KR101874012B1 - Softener having multi-functional filter assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The water softener including the multifunction filter assembly according to the present invention includes a soft water tank in which ionic resin is embedded, a regeneration tank disposed at the upper part of the soft water tank, a first flow path switching unit for supplying raw water to the soft water tank or the regeneration tank, A second flow path switching valve connected to the regeneration tank and the soft water tank for discharging the regeneration water supplied from the regeneration tank to the soft water tank and the regeneration water used in the soft water tank, And a filter assembly connected to the filter assembly, wherein the filter assembly is filled with different functional materials.
A water softener comprising a multifunction filter assembly in accordance with the present invention allows the soft water exiting through the filter assembly coupled to the outlet means to selectively flow into a functional filter that accommodates a variety of functional materials.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a softener having a multi-functional filter assembly,

The present invention relates to a water softener comprising a multifunction filter assembly and more particularly to a water softener comprising a multifunctional filter assembly for selectively flowing soft water exiting through a filter assembly coupled to an outlet means of a water softener, .

In general, tap water (hard water) contains a large amount of chlorine used in the purification process. It also contains various heavy metals (ions) such as iron, zinc, lead and mercury which are harmful to the human body due to old pipes and water pollution. Although such tap water is not fatal to the human body, if it is used as it is when washing the skin, the metal ion contained in the water and the fatty acid of the soap are combined with each other to produce a metallic foreign substance. Such metallic foreign substances come into contact with the skin, It causes skin diseases or promotes aging of the skin.

In order to prevent this, a water softener was developed which exchanges hardness components Ca ^{2 +} and Mg ^{2 +} with Na ^{+ in the} resin by passing tap water through Na ⁺ strong acid cation exchange resin to make solid soft water, .

The water softener has a principle of softening calcium ions and magnesium ions contained in hard water by replacing them with sodium ions (Na ⁺ ). To this end, a water tub containing ion exchange resin of a special polymer compound containing sodium ions And a regeneration vessel containing an ion exchange resin regeneration substance such as salt that generates sodium ions when dissolved in water.

A filter device used in a water softener will be described with reference to a conventional patent document. Korean Patent No. 10-0531107 and Korean Patent Laid-Open No. 10-2010-0021506 disclose that a filter cartridge is provided on the inlet side of a drinking water tank in order to remove impurities in advance from raw water supplied to the drinking water tank in common And it can be seen that the impurities are removed through the process of continuously passing the raw water through the plurality of stacked filter cartridges.

On the other hand, the above-described conventional patent documents do not add technical features such as a separate treatment to the soft water discharged from the soft water tank, or a reaction with a plurality of filter cartridges using a functional material or the like, There is a problem that a separate effect can not be expected beyond that the training is directly used.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention comprises a multifunctional filter assembly for causing soft water exiting from a water softener outlet means to flow into a filter assembly employing a plurality of functional filters to react with various functional materials contained in the functional filter The present invention provides a water softener for a water softener.

In order to achieve the above object, a water softener including a multifunction filter assembly according to the present invention includes a soft water tank in which an ionic resin is embedded, a regeneration tank disposed above the soft water tank, A first flow path switching valve connected to the regeneration tank and the softening water tank for supplying raw water from the regeneration tank to the regeneration tank and for discharging the regeneration water used in the softening water tank, A flow switching valve, and a filter assembly connected to the outlet means of the soft water tank, wherein the filter assembly is filled with different functional materials.

The filter assembly includes a filter housing, a plurality of unit filters detachably coupled to the filter housing, and a sealing member detachably coupled to an inlet of the plurality of unit filters, It may be preferable to include an opening and closing mechanism.

The opening and closing mechanism may include a piston connected to the sealing member and an actuator connected to the piston.

The functional agent may preferably have two or more functions of whitening, wrinkle improvement, acne treatment, moisturizing, antioxidant activity, and elasticity enhancement function.

It is preferable that the functional agent includes an Fenugreek extract and a ginseng extract so as to have a whitening function.

The functional agent may preferably contain a mushroom extract and Angelica gigantosa extract to have a wrinkle-improving function.

It may be desirable that the functional agent comprises a bovine extract and an oriental herbal extract to have an acne treatment function.

It may be desirable that the functional agent comprises a top extract so as to have a moisturizing function.

It is preferable that the functional agent includes vitamin C and citrus fruit extract so as to have an antioxidative activity function.

It is preferable that the functional agent includes ginkgo extract so as to have an elasticity-enhancing function.

As described above, the water softener including the multifunction filter assembly according to the present invention causes the soft water exiting from the water softener to flow to a filter assembly employing a plurality of functional filters to react with various functional materials contained in the functional filter do.

In the present invention, when the soft water tank is used separately from the hot water tank and the cold water tank, the hot water is mixed and flowed into the functional filter assembly. Therefore, the hot water is kept at a constant water temperature to pass the functional material in the filter assembly, So that the filter use period is extended.

1 is a general schematic view of a water softener including a multifunction filter assembly according to the present invention, and Fig.
2 is a view showing the structure of a filter assembly according to the present invention.

