KR20130121604A

KR20130121604A - Apparatus for providing water

Info

Publication number: KR20130121604A
Application number: KR1020120044968A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 최인두; 박정철; 노용연; 홍영훈; 이현우; 김형곤; 김기철; 박수용
Original assignee: 코웨이 주식회사
Priority date: 2012-04-27
Filing date: 2012-04-27
Publication date: 2013-11-06

Abstract

A water supply apparatus is disclosed in which a level of a tank configured to supply stored water to a user maintains a full level.
Water supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is the first tank 200 in which water is introduced and stored; A second tank 300 configured to store the water supplied from the first tank 200 and to supply the stored water to the user; And a water level maintenance unit 400 connected to the first tank 200 and the second tank 300 so that the water level of the second tank 300 maintains the full water level. As shown in FIG.
According to the above configuration, the present invention can maintain the water level of the tank configured to supply the stored water to the user, and can continuously supply a constant amount of water to the user.

Description

Water supply device {APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING WATER}

The present invention relates to a water supply device for supplying water to a user, and more particularly to a water supply device to maintain the water level of the tank level configured to supply the stored water to the user.

The water supply device is a device configured to store water and supply the stored water to a user. Such a water supply device is provided to, for example, a water purifier and the like, and the purified water filtered by the water filter of the water purifier flows in and is stored and supplied to the user.

Such a water supply device includes a tank configured to store water and supply the stored water to a user. Then, water is discharged from the tank configured to store the water and the stored water is supplied to the user and supplied to the user. Conventionally, such a tank has a problem that the water level of the tank is lowered when water is discharged to the outside and supplied to the user as described above.

Then, when the water level of the tank is lowered in this way, there is a problem that the height difference of the water discharge pipe connected to the tank is reduced so that the water level of the tank and water is discharged to the outside. Accordingly, since the water pressure is reduced, there is a problem that the amount of water discharged through the water discharge pipe is reduced.

That is, when water is discharged from the tank to the outside and the water level of the tank is lowered, there is a problem that the amount of water discharged through the water discharge pipe is also reduced. Accordingly, there is a problem in that it is not possible to continuously supply a constant amount of water to the user.

The present invention is made by recognizing at least one of the needs or problems occurring in the conventional water supply apparatus as described above.

One aspect of the object of the present invention is to ensure that the level of the tank configured to supply stored water to the user maintains the full level.

Another aspect of the object of the present invention is to be able to continuously supply a constant amount of water to the user.

A water supply device according to an embodiment for realizing at least one of the above problems may include the following features.

The present invention is based on the fact that the water level of the tank, which is basically configured to supply stored water to the user, maintains the full water level.

Water supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is a first tank in which water is introduced and stored; A second tank configured to store water supplied from the first tank and to supply the stored water to the user; And a water level maintenance unit connected to the first tank and the second tank so that the water level of the second tank maintains the full water level. As shown in FIG.

In this case, the water level holding unit may be configured to supply the water in the first tank to the second tank so that the water level of the second tank becomes a full water level when it is detected that the water level of the second tank is lower than the full water level.

In addition, the water level maintenance portion is connected to the first tank on one side and the water supply valve is provided in the water supply pipe connected to the second tank; High water level sensor provided in the second tank; A control unit connected to the water supply valve and the full water level sensor to control the water supply valve by receiving a signal from the full water level sensor; . &Lt; / RTI >

The water supply valve may be a solenoid valve.

In addition, the second tank may be configured to cool the stored water.

The second tank may be provided with an evaporation tube through which a low temperature refrigerant flows.

In addition, the second tank may be provided with a thermoelectric module.

And, Ice making unit for supplying the ice to the second tank; As shown in FIG.

In addition, the ice making unit may include an evaporator through which a refrigerant flows.

The ice making unit may include a thermoelectric module.

The second tank may also be configured to heat the stored water.

In addition, the second tank may be provided with a heater.

As described above, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the level of the tank configured to supply the stored water to the user may be maintained at the full level.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to continuously supply a constant amount of water to the user.

