JPH0824843A - Water purifier - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the troublesomeness of the replacement of a battery and to reduce the maintenance cost accompanying the replacement of a filter to a large extent. CONSTITUTION:The water purifier 1 consists of a battery unit D and a filter unit F connected to each other in a detachable manner. The battery unit D is equipped with a solar cell 2 generating low voltage 2, a storage battery 3 storing electric energy generated in the solar cell 2, an anode 4 and a cathode 5 and is integrally received in a battery case 6. The filter unit F consists of a conductive filter 10, the cylindrical filter case 9 housing the filter 10 and a lower case 11 having a water inflow port 11a and a formed thereto. By applying a low voltage to the conductive filter 10 from the storage battery 3 storing energy of the solar cell 2 through the anode 4 and the cathode 5, the propagation of bacteria in the filter 10 is suppressed.

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, and more particularly to a low-voltage application type water purifier which suppresses generation of microorganisms in a filter by a low voltage.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a low-voltage application type water purifier has been proposed in which a low voltage (0.7 to 1.5 V) is applied to a conductive filter to prevent the growth of microorganisms in the filter. (See Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-207883). This water purifier uses a battery as a power source for applying a low voltage to the conductive filter, and includes a replacement time detection unit that detects the voltage of the battery and notifies the user of the replacement time of the battery.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned water purifier, although the user can properly know the replacement time of the battery by the replacement time detection means, it is possible to eliminate the trouble of replacing the exhausted battery. I can't. Further, when the filter is replaced, the filtration unit that houses the filter is also replaced. The filtration unit includes not only the filter but also electrodes for energizing the filter, a circuit board constituting replacement time detection means, and a replacement. An indicator etc. that informs the time is integrated, and since these parts are replaced and discarded for each filtration unit, the maintenance cost is very high.

However, this water purifier is provided with a water turbine that rotates by the flow of water, and a technique is disclosed in which a battery is not required to be replaced by providing a generator that generates electric power by the rotation of the water turbine. In this case, the cost becomes higher as the number of parts and the number of assembling steps increase, and it becomes difficult to replace the filter alone due to the complicated structure, which is not practical. The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a low-voltage application type water purifier that can reduce the troublesomeness of battery replacement and can significantly reduce the maintenance cost. It is in.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides, in claim 1, a case body forming a water channel through which water flows, and a conductive filter for filtering water flowing through the water channel. A solar cell that converts light energy into electric energy; a battery case that houses the solar cell; and a pair of electrodes that energize the filter using the solar cell as a power source, and the case body contains the filter. The filter unit and the battery unit are configured to be detachable from each other, and the filter unit and the battery unit are detachably assembled.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the water purifier according to the first aspect, there is provided a backflow preventing means for preventing a backflow of charges charged in the filter, and the backflow preventing means is housed in the battery case. Characterize.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the water purifier according to the first aspect, a storage means for storing electric energy generated in the solar cell is provided, and the storage means is housed in the battery case. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the water purifier according to any of the first to third aspects, the pair of electrodes includes a press side electrode electrically connected to the filter and water flowing through the water channel. The negative electrode is electrically connected to the filter via the negative electrode.

According to a fifth aspect, in the water purifier according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, in the battery case, at least an upper side of the solar cell is formed of a light-transmitting transparent cover. Characterize.

According to a sixth aspect, in the water purifier according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the backflow prevention means is a diode interposed between the electrode and the solar cell. To do.

[0011]

In the water purifier of the present invention having the above structure, the solar cell housed in the battery case is used as a power source and a low voltage is applied to the conductive filter through the pair of electrodes. Therefore, it is not necessary to replace the battery due to exhaustion of the battery as in the conventional case, and it is possible to eliminate the troublesomeness associated with the battery replacement.

Further, this water purifier comprises a filter unit constructed by housing a filter in a case body and a battery unit constructed by holding a pair of electrodes in a battery case housing a solar cell. The filter unit and the battery unit are detachably assembled. Therefore,
When it becomes necessary to replace the filter, the filter unit and the battery unit can be divided and only the filter unit can be replaced. Thereby, the battery unit can be continuously used as it is, so that the maintenance cost can be minimized.

As described in claim 2, the filter is provided with a backflow preventing means (for example, a diode) for preventing backflow of the charged electric charge, so that the filter can be used even at night when power cannot be obtained from the solar cell. Since it is possible to keep the charged state, it is possible to suppress the growth of microorganisms in the filter by the charged voltage of the filter.

