WO2000056987A1

WO2000056987A1 - Water treatment equipment

Info

Publication number: WO2000056987A1
Application number: PCT/JP1999/001461
Authority: WO
Inventors: Keiichi Sugino
Original assignee: Keiichi Sugino
Priority date: 1999-03-23
Filing date: 1999-03-23
Publication date: 2000-09-28
Also published as: CN1135283C; CN1339077A; JP4317328B2

Abstract

A water treatment equipment (A) comprising a first pipe body part (1) having a feed water pipe (80) connected to one end thereof, a second pipe body part (2) having a pipe member, at the end of which a tap (82) is attached, connected to one end thereof, a water storage tank (4) to which the other ends of the first and second pipe body parts (1, 2) are connected, a water treatment unit (5), and a pump (6), whereby water in the water storage tank (4) can be circulated through a specified route passing a water treatment unit (5), and the pump (6) can feed water stored in the water storage tank (4) to the second pipe body part (2) when water in a feed water pipe (80) is cut off.

Description

Akitoda Water Treatment Equipment Technical Field

The present invention relates to a water treatment apparatus used for improving the quality of tap water and other water supplied to ordinary households. Background art

As an example of the water treatment apparatus, there is an apparatus using a magnetic unit as described in US Pat. No. 4,278,549. In this magnetic unit, a plurality of magnets are arranged side by side in a cylindrical casing, and water supplied into the casing forms a magnetic field between the plurality of magnets. It is configured to pass through a passage. The direction of the magnetic field lines of the magnetic field intersects the direction in which water flows.

In a water treatment apparatus provided with a magnetic unit having such a configuration, when water containing impurities passes through the magnetic field and the magnetic field changes, an electromotive force is generated based on Faraday's law. This makes it possible to electrolyze water and its impurities, for example, making water weakly alkaline. If water contains a scale as a magnetic substance, the scale will move to align with the lines of magnetic force, while the water will exert resistance to hinder the operation of the scale, and this resistance Is the force that destroys the scale. Therefore, by such a principle, there is also obtained an effect that impurities contained in water can be miniaturized, and scale and the like can be hardly deposited and adhered to a pipe connected to a later stage of the water treatment apparatus. Can be Furthermore, since the fine particles contained in the water have a high potential due to the above-mentioned electromotive force, a discharge can be generated when the fine particles collide with a substance attached to the inner wall surface of the tube. . This discharge promotes the action of separating the substance from the tube. Therefore, an effect of purifying the inner wall surface of the tube can be obtained.

With reference to FIG. 3, a specific configuration of a conventional water treatment device will be described. Illustrated The water treatment apparatus B includes the magnetic unit 90, the water storage tank 91, and the pump 92 configured as described above. The water storage tank 91 is connected to a first pipe part 93 A connected to a water supply pipe 94 and a second pipe part 93 B connected to a pipe 95. The pipe 95 is piped, for example, in a house, and a faucet 82 is attached to the end thereof. A magnetic unit 90 and a pressure reducing valve 96 are attached to the first tubular portion 93A. The pump 92 is for supplying the water in the water storage tank 91 to the magnetic unit 90 through the pipe 97, and the water in the water storage tank 91 is driven by the pump 92. It circulates on a certain route.

According to the water treatment apparatus B having such a configuration, the water in the water storage tank 4 can be repeatedly supplied to the magnetic unit 90 by circulating the water in a fixed path. Therefore, the water whose water quality has been improved more fully can be discharged from the faucet 82 than the water that has passed through the magnetic unit 90 only once.

However, the conventional water treatment apparatus B has the following problems.

First, when the faucet 82 is opened, the water in the water storage tank 91 flows out to the second pipe portion 93B by the water pressure p in the water supply pipe 94. On the other hand, the pump 92 does not send out the water in the water storage tank 91 to the second pipe portion 93B. For this reason, in the above-mentioned conventional water treatment apparatus B, when the water supply pipe 94 stops supplying water to the first pipe section 93 A, the water is no longer in the water storage tank 91. Could not be supplied to the faucet 82, and the water in the water storage tank 91 could not be used effectively and simply.