1 is a view showing an embodiment of a water supply apparatus according to the present invention.
2 is a view showing another embodiment of a water supply device according to the present invention.
3 is a view showing another embodiment of a water supply device according to the present invention.
4 is a view showing another embodiment of a water supply device according to the present invention.
5 to 8 are views showing the operation of one embodiment of the water supply apparatus according to the present invention of FIG.

In order to help the understanding of the features of the present invention as described above, it will be described in more detail with respect to the water supply apparatus associated with an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described based on embodiments best suited for understanding the technical characteristics of the present invention, and the technical features of the present invention are not limited by the illustrated embodiments, It is to be understood that the present invention may be implemented as illustrated embodiments. Accordingly, the present invention may be modified in various ways within the technical scope of the present invention through the embodiments described below, and such modified embodiments fall within the technical scope of the present invention. In order to facilitate understanding of the embodiments to be described below, in the reference numerals shown in the accompanying drawings, among the constituent elements which perform the same function in each embodiment, the related constituent elements are indicated by the same or an extension line number.

Embodiments related to the present invention are based on the fact that the level of the tank configured to supply the stored water to the user basically maintains the full level.

1 to 4, the water supply device 100 according to the present invention may include a first tank 200, a second tank 300, and a water level maintaining unit 400. have.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the first tank 200 may store water introduced therein. To this end, the first tank 200 may be connected to a water supply source (not shown) by the inlet pipe T2 as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. In addition, the inlet pipe T2 may be provided with an opening / closing valve V as shown in the illustrated embodiment. Therefore, when the on-off valve (V) is opened, as shown in Figure 5, the water of the water supply source can be stored in the first tank 200 through the inlet pipe (T2).

The water supply source to which the inlet pipe T2 is connected, for example, if the water supply device 100 according to the present invention is provided with a water purifier, may be a filtration unit including one or more water purification filters provided in the water purifier and filter the water. However, the water supply source is not limited thereto, and any water supply source can be used as long as it is connected to the first tank 200 by the inflow pipe T2 to supply water to the first tank 200.

Water discharge pipe (T3) may be connected to the first tank 200 as shown in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4. In addition, the water discharge pipe (T3) may be provided with an on-off valve (V) as shown in the illustrated embodiment. Therefore, when the on-off valve V is opened, water stored in the first tank 200 may be supplied to the user through the water discharge pipe T3.

The second tank 300 may store water supplied from the first tank 200. In order to supply water from the first tank 200 to the second tank 300, one side of the water supply pipe (T1) is connected to the first tank 200, the other side as shown in Figures 1 to 4 It may be linked to the second tank 300. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the other side of the water supply pipe T1 may be positioned adjacent to the upper portion of the second tank 300. In addition, the water supply pipe (T1) may be provided with a water supply valve 410 included in the water level holding unit 400 to be described later.

By this configuration, when the water supply valve 410 is opened by a control unit included in the water level holding unit 400 to be described later, as shown in FIG. 5 or 8, the water in the first tank 200 is supplied to the water supply pipe ( It may be supplied to the second tank 300 through T1) and stored in the second tank 300.

On the other hand, the second tank 300 may be configured to cool the stored water. That is, the water stored in the second tank 300 may be configured to make cold water. As such, in order to cool the water supplied and stored in the second tank 300, the second tank 300 may be provided with an evaporation tube 310 through which a low temperature refrigerant flows, as shown in FIG. 1. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, at least a part of the evaporation tube 310 may be positioned inside the second tank 300 or may be wrapped around the second tank 300. By such a configuration, when the low-temperature refrigerant flows through the evaporation tube 310, the water stored in the second tank 300 is cooled to form cold water by heat exchange between the water stored in the second tank 300 and the low-temperature refrigerant. Can be.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the thermoelectric module 320 may be provided in the second tank 300 to cool the water supplied and stored in the second tank 300. The thermoelectric module 320 may be cooled on one side and heated on the other side when the power in the forward direction is applied. The thermoelectric module 320 may be provided in the second tank 300 such that the cooling side of the thermoelectric module 320 contacts the second tank 300 as shown in FIG. 2. Can be. When the power in the forward direction is applied to the thermoelectric module 320, the cooling side of the thermoelectric module 320 may be cooled. Accordingly, the water stored in the second tank 300 in contact with the cooling side of the thermoelectric module 320 may be cooled by heat exchange with the cooling side of the thermoelectric module 320 to form cold water.

