WO2019112123A1

WO2019112123A1 - Water purifier

Info

Publication number: WO2019112123A1
Application number: PCT/KR2018/004715
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jongho Park; Beomchul PARK; Youngjin Kim
Original assignee: Lg Electronics Inc.
Priority date: 2017-12-04
Filing date: 2018-04-24
Publication date: 2019-06-13
Also published as: KR20190065848A; KR102426082B1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a water purifier, and more particularly, to a water purifier including a water purifier body including a housing defining an outer appearance, and a filter provided inside the housing to filter raw water introduced from the outside, a water discharging nozzle exposed to a front surface of the water purifier body and configured to supply water passing through the filter to the outside of the water purifier body, an ultraviolet lamp provided above the water discharging nozzle and configured to emit ultraviolet rays to an inner surface of the water discharging nozzle, water discharging pipes configured to guide the water passing through the filter toward the water discharging nozzle, and at least two valves installed on the water discharging pipes and arranged to be spaced apart from each other to control flow of the water passing through the water discharging pipes, wherein when a water discharging operation is terminated, the valves are controlled to be closed at predetermined time intervals such that the water formed at a distal end of the water discharging nozzle is inward concave.

Description

WATER PURIFIER

The present disclosure relates to a water purifier.

In general, a water purifier, which is a device configured to remove foreign substances by filtering water, has widely been used in home.

In detail, the water purifier may be connected to a water pipe to remove floating matters or harmful ingredients contained in tap water using a filter, and may purify and discharge a desired amount of water according to manipulation by a user.

Various products that may discharge hot water and cold water as well as purified water have been released as such a water purifier. Further, in recent years, a water purifier that is small and may be installed in various installation environments has been developed.

However, when the user uses the water purifier in home, an institution, and an office, as bacterium of hands and bacterium or dust floating in the air are stuck to a water discharging nozzle configured to selectively discharge purified water, cold water, and hot water, the water discharging nozzle is polluted. Further, while impurities such as coffee come into contact with the water discharging nozzle in a process of discharging water through the water discharging nozzle to drink coffee or the like, the water discharging nozzle is polluted, and thus a large amount of bacterium may inevitably exist in the water discharging nozzle.

Further, because water always stays in the water discharging nozzle of the water purifier and the water discharging nozzle is exposed to the air, bacterium have no choice not to reproduce in the water discharging nozzle.

However, because to clean the water discharging nozzle every day is not easy to a general user, bacterium may reproduce in the water discharging nozzle.

Further, to prevent this, a water purifier (Korean Utility Model No. 20-0393066) in which an illumination configured to emit ultraviolet rays is mounted in the water discharging nozzle was disclosed.

However, in the above-described water purifier according to the related art, ultraviolet rays are exposed to the outside of the water discharging nozzle, thereby threatening safety of the user.

Further, to prevent this, a water purifier (Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2010-0098721) in which ultraviolet rays are irradiated from the lower side of the water discharging nozzle was disclosed.

However, in the above-described water purifier according to the related art, when ultraviolet sterilization is performed, it is inconvenient to cover an outer cover, and when purified water is discharged, it is inconvenient to open the outer cover. Further, only an end of the water discharging nozzle is sterilized, and a sterilization effect cannot be secured to the inside of the water discharging nozzle.

An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a water purifier in which a state may be maintained in which a water discharging nozzle of the water purifier is always sterilized by ultraviolet rays.

Further, another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a water purifier in which a user may always receive clean water through a water discharging nozzle sterilized by ultraviolet rays.

Further, yet another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a water purifier in which the shape of water formed at an end of a water discharging nozzle may be formed to be concave by setting an order in which existing installed valves are closed and a time difference between times when the valves are closed with no need to add a separate component or change the water discharging nozzle.

Further, yet another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a water purifier in which ultraviolet rays exposed to the outside of a water discharging nozzle may be diffused by concavely formed water, and as a result ultraviolet rays emitted from an ultraviolet lamp are not exposed to the outside of the water discharging nozzle or even when the ultraviolet rays are exposed, an amount of the exposed ultraviolet rays is small, so that a phenomenon may be prevented in which a body of a user is injured by ultraviolet rays exposed to the outside of the water discharging nozzle.

Yet another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a water purifier in which water flowing to a water discharging nozzle may be prevented from being spattered onto an ultraviolet lamp, and almost 100% of the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet lamp are transferred to the water discharging nozzle without loss, so that sterilization efficiency of the water discharging nozzle by the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet lamp may be improved as well.

To achieve the above-described aspects, a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a water purifier body including a housing defining an outer appearance, and a filter provided inside the housing to filter raw water introduced from the outside, a water discharging nozzle exposed to a front surface of the water purifier body and configured to supply water passing through the filter to the outside of the water purifier body, an ultraviolet lamp provided above the water discharging nozzle and configured to emit ultraviolet rays to an inner surface of the water discharging nozzle, water discharging pipes configured to guide the water passing through the filter toward the water discharging nozzle, and at least two valves installed on the water discharging pipes and arranged to be spaced apart from each other to control flow of the water passing through the water discharging pipes, wherein when a water discharging operation is terminated, the valves are controlled to be closed at predetermined time intervals such that the water formed at a distal end of the water discharging nozzle is inward concave.

Further, the valves may include a water supplying valve arranged to be adjacent to the filter and configured to control the flow of the water passing through the filter, and water discharging valves arranged to be adjacent to the water discharging nozzle and configured to control the flow of the water passing through the water supplying valve.

