JPH11169841A - Water cleaning and sterilizing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a water cleaning and sterilizing device in which when water is discharged from a water tank, solidified mineral content or the like mixed with this discharged water is caught, and after discharging water, a discharge valve can be surely closed. SOLUTION: Raw water such as city water is passed through an adsorptive part 20 such as conductive activated carbon arranged in a water tank 10 to form clean water, and also DC voltage is applied to the absorptive part 20 to restrain the propagation of bacteria caught by the adsorptive part 20, and the water tank 10 is electrically heated to sterilize the bacteria stuck on the adsorptive part 20, and a discharge valve 14a is opened to discharge the extinct bacteria on the adsorptive part 20 to outside the water tank 10. In this water cleaning and sterilizing device, on the upstream side of the discharge valve 14a, a strainer 30 is arranged. In this way, even when water discharged from the water tank is mixed with solidified mineral content, this mineral content is caught by the strainer 30 and does not flow out to the discharge valve 14a side.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water purification and sterilization apparatus for purifying and sterilizing raw water such as tap water and groundwater and supplying it as drinking water for general household use or business use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of water purification / sterilization apparatus, one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 9-234449 is known.

In this water purification apparatus, an adsorbing portion made of conductive activated carbon is disposed in a water tank, and raw water such as tap water is passed through the adsorbing portion to remove residual chlorine components and mold odor contained in the raw water. , Trihalomethane, organic chlorine compounds, bacteria, etc. are removed (water purification operation). In addition, every time the supply of purified water ends, a DC voltage is applied to the adsorption unit to suppress the growth of bacteria and the like captured by the adsorption unit (bacteriostatic operation).

[0004] The purified water supply operation is continued by repeating such a water purification operation and the bacteriostatic operation. When the purified water supply operation is performed for a long period of time, algae, bacteria and the like propagate in the adsorber and filter. The load increases. Therefore, the water in the water tank is drained by opening the drain valve, and thereafter, an alternating current is applied to the adsorption section to sterilize bacteria and the like by electric heating, and further, water is supplied into the water tank to supply the water. Adsorbed parts are regenerated by taking in dead bacteria and discharging the water (regeneration operation).

[0005]

As described above, in the above-mentioned conventional water purification / sterilizing apparatus, a bacteriostatic operation is performed in order to suppress the growth of bacteria and the like. Therefore, a small amount of electrolysis of water occurs. As a result, a mineral component is generated from calcium ions and the like contained in the water, and this is solidified and adhered to the cathode-side electrode. On the other hand, in the regenerating operation, electric heating is also performed through the electrodes, so that the minerals adhering to the electrodes are peeled off, mixed with water and discharged outside.

There is no problem when the mineral passes smoothly through the discharge valve. However, since the specific gravity of the mineral is greater than the specific gravity of water, the mineral easily accumulates in the valve body of the drain valve, and the closing operation of the drain valve is performed. May cause trouble.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, it is an object of the present invention to capture solidified minerals and the like mixed in the wastewater when the water in the water tank is discharged, and to reliably close the drain valve after the drainage. It is to provide a water purification device.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is directed to the invention of claim 1 in which raw water such as tap water is passed through an adsorbing portion of conductive activated carbon or the like disposed in a water tank to purify purified water. In addition to the generation, a DC voltage is applied to the adsorption section to suppress the growth of bacteria and the like trapped in the adsorption section, and the adsorption section is electrically heated to sterilize and adsorb the bacteria and the like trapped in the adsorption section. In a water purification apparatus that opens a drain valve to discharge dead bacteria and the like from the water tank, a strainer is disposed upstream of the drain valve.

According to the present invention, since the strainer is disposed on the upstream side of the drain valve, even when the solidified mineral is mixed in the water discharged from the water tank, the mineral is captured by the strainer. It does not flow out to the drain valve side.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the water purification apparatus according to the first aspect, an inlet for introducing raw water into the water tank and a drain port for discharging water from the water tank are formed on the bottom wall side of the water tank. It has a structure with a common entrance and a strainer at the entrance.

According to the present invention, when the water in the water tank is discharged to the outside, the water in the water tank passes through the entrance on the bottom wall side, and the solidified mineral component is captured by the strainer disposed at the entrance. , And then discharged outside through a drain valve.
On the other hand, when supplying purified water, raw water flows into the entrance,
It flows through the strainer to the suction section side. In this purified water supply, solidified mineral components are trapped in the strainer, but when the raw water passes through the strainer, the mineral components trapped in the strainer are peeled off, thereby preventing the strainer from being clogged.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the water purification apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the strainer is formed in a tubular shape, and the upper portion of the strainer is located above the bottom wall of the water tank.

