WO2008023866A1

WO2008023866A1 - A dental water purifier including bypass pipe laying

Info

Publication number: WO2008023866A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/000501
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tae Woo Kim
Original assignee: E Woo Technology Co Ltd
Current assignee: E Woo Technology Co Ltd
Priority date: 2006-08-23
Filing date: 2007-01-29
Publication date: 2008-02-28
Anticipated expiration: 2009-02-23
Also published as: KR20080017874A; KR100810021B1

Abstract

A dental water purifier including a bypass pipe laying is disclosed. The dental water purifier according to the present invention, clean water is provided to medical instruments for dental surgery such as unit-chairs by purifying tap water. When clean water is not supplied due to a malfunction of the water purifier, raw water is supplied to the unit-chairs using a bypass pipe laying connected to an internal pipe of the water purifier.

Description

A DENTAL WATER PURIFIER INCLUDING BYPASS PIPE

LAYING

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates, in general, to dental water purifiers including bypass pipe layings, and more particularly, to a dental water purifier including a bypass pipe laying for directly supplying raw water to a clean water pipe connected to medical instruments for dental surgery when clean water is not adequately supplied to medical instruments for dental surgery due to a malfunction such as a black out or an operation failure of a water purifier.

[2]

Background Art

[3] Generally, various methods to supply water have been proposed. Such proposals include that water is supplied through the pressure of tap water suing raw water. Also, water is stored at water tanks, and then the stored water is pushed to be supplied using pressed air, which is generated by air pressure. However, this water tank causes inconvenience because users supply water to water tanks by hand. In addition, it creates risk since there is a possibility that microbes is seep into water by contact with air outside that is used as pressure air. In case that microbes or bacilli cover hand pieces, apparatus are damaged by water-clogged phenomenon of hand pieces. As a result, the lifetime of hand pieces becomes shorten.

[4] By employing dental purifiers, however, it is possible for users to be provided with perfect and sterilized clean water through water purification several times, and additional water tanks are not required. Resultantly, the mouth of patients is protected, and secondary infection can be dramatically reduced. In this case, the purified water is supplied through clean water pipes to medical instruments for dental surgery such as unit-chairs.

[5] The dental purifiers are comprised of at least four or more filters and electrical devices. Accordingly, there is a higher possibility that water-clogged phenomenon occurs owing to exhaustion of lifer. Also, in a state of emergency, clean water is not supplied to the medical instrument for dental surgery.

[6] While not curing patients using these medical instruments for dental surgery, filer replacement and repair of the dental purifiers can be possible. However, if clean water is not supplied due to the above-mentioned emergency while curing patients, it is a serious problem.

[7] Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[8] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a dental water purifier including a bypass pipe laying capable of directly supplying raw water supplied from tap water at a predetermined location of an internal pipe in the dental water purifier to a clean water pipe connected to medical instruments for dental surgery.

[9]

Technical Solution

[10] In order to accomplish the above object, in an aspect, the present invention provides a dental water purifier comprising: an internal pipe connected to an acquisition pipe and a clean water pipe; and a bypass pipe laying for connecting an internal pipe toward the acquisition pipe and an internal pipe toward the clean water pipe. Raw water is supplied to the clean water pipe by way of the bypass pipe laying during a malfunction.

[11] In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the bypass pipe laying is connected using a three-way valve to the internal pipe toward the acquisition pipe. The three-way valve includes a mobility path leading raw water supplied from the internal pipe toward the acquisition pipe to the internal pipe toward the clean water pipe during power-on state, and leading raw water supplied from the internal pipe toward the acquisition pipe to the bypass pipe laying.

