KR20120082757A - A water purifier with sterilization - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A sterilizing water purifier is provided to secure the safety of the water purifier by mechanically control the extraction of contaminated water. CONSTITUTION: A sterilizing water purifier includes a water storing bath(110), a water draining pipe(130), a quartz pipe(151), a sterilizing lamp(150), a bypass type water draining pipe(160), and a flow path blocking valve(180). Purified water is drained through the water draining pipe. A space is arranged in the quartz pipe, and the quart pipe is in connection with the upper side of the water storing bath. The sterilizing lamp is arranged in the space of the quartz pipe and is combined with the upper side of the water storing bath. The bypass type water draining pipe is connected from the inner side of the quartz pipe to the outer side of the water storing bath. The flow path blocking valve is in connection with the water draining pipe and the bypass type water draining pipe. The flow path blocking valve includes an expandable member(181) and a piston(182).

Description

Sterilization Water Purifier {A WATER PURIFIER WITH STERILIZATION}

The present invention relates to a water purifier having an ultraviolet lamp for sterilizing a water purifier, wherein the water purifier is capable of ensuring safety by mechanically blocking the extraction of purified water contaminated by mercury or glass fragments when the ultraviolet lamp is broken.

In general, a water purifier refers to a device for supplying purified water such as tap water to be suitable for drinking. Such water purifiers are classified into various types such as natural filtration, direct filtration, distillation, reverse osmosis, etc. according to the water purification method. Currently, the most commonly used is a natural filtration and direct filtration water purifier, which is purified by a filter.

The most common configuration of a water purifier using such a filter is provided with a filter and a reservoir, and in some cases, a cooling system using a heater and a refrigerant, which are separate components, may be provided at the same time in order to supply cold and hot water.

1 shows a general shape of a conventional water purifier. As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional water purifier includes a main body 1 forming an external appearance, a filter 2 installed at the center of the main body to purify raw water flowing into the main body, and water filtered from the filter. A water tank (3), a hot water unit 4 including a heater (not shown) for heating the water from the reservoir, a cold water unit (5) including a cooling system (not shown) for generating cold water, It comprises a hot water intake cock (7) and cold water intake cock (6) connected to each of the hot water and cold water portion and protrudes to the outside of the main body to collect the cold water and hot water, each configuration is a water channel Hose to form the interconnection and the like for wiring.

On the other hand, the water purified by passing through the filter should be stored in the water tank (or cold water tank), and even if the filter is passed, microorganisms inside the water tank by bacteria introduced from the atmosphere by air vents or bacteria supplied from the filter, This can multiply. In particular, there is a risk of contamination by microorganisms because most of the remaining chlorine components that can inhibit bacterial growth in the water purification process is removed. Thus, UV-lamps are used to sterilize microorganisms inside the reservoir.

2 shows a schematic view of the use of such ultraviolet sterilizing lamps in the cold water tank 5 of the water purifier. In FIG. 2, the purified water of the purified water tank 3 storing a large amount of purified water is supplied to the cold water tank 5. An ultraviolet sterilization lamp 8 is provided at the upper portion 5b of the cold water tank, and a flow path forming tube 9 forming a flow of purified water so that the purified water of the cold water tank is discharged through the sterilization lamp is provided at the upper portion 5b of the cold water tank. It extends and is provided at predetermined intervals from the lower part 5a. The purified water passed through the sterilization lamp by the flow path forming pipe is taken out through the water outlet pipe 10. In this case, the control of the outlet pipe is made by the outlet pipe valve 11. 2 shows the flow of purified water inside the cold water tank.

On the other hand, the sterilizing lamp (8) is composed of an arc tube (13) containing gas and the like inside, a discharge electrode (not shown) provided at both ends of the arc tube, and a quartz tube (12) surrounding the arc tube. The discharge electrode is composed of an anode and a cathode spaced apart from each other. When a high voltage is applied, the discharge is started to form an arc in an inert gas inside the arc tube and emit ultraviolet rays.

