KR20070103159A - Water filters and water filter assembly connector and water purifier structure these - Google Patents

Abstract

A water filter, a water filter assembly connector, and a water purifier having the water filter and the connector are provided to facilitate the exchange of filters, by connecting the filters in one-touch type using the connector. A main body(2) has an inner space and forms an external appearance of a purifier. A filter unit(4) is installed within the main body. The filter unit removes harmful materials and external materials included in raw water. A storage tank(6) stores purified water passed by the filter unit. A discharge cock(8) discharges the purified water or water obtained by cooling or heating the purified water to the outside. The filter unit communicates with a neighboring filter by a filter connector.

Description

WATER FILTERS AND WATER FILTER ASSEMBLY CONNECTOR AND WATER PURIFIER STRUCTURE THESE}

1 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a water purifier according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view showing a piping state of the parts of the water purifying apparatus of the present invention with the case removed.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of the water filter according to the present invention.

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the structure of the water filter connector according to the present invention.

5 is a view for explaining the assembly and separation of the filter and the filter connector which is the main part of the water purifying apparatus according to the present invention.

6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG.

7 is a view showing a filter assembled to the filter connector of the water purifier according to the present invention.

The present invention relates to a water filter, a water filter assembly connection port and a water purification device provided therein, and more particularly, to a water filter, a water filter assembly connection port and a water purification device provided with them that can easily and quickly replace the filter provided in the water purifier. will be.

In recent years, as the water pollution caused by industrial development has become serious, distrust in tap water has increased, and recently, purified water with a water purifier is used as drinking water or commercially available bottled water as drinking water.

The water purifier is made to remove heavy metals and other harmful substances contained in the raw water through the process of sedimentation, filtration and sterilization of raw water such as tap water, and such water purifier is not only for general household and commercial use, but also for cutting-edge scientific industry or high precision electronics. It is also widely used for cleaning or medical parts.

Various kinds of water purifiers are manufactured and used according to the water purification method. The structure of a conventional water purifier includes a plurality of filters for removing and purifying foreign substances contained in raw water supplied through a water supply pipe, and sequentially filtering the filters. A storage tank for storing purified water while passing through, a hot water tank and a cold water tank for receiving and heating the purified water of the purified water storage tank, respectively, and a plurality of water to discharge the water contained in the hot water tank and the cold water tank to the outside. Discharge cock is installed.

The filter is usually used for sedimentation filter, pre-treatment carbon filter, membrane filter, after-treatment carbon filter, etc., these filters are fixed in the water purifier body in a structure connected in series through a connecting pipe, the raw water is sequentially As it passes through the process, it removes heavy metals and other harmful substances contained in raw water through sedimentation, filtration and sterilization.

Each of these filters has an inlet and an outlet through which raw water flows in and out of the top and bottom, respectively, and these inlets and outlets are connected to the outlet and the inlet of another filter by a hose such as a hose.

In addition, if the water purifier is used for a certain period of time, the purification capacity of the filters is deteriorated. Therefore, new filters should be replaced periodically according to the service life of the filters.

To replace the filter provided in the water purifier, cut off the inflow of raw water to the water purifier, disconnect the connecting pipe connected to the inlet and the outlet of the filter to be replaced, and then remove the filter fixed to the water purifier. Replace the filter by installing a new filter and connecting the conduit to the inlet and outlet.

Since the life of each filter varies depending on the filter, only the corresponding filter is replaced without replacing all the filters at once.

However, the conventional water purifier has a disadvantage that the filter replacement work is cumbersome and time consuming because the connection pipe connected to the inlet and the outlet is forced out by the filter inlet and the filter pipe is inserted into the new filter after the filter replacement. There is this.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the conventional problems as described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a water filter, a water filter assembly connector, and a water purification device in which they are installed, which can easily and easily replace the filter provided in the water purifier. To provide.

