JP2004097892A

JP2004097892A - Water purifying cartridge

Info

Publication number: JP2004097892A
Application number: JP2002260796A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Masami Enomoto; 榎本　政巳
Original assignee: Nok Corp
Current assignee: Nok Corp
Priority date: 2002-09-06
Filing date: 2002-09-06
Publication date: 2004-04-02
Anticipated expiration: 2022-09-06
Also published as: JP3900047B2

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a water purifying cartridge in which structure is improved so that charge quantity of active carbon can be increased as much as possible and waterproofness can be protected from being damaged due to sticking of fine particulate active carbon at a screw joint between a case and a cap. <P>SOLUTION: Active carbon 28 is charged in a cylindrical vacant space between an inner tube case 21 and an outer tube case 22. A holding plate 30 for holding the active carbon 28 inside by pushing from above is provided at the screw joint composed of a female screw part 22a and a male screw part 23a between the inner tube case 21, the outer tube case 22 and a cap 23. The holding plate 30 is a tube body provided with a trunk part 30a having necessary height and can hold the active carbon 28 of maximum quantity inside by height dimension due to provision of the trunk part 30a and maximum quantity of the active carbon 28 can be held inside the cartridge to a maximum possible limit of upper end parts of the inner tube case 21 and the outer tube case 22. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、特に家庭用水道水など飲料水中に含まれる不純物を除去しかつ抗菌するための交換可能な水浄化カートリッジに関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
浄水器において交換される水浄化カートリッジの従来例としては、特許第２７６０９６０号公報などに記載されたものがある。この場合、筒体である内筒ケースと外筒ケースが同軸上で内外二重に設けられ、それら内外筒ケース間の円筒状空所に活性炭を充填し、内筒ケースの内部には中空糸膜群が装填されている。それら活性炭と中空糸膜に順に水道水を通水して接触させることにより、不純物や塩素を除去し、微生物を抗菌できるようになっている。
【０００３】
図４は、具体的な構造例としての水浄化カートリッジ１を示す半裁断面図である。内外二重の内筒ケース２と外筒ケース３を有し、外筒ケース３は有底部をもつ容器形となっている。これら内外筒ケース２，３の上端開口端にキャップ４を雄ねじ部４ａで螺合させて接合して閉塞している。内外筒ケース２，３間の円筒状空所には活性炭１１が充填され、内筒ケース２の内部には中空糸膜群５が装填されている。活性炭１１を充填した円筒状空所の上下端側にはそれぞれ保持プレート７，８が装着され、充填した活性炭１１を上下から保持している。それら保持プレート７，８にはフィルタ９，１０が抱き合わせて装着されている。図５は、上位の保持プレート７を示す斜視図であり、全体が環状の本体の周に等間隔に通水溝７ａが設けてあり、その内縁部７ｂで内筒ケース２の外周に嵌合し、また内外筒ケース２，３の上端部との係合用フランジ７ｃを設けた構造となっている。
【０００４】
