JPH08132028A - Water purifier - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a water purifier enabling to easy and surely attach and detach a switching valve attached on a faucet of city water and a housing incorporating a filter, etc. CONSTITUTION: A male engaging part 52, locking arms 53, 54, 55 extending in the axial line H direction and a cylinder engaging part 56 for extending a flow path 57 are respectively provided perpendicularly on an end surface 51 extending perpendicularly against the axial line H of the flow path 57 of city water, on a connection part 50 provided on either one side of the switching valve or the housing. This connecting part 50 is displaced to the axial line direction against the connection part of the opposite side and mutually engaged, thus the switching valve and the housing can be connected into one body.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water purifier for purifying tap water, and more particularly to a switching valve attached to a tap of a tap and a member for purifying tap water supplied through the switching valve. The present invention relates to improvement of a structure for detachably connecting to a built-in housing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, water purifiers for purifying tap water have been widely used, but among them, there is a type that is small and can be mounted near a faucet. As a structure for attaching a water purifier of this type to a faucet, tap water can be made to flow straight down or in the form of a shower, and the flow path of tap water can be switched. A structure is generally used in which the switching valve is first attached to the faucet, and a housing containing a member for purifying tap water is attached to the switching valve via a dedicated adapter. However, in this connection structure, the adapter has to be connected to both the switching valve and the housing, and there are drawbacks such that the number of connection parts increases and water leakage occurs, and the connection work takes a lot of time.

Therefore, a structure for directly connecting the switching valve and the housing, for example, a fitting convex portion on one of the switching valve and the housing and a fitting concave portion for fitting the fitting convex portion on the other is provided. A connection structure is employed in which each of them is formed, the fitting convex portion and the fitting concave portion are fitted to each other, and the fitting portion is fastened using a dedicated fastener. Further, as a structure for directly connecting the switching valve and the housing, one of the switching valves is provided with a male screw and the other is provided with a female screw, and the male screw and the female screw are screwed to each other, so that the switching valve is engaged. The structure that connects the housing and the housing is also adopted.

[0004]

However, in the above-described connection structure in which the fitting convex portion and the fitting concave portion are fitted to each other, the fitting convex portion and the fitting concave portion are fitted to each other, and then the dedicated fitting Since the fitting part is fastened using the fastener, not only can the time required for the connection work not be shortened as much as desired, but also the dedicated fastener is required, so the number of parts cannot be reduced and the cost is reduced. However, there is a problem in that it cannot be reduced. In addition, in a connection structure in which a male screw and a female screw are screwed together, it is necessary to screw the screws together, and since the strength of the screw must be sufficient, the external dimensions of the connection part are increased. There was a problem. Further, since the water purifier of the above-mentioned type is often used in general households, it is possible to easily and surely attach / detach the switching valve and the housing when replacing the filter etc. built in the housing with a new one. It is desired to improve.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to easily and surely attach / detach a housing containing a filter or the like to a switching valve attached to a tap of a water supply. Another object of the present invention is to provide a water purifier that can reduce the number of parts and reduce the cost.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above-mentioned problems are solved by the present invention, in which a switching valve attached to a tap for switching the tap water flow path and tap water supplied through the switching valve are purified. In a water purifier in which a housing having a built-in member is detachably connected, the switching valve and the housing are relatively displaceable in the axial direction of the tap water flow path but relatively rotatable about the axis. Male and female fitting portions that cannot be fitted together are respectively provided, and one of the switching valve and the housing is provided with a locking arm that extends in the axial direction, and the other one is provided with the engaging arm. A locking portion that engages with the stop arm is provided, and the passages of tap water provided in the switching valve and the housing are communicated with each other by the engagement of the locking arm and the locking portion. What is being done It can be achieved by water purifier characterized.

Preferably, the engagement with the engagement portion is released when the engagement arm is bent in the radial direction with respect to the axis. Further, preferably, the fitting portions respectively provided on the switching valve and the housing are provided in four directions of up, down, left and right extending in a radial direction with respect to the axis,
It is formed only in three directions. Furthermore, preferably, among the locking arms, a locking arm protruding from a portion in a direction in which the fitting portion is provided is capable of bending in a radial direction of the axis. At the same time, the locking arm projectingly provided in a portion in the direction in which the fitting portion is not provided is a fixed arm that does not bend in the radial direction of the axis.

