Water softener and salt tank therefor

Abstract

This utility model relates to the technical field of water purification equipment, specifically providing a water softener and its brine tank, which at least solves the problem that existing water softeners cannot detect leaks in a timely manner. The brine tank of the water softener provided by this utility model includes a tank body, with a portion of the side wall of the tank body recessed inward to form a concave structure. The concave structure has an overflow port communicating with the inner cavity of the tank body. The brine tank also includes a leak detector, which is disposed on the tank body and located on the overflow path of the overflow port. The concave structure of this utility model can reduce the previously unused water-holding space inside the brine tank, and the overflow port on the concave structure can effectively reduce the overflow height of the tank body, so that the leak detector located on the overflow path of the overflow port can detect leaks in the water softener in a timely manner.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of water purification equipment technology, specifically providing a water softener and its brine tank. Background Technology

[0002] In related technologies, water softeners achieve water softening by selectively adsorbing calcium and magnesium ions in water using ion exchange resins. However, because the brine tank assembly of a water softener integrates multiple water circuit connections, there is a significant risk of leakage. For example, quality defects in the component manufacturing process and wear and tear caused by long-term use by the user can both lead to cracks in the water circuit connections, resulting in leakage from the entire unit.

[0003] Specifically, when a leak occurs at the connection between the resin tank and the water system components, the water first flows into the brine tank. The leak is only detected when the water level in the brine tank rises to overflow. This leak detection method has a significant lag, affecting the user experience. Utility Model Content

[0004] The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, namely, to at least solve the problem that existing water softeners cannot be detected in a timely manner when leaks occur.

[0005] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a brine tank for a water softener, the brine tank including a tank body, a portion of the side wall of the tank body being recessed inward to form a concave structure, the concave structure being provided with an overflow port communicating with the inner cavity of the tank body, the brine tank also including a leak detector, the leak detector being disposed on the tank body and located on the overflow path of the overflow port.

[0006] The brine tank of the water softener provided by this utility model has an inwardly recessed structure on the side wall of the tank body, which can reduce the ineffective water holding space originally present inside the brine tank. In addition, the inwardly recessed structure is also provided with an overflow port connected to the inner cavity of the tank body, which can effectively reduce the overflow height of the tank body. In this way, when a leak occurs, the water in the water softener can flow out quickly along the preset path (i.e., the overflow port), so that the leak detector located on the overflow path of the overflow port can detect the leak of the water softener in time and make an effective response, thereby achieving a reliable leak protection function.

[0007] In some feasible embodiments of the brine tank of the water softener described above, the leak detector is installed at the bottom of the tank body, and the tank body is provided with a drainage channel that connects to the concave structure and extends to the bottom of the tank body.

[0008] In some feasible embodiments of the brine tank of the water softener described above, the side wall of the drainage channel is provided with an installation groove, and the leakage detector is installed in the installation groove.

[0009] In some feasible embodiments of the brine tank of the aforementioned water softener, the overflow outlet is a notch located at the top edge of the concave structure; and / or

[0010] The bottom of the concave structure is provided with an opening that communicates with the drainage channel.

[0011] In some feasible embodiments of the brine tank of the water softener described above, the brine tank is provided with a salt inlet, which is located on the tank body away from the concave structure.

[0012] In some feasible embodiments of the brine tank of the water softener described above, the brine tank further includes a resin tank disposed within the tank body;

[0013] The salt inlet is located at the top of the container, and the salt inlet and the recessed structure are located on opposite sides of the resin tank.

[0014] In some feasible embodiments of the brine tank of the water softener described above, the brine tank further includes a control valve and a water circuit assembly;

[0015] One end of the water circuit assembly is connected to the resin tank, and the other end is connected to the control valve;

[0016] The control valve is at least partially installed within the recessed structure.

[0017] In some feasible embodiments of the brine tank of the water softener described above, the brine tank further includes a brine valve assembly, which is connected to the control valve via a pipe;

[0018] The salt valve assembly and the recessed structure are located on the same side of the resin tank.

[0019] In some feasible embodiments of the salt tank of the aforementioned water softener, the salt tank is further equipped with a salt concentration detection component and a salt shortage reminder component.

[0020] In a second aspect, the present invention also provides a water softener, the water softener including the salt tank of the water softener described in any of the foregoing technical solutions.

