Apparatus for making cold water and water purifier including the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cold water generating device and a water purifier including the same, wherein either an inlet port connected to an inlet water flow path member to allow inflow of inflow water into the interior of a case member, or an outlet port connected to an outlet water flow path member to allow outflow of outflow water, is positioned adjacent to a heat transfer wall of the case so that the stored water inside the case member flows while in direct contact with the inner surface of the heat transfer wall, thereby improving the cooling performance of the cold water generating device and simultaneously allowing the stored water inside the case member to flow smoothly without remaining therein, so as to improve the cleanliness of the outflow water.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cold water generating device and a water purifier including the same, wherein either an inlet port connected to an inlet water flow path member to allow inflow of inflow water into the interior of a case member, or an outlet port connected to an outlet water flow path member to allow outflow of outflow water, is positioned adjacent to a heat transfer wall of the case so that the stored water inside the case member flows while in direct contact with the inner surface of the heat transfer wall, thereby improving the cooling performance of the cold water generating device and simultaneously allowing the stored water inside the case member to flow smoothly without remaining therein, so as to improve the cleanliness of the outflow water. Background Technology

[0002] Generally, a cold water generator is a device that cools water supplied from a faucet or water bottle and provides it to the user. While such devices are primarily installed to produce low-temperature drinking water in applications such as water purifiers, carbonated water dispensers, and hot and cold water dispensers, they can also be utilized in various fields where cold water generation is required.

[0003] European Patent Publication No. 3674630 of Coway Co., Ltd. discloses a conventional water purifier. This water purifier is equipped with a tank body having an internal space formed therein and an inlet and an outlet, a thermoelectric module for cooling water contained within the tank body, and a cold sink for transferring the cold air from the thermoelectric module to the tank body. At this time, the inlet is formed on the upper side of the tank body and the outlet is formed on the lower side of the tank body, and the water flowing into the upper side of the tank body is configured to flow to the lower side of the tank body and be cooled. However, if the water is configured to be cooled and discharged to the lower side after entering the upper side of the tank body in this manner, air that enters along with the water remains inside the tank body, and there is a problem that the cooling performance of the water contained within the tank body is reduced due to this residual air. To solve this, a separate air discharge check valve is provided at the top of the tank body to discharge residual air; however, since this check valve is positioned at the top of the tank body, the incoming water escapes through the check valve, and a problem of reduced cooling performance still exists, such as a decrease in the force pushing out the water contained in the tank body.

[0004] A cold water generating device disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2018-0099854 of LG Electronics Inc. comprises a tank equipped with an inlet and an outlet, a cooling module for cooling purified water entering the tank, and an internal flow path formed inside the tank to guide the purified water from the inlet to the outlet. A portion of the purified water entering the tank undergoes a phase change into ice by the cooling module and remains in the internal flow path, while the remaining portion passes through the internal flow path, is cooled through contact with the ice, and is discharged through the outlet. However, if ice is formed inside the tank in this manner, the purified water cannot directly exchange heat with the cooling module, resulting in a decrease in the cooling performance of the purified water. Furthermore, as the volume through which the purified water can flow is reduced due to the ice inside the tank, the amount of cold water discharged decreases. Additionally, if ice remains inside the tank for a long period, there is a problem in that the purity of the purified water decreases due to the ice. Furthermore, the purified water entering the tank enters in a direction toward the wall where the cooling module is installed, but since ice is formed on the wall where the cooling module is installed, there is a problem in that the purified water cannot flow smoothly as it collides with this ice and forms a vortex. Prior art literature

[0005] European Patent Publication No. 3674630, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2018-0099854 The problem to be solved

[0006] To solve the above problem, the cold water generating device according to the present invention is configured such that either an inlet port connected to an inlet water flow path member to allow inflow of water into the interior of a case member, or an outlet port connected to an outlet water flow path member to allow outflow of water, is positioned adjacent to the heat transfer wall of the case so that the stored water inside the case member flows while in direct contact with the inner surface of the heat transfer wall, thereby improving the cooling performance of the cold water generating device and allowing the stored water inside the case member to flow smoothly without remaining, thus improving the cleanliness of the outflow water.

[0007] The cold water generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention aims to improve cooling performance and cleanliness by configuring the flow direction of the incoming water flowing in through the inlet port and the flow direction of the outgoing water flowing out through the outlet port to be the same as the flow direction of the stored water flowing through multiple zones inside the case member, thereby suppressing the generation of vortices and enabling the incoming water to smoothly push out the stored water.

[0008] The cold water generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention aims to improve cooling performance by configuring a partition plate forming multiple zones inside a case member to be integrally extended to a heat transfer wall so that stored water flows while in direct contact with the inner surface of the heat transfer wall.

[0009] The cold water generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention aims to improve cooling performance by configuring the upper wall, lower wall, and a pair of side walls to be integrally extended on the heat transfer wall, and forming an inclined surface on the inner surface of the upper wall that extends upward in a direction toward a counter wall that closes the inside of the case member, so that air inside the case member is guided along the inclined surface along with the flow of water storage and does not remain inside the case member, and to improve manufacturability by making it easy to remove the mold frame when manufacturing the above configuration as a whole using a mold, etc.

[0010] The cold water generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured such that the outlet port is positioned adjacent to the opposing wall, allowing air guided along the inclined surface to be discharged together with the outflow water, thereby increasing the volume of inflow and outflow water, and thus enhancing user convenience.

[0011] The cold water generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention aims to improve cooling performance through a first-in, first-out structure in which the incoming water pushes out the stored water by reducing the flow velocity of the incoming water entering the case member to a certain level or lower through the formation of a deceleration surface with an expanded inner diameter on the inner circumference of the incoming water port.

