JP2004033963A - Water treatment apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

[Objective] To remove impurities generated from an electrolytic cell.
A filter is provided downstream of an electrolytic cell for electrolyzing supplied water to produce alkaline water and acidic water. Specifically, two flow paths were provided on the downstream side of the electrolytic cell, and a filter means was provided in the flow path where the final drain of the flow path was located at a position where water could be easily collected. This filter means is composed of a metal mesh or a hollow fiber membrane. In addition, drainage cutting means is provided in the flow path where the filter means is not provided among the two flow paths.
[Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a water treatment device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, it is equipped with a water purification section that purifies raw water and an electrolysis section that electrolyzes purified water from the water purification section, and has alkaline water (alkaline ionized water) suitable for drinking and has the effect of tightening the skin, and is used for face washing There was a water conditioner capable of producing suitable acidic water (astringent water).
[0003]
This type of water conditioner generally has a configuration shown in FIG.
[0004]
That is, the water purifier communicates with the water pipe 200 into which the raw water flows, and the water purifier 300 containing a hollow fiber membrane or activated carbon capable of removing undesired substances such as residual chlorine and trihalomethane that are not drinkable. On the downstream side of the water purification section 300, an electrolytic cell 500 having two chambers defined by a diaphragm 530 is provided.
[0005]
When the user needs alkaline water, the first water intake pipe 710 is connected and connected to one of the chambers so that the alkaline water can be taken out. Water is available.
[0006]
Further, since the first water intake pipe 710 can be drained from a nozzle or the like located above the casing, it is easy to take water. , From the first intake pipe 710 is also generally performed.
In such a configuration, the intake pipe 720 is assumed to be used, and functions as a simple drain pipe.
[0007]
In the figure, reference numeral 600 denotes a calcium tank for adding calcium to purified water sent from the water purification section 300 to the electrolytic cell 500.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the above-mentioned conventional water conditioner has a configuration in which all the water passes through the water purification unit, the water is discharged even from the non-drinkable acidic water discharged from the second water intake pipe. It is useless considering the life of activated carbon and hollow fiber membranes.
[0009]
Further, it is not preferable that water in a state without a sterilization action stays in the water passage after the water is purified. In particular, if the water is not used for drinking, the water purification function by the activated carbon may cause the electrolysis performance to deteriorate for electrolysis.
[0010]
Also, solidified calcium and the like may adhere to the electrolytic cell 500, and the solidified substance may flow out together with water when passing through the electrolytic cell 500. Therefore, it is used when drinking as alkaline water. May feel distrust as a foreign body.
[0011]
This could not be removed as long as the water purification section 300 was on the upstream side of the electrolytic cell 500.
Furthermore, since the water purification section 300 removes hypochlorous acid having a sterilizing effect, water downstream of the water purification section is easily contaminated by various bacteria, but since the water purification section is on the upstream side of the electrolytic cell, A large amount of water that is easily contaminated stays in the main passage including the inside of the electrolytic cell, which is not desirable.
[0012]
In addition, although various bacteria often enter from the drain, there is a problem in that there is no means for preventing invasion of various bacteria into the main body channel in the long flow path downstream of the water purification section.
[0013]
An object of the present invention is to provide a water treatment device that can solve the above-described problems.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the present invention, a filter unit is disposed downstream of an electrolytic cell that electrolyzes supplied water to generate alkaline water and acidic water.
This makes it possible to prevent the solidified calcium and the like in the electrolytic cell from being drained to the outside together with the water when passing through the electrolytic cell by the filter section.
[0015]
According to the present invention, two flow paths are provided on the downstream side of the electrolytic cell, and a filter means is provided in a flow path in which a final drain of the flow path is located at a position where water can be easily collected. .
The one where the final drain port is located at a position where it is easy to collect water specifically refers to a nozzle extending from the upper surface of the casing, but in a case where two drain hoses extend from the casing (so-called return type). Means the flow path on the side where the drain is set to the faucet side of the water supply.
[0016]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, a water purification function is added to the filter means. Here, the water purification function refers to the adsorption of calcium components and the like by activated carbon and the like, and the filter means is used for relatively coarse filters such as metal mesh, cloth, and filter paper as well as various bacteria such as hollow fiber membranes. Also refers to removable filtration means.
[0017]
Further, the present invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the water purification section is not disposed upstream of the electrolytic cell.
[0018]
In the inventions according to the fifth and sixth aspects, a flow rate restricting means and a drainage cutting means are provided in one of the two flow paths where the filter means is not provided.
[0019]
Further, in the present invention according to claim 7, of the two flow paths, the flow path in which the filter means is provided is provided with a bypass path for bypassing the filter means and a flow path changing means for the bypass path.
