JPH02207883A - Water cleaner of low voltage impression type - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To adequately display the time for exchanging a battery to a user by providing an exchange time detecting means which detects the voltage of the battery and announces the time for exchanging the battery and a detecting and indicting means which operates and stops the exchange time detecting means. CONSTITUTION:A current is supplied to a 1st light emitting diode 48 and a 2nd light emitting diode 49 for a prescribed period of time (for example, 1 second) by the detecting and indicating means 45 when the cock of a faucet connected to the water cleaner is operated. The voltage detecting means 51 turns on to light the 1st light emitting diode 48 if the voltage of the 1st battery 7 is above the prescribed voltage (0.7V) at this time. The user knows that it is not yet the time for exchanging the battery accordingly. The voltage detecting means 51 turns off to light the 2nd light emitting diode 49 if the voltage of the 1st battery 7 is below the prescribed voltage (0.7V). The user knows that it is the time for exchanging the battery.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an apparatus for purifying water, and more particularly to a low voltage application type water purifier that suppresses the generation of microorganisms in a filtration filter using a low voltage.

[Prior Art] Tap water contains inorganic substances such as fine iron and sand, fine organic substances that cause odor, and sterilizing chlorine that suppresses the growth of microorganisms in the water.

A water purifier is used as a means to remove these inorganic substances, organic substances, chlorine, etc. from tap water.

The water purifier includes an activated carbon layer filter in the water passageway as a means for purifying water. By allowing water to pass through this filter, fine dust contained in the water is captured by the filter, and organic substances and chlorine that cause odor are adsorbed by the activated carbon. As a result, inorganic matter, organic matter, chlorine, etc. contained in the water that has passed through the filtration filter are removed.

However, the captured and adsorbed organic substances remain in the filter as they are. Therefore, organic matter and inorganic matter such as activated carbon coexist inside the filter. In other words, the inside of the filter is in a state suitable for the growth of microorganisms.

On the other hand, if the flow of water through the filter is stopped, microorganisms will breed within the filter and the water will be contaminated. especially,
If water is not passed through the filter for several days, microorganisms multiply all at once, and the number of microorganisms after passing through the filter reaches tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of microorganisms per 11 parts of water.

As a means to solve this problem, a technique is known in which a low voltage is applied to a conductive filter.

This technology suppresses the growth of microorganisms on the filtration filter due to the applied voltage.

[Issues to be solved by the invention] rIf a low voltage is applied to the overfilter, if the applied voltage drops below a predetermined voltage, the effect of suppressing the proliferation of microorganisms will decrease; If the voltage drops below the voltage, microorganisms will proliferate within the filtration filter, so if a battery is used as the voltage source, it is necessary to replace the battery before the battery voltage drops to a predetermined voltage.

However, conventionally, it has been difficult for the user to appropriately judge when to replace the battery. In addition, batteries that require replacement depending on the period of use require the user to confirm the date of start of use or the date of replacement, which is not only troublesome for the user, but also prevents the battery from being used even after the replacement date. There was a possibility that someone could use the product without noticing when it was time to replace it. For this reason, a water purifier that uses a battery to apply a low voltage to a filter has not been put into practice.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a low voltage application type water purifier that can appropriately indicate to the user when it is time to replace the battery.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the low voltage application type water purifier of the present invention includes a water passage for flowing water toward a discharge port, and a water purifier disposed within the water passage, A conductive filtration filter that purifies water passing through the waterway by filtration; a positive electrode electrically connected to the filtration filter; a negative electrode electrically connected to the filter, a battery having a positive electrode connected to the positive electrode and a negative electrode connected to the negative electrode, and detecting the voltage of this battery, and determining that the voltage of the battery is a predetermined voltage. or a predetermined voltage, a replacement time detection means includes a display means for informing the user of the time to replace the battery, and a detection instruction means for activating or stopping the replacement time detection means. Adopt technical means to achieve this.

Examples of display means include lighting displays such as lamps and light emitting diodes, displays using liquid crystals, etc., which visually inform the user.

