Combined purifying and drinking machine with inter-unit connecting pipeline netting function

Abstract

The utility model discloses a combined type purifying and drinking machine with inter-unit connecting pipeline purifying and discharging function belongs to household appliance technical field. The utility model provides a kind of modular combined type purifying and drinking machine, it includes independently arranged purifying unit and drinking unit. To solve the problem of old water in the connecting pipeline in split type combination, the utility model sets valve assembly in the water inlet end of drinking unit, one way connects water inlet interface, one way connects purifying and discharging interface;Setting backwater interface in purifying unit;And the above-mentioned two interfaces are connected by backwater pipeline. Control unit controls valve assembly to switch waterway, and old water (or filter core flushing waste water) in inter-unit connecting pipeline is guided to the waste water discharge pipeline of purifying unit by backwater pipeline and is discharged uniformly. The utility model realizes the automatic old water discharge of split type purifying and drinking machine connecting pipeline, ensures that user always obtains fresh pure water.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of household appliance technology, and in particular to a combined water purifier with a unit-to-unit connection pipeline for water purification. Background Technology

[0002] As an indispensable infrastructure in modern life and work, drinking water equipment has evolved from traditional models that connect to bottled water to today's smart models that connect directly to tap water. Drinking water equipment is no longer a simple "water boiling tool," but a silent health steward in modern life.

[0003] Existing water purifier technology has many limitations, restricting product flexibility and user experience. The most prominent problem is that its structure often adopts a fixed, integrated design. Although integrated water purifiers are easy to install, their water purification and drinking functions are combined into one unit, usually resulting in a bulky and heavy machine that occupies a large countertop space. This makes them unsuitable for scenarios with limited kitchen space or where multiple water points need to be accessed, such as in the living room or study.

[0004] To balance installation flexibility and space adaptability, modular water purifiers have become an important development direction. In particular, installing the water purification unit and the water dispensing unit as independent modules, connected by piping (e.g., placing the water purification unit under the sink and the water dispensing unit on the countertop), is a promising technical solution. This design effectively saves countertop space and meets water dispensing needs in multiple scenarios.

[0005] However, in the aforementioned separate design of the water purification and drinking units, a portion of purified water is stored in the connecting pipes between the two units. When the water purifier operates intermittently or remains idle for extended periods, this purified water becomes stagnant and cannot circulate. This prolonged stagnation not only leads to unsuitable temperature conditions but also poses a risk of microbial growth and water quality deterioration. When the user draws water again, the initial flow is often this stale, old water, which negatively impacts the drinking water quality and user experience of the separate water purifier. A search revealed that patent document CN213141581U discloses a zero-stagnant water control system for a traditional integrated reverse osmosis water purifier. This application adds a bypass branch pipe, i.e., a stagnant water discharge pipe, to the purified water pipeline leading to the faucet inside the water purifier. A stagnant water on / off valve controlled by a control center directs the stagnant water from the filter assembly, booster pump, and internal pipelines into the wastewater pipeline for discharge. This application aims to solve the water quality preservation problem within the internal water circuit of a single, integrated device, where all water circuits are arranged within the same casing, forming a complete independent system. Therefore, this application addresses the stagnant water problem within traditional integrated machines, and its technical means are limited to the modification of the internal water circuit of a single device. That is, it lacks a design for the coordinated water circuit interfaces between modules, making it unsuitable for combined products consisting of multiple independent modules (such as water purification units and drinking water units) connected by external pipelines. It also fails to solve the problem of stagnant water discharge from the connecting pipelines between two independent units due to modular, separate installation. Utility Model Content

[0006] 1. Technical problem to be solved by the utility model In view of the problems existing in the prior art, the present invention provides a combined water purifier with a unit-to-unit connection pipeline for water purification.

[0007] This utility model firstly provides a modular combination design, setting the water purification unit and the drinking water unit as independent units, so that they can be flexibly combined into different forms according to the actual needs of users, such as countertop water purification and drinking water integrated machine, under-sink water purification unit connected to countertop drinking water unit, etc., to improve the product's adaptability to different scenarios.

[0008] When implementing the aforementioned flexible modular design, especially when the water purification unit and drinking water unit are installed separately, stagnant water in the connecting pipes between the two independent units cannot be effectively treated. This invention further enhances the modular design by adding a dedicated return water pipe system to automatically drain stagnant water from the connecting pipes between units, thus ensuring that users always have access to fresh, pure water, even in a separate installation configuration.