[12] In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the dental water purifier according to claim 2, wherein the bypass pipe laying comprises: a first bypass pipe laying; a second bypass pipe laying; and a third bypass pipe laying. The first bypass pipe laying is connected using T-shaped valve to the internal pipe toward the acquisition pipe. The second bypass pipe laying is connected using the three-way valve to the internal pipe toward the acquisition pipe. One end of the third bypass pipe laying is connected using the T-shaped valve to the first and second bypass pipe layings, and the other end of the third bypass pipe laying is connected to the internal pipe toward the acquisition pipe. The three-way valve includes a mobility path leading raw water supplied from the internal pipe toward the acquisition pipe to the internal pipe toward the clean water pipe during power-on state, and leading raw water supplied from the internal pipe toward the acquisition pipe to the second bypass pipe laying.

[13] In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the first bypass pipe laying is partially exposed to the outside the dental water purifier. A hand valve positioned at a predetermined location of the exposed first bypass pipe laying is further included. [14] In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the bypass pipe laying is connected using the T-shaped valve to the internal pipe of the acquisition pipe. The bypass pipe laying is partially exposed to the outside of the dental water purifier. A hand valve positioned at a predetermined location of the exposed bypass pipe laying is further included.

[15] In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a control unit for controlling the three-way valve is further included.

[16] In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a display unit and an alarming unit connected to the control unit and operated by a signal thereof is further included.

[17]

Advantageous Effects

[18] The dental water purifier including a bypass pipe laying according to the present invention is constructed such that, even when clean water is not supplied during a malfunction of the dental water purifier, dental surgery is not stopped by leading clean water to a clean water pipe playing a role in providing raw water supplied from an acquisition pipe to medical instruments for dental surgery as clean water by employing a bypass pipe laying at a predetermined location (that is, an internal pipe toward the acquisition pipe and the clean water pipe) of the internal pipe in the dental water purifier.

[19]

Brief Description of the Drawings

[20] FIG. 1 is a schematic view explaining a first embodiment and an operation method according to the first embodiment of the present invention; and

[21] FIG. 2 is a schematic view explaining a second embodiment and an operation method according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[22]

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[23] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and may be realized by other embodiments. Reference should now be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components.

[24] FIG. 1 is a schematic view explaining a first embodiment and an operation method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[25] Referring to FIG. 1, a dental water purifier 100 including a bypass pipe laying is located between an acquisition pipe 110 and a clean water pipe 120.

[26] The acquisition pipe 110 supplies raw water (that is, tap water). The clean water pipe 120 supplies clean water purified through the dental water purifier 100 to medical instruments such as unit-chairs including hand pieces.

[27] In this case, a raw water valve 115 interrupting raw water is included at a predetermined location of the acquisition pipe 110. A clean water valve 125 is further included. The clean water valve 125 is capable of preventing clean water purified through the dental water purifier 100 from being supplied to the clean water pipe 120.

[28] An internal pipe 130 is included in the dental water purifier 100.

[29] The internal pipe 130 is connected to the acquisition pipe 110 and the clean water pipe 120. A T-shaped valve 140 and a three-way valve 150 are included at a predetermined location of the internal pipe 130.

[30] One end of the bypass pipe laying 160 is connected to the internal pipe 130 toward the acquisition pipe 110 via the three-way valve 150. The other end of the bypass pipe laying 160 is connected to the internal pipe 130 toward the clean water pipe 120 via the T-shaped valve 140.

[31] The three-way valve 150 includes a mobility pipe. The mobility pipe leads raw water supplied from the internal pipe 130 toward the acquisition pipe 110 to the internal pipe 130 toward the clean water pipe 120 during power-on state. During power-off state, the mobility pipe leads raw water supplied from the internal pipe 130 toward the acquisition pipe 110 to the bypass pipe laying 160.

[32] The dental water purifier 100 including the bypass pipe 160 is connected to a control unit 180, a display unit 192, and an alarming unit 194. The display unit 192 and the alarming unit 194 are connected to the control unit 180 and positioned outside the dental water purifier 100.

