Water purifying apparatus and refrigerator

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing water purifying apparatuses with fixed main body connecting parts are prone to breakage or separation when force is applied during filter attachment or detachment, compromising the structural integrity and functionality.

Innovation Solution

A water purifying apparatus with rotatably mounted heads and a connecting cap that includes a rotation supporting part with a cap fixing part, restricting part, and guide hole, allowing for secure attachment and detachment of filters while maintaining the mounting state, and a connecting cap that shields the inlet and outlet parts to prevent separation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a fixed main body connecting part is used to connect filter mounting parts, then the structure is simple, but the connecting part may be broken or separated when force is applied during filter attachment/detachment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidstructural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The head is changed from a fixed structure to a rotatable structure, allowing it to rotate about a rotation axis. This dynamic capability enables the head to accommodate forces applied during filter attachment and detachment without breaking or separating, while maintaining overall structural simplicity through the rotation support mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If a rotatably mounted head is used to facilitate filter attachment/detachment, then the ease of operation is improved, but the mounting state may not be firmly maintained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilter replacement easeVSAvoidmounting state stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting cap is divided into multiple functional parts: a flow path part for water communication, a cover part for shielding, and a restricting part for fixation. This segmentation allows the cap to simultaneously enable head rotation for easy filter replacement while firmly maintaining the mounting state through the restricting part that prevents excessive rotation or detachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the inlet part and outlet part are exposed, then the ease of operation for filter attachment is improved, but the parts may be separated or damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveaccessibilityVSAvoidseparation risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cover part of the connecting cap acts as a protective shell that shields the inlet part and outlet part of the head. This protective covering prevents separation and damage to these exposed parts while allowing the head to rotate for filter attachment and detachment operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentEP3225293B1Water purifying apparatus and refrigerator
Publication Date: 2020.03.04 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3225293B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3225293B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3225293B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A water purifying apparatus includes: a plurality of filters purifying and discharging introduced water along flow paths formed therein; a plurality of heads to which the plurality of filters are individually mounted to be detachable, the plurality of heads each having an inlet part and an outlet part, through which water is introduced and discharged; a mounting member to which the plurality of heads are mounted in parallel, the mounting member having a rotation supporting part that rotatably supports the head, and the rotation supporting part being formed recessed such that the inlet part and the outlet part are accommodated therein; and a connecting cap mounted on the rotation supporting part to connect the inlet part and the outlet part to communicate with each other.