JPH04367779A - Water purifying cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To miniaturize the title cartridge by increasing the mounting number of hydrophilic porous hollow yarns and to bundle said hollow yarns in high density. CONSTITUTION:The bundle 2 of hydrophilic porous hollow yarns 1 permitting water to pass but not air is received in a cartridge cylinder 4 and the end part thereof is fixed to the potting material 3 in the opening of one end part of the cartridge cylinder 4 to form a water purifying cartridge. Hydrophobic porous yarn 5 permitting air to pass but not water is wound around the outer peripheral part of the bundle 2 of the hydrophilic porous hollow yarns 1 and the both end parts thereof are fixed to the potting material 6 in the opening of the other end part of the cartridge cylinder 4. The bundle 2 of the hydrophilic porous hollow yarns 1 can be bundled by utilizing the hydrophobic porous yarn 5 and only the hydrophilic porous hollow yarns 1 can be fixed to the potting material 3 in one end part of the cartridge cylinder 4.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water purification cartridge that is replaceably attached to a water purifier used for filtering and purifying aqueous liquids such as tap water.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art When a water purifier purifies aqueous liquid such as tap water, water is filtered by passing through a water purification cartridge installed in the water purifier. Various types of water purification cartridges have been provided, and those using porous hollow fibers as filter media have been provided conventionally.

FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) each show an example, and as shown in FIG. 4(a), a porous hollow fiber A is
The porous hollow fibers A are bent in a letter shape and both ends are embedded and fixed in the potting material 3, and both open ends of the porous hollow fibers A are exposed on one surface of the potting material 3, or as shown in FIG. One end of the hollow fiber A is embedded and fixed in the potting material 3, and the opening of this end of the porous hollow fiber A is exposed on one surface of the potting material 3, and the other end of the porous hollow fiber A is exposed. A water purification cartridge is formed by sealing the opening of the chamber and placing the porous hollow fibers A into the cartridge cylinder 4. In this water purification cartridge, water flowing into the cartridge cylinder 4 passes through the porous membrane of the porous hollow fibers A and enters the porous hollow fibers A, as shown in FIG. and is discharged from the open end of the porous hollow fiber A.

[0004] In this way, water can be purified by the filtration action when it passes through the porous hollow fibers A.
The porous hollow fibers A are formed to be hydrophilic to allow water to pass therethrough. However, if the porous hollow fibers A are formed to be hydrophilic in this way, when air is mixed into the water in the cartridge cylinder 4, this air will not be able to pass through the membrane of the hydrophilic porous hollow fibers A. Therefore, there is a problem in that air accumulates in the cartridge cylinder 4 and the contact area between the porous hollow fibers A and water becomes smaller, resulting in a reduction in the amount of purified water. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b), in addition to the hydrophilic porous hollow fiber A, the hydrophobic porous hollow fiber B
(The hydrophobic porous hollow fibers B are shown with dots in FIG. 4), and air is discharged by passing through the hydrophobic porous hollow fibers B.

On the other hand, in order to increase the water filtration ability and downsize the water purification cartridge, the hydrophilic porous hollow fibers A and the hydrophobic porous hollow fibers B are bundled at a high density, as shown in FIG. The hydrophilic porous hollow fibers A and the hydrophobic porous hollow fibers B are bundled together to form the cartridge cylinder 4.
A water purification cartridge is created by placing the product inside the container.

[0006]