[0021] Those skilled in the art will understand that, since the water softener includes the salt tank in any of the aforementioned technical solutions, it possesses all the technical effects that the aforementioned salt tank can achieve, and will not be elaborated further here. Attached Figure Description

[0022] The preferred embodiments of this utility model are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0023] Figure 1A perspective view of the salt tank of a water softener provided in an embodiment of the present invention, showing the top structure of the salt tank;

[0024] Figure 2 A perspective view of the salt tank of a water softener provided in an embodiment of the present invention, showing the side and bottom structures of the salt tank;

[0025] Figure 3 A three-dimensional structural view of the salt tank of a water softener provided in an embodiment of the present utility model from a third perspective, showing the bottom structure of the salt tank;

[0026] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure after removing the control valve and some water circuit components;

[0027] Figure 5 A top view of the salt tank of a water softener provided in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0028] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A cross-sectional view along the AA direction;

[0029] Figure 7 for Figure 1 A structural diagram after disassembling the enclosure (excluding the top seal).

[0030] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0031] 1. Housing; 11. Recessed structure; 111. Overflow port; 112. Through port; 12. Drainage channel; 13. Mounting groove; 14. Top seal; 141. Salt inlet; 15. Salt baffle; 2. Leak detector; 3. Resin tank; 4. Control valve; 5. Water circuit assembly; 6. Salt valve assembly; 7. Salt shortage reminder assembly. Detailed Implementation

[0032] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art should understand that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the technical principles of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make adjustments as needed to adapt to specific applications. To better illustrate the present invention, numerous specific details are provided in the following detailed description. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention can be implemented even without certain specific details.

[0033] In the description of this utility model, terms such as "upper," "lower," "inner," "outer," "left," "right," "front," and "rear," which indicate direction or positional relationships, are based on the actual direction or positional relationships in practical application. These terms are used merely for ease of description and do not indicate or imply that the device to be protected must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model. Furthermore, ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" are used only for convenience of explanation and are not used to indicate or imply relative importance.

[0034] Furthermore, it should be noted that, in the description of this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation" and "connection" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0035] Please see Figures 1 to 7 The present invention provides a salt tank for a water softener. The salt tank includes a tank body 1. Part of the side wall of the tank body 1 is recessed inward to form a concave structure 11. The concave structure 11 is provided with an overflow port 111 that communicates with the inner cavity of the tank body 1. The salt tank also includes a leak detector 2, which is disposed on the tank body 1 and located on the overflow path of the overflow port 111.

[0036] Specifically, such as Figure 4 As shown, a portion of the sidewall near the top of the container 1 is recessed inward to form a concave structure 11. The concave structure 11 has openings on its side and top, which allows for the provision of space for the installation of other components of the salt container on the container 1.

[0037] It should be noted that the concave structure 11 in the above embodiments is merely exemplary, and the structure of the concave structure 11 is not limited thereto. The concave structure 11 can be any shape that can reduce the volume of the inner cavity of the box 1. For example, the concave structure 11 may only have an opening on the side, that is, the concave structure 11 is a groove provided on the side wall of the box 1; or, the concave structure 11 may be provided in the connecting area of ​​two adjacent surfaces of the box 1 and extend along the direction of the intersection line of the two surfaces; or, the concave structure 11 may be a structure formed by the inward indentation of part of the left side wall, part of the right side wall and part of the rear side wall of the box 1.

[0038] In one implementation, such as Figure 4As shown, the overflow port 111 is a notch located at the top edge of the concave structure 11. When the liquid level inside the tank 1 rises to the top edge of the concave structure 11, the liquid can be quickly discharged through the overflow port 111. Since the concave structure 11 provides a certain space for the liquid to converge, the liquid has a more concentrated flow direction when it reaches the overflow port 111, which is conducive to guiding the overflowing liquid to flow along a preset path, so that the leakage detector 2 located on the overflow path of the overflow port 111 can detect the leakage of the salt tank in time, thereby realizing a reliable leakage protection function.

[0039] Furthermore, the concave structure 11 formed by the inward indentation of part of the side wall of the housing 1 can increase the local strength and rigidity of the side wall of the housing 1. Placing the overflow port 111 at the top edge of the concave structure 11 will not significantly weaken the overall structural strength of the housing 1. Moreover, the overflow port 111 is located at the top edge of the concave structure 11, which is relatively conspicuous. During maintenance, it is convenient for staff to visually observe the working status of the overflow port 111 and the liquid overflow situation. When the overflow port 111 is blocked or has other malfunctions, it is convenient for staff to detect it in time and take appropriate measures.

