KR101717108B1

KR101717108B1 - Water purifier

Info

Publication number: KR101717108B1
Application number: KR1020100127167A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 박병탁; 박종진; 황선웅; 이준성; 이원석
Original assignee: 엘지전자 주식회사
Priority date: 2010-12-13
Filing date: 2010-12-13
Publication date: 2017-03-16
Also published as: KR20120065850A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a water purifier provided with a general hot water system and an instantaneous hot water system and using general hot water according to a user's choice or providing instant hot water to use. A water storage tank provided in the main body; A hot water tank provided inside the main body; An instantaneous hot water device connected between the water storage tank and the hot water tank by piping; And a switching device provided in the piping between the instantaneous hot water device and the hot water tank. The hot water can be selectively extracted from the hot water tank and the instantaneous hot water device by the switching device.

Description

Water purifier {WATER PURIFIER}

The present invention relates to a water purifier provided with a normal hot water system and an instantaneous hot water system, and using the hot water according to a user's choice or selectively providing hot water at a high temperature instantly.

Generally, a water purifier, especially a cold water purifier, has a function of adding a function of a water heater and a water heater. More particularly, to a filter which is a general constitution of a water purifier, and a cooling system using a refrigerant, which is a general constitution of a heater and a water heater, which are general components of a water heater.

1 shows a general shape of a conventional cold / warm water purifier. As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional cold / warm water purifier includes a main body 1 forming an outer appearance, a filter 2 installed at the center of the main body to purify raw water flowing into the main body, (Not shown) including a water tank 4 for storing water and a heater (not shown) for heating water from the water tank, and a cooling system (not shown) for generating cold water A hot water intake cock 7 and a cold water intake cock 6 connected to the hot water unit and the cold water unit and protruding to the outside of the main body to receive cold water and hot water, The components are interconnected by a hose forming the channel and wires for control.

The operation of such a cold / warm water purifier will be described in more detail. The purified water in the filter is once stored in the water storage tank. The reservoir tank is designed to maintain a stable water level to ensure a sufficient flow rate for the cold water tank and the hot water tank.

The cold water tank connected to the water storage tank is provided with a cooling system to generate cold water. The hot water tank also includes a heater to generate hot water. The cold water and hot water thus generated are taken out through the hot water intake cock 7 and the cold water intake cock 6 and provided to the user.

In recent years, instantaneous hot water is used to instantaneously provide hot water. However, in such a case, the structure of the water purifier becomes complicated, and both of the heater and the instantaneous hot water device are used, resulting in an increase in power consumption and a waste of energy.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a water purifier that can use ordinary hot water or use instant hot water according to the user's choice.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a water purifier having an effect of reducing power consumption even when an instantaneous hot water device is used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has the following technical features in order to solve the above technical problems.

The water purifier of the present invention comprises: a main body; A water storage tank provided in the main body; A hot water tank provided inside the main body; An instantaneous hot water device connected between the water storage tank and the hot water tank by piping; And a switching device provided in the piping between the instantaneous hot water device and the hot water tank. The hot water can be selectively extracted from the hot water tank and the instantaneous hot water device by the switching device.

The aspect of the present invention as described above is that the user can selectively receive the hot water stored in the hot water heated by the instantaneous hot water device and the hot water stored in the hot water tank by the switching device in the same pipe coming out of the water storage tank, It is possible to efficiently provide hot water and hot water.

Meanwhile, the water purifier of the present invention further includes a heater provided in the hot water tank, and the hot water temperature of the hot water tank is controlled by the heater.

Further, the switching device is constituted by a 3-way valve so that switching is facilitated. Here, when the hot water of the hot water tank is extracted, the switching device connects the hot water tank and the instantaneous hot water device. On the other hand, when hot water is extracted through the instantaneous hot water device, the switching device disconnects the hot water tank and the instantaneous hot water device and bypasses the instantaneous hot water device to the outside of the main body.

The water purifier of the present invention further includes a controller provided in the main body for controlling the apparatus.