Further, the water discharging pipes may include a first water discharging pipe connecting the filter and the water supplying valve between the filter and the water supplying valve, a second water discharging pipe connecting the water supplying valve and the water discharging valves between the water supplying valve and the water discharging valves, and a third water discharging pipe connecting the water discharging valves and the water discharging nozzle between the water discharging valves and the water discharging nozzle.

Further, when a water discharging operation from the water discharging nozzle is terminated, the water supplying valve may be firstly closed, and after a predetermined period of time elapses, the water discharging valves may be closed.

Further, in a state in which the water discharging valves are closed, the third water discharging pipe may have the same pressure as the atmospheric pressure, and the second water discharging pipe may have an internal pressure that is smaller than the atmospheric pressure.

Further, while being closed, the water discharging valves may block flow of the water from the second water discharging pipe to the third water discharging pipe, and may allow flow of the water from the third water discharging pipe to the second water discharging pipe.

Further, each of the water discharging valves may include a central chamber vertically formed at a central portion of the corresponding water discharging valve, a first guide passage, one side of which is opened toward the second water discharging pipe and the other side of which is connected to an upper portion of the central chamber, a second guide passage, the other side of which is transversely opened toward the third water discharging pipe and one side of which is connected to a lower portion of the central chamber, an opening/closing portion formed above the central chamber, and configured to shield at least a part of the central chamber while protruding/retracting from/into the central chamber, and an elastic member formed above the opening/closing portion, and configured to press the opening/closing portion toward the lower central chamber.

Further, a lower end of the opening/closing portion may be located above the first guide passage when the valves are opened, and may be located between the first guide passage and the second guide passage when the valves are closed.

When the valves are closed, the water of the third water discharging pipe may press the opening/closing portion while flowing from a lower side to an upper side of the central chamber, the opening/closing portion may open the first guide passage while the elastic member is deformed by the pressing force, and thus the water of the third water discharging pipe may flow to the second water discharging pipe.

Further, in a state in which the water discharging valves are closed, an internal pressure of the first water discharging pipe may be the same as a pressure of the raw water and may be larger than internal pressures of the second water discharging pipe and the third water discharging pipe.

Further, the water discharging nozzle may be formed above the valves.

A water purifier according to the present disclosure has the following effects.

According to the present disclosure. a state may be maintained in which a water discharging nozzle of the water purifier is always sterilized by ultraviolet rays.

Further, a user may always receive clean water through the sterilized water discharging nozzle.

Further, the shape of water formed at an end of a water discharging nozzle may be formed to be concave by setting an order in which existing installed valves are closed and a time difference between times when the valves are closed with no need to add a separate component or change the water discharging nozzle.

Further, the ultraviolet rays exposed to the outside of the water discharging nozzle may be diffused by concavely formed water, and as a result the ultraviolet rays emitted from an ultraviolet lamp are not exposed to the outside of the water discharging nozzle or even when the ultraviolet rays are exposed, an amount of the exposed ultraviolet rays is small, so that a phenomenon may be prevented in which a body of a user is injured by the ultraviolet rays exposed to the outside of the water discharging nozzle.

Further, water flowing to a water discharging nozzle may be prevented from being spattered onto an ultraviolet lamp, and almost 100% of the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet lamp are transferred to the water discharging nozzle without loss, so that sterilization efficiency of the water discharging nozzle by the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet lamp may be improved as well.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2 is a view schematically illustrating a pipe and a valve of the water purifier according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view illustrating a water discharging module which is a partial component of the present disclosure.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a water discharging module from which a case is removed in Fig. 3.

Figs. 5 to 6 are views illustrating a change in an output of ultraviolet rays according to the shape of water formed at an end of the water discharging nozzle.

Fig. 7 is a view schematically illustrating a pipe and a valve of the water purifier according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a view illustrating various operational examples of a water discharging valve which is a partial component of the present disclosure;

Fig. 9 is a comparative table representing an amount of irradiated ultraviolet rays (UV) measured on the outside of the water discharging nozzle according to the shape of water formed at a distal end of the water discharging nozzle.

Fig. 10 is a comparative table representing an amount of irradiated UV according to a difference between a time when a water supplying valve is closed and times when the water discharging valves are closed, which is measured according to the temperature of water.

Hereinafter, detailed embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the spirit of the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments, and those skilled in the art, who understand the spirit of the present disclosure, may easily implement other embodiments included in the same scope of the spirit by adding, changing, and deleting components. Further, it can be understood that the other embodiments are also included in the spirit of the present disclosure.

Further, although the accompanying drawings correspond to embodiments of the same spirit of the present disclosure, the drawings may be differently illustrated in terms of fine parts, specific parts may not be illustrated according to the drawings, or the drawings may be exaggeratedly illustrated such that the spirit of the present disclosure should be easily understood without damaging the spirit of the present disclosure.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Further, Fig. 2 is a view schematically illustrating a pipe and a valve of the water purifier according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a water purifier 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a water purifier body 100 having a filter 120 configured to filter raw water introduced from the outside and defining the entire outer appearance of the water purifier 10, a water discharging module 200 formed on the front surface of the water purifier body 100 and having a water discharging nozzle 210 configured to supply water passing through the filter 120 to the outside of the water purifier body 100, and a tray 300 provided below the water discharging nozzle 210.

