JP4158275B2 - Water purifier - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a nulling method for a display state in a water purifier that is disposed in a water passage of a water purifier and displays an accumulated water flow of filtered water using rotation of an impeller rotated by a water flow flowing in the passage. It is.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, interest in potable water has increased, and water purifiers that filter tap water and the like have been widely used in homes and workplaces. In particular, in addition to turbidity and residual chlorine due to deterioration of water quality and aging of water pipes, substances that are harmful to the human body such as trihalomethane are actually contained. In this situation, the criteria for filter media replacement are as follows: customers should use the purchase time and start of use as a guideline, or the decrease in the amount of clean water discharged due to filter material clogging, or the amount of clean water discharge The actual situation is that the water purifier that displays the instantaneous flow rate due to the displacement makes a judgment based on the instantaneous flow rate. Thus, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-26390 discloses a method for measuring and displaying the flow rate of water passing through the water purifier. A schematic diagram is shown in FIG. 9, and as shown in FIG. 9, the cartridge type filter 51, the outer box 52, the impeller working water channel 53, the flow meter 54, the pointer 55, the water discharge port 56, and the impeller 59 are configured. Has been. In this operation, raw water is introduced from the impeller working water channel 53, the impeller 59 is rotated by a water flow, and impurities are removed by the cartridge type filter 51 to become filtered water. Discharge more. Further, the rotation of the impeller 59 is decelerated by rotating a plurality of continuous gears in the flow meter 54, and finally the pointer 55 is rotated. A part of the outer box 52 is a transparent plate 52a so that the rotational movement amount of the pointer 55 can be confirmed, so that the life of the cartridge type filter 51 can be determined. Further, when replacing the cartridge type filter 51, when the cartridge type filter 51 is removed, it is possible to perform a zero return operation by manually rotating the pointer 55 to the start position. 51 lifespan can be determined.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, because the zero return operation of the conventional water purifier requires the user to deliberately operate when replacing the filtration unit, if the zero return operation is not performed, the replacement time of the filtration unit is displayed correctly. There is a problem that you can not.
[0004]
The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and by performing a zero return operation of the display state by the integrating flow meter automatically at the time of replacement of the filtration unit by a relatively simple mechanical structure, the user can It provides a water purifier that can accurately tell when to replace the filter medium.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the water purifier of the present invention, the raw water flow path for discharging the supplied raw water as it is, the water switch selectively connected to any one of the water purification paths, and removing tap water impurities and the like in the water purifier section. features and filtration unit, measure the water quantity you passed through the filtration unit, in terms of having a cumulative flow meter that displays, in that it comprises return-to-zero means the display state of the integrating flowmeter is zero-reset by detaching the filtration unit It is what.
[0006]
According to the present invention, since the nulling means is provided by desorption of the filtration unit, the total water flow rate of the filtration unit can be known correctly, and safer water can be obtained.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention described in claim 1 is a water switch that is selectively connected to either a raw water channel that discharges the supplied raw water as it is or a purified water channel that filters the raw water, and a removable switch that removes impurities or the like of the raw water. Purified water comprising a filtration unit, a measurement unit that measures the amount of water that passes through the filtration unit, a total flow meter that includes a display member that displays a measurement result of the measurement unit, and a cover that houses the total flow meter The integrated flow meter is an impeller rotatable by a water flow passing through the filtration unit, a transmission unit for decelerating and transmitting the rotation of the impeller, and the display member connected to the transmission unit, casing with a slide portion for rotatably accommodating the display member, and the impeller and the inlet of the transmission mechanism and said display member accommodating said sliding portion water for rotating the impeller and the spout with the door, the table Member includes a display unit displaying the passing water filtration unit, and the structure cam-like provided on the side surface perpendicular to the rotational axis direction of the display member of the display unit, and the gear, the rotation center axis direction of the display member The display member is connected to the transmission portion and the gear, the casing includes a protrusion, and is provided between the slide portion and the casing. An urging body is disposed on the sliding member, and the slide part and the display member are moved by the urging body when the filtering part is removed, and the cam-like structure of the display member comes into contact with the protruding part. Thus, the display unit rotates to a predetermined position, and when the filtration unit is attached, the display member moves with the slide unit and includes a nulling means for connecting to the transmission unit. From Can know Sotsu water of hydrogen peroxide, because it is automatically performed only by desorption of the filtering unit with a simple mechanical structure zeroing operation of the display member, that is not mistaken the replacement timing of the filter part Has an effect.