These and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described are provided by way of illustration for the purposes of illustration and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

The respective components constituting the water softener including the multifunctional filter assembly of the present invention can be manufactured integrally or separately from each other as needed. In addition, some components may be omitted depending on the usage pattern.

Hereinafter, a water softener including a multifunction filter assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The overall configuration of the water softener 100 including the multifunction filter assembly

First, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a general configuration of a water softener 100 including a multifunction filter assembly according to the present invention will be described.

The water softener 100 according to the present invention includes a soft water tank 20 in which an ion resin is embedded, a regeneration tank 30 disposed at an upper portion of the soft water tank 20, a soft water tank 20 in the soft water tank 20 or the regeneration tank 30, A regeneration tank 30 and a second flow path switching valve 50 connected to the softening water tank 20 and the outlet means of the soft water tank 20 are connected to the first flow path switching valve 40, And a filter assembly 60 connected thereto.

The soft water tank 20 may be a plurality of soft water tanks 20 including, for example, a hot water tank and a cold water tank. Since the cold and hot water is mixed through the pair of soft water tanks and flows into the filter assembly 60, the hot water is kept at a constant water temperature and is passed therethrough, whereby the functional material in the filter assembly 60 is eluted to a certain concentration.

Hereinafter, a flow path for connecting the constituent elements of the present invention will be described. The flow paths include a raw water flow path 1 for connecting the water inlet 10 and the first flow path switching valve 40, a raw water supply flow path 2 for connecting the first flow path switching valve 40 and the soft water tank 20, A regeneration water supply passage 3 for connecting the first flow path switching valve 40 and the regeneration tank 30, a regeneration flow passage 4 for connecting the regeneration tank 30 and the second flow path switching valve 50, A regenerated water discharge passage 5 for connecting the flow path switching valve 50 and the soft water tank 20 and a regenerated water discharge passage 6 for connecting the drain pipe 26 of the soft water tank 20 and the second flow path switching valve 50 A soft water discharge passage 7 for connecting the water outlet pipe 22 of the soft water tank 20 and the filter assembly 60 and a functional water supply passage 8 for connecting the filter assembly 60 and the shower means 70 ).

Referring to Fig. 1, the overall driving flow of the water softener 100 according to the present invention will be described. Here, "......" represents the flow of the raw water, the reproduction number, or the year. Hereinafter, the first channel switching valve 40 is typically operated through the control unit to perform the training mode or the regeneration mode.

The flow chart in the case of implementing the training mode is as follows.

Water bulb (10) ... ... The raw water euro (1) ... ... The first flow path switching valve 40 ... ... Supply of raw water (2) ... ... Training Tank (20) ... ... Training water discharge (7) ... ... Filter assembly (60) ... ... Functional water supply channel (8) ... ... Means for shower (70)

The following is a flow chart in the case of executing the playback mode.

Water bulb (10) ... ... The raw water euro (1) ... ... The first flow path switching valve 40 ... ... The regeneration water supply flow path (3) ... ... The regeneration tank (30) ... ... Playing Euro (4) ... ... The second flow path switching valve 50 ... ... The replenishment water supply passage (5) ... ... Training Tank (20) ... ... The regenerated water discharge channel (6) ... ... The second flow path switching valve 50 ... ... The drain passage 9,

The structure and function of the filter assembly 60

The filter assembly 60 includes a filter housing 61, a cover 62 coupled to the top of the filter housing 61, a plurality of unit filters 63 removably coupled to the filter housing 61, A sealing member 64 detachably coupled to the inlet of the filter 63 and an opening and closing mechanism 65 for operating some or all of the sealing member 64. [ Here, the inlet of the unit filter 63 is formed at the upper end of the unit filter 63 so that the soft water can flow into the unit filter 63, and the sealing member 64 can be exposed when the sealing member 64 is separated from the upper end of the unit filter 63 .

2, the soft water discharging passage 7 penetrated into the filter housing 61 is connected to the respective unit filters 63. The soft water from the soft water tank 20 through the soft water discharge passage 7 flows through the inlet of the unit filter 63 when the sealing member 64 is separated from the upper end of the unit filter 63. That is, the soft water discharged through the end of the soft water discharge passage 7 can flow through the gap formed between the sealing member 64 and the unit filter 63.

The opening and closing mechanism 65 includes a piston 66 connected to the sealing member 64 and an actuator 67 connected to the piston 66. The actuator 67 controlled by the control unit selectively causes the sealing member 64 to seal the upper end of the plurality of unit filters 63 through the piston 66. For example, referring to FIG. 2, all of the sealing members 64, which seal the upper ends of the three unit filters 63, are moved upward so that soft water flows through all the unit filters 63, Only the middle sealing member 64 of the sealing member 64 is moved upward so that the soft water is functionalized only through the central unit filter 63. [

Each of the unit filters 63 constituting the filter assembly 60 of the present invention may be filled with another functional material. The functional material is selected from the formulation materials in consideration of the characteristics and physical properties of herbal materials or natural materials, and has the effect of skin beauty and skin troubles.

