JPH08318113A - Filter cartridge of water purifier - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To indicate a definite filter cartridge changing time based on the flow rate passed through the cartridge. CONSTITUTION: An integrating flowmeter 1 to be driven by the passage of water is connected to the inlet or outlet side of a filter 21 in a cartridge 20, an observation window 23 is provided to a cartridge housing 22 to watch the indication of the flowmeter 1, and the flowmeter 1 is driven by the movement of water in the cartridge 20 when raw water is filtered. The cartridge changing time is made to match the service life of the filter.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a filter cartridge for a water purifier. More specifically, the present invention relates to a disposable filter cartridge mounted on a domestic water purifier.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Water purifiers generally use a cartridge type filter for replacement. Here, as a method of knowing when to replace the filter cartridge, in the case of a large or medium-sized water purifier that is installed independently,
This was done by connecting a fluid flow detector, an electric clock, or the like to the conduit between the water purifier and the water pipe and measuring the flow rate passing through the filter (Actual Kaihei 6-77878).
issue).

Further, in the case of a small water purifier such as a household water purifier in which the water purifier is directly attached to the faucet, it is not possible to install a fluid flow detector, an electric clock or the like for several months or from the start of use. The user had to make a self-judgment based on the rough usage time of one year or the like, or the color of the cartridge.

[0004]

However, when installing a flow rate measuring means such as a fluid flow detector or an electric timepiece in a pipeline, electricity must be used, so that a power source is secured near the water purifier, It is necessary to consider measures against leakage. In addition, these flow rate measuring means are expensive and require wiring and circuits for assembly, resulting in a large space and cost for mounting. Therefore, it cannot be installed in a general household. In particular, it could not be applied to a small water purifier of a type directly attached to a faucet.

Further, the detection with the substitute characteristic of time is very inaccurate. Therefore, there is a problem in that the water purifying function is continued to be used even though it is significantly deteriorated, or the water purifying function is replaced even though the water purifying function is still sufficient.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a water purifier cartridge capable of displaying a clear cartridge replacement time on the basis of the flow rate passing through the filter cartridge.

[0007]

In order to achieve such an object, the invention according to claim 1 is a cartridge of a water purifier for filtering raw water, wherein water is passed to an inflow side or an outflow side of a filter in the cartridge. A driven integrating flowmeter is connected, and a confirmation window is provided on the cartridge so that the display of the flowmeter can be seen.

Further, in the water purifier cartridge of the present invention, the flowmeter has a support shaft provided in the housing, a fluid passage is formed so as to cross the support shaft, and the flow passage is rotated around the support shaft in the fluid passage. A freely mounted impeller is arranged, an internal gear that is supported coaxially with the impeller and that is capable of circular movement about the spindle with respect to the housing, and is non-rotatably supported, and the circle of this internal gear. A plurality of stages of internal gear planetary gear trains composed of a sun gear that is rotated around a support shaft by movement are stacked, and a boss that is eccentric from the support shaft is provided on the impeller and the eccentric boss is used as the internal gear planet of the first stage. The sun gear inside the internal gear is rotatably connected to the center of the internal gear, and a boss eccentric from the support shaft is provided on the sun gear inside the internal gear, and the eccentric boss is attached to the internal gear of the internal planetary gear train of the next stage. It is rotatably fitted in the center, and the sun gear of the previous stage and the internal gear of the next stage are sequentially connected in a circular motion integrally, and the flow rate of the fluid to be measured is measured by the rotation amount of the final stage sun gear. I am trying to do it.

[0009]

Therefore, when the raw water passes through the filter, the flow meter operates and the amount of water passing through is integrated. Then, the measured amount can be visually recognized from the outside through the confirmation window of the cartridge. Then, the water purifier user can determine when to replace the filter.

Particularly, according to the filter cartridge of the second aspect, the raw water introduced into the cartridge causes the fluid in the fluid passage to rotate the impeller. Then, the eccentric boss circularly moves with the rotation of the impeller, and circularly moves the internal gear of the first stage internal gear planetary gear train. This circular motion of the internal gear is converted into rotation of the sun gear while being decelerated. That is, the rotation of the impeller is decelerated by the first-stage internal gear planetary gear train. Further, the rotation of the sun gear further causes the internal gear of the next-stage internal gear planetary gear train connected through the eccentric boss to circularly move. And
The rotation of the impeller is decelerated one after another by each internal tooth planetary gear train, and the flow rate of the fluid to be measured or the replacement time is displayed according to the rotation amount of the final stage sun gear.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The structure of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

1 and 2 show an embodiment of the filter cartridge for a water purifier of the present invention. The filter cartridge 20 includes a filter 21 and a filter 2
1 mainly includes a cartridge housing 22 for accommodating 1 and a flow meter 1 interposed between a purified water outlet 25 of the cartridge housing 22 and an outlet 26 of the filter 21. The filter 21 is not particularly limited to its filtering structure, external shape, etc., and a known or novel filtering structure can be adopted. In the case of this embodiment,
A cylindrical structure having a filter inlet 29 at the bottom and a filter outlet 26 at the top is formed. Raw water is introduced from below and purified water is discharged from the filter outlet 26 at the top.