[0008]
The invention according to claim 2 is the water purifier according to claim 1, wherein the casing part is configured by a transparent member capable of confirming the rotation of the display member . Since the display member for displaying the water flow rate can be confirmed through the casing, it has an effect that assembly, adjustment, and operation confirmation can be easily performed.
[0009]
Since the invention according to claim 3 is the water purifier according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the display member includes a rib, the center of gravity of the display member is adjusted around the rotation center. The display member can be smoothly rotated and moved stably without abnormal rotation when the display member moves.
[0010]
The invention according to claim 4 is the water purifier according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the end surface of the protrusion of the casing is inclined, so that the protrusion is a display member. The display member is smoothly rotated in a predetermined direction when it comes into contact with the cam-like structure.
[0011]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0012]
(Embodiment 1)
1 to 5 are schematic views of the water purifier of the present invention, and FIGS. 6 to 8 are configuration diagrams relating to the return of the water purifier.
[0013]
The water purifier of the present invention is provided with a raw water channel for discharging raw water as it is, a water switch 1 selectively connected to either the water purification channel, and a filter medium such as activated carbon or ceramic, a resin film or the like for removing tap water impurities. The water purification cartridge 2, the integrated flow meter 3 that measures and displays the amount of water passing through the water purification cartridge 2, the raw water outlet 22 that discharges the raw water, and the purified water outlet 20 that discharges the purified water. 3 and removable.
[0014]
The integrating flowmeter 3 is integrated with the impeller 5 that can be rotated by the water flow discharged from the water purification cartridge 2, the impeller 5 that transmits the rotation of the impeller 5, and the transmission mechanism that decelerates the rotation transmitted from the impeller 5 a. 7 continuous gears 6 and a final gear 6c which is the final gear of the gear 6, a display member provided with a display gear 7a which is rotated by the power transmitted by the final gear 6c, and a water purification cartridge containing the display member 2 is a urging body that is in contact with the cartridge discharge port 2a and that displaces the water purification cartridge 2 in the same direction as the water purification cartridge 2 and that displaces the slide portion 4 in the direction of the water purification cartridge 2. spring 9, the impeller 5, the gear 6, the display member, a casing 8 for accommodating the slide portion 4 and the spring 9, the casing 8 purified water Katori A connecting pipe 11, a water switch 1, a casing 8 and a main body cover 10 for housing the connecting pipe 11 and a lever 12 for switching the water switch 1. It is configured.
[0015]
The impeller 5 is provided with a blade gear 5a and has a water wheel shape with six blades. The seven gears 6 each have two large and small gears 6a and 6b and two shafts. The seven gears transmit the rotation sequentially by attaching them alternately to each other, and the impeller 5 is attached to the head of the seven gears 6 so that the rotation of the impeller 5 is transferred to the seven gears 6. It is a composition to convey. Further, the impeller 5 and the seven gears 6 are accommodated in the inner casing portion 13, and the inner casing portion 13 discharges the water flow that has passed through the inlet 13 a that introduces the water flow into the impeller 5 and the impeller 5. A discharge port 13b is provided.