[0012] The cold water generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided with a resistance baffle inside a case member that partially closes the flow path of the inflow water, thereby reducing the flow velocity of the inflow water entering the case member to below a certain level, and aims to improve cooling performance through a first-in, first-out structure in which the inflow water pushes out the stored water.

[0013] The cold water generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention aims to improve cooling performance through a first-in, first-out structure in which incoming water pushes out stored water by forming the spacing between partition plates forming multiple zones inside a case member to be less than a certain level.

[0014] The cold water generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention aims to improve cooling performance by alternately forming openings for water to flow through at the corners and opposite corners of a partition plate arranged continuously upward inside a case member, thereby configuring the device so that water flows diagonally inside the case member.

[0015] The water purifier according to the present invention filters raw water to produce purified water and supplies the produced purified water to produce cold water. The cold water generating unit is configured such that either an inlet port connected to an inlet water flow path member to allow inflow of water into the interior of a case member, or an outlet port connected to an outlet water flow path member to allow outflow of water, is positioned adjacent to the heat transfer wall of the case so that the stored water inside the case member flows while in direct contact with the inner surface of the heat transfer wall, thereby improving the cooling performance of the cold water generating device and allowing the stored water inside the case member to flow smoothly without remaining inside the case member, thus improving the cleanliness of the outflow water. means of solving the problem

[0016] To achieve the above objective, a cold water generating device according to the present invention comprises: a case member in which stored water is received; an inlet water flow path member providing a water flow path for inflow into the interior of the case member; and an outlet water flow path member providing a water flow path for outflow from the interior of the case member. The invention comprises a cooling member disposed on one side of the case member to cool the storage water contained within the case member, wherein the case member is provided with an upper wall and a lower wall disposed opposite each other along the height direction, a pair of side walls disposed opposite each other along the width direction, a heat transfer wall and a counter wall disposed opposite each other along the depth direction, a partition plate disposed parallel to the width direction to divide the interior of the case member into multiple zones, an inlet port communicating with the inlet water flow path member to allow inflow of inflow water, and an outlet port communicating with the outlet water flow path member to allow outflow of outflow water, wherein one of the inlet port and the outlet port is disposed adjacent to the heat transfer wall along the depth direction so that the storage water inside the case member flows while in direct contact with the inner surface of the heat transfer wall, and the other port is disposed adjacent to the counter wall.

[0017] In a cold water generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention, an inlet port is provided at the bottom of one of the pair of side walls, and an outlet port is provided at the top of the other side wall, and the direction of the inflow water flowing in through the inlet port and the direction of the outflow water flowing out through the outlet port are formed parallel to the width direction.

[0018] In a cold water generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention, the heat transfer wall is characterized in that the diaphragm is integrally extended so as to come into direct contact with the inner surface of the heat transfer wall as the stored water flows between the diaphragms.

[0019] In a cold water generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention, the heat transfer wall is characterized in that the upper wall, the lower wall, and a pair of the side walls are integrally extended, the opposing wall is coupled so as to close the interior of the case member, and an inclined surface is formed on the inner surface of the upper wall that extends upward along the depth direction toward the opposing wall.

[0020] In a cold water generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention, the outlet port is characterized by being positioned adjacent to the opposite wall so that air guided along the inclined surface is discharged together with the outflowing water.

[0021] In a cold water generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention, the inner surface of the inlet port is characterized by having a deceleration surface formed such that the inner diameter is expanded so that the inflow water supplied through the inlet channel member flows into the interior of the case member through the inlet port when the flow velocity of the inflow water is reduced to a constant flow velocity or lower.

[0022] In a cold water generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention, the interior of the case member is characterized by having a resistance baffle that partially closes the flow path of the inflow water so that the inflow water supplied through the inflow path member flows into the interior of the case member when the flow velocity of the inflow water is reduced to a constant flow velocity or lower.

[0023] In a cold water generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention, the flow rate of the stored water flowing along a plurality of zones inside the case member is characterized as being 1.2 L / min or less.

[0024] In a cold water generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention, when the total height inside the case member is H, the spacing h between the mutually facing partition plates is H / 9 or less.

[0025] In a cold water generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention, the gap between the mutually facing plates is characterized as being 18 mm or less.

[0026] In a cold water generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention, each of the partition plates has an opening through which stored water moves, wherein the opening is formed alternately at the corner and the opposite corner of the partition plate that is arranged upwardly so that the stored water flowing inside the case member flows diagonally.

[0027] A water purifier according to the present invention comprises a filtration unit that filters raw water to produce purified water; and a cold water generating unit that receives purified water from the filtering unit and generates cold water; wherein the cold water generating unit is provided with a case member for receiving purified water, an inlet water flow path member that provides a water flow path for purified water to flow into the interior of the case member, an outlet water flow path member that provides a water flow path for purified water cooled inside the case member to flow out, and a cooling member disposed on one side of the case member to cool the purified water received inside the case member; wherein the case member is provided with an upper wall and a lower wall mutually arranged along the height direction, a pair of side walls mutually arranged along the width direction, a heat transfer wall and a counter wall mutually arranged along the depth direction, a partition plate arranged parallel to the width direction to divide the interior of the case member into multiple zones, an inlet port communicating with the inlet water flow path member for purified water to flow in, and an outlet port communicating with the outlet water flow path member for purified water to flow out, wherein either the inlet port or the outlet port is in a state where the purified water inside the case member is in direct contact with the inner surface of the heat transfer wall It is characterized by being positioned adjacent to the heat transfer wall along the depth direction to allow flow, and another port being positioned adjacent to the opposite wall. Effects of the invention

[0028] According to the above configuration, the cold water generating device according to the present invention is configured such that either an inlet port connected to an inlet water flow path member to allow inflow water into the interior of a case member, or an outlet port connected to an outlet water flow path member to allow outflow water to be discharged, is positioned adjacent to the heat transfer wall of the case member so that the stored water inside the case member flows while in direct contact with the inner surface of the heat transfer wall, thereby improving the cooling performance of the cold water generating device and allowing the stored water inside the case member to flow smoothly without remaining, thus providing the effect of improving the cleanliness of the outflow water.

