KR20120035426A - Reusing apparatus of water made from ice in purifier and, methods of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An ice molten water recycling apparatus for an ice-based water purifier is provided to reduce the noise of a water purifying pump and to prevent the waste of water by recycling icon molten water. CONSTITUTION: An ice molten water recycling apparatus for an ice-based water purifier includes a filtering part(110) and an ice storage(130). The filtering part is in connection with a raw water supplying pipe(101). The filtering part purifies raw water. A draining pipe(132) is arranged at the ice storage and supplies the ice molten water to the raw water supplying pipe or the filtering part in order to recycle the ice molten water. The apparatus further includes a reverse flowing preventive unit installed at the draining pipe. The raw water is prevented from being introduced into the ice storage through the draining pipe.

Description

Reusing apparatus of water made from ice in purifier and, methods of the same}

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for recycling ice melted water for ice water purifier, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for recycling ice melted water for ice water purifier, which can be reused without discarding the ice melted water generated in the ice storage. It is about.

In general, ice water purifier is a device for supplying purified water, cold / hot water and ice to the user by purifying raw water, such as tap water. The ice purifier includes a filter unit for purifying raw water, a purified water tank for storing purified water, a hot water tank for heating purified water, a cold water tank for cooling purified water, and an ice making unit for making ice.

Such an ice water purifier is disclosed in Korean Patent No. 10-0407867 and Korean Patent No. 10-0766692.

However, the ice water purifier as described above has a problem in that ice melted water is generated while ice stored in an ice storage provided therein is melted.

In order to solve this problem, a method of discharging to the outside by installing a drain pipe in an ice reservoir has been proposed, but there is a problem that the drainage is not smooth.

Therefore, a method of forcibly draining the ice melted water by installing a pump has been proposed, but there is a problem of securing a space in which the pump is to be installed and a separate pump to be installed, thereby increasing the cost and complicated structure.

In addition, there is a problem in that the waste of water increases in the summer when the temperature is high because more ice is stored in the ice storage, so that about 50 cc to 150 cc of ice melted water is discarded per hour.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for recycling ice melted water for ice water purifier, which can reduce the waste of water by recycling the ice melted water generated in the ice storage. .

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for recycling ice melted water for an ice water purifier, which is inexpensive because the recycling configuration of ice melted water is simple.

In order to achieve the above object, the apparatus for recycling ice melted water for ice water purifier according to the present invention, the filter unit is connected to the raw water supply pipe into which the raw water is introduced to filter the introduced raw water; And an ice reservoir having a drain pipe for storing the ice therein and supplying the ice melted water to the raw water supply pipe or the filter unit so that the ice melted water made by melting the ice can be recycled.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a backflow preventing means installed in the drain pipe, the backflow preventing means prevents the raw water from entering the ice reservoir through the drain pipe.

Preferably, the feed water supply pipe and the purified water pump is installed in the raw water supply pipe, the water supply valve is closed when the purified water stored in the purified water tank is closed, the ice melted water in the ice reservoir by the operation of the purified water pump during the full water supply Or supplied to the filter part.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of recycling ice melted water may be performed by purifying ice melted water made by melting ice stored in an ice storage using a filter unit.

Preferably, the filter unit is used to purify the raw water and the ice melted water, and the water purification process of the raw water and the ice water purification process by the filter unit are not performed at the same time.

In addition, the filter portion is used to purify the raw water and the ice melted water, and it is preferable to use a backflow preventing means to prevent the raw water from flowing back into the ice reservoir while the raw water is purified by the filter portion.

In addition, the filter unit is used to purify the raw water and the ice melted water, the raw water is supplied to the filter unit through the raw water supply pipe, the raw water supply pipe for controlling the supply of raw water; And a purified water pump for increasing the pressure of the raw water; and, when the raw water is purified by the filter unit, the water supply valve is opened and the purified water pump is started after the raw water is supplied to the purified water pump.

Apparatus and method for recycling ice melted water for ice water purifiers according to the present invention have the following effects.