[0016]
Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the display member and the slide portion 4, a description of the display member and the slide portion 4 by using this. The display member is made of a resin such as polypropylene (hereinafter referred to as “PP”), polystyrene (hereinafter referred to as “PS”), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene resin (hereinafter referred to as “ABS”), polyacetal (hereinafter referred to as “POM”), or the like. A display gear 7a formed around the center of the display unit 7 and a rotation shaft 7c are formed, and a cam 7b that rotates around the rotation shaft 7c and performs a cam operation is provided between the display unit 7 and the display gear 7a. The structure is accommodated in the slide portion 4 so as to be rotatable by the rotation shaft 7c. Further, the surface of the display portion 7 is provided with characters, patterns, etc., so that the integrated flow meter 3 is displayed with the characters and patterns on the surface. Displays the measurement result. The cam 7b is a circular or egg-shaped curve without a gentle dent, with the closest point from the center of rotation and the farthest point farthest from one point, and gradually increasing from the nearest point to the farthest point. It is. In addition, the display unit 7 has an arc-shaped display rib 7d that corrects the deviation of the center of gravity due to the cam 7b, so that the display unit 7 has a balanced shape centered on the rotation shaft 7c. In the present embodiment, the display rib 7d is provided, but a notch portion may be provided to correct the center of gravity balance.
[0017]
The slide part 4 has a cylindrical member 4 a that contacts the cartridge discharge port 2 a of the water purification cartridge 2, a box member 4 e that is open on one side, and a spring bar 4 c that is combined with the spring 9. 4a is provided with a slide portion passage 4b through which the purified water discharged from the cartridge discharge port 2a passes, and the box-like member 4e holds the display member on the side wall of the box-like member 4e so that the rotary shaft 7c can rotate freely. The structure is provided with a notch 4d with a part of the side notched so that the display gear 7a and the final gear 6c mesh with each other when the display member is housed in the space. The final gear 6c of the seven gears 6 is engaged, and the notch portion 4d is large enough to accommodate the final gear 6c even if the slide portion 4 moves. The rotating shaft 7c is held above the cylindrical member 4a that contacts the cartridge discharge port 2a. Furthermore, the spring bar 4c of the slide part 4 is not close to the detachable state of the water purification cartridge 2, and the spring 9 is pressed against the casing 8 to be shorter than the free length.
[0018]
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram relating to nulling, which will be described below. The casing 8 includes a purified water outlet 20 (indicated in FIG. 4) for discharging water that has passed through the integrating flow meter 3 and a display window 21 that can confirm the state of the display unit 7 in part. It is made of a transparent material that can be confirmed, and has a spring holding portion 24 that is slightly larger than the spring 9 that holds the spring 9, and when the slide portion 4 is housed, the spring bar 4c of the slide portion 4 is a spring. The spring 9 is inserted into the holding portion 24 together with the spring 9, and a part or all of the spring bar 4 c is inserted into the spring holding portion 24 regardless of the position of the slide portion 4. Moreover, in the normal use state, the inside of the casing 8 is a state filled with purified water.
[0019]
The spring 9 is in a state of being compressed more than the free length even when the slide part 4 is moved in the direction of the water purification cartridge 2 as much as possible.
[0020]
The main body cover 10 is provided with a main body cutout portion 10 a for projecting the display window 21.
[0021]
The connecting pipe 11 includes a screw portion 11d for detaching and attaching the water purification cartridge 2, and also includes a raw water passage 11a (shown in FIG. 3) for sending water flowing from the water switch 1 to the water purification cartridge 2, and water passing through the water purification cartridge 2. Passes through the slide portion passage 4b of the slide portion 4 and flows into the integrated flow meter 3 through the purified water passage 11b (shown in FIG. 3), the cartridge outlet 2a of the purified water cartridge 2, and the cylindrical member 4a of the slide portion 4. A water purification cartridge insertion port 11c to be inserted is provided. Further tip shape in contact with the cam 7b of the display member when the display member is moved together with the movement of the slide portion 4 is provided with a zero-reset rib 23 is oblique. The thickness of the zero return rib 23 is equal to or less than that of the cam 7b, and the width of the zero return rib 23 only needs to be a width that allows contact with the cam 7b regardless of the rotational position of the cam 7b. The cartridge discharge port 2a is press-fitted into the water purification cartridge insertion portion 11c via an O-ring, and the columnar member 4a of the slide portion 4 is inserted into the water purification cartridge insertion portion 11c with no slidable clearance. Yes.
