Faucet-mounted water purifier

Abstract

To provide a faucet-directly coupled water purifying device which can be prevented from becoming incapable of performing measurement due to flow of iron rust of tap water or the like into a flow detection unit, be efficiently assembled, be not large in a width size, and notify a user of timing of replacement of a filter cartridge.SOLUTION: A faucet-directly coupled water purifying device of the present invention comprises: a flow path switching valve which has a raw water inflow port for receiving raw water; a filter cartridge which purifies the raw water; a purified water outflow port which discharges the purified water; a raw water pipe line which connects the flow path switching valve and the filter cartridge; and a purified water pipe line which connects the filter cartridge and the purified water outflow port. The purified water pipe line is provided with a flow detection unit. The purified water pipe line is disposed above the raw water pipe line.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a faucet-mounted water purifier that is attached to a faucet in a home or the like. [Background technology]

[0002] Faucet-mounted water purifiers are known, equipped with replaceable filtration cartridges filled with filter media such as hollow fiber membranes and activated carbon, which are attached to household faucets to filter tap water. Because the flow rate of the filtration cartridge can decrease if iron rust or other substances contained in tap water clog the hollow fiber membrane, or the adsorption performance of the activated carbon can decrease if a large amount of organic matter contained in tap water is adsorbed, users must periodically replace the filtration cartridge with a new one for continued use. If the replacement interval is appropriate, users can always drink safe, delicious purified water, which is beneficial for their health. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-179244 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-111476 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] If iron rust or other substances clog the hollow fiber membrane and reduce the flow rate, users will easily notice, but if a large amount of organic matter is adsorbed and the adsorption performance of the activated carbon decreases, users will find it difficult to notice because there is almost no change in taste or color.The decrease in the adsorption performance of the activated carbon is correlated with the total amount of filtered water that has passed through, so it is possible to measure and integrate the filtration flow rate, but since the amount of filtered water used changes every day, measurement is complicated and time-consuming.

[0005] In response to this, Patent Document 1 proposes a faucet-mounted water purifier that measures and accumulates the flow rate of tap water flowing into the filtration cartridge, and displays a visual indication for the user when a predetermined total volume of filtered water has been reached. Even if there is no change in the taste or color of the purified water, the user can see the display and know when to replace the filtration cartridge without having to perform any tedious measurements. There is no risk of drinking purified water that has not been sufficiently filtered due to a decline in adsorption performance.

[0006] However, because the flow rate detection unit is located upstream of the filtration cartridge, iron rust and other contaminants in tap water can flow into the flow rate detection unit, causing the iron rust to get caught on the rotating blades that incorporate the magnets in the flow rate detection unit (hereinafter referred to as the magnet-embedded rotating blades), preventing them from rotating and making it impossible to measure the flow rate.

[0007] In response to this, Patent Document 2 proposes a faucet-mounted water purifier equipped with a flow rate detector downstream of the filtration cartridge. Purified water from which iron rust and other impurities have been removed flows into the flow rate detector, so there is no risk of iron rust getting caught on the magnet-embedded rotating blades and preventing them from rotating. This allows the filtration flow rate to be accurately measured and accumulated, and the time to replace the filtration cartridge can be displayed.

[0008] However, because the purified water pipe for the purified water flowing out of the filtration cartridge is located below the raw water pipe for the raw water flowing into the filtration cartridge, and the magnetic switch of the flow rate detector is located outside of this purified water pipe, there is a problem that the width dimension of the faucet-mounted water purifier becomes large. Also, when assembling a faucet-mounted water purifier, the flow rate detector must be located around the purified water pipe, which is located in a recessed area below the raw water pipe, which is time-consuming and reduces assembly efficiency.

[0009] In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a faucet-mounted water purifier that prevents iron rust and the like from entering the flow rate detection section, making it impossible to measure, has good assembly efficiency, is not large in width, and can notify the user when it is time to replace the filtration cartridge. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The faucet-mounted water purifier of the present invention, which solves the above problems, A water purifier that is supported and fixed to a faucet and includes a flow path switching valve having a raw water inlet that receives raw water, a filtration cartridge that purifies the raw water, a purified water outlet that discharges purified water, a raw water pipe that connects the flow path switching valve to the filtration cartridge, and a purified water pipe that connects the filtration cartridge to the purified water outlet, A flow rate detector is provided in the purified water pipeline, The purified water pipe is disposed above the raw water pipe when the water purifier is supported and fixed to the faucet.

[0011] In the faucet-mounted water purifier of the present invention, the flow rate detection unit has a rotatable water wheel and a magnetic switch, The water wheel has a resin cylindrical portion, blades, and a magnet fixed inside the cylindrical portion, and is disposed inside the purified water pipeline; It is preferable that the magnetic switch is disposed in the purified water pipe at a position above the purified water pipe when the water purifier is supported and fixed to the faucet. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] The faucet-mounted water purifier of the present invention has a raw water pipe connecting the flow path switching valve to the filtration cartridge, and a purified water pipe connecting the filtration cartridge to the purified water outlet, and a flow rate detector is provided in the purified water pipe, so purified water from which iron rust and other impurities have been removed flows into the flow rate detector. As a result, problems such as iron rust getting caught on the magnet-equipped rotating blades and preventing them from rotating do not occur, so the filtration flow rate can be accurately measured and accumulated, and the time to replace the filtration cartridge can be displayed.