したがって、キャップ４に設けた入水口４ｂから導入された図中矢印で示す例えば水道水１２は上位のフィルタ９から保持プレート７の通水溝７ａを経て通過し、活性炭１１に浸透して接触することにより浄化される。この浄化水は下部のフィルタ１０と保持プレート８を通過し、内筒ケース２の内側に回り込んで中空糸膜５に透過して接触し、さらに抗菌処理されてキャップ４に設けた出水口４ｃから出水され、飲料水などに供される。
【０００５】
ところで、具体例として示した図４の水浄化カートリッジならびに前記公報記載の水浄化カートリッジのいずれにおいても、次の点に改良が望まれる。
ａ）活性炭１１を内外筒ケース２，３間の円筒状空所に充填する際、内外筒ケース２，３の上端部ぎりぎりまで詰め込むと、活性炭１１の微粒が外筒ケース３の上端部内周に設けた雌ねじ部に付着してしまい、その雌ねじ部にキャップ４側の雄ねじ部４ａを螺合させる際にねじ込めない事態が生じる。また、そうした微粒子状の活性炭１１が付着すると、外筒ケース３と外キャップ４のねじ接合部における密着性が損なわれ、そこから水漏れという事態を招く不具合がある。
ｂ）そのような不具合を避けるため、内外筒ケース２，３の上端部からかなり下方の位置に活性炭１１の充填量を控えざるを得ない。すなわち、図４中の符号１４で示す無駄なスペースを見込むことから、その分だけ活性炭充填量を控えることで浄化作用も半減し、カートリッジの交換寿命がそれだけ短期にならざるを得ない。
【０００６】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
本発明の目的は、活性炭の充填量を極力増量できるように構造的に改良し、またケースとキャップとのねじ接合部において微粒子状の活性炭付着により防水性が損なわれるのを有効に防止し得る水浄化カートリッジを提供することにある。
【０００７】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記目的を達成するために、本発明にかかる請求項１に記載の水浄化カートリッジは、図１〜図３に示すように、同軸上に内外二重筒状に組み立て、その天地方向の下端部で通水可能に連通している内筒ケース２１および外筒ケース２２、これら内外筒ケース２１，２２間の円筒状空所に充填される活性炭２８、内外筒ケースの上端部に接合して閉塞し、浄化前の通水Ｗ_１を内外筒ケース間の円筒状空所に導入する入水口２３ｂと浄化後の浄水Ｗ_２を導出する出水口２３ｃを設けたキャップ２３およびこのキャップ２３と内外筒ケース２１，２２の上端部との接合部に配置され、活性炭２８を上方から内側に保持するための上位の保持プレート３０を備えている。この場合、保持プレート３０は、図３で明らかなように、内外筒ケースの略上端まで活性炭２８が最大量充填可能となるように保持できる胴部高さ寸法を有する筒体であり、その胴部３０ａの外側で活性炭２８に接触することなくキャップ２３を外筒ケースの上端部内周に接合可能に構成したことを特徴とする。
【０００８】
以上の構成により、上位の保持プレート３０は所要の高さを有する胴部３０ａを設けた筒体であるので、そうした胴部３０ａを設けた高さ寸法分だけ内側で活性炭２８を保持でき、そのことは内外筒ケース２１，２２の上端部ぎりぎりまで最大量の活性炭２８をカートリッジ内部に充填できることを意味する。
【０００９】
また、請求項２に記載の水浄化カートリッジは、外筒ケース２２の上端部内周とキャップ２３との接合部が、外筒ケース２２の上端部内周に設けた雌ねじ部２２ａとキャップ２３に設けた雄ねじ部２３ａとの螺合でなっている。
【００１０】
外筒ケース２２とキャップ２３との接合形態がねじ込み式である場合、従来そのねじ接合部まで活性炭２８を充填すると、外筒ケース２２側の雌ねじ部２２ａに微粒子状の活性炭２８が付着してしまい、キャップ２３を雄ねじ部２３ａでねじ込めない事態が生じる。それを避けるため、ねじ接合部の下方位置までしか活性炭２８を充填できず、その分だけ内外筒ケース２１，２２の上端部にデッドスペース（図４中の符号１４）を設けざるを得なかった。そうした不具合を上位の保持プレート３０を筒体として胴部３０ａを設けることで解消でき、最大量の活性炭２８を充填できると同時に、その保持プレート側胴部３０ａの内側に活性炭２８を保持することで、外筒ケース２２側の雌ねじ部２２ａに微粒子状の活性炭２８が付着するのを避ける。
【００１１】
また、請求項３に記載の水浄化カートリッジは、図２中の符号４０で示すように、保持プレート３０の胴部３０ａと外筒ケース２２の上端部内周の雌ねじ部２２ａとの間に空所４０ができるように構成され、その空所４０にキャップ２３の雄ねじ部２３ａを挿入して外筒ケース２２側の雌ねじ部２２ａとの螺合が可能となっている。
【００１２】
以上の構成により、外筒ケース２２の雌ねじ部２２ａへの活性炭付着は、保持プレート３０の胴部３０ａで遮って保護される。しかも、その保持プレート胴部３０ａと外筒ケース側雌ねじ部２２ａとの間の空所４０によって、キャップ２３の雄ねじ部２３ａを挿入して螺合させることができる。
【００１３】
また、請求項４に記載の水浄化カートリッジは、内筒ケース２１の内部に中空糸膜２６が装填され、活性炭２８に接触して通過後の通水Ｗ_１をその中空糸膜２６に接触させ、透過後に前記出水口２３ｃから導出されるようになっている。
【００１４】
以上の構成により、活性炭２８との接触で塩素や臭気を除去し不純物など除去された通水Ｗ_１は、さらに内筒ケース２１内部で中空糸膜２６に接触して透過することにより、微生物殺菌などにより抗菌処理が行われて浄化作用を高めることができる。そのようにして得られた浄水Ｗ_２を衛生的にも安全な飲料水として、キャップ２３の出水口２３ｃから導出し、使用に供することができる。
