JP6701914B2 - Ion exchange device - Google Patents

Description

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

  In recent years, characteristics and effects of soft water have come to be noticed as water for domestic use and water for food manufacturing industry, and an ion exchange device (so-called water softening device) for producing soft water is beginning to spread. .. An ion exchange device for producing soft water removes hardness components (calcium ion and magnesium ion) contained in raw water such as tap water and groundwater by adsorbing them with a cation exchange resin to produce soft water that is treated water (Patent Reference 1).

  In the water softening device as described above, when the amount of water taken in the ion-exchange resin bed reaches a predetermined amount, the ion-exchange group becomes almost saturated with the hardness component and loses its ion-exchange ability (that is, breakthrough state). .. Therefore, in the water softening device, before the ion exchange resin bed becomes breakthrough, a regeneration operation is performed to supply salt water as a regenerant to the pressure tank containing the ion exchange resin bed to restore the ion exchange capacity. Be seen. The salt water as the regenerating liquid is stored in the regenerating liquid tank (salt water tank).

  A general water softening device is a pressure tank containing an ion exchange resin bed, a regenerant tank for storing salt water as a regenerant, a raw water introducing section for introducing raw water, and an ion exchange resin in the pressure tank. And a pipe section having a treated water lead-out section for leading out treated treated water. The pressure tank is provided with a control valve for switching the flow path of the water passage process, the regeneration process, and the like, and the pressure tank is connected to the pipe portion via the control valve. Further, the domestic water softening device is configured to include a housing for accommodating a pressure tank, a regenerant liquid tank, and a piping section in addition to these elements.

JP, 2005-166070, A

  By the way, it is necessary to replenish the raw material of the regenerant into the regenerant tank. At this time, the raw material of the regenerating liquid may be appropriately introduced into a predetermined raw material introducing port of the regenerating liquid tank, but it may not be so. For example, the raw material may drop into a region other than a predetermined raw material introduction port of the regenerant tank, or drop onto the pressure tank, the flow path control valve unit, or the piping section. Further, the user may unnecessarily touch the regenerant tank, the pressure tank, the flow path control valve unit, or the piping section. Therefore, it is desired to suppress such a fall of the raw material and unnecessary contact of the raw material with the device portion in the housing.

  In the present invention, the raw material of the regenerant is dropped into the regenerant tank, the pressure tank, the flow path control valve unit or the piping section, and the user does not need the regenerant tank, the pressure tank, the flow path control valve unit or the piping section. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ion exchange device that can prevent the user from touching.

In the present invention, a pressure tank containing an ion-exchange resin bed for producing treated water by introducing raw water and a regenerant for regenerating the ion-exchange resin bed are stored, and a raw material drug for the regenerant is introduced at the upper part. A regenerant liquid supply unit including a regenerant liquid tank having a raw material introduction port for, a piping unit having a raw water introduction part and a treated water derivation part, the pressure tank, the regenerant solution supply unit and the piping unit are connected, A flow passage control valve unit for switching the flow passage, a housing having the pressure tank, the regenerant supply unit, the piping unit and the flow passage control valve unit, and a casing having an outer lid member forming a top surface, An intermediate panel member that is arranged below the outer lid member, above the pressure tank, the flow path control valve unit, and the piping unit, and has a raw material inlet connected to the raw material inlet of the regenerant tank. If, e Bei and a inner lid member for closing the material inlet, the material inlet of the intermediate panel member, the different said feed inlet and a similar shape and size of the regenerant tank, similar in shape By pressing the raw material inlet and the raw material inlet through the packing member to each other, the raw material inlet of the intermediate panel member and the raw material inlet of the regenerant tank are closely connected to each other, ions Regarding switching equipment.

  Further, it is preferable that a control box for storing an electronic device for controlling the ion exchange apparatus is further provided, and the control box is fixed to a lower side of the intermediate panel member.

  The electronic device includes a switching power supply that converts commercial AC power into DC power, and a microcomputer that is driven by the DC power converted by the switching power supply and that controls the operation of the flow path control valve unit. It is preferable that the driving voltage of the microcomputer is in the range of 5 to 24V.

  Further, the microcomputer is configured as a one-board microcomputer in which at least a CPU, a memory, a display device and operation buttons are mounted, and the intermediate panel member has positions of the display device and the operation buttons when the control box is fixed. It is preferable that a display operation area in which the display device can be visually recognized and the operation button can be pressed is provided so as to correspond to.

  According to the present invention, the raw material of the regenerant is dropped into the regenerant tank, the pressure tank, the flow path control valve unit or the piping section, or the user relocates the regenerator tank, the pressure tank, the flow path control valve unit or the piping section. Unnecessary touching can be suppressed. Also, it has excellent appearance from the user's perspective.

It is a whole block diagram which shows a water treatment process when the flow-path control valve of the water softening device as one Embodiment of the ion exchange device of this invention is in a 1st state. It is a perspective view which shows the state which opened the outer cover member of the water softening apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a perspective view showing a state where an outer lid member and a front side plate of the water softening device according to the present embodiment are omitted and an inner lid member is opened. It is a perspective view which shows a part of salt water supply unit in a water softening device concerning this embodiment in a section. It is a disassembled perspective view of the salt water supply unit in the water softening device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the state which accommodated the salt water plate in the lower tank. It is sectional drawing which shows typically the inside of the lower tank in the water softening apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. (A) is an exploded perspective view showing the intermediate panel member, the inner lid member, and the control box in the water softening device according to the present embodiment in an exploded manner. (B) is an exploded perspective view seen from the bottom side showing the packing member of the intermediate panel member in the water softening device according to the present embodiment in an exploded manner. It is a perspective view which shows the piping unit in the water softening apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is an enlarged view of an operation tool placement portion. (A) is a perspective view showing a state in which a connector and a pressure relief valve are attached to the flow path control valve unit in the water softening device according to the present embodiment. (B) is an exploded perspective view of the flow path control valve unit, connector and pressure relief valve of (A).

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the ion exchange device of the present invention is applied to a water softening device will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The water softening device 1 according to the present embodiment replaces hardness components contained in raw water such as tap water, ground water, and industrial water with sodium ions (or potassium ions) to generate soft water as treated water. The water softening device 1 is used for the purpose of supplying soft water to various demand points as various kinds of water. The water softening device 1 is used for residential buildings such as houses and condominiums, facilities for attracting customers such as hotels and public baths, medical facilities such as clinics and hospitals, cooling and heating equipment such as boilers and cooling towers, and water processing equipment such as cleaning equipment. Connected to equipment etc. In particular, the water softening device 1 is suitable for softening tap water in general households.

  First, with reference to Drawing 1-Drawing 3, each component which constitutes water softening device 1 concerning this embodiment is explained. The water softening device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a pressure tank 2, a flow path control valve unit 3, a salt water supply unit 4 (see also FIGS. 4 to 7) as a regenerant supply unit, and a piping unit 5 (FIG. 9 to 11), a housing 6, and an intermediate panel 7 (see also FIG. 8). In the following description, “line” is a general term for a flow path, a path, a pipeline, and the like.