[0013] In addition, because the purified water pipeline is located above the raw water pipeline, there is no need to place the flow rate detector near the pipeline, which is located deep inside, and the flow rate detector can be placed closer to the user. As a result, there is no need for laborious assembly or a decrease in assembly efficiency, and manufacturing costs can be reduced.

[0014] In addition, in a preferred embodiment of the faucet-mounted water purifier of the present invention, the flow rate detector has a rotatable water wheel and a magnetic switch, the water wheel has a resin cylinder, blades, and a magnet fixed inside the cylinder, the water wheel is disposed inside the purified water pipe, and the magnetic switch is disposed above the purified water pipe, so the width dimension is not increased by disposing the magnetic switch outside the purified water pipe. As a result, when a user of the water purifier washes dishes, their hands are easily visible because they are not hidden by the water purifier. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view of a water purifier showing an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a top view of a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the water purifier according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the water purifier shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 5] 3 is a longitudinal BB cross-sectional view of the water purifier shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 6] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a filtration cartridge of a water purifier showing an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 1 is a perspective view of a valve body used in a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 3 is a longitudinal cross section of the water purifier shown in FIG. 2 taken along the line EE. [Figure 9] FIG. 3 is a CC longitudinal sectional view of the water purifier shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a power supply unit 101 used in a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of part A of the water purifier shown in FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a flow rate detection unit 102 used in a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] 1 is a right side view of a flow path switching valve body 13 of a water purifier showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 14]FIG. 2 is a front view of a control unit 104 of the water purifier showing an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] 1 is an illustration showing the switching states of a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention, namely, "purified water," "raw water straight," and "raw water shower." [Figure 16] 3 is an enlarged view of a control unit 104 in the DD cross section of the water purifier shown in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a water wheel support member 123 of a water purifier showing an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, taking as an example a water purifier that can be attached to a faucet in a home kitchen or the like.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a front view of a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention. The water purifier 1 of the present invention is composed of a main body 2 incorporating a flow path switching valve, a filter cartridge 3 containing a filter medium, and the like, as shown in FIG. 6. The main body 2 is provided with a lever 5, and by operating the lever 5, raw water flowing in from a faucet 4 through a raw water inlet can be selectively discharged as shower water (raw water shower), as straight water (raw water straight), or supplied to the filter cartridge 3. The raw water supplied to the filter cartridge 3 is filtered by an adsorbent such as activated carbon or a hollow fiber membrane, and then discharged as purified water from a purified water outlet.

[0018] First, the main body 2 will be described. Fig. 2 is a top view of a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a right side view of a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section taken along line AA in Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section taken along line BB in Fig. 2.

[0019] As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the main body 2 is composed of a flow path switching valve main body 13 having three valve bodies 11a, 11b, and 11c and a valve shaft 12, a lower body 16 having a raw water shower port 14, a raw water straight port 15, and a purified water outlet 19, an upper body 17 having an opening from which the flow path switching valve main body 13 protrudes on the upper surface, a lever 5 for performing the switching operation, a cartridge cap 91 for fixing the filtration cartridge 3, and an electrical part for accumulating the flow rate and displaying the result.

[0020] A ring-shaped gasket 36 is attached to the flow path switching valve body 13, and an attachment nut 38 is screwed onto the flow path switching valve body 13 via an adapter 37 attached to the tip of the faucet 4, thereby attaching the main body 2 to the faucet 4.

[0021] The interior of flow path switching valve body 13 is divided into an upper chamber 23 and a lower chamber 24 by a partition plate 22 having three water passages 21a, 21b, and 21c. Three valve bodies 11a, 11b, and 11c are arranged in upper chamber 23 so as to correspond to the three water passages 21a, 21b, and 21c.

[0022] Figure 7 is a perspective view of a valve body used in a water purifier according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 7, valve bodies 11a, 11b, and 11c are each composed of valves 58a, 58b, and 58c and valve seals 57a, 57b, and 57c. When valve seal 57a of valve body 11a is pressed against partition plate 22, water passage 21a is closed. The same applies to valve bodies 11b and 11c.

[0023] The valve shaft 12 is inserted so that the valve bodies 11a, 11b, and 11c move up and down in response to the rotation of the valve shaft 12. The lower chamber 24 is provided with a flow path 31a leading from the water passage 21a to a raw water supply port 26 (see FIG. 9) that supplies raw water to the filtration cartridge 3, a flow path 31b leading from the water passage 21b to the raw water straight port 15, and a flow path 31c leading from the water passage 21c to the raw water shower port 14.

