JP2515635Y2 - Water purifier - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial field of application) The present invention relates to a water purifier attached to a domestic tap, for example.

(Prior Art) Conventional water purifiers of this type are known to have a high filtration performance by incorporating an adsorbent layer such as activated carbon that removes odor of chlorine and a hollow fiber membrane module that removes bacteria and red rust. Has been. That is, the hollow fiber membrane module is arranged in the center of the vertical cylindrical case, and the activated carbon layer is arranged so as to surround the hollow fiber membrane module.

(Problems to be solved by the invention) However, in the case of the above-mentioned conventional technique, there is a tendency that the height is increased due to the vertical type. Therefore, the installation space may be limited, which is inconvenient.

On the other hand, a flat type water purifier is also known, but this type of water purifier uses a filtration filter having a flat sandwich structure in which an activated carbon layer is sandwiched between nonwoven fabrics, and compared to the case of using a hollow fiber membrane. Therefore, the filtration function was significantly reduced. In addition, there is a problem that the life is short because clogging occurs immediately.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional technology, and an object of the present invention is to provide a flat and compact water purifier that utilizes the excellent characteristics of the hollow fiber membrane.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, an adsorbent and a hollow fiber membrane module in which a large number of hollow fibers are bundled are housed in a single flat case. In the water purifier
Located in the peripheral portion of the case, an inflow portion into which the fluid to be filtered flows, and a left chamber and a right chamber containing the adsorbent, which are connected to the inflow portion and branch left and right along the inner peripheral edge of the case. A chamber and a hollow fiber membrane module that is disposed at a position between the left chamber and the right chamber in the center of the case and into which the fluid to be filtered that has passed through the adsorbent flows.

(Function) Since the hollow fiber membrane module and the adsorbent are arranged as described above, the case can be made thin, and the length of the hollow fiber and the length of the adsorbent layer can be secured at the same time while the inside of the case is being secured. Area can be used efficiently, and since the adsorbent is branched into both left and right chambers, it has an equivalent cross-sectional area.
Compared to the configuration using two adsorbents, the substantial filtration area of the fluid to be filtered flowing inside the adsorbent is relatively large, and the contact area of the adsorbent with the fluid to be filtered is increased, resulting in an efficient off-flavor. Since it is removed, the filtration performance is also satisfactory.

(Example) Below, this invention is demonstrated based on the Example shown in figure. 1 to 10 showing a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention, reference numeral 1 denotes a flat water purifier as a whole, and a schematic water purifier body 2 and a flat water purifier housing the water purifier body 2 are shown. It is composed of an outer case 3.

The water purifier body 2 has a disk shape, and an activated carbon 5 as an adsorbent and a hollow fiber membrane module 6 are arranged in a body case 4. Of these, the activated carbon 5 mainly removes offensive odors such as odor and mold odor in tap water as a fluid to be filtered. To remove. The adsorbent is not limited to the activated carbon 5, and various materials such as zeolite can be used. The hollow fiber membrane module 6 has an outer diameter in this embodiment.
A large number of straw-shaped hollow fibers 7 of about 0.5 mm are bundled into a module, and water is filtered through the membrane wall of the hollow fibers 7 on the straw to increase the membrane area per unit area.

The main body case 4 is composed of a flat bottomed cylindrical lower case 41 and an upper case 42 that closes the opening of the lower case 41, and its hollow interior is basically formed by a U-shaped partition wall 43. It is divided into two rooms. That is, U-shaped partition
The hollow fiber membrane module 6 is housed in the first chamber 8 surrounded by 43. On the other hand, the activated carbon 5 is housed in the second chamber 9 outside the U-shaped partition wall 43.

The U-shaped partition wall 43 passes through the center of the main body case 4 and extends vertically and symmetrically in parallel with a virtual center line N that divides the main body case 4 into left and right. It is composed of a lateral wall 45 extending at a right angle to it. Vertical wall 44,44
Has one end continuous with the peripheral wall of the main body case 4, and the other end extending to a midway position inside the hollow of the main body case 4 and closed by a lateral wall 45. The length of the vertical walls 44,44 is
The center O of the main body case 4 is arranged in the first chamber 8 so as to extend beyond the orthogonal line M which is orthogonal to the center line N and which passes through the center of the main body case 4.