Secondly, in the above-mentioned conventional water treatment apparatus B, means for efficiently controlling the operation of the pump 92 is not provided. Therefore, when the pump 92 is started, the operation is continued unless a switch operation for stopping the operation is performed thereafter. On the other hand, the improvement of the water quality using the magnetic unit 90 is sufficiently achieved by passing the water in the water storage tank 91 through the magnetic unit 90 an appropriate number of times. Therefore, even after the water quality was sufficiently improved, it was not reasonable to keep the pump 92 running, and the energy and cost required for the operation of the pump were wasted. Disclosure of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a water treatment device that can eliminate or reduce the above-mentioned problems.

The water treatment apparatus provided by the first aspect of the present invention includes:

A first pipe portion to which a water supply pipe is connected at one end;

A second pipe portion connected to one end of a pipe member having a faucet attached to a distal end; a water reservoir connected to the other end of each of the first and second pipe portions; A water treatment unit attached to at least one of the second tube portions;

Means for circulating the water in the water storage tank through a certain path passing through the water treatment unit;

A water treatment device comprising:

It is characterized by having a pump capable of sending out the water in the storage reservoir to the second pipe portion.

In the water treatment apparatus having such a configuration, even if the water supply pipe is cut off and the water in the water storage tank cannot be supplied to the faucet by using water pressure, the pump is driven to operate. The water in the water storage tank can be supplied to the faucet. Therefore, the water stored in the water storage tank can be used effectively and simply.

Preferably, the water treatment unit is attached to the second tubular body,

A third tube portion for communicating a portion of the second tube portion downstream of the water treatment unit with the water storage tank; and

Since the pump is attached to the third pipe portion, the water in the reservoir is circulated through the fixed path by the pump. According to such a configuration, the total number of pumps is one because the pump is used when the water supply is cut off and is also used to circulate the water in the water storage tank through a fixed path. Is fine. Therefore, an increase in the cost of the device can be suppressed. Preferably, when water flows from the third tubular portion to the second tubular portion, the water is prevented from flowing through the second tubular portion toward the reservoir. It has a possible valve.

According to such a configuration, when water is cut off in the water supply pipe, when water in the water storage tank is sent from the third pipe to the second pipe, the water is supplied to the water tank. Can be prevented from returning into the water storage tank, so that the water can appropriately flow toward the faucet.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a water cutoff detecting means capable of detecting water cutoff of the water supply pipe, and a faucet opening / closing detecting means capable of detecting opening / closing operation of the faucet, and

The pump is started when the water cut-off detecting means detects the water cut-off and the faucet opening / closing detecting means detects the opening operation of the faucet.

According to such a configuration, even when the water supply pipe is cut off, the water in the water reservoir can be discharged from the faucet simply by opening the faucet. This eliminates the need to start the pump manually, for example.

Preferably, when the faucet opening / closing detecting means detects the faucet closing operation, the operation of the pump is stopped.

According to such a configuration, useless operation of the pump can be prevented, and a situation in which the discharge pressure of the pump is abnormally increased in a closed piping path can be avoided. .

Preferably, a water amount detecting means capable of detecting the amount of water in the storage tank is provided, and when the amount of water in the water storage tank is detected by the bracket amount detecting means to be equal to or less than a predetermined amount, The operation of the pump is stopped.

According to such a configuration, idling of the pump can be prevented.

Preferably, the water treatment unit has a cylindrical casing and a plurality of magnets housed in the casing, and a magnetic field line in a direction intersecting the water flow between the plurality of magnets. It is a running channel with a magnetic field to be generated The magnetic unit.

Preferably, the water treatment unit is a unit having an electrode for electrolysis, a unit capable of irradiating ultrasonic waves to water, a unit capable of irradiating far infrared rays to water, and capable of filtering water. One of the unit.

