Water softening device

Abstract

The utility model discloses a water softening device which comprises an ion exchanger and a salt cavity and is characterized in that the ion exchanger is assembled at the upper end of the salt cavity, a water inlet is formed in the top end of the ion exchanger, and a water inlet pipe is inserted into the water inlet; an adapter is assembled at the top end of the water inlet pipe; a sealing cover is assembled between the adapter and the water inlet pipe; a water pump is assembled on the outer wall of the salt cavity, a communicating pipe is assembled at the driving end of the water pump, a communicating opening is formed in the side wall of the ion exchanger, and the end of the communicating pipe is inserted into the communicating opening in a sealed mode; according to the water softening device, the sealing cover is arranged between the adapter pipe and the water inlet pipe, and internal threads on the inner wall of the sealing cover are matched with external threads on the outer wall of the adapter pipe, so that tight connection is realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of water softening technology, specifically a water softening device. Background Technology

[0002] Water softening is crucial in industrial production and daily life. Traditional water softening devices mostly employ ion exchange technology, using ion exchangers to soften hard water. However, existing Chinese patent CN201910260240.8 discloses a water softening device and a water softening treatment control method, including an ion exchanger, a brine chamber, a water pump, a detection module, and a controller. The ion exchanger is used to soften water, the brine chamber is connected to the ion exchanger, the water pump pumps the solution from the brine chamber into the ion exchanger, and the detection module detects the activity of the materials within the ion exchanger. However, this method has several shortcomings. First, the sealing between the components is poor, easily leading to liquid leakage, wasting water resources and potentially affecting the normal operation and lifespan of the equipment. Second, the sealing structure design is unreasonable, making it difficult to adapt to sealing requirements under different operating conditions; the sealing effect decreases significantly after pressure changes or long-term use. Third, the overall structural layout of the device is not compact enough, some components are inconvenient to install and disassemble, hindering equipment maintenance and repair, and its poor mobility limits its application scenarios. With the increasing demands for water quality and the growing need for ease of use of equipment, there is an urgent need for an improved water softening device to address these issues. Utility Model Content

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a water softening device to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution: a water softening device, comprising an ion exchanger and a brine chamber, wherein the ion exchanger is mounted on the upper end of the brine chamber, and an inlet is provided at the top of the ion exchanger, and an inlet pipe is inserted into the inlet.

[0005] The top end of the water inlet pipe is fitted with an adapter pipe, and a sealing cover is fitted between the adapter pipe and the water inlet pipe.

[0006] A water pump is installed on the outer wall of the salt chamber, and a connecting pipe is installed on the drive end of the water pump. A connecting port is opened on the side wall of the ion exchanger, and the end of the connecting pipe is sealed and inserted into the connecting port.

[0007] The inner wall of the sealing cover is provided with an internal thread, and the outer wall of the adapter is provided with an external thread, and the internal thread and the external thread are engaged.

[0008] The sealing cover is provided with a sealing component inside, which is sleeved on the outside of the adapter pipe.

[0009] As a preferred embodiment of the water softening device of this utility model, the sealing assembly includes rubber pad a and rubber pad b, and rubber blocks are evenly and equidistantly installed at the edges between rubber pad a and rubber pad b along their axis.

[0010] As a preferred embodiment of the water softening device of this utility model, both rubber pad a and rubber pad b have a filling cavity inside, and an elastic element is installed inside the filling cavity.

[0011] As a preferred embodiment of the water softening device of this utility model, the top end of the water inlet pipe is provided with a limiting ring plate inside the sealing cover, and the outer diameter of the limiting ring plate is larger than the inner diameter of the opening of the sealing cover.

[0012] As a preferred embodiment of the water softening device of this utility model, the ion exchanger has a soft water drain outlet on its front side, a drain pipe is inserted into the soft water drain outlet, and a valve is installed on the drain pipe.

[0013] As a preferred embodiment of the water softening device of this utility model, the rear side wall of the salt chamber is equipped with a water supply pipe.

[0014] As a preferred embodiment of the water softening device of this utility model, the bottom end of the salt chamber is equipped with a supporting base plate, and drive wheels are installed at the four corners of the bottom end of the supporting base plate.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are: the water softening device has a reasonable structural design;

[0016] Improved connection sealing: A sealing cover is installed between the adapter pipe and the water inlet pipe. The internal threads of the sealing cover's inner wall mate with the external threads of the adapter pipe's outer wall to achieve a tight connection. Simultaneously, the sealing assembly inside the sealing cover consists of rubber gaskets a and b, and a rubber block between them. The rubber material has good elasticity, effectively filling gaps at the connection, enhancing sealing performance, preventing liquid leakage, and improving the stability and reliability of the device.