[0020]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
As described above, the present invention is characterized in that the filter means is disposed upstream of the final water outlet and downstream of the electrolytic cell. By changing the arrangement with respect to the electrolytic cell from the upstream side to the downstream side of the electrolytic cell, the following effects can be obtained.
[0021]
That is, in a water treatment apparatus having an electrolytic cell, when water is passed through the water purification section and then passes through the electrolytic cell, if solidified calcium and the like, which are impurities specific to the electrolytic cell, are removed. There was no means. In the present invention, since the final impurities are removed before the drain port, impurities are not mixed into the water to be taken.
[0022]
In addition, if this filter means is a high-precision filter such as a hollow fiber membrane, it is also effective in removing germs and the like, and on the contrary, completely prevents invasion of germs and other impurities from the outside into the flow path. I can do it.
[0023]
In particular, disposing the filter means only in the flow path on the side of the discharge nozzle, which is easy to collect water and is substantially used in the main flow path, of the two flow paths, it is possible to filter the unused water in the entire water flow. By not passing through, there is an effect of extending the life of the filter.
[0024]
In addition, the flow path resistance of each flow path is made uniform by providing a flow rate restricting means on the flow path on which the filter means is not provided, so that water which has become difficult to flow due to the filter means flows to the other flow path side. Prevent uneven flow.
[0025]
Furthermore, when drainage cut means such as a solenoid valve that can be freely opened and closed is provided in the flow path on the side where no filter means is provided, this solenoid valve is used when only purified water is required instead of electrolytic water. By merely closing the water, the water is drained through the filter means in the main flow path without branching in the electrolytic cell, and there is an effect that the water is not wasted.
[0026]
By the way, in the water treatment apparatus according to the present invention, a configuration is known in which the polarity of the electrolytic cell is reversed so that the acidic water is discharged from the main drain port so that the acidic water can be easily taken in. In such a configuration, it is desirable to provide a bypass path for bypassing the filter means and a flow path changing means to the bypass path since it is not necessary to pass through the filter means at the time of taking out the acidic water.
[0027]
【Example】
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
[0028]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the internal structure of a water conditioner A according to the present embodiment from the front side, and FIG. 2 is a schematic flow diagram of the water conditioner A.
[0029]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a water treatment apparatus A according to the present embodiment accommodates an electrolytic tank 1 that electrolyzes raw water such as tap water and generates acidic water and alkaline water in a substantially box-shaped casing 2. are doing. Reference numeral 3 denotes a raw water hose which can be directly connected to a faucet (not shown) and extends from the bottom of the casing 2. Reference numeral 4 denotes a discharge nozzle for discharging the treated water treated by the water treatment unit 1, provided on the upper surface of the casing 2.
[0030]
Reference numeral 10 denotes a drug cartridge containing an electrolysis accelerator such as calcium glycerophosphate, which has a function of adding a drug to raw water. The medicine can be stored by opening the lid 14. The water flowing in from the raw water hose 3 continues from the raw water inflow path 13 to the electrolytic cell inlet 11 via the above-mentioned drug cartridge 10. The electrolytic cell 1 has two entrances, and two chambers are defined by the diaphragm 20. Electrodes are provided in each of the chambers. In a normal use state, the first electrode plate 19 becomes a negative electrode, and the second electrode plate 18 becomes a positive electrode. It passes through the flow path 8, passes through the water purifier 5, reaches the first drain flow path 15 to the discharge nozzle 4, and is used.
[0031]
The water purifier 5 is provided with activated carbon and a hollow fiber membrane in order from the upstream side inside.
In this embodiment, the filter means refers to a hollow fiber membrane in a water purifier.However, a filter means other than the hollow fiber membrane is naturally also conceivable.For example, a filter having a filtration function is provided downstream of activated carbon. It can be said that even a water purifier provided with a certain cloth or a so-called filter paper has a filter means.
[0032]
On the other hand, the acidified water is drained from the second channel 9 through the second drain channel 16.
In the second flow path, an electromagnetic valve 6 as drainage cutting means and a constant flow valve 7 as flow rate limiting means are provided halfway. The constant flow valve 7 prevents the flow path resistance from the first flow path 8 to the downstream and the flow path resistance from the second flow path 9 to the downstream from greatly differing depending on the presence or absence of the filter means. It is provided for. The flow rate restricting means may be provided also in the first flow path. When the flow rate restricting means is provided in each flow path, the flow rate of each flow path is considered in consideration of the flow path resistance by the water purifier and the characteristics of the electrolytic cell. It has a function to set the ratio to a predetermined one.