[0008]

In the water purifier of the present invention, when the switching valve and the housing are axially brought close to each other with the male and female fitting portions provided on the switching valve and the housing fitted, respectively, they are locked. The arm engages with the locking portion to integrally connect the switching valve and the housing, and the flow path of the switching valve and the flow path of the housing communicate with each other. At this time, since the fitting portion is fitted so as not to rotate relative to the axis, the switching valve and the housing do not rotate relative to the axis. Further, the switching arm and the housing can be separated by bending the locking arm in the radial direction to release the engagement with the locking portion. In addition, 4 in the up, down, left, and right directions that extend in the radial direction with respect to the axis
If the fitting part is formed only in three of the directions,
Since the fitting portions can be fitted or unfitted with each other while relatively rotating the switching valve and the housing, the switching valve and the housing can be easily attached and detached. Further, among the locking arms, the locking arms projectingly provided in the portion in the direction in which the fitting portion is provided are flexible arms capable of bending in the radial direction of the axis, and the fitting portion is If the locking arm projectingly provided in a portion in the direction not provided is a fixed arm that does not bend in the radial direction of the axis, only the flexible arm is bent in the radial direction while the fixed arm and the locking portion are formed. By relatively rotating the switching valve and the housing around the locking portion as a fulcrum, the switching valve and the housing can be easily separated.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a water purifier according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Here, FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of the connection part of the switching valve in one embodiment of the water purifier according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is the structure of the connection part of the housing in one embodiment of the water purifier according to the present invention. 1 is a perspective view, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part showing a fitting state of the switching valve shown in FIG. 1 and a housing shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 5 is a sectional view for explaining the operation of the flexible arm shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG.
FIG. 7 is an overall plan view of the water purifier according to the present invention, and FIG. 8 is an overall side view of the water purifier according to the present invention.

The water purifier of this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, is a switching valve 10 attached to a tap of a tap water (not shown), and a member for purifying tap water supplied through the switching valve 10. And a housing 20 containing therein. The switching valve 10 has a fixed portion 11 attached to a faucet (not shown), a main body portion 12 containing the switching valve, and a lever 13 for operating the switching valve. By operating the lever 13, tap water can be made to flow straight from the lower part of the main body portion 12 into a shower shape as shown by an arrow E, or the flow path of tap water can be switched to the housing 20 side. Has been made possible. The housing 20 is for purifying tap water by filtering it with a filtration filter (not shown) made of activated carbon and innumerable hollow fibers built in the main body part 21. The tap water supplied through the switching valve 10 is filtered. The flow is made to flow from the lower portion of the main body portion 21 as indicated by arrow F.

Next, the structure of the portion connecting the switching valve 10 and the housing 20 will be described. As shown in FIG. 8, the switching valve 10 and the housing 20 are connected to each other by fitting the connecting portions 30 and 50 provided therein, respectively. As shown in Figure 1,
The connecting portion 30 on the switching valve 10 side is the main body portion 1 of the switching valve 10.
It is made of resin integrally with 2, and its end face 31 is perpendicular to the axis G of the passage of tap water provided in the switching valve 10. A peripheral wall 32 extending along the outer peripheral edge of the end surface 31 is vertically provided, and engaging portions 33, 34, and 35 for engaging with a locking arm described later are provided in the peripheral wall 32. ing. Also, the end face 3
1, a cylindrical fitting portion 36 that extends a passage 37 of tap water in the switching valve 10 is vertically provided. A 0 ring 70 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical fitting portion 36.
Further, a second cylindrical fitting portion 3 is provided outside the cylindrical fitting portion.
8 is formed coaxially with the cylindrical fitting portion 36.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
The side connecting portion 50 is formed integrally with the body portion 21 of the housing 20 by resin molding, and its end surface 51 is perpendicular to the axis H of the passage of tap water provided in the housing 20. There is. Further, a rib 52 that fits inside the peripheral wall 32 is vertically provided on the end surface 51. On the end surface 51, a pair of locking arms 53 and 54 that engage with the locking portions 33 and 34 that are recessed in the peripheral wall 32, and a locking arm 55 that engages with the locking portion 35. They are installed vertically. Further, a cylindrical fitting portion 58 that extends the flow path 57 of tap water in the housing 20 is vertically provided on the end surface 51. Further, the second cylindrical fitting portion 3 is provided on the outer side thereof.
A second cylindrical fitting portion 56 that fits with 8 is formed.