[0029] The cold water generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured such that the flow direction of the incoming water flowing in through the inlet port and the flow direction of the outgoing water flowing out through the outlet port are formed to be the same as the flow direction of the stored water flowing through multiple zones inside the case member, thereby suppressing the generation of vortices and allowing the incoming water to smoothly push out the stored water, thereby providing the effect of improving cooling performance and cleanliness.

[0030] A cold water generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention provides the effect of enhancing cooling performance by configuring a partition plate forming multiple zones inside a case member to be integrally extended to a heat transfer wall so that stored water flows while in direct contact with the inner surface of the heat transfer wall.

[0031] A cold water generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured such that, in a state where an upper wall, a lower wall, and a pair of side walls are integrally extended on a heat transfer wall, an inclined surface is formed on the inner surface of the upper wall that extends upward in a direction toward a counter wall that closes the inside of the case member, thereby guiding the air inside the case member along with the flow of stored water along the inclined surface so that it does not remain inside the case member, thereby improving cooling performance, and when manufacturing the above configuration as a whole using a mold, etc., the mold frame can be easily removed, thereby providing the effect of improving manufacturability.

[0032] A cold water generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured such that an outlet port is positioned adjacent to an opposing wall, allowing air guided along an inclined surface to be discharged together with the outflow water, thereby increasing the volume of inflow and outflow water and providing the effect of enhancing user convenience.

[0033] A cold water generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention provides the effect of enhancing cooling performance through a first-in, first-out structure in which the incoming water pushes out the stored water by reducing the flow velocity of the incoming water flowing into the case member to a certain level or lower through the formation of a deceleration surface with an expanded inner diameter on the inner circumference of the incoming water port.

[0034] A cold water generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided with a resistance baffle that partially closes the flow path of the inflow water inside the case member, thereby reducing the flow velocity of the inflow water entering the case member to below a certain level, and thus providing the effect of enhancing cooling performance through a first-in, first-out structure in which the inflow water pushes out the stored water.

[0035] A cold water generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention provides the effect of enhancing cooling performance through a first-in, first-out structure in which incoming water pushes out stored water by forming the spacing between partition plates forming multiple zones inside a case member to be less than a certain level.

[0036] A cold water generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention provides the effect of enhancing cooling performance by alternately forming openings through which water flows at the corners and opposite corners of a partition plate arranged continuously upward inside a case member, thereby configuring the water to flow diagonally inside the case member.

[0037] The water purifier according to the present invention filters raw water to produce purified water and supplies the produced purified water to produce cold water. The cold water generating unit is configured such that either an inlet port connected to an inlet water flow path member to allow inflow water to enter the interior of a case member, or an outlet port connected to an outlet water flow path member to allow outflow water to exit, is positioned adjacent to the heat transfer wall of the case so that the stored water inside the case member flows while in direct contact with the inner surface of the heat transfer wall, thereby improving the cooling performance of the cold water generating device and allowing the stored water to flow smoothly without remaining inside the case member, thus providing the effect of improving the cleanliness of the outflow water. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0038] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a cold water generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a cold water generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention cut along the depth direction. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a cold water generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention cut along the width direction. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a cold water generating device according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a cold water generating device according to another embodiment of the present invention cut along the depth direction. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a cold water generating device according to another embodiment of the present invention cut along the width direction. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an inlet port provided in a cold water generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a resistance baffle provided in a cold water generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating a diaphragm provided in a cold water generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a graph showing the temperature change according to the number of outflowing water cups to compare the cooling effect of a cold water generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention and a conventional water purifier. FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a water purifier according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0039] The words and terms used in this specification and claims are not limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted in a meaning and concept consistent with the technical spirit of the invention in accordance with the principles by which the inventor defines terms and concepts to best describe his invention.

[0040] Therefore, the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations illustrated in the drawings correspond to preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all technical concepts of the present invention; thus, various equivalents and modifications that may replace such configurations may exist at the time of filing the present invention.

[0041] In this specification, terms such as “comprising” or “having” are intended to describe the existence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and should not be understood as precluding the existence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0042] The statement that a component is "in front," "rear," "upper," or "lower" of another component includes, unless there are special circumstances, not only being positioned "in front," "rear," "upper," or "lower" in direct contact with the other component, but also cases where another component is positioned in between. Furthermore, the statement that a component is "connected" to another component includes, unless there are special circumstances, not only being directly connected to each other, but also being indirectly connected to each other.

[0043] Hereinafter, a cold water generating device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a cold water generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cold water generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention cut along the depth direction, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cold water generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention cut along the width direction. Here, the X direction refers to the width direction of the cold water generating device, the Y direction refers to the depth direction of the cold water generating device, and the Z direction refers to the height direction of the cold water generating device. To clearly explain the present invention, parts unrelated to the explanation are omitted from the drawings.

[0044] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a cold water generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a case member (100) in which a storage water (WS) is received, an inlet water flow path member (200) providing a flow path for an inflow water (WI) flowing into the interior of the case member (100), an outlet water flow path member (300) providing a flow path for an outflow water (WO) flowing out from the interior of the case member (100), and a cooling member (400) disposed on one side of the case member (100) so as to cool the storage water (WS) received inside the case member (100).

