JPS62247885A - Filter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To exactly judge the timing for exchanging a cartridge for filtration by inserting a filter piece for displaying filtration performance into a water path for raw water except a flow passage in which the raw water can pass without trouble and providing a transparent part for viewing the same from the outside. CONSTITUTION:The cartridge 5 for filtration internally provided with filter media 8 and a filter body 2 which is provided with an inflow port 1a for the raw water and an outflow port 9 for the filtered water and houses the cartridge for filtration is provided. The filter piece 15 for displaying the filtration performance is provided into the water path 12 from the raw water inflow port 1a of the cartridge 5 to the filter medium housing part except the flow passage in which the raw water can be filtered without trouble. A transparent part 16 for viewing the filter piece 15 from the outside is provided. As a result, the resistance to be applied to the flow of the raw water is decreased and the user can exactly judge the timing for exchanging the cartridge.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a filter for filtering drinking water and the like.

2. Description of the Related Art Cartridge-type filters are used in general households, and are equipped with a filtration cartridge (hereinafter referred to as "cartridge") in which activated carbon is sealed as a filter material. In such filters, if the same cartridge is used for a long time, the filtration performance of activated carbon deteriorates, making it necessary to replace the cartridge with a new one.Normally, cartridge replacement is done according to a preset schedule set by the manufacturer. Period of use(
For example, it was held every four months. However, the usage period set by the manufacturer is based on the frequency of use in an average household, so the conditions will vary significantly if the degree of water turbidity or frequency of use differs significantly. For example, in homes where filters are used very frequently, the filtration performance deteriorates significantly before the use period has elapsed, and it is unreasonable to use the filter without noticing the drop in filtering performance. Furthermore, in households where the cartridge is used very infrequently, the cartridge ends up being replaced even though the filtration performance has not deteriorated that much. In order to solve these problems, a filter has been proposed that can predict the decline in the filtering performance of activated carbon and determine when it is time to replace it, as shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, 24 is a filtration cartridge, 25 is a filter inserted into the bottom of the filter medium accommodating portion of the filtration cartridge 24,
Reference numeral 26 denotes a filter medium made of activated carbon and accommodated on top of the filter 25 in the filter medium storage section.

Visually observing the discoloration of the filter 25 can be considered as a guideline for predicting the decline in the filtration performance of the activated carbon 26 and determining when to replace it, but it is difficult to visually observe the filter 25 housed inside from the outside. . Therefore, in the past, a special pre-filter 28 was packed in the water channel 27 for raw water to indicate when it was time to replace the cartridge, and a transparent stopper 29 was placed over the opening formed in the outer shell of the cartridge in the vicinity of the pre-filter 28 to visually check the pre-filter 28 from the outside. It was configured so that it would work.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the above configuration, the prefilter 28
This creates resistance to the water flow, resulting in a significant drop in the flow rate of raw water. Furthermore, raw water contains quite large particles of dust, so even if a coarse filter material with low resistance to water is used, the pre-filter 28 will be clogged by these large particles. It could have happened. If the pre-filter 28 becomes clogged, not only will the flow rate of raw water decrease, but the pre-filter 28 will become extremely discolored even though the filtration performance of the activated carbon 26 has not deteriorated that much. Therefore, there is a problem in that the user cannot accurately judge when to replace the cartridge 24.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a filter that reduces resistance to the flow of raw water and allows the user to accurately determine when to replace the cartridge. The purpose is to

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention inserts a filter piece for displaying filtration performance into the raw water canal while leaving a flow path through which the raw water can pass without any trouble, and inserts a filter piece for displaying the filtration performance. A window was installed for viewing from the outside.

Function: By configuring as described above, raw water can avoid the filter pieces and flow smoothly.1. The resistance given to the water becomes very small, and even if the raw water flows avoiding the filter pieces, the turbidity components in the raw water will gradually adhere to the filter pieces, and this turbidity will cause the filter pieces to changes color. The filter pieces can be visually observed from the outside through the window.

