WO2009057854A1

WO2009057854A1 - Water purifier

Info

Publication number: WO2009057854A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/007016
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eung Sam Lee; Jin Hwan Noh
Original assignee: Woongjin Coway Co., Ltd
Priority date: 2007-11-01
Filing date: 2007-12-31
Publication date: 2009-05-07
Also published as: KR101093891B1; KR20090044864A

Abstract

The invention relates to a water purifier for supplying purified water containing carbon dioxide gas. An object of the invention is to provide a water purifier that dissolves carbon dioxide gas in purified water without a compression pump and then discharges the carbonated water. The water purifier includes a filter for filtering source water, thus preparing purified water; a carbon dioxide gas cylinder for storing carbon dioxide gas; a purified water tank, connected to a purified water inflow line, which allows the purified water to be introduced into the purified water tank, a carbon dioxide gas inflow line, which allows the carbon dioxide gas to be introduced into the purified water tank from the carbon dioxide gas cylinder, a carbonated water discharging line, which allows carbonated water to be discharged outside, and a carbon dioxide gas outflow line, which allows the carbon dioxide gas remaining in the purified water tank to be discharged outside; and a control unit for controlling opening and closing of the purified water inflow line, the carbonated water discharge line, the carbon dioxide gas inflow line and the carbon dioxide gas outflow line.

Description

Description WATER PURIFIER

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a water purifier, and, more particularly, to a water purifier which is adapted to supply purified water containing carbon dioxide gas. Background Art

[2] A water purifier, which is typically installed and used in homes or offices, has a basic function of filtering source water such as tap water and natural water, thus providing warm or cold purified water. The water purifier is provided with a plurality of filters, which serve to remove components that are harmful to humans, including suspended matter, from source water, and to sterilize bacteria that cause waterborne diseases.

[3] More specifically, a water purifier is selectively provided with a sediment filter, which serves to purify source water during the continuous passage of the source water therethrough, a pre-carbon filter, which performs filtering through adsorption by fine pores of carbon (activated carbon) blocks, a UV hollow-fiber membrane filter, which incorporates a UV hollow-fiber membrane that serves to remove contaminated matter through a plurality of fine pores distributed throughout the surface of the UV hollow- fiber membrane, a membrane filter, a post-carbon filter, or a UV filter.

[4] The water purifier is typically classified into a water storage type water purifier, which includes a purified water tank therein, and a direct dispensing type water purifier, which does not include a purified water tank.

[5] The direct dispensing type water purifier, which is designed to operate using the hydraulic pressure of source water, is comprised of a precipitation filter (a sediment filter), which serves to remove particulate dregs contained in source water, a carbon filter, which serve to remove chloride components and odors, and a membrane filter. Meanwhile, the water storage type water purifier is characterized in that it has functions of warming and cooling water, in addition to the inclusion of the filter similar to that of the direct dispensing type water purifier, and it further includes a purified water tank which has a purified water capacity of about 10-20 L because of the slow filtering rate for water therethrough.

[6] These days, water purifiers, which are designed to serve carbonated water containing carbon dioxide gas as well as warm and cool water, are commercially produced.

[7] In other words, since carbon dioxide gas is dissolved in drinking water in a specified amount, thus providing the drinking water with a fresh flavor and cool taste when swallowed through a drinker's throat and also enhancing the taste of the drinking water, water purifiers, which are designed to serve carbonated water containing carbon dioxide gas therein, are being developed.

[8] However, because the conventional water purifiers additionally utilize compression pumps in order to dissolve carbon dioxide gas in the purified water, the water purifiers have problems in that the compression pumps increase the price of the water purifiers and also increase the noise due to the operation thereof. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[9] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a water purifier, which is adapted to dissolve carbon dioxide gas in purified water without using a compression pump and then to discharge the carbonated water. Technical Solution

[10] In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a water purifier including: a filter for filtering source water, thus preparing purified water; a carbon dioxide gas cylinder for storing carbon dioxide gas; a purified water tank, connected to a purified water inflow line which allows the purified water passed through the filter to be introduced into the purified water tank therethrough, a carbon dioxide gas inflow line, which allows the carbon dioxide gas to be introduced into the purified water tank from the carbon dioxide gas cylinder therethrough, a carbonated water discharging line, which allows carbonated water, prepared by the purified water mixed with the carbon dioxide gas introduced through the carbon dioxide gas inflow line, to be discharged outside therethrough, and a carbon dioxide gas outflow line, which allows the carbon dioxide gas, remaining in the purified water tank after the discharge of carbonated water, to be discharged outside therethrough; and a control unit for controlling the opening and closing of the purified water inflow line, the carbonated water discharge line, the carbon dioxide gas inflow line and the carbon dioxide gas outflow line.

