JPH06346860A - Water supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a water supply device improving quantitative water feeding performance and preventing the generation of microorganisms since soil is unliable to adhere by connecting a quantitative pump to a feed water pump so as to feed water in the feed water tank quantitatively by the quantitative pump. CONSTITUTION:A water supply device 1 for supplying water to an ice making plate in a refrigerator, for instance, is formed by connecting a rotary pump 4 or a tube pump 8 as a quantitative pump to a feed water tank 2 through a joint 3. Water in the feed water tank 2 is supplied to the ice making plate by the rotary pump 4 or tube pump 8, and quantitative water supply control is performed according to the rotating speed or rotating time of a motor. On the other hand, the water in a feed water hose 29 is returned to the feed water tank 2 by the reverse rotation of the motor. Quantitative water feeding performance is thereby improved, and the contact between water and outside air is cut off. The inside of the water feed hose 29 is maintained in the water non-stored state, so that soil is unliable to adhere thereto, and the generation of microorganisms can be prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water supply device for supplying a fixed amount of water in a water supply tank with a metering pump.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional water supply device is used, for example, for supplying water to an ice tray of a refrigerator, and a spiral pump for sucking water from a suction port to supply water by rotating an impeller in a vortex chamber with a motor. A structure including a water pan for supplying water to the centrifugal pump and a water tank for supplying water to the water pan (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-72495).
Issue).

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned water supply device, since the spiral pump is constantly immersed in the water in the water receiving tray and the water in the water receiving tray is in contact with the outside air, the casing of the spiral pump and There was a problem that dirt such as water stains and dust in the air adhered to the surface of the blade, and in the worst case, microorganisms such as mold were generated. Further, the centrifugal pump has a problem that it is difficult to supply water in a fixed amount, and the performance of supplying water in a fixed amount is deteriorated.

[0004]

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a water supply apparatus capable of preventing the generation of dirt and microorganisms and improving the quantitative water supply performance. Especially.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention for achieving the above object comprises a water supply tank and a metering pump connected to the water supply tank, and a structure for metering water in the water supply tank with the metering pump. It was done. In this case, a rotary pump may be provided as the metering pump. Further, in this case, an air pump may be provided as the metering pump.

[0006]

[Function] In the case of the rotary pump, the quantitative water supply control is performed by the rotation speed and rotation time of the motor. In the case of an air pump, the water in the water supply tank is pushed out by air pressure, and quantitative water supply control is performed based on the detection signal from the flow rate sensor provided on the water supply hose.

As described above, since the water in the water supply tank is quantitatively supplied by the constant quantity pump, the constant quantity water supply performance can be improved. In addition, since the water supply tank is connected to the metering pump via the joint so as to have a closed structure, it is possible to block the outside air, make it difficult for dirt to adhere, and prevent the generation of microorganisms. Further, when the rotary pump is provided as the metering pump, the water in the water supply hose is returned to the water supply tank by the reverse rotation of the motor after water supply, so that the inside of the water supply hose can be in a non-reserved state after water supply. Also, when an air pump is installed as a metering pump, the water in the water supply tank is pushed out by air pressure, so the air pump is kept in a non-immersed state at all times to eliminate dirt and prevent the generation of microorganisms. can do. Further, after supplying water, the air pressure in the water supply tank is made equal to the outside air pressure, so that the inside of the water supply hose can be in a non-reserved state.

[0008]

First Embodiment As shown in FIG. 1A, a water supply device 1 according to the first embodiment is applied to water supply to an ice tray of a refrigerator, and a metering pump is connected to a water supply tank 2 via a joint 3. The rotary pump 4 or the tube pump 6 as described above is connected, and the water in the water supply tank 2 is supplied in a fixed amount to shut off the outside air that causes the adhesion of dirt.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1 (b), a vane pump 6 is provided as the rotary pump 4, and the vane pump 6 projects the vanes 10 in the rotor 11 by centrifugal force and the inner peripheral surface of the casing 9. Has a structure that slides on
The water sucked between the vane 10 and the adjacent vane 10 is pushed out from the suction port 12 side to the discharge port 13 side. The protrusion of the vane may be performed by inserting a spring between the vane and the rotor.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 1 (c), a gear pump 7 is provided as the rotary pump 4, and the gear pump 7 has two gears 14 and 15 in a casing 9 which are circumscribed to each other so that the teeth thereof are not in contact with each other. The water sucked between the portion 27 and the adjacent tooth portion 27 is pushed out from the suction port 12 side to the discharge port 13 side along the inner peripheral surface of the casing 9.

As shown in FIG. 1 (d), the tube pump 8 is provided with a flexible tube 26 that is bent in a semicircular shape around the motor shaft 23, and is equidistantly arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the motor shaft 23. Then, each of the three rods 24 extending in the radial direction is provided with a roller 25.
1 (d), the inner peripheral portion is pressed and deformed in the clockwise direction so that water is sucked in from the suction port 12 side and pushed out to the discharge port 13 side.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. At the time of water supply, the water in the water supply tank 2 is supplied to the ice tray by the rotary pump 4 or the tube pump 8, and quantitative water supply control is performed by the rotation speed or rotation time of the motor. After water supply, the water in the water supply hose 29 is returned to the water supply tank 2 by reversing the motor.

