KR20060111151A - Water softening apparatus capable of automatic recycling & method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An automatic recycling water softening apparatus and a method thereof are provided to install separately an automatic recycling line and to use a valve for selectively opening/closing the automatic recycling line. A water softening box(130) is installed between a water softening line(110) for connecting a fitting(10) with a shower device(20) and includes the ion exchange resin. A recycling box(162) is connected to an inlet side of the recycling box so that the water softening box is recycled as the occasional demands. An end of an automatic recycling line(180) is connected to the water resource connected to the fitting and the other end thereof is connected to an inlet of an recycling box. An automatic recycling valve(182) turns on/off selectively the automatic recycling line.

Description

Water softening apparatus capable of automatic recycling & method

1 is a configuration diagram schematically showing the configuration of a soft water regeneration device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

10 Faucet bracket 12 Hot water line 14 Cold water line

20 Showers 110 Training lines 112 Entrance lines

114.Outlet Line 120 ... Direct Line 130 ...

140 Temperature measuring member 142 First temperature sensor 144 Second temperature sensor

150 ... Split supply element 152 ... Water valve 154 ... Water valve

160 Regeneration line 162 Regeneration bin 164 Regeneration valve

166 Flow measurement member 170 Water flow sensor 180 Automatic regeneration line

182 Automatic regeneration valve 184 Rinse line 186 Rinse valve

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for automatically regenerating water, and more particularly, to an apparatus for and method for automatically regenerating water softening capable of regenerating operation even when the faucet bracket is closed.

In general, hard water (hard water) such as tap water is converted into soft water (sweet water) through a softening device capable of ion exchange. These softeners convert calcium and magnesium in hard water into soft, clean water that is good for skin care. That is, the softening device converts hard water into soft water by using a strong acid cation exchange resin to exchange hardness-inducing substances such as calcium and magnesium with sodium.

Since the water softener is used for a certain period of time, the water softening capacity of the ion exchange resin in the soft water tank is lowered. Thus, a soft water tank is used to regenerate the soft water tank using a salt regeneration tank.

However, in the conventional reproducible softening devices, the information on the regeneration time is displayed in the process of using soft water through the shower, so the user may execute a separate regeneration mode with the faucet open while the shower is stopped. Otherwise, a separate playback operation must be performed at any point in time, even in this case only when the faucet bracket is open.

Therefore, the conventional regeneration softening devices cannot not only take a shower by using soft water during the regeneration operation of the regeneration tank, but also use the incomplete soft water for a certain period by overlooking the regeneration time and continuously using the softening device. Inconvenience is caused.

The present invention has been conceived to solve the above problems, using a valve that can be installed separately and automatically opening and closing the automatic regeneration line connecting the inlet and the recycling container on the other side without using the outlet of the faucet bracket Therefore, the present invention provides an apparatus and method for automatically regenerating soft water, which has an improved structure such that the control unit automatically executes a regeneration operation when the user does not use the shower at the time of regeneration of the water tank even when the faucet bracket is locked. There is this.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object, an apparatus for automatically regenerating soft water includes: a water softener installed on a soft water line connected between a faucet bracket and a shower, and having a built-in ion exchange resin; A recycling bin connected to the inlet side of the training pail to regenerate the training pail as needed; An automatic regeneration line, one end of which is connected to a water source to which the faucet bracket is connected, and the other end of which is connected to an inlet of the regeneration container; And an automatic regeneration valve for selectively turning on / off the automatic regeneration line.

Preferably, the self-regulating valve is a solenoid valve.

Preferably, the soft water regeneration device according to the present invention further includes a rinse line capable of rinsing the soft water container using water supplied from the auto regeneration line.

Preferably, the apparatus further includes a rinse valve for selectively turning on / off the rinse line.

Preferably, the rinse valve is a solenoid valve.

Preferably, the self-renewing softening device according to the present invention, a water line between the outlet of the faucet and the shower; A temperature measuring member for measuring a temperature difference between the raw water before passing through the soft water tank and the soft water passing through the soft water tank; And a split supply member capable of split-feeding the soft water and the straight water flowing through the soft water line and the straight water line at a predetermined ratio according to the value measured by the temperature measuring member.

