in close contact. This close contact state between the inner surface of the lid plate portion 6241 of the lid 624 and the upper edge of the salt inlet 412 is realized without using a seal member such as packing. Therefore, the internal space of the salt water tank 4 is sealed against the external environment of the salt water tank 4.

  The diameter of the salt inlet 412 is in the range of 200 to 300 mm, and the installation height of the salt inlet 412 is preferably in the range of 700 to 1000 mm from the installation surface. It is preferable that the distance from the side surface of the apparatus 1 on the side where salt is introduced to the center of the salt introduction port 412 is in the range of 200 to 350 mm. When the lid body 624 is placed on the salt inlet 412 from above and the screw 6243 of the lid body 624 is tightened with respect to the screw 4121 of the salt inlet 412, the turning angle of the lid body 624 is in the range of 45 ° to 180 °. It is preferable that When the screw 6243 of the lid 624 is tightened with respect to the screw 4121 of the salt inlet 412, the lid 624 or the salt water tank main body 40 is positioned above the inner surface of the lid plate portion 6241 of the lid 624 and the salt inlet 412. It is preferable to have means (for example, means for indicating that the lid body 624 has rotated a predetermined angle with respect to the salt inlet 412) to confirm the position where the edge is in close contact. The material of the salt water tank body 40 and the lid 624 of the salt water tank 4 is preferably selected from polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, and vinyl chloride resin.

  Here, the arrangement relationship among the pressure tank 2, the salt water tank 4, and the piping part 5 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the salt water tank 4 is arranged in the center of the apparatus 1. The pressure tank 2 is disposed on one side (left side) of the salt water tank 4. The piping unit 5 is disposed on the other side (right side) of the salt water tank 4. The bypass valve 32 connected to the control valve 3 attached to the upper part of the pressure tank 2 and the pipe part 5 are connected by a raw water connection pipe 519 and a soft water connection pipe 523. The raw water connection pipe 519 is disposed substantially horizontally in the recess 414 on the front side of the salt water tank 4. The soft water connection pipe 523 is disposed substantially horizontally in the recess 415 on the rear side of the salt water tank 4. The raw water connection pipe 519 constitutes a part of the raw water line L11. The soft water connection pipe 523 constitutes a part of the soft water line L25.

  The housing 6 includes a base 61 that supports the pressure tank 2 and the salt water tank 4, and a housing central portion 62 that covers the front surface, the back surface, and the top surface of the device 1 in the entire salt water tank 4 and a part of the pressure tank 2. The housing left portion 63 on the side (left side) where the pressure tank 2 is disposed, and the housing right portion 64 on the side (right side) where the piping portion 5 is disposed. The base 61 includes a pressure tank support 611 having a support shape that supports the shape of the rounded bottom of the pressure tank 2, and a salt water tank support 612 having a support shape that supports the step 413 of the salt water tank 4. . The pressure tank support part 611 and the salt water tank support part 612 are integrally configured.

  The housing central part 62 includes a front member 621, a back member 622, and a top member 623. The lower end portion of the front member 621 is fixed to the front side of the base portion 61. The lower end portion of the back member 622 is fixed to the rear side of the base portion 61. The lateral width of the upper surface member 623 is longer than the lateral widths of the front member 621 and the rear member 622, and has a length corresponding to the lateral width of the entire apparatus 1. The upper surface member 623 has a downward flange 6231 around the periphery. The upper surface member 623 has an opening 6232 at a position corresponding to the upper opening 412 of the salt water tank 4. A lid 624 is placed over the opening 6232. The upper surface member 623 has a window 6233 that can be opened and closed at a position above the control valve 3 above the pressure tank 2. The upper end portion of the front member 621 is fixed to the inside of the flange 6231 at the center with respect to the left and right of the upper surface member 623. The upper end of the back member 622 is fixed to the inside of the flange 6231 at the center in the left-right direction of the top member 623.

  The housing left part 63 is a member having a substantially U-shaped horizontal cross section in which the left front surface projects from the front edge of the left side surface and the left rear surface projects from the rear edge of the left side surface. The housing left portion 63 is formed on the left side of the upper surface member 623 of the housing central portion 62 by inserting the upper end portion of the housing left portion 63 from the bottom to the inside of the flange 6231 and the left side portions of the front member 621 and the back member 622. And is detachably mounted on the base 61. An appropriate attachment method can be used to attach the housing left portion 63.