The controller controls the switching device so that the hot water tank and the instantaneous hot water device are connected when hot water from the hot water tank is extracted.

The controller disconnects the hot water tank and the instantaneous hot water device when the hot water is extracted through the instantaneous hot water device and controls the switching device so that the hot water is extracted from the instantaneous hot water device to the outside of the main body.

On the other hand, when the hot water is not used, the controller controls the switching device so as not to supply purified water to the hot water tank, thereby emptying the hot water tank. Otherwise, the controller controls the heater to adjust the hot water temperature of the hot water tank.

The aspect of the present invention as described above is that the heater is used only when the heater for heating the purified water of the hot water tank is controlled by the controller for controlling the apparatuses and the heater is used only when the hot water tank is used, When the hot water supply is sufficient, the hot water tank is not used, and the power consumption supplied to the hot water of the hot water tank by the heater can be reduced, thereby reducing power consumption.

Meanwhile, the water purifier of the present invention includes a cold water tank provided inside the main body and connected to a water storage tank; And a cooling system provided in the cold water tank to cool the purified water stored in the cold water tank, so that all of the cold and hot water can be supplied.

The present invention has the following effects by the above-described technical constitution.

The water purifier of the present invention allows the user to selectively receive hot water heated by the instantaneous hot water device and hot water stored in the hot water tank by the switching device in the same pipe coming out of the water storage tank, And hot water at a high temperature.

Further, the water purifier of the present invention uses a heater only when the heater for heating the purified water of the hot water tank is controlled by the controller for controlling the devices, and when the hot water supply is not sufficient and the hot water supply is sufficient It is possible to reduce the power consumption to be supplied to the hot water of the hot water tank by the heater without using the hot water tank, thereby reducing power consumption.

1 is a schematic view of a general water purifier;
2 is a schematic view of the internal structure of the water purifier of the present invention.
3 is a schematic view for controlling the hot water tank and the instantaneous hot water device by the controller in the present invention.
4 is a schematic view of a hot water tank, an instantaneous hot water device and a cooling system controlled by a controller in the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a constant flow in which hot water in a hot water tank is taken out by the switching device. FIG.
6 is a flow chart showing constants in which high temperature water of the instantaneous hot water device is taken out by the switching device.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the internal structure of the water purifier of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a schematic view for controlling the hot water tank and the instantaneous hot water device by the controller in the present invention, FIG. 4 is a schematic view for explaining the control of the hot water tank, FIG. 5 is a flow chart of purified water in which the hot water of the hot water tank is taken out by the switching device, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the constants in which the hot water of the instantaneous hot water device is taken out by the switching device .

Referring to FIG. 2, the water purifier of the present invention includes a main body (not shown), a water storage tank 100 provided in the main body, a hot water tank 200 provided inside the main body, A cold water tank 400 provided in the main body and connected to the water tank, and a switching device 500 provided in a pipe between the instantaneous hot water device and the hot water tank, .

Although not shown, the main body is not different from the structure forming the appearance of the general water purifier of Fig. And has a basic water purifier structure provided in the conventional water purifier shown in FIG. That is, the water purifier of the present invention basically has a filter. The filter functions to remove suspended solids, rust and various harmful substances contained in raw water such as tap water flowing from water conduction, and is not shown in detail because it corresponds to a structure commonly used in a water purifier and the like. The explanation is omitted.

The water storage tank 100 is a place for temporarily storing the purified water to sufficiently maintain the flow rate of the water purifier. Particularly, in the case of a water purifier capable of supplying cold / hot water, it is difficult to generate a sufficient amount of cold water or hot water when necessary unless a sufficient flow rate is secured through stored water, and sudden cooling or heating is not preferable because power consumption is excessively required . Therefore, it is necessary to secure sufficient flow rate through these reservoir tanks. It is preferable that the cold water tank 400 and the hot water tank 200 to be described later are provided in the water purifier for the same reason as described above.