However, UV sterilization lamps are used to sterilize purified water stored in tanks. They are located underwater, and both arc and quartz tubes can be damaged. 3 shows a case in which the sterilizing lamp is broken by an external impact. Referring to FIG. 3, when broken, debris 14 of the quartz tube or the arc tube, mercury, etc. provided in the arc tube are taken out to the outlet tube through the flow channel forming tube. In this case, even if the user grasps and closes the water outlet valve or shuts off the valve by a sensor or the like, there is a problem that the contaminated purified water is taken out during the time interval.

The present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, to provide a safe sterilization water purifier to prevent the contaminated purified water is not provided to the user through the discharge pipe by mechanically blocking the discharge pipe when the UV sterilization lamp is broken. For the purpose of

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a safe sterilizing water purifier to prevent the leakage or leakage of contaminated purified water by electrically shut off the valve and the sterilization lamp so that the fragments of the broken sterilization lamp remains in the water so as not to continue to supply. do.

The present invention provides the following technical configuration as a means of solving the above problems.

Water purifier of the present invention; A water extraction pipe through which the purified water stored in the reservoir is discharged; A quartz tube having an accommodation space therein and coupled to an upper end of the reservoir; A sterilizing lamp which is accommodated in an inner receiving space of the quartz tube and coupled to an upper end of the reservoir; A bypass water discharge pipe connected from the inside of the quartz pipe to the outside of the reservoir tank; And a flow path blocking valve having one end connected to the water outlet pipe and the other end connected to the bypass water pipe and having an expansion member and a piston therein, and contaminated through the bypass water pipe only when the quartz tube is leaked. The purified water flows out, but the piston of the flow path blocking valve is moved on the flow path of the discharge pipe by the expansion member expanded by the purified water flowing out through the bypass water pipe is configured to block the flow path of the discharge pipe.

Here, the expansion member is composed of a compressed sponge that absorbs and expands water.

In addition, the flow path blocking valve has the expansion member mounted on a lower portion thereof, and the piston mounted on an upper portion of the expansion member, and the piston rises on the flow path of the water discharge pipe by expansion of the expansion member. Shut off the tube.

Aspect of the configuration as described above of the present invention, when the ultraviolet sterilization lamp is broken so that the water discharge pipe is mechanically blocked so that the contaminated purified water is not provided to the user through the water discharge pipe.

Meanwhile, the water purifier of the present invention further includes an air vent pipe connected to the flow path blocking valve, and the air vent pipe enters the purified water flowing out of the bypass water discharge pipe through the expansion member.

Here, the water purifier of the present invention further includes a water purifying tank provided at an upper portion of the water storage tank and supplying purified water to the water storage tank, wherein the outlet of the air vent pipe is exposed to the air, but at least than the water surface of the purified water stored in the water purification tank. It is located high.

In the aspect of the above configuration of the present invention, by forming a bypass water pipe so that the mechanical water pipe can be blocked, so that if the sterilization lamp is broken irrespective of electrical operation, the water pipe is blocked so that the contaminated purified water outlet pipe Is not provided to the user.

On the other hand, the water purifier of the present invention, the electrode sensor provided in the quartz tube; And a controller electrically connected to the electrode sensor, wherein the electrode sensor detects a leak of the quartz tube and the controller cuts off the power of the sterilization lamp.

In addition, the discharge valve provided in the discharge pipe; An electrode sensor provided inside the quartz tube; And a controller electrically connected to the electrode sensor, wherein the electrode sensor detects a leak of the quartz tube, and the controller closes the outlet valve.

The aspect of the above configuration of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the supply of contaminated purified water due to breakage of the sterilizing lamp by preventing the purified water is not continuously supplied with the mechanical flow path blocking when the sterilizing lamp is broken.

On the other hand, the present invention further comprises a flow path forming tube provided inside the reservoir, wherein the quartz tube is mounted inside the flow path forming tube, the purified water stored in the reservoir is the quartz tube through the flow path forming tube It can be configured to exit through.