The outer shape of the water purifier body 100 may be defined by a housing 110. The housing 110 includes a front cover 111 defining an outer appearance of the front surface thereof, a rear cover 112 defining an outer appearance of the rear surface thereof, a base 113 defining the lower surface thereof, a top cover 114 defining the upper surface thereof, and side panels 115 defining opposite left and right surfaces thereof. The front cover 111, the rear cover 112, the base 113, the top cover 114, and the pair of side panels 115 may be assembled with each other to form the housing 110 defining the outer appearance of the water purifier body 100.

The water discharging module 200 is formed on the front surface of the water purifier body 100.

As an example, the water discharging module 200 may protrude forward from the front cover 111, and purified water may be discharged to the outside through the downwardly protruding water discharging nozzle 210.

Further, the water purifier body 100 may include a raw water pipe 410 configured to supply raw water to the filter 120 and

water discharging pipes

420, 430, 441, 442, and 443 configured to guide the water passing through the filter 120 toward the water discharging nozzle 210, in an interior thereof.

Further, a pressure reducing valve 350 configured to supply the raw water to the filter 120 by adjusting the pressure of the raw water may be mounted on the raw water pipe 410.

Further, a plurality of

valves

310, 320, 330, and 340 may be mounted on the

water discharging pipes

420, 430, 441, 442, and 443 to be spaced apart from each other so as to control flow of the water passing through the

water discharging pipes

420, 430, 441, 442, and 443.

As an example, the

valves

310, 320, 330, and 340 may include a water supplying valve 310 installed to be adjacent to the filter 120 and configured to control flow of the purified water passing through the filter 120, and

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340 installed to be adjacent to the water discharging nozzle 210 and configured to control supply of the water passing through the water supplying valve 310 to the water discharging nozzle 210.

Further, the

water discharging pipes

420, 430, 441, 442, and 443 may include a first water discharging pipe 420 connecting the filter 120 and the water supplying valve 310 between the filter 120 and the water supplying valve 310, second

water discharging pipes

430, 441a, 442a, and 443a connecting the water supplying valve 310 and the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340 between the water supplying valve 310 and the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340, and third

water discharging pipes

441b, 442b, 443b, and 450 connecting the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340 and the water discharging nozzle 210 between the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340 and the water discharging nozzle 210.

Further, branching portions 380 configured to branch the water passing through the water supplying valve 310 to the plurality of

pipes

441, 442, and 443 may be formed between the water supplying valve 310, and the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340, and the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340 may be individually installed in the

branched pipes

441, 442, and 443.

Further, the plurality of

pipes

441, 442, and 443 may include a purified water pipe 441 configured to guide the water passing through the filter 120 to the water discharging nozzle 210, a cold water pipe 442 configured to cool the water passing through the filter 120 to cold water, and then guide the cooled water to the water discharging nozzle 210, and a hot water pipe 443 configured to heat the water passing through the filter 120 to hot water, and then guide the heated water to the water discharging nozzle 210.

At this time, the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340 may include a purified water valve 320 installed on the purified water pipe 441, a cold water valve 330 installed on the cold water pipe 442, and a hot water valve 340 installed on the hot water pipe 443.

Further, the purified water pipe 441, the cold water pipe 442, and the hot water pipe 443 may be divided into the second

water discharging pipes

441a, 442a, and 443a and the third

water discharging pipes

441b, 442b, and 443b with respect to the

valves

320, 330, and 340.

Further, the purified water pipe 441, the cold water pipe 442, and the hot water pipe 443 may be joined at joining portions 390 formed between the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340 and the water discharging nozzle 210, and the water passing through the

pipes

441, 442, and 443 may be supplied to the one water discharging nozzle 210 via the one common pipe 450.

Further, a cooling tank 150 configured to make cold water by cooling the purified water passing through the cold water valve 330 may be provided on the cold water pipe 442.

As an example, the cooling tank 150 is filled with a coolant for heat exchange with the purified water. Further, an evaporator configured to cool the coolant, and the like may be accommodated in the cooling tank 150. Thus, when the purified water passes through the inside of the cooling tank 150, the cold water may be generated while the purified water is cooled.

Further, a hot water tank 160 configured to make hot water by heating the purified water passing through the filter 120 may be provided on the hot water pipe 443.

As an example, the hot water tank 160 may be configured to heat the purified water in an induction heating scheme. In the case of the induction heating scheme, when a hot water discharging operation is performed, the water may be heated promptly and rapidly, and the purified water may be heated to a desired temperature by controlling an output of a magnetic field, and then may be provided to a user. Thus, the hot water at the desired temperature may be discharged according to manipulation by the user.

Hereinafter, an overall water discharging operation of the water purifier 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 2.

First, the raw water pipe 410 of the water purifier 10 is connected to a faucet or the like to receive raw water. The pressure reducing valve 350 is installed on the raw water pipe 410. The raw water passing through the pressure reducing valve 350 is decompressed to a predetermined pressure for an operation of the water purifier 10.

Further, the decompressed raw water flows to the filter 120. The raw water passing through the filter 120 is changed to the purified water from which foreign substances are removed, and flows to the water supplying valve 310 through the first water discharging pipe 420. Further, when the water supplying valve 310 is opened, the purified water flows from the water supplying valve 310 via the second water discharging pipe 430 to the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340. At this time, a flow sensor 370 may be installed on the second water discharging pipe 340.

The purified water passing through the flow sensor 370 is branched to the purified water pipe 441, the cold water pipe 442, and the hot water pipe 443 through the branching portions 380. At this time, the branching portions 380 may be provided in plurality.

