Water purifier

Abstract

The utility model provides a water purifier which comprises a filter element, a water inlet pipe and a water outlet pipe, the water tank is communicated to the filter element, the water tank is arranged on the side face of the filter element, a filter element avoiding recess is formed in the side face of the water tank, the side portion of the filter element is embedded into the filter element avoiding recess, and the shape of the filter element avoiding recess is matched with that of the side portion. Compared with a conventional cubic or cylindrical water tank, the water tank can be matched with a columnar filter element, and idle space around the filter element is utilized, so that the volume of the water tank is increased. In other words, under the condition of the same volume of the water tank, compared with other water tanks with conventional shapes, the volume of the corresponding water purifier can be effectively reduced. In this way, a large amount of purified water can be provided for a user in the one-time water taking process, and the user experience is good.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of water purification, and particularly to a water purifier. Background Art

[0002] With the development of the times, water purifiers have been recognized and purchased by most people, and water purifiers can meet users' higher requirements for water quality.

[0003] According to the different usage scenarios and installation positions of water purifiers, they can be divided into tabletop water purifiers, built-in water purifiers, under-counter water purifiers, etc. Under-counter water purifiers are usually connected to tap water, and the purified water is output through a faucet. They rarely require maintenance after installation. Since they do not occupy countertop space, they are relatively popular among users.

[0004] A water storage tank may be provided inside the water purifier to store purified water, which can quickly provide it to users when needed and replenish it when users do not draw purified water. Due to limited under-counter space, the overall size of the water purifier is also limited, usually in a flat structure. Water purifiers with water storage tanks on the market usually can only be configured with water storage tanks of relatively small volume, and the amount of purified water that can be provided to users at one time is relatively limited, resulting in poor user experience. Summary of the Utility Model

[0005] In order to at least partially solve the problems existing in the prior art, some embodiments of the present utility model provide a water purifier. The water purifier includes: a filter element, which is columnar; and a water tank, which is communicated with the filter element. The water tank is arranged on the side of the filter element, and a filter element avoidance recess is arranged on the side of the water tank. The side part of the filter element is embedded in the filter element avoidance recess, and the shape of the filter element avoidance recess is adapted to the shape of the side part. Compared with a conventional cubic or cylindrical water tank, the water tank can cooperate with the columnar filter element to utilize the space around the filter element that is otherwise idle, thereby increasing the volume of the water tank. In other words, in the case of the same volume, compared with other conventional-shaped water tanks, the water tank can effectively reduce the volume of the water purifier. This can provide a relatively large amount of purified water to users during a single water intake process, resulting in good user experience.

[0006] Exemplarily, the water purifier further includes a pumping device, which is communicated with the filter element or the water tank. An opening-downward pump avoidance recess is arranged at the bottom of the water tank, and at least a part of the pumping device is embedded in the pump avoidance recess. The water tank can cooperate with the relatively irregularly shaped pumping device to utilize the space around the relatively irregularly shaped pumping device that is otherwise idle, thereby increasing the volume of the water tank. From another perspective, compared with a water tank of a conventional shape, the pump avoidance recess on the water tank can enable the pumping device to be embedded in the water tank instead of additionally occupying the limited space inside the water purifier around the water tank.

[0007] Exemplarily, the water purifier further includes a housing. The filter element, the pumping device, and the water tank are all arranged inside the housing. A tap water inlet and a water outlet are provided on the housing. The filter element is connected to the tap water inlet and is used to receive unpressurized tap water. The pumping device is connected between the water tank and the water outlet. In this way, there is no need to set up a relatively large-sized and noisy booster pump. The pumping device only needs to pump the purified water in the water tank to the water intake port. As above, the volume of the water tank is large enough. Even when water is pressed only by the tap water pressure and the flow rate of the purified water is small, the purified water stored in the water tank can meet the water intake needs of users.

[0008] Exemplarily, the filter element includes a first filter element and a second filter element. The first filter element and the second filter element are respectively located on the first side and the second side of the water tank that are opposite to each other along the first lateral direction. The filter element avoidance recesses include a first filter element avoidance recess provided on the first side and a second filter element avoidance recess provided on the second side. The side part of the first filter element is embedded in the first filter element avoidance recess, and the side part of the second filter element is embedded in the second filter element avoidance recess. The second filter element is located in front of the first filter element and can perform primary filtration on the water entering the first filter element to filter out relatively large particles such as sediment and rust, so as to extend the service life of the first filter element. Since the service life of the pre-filter element is relatively short, compared with an integrally composite filter element, the separately arranged second filter element can be replaced separately, and the cost of the second filter element is relatively low, so that the user's usage cost can be reduced. Since the filter element is usually a standard part, when the first filter element and the second filter element are placed side by side, a gap will be generated between them, resulting in waste of space. By respectively arranging the first filter element avoidance recess and the second filter element avoidance recess on different sides of the water tank, waste of space can be avoided, and a too fragile structure of the water tank can be prevented. The under-counter water purifier is usually designed to be a flat structure for easy installation. Therefore, the water tank can have relatively large dimensions in the first lateral direction and the vertical direction and relatively small dimensions in the second lateral direction. By respectively arranging the first filter element avoidance recess and the second filter element avoidance recess at both ends of the water tank along the first lateral direction, the dimension of the water purifier in the second lateral direction can also be made close to the diameters of the first filter element and the second filter element, so that it can be easily installed under the counter.