[Pressure tank 2]
The pressure tank 2 is a cylindrical pressure-resistant container having a rounded bottom (for example, the outer periphery is substantially circular in plan view), and has an opening 21 in the upper part. Inside the pressure tank 2, a liquid collection and distribution pipe 231 (see FIG. 1) extending from the center of the opening 21 to near the bottom of the pressure tank 2 is provided. A top screen 241 is provided in a region of the opening 21 of the pressure tank 2 excluding the liquid collection and distribution pipe 231. A bottom screen 242 is provided between the lower end of the collecting and distributing pipe 231 and the bottom of the pressure tank 2. Therefore, the liquid that has flowed into the pressure tank 2 from the upper end of the liquid collection and delivery pipe 231 descends in the liquid collection and delivery pipe 231 and flows from the lower end to the outside of the liquid collection and delivery pipe 231 through the bottom screen 242 to collect and deliver the liquid. It rises in the internal space of the pressure tank 2 outside the liquid pipe 231 and exits the pressure tank 2 through the top screen 241. On the contrary, the liquid flowing into the pressure tank 2 through the top screen 241 descends in the internal space of the pressure tank 2, enters the collecting and distributing pipe 231 through the bottom screen 242, and flows in the collecting and distributing pipe 231. It rises and goes out of the pressure tank 2 from its upper end. The top screen 241 and the bottom screen 242 are also called a distributor or a collector because of their functions.

  In the inner space of the pressure tank 2 outside the collecting and distributing pipe 231, an ion exchange resin bed 211 made of ion exchange resin beads (typically, cation exchange resin beads used for water softening) and a filter gravel are formed. A support floor 212 is housed. The support floor 212 is arranged on the bottom side of the pressure tank 2. The support bed 212 functions as a fluid rectifying member for the ion exchange resin bed 211. The ion exchange resin bed 211 is laminated above the support floor 212. The ion exchange resin bed 211 functions as a treatment material for producing soft water W2 as treated water by introducing raw water (for example, tap water) W1.

[Flow control valve unit 3]
The flow path control valve unit 3 is attached to the opening 21 (see FIG. 1) in the upper part of the pressure tank 2. The flow path control valve unit 3 is connected to the pressure tank 2, the salt water supply unit 4, and the piping unit 5, and switches the flow path according to the required operation.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the flow path control valve unit 3 includes a valve housing 300 and a drive mechanism (for example, a motor, a gear, an arm, a drive mechanism) for driving a main valve 31, a brine valve 35, and a drain valve 36 described later. And a drive mechanism composed of a cam or the like: not shown). The valve housing 300 has a lower opening 301 attached to the opening 21 of the pressure tank 2, a raw water inflow port 302, a soft water outflow port 303 as a treated water outflow port, and a salt water inflow port 304 as a regenerant inflow port. A drain port 305 is formed. A connector 57 (described later) of the piping unit 5 is attached to the raw water inflow port 302 and the soft water outflow port 303. A first pipe joint 54a (described later) is connected to the salt water inflow port 304. One end of a first drain pipe 551 (described later) is connected to the drain port 305. The drive mechanism is covered with a waterproof cover 306.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the flow path control valve unit 3 includes a main valve 31, an ejector 33, a strainer 34, a brine valve 35, and a drain valve 36, and these elements are It is incorporated in the valve housing 300. Further, in the valve housing 300, a raw water line L12, soft water lines L21, L22, L23, L24, dilution water lines L31, L32, salt water lines L42, L43, L44, and drainage lines L51, L52 are fluid. It is designed as a transport channel. The soft water lines L21 to L24, the dilution water lines L31 and L32, and the salt water line L44 also function as raw water lines. The soft water line L21 also functions as a salt water line.

  The main valve 31 includes a cylinder portion 311 formed in the valve housing 300 and having one end opened, and a valve body 312 housed inside the cylinder portion 311. The valve body 312 is configured to be slidable along the axial direction of the cylinder portion 311. The cylinder portion 311 is provided with four holes 3111 to 3114 on its peripheral wall at predetermined intervals along the axial direction. The valve body 312 includes three seal parts 3121 to 3123. The three seal portions 3121 to 3123 project outward from the peripheral wall at predetermined intervals along the axial direction. The valve body 312 has one hole 3124 at the top thereof.

  When the lower opening 301 of the valve housing 300 is attached to the opening 21 of the pressure tank 2, the opening end of the flow path control valve 31 is watertightly attached to the upper end of the liquid collection and distribution pipe 231 of the pressure tank 2. One end of the raw water line L12 is connected to the raw water inflow port 302 of the valve housing 300. The other end of the raw water line L12 is connected to the first hole 3111 of the cylinder portion 311.

  One end of the soft water line L21 is water-tightly connected to the opening 21 of the pressure tank 2 except for the liquid collection and distribution pipe 231. The other end of the soft water line L21 is connected to a connection point between one end of the soft water line L22 and one end of the salt water line L44. The other end of the soft water line L22 is connected to the third hole 3113 of the cylinder portion 311. One end of the soft water line L23 is connected to the second hole 3112 of the cylinder portion 311. The other end of the soft water line L23 is connected to a connection point between one end of the soft water line L24 and one end of the dilution water line L31. The other end of the soft water line L24 is connected to the soft water outflow port 303.

  The other end of the dilution water line L31 is connected to one side of the strainer 34. One end of the dilution water line L32 is connected to the other side of the strainer 34. The other end of the dilution water line L32 is connected to the nozzle side of the ejector 33. The other end of the salt water line L44 is connected to the diffuser side of the ejector 33. One end of a salt water line L43 is connected to the suction port of the ejector 33. The other end of the salt water line L43 is connected to one side of the brine valve 35. The other side of the brine valve 35 is connected to the salt water inflow port 304.

  One end of the drain line L51 is connected to the fourth hole 3114 of the cylinder portion 311. The other end of the drain line L51 is connected to one side of the drain valve 36. The other side of the drain valve 36 is connected to the drain port 305.

  Regarding water collection and regeneration, the main valve 31 distributes the raw water W1 to the bottom screen 242 of the pressure tank 2 while collecting the raw water W1 at the top screen 241 to generate an upward flow of the raw water W1 to produce soft water W2. The flow of water (raw water W1, soft water W2) in the water treatment step to be performed and salt water W3 as a regenerant liquid are distributed to the top screen 241 while being collected on the bottom screen 242 to generate a downward flow of salt water W3. The flow rate of the salt water W3 in the regeneration process for regenerating the ion exchange resin bed 211 is a valve that can be switched.

(First state)
As shown in FIG. 1, in the main valve 31, when the first seal portion 3121 of the valve body 312 is located between the first hole 3111 and the second hole 3112 of the cylinder portion 311, the second main body of the valve body 312 is not moved. The seal portion 3122 is located between the third hole 3113 and the fourth hole 3114 of the cylinder portion 311, and the third seal portion 3123 of the valve body 312 is between the fourth hole 3114 and the open end portion of the cylinder portion 311. Located in between. At this time, the first hole 3111 of the cylinder portion 311 has a predetermined gap between the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the cylinder portion 311 and the outer surface of the peripheral wall of the valve body 312, a space inside the top portion of the cylinder portion 311, and a top portion of the valve body 312. It communicates with the space inside the valve body 312 via the hole 3124. That is, the first hole 3111 of the cylinder portion 311 communicates with the upper end of the liquid collection and distribution pipe 231 of the pressure tank 2. The second hole 3112 and the third hole 3113 of the valve housing 311 communicate with each other through a predetermined gap between the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the cylinder portion 311 and the outer surface of the peripheral wall of the valve body 312. The fourth hole 3114 of the cylinder portion 311 does not communicate with other holes or the space inside the valve body 312. Hereinafter, this positional relationship is referred to as the “first state” of the flow path control valve 31.