The functional effects through specific materials are shown in Table 1 below.

Oriental / natural materials Functional effect Fenugreek extract, ginseng Whitening effect Situation mushroom, Angelica wrinkle improvement Bogoriji Acne removal Top Moisturizing effect Vitamin C, citrus fruit Antioxidant activity Ginkgo Improved elasticity

Description of the overall operation of the water softener 100 including the multifunction filter assembly

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the operation of a water softener 100 including a multifunction filter assembly in accordance with the present invention will be discussed.

And causes the control unit to operate the water softener 100 in the training mode. The raw water passing through the raw water passage 1, the first flow path switching valve 40 and the supply passage 2 from the water inlet 10 flows into the soft water tank 20 through the water inlet pipe 24 of the soft water tank 20 ) And ionized to soften. The soft water discharged through the water outlet pipe (22) of the soft water tank (20) is supplied to the filter assembly (60) through the soft water discharge channel (7).

Next, the controller selectively drives the plurality of pistons 66 through the actuator 67, thereby selectively activating the sealing member 64 that seals the upper ends of the plurality of unit filters 63. For example, if the three sealing members 64 shown in FIG. 2 are all spaced apart from the upper end of the unit filter 63, the soft water flows into the inlet of the unit filter 63 through the soft water discharge channel 7 .

The soft water is reacted with the functional material contained in the unit filter 63 to be functionally hydrated so as to have skin beauty and skin troubles to be relieved and then discharged through the functional water outlet 68 at the lower end of the unit filter 63, Is supplied to the shower unit 70 through the shower unit 8.

In this case, the soft water tank is mixed with the hot water and the cold water. In this case, the cold water and the hot water are mixed into the functional filter assembly. Therefore, when the hot water is used, So that it is possible to elongate the filter use period as a result.

In addition, the water softener according to the present invention allows the soft water exiting through the filter assembly, which is coupled to the outlet means, to selectively flow into the functional filter housing the various functional materials.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims. And equivalents should also be considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

1: raw water flow
2: raw water supply channel
3: regeneration water supply flow path
4:
5: Replenish water supply channel
6: Regenerated water discharge channel
7: Training water discharge channel
8: Functional water supply channel
9:
10: Water bulb
20: Soft water tank
30: Regeneration tank
40: First-flow switching valve
50: Second-flow switching valve
60: Filter assembly
61: Filter housing
62: cover
63: Unit filter
64: sealing member
65: opening / closing mechanism
66: Piston
67: Actuator
70: Shower unit
100: Water softener

Claims (10)

A soft water tank in which an ion resin is embedded;
A regeneration tank disposed above the soft water tank;
A first flow path switching valve for supplying raw water from the water supply port to the soft water tank or the regeneration tank;
A second flow path switching valve which is connected to the regeneration tank and the soft water tank and enables the supply of the regeneration water from the regeneration tank to the soft water tank and the discharge of the regeneration water used in the soft water tank; And
A filter assembly connected to the outlet of the soft water tank;
/ RTI >
The filter assembly is filled with different functional materials,
The filter assembly
A filter housing;
A plurality of unit filters detachably coupled to the filter housing;
A sealing member detachably coupled to an inlet of the plurality of unit filters and sealing an upper end of the unit filter,
And an opening / closing mechanism for operating part or all of the sealing member,
The soft water is introduced from the soft water tank through the inlet of the unit filter,
Wherein when the sealing member is spaced from the upper end of the unit filter by the opening and closing mechanism, the soft water flows in through a gap formed between the sealing member and the unit filter.
A water softener comprising a multifunction filter assembly.
delete The method according to claim 1,
The opening /
A piston connected to the sealing member, and an actuator connected to the piston.
A water softener comprising a multifunction filter assembly.
The method of claim 3,
Wherein the functional agent has two or more functions of whitening, wrinkle improvement, acne treatment, moisturizing, antioxidant activity, and elasticity enhancement functions.
A water softener comprising a multifunction filter assembly.
5. The method of claim 4,
Characterized in that the functional agent comprises an Fenugreek extract and a ginseng extract so as to have a whitening function.
A water softener comprising a multifunction filter assembly. 5. The method of claim 4,
Characterized in that the functional agent comprises a mushroom extract and a ginseng extract to provide a wrinkle-improving function.
A water softener comprising a multifunction filter assembly.
5. The method of claim 4,
Characterized in that the functional agent comprises a bovine extract and an oriental herbal extract so as to have an acne treatment function.
A water softener comprising a multifunction filter assembly.
5. The method of claim 4,
Characterized in that the functional agent comprises a top extract so as to have a moisturizing function.
A water softener comprising a multifunction filter assembly.
5. The method of claim 4,
Wherein the functional agent comprises vitamin C and a citrus fruit extract so as to have an antioxidative activity function.
A water softener comprising a multifunction filter assembly.
5. The method of claim 4,
Characterized in that the functional agent comprises a ginkgo extract so as to have an elasticity-enhancing function.
A water softener comprising a multifunction filter assembly.

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