JP4686872B2 - Water purifier - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a household water purifier, and more particularly to a water purifier using a special material as a constituent member.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, plastic materials such as ABS resin, POM (polyoxymethylene) resin, PP (polypropylene) resin, etc. have been used as the material of the components that make up household water purifiers. Conventional water purifiers are light and durable. It is excellent in aesthetics.
[0003]
Moreover, since a household water purifier is used around the water in a kitchen or the like, it is in an environment where scales or molds are likely to adhere. Therefore, a user needs to clean a water purifier regularly and may feel annoyance. Moreover, when a user cleans a water purifier, it must clean in consideration of the plastic member weak to a chemical | medical agent, and it takes an effort very much.
[0004]
In addition, some water purifiers are transparent members, and water purifiers with indicators that allow the inside to be visually recognized from the outside through the transparent member, the inside of the transparent member is cloudy with steam when using hot water, etc. The user may feel annoyed because it may be cloudy even if the user looks at the indicator portion.
[0005]
Furthermore, in recent years, interest in organic substances such as trihalomethanes, environmental hormones and dioxins has been increasing, and in particular, there are an increasing number of users of water purifiers who are concerned about the presence of organic substances when drinking water. In the conventional technology, as a water purifier for removing organic substances, there is a relatively inexpensive one that removes only trihalomethane, and a type that removes most organic substances is very expensive.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In order to solve the above problems, the object of the present invention is to prevent dirt from adhering, maintain aesthetics for a long period of time, prevent the user from being troubled with cleaning the water purifier, and suffer from fogging inside the indicator. An object of the present invention is to provide a water purifier that can obtain water with reduced organic matter at low cost.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the water purifier of the present invention is provided with a hydroxyapatite layer as a protective layer on the surface of the organic material constituting the outer surface of the water purifier , and a photocatalyst is applied to the layer . It consists of what is characterized by this.
[0009]
In the water purifier according to the present invention as described above, it is preferable that a photocatalyst is used as a member constituting the flow path. Further, it is preferable that the surface layer has a hollow fiber membrane coated with a photocatalyst or a hollow fiber membrane containing a photocatalyst.
[0010]
Moreover, in order to solve the said subject, the water purifier of this invention has the indicator which displays the switching state of the flow path of a water purifier , an integrated flow rate, etc., and a photocatalyst is on the back side surface of the transparent member which comprises the indicator. It consists of what has been applied .
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Below, desirable embodiment of the water purifier concerning the present invention is described, referring to drawings.
1 is an overall view of a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross section on the front side of the main body 2 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a cross section on the side of the main body 2 shown in FIG. 4 shows a cross section on the front side of the filtration part 3 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 shows a cross section of the main body part 2 shown in FIG.
[0012]
As shown in FIG. 1, the water purifier 1 has a main body portion 2 provided with a transparent member 82 and a filtration portion 3. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a water tap 4 is inserted and connected to the main body 2. The body of the main body 2 is formed by the upper body 17 and the lower body 16, and the water tap 4 is connected to the switching valve main body 13 built in the body via an adapter 37 and a mounting nut 38. A raw water inlet 28 is formed on the downstream side of the water tap 4 through the packing 36, and a water flow relaxation member 39 is disposed on the downstream side thereof.
[0013]
In the switching valve main body 13, three balls 11a, 11b, and 11c are provided as flow path switching valve bodies, and each of the balls 11a, 11b, and 11c corresponds to the corresponding cam portions 27a, 27b, and 27c. Is moved up and down by the rotation of the valve shaft 12 (valve drive means) by the operation of the lever 5 as the switching operation means, thereby opening and closing the corresponding water passages 21a, 21b and 21c. It has come to be. The water passages 21 a, 21 b, and 21 c that are opened and closed are formed in a partition plate 22 that partitions the upper chamber 23 and the lower chamber 24. The lower side of each water flow path 21a, 21b, 21c leads to the flow paths 31a, 31b, 31c, and between the flow paths and at the end of the flow path 31c, O-rings 25a, 25b for sealing, 25c is provided. The channel 31 c communicates with the raw water shower port 14, the channel 31 b communicates with the raw water straight port 15, and the channel 31 a communicates with the raw water supply port 26 to the filtration unit 3.