[33] The control unit 180 controls the three-way valve 150 by sensing a malfunction of the dental water purifier 100. As a result, the control unit 180 plays a role in leading raw water supplied from the acquisition pipe 110 to the bypass pipe laying 160 as well as displaying a malfunction of the dental water purifier 100 to the display unit 192 by transmitting a signal. At this time, a warning sound is rung in the alarming unit 194.

[34] The dental water purifier including the bypass pipe laying 100 includes a motor pump 210 positioned at a predetermined location of the internal pipe 130. Specifically, it is preferable that the motor pump 210 is positioned at a predetermined location of the internal pipe 130 between the three-way valve 150 and the T-shaped valve 140. The reason for this is that the motor pump 210 should be stopped due to a malfunction of the dental water purifier 100 (e.g., non-operation by blackout, function-suspension by mis-running, inadequate purification by fliter-clogged) in order to interrupt raw water. Accordingly, the motor pump 210 is preferably located between the three-way valve 150 and the T-shaped valve 140 at least.

[35] The dental water purifier 100 including bypass pipe laying 160 includes at least one or more filter between the three-way valve 150 and the acquisition pipe 210. At least one or more filter is included at the internal pipe 130 between the motor pump 210 and the clean water pipe 120.

[36] At this time, the internal pipe 130 behind the three-way valve 150, as shown in FIG.

1, includes a first filter 222 being a sediment filter. The reason for this is that even though raw water is directly supplied to the clean water pipe 120 via the bypass pipe laying 160 due to a malfunction of the dental water purifier 100, it is required to remove floating matter or brass water. On occasion demands, the three-way valve 150 is positioned behind the first filter 222, thereby directly supplying raw water to the clean water pipe 120 without any filters.

[37] A second filter 224, a third filter 226, and a fourth filter 228 may be included in the internal pipe 130 between the three-way valve 150 and the T-shaped valve 140. The second filter 224 may be a pre-carbon filter. The third filter 226 may be R/O (Reverse Osmosis) filter, a hollow-fiber filme filter, or active-carbon filter. The fourth filter 228 may be may be a post-carbon filter. In this regards, the first, second, third, and fourth filter 222, 224, 226, and 228 are not limited to embodiments of the present invention. For instance, the sequence of them nay be changed, and they may be replaced to various kinds of filters.

[38] The dental water purifier 100 including the bypass pipe laying 160 includes a clean- water measurement device 230 such as a pressure sensor or a flow rate sensor at a predetermined location of the internal pipe 130. As shown in FIG. 1, the clean- water measurement device 230 is positioned in the internal pipe 130 behind the T-shaped valve 140. This location is the most suitable on order to acknowledge whether raw water is normally purified by the dental water purifier 100 to be supplied to the clean water pipe 120 by measuring a pressure or a flow rate of clean water passing through the filters.

[39] The clean- water measurement device 230 is connected to the control unit 180, thereby transmitting the measured pressure value and flow rate value of clean water to the control unit 180.

[40] The dental water purifier 100 including the bypass pipe laying 160 includes an internal battery 240. When power is not supplied to the dental water purifier 100 by blackout, minimum power for operating the control unit 180, the display unit 192, the alarming unit 194, and the three-way valve 150 can be supplied. At this time, it is not matter that the internal battery 240 has a capacitance for operating the three-way valve 150 at one time and for operating the display and alarming units 192 and 194 for a given period (that is, period for users to acknowledge a malfunction of the dental water purifier 100).

[41] The operation method of the dental water purifier 100 including the bypass pipe laying 160 is more detail described referring to FIG. 1.

[42] In case that the dental water purifier 100 is normally operated, raw water is supplied to the internal pipe 130 connected to the acquisition pipe 100, and then raw water is successively passed through the first, second, third, and fourth filters 222, 224, 226, and 228 and purified into clean water to be supplied to medical instruments for dental surgery via the clean water pipe 120. In this case, the motor pump 210 plays a role in compensating a water pressure of raw water becoming low passing through the filters.