  The housing right part 64 is a member having a substantially U-shaped horizontal cross section in which the right front surface projects from the front edge of the right side surface and the right rear surface projects from the rear edge of the right side surface. The housing right part 64 is formed by inserting the upper end of the housing right part 64 from the bottom to the inside of the flange 6231 on the right side of the upper surface member 623 of the housing center part 62, and the right side parts of the front member 621 and the back member 622. And is detachably mounted on the base 61. An appropriate attachment method can be used to attach the housing left portion 63. Inside the housing right part 64, a heater 53 for heat insulation of the pipe part 5 is provided. A planar heater can be used as the heater 53.

Next, in the operation of the water softening device 1 in the present embodiment, a water flow process, a regeneration process, an extrusion process, a rinse process, and a water replenishment process will be described.
[Water flow process]
As shown in FIG. 8, in the water flow process, in the control valve 3, the flow path switching valve 31 is in the first state, and the brine valve 35 and the drain valve 36 are both in the closed position. Therefore, the raw water W1 introduced into the apparatus 1 from the raw water introduction unit 51 is the raw water line L11, the first flow path L1 and the second flow path L2 of the bypass valve 32, the raw water line L12, and the first hole of the flow path switching valve 31. 3111 and the hole 3124 are sequentially flowed, supplied to the collecting and distributing pipe 231 of the pressure tank 2, and distributed from the bottom screen 242. The raw water W1 distributed from the bottom screen 242 passes through the ion exchange resin bed 211 in an upward flow. In the process, the hardness component of the raw water W1 is replaced with sodium ions (or potassium ions), and the raw water W1 is softened.

  The treated water (soft water W <b> 2) that has passed through the ion exchange resin bed 211 is collected on the top screen 241 at the top of the pressure tank 2. After that, the soft water W2 includes the soft water line L21, the soft water line L22, the third hole 3113 and the second hole 3112 of the flow path switching valve 31, the soft water line L23, the soft water line L24, the third flow path L3 and the fourth of the bypass valve 32. It flows through the flow path L4 and the soft water line L25 sequentially, is led out of the apparatus 1 from the soft water lead-out part 52, and is supplied to the demand point of the soft water W2. The soft water W2 flows in parallel with the soft water line L22, the third hole 3113 and the second hole 3112 of the flow path switching valve 31, and the soft water line L23, in parallel with the salt water line L44, the ejector 33, the dilution water line L32, It flows through the strainer 34 and the dilution water line L31 sequentially.

[Regeneration process]
As shown in FIG. 9, in the regeneration process, in the control valve 3, the flow path switching valve 31 is in the second state, and the brine valve 35 and the drain valve 36 are both in the open position. Therefore, the raw water W1 introduced into the apparatus 1 from the raw water introduction unit 51 is the raw water line L11, the first flow path L1 and the second flow path L2 of the bypass valve 32, the raw water line L12, and the first hole of the flow path switching valve 31. 3111 and the second hole 3112, the soft water line L23, the dilution water line L31, the strainer 34, the dilution water line L32, and the ejector 33 sequentially flow. As the raw water W1 flows through the ejector 33 at a predetermined pressure, a suction force is generated at the suction port of the ejector 33. Due to this suction force, the salt water valve pipe 110 of the salt water suction device 45 in the salt water tank 4 and the inside of the air check housing part 120 also become negative pressure. Due to this negative pressure, as shown in FIG. 15, the water replenishment stopper 124 is lowered and the valve hole 122a of the upper air check housing 122 is opened. When the valve hole 122a is opened, the salt water W3 stored in the salt water tank 4 is sucked into the air check housing part 120. Since the float ball 126 floats inside the ball holder 125, the first hole 129a of the lower air check housing 129 is open. Further, the metal ball 130 moves on the plug 131 side (the left direction in FIG. 15) along the flow of the salt water W3. The sucked salt water W3 flows through the inside of the air check housing part 120 and the salt water valve pipe 110, and sequentially passes through the salt water line L41, the salt water flow meter 44, the salt water line L42, the brine valve 35, and the salt water line L43 to the ejector 33. Is sucked into the inlet. As a result, the salt water W3 and the raw water W1 are mixed in the ejector 33 to become a salt water W3 having a predetermined concentration (about 10% by weight).