[0040] In another embodiment, the overflow port 111 is a through hole located on the side wall of the concave structure 11. During the design process, the height of the overflow port 111 can be flexibly selected according to actual needs, thereby effectively setting the maximum allowable liquid level in the tank 1. In this way, when the liquid level reaches the preset value, the leakage protection mechanism of the leakage detector 2 can be triggered more promptly. In addition, when liquid overflows from the tank 1, since the overflow port 111 is located on the side wall of the concave structure 11, the direction of liquid flowing out through this overflow port 111 is parallel to the side wall of the tank 1, which helps to reduce splashing and impact noise caused by the vertical fall of liquid, thereby reducing interference and impact on other surrounding components.

[0041] Please see Figure 2 and Figure 3 The leak detector 2 is installed at the bottom of the housing 1. The housing 1 has a drainage channel 12 that connects to the concave structure 11 and extends to the bottom of the housing 1. When liquid overflows from the overflow port 111 and flows into the interior of the concave structure 11, the pre-designed drainage channel 12 can play a good guiding role, which helps to guide the liquid to flow towards the leak detector 2, ensuring that the liquid can reach the leak detector 2 in the shortest time and the most direct path, thereby triggering the leak protection mechanism of the leak detector 2 more timely and effectively, and providing a reliable guarantee for the safe and stable operation of the entire water softener.

[0042] Specifically, such as Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, the bottom of the concave structure 11 is provided with an opening 112 that communicates with the drainage channel 12. The opening position of the opening 112 corresponds to the installation position of the leak detector 2, which ensures that the liquid overflowing from the overflow port 111 and flowing into the concave structure 11 can smoothly enter the drainage channel 12 through the opening 112 and accurately flow to the area where the leak detector 2 is located, so that the leak detector 2 can detect the leak in time and trigger the leak protection mechanism in time.

[0043] Further, please refer to Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 6 The drainage channel 12 has a mounting groove 13 on its side wall, and the leak detector 2 is installed in the mounting groove 13. In some environments with high humidity, condensation easily forms on the side wall of the drainage channel 12. Installing the leak detector 2 in the mounting groove 13 on the side wall of the drainage channel 12 effectively creates a relatively independent space for the leak detector 2, preventing condensation from dripping directly onto it and reducing false triggering caused by condensation. Meanwhile, as... Figure 4 As shown, at least one inner sidewall of the outlet 112 coincides with the sidewall of the concave structure 11, and the mounting groove 13 is set on the overflow path of the overflow port 111 and the outlet 112. This ensures that the liquid overflowing from the overflow port 111 and flowing into the concave structure 11 can pass through the outlet 112 along the sidewall of the concave structure 11 and enter the drainage channel 12, and then flow accurately along the sidewall of the drainage channel 12 into the mounting groove 13, that is, accurately into the area where the leak detector 2 is located, so that the leak detector 2 can detect the leak in time and trigger the leak protection mechanism in time.

[0044] In this embodiment, as Figure 1As shown, the salt tank has a salt inlet 141, which is located on the tank body 1 away from the recessed structure 11. While the salt inlet 141 is typically located on the front of the salt tank, this invention places the recessed structure 11 on the rear side of the salt tank. This location is far from the salt inlet 141, and the rear of the salt tank usually does not store salt. Therefore, when the salt tank is replenished, there will be raw water on the rear side that is not in direct contact with the salt. This raw water occupies a large space and cannot effectively play a role in the salt dissolution process, resulting in water waste. The recessed structure 11 effectively reduces this ineffective water-holding space, reduces unnecessary water accumulation, improves the overall utilization rate of the internal space of the salt tank, and also helps to reduce the unnecessary consumption of water resources. Furthermore, the concave structure 11 optimizes the internal space of the salt tank, increases the contact area ratio between salt and effective water, and appropriately changes the water circulation path, making the water flow more concentrated towards the effective salt-bearing space, accelerating the salt dissolution rate, improving the salt dissolution efficiency, and helping to ensure uniform salt concentration. This provides the water softener with a sufficient and stable supply of salt water, thereby improving the stability of the softened water quality.