[0009] Exemplarily, the water tank further includes a third side and a fourth side. The third side and the fourth side are opposite to each other along a second lateral direction perpendicular to the first lateral direction. The third side is connected between the first side of the first filter element avoidance recess and the first side of the second filter element avoidance recess, and the fourth side is connected between the second side of the first filter element avoidance recess and the second side of the second filter element avoidance recess, wherein: the distance from the first side of the first filter element avoidance recess to the middle plane is equal to the distance from the first side of the second filter element avoidance recess to the middle plane, where the middle plane is perpendicular to the plane where the first axis of the first filter element and the second axis of the second filter element are located, and the distance from the middle plane to the first axis is equal to the distance from the middle plane to the second axis; and the distance from the second side of the first filter element avoidance recess to the middle plane is less than the distance from the second side of the second filter element avoidance recess to the middle plane. The first filter element avoidance recess only surrounds a small part of the first filter element along the lateral direction. In contrast, the second filter element avoidance recess surrounds the second filter element relatively more along the lateral direction, so as to ensure that the water tank has sufficient volume. In this way, when the water tank needs to be replaced, the first filter element avoidance recess can be separated from the first filter element first, and then the second filter element avoidance recess can be more easily separated from the second filter element, making the operation of replacing the water tank simpler.

[0010] Exemplarily, the water purifier further includes a heating module. A heating module avoidance recess is further provided on the side of the water tank, and at least a part of the heating module is embedded in the heating module avoidance recess. The heating module is embedded in the heating module avoidance recess, so that the water tank can utilize the space around the heating module, thereby increasing the volume. In this way, it will not cause the heating module to protrude from the surface of the water purifier or require an increase in the volume of the water purifier to accommodate the heating module.

[0011] Exemplarily, the water tank has a first side and a second side opposite to each other along the first lateral direction, and a third side and a fourth side opposite to each other along the second lateral direction. The first lateral direction is perpendicular to the second lateral direction. At least one of the first side and the second side is provided with a filter element avoidance recess, and the heating module avoidance recess is provided on the fourth side. The heating module is usually designed as a cubic structure, and the fourth side has a sufficiently large area. Setting the heating module avoidance recess will not interfere with other parts, nor will it cause the structure of the water tank to have a too thin and fragile part. After the heating module is embedded in the fourth side of the water tank, it will not cause a significant increase in the size of the water purifier in the second lateral direction. The fourth side can correspond to the front of the water purifier housing. The heating module can include a control board and an indicator light arranged on the control board, and the indicator light can emit an indication signal through a transparent part or a hole on the housing.

[0012] Exemplarily, the water purifier further includes a housing. The filter element, the heating module, and the water tank are all disposed within the housing. An installation portion is provided on the third side surface, and the water tank is installed to the housing through the installation portion. Due to the shape of the water tank, some parts may be relatively fragile and prone to breakage. By reliably fixing the water tank to the housing through the installation portion, it is possible to prevent the water tank from shaking within the housing and causing breakage.

[0013] Exemplarily, a valve avoidance position is provided on the third side surface, and the water purifier further includes a control valve assembly at least partially embedded in the valve avoidance position. The control valve assembly can be fixed to the housing. By providing the valve avoidance position, the water tank can avoid the control valve assembly, and the space around the control valve assembly can be utilized. Thus, the volume can be made as large as possible within the limited space of the water purifier housing.

[0014] Exemplarily, an installation groove extending upward from the bottom of the third side surface is provided on the third side surface, and the installation portion is located at the bottom of the installation groove. A threaded post for fixing a fastener can be disposed within the installation groove, so that the threaded post can have sufficient length and be able to withstand a large tensile force. The installation groove extending from the third side surface to the installation portion facilitates the demolding during the injection molding of the water tank.

[0015] Exemplarily, the water purifier further includes a power supply assembly, and at least a part of the power supply assembly is embedded in a heating module avoidance recess and is located below the heating module. In this way, the heating module avoidance recess can accommodate the power supply assembly together.

[0016] Exemplarily, the heating module avoidance recess penetrates through to the bottom surface of the water tank. This facilitates the demolding during the injection molding of the water tank.

[0017] Exemplarily, a filter element avoidance recess penetrates through the water tank along the axial direction of the filter element. Along the axial direction, the filter element avoidance recess is dimensionally adapted to the side portion of the filter element embedded within the filter element avoidance recess. In this way, the filter element can form a support for the filter element avoidance recess of the water tank, preventing the water tank from being damaged under external forces.

