JP3729085B2 - Inorganic filter media, water purification cartridge and water purifier - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an inorganic filter medium suitable for removing contaminants in tap water, and a water purification cartridge and a water purifier using the inorganic filter medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general households, water purifiers are used to remove contaminants in tap water. Household water purifiers are usually installed around the kitchen for their purposes, and are connected directly to the side of the faucet or the tip of the faucet spout, or on the sink or in the storage space. In order to secure a wider storage space and to improve the aesthetics by making them look clear, there is an increasing demand for miniaturization of household water purifiers.
[0003]
Conventionally, household water purifiers have built-in hollow fiber membranes made of organic polymer materials such as polypropylene and polyethylene, and ceramic membranes mainly composed of alumina.
The hollow fiber membrane is a cylindrical thread with pores of about 0.1 to 0.4 μm on the side and the diameter of each thread is as thin as about 0.5 mm. During filtration, contaminants in tap water are hollow. Since the pores are gradually clogged by being trapped on the surface of the yarn membrane, a necessary flow rate is obtained by bundling dozens or more to increase the membrane area. The conventional hollow fiber membrane has a heat resistance problem that hot water of 50 ° C. or higher cannot be continuously passed due to its material.
[0004]
On the other hand, ceramic membranes have been widely used as filter media for water purifiers because of their excellent strength and heat resistance. Conventional ceramic membranes are made of water-permeable ceramics as a support, and the surface of the ceramic film is smaller than the ceramic particles that form the support, and inorganic particles that are not themselves porous are laminated and sintered. Thus, a porous membrane is formed, and in general, the pore volume of the porous membrane is smaller than the pore volume of the support, and the thickness of the porous membrane is usually the thickness of the support. It is about 0.2 times or less (about 1/5 or less), specifically about 100 μm or less.
[0005]
Even in such a ceramic film, impurities are trapped on the film surface by use and gradually clog. Therefore, in order to ensure the required flow rate and life, the film area can be reduced by means such as making a monolith. Has increased. The reason why the thickness of the porous membrane is set to about 0.2 times (or 100 μm) or less of the thickness of the support is that if it is larger than that, the permeation resistance increases and the filtration flow rate becomes too small. is there.
[0006]
On the other hand, a filtration apparatus using diatomaceous earth or the like as a filter aid is provided at an industrial level. This filter removes contaminants due to the unique fine pores of the filter aid particles and their complicated particle shape. In this device, the suspension of the filter aid is filtered in the same manner as before filtration. A so-called precoat treatment is performed in which the filter medium is passed through the filter medium and a filter aid layer is formed on the filter medium, and then the water to be treated is filtered. Thus, after clogging occurs during operation, the filtration is interrupted, and after the backwash operation to peel off the clogged filter aid layer by the water flow opposite to the filtration, a new filter aid is pre-coated again. And resume filtration.
[0007]
However, it is inappropriate for household water purifiers to perform such complicated operations, and in general households where water is stopped and passed frequently, the filter aid is peeled off from the filter medium when water is stopped. However, there is also a problem that the filter aid layer collapses.
[0008]
In the past, attempts have been made to apply such filter aids to household water purifiers, and the following have been proposed.
(1) A filter aid is filled and sealed between two porous materials, which are used as filter media (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 63-156512 and 61-181509).
(2) Only diatomaceous earth, which is a filter aid, is molded and fired at 1250 to 1300 ° C. to obtain a filter medium (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-159016).
(3) Other components such as aluminum oxide are added to the filter aid as a binder, and the mixture is molded and fired to obtain a filter medium (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-287212).
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Among the filter media using the filter aid, those that form the filter aid packed layer of (1) are not baked, so the filter aid packed layer collapses due to use, and the filter aid is interposed between the filter aids. There is a defect that a gap is formed, and water passes through the gap, and the filtering effect cannot be obtained.
[0010]
In order to obtain sufficient strength, the filter medium of (2) above is fired at a high temperature of 1250 to 1300 ° C. In this case, diatomaceous earth melts and the unique fine pores and particle shape of diatomaceous earth are lost. For this reason, it is difficult to obtain the excellent filtration performance of filtering impurities without causing clogging, which diatomaceous earth originally has. In addition, since it does not sinter sufficiently at a firing temperature lower than the above temperature, sufficient strength that can withstand use cannot be obtained, and the thickness of the filter aid is required to be 7 to 10 mm or more, and the filter medium is large. Problem arises.
