JPH11253933A - Water purifier - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a water purifier which drains water well although a fibrous filter medium is used. SOLUTION: In a cartridge 26 of a water purifier 10, the second filter mediums 46, 47 of fibrous activated carbon are arranged in the upper part of the first filter medium 44 of granular activated carbon, and a sintered filter 45 is placed between the second filter mediums 46, 47. Through holes 46B, 47B are bored in the second filter mediums 46, 47, and the holes 46B, 47B are not positioned on a straight line in the water flow direction. Therefore, a failure in filtration is prevented in which water passes through both holes 46B, 47B during the purification of water. During draining, air introduced from an air brake valve 56 passes through the hole 47B, the sintered filter 45, and the hole 46B to reach the first filter medium 44 so that water is drained well.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water purifier having a structure in which water sent from a faucet by a hose is passed, filtered, and returned to the faucet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for safe drinking water, and water purifiers have been used so that safe drinking water can be obtained effectively even in regions and periods where the water quality is relatively poor. .

For example, a solid filter such as red rust in tap water is rubbed with a prefilter provided in front of a water purification cartridge, and when the solid filter becomes clogged, the prefilter is replaced with a new one to prevent the water purification cartridge from being clogged. 2. Description of the Related Art A filter-type water purifier that removes impurities in water with an activated carbon layer or the like and then scrapes bacteria with an ultra-fine filter such as a hollow fiber membrane is known.

On the other hand, a two-way type water purifier in which a water purifier main body and a water tap are connected by a water outlet hose and a water inlet hose does not have a restriction that the water purifier main body is attached to the faucet, so that high performance can be easily achieved. In addition, it is convenient and popular because purified water can be obtained from a tap.

[0005]

Although there are many water purifiers that exhibit excellent water purifying performance, solid components such as red rust contained in tap water stop inside the water purifier as the filtration function is improved. If the solid component is present in the water purifier for a long time, it becomes a nutrient for bacteria that have entered the water purifier for some reason, and there is a possibility that the bacteria may propagate.

As a countermeasure, a water draining mechanism is provided in the water purifier to drain water from the inside of the water purifier when not in use. In other words, the water purifier is provided with a drain valve and an air break valve, and when the water pressure inside the water purifier falls below a set pressure, the water drain valve and the air break valve open, and air is introduced from the air break valve into the water purifier, The internal water is discharged to the outside from the drain valve.

[0007] By configuring the water purifier in this manner, water is discharged to the outside when not in use, thereby preventing the propagation of bacteria and the like.

[0008] However, when a fibrous activated carbon or the like, which becomes more air-tight when water is contained, is used as a filtering material, water is adsorbed on the fibrous activated carbon during drainage and air cannot enter.
There was a problem that the water in the water purifier was not completely discharged.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a water purifier capable of satisfactorily draining water even when a fibrous filter material is used.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a casing provided with an air intake valve at an upper portion and a drain valve at a lower portion, and a water passage formed inside the casing, wherein the casing is provided with water. A water purifier provided with a filter material for improving airtightness, wherein a ventilation means for passing air through the filter material is provided.

The operation of the first aspect of the present invention will be described. In such a water purifier, when air is introduced into the inside from the air intake valve at the time of drainage, the air passes through the filter medium by the ventilation means. Therefore, the air reaches every corner of the casing and the remaining water is discharged well from the drain valve.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the ventilation means is a through-hole communicating the upstream side and the downstream side of the filter medium.

The operation of the second aspect of the invention will be described. Since the ventilation means is a through-hole that connects the upstream side and the downstream side of the filter, the filter can be easily formed in the filter, and the air can be reliably passed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, a molded body through which air and water can pass is provided inside the casing, and the filter medium, the molded body, and the filter medium are continuously connected to a water channel. And the through holes of the two filter media are arranged so as not to be straight in the flow direction of water.

The operation of the invention according to claim 3 will be described. By arranging the positions of the through holes of the two filter media so as not to be in a straight line in the flow direction of the water and arranging the formed body between the filter media, the water flowing at the time of water purification can be at least one of the filtration media. The likelihood of water being filtered through the through-holes of both filtration media can be reduced because the likelihood of passage through the media is increased.

Further, the air introduced at the time of drainage can pass through the through-hole of one filter, pass through the inside of the molded body, and pass through the through-hole of the other filter. Therefore, drainage of a water purifier is performed favorably.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second or third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fluid filter which flows by a flow of water, and a fluid filter is provided between the fluid filters. It is characterized in that a filter that does not allow a filter material to pass through is provided.