[0022]
The components constituting the integrating flowmeter may be generally made of resin, the display member is as described above, and the impeller 5 and the seven gears 6 are the same. The slide part 4 is also similar, but polyphenylene sulfide (hereinafter referred to as “PPS”) having good sliding property is also suitable, and ABS, methacrylic resin, etc. are suitable for the display window 21 which is a transparent member. The casing 8 may be ABS, but if it is molded integrally with the display window 21, it becomes a transparent member.
[0023]
Here, when displaying the replacement time of the water purification cartridge 2, for example, when the life of the water purification cartridge 2 is 4000 liters and 2 liters of purified water is normally used, the rotation speed of the impeller 5 is adjusted to 700 rotations per minute. By configuring the reduction gear ratio of the blade gear 5a, the seven gears 6 and the display gear 7a to be 1 / 2.8 million, the display member makes a half turn before the water purification cartridge 2 reaches the end of its service life. Therefore, it is preferable to display on the surface of the display unit 7 a life display after a half turn and an over-life after that. Further, when several types of water purification cartridges 2 exist, a plurality of displays corresponding to the lifetimes of the respective water purification cartridges 2 may be provided on the surface of the display unit 7. Further, the rotation of the display member used as a display is not limited to a half turn, but care must be taken when it exceeds one turn.
[0024]
Operation | movement is demonstrated in the water purifier comprised as mentioned above.
[0025]
The raw water supplied from the tap water is divided into a case where it is discharged as raw water by the water switch 1 and a case where it is sent to the water purification cartridge 2. When discharging as raw water, by matching the lever 12 to the raw water, the raw water entered from the water switch 1 passes through the main body and is discharged from the raw water outlet 22. When sending to the purified water cartridge 2, the raw water which passed the water switch 1 is sent to the purified water cartridge 2 through the raw water channel | path 11a of the connection pipe 11 by matching the lever 12 with purified water. In the water purification cartridge 2, rust, turbidity, residual chlorine in tap water, and the like are removed by a filter medium such as activated carbon and ceramic or a resin film in the water purification cartridge 2 and discharged as purified water from the cartridge outlet 2a. The discharged purified water passes through the slide portion passage 4b and the purified water passage 11b of the slide portion 4, passes through the integrated flow meter 3, and is discharged from the purified water outlet 20. In the integrated flow meter 3, water that has passed through the purified water passage 11 b flows in from the inlet 13 a of the inner casing portion 13, and is discharged from the outlet 13 b while rotating the impeller 5 clockwise, and then from the purified water outlet 20. Discharge as purified water.
[0026]
Here, the impeller 5 rotated by the purified water rotates the integrated impeller gear 5a. The rotation is transmitted to the leading large gear 6a of the seven gears 6 serving as the transmission mechanism, and the remaining small gear 6a is repeatedly rotated by rotating the integrated small gear 6b and the remaining large gear 6a sequentially. It is transmitted to the gear 6 while decelerating. Then, the rotation is transmitted to the display gear 7a of the display member by the final gear 6c at the final stage of the gear 6. Since the display gear 7a is integral with the display unit 7, the display member rotates in the same manner. The main body cover 10 projects the display window 21 from the main body notch 10a, thereby indicating the total amount of purified water passing through the surface of the display section 7 that can be seen from the display window 21 and indicating the replacement time of the water purification cartridge 2. To do.
[0027]
In addition, the shape of the impeller 5 does not need to be a waterwheel shape, and may be a shape that rotates at a predetermined rotation speed at a predetermined flow rate of purified water. The transmission mechanism is not limited to the seven gears 6, as long as the display member rotates to a predetermined position when the water purification cartridge 2 is replaced. In addition to displaying the replacement time of the water purification cartridge 2, the display 7 displays a plurality of indications of the result of confirming the removal rate of chemical substances such as total trihalomethane in tap water by the specified test method and the replacement time of the water purification cartridge 2. You may display at the stage.
[0028]
As a method of displaying the replacement time of the water purification cartridge 2, a mark may be provided on the surface of the display unit 7 and a notation corresponding to the mark may be provided around the display window 21 of the main body cover 10.