【００１５】
【発明の実施の形態】
本発明にかかる水浄化カートリッジの実施の形態について、図１〜図３の各図を参照して説明する。
【００１６】
組立断面を示す図１において、浄水器本体に着脱して交換可能な本例の水浄化カートリッジ２０は、天地方向でいう上下端が開口された内筒ケース２１を有し、その外側の同軸上に有底部をもつ容器形の外筒ケース２２を有している。それら内外筒ケース２１，２２の上端部に、キャップ２３が取り付けられて閉塞している。キャップ２３は、外周縁に設けた雄ねじ部２３ａを外筒ケース２２の上端部内周に設けた雌ねじ部２２ａに螺合させて取り付けられる。キャップ２３とねじ部による外筒ケース２２との接合部およびキャップ２３と内筒ケース２１との接合部から水漏れを防ぐためにＯリングなどによるパッキンシール部材２４，２５が装着されている。また、そうしたキャップ２３には水道水などの通水Ｗ_１を入水する部分の入水口２３ｂと、浄化後に浄水Ｗ_２を飲料水などとして出水する部分の出水口２３ｃが設けられている。入水口２３ｂは内外筒ケース２１，２２間の円筒状空所に連通し、出水口２３ｃは内筒ケース２２の内部に連通している。
【００１７】
内外筒ケース２１，２２間の円筒状空所には、入水口２３ｂからの通水Ｗ_１を接触させて不純物を除去などするための微粒子状の活性炭２８が充填されている。この活性炭２８を保持するために、内外筒ケース２１，２２間の円筒状空所の上端側と下端側にそれぞれ保持プレート３０，３１がこの場合嵌め込み方式で装着されている。保持プレート３０，３１のそれぞれ上流側にはフィルタ３２，３３がセットで装着されている。
【００１８】
また、内筒ケース２２の内部には、中空糸膜をＵ字形に重ねて充填した中空糸膜群２６が収容されている。この中空糸膜２６の材質には、ポリスルホン系のものを好んで用いることができる。中空糸膜群２６の上端部は、貼り固めて支持するいわゆるポッティング剤処理部２７が施されている。活性炭２８との接触によって不純物を除去などされた通水Ｗ_１は、下端部のフィルタ３３と保持プレート３１を通過して外筒ケース２２の有底部から内筒ケース２１の内部に回り込むことで中空糸膜群２６に接触し、さらに微生物を殺菌などして抗菌処理が行われるようになっている。
【００１９】
ここで、カートリッジ全体の分解図である図２および図３に示すように、カートリッジ内部上位に位置する保持プレート３０は、従来例の図５で示した保持プレート７を改良した構造となっている。すなわち、保持プレート３０は、全体筒形で所要の高さ寸法で成形した胴部３０ａを有し、この胴部上端の周縁部３０ｂに等間隔でスリット形状の通水溝３０ｃが形成され、周縁部３０ｂはその内周端３０ｄで内筒ケース２１の上端部外周に嵌合する内径を有している。また、胴部３０ａの下縁に沿って鍔状に係止フランジ３０ｅが設けられ、キャップ２３に内側から突き当てて位置決め固定できるようになっている。したがって、図１に示すように、組立によって保持プレート３０はその胴部３０ａの高さ寸法分だけ、キャップ２３の内側に入り込ませて接合することができる。
【００２０】
以上の構成により、本実施の形態の水浄化カートリッジ２０は次の作用する。カートリッジ組立に際して先ず内外筒ケース２１，２２がセットされた後、それら内外筒ケース間の円筒状空所に活性炭２８を充填する前に、予め空所上下端に保持プレート３０，３１を嵌合させて組み込む。下端側の保持プレート３１では組をなすフィルタ３３をセットする。
【００２１】
図２に示すように、保持プレート３０のそこまでの組立終了段階において、この保持プレート３０の胴部３０ａと外筒ケース２２の上端部内周の雌ねじ部２２ａとの間には空所４０が生じ、この空所４０を利用してキャップ２３をねじ込んでセットするだけの余裕が生まれる。
【００２２】
次に、活性炭２８を内外筒ケース２１，２２間の円筒状空所に上方から充填する。活性炭２８は保持プレート３０の胴部３０ａ内まで目一杯まで充填でき、つまり内外筒ケース２１，２２間の円筒状空所の上端ぎりぎりまで充填することができ、図１中の符号２９で示すデッドスペースを最小限に抑えることができる。活性炭２８がそのようにして最大量充填できることで、それだけ通水Ｗ_１との接触が有効で浄化作用が高められるのである。しかも、そのように活性炭２８を最大量充填しても、その微粒が外筒ケース２２の雌ねじ部２２ａに付着することなく、保持プレート３０の胴部３０ａで遮蔽保護される。
【００２３】
活性炭充填後、保持プレート３０の胴部３０ａとの間の空所４０にキャップ２３を差し込むようにして、そのキャップ２３の雄ねじ部２３ａを外筒ケース２２の上端部内周の雌ねじ部２２ａに螺合させ、活性炭２８が付着などの支障とはならずに、キャップ２３を内外筒ケース２１，２２上端部に円滑に接合して組み立てることができる。
【００２４】
したがって、キャップ２３の入水口２３ｂから給水された浄化対象の通水Ｗ_１は、まず第一段階でフィルタ３２を通過して不純物除去などされ、第二段階で活性炭２８に接触して通過することにより塩素や臭気を除去される。活性炭２８を通過した通水Ｗ_１は、次の第三段階でフィルタ３３を通過し、内筒ケース２１の内部に回り込んで、第四段階で中空糸膜群２６に接触する。中空糸膜群２６との接触で、さらに微生物や不純物を殺菌して抗菌され、浄化された浄水Ｗ_２としてキャップ２３の出水口２３ｃから導出される。そのようにして得られた浄水Ｗ_２は、衛生的にも安全な飲料水などとして使用に供することができる。