[0045] Please see Figure 6 and Figure 7 The salt tank also includes a resin tank 3, which is located inside the tank body 1. The ion exchange resin filled in the resin tank 3 can exchange with calcium and magnesium ions in the water, reducing water hardness, preventing scale formation, and extending equipment life; some special resins can also adsorb heavy metals, organic matter, and other impurities, improving water quality; and the resin can be recycled after regeneration, which reduces water treatment costs and the generation of chemical sludge, achieving both economic and environmental benefits.

[0046] Furthermore, the salt inlet 141 is located at the top of the tank 1, and the salt inlet 141 and the concave structure 11 are located on opposite sides of the resin tank 3. Positioning the salt inlet 141 at the top of the tank 1 conforms to people's daily salt-adding habits, while the concave structure 11 is located on the side of the resin tank 3 away from the salt inlet 141. Working in conjunction with the top salt inlet 141, this allows for a more rational planning of the internal space of the salt tank. Specifically, the concave structure 11 reduces the ineffective water-holding space at the rear of the salt tank, and the salt inlet 141 at the top does not occupy the lateral space on the sides of the salt tank. This allows the salt tank to better accommodate salt and achieve water circulation within a limited space, improving the overall utilization rate of the space.

[0047] Specifically, the box 1 includes a box body, a top seal 14 and a salt partition 15. The top seal 14 is located on the top of the box body and is detachably connected to the box body. The salt inlet 141 is located on the top seal 14. The salt partition 15 is located inside the box body. The resin tank 3 is fixed between the top seal 14 and the salt partition 15.

[0048] In this embodiment, the brine tank also includes a control valve 4 and a water circuit assembly 5. One end of the water circuit assembly 5 is connected to the resin tank 3, and the other end is connected to the control valve 4. The control valve 4 is at least partially installed within the recessed structure 11. The recessed structure 11 provides a built-in installation space for the control valve 4, preventing the control valve 4 from occupying additional space outside the brine tank. In situations where the overall installation space of the water softener is limited, this design allows for a more compact layout, making it particularly suitable for small residences, apartments, or confined spaces, thus improving space utilization efficiency. Furthermore, partially embedding the control valve 4 within the recessed structure 11 creates a more integrated structure between the brine tank and the control valve 4. This integrated design reduces the dispersion of components, enhances the overall integrity and coordination of the equipment, and simplifies the installation process and reduces maintenance difficulty.

[0049] Please see Figure 7 The salt tank also includes a salt valve assembly 6, which is connected to the control valve 4 via a pipe. The salt valve assembly 6 and the recessed structure 11 are located on the same side of the resin tank 3. By placing the salt valve assembly 6 and the recessed structure 11 on the side of the resin tank 3 away from the salt inlet 141, the spatial layout of the salt tank is optimized, reducing the ineffective water-holding space at the rear of the salt tank, making the internal structure more compact and rational, and improving space utilization. Furthermore, it facilitates the connection between the salt valve assembly 6 and the control valve 4 via pipes, shortening the connection path, reducing the difficulty and cost of pipe laying, improving the coordination between the water and salt circuits, making the salt solution delivery control more precise and efficient, and enhancing the system response speed.

[0050] In this embodiment, the salt tank is also equipped with a brine concentration detection component and a salt shortage reminder component 7. The brine concentration detection component is located inside the tank 1 and is used to detect the brine concentration in the tank 1 in real time. This ensures that the brine concentration is within a suitable range, guaranteeing that subsequent water treatment processes such as resin regeneration can proceed efficiently and stably, and avoiding poor regeneration results or waste of salt resources due to abnormal brine concentration. The salt shortage reminder component 7 is connected to the brine concentration detection component and is used to receive data signals from the brine concentration detection component. When it detects that the brine concentration has continuously decreased to a preset salt shortage threshold due to insufficient salt, it quickly triggers the reminder mechanism. It promptly informs the user that the salt tank is low on salt through various means such as sound alarms, flashing lights, or sending notifications to the user's mobile phone, allowing the user to add salt as soon as possible. This prevents water treatment interruptions caused by salt shortage, which could affect the normal operation of the equipment and the quality of the effluent. It also helps to reduce the wear and tear that may occur when the equipment operates due to salt shortage, extend the service life of the equipment, and improve the user experience.