Here, the flow path forming tube extends vertically downward from the top of the reservoir, the lower end of the flow path forming tube is spaced apart from the bottom of the reservoir. In addition, the flow path forming pipe is made of stainless steel (SUS), and the flow path blocking valve is detachable and replaceable.

In addition, the sterilization lamp is operated only when the water is discharged from the reservoir of the purified water stored in the reservoir. In addition, the germicidal lamp is an ultraviolet lamp (UV lamp).

The present invention has the following effects by the technical configuration as described above.

According to the present invention, when the ultraviolet sterilization lamp is broken, the outlet pipe is mechanically blocked so that the contaminated purified water is not provided to the user through the outlet pipe.

In addition, the present invention can prevent the supply of contaminated purified water due to the breakage of the sterilizing lamp by preventing the purified water is not continuously supplied with the mechanical flow path blocking when the sterilizing lamp is broken.

1 is a schematic view of a general water purifier.
Figure 2 is a schematic diagram mounted to the water purifier sterilizing lamp used in a typical water purifier.
Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the sterilization lamp of Figure 2 is broken.
4 is a schematic view of a sterile water purifier of the present invention.
5 is a schematic view showing a state in which the mechanical safety device is operated in the sterilizing water purifier of FIG.
Figure 6 is a block diagram used in the sterilizing water purifier of the present invention.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described a specific content for practicing the present invention through an embodiment of the present invention.

4 shows a schematic diagram of the sterile water purifier of the present invention. Referring to Figure 4, the water purifier of the present invention, the reservoir 120, the discharge pipe 130, the water is stored in the reservoir is discharged, the quartz tube 151 having a receiving space therein and coupled to the top of the reservoir, The sterilization lamp 150 is accommodated in the inner receiving space of the quartz tube and coupled to the upper end of the reservoir, the bypass water discharge pipe 160 and one end connected to the outside of the reservoir from the inside of the quartz tube is connected to the outlet tube The other end is connected to the bypass water pipe and includes a flow path blocking valve 180 having an expansion member and a piston therein.

Although not shown in the drawings, the present invention relates to a sterile water purifier and one embodiment of the present invention basically includes a configuration having a general water purifier. That is, the apparatus includes a main body forming an exterior, a filter installed at the center of the main body to purify raw water flowing into the main body, and a water purification tank 110 storing water filtered from the filter. In addition, it may be configured to have a cold and hot water purification function, in this case a hot water tank including a heater for heating the water from the water purification tank 110, a cold water tank including a cooling system for generating cold water, and the hot water tank and cold water It may be configured to include a hot water intake cock and a cold water intake cock that is connected to each of the bath and protrudes to the outside of the main body to take cold water and hot water. Each of the above components is interconnected by a hose for forming a channel, a wiring for control, and the like. However, the components generally used in water purifiers and the like of the above components are not shown in detail, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The reservoir 120 is connected to the water purification tank 110 to store the filtered water from the filter is supplied with purified water. The reservoir and the purified water tank are places where the purified water is temporarily stored in order to sufficiently maintain the flow rate of the water purifier. In the case of water purifiers, it is difficult to supply sufficient purified water when necessary unless sufficient flow rate is secured through the stored purified water, and in the case of having a cold / cold water purification function, power consumption may be excessively required because of rapid cooling or heating. Therefore, a sufficient flow rate is secured in advance through such a tank.

On the other hand, the reservoir 110 is used as a general term for the space where the integer can be stored. However, in the present invention, the reservoir refers to the cold water tank, and since the hot water tank is heated by the heater, a separate sterilization lamp may not be used and thus is not included in the reservoir in the present invention.

