KR20030062646A - Water Softner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A water softener is provided, which can convert water softening mode and raw water mode by only one handling of the valve body simultaneously opening and closing the outlet port and the bypass port. CONSTITUTION: In the water softener, a main body(20) of which a pair of columns(24a,24b) are equipped for softening cold and hot water, and in which raw water supplied from cold and hot water sources passes through each column to tap water cock, comprised are two inlet ports communicating to adopters(14a,14b); two outlet ports communicating to the inlet pipes(15a,15b) of the columns(24a,24b); two bypass ports communicating to outlet pipes(17a,17b) of the columns(24a,24b); a housing set between the inlet ports, the outlet ports and the bypass ports; and a converting valve(100) composed of a valve body for selectively opening any one port of the outlet port or the bypass port to flow the inlet water of the inlet port to the selected port, wherein by one handling of the valve body the outlet port and the bypass port are simultaneously opened and closed.

Description

Water Softener {Water Softner}

The present invention relates to a water softener in which the mode switching of the cold water line and the hot water line can be simultaneously performed by one operation when switching between the soft water mode and the raw water mode.

As is widely known, a softener is a device that softens raw water to a state of hot spring water by reacting raw water such as tap water or natural water with an ion exchange resin to remove hard water components such as calcium ions and magnesium ions from the raw water.

1 shows an example of a water softener in the manner of being directly connected to the raw water pipe.

The inside of the housing 10 is provided with a pair of columns 24a and 24b for softening cold water and hot water, respectively. Each column 24a, 24b is a cylindrical casing having an inlet and an outlet, and is filled with an ion exchange resin inside.

Then, the valved adapters 14a and 14b are provided in the middle of the raw water pipes 11a and 11b for supplying raw water from the cold water source 10a and the hot water source 10b to the shower 30. These valved adapters 14a and 14b are also connected to the inlets and outlets of the columns 24a and 24b via inlet tubes 15a and 15b and outlet tubes 17a and 17b.

The raw water supplied from the cold water source 10a and the hot water source 10b by switching the valves of the adapters 14a, 14b is passed through the columns 24a, 24b to the shower 30 or in the soft water mode ) Otherwise it is fed directly to the shower 30 without going through the columns 24a, 24b (raw water mode). Raw water is softened while raw water passes through columns 24a and 24b.

However, in the conventional water softener as described above, in order to switch between the soft water mode and the raw water mode, it is inconvenient to use the pair of valve adapters 14a and 14b.

In addition, since the adapter 14a, 14b with a valve is installed in the middle one side of the raw water pipes 11a, 11b, the valve is exposed to the outside, which is not good in appearance.

In view of this point, it is an object of the present invention to provide a water softener in which the soft water mode and the raw water mode can be switched in one operation as well as a beautiful appearance.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional water softener.

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a water softener according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is an exploded perspective view showing a switching valve which is a main part of the present invention shown in FIG.

4A is a cross-sectional view taken along line IVa-IVa in FIG. 3;

4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line IVb-IVb of FIG. 3;

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

11a, 11b: raw water pipe 14a, 14b: adapter

15a, 15b: inlet pipe 17a, 17b: outlet pipe

18a, 18b: bypass pipe 19a, 19b: regeneration liquid discharge pipe

20: main body 24a, 24b: column

100: switching valve 110: housing

111a: inlet port 111b: outlet port

111c: bypass port 114a: regeneration fluid inlet

114c: regeneration liquid outlet 120: valve body

121: communication home 124: communication

128: handle

An object of the present invention, in the water softener is provided with a pair of columns for softening the cold water and hot water, respectively, the raw water supplied from the cold water source and hot water source is passed through each column to the tap, adapter An inlet port communicating with the inlet port, an outlet port communicating with the inlet port of the column, and a bypass port communicating with one side of the outlet pipe leading from the column to the adapter, each having an inlet leading from the adapter to the inlet port of the column. Switching consisting of a housing located on one side of the middle of the tube, and a valve body for selectively opening any one of the outlet port or the bypass port so that raw water flowing into the inlet port is discharged to either the outlet port or the bypass port. It further includes a valve, the outlet or bypass port on both sides of the housing by the operation of the valve body At the same time that the opening and closing is achieved by the water softener according to claim.