[0018] Exemplarily, the filter element includes a first filter element and a second filter element. The first filter element and the second filter element are respectively located on the first side and the second side of the water tank that are opposite to each other along the first lateral direction. The filter element avoidance recess includes a first filter element avoidance recess provided on the first side and a second filter element avoidance recess provided on the second side. The side portion of the first filter element is embedded in the first filter element avoidance recess, and the side portion of the second filter element is embedded in the second filter element avoidance recess. The size of the first filter element is larger than that of the second filter element, such that the bottom of the first part of the water tank where the second filter element avoidance recess is formed is higher than the bottoms of other parts of the water tank. The water purifier further includes a control valve assembly provided below the first part. A control valve assembly can be provided below the first part. In this way, there is no need to design an additional valve avoidance position for accommodating the control valve assembly in the water tank, simplifying the structure of the water tank. One or more of the above-mentioned inlet control valve, concentrated water ratio valve, or any other control valve assemblies not shown can be accommodated below the first part. Interfaces such as the tap water port and the water outlet on the housing can also be provided in this area, thus making rational use of space.

[0019] A series of simplified concepts are introduced in the utility model content, which will be further described in detail in the specific implementation section. The utility model content section does not mean to attempt to define the key features and essential technical features of the claimed technical solution, nor does it mean to attempt to determine the protection scope of the claimed technical solution.

[0020] The following will detail the advantages and features of the present utility model in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021] The following drawings of the present utility model are used as a part of the present utility model to understand the present utility model. The embodiments and descriptions thereof of the present utility model are shown in the drawings to explain the principles of the present utility model. In the drawings,

[0022] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a water purifier according to an exemplary embodiment of the present utility model;

[0023] Figure 2 is according to Figure 1 a perspective view of another angle of the water purifier according to the shown exemplary embodiment;

[0024] Figure 3 is according to Figure 1 a perspective view of the water purifier after removing part of the housing according to the shown embodiment;

[0025] Figure 4 is according to Figure 1 a perspective view of another angle of the water purifier after removing the housing according to the shown embodiment;

[0026] Figure 5 is according to Figure 1Exploded view of the water purifier after removing the housing in the illustrated embodiment;

[0027] Figure 6 For the water purifier according to Figure 1 Exploded view of the water purifier after removing the housing from another angle in the illustrated embodiment;

[0028] Figure 7 For the water purifier according to Figure 1 Perspective view of the water tank in the illustrated exemplary embodiment;

[0029] Figure 8 For the water tank according to Figure 1 Perspective view of the water tank from another angle after removing the cover plate in the illustrated exemplary embodiment;

[0030] Figure 9 For the water tank according to Figure 1 Perspective view of the water tank from yet another angle after removing the plate in the illustrated exemplary embodiment.

[0031] Among them, the above-mentioned drawings include the following reference numerals:

[0032] 10, tap water inlet; 100, housing; 110, fastener through-hole; 200, filter element; 210, first filter element; 220, second filter element; 300, water tank; 301, third side; 302, fourth side; 311, first filter element avoidance recess; 311a, first side of the first filter element avoidance recess; 311b, second side of the first filter element avoidance recess; 312, second filter element avoidance recess; 312a, first side of the second filter element avoidance recess; 312b, second side of the second filter element avoidance recess; 320, pump avoidance recess; 330, heating module avoidance recess; 340, valve avoidance position; 350, installation groove; 351, installation part; 360, first part; 370, cover plate; 400, pumping device; 500, heating module; 600, power supply assembly; 710, concentrated water ratio valve; 720, inlet control valve. Detailed implementation manners

[0033] In the following description, a large number of details are provided to enable a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, those skilled in the art can understand that the following description only exemplarily shows the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the present invention can be implemented without one or more such details. In addition, to avoid confusion with the present invention, some well-known technical features in the art are not described in detail.

[0034] In order to thoroughly understand the embodiments of the present utility model, detailed structures will be presented in the following description. Obviously, the implementation of the embodiments of the present utility model is not limited to the specific details familiar to those skilled in the art. The preferred embodiments of the present utility model are described in detail below. However, in addition to these detailed descriptions, the present utility model may also have other embodiments.

[0035] An embodiment of the present utility model provides a water purifier. The water purifier according to the embodiments of the present utility model will be introduced in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. For ease of description, it can be defined that Z-Z is the vertical direction, X-X is the first lateral direction, and Y-Y is the second lateral direction. Any two of the three are perpendicular to each other, the vertical direction Z-Z is the vertical direction, and both the first lateral direction X-X and the second lateral direction Y-Y are horizontal directions.