[0045] This case member (100) provides a space for accommodating stored water (WS) and may be formed in a cuboid shape, but is not necessarily limited to this shape as long as a space for accommodating stored water (WS) is formed. Additionally, each side of the case member (100) may be formed not only in a shape bent at a right angle but also in a curved shape to form a certain curvature. The inlet water flow path member (200) provides a flow path for various types of inflow water, not just purified water, to flow into the case member (100), and a pipe having a certain diameter may be used. The outlet water flow path member (300) provides a flow path for cooled outflow water (WO) flowing out from inside the case member (100), and a pipe having a certain diameter may be used, just like the inlet water flow path member (200). These inlet water channel member (200) and outlet water channel member (300) can be used by connecting separate pipes to the case member (100), or, when manufacturing the case member (100), it is also possible to configure the inlet water channel member (200) and the outlet water channel member (300) to be formed integrally. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an inlet port (180) communicating with the inlet water channel member (200) is formed in the lower wall (120), and an outlet port (190) communicating with the outlet water channel member (300) is formed in the upper wall (110). That is, the inflow water (WI) flowing in through the inflow port (180) changes direction along the flow of the storage water (WS) inside the case member (100) and pushes the storage water (WS) to move, and the storage water (WS) cooled and contained in the case member (100) is pushed out by the inflow water (WI), and the storage water (WS) adjacent to the outflow port (190) changes direction toward the outflow port (190) and then flows out as the outflow water (WO).

[0046] A cooling member (400) disposed on one side of a case member (100) exchanges heat with the case member (100) to cool the storage water (WS) inside the case member (100). The cooling member (400) may be equipped with a thermoelectric element (410) and a cooling block (420) to cool the storage water (WS) inside the case member (100). The thermoelectric element (410) is a device that performs cooling or heating by utilizing the Peltier effect, in which heat generation or heat absorption occurs at the connection point of wires of different materials when an electric potential is formed in a closed circuit. As an example, a thermoelectric element (410) manufactured in the form of a thin film may be applied, and when an electric signal is input, heat absorption occurs on one side and heat generation occurs on the other side. Based on FIG. 2, one side (left) of the thermoelectric element (410) may be the side where heat absorption occurs and the temperature drops, and the other side (right) may be the side where heat generation occurs and the temperature rises. The aforementioned cooling block (420) is cooled by the heat-absorbing action occurring on one side of the thermoelectric element (410) to cool the case member (100). As shown in FIG. 2, the cooling block (420) can be formed as a multi-stage block. The first stage block is formed to cover one side of the case member (100), and the second stage block is formed to cover one side of the thermoelectric element (410). By doing so, the cooling block (420) can thermally and physically connect the case member (100) and the thermoelectric element (410). The sizes of the first stage block and the second stage block can be made to match the sizes of the case member (100) and the thermoelectric element (410) that come into contact, respectively, and through this structure, heat can be uniformly absorbed from the case member (100). Meanwhile, a heat dissipation block may be mounted on the other side of the thermoelectric element (410). This is to perform heat release because when heat absorption occurs on one side of the thermoelectric element (410), heat dissipation occurs on the other side.For example, such a heat dissipation block may be provided with a plurality of heat dissipation fins protruding from the opposite side that is coupled with the thermoelectric element (410). When heat dissipation fins are provided in this manner, the contact area with the external air is increased, thereby enhancing the heat dissipation effect through convective heat transfer. As described above, when the storage water (WS) inside the case member (100) is cooled using the thermoelectric element (410), noise or vibration generation can be minimized, and the cooling member (400) can be made lighter and smaller.

[0047] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the case member (100) is provided with an upper wall (110) and a lower wall (120) positioned opposite each other along the height direction (Z), a pair of side walls (130, 140) positioned opposite each other along the width direction (X), a heat transfer wall (150) and a counter wall (160) positioned opposite each other along the depth direction (Y), a partition plate (170) positioned parallel to the width direction (X) to divide the interior of the case member (100) into multiple zones (101), an inlet port (180) communicating with an inlet channel member (200) to allow inflow of inflow water (WI), and an outlet port (190) communicating with an outlet channel member (300) to allow outflow of outflow water (WO). As shown in FIG. 2, the interior of the case member (100) is formed as a space surrounded by an upper wall (110), a lower wall (120), a pair of side walls (130, 140) and a heat transfer wall (150), and this space is sealed by mounting a counter wall (160).

[0048] At this time, either the inlet port (180) or the outlet port (190) is positioned adjacent to the heat transfer wall (150) along the depth direction (Y) so that the stored water (WS) inside the case member (100) flows while in direct contact with the inner surface of the heat transfer wall (150), and the other port may be positioned adjacent to the opposing wall (160). That is, since either the inlet port (180) or the outlet port (190) is positioned adjacent to the heat transfer wall (150) of the case member (100), the stored water (WS) can flow while exchanging heat with the inner surface of the heat transfer wall (150), so the cooling performance of the stored water (WS) can be improved. In addition, since one port is positioned adjacent to the heat transfer wall (150) and the other port is positioned adjacent to the opposite wall (160), the storage water (WS) flows diagonally across the case member (100), thereby increasing the length of the flow path through which the storage water (WS) flows, and thus improving the cooling performance of the storage water (WS).

[0049] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a cold water generating device according to another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cold water generating device according to another embodiment of the present invention cut along the depth direction, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cold water generating device according to another embodiment of the present invention cut along the width direction.