Water purifier proposed by the present invention,

A body having an internal space and forming an external appearance of a water purifying device, a filter unit installed in the internal space of the main body and removing harmful substances and foreign substances contained in raw water when raw water is supplied, and storing the purified purified water passing through the filter unit. And a discharge cock for discharging the purified water stored in the storage tank or the purified water or cooled or heated water to the outside of the purified water device, wherein the filter part is separably fixed through a filter connector configured to communicate with adjacent filters. It provides a water purifier.

The filter constituting the filter unit is provided in a state in which the raw water flows in and the outlet through which the raw water discharged through the filter is adjacent to one end of the filter, and detachably fixed to the filter connector.

The filter connector is formed with an inlet connector and an outlet connector to which the inlet and outlet of the filter are connected, and the inlet connector and the outlet connector are configured to communicate with another adjacent filter connector.

In another aspect, the present invention, the filter connector body formed with an insertion groove having an inlet connection portion and an outlet connection portion respectively connected to the inlet and outlet of the filter assembly, formed on one side of the connector body when the filter assembly enters the insertion groove Detachable lever which rotates while contacting the inclined surface of the locking jaw formed in the filter assembly to allow the filter assembly to enter, and a hinge shaft which hinges the detachable lever to the connector body so as to be rotatable. It provides a filter assembly connector comprising a pressing plate that is fixed to the detachable lever to apply a force to rotate the rotational direction of the detachable lever in the reverse direction when entering the filter assembly so as to separate the filter assembly fixed by the lever.

In another aspect, the present invention, in the water purification filter having an inlet and an outlet and filters out foreign substances and harmful substances contained in the raw water when the raw water is supplied, the filter provides a water purification filter that is detachably installed in the filter connector installed in the water purifier. .

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a water purifier according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a view showing a piping state of parts with a case removed from the water purifier according to the present invention. A main body 2 having an external appearance of a water purifying device, a filter unit 4 installed in the inner space of the main body 2 to remove harmful substances and foreign substances contained in raw water when raw water is supplied, and the filter unit ( 4) a purified water storage tank 6 for storing purified water passing through the water and a discharge cock 8 for discharging purified water stored in the storage tank 6 or water cooled or heated to the outside of the water purifier. Include.

Inside the main body 2, cooling means for cooling the water stored in the purified water storage tank 6 to a predetermined temperature and a heating means for receiving the purified water from the purified water storage tank 6 and heating it to a predetermined temperature may be further provided. have.

As the cooling means, for example, a conventional cooling device including a compressor 10a, a condenser 10b, and an evaporator 10c, or a thermoelectric element using a semiconductor may be used, and the heating means is a heater 12 which is commonly used. Can be used.

And the cooling means may be installed directly in the purified water storage tank (6), or may be installed in a separate cold water tank (not shown) connected to the purified water storage tank and the pipeline, the heating means is a pipe with the purified water storage tank (6) It can be installed in the hot water tank 14 connected to.

The cooling means and the heating means may be provided with only one device as needed. And the water level storage tank 6 may be further provided with a water level control sensor.

For example, the filter unit 4 has a structure in which the precipitation filter 4a, the pretreatment carbon filter 4b, the membrane filter 4c, and the aftertreatment carbon filter 4d are sequentially connected to each other. When passing through part (4), the process of precipitation, filtration, sterilization, etc. to remove heavy metals and other harmful substances contained in the raw water.

Typically, the precipitation filter 4a filters out soil, sand, or suspended solids contained in raw water, and the pretreated carbon filter 4b serves to remove residual chlorine contained in raw water, and the membrane filter 4c. Filters out various harmful substances such as heavy metals, carcinogens and chemicals, and passes only pure water, dissolved oxygen and very small amounts of minerals. The post-processing carbon filter (4d) provides fine particulate matter and various bacteria. Serves to remove it.

Such a filter unit 4 may be added or reduced depending on the water purifier.

The purified water in which the heavy metals and other harmful substances contained in the raw water are purified by the filter unit 4 is stored in the purified water storage tank 6. The predetermined amount of raw water is used to purify the filter unit 4 by using the If it passes, the filtration performance of this filter part 4 will fall and the purification efficiency of raw water will fall.