Alternatively, there are devices that notify the user's hearing, such as a buzzer, chime, and synthesized sound, and devices that notify both the user's visual and auditory senses.

Further, examples of means for operating the display means when the voltage of the battery is higher than a predetermined voltage or lower than a predetermined voltage include one in which the lighting display automatically turns off due to a voltage drop in the battery; There are means for detecting voltage, determining means for determining whether the detected voltage is a predetermined voltage, and display means operated by the output of the determining means. In this case, the determination means may be an analog circuit such as a transistor or a comparator, or a microcomputer.

Furthermore, as an example of the detection instruction means, there is one that detects the flow of water in the water passage and activates a replacement time detection means when water flow occurs; Various changes can be made, such as one in which the replacement time detection means is activated only by the time, and one in which the replacement time detection means is activated by manual operation by the user.

[Function] In the low voltage application type water purifier configured as described above, the detection instruction means activates the replacement time detection means. Then, if the battery voltage is higher than the predetermined voltage or if the battery voltage is lower than the predetermined voltage, the display means is activated to inform the user of the battery status. That is, in accordance with the instruction from the detection instruction means, the display means informs the user that the battery has not reached the time for replacement (1) or that the battery has reached the time for replacement.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the present invention has a display means that notifies the user that it is not time to replace the battery (1) or (A) that the battery has reached the time to replace it. Therefore, the user can easily and appropriately know when to replace the battery.

In other words, even if a water purifier uses a battery to apply low voltage to the filter, the user can replace the battery at an appropriate time, so microorganisms can grow inside the filter due to the voltage drop in the battery. This can be prevented.

[Example] Next, a low voltage application type water purifier of the present invention will be described based on an example shown in the drawings.

A first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

The water purifier 1 of this embodiment is composed of a filtration unit 2 shown in FIG. 2 and a base 3 shown in FIG. 3.

The filtration unit 2 houses a filtration filter 4 and a first housing 6 that forms a water passage 5, and a first housing 6 that houses an electric circuit 10 such as a battery 7.8 and a board 9 between the first housing 6 and the first housing 6. 2 housing 11.

First, the first housing 6 and the configuration inside the first housing 6 will be described.

The first housing 6 is a three-part body made of resin, and includes a cylindrical part 12 that covers the periphery of the filtration filter 4, a lower part 1113 attached to the lower part of the cylindrical part 12, and an L part of the cylindrical part 12. It consists of a top lid 14 that can be attached. The lower lid 13 includes a cylindrical boss portion 15 that is fitted into the base 3. The upper lid 14 is formed with a positive electrode holding hole 16a, a negative electrode holding hole 17a, and a water level electrode holding hole 18a for holding the positive electrode 16, negative electrode 17, and water level electrode 18, respectively.

Filtration filter 4 housed and held in first housing 6
is an activated carbon fiber layer with a through hole 21 in the center, and resin mesh filters 22 and 23 are arranged on the upper and lower surfaces. An upper partition wall 24 and a lower partition wall 25 made of resin are arranged above and below the mesh filters 22 and 23. In other words, the filtration filter 4 with the mesh filters 22 and 23 sandwiched between the upper partition wall 24 and the lower partition wall 25
It is held between.

Note that the activated carbon fiber layer has the property of conducting electricity. Furthermore, the filter 4 may be made of activated carbon.

The upper partition wall 24 is disc-shaped and has several holes 26 around it to allow water to pass through. Note that one hole 2 among the holes 26
A positive electrode 16 is inserted into the hole 6, and a negative electrode 17 is inserted into one of the other holes 26. In addition, a through hole 2 for the filter 4 is provided in the central portion of the upper partition wall 24.
1 and is provided with a cylindrical portion 27 disposed within the boss portion 15 of the lower lid 13.