[0036] With reference to Figures 1 to 3 , the water purifier may include a filter element 200 and a water tank 300. In some exemplary embodiments, the filter element 200 may be detachable and include a filter cartridge and filter media disposed within the filter cartridge. The filter element 200 can filter raw water to remove harmful bacteria, heavy metals and other impurities therein, providing high-quality purified water for users. When the service life of the filter media is exhausted, the filter media can be replaced while retaining the filter cartridge. In other embodiments, the filter cartridge and the filter media of the filter element 200 may be integrated, and the filter element 200 is not detachable. The filter element 200 may include, for example, activated carbon filter elements 200, PP filter elements 200, ceramic filter elements 200, resin filter elements 200, ultrafiltration filter elements 200, nanofiltration filter elements 200, reverse osmosis filter elements 200, etc., as well as composite filter elements 200 composed of one or more of these filter elements 200. A raw water inlet may be provided on the filter element 200, and the raw water inlet can obtain raw water. The raw water may include suitable water sources such as tap water and barreled water. The water tank 300 may be connected to the filter element 200 for receiving and storing the purified water prepared by the filter element 200.

[0037] As Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, the water purifier may generally be in a cubic structure and may have a top surface and a bottom surface, as well as side surfaces surrounding the top surface and the bottom surface after installation. The top surface of the water purifier may correspond to the top surface of the water tank 300. In some exemplary embodiments, a cover plate 370 may be provided on the top surface of the water tank 300, and a drain port for completely draining the water in the water tank may be provided on the bottom surface. The water purifier needs to be installed with the top surface facing up to prevent the purified water from leaking from the water tank 300 or there being residues when draining through the drain port. A sterilization device, such as an ultraviolet lamp or an ozone generator, etc., may also be provided in the water tank 300 to ensure the water quality of the purified water in the water tank 300.

[0038] The water tank 300 can be arranged on the side of the filter element 200, and a filter element avoidance recess is arranged on the side of the water tank 300. In other words, the water tank 300 is not a water tank with a conventional shape, but a special-shaped water tank. For common water purifiers on the market, the shape of the outer shell mainly refers to the size of the water tank that occupies the largest space. Common filter elements usually do not have a surface that completely fits the water tank with a conventional shape. When the filter element is installed around the water tank with a conventional shape, a gap is formed between the filter element and the outer shell and / or between the filter element and the water tank. This gap usually cannot accommodate other components, resulting in waste of space. In this application, taking the common cylindrical filter element 200 as an example, the side part of the filter element 200 can be embedded in the filter element avoidance recess, and the shape of the filter element avoidance recess is adapted to the shape of the side part. Compared with conventional cubic or cylindrical water tanks, the water tank 300 can cooperate with the columnar filter element 200 to utilize the idle space around the filter element 200, thereby increasing the volume of the water tank 300. In other words, in the case of the same volume, compared with other water tanks with conventional shapes, the volume of the corresponding water purifier can be effectively reduced. This can provide a relatively large amount of purified water to the user during a single water intake process, and the user experience is good. In other embodiments, the filter element 200 can also be prism-shaped. This application does not exclude embodiments in which the filter element 200 is not columnar but has an irregular shape.

[0039] Exemplarily, as Figure 4 shown, the water purifier further includes a pumping device 400, and the pumping device 400 is connected to the filter element 200 or the water tank 300. In some exemplary embodiments, the pumping device 400 can include a water pump, and the water pump can include any suitable pump such as a diaphragm pump, a gear pump, a centrifugal pump, etc. This can provide purified water to the user at a relatively large flow rate. As described above, the water purifier may be arranged under the cabinet, and the water purifier has a water intake, such as a faucet or a water outlet nozzle arranged above the cabinet. The position of the water intake is higher than the water tank 300, and the purified water can be pumped to the water intake through the water pump. In other embodiments, the filter element 200 can include a reverse osmosis filter element 200, a nanofiltration filter element 200, etc. The above filter elements 200 usually require a certain pressure during operation, so the pumping device 400 can also include a booster pump. The booster pump can pressurize the raw water and transport the pressurized raw water to the raw water inlet. An opening-downward pump avoidance recess 320 can be arranged at the bottom of the water tank 300, and at least a part of the pumping device 400 is embedded in the pump avoidance recess 320. The water tank 300 can cooperate with the relatively irregularly shaped pumping device 400 to utilize the idle space around the relatively irregularly shaped pumping device 400, thereby increasing the volume of the water tank 300. From another perspective, compared with the water tank with a conventional shape, the pump avoidance recess 320 on the water tank 300 can enable the pumping device 400 to be embedded in the water tank 300 instead of additionally occupying the limited space inside the water purifier around the water tank 300.