Alternatively, as described in claim 3, by providing a storage means (for example, a capacitor) for storing the electric energy generated in the solar cell, even when electric power cannot be obtained from the solar cell at night as described above. The filter can be energized using the electric power stored in the power storage means.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the first embodiment of the water purifier of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
It will be described with reference to FIG. Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the water purifier (Fig. 2
Of FIG. 2), FIG. 2 is a top view of the water purifier, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 taken along line BB. The water purifier 1 of the present embodiment is composed of a removable battery unit D (see FIG. 4) and a filter unit F (see FIG. 5), and as shown in FIGS. Thirty
It is attached to 0.

The holder 200 is tightened and fixed to the water faucet 300 by a nut 210, and the water supply faucet 300 is rotated by rotating a handle 220 attached to the outside.
The supplied tap water can be switched between the “purifier side” in which the tap water flows through the water purifier 1 and the “raw water side” in which the tap water flows without passing through the water purifier 1. Further, in the case of "raw water side", the water flow can be switched between raw water straight and raw water shower.

(Description of Battery Unit D) Battery Unit D
4, as shown in FIG. 4, the solar cell 2, the electric storage device 3 (electric storage means of the present invention), the pair of electrodes 4, 5, and the battery case 6
It is composed of The solar cell 2 converts light energy into electric energy and generates a low voltage (for example, 0.6 to 2 V). The storage battery 3 (for example, a capacitor) is electrically connected between the positive electrode side lead portion 2a and the negative electrode side lead portion 2b protruding from the lower surface of the solar cell 2 (see FIG. 8), and is generated in the solar cell 2. It stores the electrical energy that it does. The pair of electrodes 4, 5 includes a positive side electrode 4 connected to the positive electrode side lead portion 2a of the solar cell 2 and a negative electrode side lead portion 2b of the solar cell 2.
The negative electrode 5 connected to the. However, the minus side electrode 5 is provided longer than the plus side electrode 4.

The battery case 6 includes a base portion 7 for holding the storage battery 3 and the solar cell 2, and a transparent cover 8 for transmitting light.
(The permeable cover of the present invention). The base portion 7 is provided with cylindrical electrode holding portions 7 a and 7 b protruding below the base portion 7. The electrode holding portion 7 a holds the positive electrode 4 inserted therein, and the electrode holding portion 7 a
b holds the minus-side electrode 5 inserted therein. The electrodes 4 and 5 inserted into the electrode holding portions 7a and 7b are held with their tips protruding from the electrode holding portions 7a and 7b, respectively. The transparent cover 8 covers the upper portion of the solar cell 2 in order to apply light to the solar cell 2, and is joined to the outer peripheral wall 7c of the base portion 7 by ultrasonic welding or the like.

(Explanation of Filter Unit F) As shown in FIG. 5, the filter unit F includes a cylindrical filter case 9, a filter 10 housed in the filter case 9, and a lower part assembled to the filter case 9. Case 1
1 and 1. The main body case of the present invention includes a filter case 9 and a lower case 11.

The filter case 9 is provided with a partition wall 9b on the inner circumference upper side of the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 9a for restricting the upper end position of the filter 10 to be housed, and the fitting cylinder 9c and the fitting cylinder 9c are fitted integrally with the partition wall 9b. A coupling cylinder 9d and an outflow cylinder 9e (see FIG. 3) are provided. The partition wall 9b has a fitting cylinder 9
A passage port 9f for passing tap water is formed between the c, the fitting pipe 9d, and the outflow pipe 9e. The tap water filtered by the filter 10 passes through the passage port 9f and the partition wall 9f.
It flows to the upper side of b.

The electrode holder 7a and the electrode holder 7b of the base 7 are fitted into the fitting cylinder 9c and the fitting cylinder 9d, respectively, when the battery unit D and the filter unit F are combined. However, the fitting cylinder 9c projects only above the partition wall 9b, but the fitting cylinder 9d projects not only above the partition wall 9b but also below, and the lower side thereof covers the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 9.
It reaches the lower end position of a (see FIG. 5). The fitting cylinder 9
The O-rings 12 and 13 mounted on the outer circumferences of the electrode holding portion 7a and the electrode holding portion 7b, respectively, liquid-tightly connect between c and the electrode holding portion 7a and between the fitting cylinder 9d and the electrode holding portion 7b. Sealed. The outflow cylinder 9e is a filter 10
It forms a part of a water channel through which the tap water filtered in (1) flows, and as shown in FIG. 3, it is provided so as to project downward from the partition wall 9b.