[0050] As illustrated in FIG. 4, a cold water generating device according to another embodiment of the present invention includes an inlet water flow path member (200) providing a water flow path for inflow water (WI) flowing into the interior of a case member (100), an outlet water flow path member (300) providing a water flow path for outflow water (WO) flowing out from the interior of the case member (100), and a cooling member (400) disposed on one side of the case member (100) to cool the stored water (WS) contained within the case member (100). As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the case member (100) is provided with an upper wall (110) and a lower wall (120) positioned opposite each other along the height direction (Z), a pair of side walls (130, 140) positioned opposite each other along the width direction (X), a heat transfer wall (150) and a counter wall (160) positioned opposite each other along the depth direction (Y), a partition plate (170) positioned parallel to the width direction (X) to divide the interior of the case member (100) into multiple zones (101), an inlet port (180) communicating with an inlet channel member (200) to allow inflow of inflow water (WI), and an outlet port (190) communicating with an outlet channel member (300) to allow outflow of outflow water (WO). As shown in FIG. 5, the interior of the case member (100) is formed as a space surrounded by an upper wall (110), a lower wall (120), a pair of side walls (130, 140) and a counter wall (160), and this space is sealed by mounting a heat transfer wall (150).

[0051] At this time, as described above, either of the inlet port (180) or the outlet port (190) is positioned adjacent to the heat transfer wall (150) along the depth direction (Y) so that the stored water (WS) inside the case member (100) flows while in direct contact with the inner surface of the heat transfer wall (150), and the other port may be positioned adjacent to the opposite wall (160). That is, since either of the inlet port (180) or the outlet port (190) is positioned adjacent to the heat transfer wall (150) of the case member (100), the stored water (WS) can flow while exchanging heat with the inner surface of the heat transfer wall (150), thereby improving the cooling performance of the stored water (WS). Additionally, since one port is positioned adjacent to the heat transfer wall (150) and the other port is positioned adjacent to the opposite wall (160), the storage water (WS) flows diagonally across the case member (100), thereby increasing the length of the flow path through which the storage water (WS) flows and improving the cooling performance of the storage water (WS). An inlet port (180) is provided at the bottom of one of the pair of side walls (130, 140), and an outlet port (190) is provided at the top of the other side wall. That is, the direction of the inflow water (WI) flowing in through the inflow port (180) and the direction of the outflow water (WO) flowing out through the outflow port (190) are formed parallel to the width direction (X) so as to be the same as the flow direction of the storage water (WS) flowing through the multiple zones (101) inside the case member (100), thereby suppressing the generation of vortices, and thus the inflow water (WI) can smoothly push out the storage water (WS), thereby improving cooling performance and cleanliness.

[0052] As illustrated in FIG. 2, in a cold water generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention, a partition plate (170) may be integrally extended and formed so as to come into direct contact with the inner surface of the heat transfer wall (150) as the stored water (WS) flows between the partition plates (170), thereby improving the cooling performance of the stored water (WS). As illustrated in FIG. 5, in the case of a cold water generating device according to another embodiment of the present invention, the opposing wall (160) and the partition plate (170) are integrally formed, and the heat transfer wall (150) is configured to be mounted separately. In this case as well, it is preferable to mount the heat transfer wall (150) firmly so that the heat transfer wall (150) and the partition plate (170) can be smoothly connected thermally and physically.

[0053] As illustrated in FIG. 2, in a cold water generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention, an upper wall (110), a lower wall (120), and a pair of side walls (130, 140) are integrally extended in the heat transfer wall (150), and a counter wall (160) is coupled so as to close the interior of the case member (100), and an inclined surface (111) may be formed on the inner surface of the upper wall (110) that extends upward along the depth direction (Y) toward the counter wall (160). That is, the air inside the case member (100) is guided along the slope (θ) formed on the aforementioned inclined surface (111) along with the flow of the storage water, so that it does not remain inside the case member (100), and since only the storage water (WS) is contained without any remaining air inside the case member (100), the cooling performance is improved, and since the inflow water (WI) can smoothly push and move the storage water (WS), a first-in, first-out structure is made possible in which the storage water (WS) that is cooled and flows in first flows out first, thereby improving user convenience. In addition, the heat transfer wall (150) can be manufactured using a mold or the like so that the upper wall (110), lower wall (120), and a pair of side walls (130, 140) are integrally extended and formed. When manufacturing using a mold in this way, it is important to configure the mold so that it can be easily removed. As described above, if an inclined surface (111) extending upward toward the opposing wall (160) is formed on the inner surface of the upper wall (110), a wide space is formed in the direction in which the mold is removed, so the mold can be easily removed, thereby improving manufacturability. At this time, as shown in FIG. 2, if an inclined surface extending downward toward the opposing wall (160) is also formed on the inner surface of the lower wall (120), the mold can be removed even more easily.

[0054] Additionally, as illustrated in FIG. 5, in a cold water generating device according to another embodiment of the present invention, an upper wall (110), a lower wall (120), and a pair of side walls (130, 140) are integrally extended on the opposing wall (160), and a heat transfer wall (150) is coupled so as to close the interior of the case member (100), and an inclined surface (111) may be formed on the inner surface of the upper wall (110) that extends upward along the depth direction (Y) toward the heat transfer wall (150). That is, even in this case, the air inside the case member (100) is guided along the slope (θ) formed on the aforementioned inclined surface (111) along with the flow of the storage water, so that it does not remain inside the case member (100). Since only the storage water (WS) is contained without any remaining air inside the case member (100), the cooling performance is improved, and since the inflow water (WI) can smoothly push and move the storage water (WS), a first-in, first-out structure is made possible in which the storage water (WS) that is cooled and flows in first flows out first, thereby improving user convenience. In addition, the upper wall (110), lower wall (120), and a pair of side walls (130, 140) can be manufactured using a mold or the like so that they are integrally extended on the opposing wall (160). As described above, when an inclined surface (111) extending upward toward the heat transfer wall (150) is formed on the inner surface of the upper wall (110), a wide space is formed in the direction in which the mold is removed, so the mold can be easily removed, thereby improving manufacturability. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, if an inclined surface extending downward toward the heat transfer wall (150) is also formed on the inner surface of the lower wall (120), the mold can be removed even more easily.