  The salt water W3 having a predetermined concentration is distributed from the top screen 241 disposed at the top of the pressure tank 2 through the salt water line L44 and the soft water line L21, and passes through the pressure tank 2 in a downward flow. In the process, the salt water W3 regenerates the ion exchange resin bed 211. The used salt water W3 is collected by a bottom screen 242 disposed at the bottom of the pressure tank 2 and rises in the collection and distribution pipe 231 of the pressure tank 2, and passes through the fourth hole 3114 of the flow path switching valve 31 and drainage. The water flows through the line L51, the drain valve 36, the drainage line L52, and the drainage line L54 in order, and is drained outside the system. As the regeneration process proceeds, the water level of the salt water W3 stored in the salt water tank 4 gradually decreases. When the water level of the salt water W3 reaches the suction stop position BL of the salt water valve device 48 inside the air check housing part 120, the float ball 126 descends and closes the first hole 129a. Therefore, supply of the salt water W3 from the salt water tank 4 to the salt water line L41 is stopped. Further, the float ball 126 closes the first hole portion 129a, thereby suppressing air suction. In the state where the water level of the salt water W3 is the suction stop position BL of the salt water valve device 48, the water replenishment stopper 124 remains lowered. Therefore, the valve hole 122a of the upper air check housing 122 remains open. This regeneration step is executed for a predetermined time and is completed by supplying a predetermined amount of salt water W3.

  The raw water W1 flowing through the soft water line L23 flows to the dilution water line L31 and also flows to the soft water line L24. Therefore, the excessive raw water W1 for diluting the salt water W3 to a predetermined concentration sequentially flows from the soft water line L24 through the third flow path L3 and the fourth flow path L4 of the bypass valve 32, the soft water line L25, and the soft water discharge section 52. Thus, the soft water W2 is temporarily supplied to the demand point.

[Extrusion process]
As shown in FIG. 10, in the extrusion process, in the control valve 3, the flow path switching valve 31 is in the second state, and the brine valve 35 and the drain valve 36 are both in the open position. This is the same as the regeneration process shown in FIG. However, since the float ball 126 closes the first hole portion 129a in the salt water tank 4, even if the salt water valve pipe 110 becomes negative pressure, the salt water W3 in the salt water tank 4 remains in the air check housing portion 120. Circulating the inside and the salt water valve pipe 110 is prevented. Therefore, the raw water W1 introduced into the apparatus 1 from the raw water introduction unit 51 is the raw water line L11, the first flow path L1 and the second flow path L2 of the bypass valve 32, the raw water line L12, and the first hole of the flow path switching valve 31. 3111 and the second hole 3112, the soft water line L23, the dilution water line L31, the strainer 34, the dilution water line L32, the ejector 33, the salt water line L44, and the soft water line L21, the top screen 241 disposed on the top of the pressure tank 2 The water is distributed from the inside and passes through the pressure tank 2 in a downward flow. In the process, the raw water W1 continuously regenerates the ion exchange resin bed 211 while pushing out the salt water W3 supplied in advance. The used salt water W3 and raw water W1 are collected by a bottom screen 242 disposed at the bottom of the pressure tank 2 and ascend in the liquid collection and distribution pipe 231 of the pressure tank 2, and the fourth hole of the flow path switching valve 31. 3114, the drain line L51, the drain valve 36, the drain line L52, and the drain line L54 are sequentially flowed to be drained outside the system. This extrusion process is executed for a predetermined time, and is completed by supplying a predetermined amount of raw water W1 and extruding the salt water W3.

  The raw water W1 flowing through the soft water line L23 flows to the dilution water line L31 and also flows to the soft water line L24. Therefore, the raw water W1 that is excessive to push out the salt water W3 flows in order from the soft water line L24 through the third flow path L3 and the fourth flow path L4 of the bypass valve 32, the soft water line L25, and the soft water discharge section 52. Is temporarily supplied to the demand point.