[0011]
In addition, the filter medium of (3) can be sintered at a lower temperature than the filter medium of (2), but even with this filter medium, the performance specific to diatomaceous earth is impaired by reaction and sintering with the binder. It is difficult to obtain excellent filtration characteristics.
[0012]
As described above, in the conventional technology using the filter aid, it is difficult to reduce the size of the filter medium and the water purifier, to ensure the strength, and to maintain the filtration performance. .
[0013]
In particular, with regard to miniaturization, simply reducing the size of the water purifier causes problems such as a low flow rate, short life, and no purification performance.
[0014]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an inorganic filter medium that is small and compact and has high water purification performance and heat resistance, and a water purifier using the inorganic filter medium.
[0015]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  The inorganic filter medium of the present invention is
A solidified layer of filter aid is laminated and integrated on the surface of a support made of water-permeable ceramics.The component of the water-permeable ceramic is SiO ₂ 70-88% by weight, Al ₂ O ₃ 5 to 15 wt%, CaO 5 to 23 wt%, the filter aid is composed of porous particles such as diatomaceous earth and zeolite, and the solidified layer is integrated with the support by firing.It is characterized by that.
[0016]
  The inorganic filter medium of the present invention combines a support made of water-permeable ceramics and a solidified layer of a filter aid to form an integral structure, so that the strength required for the filter medium is secured by the water-permeable ceramics of the support while filtering. Ensures filtration performance and longevity with a solidified layer of auxiliaries. Thus, by making the water-permeable ceramic of the support and the filter aid layer into an integral structure, it is possible to provide an inorganic filter medium with a small filtration area, and the same contaminant removal performance, filtration flow rate and life as before. It is possible to provide a water purifier that is smaller and more compact than before.
  Since porous particles such as diatomaceous earth and zeolite are used as filter aids, the filter medium is composed only of water-permeable ceramics and inorganic minerals such as diatomaceous earth and zeolite, and can obtain high heat resistance. Even if hot water of 50 ° C. or higher is continuously passed, purification can be continued for a long time without deterioration or damage.
  Furthermore, the component of the water-permeable ceramic of the support is changed to SiO. ₂ 70-88% by weight, Al ₂ O ₃ Since the content is 5 to 15% by weight and CaO 5 to 23% by weight, the affinity between the support and the filter aid is increased, and the effect of preventing the filter aid layer from peeling off is obtained. The component of the water-permeable ceramic of the support is SiO ₂ 75-85% by weight, Al ₂ O ₃ 5-10 wt% and CaO 10-20 wt% are particularly preferred. When such water-permeable ceramics are applied to a water purifier, Ca ²⁺ Mineral supply functions such as
Ca ²⁺ It is possible to add a function of suppressing bacterial growth by making the filter medium surface slightly alkaline due to ion elution.
[0017]
In particular, in the present invention, porous inorganic particles having a pore volume of 0.5 cc / g or more are used as the filter aid, and the thickness of the filter aid solidified layer (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “filter aid layer”). By setting the thickness to 1 to 6 mm, contaminants in tap water can be captured with a filter aid layer at a relatively low pressure loss, and contaminants are captured on the surface like hollow fiber membranes and ceramic membranes. It is possible to ensure the same filtration flow rate and life while reducing the filtration area to about 1/20 as compared to what is to be done. In particular, by setting the pore volume of the filter aid to 1.0 cc / g or more and the thickness of the filter aid layer to 2 mm or more, further excellent performance can be ensured.
[0019]
The filter aid layer according to the present invention is preferably solidified by firing, and is preferably integrated by reaction sintering with the interface with the water-permeable ceramic as a support. By firing in this way, the filter aid layer becomes moderately fixed to the water-permeable ceramics of the support, and the filter aid layer peels off even when water is stopped and passed as a general household water purifier.・ It will not collapse. Moreover, if this baking temperature is 800-1240 degreeC, since the filter aid will not melt, the pore volume of 0.5 cc / g or more is maintained, and excellent filtration performance that can remove impurities while suppressing clogging It is possible to fix to water-permeable ceramics without impairing. In addition, it is effective to prevent the pore volume from being reduced due to the melting of the filter aid, and to prevent the filtration performance from being lowered, at the time of firing, without adding a binder such as flux or aluminum oxide.
[0021]
The filter aid layer of the inorganic filter medium of the present invention may be a composite layer composed of two or more layers having different filter aid particle sizes and / or components.