First, when the purified water is discharged, the purified water valve 320 is opened, and the purified water passing through the flow sensor 370 flows to the purified water pipe 441, and is then supplied to the user through the water discharging nozzle 210. At this time, the cold water valve 330 and the hot water valve 340 are closed.

On the other hand, when the cold water is discharged, the cold water valve 330 is opened, and the purified water passing through the flow sensor 370 flows to the cold water pipe 442. Thereafter, the purified water is cooled to the cold water while passing through the cooling tank 150, and is supplied to the user through the water discharging nozzle 210. At this time, the purified water valve 320 and the hot water valve 340 are closed.

Further, when the hot water is discharged, the hot water valve 340 is opened, and the purified water passing through the flow sensor 370 flows to the hot water pipe 443. Thereafter, the purified water is heated to the hot water while passing through the hot water tank 160, and is supplied to the user through the water discharging nozzle 210. At this time, the purified water valve 320 and the cold water valve 330 are closed.

Further, the water passing through the purified water pipe 441, the cold water pipe 442, and the hot water pipe 443 may be joined by the joining portions 390, and may then be supplied to the water discharging nozzle 210 through the one common pipe 450. At this time, the joining portions 390 may be provided in plurality.

Hereinafter, the "water discharging module", which is a partial component of the present disclosure, will be described in more detail.

Fig. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view illustrating a water discharging module which is a partial component of the present disclosure. Further, Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a water discharging module from which a case is removed in Fig. 3.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the water discharging module 200 includes a case 220 in which the water discharging nozzle 210 is exposed to a lower end of the case 220, and an ultraviolet lamp 230 provided inside the case 220 and provided above the water discharging nozzle 210 to emit ultraviolet rays to the inner surface of the water discharging nozzle 210.

The ultraviolet lamp 230 is provided above the water discharging nozzle 210 to emit ultraviolet rays. The ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet lamp 230 sterilizes an inner space of the water discharging nozzle 210. Thus, the user may always receive clean water through the sterilized water discharging nozzle 210.

As an example, the ultraviolet lamp 230 may be provided as an UV light emitting diode (LED) configured to emit ultraviolet rays. Further, the ultraviolet lamp 230 may emit ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 300 to 400 nm, specifically, 380 nm.

Further, the ultraviolet lamp 230 may intermittently irradiate ultraviolet rays.

The ultraviolet lamp 230 may consistently emit ultraviolet rays, or may sterilize the water discharging nozzle 210 while being repeatedly switched on/off.

As described above, when the ultraviolet lamp 230 intermittently outputs ultraviolet rays, sterilization performance of the water discharging nozzle 210 by the ultraviolet rays may be ensured, and at the same time, power consumption may be reduced.

For example, an operation may be repeated in which the ultraviolet lamp 230 is switched on for 5 minutes and is switched off for 55 minutes.

Further, in a state in which the ultraviolet lamp 230 is switched on, when a water discharging command is input by the user, the ultraviolet lamp 230 may automatically be switched off.

In the present embodiment, the UV LED may be mounted on a UV LED printed circuit board (PCB) 280.

Further, a protective window 240 configured to protect the ultraviolet lamp 230 from water and formed of a light transmissive material may be arranged below the ultraviolet lamp 230.

That is, the protective window 240 is provided to prevent the water flowing inside the water discharging module 200 from being spattered onto the ultraviolet lamp 230.

In detail, the protective window 230 is formed of transparent glass or plastic to transfer the ultraviolet rays output from the ultraviolet lamp 230 to the water discharging nozzle 210. Further, the protective window 230 prevents the water passing through the water discharging nozzle 210 from being spattered onto the ultraviolet lamp 230.

As an example, the protective window 240 may be formed of transparent quartz glass.

Quartz (SiO₂ 99.9%)has a light transmission ratio of 96%. In particular, it is known that the quartz has water resistance as well as a high ultraviolet ray transmission ratio. Thus, when the protective window 240 is formed of quartz, the water flowing inside the water discharging module 200 may be prevented from being spattered onto the ultraviolet lamp 230, and almost 100% of the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet lamp 230 may be transferred to the water discharging nozzle 210 without loss. Thus, sterilization efficiency of the water discharging nozzle 210 by the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet lamp 230 may be improved.

Further, an upper frame 290 on which the ultraviolet lamp 230 is seated may be provided above the water discharging nozzle 210.

If the ultraviolet lamp 230 is provided as a UV LED, an accommodation groove 291 on which the UV LED PCB 280 is seated may be provided in the upper frame 290.

Further, an opening may be formed in the upper frame 290 such that the UV LED mounted on the bottom surface of the UV LED PCB 280 is exposed to the water discharging nozzle 210.

Thus, the ultraviolet rays emitted from the UV LED are irradiated to the water discharging nozzle 210 through the opening, so that the water discharging nozzle 210 may be ultraviolet-sterilized.

Meanwhile, it is known that an amount of accumulated exposed ultraviolet rays allowed for a skin of a human during one day is 3 mJ/cm².

If the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet lamp 230 are exposed to the outside of the water discharging nozzle 210, the user may be injured.

To prevent this, when the position and the specification of the ultraviolet lamp 230 are adjusted such that the ultraviolet rays are not irradiated to a distal end of the water discharging nozzle 210, the user may be protected from the ultraviolet rays, but the distal end of the water discharging nozzle 210 may not be ultraviolet-sterilized.

