KR20100110663A - Apparatus for purifying water - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A purifying water device is provided to supply uniform temperature cold water by controlling the temperature of the cold water of a cold water unit through a separate heat exchange unit. CONSTITUTION: A water purifying apparatus(100) includes a cool water unit, an ice making unit(120), a heat exchange unit(111), and a second heat exchanger(112). The purified water is cooled in the cold water unit. The water is stored as the cold water. The freezing unit receives the water. The freezing unit freezes the water with an ice cube. The first heat exchange unit supplies the cool air to the freezing unit. The second heat exchanger supplies the cool air to the cold water unit.

Description

Water Purifier {APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING WATER}

The present invention relates to a water purifier, and more particularly, to a water purifier that can produce cold water and ice cubes and provide them to consumers.

Water purification equipment is a device that filters harmful substances such as foreign substances and heavy metals contained in water by physical and chemical methods. Articles similar to such water purifiers include ionizers and the like.

The structure of the water purifier includes a filter means for filtering contaminants from raw water containing contaminants, a storage means for storing purified water purified by the filter means, and a purified water stored in the storage means. It includes a discharge means for providing to.

In recent years, the water purifying device has been widely supplied to homes, offices, factories, etc. due to increased interest in health of consumers and deterioration of water environment.

In addition, as water purifiers are universally supplied, consumer demands for water purifiers with the function of providing hot water and cold water in addition to simply purifying the water purifiers are increasing.

Moreover, some water purifier manufacturers have attracted consumer attention by releasing water purifiers with the ability to provide ice cubes.

The water purifying device having the ice cube providing function has a structure in which a refrigerant pipe in which a low temperature refrigerant flows is immersed in a purified water stored in a predetermined container, and purified water is frozen around the refrigerant pipe, Ice cubes are formed, and the purified water contained in the container is cooled by cold water through heat transfer with the refrigerant pipe.

However, in this case, since the size of the ice cube should be constant, the temperature of the cold water is determined by the heat exchanger and the heat exchange amount until the ice cube is frozen to a predetermined size. Therefore, there is a problem that the temperature of the cold water is difficult to change to meet the needs of consumers.

In addition, the temperature of the cold water, a deviation occurs depending on the distance between the heat exchanger and the purified water may cause a problem that the temperature of the cold water provided to the consumer is not constant.

An object of the present invention is to provide a water purification device that can provide cold water and ice cubes, and to control cold water temperature according to a consumer's demand, and to provide cold water with a uniform temperature.

In order to solve the above problems of the present invention, there is provided a water purification device according to an embodiment of the present invention, a cold water unit in which the purified water is cooled and stored as cold water; An ice making unit for receiving purified water and freezing ice cubes; A first heat exchanger supplying cold air to the ice making unit; And a second heat exchanger supplying cold air to the cold water unit.

Here, the first heat exchange part and the second heat exchange part may be connected in series to sequentially pass through the refrigerant.

The refrigerant may be provided to be supplied from the first heat exchanger to the second heat exchanger.

On the other hand, the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger may be connected in parallel so as to control whether or not the refrigerant supply to each.

Here, the supply of refrigerant to the first heat exchange part and the second heat exchange part may be controlled by a three-way valve.

The first heat exchange part may be provided to block and supply a refrigerant depending on whether an ice making operation is performed.

In addition, the second heat exchange part may be provided to control whether or not the refrigerant is supplied according to the temperature of the cold water.

On the other hand, the ice making unit, the purified water container for receiving purified water; A ice cube generating unit formed by bending the refrigerant pipe forming the first heat exchanger and immersing the purified water contained in the purified water container; And an ice cube storage unit for storing the ice cubes separated from the ice cube generator and selectively discharging them.

Here, the ice cube generating unit may be provided to freeze the integer located around the ice cube to form ice cubes.

In addition, the purified water container is provided so that the upper surface is open, and can be rolled over to discharge the remaining water after ice formation, the ice cube is separated from the ice cube generation unit when the purified water container is overturned. It may be provided to be stored in the ice storage.