[0029]
The operation at the time of zero return will be described with reference to FIG. 6, FIG. 7, and FIG.
[0030]
In a state where the water purification cartridge 2 is attached, the cartridge discharge port 2a of the water purification cartridge 2 presses the columnar member 4a of the slide portion 4 while being pressed into the water purification cartridge insertion port 11c of the connecting pipe 11, and the columnar member 4c is A part of the water purification cartridge is inserted into the water purification cartridge insertion port 11c, and the spring 9 whose spring bar 4c is an urging member is pressed against the spring holding portion 24 of the casing 8 through the box-like member 4e by the pressing force of the water purification cartridge 2. The spring bar 4c and the spring 9 are both stable when inserted into the spring holding portion 24. In this state, the display gear 7a of the display member is connected through the final gear 6c of the seven gears 6 and the cutout portion 4d of the slide portion 4, and the rotation of the impeller 5 is transmitted to the display member .
[0031]
In the middle of using the water purifier, the water purification cartridge 2 is removed from the connecting pipe 11 when the display member indicates the replacement time of the water purification cartridge 2. At this time, the displacement of the water purification cartridge 2 and the return force of the spring 9 are pushed, and the columnar member 4a of the slide portion 4 is displaced through the spring bar 4c while being in contact with the cartridge discharge port 2a. Even display member in conjunction with the slide portion 4 performs the displacement, the moving amount of the display gear 7a and the final gear 6c meshing slide portion 4 than the size of the increase, off the meshing of the display gear 7a and the final gear 6c, the display The rotation of the member is not restricted anywhere. Thereafter, when the displacement proceeds, the cam 7b of the display member comes into contact with the zero return rib 23, but is further pressed against the zero return rib 23 by the restoring force of the spring 9. Therefore, the cam 7b rotates about the rotary shaft 7c while contacting the tip of the zero return rib 23 to a certain position when the cam 7b is pressed against the zero return rib 23 wherever the rotation position of the display unit 7 is. Then, the stop is stabilized in a state where the null return rib 23 is in contact at a point closest to the rotation center. This state is the basic rotation position of the display member , and when this state is reached, the slide portion 4 also stops and stabilizes, but the spring 9 is still contracted from the free length, and the spring holding portion 24 of the casing 8. In this state, the spring 9 and a part of the spring bar 4c are inserted. Further, when the water purification cartridge 2 is removed, the water in the casing 8 flows out somewhat.
[0032]
Next, when the water purification cartridge 2 is replaced and attached to the connecting pipe 11, the slide portion 4 and the display member move in the opposite directions as when the water purification cartridge 2 is removed, but the cartridge outlet 2 a of the water purification cartridge 2 is a circle of the slide portion 4. The slide part 4 is moved by pushing the columnar member 4a. The slide portion 4 moves while the spring 9 is pressed and contracted to the spring holding portion 24 of the casing 8 by the spring bar 4c. Moreover, the slide part 4 is smoothly linearly moved due to a part of the spring bar 4c inserted into the spring holding part 24 and the restriction by the columnar member 4a inserted into the water purification cartridge insertion part 11c of the connecting pipe 11. I do. Here, since the display member has a balanced shape centered on the rotation shaft 7c by the display rib 7d, the display member rotates from the current state even when the display member is not restrained during the movement of the slide portion 4. Move without changing the basic rotation position. When the water purification cartridge 2 is completely attached, the spring 9 is fully contracted, and most of the spring 9 is inserted into the spring holding portion 24 of the casing 8 together with the spring bar 4c. At this time, the display gear 7a meshes with the final gear 6c, and the rotation of the display member is controlled by the rotation of the impeller 5 through the seven gears 6. At this time, the display unit 7 displays the initial position, and the nulling operation ends.
[0033]
It should be noted that the cam 7b may have two places as long as the nearest point and the farthest point do not stop at one place and the rotation amount of the display member until the lifetime of the water purification cartridge 2 is less than half. Similarly, there may be a plurality. Further, the point finally contacting the zero return rib 23 may be a straight line instead of a curve.