【００２５】
【発明の効果】
本発明にかかる請求項１に記載の水浄化カートリッジは、保持プレートは所要の高さを有する胴部ａを設けた筒体となっており、その胴部を設けた高さ寸法分だけ内側で活性炭を保持でき、内外筒ケースの上端部ぎりぎりまで最大量の活性炭をカートリッジ内部に充填できるため、浄化作用を有効に高めることができる。
【００２６】
請求項２に記載の水浄化カートリッジは、外筒ケースとキャップとの接合形態がねじ込み式である場合、従来そのねじ接合部まで活性炭を充填すると外筒ケース側の雌ねじ部に微粒の活性炭が付着し、キャップを雄ねじ部でねじ込めない事態が生じ、それを避けるためにねじ接合部の下方位置までしか活性炭を充填できず、その分だけ内外筒ケースの上端部にデッドスペースを設けざるを得なかったという不具合を、上位の保持プレートを筒体として胴部を設けることで解消し、最大量の活性炭を充填できると同時に、その保持プレート側胴部の内側に活性炭を保持することで、外筒ケース側の雌ねじ部に微粒の活性炭が付着するのを避けて、キャップを円滑に内外筒ケース側に所要の防水性を確保して接合できる。
【００２７】
請求項３に記載の水浄化カートリッジは、外筒ケースの雌ねじ部への活性炭付着は保持プレートの胴部でもって遮って保護され、その保持プレート胴部と外筒ケース側雌ねじ部との間の空所によって、キャップの雄ねじ部を挿入して螺合させることができる。
【００２８】
また、請求項４に記載の水浄化カートリッジは、活性炭との接触で塩素や臭気を除去し不純物など除去された通水は、さらに内筒ケース内部で中空糸膜に接触して透過することにより、微生物殺菌などにより抗菌処理が行われて浄化作用を高めることができる。そのようにして得られた浄水は、衛生的にも安全な飲料水などとしてキャップの出水口から導出し、使用に供することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明にかかる水浄化カートリッジの実施の形態を示す組立断面図である。
【図２】本実施の形態の水浄化カートリッジの分解断面図である。
【図３】本実施の形態の水浄化カートリッジの要部である上位の保持プレートを示す斜視図である。
【図４】従来例の水浄化カートリッジを示す組立断面図である。
【図５】その従来例の保持プレートを示す斜視図である。
【符号の説明】
２０　　　　　　水浄化カートリッジ
２１　　　　　　内筒ケース
２２　　　　　　外筒ケース
２２ａ　　　　　雌ねじ部
２３　　　　　　キャップ
２３ａ　　　　　雄ねじ部
２３ｂ　　　　　入水部
２３ｃ　　　　　出水部
２４，２５　　　パッキンシール部材
２６　　　　　　中空糸膜
２８　　　　　　活性炭
３０　　　　　　上位の保持プレート
３０ａ　　　　　筒体胴部
３０ｃ　　　　　通水溝
３２，３３　　　フィルタ
４０　　　　　　キャップ取付用の空所
Ｗ_１　　　　　　浄化前の通水
Ｗ_２　　　　　　浄化後の浄水[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention particularly relates to a replaceable water purification cartridge for removing impurities contained in drinking water such as domestic tap water and antibacterial.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a conventional example of a water purification cartridge exchanged in a water purifier, there is one described in Japanese Patent No. 2760960 or the like. In this case, an inner cylinder case and an outer cylinder case, which are cylindrical bodies, are provided coaxially and internally and externally, and a hollow space between the inner and outer cylinder cases is filled with activated carbon, and a hollow fiber is provided inside the inner cylinder case. A membrane group is loaded. Tap water is sequentially passed through the activated carbon and the hollow fiber membrane to bring them into contact with each other, thereby removing impurities and chlorine and enabling antimicrobial action of microorganisms.
