JPH07185534A - Voltage applying type water purifier - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent imperfect contact between an electrode and an adsorbent in a water purifier where a conductive filter equipped with an hollow part in the center is provided in the water purifier body by providing a seal member on the back face side of the surface, opposite to a filter, of at least one electrode of those installed on both the ends of the filter. CONSTITUTION:A water purifier body 1 of hollow cylinder type is provided with a raw water inflow port 3a in a lower surface cover 3, and is packed with conductive active carbon, and a conductive filter 4 is arranged around it. A space between the outside of the filter 4 and the inner wall of the water purifier body 1 is made an outer annular pass 17. Once raw water introduced from the inflow port 3a turns and enters the outer annular pass 17, it is passed through the active carbon bed and flows toward a cylindrical hollow part 15. Electrodes 5 having the form of a doughnut corresponding to that of the end surfaces of the filter each are press-fixed to the upper and lower ends of the filter 4. A seal member 2 is provided on the back face side of the surface, opposite to the filter, of at least one electrode to prevent imperfect contact between the electrode 5 and the filter 4.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for purifying water such as tap water, and in particular, a voltage-applied water purification system capable of suppressing the generation and proliferation of microorganisms in the water purification filter and regenerating the filter by applying a voltage. Regarding vessels.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a water purifier, a hypochlorous acid (ClO-) contained in raw water such as tap water or ground water is generally provided by a water purifying filter containing an adsorbent such as activated carbon disposed in the water purifier. ) And other residual chlorine, trichlormethane and other organochlorine compounds, general bacteria, odors and pigments are adsorbed and removed.

The above adsorbent may have a reduced removal ability due to adhesion of the adsorbed substance to the activated carbon due to the use of the water purifier over time, so that a method of regenerating the adsorbent by heat is adopted. . Specifically, JP-A-2-90988
No. 2,207,883, the adsorbent is generated by Joule heat generated when a voltage is applied to an electrode provided at the end of a cartridge containing an adsorbent such as granular activated carbon, and the activated carbon is energized. There is known a voltage application type water purifier using a so-called filling type activated carbon for desorbing the adsorbed substances such as the organic chlorine compounds and general bacteria to regenerate them.

Further, a replaceable filter type voltage application type water purifier in which activated carbon is stored in advance is known. Figure 1
1, a water purifier of this type has a conductive filter 4 provided with a spout pipe 13 having a water passage hole 13a in a central portion thereof in a water tank 1 between an inner wall portion of the water tank and an outer peripheral portion of the filter. It is installed so as to have a gap 17, the raw water is supplied from the outer peripheral portion of the filter, the treated water is introduced into the spout pipe, and is supplied to a treated water supply source such as a tap, not shown. Further, the electrodes 5 for suppressing the growth and growth of general bacteria adsorbed on the adsorbent and for regenerating the adsorbent were in direct contact with both ends of the filter 4.

[0005]

In the above filter type water purifier, the electrodes for adsorbent regeneration are directly brought into contact with both ends of a cylindrical filter containing an adsorbent such as fibrous or granular activated carbon. The plate is fixed directly to the water purifier body while sandwiching the filter, or a cap is provided on the outside of each electrode in contact with the plate, whereby the electrode is fixed to the water purifier body together with the filter.

[0006] By the way, the adsorbent expands by containing water when passing water for purifying water or drainage for regeneration, but the adsorbent shrinks slightly when dehydrated after draining. Further, since the filter is repeatedly expanded and contracted as the purified water is regenerated, a small gap may occur between the both ends of the filter and the electrode or the cap.

Further, when a voltage is applied to the electrodes to heat the adsorbent, the adsorbent may be thermally changed to form a gap between the electrode and the filter. That is, the conductive filter using the fibrous activated carbon is usually formed in a state in which the fibrous activated carbon and the organic synthetic fiber are entangled with each other,
The organic synthetic fiber is welded to the fibrous activated carbon in the portion where the two materials are in contact with each other, whereby the fibrous activated carbon is retained. Further, the current voltage-applying water purifier merely arranges electrodes by mechanically pressure-bonding the electrodes to both ends of the cylindrical filter. In the adsorbent having such a structure, when a voltage is applied and the adsorbent is heated, the organic synthetic fibers in the electrode contact portion are softened and the force for holding the fibrous activated carbon is reduced. By repeating such voltage application heating, the organic synthetic fiber gradually softens and deforms, weakening the holding power of the fibrous activated carbon, and the contact portion between the electrode and the fibrous activated carbon at both ends of the filter is reduced to form a small gap and the electrode. The pressure of the above-mentioned to the filter is reduced, and the contact area with the fibrous activated carbon is reduced.