Although not shown on the cooling side of the thermoelectric module 320, at least a portion of the thermal conductive member (not shown) positioned inside the second tank 300 may be connected. Accordingly, as described above, cooling of the water stored in the second tank 300 by the thermoelectric module 320 may be relatively fast.

In addition, the heat transfer member 330 may be connected to the heating side of the thermoelectric module 320 as shown in FIG. 2. Accordingly, heat transfer may be performed from the heating side of the thermoelectric module 320 heated by the application of the forward power to the heat transfer member 330. The heat transferred to the heat transfer member 330 may be transferred to the outside to cool the heating side of the thermoelectric module 320. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the cooling fan 340 may be connected to the heat transfer member 330.

In this configuration, when the cooling fan 340 is driven while the thermoelectric module 320 is driven as described above, external air may flow to the heat transfer member 330 by the cooling fan 340. Accordingly, cooling of the heating side of the thermoelectric module 320 as described above can be made relatively fast.

In addition, the water supply device 100 according to the present invention supplies the ice (I) to the second tank 300 for cooling the water stored in the second tank 300, as shown in Figures 3 and 4 It may further include an ice making unit 500.

In order to manufacture the ice I, the ice making unit 500 may include an evaporator 510 as shown in FIG. 3. A low temperature refrigerant or a high temperature refrigerant may flow through the evaporator 510. In addition, one or more immersion members 511 may be connected to the evaporator 510 as shown in the illustrated embodiment. In addition, under the immersion member 511, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, the tray member 512 may be rotatably provided. The tray member 512 may rotate between the ice making position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and the ice removing position shown in FIG.

With this configuration, water is supplied to the tray member 512 through the supply pipe T5 while the tray member 512 is rotated to the ice making position as shown in FIG. To this end, the supply pipe (T5) may be connected to the water supply source connected to the inlet pipe (T2), the first tank 200, or may be connected to the second tank 300 as described above.

When water is supplied to the tray member 512, the immersion member 511 is supplied to the tray member 512 and submerged in the contained water as shown in FIG. 5. In this state, when the low-temperature refrigerant flows through the evaporator 510, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the low-temperature refrigerant flows through the heat exchange between the low-temperature refrigerant flowing through the evaporator 510 and water contained in the tray member 512. Ice I is produced in the member 511.

When ice I is generated in the immersion member 511 as described above, the tray member 512 is rotated to the freezing position as shown in FIG. 7. When the high temperature refrigerant flows through the evaporator 510, the ice I generated in the immersion member 511 is separated from the immersion member 511, that is, the ice is removed, as shown in FIG. 7. The iced ice I will fall by its own weight as shown in FIG. In addition, the falling ice (I) is stored in the second tank 300 by the first guide member 350 and the second guide member 360 provided in the second tank 300 as shown in FIG. Enters water. As a result, the water stored in the second tank 300 may be cooled to become cold water.

As described above, the high-temperature refrigerant may flow in the evaporator 510 to defrost the ice I generated in the immersion member 511, but a separate heater (not shown) in the evaporator 510 or the immersion member 511 may be used. If the ice (I) is provided in the immersion member 511 and the ice (I) is generated, the ice (I) generated in the immersion member 511 may be driven by driving the heater.

Meanwhile, in order to generate ice I, the ice making unit 500 may include a thermoelectric module 520 as shown in FIG. 4. As described above, when the thermoelectric module 520 is applied with a positive power, one side may be cooled and the other side may be heated. Then, the immersion member 511 is connected to the cooling side of the thermoelectric module 520 by the connection member 550 as shown in the illustrated embodiment. By such a configuration, when a positive power is applied to the thermoelectric module 520 while the immersion member 511 is submerged in the water contained in the tray member 512, the immersion member 511 is cooled to the immersion member 511. Ice I can be produced.