[0017] Enhanced sealing adaptability: The elastic elements in the internal filling cavities of rubber gaskets a and b enable the sealing assembly to adapt to different pressures and deform accordingly, further improving the sealing effect, adapting to the needs of different working conditions, extending the service life of the device's seal, and reducing equipment failure and maintenance costs caused by seal failure.

[0018] Easy to install and maintain: The limiting ring plate at the top of the inlet pipe can position and limit the sealing cover during installation, ensuring accurate installation and facilitating disassembly. The soft water drain outlet, brine chamber water supply pipe, and other components of the ion exchanger are rationally laid out, and valves are installed on the drain pipe for easy water flow control. The overall structure is compact, and the installation and disassembly of each component are convenient, greatly facilitating equipment maintenance and repair.

[0019] Improved ease of use: The load-bearing base plate mounted at the bottom of the salt chamber and the drive wheels at the four corners give the device good mobility, allowing it to be flexibly moved to different usage locations according to actual needs, thus broadening the application scenarios of the device and meeting diverse water softening treatment requirements. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a front-view three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the conversion pipe, sealing cover, and water inlet pipe of this utility model;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the sealing assembly of this utility model;

[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the filling cavity of this utility model.

[0024] In the diagram: 1. Support plate; 2. Salt chamber; 3. Drive wheel; 4. Water pump; 5. Connecting pipe; 6. Connecting port; 7. Water supply pipe; 8. Water inlet pipe; 9. Sealing cover; 10. Water inlet pipe; 11. Water inlet; 12. Ion exchanger; 13. Soft water drain outlet; 14. Valve; 15. Drain pipe; 16. External thread; 17. Internal thread; 18. Limiting ring plate; 19. Sealing assembly; 20. Rubber pad b; 21. Rubber block; 22. Rubber pad a; 23. Elastic element; 24. Filling chamber. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0026] Please see Figure 1-4 This utility model provides a technical solution:

[0027] In this technical solution, a water softening device includes an ion exchanger 12 and a brine chamber 2. The ion exchanger 12 is mounted on the upper end of the brine chamber 2. An inlet 11 is provided at the top of the ion exchanger 12, and an inlet pipe 10 is inserted into the inlet 11. An adapter pipe 8 is mounted at the top of the inlet pipe 10, and a sealing cover 9 is mounted between the adapter pipe 10 and the inlet pipe 8. A water pump 4 is mounted on the outer wall of the brine chamber 2, and a connecting pipe 5 is mounted on the drive end of the water pump 4. A connecting port 6 is provided on the side wall of the ion exchanger 12, and the end of the connecting pipe 5 is sealed and inserted into the connecting port 6. An internal thread 17 is provided on the inner wall of the sealing cover 9, and an external thread 16 is provided on the outer wall of the adapter pipe 8. The internal thread 17 and the external thread 16 are engaged. A sealing component 19 is provided inside the sealing cover 9, and the sealing component 19 is sleeved on the outside of the adapter pipe 8.

[0028] The core components include an ion exchanger 12 and a brine chamber 2. The ion exchanger 12 is installed at the top of the brine chamber 2, a compact and efficient layout that makes full use of space. Ion exchange is a crucial step in water softening and is widely used in industrial water purification and wastewater treatment. Common ion exchangers come in various specifications. The ion exchanger 12 used in this device has an optimized effective exchange volume that can be flexibly adjusted according to actual water quality and treatment capacity requirements. For example, in small-scale commercial water use scenarios, the exchange volume is typically 0.5-2 cubic meters, effectively removing hardness ions such as calcium and magnesium from the water to achieve water softening. The brine chamber 2 stores the brine required for regenerating the ion exchange resin. Its volume depends on the regeneration cycle and treatment capacity of the ion exchanger 12, typically ranging from 1-5 cubic meters, ensuring a sufficient supply of brine to maintain stable operation of the ion exchanger.

[0029] The ion exchanger 12 has a water inlet 11 at its top, into which an inlet pipe 10 is inserted. The size of the water inlet 11 is precisely matched to that of the inlet pipe 10. The common inner diameter of the water inlet is generally 25-50 mm, ensuring smooth water flow and a tight connection to prevent leakage. The inlet pipe 10 is responsible for introducing the raw water to be treated into the ion exchanger 12. Its material is mostly corrosion-resistant PPR or PVC. The pipe diameter is determined according to the actual water flow rate. In general household or small commercial water use scenarios, the pipe diameter is usually 20-40 mm to ensure that the raw water can be stably delivered to the ion exchanger for softening treatment.