Further, a small gap may be formed between both ends of the filter and the electrode or the cap due to poor assembly accuracy when fixing the electrodes to both ends of the filter or installing activated carbon in the filter. .

The presence of such a gap and a decrease in the pressure bonding force cause poor contact between the electrode and the adsorbent, which suppresses the generation and growth of microorganisms and the like in the filter for water purification due to voltage application heating and desorbs the adsorbent from the adsorbent. However, there is a problem that the heating required for the regeneration cannot be obtained and the adsorption filtration performance or the adsorbent removal performance is deteriorated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. An object of the present invention is to prevent contact failure between an electrode and an adsorbent and to desorb and regenerate a substance adsorbed by the adsorbent. The object of the present invention is to provide a voltage-applying type water purifier using a conductive filter for water purification that ensures sufficient voltage heating and does not cause deterioration of the adsorption filtration performance of the water purifier.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the voltage-applied water purifier according to the invention of claim 1 is provided with a conductive filter for water purification having a hollow portion in the center in the water purifier main body. Raw water is supplied from the outer peripheral portion of the filter, and the treated water that has passed through the filter is introduced into the hollow portion, and a voltage application type water purifier having electrodes for voltage application at both ends of the filter, at least one of the electrodes. An electrode-side terminal provided with a seal member made of a rubber material or the like having substantially the same shape as the electrode on the side opposite to the filter facing surface of the electrode, and having a spring material or a spring-like connection member at least at one position on the seal member side. The electrode urging means consisting of is provided.

Further, in the voltage application type water purifier according to the invention of claim 2, a water purifying conductive filter having a hollow portion in the center is provided in the water purifier main body, and raw water is supplied from the outer peripheral portion of the filter, In the water purifier of the voltage application type having the electrodes for voltage application respectively at both ends of the filter while introducing the treated water after passing through the filter into the hollow portion, the filter is divided between the electrodes at the upper and lower ends, and further, An elastic body made of a rubber material or a spring material for urging each filter in the electrode direction is provided at the divided portion.

Further, the voltage-applied water purifier according to the invention of claim 3 is the voltage-applied water purifier according to claim 1 or 2, wherein concentric circles are formed on the filter facing surface of at least one of the electrodes. Alternatively, the conductive projections are arranged in a scattered manner.

[0014]

According to the invention of claim 1, a seal member made of a rubber material or the like having substantially the same shape as the electrode is provided on the side opposite to the filter facing surface of at least one of the upper and lower electrodes, and the seal member side. Since the electrode urging means composed of the electrode side terminal provided with the spring material or the spring-like connecting member is provided in at least one position of the above, even if a gap is generated between the electrode and the filter, one or both electrodes can be used as the filter. Because of the pressure bonding, such a gap can be avoided and contact failure between the electrode and the filter can be prevented.

Further, in the invention of claim 2, the filter is divided into a plurality in the direction between the upper and lower electrodes, and further,
Since the divided portion is provided with the elastic body made of a rubber material or a spring material for urging each filter in the electrode direction, the electrode and the filter can be simply structured even if the filter is long in the inter-electrode direction. It is possible to effectively crimp and prevent contact failure.