Preferably, a faucet opening / closing detecting means capable of detecting the faucet opening / closing operation is provided, and when the faucet opening / closing detecting means detects a closing operation after the faucet opening operation, the faucet opening / closing operation is performed thereafter. By driving for a predetermined time, the water in the reservoir is circulated through the fixed path.

The water treatment device provided by the second aspect of the present invention includes:

A first pipe portion to which a water supply pipe is connected at one end;

A second pipe portion to which a pipe member having a faucet attached to the end is connected to the other end; a water reservoir to which the other ends of the first and second pipe portions are connected; And a water treatment unit attached to at least one of the second tubular portion;

A pump for circulating water in the water storage tank through a certain path passing through the water treatment unit;

A water treatment device comprising:

If the faucet opening / closing detecting means capable of detecting the faucet opening / closing operation is provided, and the faucet opening / closing detecting means detects the closing operation after the faucet opening operation, then the pump is operated. It is noted that it is configured to be driven for a predetermined time.

In the water treatment apparatus having such a configuration, every time water is used by opening and closing the faucet, the water newly supplied from the water supply pipe into the water storage tank is supplied to the water treatment unit. The water can be circulated along a certain route that passes through the river, and the water quality can be improved sufficiently. Therefore, the water whose quality has been sufficiently improved can be almost always stored in the water storage tank. Further, since the driving time of the pump is limited to a predetermined time, it is possible to avoid useless operation of the pump unlike the related art.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will be clearer from the examples. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view showing an example of a water treatment apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing a magnetic unit used in the water treatment apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory view showing an example of a conventional water treatment device. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the water treatment apparatus A according to the present embodiment includes a first pipe section 1, a second pipe section 2, a third pipe section 3, a water storage tank 4, a magnetic unit 5, It is provided with a pump 6, a controller 7, and other devices described below. All of the components of the water treatment apparatus A are accommodated in a single housing 70, thereby achieving unitization of the entire apparatus.

One end of each of the first and second pipe portions 1 and 2 is connected to a water storage tank 4. However, the other end of the first pipe unit 1 is connected to a water supply pipe 80 that supplies water from a water storage facility or the like to ordinary households. On the other hand, the other end of the second tubular body 2 is connected to a tubular body 81 that is drawn into the house and plumbed. One or more faucets 82 are attached to the end of the tube 81. The first pipe 1 is provided with an open / close valve VI, a flow switch S1, and a pressure reducing valve 71. The second pipe section 2 is provided with an on-off valve V 2, a flow switch S 2, and a pressure sensor 73. The first and second pipe sections 2 are directly connected via a bypass pipe section 72 provided with an on-off valve V3. The bypass pipe section 72 passes the water supplied from the water supply pipe 80 to the first pipe section 1 and the second pipe section 2 without passing the water through the storage tank 4 or the magnetic unit 5. Used when sending directly. Therefore, in normal times when water treatment using the magnetic unit 5 is performed, the on-off valves V I and V 2 are in the open state, and the on-off valve V 3 is in the closed state.

The flow switches S l, S 2 are connected to the water flow in the first and second pipe sections 1, 2 or It detects the water flow stop individually and outputs the detection signal. When the faucet 82 is opened and closed, a water flow and its stop occur in the second pipe portion 2, which can be detected by the flow switch S 2, so that the flow switch S 2 It also functions as open / close detection means.

If the water supply pipe 80 is cut off, even if water is discharged from the faucet 82 and a water flow is generated in the second pipe part 2, the first pipe part 1 does not No water flow. Further, when the water supply pipe 80 is cut off, the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 73 also decreases. Therefore, when the water flow is detected by the flow switch S2 but the water flow is not detected by the flow switch S1, it can be determined that the water supply pipe 80 is out of water. . In addition, even when the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 73 is considerably reduced to be equal to or less than a predetermined value, it can be determined that the water supply pipe 80 is out of water. The controller 7 is configured to determine whether or not the water supply pipe 80 is out of water based on such a fact. The controller 7, the pressure sensor 73, and the flow switches S1, S2 function as a water outage detecting means.

