JPH05138159A - Household water purifier with life meter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To exactly recognize the supply rate of water to the water purifier and to exactly display the time for exchanging a module by measuring the number of revolutions of the rotor of a capacity type flow meter by the signal of a sensor which emits the signal after detecting of the number of revolutions of the rotor and providing a life meter which operates a display part when the number of revolutions attains a set value. CONSTITUTION:The treated water supplied from an inlet 1 for the water to be treated into the water purifier passes the capacity type flow meter 2 and is then introduced into the filter module 3, where the water is subjected to a purifying treatment. The treated water is released as the purified water from a discharge port 4. The signal is emitted by the interaction of a signal receiving element 5 embedded in the rotating part of the flow meter and a signal receiving element 6 provided in the outside box of a detector. The integrated number of revolutions is counted to a counter with this signal. The time for exchanging the filter module is displayed on a display section 7 in accordance with the signal from a display circuit when the integrated number of revolutions counted by the counter attains the set value or above. The total inflow rate of the water to be treated is exactly recognized in such a manner and, therefore, the time for exchanging the module is exactly known.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a domestic water purifier incorporating a filtration module containing an adsorbent such as activated carbon, and more particularly, when the treatment flow rate of the water purifier exceeds a predetermined amount,
It relates to a household water purifier with a life meter that tells when to replace the module.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, household water purifiers containing a filtration module having a filtration membrane such as a hollow fiber membrane and a particulate adsorbent such as activated carbon as basic components are required to improve the quality of consumers' drinking water. To meet the demand, the demand is rapidly expanding.

In these domestic water purifiers, the water supplied from the tap of the tap water first passes through the activated carbon layer, where the chlorine ion, the organic matter or the trihalomethane harmful to the human body, which makes the odor and taste of the water bad. Etc. are removed by being decomposed or adsorbed. Then, it passes through a filtration membrane such as a hollow fiber membrane, where permeation of iron rust, suspensions, bacteria and the like not adsorbed in the activated carbon layer is blocked, and sanitary purified water is obtained.

However, when the integrated flow rate of the water to be treated exceeds the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent in the module, not only the adsorbing ability of the adsorbent is not exhibited but also re-elution of harmful substances into purified water occurs. Also, if the filtration membrane is clogged, the filtration flow rate will be reduced, so that the filtration module must be replaced.

Conventionally, as a water purifier with a life meter for displaying the replacement time of such a filtration module, one that simply measures the usage time and displays the life based on this (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-36085). ), Which displays the total flow rate with a turbine type flow meter and a gear type mechanical totalizer (Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 61-155,091). Light emission consumes the power supply battery and indirectly indicates the replacement time at the time when the indicator lamp stops emitting light, and one that has an integrated display circuit that displays the total number of impellers and their rotation speeds (actual Kaihei 3 No. 2842) is known.

However, when drinking water is taken from a domestic water purifier, the number of times per day is large, but the water intake time is relatively short, and the fluctuation of the flow velocity at the time of water intake is large. However, the measurement of the flow rate was inaccurate, and it was difficult to say that the display of the replacement time was accurate.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a water purifier in consideration of the fact that the domestic water purifier is a device that protects the human body from contaminated drinking water and plays an important role in maintaining health. It is to provide a household water purifier with a life meter that accurately indicates the amount of supplied water and accurately indicates when to replace the module.

[0008]

That is, according to the present invention, a positive displacement flow meter is provided at an inlet of treated water, and a sensor that detects rotation of a rotor of the positive flow meter and outputs a signal,
A counter for measuring the total number of revolutions of the rotor by the signal,
A household water purifier with a life meter, characterized in that a life meter including a display circuit for operating a display unit when the integrated rotation speed reaches a set value is provided.

[0009]

In the water purifier of the present invention, the positive flow meter is arranged at the treated water inlet to accurately grasp the total flow rate of the treated water flowing into the water purifier. That is, the total inflow amount including not only the water discharged as purified water from the water purifier but also the water that has been once purified by activated carbon but is discharged for pressure relief or the like can be accurately grasped. Then, the number of rotations of the rotor of this positive displacement flow meter was detected by a sensor and integrated, and the total number of rotations reached a preset value in consideration of the adsorption ability of the granular adsorbent in the module. At this time, the display unit is operated to display the replacement time of the filtration module.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The household water purifier of the present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a domestic water purifier according to the present invention. Water to be treated is supplied into the water purifier from the water inlet 1 to be treated which is connected to a faucet or the like of a water supply. The water to be treated first passes through the positive displacement flowmeter 2, is then guided to the filtration module 3, undergoes purification treatment, and is discharged from the discharge port 4 as purified water.