EXAMPLE Below, a filter in an example of the present invention will be explained.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a switching valve part, 2 is a cartridge case, and 3 is a lid of the cartridge case 2. The cartridge case 2 is fixed to the switching valve section 1. The lid 3 is attached to the cartridge case 2 with screws. A cartridge accommodating portion is formed by the cartridge case 2 and the lid 3. Reference numeral 4 denotes a cylindrical valve body, which is rotatably accommodated in a valve casing formed within the switching valve section 1. A water channel 6 is formed inside the valve body 4 to guide the inflowing raw water to the cartridge accommodating section, and a recess 7 is formed in the outer side to guide the inflowing raw water to the outside as it is. When the valve body 4 is in the filtering state, the raw water inlet 1a, the water channel 6, the water channel 1
A waterway is formed through b. On the other hand, when the valve body 4 is displaced so that the raw water flows out, a water channel is formed from the raw water inlet 1a to the raw water discharge pipe IC via the water channel formed between the recess 7 and the inner wall of the valve casing. be done. Reference numeral 5 denotes a filtration cartridge (hereinafter referred to as a cartridge), which is accommodated in the cartridge accommodating section. Activated carbon 8 is sealed as a filter medium in a filter medium housing portion within the cartridge 5. Further, a filter 10 for removing turbidity components from water is provided closer to the filtered water outlet 9 than the activated carbon 8 in the filter medium accommodating portion of the cartridge 5. 11 is a net for preventing activated carbon 8 from leaking to the outside. Reference numeral 12 denotes a water channel for guiding the raw water that has flowed into the cartridge 5 to the filter medium housing section. 13 is from the switching valve part to the cartridge case 2
This is a pipe for injecting raw water that protrudes inside, and is connected to the raw water inlet of the cartridge 5. 14 is a filtered water discharge pipe provided at the bottom of the cartridge case 2;
It is connected to the filtered water outlet 9 of the filter.

An opening 5a is provided in the outer wall of the ridge facing the end of the water channel 12, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,
A pre-filter 15 for displaying filtration performance to which turbidity components in raw water adhere is inserted into the opening 5a. The prefilter 15 is made of synthetic resin fibers molded into a plate shape. After inserting the pre-filter 15, a transparent plug 16 is attached to close the opening.

Based on FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 below, the pre-filter 15
The part where the is housed will be explained in detail. A pre-filter accommodating portion 17 for accommodating a disk-shaped pre-filter 15 is formed in the upper part of the water channel 12 . A crescent-shaped platform 18 is formed below the pre-filter accommodating section 17, leaving the water channel 12 as shown in FIG.
8 is provided with a groove 19 through which raw water flows. Further, a side hole 2o for raw water inflow is provided in the side wall of the pre-filter accommodating portion 17, penetrating toward the filter medium accommodating portion side. An annular rib 21 is formed on the back side of the plug 16, and the plug 16 is attached to the cartridge 5 with the rib 21 facing inward.

In this embodiment, since the pre-filter 15 is not bonded, etc., the pre-filter 15 can move slightly within the pre-filter accommodating portion 17. Further, since the pre-filter 15 is larger than the cross section of the water channel 12, the pre-filter 15 does not enter into the water channel 12. Also, the pre-filter 15
Since the width of the filter is larger than that of the side hole 20, the filter does not enter the filter medium storage section through the side hole 20.

Next, the operation of the pre-filter 15 of the filter in this embodiment will be explained. When raw water flows into the pre-filter accommodating portion 17 through the water channel 12, the pre-filter 15 is pressed against the stopper 16 by water pressure, as shown in FIG. At this time, the ribs 21 provided on the stopper 16 support the prefilter 15. Then, the raw water flows into the filter medium housing part from the side hole 20 of the prefilter housing part 17. At this time, most of the raw water flows directly into the side hole 20 without passing through the prefilter 15. However, some of the water passes through the pre-filter and flows into the space between the plug 16 and the pre-filter 15 as shown by arrow A. When passing through the pre-filter 15, cloudy components such as iron rust adhere to the pre-filter 15.