[0014]
The lever 5 is connected to the drive shaft 41 via a ratchet mechanism provided in the valve operation unit 18, and the lever 5 can be rotated until it hits the operation stopper 43. A retaining member 41 is attached to one end side of the drive shaft 41. The drive shaft 41 is biased in one rotation direction by a torsion coil spring 44 provided on one end side thereof, and is rotated in the counter-biasing direction by a rotation operation force from the lever 5. A ratchet mechanism is provided on the lever 5 side of the drive shaft 41, and the ratchet mechanism has a ratchet pawl member 47 and a ratchet tooth 48 engaged therewith. The rotational force of the drive shaft 41 is transmitted to the valve shaft 12. As transmission means, a spur gear 45 is provided on the drive shaft 41 side, and a spur gear 46 is provided on the valve shaft 12 side, and both the spur gears 45, 46 mesh with each other. is doing. Further, the drive shaft 41 is provided with a spur gear 54, and the spur gear 54 is meshed with a spur gear 53 provided on the roll shaft 52 of the display roll 51. The spur gear 54, the spur gear 53, the roll shaft 52, and the display roll 51 are rotated by a predetermined amount by the rotation of the drive shaft 41 accompanying the turning operation of the lever 5, and are displayed on the surface of the display roll 51. The state of the discharged water can be visually recognized through the display window 81 formed by the transparent member 82 provided in the display unit 19. The rotational position of the drive shaft 41 corresponding to each state of the discharged water (raw water straight, raw water shower, purified water) is that the small balls 84a, 84b (particularly, the small balls 84a) urged by the coil spring 83 are housings. By being fitted into the recess 85 on the side, it is accurately determined.
[0015]
In the filtration unit 3, a hollow fiber membrane bundle 68 and an adsorbent layer 70 made of activated carbon or the like are accommodated in a container 61 as a filter medium. The raw water from the raw water supply port 26 on the main body 2 side is received by the raw water receiving port 62 on the filtration unit 3 side, and then is passed between the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 64 and the inner peripheral surface of the container 61 through the filter 66. After passing through the adsorbent layer 70 filled in between and passing through the filter 67, it is reversed and permeates through the hollow fiber membrane bundle 68 provided inside the cylindrical body 64, and is discharged from the shower hole 63 as a clean water shower. The The hollow fiber membrane bundle 68 is U-shaped and potted on the curable resin 69, and the O-ring 65 seals between the curable resin 69 and the cylindrical protrusion 61 a formed on the inner surface of the container 61. Has been. A transparent cap 71 and a lid 72 are provided in the upper part of the container 61 so that the degree of clogging of each filter medium can be visually recognized.
[0016]
In the water purifier 1 configured as described above, when the water faucet 4 is opened when the water purifier is in the operation position state, the raw water flows from the raw water inlet 28 and the momentum is reduced by the water flow reducing member 39. Thereafter, the cam portion 27 a pushes up the ball 11 a and passes through the open water passage 21 a and flows to the raw water supply port 26. And it flows into the filtration part 3 from the raw | natural water receiving port 62, and after being filtered by the adsorbent layer 70 and the hollow fiber membrane bundle 68 which consist of activated carbon etc., it is discharged from the shower hole (filter water port) 63. FIG.
[0017]
Here, when the lever 5 is operated and rotated until it touches the operation stopper 43, the drive shaft 41 connected to the lever 5 via the ratchet mechanism rotates, for example, 40 °. At the same time, rotation is transmitted from the spur gear 45 to the spur gear 46, and the valve shaft 12 accurately rotates, for example, 60 °. Then, it switches to the cam 27a of the valve shaft 12, the cam 27c faces upward, the water passage 21a is closed, and the water passage 21c is opened. As a result, the raw water passes through the water passage 21c and is discharged from the raw water shower port 14. At this time, the rotation is transmitted also from the spur gear 54 to the spur gear 53, the display roll 51 rotates, and the characters “raw water shower” can be seen from the display window 81.
[0018]
Next, when the finger is released from the lever 5, the lever 5 is rotated in the reverse direction by the torsion coil spring 44, and returns to the initial position and stops. At this time, the drive shaft 41 connected via the ratchet mechanism does not rotate, and neither the valve shaft 12 nor the display roll 51 rotates.
