Integrated Water Purifier Flow Path for Hot and Purified Water
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water purifiers require separate flow paths for cold, purified, and hot water, leading to increased complexity, space utilization, and cost.
Innovation Solution
A water purifier design that ejects hot and purified water through a single flow path using a hot water module to heat purified water and a flow switching valve to control the flow, eliminating the need for a separate purified water flow path and purification valve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate flow paths are provided for cold water, purified water, and hot water, then temperature control and water quality are ensured, but device complexity and space utilization deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the purified water flow path and hot water flow path into a single common flow path. The water ejection nozzle receives both purified water and hot water through the same flow path structure, reducing the number of separate pipes and valves while maintaining the ability to control temperature and water quality through selective valve operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The common flow path serves multiple functions by transporting both purified water and hot water to the ejection nozzle. The flow path structure is designed to handle different water types and temperatures universally, eliminating the need for dedicated separate paths for each water type.
2Reliability
If separate flow paths for purified water and hot water are provided, then water quality and temperature are maintained, but manufacturing cost and material usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple flow paths into a single common flow path that transports both purified water and hot water. This merging reduces the total amount of piping materials, valves, and connection points required, thereby lowering manufacturing costs and material usage while maintaining water quality through proper valve control.
3Temperature
If separate flow paths are used for purified water and hot water, then temperature conditions are maintained, but device size and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the purified water and hot water flow paths into a single common flow path that shares the same physical space within the device. This consolidation reduces the overall volume occupied by piping and associated components, making the device more compact while maintaining proper temperature conditions through controlled water delivery.
4Device complexity
If a single flow path is used for both purified water and hot water, then device complexity and material cost are reduced, but temperature control and water quality may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the water delivery system into distinct controlled sections: a purified water supply section, a hot water supply section, and a common ejection section. Flow switching valves create virtual segmentation within the physical flow path, allowing independent control of purified water and hot water streams until they converge at the ejection nozzle, thereby maintaining temperature control despite the merged physical path.
5Ease of manufacture
If a single flow path is used for both purified water and hot water, then manufacturing cost and device size are reduced, but maintenance complexity and safety risks may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary flow separation and control before water convergence. Flow switching valves are positioned to control and separate purified water and hot water flows upstream of the common flow path section. This preliminary control prevents unwanted temperature mixing and ensures that only properly controlled water streams are delivered through the shared path, mitigating safety risks while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Reduces material and maintenance costs, decreases size, maintains temperature conditions, and ensures safe ejection by integrating hot and purified water paths, preventing temperature increase and enabling sterilization.
Implementation Method 1
a hot water module configured to heat purified water received from the filter to generate hot water when hot water should be ejected
Implementation Method 2
a flow switching valve installed to control the flow of water flowing from the water supply flow path to the auxiliary flow path
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a water purifier which ejects hot water and purified water, and the water purifier includes a filter configured to purify water supplied from an external water supply source; a water supply flow path configured to guide the water supplied from the water supply source toward the filter; an auxiliary flow path configured to branch off at the first point of the water supply flow path and then to merge into a second point of the water supply flow path located at a rear end of the first point based on the flow direction of water; a flow switching valve configured to be installed at the first point to control the flow of water flowing from the water supply flow path to the auxiliary flow path; a water ejection nozzle through which water passing through the filter is ejected; a hot water module forming a heating flow path through which the purified water passing through the filter passes and configured to instantaneously heat the purified water passing through the heating flow path into hot water when hot water is ejected; a hot water flow path configured to guide the hot water passing through the hot water module toward the water ejection nozzle; and a controller configured to control the operation of the flow switching valve and the hot water module.