[0024] As shown in Figure 4, valve stem 12 is provided with valve stem cam portions 27a, 27b, and 27c at positions facing water passages 21a, 21b, and 21c. These valve stem cam portions 27a, 27b, and 27c are provided at positions offset by, for example, 40° around the circumference of valve stem 12, and by rotating valve stem 12 by 40°, they can be selectively directed upward and push up one of valve cam portions 47a, 47b, and 47c provided on valves 58a, 58b, and 58c to open the water passage. The two valve bodies that are not pushed up are pushed down by the corresponding valve stem cam portions, closing the water passage.

[0025] That is, by rotating the valve shaft 12 by a predetermined angle using the valve operating unit 18 described below, one of the water passages 21a, 21b, 21c can be opened, and the raw water flowing in from the faucet 4 can be selected to be discharged as shower water, as straight water, or supplied to the filtration cartridge 3.

[0026] The valve bodies 11a, 11b, and 11c are used by attaching an umbrella-shaped rubber valve seal to a valve as a core body, but the shape of the valve seal is not limited to this and may be conical or cylindrical.

[0027] 9 is a cross section taken along the CC line in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 9, a raw water supply port 26 for supplying raw water to the filtration cartridge 3 and a purified water inlet 29 for receiving purified water from the filtration cartridge 3 are provided at the rear side of the flow path switching valve body 13. The raw water supply port 26 is connected to the flow path 31a via a raw water pipe 20, and the purified water inlet 29 is connected to the purified water outlet 19 via a purified water pipe 30. A water wheel 122 and a water wheel support member 123 of the flow rate detection unit 102 (described later) are provided in the purified water pipe 30, and the water wheel 122 rotates when purified water flows through the water pipe 30. The purified water pipe 30 is located above the raw water pipe 20. A magnetic switch holder 125 of the flow rate detection unit 102 is located on the upper side of the purified water pipe 30. Here, "upward" refers to the vertically upward direction when the water purifier 1 is supported and fixed to a faucet.

[0028] Next, a brief description will be given of the filtration cartridge 3. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the filtration cartridge 3 to be installed in a water purifier according to one embodiment of the present invention. The filtration cartridge 3 is provided at the bottom of a container 61 with a raw water receiving inlet 62 that receives raw water from the raw water supply inlet 26 and a purified water supply inlet 63 that supplies purified water to the purified water receiving inlet 29. O-rings 73 and 74 are provided at the raw water receiving inlet 62 and the purified water supply inlet 63, respectively, to prevent water leakage to the outside when connected to the raw water supply inlet 26 and the purified water receiving inlet 29. A cylindrical protrusion 61a is formed on the inner bottom surface of the container 61, and the lower end of a cylindrical body 64 of the hollow fiber membrane module is fitted into the cylindrical protrusion 61a via an O-ring 65. Ring-shaped filters 66 and 67 are fixed to the upper and lower outer peripheries of the cylindrical body 64 to hold an adsorbent layer 70 that treats raw water passing between the outer periphery of the cylindrical body 64 and the inner wall surface of the container 61.

[0029] A hollow fiber membrane bundle 68, which is formed by bundling multiple hollow fiber membranes and bending them into an inverted U-shape, is housed inside the cylindrical body 64. Both ends of the hollow fiber membranes are sealed (potted) at the bottom of the cylindrical body 64 with a curable resin 69 (sealant) filled between each hollow fiber and between the hollow fibers and the cylindrical body 64. Before inserting each hollow fiber membrane into the container 61, the potting is partially cut and removed, so that the ends open toward the purified water supply port 63.

[0030] Between the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 64 and the inner wall surface of the container 61, an adsorbent layer 70 made of activated carbon, zeolite, ion exchange resin, chelating resin or the like is disposed.

[0031] The top of the container 61 is open so that the hollow fiber membrane bundle 68 and the adsorbent can be easily filled, and a transparent cap 71 is fitted in and ultrasonically welded so that the interior can be checked for dirt.

[0032] The filtration cartridge 3 configured as described above is loaded into the main body 2 as shown in Figure 8. A cartridge cap 91 is fixed to the lower body 16 and the upper body 17 in a position that covers the filtration cartridge 3, and serves to fix the filtration cartridge 3 in a predetermined position.

[0033] Next, the valve operating portion 18 that rotates the valve stem 12 will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 8. Figure 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along line EE in Figure 2.

[0034] The valve operating part 18 connects a convex part provided on the shaft end of the lever 5 with a convex part provided on the shaft end of the valve shaft 12 via the lever connecting part 8, so that the valve shaft 12 rotates in response to the operation of the lever 5. A groove provided on the lever connecting part 8 is sandwiched between the upper body 17 and the lower body 16, allowing it to rotate about the axis of the valve shaft 12.

[0035] The spring 7 and steel balls 6a and 6b are inserted into a hole provided on the side surface of the cylinder near where the lever connecting portion 8 and the valve shaft 12 abut, with part of the steel ball 6b protruding from the hole portion 9.