Preferably, the temperature measuring member, the first temperature sensor installed in the water softening line of the outlet side of the soft water tank; And a second temperature sensor installed at an inlet-side soft water line of the soft water container.

Preferably, the divided supply member is a soft water valve installed in the soft water line before the soft water container; And a water valve installed in the water line.

Preferably, the first and second valves each have a solenoid valve.

Preferably, the first and second valves each have a proportional control valve.

Preferably, the auto-renewable softening device according to the present invention further includes a flow rate sensing member installed on the softening line.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object, an automatic regeneration method of an auto-renewable softening device includes a water softener provided between a faucet bracket and a shower, and a softening receptacle for regenerating the soft water tank. In the automatic regeneration method, when the automatic regeneration mode is selected by the user in the vicinity of the regeneration time of the soft water tank by supplying the raw water directly to the regeneration tank through an automatic regeneration line connecting the inlet of the faucet bracket and the regeneration tank; Regenerating the soft water tank for a predetermined time; It includes.

The automatic playable training method according to the present invention further comprises the step of rinsing the training tank through a rinse line connected to the training tank branched from the automatic playback line after the automatic regeneration mode ends.

Hereinafter, an apparatus and a method for automatically reproducing training according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a configuration diagram schematically showing an automatically reproducible softening apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the automatic regenerating softening device 100 according to the present embodiment selectively turns on / off the softening line 110 and the softening line 110 installed between the faucet bracket 10 and the shower 20. The soft water valve 152 for turning off, the soft water tank 130 installed in the soft water line 110, the regeneration water tank 162 for supplying salt water to the soft water tank 130, the inlet of the faucet 10, An automatic regeneration line 180 connecting the inlet of the regeneration tank 162 and an automatic regeneration valve 182 for selectively turning on / off the automatic regeneration line 180 are provided.

The faucet bracket 10 is for mixing hot water and cold water supplied through the hot water line 12 and the cold water line 14, respectively, and adjusting the temperature of the mixed water by a user's operation. Since the structure and function have a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The shower 20 is for ejecting soft water and / or raw water (direct water) ion-exchanged by the soft water tank 130, and has a structure and a function of a conventional shower, and thus its detailed description is omitted.

In addition to the softening line 110, the automatic water reproducible softening device 100 according to the present embodiment is provided with a water line 120 for connecting the faucet bracket 10 and the shower 20 in series and installed on the water line 120. The water valve 154 may be further provided.

The soft water line 110 and the direct water line 120 are preferably branched at the outlet side of the faucet 10 and converged at the inlet side of the shower 20. The direct water line 120 is a pipe or a hose flowing directly to the shower 20 without passing the raw water discharged through the faucet bracket 10 through the soft water tank 130. However, the inlet line 112 of the training line 110 is connected to the inlet 132 of the training tank 130 from the faucet bracket 10, and the outlet line 114 of the training line 110 is the training tank 130. Is connected to shower 20 from outlet 134. The inlet line 112 is a pipe or hose through which raw water flows before ion exchange, and the outlet line 114 is a pipe or hose through which soft water exchanged by the soft water tank 130 flows.

The training line 110 is connected only to the inlet 132 of the training tank 130 from the faucet bracket 10 and is not in communication with the regeneration tank 162.

The soft water container 130 is filled with an ion exchange resin (not shown) therein and has a sealed container structure of a predetermined capacity.

One end of the automatic regeneration line 180 is connected to the inlet of the faucet bracket 10, that is, the hot water line 12 and / or the cold water line 14, and is preferably connected to the cold water line 14. The other end is connected to the inlet of the regeneration container 162.

The automatic regeneration valve 182 is a valve that is closed in a normal softening process and can be opened for automatic regeneration operation. The automatic regeneration valve 182 is preferably implemented as a solenoid valve, and is configured to open and close the operation by a control unit. It is a solenoid valve.

The rinsing line 184 and the rinse line which can rinse the soft water container 130 by using the water supplied from the auto regeneration line 180 after the regeneration operation is completed in the auto regeneration softening device 100 according to the present embodiment. A rinse valve 186 provided at 184 is further provided.

The rinse line 184 is only required to connect the inlet of the faucet bracket 10 and the soft water container 130, but in this embodiment, the configuration is branched from the automatic regeneration line 180 and coupled with the soft water line 110 is adopted. do.