The cold water unit may include a cold water container positioned below the purified water container to accommodate the remaining water when the water purification container is overturned, and an upper surface of the cold water container may be inclined to guide ice cubes to the ice storage unit. A plurality of holes through which the residual water passes may be formed.

In addition, the ice cube storage unit may be located next to the cold water container.

In addition, the second heat exchange part may be provided as a refrigerant pipe wound several times on the outer surface of the cold water container.

In addition, the second heat exchange part may be provided as a refrigerant pipe bent several times and positioned in contact with the cold water stored in the cold water container.

On the other hand, the ice making unit, the ice making compartment partitioned into an insulated space; An ice maker installed in the ice making chamber and receiving ice water to make ice cubes; And an ice cube storage unit for storing and selectively discharging ice cubes made by the ice maker, wherein the first heat exchange unit is attached to the ice maker to conduct heat transfer by conduction.

Here, the cold water unit is located outside the ice making chamber, and provided with a cold water container for receiving and cooling the purified water, the second heat exchange unit may be provided with a refrigerant pipe wound several times on the outer surface of the cold water container.

In addition, the cold water unit is located outside the ice-making chamber, provided with a cold water container for receiving and cooling the purified water, the second heat exchanger is located in contact with the cold water stored in the cold water container and bent several times It may be provided as a refrigerant pipe.

According to the water purifying apparatus according to an example of the present invention,

Since an independent heat exchanger is provided in the cold water unit and the ice making unit, the temperature of the cold water provided in the cold water unit can be adjusted, and the cold water at a uniform temperature can be provided.

Hereinafter, a water purifying apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a water purifying apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a cross section of II in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the ice making unit separated from FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of II-II in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a longitudinal cross section of the cold water unit in FIG. 2.

First, the water purifying apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, the water purifying device 100 according to the present embodiment includes a case 101 forming an appearance, and various components for the operation of the water purifying device 100 inside the case 101. This is installed.

The case 101 is generally provided in a hexahedron shape, but may be modified in various forms for design.

In addition, one surface of the case 101, generally the front surface of the water purification device 100 (the amount of purified water, the amount of hot water, the amount of cold water, ice cubes, the temperature of hot water, the temperature of cold water, whether or not ice cube manufacturing operation, etc.) ) Is provided with a status display unit 103 for displaying the outside.

In addition, the case 101 is further provided with a discharge portion 105 for discharging purified water, cold water, ice cubes and the like to the outside.

In addition, at least one surface of the case 101 is preferably provided to be opened and closed for repair, cleaning, etc. of the components installed in the case 101.

In addition, a water receiving unit 107 may be further provided below the discharge unit 105 to collect the residual water which is not accommodated in the container in the discharge process of purified water, cold water ice, or the like.

The residual water receiver 107 is preferably provided detachably from the case 101 so that the residual water can be easily removed.

Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the structure of the water purifying apparatus which concerns on a present Example is demonstrated in detail.

Referring to FIG. 2, the water purifying apparatus 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment passes through the filter unit 180 and the filter unit 180 for purifying water introduced from a water source or the like inside the case 101. A purified water storage unit 185 for storing purified purified water, a cold water unit 150 for receiving purified water from the purified water storage unit 185 and cooling the purified water to a predetermined temperature, and freezing the purified water with ice cubes. And a first heat exchanger 111 and a second heat exchanger 112 for supplying cold air to the ice making unit 120, the ice making unit 120, and the cold water unit 150.

The filter unit 180 includes a filter head 183 to which at least one filter 181 and the filter 181 are combined and fixed. The number of filters 181 will vary depending on the manufacturer's purpose.

In the purified water storage unit 185, the purified water stored in the purified water through the filter unit 180 is stored in the maximum amount of the purified water is controlled by a floating valve 187 (floating valve).

The cold water unit 150 is connected to each other by the purified water storage unit 185 and a tube to receive purified water, and the amount of purified water supplied by a valve or the like is controlled.

In addition, the purified water stored in the cold water unit 150 is cooled and stored by the second heat exchanger 112.

The ice making unit 120 is a ice cube generation unit 123 for forming ice cubes in contact with the purified water container 121 for receiving purified water supplied from the purified water storage unit 185 and the purified water stored in the purified water container 121. ), The ice cube storage unit 125 for storing the ice cubes generated from the ice cube generator 123.