The cartridge housing 22 is composed of two members, a housing main body 22b and a housing upper lid 22a, which are assembled by assembling the filter 21 and the flowmeter 1 after they are assembled. The filter 21 is supported in the cartridge housing by, for example, an upper filter receiving member 27 that surrounds the periphery of the filter outlet 26 and holds the filter 21 from above and a lower filter receiving portion that supports the bottom of the filter 21 by floating it from the bottom surface of the cartridge housing 22. It is performed with the member 30. And filter 2
1 and the inner wall surface of the cartridge housing 22 are provided with a gap to form the flow path 28 of the raw water. Here, the upper filter receiving member 27 is integrally formed with the housing upper lid 22a, and the lower filter receiving member 30 is integrally formed with the housing main body 22b side. Also, the housing upper lid 22a
A raw water inlet 24 and a purified water outlet 25 are provided on the side. The flow meter 1 is provided between the purified water outlet 25 and the filter outlet 26.

Further, at the position where at least the flow meter 1 is set on the housing upper lid 22a, a transparent confirmation window 2 is provided.
3 is provided. Here, the flowmeter 1 has a confirmation window 23
The cover 16 is installed so as to face.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 7, the flowmeter 1 includes an impeller 4, a speed reducing mechanism 5 for decelerating and transmitting the rotation of the impeller 4, and a support shaft for supporting these in a housing 2. Three
It is mainly composed of

A support shaft 3 is housed in a space 6 inside the housing 2. This support shaft 3 is arranged at the center of the space 6,
It is fixed to the bottom wall 2 a of the housing 2. This support shaft 3
An impeller 4 is rotatably attached to the. A speed reducing mechanism 5 arranged on one side of the impeller 4, that is, coaxially.
The eccentric boss 8 is integrally formed on the side surface so as to project. As shown in FIG. 4, the center of the eccentric boss 8 is eccentric by a distance e with respect to the center of the support shaft 3, that is, the center of the impeller 4. The impeller 4 is provided with a lightening portion 9 in order to eliminate the shift of the center of gravity due to the provision of the eccentric boss 8. Further, the eccentric boss 8 is rotatably fitted into the hole 11a of the internal gear 11 of the internal gear planetary gear train 10 of the first stage of the reduction mechanism 5 arranged coaxially with the impeller 4 by the support shaft 3. Are connected.

A fluid passage 7 is formed in the housing 2. The fluid passage 7 includes an inflow port 7a,
It is composed of an outflow port 7b and an annular portion 7c, and is formed so as to cross the support shaft 3. That is, the inflow port 7a and the outflow port 7b of the fluid passage 7 are connected to each other by the support shaft 3
It is placed on the opposite side across the. The inflow port 7a is
The flow passage area is gradually reduced toward the bottom wall 2a. Further, the outflow port 7b gradually increases the flow passage area toward the bottom wall 2a. Inflow port 7a and outflow port 7b
And are formed offset from each other.

The annular portion 7c of the fluid passage 7 surrounds the support shaft 3 as shown in FIG. The bottom surface of the annular portion 7c is formed along the direction orthogonal to the support shaft 3 at the portion 7d extending from the inflow port 7a side to the outflow port 7b side, but from the outflow port 7b side to the inflow port 7a side. The returning portion 7e is formed obliquely with respect to the support shaft 3. That is, the annular portion 7c becomes shallower toward the downstream side at the return portion 7e. Therefore, the fluid that has flowed into the annular portion 7c from the inflow port 7a is
The spiral impeller 4 is caused to flow around the support shaft 3 in a spiral manner, and the impeller 4 is rotated. At this time, the fluid rotates the impeller 4 while passing between the blades 4a of the impeller 4. After this, the fluid flows out from the outflow port 7b. That is, most of the fluid that has flowed into the annular portion 7c from the inflow port 7a flows out to the outflow port 7b after rotating the impeller 4 while making one spiral revolution.