The water storage tank 4 is, for example, a closed container having a capacity of about 150 liters. However, an air vent valve 40 is provided at the upper part of the water storage tank 4 so that the water supplied from the first pipe unit 1 can smoothly flow into the water storage tank 4. A sensor 42 that outputs a detection signal indicating that the amount of water in the water storage tank 4 has become equal to or less than a predetermined amount is provided inside or outside the water storage tank 4. A drain pipe 41 equipped with an on-off valve V 4 is connected to the lower part of the water storage tank 4, and the water in the water storage tank 4 內 can be discharged to the outside by using the drain pipe 41. It has been

As best shown in FIG. 2, the magnetic unit 5 includes a short tubular casing 50 and a plurality of magnets 51 housed in the casing 50. The plurality of magnets 51 are, for example, permanent magnets formed by magnetizing a rod-shaped metal, and are supported and fixed by a suitable member (not shown). A plurality of water passages 52 extending in the axial direction of the casing 50 are formed between the plurality of magnets 51. The plurality of magnets 51 are arranged so that different magnetic poles face each other. The flowing water channel 52 has a magnetic field that generates magnetic lines of force in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which ice flows in the flowing water channel 52. As shown in FIG. 1, the magnetic unit 5 is incorporated in the middle of the second tubular portion 2 by using the flange portions 53 provided at both ends of the casing 50. An opening / closing valve V5 that can be remotely controlled by the controller 7 is attached to a portion of the second pipe portion 2 downstream of the magnetic unit 5.

The third pipe portion 3 connects a portion of the second pipe portion 2 downstream of the on-off valve V5 and upstream of the flow switch S2 to the water storage tank 4. It is plumbed. The pump 6 is mounted in the middle of the third tubular portion 3, and is capable of discharging water in the water reservoir 4 toward the second tubular portion 2. An opening / closing valve V 6 is provided in the third pipe portion 3 at a portion downstream of the pump 6. The opening / closing valve V6 can be remotely controlled by the controller 7, similarly to the opening / closing valve V5.

The controller 7 controls the operation of each part of the water treatment apparatus A, and is configured using, for example, a microcomputer, and also has a timer (not shown). The specific operation control of the controller 7 will be described together with the operation of the water treatment apparatus A.

Next, the operation of the water treatment apparatus A having the above configuration and the specific operation control contents of the controller 7 will be described.

First, a normal operation in which the water supply pipe 80 is not interrupted will be described. When the water supply pipe 80 is not interrupted, the controller 7 normally keeps the on-off valve V5 open and the on-off valve V6 closed. In addition, the water pressure from the water supply pipe 80 acts on the first to third pipe portions 1, 2, 3 and the water storage tank 4. Therefore, when the faucet 82 is opened, the water in the water storage tank 4 can be supplied to the faucet 82 by the above water pressure.

When the faucet 82 is opened and then closed, the flow switch S2 detects the generation of the water flow in the second pipe portion 2 and the stop of the water flow, and the operation of these A detection signal is sent to the controller 7. Then, the controller 7 sets the timer, switches the on-off valve V 6 to the open state, and then sets the timer. The control for driving the pump 6 for a predetermined time (for example, 2 hours) is executed. However, in the present invention, the switching operation of the opening / closing valve V 6 and the driving of the pump 6 are performed immediately after the water flow of the second pipe portion 2 is stopped. The execution may be performed after the elapse.