[43] In case of a malfunction of the dental water purifier 100, the dental water purifier

100 does not supply required clean water to medical instruments for dental surgery connected to the clean water pipe 120. Resultantly, the operation of the medical instruments is stopped, and this gives raise to problem such that, patients are not cured any more.

[44] One solution to overcome this problem is to supply raw water that is not perfectly purified to the medical instruments for dental surgery, so that patients can be continuously under medical treatment.

[45] The malfunction of the dental water purifier 100 may be induced by blackout or an internal-operation failure thereof.

[46] The malfunction of the dental water purifier 100 due to the internal-operation failure means that clean water is not well supplied to medical instruments for dental surgery because any one or more of several devices of the dental water purifier 100 is out of order. For instance, the motor pump 210 is not operated, or the filters are clogged owing to exhaustion. Such the malfunction is found by the measured pressure or flow rate of clean water in the clean-water measurement device 230. If the pressure or flow rate of clean water becomes dramatically low, it means that the dental water purifier 100 is not normally operated.

[47] Previously comparing a pressure value and a flow rate value received from the clean-water measurement device 230 by the control unit 180 connected thereto with a reference value (in this case, the reference value is previously set by a pressure value and a flow rate value of clean water when the dental water purifier 100 is normally operated), the control unit 180 senses the malfunction of the dental water purifier 100 to directly supply raw water to the clean water pipe 120 via the bypass pipe laying 160.

[48] In other words, the control unit 180 converts the three-way valve 150 to be an off- state after sensing the malfunction of the dental water purifier 100. As a result, the control unit 180 induces raw water passing through the first filter 222 to the internal pipe 120 toward the clean water pipe 120 via the bypass pipe laying 160, so that the raw water is directly supplied to the clean water pipe 120. At the same time, the control unit 180 transmits a signal to the display unit 192 and the alarming unit 194, so that the malfunction state is informed to users as text or warning sound. [49] Meanwhile, during the malfunction of the dental water purifier 100 due to blackout, the motor pump 230 is not operated by power supply failure of the dental water purifier 100 itself or external power failure (that is, blackout). For this reason, the raw water does not compensate a water pressure becoming low by passing through the filters, so that it is impossible to adequate clean water to medical instruments for dental surgery.

[50] After sensing the malfunction of the dental water purifier 100 using the internal battery as power supply, the control unit 180 informs the power-malfunction to users by way of the display unit 192 and the alarming unit 194 and then operate the three- way valve 150 to supply raw water to the clean water pipe 120.

[51] Accordingly, in case that clean water is not supplied to medical instruments for dental surgery owing to the malfunction of the dental water purifier 100, the dental water purifier 100 including the bypass pipe laying 160 directly induces raw water to the clean water pipe 120 using the bypass pipe laying 160 positioned at a predetermined location of the internal pipe 130. Thus, patients can be continuously cured in spite of the malfunction of the dental water purifier 100.

[52] FIG. 2 is a schematic view explaining a second embodiment and an operation method according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[53] Referring to FIG. 2, the dental water purifier 200 including the bypass pipe laying is positioned between an acquisition pipe 110 and a clean water pipe 120, which provides raw water.

[54] A raw water valve 115 and a clean water valve 125 capable of interrupting the raw water may be included in a predetermined location of the acquisition pipe 110.

[55] An internal pipe 130 is included in the dental water purifier 100.

[56] The internal pipe 130 is connected to the acquisition pipe 110 and the clean water pipe 120. At least one or more T-shaped valve and a three-way valve 150 may be included at a predetermined location of the internal pipe 130. In this case, the T-shaped valve, as shown in FIG. 2, may be a first T-shaped valve 142, a second T-shaped valve 144, and a third T-shaped valve 146.