The operation of the fourth aspect of the present invention will be described. Flowability upstream or downstream of the filter media (eg,
When a (granular) filter medium is provided, by disposing a filter between the filter medium and the flowable filter medium, the flowable filter medium can be prevented from flowing out of the through-hole of the filter medium.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the ventilation means is a hydrophobic air passage member for communicating the upstream side and the downstream side of the filter medium.

The operation of the invention will be described. By providing the filter member with an air passage member for communicating the upstream side and the downstream side, the air spreads to every corner of the casing at the time of drainage, and drainage is performed well.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a casing provided with an air intake valve at an upper portion and a drain valve at a lower portion, and a filter member disposed in a water passage formed inside the casing to increase airtightness by containing water. A first air intake valve that introduces air downstream of the filter medium when draining water, and a second air intake valve that introduces air upstream of the filter medium when draining water. Features.

The operation of the invention will be described. In this water purifier, at the time of draining, the filter medium increases the airtightness by containing water and does not allow air to pass therethrough, but air is directly introduced from the first and second air intake valves to the upstream side and the downstream side of the filter medium, respectively. . Therefore, the air reaches every corner of the water channel inside the water purifier, and the remaining water is discharged well from the drain valve.

[0023]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A water purifier according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 shows a water purifier 10 according to this embodiment. A cylindrical outer case 12 constituting an outer frame of the water purifier 10
The base of the disk-shaped base material 1 formed of a resin material
4 is fixed to an outer case 12 made of resin. As shown in FIG. 3, the base member 14 has a water inlet passage 16 extending from a portion near the outer periphery of the base member 14 toward the outer periphery, and an end of the water inlet passage 16 is attached to a water tap 60. The outlet hose 96 from the faucet unit 62 is connected (see FIG. 1).

The base member 14 has a base member 1
A water outflow passage 22 extending from the center of the water supply passage 4 to the outer peripheral side in parallel with the water inflow passage 16 is formed. At an end of the water outflow passage 22, a water inlet for removing water purified by the water purifier 10 from the water purifier 10. The hose 98 will be connected.

Further, a ring-shaped rubber pedestal 18 is attached to the lower side of the outer case 12 and the base member 14. In the hollow part of the pedestal 18, the water inlet passage 1
6. Drain valves 19, 2 for draining water from the water discharge passage 22
0 is formed.

The cartridge 26 is provided inside the outer case 12.
Is stored. The cartridge 26 has a resin cartridge case 28 formed in a cylindrical shape and having a bottom wall 28A integrally provided on the lower side. This bottom wall 28A
Have a circular shape and a flow path 30 inside each.
Fitting projections 30 and 32 having A and 32A are formed, respectively. The fitting projections 30 and 32 are fitted into holes 33 and 35 formed at the ends of the water inlet passage 16 and the water outlet passage 22 of the base member 14, respectively. further,
O-rings 34 are mounted on the outer peripheral surfaces of the fitting projections 30 and 32 so that water does not leak from the fitting portions.

A hollow fiber membrane module 36 containing a large number of hollow fiber membranes and having a cylindrical shape is arranged in the lower portion inside the cartridge case 28. The hollow fiber membrane module 36 is supported by a bracket 40 fitted to the cartridge case 28, and is provided between the hollow water membrane module 36 and the inner peripheral surface of the cartridge case 28.
9 are formed.

At the top of the hollow fiber membrane module 36 in the cartridge case 28, a ring-shaped sintered filter 42 having fine holes therein is provided. In the space, a first filter medium 44 formed of granular activated carbon, a second filter medium 46 formed of fibrous activated carbon, a sintered filter 45, and a second filter medium 47 are sequentially arranged. I have. That is, the first filter medium 44 and the second
, And a sintered filter 45 are supported.

As shown in FIG. 4, the second filtering media 46, 47 are provided at the center with holes 46A, 47 for a condensing pipe 54, which will be described later.
A is formed in a ring shape, and four through holes 46B and 47B respectively connecting the upper surface and the lower surface are formed at regular intervals in the circumferential direction (at intervals of 90 degrees as viewed from the center). .

A sintered filter 45 having fine pores therein (through which water and air pass) is sandwiched between the second filtering materials 46 and 47. This sintered filter 45 has a hole 45A for the condensate pipe 54 formed in the center portion, but has no through hole.

Further, the laminated second filter media 46, 47
5A, when viewed from above, as shown in FIG. 5A, the positions of the through-hole 46B and the through-hole 47B are shifted by 45 degrees (hereinafter, referred to as offset).