The purified water flowing into the storage tank is stored in the storage tank through the storage tank inlet pipe 110. Also, the purified water stored in the water storage tank flows out to the cold water tank 400 through the instantaneous hot water device 300 or the cold water tank inlet pipe 410 through the instantaneous hot water device inlet pipe 320.

The instantaneous hot water supply device 300 refers to a device capable of instantly heating the purified water to generate high-temperature purified water. As shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus may include a cylindrical heating unit disposed inside the case, and a spiral flow path formed between the case and the heating unit.

The cylindrical heating unit includes a cylindrical electric heater that generates heat when power is applied thereto, and an internal flow path which is spirally formed to increase the heat exchange area. Accordingly, the purified water flowing into the inside is heated by the cylindrical heating unit through the helical spiral flow path, and hot water of high temperature can instantly be generated by this process.

2, the purified water flowing out of the water storage tank enters the instantaneous hot water device through the instantaneous hot water device inlet pipe 320, becomes hot water of high temperature by the instantaneous hot water device 300 and flows through the instantaneous hot water device outlet pipe 330 Out.

Meanwhile, the instantaneous hot water supply device 300 may not only generate high temperature hot water but may generate high temperature hot water according to the user's selection, and may supply the purified water to the hot water tank simply.

The hot water tank 200 functions to generate and store hot water. Referring to FIG. 2, a heater 240 is disposed inside the hot water tank. The heater heats the inside of the hot water tank by an electric action. Since the heater used in such a water purifier corresponds to a general configuration, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

On the other hand, the hot water tank 200 is provided with a thermistor 210 for controlling the purified water temperature therein. The thermistor 210 corresponds to a temperature sensor as an electrical device using a property that a resistance of a material changes according to a temperature. The thermostat 210 senses the purified water temperature inside the hot water tank, and the controller 600, which will be described later, controls the temperature of the hot water tank by controlling the heater 240 and the like. That is, the hot water temperature of the hot water tank is controlled by the heat of the heater 240.

The hot water stored in the hot water tank 200 through the instantaneous hot water device 300 and the instantaneous hot water device outlet pipe 330 is discharged to the hot water outlet pipe 230 by the user by operating the control part 700 including the control panel And is taken out through the hot water outlet 810.

The switching device 500 is provided in a pipe between the instantaneous hot water device and the hot water tank. Here, the switching device is a three-way valve. A three-way valve is a valve with three fluid outlets. In the present invention, the three-way valve is connected to the instantaneous hot water supply device 300, the instantaneous hot water supply pipe 310 for supplying hot water to the instantaneous hot water supply port 820, .

5 and 6 show a switching process by the three-way valve, which is the switching device. In this switching process, the switching device 500 is configured to selectively extract hot water from the hot water tank and the instantaneous hot water device to the outside of the main body. A more detailed description will be given later with reference to Fig. 5 and Fig.

Fig. 5 shows the flow of purified water in which the hot water of the hot water tank is taken out by the switching device. In this case, the switching device 500 switches the pipe so that the fluid inlet in the direction of the hot water tank and the fluid outlet in the direction of the instantaneous hot water device are connected. Accordingly, the constant of the water storage tank 100 is guided to the hot water tank via the instantaneous hot water supply device 300. In this case, the instantaneous hot water device 300 does not generally generate hot water. However, in exceptional cases, hot water generation in a hot water tank may be inadequate if the temperature is low or the generation of hot water is insufficient.

Meanwhile, the switching device 500 is controlled by a controller 600 to be described later. Accordingly, the controller 600 controls the switching device 500 to connect the hot water tank 200 and the instantaneous hot water device 300 when the hot water of the hot water tank is extracted.