Further, in the invention of claim 3, in the voltage-applied water purifier of claim 1 or 2, the electrodes are arranged concentrically or in a scattered manner on the filter facing surface of at least one of the electrodes. Since the conductive protrusions are provided, contact failure can be prevented even when a large gap is generated or the elastic force of the elastic member or the like is reduced.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the overall structure of a voltage application type water purifier according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a raw water pipe (not shown) leading to a raw water source such as a water supply is connected to an inlet 3a for introducing raw water provided in a lower surface lid 3 at the bottom of the hollow cylindrical water purifier body 1. . The upper surface of the water purifier body 1 is closed by an upper surface lid 2 having an outlet 2a connected to a water supply pipe (not shown) for passing purified water to a predetermined supply source. still,
The upper surface lid 2 and the lower surface lid 3 are screwed or fitted and fixed to the open ends of the upper and lower surfaces of the water purifier body 1, respectively, and the fixing portions are covered with a pressing member 14 to firmly fix the water purifier body. There is.

The inside of the water purifier body is filled with conductive fibrous or granular activated carbon, and the periphery thereof is covered with a non-woven fabric to provide a water-permeable and conductive filter 4 (hereinafter, simply referred to as "filter"). ) Has been placed. The filter has a cylindrical and replaceable cartridge type structure having a hollow portion 15 in the center thereof, and prevents the activated carbon filled inside from flowing out, and also fine iron and sand contained in the raw water passing therethrough. Inorganic substances such as and impurities are filtered. Further, as shown in the figure, a ring-shaped passage (outer ring passage) 17 surrounding the filter is provided between the outer periphery of the filter 4 and the inner wall of the water purifier body 1 and communicates with the inflow port 3a. That is, as shown by the solid line arrow in the figure, the raw water introduced from the inflow port 3a into the water purifier body once flows into the outer ring passage 17 and passes through the activated carbon layer in the filter from the outer peripheral portion of the filter to be provided in the center. It passes toward the hollow portion 15 having a cylindrical shape.

A cylindrical spout tube 13 is inserted in the hollow portion at the center of the cylindrical filter. The upper end of the spout 13 is screwed and fixed to one end of an outlet 2a provided on the top cover 2 so as to communicate with a water supply pipe that follows the outlet, and the lower end is screwed and fixed to a substantially central portion of the lower cap 9. It is blocked. The water injection pipe 13 has a large number of water passage holes 13a into which treated water that has passed through the activated carbon layer flows, and is made of a conductive material such as stainless steel. The spout pipe 13 may be made of a resin material.

Donut ring-shaped electrodes 5 corresponding to the shape of the filter end face are crimped to the upper and lower end faces of the filter, respectively. Further, a seal member 21 is provided on the back side of the filter facing surface of at least one of the electrodes. That is, when the seal member is provided at the upper end, it is inserted between the upper surface lid 2 and the electrode 5, and when provided at the lower end, it is inserted between the lower cap 9 and the electrode 5. This seal member has the effect of preventing raw water from passing through the back of the electrodes at the upper and lower ends and causing a short circuit, and also has the effect of pressing and holding the electrodes in the filter direction.

FIG. 1 shows an example in which the seal member 21 is attached to the lower end portion of the filter, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line BB ′ of FIG. 3, showing the seal member 21 and the electrode urging means 27 which will be described later. Shows the inserted state. In the figure, the seal member 21 is made of a material having a constant elastic force, such as a rubber material or a resin material, and is inserted between the lower cap 9 and the back surface of the electrode 5 facing the filter. 3 is an exploded view showing a state in which the seal member and the electrode urging means 27 are attached to the lower cap. In FIG. 3, an electrode for urging the electrodes in the filter direction at a plurality of locations inside the seal member. Four biasing means 27 are provided at 90 ° intervals.
The number may be 5, 5 or more. Although a disc spring is used as the electrode urging means in the embodiment, another elastic body may be used as long as it presses the electrode.

On the other hand, as described above, the gap between the electrode and the lower cap generated by pressing the electrode by the electrode urging means 27 is sealed by the sealing member 21.
Therefore, this gap does not cause a short circuit of raw water or a backflow of treated water. As the seal member, elastic rubber or elastic resin is used. Further, a second seal member (10, 11) made of a ring-shaped organic insulator such as sponge rubber is pressure-bonded to the outer circumference and the inner circumference of the electrode so as to surround the electrode. This also prevents short circuit of raw water and backflow of treated water.