On the other hand in Figure 4 the reservoir 120 is connected to the water discharge pipe 130 for discharging the purified water. As shown in Figure 4, the outlet pipe 130 is connected to the upper portion of the reservoir. More specifically, it is connected to the flow path forming tube 140 to be described later provided in the reservoir. The flow path forming tube 140 forms a flow of purified water so that the purified water of the tank can be discharged through the sterilization lamp, and extends from the upper 122 of the reservoir to have a predetermined distance from the lower 121. Therefore, the purified water drawn out to the outlet pipe corresponds to the purified water passed through the sterilization lamp by the flow path forming pipe.

The flow path forming tube 140 extends vertically downward from the top of the reservoir, and the lower end of the flow path forming tube is spaced apart from the bottom of the reservoir. The quartz tube 151 and the sterilizing lamp 150 are accommodated in the flow path forming tube. The flow path forming tube 140 forms a flow path inside the reservoir. Indicated by the arrow in Figure 4 shows the flow path inside the reservoir. Since the lower end of the flow path forming tube is spaced apart from the bottom 121 of the reservoir, the purified water enters between the spaced intervals, and the purified water moves along the flow channel forming tube extending vertically along the reservoir. Therefore, the purified water discharged to the outlet pipe moves along the flow path forming tube and passes through the sterilization lamp and the quartz tube accommodated inside the flow path forming tube. Meanwhile, the material of the flow path forming tube 140 is preferably stainless steel (SUS).

The sterilization lamp 150 is coupled to the upper end 122 of the reservoir, and is accommodated in the quartz tube 151. In this embodiment, the germicidal lamp 150 is an ultraviolet lamp (UV lamp). The germicidal lamp 150 is composed of an arc tube 152 that accommodates gas and the like, and a discharge electrode (not shown) provided at both ends of the arc tube. The discharge electrode is composed of an anode and a cathode spaced apart from each other. When a high voltage is applied, the discharge is started to form an arc in an inert gas inside the arc tube and emit ultraviolet rays.

The arc tube 152 of the germicidal lamp is wrapped in a quartz tube 151. The quartz tube 151 has an accommodation space therein and is coupled to an upper end of the reservoir. The sterilization lamp is accommodated in the accommodation space.

On the other hand, in the present invention, the bypass water extraction pipe 160 is connected to the outside of the reservoir from the inside of the quartz pipe 151. That is, one end is connected to the quartz tube and the other end is connected to the flow path blocking valve 180 to be described later. Here, the bypass water extraction pipe 160 is connected to the quartz pipe, so that the purified water does not normally enter. Therefore, in normal times, purified water may not be supplied to the flow path blocking valve 180 which will be described later.

On the other hand, the flow path blocking valve 180 is configured to include an expansion member 181 and the piston 182 provided in the housing 185 forming the outer shape of the valve. 4 shows an enlarged view of the flow path blocking valve.

Referring to FIG. 4, an expansion member 181 is mounted below the housing 185. The piston 182 is mounted above the expansion member 181 in the housing. The piston is in direct contact with the expansion member. Accordingly, as will be described later, when the expansion member expands, the expansion member may be pushed up to the inside of the housing.

The upper portion of the housing is formed with an internal flow passage 136 forming a part of the discharge pipe. The inner passage 136 is usually part of the discharge pipe, but when the expansion member is expanded may be the path of the piston to enter the piston 182.

Meanwhile, the water outlet pipe 130 and the bypass water outlet pipe 160 are connected to the housing 185 of the flow path blocking valve. Referring to Figure 4, the outlet pipe is connected to the top of the housing and the bypass water pipe is connected to the bottom. Here, the outlet pipes are connected to both sides of the portion that becomes the internal flow path 136, respectively, to form a flow path of the discharge pipe along which the purified water is taken out. The bypass water pipe 160 may be connected to the inlet hole 186 formed at the bottom of the housing in which the expansion member is mounted to supply purified water to the expansion member.

The expansion member 181 is configured to absorb water and expand. In this embodiment, a compressed sponge may be used as the material having this specificity. Compression sponges are usually compressed to have a small volume, but when water is absorbed, the volume expands rapidly.

On the other hand, the flow path blocking valve 180 is detachable to the outlet pipe or the bypass water pipe. Thus, after the flow shutoff valve is operated as a safety device of the water purifier, it can be replaced with a new one.