On the other hand, the second chamber 9 on the outer side of the U-shaped partition wall 43 includes the left and right vertical walls 4
The left chamber 91 and the right chamber 92, which face the side surfaces 44 and 44 and branch right and left along the inner peripheral edge of the main body case 4, and the peripheral portion of the main body case 4 which faces the lateral wall 45, are provided for inflow of tap water. It is divided into a central chamber 93 as a part, and the left and right chambers 91 and 92 are filled with activated carbon 5. The left and right chambers 91 and 92 and the central chamber 93 are divided by filters 10 and 10 made of non-woven fabric, and the positions and shapes of the activated carbon 5 are adjusted by the filters 10 and 10. The positions of the filters 10 and 10 are arbitrary, and the length of the layer of the activated carbon 5 can be arbitrarily set by this position.

The inflow port 11 through which water flows in is opened in the central chamber 93,
A cylindrical filter 12 such as a non-woven fabric is provided so as to surround the inlet 11, and a plurality of protrusions 13 for pressing the filter 10 are arranged in a ring on the lower case 41. The filter 12 mainly has a function of preventing the activated carbon 5 from spilling from the inflow port 11 during transportation or the like.

On the other hand, the left and right chambers 91, 92 of the second chamber 9 communicate with the first chamber 8 through the through holes 46, 46 provided in the vertical walls 44, 44 of the U-shaped partition wall 43. The through holes 46, 46 are provided at the roots of the vertical walls 44, 44 so that the activated carbon 5 does not enter the first chamber 8 by the filters 10, 10 made of non-woven fabric or the like.

The hollow fiber membrane module 6 is housed in the first chamber 8. The hollow fiber membrane module 6 is a cartridge type housed in the inner case 61. Inner case
Reference numeral 61 denotes a box body having a substantially flat quadrangular shape following the shape of the first chamber 8, the cross-sectional shape of which is substantially the same as the thickness of the main body case 4 to enhance the filling efficiency of the hollow fibers 7. ing. The inner case 61 is open at the end face side facing the lateral wall 45, and is watertightly closed by a case cap 62 fixed to the inner case 61 by welding or the like.

A large number of the hollow fibers 7 are tightly bundled and housed in the inner case 61, and at one end thereof, a gap between the hollow fibers 7 bundled with a potting agent or the like and an opening end of the inner case 61 are formed. The gap between them is sealed watertight.

The inner case 61 is divided into two left and right chambers by a partition wall 61a passing through the center of the inner case 61, and the hollow fiber 7 is housed in each chamber. Then, the side wall 61 of the inner case 61
In b, through holes 46, 4 provided in the vertical walls 44, 44 of the U-shaped partition wall 43 are provided.
The openings 61c, 61c corresponding to 6 are provided. This opening 61c,
61c is provided with a plurality of crosspieces 61d so that the hollow fibers 7 do not protrude. On the other hand, the partition wall 61a in the center of the inner case 61
An outlet passage 63 is provided on the open end side of the outlet for passing the purified water filtered through the hollow fibers 7 and flowing into the case cap 62 to the outside. The outflow passage 63 guides to the outflow port 14 provided in the center of the main body case 4, and the opening of the outflow passage 63 is connected to the outflow port 14.

Next, the external case 3 in which the water purifier body 2 is housed is
It is composed of a lower case 31 and an upper case 32, and their joint flange portions 31a, 32a are integrally joined by an annular clamp 33. The clamp 33 has a hinge portion 33.
It is configured by a pair of semicircular clamp members 33b, 33b that are openably and closably connected via a, and an annular groove 34 into which the coupling flange portions 31a, 32a fit is provided on the inner periphery thereof. There is. Then, engaging claws 33c and engaging recesses 33d which can be engaged with each other are provided at the tips of the clamp members 33b, 33b.

The upper case 32 is provided with a purified water outlet nozzle 35. The purified water outlet nozzle 35 is arranged at the peripheral edge of the upper case 32, and the upper case 32 connects the outlet 14 provided at the center of the purifier body 2 with the purified water outlet nozzle 35.
36 are provided.

On the other hand, the lower case 31 is provided with a nipple 37 for connecting a tube or the like for introducing raw water of tap water. Further, the lower case 31 is provided with a flow path 38 connecting the nipple 37 and the inflow port 11 of the water purifier body 2. Further, the bottom of the lower case 31 may be flat and may be placed on a table, or may be a wall-mounted type by attaching a magnet or the like to the placing portion.

Since the outlet 14 of the water purifier body 2 is provided at the center of the position of the water purifier outlet nozzle 35 described above, if the upper case 32 is configured to be rotatable with respect to the water purifier body 2 and the lower case 31, It can be oriented in any direction.