[0040] Exemplarily, the water purifier may further include a housing 100, and the filter element 200, the pumping device 400, and the water tank 300 are all disposed within the housing 100. In a specific embodiment, threaded holes for fixing the filter element 200, the water tank 300, and the pumping assembly may be provided on the housing 100. In other embodiments, the filter element 200, the water tank 300, and the pumping assembly may also be fixed to the housing 100 by means of adhesives or snap fasteners, etc. A tap water inlet 10 and a water outlet may be provided on the housing 100. The raw water inlet of the filter element 200 is communicated with the tap water inlet 10 for receiving non-pressurized tap water. The fact that the raw water inlet receives non-pressurized tap water means that no device for increasing the pressure of the tap water is provided between the tap water inlet 10 and the raw water inlet, regardless of whether the pressure of the tap water input at the tap water inlet 10 is greater or smaller than the standard municipal tap water pressure. In some embodiments, the filter element 200 may be a filter element 200 that can operate without pressurization. In other embodiments, the filter element 200 includes one or both of the reverse osmosis filter element 200 and the nanofiltration filter element 200 mentioned above. Although these filter elements 200 can only output purified water at a rated flow rate under a rated raw water pressure, it does not mean that purified water cannot be produced under a raw water pressure less than the rated value. Municipal tap water has a certain pressure. Taking the tap water pressure of 0.2 - 0.3 MPa under normal circumstances as an example, this water pressure is less than the water pressure that a booster pump can provide (0.6 - 0.7 MPa). Therefore, under the action of the tap water pressure, the filter element 200 can output purified water with a flow rate approximately one-third of the rated flow rate. The purified water can be stored in the water tank 300, and the pumping device 400 is communicated between the water tank 300 and the water outlet. In this way, there is no need to provide a booster pump that is large in volume and also generates a large amount of noise. The pumping device 400 only needs to pump the purified water in the water tank 300 to the water intake. As described above, the volume of the water tank 300 is large enough, and even when water is pressed only by the tap water pressure and the flow rate of the purified water is small, the purified water stored in the water tank 300 can still meet the water intake needs of users.

[0041] Exemplarily, the filter element 200 may include a first filter element 210 and a second filter element 220. The first filter element 210 and the second filter element 220 are respectively located on the first side and the second side of the water tank 300 that are opposite to each other along the first lateral direction. One of the first filter element 210 and the second filter element 220 is the above-mentioned filter element 200 for finely filtering raw water to provide relatively high-purity purified water, and the second filter element 220 may be a pre-filter element 200 for preliminarily filtering raw water. The second filter element 220 may be serially arranged upstream of the first filter element 210. The second filter element 220 may be single-stage or multi-stage, and may include one or more of an activated carbon filter element 200, a PP cotton filter element 200, and a filter element 200 composed of a combination of multiple ones thereof. The second filter element 220 is located before the first filter element 210, and can perform preliminary filtration on the water entering the first filter element 210, filtering out relatively large impurities such as sediment and rust, so as to extend the service life of the first filter element 210. Since the service life of the pre-filter element 200 is relatively short, compared with an integrally composite filter element 200, the separately arranged second filter element 220 can be replaced separately, and the cost of the second filter element 220 is relatively low, thus reducing the user's usage cost.

[0042] Exemplarily, at least one of the first side and the second side is provided with a filter element avoidance position. The first filter element 210 and the second filter element 220 may be arranged side by side on the first side or the second side, or when the first filter element 210 is arranged on the first side or the second side, the second filter element 220 is arranged on the second side or the first side and is not arranged side by side with the first filter element 210.

[0043] Exemplarily, the filter element avoidance recess includes a first filter element avoidance recess 311 provided on the first side and a second filter element avoidance recess 312 provided on the second side. The side portion of the first filter element 210 is embedded in the first filter element avoidance recess 311, and the side portion of the second filter element 220 is embedded in the second filter element avoidance recess 312. Since the filter element 200 is usually a standard part, when the first filter element 210 and the second filter element 220 are placed side by side, a gap will be generated between them, resulting in waste of space. By respectively arranging the first filter element avoidance recess 311 and the second filter element avoidance recess 312 on different sides of the water tank 300, waste of space can be avoided, and a too fragile structure of the water tank 300 can be prevented. As described above, the under-counter water purifier is usually designed to be a flat structure for easy installation. Therefore, the water tank 300 may have relatively large dimensions in the first lateral direction X-X and the vertical direction Z-Z, and relatively small dimensions in the second lateral direction Y-Y. By respectively arranging the first filter element avoidance recess 311 and the second filter element avoidance recess 312 at both ends of the water tank 300 along the first lateral direction X-X, the dimension of the water purifier in the second lateral direction Y-Y can also be made close to the diameters of the first filter element 210 and the second filter element 220, which is convenient for installation under the cabinet.

[0044] Exemplarily, as Figure 5 and Figure 6 shown, the water tank 300 may further include a third side surface 301 and a fourth side surface 302, and the third side surface 301 and the fourth side surface 302 are opposite to each other along a second lateral direction Y-Y perpendicular to the first lateral direction X-X. The third side surface 301 is connected between the first side 311a of the first filter element avoidance recess 311 and the first side 312a of the second filter element avoidance recess 312, and the fourth side surface 302 is connected between the second side 311b of the first filter element avoidance recess 311 and the second side 312b of the second filter element avoidance recess 312.