[0030] A connector 8 is fitted to the top of the inlet pipe 10, and a sealing cover 9 is fitted between the connector 8 and the inlet pipe 10. The connector 8 serves as a connection and transition, and its direction and position can be flexibly adjusted according to the actual installation environment. Its material is similar to that of the inlet pipe 10 and has good corrosion resistance. The sealing cover 9 is crucial. Its inner wall has an internal thread 17, and the outer wall of the connector 8 has an external thread 16. The internal thread 17 and the external thread 16 mate to achieve a tight connection between the sealing cover 9 and the connector 8. This threaded connection method is common and reliable. For example, common pipe thread specifications include British G thread or American NPT thread. This device can select the appropriate specification according to actual needs. Generally, the thread pitch is 1.5-2.5 mm to ensure a firm connection. A sealing component 19 is set inside the sealing cover 9. The sealing component 19 is fitted onto the outside of the connector 8 to further enhance the sealing effect and prevent raw water leakage.

[0031] In some technical solutions, the sealing assembly 19 includes a rubber pad a20 and a rubber pad b22, and rubber blocks 21 are evenly and equidistantly installed at the edges between the rubber pad a20 and the rubber pad b22 along their axis.

[0032] Rubber gaskets a20 and b22 are typically made of water-resistant and chemically resistant nitrile rubber or silicone rubber, with a thickness of 3-5 mm, ensuring both good elastic sealing performance and sufficient strength. Rubber block 21, also made of high-quality rubber, is cylindrical or cubic in shape, with a diameter or side length of 5-10 mm. It is evenly distributed between rubber gaskets a20 and b22 to further enhance the sealing effect, fill any gaps, and, under pressure, can elastically deform to adapt to sealing requirements under different working conditions.

[0033] In some technical solutions, both rubber pad a20 and rubber pad b22 have a filling cavity 24 inside, and an elastic element 23 is installed inside the filling cavity 24.

[0034] The filling cavity 24 is generally circular or rectangular, with a diameter or side length of 8-12 mm. The elastic element 23 can be a common cylindrical helical compression spring, such as a cylindrical helical compression spring with a circular cross-section made of stainless steel. Its wire diameter is generally 1-2 mm, the spring outer diameter is 6-10 mm, and the spring height is 10-15 mm. When the sealing assembly 19 is under pressure, the elastic element 23 undergoes compression deformation, further pushing the rubber gaskets a20 and b22 outward to tightly fit the inner walls of the adapter pipe 8 and the sealing cover 9, greatly enhancing the sealing performance and adapting to the sealing requirements under different pressure environments.

[0035] In some technical solutions, the top end of the water inlet pipe 10 is provided with a limiting ring plate 18 inside the sealing cover 9, and the outer diameter of the limiting ring plate 18 is larger than the inner diameter of the opening of the sealing cover 9.

[0036] The limiting ring plate 18 is generally made of metal, such as stainless steel, with a thickness of 5-8 mm. Its outer diameter is 5-10 mm larger than the inner diameter of the opening of the sealing cover 9. During installation, the limiting ring plate 18 can position and limit the sealing cover 9, ensuring that the sealing cover 9 is accurately installed in the predetermined position, preventing the sealing cover 9 from being over-screwed or shifted during installation, and facilitating subsequent disassembly and maintenance, thus improving the convenience of installation and maintenance.

[0037] In some technical solutions, a soft water drain outlet 13 is provided on the front side of the ion exchanger 12, a drain pipe 15 is inserted into the soft water drain outlet 13, and a valve 14 is installed on the drain pipe 15.

[0038] The diameter of the soft water drain outlet 13 is determined based on the processing capacity of the ion exchanger 12, generally between 25-50 mm, to ensure that the softened water can be discharged smoothly. The drain pipe 15 is made of a similar material to the inlet pipe 10, using corrosion-resistant materials, and its diameter matches that of the soft water drain outlet 13. The valve 14 can be a common ball valve or gate valve, which can flexibly control the discharge of soft water and facilitate adjustment of the drainage flow and time according to actual usage needs. For example, the valve can be opened when water is needed and closed when not needed, preventing unnecessary waste of soft water.

[0039] In some technical solutions, a water supply pipe 7 is installed on the rear side wall of the salt cavity 2.

[0040] The water supply pipe 7 is used to replenish saline or clean water to the saline chamber 2 to maintain a suitable saline concentration and level. The diameter of the water supply pipe 7 is generally 15-25 mm, and it is made of corrosion-resistant plastic or metal. Through the water supply pipe 7, saline can be periodically added to the saline chamber 2 to ensure the supply of saline required for the regeneration of the ion exchange resin. At the same time, clean water can be added as needed to adjust the saline concentration, ensuring the stable operation of the ion exchange process.