[0009] 2. Technical Solution To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution provided by this utility model is as follows: This utility model discloses a combined water purifier with inter-unit connection pipeline purification function, comprising: An independently set water purification unit is used to produce pure water, and the water purification unit is equipped with a water outlet; An independently set drinking water unit is used to process pure water and output water at different temperatures. The drinking water unit is equipped with a water inlet. And the water circuit assembly connecting the water purification unit and the drinking water unit; The water circuit assembly includes a valve assembly and a drainage passage disposed at the water inlet end of the drinking water unit. The valve assembly is configured to have at least a first passage and a second passage, wherein the first passage is connected to the water inlet of the drinking water unit and supplies water to the internal water circuit of the drinking water unit, and the second passage is connected to the drainage passage. By controlling the valve assembly to switch the water path, the water in the water path at the front end of the water inlet of the drinking water unit can be switched and directed to the drainage path for discharge.

[0010] It is worth noting that the water in the water path upstream of the drinking water unit's inlet specifically refers to the water contained in all relevant water paths upstream of the drinking water unit's inlet when the water purification unit is connected to the drinking water unit. This mainly covers the following two parts: first, the water purification and distribution paths within the water purification unit, including the water in the filter cartridge, distribution valve, and connecting pipes; and second, the connecting pipes between the water purification unit and the drinking water unit, i.e., the water in the pipes connecting the water purification unit's outlet and the drinking water unit's inlet.

[0011] Furthermore, the drainage passage includes a clean drain port connected to the second passage of the valve assembly, a return water port disposed in the water purification unit, and a return water pipe connecting the clean drain port and the return water port. The water in the water inlet of the drinking water unit can be led to the return water inlet of the water purification unit through the drain and return water pipes, and then discharged through the wastewater discharge pipes of the water purification unit.

[0012] Furthermore, the water purification unit includes a multi-stage filter cartridge and a distribution valve connected in sequence. The first inlet of the distribution valve is connected to the pre-stage filter cartridge via an inlet solenoid valve, and the first outlet of the distribution valve is connected to the post-stage filter cartridge. The post-stage filter cartridge has at least one filter cartridge, and the outlet of the post-stage filter cartridge is connected to the second inlet of the distribution valve. The second outlet of the distribution valve is connected to the outlet of the water purification unit. The distribution valve is used to dynamically distribute excess pure water and guide the excess pure water back to the front end of the inlet of the post-stage filter cartridge.

[0013] Furthermore, the drinking water unit includes a heating water circuit, a cooling water circuit, and a room temperature water circuit arranged in parallel; wherein a negative pressure valve is provided upstream of the parallel water circuit of the heating water circuit and the cooling water circuit, and the inlet of the negative pressure valve is connected to the water inlet of the drinking water unit.

[0014] Furthermore, the valve assembly is located in the upstream water path of the negative pressure valve, and the return water pipeline is connected to the pipeline between the second outlet of the distribution valve and the inlet of the negative pressure valve.

[0015] Furthermore, the return water pipeline is equipped with a return water solenoid valve and a one-way valve.

[0016] Furthermore, the water purification unit has a first interface area and a second interface area on its body. The first interface area has a raw water interface and a wastewater interface, and the second interface area has a water outlet interface and a water return interface. The drinking water unit has an interface setting area, which has a water inlet interface and a clean discharge interface.

[0017] Furthermore, the second interface area of ​​the water purification unit and the interface setting area of ​​the drinking water unit are both located on the side of the machine body; when the water purification unit and the drinking water unit are assembled side by side, the positions of the second interface area and the interface setting area are matched.

[0018] Furthermore, it also includes a control unit, which is electrically connected to the valve assembly and the return water solenoid valve on the return water pipeline; the control unit is configured to: when a preset condition is met, control the valve assembly to switch to connect with the clean discharge interface and open the return water solenoid valve to switch the water in the water path at the front end of the water inlet interface to the wastewater discharge pipeline set by the water purification unit for unified discharge.

[0019] Furthermore, the valve assembly is a Y-shaped three-way valve, and the two passages connecting the water inlet and the drain outlet are functionally interchangeable.