5 shows the operation of the flow path blocking valve 180. 5 is a situation where the arc tube 152 and the quartz tube 151 of the sterilizing lamp are damaged by external force. In this case, debris of the quartz tube, the arc tube, or mercury, etc. provided in the arc tube flows into the purified water to contaminate.

Referring to FIG. 5, when the quartz tube 151 is damaged and the purified water flows into the quartz tube, the introduced purified water may enter the bypass water discharge pipe. 즛, the contaminated purified water flows out through the bypass water pipe only when the quartz pipe is leaked.

The purified water flowing out through the bypass outlet pipe enters the flow path blocking valve. Referring to FIG. 5, the purified water is supplied to the expansion member because the inlet hole 186 connected to the bypass water pipe is formed in contact with the expansion member. Therefore, the expansion member is subjected to rapid volume expansion by contact with water. The expansion of the expansion member is to push up the piston mounted on top of the expansion member as shown in FIG. Accordingly, the piston is moved to the internal flow passage 136 corresponding to the flow path of the discharge pipe to block the flow path of the discharge pipe.

The configuration as described above of the present invention, when the ultraviolet sterilization lamp is broken so as to mechanically block the outlet pipe by the flow path blocking valve. Therefore, it is possible to shut off the water outlet pipe immediately after breakage regardless of electronic sensing and valve control, so that contaminated water is not provided to the user through the water outlet pipe, thus functioning as a safety device of the water purifier.

Once used, the flow path blocking valve 180 cannot be reused because the expansion member does not contract again. Therefore, the user must replace the flow shutoff valve with a new one to use the water purifier.

Meanwhile, the water purifier of the present invention further includes an air vent pipe 170 connected to the flow path blocking valve. The purified water passing through the expansion member in the bypass water pipe enters the air vent pipe. Therefore, the air vent pipe 170 is formed at the lower end of the outlet blocking valve and is connected to the outlet hole 187 formed in contact with the expansion member.

Here, the outlet of the air vent pipe is exposed to the atmosphere. In addition, the outlet of the air vent pipe is provided to be located at least higher than the water surface of the purified water stored in the water purification tank. This allows the purified water introduced into the quartz tube as shown in FIG. 5 by the water pressure of the purified water stored in the purified water tank to flow out through the bypass water pipe 160 to supply water to the expansion member. The purified water entering the air vent pipe rises only to the water level of the purified water stored in the purified water tank.

In the aspect of the above configuration of the present invention, by using the water pressure and atmospheric pressure to mechanically block the water pipe, so that irrespective of electrical operation, if the sterilization lamp is broken, the water pipe is blocked so that the contaminated purified water outlet pipe To not be provided to the user via.

Meanwhile, the water purifier of the present invention may further include an electrode sensor 220 provided in the quartz tube and a controller 210 electrically connected to the electrode sensor. The block diagram of Figure 6 shows the electrical configuration connected to this controller.

5 and 6, when purified water flows into the quartz tube, the electrode sensor 22 detects a leak of the quartz tube and transmits it to the controller as a signal. The controller is electrically connected to a power source of the sterilizing lamp 150. Therefore, the controller detects a leak due to breakage of the quartz tube to cut off the power supply 150a of the sterilization lamp. This configuration, as a safety device of the water purifier by blocking the power of the germicidal lamp before the water contacts the discharge electrode by the electrode sensor to prevent a short circuit that may be generated by the discharge electrode that is applied to the water in contact with the water in advance. do.

In addition, the water purifier of the present invention may be such that the discharge valve 135 provided in the discharge pipe is electrically connected to the controller 210. Accordingly, the electrode sensor may detect a leak of the quartz tube, and the controller may close the water outlet valve 135. This configuration prevents the supply of contaminated purified water due to breakage of the sterilizing lamp by preventing the purified water from being continuously supplied electrically together with the mechanical flow path blocking when the sterilizing lamp is broken.