[57] The first T-shaped valve 142 performs a function to divide the internal pipe 130 to the first bypass pipe laying 162. The second T-shaped valve 144 performs a function to connect a second bypass pipe laying 164 divided from the internal pipe 130 and the first and third bypass pipe layings 162 and 166. The third T-shaped bypass pipe laying 166 performs a function to connect the third bypass pipe laying 166 and the internal pipe 130.

[58] The three-way valve 150 includes a mobility path. The mobility path induces raw water supplied from the internal pipe 130 neighboring the acquisition pipe 110 to the internal pipe 130 neighboring the clean water pipe 120 during power-on state. During power-off state, the mobility path induces raw water supplied from the internal pipe 130 neighboring the acquisition pipe 110 to the second bypass pipe laying 164.

[59] The first T-shaped valve 142 and the three-way valve 150 may be positioned at the internal pipe 130 toward the acquisition 110, that is, the internal pipe 130 closing to the acquisition pipe 110. The third T-shaped valve 146 may be positioned at the internal pipe 130 toward the clean water pipe 120, that is, the internal pipe 130 closing to the clean water pipe 120.

[60] A part of the first bypass pipe laying 162 among the bypass pipe layings is exposed to outside of the dental water purifier, and a hand valve 170 is included in a predetermined location of the exposed first bypass pipe laying 162.

[61] And, the dental water purifier 200 including the bypass pipe laying is connected to the control unit 180, the display unit 192, and the alarming unit 194. The display unit 192 and the alarming unit 194 are connected to the control unit 180 and positioned outside the dental water purifier 100.

[62] The dental water purifier 200 including the bypass pipe laying may include a motor pump 210 at a predetermined location of the internal pipe 130. In particularly, it is preferable that the motor pump 210 is positioned at a predetermined location 130 between the three-way valve 150 and the third T-shaped valve 146.

[63] The dental water purifier 200 including the bypass pipe laying may include at least one or more filter in the internal pipe 130 between the first T-shaped valve 142 and the acquisition pipe 110. Also, the dental water purifier 200 including the bypass pipe laying may include at least one or more filter in the internal pipe 130 between the motor pump 210 and the clean water pipe 120.

[64] As shown in FIG. 2, the first filter 222 being a sediment filter is included in the internal pipe 130 behind the first T-shaped valve 142 and the three-way valve 150. On occasion demands, the first T-shaped valve 142 and the three-way valve 150 are positioned behind the first filter 222, thereby directly supplying raw water to the clean water pipe 120 without any filters.

[65] A second filter 222, a third filter 224, and a fourth filter 228 may be included at the internal pipe 130 between the first T-shaped valve 142, and the three-way valve 150 and the third T-shaped valve 146.

[66] The dental water purifier 200 including the bypass pipe laying may include a clean water purifier 230 such as a pressure sensor or a flow rate sensor at a predetermined location 130 of the internal pipe 130.

[67] The clean- water measurement device 230 is connected to the control unit 180, thereby transmitting the measured pressure value and flow rate value of clean water to the control unit 180.

[68] The dental water purifier 200 including the bypass pipe laying may include an internal battery 240.

[69] The operation method of the dental water purifier 200 including the bypass pipe laying is more detail described referring to FIG. 2.

[70] If the dental water purifier 200 is normally operated, raw water is supplied through the acquisition pipe 100 to the internal pipe 130 connected thereto. Then, the raw water successively passes through the first, second, third, and fourth filters 222, 224, 226, and 228 positioned at a predetermined location of the internal pipe 130 to be purified as clean water. The purified raw water is supplied through the clean water pipe 120 to medical instruments for dental surgery requiring clean water.

[71] During a malfunction state of the dental water purifier 200, Previously comparing a pressure value and a flow rate value received from the clean- water measurement device 230 by the control unit 180 connected thereto with a reference value (in this case, the reference value is previously set by a pressure value and a flow rate value of clean water when the dental water purifier 100 is normally operated), the control unit 180 senses the malfunction of the dental water purifier 100 to directly supply raw water to the clean water pipe 120 via the second and third bypass pipe layings 164 and 166.