The lower partition wall 25 is disc-shaped and has several holes 28 around it for letting water pass through. The center of the lower partition wall 25 is
An insertion hole 29 is provided through which the cylindrical portion 21 of the upper partition wall 24 is inserted. Further, the lower partition wall 25 is arranged so that the negative electrode 17 is insulated from the filtration filter 4. 13 and a lower partition wall 25, the guide tube 31 is provided to guide the user into a chamber 30 (a second space extending downward).

Next, the water passage 5 within the filtration unit 2 will be explained.

The water passage 5 in this embodiment includes a first space 32 formed between the boss portion 15 and the cylindrical portion 27, a second space 30 surrounded by the lower lid 13 and the lower partition wall 25, and a lower partition. wall 25
hole 28 in the upper partition wall 24, the third space 33 formed between the lower partition wall 24 and the lower partition wall 25 (the space in which the filtration filter 4 is arranged), the hole 26 in the upper partition wall 24, It is constituted by a fourth space 34 surrounded by the side partition wall 25 and a fifth space ra'I35 within the cylindrical portion 21. In other words,
When water flows into the first space 32, water flows out from the fifth space 35 on the inner periphery of the first space 32 (see arrows in FIG. 2).

Note that a check valve 36 is provided in the upstream portion of the second space 30 to allow water to flow only from the first space 32 to the second space 1j30. As a result, even if the supply of water to the first space 32 is stopped, the first space 32, the second space 30, and the third space 33 are always filled with water. That is, the negative electrode 17 is always electrically connected to the filtration filter 4 via water.

Next, the positive electrode 16, negative electrode 17, and water level electrode 18 will be explained.

The positive electrode 16 is an electrode made of carbonaceous material, is held by the positive electrode holding hole 16a of the upper W14, and is attached to the mesh filter 2.
2.23 and is inserted into the filtration filter 4.

The negative electrode 17 is an electrode made of aluminum.
; It is held by the negative electrode holding hole ○a of 1114, and is inserted into the second cavity 1 30 through the guide cylinder 31 of the lower lid 13 in a state insulated from the filtration filter 4, as described above.

The water level electrode 18 is an electrode made of carbonaceous material, and is held above the fourth space 34 by the water level electrode holding hole 18a of the upper lid 14. The water level electrode 18 has a property that its resistance value decreases when it gets wet with water.

Note that the materials of the positive electrode 16 and the stationary mold 17 are not limited to those in this embodiment, and may be modified in various ways as long as they do not cause any food hygiene problems.

Next, the base 3 will be explained.

The base 3 is made of resin and includes an insertion hole 31 at the top into which the boss portion 15 of the filtration unit 2 is inserted. The inside of the insertion hole 37 has a double pipe structure.

Then, when the boss portion 15 is inserted into the insertion hole 37, the tube 38 on the outer circumference of the base 3 communicates with the first space 32, and the tube 38 on the inner circumference communicates with the first space 32.
9 communicates with the fifth space 35. Note that the outer circumferential tube 38 is
It communicates with a water guide passage 40 that is connected to a faucet of a water faucet (not shown) that is operated by a user.

Moreover, the lower end of the inner circumferential pipe 39 serves as a discharge port 41 for supplying purified water to the user. That is, the water guide passage 40, the outer circumferential pipe 38, and the inner circumferential pipe 39 form a part of the waterway 5 of the present invention, and the user operates the tap of the faucet to discharge water from the faucet. Then, the water discharged from the faucet passes through the water guide passage 40, the water passage 5 in the passing unit 2, and is supplied to the user from the discharge port 41.

Note that O-rings 42 and 43 are attached around the lower end of the boss portion 15 and around the lower end of the cylindrical portion 27, respectively. As a result, when the boss portion 15 is inserted into the insertion hole 37, the connection portion between the tube 38 on the outer circumference of the base 3 and the first space 32 is sealed, and the connection portion between the tube 39 on the inner circumference of the base 3 and the fifth space 35 is sealed. Ensures a secure seal at the connection part.

Next, the electric circuit 10 housed in the second housing 11
We will discuss this using Figure 1.

The electric circuit 10 of this embodiment includes a first battery 7 and a second battery 8. The positive electrode of the first battery 7 is always connected to the positive electrode 16, and the negative electrode of the first battery 7 is also always connected to the negative electrode 11.