By using it for a long time, activated carbon 8 and filter 10
As the filtration performance of the prefilter 15 decreases, cloudy components adhere to the prefilter 15 and its color gradually changes.

The user can see the pre-filter 15 from the outside of the cartridge 5 through the transparent stopper 16, and the pre-filter 1
The degree of discoloration of 5 can be monitored.

Therefore, by appropriately selecting the material, thickness, etc. of the pre-filter 15, the filtration performance of the activated carbon 8 and the filter 10 can be predicted from the degree of discoloration of the pre-filter 15.

As the pre-filter 15, synthetic resin fibers are used which have a much lower water permeability than ordinary filtration filters. The thickness thereof is 0.6 mm to 0.8 mm.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In FIG. 6, 16 is a transparent plug that closes the opening at the top of the cartridge, similar to the previous embodiment. Reference numeral 22 denotes a water channel for guiding the raw water that has flowed into the cartridge to the filter medium housing section. 23 is a pre-filter for displaying filtration performance, and plug 16
is bonded and fixed to the ribs 21 of. Prefilter 23
As the material, synthetic resin fibers with high water permeability are used. Then, it becomes thicker and protrudes into the raw water channel.

The raw water flows into the water channel 22, flows as indicated by the arrow, and flows into the filter medium storage section. At this time, most of the water flows directly into the filter medium accommodating portion without passing through the pre-filter 23, but some water passes through the pre-filter 23. When the raw water passes through the pre-filter 23, the turbid components in the raw water adhere to the pre-filter 23.
3 gradually discolors (.Therefore, in this embodiment as well, by appropriately selecting the material and thickness of the pre-filter 23, the filtration performance of the activated carbon 8 and the filter 10 can be predicted from the degree of discoloration of the pre-filter 23. It can be so.

In this embodiment, since the pre-filter 23 is fixed to the rib 21 of the stopper 16 by adhesive, the structure of the pre-filter accommodating portion can be simplified. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the thickness of the pre-filter 23 is increased so that it protrudes into the water channel of the raw water, but since the material thereof is made of synthetic resin fibers that have a high water permeability, the raw water can be easily filtered out. permeates into the pre-filter 23. When used for a long time, the entire prefilter 23 becomes discolored. The user can see the pre-filter 23 through the transparent plug [6] and monitor the degree of discoloration of the pre-filter 23.

Effects of the Invention In the present invention, a filter piece for displaying filtration performance is inserted into the raw water channel of the cartridge, leaving a flow path through which the raw water can pass without any hindrance, thereby allowing most of the water to pass through the filter without any interference. As a result, the resistance to water can be significantly reduced, and the filter pieces become discolored due to adhesion of turbidity components in the raw water, and when the filter pieces are visually inspected from the outside, it is possible to prevent a decrease in filtration performance. can be predicted.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a filter according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a cartridge of the filter, Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the cartridge, and Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the cartridge of the same filter. A sectional view of the main part taken along the line B-B shown in the figure,
Figure 5 is a sectional view of the main parts of the same cartridge in use;
The figure is a sectional view of essential parts of a filter according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 11-7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional filter. ]...Switching valve part 2...Cartridge case 3...Lid 4...Discharge port 5...
・Filtration cartridge 8...Activated carbon 12...Water channel 13...
...Pipe 14...Filtered water discharge pipe 15...
・Pre-filter 16... Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and one other person Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure A 6

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) It has a filtration cartridge equipped with a filter medium therein, and a filter main body that includes a raw water inlet and a filtered water outlet and houses the filtration cartridge, the raw water inlet of the filtration cartridge. A filter piece for displaying filtration performance is provided in the waterway leading from the filter medium to the filter medium storage part, leaving a flow path through which raw water can pass without any hindrance, and a transparent part is provided for visually observing the filter piece from the outside. filter. (2) A patent characterized in that the filtration cartridge is provided with a filter piece accommodating part that communicates with a waterway from the raw water inlet to the filter medium accommodating part, and a filter piece for displaying filtration performance is housed in the filter piece accommodating part. A filter according to claim 1.