The rinse valve 186 is for solely turning on / off the rinse line 184 and is a solenoid valve that can be automatically turned on / off by a control unit.

When the ion exchange resin in the soft water tank 130 reaches the saturation state, the regeneration water tank 162 supplies the minimum necessary amount of regeneration brine into the soft water tank 130 to regenerate the soft water tank 130. Pellet-type salt is built in.

The automatically regenerating softening device 100 according to the present embodiment further includes a flow rate sensing member 166 installed in the softening line 110 and a water flow sensor 170 installed at the outlet side of the power receiving bracket 10.

The flow rate sensing member 166 checks the regeneration time of the ion exchange resin inside the soft water container 130 by checking the amount of soft water passing through the soft water line 110 and flowing into the soft water container 130. It includes all possible structures and devices for sensing the flow rate through the soft water line (110).

The water flow sensor 170 has a kind of switch function for detecting whether the raw water (cold / hot water) is supplied through the faucet bracket 10, and is a mechanical type that requires no power supply. That is, the water flow sensor 170 selects power to the first and second temperature sensors 142 and 144, the flow rate sensing member 166, and the soft water valve 152 and the direct water valve 154 by sensing the flow of water. To be applied or blocked. This minimizes the current consumption in the standby state of the various valves operated by the battery.

The water softening device 100 according to the present embodiment checks the flow rate of the raw water supplied to the soft water container 130 to notify the user of the regeneration time of the soft water container 130 manually or performs the regeneration operation automatically by the control unit. For this purpose, it is preferable to include a display unit, a lamp, a buzzer, etc. for displaying the life of the ion exchange resin, the regeneration operation, and the like.

The automatic regeneration water softening device 100 according to the present embodiment includes a temperature measuring member 140 for measuring a temperature difference between the temperature of raw water supplied to the soft water container 130 and the soft water passing through the soft water container 130; And a split supply member 150 for dividing and supplying the target water and the straight water to be fed to the training line 110 and the direct water line 120 at a predetermined ratio.

The temperature measuring member 140 has a first temperature sensor 142 installed on the outlet line 114 of the training line 110 and a second temperature sensor 144 provided at the inlet line 112 of the training line 110. It is provided.

The first temperature sensor 142 is for measuring the temperature of the soft water ion-exchanged through the soft water tank 130, the second temperature sensor 144 measures the temperature of the raw water supplied to the soft water tank 130. In order to do so, the data measured by the first and second temperature sensors 142 and 144 are transmitted to a control unit (not shown).

In the present embodiment, the temperature measuring member 140 is described as temperature sensors, but is not limited thereto and should be interpreted as including all possible means for measuring the temperature of the corresponding water.

The splitter supply member 150 feeds the raw water (supply water) supplied from the faucet bracket 10 according to the difference in the temperature values of the first and second temperature sensors 142 and 144 transmitted to the control unit. It is intended to divide the supply at a predetermined rate flowing through the 110 and the direct line (120).

The divided supply member 150 includes a soft water valve 152 installed at the inlet line 112 of the soft water line 110 and a direct water valve 154 provided at the water straight line 120. The soft water valve 152 and the direct water valve 154 are preferably a solenoid valve or a proportional control valve in which each opening and closing operation can be controlled by a control unit.

The soft water valves and the direct water valves 152 and 154 of the split supply member 150 are provided with the first and second temperature sensors 142 and 144 when the user wants to use water having a predetermined temperature through the shower 20. When the difference in the temperatures measured by the exceeds the allowable range, the shower 20 by maintaining the flow rate of the raw water discharged to the shower 20 through the direct water line 120 than the raw water supplied to the soft water line (110) In addition to quickly adjusting the temperature of the water discharged through the tap to the target temperature, the difference between the temperatures measured by the first and second temperature sensors 142 and 144 is within the allowable range, Off to prevent the supply of raw water through the direct water line 120 and open the soft water valve 152 to supply the raw water through the soft water line 110 only 100% ion exchange the raw water flowing through the faucet 10 It is to let.