[0045] With reference to Figures 7 - 9 , the distance from the first side 311a of the first filter element avoidance recess 311 to the middle plane is equal to the distance from the first side 312a of the second filter element avoidance recess 312 to the middle plane, where the middle plane is perpendicular to the plane where the first axis of the first filter element 210 and the second axis of the second filter element 220 are located, and the distance from the middle plane to the first axis is equal to the distance from the middle plane to the second axis. And the distance from the second side 311b of the first filter element avoidance recess 311 to the middle plane is less than the distance from the second side 312b of the second filter element avoidance recess 312 to the middle plane. The middle plane is as shown by the dashed line in Figure 8 . The third side surface 301 and the fourth side surface 302 may not be flat, but form a curved surface. The first filter element avoidance recess 311 only surrounds a small part of the first filter element 210 along the lateral direction. In contrast, the second filter element avoidance recess 312 surrounds the second filter element 220 relatively more along the lateral direction. The part of the water tank 300 that protrudes and surrounds the first filter element 210 and the second filter element may also provide a part of the volume, which can enable the water tank 300 to store more purified water. When the water tank 300 needs to be replaced, the first filter element avoidance recess 311 can be separated from the first filter element 210 first, and then the second filter element avoidance recess 312 can be more easily separated from the second filter element 220, so that the operation of replacing the water tank 300 is simpler.

[0046] Exemplarily, the water purifier further includes a heating module 500. A heating module avoidance recess 330 is further provided on the side of the water tank 300, and at least a part of the heating module 500 is embedded in the heating module avoidance recess 330. The heating module 500 may include any suitable heating element such as a hot water tank, a thick film heater, an electromagnetic heater, etc. The hot water tank can heat the purified water and store the hot water therein. The thick film heater, the electromagnetic heater, etc. belong to instant heating elements. Taking the thick film heater as an example, the thick film heater can achieve instant heating to meet the needs of users for drinking hot water, making tea, making coffee, etc. that require the use of hot water. For the water purifier shown in the present application, a relatively large hot water tank is usually not adopted, but an instant heating element with a relatively small volume is adopted. The heating module 500 is embedded in the heating module avoidance recess 330, so that the water tank 300 can utilize the space around the heating module 500, thereby increasing the volume. In this way, the heating module 500 will not protrude from the surface of the water purifier, nor is it necessary to increase the volume of the water purifier to accommodate the heating module 500.

[0047] As described above, the water tank 300 has a first side and a second side opposite to each other along the first lateral direction, and a third side 301 and a fourth side 302 opposite to each other along the second lateral direction. Exemplarily, the heating module avoidance recess 330 is provided on the fourth side 302. The heating module 500 is generally designed as a cubic structure, and the fourth side 302 has a sufficiently large area. Setting the heating module avoidance recess 330 will not interfere with other parts, nor will it make the structure of the water tank 300 have a too thin and fragile part. After the heating module 500 is embedded in the fourth side 302 of the water tank 300, the size of the water purifier in the second lateral direction Y-Y will not increase significantly. The fourth side 302 may correspond to the front of the water purifier housing 100. In some embodiments, the heating module 500 may include a control board and an indicator light provided on the control board, and the indicator light can emit an indication signal through a transparent part or a hole on the housing.

[0048] Exemplarily, with reference to Figure 2 and Figure 4 , a mounting portion 351 is provided on the third side 301, and the water tank 300 can be mounted to the housing 100 through the mounting portion 351. Structures such as fastener through holes 110 may be provided on the housing 100, so that fasteners can pass through the housing 100 and be fixed to the mounting portion 351 of the water tank 300. In other embodiments, the mounting portion 351 may also include a snap structure. Due to the shape of the water tank 300, some parts may be relatively fragile and prone to breakage. By reliably fixing the water tank 300 to the housing 100 through the mounting portion 351, it is possible to prevent the water tank 300 from shaking in the housing 100 and causing breakage.

[0049] As Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 9As shown, a valve avoidance position 340 may be provided on the third side surface 301, and the water purifier further includes a control valve assembly at least partially embedded in the valve avoidance position 340. Refer to Figure 5 , the control valve assembly may include a water inlet control valve 720. As described above, the tap water port 10 may be communicated with the raw water inlet. When the water purifier does not need to produce water, the waterway can be cut off by the water inlet control valve 720 connected in series between the tap water port 10 and the raw water inlet to prevent the filter element 200 from continuously producing water and causing the purified water to overflow. The filter element 200 may include one or both of a reverse osmosis filter element 200 and a nanofiltration filter element 200. The reverse osmosis filter element 200 and the nanofiltration filter element 200 will produce a certain proportion of concentrated water during operation. Therefore, the filter element 200 may further include a concentrated water outlet. The control valve assembly may include a concentrated water ratio valve 710. When the concentrated water ratio valve 710 is in the closed state, it can maintain the pressure required for the normal operation of the first filter element 210 and allow a certain flow of concentrated water to pass through the concentrated water ratio valve 710. The control valve assembly may be fixed to the housing 100. The water tank 300 can avoid the control valve assembly by providing the valve avoidance position 340, and can utilize the space around the control valve assembly. Thus, the volume can be made as large as possible within the limited space of the water purifier housing 100.