In addition, the first heat exchanger 111 supplies a coolant to the ice cube generator 123, and the ice cube generator 123 provided to be immersed in the purified water stored in the purified water container 121 has a periphery thereof. Ice cubes are formed by forming an ice cube.

Meanwhile, in the present embodiment, the first heat exchange part 111 and the second heat exchange part 112 are provided as a refrigerant pipe through which a low temperature refrigerant passes.

That is, the compressor 101, the condenser 116, and the expansion device 118 are provided in the case 101, and the refrigerant pipe through which the low-temperature refrigerant passing through the expansion device 118 passes is provided in the first heat exchange part ( 111 and the second heat exchanger 112.

In addition, the first heat exchange part 111 and the second heat exchange part 112 are connected in series so that all of the refrigerant passing through any one passes through the other one.

In particular, in the present embodiment, all of the refrigerant passing through the first heat exchange part 111 is provided to be supplied to the second heat exchange part 112.

As a result, the coolant is supplied to the first heat exchange part 111 to form ice cubes, and cold water is formed using the second heat exchange part 112 through which the coolant at a relatively high temperature passes. It has the advantage of increasing the efficiency.

Alternatively, the first heat exchange part 111 and the second heat exchange part 112 may be provided as a thermoelectric element, of course.

On the other hand, the purified water device 101 according to the present embodiment, receiving the purified water from the purified water storage unit 185, the hot water storage for storing hot water heated to a predetermined temperature by the heating means 193 provided externally It may further include a portion 191.

Here, the heating means 193 may be provided as a heat wire.

Next, the ice making unit 120 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

3 and 4, the ice making unit 120 includes the purified water container 121, the ice cube generating unit 123, and the ice cube storing unit 125, as described above.

The purified water container 121 stores purified water supplied from the purified water storage unit 185, and is provided with an upper surface of the purified water container 121.

In addition, the purified water container 121 is provided to be overturned by the motor 121a in order to separate and store the ice cube in the ice cube generator 123 after the ice cube formation is completed.

In addition, the purified water container 121 is preferably provided in a semicircular cross section so that interference with other components provided around the purified water container 121 does not occur when the motor 121a is rolled over.

The ice cube generator 123 is provided with a plurality of protrusions protruding from the refrigerant pipe forming the first heat exchange part 111 so that the refrigerant passing through the first heat exchange part 111 may be supplied.

Here, the refrigerant guide member 111a may be further provided inside the ice cube generator 123 and the first heat exchange part 111 in the protruding direction of the ice cube generator 123.

In addition, the ice cube generator 123 is provided to be immersed in the purified water accommodated in the purified water container 121. As a result, heat exchange occurs between the coolant passing through the ice cube generating unit 123 and the purified water contacting the outside of the ice cube generating unit 123, and the purified water around the ice generating unit 123 freezes. Ice cubes will form.

In addition, the first heat exchange part 111 is preferably bent to be provided to form more of the ice cube generating unit 123.

When ice cubes are generated by this method, since ice is generated around the ice cube generator 123, bubbles are less likely to be formed in the ice cubes, thereby making it possible to form transparent ice cubes.

Meanwhile, the ice cubes generated in the ice cube generator 123 are separated from the ice cube generator 123 by a heating member (eg, a heating wire) provided on an outer surface of the ice cube generator 123. By the overturning of the purified water container 121, the purified water container 121 is discharged from the purified water container 121 together with the purified water of the purified water container 121 and stored in the ice storage unit 125.

Next, the process of the ice cube and the purified water discharged from the purified water container 121 is separated and stored in the ice cube storage unit 125 and the cold water unit 150 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 5, the cold water unit 150 includes a cold water container 151 positioned below the purified water container 121 to accommodate the remaining water when the water purification container 121 is overturned.

In addition, the upper surface of the cold water container 151 is formed to be inclined so that the ice cube is guided to the ice cube storage unit 125.

In addition, a plurality of holes 151a are formed on an upper surface of the cold water container 151, the size of which passes the residual water but does not pass the ice cubes.