  The main valve 31 has other states, such as a second state, a third state, and a fourth state. Regarding these, the detailed description in this specification will be omitted by using the descriptions regarding the second state, the third state, and the fourth state in Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-018129 filed by the same applicant as the present application. ..

[Piping unit 5]
As shown in FIG. 1, the flow path control valve unit 3 includes a raw water line L11 extending from a raw water introducing section 510 to a raw water inflow port 302 (via a connector 57 described later) and a soft water outflow port 303 (connecting the connector 57 to the raw water line L11). A soft water line L25 is connected to the soft water outlet 520. The raw water line L11 and the soft water line L25 are connected by a bypass line L61. The raw water line L11 includes a raw water pipe 51. The soft water line L25 includes a soft water pipe 52. The bypass line L61 includes a bypass pipe 53.

  The pipe unit 5 includes a raw water pipe 51, a soft water pipe 52 as a treated water pipe, a bypass pipe 53, a first bypass switching valve 515, a second bypass switching valve 531 and various valve groups described later. And an assembly including. Therefore, the piping unit 5 is provided with the raw water introduction part 510 and the soft water derivation part 520 as a treated water derivation part.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, the piping unit 5 includes an integrally molded connector 57 for connecting the raw water piping 51 and the soft water piping 52 to the flow path control valve unit 3. The connector 57 has a first port 571 connected to the raw water pipe 51, a second port 572 communicating with the first port 571 and connected to the raw water inflow port 302, and a third port connected to the soft water outflow port 303. A port 573 and a fourth port 574 that communicates with the third port 573 and is connected to the soft water pipe 52 are provided. An intermediate port 575 as a raw water flow path is provided at an intermediate position between the first port 571 and the second port 572. A pressure relief valve 518 described below is connected to the intermediate port 575. That is, the pressure relief valve 518 is connected to the intermediate port 575 that connects the first port 571 and the second port 572, instead of the raw water pipe 51.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 9, in the raw water line L11 (raw water pipe 51), a raw water strainer 511, a vacuum relief valve 512 having a filter 513, a check valve 514, a check valve 514, a check valve 514 1, a bypass switching valve 515, a pressure reducing valve 516, a flow switch 517, and a pressure relief valve 518 are provided. The raw water strainer 511 blocks the flow of fine particles contained in the raw water W1. The vacuum relief valve 512 opens when a negative pressure is generated in the system to suck in the atmosphere. The check valve 514 regulates the flow of the raw water W1 in one direction to prevent the reverse flow of the raw water W1.

  The first bypass switching valve 515 cooperates with the second bypass switching valve 531 to switch the inlet passage between the raw water line L11 and a bypass line L61 described later. The pressure reducing valve 516 reduces the raw water W1 to a predetermined water pressure. The flow switch 517 outputs a detection signal to the electronic device 731 of the control box 73, which will be described later, when it detects that a predetermined amount of raw water W1 has flowed. The pressure relief valve 518 releases excess pressure to the outside of the system when the water pressure of the raw water W1 or the back pressure from the secondary side of the water softening device 1 becomes equal to or more than a predetermined value. Protect the control valve unit 3.

  The soft water line L25 (soft water pipe 52) is provided with a check valve 521, a soft water strainer 522 as a treated water strainer, and a switching valve 523 in order from the side closer to the flow path control valve unit 3. The check valve 521 regulates the flow of the soft water W2 in one direction to prevent the soft water W2 from flowing backward. The soft water strainer 522 can capture foreign matter (fine particles or crushed pieces of ion exchange resin) mixed in the soft water W2, and the foreign matter can be removed by opening the water detection cock 5221 (strainer discharge pipe 5222 (strainer discharge line L62)). It is discharged to the outside of the system via.

  A bypass line is provided between the connection point between the check valve 514 and the first bypass switching valve 515 of the raw water line L11 (raw water pipe 51) and the downstream side of the switching valve 523 of the soft water line L25 (soft water pipe 52). L61 is connected. The bypass line L61 constitutes a bypass pipe 53 that connects the raw water pipe 51 and the soft water pipe 52. A branch portion of the bypass pipe 53 from the raw water pipe 51 is arranged between the check valve 514 and the pressure reducing valve 516. The bypass line L61 (bypass pipe 53) is provided with a second bypass switching valve 531 and a check valve 532 in order from the side closer to the raw water line L11.

  The second bypass switching valve 531 cooperates with the first bypass switching valve 515 to switch the inlet passage, and also cooperates with the switching valve 523 to switch the outlet passage. Specifically, when the first bypass switching valve 515 is opened and the second bypass switching valve 531 is closed, the raw water W1 flows into the flow path control valve unit 3 without flowing into the bypass pipe 53. To do. On the contrary, when the first bypass switching valve 515 is closed and the second bypass switching valve 531 is opened, the raw water W1 flows into the bypass pipe 53 without flowing into the flow path control valve unit 3.

  For example, when replacing the ion exchange resin bed 211 or repairing the flow path control valve unit 3, the water softening device 1 is installed while stopping the flow of water to the flow path control valve unit 3 and the pressure tank 2. It is necessary to continue supplying water to the inside of the house. Therefore, in this case, the maintenance is performed in a state where the second bypass switching valve 531 is opened and the first bypass switching valve 515 and the switching valve 523 are closed.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the assembly of the piping unit 5 including the raw water piping 51, the soft water piping 52, and the bypass piping 53 is arranged above and sideways of the pressure tank 2. The outer periphery of the pressure tank 2 is substantially circular in plan view, and the piping unit 5 is arranged along the circular outer periphery of the pressure tank 2.

[Salt water supply unit 4]
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the salt water supply unit 4 mainly supplies the ion exchange resin bed 211 in the pressure tank 2 with the salt water W3 generated from the salt S as the raw material drug. The salt water supply unit 4 includes a salt water tank 41 as a regenerating liquid tank, a salt water plate 42 as a regenerating liquid plate, a salt water valve pipe 43 as a regenerating liquid flow pipe, and a salt water valve 44 as a regenerating liquid valve. Consists of The salt water tank 41 has a raw material storage section 411 capable of storing salt S and a salt water storage section 412 as a regenerant storage section capable of storing salt water W3 generated from the salt S and makeup water. The salt water plate 42 is disposed inside the salt water tank 41 and has a mounting surface 421 on which the salt S is mounted. In the salt water valve pipe 43, the salt water W3 that is derived from the salt water tank 41 or the makeup water that is introduced into the salt water tank 41 flows. The salt water valve 44 is connected to the salt water valve pipe 43 to control the flow of makeup water and the flow of the salt water W3, and when the water level in the salt water tank 41 reaches a preset specified water level WL (see FIG. 7). It has a function to block the flow of makeup water. The salt water valve 44, the salt water valve pipe 43, and the closing member 4224 as an upper cover portion described later are integrally assembled as a salt water valve assembly (regeneration liquid valve assembly) 45.

