JPH05168827A - Water purifier - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To properly perform such indication that the replacement time of a cartridge of a water purifier is arrived in accordance with the degree of clogging of the cartridge. CONSTITUTION:In a water purifier equipped with a freely detachable cartridge 2 housing a filter medium, the water purifier is equipped with pressure sensors 41, 42 for detecting water pressure before and after the cartridge 2 and an announcing part 64 for requesting replacement of the cartridge 2 in accordance with the size of the difference of pressure detected by both pressure sensors 41, 42.

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.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional example is shown in FIGS. This has a function of generating alkaline ionized water, and a cartridge 2 containing a filter medium is detachably attached to the inside of its housing 10, and the replacement of the cartridge 2 is performed by opening the cover 11. Is becoming The tap water is first filtered by passing through the cartridge 2, and then divided into two water channels to enter the electrolytic cell 3. The electrolytic cell 3 has an anode 31 and a cathode 32 therein, and a power supply unit between them. The DC voltage applied from D is applied, and the water passing through the electrolytic cell 7 is electrolyzed into acidic water and alkaline water.

In this case, the cartridge 2 uses the activated carbon 21 and the hollow fiber membrane 22 as a filtering material to remove impurities contained in tap water, but it gradually becomes clogged and the water output becomes poor. At this time, cartridge 2
Must be exchanged. However, it is difficult for the user to clearly determine the replacement time, because the amount of water gradually deteriorates. For this reason, it is preferable that the water purifier informs the replacement time.

In the above conventional example, the integration timer 61 integrates the energization time to the electrolytic cell 3. When the integration value reaches the set value, the relay 62 is turned on by the output of the integration timer 61 and the switch is turned on. 63 is closed and the replacement reminder lamp 64 is turned on.

[0005]

However, the clogging of the filter material in the cartridge varies depending on the water quality of the tap water, whereas this is reflected in the above-mentioned cumulative energization time. In some cases, it may be better to replace the cartridge earlier, or in some cases it may not be necessary to replace it.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to appropriately indicate that the replacement time of the cartridge has been reached according to the degree of clogging of the cartridge. To provide a water purifier that can.

[0007]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In the water purifier provided with a detachable cartridge containing a filter medium, the present invention detects a pressure sensor for detecting water pressure before and after the cartridge and both pressure sensors. It has a first feature in that it is provided with an informing section for urging the replacement of the cartridge according to the magnitude of the pressure difference between the cartridge and the cartridge cover for fixing the cartridge. The second feature is that the pressure sensor is provided and an informing unit that prompts replacement of the cartridge according to the magnitude of the pressure detected by the pressure sensor.

According to the first feature of the present invention, the difference between the water pressure before entering the cartridge and the water pressure after leaving the cartridge depends on the degree of clogging of the filter medium in the cartridge. Therefore, it is possible to accurately determine the degree of clogging and display a replacement prompt without being affected by the quality and pressure of tap water.
Further, according to the second feature, since the force for pushing up the cartridge increases according to the degree of clogging of the filter medium, the filter medium also remains unaffected by the quality of tap water. It is possible to determine the degree of clogging.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments. In FIG.
1 is a cartridge containing the hollow fiber membrane 22, and 3 in the figure is an electrolytic cell provided with an anode 31 and a cathode 32 to which a DC voltage is applied. After passing through the solenoid valve 40, tap water is filtered when passing through the cartridge 2 and is further electrolyzed when passing through the electrolytic bath 3 to be separated into alkaline water and acidic water.

Here, pressure sensors 41 and 42 are provided respectively in the water passages before and after the cartridge 2 to detect the water pressure before entering the cartridge 2 and the water pressure after leaving the cartridge 2. Has been made possible. The pressure sensors 41 and 42 are respectively provided with an adjusting resistor 6
A DC voltage is applied via 6, 67 and resistors 68, 69, and a voltage proportional to the water pressure is output to the comparator 65. The comparator 65 turns on the replacement reminder lamp 64 when the voltage difference between the two exceeds a predetermined value, that is, when the water pressure before entering the cartridge 2 and the water pressure after leaving the cartridge 2 exceed a predetermined value. Let The water pressure difference is
As the filter material in the cartridge 2 corresponds to the degree of clogging, the degree of clogging is accurately determined without being affected by the quality and pressure of tap water, and a replacement reminder display is displayed. Will be done.

The solenoid valve 40 is provided to prevent spillage of water when the cartridge 2 is replaced without causing the cartridge 2 to be securely attached to pass water.
It is a normally closed type that opens via the relay 70 when the micro switch 71 arranged on the primary side of the power source section D is closed. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, when the cartridge cover 25 for fixing the cartridge 2 is fixed to the housing 10 side, the micro switch 71 is pressed by a lever 26 attached to the cartridge cover 25 and turned on. Therefore, only when the cartridge 2 is properly attached, the solenoid valve 40 is opened and water can be passed. It is possible to prevent a situation in which the main body is left wet by passing water while forgetting to attach the cartridge 2.

5 to 8 show another embodiment. The water purifier shown here is so constructed that, when the filter medium in the cartridge 2 is clogged, the water once filtered is allowed to flow back into the cartridge 2 so that the filter medium can be backwashed. The front and rear water channels are connected to the switching valve 5, and a purified water storage section 8 is provided between the outlet of the cartridge 2 and the switching valve 5. Reference numeral 9 in the figure denotes a valve attached to the discharge port of the calan 90, which is shown in FIGS.
It is possible to switch between the direct water discharge shown in FIG. 8 and the shower water discharge, the temporary water stop shown in FIG. 8C, and the water supply to the cartridge 2 side shown in FIG. 8D. A two-position switching electromagnetic valve 91 is provided between the valve 9 and the switching valve 5, and it is possible to switch to which of the two suction ports at both ends of the switching valve 5 the water is sent. ing.