[Rinse process]
As shown in FIG. 11, in the rinsing process, in the control valve 3, the flow path switching valve 31 is in the third state, the brine valve 35 is in the closed position, and the drain valve 36 is in the open position. Therefore, the raw water W1 introduced into the apparatus 1 from the raw water introduction unit 51 is the raw water line L11, the first flow path L1 and the second flow path L2 of the bypass valve 32, the raw water line L12, and the first hole of the flow path switching valve 31. 3111 and the second hole 3112, and from this second hole 3112, on the one hand, the flow passes through the soft water line L23, the dilution water line L31, the strainer 34, the dilution water line L32, the ejector 33, the salt water line L44, The flow passes through the third hole 3113 of the flow path switching valve 31 and the soft water line L22. Both flows merge at the soft water line L21 to form one flow, and are distributed from the top screen 241 disposed at the top of the pressure tank 2, and pass through the inside of the pressure tank 2 in a downward flow. In the process, the raw water W1 rinses the ion exchange resin bed 211 while washing the salt water W3 remaining inside the ion exchange resin bed 211. The used raw water W1 is collected by a bottom screen 242 disposed at the bottom of the pressure tank 2 and ascends in the collection / distribution pipe 231 of the pressure tank 2, and is discharged into the fourth hole 3114 of the flow path switching valve 31. The water flows through the line L51, the drain valve 36, the drainage line L52, and the drainage line L54 in order, and is drained outside the system. This rinsing step is performed for a predetermined time and is completed by supplying a predetermined amount of raw water W1.

  Thus, in the rinsing process, the soft water line L23, the dilution water line L31, the strainer 34, the dilution water line L32, the ejector 33, the salt water line from the second hole 3112 of the flow path switching valve 31 through which the raw water W1 flows in the extrusion process. Apart from the flow through L44, a flow through the third hole 3113 of the flow path switching valve 31 and the soft water line L22 is created. Both of these flows merge at the soft water line L21 to form one flow and are supplied to the pressure tank 2. Therefore, the raw water supply amount per unit time to the pressure tank 2 is larger than that in the extrusion process. For this reason, the salt water W3 remaining inside the ion exchange resin bed 211 is quickly washed away.

  Also in this rinsing step, the raw water W1 flowing through the soft water line L23 flows to the dilution water line L31 and also flows to the soft water line L24. Therefore, the excess raw water W1 flows from the soft water line L24 to the third flow path L3 and the fourth flow path L4 of the bypass valve 32, the soft water line L25, and the soft water outlet 52 in order, and then temporarily to the demand point of the soft water W2. To be supplied.

[Replenishment process]
As shown in FIG. 12, in the water replenishment process, in the control valve 3, the flow path switching valve 31 is in the first state, the brine valve 35 is in the open position, and the drain valve 36 is in the closed position. Therefore, the raw water W1 introduced into the apparatus 1 from the raw water introduction unit 51 is the raw water line L11, the first flow path L1 and the second flow path L2 of the bypass valve 32, the raw water line L12, and the first hole of the flow path switching valve 31. 3111 and the hole 3124 are sequentially flowed, supplied to the collecting and distributing pipe 231 of the pressure tank 2, and distributed from the bottom screen 242. The raw water W1 distributed from the bottom screen 242 passes through the ion exchange resin bed 211 in an upward flow. In the process, the hardness component of the raw water W1 is replaced with sodium ions (or potassium ions), and the raw water W1 is softened.

  The treated water (soft water W <b> 2) that has passed through the ion exchange resin bed 211 is collected on the top screen 241 at the top of the pressure tank 2. Thereafter, the soft water W2 passes through the soft water line L21, the salt water line L44, the ejector 33, the salt water line L43, the brine valve 35, the salt water line L42, the salt water flow meter 44, and the salt water line L41 in order, and the salt water suction device 45 in the salt water tank 4. The salt water valve pipe 110 and the air check housing part 120 are supplied to the inside. Then, inside the air check housing part 120, the float ball 126 is pushed up by the supplied water (soft water W2), and the first hole 129a is opened. Thereby, the makeup water flows into the salt water tank 4 from the valve hole 122 a of the upper air check housing 122 and is stored in the salt water storage portion 462. At this time, the metal ball 130 rides on the flow of the makeup water and moves to the water passage 132 side (right direction in FIG. 15), abuts against the opening of the water passage 132 and restricts the flow rate of the makeup water. Accordingly, even when an excessive flow of makeup water flows into the air check housing portion 120 during the supplementary water, the supplementary water stopper 124 is prevented from closing due to the water pressure.

  Thereafter, as the makeup water is stored in the salt water storage unit 462, the water level of the salt water W3 in the salt water well 47 gradually increases. When the water level of the salt water W3 rises, the water level detection float 101 also rises. The water level detection float 101 is connected to a water replenishment stopper 124 via a float rod 104. Therefore, when the water level of the salt water W3 rises to the specified water level WL and the water level detection float 101 reaches the maximum floating position, the valve hole 122a of the upper air check housing 122 is closed by the water supplement stopper 124. Thereby, the flow of the makeup water into the salt water tank 4 is stopped.

