JPH0985236A - Water purifying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To handle a device conveniently and safely by solving various problems in a water purifying device provided with cooling mechanism to be connected to a water service for use. SOLUTION: Pure water filtered in a water purifying tank 1 is stored in a cold water tank 14 and cooled by a cooling mechanism, and the pure water of normal temperature flowing out of the pure water tank 1 and the pure water cooled in the cold water tank 14 are set to be fed selectively, and dwelling, supply of high temperature water and the abnormal water temperature in the cold water tank 14 are sensed by a main control device 26 and the changeover of waterway, the control of operation of the cooling mechanism and the submission of information thereof are carried out.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water purifying apparatus for purifying and cooling tap water to take in (supply) water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A water purifying apparatus has been proposed which supplies tap water by purifying and cooling or heating it. This water purifier is of a pot type, which purifies and cools a predetermined amount of tap water poured from a water injection port before use.

[0003]

This conventional water purifying apparatus is required by the apparatus installed and used so as to be connected to the water supply (faucet), because the cooled purified water cooled after purification stays for a long time. There is a lack of various countermeasures such as measures against the propagation of various bacteria, countermeasures when tap water heated by a water heater is supplied, and countermeasures against abnormal cooling.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a cooling function for cooling purified water, solve various problems in a water purification device used by being connected to water, and to handle the device conveniently and safely. Is to

[0005]

According to the present invention, purified water filtered in a water purification tank is stored in a cold water tank and cooled by a cooling mechanism, and purified water at room temperature flowing out from the water purification tank or cooled water purified in the cold water tank. In a water purification device that is designed to take in water,
When the amount of water flowing into the cold water tank within a predetermined time is less than or equal to a predetermined amount, the danger of bacterial growth is notified, and when high temperature water is supplied to the water purification tank, the purified water flowing out of the water purification tank bypasses the cold water tank. When the purified water stored in the cold water tank falls to a water temperature below a specified value, the cooling mechanism is stopped to prevent freezing, and the purified water in the cold water tank when the cooling mechanism is operating When the amount of change in the water temperature is less than or equal to a predetermined value, the cooling mechanism is stopped and an abnormality is notified.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a system diagram of a water flow and control system showing the configuration of a water purifier according to the present invention. Water purification tank 1
Is connected to the tap water by connecting a three-way switching valve 4 provided at the tip of a water supply pipe 3 with a check valve 2 interposed between the inlet 1a and the faucet 5. This water purification tank 1 is provided with an activated carbon filtration layer 1b filled with activated carbon which has been subjected to special processing and a hollow fiber membrane filtration layer 1c, and tap water supplied from the inlet 1a is filtered by the activated carbon filtration layer 1b. Then, the mineral components are eluted and further filtered by the hollow fiber membrane filtration layer 1c to flow out from the outlet 1d. The first water temperature sensor 6 is
It is installed in the water supply pipe 3 between the check valve 2 and the inflow port 1a, and outputs a water supply temperature signal according to the temperature of the tap water supplied from the faucet 5.

A water conduit 8 having a flow rate sensor 7 in the middle connects the outflow port 1d of the water purification tank 1 to the inflow end of a switching valve mechanism 9. The switching valve mechanism 9 is composed of a combination of a normally closed electromagnetic valve 10 that intermittently operates and a differential pressure operation switching valve 11. The differential pressure operation switching valve 11 has two inlets 11
a, 11b and two outlets 11c, 11d, and when the water pressure is equalized to both inlets 11a, 11b, the inlet 1
1a communicates with the outflow port 11c, and when water is supplied only to the inflow port 11b, the inflow port 11b communicates with the outflow port 11d. Then, the switching valve mechanism 9 includes the differential pressure operation switching valve 1
The inflow port 11a of No. 1 is connected to the water guiding pipe 8 via the solenoid valve 10, the inflow port 11b is directly connected to the water guiding pipe 8, and the normal temperature purified water discharge pipe 12 is connected to the outflow port 11c. 1
1d is connected to the inflow port 14a of the cold water tank 14 via the water conduit 13.

The cold water tank 14 is constructed so as to be surrounded by a heat insulating layer, the inflow port 14a is opened at the upper part thereof, and the outflow port 14b to which the cooling purified water discharge pipe 15 is connected is a hollow fiber membrane filtration layer 14c. And extends to the bottom of the cold water tank 14. The circulating water channel of the cooling mechanism for cooling the purified water in the cold water tank 14 is the outlet 14 formed in the bottom wall of the cold water tank 14.
From d to the Peltier unit 17 via the circulation pump 16 for cooling, and from the Peltier unit 17 to the cold water tank 1
The return port 14e formed in the upper part of the No. 4 is configured to return to the inside of the cold water tank 14. In addition, 14f is a deaeration valve for discharging the air in the tank.