[0036] FIG. 13 is a right side view of a flow path switching valve body 13 of a water purifier showing an embodiment of the present invention. The steel balls 6b fit into three recesses 10 provided in the flow path switching valve body 13 at the position where the valve stem 12 is inserted. When the lever 5 is rotated, the steel balls 6b move to adjacent recesses among the three recesses 10 of the flow path switching valve body 13, and the steel balls 6b are repelled by the elastic force of the spring 7 into the recesses 10, creating a clicking sensation that notifies the user that the switching operation has been performed. The number of steel balls may be one. Although a compression spring is used, a leaf spring mechanism may be used to reproduce the clicking sensation.

[0037] Figure 15 is an illustration of "purified water," "straight raw water," and "shower raw water" showing the switching states of a water purifier showing an embodiment of the present invention. A "purified water" illustration 171a, a "straight raw water" illustration 171b, and a "shower raw water" illustration 171c showing the switching states as shown in Figure 15 are printed on the upper body 17. The indication of the switching state may be text only, or both text and illustrations.

[0038] Next, we will explain the electrical unit that integrates the flow rate and displays the results. The electrical unit is composed of a power supply unit 101 shown in Fig. 4, a flow rate detection unit 102, a control unit 104, and a reset unit 153 shown in Fig. 9.

[0039] 10 is an exploded perspective view of a power supply unit 101 used in a water purifier according to one embodiment of the present invention. The power supply unit 101 is composed of a battery holder 115 sandwiched between the upper body 17 and the lower body 16, a coin-type manganese dioxide lithium battery 111 (hereinafter referred to as battery 111), an anode metal fitting 113, a cathode metal fitting 114, and a removable battery cover 112 that secures the battery in a watertight manner.

[0040] Battery cover 112 has a cylindrical battery attachment section 116 and an O-ring 117 around its periphery, which prevents water from entering battery attachment section 116 when battery cover 112 is attached to battery holder 115 via a bayonet mechanism. Cylindrical battery attachment section 116 has a notch 118, which allows users to easily insert a finger into and remove the battery. The surface of battery cover 112 also has a recess 119 for inserting and turning a coin, with letters and illustrations engraved around the recess indicating the battery specifications and the direction of rotation for opening and closing. Therefore, after confirming the battery specifications and the direction of rotation of battery cover 112, users can use a coin to remove battery cover 112 from battery holder 115 and replace the battery.

[0041] The anode metal fitting 113 and cathode metal fitting 114 mounted inside the battery holder 115 are each connected by lead wires to the control unit 104 shown in Figure 9, and power from the battery 111 is supplied to the control unit 104. The lead wires and battery holder 115 are sealed with silicone rubber to prevent water from seeping down the lead wires into the anode metal fitting 113, cathode metal fitting 114, and even the battery mounting section 116. As long as the anode metal fitting 113, cathode metal fitting 114, and the exposed core wires of the lead wires can be waterproofed, urethane resin potting or sealing with a rubber cap may be used instead of silicone rubber.

[0042] The battery may be a primary or secondary battery, and may be a lithium battery such as a manganese dioxide lithium battery, which can supply power stably for a long period of time at a relatively high voltage, or an alkaline battery, a manganese battery, a silver oxide battery, or a zinc-air battery. Furthermore, small batteries such as button or coin types are preferred because they are lightweight and do not require a large installation space. Small batteries do not significantly increase the size or weight of the main body, and do not result in a significant increase in cost.

[0043] FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the flow rate detection unit 102 used in the water purifier according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 9 and Figure 11, which is an enlarged view of part 102 in Figure 9, the flow detection unit 102 is composed of a water wheel 122 containing a magnet 121, a water wheel support member 123 that rotatably supports the water wheel 122, a magnetic switch 124 that is energized in response to the rotation of the magnet, and a magnetic switch holder 125 that supports and fixes the magnetic switch 124.

[0044] As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the waterwheel 122 has a cylindrical resin tubular section 131 with multiple blades 132 formed around its outer periphery. A magnet 121 and a metal shaft 126 are fixed coaxially with the tubular section 131. The magnet 121 is integrally molded so that it is enclosed within the tubular section 131 to prevent contact with water. To prevent the magnet 121 from falling off or rusting, it is preferable to insert the magnet 121 into a magnet mounting hole provided in the molded waterwheel component and then weld the opening of the magnet mounting hole with a resin cover or seal it with a curable resin (sealant). Polyurethane is preferred as the curable resin, as it is more safe, but epoxy resin, other sealants, and adhesives may also be used. Coating the magnet itself is also preferable to prevent the magnet 121 from rusting. In addition to rare earth magnets with strong magnetic force, ferrite magnets and other magnets may also be used.

[0045] As shown in Figure 9, the water turbine 122 is supported from the downstream side by a water turbine support member 123 so as to be rotatable within the purified water pipeline 30. A metal shaft 126 of the water turbine 122 is support The water turbine 122 is inserted into a hole with a bottom in the member 123 so that it does not shift downstream. support The outer periphery of member 123 is provided with a plurality of ribs 127 extending in the axial direction, and when inserted into purified water pipeline 30, ribs 127 deform slightly to firmly secure the member in place. Water wheel 122 may be an axial flow type whose rotation axis is parallel to the direction of purified water supply, or may be perpendicular to the direction of water supply.