Meanwhile, light is diffused when passing through a concave lens. When the ultraviolet rays are diffused at the distal end of the water discharging nozzle 210, the distal end of the water discharging nozzle 210 may also be sterilized by the ultraviolet rays. Further, since the ultraviolet rays are widely spread even though the ultraviolet rays are exposed to the outside, the user may be prevented from being injured by the ultraviolet rays.

To this end, a concave lens may separately be installed at the distal end of the water discharging nozzle 210. However, in this case, there is a complicated and troublesome problem in that a separate space for accommodating the concave lens should be formed and the concave lens should protrude such that the concave lens does not affect the flow of the water.

In the present disclosure, the shape of the water formed in the water discharging nozzle 210 is concave, so that the ultraviolet rays are diffused and spread while passing through a distal end of the concave water.

As described above, when the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet lamp 230 are diffused and spread from the distal end of the water, the intensity of the ultraviolet rays emitted to the outside of the water discharging nozzle 210 is weakened, so that the user may not be injured even when his/her finger is exposed to the water discharging nozzle 210 of the water purifier 10.

Further, a manipulation unit 410 may be provided on the upper surface of the water discharging module 200, and a water discharging button 420 may be provided on the front surface of the water discharging module 200.

As described above, in order for the manipulation unit 410 to be provided on the upper surface of the water discharging module 200, a storage space in which the manipulation unit 410 is accommodated may be formed on the upper surface of the case 220.

A hot water button, a purified water button, and a cold water button may be provided in the manipulation unit 410. At this time, in the case of the hot water button, the temperature of the hot water may be set. Further, a volume selection button configured to set a volume of discharged water and a continuous button configured to select continuous water discharging may also be provided. Further, a lock button configured to temporarily block manipulation of the manipulation unit 410 may be provided, and a sterilization button configured to switch on/off UV sterilization may be provided.

For reference, when a UV sterilization command is input through the sterilization button, ultraviolet sterilization of the water discharging nozzle 210 is performed.

In detail, in a state in which the water purifier is switched on, when the sterilization button 416 is pressed, a main PCB (not illustrated) switches on the ultraviolet lamp 230 through the UV LED PCB 280 and the ultraviolet sterilization of the water discharging nozzle 210 is performed.

As described above, according to the present disclosure, the manipulation unit 410 is provided on the upper surface of the water discharging module 200, so that a tall adult user may easily adjust an overall operation of the water purifier 10. On the other hand, a short child user may not recognize the manipulation unit 410 provided on the upper surface of the water discharging module 200, and may not easily manipulate the manipulation unit 410 even when the manipulation unit 410 is recognized, so that a safety accident may be prevented in which the manipulation unit 410 is randomly pressed, and thus a hand is scalded as the hot water is discharged.

On the other hand, the water discharging button 420 is provided on the front surface of the water discharging module 200, so that the short child user as well as the adult user may recognize the water discharging button 420, and when the user wants to discharge the water, the user may easily manipulate the water discharging button 420 to discharge the water.

As an example, the manipulation unit 410 is provided as a touch panel, and may include a volume button 411 configured to select a volume of discharged water, a hot water button 412 configured to select the hot water and to select the temperature of the hot water to be discharged, a purified water button 413 configured to select the purified water, a cold water button 414 configured to select the cold water, a continuous button 415 configured to select continuous water discharging, and a sterilization button 416 configured to switch on/off UV sterilization.

First, Fig. 5 illustrates a state in which water is formed to be concave at the distal end of the water discharging nozzle 210.

In this case, it can be identified that the light output by the ultraviolet lamp 230 is diffused (scattered) while passing through the distal end WP1 of the water formed to be concave and is irradiated while being spread to the outside of the water discharging nozzle 210. That is, water drops serve as a concave lens to scatter the UV, and accordingly, an amount of the UV irradiated to the outside of the water discharging nozzle 210 may be reduced. When the height at which the water is formed inside the water discharging nozzle 210 and a distance of the distal end of the water discharging nozzle 210 are properly adjusted using such a phenomenon, an amount of the UV irradiated to the outside of the water discharging nozzle 210 may be set to zero.

On the other hand, Fig. 6 illustrates a state in which water is formed to be convex at the distal end of the water discharging nozzle 210, which corresponds to a general case.

In this case, it can be identified that the light output by the ultraviolet lamp 230 is concentrated while passing through the distal end WP2 of the water formed to be convex and is irradiated to the outside of the water discharging nozzle 210, and since the strong ultraviolet rays, the intensity of which increases as they are concentrated, are irradiated to the outside of the water discharging nozzle 210, the user may be injured.

That is, when the shape of he water formed at the water discharging nozzle 210 is formed to be concave, the ultraviolet rays exposed to the outside of the water discharging nozzle 210 may be widely spread and scattered. Further, even when the ultraviolet rays are exposed to the outside of the water discharging nozzle 210, the intensity of the ultraviolet rays is weakened, and thus an accident may be prevented in which the user is injured by the ultraviolet rays outside the water discharging nozzle 210.

Hereinafter, a method of forming the water formed at the water discharging nozzle 210 to be concave will be described.

According to the present disclosure, the water formed at the water discharging nozzle 210 may be formed to be concave in a simple scheme in which a difference between a time when the water supplying valve 310 is closed and times when the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340 are closed is formed.

In detail, after the purified water, the cold water, and the hot water are completely discharged through the water discharging nozzle 210, when the water supplying valve 310 and the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340 are closed, a control is made such that the water supplying valve 310 is firstly closed, and the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340 are closed after a predetermined period of time elapses, so that the water formed at the water discharging nozzle 210 may be formed to be concave.