[0020] 3. Beneficial effects Compared with existing known technologies, the technical solution provided by this utility model has the following significant advantages: (1) The combined water purifier provided by this utility model adopts a modular design for the water purification unit and the drinking water unit. The water purification unit can be installed independently under the sink to produce water, and the drinking water unit can be placed independently on the countertop to provide instant drinking water. Users can choose to combine the water purification unit and the drinking water unit directly into a countertop integrated machine, or they can hide the water purification unit under the sink and connect it to the countertop drinking water unit through a pipe. Alternatively, the drinking water unit can be placed separately from the water purification unit, with an external pure water tank, in any area such as the living room or study. For users with small apartments, this design only requires installing the water purification unit under the sink and placing the thin drinking water unit on the countertop to maximize space saving. For scenarios with multiple drinking water points, the water purification unit can continuously supply water to the "drinking water unit + external pure water tank" combination scattered in various places, ensuring a smooth supply of pure water.

[0021] (2) This utility model automatically discharges stagnant water remaining in the inter-unit connecting pipes through a valve assembly and a clean drain interface installed at the water inlet of the drinking water unit, as well as a dedicated return water pipeline, instead of supplying it to the user. This ensures that even if the water purification unit and the drinking water unit are installed separately, the user always takes fresh, pure water produced by the water purification unit, thus truly establishing the flexibility of the modular design on the basis of ensuring drinking water quality.

[0022] (3) This utility model relies on the coordinated control of the valve assembly and the return water solenoid valve by the control unit. When the control unit determines that there is stagnant water in the pipeline through a timer, it automatically triggers the program: the valve assembly switches the water path, the return water solenoid valve opens, and the stagnant water is led back to the wastewater discharge channel of the water purification unit through the return water pipeline for unified discharge. This process is completed automatically without manual intervention by the user, which greatly improves the convenience of use. At the same time, this design cleverly utilizes the existing wastewater discharge channel of the water purification unit to realize centralized treatment of wastewater. There is no need to open a separate drain outlet for the pipeline's clean discharge function, which simplifies the structure and reduces additional costs.

[0023] (4) This utility model is not limited to discharging stagnant water. When the water purifier is started for the first time and the filter needs to be rinsed, a large amount of highly polluted wastewater will be generated. At this time, regardless of whether the water purification unit and the drinking water unit are assembled side by side or installed separately, the control unit can switch the water path through the control valve assembly to guide this part of highly polluted wastewater to the wastewater interface preset by the water purification unit for unified discharge through the return water pipeline. By constructing a centralized wastewater treatment channel, the product structure is simplified and the installation complexity is reduced. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 shows (a)-(c) schematic diagrams of three combination methods between the water purification unit, the drinking water unit and the pure water tank, respectively. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the water circuit of the water purification unit in this utility model; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the water circuit of the drinking water unit in this utility model; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the wastewater return path in this utility model; Figure 5 This is a structural schematic diagram of the water purification unit (without the outer decorative cover) in this utility model; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the drinking water unit (without the outer decorative cover) in this utility model.

[0025] Explanation of the labels in the diagram: 1. Water purification unit; 11. Water circuit board; 12. First interface area; 13. Second interface area; 2. Drinking water unit; 21. Water outlet box; 22. Valve assembly area; 23. Cold tank; 24. Interface area. Detailed Implementation

[0026] 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.

[0027] It should be noted that if the embodiments of this utility model involve directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indicators are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture (the posture of the water purifier when it is in normal use in this utility model). If the specific posture changes, the directional indicators will also change accordingly.

[0028] Furthermore, if the embodiments of this utility model involve descriptions such as "first" or "second," these descriptions are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Therefore, features defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. If the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this utility model.

[0029] Example 1 Referring to Figure 1, this embodiment of a combined water purifier with inter-unit connection pipeline drainage function adopts a modular design, with the core including a water purification unit and a drinking water unit. The advantage of the water system in this embodiment is that it can be flexibly combined according to the actual needs of users, presenting different forms and improving the adaptability of application scenarios.

[0030] Specifically, the water purification unit is the core purification module of the water system, and its function is to produce pure water. This unit uses a built-in filter cartridge to perform multi-stage filtration of the raw water, removing impurities and contaminants, and outputting pure water that meets drinking standards. Simultaneously, the unit has a reserved pure water faucet interface, through which pure water can be directly supplied to the pure water tank.