By the operation control of the controller 7 described above, the water in the water storage tank 4 is sent from the third pipe part 3 into the second pipe part 2 as shown by arrows N1 to N3, and the magnetic tank is moved. It can be circulated through a certain route so that it passes through the knit 5 and then returns to the water storage tank 4. In this circulation process, when water passes through the magnetic unit 5, the water quality is improved. The specific content of this water quality improvement is the same as the content described as the conventional technology. However, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the magnet 51 of the magnetic unit 5 is magnetized also in the middle part in the longitudinal direction, and is used in U.S. Pat. The configuration is different from that of the magnet described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2778, 549, which is magnetized so that both ends in the longitudinal direction of the magnet are simply separated into N and S poles. I have. For this reason, the magnetic flux density in the longitudinally intermediate portion between the plurality of magnets 51 adjacent to each other can be higher than that described in the above-mentioned publication, and the water quality improving effect can be further enhanced.

The above-described water circulation operation is performed each time the faucet 82 is closed. Therefore, even if new water flows into the water storage tank 4 from the first tubular part 1 as the water is discharged from the faucet 82, the new water is The treatment using the unit 5 can be performed at an early stage, and almost completely stored water can be stored in the storage reservoir 4. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the risk that water whose water quality is insufficiently improved will be discharged from the faucet 82. The drive of the pump 6 is stopped by a command from the controller 7 after a predetermined time has elapsed, so that unnecessary operation of the pump 6 can be avoided. Therefore, the running cost of the water treatment device A can be reduced. However, in the present invention, the pump

The operation time of 6 does not need to be constant at all times. For example, when the amount of water discharged from the faucet 82 is small, the amount of newly flowing water into the water storage tank 4 is small, and there is no need to circulate and supply water to the magnetic unit 5 for a long time. The driving time can be shortened. This will further increase running costs It is possible to reduce it.

Next, the case where the water supply pipe 80 is cut off will be described. As described above, whether or not the water supply pipe 80 has been cut off can be determined by detecting the pressure by the pressure sensor 73 or detecting the water flow of the flow switches S 1 and S 2 or the stop of the water flow. Yes, this decision is made by the controller 7. When the controller 7 determines that the water supply pipe 80 has been cut off, the following operation control is performed.

First, for example, in a state in which the pressure in the second tube portion 2 is already reduced, the opening of the faucet 82 causes the flow switch S 1 to flow the water in the second tube portion 2. Is detected, the controller 7 switches the on-off valve V5 to the closed state and switches the on-off valve V6 to the open state, and then starts the pump 6. Then, the water in the water storage tank 4 is sent to the second pipe 2 through the third pipe 3, and water can be supplied to the faucet 82. Since the on-off valve V5 is in the closed state, it is possible to reliably prevent the water fed into the second pipe portion 2 from flowing in the direction opposite to the faucet 82. Therefore, even when the water is cut off, the water stored in the water storage tank 4 can be effectively extracted from the faucet 82 using the pump 6 as long as the power supply to the water treatment device A is possible. Can be.

After that, when the faucet 82 is closed and the stop of the water flow by the flow switch S2 is detected, the controller 7 stops the drive of the pump 6 at that time. Thereby, it is possible to appropriately prevent the discharge pressure of the pump 6 from abnormally increasing. When the predetermined detection signal is sent from the sensor 42 as a result of the decrease in the amount of water in the water storage tank 4 during the operation of the pump 6, regardless of whether or not the faucet 82 is closed, Stop the operation of the pump 6. As a result, idling of the pump 6 can be prevented and its protection can be achieved.

If the water supply in the water supply pipe 80 is subsequently eliminated, the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 73 returns to the original value, so the controller 7 determines that the water interruption has been eliminated, and as described above. The operation mode will be shifted to the normal operation mode without water interruption. As described above, the interruption of the water supply pipe 80 can be determined by the detection signal sent from the flow switches SI and S2 to the controller 7. The same operation control as described above is performed also when it is determined that the water supply is cut off based on Sl and S2.

The specific configuration of each part of the water treatment apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be variously changed in design.