[0041] In some technical solutions, a supporting base plate 1 is installed at the bottom of the salt cavity 2, and drive wheels 3 are installed at the four corners of the bottom of the supporting base plate 1.

[0042] The base plate 1 is typically made of 10-15 mm thick metal sheet, such as steel plate, providing sufficient strength to support the weight of the entire device. The drive wheels 3 are usually rubber wheels with a diameter of 80-120 mm, offering good wear resistance and shock absorption, and allowing for 360-degree rotation for easy movement of the device in different locations. The drive wheels 3 can also be equipped with a braking device, which can lock the device in place after it has been moved to a designated position, ensuring stable operation and improving the ease and flexibility of use, making it adaptable to various application scenarios.

[0043] I. Work Process

[0044] Raw water introduction: The raw water to be treated enters the device through the inlet pipe 10. The adapter pipe 8 at the top of the inlet pipe 10 is connected to an external water source pipe. The sealing cover 9 is tightly screwed into the adapter pipe 8 through the internal thread 17 and the external thread 16 of the adapter pipe 8. The internal sealing component 19 further enhances the sealing effect to prevent the raw water from leaking before entering the device. The raw water flows into the ion exchanger 12 from the inlet 11 at the top of the ion exchanger 12 through the inlet pipe 10.

[0045] Water softening: After raw water enters the ion exchanger 12, it comes into contact with the ion exchange resin inside. Under the action of the ion exchange resin, hardness ions such as calcium and magnesium in the water undergo an exchange reaction with sodium ions on the resin, thereby removing hardness components from the water and achieving water softening. The softened water is temporarily stored in the ion exchanger 12.

[0046] Soft water discharge: When softened water is needed, open valve 14 on drain pipe 15. Softened water flows out from soft water drain port 13 in front of ion exchanger 12 and is transported to the point of use through drain pipe 15.

[0047] Resin Regeneration: As the ion exchange process proceeds, sodium ions on the ion exchange resin are gradually consumed, reducing the resin's exchange capacity and necessitating regeneration. At this point, the salt chamber 2 comes into play. The salt chamber 2 contains brine, and the water pump 4 on the outer wall of the salt chamber 2 is activated, transporting the brine from the salt chamber 2 to the ion exchanger 12 via the connecting pipe 5. The brine enters through the connecting port 6 on the side wall of the ion exchanger 12, contacting the degraded ion exchange resin. This causes the adsorbed calcium and magnesium ions on the resin to be replaced by sodium ions in the brine, thereby restoring the resin's exchange capacity. After the regeneration process is complete, the remaining brine is discharged from the device through the drain pipe 15.

[0048] Brine replenishment: During resin regeneration, the brine in brine chamber 2 is continuously consumed and needs to be replenished in a timely manner. Brine or clean water is replenished into brine chamber 2 through water supply pipe 7 on the rear side wall of brine chamber 2 to maintain a suitable brine concentration and level, ensuring sufficient brine supply for the next resin regeneration.

[0049] Device movement and positioning: When it is necessary to move the device to different positions, the drive wheels 3 at the four corners of the base plate 1 at the bottom of the salt chamber 2 can be used to push the device to move it. After reaching the designated position, the device is fixed by the braking device equipped on the drive wheels 3 to ensure stable operation of the device.

[0050] II. Working Principle

[0051] Ion exchange principle: Ion exchange resin is a solid polymer compound with a network three-dimensional structure, insoluble in water, containing many active groups that can exchange ions with those in solution. In this device, the active groups on the ion exchange resin (such as sulfonic acid groups -SO3) -Sodium ions (Na+) bound to (etc.) + ) has exchangeability. When hard water passes through an ion exchange resin, the calcium (Ca) in the water... 2+ ), magnesium (Mg) 2+ The plasma undergoes an ion exchange reaction with sodium ions on the resin, as shown in the following equation (taking a sulfonic acid-type cation exchange resin as an example):

[0052]

[0053] Through the above reaction, calcium and magnesium ions in the water are adsorbed by the resin, while sodium ions on the resin enter the water, thereby reducing the hardness of the water and achieving water softening.

[0054] Resin regeneration principle: When ion exchange resins adsorb large amounts of calcium and magnesium ions, their exchange capacity gradually decreases, requiring regeneration. The regeneration process involves contacting the degraded ion exchange resin with a high-concentration saline solution (usually sodium chloride solution). Since the sodium ion concentration in the saline solution is much higher than the concentration of calcium and magnesium ions on the resin, based on the principle of reversibility of ion exchange, the sodium ions in the saline solution will displace the adsorbed calcium and magnesium ions from the resin, restoring its exchange capacity. The reaction equation is as follows:

[0055]

[0056] The regenerated resin can then be reused in the water softening process.