Since the specific gravity of the solidified mineral is greater than the specific gravity of water, it may accumulate on the bottom wall of the water tank, and the accumulated mineral may be higher than the upper surface of the entrance. On the other hand, in the invention of claim 3, in consideration of the fact that the mineral component is deposited on the bottom wall, the upper portion of the strainer is positioned upward by that amount, whereby the strainer is filled with the deposited mineral component. There is no.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1 and 2 (a) and 2 (b) show an embodiment of a water purification apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the water purification apparatus and FIG. (a) and (b) are assembling diagrams showing a mounting method of the strainer.

The water purification apparatus has a cylindrical water tank 10 for storing raw water such as tap water. The top and bottom of the water tank 10 are closed by caps 11 and 12, and the upper cap 11 has an outlet 11a communicating with a faucet (not shown).
The lower cap (bottom wall of the water tank 10) 12 is provided with an inlet / outlet 12a that functions as a drain port for guiding raw water into the water tank 10 and discharging water in the water tank 10. A water supply pipe 13 provided with a water supply valve 13a, a pre-filter 13b, and a check valve 13c is connected to the inlet / outlet 12a. 13c regulates the backflow from the water tank 10. Further, a drain pipe 14 having a drain valve 14a is connected to the entrance 12a. On the other hand, the outlet 11a is branched into an air introduction pipe 15 opened to the atmosphere and a water purification pipe 16 connected to a terminal such as a faucet. The air introduction pipe 15 is provided with an air introduction valve 15a. When the drain valve 14a and the air introduction valve 15a are opened, the water tank 10
The water inside is discharged from the drain pipe 14.

In the water tank 10, a cylindrical adsorbing section 20 is disposed. The adsorbing portion 20 is formed by using fibrous activated carbon having conductivity, the upper end of which is held by the upper cap 11 via a plate-shaped first electrode 21, and the lower end thereof is supported by a plate-shaped second electrode 22. And is held by the holder 23. An annular passage 24 communicating with the entrance 12a is provided between the outer surface of the suction unit 20 and the inner surface of the water tank 10.
Is formed, and the raw water flowing from the entrance 12a flows into the adsorbing section 20 through the passage 24. Further, the suction portion 20 is provided between the lower end thereof and the lower cap 12.
A conductive coil spring 25 is interposed between the two and biases the suction unit 20 toward the upper cap 11 by the coil spring 25, and the suction unit 20 is fixed in the water tank 10.
Furthermore, a temperature sensor 26 is attached to the suction unit 20, and the temperature of the suction unit 20 is detected by the temperature sensor 26. The holder 23 has an inlet 1
A drain hole 23a communicating with 2a is formed, and drain control is performed by a valve 23b that opens and closes the drain hole 23a.

Further, a vertically extending pouring pipe 27 is disposed inside the adsorbing section 20, and the water that has passed through the adsorbing section 20 through a large number of water holes 27a of the pouring pipe 27 is led out.
1a. Here, this injection pipe 27
Is formed of a conductive material and constitutes a third electrode.

In the water purification apparatus constructed as above, a strainer 30 is disposed at the entrance 12a of the water tank 10 in this embodiment. This strainer 30 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the wire is formed in a tubular shape with a wire mesh, and has a flexible folded portion 31 which is open at the lower portion and is provided on the periphery thereof. The mesh of the wire mesh only needs to capture solidified mineral components, and does not need to be small enough to capture fine dust. On the other hand, the entrance 12a in which the strainer 30 is arranged forms a strainer mounting space 12b having an opening area larger than the lower opening area of the strainer 30 at the upper part. At the upper end of the peripheral wall surface of the strainer mounting space 12b, there is provided an annular projecting portion 12c which extends inward.
Is prevented from being disengaged. The bottom wall of the strainer mounting space 12b has an annular flange 12d extending inward, and the flange 12d prevents the strainer 30 from dropping downward. Further, the height of the strainer 30 is set so as to protrude above the bottom wall of the water tank 10 when the strainer 30 is mounted in the strainer mounting space 12b.

When the strainer 30 is mounted on the strainer mounting space 12b, as shown in FIG. 2A, the strainer 30 is positioned above the strainer mounting space 12b such that the lower opening of the strainer 30 faces the upper end. By pushing the strainer 30 into the strainer mounting space 12b as shown by the arrow in FIG. 2A, the folded portion 31 is locked to the projecting portion 12c as shown in FIG. Is the strainer mounting space 12b
Is held.