[0055] As illustrated in FIG. 2, in a cold water generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention, the outlet port (190) may be positioned adjacent to the opposing wall (160) so that air guided along the inclined surface (111) is discharged together with the discharged water (WO). When configured in this way, the air inside the case member (100) is completely discharged through the outlet port (190), thereby improving the cooling performance of the stored water (WS) inside the case member (100), and the user convenience may be improved by increasing the amount of inflow water (WI) and the amount of discharged water (WO) flowing into the case member (100). Additionally, as illustrated in FIG. 5, in a cold water generating device according to another embodiment of the present invention, the water outlet port (190) may be positioned adjacent to a heat transfer wall (150) so that air guided along the inclined surface (111) is discharged together with the discharged water (WO). As described above, if configured in this way, the air inside the case member (100) is completely discharged through the water outlet port (190), thereby improving the cooling performance of the stored water (WS) inside the case member (100), and the user convenience may be improved by increasing the amount of incoming water (WI) and outgoing water (WO) flowing into the case member (100).

[0056] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an inlet port provided in a cold water generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0057] As illustrated in FIG. 7, in a cold water generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention, a deceleration surface (181) is formed on the inner surface of an inlet port (180) such that the inner diameter expands so that the inflow water (WI) supplied through the inlet channel member (200) flows into the interior of the case member (100) through the inlet port (180) when the flow rate is reduced to a constant flow rate or lower. That is, the deceleration surface (181) is formed on the inlet port (180) such that the inner diameter (d2) of the inlet port (180) is formed larger than the inner diameter (d1) of the inlet channel member (200), and this deceleration surface (181) may be formed in the shape of an inclined surface in which the inner diameter (d2) of the inlet port (180) gradually increases. In addition, this deceleration surface (181) may be formed in the shape of a stepped surface in which the inner diameter (d2) of the inlet port (180) increases. However, if the deceleration surface (181) is formed in the shape of a stepped surface, it is important to configure it so that no vortex is formed in the flow of the incoming water (WI) at the bent portion of the stepped surface. In addition, as shown in FIG. 7 (a), this deceleration surface (181) may be formed only on one side of the inlet port (180), or as shown in FIG. 7 (b), it may be formed on both sides of the inlet port (180). In this way, when a deceleration surface (181) with an expanded inner diameter is formed on the inner circumference of the inlet port (180), the flow velocity of the incoming water (WI) flowing into the case member (100) is reduced to a certain level or lower, so a first-in, first-out structure in which the incoming water (WI) pushes out the stored water (WS) becomes possible, thereby improving cooling performance.

[0058] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a resistance baffle provided in a cold water generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0059] As illustrated in FIG. 8, in a cold water generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention, a resistance baffle (182) may be provided inside the case member (100) to partially close the flow path of the inflow water (WI) supplied through the inflow path member (200) so that the flow velocity of the inflow water (WI) is reduced to a certain flow velocity or lower and flows into the case member (100). This resistance baffle (182) is configured to partially close the flow path through which the inflow water (WI) flowing in through the inflow port (180) flows, thereby reducing the flow velocity of the inflow water (WI) flowing into the case member (100) to a certain level or lower, and thereby enabling a first-in, first-out structure in which the inflow water (WI) pushes out the stored water (WS). At this time, the area of ​​the resistance baffle (182) that closes the flow path of the inflow water (WI) may be configured to be variable. For example, the resistance baffle (182) is fixed in a hinge manner inside the case member (100) and configured so that the area closing the flow path of the inflow water (WI) varies according to the rotation angle of the resistance baffle (182). That is, the flow rate of the inflow water (WI) may vary depending on the product to which the cold water generating device is applied. By configuring it in this way, even when the flow rate of the inflow water (WI) changes, the area closing the flow path of the inflow water (WI) is varied through the rotational movement of the resistance baffle (182), thereby allowing the flow rate of the inflow water (WI) flowing into the case member (100) to be controlled, and thus enabling a first-in, first-out structure.

[0060] At this time, in a cold water generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention, the flow rate of the stored water (WS) flowing along a plurality of zones (101) inside the case member (100) can be formed to be 1.2 L / min or less, and thereby a first-in, first-out structure in which the inflow water (WI) pushes out the stored water (WS) is made possible, thereby improving cooling performance.

[0061] Additionally, as illustrated in FIG. 3, in a cold water generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention, when the total height inside the case member (100) is H, the gap h between mutually facing partition plates (170) can be formed to be H / 9 or less, for example, the gap between mutually facing partition plates (170) can be formed to be 18 mm or less. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 6, in the case of a cold water generating device according to another embodiment of the present invention, when the total height inside the case member (100) is H, the gap h between mutually facing partition plates (170) can be formed to be H / 9 or less, for example, the gap between mutually facing partition plates (170) can be formed to be 18 mm or less. By configuring in this way, a first-in, first-out structure in which the inflow water (WI) pushes out the stored water (WS) becomes possible, thereby improving cooling performance.

[0062] FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a diaphragm provided in a cold water generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a graph showing the temperature change according to the number of effluent cups to compare the cooling effect of a cold water generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention and a conventional water purifier.