In general, the life time of the precipitation filter 4a and the pretreated carbon filter 4b is 6 months, the membrane filter 4c has 18 months, and the aftertreatment carbon filter 4d has a life time of 12 months. Each of the installed filters 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d should be replaced regularly in accordance with the service life.

A feature of the present invention is configured to allow a quick and simple replacement operation when replacing such a filter.

For this purpose, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, each filter 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d constituting the filter unit 4 is provided with a filter connector configured to be in communication with an adjacent filter. 16) is detachably fixed.

The filters 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d and the filter connector 16 detachably assembled to the filters 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d, respectively, have the same structure and detachment process, and thus, one filter 4a will be described as an example for convenience.

The filter 4a provided in the water purifying apparatus of the present invention is formed in parallel with an inlet port 18 through which water is introduced into the filter at one end of the housing and an outlet port 20 through which the purified water is discharged. In addition, the inlet 18 and the outlet 20 are formed in the insert portion 22 so that the filter 4a can be inserted into the filter connector 16 outside.

O-rings 24 are provided on the outer circumferential surfaces of the inlet 18 and the outlet 20, respectively, to prevent the outflow of water when coupled to the filter connector 16.

In addition, the engaging portion 26 is formed in the insertion portion 22 so that the filter 4a can be fixedly supported by the filter connector 16. The latching jaw 26 is formed with an inclined surface 27 so that the filter 4a can be easily fitted into the filter connector 16 without pressing the detachable lever described later.

The filter connector 16 which supports such a filter 4a so as to be in communication with an adjacent filter is formed by an insertion groove 28 so that the insertion part 22 of the filter 4a can be inserted into one side thereof. The insertion groove 28 is formed with an inlet connection portion 30 and an outlet connection portion 32 which are intimately inserted into the inlet 18 and the outlet 20 of the filter 4a and connected to communicate with each other.

A hole (not shown) is drilled in the bottom surface of the insertion groove 28 so that the filter connector 16 can be fixed inside the water purifier by a screw or the like.

The inlet connecting portion 30 and the outlet connecting portion 32 extend in the corresponding directions, respectively, so that the inlet connecting portion 30 is formed as a connection groove 30a penetrated to the outside of the filter connecting portion 16, and the outlet connecting portion 32 ) Is formed by an extension portion 32a protruding outward from the filter connector 16.

The connecting groove 30a and the extension part 32a may be closely connected to each other so that a plurality of filter connectors 16 may be connected to the connection groove formed in the other filter connection part by inserting the connection groove 30a into the extension part 32a. And, when the respective filters are inserted into the connected filter connection 16, the filters are connected in series so that the raw water can pass through the respective filters in turn.

In order to further strengthen the connected state of the plurality of filter connectors 16, the protrusions 34a and the grooves 34b each having a shape corresponding to each other are formed in the direction in which the extension part 32a and the connection groove 30a are formed. Formed. In addition, the guide protrusion 22a is formed in the insertion portion 22 of the filter 4a so as to guide the assembly of the filter 4a, and the insertion groove 28 of the filter connector 16 corresponding to the guide groove ( 28a) is formed.

The extension part 32a and the connection groove 30a and the protrusion 34a and the groove 34b are preferably closely inserted with each other to maintain a complete sealing force.

In addition, the filter connector 16 is provided with a filter detachable lever 36 for detachably fixing and supporting the filter 4a inserted into the insertion groove 28.

The filter detachable lever 36 is installed on one side of the filter connector 16 in a state rotatably hinged by the hinge shaft 40 while receiving the outward elasticity of the elastic member 38, and one side thereof is formed by a locking plate 42. And the other side is formed by the pressing plate 44 for rotating the locking plate 42 about the hinge axis (40).