On the other hand, the sterilization lamp may be configured to operate only when the purified water stored in the reservoir is discharged from the reservoir. This can be done controlled by a controller. This configuration reduces the power consumption of the water purifier.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the scope of the present invention is not to be construed as limited to such embodiments and / or drawings, and is determined by the matters set forth in the claims below. do. In addition, it should be clearly understood that improvements, changes, modifications, and the like apparent to those skilled in the art described in the claims are included in the scope of the present invention.

110: water purification tank 120: water tank (cold water tank)
130: exit pipe 136: internal euro
140: flow path forming tube 150: sterilization lamp
151: quartz tube 160: bypass water extraction pipe
170: air vent pipe 180: flow path blocking valve
181: expansion member 182: piston
185: housing

Claims (13)

Reservoir;
A water extraction pipe through which the purified water stored in the reservoir is discharged;
A quartz tube having an accommodation space therein and coupled to an upper end of the reservoir;
A sterilizing lamp which is accommodated in an inner receiving space of the quartz tube and coupled to an upper end of the reservoir;
A bypass water discharge pipe connected from the inside of the quartz pipe to the outside of the reservoir tank; And
And a flow path blocking valve having one end connected to the outlet pipe and the other end connected to the bypass outlet pipe and having an expansion member and a piston therein.
Only when the quartz tube leaks, the contaminated purified water flows out through the bypass water discharge pipe, and the piston of the flow path blocking valve is expanded by an expansion member that is expanded by the purified water flowing out through the bypass water discharge pipe. Is moved to block the flow path of the outlet pipe,
Sterilizing water purifier.
The method of claim 1,
The expansion member is a sterilized water purifier, characterized in that the compressed sponge to absorb and expand the water.
The method of claim 1,
The flow path blocking valve,
The expansion member is mounted at the bottom,
The piston is mounted on the expansion member,
By the expansion of the expansion member the piston rises on the flow path of the outlet pipe to block the outlet pipe,
Sterilizing water purifier.
The method of claim 1,
Further comprising an air vent pipe connected to the flow path blocking valve,
The air vent pipe is purified water flowing out of the bypass water discharge pipe is passed through the expansion member,
Sterilizing water purifier.
The method of claim 4, wherein
It is further provided with an upper portion of the reservoir tank for supplying purified water to the reservoir;
The outlet of the air vent pipe is exposed to the atmosphere but is located at least higher than the surface of the purified water stored in the water purification tank,
Sterilizing water purifier.
The method of claim 1,
An electrode sensor provided inside the quartz tube; And
And a controller electrically connected to the electrode sensor.
The electrode sensor detects the leakage of the quartz tube,
The controller cuts off the power of the sterilization lamp,
Sterilizing water purifier.
The method of claim 1,
A water outlet valve provided in the water outlet pipe;
An electrode sensor provided inside the quartz tube; And
And a controller electrically connected to the electrode sensor.
The electrode sensor detects the leakage of the quartz tube,
The controller closes the outlet valve,
Sterilizing water purifier.
The method of claim 1,
Further comprising; a flow path forming tube provided inside the reservoir;
The quartz tube is mounted inside the flow path forming tube,
The purified water stored in the reservoir is discharged through the quartz tube through the flow path forming tube,
Sterilizing water purifier.
The method of claim 8,
The flow path forming tube is extended vertically from the top of the reservoir,
The lower end of the flow path forming tube is spaced apart from the bottom of the reservoir,
Sterilizing water purifier.
10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
The sterilization lamp is operated only when the water discharged from the reservoir of the purified water stored in the reservoir,
Sterilization Water Purifier.
10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
The germicidal lamp is an ultraviolet lamp (UV lamp),
Sterilizing water purifier.
10. The method according to claim 8 or 9,
The flow path forming tube is made of stainless steel (SUS),
Sterilizing water purifier.
10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
The flow path blocking valve is removable, characterized in that replaceable,
Sterilizing water purifier.

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