[0063] As illustrated in FIG. 9, in a cold water generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention, each partition plate (170) has an opening (171) through which the stored water (WS) moves, and the opening (171) is formed alternately at the corners and opposite corners of the partition plate (170) which is arranged upwardly so that the stored water (WS) flowing inside the case member (100) flows diagonally. That is, when the inflow water (WI) flows into a position adjacent to the heat transfer wall (150), the stored water (WS) moves along the depth direction (Y) to move away from the heat transfer wall (150) due to the inflow water (WI), as illustrated in FIG. 2, and at the same time moves along the width direction (X) from one side wall (130) toward the other side wall (140), as illustrated in FIG. 3, thereby enabling diagonal flow of the stored water (WS). Alternatively, when the inflow water (WI) flows into a location adjacent to the opposing wall (160), the storage water (WS) moves along the depth direction (Y) away from the opposing wall (160) as shown in FIG. 5, and at the same time moves along the width direction (X) from one side wall (130) toward the other side wall (140) as shown in FIG. 6, thereby enabling diagonal flow of the storage water (WS). By configuring the storage water (WS) to flow diagonally in this way, the length of the flow path through which the storage water (WS) flows increases, thereby improving the cooling performance of the storage water (WS).

[0064] FIG. 10 is a graph showing the temperature change according to the number of discharged water cups to compare the cooling effect of a cold water generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention and a conventional water purifier. In the case of specification 1 (case 1), as in the conventional technology, water is introduced into the upper side of the tank body and then discharged from the lower side while being cooled, and a check valve for air discharge is provided at the upper side of the tank body for air discharge. In the case of specification 2 (case 2), inflow water (WI) is introduced into the lower side of the case member (100) and then discharged from the upper side while being cooled, and an opening is formed on one side and the other side of the vertically arranged partition plate (170) so that the stored water (WS) moves along the width direction (X). In the case of specification 3 (case 3), inflow water (WI) is introduced into the lower side of the case member (100) and then discharged from the upper side while being cooled, and on the corner and the opposite corner of the vertically arranged partition plate (170) The configuration is such that an opening (171) is formed so that the stored water (WS) moves diagonally. For each of these specifications, it is confirmed that approximately 5 cups of cold water at 10°C or lower can be dispensed when cold water is continuously discharged. The temperature of the first cup is approximately 4°C, and all specifications are similar, but from the second and third cups onwards, specifications 2 and 3 show superior cooling performance compared to specification 1, which is a specification of the prior art. Furthermore, for the fourth and fifth cups, it is confirmed that specification 3 shows superior cooling performance compared to specification 2. Therefore, as with specification 3, the inflow water (WI) is received from the lower side and the cooled outflow water (WO) is discharged from the upper side, and an opening (171) is formed at the corner and the opposite corner of the vertically arranged partition plate (170) so that the stored water (WS) moves diagonally, thereby ensuring excellent cooling performance.

[0065] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the configuration of a water purifier according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0066] As illustrated in FIG. 11, a water purifier according to the present invention may include a filtration unit (10) that filters raw water (W1) to produce purified water (W2), and a cold water generating unit (20) that receives purified water (W2) from the filtration unit (10) to produce cold water (W3). The filtration unit (10) receives raw water (W1) from the outside and then filters the raw water (W1) to produce purified water (W2). The filtration unit (10) may include various filters. For example, the filtration unit (10) may include a pre-carbon filter, a membrane filter, and a post-carbon filter. Additionally, the filtration unit (10) may include an electro-deionization filter. The electro-deionization method refers to EDI (Electro Deionization), CEDI (Continuous Electro Deionization), CDI (Capacitive Deionization), etc. The purified water (W2) generated in the filtration unit (10) can be supplied directly to the cold water generating unit (20), or it can be supplied to a separate storage unit that stores the purified water (W2), and the cold water generating unit (20) can be configured to receive the purified water (W2) through this separate storage unit.

[0067] The cold water generating unit (20) may be provided with a case member (100) for receiving purified water (W2), an inlet water flow member (200) that provides a flow path for the purified water (W2) to flow into the interior of the case member (100), an outlet water flow member (300) that provides a flow path for the purified water (W2) cooled inside the case member (100) to flow out, and a cooling member (400) disposed on one side of the case member (100) to cool the purified water (W2) received inside the case member (100). As described above, the case member (100) provides a space for receiving the purified water (W2), and the inlet water flow member (200) or the outlet water flow member (300) may use a pipe having a certain diameter to allow the purified water (W2) to flow in or out. These inlet water flow member (200) and outlet water flow member (300) can be used by connecting separate pipes to the case member (100), or, it is also possible to configure the inlet water flow member (200) and the outlet water flow member (300) to be formed integrally when manufacturing the case member (100). A cooling member (400) for cooling water (W2) is provided on one side of the case member (100), and as described above, a thermoelectric element (410) and a cooling block (420) may be provided in this cooling member (400).

[0068] The case member (100) is provided with an upper wall (110) and a lower wall (120) arranged opposite each other along the height direction (Z), a pair of side walls (130, 140) arranged opposite each other along the width direction (X), a heat transfer wall (150) and a counter wall (160) arranged opposite each other along the depth direction (Y), a partition plate (170) arranged parallel to the width direction (X) to divide the interior of the case member (100) into multiple zones (101), an inlet port (180) communicating with an inlet flow path member (200) to allow water (W2) to flow in, and an outlet port (190) communicating with an outlet flow path member (300) to allow water (W2) to flow out, wherein either the inlet port (180) or the outlet port (190) is provided such that the water (W2) inside the case member (100) comes into direct contact with the inner surface of the heat transfer wall (150). In a state, it may be positioned adjacent to the heat transfer wall (150) along the depth direction (Y) to flow, and another port may be positioned adjacent to the opposing wall (160).

[0069] That is, since either the inlet port (180) or the outlet port (190) is positioned adjacent to the heat transfer wall (150) of the case member (100), the water (W2) can flow while exchanging heat with the inner surface of the heat transfer wall (150), thereby improving the cooling performance of the water (W2). Additionally, since the water (W2) can flow smoothly without remaining inside the case member (100), the cleanliness of the water (W2) is improved. Furthermore, since one port is positioned adjacent to the heat transfer wall (150) while the other port is positioned adjacent to the opposite wall (160) that is opposite to it, the water (W2) flows diagonally across the case member (100), thereby increasing the length of the flow path through which the water (W2) flows, and thus improving the cooling performance of the water (W2).