When the lever 5 is pushed down again, the valve shaft 12 is similarly rotated by 60 °, the water passage 21c is closed, and the water passage 21b is opened. As a result, the raw water passes through the water passage 21 b and is discharged from the raw water straight port 15. At this time, the display roll 51 rotates in the same manner as when the raw water shower is selected, and the characters “raw water straight” can be seen from the display window 81.
[0019]
As mentioned above, the water purifier 1 which concerns on the said embodiment of this invention can switch three states, purified water, raw | natural water straight, and raw | natural water shower, by operation of the lever 5, and purified water, raw | natural water straight, and raw | natural water shower The indicator which displays which flow path is selected is provided.
[0020]
When carrying out the present invention, the structure of the water purifier is not necessarily the above structure, and the flow path switching structure used in the main body 2 may be a slide valve, a butterfly valve, or the like. Moreover, the filter medium to be used does not necessarily need to use a hollow fiber membrane or activated carbon, only activated carbon or only a hollow fiber membrane, zeolite, ceramic balls, sulfites such as calcium sulfite, ascorbic acid, non-woven fabric, Gauze, cotton, etc. may be used.
[0021]
As mentioned above, although the structure of the water purifier which concerns on one embodiment of this invention was demonstrated to FIGS. 1-5, next, the member using the photocatalyst by this invention is demonstrated.
[0022]
The members using the photocatalyst include inner and outer surfaces such as the main body 2, the filtration unit 3, the transparent cap 71, the transparent member 82, and the mounting nut 38, and the surface layers of the members constituting the channel 31 a, the channel 31 b, and the channel 31 c The hollow fiber membranes constituting the hollow fiber membrane bundle 68 are targeted. In this embodiment, the photocatalyst is applied to the outer surface of the main body 2, the outer surface of the filtration unit 3, the outer surface of the transparent cap 71, the outer surface of the transparent member 82, and the outer surface of the mounting nut 38. It is possible to prevent dirt from adhering to the entire appearance of the water purifier 1 due to the organic substance decomposition action or the like, and the aesthetics of the water purifier can be maintained over a long period of time.
[0023]
Further, since the photocatalyst is applied to the surfaces of the members constituting the flow path 31a, the flow path 31b, and the flow path 31c, the inside of each flow path is not easily contaminated and is hygienic, Organic substances such as trihalomethane and 2MIB can be decomposed.
[0024]
In addition, since the hollow fiber membrane bundle 68 is made of polysulfone containing a photocatalyst in this embodiment, the hollow fiber membrane bundle 68 not only removes turbid components and iron rust from the raw water, but also the raw water. The organic matter can be decomposed.
[0025]
On the other hand, as a water purifier that decomposes organic substances in raw water by photocatalytic action, JP-A-10-5745 describes a water purifier having activated glass, a hollow fiber membrane, and granular glass beads carrying a photocatalyst. . According to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-5745, organic substances such as trihalomethane in raw water can be decomposed by supporting a photocatalyst on granular glass beads. However, since it is necessary to newly enclose glass beads that are not used in the conventional water purifier, the water purifier encloses the glass beads, which is larger than before.
[0026]
In the water purifier of the present invention, since the photocatalyst is used for a member already used in a conventional water purifier, such as a filter medium such as a hollow fiber membrane or a member constituting a flow path, the size of the water purifier itself is the conventional size. It will be the same size and will not grow.
[0027]
Further, as described in JP-A-10-5745, in order to support a photocatalyst on a granular material such as glass beads and to obtain a sufficient photocatalytic action, the size of the glass beads is reduced, Although it is necessary to increase the contact area between the photocatalyst and the photocatalyst, the smaller the size of the glass bead grains, the higher the pressure loss, which may result in a loss of function as a water purifier.
[0028]
However, in the water purifier of the present invention, since the photocatalyst is used for the hollow fiber membrane, a wide contact area is obtained while the pressure loss is equal to that of the conventional water purifier, and the action of the photocatalyst is sufficiently obtained with the low pressure loss. be able to.