As described above, since the rotary pump 4 or the tube pump 8 is used to quantitatively supply the water in the water supply tank 2, the quantitative water supply performance can be improved. In addition, the rotary pump 4 via the joint 3 to the water tank 2.
Alternatively, since the tube pump 8 is connected to the closed structure, it is possible to shut off the outside air that causes adhesion of dirt. In addition, after the water is supplied, the water is supplied to the water supply hose 29 by reversing the motor.
Since the structure is such that the water inside is returned to the water supply tank 2,
The inside of the water supply hose 29 can be in a non-reserved state. Therefore, it is possible to prevent dirt from adhering and prevent the generation of microorganisms. Also, joint 3 to the water tank 2.
Since the rotary pump 4 or the tube pump 8 is connected via the above, the water tray is not required, and the space in the refrigerator can be effectively used. Further, in the case of the tube pump 8, water does not enter the mechanical parts, and the generation of microorganisms is further prevented.

[0014]

[Embodiment 2] As shown in FIG. 2, the water supply apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment 2 is almost the same as that of the embodiment 1, except that a reciprocating pump 5 as a metering pump is provided and the reciprocating pump 5 is shown in FIG. Plunger pump 18 shown in FIG. 2 (a) or FIG.
The bellows type pump 19 shown in (b) is provided, and the suction port 12 and the discharge port 13 of these pumps 18 and 19 are provided with valves 28, respectively, and the number of rotations of the motor, the rotation time, or the number of reciprocating operations of the plunger 20 and the bellows 21. It is different in that it has a structure for performing quantitative water supply control. Regarding the operation effect of the second embodiment, in addition to the operation effect of the first embodiment, in the case of the bellows type pump 19, water does not enter the mechanical parts.

[0015]

[Third Embodiment] As shown in FIG. 3, a water supply device 1 according to the third embodiment is substantially the same as the first embodiment, except that an air pump 22 as a metering pump is provided in a water supply tank 2 having an airtight structure.
Is connected, and the water in the water supply tank 2 is pushed out by air pressure, and quantitative water supply control is performed based on the detection signal from the flow rate sensor provided in the water supply hose 29. With regard to the operation and effect of the third embodiment, in addition to the operation and effect of the first embodiment, since the water in the water supply tank 2 is pushed out by the air pressure, the air pump 22 is always kept in a non-immersed state to prevent contamination. Adhesion can be eliminated and the generation of microorganisms can be further prevented.

The present invention is not limited to the first to third embodiments, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made. For example, in the first embodiment, the case where the external contact type gear pump 7 is provided as the rotary pump 4 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and an internal contact type gear pump may be provided as the rotary pump 4 instead. In the first embodiment, the vane pump 6 is used as the rotary pump 4,
Although the case where the gear pump 7 or the tube pump 8 is provided has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and these pumps 6,
A screw pump may be provided as the rotary pump 4 in place of 7, 8.

[0017]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. That is, since the structure is such that a fixed amount of water in the water supply tank is supplied by a fixed amount pump,
The quantitative water supply performance can be improved. In addition, since it has a closed structure in which a metering pump is connected to the water supply tank via a joint, it blocks the outside air and makes it difficult for dirt to adhere,
It is possible to prevent the generation of microorganisms.

When a rotary pump is provided as a metering pump, the water in the water supply hose is returned to the water supply tank by the reverse rotation of the motor after water supply. Therefore, the inside of the water supply hose should not be stored after water supply. You can Also, when an air pump is installed as a metering pump, the water in the water supply tank is pushed out by air pressure, so the air pump is kept in a non-immersed state at all times to eliminate dirt and prevent the generation of microorganisms. can do.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a water supply device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a water supply device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a water supply device according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 water supply device 2 water supply tank 3 joint 4 rotary pump (quantitative pump) 5 reciprocating pump (quantitative pump) 6 vane pump 7 gear pump 8 tube pump (quantitative pump) 9 casing 10 vane 11 rotor 12 suction port 13 discharge port 14 gear 15 gear 18 Plunger pump 19 Bellows type pump 20 Plunger 21 Bellows 22 Air pump (quantitative pump) 23 Motor shaft 24 Rod 25 Roller 26 Tube 27 Teeth 28 Valve 29 Water supply hose

Front page continuation (72) Inventor Fumito Komatsu 5329 Shimosuwa Town, Suwa County, Nagano Sankyo Seiki Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A water supply tank (2) and a metering pump (4,5, 22) connected to this water tank (2), the water tank (2) being provided by this metering pump (4,5, 22). ) A water supply device (1), characterized in that water in a fixed amount is supplied. 2. Water supply device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a rotary pump (4) is provided as the metering pump (4,5, 22). 3. The water supply device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that an air pump (22) is provided as the metering pump (4,5, 22).