  The salt water tank 41 is divided into an upper tank 41A and a lower tank 41B. The salt water tank 41 is integrally formed by connecting the upper tank 41A and the lower tank 41B in the vertical direction. The lower tank 41B is a tubular body having a generally rectangular tube shape. The bottom portion of the lower tank 41B is set to a first bottom portion 41B1 corresponding to the area where the salt water valve 44 is installed and a position higher than the first bottom portion 41B1, and corresponds to the supply stop position BL (see FIG. 7) of the salt water W3. And the second bottom portion 41B2. The first bottom portion 41B1 is arranged near one corner portion of the lower tank 41B. The first bottom portion 41B1 is located on the front side of the water softening device 1 when the salt water tank 41 is installed at a predetermined position of the water softening device 1.

  The lower tank 41B is provided with a step portion 41B3 at a predetermined height from the second bottom portion 41B2 of the lower tank 41B. The step portion 41B3 is a step portion in which the size of the cross section of the lower tank 41B below this is smaller than the size of the cross section of the lower tank 41B above this. Inside the lower tank 41B, the salt water plate 42 is arranged on the step portion 41B3. The salt S is placed on the salt water plate 42. In the lower tank 41B, with the mounting surface 421 of the salt water plate 42 as a boundary, a portion below the mounting surface 421 functions as a salt water storage portion 412. On the other hand, the area above the boundary functions as the raw material storage unit 411.

  The upper tank 41A functions exclusively as the raw material container 411. This means that, of the raw material storage unit 411 and the salt water storage unit 412 included in the salt water tank 41, the upper tank 41A performs only the function as the raw material storage unit 411 and does not function as the salt water storage unit 412. is there. The boundary between the raw material storage unit 411 and the salt water storage unit 412 is determined by the mounting surface 421 of the salt water plate 42. The salt water plate 42 is arranged inside the lower tank 41B. Therefore, the lower tank 41B not only functions as the salt water storage unit 412 but also partially functions as the raw material storage unit 411. Therefore, the upper tank 41A exclusively functions as the raw material container 411.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the salt water tank 41 is provided with an overflow portion 413 that discharges excess salt water W3 inside through the opening 4133 communicating with the raw material container 411 to the outside. The overflow section 413 is arranged inside the lower tank 41B. Specifically, an overflow portion 413 is provided at a predetermined height from the step portion 41B3 at a corner portion different from the corner portion where the first bottom portion 41B1 of the lower tank 41B is formed. That is, the corner portion of the lower tank 41B in which the overflow portion 413 is provided is provided with a concave portion 4131 that is recessed laterally inward of the lower tank 41B from the second bottom portion 41B2 to the overflow height. The upper surface of the recess 4131 constitutes an overflow surface 4132 having an opening 4133. The overflow surface 4132 is provided with a tubular drainage cylinder 4134 extending downward from the opening 4133. One end of the second drain pipe 552 is connected to the bottom opening 4135 of the drain cylinder 4134. The other end of the second drain pipe 552 is connected to the common drain pipe 554.

  The salt water plate 42 is raised above the mounting surface 421, and covers the portion of the salt water valve 44 located above the mounting surface 421. The salt water valve raised portion 422 is a regenerated liquid valve raised portion and the mounting surface. And a protrusion 423 for an overflow portion that is higher than 421 and covers the opening 4133 of the overflow portion 413. That is, the salt water valve raised portion 422 is connected to the salt water plate 42 and laterally covers a portion of the salt water valve 44 located above the mounting surface 421, and a mounting portion of the salt water valve 44. It is composed of upper cover portions 4222 and 4224 that cover a portion located above the surface 421 from above. The side cover part 4221 (and the upper cover part 4222 integrated therewith) and the upper cover part 4224 are configured to be separable.

  Specifically, the salt water valve raised portion 422 is raised above the mounting surface 421 to a predetermined height that substantially accommodates the salt water valve 44 installed on the first bottom portion 41B1 of the lower tank 41B. The salt water valve raised portion 422 includes a partition wall 4221 as a side cover portion, a partition plate 4222 as an upper cover portion, and a closing member 4224. That is, the partition wall 4221 is provided near the corner portion where the first bottom portion 41B1 of the lower tank 41B is arranged so as to isolate the salt water valve 44 installed at the first bottom portion 41B1 in the area near the corner portion. A part of the lower tank 41B that covers the first side wall 41B4 to the adjacent second side wall 41B5 is covered with a required height. The partition plate 4222 is continuous with the upper edge of the partition wall 4221 and covers a region substantially in contact with the first side wall 41B4 and the second side wall 41B5 of the lower tank 41B. The partition plate 4222 is provided with, for example, a circular opening 4223 just above the first bottom portion 41B1 of the lower tank 41B. The closing member 4224 as the upper cover part integrally closes the opening 4223 of the partition plate 4222 together with the opening 41A3 of the upper tank 41A.

  The overflow portion raised portion 423 is raised more than the mounting surface 421 of the salt water plate 42 and covers the overflow surface 4132 and the opening 4133 of the overflow portion 413. Specifically, the overflow portion raised portion 423 is raised from the mounting surface 421 to a height substantially the same as the salt water valve raised portion 422. The overflow portion ridge 423 includes a partition wall 4231 as a side cover portion and a partition plate 4232 as an upper cover portion. Specifically, the partition wall 4231 is required to extend from the second side wall 41B5 forming the corner portion to the adjacent third side wall 41B6 so as to isolate the corner portion of the lower tank 41B where the overflow portion 413 is provided. Cover at the height of. The partition plate 4232 is continuous with the upper edge of the partition wall 4231 and covers a region substantially in contact with the second side wall 41B5 and the third side wall 41B6 of the lower tank 41B.

  As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, a gap 4225 is provided between the side edge of the salt water valve raised portion 422 and the inner wall of the salt water tank 41 (first side wall 41B4 and second side wall 41B5). Be done. The gap 4225 functions as a flow path for convection caused by the difference in concentration of the salt water reservoir 412 that occurs when the salt S dissolves in the makeup water. A gap 4233 is provided between the side edge of the overflow portion ridge 423 and the inner wall of the salt water tank 41 (the second side wall 41B5 and the third side wall 41B6). The gap 4233 functions as a flow path for discharging the salt water, which has exceeded the proper liquid amount of the salt water storage portion 412 and has increased to the specified position of the raw material storage portion 411, from the overflow surface 4132 of the overflow portion 413. On the other hand, the gap 4233 also functions as a convection flow path due to the difference in concentration of the salt water reservoir 412 that occurs when the salt S dissolves in the makeup water.