In this configuration, when the reverse power is applied to the thermoelectric module 520, the cooling side of the thermoelectric module 520 may be heated and the heating side may be cooled. Accordingly, by applying a reverse power to the thermoelectric module 520 to heat the cooling side of the thermoelectric module 520, the ice I generated in the immersion member 511 can be defrosted.

In addition, the heat transfer member 530 may be connected to the heating side of the heat transfer module 520 as described above for cooling the heating side, and the cooling fan 540 may be connected to the heat transfer member 530.

As described above, in the configuration including the ice making unit 500, the ice storage 600 may be further included as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Accordingly, the ice I generated in the ice making unit 500 may be sent to the ice storage 600 by the first guide member 350 and the second guide member 360 and stored in the ice storage 600. .

The configuration of the ice making unit 500 is not limited to the immersion ice maker including the immersion member 511 connected to the evaporator 510 or the thermoelectric module 520 described above. The ice making unit 500 may be, for example, a spray type for spraying water into an ice making groove (not shown) formed in an ice making frame (not shown) to generate ice in the ice making groove. In addition, the ice making unit 500 may be a water flow type to allow water to flow in the ice making groove of the ice making frame to generate ice in the ice making groove. However, the configuration of the ice making unit 500 is not limited to this, and any configuration known in the art can be used as long as it is configured to produce ice (I).

In addition, the second tank 300 may be configured to heat the stored water. That is, the water stored in the second tank 300 may be configured to make hot water. As such, for heating the water supplied and stored in the second tank 300, although not shown, the second tank 300 may be provided with a heater. The heater provided in the second tank 300 is not particularly limited, and any heater may be used as long as it is provided in the second tank 300 to heat the water stored in the second tank 300.

As described above, in order to supply the cooled water, that is, the cold or heated water, that is, the hot water, to the user, to the second tank 300, the second tank 300 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. ) May be connected to the water discharge pipe (T4). And, the water discharge pipe (T4) may be provided with an on-off valve (V) as shown in the illustrated embodiment. Accordingly, when the on-off valve V is opened, the cooled water, that is, the cold or heated water, that is, the hot water, stored in the second tank 300, is delivered to the user through the water discharge pipe T4, as shown in FIG. Can be supplied.

The water level maintaining unit 400 may be connected to the first tank 200 and the second tank 300 so that the water level of the second tank 300 maintains the full water level. Accordingly, even when water is discharged through the water discharge pipe T4 as shown in FIG. 8 and described above, the water level of the second tank 300 may not be lowered and the water level may be maintained. Therefore, the difference between the water level of the second tank 300 and the height of the water discharge pipe T4 may always be constant.

As a result, the water is discharged through the water discharge pipe (T4) as in the prior art, the water level of the second tank 300 is lowered, so that the amount of water discharged through the water discharge pipe (T4), for example, cold water or hot water as the water pressure is lowered May not be reduced. That is, even if the cold water is discharged through the water discharge pipe (T4) as shown in Figure 8, as described above, since the water level of the second tank 300 maintains the full water level, the water level of the second tank 300 and Since the height difference of the water discharge pipe (T4) is always constant, the water pressure is also constant, a certain amount of cold water can be discharged to the outside through the water discharge pipe (T4). Therefore, a constant amount of cold water can be continuously supplied to the user.

Therefore, there is an advantage that the problem that the amount of water discharged from the second tank 300 is reduced by lowering the water level of the second tank 300 is solved.

When the water level maintenance unit 400 detects that the water level of the second tank 300 is lower than the full water level, as shown in FIG. It may be configured to supply to the second tank (300). To this end, the water level maintenance unit 400 may include a water supply valve 410, a full water level sensor 420, and a control unit, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.

The water supply valve 410 is connected to the first tank 200 and the other side is connected to the second tank 300, that is, as shown in the embodiment shown in FIGS. It may be provided in the water supply pipe (T1) located in the upper portion of the two tank (300). Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, when the water supply valve 410 is opened, water of the first tank 200 may be supplied to the second tank 300.