Referring back to Figs. 5 and 6, the water discharging nozzle 210 may include a first chamber 211 connected to the purified water pipe 441, the cold water pipe 442, and the hot water pipe 443 and formed below the protective window 240, and an inner member 214 formed below the first chamber 211 and having a hollow 212 communicating with the first chamber 211.

At this time, the inner diameter of the hollow 212 is gradually narrowed so that an inclined surface 213 is formed.

As described above, when the inclined surface 213 is formed in the hollow 212, the ultraviolet rays vertically irradiated from the ultraviolet lamp 230 may be irradiated to the entire inner surface of the hollow 212, and thus the entire inclined surface 213 of the hollow 212 may be sterilized.

Further, the inner diameter of an upper portion of the hollow 212, which is connected to the first chamber 211, is larger than that of a lower portion of the hollow 212, so that the water in the first chamber 211 is easy to flow to the hollow 212.

Further, a plurality of ribs (not illustrated) protruding toward a central portion of the hollow 212 may also be formed on an inner surface of the hollow 212 along a water discharging direction. The ribs (not illustrated) make the shape of stream of the water, and improve a vortex or the like.

As described above, when the water discharging nozzle 210 is formed, the water may be formed at a distal end of the hollow 212.

Further, the water discharging nozzle 210 may include an outer member 215 connected to an outer lower end of the inner member 214 and exposed to the outside of the case 220.

The outer member 215 has a shape extending downward from the inner member 214.

When the outer member 215 is formed as described above, the ultraviolet rays diffused while passing through the water formed to be concave at the distal end of the hollow 212 of the inner member 214 may be blocked without being exposed to the outside by the outer member 215. Thus, the ultraviolet rays exposed to the outside may be reduced to the minimum.

Further, the outer member 215 may be formed of stainless steel.

As described above, when the outer member 215 exposed to the outside of the case 220 is formed of stainless steel, the outer member 215 does not become rusty, and thus is sanitary, and a damage to and deformation of the outer member 215, which occur due to frequent use, may be prevented. Further, an outer appearance is beautiful, and a luxurious image may be added to the water purifier 10.

Further, the inner member 214 and the outer member 215 may be integrally injection-molded.

Here, the outer member 215 may be formed of metal, and the inner member 214 and the outer member 215 may be integrally formed in an insert injection molding scheme. Thus, a coupling force between the inner member 214 and the outer member 215 increases, so that leakage of water may be prevented. Further, production may be easily performed as compared to the existing assembling scheme.

Referring to Fig. 7, the water purifier includes the water supplying valve 310 and the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340 on a passage in which the raw water is introduced and is then discharged to the water discharging nozzle 210.

Further, the passage is divided into a first passage FP1 and a second passage FP2 with respect to the water supplying valve 310 and is divided into the second passage FP2 and a third passage FP3 with respect to the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340.

Here, the first passage FP1 may mean the raw water pipe 410 and the first water discharging pipe 420. Further, the second passage FP2 may mean the second

water discharging pipes

430, 441a, 442a, and 443a connecting the water supplying valve 310 and the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340 between the water supplying valve 310 and the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340. Further, the third passage FP3 may mean the third

water discharging pipes

441b, 442b, 443b, and 450 connecting the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340 and the water discharging nozzle 210 between the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340 and the water discharging nozzle 210. (see Fig. 2)

In a water discharging process, the flow of the water proceeds in an order of the first passage FP1, the second passage FP2, and the third passage FP3.

At this time, when the water supplying valve 310 is first closed, a part of the water of the second passage FP2 flows to the third passage FP3 via the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340 by the inertia. Thereafter, when the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340 are closed, the third passage FP3 has the same pressure as the atmospheric pressure, and the second passage FP2 has a pressure that is lower than the atmospheric pressure.

Further, the first passage FP1 has the same pressure as that of the raw water.

That is, in comparison between the pressures of the first passage FP1, the second passage FP2, and the third passage FP3, the pressure of the first passage FP1, which is the same as that of the raw water, is largest, the pressure of the second passage FP2, which is lower than the atmospheric pressure, is smallest, and the pressure of the third passage FP3, which is the same as the atmospheric pressure, has an intermediate valve between the pressure of the first passage FP1 and the pressure of the second passage FP2.

In this state, a part of the water of the third passage FP3 may flow backward to the second passage FP2 through the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340 due to a pressure difference between the second passage FP2 and the third passage FP3. As described above, when the water of the third passage FP3 flows backward to the second passage FP2, the shape of a distal end of the water formed at the water discharging nozzle 210 may be formed to be concave.

To this end, while being closed, the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340 may be provided to block flow of the water from the second passage FP2 to the third passage FP3, and to allow flow of the water from the third passage FP3 and the second passage FP2. As an example, the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340 may be provided as check valves. Further, the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340 may be operated in a solenoid type.

According to a modification, the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340 may simply have only an opening/closing function.

According to the present embodiment, an auxiliary passage (not illustrated) connecting the second passage FP2 and the third passage FP3 may be formed between the second passage FP2 and the third passage FP3 to allow the water to bypass the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340, and a separate check valve (not illustrated) may also be installed on the auxiliary passage (not illustrated) in parallel to the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340 to allow the flow of the water from the third passage FP3 to the second passage FP2 but block the flow of the water from the second passage FP2 to the third passage FP3.

