JPH11253935A - Water purifier - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a water purifier which demonstrates high water purification performance even though it is compact. SOLUTION: In a water purifier, trihalogenomethanes and others contained in city water are removed by the first filter medium 44 of granular activated carbon, and dimethyl isoborneol and others are removed by the second filter medium of fibrous activated carbon. In addition, water which reached a hollow fiber membrane module 36 through a condensate pipe 54 is removed of bacteria by the hollow fiber membranes. Since the module 36 and the filter mediums 44, 46 are arranged vertically, the cross-sectional area perpendicular to the water flow direction is large enough to demonstrate water purification (filtration) performance sufficiently. Moreover, since water flows from the lower part of the first filter medium 44 to the upper part, the granular activated carbon is prevented from clogging, and the contact time of the activated carbon with water is extended by vertical motion of the carbon in the water flow to demonstrate high water purification performance.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water purifier having a structure in which water sent from a faucet by a hose is passed, filtered, and returned to the faucet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for safe drinking water, and water purifiers have been used so that safe drinking water can be obtained effectively even in regions and periods where the water quality is relatively poor. .

For example, a solid filter such as red rust in tap water is rubbed with a prefilter provided in front of a water purification cartridge, and when the solid filter becomes clogged, the prefilter is replaced with a new one to prevent the water purification cartridge from being clogged. 2. Description of the Related Art A filter-type water purifier that removes impurities in water with an activated carbon layer or the like and then scrapes bacteria with an ultra-fine filter such as a hollow fiber membrane is known.

On the other hand, a two-way type water purifier in which a water purifier main body and a water tap are connected by a water outlet hose and a water inlet hose does not have a restriction that the water purifier main body is attached to the faucet, so that high performance can be easily achieved. In addition, it is convenient and popular because purified water can be obtained from a tap.

[0005]

Although there are many water purifiers that exhibit excellent water purifying performance, if the activated carbon layer and the hollow fiber membrane are built in the cartridge of the water purifier, a sufficient amount of activated carbon cannot be secured due to space restrictions. .

For example, an activated carbon layer is provided on the outer peripheral side of a cylindrical cartridge, a hollow fiber membrane is provided inside the activated carbon layer, water is passed through the activated carbon layer from above, and water is passed through the hollow fiber membrane from below. Or a type in which an activated carbon layer and a hollow fiber membrane are similarly disposed, water is passed through the activated carbon layer from the side, and the water is passed through the upper part of the hollow fiber membrane. . These are intended to make the water purifier more compact and improve the performance, but when water is passed through the activated carbon layer from above or from the side, the granular activated carbon may be clogged. In addition, if the cross-sectional area (hereinafter, referred to as cross-sectional area) of the activated carbon layer that is perpendicular to the flow direction of water is small, water flow resistance increases and water purification performance decreases. On the other hand, if the cross-sectional area of the activated carbon layer is increased, the volume of the water purifier increases, and it is difficult to make the water purifier compact.

[0007] In view of the above fact, it is an object of the present invention to provide a water purifier which is compact and further improves water purification performance.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first filtering means which is housed in a casing and includes a particulate filter material for removing chlorine and the like from water, and a first filtering means which is housed in the casing and includes a first filtering means. A second filtration unit for removing bacteria from the water that has passed through the first filtration unit, wherein the first filtration unit and the second filtration unit are vertically stacked, and a lower part of the first filtration unit. It is characterized by allowing water to pass from the top to the top.

The operation of the first aspect of the present invention will be described. By stacking the first filtering means and the second filtering means in the vertical direction, the cross-sectional area of the first and second filtering means can be made substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the casing, and the filtering performance is improved. In addition, since the water passes from the lower part to the upper part in the first filtration means, the granular filter medium does not become clogged, and since the granular filter medium moves up and down by the flow of water, the contact time with water is extended. Water purification performance is improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the first filtering means is disposed above the second filtering means, penetrates the first filtering means, and is provided with a first filtering means. A condenser pipe for guiding the water filtered by the above to the second filtering means.

The operation of the second aspect of the present invention will be described. The provision of the condensing pipe penetrating the first filtering means makes it possible to reduce the water flow resistance and to increase the filtering cross-sectional area of the first filtering means. That is, when a condensing pipe is provided on the outer peripheral side of the first filtration means, the contact area between the pipe wall of the condensing pipe and water is large, so that the water flow resistance is increased if the sectional area is the same. As described above, it is more efficient to form the condensing pipe penetrating the first filtering means, and the cross-sectional area of the condensing pipe can be reduced. Become.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the first filtering means is
It is composed of granular activated carbon, fibrous activated carbon and a filter that do not allow the granular activated carbon to pass through, and the fibrous activated carbon and the filter sandwich the granular activated carbon above and below.