[0033]
In a normal use state, the solenoid valve 6 of the second flow path 9 is in an open state, and when alkaline water is to be drained from the main discharge port, the acidic water is simultaneously discharged from the second drain path 16. Although the water is drained, the water treatment apparatus according to the present embodiment is configured so that the control unit 21 can control the polarity reversal to the electrolytic cell, so that the acidic water can be drained from the discharge nozzle 4 which is the main water outlet. Therefore, it is not necessary to actively use the water drained from the second drain passage 16 in order to obtain the acidic water.
[0034]
Further, below the water purifier 5, a drainage path 17 of the retained water branches off from the water purifier and joins the second drainage flow path 16. Reference numeral 12 is a check valve for preventing water from flowing into the water purifier side from the second drain passage 16, and this configuration prevents a large amount of water from staying in the water purifier 5 after using the water treatment device. .
[0035]
As described above, in the water treatment apparatus according to the present invention, the water is drained from the two drain passages 15 and 16 after passing through the electrolytic cell 1. The water purifier having the filter means is provided only on the first flow path 8 side connected to the discharge nozzle 4 provided on the upper surface of the casing serving as the discharge port.
[0036]
In the water treatment apparatus according to the present invention, acidic water, alkaline water, and purified water can be freely selected by operating buttons on an operation panel (not shown) provided on the casing 2.
When the user selects the alkaline water, the first electrode plate 19 becomes a negative electrode and the second electrode plate becomes a positive electrode according to a signal from the control unit 21. The alkaline water passes through the water purifier 5 from the first flow path 8, and the desired alkaline water is discharged from the discharge nozzle 4 through the first drainage flow path 15. Since the discharge nozzle 4 is located above the casing 2, the user can easily take water. Since the electromagnetic valve 6 is in the open state, the acidic water is drained from the second drain passage 16 which is the other drain passage. In the case where the type can be selected, since the intention of taking alkaline water is clear, it is easier for the user to explain that the water discharged from the drain passage 16 is not used.
[0037]
When it is desired to take out the acidic water from the discharge nozzle 4, the operation button is used to select the acidic water, and the first electrode plate 19 is used as a positive electrode, and the second electrode plate 18 is used as a negative electrode. 4 can be sampled.
In this case, although the alkaline water is drained from the second drain passage 16, it is not the water intended by the user.
In any case, the water passing through the second drain passage 16 is not used because there is no filter means 5.
[0038]
When the user selects water purification using the water purification button, the application of voltage to the electrodes 18 and 19 of the electrolytic cell 1 is stopped by a signal from the control unit 21, and the electromagnetic valve 6 on the second flow path 9 is stopped. Is closed. Therefore, all the water from the raw water hose 3 flows to the first flow path 8 side, and all the water is purified by the water purifier 5 and discharged from the discharge nozzle 4.
[0039]
Therefore, when the user wants the alkaline water with the operation button or the like, the alkaline water that has passed through the water purifier 5 is drained from the main discharge nozzle 4, and when the user wants the acidic water, the main water is discharged. The acidic water that has passed through the water purifier 5 is discharged from the discharge nozzle 4.
[0040]
When the user wants to purify water, all water can pass through the water purifier 5 and be drained from the main discharge nozzle 4 without discharging water from the second drain passage 16. .
In any case, only the water discharged from the main discharge nozzle passes through the filter means, so that it is possible to reliably filter only the necessary water, whether it is alkaline water, acidic water, or purified water, using a filter. There is.
[0041]
Next, another embodiment is shown in FIGS.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a flow path of a water treatment apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. The arrangement of the filter means and the configuration of the discharge nozzle are different from those of the above embodiment.
As shown in the flow chart in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, water from the raw water hose 3 passes through the water purifier 5 and then flows into the electrolytic cell 1 via the drug cartridge 10. The filter is branched from the electrolytic cell 1 to a first flow path 51 and a second flow path 52, and a filter means 54 is provided between the first flow path 51 and the outlet of the discharge nozzle 53.
[0042]
The filter means 54 has a structure in which a replaceable metal mesh plate is mounted inside a detachable nozzle port 55 as shown in FIG. 4, and impurities such as solidified calcium can be filtered by the mesh plate.
[0043]
Since the water treatment apparatus of the present embodiment has a water purifier disposed upstream of the electrolytic cell as in the general case, it has not only a normal level of water purification performance but also the electrolytic cell as described above. Since the filter means is provided on the downstream side of the electrolytic cell 1, it is possible to prevent the solid impurities (such as calcium components adhered to the electrode plate) peculiar to the electrolytic cell from mixing in the water which has conventionally occurred in the electrolytic cell 1. Even by filtering through a filter means, it is possible to provide high quality water to the user.
[0044]
Even if the filter means in this embodiment is a simple one such as the mesh plate, there is no problem because a water purifier of normal performance is arranged on the upstream side, but the mesh plate has a more excellent filtering function. A filter may be used, and a filter that can prevent passage of various bacteria such as a hollow fiber membrane is more preferable.