Fig. 6 shows the flow of purified water in which the hot water of the instantaneous hot water device is taken out by the switching device. In this case, the switching device 500 is connected to the fluid inlet / outlet of the instantaneous hot water supply device 300 and the fluid inlet / outlet port of the instantaneous hot water supply pipe 310 to supply the hot water to the instantaneous hot water supply / . The constant of the water storage tank 100 is guided to the instantaneous hot water outlet 820 by the switching device 500 via the instantaneous hot water supply device 300. [ In this case, the instantaneous hot water supply device 300 is activated to instantaneously generate hot hot water, bypasses the hot water tank, and supplies the hot water to the user.

6, the switching device 500 is controlled by a controller 600 to be described later. Accordingly, when the hot water is extracted through the instantaneous hot water device, the controller 600 disconnects the fluid inlet and the hot water tank in the direction of the hot water tank and directs the hot water from the instantaneous hot water device to the switching device 500 ).

The aspect of the present invention as described above is that the user can selectively receive the hot water stored in the hot water heated by the instantaneous hot water device and the hot water stored in the hot water tank by the switching device in the same pipe coming out of the water storage tank, And can provide hot water or hot water efficiently.

2, the cold water tank 400 has a function of generating and storing cold water. As shown in FIG. 2, the cold water tank is provided with a cooling system 450. The cooling system 450 includes a compressor, a condenser connected to the compressor through a pipe, a capillary connected to the condenser through a pipe, and an evaporator 453 connected to the capillary through a pipe and connected to the compressor . In the capillary, the refrigerant from the condenser is expanded to a low-temperature and low-pressure state. In the evaporator 453, the refrigerant is cooled by the refrigerant at a high temperature and a high pressure, And the refrigerant evaporates due to the heat exchange between the refrigerant and the purified water. With the above arrangement, a cooling cycle is formed. The above components are connected through piping.

2, the evaporator 453 allows heat exchange between refrigerant and purified water stored in the cold water tank 400 to generate cold water. That is, the evaporator absorbs heat from the cold water of the cold water tank 400. In order to maintain the temperature of the cold water tank at about 4.5 캜, it is preferable to select a refrigerant whose vaporization temperature of the refrigerant is 4.5 캜 or lower. Since the kind of the refrigerant does not affect the present invention, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. In FIG. 2, the refrigerant flows into the evaporator 453 through the refrigerant inlet pipe 451, absorbs heat from the evaporator 453 through the refrigerant outlet pipe 452, and flows out. The cold water generated through this process flows out through the cold water tank outlet pipe 420 and can be taken out by the user through the cold water outlet (not shown).

The water purifier of the present invention further includes a controller 600 installed in the main body for controlling the apparatus. FIG. 3 is a schematic view for controlling the hot water tank and the instantaneous hot water device by the controller in the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a schematic view in which the hot water tank, the instantaneous hot water device and the cooling system are controlled by the controller in the present invention.

In FIG. 3, the controller 600 is connected to an operation unit 700 such as a control panel for allowing a user to select a function or recognize operation information, and receives or transmits a signal. In addition, the controller 600 is connected to the thermistor 210 of the hot water tank and receives information such as the hot water temperature of the hot water tank. Meanwhile, the controller 600 controls the switching device 500, the instantaneous hot water device 300, and the heater 240 of the hot water tank.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, as described above, the controller 600 controls the switching device 500 to connect the hot water tank and the instantaneous hot water device when hot water from the hot water tank is extracted. Accordingly, the switching device 500 is connected to the fluid inlet / outlet of the instantaneous hot water supply device 300 and the fluid inlet / outlet port of the instant hot water supply pipe 310 to supply the hot water to the instantaneous hot water supply / . In this case, the controller generally controls the instantaneous hot water supply device not to operate, but it may operate the instantaneous hot water supply device in exceptional cases.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, the controller 600 disconnects the hot water tank and the instantaneous hot water supply unit when the hot water is extracted through the instantaneous hot water supply unit, and the hot water is separated from the instantaneous hot water supply unit Thereby controlling the apparatus 500. The switching device 500 is connected to the fluid inlet and outlet of the instantaneous hot water supply device 300 and the fluid outlet of the instantaneous hot water supply pipe 310 to supply the hot water to the instantaneous hot water outlet port 820, . In this case, the controller controls the instantaneous hot water supply device 300 to generate hot water of high temperature.