The speed reduction mechanism 5 is housed in the space 6 of the housing 2 and is constructed by sequentially stacking a plurality of stages of internal gear planetary gear trains 10. In the case of the present embodiment, for example, seven stages of internal gear planetary gear trains 10, ..., 10 are provided. Each of the internal gear planetary gear trains 10 includes an internal gear 11, a sun gear 12, and an eccentric boss 13. The eccentric boss 13 provided on the sun gear 12 is fitted into the hole 11a of the internal gear 11 on the lower stage in rotation transmission. By doing so, they are sequentially connected.

The internal gear 11 is formed to have a slightly smaller diameter than the space 6, and is capable of circular movement about the support shaft 3 with respect to the housing 2 and non-rotatable.
More specifically, a plurality of protrusions 14 protruding in the radial direction are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the internal gear 11. In the case of this embodiment, for example, the protrusions 14 are provided at four locations at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. On the other hand, the inner surface of the housing 2 is provided with a plurality of recesses 15 corresponding to the respective protrusions 14. Each recess 15 is a groove formed along the direction of the support shaft 3. Each protrusion 14 has a corresponding recess 15
Has been inserted inside. As shown in FIG. 6, the tip of each protrusion 14 is rounded into a semicircular shape having a radius r. The cross-sectional shape of the recess 15 is a semicircular shape having a radius R. These radii satisfy the relationship of the formula (R = r + e). Therefore, the tip of each protrusion 14 can move circularly along the inner surface of each recess 15, and the internal gear 11 can move circularly about the support shaft 3 with the eccentricity e as the radius. However, each protrusion 14 is not
The internal gear 11 cannot rotate on its own because the protrusion 14 is always engaged with the housing 2 without coming off. A hole 11a is formed at the center of the internal gear 11. The number of teeth Z1 of the gear portion 11b of the internal gear 11 is set to a predetermined value.

The sun gear 12 is arranged inside the gear portion 11b of the internal gear 11 and meshes with the gear portion 11b. The number of teeth Z2 of the sun gear 12 is set to a predetermined value. For example, in the case of the present embodiment, the number of teeth Z1 of the internal gear 11 is set to 44, and the number of teeth Z of the sun gear 12 is Z.
2 is set to the value 40, respectively. Therefore, the speed reduction ratio i of the rotation transmitted from the internal gear 11 to the sun gear 12 is calculated by the formula (i = (Z1−Z2) ÷ Z2 = (44
It is represented by −40) ÷ 40) and has a value of 0.1. Moreover, since the speed reducing mechanism has seven stages, the speed is reduced to 1 / 10,000,000 as a whole. In addition, the eccentric boss 13 of the sun gear 12
A hole 12a is bored in the vicinity of to eliminate the shift of the center of gravity caused by providing the eccentric boss 13. In the final stage sun gear 12, the hole 12a also functions as a mark indicating the rotational position of the sun gear 12.

The eccentric boss 13 of the sun gear 12 is formed so as to project on the surface of the next-stage internal gear planetary gear train 10 side. Like the eccentric boss 8 formed on the impeller 4, the center of the eccentric boss 13 is eccentric by a distance e with respect to the center of the sun gear 12, that is, the support shaft 3. The eccentric boss 13 is fitted into the central hole 11a of the internal gear 11 that constitutes the internal gear planetary gear train 10 of the next stage, and rotatably connects them. Therefore, the eccentric boss 13 and the internal gear 11 of the next stage perform a circular motion integrally with each other.

The eccentric boss 8 of the impeller 4 is fitted and connected in the hole 11a of the internal gear 11 which constitutes the internal gear planetary gear train 10 of the first stage. Therefore, the internal gear 11 in the first stage and the eccentric boss 8 of the impeller 4 integrally move in a circular motion. The final stage sun gear 12 does not transmit its rotational force to other members, but functions as a rotating body showing a rotation amount proportional to the flow rate of the fluid to be measured.

The space 6 in the housing 2 is closed by a cover 16. The cover 16 is formed of, for example, a transparent plastic plate, and has a housing 2
The position of the hole 12a of the final stage sun gear 12 can be confirmed from outside. Then, the cover 16 is provided with a scale (not shown) along the circumferential direction. When the final stage sun gear 12 rotates and the position of the hole 12a moves in the circumferential direction, the amount of movement can be confirmed by this scale. As a scale of the cover 16, for example, a warning zone indicating a replacement time is attached, and when the amount of filtered tap water exceeds a predetermined amount, the hole 12a of the final stage sun gear 12 is provided.
Positions are configured to enter this warning zone. Further, in the case of this embodiment, the cover 16 is the housing 2
On the other hand, it adopts a so-called taper seal structure in which it is fitted with an inclined surface and is liquid-tightly sealed.