The positive displacement flow meter referred to in the present invention is a flow meter in which a rotor such as a gear rotates in proportion to the volume of water passing therethrough, and the flow rate is measured from the number of revolutions thereof. Examples include an oval gear type, a roots type, and an impulse disc type. Among them, the yaval gear type is preferable because it can accurately measure the amount of water. Therefore, a so-called impeller flow meter of the type that uses the fact that the rotary vanes rotate in proportion to the flow velocity is excluded. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the water purifier of FIG. 1 taken along the line AA ', in which an oval gear type flow meter is shown.

As a material constituting the positive displacement flow meter including the rotor, a plastic material is preferable from the viewpoint of water resistance and light weight, and polyimide is particularly preferable.

As the sensor for detecting the number of rotations of the rotor of the positive displacement type flow meter and issuing a signal, for example, the transmitting element 5 embedded in the rotating portion of the flow meter and the receiving element provided in the outer box of the detector. Those that emit a signal by interaction with 6 are exemplified. This signal causes the counter to count the cumulative number of revolutions.

It is compact and convenient to use an electronic type counter as the counter. The replacement time of the filtration module mounted on the water purifier is displayed on the display unit 7 according to a signal from the display circuit issued when the integrated rotation speed (integrated flow rate) of the counter exceeds a set value.

The set value as a reference for module replacement is usually set in advance in consideration of the general water quality of tap water and the adsorption ability of the granular adsorbent in the module. But,
It may be configured such that the user can change the replacement reference set value at the start of use of the water purifier in consideration of the usage area of the water purifier.

Life of water purifier (module replacement time)
The display unit that displays can have any configuration, for example, the remaining usable time of the module is displayed on the outer surface of the water purifier, and the usable time becomes negative after the replacement time. For example, a mode in which a red caution mark is displayed from the time when the replacement time has passed, or a display is displayed to call the user's attention by voice when starting water flow from the time when the replacement time has passed can be exemplified.

Further, when the filtration module is replaced in accordance with this display, by resetting the cumulative rotation speed of the water flow of the counter to 0, the replacement time of the newly replaced filtration module can be displayed again. .

As the filtration module used in the water purifier of the present invention, various conventionally known structures can be used as long as they contain at least one of particulate adsorbents such as activated carbon, silver-impregnated activated carbon and serpentine. . In addition to the particulate adsorbent, those having a fine filtration membrane such as a flat membrane or a hollow fiber membrane and a filter such as a polyolefin sintered filter for the purpose of removing organic substances are preferable. As a microfiltration membrane, it can block the passage of bacteria, etc., and with a water pressure of 1 Kg / cm ² , it is 1 liter / liter.
A filtration membrane having a permeability of m ² · min or more is preferable. Examples of materials for the microfiltration membrane include cellulose-based, polyolefin-based, polysulfone-based, polyvinyl alcohol-based, P
Various materials such as MMA type can be mentioned. Among such microfiltration membranes, a hydrophilic hydrophilic polyolefin-based porous hollow fiber membrane is particularly preferable.

[0020]

According to the water purifier of the present invention as described above, since the total inflow amount of the water to be treated into the water purifier can be accurately grasped,
The life meter display allows you to accurately know when to replace the water purifier module.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a water purifier of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line AA ′ of the water purifier of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Treated water inlet 2: Positive displacement type flow meter 3: Filtration module 4: Discharge port 5: Transmitting element 6: Receiving element 7: Display unit

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Manabu Yano 2-3-19 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Inside Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A sensor in which a positive displacement flow meter is disposed at the inlet of the water to be treated, which detects the rotation of the rotor of the positive displacement flow meter and outputs a signal, and the accumulated rotation speed of the rotor based on the signal. A household water purifier with a life meter, comprising a life meter including a counter for measuring and a display circuit for operating a display unit when the cumulative number of rotations reaches a set value.