Advantageous Effects

[11] The water purifier according to the present invention has excellent advantages in that carbon dioxide gas is introduced into the purified water tank containing purified water therein, thus causing the resulting carbonated water to be discharged, and the purified water tank, from which the carbonated water is discharged, has decreased internal pressure, thus allowing the carbon dioxide gas to be continuously mixed with the purified water.

[12] Further, the water purifier according to the present invention has advantages in that the introduction of the carbon dioxide gas and the drop in the internal pressure of the purified water tank can be realized without using a compression pump, thus avoiding increased production costs of the water purifier and increased noise generation, attributable to the inclusion of the compression pump. Brief Description of the Drawings

[13] FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[14] FIG. 2 is a detailed view showing the internal structure of the water purifier according to the present invention;

[15] FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a process of discharging carbonated water from the water purifier according to the present invention; and

[16] FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing another process of discharging carbonated water from the water purifier according to the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[17] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[18] FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[19] As shown in FIG. 1, the water purifier according to the present invention comprises a source water valve 100 for controlling the supply of source water, such as tap water and natural water, a sediment filter 120 for filtering out fine particles contained in the source water passed through the source valve, a pre-carbon filter 130 for removing a chlorine component and odors from the source water delivered from the sediment filter, a membrane filter 140 for removing ionic heavy metals remaining in the source water passed through the pre-carbon filter, a wastewater controller 160 for controlling the ratio of wastewater to drinkable water in the source water passed through the membrane filter and discharging the wastewater, a post-carbon filter 150 for removing a chlorine component and odors contained in the source water passed through the membrane filter, and a purified water storage tank 170, which is provided with an FLC (Float Level Controller), for storing the purified water passed through the post-carbon filter and discharging the purified water at the user's request.

[20] The sediment filter 120 is made of non woven fabric, and thus functions to filter out relatively minute particles such as sand and clay.

[21] Both the pre-carbon filter 130 and the post-carbon filter 150 are made of activated carbon, which is mainly composed of carbon, and function to remove a chlorine component and odors contained in the source water.

[22] The membrane filter 140 plays a role in removing minute particles remaining in the water passed through the pre-carbon filter 130. To this end, the water is supplied under pressure through a compression pump (not shown), and the water, which has not been passed through a reverse osmosis membrane filter, is discharged as wastewater through the wastewater controller 160.

[23] The post-carbon filter 150 plays a role in removing pigments and odors contained in the water passed through the membrane filter 140.

[24] The purified water storage tank 170 of the water purifier according to the present invention, which is illustrated in FIG. 1, has a function of producing carbonated water, and the concrete structure thereof is configured as shown in FIG. 2.

[25] FIG. 2 is a detailed view showing the internal structure of the water purifier, in particular, components connected to the purified water storage tank, according to the present invention.

[26] The water purifier according to the present invention, which is designed to provide carbonated water, comprises a filter 500 for purifying source water, a carbon dioxide gas cylinder 300 for storing carbon dioxide gas therein, a purified water tank 170, which is adapted to receive and store the purified water, passed through the filter, through a purified water inflow line 601, to mix the carbon dioxide gas, introduced therein through a carbon dioxide gas inflow line 603 connected to the carbon dioxide gas cylinder, with the purified water, thus preparing carbonated water, to discharge the carbonated water outside through a carbonated water-discharging line 602, and to discharge the carbon dioxide gas, remaining in the purified water tank after the discharge of the carbonated water, outside through a carbon dioxide gas discharge line 604, and a control unit 200 for controlling the opening and closing of the purified water inflow line 601, the carbonated water-discharging line 602, the carbon dioxide gas inflow line 603 and the carbon dioxide gas discharge line 604.

[27] In the application of the filter 500, the post-carbon filter 150, which performs the final filtering procedure with respect to the source water, may be applied. Specifically, the water purifier is provided with the plurality of filters 12 to 150. As the filter 500 connected to the purified water tank 170, the post-carbon filter 150, which performs the final filtering procedure with respect to the source water, may be applied. The filter 500 is connected to the inside of the purified water tank 170 via the purified water inflow line 601, and the purified water inflow line is provided with a purified water inflow control valve 430. The purified water inflow control valve is opened or closed by the control unit 200.

[28] The carbon dioxide gas cylinder 300, which is adapted to store carbon dioxide gas therein and discharge it outside, is connected to the inside of the purified water tank 170 via the carbon dioxide gas inflow line 603. The carbon dioxide gas inflow line 603 is provided with a carbon dioxide gas inflow control valve 410, which is opened or closed by the control unit 200.