Such a detachable lever 36 is pressed by the pressing plate 44 or pressing the locking plate 42, the elastic member 38 is compressed while the detachable lever 36 is rotated around the hinge axis 40, the detachable lever ( When the hand is released from 36, the restoring force of the elastic member 38 is made to return to the center of the hinge shaft 40.

Therefore, to insert the filter 4a into the filter connector 16, the pressing plate 44 of the detachable lever 36 is pressed or the inclined surface 27 of the locking jaw 26 of the filter 4a is caught by the locking plate 42. Pushing in contact with the state, the detachable lever 36 is rotated about the hinge shaft 40, while the insertion portion 22 of the filter is inserted into the insertion groove 28, the locking plate 42 is the locking jaw (26) Restrained, the filter 4a is fixedly supported by the filter connector 16.

When the filter 4a is assembled to the filter connector 16 as described above, the inlet 18 and the outlet 20 of the filter 4a communicate with the inlet connector 30 and the outlet connector 32 of the filter connector 16, respectively. do.

To pull out the filter 4a assembled to the filter connector 16, press the pressing plate 44 of the filter connector 16, and the locking lever 36 rotates as described above about the hinge shaft 40, thereby engaging the locking step. What is necessary is just to pull out in the opposite direction at the time of inserting the filter 4a in this state in which the latching plate 42 which restrained the 26 was released.

As described above, the water purifying apparatus of the present invention is fixedly installed on the fixed body inside the water purifying apparatus in accordance with the number of filters by inserting the extension part 32a of the connector 16 into the connection groove of the adjacent connector as shown in FIG. do.

In order to insert the filter 4a into the filter connector 16 thus installed, the filter 4a is pushed in a state in which the inclined surface 27 of the locking jaw 26 of the filter 4a is brought into contact with the locking plate 42. The detachable lever 36 rotates about the hinge shaft 40 while compressing the member 38. When the filter is pushed further, the guide protrusion 22a of the filter inserting portion 22 guides the guide groove of the filter connector 16. Guided by (28a), the insertion portion 22 of the filter is inserted into the insertion groove 28 of the filter connector (16).

When the filter 4a is fully inserted, the detachable lever 36 is returned to its original position by the restoring force of the elastic member 38 that has been compressed, and the filter 4a is caught while the locking plate 42 is caught by the locking jaw 26. It is fixedly supported by the filter connector 16.

In this way, a filter may be assembled to each filter connector 16. For example, the precipitating filter 4a, the pretreatment carbon filter 4b, the membrane filter 4c, and the aftertreatment carbon filter are installed in the water purifying apparatus of the present invention. Assuming that 4d is provided, the filters may be assembled in the same manner to the respective filter inlet.

In this way, the filter unit 4 can be easily assembled by inserting the filters 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d into the filter connector 16, wherein the filter connectors are connected to each other through an extension part and a connection groove. Each filter inlet and outlet is connected to the inlet connector 30 and the outlet connector 32 of the filter connector 16, respectively.

Thus, each of the filters 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d has a structure connected in series through the filter connection 16, and the raw water is each filter 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d. When passing through them, the process of precipitation, filtration and sterilization is performed to remove heavy metals and other harmful substances contained in raw water.

The purified water from which heavy metals and other harmful substances contained in the raw water are removed through the filter unit 4 is stored in the purified water storage tank 6.

By using the water purifier for a certain period of time, the filtration performance of the filter unit 4 is lowered and the purification efficiency of the raw water is lowered.To replace the filter which has reached the end of its service life among the filters 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, Pressing the pressing plate 44 formed on the filter connector 16 attaching and detaching lever 36 causes the attaching lever 36 to rotate around the hinge shaft 40 to catch the engaging plate 42 that has constrained the locking jaw 26. In this state, the filter 4a can be pulled out in the opposite direction to when the filter 4a is inserted.

And when the new filter is inserted into the insertion groove 28 of the filter connector 16 in the same way as when assembling a new filter replacement of the filter is completed.