[0057] Sealing Principle: The sealing cover 9 and the adapter pipe 8 are tightly connected through the engagement of internal threads 17 and external threads 16. This threaded connection provides a certain pre-tightening force, ensuring a tight fit between the two. Simultaneously, the sealing component 19 inside the sealing cover 9 plays a crucial sealing role. The rubber gaskets a20 and b22 in the sealing component 19 have good elasticity and, under the pre-tightening force of the threaded connection, can tightly fit against the inner walls of the adapter pipe 8 and the sealing cover 9, filling any gaps. Rubber blocks 21 are evenly distributed between rubber gaskets a20 and b22, further enhancing the sealing effect. They can also undergo elastic deformation under pressure, adapting to sealing requirements under different operating conditions. Furthermore, the elastic element 23 in the filling cavity 24 inside the rubber gaskets a20 and b22 undergoes compression deformation under pressure, further pushing the rubber gaskets outwards and tightly fitting the connecting components, greatly enhancing the sealing performance and ensuring that no water leakage occurs during operation.

[0058] Structural Design Principle: The limiting ring plate 18 at the top of the water inlet pipe 10 positions and limits the sealing cover 9 during installation, ensuring that the sealing cover 9 is accurately installed in the predetermined position and preventing excessive screwing or positional displacement during installation, thus guaranteeing the sealing effect. Simultaneously, the design of the limiting ring plate 18 facilitates the disassembly and maintenance of the sealing cover 9 later. The rational layout of components such as the ion exchanger 12, brine chamber 2, water pump 4, and connecting pipe 5 results in a compact structure, tight connections between components, and smooth water flow, ensuring stable operation of the device. The design of the supporting base plate 1 and drive wheel 3 at the bottom of the brine chamber 2 provides the device with good mobility and stability, facilitating movement and positioning in different locations and adapting to various application scenarios.

[0059] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

[0060] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to embodiments, various modifications can be made and components can be replaced with equivalents without departing from the scope of the present invention. In particular, as long as there is no structural conflict, the features in the embodiments disclosed in this invention can be combined with each other in any way. The lack of an exhaustive description of these combinations in this specification is merely for the sake of brevity and resource conservation. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions falling within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A water softening device, comprising an ion exchanger (12) and a brine chamber (2), characterized in that, The ion exchanger (12) is mounted on the upper end of the salt chamber (2). The top of the ion exchanger (12) is provided with a water inlet (11), and a water inlet pipe (10) is inserted into the water inlet (11). The top end of the water inlet pipe (10) is fitted with a connecting pipe (8), and a sealing cover (9) is fitted between the connecting pipe (8) and the water inlet pipe (10); The outer wall of the salt chamber (2) is equipped with a water pump (4), the drive end of the water pump (4) is equipped with a connecting pipe (5), the side wall of the ion exchanger (12) is provided with a connecting port (6), and the end of the connecting pipe (5) is sealed and inserted into the connecting port (6). The inner wall of the sealing cover (9) is provided with an internal thread (17), and the outer wall of the adapter pipe (8) is provided with an external thread (16). The internal thread (17) and the external thread (16) are engaged. The sealing cover (9) is provided with a sealing component (19) inside, which is sleeved on the outside of the adapter pipe (8).

2. The water softening device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sealing assembly (19) includes a rubber pad a (20) and a rubber pad b (22), and rubber blocks (21) are evenly and equidistantly installed at the edges between the rubber pad a (20) and the rubber pad b (22) along their axis.

3. The water softening device according to claim 2, characterized in that, Both rubber pad a (20) and rubber pad b (22) have a filling cavity (24) inside, and an elastic element (23) is installed inside the filling cavity (24).

4. The water softening device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The top of the water inlet pipe (10) is located inside the sealing cover (9) and a limiting ring plate (18) is provided. The outer diameter of the limiting ring plate (18) is larger than the inner diameter of the opening of the sealing cover (9).

5. A water softening device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ion exchanger (12) has a soft water drain outlet (13) on its front side, and a drain pipe (15) is inserted into the soft water drain outlet (13). A valve (14) is installed on the drain pipe (15).

6. The water softening device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rear side wall of the salt chamber (2) is fitted with a water supply pipe (7).

7. A water softening device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom of the salt chamber (2) is fitted with a support base plate (1), and drive wheels (3) are installed at the four corners of the bottom of the support base plate (1).

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