  The upper tank 41A has an open space 41A1 above the salt water valve protrusion 422, which is partitioned from the raw material container 411 via a tank wall 41A5 and which opens at least upward. A salt water valve pipe 43 is arranged in the open space 41A1. Specifically, the upper tank 41A is partially different from the tubular body corresponding to the tubular body of the lower tank 41B. That is, the portion of the upper tank 41A located directly above the first bottom portion 41B1 of the lower tank 41B is a recess 41A1 as an open space that is recessed inward in the lateral and downward directions of the upper tank 41A through the height of the upper tank 41A. Equipped with. At the lowermost part of the recess 41A1, there is provided a bottom plate 41A2 integrally connected to the other parts of the upper tank 41A. The bottom plate 41A2 is provided with a circular opening 41A3, for example, at a position directly above the first bottom portion 41B1 of the lower tank 41B. A raw material introduction port 41A4 for introducing a raw material drug (salt) is provided on the upper surface of the upper tank 41A.

  In the salt water valve pipe 43, the salt water W3 led out from the salt water tank 41 or the makeup water introduced into the salt water tank 41 flows. Specifically, the salt water valve pipe 43 constitutes a part of the salt water line L41 for supplying the stored salt water W3 to the pressure tank 2 in the regeneration process, for example. As the salt water W3, each aqueous solution of sodium chloride and potassium chloride or the like can be used in the water softening device 1 using the cation exchange resin beads.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the inside of the salt water tank 41 is divided by the salt water plate 42 into a raw material storage portion 411 and a salt water storage portion 412. The raw material storage unit 411 is a region capable of storing salt S (for example, sodium chloride or potassium chloride) as a raw material of the regenerating liquid. The salt water storage unit 412 is a region in which salt water W3 generated from the salt S stored in the raw material storage unit 411 and makeup water introduced from the outside can be stored.

  The salt S contained in the raw material container 411 is placed on the salt water plate 42. A part of the salt S placed on the salt water plate 42 is dissolved into the salt water reservoir 412 through the salt water plate 42 and mixed with makeup water to become salt water W3. The lower portion of the salt water valve 44 is installed on the first bottom portion 41B1 of the salt water tank 41. The cross-sectional area of the first bottom portion 41B1 is preferably, for example, 1.2 times or less the area of the lower portion of the salt water valve 44. The height of the second bottom portion 41B2 is preferably, for example, 2 to 5 cm lower than the salt water supply stop position BL.

  The salt water valve 44 controls the flow of the makeup water from the flow path control valve unit 3 and the flow of the salt water W3 to the flow path control valve unit 3, and the water level in the salt water tank 41 is set to a specified water level WL set in advance. It has the function of blocking the flow of makeup water when it reaches. The salt water valve 44 includes a water level detecting float 4401, a float rod 4404, a salt water valve pipe 43, and an air check housing portion 4420. The water level detecting float 4401 detects the water level of the salt water W3 stored inside the salt water tank 41. The water level detecting float 4401 is formed in a cylindrical shape having an inverted concave shape in a vertical cross section. The water level detecting float 4401 is made of a material having a smaller specific gravity than the makeup water. Therefore, the water level detecting float 4401 has buoyancy with respect to the makeup water and the salt water W3. The float rod 4404 is a rod-shaped member that moves up and down in conjunction with the water level detection float 4401. The upper end of the float rod 4404 is connected to the water level detecting float 4401. The lower end of the float rod 4404 is connected to a water replenishment stopper (not shown) as a valve body.

  The salt water valve pipe 43 is a tubular member through which salt water W3 supplied from the salt water tank 41 to the outside and makeup water supplied to the salt water tank 41 from the outside flow. The lower end of the salt water valve pipe 43 is connected to a lower air check housing (not shown). The air check housing portion 4420 includes a salt water valve filter 4421, an upper air check housing, a water replenishment stopper, a ball holder, a float ball, a lower air check housing, a metal ball, and a plug. Regarding the configuration and operation of the salt water valve 44 including the details of the air check housing portion 4420, the detailed description in this specification will be omitted by referring to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-174074 by the same applicant as this application.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in the salt water valve assembly 45, the salt water valve 44, the salt water valve pipe 43, and the closing member 4224 of the salt water valve raised portion 422 of the salt water plate 42 are integrally configured. The third connection end 543 of the salt water pipe 54 is connected to the tip of the salt water valve pipe 43. When the salt water valve pipe 43 is pulled up, both the closing member 4224 and the salt water valve 44 are pulled up. Closure of the raw material inlet 41A4 of the salt water tank 41 will be described later.

[Salt water piping]
A salt water pipe for introducing salt water when the ion exchange resin bed 211 is regenerated is connected to the flow path control valve unit 3. As shown in FIG. 1, one end of a salt water line L42 is connected to the salt water inflow port 304 of the flow path control valve unit 3. The other end of the salt water line L42 is connected to one side of the salt water flow meter 545. One end of a salt water line L41 is connected to the other side of the salt water flow meter 545. The other end of the salt water line L41 is connected to the salt water valve pipe 43 of the salt water supply unit 4. Specifically, the other end of the salt water line L42 constitutes a first connection end 541 of the first pipe joint 54a, as shown in FIG. One side of the salt water flow meter 545 is connected to the first connection end 541 of the first pipe joint 54a. The second connecting end 542 of the second pipe joint 54b is connected to the other side of the salt water flow meter 545.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the third connection end 543 of the third pipe joint 54c is connected to the tip of the salt water valve pipe 43 of the salt water supply unit 4. The second connecting end 542 of the second pipe joint 54b and the third connecting end 543 of the third pipe joint 54c are connected by a flexible tube (not shown). That is, the salt water line L41 is composed of the flexible tube and the salt water pipe including the pipe joints 54a to 54c. The salt water inflow port 304 of the flow path control valve unit 3 and the tip of the salt water valve pipe 43 are connected by this salt water pipe.

[Drainage pipe]
Drainage pipes for leading out various kinds of wastewater are connected to the flow path control valve unit 3, the salt water supply unit 4, and the piping unit 5. As shown in FIG. 1, one end of a drain line L52 is connected to the drain port 305 of the flow path control valve unit 3. The drain line L52 includes a first drain pipe 551. Through the first drain pipe 551, recycled wastewater discharged when the ion-exchange resin bed 211 is recycled flows. One end of a drain line L53 is connected to the overflow section 413 of the salt water supply unit 4. The drainage line L53 includes a second drainage pipe 552. Overflow drainage from the salt water tank 41 flows through the second drainage pipe 552. One end of the drain line L54 is connected to the pressure relief valve 518 of the piping unit 5. The drain line L54 includes a third drain pipe 553. Raw water drainage discharged when the pressure relief valve 518 is operated flows through the third drainage pipe 553. The other side of the first drain pipe 551, the other side of the second drain pipe 552, and the other side of the third drain pipe 553 are all connected to the common drain pipe 554.

  The common drainage pipe 554 guides a plurality of types of drainage through a single flow path to the drainage joint 550 as a single drainage unit. A water-sealing trap 5541 is provided in the shared drainage pipe 554 downstream of the connection between the shared drainage pipe 554 and the first drainage pipe 551 and the connection between the shared drainage pipe 554 and the second drainage pipe 552. .. The trap 5541 is configured to hold the sealed water by circulating the recycled drainage water to the common drainage pipe 554.