In addition, the ice cube storage unit 125 is positioned next to the cold water container 151 to accommodate the ice cubes moved along the inclination formed on the upper surface of the cold water container 151.

As a result, the ice cubes discharged together with the purified water at the time of inversion of the purified water container 121 are transferred to and stored in the ice cube storage unit 125 along the inclination formed on the upper surface of the cold water container 151.

In addition, referring to FIG. 2, the auger 125b and the auger 125b for transferring the stored ice cubes to the discharger 105 may be disposed inside the ice cube storage unit 125. Auger motor 125a may be provided.

Meanwhile, the purified water stored in the cold water container 151 is cooled by the second heat exchanger 112 provided with a refrigerant pipe wound several times on the outer surface of the cold water container 151.

In order to increase the heat exchange efficiency of the purified water stored in the second heat exchange part 112 and the cold water container 151, the second heat exchange part 112 is moved to the cold water container 151 using a material having high thermal conductivity. It is preferable to fix it to the outer surface of the.

In contrast, the second heat exchanger 112 may be installed inside the cold water container 151 as shown in FIG. 6.

6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a modification of the cold water unit of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 6, the second heat exchanger 212 is positioned inside the cold water container 151 to be in contact with the cold water stored in the cold water container 151, so that the contact area with the purified water is widened. It is provided with a refrigerant pipe bent several times.

Of course, a hole in which the second heat exchange part 212 is inserted is formed in a wall surface of the cold water container 151, and a sealing member 153 is provided to prevent leakage of cold water stored in the cold water container 151. Do.

Hereinafter, the operation of the ice making unit 120 in the water purifying apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating the operation of the ice making unit in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 7, when ice cube formation is completed in the ice cube generator 123 immersed in the purified water container 121, the purified water container 121 may be overturned by the rotation of the motor 121a.

At this time, the purified water stored in the purified water container 121 is poured into and stored in the cold water container 151 through a plurality of holes 151a formed on the upper surface of the cold water container 151.

In addition, the ice cube separated by heat from the ice cube generator 123 falls on the upper surface of the cold water container 151, and the ice cube storage unit 125 is inclined along the slope formed on the upper surface of the cold water container 151. It is transferred to and stored.

Subsequently, when the ice cube is discharged, the ice cube is transferred to the discharge hole 125c by the rotation of the auger 125b provided in the ice cube storage 125.

Next, a water purification device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

However, in the description thereof, a configuration overlapping with the first embodiment described above and a detailed description thereof will be omitted and will be omitted below.

8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the water purifying apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, in the water purification device 300 according to the present embodiment, the first heat exchanger 311 and the second heat exchanger 312 are connected in parallel to control whether or not the refrigerant is supplied.

That is, the refrigerant passing through the expansion device 318 is provided to be supplied to the first heat exchange unit 311 or the second heat exchange unit 312 to the valve unit 310a (for example, a three-way valve).

Here, the first heat exchange unit 311, it is preferable that the refrigerant is supplied or blocked depending on whether the ice making operation.

In addition, it is preferable that the second heat exchange part 312 is provided to control whether or not the coolant is supplied in accordance with the temperature of the cold water.

This has the advantage that the ice making or cooling of the purified water can be concentrated.

Next, the water purifying apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.

However, in the description thereof, a configuration overlapping with the first embodiment described above and a detailed description thereof will be omitted and will be omitted below.

9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the water purifying apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the ice making unit separated from FIG. 9.

9 and 10, in the water purifier 400 according to the present embodiment, the ice making unit 420 is installed in the ice making room 421 and the ice making room 421 partitioned into an insulated space. And an ice maker 423 for receiving ice water and making ice cubes, and an ice cube storage unit 425 for storing and selectively discharging ice cubes made by the ice maker 423. The first heat exchanger 411 includes: It may be attached to the ice maker 423 so that heat transfer occurs by conduction.

Here, the cold water unit 450 is located outside the ice making chamber 421 and is provided as a cold water container 451 for receiving and cooling purified water, and the second heat exchange part 412 is the cold water container. It may be provided as a refrigerant pipe wound several times on the outer surface of the (451).