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, since the hydrophobic porous hollow fiber B is a type of plastic tube, there is a risk that it will be crushed and clogged due to an increase in water pressure, etc. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure air discharge. As a matter of necessity, it is necessary that the hydrophobic porous hollow fibers B account for about 0.2 to 10% of all the porous hollow fibers. However, when the number of hydrophobic porous hollow fibers B is increased in this way, the hydrophobic porous hollow fibers B
This also limits the number of hydrophilic porous hollow fibers A that are bundled and fixed to the potting material 3, and in order to secure the number of hydrophilic porous hollow fibers A necessary for the filtration flow rate, It is necessary to increase the diameter,
There was a problem that miniaturization became difficult.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5(a), when the bundle of hydrophilic porous hollow fibers A etc. is increased and is stored in the cartridge cylinder 4, the bundle of hydrophilic porous hollow fibers A etc. with high bundle density is This causes the fibers to swell and spread outward, making it difficult to insert the cartridge into the cartridge cylinder 4. If you try to forcefully insert the fibers, the swollen hydrophilic porous hollow fibers A, etc. will fall into the cartridge cylinder 4.
There was a problem in that the hydrophilic porous hollow fibers A, which are easily damaged by rubbing against the inner periphery of the fibers, may buckle or bend and break, and there is a risk that the water purifying effect may no longer be achieved.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is possible to downsize the hydrophilic porous hollow fibers while ensuring the number of the hydrophilic porous hollow fibers. The object of the present invention is to provide a water purification cartridge that can be used in a concentrated manner.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a potting material 3 in which an end of a bundle 2 of hydrophilic porous hollow fibers 1 that allows water to pass through but does not allow air to pass through is filled into one open end of a cartridge cylinder 4. In this water purification cartridge, a bundle 2 of hydrophilic porous hollow fibers 1 is embedded and fixed in a cartridge cylinder 4 with its open end exposed on the surface, and a bundle 2 of hydrophilic porous hollow fibers 1 is housed in a cartridge cylinder 4. A hydrophobic porous body thread 5 that does not allow water to pass through is wound around the outer periphery of a bundle 2 of hydrophilic porous hollow fibers 1 in the cartridge cylinder 4, and an end of the hydrophobic porous body thread 5 is connected to the other end of the cartridge cylinder 4. It is characterized in that it is embedded and fixed in a potting material 6 provided within the section with its end surface exposed to the surface.

0010

[Function] Since the hydrophobic porous fibers 5 are wound around the outer periphery of the bundle 2 of the hydrophilic porous hollow fibers 1, the bundle 2 of the hydrophilic porous hollow fibers 1 is used for discharging air. The hydrophobic porous fibers 5 can be used to converge, and the bundle 2 of the hydrophilic porous hollow fibers 1 can be prevented from swelling and spreading outward. In addition, since the end of the hydrophobic porous body thread 5 is embedded and fixed in the potting material 6 provided in the other end of the cartridge cylinder 4, the potting material in one end of the cartridge cylinder 4 is fixed. 3, only the ends of the bundle 2 of hydrophilic porous hollow fibers 1 can be embedded and fixed, and the number of hydrophilic porous hollow fibers 1 can be increased.

[0011]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be explained in detail by way of examples. The hydrophilic porous hollow fiber 1 is formed of a hydrophilic resin hollow fiber having a communicating porous membrane. Therefore, water can easily pass through the membrane of the hydrophilic porous hollow fiber 1, but air cannot pass through it. It is becoming difficult to pass. Further, the hydrophobic porous fibers 5 are formed of hollow fibers or solid fibers having communicating porous membranes, and are made of hydrophobic resin. Therefore, the hydrophobic porous thread 5 allows air to pass through easily, but water does not easily pass through it.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which a bundle 2 of hydrophilic porous hollow fibers 1 bent into a U-shape is housed in a cylindrical cartridge tube 4, and the cartridge tube 4 is Both ends of the hydrophilic porous hollow fibers 1 are embedded and fixed in a potting material 3 which is molded by injecting and hardening a potting resin into one open end of the hydrophilic porous hollow fibers. The open ends of both ends of 1 are potting material 3
exposed on the surface. Further, one end of the hydrophilic porous hollow fiber 1 is embedded and fixed in the potting material 3, and the opening of this end is exposed on one surface of the potting material 3, and the other end of the hydrophilic porous hollow fiber 1 is exposed. It may be installed in the cartridge cylinder 4 by sealing the opening at the end thereof. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a sealing material 17 such as an O-ring is attached to the entire circumference of the end of the cartridge cylinder 4 on the side where the potting material 3 is provided. Further, the outer periphery of the bundle 2 of the hydrophilic porous hollow fibers 1 has a hydrophobic porous fiber 5.
is wrapped around the other end of the cartridge cylinder 4, and both ends of the hydrophobic porous body thread are embedded and fixed in a potting material 6 provided by injecting and hardening potting resin into the inner periphery of the other open end of the cartridge cylinder 4. The end faces of both ends of the hydrophobic porous thread 5 are made to protrude from the surface of the potting material 6 and are exposed. Only one end of the hydrophobic porous thread 5 may be fixed to the potting material 6. The potting material 3 provided in one open end of the cartridge barrel 4 is filled so as to close this opening of the cartridge barrel 4, and the potting material 3 provided in the other open end of the cartridge barrel 4 is filled to close this opening of the cartridge barrel 4. 6 is formed into a ring shape, and a water passage hole 15 is formed in this opening of the cartridge cylinder 4.