According to the present embodiment, when supplying purified water, the water supply valve 13a is opened. As a result, tap water flows into the inlet / outlet 12a as shown by the arrow in FIG. 1, and flows through the strainer 30 and further through the passage 24 to the suction section 20. The water flowing into the adsorption section 20 is purified by activated carbon to become purified water, and this purified water is supplied to the third electrode 27 and the outlet 11a.
And is fed to a faucet or the like through a water purification pipe 16 (water purification operation). When such a water purification operation is completed, a DC voltage is applied to the adsorption unit 20 through the second electrode (anode) 22 and the third electrode (cathode) 27 to suppress the propagation of bacteria and the like captured by the adsorption unit 20. Yes (antibacterial operation). In addition, this bacteriostatic operation (DC voltage application to each electrode 22, 27) causes the water tank 1
The water in 0 is electrolyzed, calcium ions and the like are adsorbed on the electrode 27 on the cathode side, and the mineral component is solidified and adheres to the surface of the electrode 27.

By alternately repeating the water purification operation and the bacteriostatic operation over a long period of time, the bacteria and the like adhering to the adsorption section 20 gradually increase, and the function of the adsorption section 20 for capturing bacteria and the like is improved. Decreases gradually. In such a case, the air introduction valve 15a and the drain valve 14a are opened, the water in the water tank 10 is drained, and thereafter, an AC voltage is applied to the adsorption unit 20 through the first electrode 21 and the second electrode 22. As a result, Joule heat is generated in the water tank 10 and the water tank 10 is heated, so that bacteria and the like adhering to the adsorption section 20 are killed, and minerals adhering to the third electrode 27 are easily peeled off. State.

After heating the water tank, the water supply valve 13a is opened to supply tap water into the water tank 10. Thereby, the suction unit 20
Killed bacteria and the like attached to the third electrode 27 and solid minerals attached to the third electrode 27 are taken into the water, and the valve 2
3b → inlet / outlet 12a → strainer 30 → drain pipe 14 → drain valve 14a and discharged to the outside.

When drainage passes through the strainer 30, solid minerals are captured by the drainage, so that the solid minerals do not flow to the drain valve 14a side. This allows
The solid mineral does not accumulate on the valve body of the drain valve 14a, and the drain valve 14a does not fail to close properly.

The direction of flow of water at the entrance 12a of the water tank 10 is opposite to the direction in which water is discharged from the water tank 10 and the direction in which raw water is introduced into the water tank 10. The solid minerals thus separated are separated by the tap water flowing to the inlet / outlet 12a at the time of water purification, thereby preventing the strainer 30 from being clogged.

Furthermore, since the specific gravity of the solid mineral is greater than the specific gravity of water, the solid mineral is deposited on the bottom wall of the water tank 10. Since the strainer 30 according to the present embodiment is arranged so that its upper portion is located above the bottom wall portion, the strainer 30 is not filled with the accumulated solid minerals.

In the water purifying and sterilizing apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, a voltage application system for applying an AC voltage to the first electrode 21 and the first electrode 22 is used as the electric heating means of the adsorbing section 20. Any electric heating means may be used as long as it can heat the suction unit 20. For example, an electric heater (not shown) may be wound around the water tank 10, and the electric heater may be energized to heat the adsorption unit 20.

[0027]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, even when solidified mineral components are mixed in the water discharged from the water tank, the mineral components are captured by the strainer and the drainage components are discharged. Since it does not flow out to the valve side, minerals do not accumulate on the drain valve and there is no hindrance to the closing operation of the drain valve.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when raw water passes through the strainer, minerals trapped in the strainer are removed, thereby preventing the strainer from being clogged.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, even if minerals accumulate on the bottom wall of the water tank, the strainer will not be buried by the accumulated minerals because the upper part of the strainer is higher than the bottom wall.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a water purification apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an assembly diagram showing a method of mounting a strainer.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: water tank, 12a: doorway, 13a: water supply valve, 14a
... drain valve, 20 ... adsorption part, 30 ... strainer.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. Purified water is generated by passing raw water such as tap water through an adsorption section of conductive activated carbon or the like disposed in a water tank, and a DC voltage is applied to the adsorption section to be trapped by the adsorption section. The growth of bacteria and the like is suppressed, and the adsorption section is electrically heated to sterilize bacteria and the like trapped in the adsorption section, and the dead bacteria and the like in the adsorption section are opened outside the water tank by opening a drain valve. A sterilizer for water purification, wherein a strainer is disposed upstream of the drain valve. 2. An inlet for introducing raw water into the water tank and a drain for discharging water in the water tank are constituted by a common entrance formed on the bottom wall side of the water tank, and the entrance and the exit are connected to the entrance and exit. The water purification apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the strainer is disposed. 3. The water purification apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the strainer is formed in a cylindrical shape, and an upper portion of the strainer is located above a bottom wall of the water tank.