One side of the outlet pipe leading from each column to the adapter is provided with a check valve for preventing the raw water flowing into the outlet pipe through the bypass port to flow back to the column.

The switching valve has an inlet connected to the regeneration liquid outlet of each column and a discharge port for discharging the regeneration liquid introduced through the inlet to the outside, and the valve body is operated so that the bypass port of the housing is opened. Inlet and outlet are formed to communicate.

Preferably, the switching valve is housed inside the body.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

2 illustrates a water softener according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A pair of columns 24a and 24b for softening cold water and hot water are provided in the main body 10, respectively. Adapters 14a and 14b are installed in the middle of the water pipes 11a and 11b respectively leading from the cold water source 10a and the hot water source 10b to the faucet or shower 30 (herein referred to as shower). It is. From the adapters 14a, 14b through the pair of inlet tubes 15a, 15b to the inlets of the columns 24a, 24b, and also through the pair of outlet tubes 17a, 17b, the columns 24a, From the outlet of 24b) to the adapters 14a and 14b. In addition, the bypass pipes 18a and 18b are connected to the middle one side of the outflow pipes 17a and 17b from the middle one side of the inflow pipes 15a and 15b.

And the switching valve 100 which is located in the branch part of the inflow pipe 15a, 15b and the bypass pipe 18a, 18b, respectively is provided with both sides. The switching valve 100 is composed of a housing 110 and a valve body 120 as shown in FIG. Preferably, the switching valve 100 is accommodated inside the water softener body 20 so as not to be exposed to the outside, but only the handle 128 of the valve body 120 to be described later is located outside the body 20.

As shown in more detail in FIGS. 3, 4A, and 4B, inlet ports 111a, outlet ports 111b, and bypass ports 111c are provided at both sides of the housing 110, respectively. Inlet port 111a communicates with adapters 14a and 14b through inlet pipes 13a and 13b, and outlet port 111b communicates with inlet ports of columns 24a and 24b through inlet pipes 13a and 13b. do. In addition, the bypass port 111c communicates with an intermediate one side of the outlet pipes 17a and 17b through the bypass pipes 18a and 18b. Then, the check valve 40a for preventing the raw water supplied to the outlet pipes 17a and 17b through the bypass pipes 18a and 18b to flow back to the columns 24a and 24b. , 40b) are provided respectively.

The valve body 120 is housed inside the housing 110, and as shown in the drawing, an inlet port 111a and an outlet port 111b or an inlet port 111a and a bypass port 111c are optional. Communication grooves 121 are formed at both sides to communicate with each other. One end of the valve body 120 is provided with a handle 128 for operating the valve body 120, which is located outside the water softener body 20 as described above. On the other hand, although not shown, O-rings for preventing leakage are installed in place of the valve body.

On the other hand, reference numerals 19a and 19b are discharge pipes for discharging the regeneration liquid in the operation of regenerating the ion exchange resin in the columns 24a and 24b, and the discharge pipes 19a and 19b are the housing 110 of the switching valve 100. It is connected to the regeneration solution inlet 114a formed in the middle. In addition, a regeneration solution outlet 114b is formed at an opposite side of the housing 110, and a communication hole 124 for communicating the regeneration solution inlet 114a and the regeneration solution outlet 114b in the middle of the valve body 120. Is formed. One side of the communication hole 124 is formed wide to communicate with both of the pair of regeneration solution inlet (114a).