[0003]
FIG. 4 is a half sectional view showing a water purification cartridge 1 as a specific example of the structure. It has an inner and outer double inner cylinder case 2 and an outer cylinder case 3, and the outer cylinder case 3 is a container shape having a bottomed portion. The cap 4 is screwed and joined to the upper end opening ends of the inner and outer cylinder cases 2 and 3 with the male screw portion 4a and closed. Activated carbon 11 is filled in the cylindrical space between the inner and outer cylinder cases 2 and 3, and the hollow fiber membrane group 5 is loaded in the inner cylinder case 2. Holding plates 7 and 8 are attached to the upper and lower ends of the cylindrical space filled with the activated carbon 11, respectively, to hold the filled activated carbon 11 from above and below. Filters 9 and 10 are attached to the holding plates 7 and 8 in a state of being held together. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the upper holding plate 7, in which water passage grooves 7a are provided at equal intervals around the circumference of the entire annular main body, and fitted to the outer periphery of the inner cylinder case 2 at the inner edge 7b. In addition, a structure is provided in which a flange 7c for engagement with the upper end portions of the inner and outer cylinder cases 2 and 3 is provided.
[0004]
Therefore, for example, tap water 12 indicated by an arrow in the drawing introduced from the water inlet 4b provided in the cap 4 passes from the upper filter 9 through the water passage groove 7a of the holding plate 7, and penetrates and contacts the activated carbon 11. Purified by This purified water passes through the lower filter 10 and the holding plate 8, goes around the inside of the inner cylinder case 2, penetrates and contacts the hollow fiber membrane 5, and is further subjected to antibacterial treatment and provided with a water outlet 4 c provided in the cap 4. From the river and used for drinking water.
[0005]
By the way, in both the water purification cartridge shown in FIG. 4 as a specific example and the water purification cartridge described in the above publication, improvements are desired in the following points.
a) When the activated carbon 11 is filled into the cylindrical space between the inner and outer cylinder cases 2 and 3, the fine particles of the activated carbon 11 are filled into the inner periphery of the upper end of the outer cylinder case 3 when the activated carbon 11 is packed to the very top of the inner and outer cylinder cases 2 and 3. When the male screw 4a of the cap 4 is screwed into the female screw, the screw cannot be screwed into the female screw. Further, if the activated carbon 11 in the form of fine particles adheres, the adhesion at the threaded joint between the outer cylinder case 3 and the outer cap 4 is impaired, and there is a problem that water leaks therefrom.
b) In order to avoid such a problem, the filling amount of the activated carbon 11 has to be kept at a position considerably lower than the upper ends of the inner and outer cylindrical cases 2 and 3. That is, since the useless space indicated by reference numeral 14 in FIG. 4 is expected, the purifying action is halved by reducing the amount of the activated carbon filling, and the replacement life of the cartridge must be shortened accordingly.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
An object of the present invention is to structurally improve the filling amount of activated carbon so that it can be increased as much as possible, and to effectively prevent the waterproof property from being impaired due to the attachment of particulate activated carbon at the screw joint between the case and the cap. It is to provide a water purification cartridge.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the water purifying cartridge according to claim 1 of the present invention is assembled in a coaxial inner / outer cylindrical shape as shown in FIGS. Inner cylinder case 21 and outer cylinder case 22 communicating with each other through water, activated carbon 28 filled in a cylindrical space between these inner and outer cylinder cases 21 and 22, and joined to the upper end of the inner and outer cylinder cases to close. and a cylindrical air cap 23 and provided with a water outlet 23c of deriving a purified water W ₂ after purification and water inlet port 23b for introducing the plant the cap 23 and the inner and outer tubes between the water flow W ₁ before purification inner and outer barrel housing An upper holding plate 30 is provided at a joint with the upper ends of the cases 21 and 22 and holds the activated carbon 28 from above to inside. In this case, as is apparent from FIG. 3, the holding plate 30 is a cylindrical body having a body height dimension capable of holding the activated carbon 28 in such a manner that a maximum amount of the activated carbon 28 can be filled up to substantially the upper ends of the inner and outer cylindrical cases. It is characterized in that the cap 23 can be joined to the inner periphery of the upper end portion of the outer cylinder case without contacting the activated carbon 28 outside the portion 30a.