The operation of the third aspect of the present invention will be described. Since the granular activated carbon is sandwiched between the filter and the fibrous activated carbon that does not allow the granular activated carbon to pass through, the granular activated carbon can be prevented from flowing out. Moreover, since one of the outflow preventing functions is carried by the fibrous activated carbon having a filtering function, the water purification performance can be improved.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second or third aspect, the second filtering means and the condensing pipe are formed integrally.

The operation of the invention will be described. By integrally forming (modulating) the second filtration means and the condensing pipe, assembly of the water purifier becomes easy.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a water purifier according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 shows a water purifier 10 according to this embodiment. A cylindrical outer case 12 constituting an outer frame of the water purifier 10
The base of the disk-shaped base material 1 formed of a resin material
4 is fixed to an outer case 12 made of resin. As shown in FIG. 3, the base member 14 has a water inlet passage 16 extending from a portion near the outer periphery of the base member 14 toward the outer periphery, and an end of the water inlet passage 16 is attached to a water tap 60. The outlet hose 96 from the faucet unit 62 is connected (see FIG. 1).

The base member 14 has a base member 1 attached thereto.
A water outflow passage 22 extending from the center of the water supply passage 4 to the outer peripheral side in parallel with the water inflow passage 16 is formed. At an end of the water outflow passage 22, a water inlet for removing water purified by the water purifier 10 from the water purifier 10. The hose 98 will be connected.

Further, a ring-shaped rubber pedestal 18 is attached to the lower side of the outer case 12 and the base member 14. In the hollow part of the pedestal 18, the water inlet passage 1
6. Drain valves 19, 2 for draining water from the water discharge passage 22
0 is formed.

A cartridge 26 is provided inside the outer case 12.
Is stored. The cartridge 26 has a resin cartridge case 28 formed in a cylindrical shape and having a bottom wall 28A integrally provided on the lower side. This bottom wall 28A
Have a circular shape and a flow path 30 inside each.
Fitting projections 30 and 32 having A and 32A are formed, respectively. The fitting projections 30 and 32 are fitted into holes 33 and 35 formed at the ends of the water inlet passage 16 and the water outlet passage 22 of the base member 14, respectively. further,
O-rings 34 are mounted on the outer peripheral surfaces of the fitting projections 30 and 32 so that water does not leak from the fitting portions.

A hollow fiber membrane module 36 having a large number of hollow fiber membranes and having a cylindrical shape is disposed in the lower portion inside the cartridge case 28. The hollow fiber membrane module 36 is supported by a bracket 40 fitted to the cartridge case 28, and is provided between the hollow water membrane module 36 and the inner peripheral surface of the cartridge case 28.
9 are formed.

Above the hollow fiber membrane module 36 in the cartridge case 28, a ring-shaped sintered filter 42 having fine holes therein is provided. In a cylindrical space above the sintered filter 42, a first filter medium 44 formed of granular activated carbon and a second filter medium 46 formed of fibrous activated carbon are sequentially arranged. I have. That is, the first filter medium 44 and the second filter medium 46 are supported by the sintered filter 42.

A condensate pipe 54 extending vertically is disposed at the center of the filter media 44 and 46. This condensing pipe 54
A through-hole 54A is formed in the lower part of. That is,
The water that has passed through the second filter material 46 falls into the condenser 54,
Water is fed into the hollow fiber membrane module 36 formed in a cylindrical shape through the through hole 54A.

On the other hand, a cartridge cap 58 made of resin is fixed to the upper part of the cartridge case 28 by ultrasonic bonding or the like. The cartridge cap 58 has an air break valve 56 in which a ball 56A is disposed so as to be vertically movable and has a hole 56B penetrating upward.
is set up. Further, a cover member 52 is screwed into a screw portion 51 formed at the upper end of the outer case 12.

With this configuration, the water that has entered the water purifier 10 through the water inlet passage 16 is supplied to the flow passage 30A of the fitting projection 30.
After flowing through the cartridge case, the outer peripheral surface of the hollow fiber membrane module 36 disposed below the cartridge 26 and the cartridge case 2
8 will flow into the water passage 29 between the inner peripheral surface 8 and the inner peripheral surface.

Thereafter, the water flows into the sintered filter 42 so as to enter, and emerges from the upper surface of the sintered filter 42. At this time, solid components such as red rust in the water are filtered. As the filtered water passes through the first filter medium 44 and the second filter medium 46, trihalomethane and chlorine are further removed by the first filter medium 44 and the second filter medium 46 is removed. Removes chlorine and musty odor.

