Drinking water supply device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10031533-B2
Application number	US-201514963353-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 9, 2015
Priority date	Dec 11, 2014
Publication date	Jul 24, 2018
Grant date	Jul 24, 2018

Abstract

A drinking water supply device may include a first channel configured to channel water, the first channel provided with a first valve, a flow rate sensor configured to sense a flow rate of the water, a water discharge channel connected to the rear end of the first channel, a connection pipe connecting the first channel and the water discharge channel, a second channel configured to supply minerals to the connection pipe, the second channel provided with a pressure sensor and a second valve, a mineral container configured to connect to the connection pipe via the second channel and configured to store condensed minerals, a pump configured to pressurize an interior of the mineral container to allow discharge of the condensed minerals from the mineral container, and a controller configured to control the flow rate sensor, the pressure sensor, and the first valve.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A drinking water supply device comprising:
a first channel configured to channel water, the first channel provided with a first valve;
a flow rate sensor configured to sense a flow rate of the water;
a water discharge channel connected to a rear end of the first channel;
a connection pipe connecting the first channel and the water discharge channel;
a second channel configured to supply minerals to the connection pipe, the second channel provided with a pressure sensor and a second valve;
a mineral container configured to connect to the connection pipe via the second channel and configured to store condensed minerals;
a pump configured to pressurize an interior of the mineral container to allow discharge of the condensed minerals from the mineral container; and
a controller configured to control the flow rate sensor, the pressure sensor, and the first valve, wherein
the controller selectively controls the pump such that pressure in the second channel is maintained within a predetermined range of pressure while the second valve is closed.

2. The drinking water supply device according to claim 1 , wherein, when a quantitative control mode is input to the controller, the controller controls the first valve to open until a predetermined flow rate is sensed by the flow rate sensor, and controls the second valve to open for a predetermined time so condensed minerals are supplied to drinking water within a time period during which the first valve is open.

3. The drinking water supply device according to claim 1 , wherein, when a real time control mode is input to the controller, the controller selectively controls at least one of the pump and the second valve based on a result of comparison between a flow rate per unit time sensed by the flow rate sensor and a predetermined flow rate range per unit time.

4. The drinking water supply device according to claim 3 , wherein, when the flow rate per unit time sensed by the flow rate sensor is within the predetermined flow rate range per unit time, the controller controls the second valve to open for a predetermined first time.

5. The drinking water supply device according to claim 4 , wherein, upon determining that the flow rate per unit time sensed by the flow rate sensor is greater than the predetermined flow rate per unit time, the controller controls a discharge pressure of the pump to increase so the pressure in the second channel is maintained within a range of pressure that is higher than the predetermined range of pressure.

6. The drinking water supply device according to claim 4 , wherein upon determining that the flow rate per unit time sensed by the flow rate sensor is less than the predetermined flow rate per unit time, the controller controls the second valve to open for a predetermined second time, wherein the predetermined second time is shorter than the predetermined first time.

7. The drinking water supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the connection pipe is provided with a second pipe configured to reduce a supply pressure of condensed minerals supplied through the second channel.

8. The drinking water supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure sensor is provided further upstream than the second valve in the second channel.

9. The drinking water supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the pump is an air pump configured to suction external air and to inject the suctioned external air into the mineral container.

10. The drinking water supply device according to claim 9 , wherein the mineral container is provided with an injection hole at a lower part through which external air is injected into the mineral container and a discharge hole through which the condensed minerals are discharged from the mineral container, and
wherein the injection hole is connected to the pump through a connection line, and the discharge hole is connected to the second channel.

11. The drinking water supply device according to claim 10 , further comprising:
a container fastener configured to fasten to the mineral container at a lower side of the mineral container, wherein
the injection hole and the discharge hole are provided at a lower end of the container fastening unit,
the injection hole is connected to the air pump via a third channel, and
the discharge hole is connected to the second channel.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Jeong Changhun
• Kim Youngjin
• Lee Sangduck

Classifications

• G05D16/2066 Primary

  using controlling means acting on the pressure source · CPC title

• B67D2210/00049

  Pipes · CPC title

• B67D1/0014

  the beverage being supplied from water mains · CPC title

• G05D11/132

  by controlling the flow of the individual components (G05D11/133 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B67D2210/0001

  for liquid · CPC title