  During this water replenishment process, in parallel with the supply of make-up water (soft water W2) from the ejector 33 toward the salt water tank 4, the soft water W2 is supplied from the ejector 33 to the dilution water line L32, the strainer 34, and the dilution water line L31. Flow sequentially. The soft water W2 also flows in order from the soft water line L21 to the soft water line L22, the third hole 3113 and the second hole 3112 of the flow path switching valve 31, and the soft water line L23. Therefore, the excessive soft water W2 to be replenished to the salt water tank 4 is merged in the soft water line L24, and the soft water line L24, the third flow path L3 and the fourth flow path L4 of the bypass valve 32, the soft water line L25, the soft water derivation. It flows through the part 52 sequentially, and is temporarily supplied to the demand location of the soft water W2.

According to the water softening apparatus 1 of this embodiment mentioned above, the following various effects are show | played, for example.
The water softening apparatus 1 of the present embodiment stores a pressure tank 2 in which an ion exchange resin bed 211 that produces soft water W2 is introduced by introducing raw water W1, and salt water W3 that regenerates the ion exchange resin bed 211. A salt water tank 4 and a pipe part 5 having a raw water introduction part 51 and a soft water lead-out part 52, and the salt water tank 4 has a salt water tank body 40 having a salt inlet 412 into which salt as a raw material is introduced; The salt water tank body 40 includes a lid 624 that can be attached to and detached from the salt water tank body 40 and opens and closes the salt water inlet 412. The salt water inlet 412 has a cylindrical shape with a predetermined height that extends upward at the top of the salt water tank body 40. A screw 4121 is provided on the outer periphery of the cylindrical shape, and the lid body 624 has a lid plate portion 6241 having a diameter larger than the diameter of the cylindrical shape of the salt inlet 412; The side plate portion 6242 has a cylindrical side plate portion 6242 extending from the periphery of the plate portion 6241. A screw 6243 screwed with the screw 4121 of the salt inlet 412 is provided on the inner periphery of the side plate portion 6242, and the lid body 624 is provided with the salt inlet. 412, when the screw 6243 of the lid 624 is tightened against the screw 4121 of the salt inlet 412 from above, the inner surface of the lid plate portion 6241 of the lid 624 and the upper edge of the salt inlet 412 And closely.

  Therefore, by tightening the screw 6243 of the lid 624 with respect to the screw 4121 of the salt inlet 412, the inner surface of the lid plate portion 6241 of the lid 624 and the upper edge of the salt inlet 412 can be brought into close contact with each other. As a result, there is no gap between the upper edge of the salt inlet 412 and the inner surface of the lid plate portion 6241 of the lid body 624, and there is no path for insects or the like to enter the regenerating liquid tank. Therefore, it is possible to prevent insects and the like from entering the regenerating liquid tank for a relatively long time.

  Further, when the screw 6243 of the lid 624 is tightened with respect to the screw 4121 of the salt charging port 412, the inner surface of the lid plate portion 6241 of the lid 624 and the upper edge of the salt charging port 412 serve as a sealing member. Close without using. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a seal member such as packing at the lid 624 or the salt inlet 412, and the cost can be reduced and the seal member is not easily affected by deterioration. Therefore, it is possible to prevent insects and the like from entering the regenerating liquid tank for a relatively long time.

  The diameter of the salt inlet 412 is in the range of 200 to 300 mm, and the installation height of the salt inlet 412 is in the range of 700 to 1000 mm from the installation surface. Therefore, for example, in the home water softening device 1, it is easy to feed the salt into the salt inlet 412 without spilling an amount of salt (for example, 5 kg) that a female user can lift at a time.

  Further, the distance from the side surface of the apparatus 1 on the side where the salt S is introduced to the center of the salt introduction port 412 is in the range of 200 to 350 mm. Therefore, for example, in a home water softening device 1 installed in a narrow space between a house of a detached house and a fence adjacent thereto, even if there is no space in front of the device 1, the user can Salt can be fed into the salt inlet 412 from the side.

  In addition, when the lid body 624 is covered with the salt inlet 412 from above and the screw 6243 of the lid body 624 is tightened with respect to the screw 4121 of the salt inlet 412, the angle of rotation of the lid body 624 is 45 ° to 180 °. Range. Therefore, for example, in the water softening device 1 for home use, the angle is not so small that the user feels that the lid 624 is rotated, and the angle is not so large that the user feels that the lid 624 is rotated too much. The lid 624 can be fastened to the salt inlet 412 by turning the lid 624 by an angle that allows convenient rotation.