[Layout inside the device]
Next, the positional relationship among the pressure tank 2, the flow path control valve unit 3, the salt water supply unit 4, and the piping unit 5 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the pressure tank 2 is arranged at the center of the water softening device 1 in the left-right direction. The flow path control valve unit 3 is arranged above the pressure tank 2. The salt water supply unit 4 is arranged on one side (left side) of the pressure tank 2. The piping unit 5 is arranged on the other side (right side) of the pressure tank 2. The height occupied by the pressure tank 2 and the flow path control valve unit 3 is set lower than the height occupied by the salt water tank 41.

The housing 6 houses the pressure tank 2, the flow path control valve unit 3, the salt water supply unit 4, and the piping unit 5. The housing 6 includes a base 61 that supports the pressure tank 2 and the salt water supply unit 4, and a first side plate 62 that surrounds the pressure tank 2, the flow path control valve unit 3, the salt water supply unit 4, and the piping unit 5. And a second side plate 63, an outer lid member 64 that covers the pressure tank 2, the flow path control valve unit 3, the salt water supply unit 4, and the piping unit 5 from above. The housing 6 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole. The housing 6 may not have a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the outer surface of the side plate of the housing 6 may be rounded.
The flow path control valve unit 3 is attached to the pressure tank 2 and is supported by the pressure tank 2. The piping unit 5 is attached to the flow path control valve unit 3 and is supported by the flow path control valve unit 3.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the base 61 has a rectangular shape in plan view. The base 61 includes anchor attachment portions 613 on the entire circumferential surfaces of both long sides and both short sides in a plan view. The base 61 is made of a resin material. The anchor mounting portion 613 is made of the same resin material as that of the base 61, and is integrally molded with the base 61. Anchor fittings 614 are attached to the anchor attachment portion 613. For example, by fixing the anchor metal fitting 614 using an anchor bolt (not shown), the water softening device 1 is firmly installed at the installation location. Note that it is not necessary to use all the anchor mounting portions 613, and only some of the anchor mounting portions 613 may be used depending on the installation location and the required installation strength.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first side plate 62 and the second side plate 63 are fixed to the base 61 at their lower edges. The first side plate 62 covers the back surface and left and right side surfaces of the water softening device 1, and the second side plate 63 covers the front surface of the water softening device 1. On the right side surface of the first side plate 62, the raw water introduction part 510, the soft water discharge part 520, and the drain joint 550 of the piping unit 5 are provided. As shown in FIG. 10, an operation tool box 621 as an operation tool arranging portion is provided on the upper portion of the right side surface of the first side plate 62. Inside the operation tool box 621, a first bypass switching valve operation tool 5151 that is manually operated when switching the first bypass switching valve 515 and a manual operation when switching the second bypass switching valve 531. Second bypass switching valve operation tool 5311, a raw water strainer lid 5111 as a raw water strainer operation tool that is manually operated when cleaning the raw water strainer 511, and a manual operation when cleaning the treated water strainer 522 The water detection cock 5221 as the treated water strainer operation tool is collectively arranged (stored).
The water detection cock 5221 is provided in the strainer discharge pipe 5222 (strainer discharge line L62). The form of the operation tool is not limited, and examples thereof include a handle, a lever, a knob (knob), and a knob.

  A drain port 6211 is provided in the lower right front of the operation tool box 621. The drain port 6211 is for draining water leaking from the strainer discharge pipe 5222 of the water detection cock 5221 from the inside of the operation tool box 621, for example. The operation tool box 621 includes a cover plate member 622 that covers the operation tool box 621 and covers the operation tool box 621. A bulging portion 6221 bulging toward the front is provided on the lower right side of the cover plate member 622 so as to cover the drainage port 6211 above. The lid plate member 622 is screwed into the boss hole 6212 of the operation tool box 621 with the decorative screw 6222 inserted through the central hole of the lower edge portion in a state where the upper edge portion is inserted into the locking portion of the operation tool box 621 from below. It is attached to the operation tool box 621 by fastening. The cover plate member 622 is substantially flush with the right side surface of the first side plate 62 when attached to the operation tool box 621. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 9, the assembly of the piping unit 5 is arranged near the surface of the housing 6 on which the operation tool box 621 is provided.

  The intermediate panel 7 is placed on the upper edges of the first side plate 62 and the second side plate 63. The intermediate panel 7 includes an intermediate panel member 71, an inner lid member 72, and a control box 73. The intermediate panel member 71 is fixed to the upper edge portions of both side surfaces of the first side plate 62. The outer lid member 64 is attached to the intermediate panel member 71 so as to be openable and closable by providing a pivot shaft on the back side. A cylinder lock 641 is fixed to the center of the outer lid member 64 on the front surface side. A holding portion 642 for receiving and holding the cylinder lock 641 is fixed to the center of the front surface side of the intermediate panel member 71. By closing the outer lid member 64 and locking the cylinder lock 641, it is possible to prevent the situation in which the outer lid member 64 is opened without permission and an unexpected accident may occur.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 8, the intermediate panel member 71 is located below the outer lid member 64 and above the pressure tank 2, the flow path control valve unit 3, the salt water supply unit 4, and the piping unit 5. It is placed over. The intermediate panel member 71 includes raw material inlets 711 and 712 above the salt water tank 41. Specifically, the first raw material input port 711 is a region surrounded by a flange protruding upward from the upper surface of the intermediate panel member 71. The second raw material input port 712 is an area surrounded by a flange projecting downward from the lower surface of the intermediate panel member 71, slightly below the first raw material input port 711. The second raw material inlet 712 is similar to the raw material inlet 41A4 of the salt water tank 41 and has a slightly smaller shape. The first raw material input port 711 and the second raw material input port 712 communicate with each other in the vertical direction.

  A packing member 7121 is attached to the outer periphery of the downward flange-shaped second raw material charging port 712. The inner circumference of the packing member 7121 has a shape and size that are in close contact with the entire outer circumference of the downward flange of the second raw material charging port 712. The outer periphery of the packing member 7121 has a shape and size that are in close contact with the entire inner periphery of the raw material introduction port 41A4 of the salt water tank 41. Therefore, when the second raw material input port 712 to which the packing member 7121 of the intermediate panel member 71 is attached is pushed into the raw material introduction port 41A4 of the salt water tank 41 from above, the second raw material input port 712 is inside the raw material introduction port 41A4. Are connected together. By covering the upper flange of the first raw material input port 711 with the inner lid member 72, the first raw material input port 711 is closed, and thus the second raw material input port 712 is also closed.

  The intermediate panel member 71 is made of a hard resin material, specifically, acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (abbreviation: ASA). The inner lid member 72 is made of a soft resin material, specifically, low density polyethylene (abbreviation: LDPE). The intermediate panel member 71 and the inner lid member 72 do not include another member and/or coating for improving the sealing property. The upper tank 41A is made of polypropylene (abbreviation: PP).