[72] In other words, the control unit 180 converts the three-way valve 150 to be an off- state after sensing the malfunction of the dental water purifier 200. As a result, the control unit 180 induces raw water passing through the first filter 222 to the internal pipe 120 toward the clean water pipe 120 via the second and third bypass pipe layings 164 and 166, so that the raw water is directly supplied to the clean water pipe 120. At the same time, the control unit 180 transmits a signal to the display unit 192 and the alarming unit 194, so that the malfunction state is informed to users as text or warning sound.

[73] In case that the three-way valve 150 is not normally operated, raw water may be induced through the first and third bypass pipe layings 162 and 166 to the clean water pipe 120 by directly opening the hand valve 170 by users. Accordingly, the first bypass pipe laying 162 and the hand valve 170 perform a function as a safety device for making provisions against emergencies.

[74] The general construction of the dental clean water drain system according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, except for the above- mentioned structure.

[75] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

[76] Industrial Applicability

[77] The present invention provides a clean water drain system which is used in a dental hospital having a water purifier. Raw water supplied from the acquisition pipe is induced to the clean water pipe for supplying clean water to medical instrument for dental surgery by including the bypass pipe laying at a predetermined location of the internal pipe in the dental water purifier. As a result, even though clean water is not supplied owing to a malfunction of a dental water purifier, it is possible that patients are cured continuously.

Claims

[ 1 ] A dental water purifier comprising: an internal pipe connected to an acquisition pipe and a clean water pipe; and a bypass pipe laying for connecting an internal pipe toward the acquisition pipe and an internal pipe toward the clean water pipe, wherein raw water is supplied to the clean water pipe by way of the bypass pipe laying during a malfunction. [2] The dental water purifier according to claim 1, wherein the bypass pipe laying is connected using a three-way valve to the internal pipe toward the acquisition pipe. [3] The dental water purifier according to claim 2, wherein the three-way valve includes a mobility path leading raw water supplied from the internal pipe toward the acquisition pipe to the internal pipe toward the clean water pipe during power-on state, and leading raw water supplied from the internal pipe toward the acquisition pipe to the bypass pipe laying. [4] The dental water purifier according to claim 2, wherein the bypass pipe laying comprises: a first bypass pipe laying; a second bypass pipe laying; and a third bypass pipe laying, wherein the first bypass pipe laying is connected using T-shaped valve to the internal pipe toward the acquisition pipe, and wherein the second bypass pipe laying is connected using the three-way valve to the internal pipe toward the acquisition pipe, and wherein one end of the third bypass pipe laying is connected using the T-shaped valve to the first and second bypass pipe layings, and the other end of the third bypass pipe laying is connected to the internal pipe toward the acquisition pipe. [5] The dental water purifier according to claim 4, wherein the three-way valve includes a mobility path leading raw water supplied from the internal pipe toward the acquisition pipe to the internal pipe toward the clean water pipe during power-on state, and leading raw water supplied from the internal pipe toward the acquisition pipe to the second bypass pipe laying. [6] The dental water purifier according to claim 4, wherein the first bypass pipe laying is partially exposed to the outside the dental water purifier, and wherein a hand valve positioned at a predetermined location of the exposed first bypass pipe laying is further included. [7] The dental water purifier according to claim 1, wherein the bypass pipe laying is connected using the T-shaped valve to the internal pipe of the acquisition pipe. [8] The dental water purifier according to claim 7, wherein the bypass pipe laying is partially exposed to the outside of the dental water purifier, and wherein a hand valve positioned at a predetermined location of the exposed bypass pipe laying is further included. [9] The dental water purifier according to claim 3 or claim 5, further comprising a control unit for controlling the three-way valve. [10] The dental water purifier according to claim 9, further comprising a display unit and an alarming unit that are connected to the control unit and operated by a signal thereof.