A rib 52 provided on the housing 20 side by bringing the switching valve 10 and the housing 20 close to each other.
Is fitted inside the peripheral wall 32 provided on the switching valve 10 side, the axis G of the flow path 37 of the switching valve 10 becomes coaxial with the axis H of the flow path 57 of the housing 20. Further, in this embodiment, since the peripheral wall 32 and the rib 52 are partly formed in a stepped shape, the rib 52 can be fitted to the peripheral wall 32 when the switching valve 10 and the housing 20 are assembled upside down. Can not. Further, the peripheral wall 32 and the rib 5
When the two are fitted to each other, the switching valve 10 and the housing 20 cannot relatively rotate around the axes G and H.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ribs 52 are provided only in the lower and left and right directions in the figure with respect to the axis H of the passage of the tap water. As a result, the rib 52 is provided in comparison with the case where the rib 52 is provided in four directions extending in the radial direction with respect to the axis H, that is, in all of the vertical and horizontal directions in the drawing.
Can be easily fitted to the peripheral wall 32.

With the peripheral wall 32 and the rib 52 fitted to each other, the switching valve 10 and the housing 20 are connected to the axis G.
When the tip end surfaces of the ribs 52 are brought into close contact with the end surface 31 on the switching valve 10 side in the relative approach in the H direction, the locking arms 53, 54, 55 are locked by the locking portions 33, 34, 35 as shown in FIG. , So that the switching valve 10 and the housing 20 are integrally connected. At the same time, as shown in FIG.
The cylindrical fitting portion 56 provided on the side of the switching valve 10 is fitted onto the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical fitting portion 38 provided on the side of the switching valve 10, and the cylindrical fitting portion 36 of the switching valve 10 is provided on the flow path of the housing 20. It fits inside 57. Then, the inner peripheral surface of the flow passage 57 on the housing 20 side compresses the O-ring 70 housed in the concave groove provided around the cylindrical fitting portion 36 on the switching valve 10 side, so that the switching valve 10 Channel 37 and channel 57 of housing 20
And are communicated with each other so that no water leaks at their connections.

Next, the operation for separating the switching valve 10 and the housing 20 will be described. As shown in FIG.
A pair of locking arms 53.5 disposed above the axis H on the housing 20 side in the figure and spaced apart in the left-right direction.
Reference numeral 4 denotes a fixed arm whose axial length is short and which does not easily bend in the radial direction of the axis H. On the other hand, the locking arm 55 provided on the lower side in the figure with respect to the axis H is set to have a long axial length as shown in a sectional view in FIG. Is a flexible arm that can be easily bent in the radial direction. A protrusion 61 for operation is provided on the lower surface of the central portion of the locking arm 55 in the longitudinal direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, when the protrusion 61 is pressed in the direction of arrow K, the locking arm 55 easily bends and the engagement with the locking portion 35 provided on the switching valve 10 side is released. It In this state,
When the housing 20 is rotated with respect to the switching valve 10 with the locking portion between the locking arms 53, 54 having a short length and the locking portions 33, 34 as a fulcrum, the rib 52 of the housing 20 causes the switching valve 10 to move.
Can be pulled out from the peripheral wall 32 of the switching valve 1
The 0 and the housing 20 can be easily separated.

On the other hand, the rib 52 of the housing 20
Is provided in all of the four directions in the figure above, below, left, and right with respect to the axis H, the housing 20 must be displaced parallel to the switching valve 10 in the direction of the axis H in order to pull out the ribs 52 from the peripheral wall 32. I won't. In this case, the locking arm 53
Since the engagement between 54 and the locking portions 33, 34 must also be released, when separating the housing 20 from the switching valve 10, an operation for flexing all three locking arms 53, 54, 55 at the same time. Therefore, the work of separating the housing 20 from the switching valve 10 becomes extremely difficult. That is, in the water purifier of the present embodiment, the ribs 52 of the housing 20 are provided only in the three directions of the lower side and the left and right direction in the figure with respect to the axis H, so that the housing 20 is switched only by bending the locking arm 55. It can be separated from the valve 10.

As described above, according to the water purifier of this embodiment, the switching valve 10 and the housing 20 are brought close to each other, and the switching valve 10 and the housing 20 are provided on the peripheral wall 32 and the housing 20. When the ribs 52 and the ribs 52 are fitted to each other, the pressing arms 53. 54.
45 engages with the locking portions 33, 34, and 35, respectively, so that the switching valve 10 and the housing 20 are integrally connected. On the contrary, after the protrusion 61 provided on the locking arm 55 is pressed to bend the locking arm 55 to release the engagement between the locking arm 55 and the locking portion 35, the locking arm 55 is locked. The housing 20 with the engaging portions of the arms 53 and 54 and the engaging portions 33 and 34 as a fulcrum
By rotating with respect to the switching valve 10, the rib 56 of the housing 10 can be pulled out from the inside of the peripheral wall 32 of the switching valve 10, and the switching valve 10 and the housing 20 can be separated. Therefore, according to the water purifier of the present embodiment, not only can the switching valve 10 and the housing 20 be easily and reliably detached, but no fastening component is required to fasten the two. The manufacturing cost can be reduced by reducing the number of parts.