The filter 10 is made of activated carbon fiber having a property of conducting electricity, has a cylindrical shape corresponding to the inner peripheral shape of the filter case 9, and has a plate 1 arranged on the lower end surface.
It is attached to the filter case 9 via 4. However,
A first through hole (not shown) through which the fitting cylinder 9d of the filter case 9 is inserted and a second through hole through which the outflow cylinder 9e is inserted are provided at positions (see FIG. 2) displaced from the center of the filter 10 cylinder. (Not shown) are provided.

The plate 14 is formed with a passage port 14a for passing tap water, and the tap water supplied through the holder 200 flows through the passage port 14a in the filter 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the plate 14 is provided with a cylindrical flowing water cylinder 14b at a position deviated from the center, and the upper end portion of the flowing water cylinder 14b is provided at the filter case 9
The filter 10 is held in the filter case 9 by being press-fitted and fixed in the outflow cylinder 9e.

The lower case 11 is provided with an inflow port 11a into which tap water flows and a discharge port 11b from which tap water filtered by the filter 10 is discharged. The inlet 11a is
The O-ring 1 is provided on the side of the lower case 11 so as to project like a pipe, and is connected to a connection port (not shown) of the holder 200.
It is fitted in a liquid-tight manner via 5. A rubber check valve 16 is provided inside the inflow port 11a to prevent backflow of tap water. The discharge port 11b is provided below the lower case 11 so as to project like a pipe. Inside the lower case 11, the lower end portion of the running water cylinder 14b provided on the plate 14 is fluid-tightly fitted via the O-ring 17. (See FIG. 3). The lower case 11 is joined to the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 9a of the filter case 9 by ultrasonic welding or the like.

(The assembly of the battery unit D and the filter unit F will be described.) The battery unit D and the filter unit F include an electrode holding portion 7a and an electrode holding portion 7b provided on the base portion 7 of the battery unit D. While fitting the fitting positions of the fitting cylinder 9c and the fitting cylinder 9d provided on the filter case 9, the outer peripheral wall 7c of the base portion 7 is pushed into the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 9a of the filter case 9 while being fitted. Combine and combine. The outer peripheral wall 7 of the base portion 7
An O-ring 18 liquid-tightly seals between c and the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 9a of the filter case 9.

As a result, the plus-side electrode 4 held by the electrode holding portion 7a is electrically connected to the filter 10 with the tip portion protruding from the electrode holding portion 7a being inside the filter 10. On the other hand, the minus-side electrode 5 held by the electrode holding portion 7b does not come into direct contact with the filter 10, and the tip portion protruding from the electrode holding portion 7b reaches the inside of the lower case 11.

(The flow of water in the water purifier 1 will be described). The tap water that has flowed in through the inflow port 11a of the lower case 11 flows into the space A (see FIG. 1) inside the lower case 11 while pushing the check valve 16 open. After the space A is filled with tap water, the filter 10 flows from the lower side to the upper side of FIG. The tap water that has passed through the filter 10 and has been filtered passes through the partition wall 9b of the filter case 9 through the passage port 9f that opens.
b into the space B (see FIG. 1) formed between the base portion 7 of the battery case 6 and the outlet case 9e of the filter case 9 and the flowing cylinder 14b of the plate 14 to flow into the lower case 11. It is discharged from the discharged discharge port 11b.
Therefore, the water channel of the present invention is formed by the inflow port 11a, the space A, the space in the filter case 9 in which the filter 10 is arranged, the space B, the outflow pipe 9e, the running water pipe 14b, and the discharge port 11b.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. By opening the faucet (not shown) of the water faucet 300 and switching the handle 220 of the holder 200 to the “water purifier side”, the tap water discharged from the water faucet 300 is supplied to the user through the water purifier 1. It At this time, the tap water flowing through the water purifier 1 is removed of inorganic substances, organic substances, chlorine and the like contained in the tap water when passing through the filter 10. Water faucet 3
When the water tap of No. 00 is closed (or when the handle 220 of the holder 200 is switched to the “raw water side”), the flow of water in the water purifier 1 disappears, but from the opening surface of the outflow tube 9e that opens to the partition wall 9b. The waterway on the upstream side (that is, the inlet 11
a, the space A, and the inside of the filter 10) are filled with water.