As described above, the water filter, the water filter assembly connector, and the water purifier provided with the present invention can be detachably assembled in a one-touch manner to the filter connector formed so as to communicate with each other, thereby making it possible to quickly and easily replace the filter. have.

Claims (16)

A main body having an inner space and forming an outer appearance of the water purifying device; A filter unit installed in the inner space of the main body and removing harmful substances and foreign substances contained in raw water when raw water is supplied; A storage tank for storing purified water passing through the filter unit; A discharge cock for discharging purified water stored in the storage tank or water cooled or heated to the outside of the water purifying apparatus; Includes, wherein the filter unit is separably fixed to the filter through the filter connector made to communicate with the adjacent filter. The filter of claim 1, wherein each of the filters constituting the filter unit is formed such that an inlet through which raw water flows in and an outlet through which the raw water passed through the filter is discharged are parallel to one end of the filter, and the filter is disposed outside the inlets and the outlet. Water purifier, characterized in that formed in the insertion portion to be fixed to the filter connector. The inlet connector and outlet connector of claim 1, wherein the filter connector is formed with an insertion groove such that an insertion portion of the filter constituting the filter portion can be inserted therein, and the inlet and outlet of the filter are closely inserted and connected to each other. Water purifier, characterized in that formed. The filter inlet of claim 3, wherein the inlet connection part and the outlet connection part each extend in a corresponding direction so that one is formed as an extension part extending outward of the filter connector and the other is formed as a connection groove corresponding to the extension part. Water purifier, characterized in that made to be connected to a plurality. The water purifying apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a guide protrusion is formed in the insertion portion of the filter, and a guide groove is formed in the insertion groove of the filter connector at a position corresponding thereto. The water purifying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the respective filters constituting the filter unit are assembled to a filter connector, the filters are connected in series through the filter connector so that raw water can pass through each filter in turn. The water purifying apparatus according to claim 3, wherein protrusions and grooves corresponding to each other are formed in a direction in which an extension part and a connection groove are formed so as to further strengthen the connected state of the filter connector. The water purifier according to claim 1, wherein the filter connector is provided with a filter detachable lever for detachably fixing and supporting the filter. The method according to claim 8, wherein the filter detachable lever is installed in a state rotatably hinged to the hinge shaft receiving the outward elasticity of the elastic member in the filter connector, one side is formed of a locking plate for fixing the filter to the filter connector and the other side the locking plate The water purifier, characterized in that formed in the pressing plate to rotate the rotation around the hinge axis to release the locking plate. A filter connector body having an insertion groove having an inlet connection portion and an outlet connection portion respectively connected to the inlet and the outlet of the filter assembly; A detachable lever formed on one side of the connector body to rotate while contacting the inclined surface of the engaging jaw formed in the filter assembly when the filter assembly enters the insertion groove to allow the filter assembly to enter and fix the entered filter assembly; A hinge shaft hinged to the connector body so that the detachable lever is rotatable; A pressing plate fixed to the detachable lever to apply a force to rotate the rotation direction of the detachable lever in a reverse direction when entering the filter assembly so as to separate the filter assembly fixed by the detachable lever; Filter assembly connector comprising a. A water filter having an inlet and an outlet and filtering out foreign substances and harmful substances contained in raw water when raw water is supplied, The filter is a water filter, characterized in that detachably installed in the filter connector installed in the water purifier. The water filter according to claim 11, wherein the inlet and the outlet are formed in the same direction. The method according to claim 11, wherein the inlet and the outlet is formed as an insertion portion so as to be firmly supported by the filter connector after being assembled while guiding the filter to the insertion groove of the filter connector when the filter is detachably assembled to the filter connector. Water filter. The water filter according to claim 13, wherein the insertion part is provided with a locking step for restricting the filter to the filter connector when the filter is installed at the filter connector. The water filter according to claim 14, wherein the locking step is formed of an inclined surface. The water filter according to claim 13, wherein the insertion part is provided with a guide protrusion to guide the filter when the filter is installed at the filter connector.

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