[0051] In this embodiment, please refer to Figures 4 to 6When the tank 1 has a cuboid structure, the concave structure 11 is located on one side of the tank 1 along its length, and the center of the resin tank 3 is closer to the concave structure 11, with the diameter of the resin tank 3 slightly smaller than the width of the tank 1. This layout shortens the connection distance between the resin tank 3 and related components around the concave structure 11 (such as the control valve 4 and the salt valve assembly 6), reducing the difficulty and cost of pipeline laying and improving the stability and synergy of system operation. The salt inlet 141 is located on the other side of the resin tank 3 away from the concave structure 11, and the area formed by the salt inlet 141 extending along the height of the tank 1 is larger than the area along the concave structure 11. In other words, the distance from the resin tank 3 through the salt inlet 141 to the front wall of the tank 1 is greater than the distance from the resin tank 3 through the concave structure 11 to the rear wall of the tank 1. This further optimizes the internal spatial layout of the salt tank, effectively reducing the ineffective water-holding space at the rear of the salt tank and improving the utilization rate of the internal space of the salt tank.

[0052] It should be noted that the salt tank structure in the above embodiments is merely exemplary, and the structure of the salt tank is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art can adjust the external structure of the salt tank as needed, as long as it has the above functions.

[0053] Based on the above-mentioned salt tank structure, this utility model also provides a water softener, which includes the salt tank of the water softener in any of the aforementioned technical solutions.

[0054] The water softener and its salt tank provided by this utility model can reduce the ineffective water-holding space inside the salt tank by setting an inwardly recessed structure 11 on the side wall of the tank body 1. The inwardly recessed structure 11 is also provided with an overflow port 111 that communicates with the inner cavity of the tank body 1, which can effectively reduce the overflow height of the tank body 1. In this way, when a leak occurs, the water in the water softener can flow out quickly along the preset path (i.e., the overflow port 111), so that the leak detector 2 located on the overflow path of the overflow port 111 can detect the leak of the water softener in time and make an effective response, thereby realizing a reliable leak protection function.

[0055] The technical solution of this utility model has been described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the protection scope of this utility model is obviously not limited to these specific embodiments. Without departing from the principle of this utility model, those skilled in the art can make equivalent changes or substitutions to the relevant technical features, and the technical solutions after these changes or substitutions will all fall within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. A salt tank for a water softener, characterised in that, The salt tank includes a tank body (1), a portion of the sidewall of the tank body (1) is recessed inward to form a concave structure (11), the concave structure (11) is provided with an overflow port (111) communicating with the inner cavity of the tank body (1), the salt tank also includes a leak detector (2), the leak detector (2) is disposed on the tank body (1) and located on the overflow path of the overflow port (111).

2. A brine tank for a water softener as claimed in claim 1, wherein The leak detector (2) is installed at the bottom of the box (1), and the box (1) is provided with a drainage channel (12) that connects to the concave structure (11) and extends to the bottom of the box (1).

3. A brine tank for a water softener as claimed in claim 2, wherein, The side wall of the drainage channel (12) is provided with an installation groove (13), and the water leakage detector (2) is installed in the installation groove (13).

4. A brine tank for a water softener as defined in claim 2, wherein The overflow port (111) is a notch located at the top edge of the concave structure (11); and / or The bottom of the concave structure (11) is provided with an opening (112) that communicates with the drainage channel (12).

5. A brine tank for a water softener as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that, The salt tank is provided with a salt filling port (141), which is located on the tank body (1) away from the concave structure (11).

6. A brine tank for a water softener as claimed in claim 5 wherein, The salt tank also includes a resin tank (3), which is disposed inside the tank body (1); The salt inlet (141) is located on the top of the box (1), and the salt inlet (141) and the concave structure (11) are located on opposite sides of the resin tank (3).

7. A brine tank for a water softener as claimed in claim 6 wherein, The salt tank also includes a control valve (4) and a water circuit assembly (5); One end of the water circuit assembly (5) is connected to the resin tank (3), and the other end is connected to the control valve (4); The control valve (4) is at least partially installed within the recessed structure (11).

8. A brine tank for a water softener as claimed in claim 7, wherein, The salt tank also includes a salt valve assembly (6), which is connected to the control valve (4) via a pipe; The salt valve assembly (6) and the recessed structure (11) are located on the same side of the resin tank (3).

9. A brine tank for a water softener as defined in claim 1, wherein The salt tank is also equipped with a salt concentration detection component and a salt shortage reminder component (7).

10. A water softener characterized by comprising: The water softener includes the brine tank of the water softener as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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