First, water waste can be reduced by recycling ice melted water from ice pools.

Second, since a separate pump for discharging the ice melted water does not need to be installed, the recycled composition of the ice melted water is simple and inexpensive.

Third, it is possible to reduce the noise of the purified water pump by periodically operating the purified water pump to transfer the ice melted water for a predetermined time, or by keeping the inlet of the purified water pump open when there is a small amount of ice melted water.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention, and thus the technical idea of the present invention should not be construed as being limited thereto.
1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an apparatus for recycling ice melted water for an ice water purifier according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an apparatus for recycling ice melted water for an ice water purifier according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Prior to this, terms or words used in the specification and claims should not be construed as having a conventional or dictionary meaning, and the inventors should properly explain the concept of terms in order to best explain their own invention. Based on the principle that can be defined, it should be interpreted as meaning and concept corresponding to the technical idea of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments described in the specification and the drawings shown in the drawings are only the most preferred embodiment of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical idea of the present invention, various modifications that can be replaced at the time of the present application It should be understood that there may be equivalents and variations.

1 is a main configuration diagram showing an apparatus for recycling ice melted water for an ice water purifier according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus for recycling ice melted water for ice water purifier is connected to the raw water supply pipe 101, the filter unit 110 for purifying raw water, and the purified water tank for receiving and storing purified water from the filter unit 110 ( 120 and an ice reservoir 130 in which ice is stored and a drain pipe 132 is installed to discharge ice melted water formed by melting the ice. At this time, the ice melted water generated in the ice reservoir 130 is supplied to the raw water supply pipe 101 or the filter unit 110 through the drain pipe (132).

The filter unit 110 is connected to the raw water supply pipe 101 and receives the raw water such as tap water to purify. As shown, the filter unit 110 may be composed of a precipitation filter 111, a sun carbon filter 112, a membrane filter 113 and a post carbon filter 114, but if the raw water can be purified The configuration of the filter unit 110 may be changed.

Raw water filtered by the filter unit 110 is made of purified water is transferred to the purified water tank 120 along the purified water supply pipe 104 is stored. On the other hand, the purified water produced in the filter unit 110 is not necessarily to be supplied only to the purified water tank 120, for example, may be supplied directly to the ice making unit (not shown in the figure).

On the other hand, the feed water supply pipe 101 is provided with a water supply valve 102 and the purified water pump 103. The water supply valve 102 serves to selectively block the inflow of raw water, the purified water pump 103 to increase the pressure of the raw water so that the purified water is made smoothly.

The purified water tank 120 stores purified water purified by the filter unit 110. The purified water stored in the purified water tank 120 is supplied to the user through the purified water intake unit 122.

Preferably, the water level tank 120 is provided with a water level sensor (not shown) for detecting the water level. For example, when the water level sensor detects that the water level is full, the water level sensor transmits a signal to a controller (not shown), and the controller closes the water supply valve 102 to block water supply.

Meanwhile, the purified water stored in the purified water tank 120 may be supplied to a hot water tank (not shown) or may be supplied to a cold water tank (not shown). Heating and cooling the purified water to create hot water and cold water, and storing and supplying the hot water and cold water are commonly used in water purifiers, and thus detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

In addition, ice may be manufactured by an ice making unit (not shown) using purified water stored in the purified water tank 120. The ice making unit manufactures ice using an evaporator. Since the ice making unit is widely used in an ice water purifier, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The ice produced by the ice making unit is stored in the ice reservoir 130.

In addition, ice making may continue until an ice sensor (not shown) installed in the ice reservoir 130 detects the ice.

The ice reservoir 130 includes a drain pipe 132 through which ice melted water generated while melting ice is discharged. The drain pipe 132 is preferably installed at the lower end of the ice reservoir 130 to easily discharge the ice melted water. The drain pipe 132 may be configured to supply ice melted water to the raw water supply pipe 101 or the filter unit 110. However, hereinafter, the drain pipe 132 is connected to the raw water supply pipe 101 as an example for convenience of description. On the other hand, when the drain pipe 132 is connected to the filter unit 110, the drain pipe 132 is directly connected to, for example, the sun carbon filter 112 of the filter unit 110.

