Water purification system using ultraviolet LEDs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10676375-B2
Application number	US-201314386770-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 21, 2013
Priority date	Mar 21, 2012
Publication date	Jun 9, 2020
Grant date	Jun 9, 2020

Abstract

The present invention relates to a portable water purification system by means of UV LEDs. Provided according to the present invention is a portable water purification system by means of UV LEDs comprising: a support member; a plurality of LEDs mounted on the surface of the support member; a solid filter provided with a through-path into which the support member is inserted; and a cover, attached to one end of the solid filter, for sealing the through-path of the solid filter.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A water purification system, comprising:
a water purification filter that purifies water supplied from a water source; and
a stopcock connected to the water purification filter through a pipe, the stopcock comprising:
a stopcock body;
a stopcock inflow pipe to introduce purified water to the stopcock body; and
a stopcock outlet to drain the purified water from the stopcock body,

wherein the stopcock inflow pipe has a first surface located over a second surface of the stopcock inflow pipe, the purified water flowing under the first surface and above the second surface, and wherein the stopcock inflow pipe includes a sterilization unit disposed inside a mounting recess of the stopcock inflow pipe and includes:
a support member disposed in an upper part of the mounting recess and having a top surface and a mounting surface that are opposite to each other;
a UV LED disposed on the mounting surface of the support member and configured to emit UV light; and
a protective cover disposed in a lower part of the mounting recess to cover the UV LED and configured to operate to prevent the purified water flowing in the stopcock inflow pipe from contacting the UV LED,

wherein the stopcock inflow pipe further includes the mounting recess disposed to mount the sterilization unit and having outwardly protruding portions disposed on side surfaces of the supporting member that are opposite to each other, each outwardly protruding portion having a shape outwardly protruding from the mounting surface of the support member,
wherein the stopcock inflow pipe is laterally connected to the stopcock body and the stopcock outlet is configured to vertically drain the purified water from the stopcock body,
wherein the side surfaces of the support member are in direct contact with an inner surface of the mounting recess, and
wherein the mounting surface of the support member is disposed between the outwardly protruding portions of the mounting recess and the top surface of the support member is disposed at a same level as surfaces of the outwardly protruding portions of the mounting recess.

2. The water purification system according to claim 1 , further comprising a storage tank that is connected to the water purification filter and stores the purified water, wherein the storage tank comprises: a pure water storage tank for storing the purified water from the water purification filter, a hot water storage tank for storing hot water obtained by heating the purified water from the water purification filter, a cold water storage tank for storing cold water obtained by cooling the purified water from the water purification filter, and an auxiliary cold water storage tank for controlling temperature and quantity of the cold water in the cold water storage tank.

3. The water purification system according to claim 2 , further comprising: a sterilizer that sterilizes the water with at least one UV LED, wherein the sterilizer is disposed within the pure water storage tank, the hot water storage tank, or the cold water storage tank.

4. The water purification system according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one UV LED is mounted on a cover of the pure water storage tank, the hot water storage tank, or the cold water storage tank.

5. The water purification system according to claim 3 , wherein the sterilizer further comprises a photocatalyst layer formed on an inner surface of the pure water storage tank, the hot water storage tank, or the cold water storage tank.

6. The water purification system according to claim 1 , wherein the sterilization unit further comprises an additional UV LED mounted on the support member the protective cover covering the additional UV LED.

7. The water purification system according to claim 1 , wherein the sterilization unit penetrates a portion of the stopcock inflow pipe, and comprises: an additional UV LED mounted on the support member; and a fastening cap fastened to the support member and the protective cover to seal the protective cover.

8. The water purification system according to claim 1 , wherein the stopcock inflow pipe has an inner space surrounded by the sterilization unit and having a polygonal cross-section, and the water flows within the inner space.

9. The water purification system according to claim 1 , wherein a reflective layer formed on an inner wall of the stopcock inflow pipe.

10. The water purification system according to claim 1 , wherein the protective cover seals the sterilization unit.

11. The water purification system according to claim 1 , further comprising a storage tank that stores the purified water from the water purification filter and connected to the stopcock through the pipe.

12. The water purification system according to claim 1 , wherein the stopcock further includes a water dispensing lever controlling a discharge of water.

13. The water purification system according to claim 12 , wherein the stopcock further includes a safety button controlling an operation of the water dispensing lever.

14. The water purification system of claim 1 , wherein the stopcock inflow pipe provides a passage for the purified water inside the stopcock inflow pipe and the support member is located above the passage.

15. The water purification system of claim 1 , wherein the mounting recess mounts the sterilization unit such that the UV LED emit the UV light downward.

16. A water purification system provided in a stopcock,
wherein the stopcock includes a stopcock body, a stopcock inflow pipe to introduce a water to the stopcock body, and a stopcock outlet to drain the water from the stopcock body,
wherein the stopcock inflow pipe has a first surface located over a second surface of the stopcock inflow pipe, the water flowing under the first surface and above the second surface, and wherein the stopcock inflow pipe includes a sterilization unit disposed inside a mounting recess of the stopcock inflow pipe and includes:
a support member disposed in an upper part of the mounting recess and having a top surface and a mounting surface that are opposite to each other;
a UV LED disposed on the mounting surface of the support member and configured to emit UV light; and
a sealing disposed to prevent the water flowing in the stopcock inflow pipe from contacting the UV LED, and

wherein the stopcock inflow pipe further includes the mounting recess disposed to mount the sterilization unit and having outwardly protruding portions disposed on side surfaces of the supporting member that are opposite to each other, each outwardly protruding portion having a shape outwardly protruding from the mounting surface of the support member,
wherein the stopcock inflow pipe is laterally connected to the stopcock body and the stopcock outlet is configured to vertically drain the water from the stopcock body,
wherein the side surfaces of the support member are in direct contact with an inner surface of the mounting recess, and
wherein the mounting surface of the support member is disposed between the outwardly protruding portions of the mounting recess and the top surface of the support member is disposed at a same level as surfaces of the outwardly protruding portions of the mounting recess.

17. The water purification system of claim 16 , wherein the stopcock inflow pipe further comprises a fastening cap fastened to the support member.

18. The water purification system of claim 16 , wherein the stopcock inflow pipe further comprises an additional UV LED disposed on the support member.

19. The water purification

Assignees

• Seoul Viosys Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Seong Min
• Lee Chung Hoon
• Suh Daewoong
• Son Young Hwan

Classifications

• C02F2301/028

  Tortuous · CPC title

• C02F2201/003

  Coaxial constructions, e.g. a cartridge located coaxially within another · CPC title

• C02F2201/3227

  Units with two or more lamps · CPC title

• C02F2307/06

  Mounted on or being part of a faucet, shower handle or showerhead · CPC title

• C02F2303/04

  Disinfection · CPC title