  Further, the lid body 624 or the salt water tank main body 40 has an inner surface of the lid plate portion 6241 of the lid body 624 and the salt inlet 412 when the screw 6243 of the lid body 624 is tightened with respect to the screw 4121 of the salt inlet 412. Means for confirming the position where the upper edge of the head is in close contact. Such confirmation means includes, for example, confirmation means for indicating that the lid body 624 has rotated a predetermined angle with respect to the salt inlet 412, and that the lid body 624 has rotated to the predetermined position with respect to the salt inlet 412. There is a confirmation means for indicating. Therefore, for example, in the home water softening device 1, when the lid 624 is turned and tightened to the salt inlet 412, the user can check the inner surface of the lid plate portion 6241 of the lid 624 and the salt inlet through the confirmation means. A position where the upper edge of 412 is in close contact can be confirmed. Therefore, even when a user who is an amateur handles the apparatus 1, the lid 624 is securely turned to a position where the inner surface of the lid plate portion 6241 of the lid 624 and the upper edge of the salt inlet 412 are in close contact with each other. Can be cut.

  The material of the salt water tank body 40 and the lid 624 of the salt water tank 4 is selected from polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, and vinyl chloride resin. Therefore, the salt water tank main body 40 and the lid body 624 of the salt water tank 4 can be manufactured by blow molding by using a material selected from these materials. Therefore, the salt water tank 4 having both predetermined quality and reasonable manufacturing cost can be manufactured.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented in various forms.

1 Water softener (ion exchanger)
2 Pressure tank 4 Salt water tank (Reclaimed liquid tank)
40 Salt water tank body (regenerated liquid tank body)
412 Salt inlet (raw material inlet)
4121 Screw 5 Piping part 51 Raw water introduction part 52 Soft water outlet part (treated water outlet part)
624 lid body 6241 lid plate portion 6242 side plate portion 6243 screw

Claims (7)

A pressure tank containing an ion exchange resin bed for producing treated water by introducing raw water;
A regenerating liquid tank in which a regenerating liquid for regenerating the ion exchange resin bed is stored;
A pipe section having a raw water introduction section and a treated water lead-out section,
The regenerative liquid tank includes a regenerative liquid tank body having a raw material input port for supplying a regenerated liquid raw material at an upper portion, a lid body that is detachable from the regenerative liquid tank main body and opens and closes the raw material input port. Composed by
The raw material inlet has a cylindrical shape with a predetermined height extending upward in the upper part of the regenerated liquid tank body, and a screw is provided on the outer periphery of the cylindrical shape,
The lid body has a lid plate portion having a diameter larger than the diameter of the cylindrical shape of the raw material charging port, and a cylindrical side plate portion extending from the periphery of the lid plate portion, on the inner periphery of the side plate portion Is provided with a screw that engages with the screw of the raw material inlet,
When the lid is put on the raw material charging port from above and the screw of the lid is tightened with respect to the screw of the raw material charging port, the inner surface of the lid plate portion of the lid and the raw material charging An ion exchange device in close contact with the upper edge of the mouth.   When the screw of the lid is tightened with respect to the screw of the raw material inlet, the inner surface of the lid plate portion of the lid and the upper edge of the raw material inlet are closely contacted without using a seal member. The ion exchange apparatus according to claim 1.   The ion exchange apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a diameter of the raw material inlet is in a range of 200 to 300 mm, and an installation height of the raw material inlet is in a range of 700 to 1000 mm from an installation surface.   The ion exchange apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a distance from a side surface of the apparatus on a side where the raw material is charged to a center of the raw material charging port is in a range of 200 to 350 mm.   When the lid is put on the raw material inlet from above and the screw of the lid is tightened with respect to the screw of the raw material inlet, the turning angle of the lid is in the range of 45 ° to 180 °. The ion exchange apparatus of any one of Claims 1-4.   The lid body or the regenerated liquid tank main body has an inner surface of the lid plate portion of the lid body and an upper edge of the raw material inlet port when the screw of the lid body is tightened with respect to the screw of the raw material inlet port. The ion exchange apparatus of any one of Claims 1-5 which has a means to confirm the position which closely contacts.   The ion exchange apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a material of the regeneration liquid tank main body and the lid body of the regeneration liquid tank is selected from polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, and vinyl chloride resin. .

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