[0029]
Further, since the photocatalyst is applied to the back side of the transparent cap 71 and the transparent member 82 constituting the indicator, the photocatalyst is not fogged from the inside due to the hydrophilicity of the photocatalyst, so that the inside is stabilized through the transparent cap 71 or the transparent member 82 from the outside. Can be visually recognized.
[0030]
Here, since the base material of each member is an organic substance, when applying a photocatalyst to each member, a hydroxyapatite layer was provided as a protective layer between the photocatalyst and the base material in order to protect the base material. The photocatalyst does not have to be in direct contact with the organic base material, and a photocatalyst whose surface is protected with hydroxyapatite may be used. In the present invention, may be used material containing a photocatalyst in the members constituting the flow path, but it may also be coated with photocatalyst on the surface of the hollow fiber membrane.
[0031]
In the water purifier of the present invention, a photocatalyst is applied to a member to which dirt such as scales and molds easily adheres. Therefore, organic matters such as mold and bacteria are decomposed by the photocatalytic action, and thus dirt due to mold and bacteria is difficult to adhere. . In addition, due to the hydrophilic property of the photocatalyst, the water adhering to the water purifier tends to flow down below the water purifier. For this reason, the water | moisture content in a water droplet evaporates with a water droplet adhering to a water purifier, the content substance in a water droplet does not remain on the surface of a water purifier, and scale does not form.
[0032]
Further, since the photocatalyst is applied to the transparent member constituting the indicator, the inside is not fogged from the inside, and the inside can be visually recognized from the outside through the transparent member.
[0033]
Furthermore, since the photocatalyst is used in the members constituting the flow path, particularly the hollow fiber membrane, organic substances in the raw water can be decomposed.
[0034]
That is, the water purifier of the present invention is extremely difficult to be contaminated with dirt, maintains a beautiful appearance over a long period of time, and can efficiently decompose organic matter in raw water without clouding the transparent member constituting the indicator. Therefore, the user is not bothered by cleaning the water purifier, and can use water with reduced organic matter.
[0035]
Moreover, in the water purifier of this invention, the number of parts which comprise a water purifier, etc. are the same as the conventional water purifier, and since there are no parts which increase newly, it can manufacture cheaply.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the water purifier according to the present invention, dirt is extremely difficult to adhere and the aesthetics is maintained over a long period of time. Therefore, water with reduced organic matter can be obtained at low cost.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the front side of the main body of the water purifier of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the side surface side of the main body of the water purifier of FIG. 1;
4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the front side of a filtration unit of the water purifier of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the main body of the water purifier of FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Water purifier 2 Body part 3 Filtration part 4 Water tap 5 Lever (switching operation means)
11a Ball (valve)
11b Ball (valve)
11c Ball (valve)
12 Valve shaft (Valve drive means)
13 Switching valve body 14 Raw water shower port 15 Raw water straight port 16 Lower body 17 Upper body 18 Valve operation unit 19 Display unit 21a Water passage 21b Water passage 21c Water passage 22 Partition plate 23 Upper chamber 24 Lower chamber 25a O-ring 25b O-ring 25c O-ring 26 Raw water supply port 27a Cam part 27b Cam part 27c Cam part 28 Raw water inlet 31a Channel 31b Channel 31c Channel 36 Packing 37 Adapter 38 Mounting nut 39 Water flow relaxation member 41 Drive shaft 42 Retaining member 43 Operation stopper 44 Torsion coil spring 45 spur gear (transmission means)
46 Spur gear (Transmission means)
47 ratchet pawl member 48 ratchet teeth 51 display roll 52 roll shaft 53 spur gear 54 spur gear 61 container 61a cylindrical projection 62 raw water inlet 63 shower hole 64 cylindrical body 65 o-ring 66 filter 67 filter 68 hollow fiber membrane bundle 69 curability Resin 70 Adsorbent layer 71 Transparent cap 72 Lid 81 Display window 82 Transparent member 83 Coil spring 84a Small ball 84b Small ball 85 Concave

Claims (1)

  A water purifier comprising a hydroxyapatite layer as a protective layer on the surface of an organic material constituting the outer surface of the water purifier, and a photocatalyst applied to the layer.

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