[29] The purified water tank 170 stores the purified water, which is introduced therein through the purified water inflow line 601, and which is in turn mixed with the carbon dioxide gas introduced therein through the carbon dioxide gas inflow line 603, thus resulting in the carbonated water, and discharges the carbonated water outside through the carbonated water-discharging line 602. The purified water tank 170 is provided with the carbon dioxide gas discharge line 604, which allows the carbon dioxide gas remaining in the purified water tank to be discharged outside. The carbonated water- discharging line is provided with a carbonated water outflow control valve 420, which is controlled to be opened or closed by the control unit 200. The carbon dioxide gas discharge line is provided with a carbon dioxide gas control valve 440, which is controlled to be opened or closed by the control unit 200. The purified water tank is provided with a water level detector 450, and the control unit 200 receives information relating to the level of the purified water in the purified water tank and controls the purified water inflow valve 430 in response to the information, thus controlling the level of the purified water in the purified water tank. In the above construction, as shown in FIG. 2, the carbon dioxide gas inflow line 603 is preferably shorter than the carbonated water-discharging line 602. For example, it is preferable that the carbon dioxide gas inflow line 603 be shorter than the carbonated water-discharging line 602 by 1.5 cm 2.5 cm. The reason for this is that, if the carbon dioxide gas inflow line 603 is equal to or longer than the carbonated water-discharging line 602, the carbon dioxide gas, which is introduced therein through the carbon dioxide gas inflow line, may be directly reflected by the bottom of the water purifier without mixing with the purified water, and then may be discharged outside through the carbonated water-discharging line. Further, it is preferable that the carbon dioxide gas inflow line be positioned at the center of the water purifier such that the carbon dioxide gas is evenly diffused throughout the purified water. Further, it is preferable that the carbonated water- discharging line be positioned to be spaced apart from the bottom of the water purifier by 1 cm or more such that the carbon dioxide gas, which is introduced into the carbon dioxide gas inflow line, is mixed with the purified water and is then introduced into the carbonated water-discharging line.

[30] The control unit 200 functions to receive a request for carbonated water from a user, and then control the opening and closing of the plurality of control valves, thus discharging the carbonated water. To this end, the control unit comprises an input part for receiving requests for discharging and stopping discharge of the carbonated water from a user, an output part 202 for outputting state information relating to the input data, a storage part 203 for storing various information, and control part 204 for controlling the plurality of the control valves in response to the information received through the input part and the water level detector and outputting various information relating to the discharge of the carbonated water through the output part.

[31] The manner in which the water purifier according to the present invention discharges the carbonated water will now be described with reference to FIG. 3.

[32] FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a process of discharging the carbonated water from the water purifier according to the present invention.

[33] The water purifier according to the present invention is constructed to play the basic role of a common water purifier. In operation, the water purified through the filter 500 is introduced into the purified water tank 170 through the purified water inflow line 601, and the control part 204 controls the purified water inflow control valve 430 to open or close the flow path therethrough depending on the level information detected by the water level detector 450.

[34] In order to take the carbonated water from the water purifier, a user inputs a request signal for the discharge of the carbonated water through the input part 201 of the control unit 200 (S702). The input part 201 may be embodied by a button provided on the surface of the purifier housing.

[35] When the request signal for discharge of the carbonated water is input through the input part, the control part 204 controls the carbon dioxide gas inflow control valve 410 to open the flow path therethrough, thus allowing the carbon dioxide gas contained in the carbon dioxide gas cylinder 300 to be introduced into the purified water tank and then dissolved therein (S704).

[36] Then, the control part 204 determines whether the period of time assigned to the introduction of the carbon dioxide gas, which is stored in the storage part 203, has elapsed (S706). In other words, when the carbon dioxide gas is introduced into the purified water for a predetermined period of time (for example, 2 seconds), a desired amount of carbon dioxide gas is dissolved in the purified water. Therefore, only the carbon dioxide gas is introduced into the purified water for a predetermined period of time after the input of the request signal for the discharge of the carbonated water. After the elapse of the predetermined period of time, the carbonated water is discharged outside. The predetermined period of time is determined as a result of testing at the time of fabrication of the water purifier, and stored in the storage part.

[37] If, as a result of the determination, the determined period of time is determined not to have elapsed, the control part 204 allows the carbon dioxide gas inflow control valve 410 to remain open, thus allowing the carbon dioxide gas to be introduced into the purified water tank.

[38] If, as a result of the determination, the determined period of time is determined to have elapsed, the control part 204 opens the carbonated water outflow control valve 420 while allowing the carbon dioxide gas inflow control valve 410 to remain open, thus allowing the carbonated water containing the carbon dioxide gas dissolved therein to be discharged outside through the carbonated water-discharging line 602 (S708). Namely, since the internal pressure in the purified water tank 170 is set to be higher than that of the outside, the carbonated water can be discharged outside due to the higher pressure.

[39] During the discharge of the carbonated water, the control part 204 determines whether the request signal for stopping the discharge of the carbonated water is input (S710).

[40] If, as a result of the determination, the request signal for stopping the discharge of the carbonated water is determined not to have been input, the control part allows the carbonated water outflow control valve 420 to remain open, thus allowing the carbonated water to be discharged outside.

[41] If, as a result of the determination, the request signal for stopping the discharge of the carbonated water is determined to have been input, the control part closes both the carbon dioxide gas inflow control valve 410 and the carbonated water outflow valve 420, thus preventing the introduction of the carbon dioxide gas into the purified water tank and the discharge of the carbonated water to the outside (S712).

[42] Subsequently, the control part 204 opens the carbon dioxide gas outflow control valve 440 so as to allow the carbon dioxide gas in the purified water tank 170 to be discharged outside, thus maintaining the inside of the purified water tank at atmospheric pressure. The reason for this is because the carbon dioxide gas can be introduced into the purified water tank on the subsequent request for discharge of the carbonated water only under the condition that the inside of the purified water tank is maintained at atmospheric pressure.

[43] With the aid of the above-described structure and functions, the water purifier according to the present invention can discharge the carbonated water, which is prepared by the purified water containing carbon dioxide gas, even without any driving means.

[44] FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing another process for discharging carbonated water from the water purifier according to the present invention.

[45] The water purifier according to the present invention is constructed to play the basic role of a common water purifier. In operation, the water purified through the filter 500 is introduced into the purified water tank 170 through the purified water inflow line 601, and the control part 204 controls the purified water inflow control valve 430 to open or close the flow path therethrough depending on the level information detected by the water level detector 450.

[46] More specifically, when the purified water, passed through the filter, is introduced into the purified water tank (S802), the control part determines whether the purified water tank is completely filled with purified water by analyzing the water level information detected by the water level detector (S 804).

[47] If, as a result of the determination, the purified water tank is determined not to be completely filled with purified water (S 804), the control part opens the carbon dioxide gas outflow valve 440, thus allowing the carbon dioxide gas in the purified water tank to be discharged outside through the carbon dioxide gas discharge line (S806). As a result of the discharge of carbon dioxide gas, the internal pressure of the purified water tank is decreased, and thus the decreased internal pressure causes the purified water to be continuously introduced into the purified water tank (S 802).

[48] If, as a result of the determination, the purified water tank is determined to be completely filled with purified water (S 804), the control part closes the purified water inflow valve, thus blocking the introduction of the purified water, and concurrently opens the carbon dioxide gas inflow control valve, thus allowing the carbon dioxide gas to be introduced into the purified water tank and then dissolved in the purified water (S8O8).

[49] Then, the control part determines whether a request for the discharge of carbonated water has been input through the input part (S810). At this point, since the input part is provided with a first button, which is used to input a request for the discharge of highly carbonated water, and a second button, which is used to input a request for the discharge of mildly carbonated water, the provision enables a user to select either of the two buttons. That is, the first button for highly carbonated water is used to receive a request for highly carbonated water, which is prepared by the purified water containing carbon dioxide gas dissolved therein at a high concentration, and the second button for mildly carbonated water is used to receive a request for mildly carbonated water, which is prepared by the purified water containing carbon dioxide gas dissolved therein at a low concentration. In this description, the terms high concentration and low concentration are designated based on the relative concentration relation between the two kinds of carbonated water.

[50] When the request for discharge of highly carbonated water is input, the control part opens the carbonated water discharge control valve under the condition in which carbon dioxide gas is introduced, thus enabling the highly carbonated water to be discharged (S812).

[51] Meanwhile, when the request for the discharge of mildly carbonated water is input, the control part opens the carbonated water discharge control valve under the condition of closing the carbon dioxide gas inflow control valve, thus allowing the mildly carbonated water to be discharged (S814). Specifically, in the case where the request for the discharge of mildly carbonated water is input, the carbonated water is discharged under the condition of blocking the introduction of the carbon dioxide gas, so that the water purifier can discharge carbonated water that contains a smaller amount (a lower concentration) of carbon dioxide gas, compared to the case of the discharge of the highly carbonated water, in which the carbonated water is discharged while the carbon dioxide gas is introduced into the purified water tank.

[52] During the discharge of the carbonated water, the control part 204 determines whether a request for the discharge of carbonated water has been input through the input part (S 816).

[53] If, as a result of the determination, it is determined that a request for the discharge of carbonated water has not been input, the control part allows the carbonated water discharge control valve 420 to remain open, thus allowing the carbonated water to be discharged outside through the operation (S812 or S814).

[54] If, as a result of the determination, it is determined that a request for the discharge of carbonated water has been input, the control part closes the carbonated water discharge control valve 420, thus blocking the discharge of the carbonated water (S818). In the case where the highly carbonated water is discharged at the request for the discharge of highly carbonated water, the control part closes the carbon dioxide gas inflow control valve, thus blocking the introduction of the carbon dioxide gas.

[55] When reading the above description, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the technical scope of the present invention should be understood as being defined by the accompanying claims, but not the description set forth in the detailed description.

[56]

Claims

[1] A water purifier, comprising: a filter for filtering source water, thus preparing purified water; a carbon dioxide gas cylinder for storing carbon dioxide gas; a purified water tank, connected to a purified water inflow line which allows the purified water passed through the filter to be introduced into the purified water tank therethrough, a carbon dioxide gas inflow line, which allows the carbon dioxide gas to be introduced into the purified water tank from the carbon dioxide gas cylinder therethrough, a carbonated water discharging line, which allows carbonated water, prepared by the purified water mixed with the carbon dioxide gas introduced through the carbon dioxide gas inflow line, to be discharged outside therethrough, and a carbon dioxide gas outflow line which allows the carbon dioxide gas, remaining in the purified water tank after the discharge of carbonated water, to be discharged outside therethrough; and a control unit for controlling opening and closing of the purified water inflow line, the carbonated water discharge line, the carbon dioxide gas inflow line and the carbon dioxide gas outflow line.

[2] The water purifier according to Claim 1, wherein each of the purified water inflow line, the carbonated water discharge line, the carbon dioxide gas inflow line and the carbon dioxide gas outflow line includes a control valve, in which the opening and closing are controlled by the control unit.

[3] The water purifier according to Claim 1, wherein the control unit is operated such that, upon inputting a request for discharge of carbonated water, the carbon dioxide gas inflow line is opened, thus allowing the carbon dioxide gas from the carbon dioxide gas cylinder to be introduced into the purified water tank and thus be mixed with the purified water, while the carbonated water discharge line is opened, thus allowing the carbonated water containing the carbon dioxide gas dissolved therein to be discharged outside.

[4] The water purifier according to Claim 3, wherein the control unit is operated such that, if a predetermined period of time elapses after opening of the carbon dioxide gas inflow line, the carbonated water discharge line is opened, thus allowing the carbonated water to be discharged outside.

[5] The water purifier according to Claim 3, wherein the control unit is operated such that, if a request for stoppage of introduction of the carbonated water is input, the carbon dioxide gas inflow line and the carbonated water discharge line are closed while the carbon dioxide gas outflow line is opened, thus allowing the carbon dioxide gas remaining in the purified water tank to be discharged outside.

[6] The water purifier according to Claim 1, wherein the control unit is operated such that, after whether the purified water tank is completely filled with purified water is determined, the carbon dioxide gas in the purified water tank is discharged, and then the purified water is introduced into the purified water tank if the purified water tank is not completely filled with purified water, and the carbon dioxide gas inflow line is opened, thus allowing the carbon dioxide gas to be introduced into the purified water tank if the purified water tank is completely filled with purified water.

[7] The water purifier according to Claim 6, wherein the control unit is operated such that, if a request for discharge of highly carbonated water is input under the condition that the carbon dioxide gas inflow line is opened, the carbonated water discharge line is opened while the carbon dioxide gas inflow line is opened, thus allowing the carbonated water containing the carbon dioxide gas dissolved therein to be discharged outside.

[8] The water purifier according to Claim 6, wherein the control unit is operated such that, if a request for discharge of mildly carbonated water is input under the condition that the carbon dioxide gas inflow line is opened, the carbonated water discharge line is opened while the carbon dioxide gas inflow line is closed, thus allowing the carbonated water containing the carbon dioxide gas dissolved therein to be discharged outside.

[9] The water purifier according to Claim 1, wherein the carbon dioxide gas inflow line is configured to be shorter than the carbonated water discharge line.

[10] The water purifier according to Claim 1, wherein the carbon dioxide gas inflow line is positioned at a center of the purified water tank.