Therefore, the space A in the lower case 11 is constantly filled with water, and the negative electrode 5 projecting into the space A is exposed to the water in the space A and grounded. . As a result, a low voltage (for example, 0.6 to 2 V) is constantly applied to the conductive filter 10 from the battery 3 via the positive electrode 4 and the negative electrode 5 using the solar cell 2 as a power source. As a result, 3 taps
Even if the water flow in the water purifier 1 is stopped by closing the water tap of No. 00 (or when the handle 220 of the holder 200 is switched to the raw water side), the growth of microorganisms in the filter 10 can be suppressed. .

As described above, in the present embodiment, by using the solar cell 2, it is not necessary to replace the battery, and the troublesomeness associated with the battery replacement can be eliminated. Further, in the case of a conventional product that requires battery replacement, there is a risk that the electrodes 4, 5 and the lead portions 2a, 2b may be rusted due to water when the battery is replaced, but in the water purifier 1 of this embodiment, Since it is not necessary to replace the battery, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of rust on the electrodes 4 and 5 and the lead portions 2a and 2b due to the above-mentioned water.

In the water purifier 1 of this embodiment, the solar cell 2, which does not need to be replaced, the condenser 3, and the pair of electrodes 4, 5 are constituted as a battery unit D, and the filter unit which accommodates the filter 10 which needs to be replaced. When it becomes necessary to replace the filter 10 due to its detachable connection with F, the battery unit D and the filter unit F are divided, only the filter unit F is replaced, and the battery unit D continues as it is. Can be used. For this reason,
It is possible to minimize the maintenance cost associated with the replacement of the filter 10.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the water purifier 1 according to the second embodiment. The water purifier 1 of the present embodiment does not have the electric storage device 3 shown in the first embodiment, and the diode 19 is arranged between the solar cell 2 and the positive electrode 4. The diode 19 prevents the electric charge charged in the filter 10 from flowing back to the minus side electrode 5 through the solar cell 2 when electric power cannot be obtained from the solar cell 2 at night. The circuit diagram is shown in FIG.

As a result, in this embodiment, the diode 19 prevents the backflow of electricity even when power cannot be obtained from the solar cell 2 at the time of turning off the light after going to bed. Because you can keep
The charged voltage of the filter 10 can suppress the growth of microorganisms in the filter 10. In the case of this embodiment, the diode 19 may be arranged between the solar cell 2 and the negative electrode 5.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a water purifier (a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2).

FIG. 2 is a top view of the water purifier.

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a battery unit.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a filter unit.

FIG. 6 is a top view showing a mounted state of the water purifier.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a mounted state of the water purifier.

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a water purifier according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram of the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Water purifier 2 Solar cell 3 Storage device (storage unit) 4 Positive side electrode 5 Negative side electrode 6 Battery case 8 Transparent cover (Transparent cover) 9 Filter case (Case body) 10 Filter 11 Lower case (Case body) 19 Diode ( Backflow prevention means) D Battery unit F Filter unit

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A case body that forms a water channel through which water flows, a conductive filter that filters water flowing through the channel, a solar cell that converts light energy into electrical energy, and a battery case that houses the solar cell. And a pair of electrodes for energizing the filter by using the solar cell as a power source, the filter is housed in the case body to form a filter unit, and the battery is held by holding the pair of electrodes in the battery case. A water purifier comprising a unit, wherein the filter unit and the battery unit are detachably assembled. 2. The water purifier according to claim 1, further comprising a backflow preventing means for preventing a backflow of electric charges charged in the filter, the backflow preventing means being housed in the battery case. 3. The water purifier according to claim 1, further comprising a storage means for storing electric energy generated by the solar cell, the storage means being housed in the battery case. 4. The pair of electrodes comprises a positive side electrode electrically connected to the filter and a negative side electrode electrically connected to the filter via water flowing through the water channel. The water purifier according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is characterized. 5. The water purifier according to claim 1, wherein in the battery case, at least an upper side of the solar cell is formed of a light-transmitting transparent cover. 6. The water purifier according to claim 1, wherein the backflow prevention means is a diode interposed between the electrode and the solar cell.