[0008]
With the above configuration, since the upper holding plate 30 is a cylindrical body provided with the body 30a having a required height, the activated carbon 28 can be held inside by the height dimension provided with such a body 30a. This means that the maximum amount of activated carbon 28 can be filled in the cartridge up to the upper end of the inner and outer cylinder cases 21 and 22.
[0009]
In the water purifying cartridge according to the second aspect, the joint between the inner periphery of the upper end portion of the outer cylinder case 22 and the cap 23 is provided on the female screw portion 22 a and the cap 23 provided on the inner periphery of the upper end portion of the outer cylinder case 22. It is screwed with the male screw part 23a.
[0010]
In the case where the joint between the outer cylinder case 22 and the cap 23 is a screw-in type, if the activated carbon 28 is filled up to the screw joint conventionally, the fine-particle activated carbon 28 adheres to the female screw portion 22a on the outer cylinder case 22 side. In some cases, the cap 23 cannot be screwed into the male screw portion 23a. To avoid this, the activated carbon 28 can be filled only up to the position below the screw joint, and a dead space (reference numeral 14 in FIG. 4) has to be provided at the upper end of the inner and outer cylinder cases 21 and 22 correspondingly. . Such inconvenience can be solved by providing the body 30a with the upper holding plate 30 as a cylindrical body, and the maximum amount of activated carbon 28 can be filled, and at the same time, the activated carbon 28 is held inside the holding plate side body 30a. Further, the activated carbon 28 in the form of fine particles is prevented from adhering to the female screw portion 22a on the outer cylinder case 22 side.
[0011]
In the water purifying cartridge according to the third aspect, as shown by reference numeral 40 in FIG. 2, a space is provided between the body 30a of the holding plate 30 and the female screw portion 22a on the inner periphery of the upper end of the outer cylinder case 22. The male screw portion 23a of the cap 23 is inserted into the space 40 so as to be screwed with the female screw portion 22a on the outer cylinder case 22 side.
[0012]
With the above configuration, the adhesion of the activated carbon to the female screw portion 22 a of the outer cylinder case 22 is blocked and protected by the body portion 30 a of the holding plate 30. Moreover, the male screw portion 23a of the cap 23 can be inserted and screwed into the space 40 between the holding plate body portion 30a and the outer case side female screw portion 22a.
[0013]
In the water purification cartridge according to the fourth aspect, the hollow fiber membrane 26 is loaded inside the inner cylinder case 21, and the water W ₁ after passing through the activated carbon 28 is brought into contact with the hollow fiber membrane 26. , After the permeation, it is led out from the water outlet 23c.
[0014]
With the above configuration, the water W ₁ from which chlorine and odor have been removed by contact with the activated carbon 28 and impurities and the like have been removed further contacts the hollow fiber membrane 26 inside the inner cylinder case 21 and permeates, thereby disinfecting microorganisms. For example, antibacterial treatment is performed to enhance the purification action. A water purification W ₂ obtained in this way as a safe drinking water is also hygienic, derived from the water outlet 23c of the cap 23, it can be subjected to use.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of a water purification cartridge according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0016]
In FIG. 1 showing an assembled cross section, a water purification cartridge 20 of this example which can be attached to and detached from the water purifier main body and has an inner cylinder case 21 whose upper and lower ends are opened in the vertical direction, is coaxial with the outside thereof. And a container-shaped outer case 22 having a bottomed portion. Caps 23 are attached to the upper end portions of the inner and outer cylinder cases 21 and 22 and are closed. The cap 23 is attached by screwing a male screw part 23 a provided on the outer peripheral edge to a female screw part 22 a provided on the inner circumference of the upper end of the outer cylinder case 22. Packing seal members 24 and 25 such as O-rings are mounted to prevent water leakage from the joint between the cap 23 and the screw part and the joint between the outer cylinder case 22 and the joint between the cap 23 and the inner cylinder case 21. Further, a water inlet 23b of the portion incoming water the water flow W ₁ such as tap water, is water outlet 23c of the portion flooding purified water W ₂ as like drinking water after purification is provided with such a cap 23. The water inlet 23b communicates with a cylindrical space between the inner and outer cylinder cases 21 and 22, and the water outlet 23c communicates with the inside of the inner cylinder case 22.