The water purifier with the above configuration operates as follows.
The raw water of the tap water that has flowed into the central chamber 93 inside the water purifier body 2 from the inlet 11 is divided into left and right chambers 9 and 9 of the left and right chambers of the second chamber 9.
2 and flows through 5 layers of activated carbon to adsorb unpleasant odors such as chlorine. Then, the water filtered through the activated carbon 5 flows into the first chamber 8 through the through holes 46, 46 of the vertical walls 44, 44,
The inner case 61 is opened through the openings 61c, 61c provided in the inner case 61 of the hollow fiber membrane module 6 housed in the first chamber 8.
Flows into. Then, it is filtered through the membrane wall of the hollow fiber 7, enters the case cap 62 from the end of the hollow fiber 7 through the hole in the hollow fiber 7, and reaches the purified water outlet nozzle 35 from the outlet 14 through the outflow passage 36, and the purified water flows out. To do.

By incorporating the hollow fiber membrane module 6 and the layer of activated carbon 5 in the main body case 4 in this manner, the thin and compact structure is excellent and the filtering function is excellent, that is, the length of the hollow fiber and the length of the adsorbent layer are reduced. The area inside the case can be used efficiently while securing it at the same time, and since the adsorbent is branched into the left and right chambers, compared to the configuration using one adsorbent with an equivalent cross-sectional area. As a result, the substantial filtration area of the fluid to be filtered flowing inside the adsorbent becomes relatively large, and the contact area of the adsorbent with the fluid to be filtered is increased to realize a water purifier that efficiently removes off-flavors. did it.
Particularly, in this embodiment, the disk shape is used, and the water flow is divided in the circumferential direction of the main body case 4 and then collected and flowed in the center, so that the flow is smooth and a sufficient filtration length of the activated carbon 5 can be secured. The filtration efficiency can be increased.

In this embodiment, the hollow fiber membrane module 6 has a structure in which the inner case 61 is divided into left and right parts.
You may make it comprise in one room, without providing.

The planar shape of the water purifier 1 is not limited to a circular shape, but may be a polygonal shape such as a triangle or a quadrangle, or various shapes such as an oval shape, an egg shape, and a heart shape.

(Effects of the Invention) The present invention has the above-described configuration and operation, and enables efficient use of the area inside the case while ensuring the length of the hollow fiber and the length of the adsorbent layer at the same time. Since it branches into both left and right chambers, the substantial filtration area of the fluid to be filtered flowing inside the adsorbent becomes relatively large compared to the configuration in which one adsorbent with an equivalent cross-sectional area is used. The contact area of the agent with the fluid to be filtered is increased, and it is possible to efficiently remove the offensive odor, and it is possible to realize a water purifier that is thin, compact, and has excellent filtering performance. Therefore, there is no restriction on the mounting space and the convenience can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a water purifier body of a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is the water purifier body of FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the water purifier of FIG. 3, and FIG.
The partially broken front view of the hollow fiber membrane module shown in the figure, FIG. 6 shows the plan view of FIG. 5, FIG. 7 shows the inner case of FIG. 5, and FIG. 8B is a bottom view, FIG. 8C is a side view, FIG. 8D is a rear view, FIG. 8E is an enlarged view of another shape of the outflow passage of FIG. 8B, and FIG. Shows a case cap, (a) is a plan view, (b) is a side view, (c) is a partially cutaway front view, and FIG. 9 shows a lower case of the main body case. FIG. 3A is a plan view, FIG. 2B is a vertical sectional view, and FIG.
10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line cc of FIG. 10, and FIG. 10 shows the upper case of the main body case. FIG. 10A is a plan view and FIG. Explanation of reference numerals 1 ... Water purifier, 2 ... Water purifier body 3 ... External case, 31 ... Lower case 32 ... Upper case, 33 ... Clamp 34 ... Recessed groove, 35 ... Water purification nozzle 36 ... Flow path, 37 ... Nipple 38 ... Channel 4 ... Main body case, 41 ... Lower case 42 ... Upper case, 43 ... U-shaped partition wall 44 ... Vertical wall, 45 ... Horizontal wall 46 ... Through hole 5 ... Activated carbon 6 ... Hollow fiber membrane module, 7 ... Hollow fiber 61 ... Inner Case, 62 ... Case cap 63 ... Outflow passage 8 ... First chamber, 9 ... Second chamber 91, 92 ... Left, right chamber, 93 ... Central chamber 10 ... Filter, 11 ... Inlet 12 ... Filter, 13 ... Projection piece 14 ... Outlet

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A water purifier in which an adsorbent and a hollow fiber membrane module in which a large number of hollow fibers are bundled are housed in a single flat case. An inflow part into which the adsorbent is admitted, a left chamber and a right chamber containing the adsorbent, which are connected to the inflow part and are branched to the left and right along the inner peripheral edge of the case, and the central part of the case is the left chamber. And a hollow fiber membrane module disposed at a position sandwiched by the right chamber and into which the fluid to be filtered that has permeated the adsorbent flows in.