It is needless to say that the water purifier of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment and various modifications can be made based on the gist of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the locking portions 33, 34, 3
5 on the side of the switching valve 10 and the locking arms 53, 54,
Although 55 is provided on the housing 20 side, conversely, the locking portions 33, 34 and 35 may be provided on the housing 20 side and the locking arms 53, 54 and 55 may be provided on the switching valve 10 side. . Similarly, the peripheral wall 32 may be provided on the housing 20 side and the rib 52 may be provided on the switching valve 10 side. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the rib 5
2 is provided in the lower direction and the left-right direction in the figure with respect to the axis H, the rib 52 may be provided in the upper direction and the left-right direction in the figure with respect to the axis H, on the contrary.

[0020]

That is, the connection structure of the switching valve and the water purifier according to the present invention is provided with a switching valve which is attached to a faucet of water and is capable of switching the flow path of tap water, and is supplied through the switching valve. In the structure for detachably connecting a water purifier for purifying tap water, the switching valve and the housing are relatively displaceable in the axial direction of the flow path of tap water, but around the axis. Male and female fitting portions that are fitted so as not to rotate relative to each other are respectively provided, and one of the switching valve and the housing is provided with a locking arm extending in the axial direction, and the other one of the locking arms is provided with the locking arm. And a locking portion that engages with the locking arm is provided so that the passages of tap water provided in the switching valve and the housing are connected to each other by the engagement of the locking arm and the locking portion. Since it is a thing, a switching valve and a housing Can be connected only to each other easily and reliably in with the fitting portion fitted to each other to engage the locking arms engaging portion are provided respectively on the grayed. Further, the housing can be easily removed from the switching valve by allowing the engagement with the engagement portion to be released by bending the engagement arm. Further, the number of parts can be reduced by resin-molding the fitting portion, the locking arm, and the like, which are provided at the portion connecting the switching valve and the housing, with the switching valve and the main body of the housing, respectively. Therefore, the cost can be reduced. Therefore, according to the present invention, the housing can be easily and surely attached to and detached from the switching valve attached to the tap.
Moreover, it is possible to provide a connection structure between the switching valve and the water purifier, which can reduce the number of parts and reduce the cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a structure of a connecting portion of a switching valve in one embodiment of a water purifier according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a structure of a connection portion of a housing in one embodiment of the water purifier according to the present invention.

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C shown in FIG.

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the flexible arm shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is an overall plan view of a water purifier according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an overall side view of the water purifier according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Switching valve 20 Housing 30 Connection part 31 End surface 32 Circumferential wall 33, 34, 35 Locking part 36, 38 Cylindrical fitting part 37 Flow path 50 Connection part 51 End surface 52 Ribs 53, 54, 55 Locking arm 56, 58 Cylindrical fitting Joint part 57 Flow path 70 O-ring 100 Water purifier G, H according to the present invention Axis of flow path

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Shuji Kato 4-chome 1-chome, Sunadabashi, Higashi-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. Product Development Laboratory

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A switching valve which is attached to a tap of a tap and switches a passage of tap water, and a housing containing a member for purifying tap water supplied through the switching valve are detachably connected. In the water purifier, the switching valve and the housing are provided with respective male and female fitting portions that are relatively displaceable in the axial direction of the tap water flow passage but that are relatively non-rotatably fitted around the axial line. A locking arm that extends in the axial direction is provided on one of the switching valve and the housing, and a locking portion that engages with the locking arm is provided on the other side. A water purifier characterized in that passages of tap water respectively provided in the switching valve and the housing are made to communicate with each other by engagement of the engagement arm and the engagement portion. 2. The engagement arm is disengaged from the engagement portion when the engagement arm is bent in the radial direction with respect to the axis. Water purifier described in. 3. The fitting portions respectively provided in the switching valve and the water purifier are formed only in three directions among four directions of up, down, left and right extending in a radial direction with respect to the axis. The water purifier according to claim 1 or 2. 4. A locking arm projecting from a portion of the locking arm in a direction in which the fitting portion is provided is a flexible arm capable of bending in a radial direction of the axis. The locking arm projectingly provided at a portion in the direction in which the fitting portion is not provided is a fixed arm that does not bend in the radial direction of the axis. Water purifier.