[0046] 11, the magnetic switch 124 is inserted into the magnetic switch holder 125 and sealed with a hardening resin 137 (sealing material). The magnetic switch 124 is connected to the control unit 104 by a lead wire, and a pulse signal generated by the magnetic switch 124 is transmitted to the control unit 104. The magnetic switch holder 125 containing the magnetic switch 124 is fixed so as to abut against the upper outer circumferential side surface of the purified water pipeline 30 and to be positioned near the water wheel 122.

[0047] A pair of ribs 133 in the purified water pipeline 30 upstream of the water turbine 122 supports its tubular portion 131 so that the water turbine 122 does not move away from its designated position in the purified water pipeline 30. The ribs 133 support the tubular portion 131 rather than the blades 132, and therefore do not interfere with the rotation of the water turbine. The ribs 133 also have the effect of rectifying the purified water flowing into the water turbine 122. Although a pair of ribs 133 are provided, it is preferable to arrange multiple ribs radially around the axis of the purified water pipeline 30 as long as the flow rate does not decrease.

[0048] In the flow rate detection unit 102 configured as above, the flow of purified water causes the water wheel 122 to rotate, which in turn rotates the magnet 121 integrated with the water wheel 122, causing the magnetic field to change accordingly. When the magnet 121 makes one rotation, the magnetic switch 124 emits a two-cycle pulse signal, which is transmitted to the control unit 104. A reed switch or a hall sensor may be used as the magnetic switch.

[0049] Because the flow rate detection unit 102 is disposed downstream of the filtration cartridge 3, iron rust and the like do not flow in, and iron rust does not get caught on the multiple blades 132 of the water wheel 122, preventing it from rotating. As a result, the flow rate of purified water can be accurately measured and accumulated, and the time to replace the filtration cartridge 3 can be displayed.

[0050] Furthermore, because the magnetic switch holder 125 of the flow rate detection unit 102 is disposed on the outer periphery of the purified water pipe 30 at the upper side, the magnetic switch holder is not disposed laterally outside the purified water pipe, thereby preventing the width of the water purifier 1 from increasing. As a result, when a user of the water purifier washes dishes, their hands are less likely to be hidden by the water purifier, making them easier to see.

[0051] Furthermore, because the purified water pipe 30 is disposed above the raw water pipe 20, there is no need to place the flow rate detector 102 near the pipe, which is located deep inside. Because the flow rate detector 102 can be placed in the purified water pipe 30, which is closer to the user, there is no need for laborious assembly or a decrease in assembly efficiency, and manufacturing costs can be reduced.

[0052] Next, a description will be given of the control unit 104 and the liquid crystal display 105. Fig. 16 is an enlarged view of the control unit 104 in the DD cross section of the water purifier shown in Fig. 2.

[0053] The control unit 104 is composed of a circuit board 151 on which a CPU is mounted, and a transparent board holder 152 that houses the circuit board 151. The CPU receives power from the power supply unit 101, performs calculations based on pulse signals from the flow rate detection unit 102, and sends output signals to the liquid crystal display 105.

[0054] This liquid crystal display 105 can be placed at a position away from the circuit board and connected with lead wires or the like, but signals can be transmitted more reliably if it is supported and fixed directly to the circuit board 151.

[0055] Furthermore, to prevent water from entering from the outside and causing malfunction of the circuit board 151, it is preferable to waterproof the circuit board 151 and the liquid crystal display 105 by fixing the opening of the board holder 152 through the opening and sealing the opening with a hardening resin 155 (sealant). Alternatively, a lid may be used to fix the circuit board 151 and the liquid crystal display 105 to the board holder 152 by welding. By waterproofing in this way, it is not necessary to waterproof each component individually, which simplifies the manufacturing process and reduces manufacturing costs. As the hardening resin, a two-component mixed polyurethane or epoxy resin may be used.

[0056] The LCD 105 is supported and fixed to the circuit board 151 and is located at the upper front portion of the main body 2. Furthermore, the LCD 105 is erected so that its surface is tilted backward at an angle of 20 to 40 degrees relative to the vertical axis when the water purifier 1 is supported and fixed to the faucet. When the tilt angle is 40 degrees or less, the LCD 105 does not protrude too far forward, so the water purifier does not obstruct the user's view of the water shower's discharge status. As a result, the surface of dishes is easily visible when washing dishes. Furthermore, although the user must look down at the LCD 105 from a fairly high position, when the tilt angle is 20 degrees or more, the display on the LCD 105 is not difficult to see when looking down from above. In other words, the user does not have to bend down to view the LCD 205 from a low position. When the inclination angle is between 20 degrees and 40 degrees, the discharge state of the raw water shower is easy to see, and the display on the liquid crystal display 105 is also relatively easy to see, which is good.