[0017]
The cylindrical cavity between the inner and outer barrel housing 21, the particulate activated carbon 28 to such water passing W ₁ of the contacted impurities removed from the water inlet 23b is filled. In order to hold the activated carbon 28, holding plates 30, 31 are fitted to the upper and lower ends of the cylindrical space between the inner and outer cylindrical cases 21, 22 in this case by a fitting method. Filters 32 and 33 are mounted on the upstream side of the holding plates 30 and 31, respectively.
[0018]
Further, inside the inner cylinder case 22, a hollow fiber membrane group 26 in which hollow fiber membranes are stacked in a U-shape and filled is accommodated. As the material of the hollow fiber membrane 26, a polysulfone-based material can be preferably used. The upper end of the hollow fiber membrane group 26 is provided with a so-called potting agent treatment section 27 which is adhered and supported. The water W ₁ from which impurities have been removed by contact with the activated carbon 28 passes through the filter 33 at the lower end and the holding plate 31, and flows from the bottomed portion of the outer case 22 to the inside of the inner case 21 to be hollow. The antimicrobial treatment is performed by contacting the thread film group 26 and further sterilizing microorganisms.
[0019]
Here, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 which are exploded views of the entire cartridge, the holding plate 30 located at the upper position inside the cartridge has a structure obtained by improving the holding plate 7 of the conventional example shown in FIG. . That is, the holding plate 30 has a body portion 30a which is formed in a required height in a cylindrical shape as a whole, and a slit-shaped water passage groove 30c is formed at equal intervals in a peripheral portion 30b at an upper end of the body portion. The portion 30b has an inner diameter that fits with the outer periphery of the upper end of the inner cylinder case 21 at the inner peripheral end 30d. A locking flange 30e is provided in a flange shape along the lower edge of the body 30a, and can be positioned and fixed by abutting the cap 23 from inside. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the holding plate 30 can be inserted into the inside of the cap 23 by the height of the body portion 30a and joined by assembly.
[0020]
With the above configuration, the water purification cartridge 20 of the present embodiment operates as follows. At the time of assembling the cartridge, after the inner and outer cylinder cases 21 and 22 are set, before the activated space 28 is filled in the cylindrical space between the inner and outer cylinder cases, the holding plates 30 and 31 are previously fitted to the upper and lower ends of the space. And incorporate. A pair of filters 33 is set on the holding plate 31 on the lower end side.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 2, at the stage of completing the assembly of the holding plate 30 so far, a void 40 is formed between the body 30 a of the holding plate 30 and the female screw portion 22 a on the inner periphery of the upper end of the outer cylinder case 22. There is ample room for screwing and setting the cap 23 using the space 40.
[0022]
Next, the activated carbon 28 is filled into the cylindrical space between the inner and outer cylinder cases 21 and 22 from above. The activated carbon 28 can be filled up to the inside of the body 30a of the holding plate 30, that is, it can be filled up to the very top of the cylindrical space between the inner and outer cylinder cases 21 and 22, and the dead carbon 29 shown in FIG. Space can be minimized. By the activated carbon 28 can maximum filling amount in this way, it is much the contact is effective purification action of the water passage W ₁ is enhanced. Moreover, even if the maximum amount of the activated carbon 28 is filled, the fine particles do not adhere to the female screw portion 22a of the outer cylinder case 22 and are shielded and protected by the body 30a of the holding plate 30.
[0023]
After the activated carbon is filled, the cap 23 is inserted into the space 40 between the body portion 30a of the holding plate 30 and the male screw portion 23a of the cap 23 is screwed into the female screw portion 22a on the inner periphery of the upper end of the outer cylinder case 22. By doing so, the cap 23 can be smoothly joined to the upper end portions of the inner and outer cylinder cases 21 and 22 without causing any trouble such as adhesion of the activated carbon 28, and can be assembled.
[0024]
Therefore, the water W ₁ to be purified supplied from the water inlet 23 b of the cap 23 first passes through the filter 32 in the first stage to remove impurities, and in contact with the activated carbon 28 in the second stage. Removes chlorine and odor. Passing water W ₁ which has passed through the activated carbon 28, passes through the filter 33 in the next third step, wraps around the inside of the inner cylinder casing 21, in contact with the hollow fiber membrane unit 26 in the fourth stage. In contact with the hollow fiber membrane unit 26, it is antimicrobial to further sterilize the microorganisms and impurities, derived from the water outlet 23c of the cap 23 as purified water W ₂ which is purified. Such water purification W ₂ thus obtained is, can be subjected to also be used as such as safe drinking water to the sanitary.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
In the water purifying cartridge according to the first aspect of the present invention, the holding plate is a cylindrical body provided with a body portion a having a required height, and the holding plate is provided on the inner side by the height dimension provided with the body portion. Activated carbon can be retained and the cartridge can be filled with the maximum amount of activated carbon up to the upper end of the inner and outer cylinder cases, so that the purifying action can be effectively enhanced.