At the center of the filter media 44, 46, a condensate pipe 54 extending vertically is disposed. This condensing pipe 54
A through-hole 54A is formed in the lower part of. That is,
The water that has passed through the second filter material 46 falls into the condenser 54,
Water is fed into the hollow fiber membrane module 36 formed in a cylindrical shape through the through hole 54A.

On the other hand, a resin cartridge cap 58 is fixed to the upper part of the cartridge case 28 by ultrasonic bonding or the like. The cartridge cap 58 has an air break valve 56 in which a ball 56A is disposed so as to be vertically movable and has a hole 56B penetrating upward.
is set up. Further, a cover member 52 is screwed to a portion near the upper end of the outer case 12.

With this configuration, the water that has entered the water purifier 10 through the water inlet passage 16 is supplied to the flow passage 30A of the fitting projection 30.
After flowing through the cartridge case, the outer peripheral surface of the hollow fiber membrane module 36 disposed below the cartridge 26 and the cartridge case 2
8 will flow into the water passage 29 between the inner peripheral surface 8 and the inner peripheral surface.

Thereafter, the water flows into the sintered filter 42 so as to enter, and comes out from the upper surface of the sintered filter 42. At this time, solid components such as red rust in the water are filtered. As the filtered water passes through the first filter medium 44 and the second filter medium 46 and 47, the filtered water further becomes the first filter medium 44 and the second filter medium 46.
The filter material 44 removes trihalomethane and chlorine, and the second filter materials 46 and 47 remove chlorine and musty odor.

The water filtered by the second filter material 47 enters the condenser pipe 54 from the upper end of the condenser pipe 54, passes through the condenser pipe 54, and further passes through the through hole 54A.
The bacteria enter into 6 and are removed.

Finally, the water that has passed through the bracket 40 passes through the flow passage 32A of the fitting projection 32 and is taken out of the water discharge passage 22. That is, when water flows into the water purifier 10 from the water inlet passage 16, the filtered water is sent out from the water outlet passage 22.

Next, the operation of the water purifier 10 according to this embodiment will be described. First, the operation at the time of drainage will be described. By closing the faucet 60, the water purifier 1
When the use of 0 is stopped, the water pressure in the water purifier 10 decreases, and the drain valves 19 and 20 and the air break valve 56 are opened. As a result, air is introduced into the cartridge 26 from the air break valve 56. Air is condensate pipe 5
4. The water remaining in the hollow fiber membrane module 36 is discharged from the drain valve 20 by reaching the passage 22 via the hollow fiber membrane module 36. Also, the second filter material 47
5B passes through the through-hole 47B of the second filter material 47, passes through the inside of the air-permeable sintered filter 45, and passes through the second filter material as shown by the solid arrow in FIG. 46
Reaches the first filter member 44 made of granular activated carbon through the through-hole 46B, passes through the sintered filter 42, and passes through the passage 1
Reach 6 Therefore, the water remaining in the first filter medium 44 and the like is discharged from the drain valve 19 via the passage 16.

As described above, since the through holes 46B and 47B are provided in the second filter media 46 and 47, water is drained at the time of draining.
The air can pass through the through holes 46B and 47B and reach the first filter medium 44 without adsorbing to the fibrous activated carbon constituting the filter mediums 46 and 47. In addition, as shown in FIG. 5A, even if the through holes 46B and 47B are offset, the sintered filter 45 is sandwiched between the through holes 46B and 47B so that the through holes 46B and 47B pass through the inside of the sintered filter 45 from the through hole 46B. Air can reach the hole 47B.

Next, the operation at the time of water purification will be described. The water from which chlorine and trihalomethane have been removed by the first filter medium 44 reaches the second filter medium 46. This water is
As shown by the dashed arrow in (b), the light passes substantially straight through the second filter medium 46, the sintered filter 45, and the second filter medium 47. Here, the through holes 46 of the second filtering materials 46 and 47 are provided.
B and 47B are, as shown in FIG.
Assuming that the hole axis of 47A is the center axis, the holes are offset by 45 degrees in the circumferential direction about the hole axis, and therefore, the water that has passed through the through hole 46B as shown by the broken arrow may pass through the through hole 47B. Is small. Therefore, the second filter medium 4
Even if the through holes 46B, 47B are provided in the 6, 47, respectively, it is possible to prevent the water from passing through both the through holes 46B, 47B and preventing the mold odor from being removed.

In the water purifier 10 of the present embodiment,
By arranging a sintered filter also between the first filter medium 44 and the second filter medium 46, the first filter made of granular activated carbon is provided.
Can be prevented from clogging the through-hole 46B of the second filter medium 46.