[0057] Figure 14 is a front view of a control unit 104 of a water purifier showing an embodiment of the present invention. The liquid crystal display 105 has a filtration cartridge replacement indicator element 161 that displays a four-digit number using 23 segments, and a battery replacement indicator element 162 that can be turned on, blinking, or off. Furthermore, three-color LEDs 168 provided in two locations can turn on, blink, or off the backlight, and the color of the backlight can also be changed. Even if the user cannot instantly read the four-digit number, they can know when it is time to replace the filtration cartridge by looking at the lighting / blinking state and color of the backlight.

[0058] A protrusion is provided on the upper part of the purified water pipe 30 of the flow path switching valve main body 13 to prevent the lead wires extending from the electrical component from being pinched between the upper body 17 and the lower body 16 during assembly. It is preferable that the circuit board holder 152 has a protrusion or catch for collecting the lead wires extending from the power supply unit 101, the flow rate detection unit 102, and the reset unit 153.

[0059] The reset unit 153 is composed of a reset button 154 and a reset button case 155 for preventing water from entering the reset button. As shown in FIG. 2, the tip of the reset button 154 protrudes from the upper rear surface of the side of the water purifier 1, and the user can reset the integrated flow rate data by pressing the reset button 154. Furthermore, the integrated flow rate at which the filtration cartridge must be replaced can be selected depending on the type of filtration cartridge 3 used. The reset button case 155 is made of elastomer, but it may also be made of ABS resin or sealed with polyurethane. Next, the operation of the water purifier 1 configured as above will be described.

[0060] 4 shows the state in which raw water is being discharged from the raw water shower port 14. When the faucet is opened, raw water flows in from the raw water inlet 28, has its force reduced by the water flow reduction member 39, passes through the water passage 21c which is opened when the valve stem cam portion 27c pushes up the valve body 11c, and is then discharged from the raw water shower port 14. At this time, the lever 5 is in the position indicated by the "raw water shower" illustration 71c on the upper body 17.

[0061] When the lever 5 is rotated until the steel ball 6b on the valve stem 12 is fitted into a recess provided in the flow path switching valve body 13 by the spring 7, the valve stem cam 27b faces upward instead of the valve stem cam 27c on the valve stem 12, closing the water passage 21c and opening the water passage 21b. As a result, the raw water passes through the water passage 21c and is discharged from the raw water straight port 15. At this time, the lever 5 is in the position indicated by the "raw water straight" illustration 71b on the upper body 17.

[0062] When lever 5 is rotated in the direction opposite to the raw water straight-through direction, valve shaft 12 similarly rotates, closing water passage 21b and opening water passage 21a. As a result, raw water passes through water passage 21a and flows into raw water supply port 26. It then flows into raw water receiving port 62 of filtration cartridge 3 and is filtered by an adsorbent such as activated carbon and a hollow fiber membrane. The filtered water flows from purified water supply port 63 to purified water receiving port 29, passes through purified water pipe 30, and is discharged from purified water outlet 19. At this time, lever 5 is in the position indicated by "purified water" illustration 71a on upper body 17.

[0063] The purified water flowing through the purified water pipeline 30 rotates the water wheel 122, and a pulse signal is sent by the flow rate detection unit 102 to the control unit 104, which accumulates the purified water flow rate. The remaining life of the filtration cartridge is displayed on the LCD display 105 according to this accumulated purified water flow rate. The filtration cartridge replacement display element 161 displays the value obtained by subtracting the accumulated amount of purified water from the flow rate selected when the filtration cartridge was first used each time purified water is started. At the same time, the backlight is illuminated for a predetermined period of time in the initial illumination / flashing condition. For example, it is illuminated blue for seven consecutive seconds. The blue light represents the "go ahead" signal on a traffic light, and when the user sees this, they feel reassured that the filtration cartridge can be used.

[0064] When the cumulative pulse count corresponding to the cumulative purified water flow rate reaches the first preset value, the backlight that lights up each time purified water is used is changed to the first lighting / flashing condition. For example, it lights up yellow or green for seven seconds continuously. Yellow means "stop with caution" at a traffic light, and users who see it are alerted. The displayed value remains unchanged: the purified water passing through the filter cartridge minus the flow rate selected when the cartridge was first used.

[0065] Furthermore, once the second set value is reached, the backlight that lights up each time the water filter is used is changed to a second lighting / flashing condition. For example, it can be set to light red or pink for seven seconds continuously. Red indicates a "stop" traffic light, and when the user sees this, they know that it is time to replace the filter cartridge and prepare a new one. The amount of filtered water passing through the filter cartridge will still be displayed as a value subtracted from the flow rate selected when the filter cartridge was first used.

[0066] When the value obtained by subtracting the cumulative amount of purified water from the flow rate selected when the filtration cartridge began to be used reaches zero and the filtration cartridge must be replaced, the third lighting / flashing condition is changed. For example, the backlight is turned off even when purified water is being used. When the user sees this, they will strongly sense that the filtration cartridge can no longer be used and will replace it.