The water filtered by the second filter medium 46 enters the condenser pipe 54 from the upper end of the condenser pipe 54, passes through the condenser pipe 54, and further passes through the through-hole 54A.
The bacteria enter into 6 and are removed.

Finally, the water that has passed through the bracket 40 passes through the flow passage 32A of the fitting projection 32 and is taken out from the water discharge passage 22. That is, when water flows into the water purifier 10 from the water inlet passage 16, the filtered water is sent out from the water outlet passage 22.

Next, the operation of the water purifier according to this embodiment will be described. In the water purifier 10, a hollow fiber membrane module 36 is provided below the cartridge case 28, and a first filter medium 44 and a second filter medium 46 are provided thereon. Therefore, since the first filter medium 44 and the second filter medium 46 have a sufficiently large cross-sectional area with respect to the water passing in the vertical direction, water purification (filtration) can be efficiently performed in a certain space. It can be carried out. In addition, the lower portion (the side of the sintered filter 42) and the upper portion (the second filter member 46) of the first filter member 44.
Since the water flows to the side (the side), the granular activated carbon as the first filter medium 44 moves up and down by the flow of the water, and the filtration can be performed without causing clogging.

Further, since the condenser 54 is provided inside the first filter member 44, the water purification performance can be improved. This operation will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 2, and FIG.

The condenser pipe 60 serves as a space through which water passes between the inner peripheral surface of the cartridge case 28 and the outer peripheral surface of the condenser pipe 60. As shown in FIG. Since the contact area is large, the water flow resistance increases.
That is, the condenser pipe 6 that allows the same amount of water to pass through at the same water pressure
When 0 is formed, the cross-sectional area becomes larger than that of the condenser 54.

Accordingly, since the condensing pipe 54 is provided inside the first filter medium 44, the cross-sectional area of the condensing pipe 54 can be made sufficiently small. As a result, a large cross-sectional area of the first filter medium 44 (second filter medium 46) can be ensured, and the water purification performance can be further improved in a certain space.

Further, the first filter material 4 filled between the inner peripheral surface of the cartridge case 28 and the outer peripheral surface of the condenser 54
Reference numeral 4 denotes a sintered filter 42 at the lower part and a second filter material 4 at the upper part.
No. 6 which is granular activated carbon
Of the filter medium 44 is prevented. In addition, since the upper portion also serves as a supporting member for the second filtering material 46 having a filtering function, the water purification function is further improved.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, since the hollow fiber membrane module 36 and the condensing pipe 54 are integrally formed, the time required for assembling the water purifier 10 is reduced, and the water purifier 10 is easily manufactured.

In the water purifier 10 of this embodiment, the water is introduced and discharged through the water inlet passage 16 and the water outlet passage 22 of the base member 14 provided at the lower portion. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, tap water can be directly introduced into the lower part of the sintered filter 42 constituting the first filtration means.

[0036]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the first filtering means and the second filtering means can have a sufficiently large cross-sectional area in a certain space, the first filtering means can be used. Since it is not clogged, the water purification performance can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the condenser is efficiently disposed, the sectional area of the first filtering means can be further increased, and the water purification performance is improved.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the particulate filter medium is sandwiched between the fibrous filter medium and the filter to prevent the particulate filter medium from flowing out, and the fibrous filter medium having a filtering function also serves as the filter. As a result, the water purification function is further improved.

According to the present invention, the manufacturing process is simplified, and the product yield is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the water purifier according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the hollow fiber membrane module and the condenser according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a cartridge according to a comparative example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Water purifier 26 Cartridge 36 Hollow fiber membrane module (2nd filtration means) 42 Sintered filter (1st filtration means) 44 1st filtration material (1st filtration means) 46 2nd filtration material (1st filtration means) 54 Condenser

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A first filtration means which is contained in a casing and includes a particulate filter material for removing chlorine and the like from water, and a second filtration means which is contained in the casing and removes bacteria from water passed through the first filtration means. Means, wherein the first filtering means and the second filtering means are vertically stacked and water is passed from a lower part to an upper part of the first filtering means. vessel. 2. The filter according to claim 1, wherein the first filter is disposed above the second filter, and the water filtered through the first filter is guided to the second filter. The water purifier according to claim 1, further comprising a water pipe. 3. The first filtering means comprises granular activated carbon, fibrous activated carbon and a filter that do not allow the granular activated carbon to pass through, and the fibrous activated carbon and the filter sandwich the granular activated carbon from above and below. The water purifier according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 4. The water purifier according to claim 2, wherein said second filtration means and said condensate pipe are integrally formed.