Thus, when the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340 are opened, the water flows from the second passage FP2 to the third passage FP3 through the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340, and when the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340 are closed, the flow of the water from the second passage FP2 to the third passage FP3 is blocked, and the water may flow backward from the third passage FP3 to the second passage FP2 via the auxiliary passage (not illustrated) and the check valve (not illustrated).

Fig. 8 is a view illustrating various operational examples of a water discharging valve which is a partial component of the present disclosure.

Referring to Fig. 8, each of the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340 include a central chamber 301 vertically formed in a central portion thereof, a first guide passage 302, one side of which is opened toward the second passage FP2 and the other side of which is connected to an upper portion of the central chamber 301, a second guide passage 303, the other side of which is transversely opened toward the third passage FP3 and one side of which is connected to a lower portion of the central chamber 301, an opening/closing portion 304 formed above the central chamber 301 and configured to shield at least a part of the central chamber 301 while protruding/retracting from/into the central chamber 301, and an elastic member 305 such as a coil spring, formed above the opening/closing portion 304 and configured to press the opening/closing portion 304 toward the central chamber 301.

First, referring to Fig. 8B, when an opening signal is applied, the opening/closing portion 304 is forcibly raised, and the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340 are opened.

In an opened state as described above, a lower end of the opening/closing portion 304 is located above a connection portion C1 between the first guide passage 302 and the central chamber 301.

Thus, the water of the second passage FP2 may flow to the third passage FP3 via the first guide passage 302, the central chamber 301, and the second guide passage 303.

On the other hand, referring to Fig. 8B, when a blocking signal is applied, a raising force applied to the opening/closing portion 304 is released. By the elastic member 305, the opening/closing portion 304 is lowered, and the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340 are blocked.

In a blocked state as described above, the lower end of the opening/closing portion 304 is located between the connection portion C1 between the first guide passage 302 and the central chamber 301 and a connection portion C2 between the first guide passage 302 and the central chamber 301.

Thus, the water of the second passage FP2 fails to flow from the first guide passage 302 to the central chamber 301, and as a result, the water of the second passage Fp2 cannot flow to the third passage FP3.

Meanwhile, referring to Fig. 8C, it can be identified that in a state in which the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340, the water of the third passage FP3 flows backward to the second passage FP2.

In detail, in a state in which the opening/closing portion 304 is lowered by the elastic member 305, the water of the third passage FP3 flows to the lower side of the central chamber 301 via the second guide passage 303. Thereafter, by the pressure of the water introduced into the lower side of the central chamber 301, the elastic member 305 is deformed, and the opening/closing portion 304 moves upward.

Thereafter, when the opening/closing portion 304 opens the connection portion C1 between the first guide passage 302 and the central chamber 301, the water of the third passage FP3 may flow to the second passage FP2 via the second guide passage 303, the central chamber 301, and the first guide passage 302.

By the above-described process, when the water of the third passage FP3 flows to the second passage FP2 in a state in which the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340 are closed, the water formed at the water discharging nozzle 210 flows backward, and thus the shape of a distal end of the water may be formed to be concave.

Meanwhile, the water discharging nozzle 210 may be located above the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340 such that the water formed at the water discharging nozzle 210 may easily flow backward.

As described above, when the water discharging nozzle 210 is located above the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340, the water formed at the water discharging nozzle 210 located on the upper side is less affected by the weight of residual water remaining in the passages, and easily flows to the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340, and accordingly, the shape of the distal end of the water formed at the water discharging nozzle 210 may be formed to be more concave.

Fig. 9 is a comparative table representing an amount of irradiated ultraviolet rays measured on the outside of the water discharging nozzle according to the shape of water formed at a distal end of the water discharging nozzle.

Regarding a measuring method, an illuminometer is placed at a lower end of the water discharging nozzle 210, and while a distance between the distal end of the water discharging nozzle 210 and the illuminometer varies, an amount of irradiated UV is measured.

Referring to Fig. 9, it can be identified that when the distal end of the water formed at the water discharging nozzle 210 is concave, the amount of the measured UV is entirely small as compared to a case where the distal end of the water formed at the water discharging nozzle 210 is convex.

Further, it can be identified that when the distal end of the water formed at the water discharging nozzle 210 is concave, the amount of the measured UV is close to zero.

Fig. 10 is a comparative table representing an amount of irradiated ultraviolet rays according to a difference between a time when a water supplying valve is closed and a time when the water discharging valve is closed, which is measured according to the temperature of water.

Regarding a measuring method, an illuminometer is placed at a lower end of the water discharging nozzle 210, and after the water supplying valve 310 is closed, while a time when the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340 are closed is changed to 0.01 second, 0.02 second, 0.1 second, and 0.15 second, an amount of irradiated UV exposed to the outside of the water discharging nozzle 210 is measured according to each temperature of the discharged water.

Referring to Fig. 10, it can be identified that in the case of the cold water, when a time difference (between a time when the water supplying valve is closed and a time when the water discharging valves are closed) is not less than 0.1 second, the amount of the UV measured on the outside of the water discharging nozzle 210 arrives at zero.

Further, it can be identified that in the case of the purified water and the hot water, when the time difference is 0.01 second, the amount of the UV arrives at zero.

Thus, it is preferable that the time difference between a time when the water supplying valve 310 is closed and a time when the

water discharging valves

320, 330, and 340 are closed is selected within a range of approximately 0.01 second to 0.15 second, although the selected valve may vary depending on factors such as the temperature of the discharged water, the length of each pipe, performance of the valves, installation positions of the valves, and a flow rate.