[0067] In the above embodiment, a display method is shown in which the backlight can light up three colors, namely blue, yellow (or green), and red (or pink). However, even in an embodiment in which the backlight can light up only one color or two colors, the display can be divided into a first lighting / flashing condition, a second lighting / flashing condition, and a third lighting / flashing condition.

[0068] For example, in an embodiment where the backlight can only light up in two colors, blue and red, the following display may be used. When use begins, the backlight will light up in blue, and the first lighting / flashing condition will be blue and flashing at 2-second intervals. The second lighting / flashing condition will be red and flashing at 2-second intervals, and the third lighting / flashing condition will be red and lit continuously. The backlight color changes from blue to flashing and then to red and lit continuously, creating the image of a pedestrian traffic light, making the user strongly aware that the filtration cartridge needs to be replaced.

[0069] Also, in an embodiment where the backlight can only light up in white, the following display can be used. When use begins, the white light flashes at 2-second intervals. The first lighting / flashing condition is white light flashing at 1.5-second intervals, and the second lighting / flashing condition is white light flashing at 1-second intervals. The third lighting / flashing condition is white light flashing continuously. The flashing intervals become shorter, and finally the light turns to a continuous light, which makes the user more aware that the filtration cartridge needs to be replaced.

[0070] If the backlight can only light up in one color as described above, the user can check the usage status of the filtration cartridge. However, since a single color tends to leave a weak impression on the user, it is preferable that the backlight can light up in two or more colors.

[0071] When the user replaces the filtration cartridge with a new one and presses the reset button 154 for a long time, the integrated pulse count corresponding to the integrated flow rate returns to zero, and the filtration cartridge replacement display element 161 also returns to the initial display.

[0072] The LCD display 105 flashes the battery replacement indicator 162 when the battery voltage drops below a preset value, prompting the user to replace the battery. By flashing the battery replacement indicator 162 when the voltage drops below the threshold at which the color adjustment state of the three-color LED changes, it is possible to prevent misidentification due to a change from the original color. The user does not need to memorize the battery start date and the battery life listed in the instruction manual. This prevents the loss of accumulated flow data during use of the filtration cartridge due to forgetting the battery life, allowing the user to replace the battery at the appropriate time. The battery replacement indicator 162 is configured to be off when the battery is first used and flash when the battery is nearing the end of its life, but it may also display in stages, similar to the filtration cartridge replacement indicator described above.

[0073] The LCD display 105 turns off when purified water is not being used. Specifically, the CPU on the circuit board 151 detects that the flow of purified water has stopped and the pulse signal from the flow rate detector 102 has ceased, switching the device to sleep mode, turning off the LCD display 105, and turning off the backlight. When the lever 5 is rotated in the direction opposite the raw water shower, purified water passes through the purified water pipe 30 and is discharged from the purified water outlet 19, turning on the LCD display 105 and backlight. Three seconds later, when the faucet is turned off, the LCD display 105 and backlight immediately turn off. This switching significantly reduces battery power consumption and extends battery life. The sleep mode is canceled and the LCD display 105 is turned on for a certain period of time immediately after replacing the battery and operating the reset button. This allows the user to confirm that the battery was properly installed and the data was properly reset. [Example]

[0074] [Example 1] A raw water flow path is provided at the rear side of the flow path switching valve body, connecting the raw water supply port that supplies raw water to the filtration cartridge with the raw water flow path of the flow path switching valve body. Above that, a purified water flow path is provided, connecting the purified water inlet that receives purified water from the filtration cartridge with the purified water outlet. The central axes of the raw water flow path and the purified water flow path are parallel, making it easier to manufacture the mold.

[0075] The purified water pipeline is equipped with a water wheel and a water wheel support member for the flow detection unit, which rotates when purified water flows through it. The flow detection unit is located downstream of the filtration cartridge, so iron rust and other contaminants do not enter the water wheel, and rust does not get caught on the multiple blades of the water wheel, preventing it from rotating. As a result, the purified water flow rate can be accurately measured and accumulated, and the time to replace the filtration cartridge can be displayed.

[0076] The purified water pipe is located above the raw water flow path, and the magnetic switch holder for the flow rate detector is located on the upper side of the purified water pipe, so there is no need to reach into a recessed area, and there is no need to assemble it more time-consumingly or reduce assembly efficiency, which reduces manufacturing costs.The magnetic switch holder is not located on the outside of the purified water pipe, so the width of the water purifier does not increase, and the user of the water purifier can easily see their hands when washing dishes.

[0077] The LCD display is located at the top front of the main body, tilted backward at an angle of 32 degrees relative to the axis of the flow path switching valve body. The LCD display does not protrude forward, making it difficult to see the discharge status of the raw water shower or the surface of dishes when washing them.

[0078] At the start of each water purification run, the remaining life of the filtration cartridge was displayed on the LCD display, and the backlight was illuminated for 7 seconds. For a filtration cartridge with a lifespan of 600 L, the backlight was blue when the remaining life was 300 to 600 L, green when the remaining life was 150 to 300 L, and pink when the remaining life was 0 to 150 L. When users saw the pink backlight, they knew it was time to replace the filtration cartridge.