[0022]
The water purification cartridge of the present invention is a unitary structure combining such an inorganic filter medium and a joining member and a sealing member, or such an inorganic filter medium and an activated carbon layer provided on the surface of the inorganic filter medium. , A combined structure of a joining member and a sealing member, or such an inorganic filter medium, an activated carbon layer provided on the surface of the inorganic filter medium, and further the collapse of the activated carbon on the surface of the activated carbon layer. An activated carbon protective layer having water permeability for preventing is provided, and a joining member and a sealing member are combined to form an integral structure, and a compact and excellent filtration performance can be obtained. By providing an activated carbon layer on the surface of the inorganic filter medium, chlorine in tap water can be removed, and by further providing an activated carbon protective layer having water permeability on the surface of the activated carbon layer, the activated carbon layer can be prevented from collapsing. . In addition, by setting the color of the activated carbon protective layer to white, the activated carbon protective layer changes color with the use of the water purification cartridge due to components such as rust contained in tap water. It becomes a standard to know.
[0023]
When an activated carbon protective layer having water permeability is provided on the surface of the water purification cartridge, decoration and / or characters may be displayed on the surface of the activated carbon protective layer. Generally, a decoration and / or a character are displayed on the surface of a sealing member without water permeability and flexibility, for example. However, in order to obtain a compact water purification cartridge like the present invention, it is required to increase the area of the water-permeable portion of the outer surface of the cartridge and to reduce the surface area of the non-water-permeable member. It was difficult to display decorations and characters on the sealing member. Therefore, in the present invention, attention is paid to the activated carbon protective layer that occupies most of the outer surface of the cartridge, which is generally not decorated, and the decoration and / or characters are displayed on the activated carbon protective layer.
[0024]
As an example of decoration, by displaying a generally recognized company symbol mark, it is not necessary for the user to check the cartridge manufacturer again when purchasing the cartridge, and it is used by displaying the cartridge part number as an example of characters When a person purchases a cartridge, there is no need to re-examine the cartridge part number with a separately stored instruction manual or the like.
[0025]
Further, the water purifier of the present invention incorporates the inorganic filter medium or the water purifying cartridge of the present invention, and is suitable as a domestic water purifier that does not require complicated operations and requires compactness.
[0026]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of an inorganic filter medium, a water purification cartridge, and a water purifier according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0027]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially in section, showing an embodiment of an inorganic filter medium of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 to 4 are longitudinal sectional views showing an embodiment of a water purification cartridge of the present invention incorporating this inorganic filter medium. It is. FIG. 5 is a side view showing an embodiment of the water purification cartridge in which decoration and / or characters are displayed on the outer surface of the activated carbon protective layer in the water purification cartridge of FIG. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of the water purifier of the present invention incorporating the water purification cartridge of FIG.
[0028]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an inorganic filter medium of the present invention, and this inorganic filter medium 1 is composed of a cylindrical support 2 made of water-permeable ceramics and a filter aid layer 3. This inorganic filter medium 1 forms a filter aid layer on the outer peripheral surface of a support 2 made of a water permeable ceramic, and then solidifies the filter aid appropriately by firing at 800 to 1240 ° C. To prevent peeling of the filter aid layer 3 from the support 2 and collapse of the filter aid layer 3.
[0029]
  As filter aids used here, porous inorganic particles such as diatomaceous earth and zeoliteIt is.In particular, diatomaceous earth is suitable in the present invention.
[0030]
In order to incorporate such an inorganic filter medium 1 in a water purifier, as shown in FIGS.
[0031]
A water purification cartridge 10 in FIG. 2 is obtained by attaching a joining member 4 and a sealing member 5 to a water purifier to both ends of an inorganic filter medium 1 composed of a support 2 and a filter aid layer 3.
[0032]
The inorganic filter medium 1 and the joining member 4 and the inorganic filter medium 1 and the sealing member 5 are in close contact with the adhesive 6 so that there is no gap between them, and all of the water to be filtered passes through the inorganic filter medium 1. .
[0033]
In addition, in order to remove residual chlorine etc. other than impurities in tap water, as shown in FIG. 3, it has a structure in which activated carbon 7 is arranged on the outer periphery of the inorganic filter medium 1, and a joining member 4A and a sealing member 5A. It is good also as the water purification cartridge 10A which attached A. Also in this case, the activated carbon 7 and the inorganic filter medium 1 and the joining member 4A, and the activated carbon 7 and the inorganic filter medium 1 and the sealing member 5A are adhered to each other with the adhesive 6 so that there is no gap between them. The structure passes through the inorganic filter medium 1.