In contrast, the cold water unit 450 is located outside the ice making chamber 421, and is provided as a cold water container 451 for receiving and cooling purified water, and the second heat exchange part 412 includes the present invention. As described in the first embodiment of the present invention, the cold water container 451 may be provided to be in contact with the cold water stored in the refrigerant pipe bent several times.

In the above, specific embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described. However, the present invention can be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, and therefore, the above-described embodiments should not be limited by the contents of the detailed description, and further described above. Even if embodiments are not listed one by one in the description, they should be construed broadly within the spirit and scope defined in the appended claims. It is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a water purifying apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a cross section of I-I in FIG. 1;

3 is a perspective view of the ice making unit separated from FIG.

4 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of II-II in FIG.

5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a longitudinal section of the cold water unit in FIG.

6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a modification of the cold water unit of FIG.

7 is a view showing the operation of the ice making unit in FIG.

8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the water purifying apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the water purifying apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the ice making unit separated from FIG. 9.

Claims (17)

A cold water unit in which the purified water introduced is cooled and stored as cold water; An ice making unit for receiving purified water and freezing ice cubes; A first heat exchanger supplying cold air to the ice making unit; And And a second heat exchanger supplying cold air to the cold water unit. The method of claim 1, wherein the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, Water purifier, characterized in that connected in series so that the refrigerant passes sequentially. The method of claim 2, The coolant is a water purifier, characterized in that is provided to be supplied from the first heat exchanger to the second heat exchanger. The method of claim 1, wherein the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, The water purification device, characterized in that connected in parallel so that each of the refrigerant supply is controlled. The method of claim 4, wherein The coolant supply to the first heat exchange part and the second heat exchange part is controlled by a three-way valve. The method of claim 4, wherein The first heat exchanger, the water purifier, characterized in that the supply and shut off of the refrigerant depending on the ice making operation. The method of claim 4, wherein The second heat exchanger, the water purifier, characterized in that whether or not the supply of the refrigerant is controlled in accordance with the temperature of the cold water. The method of claim 1, wherein the ice making unit, A purified water container for receiving purified water; A ice cube generating unit formed by bending the refrigerant pipe forming the first heat exchanger and immersing the purified water contained in the purified water container; And And a ice cube storage unit for storing the ice cubes separated by the ice cube generator and selectively discharging the ice cubes. The method of claim 8, wherein the ice cube generating unit, A water purification device characterized by forming ice cubes by freezing the purified water located around the water. The method of claim 8, The purified water container is provided so that the upper surface is open, and is capable of overturning for discharging remaining water after ice formation. Water ice device, characterized in that the ice cube is separated from the ice cube generation unit when the water container is overturned and stored in the ice cube storage unit. The method of claim 10, wherein the cold water unit, And a cold water container positioned below the purified water container so that the remaining water is received when the water purification container is overturned. The upper surface of the cold water container is formed to be inclined so that the ice cube is guided to the ice cube storage unit, characterized in that a plurality of holes through which the remaining water is formed. The method of claim 11, The ice cube storage unit, characterized in that located next to the cold water container. The method of claim 11, wherein the second heat exchange unit, And a refrigerant pipe wound several times on an outer surface of the cold water container. The method of claim 11, wherein the second heat exchange unit, The water purification device, characterized in that the refrigerant pipe is located in contact with the cold water stored in the cold water container and bent several times. The method of claim 1, wherein the ice making unit, An ice making compartment partitioned into an insulated space; An ice maker installed in the ice making chamber and receiving ice water to make ice cubes; And Includes; ice cube storage unit for storing and selectively discharge ice cubes made in the ice maker, The first heat exchanger, the water purifier, characterized in that provided to the heat transfer to occur in the ice maker by conduction. The method of claim 15, The cold water unit is located outside of the ice making chamber, is provided with a cold water container for receiving and cooling the purified water, The second heat exchanger is a water purification device, characterized in that provided with a refrigerant pipe wound several times on the outer surface of the cold water container. The method of claim 15, The cold water unit is located outside of the ice making chamber, is provided with a cold water container for receiving and cooling the purified water, The second heat exchanger is a water purification device, characterized in that provided in the refrigerant pipe bent several times and positioned in contact with the cold water stored in the cold water container.

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