A water level sensor 1 is provided above the cold water tank 14.
8 is provided, and a second water temperature sensor 19 is provided at the bottom.

A drain pipe 21 with a drain valve 20 interposed is branched between the circulation pump 16 and the Peltier unit 17.

A cooling fan 23 is coupled to a drive motor 22 for driving the circulation pump 16, and the cooling fan 23 is connected to the cooling fan 23.
Cools the radiation fins of the Peltier unit 17 with air.

Power supply device 25 connected to commercial power supply 24
Is a main controller 2 mainly including a microcomputer, which includes a DC power supply generation circuit and a load drive circuit.
A DC power source is supplied to 6, and the solenoid valve 10, the Peltier unit 17, and the drive motor 21 are driven in response to a control signal from the main controller 26. And the main controller 26
Is the first water temperature sensor 6, the flow rate sensor 7, the water level sensor 18, the second water temperature sensor 19, the cold water mode switch 2
7. Cold water temperature setting switch 28 and reset switch 2
The signal from 9 is input and logical processing is performed to display the status on the display panel (including the alarm light) 30 and the control signal is generated.

In this water purifier, when the three-way switching valve 4 is set on the water purification side and the tap 5 is opened, tap water is supplied from the inlet 1a through the water supply pipe 3 and the check valve 2 to the water tank 1. Supplied within. In the water purification tank 1, this tap water is treated with the activated carbon filtration layer 1
It is filtered by b and the hollow fiber membrane filtration layer 1c, flows out from the outlet 1d to the water conduit 8, and is supplied to the switching valve mechanism 9. In the switching valve mechanism 9, since the electromagnetic valve 10 is in the normally closed state, the purified water supplied from the water conduit 8 is supplied only to the inflow port 11b of the differential pressure operation switching valve 11 and flows to the outflow port 11d to cool the cold water tank 14. Is supplied to. And the hollow fiber membrane filtration tank 14e in the cold water tank 14
Water is supplied (water supply) from the cooling purified water discharge pipe 15 through the pipe.
If the faucet 5 is closed, water intake (water supply) from the cooling purified water discharge pipe 15 is stopped. In this state, the cold water tank 14 is filled with water (water level above a predetermined value).

When the cooling mechanism is operated there, the drive motor 22 rotates the circulation pump 16 and the circulation pump 1
6 removes the purified water in the cold water tank 14 from the outlet 14d, supplies it to the Peltier unit 17 for cooling, and returns it to the return port 14
The cold water tank 1 is circulated so as to be returned from the e to the cold water tank 14.
Cool the purified water in 4. At this time, the cooling fan 23 rotated by the drive motor 22 moves to the Peltier unit 17
Cool the radiating fins of.

When water at room temperature is desired in such a state, the solenoid valve 10 of the switching valve mechanism 7 is opened, and the faucet 5 is opened.
The purified water supplied from and purified from is equally supplied to the two inflow ports 11a and 11b of the differential pressure operation switching valve 11. Therefore, in the differential pressure operation switching valve 11, the inflow port 11a and the outflow port 11c communicate with each other, and the purified water at room temperature supplied to the switching valve mechanism 9 is taken in (supplied) through the room temperature purified water discharge pipe 12.

The formation of such a water channel is performed by the solenoid valve 10 described above.
It can also be realized with a normally open type.

Next, the main controller 26 in the control system
The contents of the logical processing executed by the will be described below.

Initial Processing When the power is turned on, the main controller 26 has a first water temperature sensor 6, a flow rate sensor 7, a water level sensor 18, a second water temperature sensor 19, a cold water mode switch 27, and a cold water temperature setting switch 28. The signal from the reset switch 29 is set to the monitoring state, the solenoid valve 10 is turned off (closed), and the drive pump 22 of the cooling mechanism and the Peltier unit 17 are turned off (paused). This state is the same as when the power is not turned on for the solenoid valve 10, the Peltier unit 17, and the drive motor 22, and forms a water channel for filling the cold water tank 14 with room temperature purified water.

When the normally open type solenoid valve 10 is used, the solenoid valve 1 is monitored while monitoring the detection signal of the water level sensor 18.
0 is turned on (closed) to supply water to the cold water tank 14,
The solenoid valve 10 is turned off in a state where the valve 4 is filled with water.