The connector 123 is a three-way flow path is formed, the drain pipe 132 is made to be connected to the side of the raw water supply pipe (101). Thus, the ice melted water generated in the ice reservoir 130 is moved to the filter unit 110 through the raw water supply pipe (101).

According to the present invention, the ice melter recycling apparatus for ice water purifier is further provided with a backflow preventing means to prevent the raw water flows into the ice reservoir 130.

As an example of the backflow preventing means, at least one check valve 140 may be installed in the drain pipe 132.

The check valve 140 is a valve that prevents backflow and allows only flow in one direction. That is, the check valve 140 prevents the raw water from flowing into the drain pipe 132 through the raw water supply pipe 101, while allowing the ice melted water generated from the ice reservoir 130 to be discharged through the drain pipe 132. do.

As another alternative of the non-return means for preventing the inflow of raw water into the ice reservoir 130, a drain valve 150 may be installed in the drain pipe 132 instead of the check valve 140 (see FIG. 2). . For example, FIG. 2 shows a configuration of an apparatus for recycling ice melted water for an ice water purifier according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Here, the same reference numerals as the reference numerals of the drawings shown above represent the same components.

The apparatus for recycling ice melted water for ice water purifier according to the present embodiment is a state in which the drain valve 150 is installed in the drain pipe 132 instead of the check valve 140 in comparison with the previous embodiment, except that the drain valve 150 is installed. And the remaining components are identical.

The drain valve 150 is controlled by a controller (not shown), preferably made to be repeatedly opened and closed for a predetermined time. For example, the drain valve 150 opens the drain pipe 132 for a predetermined time after a predetermined time elapses in a state where the drain pipe 132 is closed to allow the melted ice water remaining in the ice reservoir 130 to move.

When the raw water is filtered (when the water supply valve 102 is open), the drain valve 150 maintains the closed state to prevent the raw water from flowing into the ice reservoir 130 through the drain pipe 132. A solenoid valve may be used as the drain valve 150.

On the other hand, the flow rate controller 160 may be further installed in the filter unit 110 of the recycling apparatus for ice melted water for ice water purifiers of the above-described embodiments. The flow controller 160 is provided with a removal water pipe 162. The flow regulator 160 serves to discharge the impurities of the raw water filtered by the filter unit 110 to the removal water pipe 162.

Then, the operation state of the recycling apparatus of the ice melted water for ice water purifier as described above will be described.

The raw water introduced through the raw water supply pipe 101 is purified by the filter unit 110 and then stored in the purified water tank 120 through the purified water supply pipe 104. At this time, the purified water stored in the purified water tank 120 is maintained at a predetermined level, for example, when the water supply valve 102 is closed.

During the purified water operation of the raw water, it is preferable that the purified water pump 130 is operated after the water supply valve 102 is opened and the raw water is supplied to the purified water pump 103. If the water purification pump 103 is operated first and then the water supply valve 102 is opened, the check valve 140 may be opened by the suction force of the water purification pump 103, and raw water may flow back into the ice reservoir 130. .

During the water purification operation of the raw water, raw water does not flow into the ice reservoir 130 as the check valve 140 or the drain valve 150 is installed in the drain pipe 132 installed in the ice reservoir 130.

On the other hand, it is preferable not to purify the ice melted water while purifying raw water, and it is preferable not to purify the raw water while purifying ice melted water. For example, the pressure of tap water is generally 3-7 kgf / cm 2, but the suction power of the purified water pump 103 is very small, less than 1 kgf / cm 2. When both the valve 102 and the check valve 140 are open, raw water is pushed toward the check valve 140 and the raw water may flow back toward the check valve 140. Check valve 140 is a valve that is opened and closed by the tension of the spring so that water flows in only one direction, if the water does not respond sensitively to the sudden pressure change of the raw water in the open state by the suction force of the purified water pump 103 There is a risk of backflow. This is true even when the drain valve 150 is used instead of the check valve 140.