[0013] In this way, the hydrophilic porous hollow fiber 1
When fixing the bundle 2 of hydrophilic porous hollow fibers 1 to the potting material 3 and the hydrophobic porous fibers 5 to the potting material 6 and installing them in the cartridge cylinder 4, the outer periphery of the bundle 2 of the hydrophilic porous hollow fibers 1 is coated with hydrophobic material. With the porous fibers 5 wrapped around the bundle 2 of the hydrophilic porous hollow fibers 1, the bundle 2 of the hydrophilic porous hollow fibers 1 and the hydrophobic porous fibers 5 are placed in the cartridge cylinder 4.
The hydrophilic porous hollow fibers 1 are inserted into the cartridge cylinder 4 so that both ends thereof protrude outward from one open end of the cartridge cylinder 4, and both ends of the hydrophobic porous body fibers 5 are inserted into the cartridge cylinder 4 at the other open end. protrude outward from the part. Next, in this state, as shown in FIG.
A spacer 31 is provided at the other open end of the potting case 32 to cover the potting case 32, which has a double structure, and both ends of the hydrophobic porous thread 5 are inserted into the protective holes 33 of the potting case 32. Thereafter, by pouring potting resin 35 through the injection port 34 of the potting cap 30 and curing it, both ends of the hydrophilic porous hollow fiber 1 can be embedded and fixed in the potting material 3. At this time, the openings at both ends of the hydrophilic porous hollow fibers 1 are closed to prevent the potting resin 35 from entering into the hydrophilic porous hollow fibers 1. Also, the injection port 36 of the potting case 32
By pouring and curing the potting resin 35, both ends of the hydrophobic porous thread 5 are coated with the potting material 6.
It can be embedded and fixed inside the protective hole 3.
Both ends of the hydrophobic porous thread 5 inserted into the potting material 3 are not embedded in the potting material 6 but are made to protrude. After curing the potting resin 35 in this way,
By removing the potting cap 30 and potting case 32 and cutting the potting resin 35 along the α line and the β line, the water purification cartridge according to the present invention as shown in FIG. 1 can be manufactured. It is.

In manufacturing the water purification cartridge as described above, since the bundle 2 of the hydrophilic porous hollow fibers 1 is converged with the hydrophobic porous body fibers 5, the hydrophilic porous hollow fibers 1 The hydrophobic porous fibers 5 can prevent the bundle 2 from swelling and spreading even if the number of bundled hydrophilic hollow fibers 1 is increased. The hydrophilic porous hollow fibers 1 can be easily inserted into the cartridge tube 4, and the hydrophilic porous hollow fibers 1, which are easily damaged by rubbing against the inner periphery of the cartridge cylinder 4, can be buckled or bent and cut. This also makes it possible to prevent such occurrences. For this reason, it is possible to increase the convergence density of the bundle of hydrophilic porous hollow fibers 1, thereby increasing the water filtration ability, and making it possible to downsize the water purification cartridge. In addition, since the hydrophobic porous thread 5 is fixed to the other open end of the cartridge barrel 4 with the potting material 6, the potting material 3 at one open end of the cartridge barrel 4 has a hydrophilic property. Only the bundle 2 of the porous hollow fibers 1 can be fixed, and the opening inner peripheral area of the cartridge cylinder 4 is 50 to 56%.
All of the threads that can be attached with the above packing density can be made into hydrophilic porous hollow fibers 1, and as a result, the diameter of the cartridge cylinder 4 can be reduced relative to the number of hydrophilic porous hollow fibers 1 mounted. This makes it possible to downsize the water purification cartridge.