According to the present disclosure as described above, the water discharging nozzle of the water purifier may always be sterilized by the ultraviolet rays, so that the user may receive clean water through the sterilized water discharging nozzle. Further, the shape of the water formed at the distal end of the water discharging nozzle may be formed to be concave by setting an order in which the existing installed valves are closed and a time difference between times when the valves are closed with no need to add a separate component or change the water discharging nozzle. Further, the ultraviolet rays exposed to the outside of the water discharging nozzle may be diffused by the water having the concave distal end. As a result, the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet lamp are not exposed to the outside of the water discharging nozzle or a small amount of the ultraviolet rays are exposed, so that a phenomenon may be prevented in which a body of the user is injured due to the ultraviolet rays exposed to the water discharging nozzle.

Claims

A water purifier comprising:

a water purifier body including a housing defining an outer appearance, and a filter provided inside the housing to filter raw water introduced from the outside;

a water discharging nozzle exposed to a front surface of the water purifier body and configured to supply water passing through the filter to the outside of the water purifier body;

an ultraviolet lamp provided above the water discharging nozzle and configured to emit ultraviolet rays to an inner surface of the water discharging nozzle;

water discharging pipes configured to guide the water passing through the filter toward the water discharging nozzle; and

at least two valves installed on the water discharging pipes and arranged to be spaced apart from each other to control flow of the water passing through the water discharging pipes,

wherein when a water discharging operation is terminated, the valves are controlled to be closed at predetermined time intervals, and the water formed at a distal end of the water discharging nozzle is inward concave.
The water purifier of claim 2, wherein the valves include:

a water supplying valve arranged to be adjacent to the filter and configured to control the flow of the water passing through the filter; and

water discharging valves arranged to be adjacent to the water discharging nozzle and configured to control the flow of the water passing through the water supplying valve.
The water purifier of claim 2, wherein the water discharging pipes include:

a first water discharging pipe connecting the filter and the water supplying valve between the filter and the water supplying valve;

a second water discharging pipe connecting the water supplying valve and the water discharging valves between the water supplying valve and the water discharging valves; and

a third water discharging pipe connecting the water discharging valves and the water discharging nozzle between the water discharging valves and the water discharging nozzle.
The water purifier of claim 3, wherein when a water discharging operation from the water discharging nozzle is terminated, the water supplying valve is firstly closed, and after a predetermined period of time elapses, the water discharging valves are closed.
The water purifier of claim 3, wherein in a state in which the water discharging valves are closed, the third water discharging pipe has the same pressure as the atmospheric pressure, and the second water discharging pipe has an internal pressure that is smaller than the atmospheric pressure.
The water purifier of claim 5, wherein while being closed, the water discharging valves block flow of the water from the second water discharging pipe to the third water discharging pipe, and allow flow of the water from the third water discharging pipe to the second water discharging pipe.
The water purifier of claim 5, wherein each of the water discharging valves includes:

a central chamber vertically formed at a central portion of the corresponding water discharging valve;

a first guide passage, one side of which is opened toward the second water discharging pipe and the other side of which is connected to an upper portion of the central chamber;

a second guide passage, the other side of which is transversely opened toward the third water discharging pipe and one side of which is connected to a lower portion of the central chamber;

an opening/closing portion formed above the central chamber, and configured to shield at least a part of the central chamber while protruding/retracting from/into the central chamber; and

an elastic member formed above the opening/closing portion, and configured to press the opening/closing portion toward the lower central chamber.
The water purifier of claim 7, wherein a lower end of the opening/closing portion is located above the first guide passage when the valves are opened, and is located between the first guide passage and the second guide passage when the valves are closed.
The water purifier of claim 8, wherein when the valves are closed, the water of the third water discharging pipe presses the opening/closing portion while flowing from a lower side to an upper side of the central chamber, the opening/closing portion opens the first guide passage while the elastic member is deformed by the pressing force, and thus the water of the third water discharging pipe flows to the second water discharging pipe.
The water purifier of claim 5, wherein in a state in which the water discharging valves are closed, an internal pressure of the first water discharging pipe is the same as a pressure of the raw water and is larger than internal pressures of the second water discharging pipe and the third water discharging pipe.
The water purifier of claim 3, wherein branching portions configured to branch the water passing through the water supplying valve to the plurality of water discharging pipes are formed between the water supplying valve and the water discharging valves, and

wherein the water discharging valves are individually installed in the branched water discharging pipes.
The water purifier of claim 11, the water discharging pipes include at least two of:

a purified water pipe configured to guide the water passing through the filter to the water discharging nozzle;

a cold water pipe configured to cool the water passing through the filter to cold water, and then guide the water to the water discharging nozzle; and

a hot water pipe configured to heat the water passing through the filter, and then guide the water to the water discharging nozzle.
The water purifier of claim 12, wherein the purified water pipe and the cold water pipe or the hot water pipe are joined at joining portions formed between the water discharging valves and the water discharging nozzle, and the water passing through the passages is supplied to the water discharging nozzle via one common pipe.
The water purifier of claim 1, wherein the water discharging nozzle is formed above the valves.
The water purifier of claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet lamp is provided as an ultraviolet (UV) light emitting diode (LED).
The water purifier of claim 1, wherein a protective window configured to protect the ultraviolet lamp from the water and formed of a light transmissive material is arranged below the ultraviolet lamp above the water discharging nozzle.
The water purifier of claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet lamp intermittently irradiates ultraviolet rays.
The water purifier of claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet lamp is switched off when the water is discharged from the water discharging nozzle.