[0050] Exemplarily, the third side surface 301 is provided with a mounting groove 350 extending upward from the bottom of the third side surface 301, and the mounting portion 351 is located at the bottom of the mounting groove 350. In an embodiment where the water tank 300 is fixed by using fasteners, the threaded posts for fixing the fasteners may be provided in the mounting groove 350, so that the threaded posts can have sufficient length and can withstand a large tensile force. The extension of the mounting groove 350 from the third side surface 301 to the mounting portion 351 can facilitate the demolding of the water tank 300 during injection molding.

[0051] Exemplarily, the water purifier further includes a power supply assembly 600, and at least a part of the power supply assembly 600 is embedded in the heating module avoidance recess 330 and is located below the heating module 500. The dimensions of the heating module 500 in the first lateral direction X-X and the second lateral direction Y-Y are respectively close to the dimensions of the power supply assembly 600 in the first lateral direction X-X and the second lateral direction Y-Y. Therefore, the power supply assembly 600 can be arranged below the heating module 500, so that the heating module avoidance recess 330 can accommodate the power supply assembly 600 together. Exemplarily, the heating module avoidance recess 330 penetrates through the bottom surface of the water tank 300. This facilitates the demolding of the water tank 300 during injection molding.

[0052] Exemplarily, as Figure 8 and Figure 9As shown, the filter element avoidance recess penetrates through the water tank 300 in the axial direction along the filter element 200. This can simplify the structure of the water tank 300 and facilitate the demolding during the injection molding of the water tank 300. Along the axial direction, that is, the vertical direction Z-Z shown in the figure, the filter element avoidance recess is dimensionally adapted to the side portion of the filter element 200 embedded in the filter element avoidance recess. In this way, the filter element 200 can support the filter element avoidance recess of the water tank 300, preventing the water tank 300 from being damaged under external forces.

[0053] Exemplarily, the size of the first filter element 210 can be larger than the size of the second filter element 220, such that the bottom of the first part 360 of the water tank 300 forming the second filter element avoidance recess 312 is higher than the bottoms of the other parts of the water tank 300. Generally, the second filter element 220, as a pre-filter element 200, is smaller in volume compared to the first filter element 210. The upper halves of the first filter element 210 and the second filter element 220 can be fixed to the housing 100, and the size of the housing 100 in the vertical direction Z-Z is close to the length of the first filter element 210. Therefore, there will be a gap in the lower half of the second filter element 220. A control valve assembly can be provided below the first part 360. In this way, there is no need to design an additional valve avoidance position 340 for accommodating the control valve assembly in the water tank 300, simplifying the structure of the water tank 300. One or more of the above-mentioned inlet control valve 720, concentrated water ratio valve 710, or any other control valve assemblies not shown can be accommodated below the first part 360. Return reference Figure 1 , interfaces such as the tap water port 10 and the water outlet on the housing can also be provided in this area, thus making reasonable use of space. In short, the necessary components in the water purifier can be installed on the corresponding recesses provided on the water tank 300 from all sides of the water tank 300.

[0054] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the orientation or positional relationships indicated by orientation words such as "front", "rear", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "lateral", "vertical", "perpendicular", "horizontal", and "top", "bottom", etc. are usually based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the drawings. These are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description. Without contrary explanations, these orientation words do not indicate and imply that the devices or elements referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limiting the protection scope of the present invention; the orientation words "inside" and "outside" refer to the inside and outside relative to the outlines of the respective components.

[0055] For ease of description, regional relative terms such as "above", "over", "on the upper surface", "upper" etc. can be used here to describe the regional positional relationship between one or more components or features shown in the figure and other components or features. It should be understood that regional relative terms not only include the orientation of components described in the figure, but also different orientations during use or operation. For example, if the components in the attached figure are inverted as a whole, the component "above other components or features" or "over other components or features" will include the situation where the component is "below other components or structures" or "under other components or structures". Thus, the exemplary term "above" can include both the orientations of "above" and "below". In addition, these components or features can also be positioned at other different angles (such as rotated 90 degrees or other angles), and this article intends to cover all such situations.

[0056] It should be noted that the terms used here are only for describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to the present application. As used here, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular form is also intended to include the plural form. In addition, it should also be understood that when the terms "comprise" and / or "include" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, components, assemblies, and / or combinations thereof.

[0057] It should be noted that the terms "first", "second", etc. in the description of the present application, the claims, and the above-mentioned drawings are used to distinguish similar objects and do not necessarily have to be used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged under appropriate circumstances so that the embodiments of the present application described here can be implemented in an order other than those illustrated or described here.