Incidentally, FIG. 5(b) shows a method of manufacturing a conventional water purification cartridge, in which the center tube 38 is inserted into the cartridge cylinder 4 from the opening at the bottom.
A connecting tube 39 is inserted, and potting resin 35 is poured into the cartridge cylinder 4 from the center tube 38 and hardened. However, in this case, although the tip of the center tube 38 can be cut off after the potting resin 35 is cured, the base of the center tube 38 remains inside the cartridge barrel 4 as shown in FIG. The volume for storing the hydrophilic porous hollow fibers 1 is reduced by the volume of the tube 38, and the number of hydrophilic porous hollow fibers 1 to be mounted is reduced, as shown in FIG. 3 above. If manufacturing is carried out using such a method, such problems will disappear.

The total filtration type water purification cartridge according to the present invention produced as described above is used by being installed in a cartridge case 19 and assembled into a cartridge block, as shown in FIG. 2, for example. That is,
The cartridge case 19 is formed into a bottomed cylindrical shape with one end open. An outlet 20 is provided in the center of the bottomed part, and a cylindrical part is formed in the cartridge case 19 so as to surround the outlet 20. The receiver tube 21 is made to protrude so that an outflow chamber 22 is formed in the receiver tube 21, and the receiver tube 21
The inflow chamber 23 is formed on the outer periphery of the inflow chamber 23.
An inlet 24 is provided at the inlet 24 . Then, the end of the cartridge cylinder 4 of the water purification cartridge according to the present invention is inserted into the inner circumference of the receiving cylinder 21 and fixed, and at the same time, the net 2
A filter 25, which is integrally formed by molding 5a at the same time, is attached by sandwiching it between the locking piece 4a of the cartridge barrel 4 and the receiver barrel 21, thereby closing the inflow chamber 23, and connecting the outer periphery of the cartridge barrel 4 and the cartridge case 19. An adsorption chamber 26 formed between the inner periphery and the inner periphery is filled with antibacterial activated carbon 27, and the adsorption chamber 26 is closed with a filter 28 which is integrally formed with a net 28a formed at the same time. This filter 28 is attached to the opening edge of the cartridge case 19 and the lid 29 when performing ultrasonic welding by closing the opening of the cartridge case 19 with the lid 29.
It is fixed by sandwiching it between the Further, the cartridge cylinder 4 is inserted into and attached to the receiving cylinder 21 in a watertight manner using a sealing material 17, and a potting material 6
The end of the hydrophobic porous thread 5 protruding from the lid 29 is passed through a through hole 40 provided in the lid 29 and fixed with an adhesive 41.