[0034]
FIG. 4 shows a water purification cartridge 10B in which the activated carbon protection layer 11 and the activated carbon protection layer 12 are arranged on the surface of the activated carbon 7 in the water purification cartridge 10A shown in FIG. Also in this case, the attachment portions of the joining member 4B and the sealing member 5B are in close contact with the adhesive 6 so that there is no gap, and all of the water to be filtered is the activated carbon protective layer 12, the activated carbon 7, the activated carbon protective layer 11, and the inorganic material. The structure is such that it passes through the filter medium 1.
[0035]
The activated carbon protective layer 11 is in close contact with the inner surface of a cylinder made of activated carbon 7, and with such a structure, a method of manufacturing the water purification cartridge 10B by inserting the inorganic filter medium 1 into the cylinder made of activated carbon 7 is used. Even if it takes, the inner surface of the cylinder which consists of activated carbon 7 is not damaged when inserting the inorganic filter medium 1.
[0036]
By providing the activated carbon protective layer 12 on the outer surface of the cylinder made of the activated carbon 7, the cylinder made of the activated carbon 7 can be prevented from collapsing. Moreover, it becomes a standard which knows the use condition of the water purification cartridge 10B by making the color of the activated carbon protective layer 12 white. This is because it is possible to visually confirm the process in which the activated carbon protective layer 12 turns reddish brown with the use of the water purification cartridge 10B due to components such as iron rust that are part of the contaminants S contained in the tap water. is there.
[0037]
In addition, as the activated carbon protective layers 11 and 12 having water permeability used here, a nonwoven fabric, a woven fabric, a wire mesh, and the like are exemplified, but in the present invention, a nonwoven fabric is particularly preferable.
[0038]
FIG. 5 is a side view of the water purification cartridge 10C shown in FIG. 4 with decoration and / or characters displayed on the outer surface of the water-permeable activated carbon protective layer 12 having water permeability. As an example of decoration, aesthetics can be improved just by displaying illustrations such as fish. For example, by displaying a generally recognized company symbol mark, the manufacturer of the cartridge is re-examined when the user purchases the cartridge. There is no need. In addition, by displaying the cartridge part number, the telephone number of the ordering party, and the e-mail address as examples of characters, when the user purchases the cartridge, the part number and the ordering part of the cartridge are revised by using the separately stored instruction manual etc. There is no need to investigate. Further, by displaying a symbol such as an arrow, the mounting direction of the cartridge can be indicated.
[0039]
Examples of the means for displaying the decoration and / or characters include ink printing and laser printing, but the printing method is particularly suitable in the present invention.
[0040]
FIG. 6 shows a water purifier 20 incorporating the water purification cartridge 10 shown in FIG. The outer shell of the water purifier 20 is configured by screwing the water purifier frame 21 and the water purifier frame 22 together. The water purification cartridge 10 is incorporated on the water purifier frame 21 side as shown in FIG. 6 and the gap is sealed with an O-ring 8. The water purifier frame 22 is connected to a water faucet (not shown), and tap water containing impurities S is supplied from the lower part of the water purifier frame 22 as indicated by an arrow Y1 by opening the water faucet. . The tap water containing impurities S passes through the filter aid layer 3 and the support 2 of the inorganic filter medium 1 from the outer region A of the water purification cartridge 10 and flows into the region B inside the water purification cartridge 10. Contaminants S in the tap water are captured by the filter aid layer 3, and clear tap water not containing the contaminants S is discharged from the upper part of the water purifier frame 21 as indicated by an arrow Y <b> 2.
[0041]
During the filtration, the impurities S in the tap water are contained in the filter aid layer 3 due to the unique particle shape of the filter aid of the filter aid layer 3 and the high pore volume and thickness obtained by the fine pores. Therefore, the clogging is suppressed, and the filtration area can be reduced to about 1/20 in the same filtration performance as in the case of capturing particles only on the filter medium surface. For this reason, since it becomes possible to make the inorganic filter medium 1 small, the water purifier 20 more compact than before is provided.