[0070] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described, the spirit of the present invention is not limited by the embodiments presented in this specification. Those skilled in the art who understand the spirit of the present invention may easily propose other embodiments within the scope of the same spirit by adding, changing, deleting, or adding components, and such are also to be considered to fall within the scope of the spirit of the present invention. Explanation of the symbols

[0071] 10: Filtration unit 20: Cold water generation unit 100 : Case absence 101 : Zone 110 : Top wall 111 : Inclined surface 120 : Lower wall 130 : One side wall 140 : Other side wall 150 : Heat transfer wall 160 : Opposing wall 170 : Diagonal plate 171 : Opening 180 : Inlet port 181: Deceleration surface 182: Resistance baffle 190: Outlet port 200: Inlet channel missing 300: Outlet flow path missing 400: Cooling part missing 410: Thermoelectric element 420: Cooling block d1: Inner diameter of the inlet channel member d2: Inner diameter of the inlet port h: Spacing between plates H: Total height inside the case member WI: Influent WS: Storage water WO : Floodwater W1 : Raw water W2 : Purified water W3 : Cold water X: Width direction Y: Depth direction Z: Height direction θ: Slope

Claims

Claim 1 A case member for receiving stored water; an inlet water flow path member providing a water flow path for inflow into the interior of the case member; and an outlet water flow path member providing a water flow path for outflow from the interior of the case member; and a cooling member disposed on one side of the case member to cool the storage water contained inside the case member; wherein the case member is provided with an upper wall and a lower wall mutually arranged along the height direction, a pair of side walls mutually arranged along the width direction, a heat transfer wall and a counter wall mutually arranged along the depth direction, a partition plate arranged parallel to the width direction to divide the interior of the case member into multiple zones, an inlet port communicating with the inlet water flow path member to allow inflow of inflow water, and an outlet port communicating with the outlet water flow path member to allow outflow of outflow water; wherein the heat transfer wall has the partition plate integrally extended so as to make direct contact with the inner surface of the heat transfer wall as the storage water flows between the upper wall, the lower wall, the pair of side walls, and the partition plate; wherein the counter wall is joined so as to close the interior of the case member; wherein an inclined surface is formed on the inner surface of the upper wall extending upward in a direction toward the counter wall along the depth direction; and wherein one of the inlet port and the outlet port A cold water generating device characterized by having a storage water inside the case member arranged adjacent to the heat transfer wall along the depth direction so that it flows in direct contact with the inner surface of the heat transfer wall, and another port arranged adjacent to the opposite wall. Claim 2 A cold water generating device according to claim 1, wherein an inlet port is provided at the bottom of one of the pair of side walls and an outlet port is provided at the top of the other side wall, and the direction of the inflow water flowing in through the inlet port and the direction of the outflow water flowing out through the outlet port are formed parallel to the width direction. Claim 3 delete Claim 4 delete Claim 5 A cold water generating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the discharge port is positioned adjacent to the opposite wall so that air guided along the inclined surface is discharged together with the discharged water. Claim 6 A cold water generating device according to claim 1, characterized in that a deceleration surface is formed on the inner surface of the inlet port such that the inner diameter is expanded so that the flow rate of the inflow water supplied through the inlet channel member is reduced to a constant flow rate or lower and flows into the interior of the case member through the inlet port. Claim 7 A cold water generating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the interior of the case member is provided with a resistance baffle that partially closes the flow path of the inflow water so that the inflow water supplied through the inflow path member flows into the interior of the case member when the flow rate of the inflow water is reduced to a constant flow rate or lower. Claim 8 A cold water generating device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the flow rate of the stored water flowing along a plurality of zones inside the case member is 1.2 L / min or less. Claim 9 A cold water generating device according to claim 1, characterized in that when the total height inside the case member is H, the gap h between the mutually facing partition plates is H / 9 or less. Claim 10 A cold water generating device according to claim 9, characterized in that the gap between the mutually facing plates is 18 mm or less. Claim 11 A cold water generating device according to claim 1, wherein each of the above-mentioned plates has an opening through which stored water moves, and the opening is formed alternately at the corners and opposite corners of the above-mentioned plates arranged in a continuous upward direction so that the stored water flowing inside the case member flows diagonally. Claim 12 A filtration unit that filters raw water to produce purified water; and a cold water generating unit that generates cold water by receiving purified water from the filtering unit; wherein the cold water generating unit is provided with a case member for receiving purified water, an inlet water flow path member that provides a water path for the purified water to flow into the interior of the case member, an outlet water flow path member that provides a water path for the purified water cooled inside the case member to flow out, and a cooling member disposed on one side of the case member to cool the purified water received inside the case member; wherein the case member is provided with an upper wall and a lower wall mutually arranged along the height direction, a pair of side walls mutually arranged along the width direction, a heat transfer wall and an opposing wall mutually arranged along the depth direction, a partition plate arranged parallel to the width direction to divide the interior of the case member into multiple zones, an inlet port communicating with the inlet water flow path member to receive purified water, and an outlet port communicating with the outlet water flow path member to receive purified water; wherein the heat transfer wall is provided with the upper wall, the lower wall, the pair of side walls, and the heat transfer wall in the process of the stored water flowing between the partition plate A water purifier characterized in that the diaphragm is integrally extended to be in direct contact with the inner surface, the opposing wall is joined to close the interior of the case member, an inclined surface is formed on the inner surface of the upper wall that extends upward along the depth direction toward the opposing wall, and either the inlet port or the outlet port is positioned adjacent to the heat transfer wall along the depth direction so that the purified water inside the case member flows while in direct contact with the inner surface of the heat transfer wall, and the other port is positioned adjacent to the opposing wall.

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