For example, in the present invention, the second and third pipe sections 2 and 3 are replaced with two opening / closing valves V5 and V6 instead of the second and third pipe sections 2 and 3. The connection part may be provided with a three-way switching valve. Even with such a configuration, by controlling the three-way switching valve, for example, the water sent to the third pipe part 3 and the second pipe part 2 flows toward the storage reservoir 4 It is possible to switch and select whether to allow the flow or to prevent such a flow, and it is possible to obtain the same operation as the above embodiment.

In the present invention, a pump for sending out water in the water storage tank when water is cut off and a pump for circulating the water in the water storage tank so as to pass through the water treatment unit are separately provided. It does not matter.

In the present invention, the specific configuration of the water treatment unit is not limited to the magnetic unit having the above configuration. Examples of the water treatment unit include a unit having an electrode for electrolysis, a unit capable of irradiating ultrasonic waves to water, a unit capable of irradiating water with far infrared rays, a unit capable of filtering water, or Various other types can be used. Which type of water treatment unit to use is a matter that the manufacturer or user can arbitrarily select.

Claims

Scope of word blue

A first pipe portion to which a water supply pipe is connected at one end;

A water treatment device comprising:

A water treatment apparatus, comprising: a pump capable of sending out water in the storage tank to the second pipe portion. The water treatment unit is a third pipe attached to the second pipe section and communicating a portion of the second pipe section downstream of the water treatment unit with the water storage tank. Body part, and

2. The water according to claim 1, wherein the pump is attached to the third pipe portion, whereby the water in the reservoir is circulated through the fixed path by the pump. 3. Processing equipment. When water flows from the third tubular portion toward the second tubular portion, it is possible to prevent the water from flowing through the second tubular portion toward the reservoir. The water treatment device according to claim 2, further comprising a valve. A water cut-off detecting means capable of detecting the water cut-off of the water supply pipe; and a faucet open / close detecting means capable of detecting the opening / closing operation of the faucet, and

The pump according to claim 2, wherein the pump is started when the water cut-off detecting means detects the water cut-off and the faucet opening / closing detecting means detects the opening operation of the faucet. A water treatment apparatus as described in the above.

5. The water treatment according to claim 4, wherein the operation of the pump is stopped when the faucet opening / closing detecting means detects the closing operation of the faucet.

6. It is provided with a water amount detection means capable of detecting the water amount in the water storage tank, and when the water amount detection means in parentheses detects that the water amount in the water storage tank is less than a predetermined amount, The water treatment apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the operation of the pump is stopped.

7. Equipped with a faucet opening / closing detecting means capable of detecting the opening / closing operation of the faucet, and when the faucet opening / closing detecting means of the parenthesis detects the closing operation after the opening operation of the faucet, the pump is thereafter operated. 3. The water treatment unit according to claim 2, wherein the water in the water storage tank circulates through the fixed path when the water is pumped for a predetermined time.

8. The water treatment unit has a cylindrical casing and a plurality of magnets housed in the casing, and a direction in which the plurality of magnets cross the 7j flow. The water treatment device according to claim 1, wherein the water treatment device is a magnetic unit, which is a flowing water channel in which a magnetic field for generating the magnetic field lines is formed.

9. The above water treatment unit is a unit equipped with electrodes for electrolysis, a unit capable of irradiating ultrasonic waves to water, a unit capable of irradiating far infrared rays to water, and a unit capable of filtering water. The water treatment device according to claim 1, wherein the water treatment device is any one of the following.

10. a first pipe part to which a water supply pipe is connected at one end;

A second pipe portion to which a pipe member having a faucet attached to the end is connected to the other end; a water reservoir to which the other ends of the first and second pipe portions are connected; And a water treatment unit attached to at least one of the second And

A pump for circulating the water in the water storage tank through a certain path passing through the water treatment unit;

A water treatment device comprising:

When the faucet opening / closing detecting means is capable of detecting the faucet opening / closing operation, and when the faucet opening / closing detecting means detects the closing operation after the faucet opening operation, the pump is thereafter operated. A water treatment apparatus, wherein the water treatment apparatus is configured to be driven for a predetermined time.