The electrodes 5, the sealing member 21 and the second sealing members 10 and 11 are pressure-bonded to each other by the upper surface lid 2 and the lower cap 9
It is performed by screwing and fixing the spouting pipe 13 with the spouting pipe 13. A plurality of protrusions 2c and 9b are provided on the filter-opposing surface of the upper lid and the lower cap so as to more firmly fix the upper lid and the lower cap to the filter when screwed and fixed. In the above example, the upper cover and the lower cap are fixed to the spout pipe by screwing, but they may be fixed by press fitting. Either the upper surface lid 2 or the lower surface lid 3 may be integrally formed with the water purifier body 1.

An electrode-side terminal 6 is slidably provided in a terminal hole 28 provided in the cap at one end of a lower cap 9 serving as a pressing means for the filter, and a spring-like connection is attached to the terminal hole 28. It is connected to the connection terminal 8 a provided on the lower surface lid 3 via the member 18. The spring-like connecting member serves as a wire connecting the electrode-side terminal 6 and the connecting terminal 8a, and urges the electrode-side terminal 6 toward the electrode by its elastic force. Therefore, the electrode 5 is connected by the electrode side terminal 6.
Is pressed toward the filter, and the spring-like connecting member 18 has the effect of eliminating the gap between the electrode and the filter, like the electrode urging means 27.

On the other hand, connection terminals 8b are provided on the top cover 2, and these connection terminals 8a and 8b are connected to a power source 16 by an electric circuit 12. By turning on a power switch, a voltage is applied to each electrode. Is applied.

In this case, a seal member is provided on the back side of the filter facing surface of at least one of the electrodes, and electrode biasing means are provided at a plurality of positions within the seal member to press the electrode toward the filter. Therefore, even when a small gap occurs between the both ends of the filter and the electrode due to repeated expansion and contraction of the filter described above, or even when a gap caused by softening deformation of the organic synthetic fiber due to voltage application heating occurs,
It is possible to effectively prevent poor contact between the electrode and the filter.

As a result, the activated carbon filled in the filter is stably heated by Joule heat generated when electricity is applied, and sterilization and growth inhibition of microorganisms and various bacteria adhering to the activated carbon layer can be achieved. Further, during regeneration, desorption of the substance adsorbed on the activated carbon is promoted by the above heating.
Incidentally, the electrode used in the present invention, by using a material having excellent corrosion resistance such as platinum-titanium, ferrite, or carbon, to maintain a stable energized state, the sterilization effect or the regeneration efficiency of activated carbon at a high level. Can be kept at

Next, another embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The same parts as those in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a water purifier according to the second embodiment. In the figure, the water purification filter 4 is divided into upper and lower parts, and elastic members 24 to which rubber is adhered are attached to both sides of a partition plate 25 made of a steel plate such as a stainless steel material at the divided part. This elastic member urges one of the divided filters toward the top cover 2 and the other filter toward the lower cap 9. As a result, a uniform pressing force is exerted in the electrode direction on the upper and lower ends of the filter. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, in the case of a vertically long filter installed long in the direction between the electrodes on the upper and lower ends, one elastic member is used. It is possible to effectively prevent the contact failure between the both ends of the filter and the electrodes only by mounting the filter on the. Note that FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view showing an elastic member using a rubber material.

In the embodiment, the water purification filter 4 is shown as being divided into two parts, an upper filter and a lower filter, but it is needless to say that it can be used even if it is divided into more parts. Further, it may be a case where the adsorbent such as activated carbon contained in a single non-woven fabric forming a filter that accommodates the adsorbent such as activated carbon is separated into two layers, and in this case, the separation section is provided with The elastic member will be inserted. Further, when divided or separated into two or more, elastic members 24 are provided in each divided portion or separated portion. Further, as the elastic member, it is also possible to use one in which a spring material is fixed so as to surround the partition plate 25 as shown in FIG. 6, or an elastic member composed of only a rubber material or a spring material without a partition plate can be used. You may use.