The water purifier cartridge of this embodiment having the above-described structure operates as follows.

When the raw water is introduced from the raw water inlet 24 of the cartridge 20 connected to the raw water inlet of the water purifier (not shown) attached to the tap, the raw water is filtered as shown by the arrow in FIG. 21 to the bottom side through the flow passage 28 around the filter 21 and the filter inlet 2 at the bottom of the filter.
It is introduced from 9 into the filter 21. Then, after being filtered in the filter 21, it flows out from the filter outlet 26 and flows into the flowmeter 1. Then, the purified water that has flowed into the passage 7 of the flowmeter 1 is throttled at the inflow port 7a to increase its flow velocity as shown in FIGS. 4 to 5, and then flows into the annular portion 7c to rotate the impeller 4. The purified water flows spirally in the annular portion 7c and effectively acts on the entire circumference of the impeller 4. Moreover, the purified water passes between the blades 4a while spirally flowing, and acts effectively on the entire surface of each blade 4a. And the outflow port 7 from the annular portion 7c
The purified water that has flowed out to the b is reduced in flow velocity at the outflow port 7b, and then the purified water outlet 25 of the cartridge housing 22.
Drained from.

On the other hand, the rotation of the impeller 4 is transmitted to the speed reduction mechanism 5. That is, the rotation of the impeller 4 causes the eccentric boss 8 to make a circular motion, and the internal gear 11 of the internal gear planetary gear train 10 at the first stage of the reduction mechanism 5 to make a circular motion. 7 to 12 show how the circular motion of the internal gear 11 is converted into the rotation of the sun gear 12 while being decelerated. Note that, in each of FIGS. 7 to 12, triangular marks are attached in order to facilitate understanding of how the internal gear 11 (eccentric boss 8) and the sun gear 12 rotate.

Now, consider a case where the eccentric boss 8 and the internal gear 11 start circular motion from the position shown in FIG. From this state, as shown in FIG. 8, the eccentric boss 8 and the internal gear 11 move in the CW direction in the drawing at 72 degrees (1/5).
The sun gear 12 rotates about the support shaft 3 in the CCW direction (opposite to the CW direction) in the figure when the circular movement is performed only by (rotation).
In this case, the circular motion of the internal gear 11 is reduced at a reduction ratio of 0.1 to cause the sun gear 12 to move to the internal gear 1.
The number of teeth difference from 1 is rotated. When the internal gear 11 and the like further move circularly in the CW direction in the figure,
As shown in FIG. 12 sequentially, the sun gear 12 rotates in the CCW direction in the figure while being decelerated. Each drawing shows a state in which the internal gear 11 makes a circular motion by 72 degrees.

Then, as shown in FIG. 12, when the circular motion of the internal gear 11 reaches 360 degrees, the speed ratio (reduction ratio) i of the internal planetary gear train 10 is set to a value of 0.1. Therefore, the sun gear 12 is 36 in the CCW direction in the figure.
Rotate only once. Therefore, the eccentric boss 13 formed on the sun gear 12 also circularly moves in the same direction by 36 degrees. Since the eccentric boss 13 is fitted in the hole 11a of the internal gear 11 of the internal gear planetary gear train 10 of the next stage,
The internal gear 11 of the next stage also makes a circular motion of 36 degrees.

That is, the rotation of the impeller 4 is reduced to 1/10 in the internal gear planetary gear train 10 in the first stage. Similarly, the internal gear planetary gear train 10 of each stage is decelerated to 1/10 rotation. In this embodiment, the seven-stage internal gear planetary gear train 1
Since 0 is provided, the rotation of the sun gear 12 of the final stage internal gear planetary gear train 10 is reduced to 1/10 7 of the rotation of the impeller. That is, when the impeller 4 rotates 10,000,000, the final stage sun gear 12 rotates once.

Here, one rotation of the impeller 4 corresponds to a predetermined flow rate in the passage 7. Therefore, the rotation amount of the final stage sun gear 12 is proportional to the integrated flow rate in the passage 7.
The rotation amount of the sun gear 12 at the final stage is detected by reading the position of the hole 12a in correspondence with the scale attached to the cover 12. Therefore, the water purifier user visually confirms that the position of the hole 12a has entered the warning zone, and knows when to replace the filter 21.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiment is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the filter cartridge of the water purifier of this embodiment has a filter 21 inside the cartridge housing 22.
Although the flow meter 1 is installed on the downstream side of the filter to measure the water after filtration, the flow meter is not particularly limited to this, and may be installed on the upstream side of the filter 21 or on both sides. Further, at least a part of the cartridge housing 22 is made transparent so that the flowmeter 1 can be seen from the outside, but the whole or half of the cartridge housing 22 may be made transparent in some cases. Further, the structure and model of the cartridge are not limited.