[0042]
Further, during filtration, a water pressure in the flow direction is applied to the filter aid layer 3 from the A region to the B region in FIG. 6, but the filter aid layer 3 is formed by the support 2 made of a highly permeable ceramic. Since it is supported, the filter aid layer 3 does not collapse due to water pressure.
[0043]
Furthermore, even if the water tap is closed and the supply of tap water is stopped, the filter aid layer 3 is solidified by firing and therefore does not peel off from the support 2 made of water-permeable ceramics.
[0044]
Moreover, the inorganic filter medium 1 is made of SiO.₂, Al₂O₃Therefore, it has excellent heat resistance, and it is possible to purify hot water of 50 ° C. or higher over a long period of time.
[0045]
The water purification cartridge 10A shown in FIG. 3 with the activated carbon 7 arranged on the outer periphery, the water purification cartridge 10B shown in FIG. 4, or the water purification cartridge 10C shown in FIG. 5 can be similarly incorporated into the water purifier. Moreover, not only impurities in tap water but also residual chlorine and the like can be removed, and further, the effect of preventing separation of the filter aid layer 3 when the water supply is stopped is improved.
[0046]
In the present invention, if the calcination temperature for solidifying the filter aid is too low and less than 800 ° C., the filter aid cannot be solidified sufficiently, and if this temperature is too high and exceeds 1240 ° C., the filter aid melts. Thus, the fine pores and unique particle shape of the filter aid are impaired, and the filtration performance is lowered. For this reason, it is preferable that a calcination temperature shall be 800-1240 degreeC. This firing temperature is particularly preferably 1000 to 1200 ° C.
[0047]
Further, in order to sufficiently improve the filtration performance of the inorganic filter medium, the filter aid used for forming the filter aid layer has a pore volume of 0.5 cc / g or more, particularly 1 cc / g or more, and the water permeability of the support. It is preferably 3 times or more of the pore volume of the ceramic.
[0048]
Note that the pore volume of the water-permeable ceramic of the support is too high if the strength is impaired, and if too low, the water flow resistance increases, so that the pore volume may be about 0.2 to 0.3 cc / g. preferable.
A more preferable pore volume of the filter aid is 1.0 to 3.0 cc / g.
[0049]
Further, in order to sufficiently obtain the trapping ability of the inorganic filter medium inside the filter aid layer, the thickness of the filter aid layer is preferably 1 mm or more, particularly preferably 2 mm or more, and is 1 time the thickness of the support. The above is preferable. If the filter aid layer is excessively thick, the size of the inorganic filter medium is increased, and therefore it is preferably 6 mm or less.
As shown in FIG. 1, the filter aid layer may be formed as a single layer or a composite layer in which two or more layers having different particle sizes and components are laminated.
[0050]
FIG. 7 is a perspective view, partially in section, showing an inorganic filter medium 1A in which two filter aid layers having different particle sizes are formed. A filter aid having a small particle size is formed on a support 2 made of water-permeable ceramics. A layer 3A and a filter aid layer 3B having a large particle size are laminated.
[0051]
Thus, if the inorganic filter medium 1A has the filter aid layer 3B with a large particle size as the outside and the filter aid layer 3A with a small particle size as the inside, the larger one of the contaminants in the tap water is the outside filter aid. By removing in advance with the layer 3B and removing smaller contaminants with the inner filter aid layer 3A, the region for capturing the contaminants with the filter aid is dispersed, thereby making the inorganic filter medium even smaller and long-lived. be able to.
[0052]
In addition, when the filter aid layer is formed in multiple layers in this way, the components of the filter aid are changed, for example, the filter aid layer 3A is formed of zeolite, and the filter aid layer 3B is formed of diatomaceous earth, or the filter aid layer is formed. The agent layer 3A may be weathered granite, the filter aid layer 3B may be diatomaceous earth, or the components of the filter aid layer may be changed according to the purpose. For example, when the filter aid layer 3A is zeolite and the filter aid layer 3B is diatomaceous earth, contaminants in tap water are removed by the filter aid layer 3B, and organic matter is further adsorbed by the filter aid layer 3A. Can do. When this filter aid layer 3A is made of weathered granite, Ca eluted from the filter aid layer 3A²⁺For example, minerals can be supplied.
Below, the suitable component mixing | blending of the water-permeable ceramics which comprise the support body of the inorganic filter medium of this invention is demonstrated.
[0053]
  The component blend of the water-permeable ceramic according to the present invention is made of SiO for the following reasons.₂70-88% by weight, Al₂O₃5 to 15 wt%, CaO 5 to 23 wt%.Such a water-permeable ceramic is described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-12899.