The purified water cooling control main controller 26 enters the cold water mode when the cold water mode switch 27 is turned on, checks the detection signal of the water level sensor 18 and confirms whether the cold water tank 14 is full, If the water is full, the Peltier unit 17 and the drive motor 22 are turned on, operation control is performed so that the water temperature signal output from the second water temperature sensor 19 becomes the value set by the cold water temperature setting switch 28, and the set temperature is set. And the cold water temperature is displayed on the display panel 30. Set water temperature is 5
C. and 15 ° C., which are selected cyclically by pressing the cold water temperature setting switch 28.

The normal temperature purified water supply main controller 26 enters the normal temperature mode when the reset switch 29 is turned on. When the flow rate sensor 7 detects the water flow, the solenoid valve 10 is turned on (opened) to switch the differential pressure operation switching valve 1
The inflow port 11a and the outflow port 11c of No. 1 are connected, and the water purification tank 1
The purified water filtered in step 1 is introduced into the room temperature purified water discharge pipe 12.

When the solenoid valve 10 is of the normally open type, the solenoid valve 10 is kept off (open).

Cooling purified water supply The main controller 26, in the chilled water mode, uses the flow rate sensor 7
When the water flow is detected, the closed state of the electromagnetic valve 10 is maintained, the inlet 11b and the outlet 11d of the differential pressure operation switching valve 11 are communicated with each other, and the purified water filtered by the water purification tank 1 is supplied to the cold water tank 14. As a result, the purified water that has been cooled in the cold water tank 14 is pushed out to the cooling purified water discharge pipe 15 and the cooled purified water discharge pipe 15 is discharged.
Is taken from.

When the normally open type solenoid valve 10 is used, when the flow sensor 7 detects the water flow, the solenoid valve 10 is turned on (closed).

Control of Propagation of Miscellaneous Bacteria in Cold Water Tank If purified water stays in the cold water tank 14 for a long time, there is a risk that various bacteria will propagate in the purified water. The main controller 26 is
The amount of water flowing through the cold water tank 14 is monitored within a predetermined time by referring to the flow rate signal output from the flow rate sensor 7 and the open / closed state of the solenoid valve 10, and the predetermined amount of flowing water is within a predetermined time (for example, 48 hours). If it does not reach (for example, 1 liter), the display panel 30 warns that the purified water in the cold water tank 14 may contain germs, and the drain valve 20 is opened to drain the cold water tank 14 for purification. Urge you to do.

The main controller 26 does not open the solenoid valve 10 when the water flow is detected in the normal temperature mode when such a long-term retention state occurs (the normally open type solenoid valve 10 is used. In such a case, it is possible to perform control such that a predetermined amount of purified water is poured into the cold water tank 14 to push out the accumulated water (when closed). At this time, the cooling mechanism is operated to prevent the temperature of the purified water in the cold water tank 14 from rising.

The flow rate of the purified water in the cold water tank 14 is measured by following a lapse of time and sequentially updating the integrated value of the flow rate from the present time to a predetermined time before obtaining the value. It is possible to employ a method in which an integrated value of the amount of flowing water between predetermined times is acquired at a fixed time.

Countermeasures against high temperature water When the main controller 26 detects that high temperature water is supplied to the water supply pipe 3 based on the detection signals of the first water temperature sensor 6 and the flow rate sensor 7, it is set to the cold water mode. Also, the electromagnetic valve 10 is opened to remove the high temperature water from the room temperature purified water discharge pipe 1
2 to prevent the hot water from being supplied to the cold water tank 14.

Further, the display panel 30 warns that hot water is being supplied.

Freezing Prevention When operating in cold water mode during cold weather, there is a risk that the purified water in the cold water tank 14 freezes. The main controller 26 monitors the water temperature signal obtained from the second water temperature sensor 19, and when the water temperature drops to 3 ° C. or less, the cooling mechanism is stopped and the display panel 30.
Let the staff know the danger of freezing.

Abnormal cooling protection If the equipment of the water purifier is out of order or the installation environment is bad (heated by direct sunlight or heating), the cooling mechanism will not function properly. The main controller 26 monitors the amount of change (gradient of change = ΔT / Δt) of the water temperature signal corresponding to the water temperature in the cold water tank 14 output from the second water temperature sensor 19, and the cooling mechanism is operating. Nevertheless, when the amount of change in the water temperature is small, it is determined that there is a cooling abnormality, the cooling mechanism is stopped, and the display panel 30 displays a message prompting equipment inspection and environmental improvement.