[0033]

As described above, in the filter cartridge for a water purifier of the present invention, an integrating flowmeter driven by passage of water is connected to the inflow side or the outflow side of the filter in the cartridge, and the display of the flowmeter is displayed. Since the confirmation window is provided on the cartridge so that the water can be seen, the flow meter is driven by the movement of the water in the filter cartridge when the raw water is filtered. Therefore, no electronic device such as a sensor is required, and electrical wiring, piping, etc. are not required, which is advantageous in appearance and cost and safety.

Further, according to the filter cartridge for a water purifier of the present invention, since the flow meter is integrally attached to the filter cartridge, the replacement time of the cartridge and the life of the filter are the same.

Further, according to the filter cartridge for a water purifier of the present invention, since the display of the flow meter can be seen through the confirmation window, the replacement time can be accurately grasped. Therefore, the filter cartridge of the present invention can be surely used at a time when it can be used, and the water purification effect is not lost. Further, since the flow meter is also composed of only a mechanism having a simple structure, it can be made inexpensive and can be disposable together with the cartridge.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, even if the flowmeter is compact, it can measure the flow rate to the extent that it can display the usage period of the filter cartridge, so that it can be incorporated in the filter cartridge. Then, it is possible to clearly indicate the replacement time of the filter cartridge from the filtration flow rate.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a water purifier cartridge of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cartridge of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a flow meter incorporated in a cartridge.

4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line VV of FIG. 3;

6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing protrusions and recesses of the flow meter of FIG.

7 shows the operation of the internal gear planetary gear train of the flow meter of FIG.
It is a figure which shows the reference position of each gear.

8 shows the operation of the internal gear planetary gear train of the flow meter of FIG.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which the internal gear has moved circularly by 72 degrees from the state of FIG. 7.

9 shows the operation of the internal gear planetary gear train of the flow meter of FIG.
It is a figure which shows the state which the internal gear circularly moved only 72 degrees from the state of FIG.

10 is a diagram showing the operation of the internal gear planetary gear train of the flow meter of FIG. 3, showing a state in which the internal gear has moved circularly by 72 degrees from the state of FIG.

11 is a diagram showing the operation of the internal gear planetary gear train of the flow meter of FIG. 3, showing a state in which the internal gear has moved circularly by 72 degrees from the state of FIG.

12 shows the operation of the internal gear planetary gear train of the flow meter of FIG. 3, in which the internal gear is 72 degrees from the state of FIG.
That is, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which the internal gear has moved circularly by one rotation from the state of FIG. 7.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Flow meter 2 Housing 3 Spindle 4 Impeller 5 Reduction mechanism 7 Fluid passage 7c Annular part 8 Eccentric boss 10 Impeller eccentric boss 10 Internal tooth planetary gear train 11 Internal gear 12 Sun gear 13 Impeller eccentric boss 14 Projection 15 Recess 20 Water purification Cartridge 21 Filter 22 Cartridge casing 23 Confirmation window e Eccentric distance

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A cartridge of a water purifier for filtering raw water, wherein an integrating flow meter driven by passage of water is connected to an inflow side or an outflow side of a filter in the cartridge, and a display of the flow meter is visible. A filter cartridge for a water purifier, characterized in that a confirmation window is provided on the cartridge. 2. The flowmeter comprises a support shaft provided in a housing, a fluid passage formed so as to cross the support shaft, and an impeller mounted rotatably around the support shaft in the fluid passage. The internal gear that is arranged coaxially with the impeller is capable of circular movement about the spindle with respect to the housing and is supported so that it cannot rotate, and the circular movement of the internal gear causes rotation about the spindle. The internal gear planetary gear trains are stacked in a plurality of stages, and the impeller is provided with a boss that is eccentric from the spindle, and the eccentric boss is the center of the internal gears of the internal gears of the first stage. The sun gear inside the internal gear is provided with an eccentric boss from the support shaft, and the eccentric boss is rotatably fitted to the center of the internal gear of the internal gear planetary gear train of the next stage. Let's go to the previous stage 2. The water purifier according to claim 1, wherein the sun gear and the internal gear of the next stage are integrally connected so as to be capable of circular movement, and the flow rate of the fluid to be measured is measured by the rotation amount of the sun gear of the final stage. Filter cartridge.