The water supply valve 410 may be a solenoid valve. However, the water supply valve 410 is not limited to this, and any valve may be used as long as it is a valve capable of opening and closing the water supply pipe T1.

The high water level sensor 420 may be provided in the second tank 300. 1 to 4, the high water level sensor 420 may be provided at a position of the second tank 300 to become a high water level. By the high water level sensor 420, it is possible to detect whether the water level of the second tank 300 is high water level.

The high water level sensor 420 is not particularly limited, and any water well-known may be used as long as it can detect whether the water level of the second tank 300 has reached high water level.

The controller (not shown) may be connected to the water supply valve 410 and the full water level sensor 420. The water supply valve 410 may be controlled by receiving a signal from the full water level sensor 420.

Accordingly, when it is detected by the high water level sensor 420 that the water level of the second tank 300 is lower than the high water level, the controller may allow the water supply valve 410 to be opened. As a result, the water of the first tank 200 may be supplied to the second tank 300 as described above and illustrated in FIG. 8. When the water level sensor 420 detects that the water level of the second tank 300 has reached the full water level by supplying the first tank 200 with the water to the second tank 300, the control unit may include a water supply valve ( 410 may be closed.

Accordingly, the water level of the second tank 300 can maintain the full water level. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, even if the open / close valve V of the water discharge pipe T4 is opened and the cold water stored in the second tank 300 is discharged to the outside, the water supply valve 410 of the water supply pipe T1. Since as much water as the amount of cold water discharged is supplied from the first tank 200 to the second tank 300, the water level of the second tank 300 can maintain the full water level.

Using the water supply device according to the present invention as described above, it is possible to maintain the water level of the tank configured to supply the stored water to the user, it is possible to continuously supply a constant amount of water to the user.

The above-described water supply device is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, the embodiments may be configured by selectively combining all or some of the embodiments so that various modifications can be made. .

100: water supply device 200: the first tank
300: second tank 310: evaporation tube
320, 520: thermoelectric module 330, 530: heat transfer member
340, 540: cooling fan 350: first guide member
360: second guide member 400: water level holding part
410: water supply valve 420: water level sensor
500: ice making unit 510: evaporator
511: immersion member 512: tray member
550: connection member 600: ice storage
T1: water supply pipe T2: inflow pipe
T3, T4: Water discharge pipe T5: Supply pipe
V: On-off valve

Claims

A first tank 200 into which water is introduced and stored;
A second tank 300 configured to store the water supplied from the first tank 200 and to supply the stored water to the user; And
A water level maintaining unit 400 connected to the first tank 200 and the second tank 300 so that the water level of the second tank 300 is maintained at a full water level;
Water supply apparatus comprising a.

The first tank 200 of claim 1, wherein the water level maintaining unit 400 detects that the water level of the second tank 300 is lower than the full water level so that the water level of the second tank 300 becomes a full water level. Water supply device, characterized in that configured to supply the water of the second tank (300).

According to claim 2, wherein the water level maintenance unit 400
A water supply valve 410 connected to the first tank 200 and the other side of the water supply pipe T1 connected to the second tank 300;
A high water level sensor 420 provided in the second tank 300;
A control unit connected to the water supply valve 410 and the high water level sensor 420 to receive a signal from the high water level sensor 420 to control the water supply valve 410;
Water supply device comprising a.

4. The water supply device of claim 3, wherein the water supply valve is a solenoid valve.

The water supply device of claim 1, wherein the second tank (300) is configured to cool stored water.

The water supply device according to claim 5, wherein the second tank (300) is provided with an evaporation tube (310) through which a low temperature refrigerant flows.

The water supply device according to claim 5, wherein the second tank (300) is provided with a thermoelectric module (320).

According to claim 1, Ice making unit 500 for supplying ice (I) to the second tank (300); Water supply device comprising a further.

The water supply device of claim 8, wherein the ice making unit comprises an evaporator 510 through which a refrigerant flows.

The water supply apparatus of claim 8, wherein the ice making unit comprises a thermoelectric module.

The water supply device of claim 1, wherein the second tank is configured to heat the stored water.

The water supply apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the second tank (300) is provided with a heater.