[0079] [Comparative Example 1] A raw water flow path was installed behind the flow path switching valve body, connecting the raw water supply port that supplies raw water to the filtration cartridge with the raw water flow path of the flow path switching valve body, and a water wheel and water wheel support member for the flow rate detection unit were installed in the raw water pipe, so that the water wheel would rotate when raw water was passed through.The flow rate of raw water could be measured, but iron rust would get caught on the water wheel blades, causing it to stop rotating frequently.

[0080] Comparative Example 2 A raw water flow path was provided at the rear side of the flow path switching valve body, connecting the raw water supply port that supplies raw water to the filtration cartridge with the raw water flow path of the flow path switching valve body. Below that, a purified water flow path was provided, connecting the purified water inlet that receives purified water from the filtration cartridge with the purified water outlet. The central axes of the raw water flow path and the purified water flow path were parallel, making it easy to create the mold.

[0081] The purified water pipe is equipped with a water wheel for flow detection and a water wheel support member, which rotates when purified water flows through it. The magnetic switch holder had to be placed on the outside of the purified water pipe, which increased the width of the water purifier. As a result, it became difficult for users to see their hands when washing dishes. Also, during assembly, it was necessary to reach into a recessed area, which was time-consuming and reduced assembly efficiency.

[0082] The LCD display was positioned at the top front of the main body, tilted backward at a 60-degree angle relative to the axis of the flow path switching valve body. The LCD display was easy to see, but because it protruded forward, it was difficult to see the discharge status of the raw water shower, and it was difficult to see the surfaces of dishes when washing them. [Explanation of symbols]

[0083] 1: Water purifier 2: Main body 3: Filtration cartridge 4: Faucet 5: Lever 6a: steel ball 6b: steel ball 7: Spring 8: Lever connection part 9: Hole 10: Recess 11a: Valve body 11b: Valve body 11c: Valve body 12 : Valve stem 13: Flow path switching valve body 14: Raw water shower outlet 15: Raw water straight outlet 16: Lower body 17: Upper body 18: Valve operating section 19: Purified water outlet 20 : Raw water pipeline 21a: Canal 21b: Canal 21c: Canal 22: Partition board 23 : Upper chamber 24: Lower chamber 26: Raw water supply outlet 27a: Valve stem cam section 27b: Valve stem cam section 27c: Valve stem cam section 28: Raw water inlet 29: Purified water inlet 30: Purified water pipeline 31a: Channel 31b: Channel 31c: Channel 36: Packing 37: Adapter 38: Mounting nut 39: Water flow mitigation member 47a: Valve cam section 47b: Valve cam section 47c: Valve cam section 57a: Valve seal 57b: Valve seal 57c: Valve seal 58a: Valve 58b: Valve 58c: Valve 61 : Container 61a: Cylindrical protrusion 62: Raw water inlet 63: Purified water supply outlet 64: Cylinder 65: O-ring 66: Ring filter 67: Ring filter 68 : Hollow fiber membrane bundle 69: Curing resin 70: Adsorbent layer 73: O-ring 74: O-ring 91: Cartridge cap 101: Power supply section 102: Flow rate detector 104: Control section 105: LCD display 111: Battery 112: Battery Cover 113: Anode fitting 114: Cathode bracket 115: Battery holder 116: Battery compartment 117: O-ring 118: Cutout 119: Recess 121: Magnet 122: Waterwheel 123: Turbine support member 124: Magnetic Switch 125: Magnetic switch holder 126: Axis 127: Ribs 131: Cylinder part 132: Feather 137: Curing resin 151: Circuit board 152: PCB holder 153: Reset section 154: Reset Button 155: Reset Button Case 161: Filtration cartridge replacement indicator 162: Battery replacement indicator 171a: "Purified Water" illustration 171b: "Gensui Straight" illustration 171c: "Gensui Shower" illustration

Claims

[Claim 1] A water purifier that is supported and fixed to a faucet and includes a flow path switching valve having a raw water inlet that receives raw water, a filtration cartridge that purifies the raw water, a purified water outlet that discharges purified water, a raw water pipe that connects the flow path switching valve to the filtration cartridge, and a purified water pipe that connects the filtration cartridge to the purified water outlet, The water purifier is provided with a main body having an electrical component, and the electrical component is provided with a power supply unit, A flow rate detector is provided in the purified water pipeline, The purified water pipeline is disposed above the raw water pipeline when the water purifier is supported and fixed to the faucet, the flow rate detection unit has a rotatable water wheel and a magnetic switch, The water wheel has a resin cylindrical portion, blades, and a magnet fixed inside the cylindrical portion, and is disposed inside the purified water pipeline; In this faucet-mounted water purifier, the magnetic switch is disposed in the purified water pipe at a position above the purified water pipe when the water purifier is supported and fixed to the faucet.

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