The situation where the difference between the temperature values measured by the first and second temperature sensors 142 and 144 exceeds the allowable range is the temperature of the soft water passing through the soft water tank 130 and the raw water supplied through the faucet tool 10. In the case where the temperatures of each other are significantly different from each other, for example, a user intends to use a high temperature soft water through the shower 20, but the temperature of the soft water actually passing through the water softener 130 does not reach a high temperature, or conversely, a high temperature. Even though the faucet 10 is operated at a low temperature in order to use the soft water at a low temperature while the soft water of the shower is being used through the shower 20, the high temperature soft water in the water softener 130 still maintains the shower 20. Can be distinguished by the situation in which they are discharged. This situation refers to a case in which the softening device 100 does not react quickly to the temperature of water intended for use by a real user, and in this case, the softening process through the soft water tank 130 of the soft water line 110 is relative. By keeping the feeble through the direct line 120 to directly discharge the water of the user's desired temperature through the shower 20 to minimize the inconvenience by allowing the user to use the water of the desired temperature as quickly as possible.

On the other hand, the soft water valve 152 and the direct water valve 154 is different from the above-described, respectively, according to the temperature difference by the first and second temperature sensors 142 and 144 of the direct water line 120 and the soft water line 110. It includes a control proportional control valve (not shown) capable of proportionally regulating the supply of raw water supply. The operation of the proportional control valve can be described by the following example. That is, when hot water at a temperature of 40 ° C. is supplied and the temperature difference between the first and second temperature sensors 142 and 144 is 20 ° C., the supply ratio of direct water: soft water is adjusted to 7: 3, and the first and second temperature sensors ( As the temperature difference of 142) (144) decreases to 10 ° C, 8 ° C, 6 ° C, and 4 ° C, respectively, the ratio of direct water: soft water is adjusted to 5: 5, 4: 6, 3: 7, 2: 8, etc., respectively. You can.

Since the split supply member 150 basically has the purpose of minimizing the heat load of the soft water container 130, it is measured by the first and second temperature sensors 142 and 144 in addition to the solenoid valve or the proportional control valve. It should be interpreted as including all other means and methods capable of dividing and supplying the amount of raw water flowing through the direct water line 120 and the soft water line 110, respectively, according to the temperature difference of the raw water.

An operation of the auto reproducible softening device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to [Table 1] below.

           Operation state of the valves of this embodiment according to the operation of the softening device     Driving mode  Soft water valve  Direct valve  Auto regulating valve           Remarks     Standby     ON     OFF     OFF  Faucet bracket is blocked  Training mode  Adjustable mode     ON     ON     OFF  Completion mode     ON     OFF     OFF     Direct mode     OFF     ON     OFF   Auto Play Mode     OFF     OFF     ON

(1) standby mode

The standby state means that the direct water valve 154 and the regeneration valve 164 are closed so that raw water is not supplied to the direct water line 120 and the regeneration line 160, and only the soft water valve 152 is opened to the soft water line 110. Although the raw water is in a flowable state, it means a state in which the user blocks without using the faucet bracket 10.

(2) training operation mode

Basically, the soft water operation mode is an operation in which the user uses water of a predetermined temperature through the shower 20 by operating the faucet bracket 10 in the standby state. The training operation is divided into a 'control mode' requiring temperature control and a 'complete mode' without temperature control according to the temperature values measured by the first and second temperature sensors 142 and 144 of the temperature measuring member 140. .

In the 'regulation mode' regeneration valve 164 is closed, but soft water valve 152 and the water valve 154 is open at the same time. However, for the divided supply of raw water, the amount of raw water passing through the soft water valve 152 and the direct water valve 154 is only adjusted as necessary. Thus, in the 'control mode', the user uses water mixed with soft water and direct water through the shower 20, but instead, the user can increase the temperature of the water being used by the user as quickly as possible.

The 'complete mode' is because the temperature of the water discharged through the shower 20 is within the temperature range desired by the user, it is no longer required to receive the direct water to the direct line 120 and the water discharged through the shower 20 It is the state which only the soft water which passed the whole quantity training container 130 may be used. Therefore, in this mode, the water valve 154 and the regeneration valve 164 are closed and only the soft water valve 152 is opened.