This electric circuit 10 is composed of a replacement time detection means 44 and a detection instruction means 45 for each person.

Furthermore, the replacement time detection means 44 is composed of a display means 46 and a switching means 47.

The display means 46 of this embodiment is a first light emitting diode 48 that informs the user that it is not time to replace the V battery.
and a second light emitting diode 49 for informing that it is time to replace the r battery. Note that the first light emitting diode 48 emits, for example, green light when energized.
The second light emitting diode 49 emits, for example, red light when energized.

As shown in FIG. 2, the second housing 11 is provided with a lens 50 for displaying the light emitted by the first light emitting diode 48 and the second light emitting diode 49 in the second housing 11 to the user. ing.

The switching means 47 switches the energization of the two light emitting diodes 48 and 49 that are energized according to the voltage of the first battery 7, and the switching means 47 switches the energization of the two light emitting diodes 48 and 49 depending on the voltage of the first battery 7.
The voltage detecting means 51 is provided which turns on at the above times. This voltage detection means 51 consists of a transistor 52 and two resistors 53 and 54 that supply a partial voltage corresponding to the voltage of the first battery 7 to the base of this transistor 52. and,
When this voltage detection means 51 is turned on, the transistor 55
is ONL, and the first light emitting diode 48 is enabled to be energized. Further, when the voltage detection means 51 is turned off, the transistors 56 and 57 are OWL, and the second light emitting diode 49 is enabled to conduct electricity. Note that reference numerals 58 and 59 in the figure represent resistors that limit the current applied to the two light emitting diodes 48 and 49.

The detection instruction means 45 of this embodiment applies current to the first light emitting diode 48 and the second light emitting diode 49 only during the first predetermined time (for example, 1 second) when the user uses the water purifier 1. So, transistor 60, three resistors 61, 62, 63, one timer capacitor 64
, and a water level type 4iffi18.

When the water level electrode 1B gets wet, the resistance value of the water level electrode 18 decreases, and the transistor 60 is switched ONL, the first light emitting diode 48 and the second light emitting diode 49, and the first battery 7 and so on until the capacitor 64 is completely charged. A voltage is applied by connecting the second battery 8 in series. In other words,
The detection instruction means 45 of this embodiment is the replacement time detection means 44.
It controls the operation (energization) and stoppage of the display means 46.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained.

When the user operates the tap on the faucet connected to the water purifier 1, the water discharged from the faucet is used from the outlet 41 provided in the base 3 via the water passage 5 in the water purifier 1. provided to the The water discharged from the discharge port 41 is
When passing through the water passage 5 in the water purifier 1, it passes through two mesh filters 22 and 23 and the filtration filter 4, so
Inorganic substances, organic substances, chlorine, etc. contained in the flowing water are removed.

When the user closes the faucet, the outlet 41
Discharge of more purified water stops. When the tap of this faucet is closed, the first space 32 and the second space 1j
3G, the third space 33 is filled with water, and the voltage of the first battery 7 is always applied to the filter 4. As a result, the proliferation of microorganisms in the filtration filter 4 is suppressed when the faucet is turned off.

Further, when the user operates the tap of the faucet connected to the water purifier 1, the detection instruction means 45 supplies current to the first light emitting diode 48 and the second light emitting diode 49 for a predetermined period of time (for example, 1 second). be done.

At this time, if the voltage of the first battery 7 is equal to or higher than a predetermined voltage (0.7V), the voltage detection means 51 turns ON and the first light emitting diode 48 lights up. This allows the user to know that the battery has not reached the time to be replaced.

Further, if the voltage of the first battery 7 is less than the predetermined voltage (0.7V), the voltage detection means 51 is set to 0, and the second light emitting diode 49 lights up. This lets the user know that it is time to replace the battery.

In this embodiment, the battery is replaced by replacing the V filter unit 2, which allows the first battery 7 and the second battery 8 to be replaced and the filtration filter 4 to be replaced at the same time.