[0031] The drinking water unit is mainly responsible for providing ready-to-drink cold, hot, and room temperature water. Regarding the connection between the water purification unit and the drinking water unit, this embodiment provides a flexible combination method: Referring to Figure 1(a), the water purification unit and the drinking water unit can be assembled into one unit and installed together on the countertop in the user's home. The water purification unit and the drinking water unit are directly connected through a set interface, and the pure water produced by the water purification unit is directly supplied to the drinking water unit for temperature treatment. At this time, the pure water output of the water purification unit is directly connected to the water inlet of the drinking water unit.

[0032] Referring to Figure 1(b), the water purification unit can be installed separately under the countertop (such as under the sink) in the user's home, while the drinking water unit is installed on the countertop. The water purification unit and the drinking water unit are connected by a relatively long connecting pipe. In this case, the purified water produced by the water purification unit is delivered to the drinking water unit on the countertop through the pipe.

[0033] Referring to Figure 1(c), the drinking water unit can also be used in combination with an external pure water tank instead of being directly connected to the water purification unit. After combining the drinking water unit and the external pure water tank, it can be placed in the area where the user needs it (such as a living room table). A water tank base is fixed to the side of the drinking water unit, and the interface of the water tank base and the drinking water unit are directly connected. The external pure water tank is directly inserted into the water tank base. The drinking water unit is connected to the external pure water tank through a pipeline, drawing water from the pure water tank for temperature treatment.

[0034] This embodiment utilizes standardized interfaces to achieve flexible connection and separation between the water purification unit and the drinking water unit, as well as between the drinking water unit and the external pure water tank. Users can choose to install the water purification unit under the sink, placing only the drinking water unit or a combination of the drinking water unit and the external pure water tank on the countertop, saving space. If multiple water points are needed in the home (such as the living room or study), the under-sink water purification unit can supply water to the external pure water tank, which can then be installed on the drinking water units at these points, meeting the user's water needs. The water purification unit can be designed with a high flow rate, providing ample pure water supply to the drinking water unit or the external pure water tank, ensuring efficient water production and avoiding the inconvenience of frequent water changes.

[0035] Combination Figure 2 The water purification unit includes multi-stage filter cartridges and a distribution valve. The filter cartridges are connected to the raw water and are used for multi-stage filtration of the raw water. The distribution valve is used to dynamically distribute the purified water produced by the filter cartridges.

[0036] In this embodiment, the filter cartridges include a pre-filter, a post-filter, and an RO filter. The pre-filter is located upstream of the distribution valve, and the first inlet of the distribution valve is connected to the pre-filter via an inlet solenoid valve. That is, the pre-filter is the pre-stage filter cartridge of the distribution valve. The RO and post-filters are located downstream of the distribution valve, meaning that there are two post-stage filters in the distribution valve. Both the RO and post-filters are post-stage filters of the distribution valve. Raw water first flows through the pre-filter (such as PP cotton or activated carbon filter) to intercept large particulate impurities and adsorb residual chlorine and off-colors and odors. Then it enters the RO filter (reverse osmosis membrane), where heavy metals, microorganisms, etc. are efficiently removed under high pressure. Finally, the post-filter (such as activated carbon filter) eliminates residual odors and improves the taste of the water.

[0037] It is worth noting that the pre-filter, post-filter, and RO filter can be all combined, partially combined, or set up separately. A combined setup means that at least two types of filter elements are located in the same filter housing, while a separate setup means that each is located in a separate filter housing. This embodiment uses a composite filter element that combines the pre-filter and post-filter in the same filter housing, along with a separate RO filter element, thus balancing the economy of filter element replacement with ease of maintenance.

[0038] The distribution valve includes a first inlet, a first outlet, a second inlet, and a second outlet. The outlet of the pre-filter is connected to the first inlet of the distribution valve via an inlet solenoid valve, which controls the flow of raw water. The first outlet of the distribution valve is connected to the inlet of a booster pump, and the outlet of the booster pump is connected to the inlet of the RO filter. The booster pump generates high pressure to drive water flow through the reverse osmosis membrane of the RO filter. The pure water outlet of the RO filter is connected to the inlet of the post-filter via a one-way valve A, which prevents backflow of pure water. The outlet of the post-filter is connected to the second inlet of the distribution valve, allowing purified pure water to enter the internal channel of the distribution valve. An interface for installing a pure water faucet is provided on the pipeline between the post-filter and the distribution valve, allowing users to choose whether to install one. The second outlet of the distribution valve serves as the pure water output terminal of the water purification unit, connecting to the inlet of the drinking water unit in scenarios where the water purification unit and the drinking water unit are combined or separate. The aforementioned distribution valve, by switching the interface path, directs excess pure water back to the front end of the RO filter element, thereby dynamically distributing the pure water produced by the filter element and reducing the risk of pipeline pressure fluctuations.