[0034]
In addition, the shape of the display rib 7d of the display member may be any shape as long as the display unit 7 has a balanced configuration around the rotation shaft 7c.
[0035]
Note that the zero return rib 23 has an inclined tip, but may have any shape as long as the cam 7b is rotated to the basic position without being caught by the shape.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention has an integrated flow meter that measures and displays the flow rate that has passed through the filter medium with a simple mechanical structure, and has a nulling means that automatically returns the display state when the filtration unit is replaced. Since it is a water purifier, the special operation is not required even after the replacement of the filtration part, and an effect that the user can be informed of the replacement time of the filter medium can be obtained. In addition, since the nulling operation is performed only by detaching the filtration unit, an effect that the nulling operation is not performed by an external factor before the lifetime of the filtration unit is obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan sectional view of a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic front sectional view of a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of an integrated flow meter of a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic front view of an integrated flow meter of a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention. Cross-sectional view [FIG. 6] An enlarged view of the display member and the slide portion of the water purifier in the embodiment of the present invention [FIG. 7] A schematic side cross-sectional view regarding the null of the integrating flow meter of the water purifier in the embodiment of the present invention [ FIG. 8 is a schematic side cross-sectional view related to the nulling of the integrated flow meter of the water purifier in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a conventional water purifier.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Water switch 2 Water purification cartridge 2a Cartridge discharge port 3 Accumulated flow meter 4 Slide part 4a Cylindrical member 4b Slide part passage 4c Spring bar 4d Notch part 4e Box-shaped member 5 Impeller 5a Blade gear 6 Seven gears 6a Large gear 6b Small gear 6c Final gear 7 Display portion 7a Display gear 7b Cam 7c Rotating shaft 7d Display rib 8 Casing 9 Spring 10 Main body cover 10a Main body notch portion 11 Connection pipe 11a Raw water passage 11b Water purification passage 11c Water purification cartridge insertion portion 12 Lever 13 Inside Casing portion 13a Inlet 13b Discharge port 20 Purified water discharge port 21 Display window 22 Raw water discharge port 23 Zero return rib 24 Spring holding unit 51 Cartridge type filter 52 Outer box 52a Transparent plate 53 Impeller working water channel 54 Flow meter 55 Pointer 56 Water discharge Exit 59 wing car

Claims (4)

A water switch that selectively connects to either the raw water channel that discharges the supplied raw water as it is or the water purification channel that filters the raw water, a detachable filter that removes impurities, etc. of the raw water, and the filter A water purifier comprising an integrating flow meter comprising a measuring unit for measuring the amount of water to be measured and a display member for displaying a measurement result of the measuring unit, and a cover for housing the integrating flow meter, wherein the integrating flow meter Is an impeller that can be rotated by a water flow passing through the filtration unit, a transmission unit that decelerates and transmits the rotation of the impeller, the display member that is coupled to the transmission unit, and the display member that is rotatably accommodated. A slide portion, a casing provided with a water flow inlet and a water discharge port that accommodates the impeller, the transmission mechanism, the display member, and the slide portion and rotates the impeller, and the display member includes : Water flow through the filtration unit A display portion to be displayed, a cam-like structure provided on a side surface orthogonal to the rotation center axis direction of the display member of the display portion, a gear, and a slide portion positioned at both ends in the rotation center axis direction of the display member A rotating shaft that is rotatably held; the display member is connected by the transmission portion and the gear; the casing is provided with a protrusion; and a biasing body is disposed between the slide portion and the casing; When the filtration unit is removed, the slide unit and the display member are moved by the biasing body, and the cam-like structure of the display member comes into contact with the protrusion, so that the display unit is in a predetermined position. The water purifier is provided with a nulling means that rotates until the filtration part is attached and the display member moves together with the slide part and is connected to the transmission part. The water purifier according to claim 1, wherein the casing portion is formed of a transparent member capable of confirming the rotation of the display member . The water purifier according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the display member includes a rib.   The water purifier according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an end surface of the protruding portion of the casing is inclined.

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