In the soft water mode, the switching valve 100 is switched in a direction in which the outlet port 111b is opened and the bypass port 111c is closed. Accordingly, the inlet port 111a and the outlet port 111b communicate with each other, and the raw water supplied from the adapters 14a and 14b passes through the switching valve 100 and enters the columns 24a and 24b and then the column ( It softens while passing through 24a and 24b). The soft water passing through the columns 24a and 24b is supplied to the shower 30 through the outlet pipes 17a and 17b and the adapters 14a and 14b. At this time, the communication hole 124 in the center of the valve body 120 is orthogonal to an imaginary straight line connecting the inlet port 114a and the outlet port 114b so that the regeneration solution inlet 114a and the regeneration solution outlet 114b do not communicate. It is located.

In order to switch from the soft water mode to the raw water mode, the handle 128 of the valve body 120 is held and the valve body 120 is rotated 90 degrees. Then, the outlet port 111b of the housing 110 is closed and the bypass port 111c is opened. As a result, the inflow port 111a and the bypass port 111c communicate with each other, and the raw water supplied from the adapters 14a and 14b passes through the switching valve 100 and is supplied to the bypass pipes 18a and 18b. The raw water supplied to the bypass pipes 18a and 18b is supplied to the adapters 14a and 14b through the outlet pipes 17a and 17b without passing through the columns 24a and 24b and finally to the shower unit 30. . Raw water supplied from the bypass pipes 18a and 17b to the outflow pipes 17a and 17b by the check valves 40a and 40b provided in the outflow pipes 17a and 17b does not flow back to the columns 24a and 24b.

In addition, when in the raw water mode, the communication hole 124 in the center of the valve body 120 connects so that the regeneration solution inlet 114a and the regeneration solution outlet 9114b of the housing 110 communicate. Accordingly, in the regeneration operation of the columns 24a and 24b, the regeneration liquid supplied from the regeneration liquid supply units 22a and 22b to the columns 24a and 24b is supplied to the switching valve 100 through the regeneration liquid discharge pipe 114b. And it is discharged to the outside through the regeneration solution inlet 114a, the communication hole 124 and the regeneration solution outlet 114b in the switching valve 100.

As described above, the water softener according to the present invention is provided with a switching valve in the middle of the inlet pipe leading from the adapter to the column, it is convenient that the mode of the cold water pipe and hot water pipe can be made in one operation. Moreover, the water softener of the present invention can be very beautiful in appearance since the switching valve is built in the main body so that it is not exposed to the outside except the handle.

In the above, the present invention has been illustrated and described with respect to certain preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited only to the above-described embodiments, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may vary without departing from the spirit of the technical idea of the present invention described in the claims below. It may be changed.

Claims (4)

In a softener in which a pair of columns for softening cold water and hot water are provided in the main body, and raw water supplied from the cold water source and the hot water source passes through each column and is supplied to the tap. An inlet port in communication with the adapter, an outlet port in communication with the inlet of the column, and a bypass port in communication with one side of the outlet pipe leading from the column to the adapter, respectively, having both sides from the adapter to the inlet of the column. A housing positioned at one middle side of the inflow pipe, and a valve body for selectively opening any one of the outflow port and the bypass port so that raw water flowing into the inflow port flows out to either the outflow port or the bypass port; And a switching valve, wherein the outlet or bypass ports on both sides of the housing are opened and closed at the same time by the operation of the valve body. The water softener of claim 1, wherein a check valve is installed at one side of the outlet pipe leading from the respective columns to the adapter to prevent the raw water flowing out of the outlet pipe through the bypass port to flow back to the column. . According to claim 1 or 2, wherein the switching valve is provided with an inlet connected to the regeneration liquid outlet of the respective columns and a discharge port for discharging the regeneration liquid introduced through the inlet to the outside in the center of the housing, the valve The sieve is characterized in that the inlet and outlet are formed to communicate when the bypass port of the housing is operated to open. The water softener according to claim 1, wherein the changeover valve is accommodated inside the main body.