  The control box 73 is fixed to the lower side of the intermediate panel member 71 at a position removed from above the salt water tank 41. An electronic device 731 used for controlling the water softening device 1 is stored in the control box 73. The electronic device 731 includes a switching power supply 7311 that converts commercial AC power into DC power, and a microcomputer 7312 that is driven by the DC power converted by the switching power supply 7311 and that controls the operation of the flow path control valve unit 3. .. The drive voltage of the microcomputer 7312 is in the range of 5 to 24V. The microcomputer 7312 is configured as a one-board microcomputer in which at least a CPU (not shown), a memory (not shown), a display device 7313, and operation buttons 7314 are mounted. The intermediate panel member 71 has a display operation area 732 in which the display device 7313 can be visually recognized and the operation button 7314 can be pressed so as to correspond to the positions of the display device 7313 and the operation button 7314 in the fixed state of the control box 73. It is provided.

[Operation of the water softening device 1]
Next, the operation of the water softening device 1 in this embodiment will be described. The water softening device 1 has a water treatment mode, a regeneration mode, a cleaning mode, a water replenishment mode, and a standby mode as operation modes.

  The water treatment mode is a mode in which raw water W1 is introduced into the pressure tank 2 to produce treated water (soft water W2). In the water treatment mode, the microcomputer 7312 executes the water treatment process.

  The regeneration mode is a mode in which salt water W3 as a regeneration liquid is introduced into the pressure tank 2 to regenerate the ion exchange resin bed 211. In the regeneration mode, the microcomputer 7312 sequentially executes a regeneration process, an extrusion process and an air bleeding process.

  The cleaning mode is a mode in which the raw water W1 as a cleaning liquid is introduced into the pressure tank 2 to generate an upward flow in the pressure tank 2 to clean the ion exchange resin bed 211. In the water treatment mode, the microcomputer 7312 executes a cleaning process.

The water replenishment mode is a mode for replenishing the raw water W1 to the salt water tank 4. In the refilling mode, the microcomputer 7312 executes a refilling process.
The standby mode is a mode in which the liquid in the pressure tank 2 is not controlled (a fluid is not introduced into the pressure tank 2). In the standby mode, the microcomputer 7312 executes the standby process.

  The microcomputer 7312 controls the flow path control valve unit 3 so as to switch each operation mode based on a predetermined transition condition (event). The details of the switching of each operation mode are omitted by referring to FIG. 10 and the description related thereto in Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-018129 filed by the same applicant as the present application, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Hereinafter, steps executed in the above-mentioned operation mode will be described. The flow path control valve unit 3 switches the state of the main valve 31 and the open/close states of the brine valve 35 and the drain valve 36 in accordance with an instruction from the microcomputer 7312, and executes the process defined for each operation mode. First, the water treatment process will be described, and regarding the other processes, only differences from the water treatment process will be described.
In the following steps, the first bypass switching valve 515 is in the open position, the second bypass switching valve 531 is in the closed position, and the water detection cock 5221 is in the closed position unless operated by the user or maintenance personnel. It is in.

[Water treatment process]
As shown in FIG. 1, in the water treatment process, in the flow path control valve unit 3, the main valve 31 is in the first state, and the brine valve 35 and the drain valve 36 are both in the closed position. Therefore, the raw water W1 introduced into the water softening device 1 from the raw water introduction part 510 sequentially flows through the raw water line L11, the raw water line L12, the first hole 3111 and the hole 3124 of the flow path control valve 31, and the collection and delivery of the pressure tank 2. It is supplied to the liquid pipe 231, and water is distributed from the bottom screen 242. The raw water W1 distributed from the bottom screen 242 passes through the ion exchange resin bed 211 in an upward flow. In the process of the raw water W1 passing through the pressure tank 2 in an upward flow, the hardness component of the raw water W1 is replaced with sodium ions (or potassium ions), and the raw water W1 is softened. The treated water (soft water W2) that has passed through the ion exchange resin bed 211 is collected on the top screen 241 at the top of the pressure tank 2. Then, the soft water W2 sequentially flows through the soft water line L21, the soft water line L22, the third hole 3113 and the second hole 3112 of the flow path control valve 31, the soft water line L23, the soft water line L24, and the soft water line L25, and the soft water outlet 520. To the outside of the water softening device 1, and is supplied to the demand point for the soft water W2.

[Regeneration process]
In the regeneration process, in the flow path control valve unit 3, the main valve 31 is in the second state, and the brine valve 35 and the drain valve 36 are both in the open position. For the details of the regeneration process, the description of the regeneration process according to the first embodiment in Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-018129 filed by the same applicant as the present application is incorporated, and the detailed description thereof is omitted.

[Extrusion process]
In the extrusion process, in the flow path control valve unit 3, the main valve 31 is in the second state, the brine valve 35 is in the closed position, and the drain valve 36 is in the open position. For the details of the extrusion process, the description of the extrusion process according to the first embodiment in Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-018129 filed by the same applicant as the present application is incorporated to omit the detailed description in this specification.

[Air bleeding process]
In the air bleeding process, in the flow path control valve unit 3, the main valve 31 is in the third state, the brine valve 35 is in the closed position, and the drain valve 36 is in the open position. For the details of the air bleeding process, the description of the ascending process according to the first embodiment in Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-018129 filed by the same applicant as the present application is referred to, and the detailed description thereof is omitted.

[Washing process]
In the cleaning process, in the flow path control valve unit 3, the main valve 31 is in the fourth state, the brine valve 35 is in the closed position, and the drain valve 36 is in the open position. For the details of the cleaning step, the description of the descending process according to the first embodiment in Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-018129 filed by the same applicant as the present application is incorporated to omit the detailed description in this specification.

[Water replenishment process]
In the water supply process, in the flow path control valve unit 3, the main valve 31 is in the first state, the brine valve 35 is in the open position, and the drain valve 36 is in the closed position. For the details of the rehydration process, the description of the rehydration process according to the first embodiment in Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-018129 filed by the same applicant as the present application is incorporated to omit the detailed description in the present specification.

[Stand-by process]
In the standby process, in the flow path control valve unit 3, the main valve 31 is in the second state, and the brine valve 35 and the drain valve 36 are both in the closed position. Regarding the details of the waiting process, the description of the waiting process according to the first embodiment in Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-018129 filed by the same applicant as the present application is incorporated to omit the detailed description in this specification.

[Manual bypass operation]
When the water supply of the water softening device 1 is manually bypassed, the user and maintenance personnel operate as follows. That is, while the water softening device 1 is executing the water treatment mode (the flow path control valve unit 3 is in the water treatment step), the operation tool box 621 is opened and the first bypass switching valve 515 is set to the closed position, and the second The bypass switching valve 531 is opened.

  By this operation, the raw water W1 introduced into the water softening device 1 from the raw water introducing section 510 sequentially flows through the raw water strainer 511 of the raw water line L11, the vacuum relief valve 512, and the check valve 514, and then the bypass line L61. The second bypass switching valve 531 and the check valve 532 sequentially flow, and subsequently the downstream side of the switching valve 523 of the soft water line L25 sequentially flows, and the soft water W2 is supplied to the demand point.

[Soft water strainer cleaning operation]
When cleaning the soft water strainer 522, the user and maintenance personnel operate as follows. That is, while the water softening device 1 is executing the water treatment mode (the flow path control valve unit 3 is in the water treatment step), the operation tool box 621 is opened and the first bypass switching valve 515 is set to the closed position, and the second The bypass switching valve 531 is opened. Then, the water detection cock 5221 is set to the open position.

