Water Purifier Single Flow Path Merging Hot and Purified Water

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional water purifiers require separate hot and purified water flow paths and valves, leading to increased material costs, reduced internal space utilization, and higher maintenance costs.

Innovation Solution

A water purifier design that ejects hot water and purified water through a single hot water flow path and valve, eliminating the need for a separate purified water flow path and valve, while adjusting the flow rate and temperature control to maintain satisfactory water ejection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If separate hot water flow path and purified water flow path are provided, then hot water and purified water can be supplied independently, but material costs increase and device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent supply capabilityVSAvoidflow path configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the hot water flow path and purified water flow path into a single integrated flow path. The water purifier uses one common flow path that can transport both hot water and purified water sequentially, eliminating the need for separate parallel flow paths. This reduces the number of pipes, valves, and connection points while maintaining the ability to supply different water types independently through temporal separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single flow path is designed to serve multiple functions: it can transport hot water when heating is required, purified water when filtration is required, and can handle both functions sequentially. The flow path structure, valves, and control system are configured to accommodate different water types and delivery modes through a unified infrastructure, reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If separate hot water flow path and purified water flow path are provided, then hot water and purified water can be supplied independently, but material costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent supply capabilityVSAvoidmaterial cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the hot water flow path and purified water flow path into a single integrated flow path. The water purifier uses one common flow path that can transport both hot water and purified water sequentially, eliminating the need for separate parallel flow paths. This reduces the number of pipes, valves, and connection points while maintaining the ability to supply different water types independently through temporal separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single flow path is designed to serve multiple functions: it can transport hot water when heating is required, purified water when filtration is required, and can handle both functions sequentially. The flow path structure, valves, and control system are configured to accommodate different water types and delivery modes through a unified infrastructure, reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If separate hot water flow path and purified water flow path are provided, then hot water and purified water can be supplied independently, but internal space utilization decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent supply capabilityVSAvoidinternal space utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the hot water flow path and purified water flow path into a single integrated flow path. The water purifier uses one common flow path that can transport both hot water and purified water sequentially, eliminating the need for separate parallel flow paths. This reduces the number of pipes, valves, and connection points while maintaining the ability to supply different water types independently through temporal separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single flow path is designed to serve multiple functions: it can transport hot water when heating is required, purified water when filtration is required, and can handle both functions sequentially. The flow path structure, valves, and control system are configured to accommodate different water types and delivery modes through a unified infrastructure, reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Adaptability or versatility

If separate hot water flow path and purified water flow path are provided, then hot water and purified water can be supplied independently, but maintenance costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent supply capabilityVSAvoidmaintenance cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the hot water flow path and purified water flow path into a single integrated flow path. The water purifier uses one common flow path that can transport both hot water and purified water sequentially, eliminating the need for separate parallel flow paths. This reduces the number of pipes, valves, and connection points while maintaining the ability to supply different water types independently through temporal separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single flow path is designed to serve multiple functions: it can transport hot water when heating is required, purified water when filtration is required, and can handle both functions sequentially. The flow path structure, valves, and control system are configured to accommodate different water types and delivery modes through a unified infrastructure, reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This design reduces material and maintenance costs, increases internal space utilization, allows for miniaturization, and enhances the water ejection flow rate of purified water while maintaining the temperature condition of hot water.

Implementation Method 1

a hot water module forming a heating flow path through which the purified water from 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

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

a flow rate adjusting valve configured to adjust the flow rate of water flowing to the hot water module

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlow rate control:

Data Source

PatentEP4501868A1Water purifier

Publication Date: 2025.02.05 LG ELECTRONICS INC

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AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a water purifier that ejects hot water and purified water, and the water purifier includes a housing forming a storage space, a filter provided inside the housing to purify water supplied from an external water supply source, a water ejection nozzle provided on the outside of the housing and configured to eject the water passing through the filter, 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 hot water module, in which, when purified water is ejected, the controller turns off the hot water module, and the purified water discharged from the hot water module is ejected to the water ejection nozzle through the hot water flow path.