Further, in order to prevent the above contact failure more effectively, a compression coil spring 20 is provided between the lower cap 9 and the lower surface lid 3 as shown in FIG. 7 in addition to the above embodiment. The whole can be pressed in the direction of the top cover 2. Alternatively, a tension coil spring 19 may be installed in the spout tube to pull the entire lower cap toward the upper lid 2. In this case, the joint between the lower cap 9 or the upper lid 2 and the spout pipe 13 is slidable. According to this configuration, not only the gap between the electrode and the filter can be prevented, but also the gap between the electrode and the upper lid 2 or the lower cap 9 can be prevented.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a voltage application type water purifier according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, conductive projections reaching the activated carbon layer in the filter are formed on the filter facing surface of each electrode. By using the electrode having such a conductive protrusion, even if a large gap is generated between the electrode and the filter or the pressing force of the elastic member is lowered, the contact is not immediately caused and the contact with the filter is maintained. be able to. As for the shape of the projection, one or more projections 29a having a wedge-shaped cross section shown in FIG. 9 are arranged concentrically, or a plurality of projections 29b having a spherical cross section or a cylindrical shape shown in FIG. By combining, the contact failure can be prevented more effectively.

[0034]

As described in detail above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the gap between the electrode and the filter can be effectively prevented, insufficient heating of the adsorbent due to poor contact with the electrode. It is possible to prevent deterioration of the regeneration performance for desorbing unnecessary substances adsorbed on the adsorbent based on.

Further, according to the invention of claim 2, even when the filter is long in the direction between the electrodes at the upper and lower ends, the filter and the electrodes at both ends thereof can be effectively crimped with a simple structure.
It is possible to prevent deterioration of the regeneration performance for desorbing unnecessary substances adsorbed by the adsorbent due to poor contact with the electrodes.

Further, according to the invention of claim 3, in the voltage application type water purifier according to the invention of the present application, even if a large gap is generated between the electrode and the filter or the pressing force of the elastic member is lowered, the contact is made immediately. Without causing defects
It is possible to prevent deterioration of the regeneration performance for desorbing unnecessary substances adsorbed by the adsorbent.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a voltage application type water purifier showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line BB ′ of FIG. 3 showing the electrode biasing means in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing a lower cap according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a voltage application type water purifier showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing an elastic member according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view showing another example of the elastic member in the second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a voltage application type water purifier showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a voltage application type water purifier showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view showing concentric protrusions according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an exploded view showing a scattered projection in a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram showing a voltage application type water purifier according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Water purifier main body, 2 ... Upper surface lid, 3 ... Lower surface lid, 3a ... Inflow port, 4 ... Filter, 5 ... Electrode, 6 ... Electrode side terminal, 7 ... Spring connection member, 8a, 8b ... Connection terminal, 9 ... lower cap, 9b ... lower cap protrusion, 10 ... second seal member (outer peripheral side seal member), 11 ... second seal member (inner peripheral side seal member), 13 ... pouring pipe, 14 ... pressing member, 1
5 ... Hollow part, 17 ... Outer ring passage, 18 ... Spring-shaped connection terminal,
19 ... tension coil spring, 20 ... compression coil spring, 2
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Seal member, 24 ... Elastic member, 25 ... Partition plate, 26
... Spring material, 27 ... Disc spring, 28 ... Terminal hole, 29 ... Conductive protrusion, 30 ... Tension coil spring adjusting screw, 31 ... Thread portion seal,

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A water purifying conductive filter having a hollow portion in the center is provided in a water purifier main body, raw water is supplied from an outer peripheral portion of the filter, and treated water is introduced into the hollow portion and both end portions of the filter are introduced. In a voltage application type water purifier having electrodes for voltage application, a sealing member is provided on the back side of the filter facing surface of at least one of the electrodes, and the electrode is energized at at least one position on the sealing member side. A voltage application type water purifier characterized by comprising means. 2. A water purifying conductive filter having a hollow portion in the center is provided in a water purifier body, raw water is supplied from the outer peripheral portion of the filter, and treated water is introduced into the hollow portion and upper and lower end portions of the filter are introduced. In the voltage application type water purifier having electrodes for voltage application respectively, the filter is divided between electrodes at upper and lower ends, and an elastic body for urging each filter in the electrode direction is provided at the divided portion. Characteristic voltage application type water purifier. 3. The voltage application type water purifier according to claim 1, wherein a conductive protrusion is provided on a filter facing surface of at least one of the upper and lower electrodes.