In FIG. 2, the room-temperature purified water discharge pipe 12 is connected to the cooling purified water discharge pipe 15 so that the purified water cooled to room temperature or cooled can be supplied from one discharge pipe.
Since the other configurations are the same as those of the water purifier shown in FIG. 1, equivalent components are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be omitted.

[0033]

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention solves various problems in a water purifying device with a cooling mechanism which is used by being connected to a water supply and can handle the device conveniently and safely.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of a water flow and control system in an embodiment of a water purifier according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram of a water flow and control system in another embodiment of the water purifier according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Water purification tank, 5 ... Faucet, 6, 19 ... Water temperature sensor,
7 ... Flow rate sensor, 9 ... Switching valve mechanism, 14 ... Cold water tank,
16 ... Circulation pump, 17 ... Peltier unit, 1
8 ... Water level sensor, 26 ... Main controller.

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A water purification apparatus which collects the purified water filtered by the water purification tank in a cold water tank and cools it, and takes the cooled purified water in the cold water tank, the amount of water flowing into the cold water tank within a predetermined time. The water purifier is provided with a control device for detecting the risk of bacterial growth when the amount of flowing water is less than a predetermined amount. 2. A water purifying apparatus which collects the purified water filtered in the water purifying tank in a cold water tank and cools the purified water in the cold water tank so as to control the temperature of tap water supplied to the water purifying tank. A water purifier characterized by being provided with a control device for detecting and supplying the purified water flowing out of the water purification tank when the high temperature water is supplied, bypassing the cold water tank. 3. A water purification apparatus in which purified water filtered by a water purification tank is stored in a cold water tank and cooled by a cooling mechanism, and the cooled purified water in this cold water tank is taken in. A water purifier comprising a control device that detects the water temperature of the water, and suspends the cooling mechanism when the water temperature falls below a predetermined value. 4. A water purification apparatus in which purified water filtered by a water purification tank is stored in a cold water tank and cooled by a cooling mechanism so that the cooled purified water in the cold water tank is taken in. A water purifier is provided with a control device that detects the water temperature of the water cooling device, and suspends the cooling mechanism and notifies when the amount of change in the water temperature when the cooling mechanism is operating is less than or equal to a predetermined value. 5. A water purification apparatus in which purified water filtered by a water purification tank is stored in a cold water tank and cooled by a cooling mechanism, and the cooled purified water in this cold water tank is discharged, the level of the purified water in the cold water tank is changed. A water purifier comprising a control device for detecting and operating a cooling mechanism at a water level above a predetermined value. 6. A water purification apparatus in which purified water filtered by a water purification tank is stored in a cold water tank and cooled by a cooling mechanism, and the cooled purified water in this cold water tank is taken in between the water purification tank and the cold water tank. A purified water characterized by comprising a switching valve mechanism for selectively supplying purified water flowing out of the purified water tank to a room temperature purified water discharge pipe or a cold water tank, and the switched valve mechanism supplies purified water to the cold water tank in an initial state. apparatus. 7. The switching valve according to claim 6, wherein the amount of water flowing into the cold water tank is detected within a predetermined time, and the purified water flowing out of the water purification tank is supplied to the cold water tank when the amount of flowing water is less than a predetermined amount. A water purification device having a control device for controlling the mechanism. 8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the amount of water flowing into the cold water tank is detected within a predetermined time, and when the flowing water amount is less than or equal to a predetermined amount, a predetermined amount of purified water flowing out from the water purification tank is supplied to the cold water tank. A water purifier comprising a control device for controlling the switching valve mechanism and operating a cooling mechanism. 9. A water purification apparatus in which purified water filtered by a water purification tank is stored in a cold water tank and cooled by a cooling mechanism, and the cooled purified water in the cold water tank is taken in between the water purification tank and the cold water tank. A switching valve mechanism for selectively supplying purified water flowing out of the water purification tank to a room temperature purified water discharge pipe or a cold water tank, and detecting the amount of water flowing to the cold water tank within a predetermined time,
A water purification apparatus comprising a control device for controlling the switching valve mechanism so that the purified water flowing out of the water purification tank is supplied to the cold water tank when the amount of flowing water is a predetermined amount or less. 10. The control device according to claim 9, wherein the control device controls the switching valve mechanism so that the amount of purified water supplied from the water purification tank to the cold water tank becomes a predetermined amount when the flowing water amount is equal to or less than a predetermined amount. A water purifier characterized by operating a cooling mechanism together with it.