  By this operation, the raw water W1 introduced into the water softening device 1 from the raw water introducing section 510 sequentially flows through the raw water strainer 511 of the raw water line L11, the vacuum relief valve 512, and the check valve 514, and then the bypass line L61. 2 by-pass switching valve 531 and check valve 532 in sequence, then successively through switching valve 523 and soft water strainer 522 in soft water line L25, and finally water detection cock 5221 and strainer discharge pipe 5222 (strainer discharge line L62). Is discharged through. At this time, foreign matter (fine particles or crushed pieces of ion-exchange resin) mixed in the soft water W2 that was previously captured by the soft water strainer 522 is opened by opening the water detection cock 5221, and the strainer discharge pipe 5222 (strainer discharge line It is discharged to the outside of the system through L62).

  In the above embodiment, the operation tool box 621 is provided on the upper portion of the right side surface of the first side plate 62, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the operation tool box 621 may be provided on either the left side surface or the back surface of the first side plate 62 or the front surface of the second side plate 63.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the raw water introducing section 510, the soft water introducing section 520 and the drain joint 550 are provided on the right side surface of the first side plate 62, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the drain joint 550 may be provided on either the left side surface or the back surface of the first side plate 62 or the front surface of the second side plate 63.

  Further, the salt water valve assembly 45 may include a float switch (not shown) for detecting whether or not the salt water (regenerated liquid) has reached a predetermined salt water concentration.

According to the water softening device 1 of the present embodiment described above, for example, the following various effects are exhibited.
The water softening device 1 of the present embodiment stores a pressure tank 2 in which an ion exchange resin bed 211 for producing soft water W2 is introduced by introducing raw water W1, and a salt water W3 for regenerating the ion exchange resin bed 211 is stored. A salt water supply unit 4 including a salt water tank 41 having a raw material introduction port 41A4 for introducing the raw material salt S of the salt water W3, a piping unit 5 having a raw water introduction section 510 and a soft water derivation section 520, and a pressure tank 2, A flow path control valve unit 3 that is connected to the salt water supply unit 4 and the piping unit 5 and switches the flow path, a pressure tank 2, a salt water supply unit 4, a piping unit 5, and a flow path control valve unit 3 are housed and the top surface is A housing 6 having an outer lid member 64 to be formed, a raw material inlet 41A4 of a salt water tank 41, which is arranged below the outer lid member 64, above the pressure tank 2, the flow path control valve unit 3 and the piping unit 5. The intermediate|middle panel member 71 in which the raw material input ports 711 and 712 connected were formed, and the inner lid member 72 which closes the raw material input ports 711 and 712.

  Therefore, the raw material salt S of the salt water W3 drops into the salt water tank 41, the pressure tank 2, the flow path control valve unit 3 or the piping unit 5, or the user may drop the salt water tank 41, the pressure tank 2, the flow path control valve unit 3 or Unnecessary touching of the piping unit 5 can be suppressed by the intermediate panel member 71. Also, it has excellent appearance from the user's perspective. That is, for example, when the outer lid member 64 is opened to replenish salt, the salt water tank 41, the pressure tank 2, the flow path control valve unit 3 and the piping unit 5 are not visible to the user, and therefore, the use It is possible to keep the components that the user does not need to see and provide a good appearance to the user.

  Further, the water softening device 1 further includes a control box 73 that stores an electronic device 731 related to the control of the water softening device 1, and the control box 73 is fixed to the lower side of the intermediate panel member 71. Therefore, the control box 73 can be stably held by the intermediate panel member 71. Further, the control box 73 can be arranged by effectively utilizing the space.

  Further, the electronic device 731 includes a switching power supply 7311 that converts commercial AC power into DC power, and a microcomputer 7312 that is driven by the DC power converted by the switching power supply 7311 and that controls the operation of the flow path control valve unit 3. , And the drive voltage of the microcomputer 7312 is in the range of 5 to 24V. Therefore, even if water is applied to the drive system of the flow path control valve unit 3, the leakage current can be suppressed to a low level, so that a burnout accident due to ignition can be prevented.

  The microcomputer 7312 is configured as a one-board microcomputer in which at least a CPU, a memory, a display device 7313, and operation buttons 7314 are mounted, and the intermediate panel member 71 has a display device 7313 and operation buttons 7314 in a fixed state of the control box 73. A display operation area 732 in which the display device 7313 can be viewed and the operation button 7314 can be pressed is provided so as to correspond to the position. Therefore, the microcomputer 7312 is easy to handle and excellent in operability.

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

1 Water softening device (ion exchange device)
2 Pressure tank 211 Ion exchange resin bed 3 Flow path control valve unit 4 Salt water supply unit (regeneration liquid supply unit)
41 Salt water tank (regeneration liquid tank)
41A4 Raw material inlet 5 Piping unit 510 Raw water inlet 520 Soft water outlet (treated water outlet)
6 Casing 64 Outer lid member 71 Intermediate panel member 711 First raw material input port 712 Second raw material input port 73 Control box 731 Electronic device 7311 Switching power supply 7312 Microcomputer 7313 Display device 7314 Operation button 732 Display operation area W1 Raw water W2 Soft water (Processing) water)
W3 salt water (regeneration liquid)
S salt (raw drug)

Claims (4)

A pressure tank containing an ion exchange resin bed for producing treated water by introducing raw water;
A regenerant supply unit that stores a regenerant that regenerates the ion-exchange resin bed, and includes a regenerant tank having a raw material inlet for introducing a raw material chemical of the regenerant into the upper part,
A piping unit having a raw water inlet and a treated water outlet,
A flow path control valve unit that is connected to the pressure tank, the regenerant supply unit and the piping unit, and switches the flow path;
A housing having an outer lid member that houses the pressure tank, the regenerant supply unit, the piping unit, and the flow path control valve unit, and that forms a top surface;
An intermediate panel that is disposed below the outer lid member, above the pressure tank, the flow path control valve unit, and the piping unit, and has a raw material inlet that is connected to the raw material inlet of the regenerant tank. Members,
For example Bei a, and the inner lid member closing the material inlet,
The raw material inlet of the intermediate panel member is similar in size to the raw material inlet of the regenerant tank and has a different size, and the raw material inlet and the raw material inlet are connected to each other via a packing member having a similar shape. By pushing, the raw material introduction port of the intermediate panel member and the raw material introduction port of the regeneration liquid tank are closely contacted and connected,
Ion exchange device. Further comprising a control box for storing an electronic device related to the control of the ion exchange device,
The control box is fixed to the lower side of the intermediate panel member,
The ion exchange device according to claim 1. The electronic device is a switching power supply for converting commercial AC power into DC power,
Driven by DC power converted by the switching power supply, and a microcomputer for controlling the operation of the flow path control valve unit,
The drive voltage of the microcomputer is in the range of 5 to 24V,
The ion exchange device according to claim 2. The microcomputer is configured as a one-board microcomputer in which at least a CPU, a memory, a display device, and operation buttons are mounted,
The intermediate panel member is provided with a display operation area in which the display device can be viewed and the operation button can be pressed so as to correspond to the positions of the display device and the operation button in the fixed state of the control box. Has been
The ion exchange device according to claim 3.

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