When the ice melted water is purified, the ice melted water is purified by the filter unit 110 via the check valve 140 or the drain valve 150 and then flows into the purified water tank 120.

On the other hand, when the water purification tank 120 is full, the water supply valve 102 is closed, and the water purification pump 103 is periodically operated, for example, for 1 minute every 2-3 hours to purify the ice melted water.

In addition, when the drain valve 150 is installed in the drain pipe 132, by controlling the opening and closing of the drain valve 150, the ice melted water in the ice reservoir 130 can be selectively discharged. For example, after opening the drain valve 150 and closing the water supply valve 102, the purified water pump 103 is operated to allow only ice melted water to flow into the purified water tank 120.

Such opening and closing operation of the drain valve 150 is preferably repeated periodically by a controller (not shown).

On the other hand, when the amount of ice melted water generated from the ice reservoir 130 is low in the state where the water purification tank 120 is full of water level, the water purification pump 103 is turned off, the means of entering the water purification pump 103, that is, raw water By maintaining the inlet in which the inlet is opened, ice melted water flows naturally into the filter unit 110, thereby reducing noise caused by the purified water pump 103.

In addition, when the purified water tank 120 is full, even if the ice melted water generated in the ice reservoir 130 is supplied to the purified water tank 120, the amount of ice melted water is small so that the overflow of the purified water tank 120 does not occur. .

As described above, although the present invention has been described by way of limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto and is intended by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Of course, various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of equivalents of the claims to be described.

101: raw water supply pipe 102: water supply valve
103: purified water pump 104: purified water supply pipe
110: filter unit 120: water purification tank
123: connector 130: ice storage
132: drain pipe 140: check valve
150: drain valve 160: flow regulator

Claims (7)

A filter unit connected to a raw water supply pipe into which raw water flows in and purifying the introduced raw water; And
Ice reservoir for storing the ice inside, and the ice reservoir having a drain pipe for supplying the ice melted water to the raw water supply pipe or the filter unit so that the ice melted water made by melting the ice can be recycled; Water recycling device. The method of claim 1,
Further provided with a backflow prevention means installed in the drain pipe,
The reverse flow prevention means is characterized in that the raw water is prevented from flowing into the ice storage through the drain pipe, ice recycling apparatus for ice melted water. The method of claim 1,
The raw water supply pipe is provided with a water supply valve and a purified water pump,
When the purified water stored in the purified water tank is closed, the water supply valve is closed, and the ice melted water in the ice reservoir is supplied to the raw water supply pipe or the filter part by the operation of the purified water pump, the ice melted water for ice water purifier Recycling device. A method of recycling ice melted water for an ice water purifier, characterized in that the ice melted water made by melting the ice stored in the ice reservoir is purified by using a filter unit. The method of claim 4, wherein
The filter part is used to purify raw water and ice melted water,
A method for recycling ice melted water for ice water purifiers, characterized in that the water purification process of the raw water and the ice water purification process by the filter unit are not performed at the same time. The method of claim 4, wherein
The filter part is used to purify raw water and ice melted water,
A method of recycling ice melted water for an ice water purifier, characterized in that a backflow preventing means is used to prevent the raw water from flowing back into the ice reservoir while the raw water is purified by the filter part. The method of claim 4, wherein
The filter unit is used to purify raw water and ice melted water, and the raw water is supplied to the filter unit through the raw water supply pipe,
In raw water supply pipe,
A water supply valve for regulating the supply of raw water; And
Water purification pump for increasing the pressure of the raw water; is installed,
A method of recycling ice melted water for an ice water purifier, characterized in that the purified water pump is started after the feed water valve is opened and the raw water is supplied to the purified water pump when the raw water is purified by the filter part.

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