(3) direct mode

The 'direct mode' is applied when the user does not use soft water regardless of temperature. Only the direct valve 154 is opened while the soft water valve 152 and the regeneration valve 164 are closed. Separately, the 'direct mode' may be used in a state such as a user's request, malfunction of various lines, and various errors of the training container 130.

(4) Auto Play Mode

When the regeneration time of the soft water container 130 is near, when the regeneration time of the water softener 130 is close, the automatic reproducible training device 100 according to the present embodiment provides a user with a means for inputting an automatic regeneration time suitable for the user. It is preferable to provide.

When the automatic regeneration time preset by the user is reached, the control unit automatically turns off the soft water valve 152, the water valve 154, and the rinse valve 186, even if the user does not open the faucet 10. The regeneration valve 182 is opened. Then, raw water (preferably cold water) in front of the faucet bracket 10 is supplied to the regeneration tank 162 through the automatic regeneration line 180. The raw water supplied to the regeneration tank 162 becomes salt water, and the salt water flows into the soft water tank 130 to regenerate the ion exchange resin. Water inside the soft water container 130 is discharged through the shower (20). This action takes place within at least time for playback.

When the auto play mode is completed, the control unit proceeds to the rinse mode.

In the rinse mode, the control unit turns off the automatic regeneration valve 182 and simultaneously opens the rinse valve 186. Then, the cold water before the faucet 10 is supplied to the training tank 130 through the automatic regeneration line 180, the rinse line 184, the soft water line (110). The cold water thus supplied is automatically rinsed with the regeneration salt water remaining in the soft water container 130 and then discharged to the outside through the shower 20.

When the rinse mode is finished, the control unit returns the softening device 300 to the electric 'standby state'.

The automatic reproducible training method according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention may be replaced by the operation description of the training device described in the above embodiments, and in addition to these operations, all training methods that may be implemented by the training device according to the present invention may be implemented. It should be interpreted as encompassing.

As described above, the softening apparatus and method capable of automatic regeneration according to the present invention, in using the regeneration softening apparatus, selects a time point at which the user does not need to use the shower even if the faucet is not opened near the regeneration time of the softener. The water tank can be automatically replayed by the system, thus overlooking the play time or eliminating inconvenience in use.

Claims (11)

A soft water tank installed on the soft water line connected between the faucet bracket and the shower, and having a built-in ion exchange resin; A recycling bin connected to the inlet side of the training pail to regenerate the training pail as needed; An automatic regeneration line, one end of which is connected to a water source to which the faucet bracket is connected, and the other end of which is connected to an inlet of the regeneration container; And And an automatic regenerative valve for selectively turning on / off the automatic regenerative line. The method of claim 1, And a rinse line capable of rinsing the soft water container using water supplied from the automatic regeneration line. The method of claim 2, And a rinse valve for selectively turning on / off the rinse line. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A direct line between the outlet of the faucet and the shower; A temperature measuring member for measuring a temperature difference between the raw water before passing through the soft water tank and the soft water passing through the soft water tank; And And a split supply member capable of dividing and supplying the soft water and the straight water flowing through the soft water line and the straight water line at a predetermined ratio according to the value measured by the temperature measuring member. The method of claim 4, wherein The temperature measuring member A first temperature sensor installed at an outlet side soft water line of the soft water container; And And a second temperature sensor installed at an inlet-side water softening line of the water softener. The method of claim 4, wherein The split supply member A soft water valve installed in the soft water line before the soft water container; And And a water valve installed in the water line. The method of claim 6, And the first and second valves each have a solenoid valve. The method of claim 6, The soft water valve and the direct water valve is a self-regulating soft water device, characterized in that each having a proportional control valve. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, And a flow rate sensing member provided on the water softening line. In the automatic regeneration method of the water softener having a water softener provided between the faucet bracket and the shower, and a regeneration fluid for regenerating the soft water tank. When the automatic regeneration mode is selected by the user in the vicinity of the regeneration time of the soft water tank, the soft water tank is regenerated for a predetermined time by supplying raw water directly to the regeneration water tank through an automatic regeneration line connecting the inlet of the faucet and the regeneration water tank. Auto-removal training method comprising a. The method of claim 10, And rinsing the soft water tank through a rinse line connected to the soft water tank by branching from the auto regeneration line after the automatic regeneration mode ends.

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