[0039] In addition, this embodiment includes a raw water TDS sensor between the pre-filter and the inlet solenoid valve for real-time monitoring of the incoming water quality. A high-pressure switch and a pure water TDS sensor are installed between the one-way valve A and the post-filter. The high-pressure switch sends a signal to the control unit when the pressure in the pure water output pipe of the RO filter exceeds a set threshold, shutting off the booster pump or stopping water production via the inlet solenoid valve. The pure water TDS sensor monitors the quality of the RO filter's produced water. Through the raw water TDS sensor, the pure water TDS sensor, and the high-pressure switch, comprehensive monitoring and anomaly protection for water quality and pressure are achieved. A wastewater solenoid valve is installed downstream of the RO filter's wastewater outlet to control the discharge of wastewater generated by the RO filter through the wastewater interface of the water purification unit.

[0040] Combination Figure 3 The drinking water unit includes a heating water circuit, a room temperature water circuit, and a cooling water circuit. Pure water from the water purification unit or an external pure water tank is input into the heating water circuit, room temperature water circuit, or cooling water circuit of the drinking water unit, respectively. The hot water circuit outputs hot water, the room temperature water circuit outputs room temperature water, and the cooling water circuit outputs cold water. Wherein: The heating water circuit consists of a one-way valve C and an instant heating module connected in series. The output end is connected to a hot water faucet, responsible for instantaneous heating and outputting hot water at a specified temperature. The instant heating module used in this embodiment has a built-in flow meter and a water pump.

[0041] The cooling water system consists of a one-way valve D, a diaphragm pump B, and a cooling tank connected in series, with the output end connected to a cold water tap to realize the preparation and supply of cold water.

[0042] The ambient temperature water circuit consists of a one-way valve E and a zero-pressure valve connected in series. The ambient temperature water circuit is opened and closed by the zero-pressure valve. The output end of the ambient temperature water circuit is shared with the cold water faucet, and ambient temperature water and cold water are output alternately to provide a large flow of ambient temperature pure water.

[0043] In this embodiment, a flow meter is first installed at the water inlet of the drinking water unit. The downstream pipeline of the flow meter is divided into two paths: one path connects to the ambient temperature water path, and the other path connects to the negative pressure valve. The heating water path and the cooling water path form a parallel water path, which is connected to the outlet of the negative pressure valve.

[0044] It is worth noting that the negative pressure valve described in this embodiment plays a crucial role in the drinking water unit. In the scheme connecting the water purification unit to the drinking water unit, the second outlet of the distribution valve is connected to the negative pressure valve. Taking hot water production as an example, the second outlet of the distribution valve is connected sequentially to the negative pressure valve and the instant heating module. The negative pressure valve is used to output the required flow rate of room temperature water, and the instant heating module is used to heat the room temperature water at that flow rate, finally outputting hot water at the corresponding temperature. The negative pressure valve, in conjunction with the water pump built into the instant heating module, achieves flow regulation. When the user selects the hot water setting, the instant heating module needs to be supplied with a corresponding amount of water according to the corresponding hot water temperature. The flow rate into the instant heating module is controlled by the control device to heat the water to the required temperature for use. Excess pure water produced by the water purification unit creates back pressure at the inlet of the negative pressure valve, which is then redistributed back to the inlet of the RO filter via the distribution valve, thereby reducing the risk of pipeline pressure fluctuations.

[0045] The distribution valve and negative pressure valve in the refrigeration water circuit have similar functions, which will not be elaborated here.

[0046] Figure 5 and Figure 6 These are schematic diagrams of the water purification unit and the drinking water unit described in this embodiment.

[0047] Combination Figure 5 The water purification unit 1 has a water circuit board 11 on its rear side. Below the water circuit board 11 is a first interface area 12. The first interface area 12 contains a raw water interface, a wastewater interface, and a pure water faucet interface, all extending along the width of the unit. The distribution order of the three water inlets can be adjusted according to design requirements. The raw water interface is used to connect to the raw water inlet via a pipeline to deliver raw water into the water purification unit. The wastewater interface is used to discharge the generated wastewater. The pure water faucet interface is used to output the pure water finally purified by the water purification unit. This pure water faucet interface is a reserved port, which can be connected to a faucet when needed to directly discharge room temperature purified water for use.