[0026]
In the water purifying cartridge according to the second aspect, when the joint between the outer cylinder case and the cap is a screw-in type, when the activated carbon is filled up to the screw joint conventionally, fine activated carbon adheres to the female screw portion on the outer cylinder case side. However, the cap cannot be screwed in with the male thread, and in order to avoid this, activated carbon can only be filled up to the position below the threaded joint, and a dead space must be provided at the upper end of the inner and outer cylinder cases. The inconvenience of not having been eliminated was solved by providing the body with the upper holding plate as a cylindrical body, and the maximum amount of activated carbon could be filled.At the same time, by holding the activated carbon inside the holding plate side body, the outer The cap can be smoothly joined to the inner and outer cylinder cases while ensuring the required waterproofness, while preventing the fine activated carbon from adhering to the internal thread portion of the cylinder case.
[0027]
In the water purification cartridge according to the third aspect, the activated carbon is prevented from adhering to the female screw portion of the outer cylinder case by being blocked by the body portion of the holding plate, and between the holding plate body portion and the female screw portion on the outer cylinder case side. Depending on the space, the external thread of the cap can be inserted and screwed together.
[0028]
Further, the water purification cartridge according to claim 4 is characterized in that water which has been removed by removing chlorine and odor by contacting with activated carbon and further removing impurities such as impurities further contacts the hollow fiber membrane inside the inner cylinder case and permeates. In addition, antibacterial treatment is performed by microbial sterilization or the like, so that the purifying action can be enhanced. The purified water thus obtained can be drawn out from the outlet of the cap as sanitary and safe drinking water and used for use.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an assembled sectional view showing an embodiment of a water purification cartridge according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded sectional view of the water purification cartridge of the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an upper holding plate which is a main part of the water purification cartridge of the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is an assembled sectional view showing a conventional water purification cartridge.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the conventional holding plate.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 20 Water purification cartridge 21 Inner cylinder case 22 Outer cylinder case 22a Female screw part 23 Cap 23a Male screw part 23b Water inlet part 23c Water outlet part 24, 25 Packing seal member 26 Hollow fiber membrane 28 Activated carbon 30 Upper holding plate 30a Cylindrical body part 30c Mizumizo 32,33 void _{W 1} purification before water passage _{W 2} purified water after cleaning the filter 40 cap attachment

Claims

An inner cylinder case and an outer cylinder case that are coaxially assembled into an inner and outer double cylindrical shape and communicate with each other at the lower end in the vertical direction so that water can pass therethrough, activated carbon filled in a cylindrical space between these inner and outer cylinder cases, It closed by joining the upper end of the inner and outer barrel housing, provided with a water outlet for deriving a water purification W ₂ after purification and water inlet port for introducing a water flow W ₁ before purification in a cylindrical cavity between the inner and outer barrel housing A cap and an upper holding plate 30 arranged at a joint between the cap and the upper end of the inner and outer cylinder cases for holding the activated carbon inward from above are provided. The holding plate 30 is substantially at the upper end of the inner and outer cylinder cases. A cylindrical body having a body height dimension capable of holding the activated carbon in such a manner that the maximum amount of activated carbon can be filled therein. The cap is joined to the inner periphery of the upper end of the outer cylinder case without contacting the activated carbon outside the body 30a. That we have made it possible Water purification cartridge to butterflies.

2. The water purification cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the joint between the inner periphery of the upper end of the outer cylinder case and the cap is formed by screwing a female thread provided on the inner periphery of the upper end of the outer cylinder case with a male thread provided on the cap. .

An empty space is formed between the body portion 30a of the holding plate 30 and the internal thread portion on the inner periphery of the upper end of the outer cylinder case, and the external thread portion of the cap is inserted into the empty space to insert the female thread portion on the outer cylinder case side. The water purification cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the water purification cartridge can be screwed with the water purification cartridge.

Hollow fiber membranes is loaded in the interior of the inner cylinder casing, in contact with the activated carbon is contacted with water flow W ₁ after passing through in the hollow fiber membrane, wherein is adapted to be derived from the water outlet after transmission section 1 , 2 or 3.