In this embodiment, the user can appropriately and easily know when to replace the battery based on the display states of the two light emitting diodes 48 and 49. Therefore, even if the water purifier 1 uses a battery to apply a low voltage to the V filter 4, it is possible to prevent microorganisms from propagating within the filter 4 due to a voltage drop in the battery.

Furthermore, since the display means 46 of the replacement time detection means 44 is activated only during a predetermined period (1 second) at the beginning of use of the water purifier 1, the power consumption of the display means 46 can be kept very low. Therefore, even if the water purifier l is provided with the replacement time detection means 44, the battery life can be extended.

Furthermore, since the battery and the filter 4 can be replaced at the same time, the hassle of battery replacement can be reduced.

Then, remove the filtration unit 2 from the base 3,
The replacement of the battery and filtration unit 2 is completed by inserting a new filtration unit 2 into the base 3, so that the battery and filtration filter 4 can be easily replaced.

Fourth! A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in sU.

In this embodiment, a timer circuit 65 is provided on a circuit that electrically connects the positive electrode of the first battery 7 and the positive electrode 16. This is to turn off the current to the electrode 16 from ON to OFF. As a result, the battery life of the first battery 7 can be extended compared to the first embodiment, and the sterilization effect of the filter 4 can be maintained.

A third embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 5 to 7.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
Switches 66 and 67 are provided to turn off the energization paths of the battery 7 and the second battery 8. This switch 6
As shown in FIG.
operated by. When the filtration unit 2 is attached to the base 3, this rod 68 is pressed by a protrusion 69 (see FIG. 6) formed inside the tube 39 on the inner circumference of the base 3 to turn on the switch and turn the electric circuit 1 This is what activates ゜.

According to this embodiment, even if the first battery 7 and the second battery 8 are stored in the filtration unit 2, the switch 66
．． 67 is in the OFF state, and consumption of the first battery 7 and the second battery 8 can be eliminated. As a result, the first battery 7
With the second battery 8 installed inside the filtration unit 2, the filtration unit 2 can be stored for a long period of time.

A fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

In this embodiment, a water wheel 70 that is rotated by the flow of water is provided in the water road 5, and a generator 71 that generates electric power by the rotation of this water wheel 70 is provided.

The electricity generated by the generator 71 is charged into a capacitor 12 that stores electric charge. A low voltage is applied to the filter 4 due to the charge stored in the capacitor 72. Note that since the capacitor 72 stores electricity, it is regarded as a battery in this embodiment.

This embodiment eliminates the need to replace batteries, and the display means 46
Depending on the state, it is possible to detect a power generation failure or a malfunction in the electric circuit 10, and to know the sterilization state of the filtration filter 4.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention, in which Figure 1 is an electric circuit diagram of a low voltage application type water purifier, Figure 2 is a sectional view of the filtration unit, and Figure 3 is a sectional view of the filtration unit. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the base. FIG. 4 is an electrical circuit diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. 5 to 7 show a third embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the filtration unit, FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the base, and FIG. 7 is an electric circuit diagram. 8 and 9 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the filtration unit, and FIG. 9 is an electric circuit diagram. In the figure 4...filtration filter 5...water passage 7...first
Battery 8...Second battery 16...Positive electrode
17...-negative electrode 41...discharge port 44
...Replacement time detection means 45...Detection instruction means 46...Display means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) (a) a water passageway through which water flows toward the discharge port; (b)
a conductive filtration filter disposed within the water passage and purifying water passing through the water passage; (c) a positive electrode electrically connected to the filtration filter; and (d) the water. (e) a battery having a positive electrode connected to the positive electrode and a negative electrode connected to the negative electrode; (f) A replacement comprising a display means for detecting the voltage of the battery and informing the user that it is time to replace the battery when the voltage of the battery is higher than a predetermined voltage or lower than a predetermined voltage. A low voltage application type water purifier comprising: a timing detection means; and (g) a detection instruction means for activating and stopping the replacement timing detection means.