[0048] A second interface area 13 is provided on the adjacent side of the first interface area 12. The second interface area 13 is a dedicated interface area for connecting the drinking water unit 2. The second interface area 13 is provided with a water outlet and a water return interface. The distribution order of the two interfaces can be adjusted according to design requirements.

[0049] The water outlet of the water purification unit 1 is connected to the second outlet of the aforementioned distribution valve and to the water inlet of the drinking water unit 2, for delivering purified water into the drinking water unit 2. The water return interface of the water purification unit 1 is connected to the wastewater interface provided in the first interface area 12 through the internal water passage of the water purification unit 1, and this water return interface is connected to the clean water discharge interface of the drinking water unit 2.

[0050] Combination Figure 6The drinking water unit 2 includes a water outlet box 21, a valve assembly area 22, a cold tank 23, and an instant heating element (not shown in the figure). The water outlet box 21, as the core water outlet component of the drinking water unit 2, is located at the top of the middle frame and on one side of the length direction of the middle frame. When not in use, the water outlet box 21 can be retracted into the drinking water unit 2. When in use, the water outlet box 21 can be extended to meet the user's water dispensing needs.

[0051] The valve assembly area 22 centrally houses water circuit control components such as solenoid valves and flow sensors. By optimizing the spatial layout, various valve bodies are arranged compactly, saving internal space and facilitating maintenance and repair. The valve assembly area 22 forms a water circuit connection with the cold tank 23 and the inlet and outlet of the hot water element through interfaces, realizing the switching of hot and cold water circuits and flow regulation.

[0052] The cold tank 23 is located inside the rear side of the middle frame. The cold tank 23 is controlled by the valve group setting area 22 to form a complementary water supply with the instant heating element. When the user selects cold water, the water flows through the cold tank 23 and is cooled before being output. When the user selects hot water, the water flows through the instant heating element and is heated before being output.

[0053] In this embodiment, the drinking water unit 2 has an interface setting area 24 on its side and bottom. The interface setting area 24 is provided with an inlet interface and a drain interface, which are respectively connected to the outlet interface and return interface of the water purification unit 1.

[0054] Referring to Figure 1(a), in this embodiment, the second interface area 13 of the water purification unit 1 and the interface setting area 24 of the drinking water unit 2 are both located on the side of the machine body. In the assembly of the water purification unit and the drinking water unit as a single unit, the positions of the second interface area 13 and the interface setting area 24 are matched. The inlet and outlet interfaces, as well as the clean drain interface and the return water interface, can be connected through a short pipe. All interfaces of the water purification unit and the drinking water unit are hidden between the two units. From a conventional perspective, almost no exposed pipes and interfaces are visible, resulting in a high degree of integrity in appearance. Furthermore, various types of wastewater that may be generated during the operation of the water purifier are uniformly collected and discharged through the wastewater interface of the water purification unit 1, eliminating the need for users to deal with complex multi-pipe systems and improving the visual appeal of the water purifier product.

[0055] Referring to Figure 1(b), in a separate combination of the water purification unit and the drinking water unit, such as the water purification unit being installed under the sink and the drinking water unit being installed on the countertop, this embodiment not only connects the water outlet of the water purification unit to the water inlet of the drinking water unit via a relatively long connecting pipe, allowing the purified water produced by the water purification unit to be delivered to the drinking water unit on the countertop through this connecting pipe, but also, considering the problem of stagnant water in this relatively long connecting pipe not being effectively treated, this embodiment includes a return water pipe between the water outlet of the drinking water unit and the return water outlet of the water purification unit.

[0056] Combination Figure 4 In this embodiment, a valve assembly is installed in the drinking water unit. Specifically, this valve assembly is a three-way valve for easy switching of water flow direction. Two of the three-way valve's ports are connected to the inlet and outlet ports of the drinking water unit, respectively. These two water inlets use a standardized threaded design and are located on the outside of the drinking water unit's housing, while the three-way valve itself is located inside the drinking water unit. The other port of the three-way valve connects to the internal water circuit of the drinking water unit, meaning it is located upstream of the negative pressure valve.