Next, a water purifier according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The same components as those of the water purifier of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. The difference from the water purifier of the first embodiment is only the portion of the second filter medium, and that portion will be described.

In the water purifier 60, a first filter medium 44, a second filter medium 62, and nonwoven fabrics 64 and 66 are disposed above the sintered filter 42 inside the cartridge 26. Non-woven fabric 6
4 and 66 are disposed on the inner and outer peripheral sides of the second filter medium 62 formed in a ring shape, and both ends of the nonwoven fabrics 64 and 66 are provided on the upstream and downstream sides of the second filter medium 62. The department is located.

Therefore, at the time of water purification, the first filter medium 4
The water filtered by 4 passes through the second filter medium 62 to remove mold odor and chlorine.

On the other hand, when water is drained, the air break valve 56
When the air introduced from the first filter medium reaches the upper part of the second filter medium 62, it passes through the inside of the nonwoven fabrics 64 and 66 and passes through the first filter medium 4.
Reach 4 Therefore, drainage of the water purifier 60 is performed favorably.

Finally, a water purifier according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The same components as those of the water purifier of the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. The only difference from the water purifier of the second embodiment is the second filter medium part, so that part will be described.

In the water purifier 70, an air break valve 74 is provided on the second filter member 72. The upper end of the air break valve 74 protrudes from the upper part of the cartridge cap 58, and the lower end thereof reaches the first filter medium 44. The air break valve 74 has a ball 74A disposed at the upper end thereof so as to be movable up and down, and a hole 74B communicating with the outside. The air break valve 74 shuts off the inside and the outside when purifying water, and introduces air into the inside when draining water. It is configured to be.

Therefore, when draining the water, the air break valve 7
Since air is directly introduced from 4 into the first filter medium 44,
Even if the second filter medium 72 does not allow air to pass through, there is no effect on drainage. Thus, the air break valve 74 is provided separately from the air break valve 56, and the air is directly introduced into the water drain valve 19 on the opposite side with the second filter member 72 made of fibrous activated carbon therebetween. Water can be drained.

[0050]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the filter has the above-mentioned structure, ventilation means is provided in the filter which increases airtightness when containing water, so that water can be drained well.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the above-described configuration is employed in the first aspect, since only a through hole is provided in the filter material, molding is easy and air can reliably pass.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the above configuration is adopted in the second aspect of the present invention, the water purification performance can be ensured while the drainage is ensured.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second or third aspect of the present invention, the flowable filtering material can be prevented from flowing out of the through-hole of the filtering material during drainage. .

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the above-described configuration is adopted in the first aspect, the air that has passed through the filter medium by the air passing member reaches the whole, and the water is drained well.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, since the above-described configuration is adopted in the first aspect of the invention, when water is drained, the air introduced from the first and second air intake valves reaches the whole,
Good drainage is performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a water purifier according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the water purifier according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a stacked state of a second filter medium according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a plan view showing a state of lamination of a second filter medium according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line bb of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a water purifier according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a water purifier according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 60, 70 Water purifier 19, 20 Drain valve 44 First filter (fluid filter) 45 Sintered filter (molded) 46, 47, 62, 72 Second filter (filter) 46B , 47B Through hole 56 Air break valve (air intake valve, first air intake valve) 64, 66 Non-woven fabric (air passing member) 74 Air break valve (second air intake valve)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A water purifier comprising: a casing provided with an air intake valve at an upper part and a drain valve at a lower part; and a filter material provided in a water passage formed inside the casing to increase airtightness by containing water. The water purifier according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a ventilation unit that allows air to pass through the filter medium. 2. The water purifier according to claim 1, wherein the ventilation means is a through hole that connects an upstream side and a downstream side of the filter medium. 3. A casing provided with a molded body through which air and water can pass, wherein the filter medium, the molded body, and the filter medium are continuously disposed in a water channel, and two through holes of the filter medium are provided. The water purifier according to claim 2, wherein the water purifier is arranged so as not to be on a straight line in the flow direction of the water. 4. A filter comprising a fluid filter which flows by a flow of water, and a filter which does not allow the fluid filter to pass therethrough is provided between the fluid filters. Or the water purifier according to claim 3. 5. The water purifier according to claim 1, wherein the ventilation means is a hydrophobic air passage member that connects the upstream side and the downstream side of the filter medium. 6. A casing provided with an air intake valve at an upper part and a drain valve at a lower part, a filter member disposed in a water passage formed inside the casing to increase airtightness by containing water, and A water purifier, comprising: a first air intake valve for introducing air downstream of a filter; and a second air intake valve for introducing air upstream of the filter when draining water.