The cartridge block formed as described above is used to purify an aqueous liquid such as tap water by being set in a replaceable manner in a water purifier attached to a tap or the like. In this device, when water flows into the inflow chamber 23 from the inlet 24 as shown by the solid line arrow in FIG.
The activated carbon 27 removes odors and the like. The water that has passed through the filter 28 and flowed into the cartridge cylinder 4 from the water passage opening 15 passes through the micropores of the membrane of the hydrophilic porous hollow fiber 1 and enters the hydrophilic porous hollow fiber 1.
At this time, the water is filtered to remove turbidity, etc., and the water purified by separating dirt, etc. passes through the hydrophilic porous hollow fiber 1 and flows out from its open end into the outflow chamber 22, and flows out from the outflow port. 2
Ejected from 0. At this time, if air mixes with the water flow and enters the cartridge cylinder 4 along with the water to be treated as shown by the broken line arrow in Fig. 2, or if air accumulates in the cartridge cylinder 4 due to a water outage, etc., the water pressure will cause the air to enter the cartridge cylinder 4. Air enters the hydrophobic porous thread 5, passes through the hydrophobic porous thread 5, and is discharged from the end of the hydrophobic porous thread 5 to the outside of the cartridge cylinder 4. Therefore, even if air enters the cartridge cylinder 4, the air is gradually removed, preventing air from accumulating in the cartridge cylinder 4 and reducing the contact area between the hydrophilic porous hollow fiber 1 and water. Water can be purified with a stable amount of water purification ability by preventing the water purification ability of the hydrophilic porous hollow fiber 1 from being reduced by filtration and separation. As mentioned above, when air is passed through the hydrophobic porous body thread 5 and discharged, the air tends to collect on the inner circumference of the cartridge cylinder 4, but the hydrophobic porous body thread 5 is present along this inner circumference. Hydrophobic porous body yarn 5
This means that the air can be discharged efficiently. Further, as the hydrophobic porous body fiber 5, a solid fiber or a hollow fiber having a communicating porous membrane can be used, but a solid fiber passes air at a slower speed than a hollow fiber and discharges air. Although it is inferior in terms of performance, it is superior in water purification cartridges with high internal pressure because it does not have the problem of being crushed by the water pressure inside the cartridge cylinder 4. In other words, since hollow fibers are plastic tubes, they are easily crushed by external pressure, and if the hollow fibers are crushed and blocked by increased water pressure, there is a risk that air will not be able to be discharged. Air can be discharged stably without such problems.

[0018]

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention provides a state in which the end of a bundle of hydrophilic porous hollow fibers is placed in a potting material filled in one open end of a cartridge cylinder, with the open end exposed on the surface. The hydrophobic porous thread is wrapped around the outer periphery of the bundle of hydrophilic porous hollow fibers in the cartridge cylinder, and the end of the hydrophobic porous thread is placed in the other end of the cartridge cylinder. The bundle of hydrophilic porous hollow fibers was embedded and fixed in the potting material with the end surface exposed, so the bundle of hydrophilic porous hollow fibers was converged using the hydrophobic porous fibers to expel air. It is possible to prevent the bundle of hydrophilic porous hollow fibers from swelling and spreading outward, and to use the hydrophilic porous hollow fibers in a high density bundle without fear of cutting. In addition, the end of the hydrophobic porous fiber is embedded and fixed in the potting material at the other end of the cartridge barrel, and the potting material in one end of the cartridge barrel contains a bundle of hydrophilic porous hollow fibers. Only the ends can be embedded and fixed, and the number of hydrophilic porous hollow fibers to be mounted can be maintained while reducing the size.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention in use.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a manufacturing state of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a conventional example, (a), (b)
is a sectional view of each aspect.

FIG. 5 shows another conventional example, (a), (b)
are sectional views, respectively.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Hydrophilic porous hollow fiber 2. Bundle of hydrophilic porous hollow fibers 3 Potting material 4 Cartridge tube 5 Hydrophobic porous yarn 6 Potting material

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: The end of a bundle of hydrophilic porous hollow fibers that allows water to pass through but does not allow air to pass through is placed in a potting material filled in one open end of a cartridge cylinder, with the open end exposed on the surface. In a water purification cartridge in which a bundle of hydrophilic porous hollow fibers is embedded and fixed in the cartridge cylinder and a bundle of hydrophilic porous hollow fibers is housed inside the cartridge cylinder, the hydrophobic porous body fibers, which allow air to pass through but do not allow water to pass through, are placed inside the cartridge cylinder and contain a bundle of hydrophilic porous hollow fibers. Wrap it around the outer periphery of a bundle of hydrophobic porous hollow fibers, and embed and fix the end of the hydrophobic porous fiber in the potting material provided in the other end of the cartridge cylinder with its end surface exposed to the surface. A water purification cartridge characterized by comprising: