WO2012056967A1

WO2012056967A1 - Faucet with water purifying function

Info

Publication number: WO2012056967A1
Application number: PCT/JP2011/074034
Authority: WO
Inventors: 江原　高志; 浩一中西; 泰彦江崎; 良北園; 好則山田; 省平伊藤; 貴康永田
Original assignee: パナソニック株式会社
Priority date: 2010-10-27
Filing date: 2011-10-19
Publication date: 2012-05-03
Also published as: JP2012092580A; CN103140635A; JP5746492B2; TW201219116A

Abstract

A faucet provided with a water purifying function, comprising: a spout having an untreated water introducing section on one end side thereof and a water discharging section on the other end side thereof and housing a water purifying cartridge between the untreated water introducing section and the water discharging section so that the water purifying cartridge can be replaced; and a switching section for switching between a water purifying path which leads from the outer peripheral side of the water purifying cartridge to the water discharging section, passing through the inside of the water purifying cartridge, and an untreated water path which leads to the water discharging section without passing through the water purifying cartridge. The untreated water path which leads from the untreated water introducing section through the switching section to the water discharging section is provided with a flow path which is located on the outer peripheral side of the water purifying cartridge and is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the water purifying cartridge by means of a partition wall.

Description

Water faucet with water purification function

The present invention relates to a water faucet equipped with a water purification function, in which a water purification cartridge is replaceably disposed in a holding portion of a shower head.

Some water faucets used in kitchens, kitchens, washrooms, bath rooms, etc. have a water purification function provided with the ability to purify water and / or hot water discharged at the time of use. In this type of faucet, Japanese Patent No. 4354597 proposes to selectively discharge raw water and purified water between the water shut-off portion and the spout in the faucet. A cylindrical water purification cartridge is replaceably disposed in the cylindrical portion, and a clean water flow path passing through the water purification cartridge in the cylindrical portion, a raw water flow path through which raw water flows as it is, and both flow paths It is shown that switching means are provided.

By the way, a cylindrical water purification cartridge generally has a first water purification section located at one end side in the axial direction and containing activated carbon and a second water purification section located at the other end side in the axial direction and containing a hollow fiber membrane. In the first water purification unit, water flows in from the outer peripheral surface thereof to reach the central space in the first water purification unit, and then flows out from the other end side in the axial direction through the second water purification unit. .

Therefore, the water purification cartridge occupies the central portion in the cylindrical portion, and the outer circumferential side of the water purification cartridge is also used as a raw water flow passage in the one described in the above-mentioned publication.

However, since the outer peripheral portion of the water purification cartridge is also used as a raw water channel in the above-mentioned publication, the raw water flows along the outer peripheral surface of the water purification cartridge when raw water is used. At the same time, there was a problem that harmful substances caught in the first water purification section of the water purification cartridge run out and mixed into the raw water.

Therefore, although the object of the present invention is that the outer peripheral side of the water purification cartridge is used as the raw water flow path, the water purification function is provided so that harmful substances do not flow out into the raw water from the outer peripheral surface of the water purification cartridge. It is to provide a faucet.

The faucet with water purification function of the present invention comprises the raw water introduction unit at one end and the water discharger at the other end, and the water purification cartridge is exchangeably accommodated between the raw water introduction unit and the water discharger. And a water passage from the outer peripheral side of the water purification cartridge to the water discharge portion through the water purification cartridge and the water discharge portion without passing through the water purification cartridge. A raw water flow path and a switching unit that switches whether a flow path through which water passes is used as the purified water flow path or the raw water flow path. Further, the raw water flow passage leading from the raw water introduction portion to the water discharge portion through the switching portion is a flow passage partitioned from the outer peripheral surface of the water purification cartridge through the partition wall as the outer periphery of the water purification cartridge Be prepared on the side. When the raw water is discharged, the raw water is made to flow from the outer peripheral surface of the water purification cartridge in a sectioned area. In this configuration, since water flows from the outer peripheral surface of the water purification cartridge through the dividing wall from the outer peripheral surface of the water purification cartridge at the time of discharge of the raw water, the water quality of the cartridge for water purification is the water quality Hazardous substances do not flow out to the raw water from the outer peripheral surface of the cleaning cartridge.

A cartridge storage case for storing the water purification cartridge and a cylindrical case for storing the cartridge storage case are provided, and the divided flow path is an outer peripheral surface of the cartridge storage case and the cylindrical case. Preferably, it is formed between the inner circumferential surface of

The switching unit is provided with a water purification valve for opening and closing a water purification channel communicating with the water purification discharge unit of the water purification cartridge, and a raw water valve for opening and closing the raw water channel. The water purification valve and the raw water valve, which are integrally movable, close the clean water flow path when opened in one axial direction and open the raw water flow path, and when driven in the other axial direction, the clean water Preferably, the flow path is opened to close the raw water flow path.

In particular, the water purification valve and the raw water valve are mutually connected via the interlocking member, and the water purification valve is provided with a spring in a direction to close the water purification flow path with respect to the interlocking member Preferably, the raw water valve is spring biased in a direction to close the raw water flow path with respect to the interlocking member.

Then, the raw water valve is formed by a plurality of raw water faucet rods respectively opening and closing a plurality of raw water passage openings provided in the raw water flow passage, and the plurality of raw water faucet rods have different clearances with respect to the interlocking member May be coupled to the interlocking member in the state of

In addition, a push button disposed at the tip of the spout and a mechanism for holding the push button in a depressed position and a restored position are provided, and the switching unit is driven according to the operation to cause the flow path It is preferable that the above-mentioned push button for switching is provided with a display part on its outer surface indicating a channel switching state depending on the pressing depth.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail. Other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood in conjunction with the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the spout at the time of the purified water discharge setting in the faucet with a purified water function of the embodiment of the present invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the spout at the time of the raw water discharge setting in the faucet with the water purification function of embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1 and at the time of setting straight water discharge. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. It is a side view of a faucet with a water purification function of an embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view of a discharge part of a spout in a faucet with a water purification function of an embodiment of the present invention. It is an exploded perspective view of a spout in a water faucet with a water purification function of an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of a cartridge for water quality purification in a faucet with a water purification function of an embodiment of the present invention. It is an exploded perspective view of a push button and a latch part in a faucet with a water purification function of an embodiment of the present invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the switching part in the faucet with a water purification function of embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the raw water faucet stick and plug bar base in other examples of the water purifier with the water purification function of embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the raw water faucet stick and plug bar base in the further another example of the water purifier with an embodiment of this invention. It is a fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view in another example of the water tap with a water purification function of embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the discharge part in another example of the water tap with a water purification function of embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. A water faucet with a water purification function of the present embodiment is used in a kitchen sink or washroom, and includes a main body 1 and a spout 2 as shown in FIG. The main unit 1 incorporates a water stop unit for stopping water, hot water or mixed hot water. The spout 2 is a shower head type which is detachable from the connection port 10 in the main body 1 and from which the raw water passing through the water blocking portion is supplied through the flexible hose 3. Since the water purification cartridge 4 is housed in the spout 2, the description of the details of the main body 1 is omitted here.

The spout 2 formed as a tubular one has the raw water introduction portion 29 at one end, the water discharger 21 at the lower end at the other end, and the tip surface at the other end for pushing operation for switching between raw water and clean water The button 22 is provided on the side surface of the water discharger 21 with a switching rod 23 for switching whether the discharge of the raw water is straight or as a shower. As shown in FIG. 1, the spout 2 has a main case 25, a valve case 50 fixed in the main case 25, a cylindrical case 26 connected to the rear end side of the valve case 50, and a cylinder Is formed by the root side cylindrical case 27 connected to the rear end side of the case 26 and the outer surface is covered by the upper decorative cover 20a, the lower decorative cover 20b and the root side decorative cover 20c. There is.

The rear end opening of the root side cylindrical case 27 is fitted into the connection port 10 of the main body 1 so as to be detachable, and the flexible hose 3 is root side by the clip 24 inserted from the outer surface of the root side cosmetic cover 20c. It is connected to the cylindrical case 27 in a watertight manner.

The water purification cartridge 4 is accommodated in the space surrounded by the cylindrical case 26 and the root side cylindrical case 27 screwed to the rear end side of the cylindrical case 26 via the cartridge accommodating case 28.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, the water purification cartridge 4 has a case 40, a cylindrical filter material 41 made of activated carbon, porous ceramic or the like, a hollow fiber membrane 42, a tip cap 43, and a rear part. A cap 44 and a tube 45 are provided. The case 40 incorporates a hollow fiber membrane 42, and the tip thereof is closed by a tip cap 43 provided with a plug 430 (clean water discharge portion). A pipe 45 is connected to the rear end of the case 40, and a filter medium 41 is disposed around the pipe 45. The pipe 45 is closed at its rear end and is provided with a passage opening in its peripheral wall. The rear cap 44 is connected to the rear end of the pipe 45.

A switching unit 5 for switching between raw water and purified water is disposed in a valve case 50 which is fixed to the inside of the leading end side of the main case 25. As shown also in FIG. 10, the switching unit 5 has a valve body 58 fixed in the valve case 50, a clean water plug rod 54 as a water purification valve, and a plurality of raw water faucet rods 55 as raw water valves. , A water purification plug rod biasing spring 57, a return spring 53, a plug rod base 52 (interlocking member), and a main plug rod 51. A water purification plug rod 54 is attached to the center of the plug rod base 52 (the interlocking member) so as to be movable in the axial direction, and is retained by a snap ring 59 shown in FIG. Further, the engagement groove 550 at one end of each raw water faucet rod 55 is engaged with a plurality of notches formed in the peripheral portion of the plug rod base 52 (interlocking member), whereby a plurality of plugs are formed in the plug rod base 52 (interlocking member). The raw water faucet bar 55 is connected.

The clean water stopper rod 54 faces the clean water passage port 586 provided at the center of the valve body 58, and the raw water faucet rods 55 are provided at a plurality of raw water passage ports 585 provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction in the circumferential part of the valve body 58 Each is inserted and arranged. Further, an umbrella type packing 56 is attached to the other end face of the raw water faucet rod 55. Furthermore, the valve body 58 is formed as a double cylinder, and the clean water passage port 586 is formed in the inner cylinder, and there is a partition that divides the front and back in the axial direction between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder. The raw water faucet rod 55 also penetrates through this partition wall, and the raw water faucet rod 55 is in water tight contact with the partition wall by packing.

The plug rod base 52 (the interlocking member) is movable in the axial direction of the valve case 50 in the valve case 50 and is biased by the return spring 53 in a direction away from the valve body 58. Further, the water purification plug rod 54 is biased toward the valve body 58 by the water purification plug rod biasing spring 57 with respect to the plug rod base 52 (the interlocking member).

For this reason, when the plug rod base 52 (the interlocking member) approaches the valve body 58 against the return spring 53, the clean water plug rod 54 passes the clean water while being biased by the clean water plug rod biasing spring 57. The ports 586 are closed, and each raw water faucet bar 55 opens each raw water passage port 585. When the plug rod base 52 (the interlocking member) is separated from the valve body 58 by the urging of the return spring 53, each raw water faucet rod 55 closes each raw water passage port 585 in the state of being urged by the return spring 53. The rod 54 is separated from the end face opening of the clean water passage port 586 to open the clean water passage port 586.

A ratchet block 6 and a push button 22 are disposed on the front end side of the valve case 50. The ratchet block 6 is composed of an outer case 61, an inner case 62 and a rotation cap 63 as shown in FIG. 9, and the outer case 61 is screwed to the tip of the valve case 50. The inner case 62 is fixed to the tip of the main plug rod 51 whose rear end face is in contact with the plug rod base 52 (the interlocking member), and is axially slidable with respect to the outer case 61. The spring biasing force of the return spring 53 for biasing the rod base 52 (the interlocking member) is received via the main plug rod 51. The rotary cap 63 disposed in the outer case 61 is sandwiched between the inner case 62 and the step portion 511 on the tip end side of the main plug rod 51 in a state of having a required clearance. While moving in the axial direction with the inner case 62, the main plug rod 51, the outer case 61, and the inner case 62 are rotatable about their axes. In addition, the rotation cap 63 has the claws 630 protruding outward from the outer peripheral edge of the flange on the rear end side.

The push button 22 is connected to the inner case 62, and consists of a base button 222 and a tip button 221, both of which are formed in different colors.

When the push button 22 is pressed against the return spring 53, the plug rod base 52 (interlocking member) is pushed through the main plug rod 51. Further, together with the push button 22, the inner case 62 moves in the axial direction, and the rotation cap 63 also moves in the axial direction. In addition, the inclined surface 621 formed on the rear end face of the rotary cap 63 facing the flange presses the inclined surface 631 formed on the flange of the rotary cap 63 to give the rotary cap 63 a rotation about its axis. For this reason, when the push button 22 is returned, the rotation cap 63 switches between a state in which the claw 630 projected from the outer peripheral edge is locked to the step 611 in the outer case 61 and a state in which the claw 630 is locked to the step 612. . Since the

steps

611 and 612 are also inclined, the rotary cap 63 is also rotated about its axis by the sliding contact between the

steps

611 and 612 and the claws 630 so that each push operation of the push button 22 is performed. The locking position of the claws 630 is switched.

Now, if the claw 630 is locked to the step 611, the push button 22 is held in a pressed state, and at this time, the main plug bar 51 is inserted via the plug bar base 52 (interlocking member). As described above, the raw water passage port 585 is opened and the clean water passage port 586 is closed in order to move the clean water plug rod 54 and the raw water faucet rod 55 backward.

In this state, if the push button 22 is pressed again, the claws 630 of the rotary cap 63 will be engaged with the step 612, and at this time, the return spring 53 can be locked via the plug rod base 52 (interlocking member) and the main plug rod 51. The push button 22 is also returned by urging, and the raw water passage port 585 is closed and the purified water passage port 586 is opened as described above.

As shown in FIG. 6, the water discharger 21 has a clean water discharge port 210, three discharge ports of a straight discharge port 211 and a water discharge port 212, and incorporates the switching valve 7 operated by the switching rod 23. doing.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the switching valve 7 is provided with a spring receiver 70 connected to an intermediate portion of the switching rod 23 exposing its both ends to both side surfaces of the water discharger 21, and a valve body mounted on the spring receiver 70. 72, a biasing spring 71 interposed therebetween, and a water discharge case 74 disposed and fixed inside the main case 50 and having two

connection ports

75, 76. The valve body 72 moves to the left and right by the axial operation of the switching rod 23, and as shown in FIG. 3, closes the connection port 76 communicating with the spouting port 212 and opens the connection port 75 communicating with the straight discharge port 211. As shown in FIG. 4, the connection port 76 is opened and the connection port 75 is closed.

The space in which the valve body 72 is accommodated communicates with the space 582 on the rear side of the partition wall of the valve body 58 through a communication port 502 shown in FIG. 10 formed in the outer peripheral wall of the valve case 50. The clean water discharge port 210 formed in the main case 25 is a clean water through the communication port 501 shown in FIG. 10 formed in the outer peripheral wall of the valve case 50 and the communication port 581 formed in the outer peripheral wall of the valve body 58. It communicates with the space in which the plug rod 54 is housed. The portion of the valve case 50 provided with the communication port 501 and the portion provided with the communication port 502 are partitioned by the packing mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the valve case 50 and in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the main case 25. .

When the water stop valve in the main body 1 is opened, the raw water is enclosed in the cylindrical case 26 and the root side cylindrical case 27 from the flexible hose 3 through the raw water introduction portion 29 and in the space where the water purification cartridge 4 is housed. To flow. Then, if the clean water passage port 586 is set to the open state (the state shown in FIG. 1) by the operation of the push button 22, the raw water passes from the outer peripheral surface of the filter material 41 through the filter material 41 and After passing through the inside and the hollow fiber membrane 42, it is discharged from the plug 430 (clean water discharge part) as purified clean water. Here, since the plug 430 (clean water discharge part) is fitted into the inside of the plug 280 at the tip of the cartridge storage case 28 and the plug 280 is connected to the clean water passage port 586 of the valve body 58 The water passes through the clean water passage port 586 to reach the clean water discharge port 210 and is discharged from the clean water discharge port 210.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2, a description is given of the case where the water shut off valve of the main body 1 is opened in a state where the push button 22 is pushed in, that is, the raw water passage port 585 is opened and the purified water passage port 586 is closed. Do. Raw water that has flowed from flexible hose 3 into the space in which water purification cartridge 4 is stored is the outer peripheral surface of cartridge storage case 28 surrounding the outer periphery of water purification cartridge 4 via a small space, and cylindrical case 26 and The raw water passage port 585 is reached through a flow path provided between the base side cylindrical case 27 and the inner circumferential surface thereof. Then, the raw water passes through the raw water passage port 585 and the space 582 on the rear side of the partition in the valve body 58, reaches the storage space of the valve body 72 in the switching valve 7, and is selectively opened by the operation of the switching rod 23. It is discharged from the straight discharge port 211 or the spouting port 212 through the port 75 or the connection port 76.

The switching between the purified water and the raw water and the switching between the raw water discharge and the straight discharge or the shower discharge from the spouting port 212 can be performed at the tip of the spout 2. In addition, although only the front end button 221 of the push button 22 is exposed from the upper decorative cover 20a when discharging raw water, the base button 222 of a different color from the front end button 221 is also exposed from the decorative cover 20a when discharging clean water. The push button 22 doubles as a display unit for displaying the switching state, and it can be clearly determined whether the water purification discharge state or the raw water discharge state is set.

The flow of raw water near the water purification cartridge 4 when it is set to discharge raw water passes through the flow path partitioned by the cartridge storage case 28 which functions as a partition from the outer peripheral surface of the water purification cartridge 4. Therefore, the substances caught in the filter medium 41 of the water purification cartridge 4 are hardly mixed with the water.

In addition, the switching unit 5 for switching between purified water and raw water is, as described above, biased by the return spring 53, and the raw water faucet rod 55 closes the raw water passage port 585, and the clean water plug rod energizing spring 57 The clean water blocking rod 54 closes the clean water passage port 586 in a biased state, and both are affected by dimensional variations and play of the components in order to close in a biased state of the spring. In addition to being able to securely close the raw water passage port 585 and the purified water passage port 586, the raw water is not mixed into the purified water. Moreover, since it does not close with excessive force, damage to the component can be prevented, and durability and reliability can be improved.

In the present embodiment, the single return spring 53 for biasing the center of the plug bar base 52 (the interlocking member) is also responsible for biasing the raw water faucet bar 54, but as shown in FIG. A biasing spring 559 may be attached to each of the plurality of raw water faucet rods 55 so that the raw water faucet rod 55 closes the raw water passage port 585 in a state of receiving the biasing force of the biasing spring 559. In the figure, reference numeral 556 is a spring bearing, and a biasing spring 559 is disposed between the plug rod base 52 (the interlocking member) and the spring bearing 556.

Further, with regard to the axial connection between the plug rod base 52 (the interlocking member) and the raw water faucet rod 55, it is preferable that a plurality of raw water faucet rods 55 have different clearances. As shown in FIG. 12, when the clearance 557 is set, when the plug rod base 52 (interlocking member) is moved to the valve body 58 by being pushed by the push button 22, the timing at which each raw water faucet rod 55 starts moving is shifted. As a result, it is possible to shift the timing at which the plurality of raw water passage openings 585 are opened. And since the movement to open the raw water passage port 585 is a movement in a direction to resist the raw water pressure bar 55, it will be gradually water flowed, and the water pressure at the time of water shut off will be gradually released. Therefore, the operation load of the switching part 5 of purified water and raw water can be reduced. In addition, since the plurality of raw water passage openings 585 are not closed at one time, it is possible to reduce the water hammer phenomenon that occurs when the large flow is instantaneously stopped, and to improve the durability.

In addition, giving a difference to the movement of the plurality of raw water faucet rods 55 is not limited to the example provided with the biasing spring 559 shown in FIG. 12, and biases the raw water faucet rod 55 with the return spring 53 described above. Also in the case, it can be realized by changing the groove width of the engagement groove 550 engaged with the plug rod base 52 (the interlocking member) in the raw water faucet rod 55 to have different clearances.

Another embodiment is shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. Although this has almost the same configuration as the above embodiment, it is also possible to discharge clean water from the straight discharge port 211 (or the water spray port 212) without providing the clean water discharge port 210 dedicated to water purification. Both the raw water passing through the raw water passage port 585 and the purified water passing through the purified water passage port 586 pass through the space in which the valve body 72 of the switching valve 7 is disposed.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to several preferred embodiments, various modifications and variations can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention, ie, the claims.

Claims

A raw water introduction unit is provided at one end side, a spout is provided at the other end side, and a water purification cartridge is exchangeably accommodated between the raw water introduction unit and the water discharge unit, A clean water flow path which penetrates the inside of the water purification cartridge from the outer peripheral side of the cartridge and reaches the water discharge portion, a raw water flow passage which reaches the water discharge portion without passing through the water quality purification cartridge, and a water flow A faucet provided with a water purification function, comprising: a switching portion for switching whether the passage is the above purified water flow path or the above raw water flow path, and the above raw water from the raw water introduction portion to the above water discharging portion via the above switching portion A water faucet with a water purification function, wherein the water flow path is provided on the outer peripheral side of the water purification cartridge with a flow path partitioned from the outer peripheral surface of the water purification cartridge via a partition wall.
The cartridge storage case for storing the water purification cartridge, and the cylindrical case for storing the cartridge storage case, wherein the divided flow path is the outer peripheral surface of the cartridge storage case and the inside of the cylindrical case. The faucet with a water purification function according to claim 1, which is formed between the peripheral surface.
The switching unit is provided with a water purification valve for opening and closing a water purification channel communicating with the water purification discharge unit of the water purification cartridge, and a raw water valve for opening and closing the raw water channel. The water purification valve and the raw water valve, which are integrally movable, close the clean water flow path when opened in one axial direction and open the raw water flow path, and when driven in the other axial direction, the clean water The water faucet with a water purification function according to claim 1, wherein the flow path is opened to close the raw water flow path.
The water purification valve and the raw water valve are interconnected via an interlocking member, and the water purification valve is spring-biased with respect to the interlocking member in a direction to close the water purification flow path. The water faucet with a water purification function according to claim 3, characterized in that
5. The water faucet according to claim 4, wherein the raw water valve is spring-biased with respect to the interlocking member in a direction to close the raw water flow path.
The raw water valve is formed of a plurality of raw water faucet rods respectively opening and closing a plurality of raw water passage openings provided in the raw water flow passage, and the plurality of raw water faucet rods differ with respect to the interlocking member The faucet according to claim 5, wherein the faucet is connected to the interlocking member in a state of having a clearance.
A push button disposed at the tip of the spout and a mechanism for holding the push button in a depressed position and a restored position drive the switching unit to switch the flow path according to the operation. The water faucet according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the push button is provided on the outer surface thereof with a display section indicating a flow channel switching state depending on the pressing depth.