[0045]
Thus, if a hollow fiber membrane is used as the final filter means, the water purifier on the upstream side may have only the function of adsorbing activated carbon.
The same applies to the first embodiment described above. However, when the filter means is disposed at a position substantially close to the outlet from the discharge nozzle, the filter means is particularly capable of passing bacteria such as hollow fiber membranes. With the use of a membrane that can prevent the discharge of impurities generated due to various inconveniences such as the propagation of various bacteria generated inside the water treatment device, it is possible to ultimately prevent the discharge of water after passing through the filter means. Since it is relatively small and is immediately discharged to the outside, it is possible to reduce as much as possible the germ propagation factor after passing through the final filter.
[0046]
Furthermore, various bacteria which may enter from the discharge nozzle side can be shut out by the final filter means without entering the water treatment apparatus, which is very convenient.
[0047]
Next, a further embodiment is shown in FIG.
In this embodiment, a first passage 61 downstream of the electrolytic cell 1 is provided with a bypass 60 for bypassing the water purifier 5 and the water purifier, and an electromagnetic valve 63 as a passage switching means to the bypass 60. It has the characteristic that it was arranged.
[0048]
An electromagnetic valve 64 as drainage cutting means is also provided in the second flow path 62, and by controlling these electromagnetic valves 63, 64 by the control unit 65, water required from the discharge nozzle 4 can be obtained in an optimal state. .
[0049]
That is, filtration is performed by the water purifier 5 as a filter only when alkaline water and purified water as drinking water are selected, and when acidic water is selected, the water is discharged by bypassing the filter 5. (Refer to the table in Fig. 5 for the operation of each solenoid valve.)
Therefore, the filter means is used only when necessary, and the life of the filter means can be extended.
[0050]
【The invention's effect】
(1) According to the first aspect of the present invention, the filter means is disposed downstream of the electrolytic cell that generates alkaline water and acidic water by electrolyzing the supplied water, so that the electrolytic cell portion is provided. There is no possibility that the generated impurities such as the solidified calcium component are discharged from the discharge port.
[0051]
(2) According to the second aspect of the present invention, two flow paths are provided on the downstream side of the electrolytic cell, and the filter means is disposed in a flow path in which the final drain of the flow path is located at a position where water can be easily collected. With this arrangement, only the water from the main intake port is passed through the filter means, and unnecessary use of the filter means for unnecessary water can be avoided, and the life of the filter means can be extended.
[0052]
(3) According to the present invention, since the filter means has a water purifying function, it is possible to provide more optimal water as drinking water. It is possible to adopt a configuration in which no water purifier is provided.
[0053]
(4) According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, by providing the flow rate restricting means in the one of the two flow paths where the filter means is not provided, the flow resistance of the branched flow path can be balanced. It can be appropriate.
[0054]
(5) According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the drainage cutting means is provided in one of the two flow paths where the filter means is not provided. Since water can be passed through only one of the drainage channels, all water can be used effectively and water can be saved.
[0055]
(6) In the present invention according to claim 7, a bypass path for bypassing the filter means and a flow path changing means for the bypass path are provided in the one of the two flow paths where the filter means is provided. Therefore, it is possible to selectively switch the use of the filter means even in the flow path communicating with the main intake port, and it is possible to avoid unnecessary use of the filter means when trying to obtain acidic water from the discharge nozzle, and the like. Can be further extended.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a water treatment apparatus according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a flow path of the water treatment apparatus.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a flow path of a water treatment apparatus according to another embodiment.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a nozzle portion of a water treatment apparatus according to another embodiment.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a flow path of a water treatment apparatus according to still another embodiment.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a conventional water treatment apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electrolyzer 2 Casing 5 Filter means

Claims (7)

A water treatment apparatus, comprising: a filter provided downstream of an electrolytic cell that generates alkaline water and acidic water by electrolyzing supplied water. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein two flow paths are provided on the downstream side of the electrolytic cell, and a filter means is disposed on a flow path in which a final drain port of the flow path is located at a position where water is easily collected. 3. Water treatment equipment. The water treatment device according to claim 1, wherein the filter has a water purification function. The water treatment apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a water purification section is not provided upstream of the electrolytic cell. The water treatment apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a flow rate restricting means is provided in a flow path in which the filter means is not provided among the two flow paths. The water treatment apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein drainage cutting means is provided in one of the two flow paths where the filter means is not provided. 7. A flow path in which the filter means is provided among the two flow paths, a bypass path for bypassing the filter means and a flow path changing means to the bypass path are provided. Water treatment equipment.

Images