[0054]
That is, in the process of firing the raw material having such a component composition at 1240 ° C. or less, the gehlenite (2CaO · Al₂O₃・ SiO₂), Wollastonite (CaO.SiO)₂), Anorcite (CaO · Al₂O₃・ 2SiO₂However, as the firing proceeds further, these gelenites disappear and CaO · Al₂O₃・ SiO₂A three-component eutectic reaction produces a low-melting liquid phase, and SiO 2₂A water-permeable ceramic having a uniform pore diameter can be obtained by bonding with particles.
[0055]
In particular, the composition of water-permeable ceramics is SiO for the following reasons:₂75-85% by weight, Al₂O₃It is preferable to set it to 5 to 10 weight% and CaO 10 to 20 weight%, and such water-permeable ceramics are described in Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 8-217566.
[0056]
That is, SiO₂70-88% by weight, Al₂O₃In the case of 3 components of 5 to 15% by weight and CaO 5 to 23% by weight, as described above, gehlenite, wollastonite, and anorthite are produced in the firing process and disappear by further firing. Ingredient composition especially SiO₂75-85% by weight, Al₂O₃By limiting to 5 to 10% by weight and CaO 10 to 20% by weight, it is possible to increase the amount of wollastonite produced, and a part can be left unreacted in the water-permeable ceramics. Wollastonite is in contact with water, so Ca²⁺In order to release ions, water-permeable ceramics containing wollastonite are applied to inorganic filter media,²⁺The function of supplying minerals such as ions in particular, and Ca²⁺A function of suppressing bacterial growth can be obtained at the same time by fine alkalinization of the filter surface resulting from the supply of ions.
[0057]
FIG. 8 is a perspective view, partially in section, showing an inorganic filter medium 1B using a support 2 made of a water-permeable ceramic having such components.
[0058]
As a filter aid for the filter aid layer 3, diatomaceous earth exemplified is SiO.₂Is a mineral containing more than 80%, and zeolite is also SiO₂It is a mineral composed mainly of When a layer made of a filter aid is formed on the surface of the support 2 made of water-permeable ceramics using these as materials and fired at 800 to 1240 ° C., a low-melting liquid phase on the surface of the water-permeable ceramics of the support 2; SiO in filter aid₂However, eutectic reaction occurs at the interface, and the reaction layer 9 is generated. By the formation of the reaction layer 9, the bond between the water-permeable ceramic and the filter aid is strengthened, and the effect of preventing the filter aid layer 3 from peeling off is enhanced. In addition, since the production | generation of this reaction layer 9 occurs only in the very thin interface which water-permeable ceramics and a filter aid contact, the performance which capture | acquires the contaminant which a filter aid has is impaired by formation of the reaction layer 9. Absent.
[0059]
The inorganic filter media shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 are each formed by integrally forming a filter aid layer 3 on the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical support 2 made of water-permeable ceramics. As shown in FIG. 9, an inorganic filter medium 1D in which a filter aid layer 3 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of a cylindrical support 2 made of water-permeable ceramics may be used.
Even if it is such an inorganic filter medium 1D, it is set as the water purification cartridge which attached the joining member 4 and the sealing member 5 with the adhesive agent 6 similarly to the water purification cartridge 10 shown in FIG. 2, and this is the water purifier 20 of FIG. A water purifier can be comprised by assembling similarly.
[0060]
FIG. 10 shows such a water purifier 20D, in which an inorganic filter medium 1D is used as a water purification cartridge 10D. In this water purifier 20D, the water purifier frame 21 is connected to a water tap (not shown). By opening the water tap, tap water including the contaminants S from the upper part of the water purifier frame 21 is indicated by an arrow Y1. As shown in FIG. And this tap water permeate | transmits from the area | region B inside the water purification cartridge 10D to the area | region A outside the water purification cartridge 10D, and the foreign substance S in tap water is captured by the filter aid layer 3 in the meantime, and contains the foreign substance S. Unclear tap water is discharged from the lower part of the water purifier body 22 as shown by the arrow Y2.
[0061]
Even if it is this water purifier 20D, even if water pressure is applied when filtering tap water, since the filter aid layer 3 is supported by the support body 2 with high strength, the filter aid layer 3 is supported by the water pressure. It will not collapse. Further, since the filter aid layer 3 is solidified by firing and fixed to the support 2, the filter aid layer 3 does not peel from the support 2 by stopping the water supply.