In the state shown in FIG. 5, from the valve 9 to the solenoid valve 91.
The water that has entered the switching valve 5 via the water is sent to the cartridge 2 by moving the spool 50 to the right in the figure by the water pressure, and the filtered water enters the purified water storage unit 8 and pushes down the piston 80 to electrolyze the electrolyzer 3. Open the water channel to flow to the electrolyzer 3. Here, the pressure sensors 41 and 42 arranged in front of and behind the cartridge 2 due to clogging of the filter medium inside the cartridge 2.
When the water pressure difference detected in each exceeds the specified value,
The comparator 65 shown in FIG. 6 turns on the relays 72 and 73, the timer relay 74, and the relay 75, and holds the ON state of the timer relay 74, and the relay 75 switches the solenoid valve 91 via the relay 76. .. When the solenoid valve 91 is switched, as shown in FIG. 7, the water supplied to the switching valve 5 moves the spool 50 to the left in the figure and pushes up the piston 80 in the purified water storage section 8. Since the water passage connecting the purified water storage unit 8 and the electrolytic cell 3 is closed by the valve 81 that works in conjunction with the piston 80, the water stored in the purified water storage unit 8 flows back to the cartridge 2 side and passes through the cartridge 2. After that, it is drained through the switching valve 5. This backwashing state lasts for the time set in the timer 77, and then returns to the normal purified water discharge state as the electromagnetic valve 91 returns. Then, after the set time of the timer 78, the backwash state is restored again. This repetition is performed only for the set time of the timer relay 74. In this case, the cartridge 2
When the difference in water pressure between before and after is not improved, it is time to replace the cartridge 2.

9 and 10 show another embodiment. Here, a pressure sensor 43 is provided between the cartridge cover 25 and the cartridge cover 25 that presses the cartridge 2 from above when the cartridge 2 is attached. The water flowing into the cartridge 2 utilizes the fact that the pushing force increases as the cartridge 2 is pushed up and the clogging of the filter material becomes more serious. If the output voltage becomes higher than the reference voltage, the replacement reminder lamp 64 is turned on.

FIG. 11 shows a discharge port 1 for discharging alkaline water.
5 shows an example in which a pH meter 16 is attached to 5. While receiving the alkaline water in the cup, it is possible to visually confirm what the pH of the water is, and it is possible to easily adjust the degree of electrolysis and the amount of water discharged to obtain an appropriate value. In the figure, numeral 13 is a power switch, and numeral 14 is an electrolysis change switch.

[0016]

As described above, according to the first feature of the present invention, the difference between the water pressure before entering the cartridge and the water pressure after leaving the cartridge depends on the degree of clogging of the filter medium in the cartridge. Since it has been responded, it is not affected by the quality and pressure of tap water,
Since it is possible to accurately determine the degree of clogging and perform a replacement prompting display, it is possible to prevent the situation in which the cartridge is wasted or the cartridge in the state to be replaced continues to be used. Further, in the second feature, since the force for pushing up the cartridge increases according to the degree of clogging of the filter medium, the clogging of the filter medium is not affected by the quality of tap water. It is possible to determine the degree of the above, and in this case, although it is affected by the water pressure of the tap water, it is possible to perform the exchange prompting display that reflects the degree of clogging as compared with the conventional case.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a piping wiring diagram of an embodiment.

2A and 2B are perspective views.

3A and 3B are plan views of a cartridge mounting portion.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a cartridge mounting portion.

FIG. 5 is a piping diagram of another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of the same.

FIG. 7 is a piping diagram showing a state during backwashing in the above.

8 (a) to (d) are front views showing the operating state of the valve.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of another embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a piping wiring diagram of the above.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of still another example.

FIG. 12 is a piping diagram of a conventional example.

FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram of the above.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the above.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Cartridge 41,42 Pressure sensor 64 Replacement reminder lamp

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location C02F 1/46 A 7158-4D

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A water purifier equipped with a removable cartridge containing a filter medium, the cartridge comprising: a pressure sensor for detecting water pressure before and after the cartridge; and a cartridge depending on the difference in pressure detected by the pressure sensors. A water purifier characterized by being provided with an informing section for urging the replacement of. 2. The water purifier according to claim 1, further comprising a valve that opens and closes a water passage leading to the cartridge according to a mounting state of the cartridge. 3. The water purifier according to claim 1, further comprising an electrolytic bath for generating alkali ions, and a pH meter at the outlet of the alkaline water. 4. A water purifier equipped with a removable cartridge containing a filter medium, wherein the pressure sensor detects water pressure before and after the cartridge, and the cartridge according to the difference in pressure detected by the pressure sensors. A water purifier characterized in that it is equipped with a backwashing means for backwashing water. 5. A water purifier equipped with a removable cartridge containing a filter medium, wherein a pressure sensor is arranged between the cartridge and a cartridge cover for fixing the cartridge, and the pressure sensor detects the pressure sensor. A water purifier characterized by having an alerting unit that prompts replacement of the cartridge depending on the magnitude of pressure.