[0057] In this embodiment, a three-way valve connecting the return water pipeline is positioned between the distribution valve and the negative pressure valve. After the distribution valve dynamically distributes the water flow, the pure water output from it forms a stable back pressure before flowing towards the negative pressure valve. When the system initiates the stale water discharge procedure, the three-way valve switches the water path, and the excess pressure here automatically pushes the stale water or filter flushing wastewater in the connecting pipeline smoothly into the return water pipeline, and then discharges it through the unified wastewater channel of the water purification unit. This design not only achieves efficient self-driven wastewater discharge but also ensures thorough purification from the very beginning of the drinking water unit's inlet, eliminating dead zones for stale water residue.

[0058] It is worth noting that the three-way valve installed at the water inlet of the drinking water unit in this embodiment is the core component for realizing intelligent water circuit switching. A key function of this three-way valve is that it can adjust the water flow path according to the type of external module (water purification unit or external pure water tank) connected to the drinking water unit. Specifically, when the drinking water unit is not assembled with the water purification unit, but is used in conjunction with an external pure water tank (i.e., corresponding to the combination shown in Figure 1(c)), pure water is directly supplied to the drinking water unit from the external pure water tank, and there is no wastewater. Therefore, the clean discharge interface connected to the three-way valve, which is specifically used to discharge wastewater back to the water purification unit, is physically idle in this scenario. The control unit automatically enables or disables the corresponding functional interface through the three-way valve by recognizing different combination forms. From a production and cost perspective, the interface setting area structure of the drinking water unit remains uniform, eliminating the need to customize different shells or water circuit boards for different combination forms, effectively reducing development costs.

[0059] Furthermore, the three-way valve in this embodiment is a Y-shaped three-way valve. The characteristic of this valve body structure is that the two passages connecting the water inlet and the drain outlet of the drinking water unit 2 are functionally interchangeable. This means that when connecting the water purification unit 1 to the drinking water unit 2, the operator does not need to strictly distinguish which water inlet and drain outlet correspond to which on the interface setting area 24, nor does the operator need to strictly distinguish between the water outlet and return water interface on the second interface area 13 of the water purification unit 1. This fundamentally avoids errors such as incorrect insertion or reverse connection that may occur during installation due to similar interfaces, simplifying the installation process.

[0060] When the drinking water unit is connected to the water purification unit, the outlet of the water purification unit is connected to the inlet of the drinking water unit. Purified water, after passing through the filter of the water purification unit, flows into the drinking water unit through the inlet. The drain outlet of the drinking water unit is connected to the return outlet of the water purification unit via a return pipe. This return pipe automatically directs the discharge of stagnant water remaining in the connecting pipe between the water purification and drinking water units, rather than supplying it to the user. This ensures that even if the water purification and drinking water units are installed separately, the user always receives fresh, pure water produced immediately by the water purification unit, thus truly basing the flexibility of the modular design on guaranteeing drinking water quality.

[0061] In this embodiment, a return water solenoid valve and a one-way valve B are sequentially installed on the return water pipeline to form a closed-loop wastewater diversion channel. The return water solenoid valve is used to control the opening and closing of the return water pipeline, and the one-way valve B is used to prevent backflow of wastewater from the water purification unit, directing the wastewater to the wastewater interface of the water purification unit for centralized discharge.

[0062] In this embodiment, a control unit coordinates the control of the three-way valve and the return water solenoid valve. When the control unit detects stagnant water in the return water pipeline at regular intervals, it automatically triggers a program: the three-way valve switches the water path, the return water solenoid valve opens, and the stagnant water is led back through the return water pipeline to the wastewater discharge channel of the water purification unit for unified discharge. This process is completed automatically without manual intervention from the user.

[0063] On the other hand, this embodiment is not limited to draining stale water. When the water purifier is put into use for the first time, the filter element needs to be rinsed. The large amount of wastewater generated by rinsing the filter element of the water purification unit can also flow into the wastewater pipeline of the water purification unit through the clean drain port of the water purification unit and be discharged through the wastewater port of the water purification unit.

[0064] In this embodiment, the clean discharge port serves as a connecting hub for the coordinated operation of the drinking water unit and the water purification unit. It unifies the highly polluted wastewater from the initial flushing of the filter cartridge and the stagnant water retained in the long-distance pipeline into the dedicated wastewater pipeline pre-set by the water purification unit, so that the two types of wastewater are discharged centrally through a single channel, thereby improving the wastewater treatment efficiency.