[0062]
In particular, in the water purifier 20D, the contaminant S in the tap water is captured by the filter aid layer 3 inside the inorganic filter medium 1D and does not leach into the outer surface of the inorganic filter medium 1D. There is also an advantage that even if the outer surface of the water purification cartridge 10D is touched by hand, the hand is not contaminated with foreign substances when the water is exchanged.
[0063]
【The invention's effect】
As described in detail above, if the inorganic filter medium of the present invention has an integral structure in which filter aids are laminated and solidified on a support made of water-permeable ceramics, the integral structure of water-permeable ceramics and filter aids is used. It is possible to provide an inorganic filter medium and a water purification cartridge which have sufficient strength, life and heat resistance, and which are high performance and compact.
[0064]
The water purifier of the present invention incorporating such an inorganic filter medium or a water purification cartridge is suitable as a household water purifier, and in particular, by selecting a specific water-permeable ceramic component of the support of the inorganic filter medium,²⁺It becomes possible to supply minerals such as ions, and even Ca²⁺It is possible to provide a water purifier having an effect of suppressing the growth of bacteria by microalkalization of the filter surface resulting from the supply of ions.
Furthermore, by displaying decoration and / or characters on the outer surface of the activated carbon protective layer among the outer surfaces of the purified water cartridge having activated carbon and the activated carbon protective layer, information on the purified water cartridge is provided without bothering the user. it can.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, showing an inorganic filter medium of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of the water purification cartridge of the present invention incorporating the inorganic filter medium of FIG.
3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another embodiment of the water purification cartridge of the present invention incorporating the inorganic filter medium of FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another embodiment of the water purification cartridge of the present invention incorporating the inorganic filter medium of FIG.
FIG. 5 is a side view showing a different embodiment of the water purification cartridge of the present invention incorporating the inorganic filter medium of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of the water purifier of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view, partly in section, showing another embodiment of the inorganic filter medium of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view, partly in section, showing another embodiment of the inorganic filter medium of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view, partly in section, showing a different embodiment of the inorganic filter medium of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another embodiment of the water purifier of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1,1A, 1B, 1D Inorganic filter media
2 Support
3 Filter aid layer
4,4A, 4B Joining member
5,5A, 5B Sealing member
6 Adhesive
7 Activated carbon
8 O-ring
9 Reaction layer
10, 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D Water purification cartridge
20, 20D water purifier
S Contamination

Claims (11)

A solidified layer of a filter aid is laminated and integrated on the surface of a support made of water-permeable ceramic, and the components of the water-permeable ceramic are 70 to 88% by weight of SiO ₂ , 5 to 15% by weight of Al ₂ O ₃ , CaO5~23 percent by weight, the filtration aid is diatomaceous earth, a porous particles such as zeolite, inorganic filter medium solid layer characterized that you have been integrated into the support by calcination.   The inorganic filter medium according to claim 1, wherein the filter aid is porous inorganic particles, and the pore volume thereof is 0.5 cc / g or more.   The inorganic filter medium according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a thickness of the solidified layer of the filter aid is 1 to 6 mm. The inorganic filter medium according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the solidified layer of the filter aid is formed by baking the filter aid at 800 to 1240 ° C. The inorganic filter medium according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the solidified layer of the filter aid is composed of two or more layers having different particle sizes and / or components. In any one of claims 1 to 5, inorganic filter medium with the ceramic of the support and the filter aid of the solidified layer is characterized in that it is integrated by sintering at the interface. A water purification cartridge comprising an inorganic filter medium according to any one of claims 1 to 6, a joining member, and a sealing member combined to form an integral structure. A water purification cartridge comprising an inorganic filter medium according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , an activated carbon layer provided on a surface of the inorganic filter medium, and a joining member and a sealing member to form an integrated structure. . The inorganic filter medium according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , an activated carbon layer provided on a surface of the inorganic filter medium, an activated carbon protective layer having water permeability provided on the surface of the activated carbon layer, and a joining member A water purification cartridge characterized by combining a sealing member and a single structure. The water purification cartridge according to claim 9 , wherein decoration and / or characters are displayed on the activated carbon protective layer having water permeability. A water purifier in which the inorganic filter medium according to any one of claims 1 to 6 or the water purification cartridge according to any one of claims 7 to 10 is incorporated.

Images