[0058] The present utility model has been illustrated by the above embodiments. However, it should be understood that the above embodiments are only for the purpose of exemplification and illustration, and are not intended to limit the present utility model within the scope of the described embodiments. In addition, those skilled in the art can understand that the present utility model is not limited to the above embodiments, and more variations and modifications can be made according to the teachings of the present utility model, and all of these variations and modifications fall within the scope of protection required by the present utility model. The scope of protection of the present utility model is defined by the appended claims and their equivalent scope.

Claims

1. A water purifier, characterized in that, Comprising: a filter element, and a water tank, the water tank being communicated with the filter element, the water tank being arranged on the side of the filter element, a filter element avoidance recess being arranged on the side of the water tank, a side part of the filter element being embedded in the filter element avoidance recess, and the shape of the filter element avoidance recess being adapted to the shape of the side part.

2. The water purifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water purifier further comprises a pumping device, the pumping device being communicated with the filter element or the water tank, an opening-downward pump avoidance recess being arranged at the bottom of the water tank, and at least a part of the pumping device being embedded in the pump avoidance recess.

3. The water purifier according to claim 2, characterized in that, The water purifier further comprises a housing, the filter element, the pumping device and the water tank all being arranged in the housing, a tap water inlet and a water outlet being arranged on the housing, the filter element being communicated with the tap water inlet for receiving unpressurized tap water; the pumping device being communicated between the water tank and the water outlet.

4. The water purifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The filter element comprises a first filter element and a second filter element, the first filter element and the second filter element being respectively located on a first side face and a second side face of the water tank opposite to each other along a first lateral direction, the filter element avoidance recess comprises a first filter element avoidance recess arranged on the first side face and a second filter element avoidance recess arranged on the second side face, a side part of the first filter element being embedded in the first filter element avoidance recess, and a side part of the second filter element being embedded in the second filter element avoidance recess.

5. The water purifier according to claim 4, characterized in that, The water tank further comprises a third side face and a fourth side face, the third side face and the fourth side face being opposite to each other along a second lateral direction perpendicular to the first lateral direction, the third side face being connected between a first side of the first filter element avoidance recess and a first side of the second filter element avoidance recess, and the fourth side face being connected between a second side of the first filter element avoidance recess and a second side of the second filter element avoidance recess, wherein: the distance from the first side of the first filter element avoidance recess to a middle plane is equal to the distance from the first side of the second filter element avoidance recess to the middle plane, wherein the middle plane is perpendicular to the plane where a first axis of the first filter element and a second axis of the second filter element are located, and the distance from the middle plane to the first axis is equal to the distance from the middle plane to the second axis; and the distance from the second side of the first filter element avoidance recess to the middle plane is less than the distance from the second side of the second filter element avoidance recess to the middle plane.

6. The water purifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water purifier further comprises a heating module, a heating module avoidance recess being further arranged on the side of the water tank, and at least a part of the heating module being embedded in the heating module avoidance recess.

7. The water purifier according to claim 6, wherein The water tank has a first side face and a second side face opposite to each other along a first lateral direction, and a third side face and a fourth side face opposite to each other along a second lateral direction, the first lateral direction being perpendicular to the second lateral direction, at least one of the first side face and the second side face is provided with the filter element avoidance recess, the heating module avoidance recess is arranged on the fourth side face.

8. The water purifier according to claim 7, wherein The water purifier further includes a housing, the filter element, the heating module and the water tank are all arranged in the housing, an installation part is arranged on the third side surface, and the water tank is installed to the housing through the installation part; and / or A valve avoidance position is arranged on the third side surface, and the water purifier further includes a control valve assembly at least partially embedded in the valve avoidance position; and / or An installation groove extending upward from the bottom of the third side surface is arranged on the third side surface, and the installation part is located at the bottom of the installation groove.

9. The water purifier according to claim 6, wherein The water purifier further includes a power supply component, at least a part of the power supply component is embedded in the heating module avoidance recess and is located below the heating module; and / or The heating module avoidance recess penetrates through to the bottom surface of the water tank.

10. The water purifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The filter element avoidance recess penetrates through the water tank along the axial direction of the filter element Along the axial direction, the filter element avoidance recess is dimensionally adapted to the side part of the filter element embedded in the filter element avoidance recess.

11. The water purifier according to claim 10, characterized in that, The filter element includes a first filter element and a second filter element, the first filter element and the second filter element are respectively located on the first side surface and the second side surface of the water tank opposite to each other along the first lateral direction The filter element avoidance recess includes a first filter element avoidance recess arranged on the first side surface and a second filter element avoidance recess arranged on the second side surface, the side part of the first filter element is embedded in the first filter element avoidance recess, and the side part of the second filter element is embedded in the second filter element avoidance recess The size of the first filter element is larger than the size of the second filter element, so that the bottom of the first part of the water tank forming the second filter element avoidance recess is higher than the bottoms of other parts of the water tank The water purifier further includes a control valve assembly arranged below the first part.

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