Drinking water supply device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10077544-B2
Application number	US-201514963327-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 9, 2015
Priority date	Dec 11, 2014
Publication date	Sep 18, 2018
Grant date	Sep 18, 2018

Abstract

A drinking water supply device may include a first channel configured to channel water, a water discharge pipe coupled to the rear end of the first channel configured to discharge the drinking water, a first connection pipe connecting the first channel and the water discharge pipe, a second channel configured to supply minerals to the first connection pipe, the second channel provided with a pressure sensor and a mineral supply valve, a mineral container configured to communicate with the first connection pipe via the second channel and configured to store condensed minerals, a pump configured to pressurize the interior of the mineral container to discharge the condensed minerals out of the mineral container, and a controller configured to control the mineral supply valve to open for a first predetermined time and then close according to a water discharge signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A drinking water supply device comprising:
a first channel configured to channel water;
a water discharge channel coupled downstream of the first channel;
a first connection pipe connecting the first channel and the water discharge channel;
a second channel configured to supply minerals to the first connection pipe, the second channel provided with a pressure sensor and a mineral supply valve;
a mineral container configured to communicate with the first 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 mineral supply valve to open for a first predetermined time and then to close according to a water discharge signal,
wherein the controller controls the pump to selectively operate based on a prescribed pressure value sensed by the pressure sensor after the mineral supply valve is opened for the first predetermined time and then closed.

2. The drinking water supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to read the pressure value sensed by the pressure sensor in the second channel at a second predetermined time after the pressure sensor senses the mineral supply valve is closing.

3. The drinking water supply device according to claim 2 , wherein the controller controls the pump to periodically operate a plurality of times when the pressure value sensed by the pressure sensor is lower than a predetermined pressure value.

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

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

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

7. The drinking water supply device according to claim 6 , 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 air pump via a third channel, and the discharge hole is connected to the second channel via a second connection pipe.

8. The drinking water supply device according to claim 7 , further comprising:
a container fastener configured to fasten at a lower side to the mineral container, wherein
the injection hole and the discharge hole are formed at a lower end of the container fastener.

9. The drinking water supply device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a second connection pipe provided between the second channel and the container fastener; and
a drainage channel connected to the second connection pipe, wherein the drainage channel is provided with a drainage valve.

10. The drinking water supply device according to claim 9 , wherein
the drainage valve is controlled by the controller such that the drainage valve opens to discharge condensed minerals remaining in the mineral container when the mineral container is replaced, and
the drainage valve is controlled by the controller such that the drainage valve opens for a third predetermined time when the pressure sensor senses a pressure value higher than the predetermined range of pressure when the mineral supply valve is closed.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Lee Myounghoon
• Lee Sangduck
• Hong Jinpyo

Classifications

• E03B7/072

  Arrangement of flowmeters · CPC title

• G05D11/001

  with discontinuous action · CPC title

• E03B7/08

  Arrangement of draining devices, {e.g. manual shut-off valves}(draining devices in general F16K, F16L) · CPC title

• G05D11/13

  characterised by the use of electric means · CPC title

• E03B7/075 Primary

  Arrangement of devices for control of pressure or flow rate · CPC title