On the other hand, when the user does not frequently use the hot water, there is no need to secure a large amount of hot water. Therefore, it is only necessary to be able to take hot water only when necessary. In this case, the controller 600 controls the switching device 500 so as not to supply purified water to the hot water tank, thereby emptying the hot water tank. The constant flow in this case is shown in Fig.

However, when the user frequently uses hot water, the controller 600 controls the switching device 500 so that a constant flow as shown in FIG. 5 is formed, and controls the heater 240 to control the temperature of the hot water tank Temperature of the hot water.

The controller of the water purifier of the present invention further includes a cold water tank 400 provided in the main body and connected to the water tank, so that the controller controls the cooling system 450 of the cold water tank as shown in FIG. 4 It can be controlled to generate cold water.

The aspect of the present invention as described above allows the water purifier to supply all the cold and hot water, thereby enhancing convenience to the user.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments and / or drawings, do. It is to be expressly understood that improvements, changes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are also within the scope of the present invention.

100: Reservoir tank 200: Hot water tank
210: thermistor 240: heater
300: Instantaneous hot water device 400: Cold water tank
450: Cooling system 500: Switching device
600: controller 700:
810: hot water outlet 820: instant hot water outlet

Claims

main body;
A water storage tank provided in the main body for storing purified water;
An instantaneous hot water device connected to the water storage tank and generating hot water by selectively heating purified water provided from the water storage tank;
A hot water outlet which instantly discharges the hot water generated by the instant hot water device to the outside of the main body;
A hot water tank having a heater inside and generating hot water by heating the purified water discharged from the instant hot water apparatus by the heater; And
Wherein the hot water supply device is installed at a branch point of the piping branched from the piping connecting the instantaneous hot water device and the hot water tank to the instant hot water outlet port so that the flow path from the instantaneous hot water device to the hot water tank and the flow path from the instant hot water outlet A switching device for selectively opening and closing the flow path of the refrigerant;
Lt; / RTI >
Hot water heated by the heater is discharged to the outside of the main body or hot water heated by the instant hot water device is discharged to the outside of the main body through the instant hot water outlet.

The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the hot water temperature of the hot water tank is controlled by the heater,
water purifier.

3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the switching device is a three-way valve.

The method according to claim 1,
Wherein when the hot water in the hot water tank is extracted, the switching device connects the hot water tank and the instantaneous hot water device.

The method according to claim 1,
When the hot water is extracted through the instantaneous hot water device, the switching device disconnects the hot water tank and the instantaneous hot water device, and bypasses the hot water tank and the instantaneous hot water device,
water purifier.

5. The method of claim 4,
And a controller provided in the main body,
Wherein the controller controls the switching device so that the hot water tank and the instantaneous hot water device are connected when the hot water of the hot water tank is extracted.

6. The method of claim 5,
And a controller provided in the main body,
The controller disconnects the hot water tank and the instantaneous hot water device when the hot water is extracted through the instantaneous hot water device and controls the switching device so that the hot water is extracted from the instantaneous hot water device to the outside of the main body.

8. The method of claim 7,
And when the hot water is not used, the controller controls the switching device so as not to supply purified water to the hot water tank, thereby emptying the hot water tank.

3. The method of claim 2,
And a controller provided in the main body,
Wherein the controller controls the heater to adjust the hot water temperature of the hot water tank.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
A cold water tank provided in the main body and connected to the water storage tank;
And a cooling system provided in the cold water tank to cool the purified water stored in the cold water tank.

The method according to claim 1,
An inlet pipe connecting the water storage tank and the instantaneous hot water device and transferring the purified water stored in the water storage tank to the instantaneous hot water device; And
An outlet pipe connecting the instantaneous hot water device and the hot water tank and transferring the purified water discharged from the instantaneous hot water device to the hot water tank;
.

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