[0065] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and does not limit the patent scope of the present utility model. All equivalent structural transformations made under the inventive concept of the present utility model using the contents of the present utility model specification and drawings, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A combined water purifier with inter-unit connection pipeline purification function, characterized in that, include: An independently set water purification unit (1) is used to produce pure water, and the water purification unit (1) is provided with a water outlet; An independently set drinking water unit (2) is used to process pure water and output water at different temperatures. The drinking water unit (2) is equipped with a water inlet. And a water circuit assembly connecting the water purification unit (1) and the drinking water unit (2); The water circuit assembly includes a valve assembly and a drainage passage disposed at the water inlet end of the drinking water unit (2); The valve assembly is configured to have at least a first passage and a second passage, wherein the first passage is connected to the water inlet of the drinking water unit (2) and supplies water to the internal water passage of the drinking water unit (2), and the second passage is connected to the drainage passage; By controlling the valve assembly to switch the water path, the water in the water path at the front end of the water inlet of the drinking water unit (2) can be switched and guided to the drainage path for discharge.

2. A combined water purifier with inter-unit connection pipeline purification function as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The drainage passage includes a clean drain port connected to the second passage of the valve assembly, a return water port provided in the water purification unit (1), and a return water pipe connecting the clean drain port and the return water port. The water in the water path at the front end of the water inlet of the drinking water unit (2) can be led to the return water interface of the water purification unit (1) through the clean discharge interface and the return water pipeline, and then discharged uniformly through the wastewater discharge pipeline set in the water purification unit (1).

3. A combined water purifier with inter-unit connection pipeline purification function as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The water purification unit (1) includes a multi-stage filter cartridge and a distribution valve connected in sequence. The first inlet of the distribution valve is connected to the pre-stage filter cartridge via an inlet solenoid valve. The first outlet of the distribution valve is connected to the post-stage filter cartridge. The post-stage filter cartridge is equipped with at least one filter cartridge. The outlet of the post-stage filter cartridge is connected to the second inlet of the distribution valve. The second outlet of the distribution valve is connected to the outlet of the water purification unit (1). The distribution valve is used to dynamically distribute excess pure water and guide the excess pure water back to the front end of the inlet of the post-stage filter cartridge.

4. A combined water purifier with inter-unit connection pipeline purification function as described in claim 3, characterized in that: The drinking water unit (2) includes a heating water circuit, a cooling water circuit and a normal temperature water circuit arranged in parallel; wherein a negative pressure valve is provided upstream of the parallel water circuit of the heating water circuit and the cooling water circuit, and the inlet of the negative pressure valve is connected to the water inlet of the drinking water unit (2).

5. A combined water purifier with inter-unit connection pipeline purification function as described in claim 4, characterized in that: The valve assembly is located in the upstream water path of the negative pressure valve, and the return water pipeline is connected to the pipeline between the second outlet of the distribution valve and the inlet of the negative pressure valve.

6. A combined water purifier with inter-unit connection pipeline purification function according to any one of claims 2-5, characterized in that: The return water pipeline is equipped with a return water solenoid valve and a one-way valve.

7. A combined water purifier with inter-unit connection pipeline purification function according to claim 2, characterized in that: The water purification unit (1) has a first interface area (12) and a second interface area (13) on its body. The first interface area (12) is provided with a raw water interface and a wastewater interface, and the second interface area (13) is provided with a water outlet interface and a water return interface. The drinking water unit (2) is provided with an interface setting area (24), which is provided with a water inlet interface and a clean discharge interface.

8. A combined water purifier with inter-unit connection pipeline purification function as described in claim 7, characterized in that: The second interface area (13) of the water purification unit (1) and the interface setting area (24) of the drinking water unit (2) are both located on the side of the machine body; when the water purification unit (1) and the drinking water unit (2) are assembled side by side, the second interface area (13) and the interface setting area (24) are matched in position.

9. A combined water purifier with inter-unit connection pipeline purification function as described in claim 6, characterized in that: It also includes a control unit, which is electrically connected to the valve assembly and the return water solenoid valve on the return water pipeline; the control unit is configured to: when a preset condition is met, control the valve assembly to switch to connect with the clean discharge interface and open the return water solenoid valve so as to switch the water in the water path at the front end of the water inlet interface to the wastewater discharge pipeline set by the water purification unit (1) for unified discharge.

10. A combined water purifier with inter-unit connection pipeline purification function according to any one of claims 2-5, characterized in that: The valve assembly is a Y-shaped three-way valve, and the two passages connecting the water inlet and the drain outlet are functionally interchangeable.

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