Water purifier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11414848-B2
Application number	US-201816975342-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 25, 2018
Priority date	Feb 23, 2018
Publication date	Aug 16, 2022
Grant date	Aug 16, 2022

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a water purifier, in which a partitioning container is detachably mounted on the bottom surface of a tank cover, and an agitator is inserted into the partitioning container to be connected to an agitating motor mounted in the tank cover in a state where the partitioning container is mounted on the bottom surface of the tank cover. By this structure, the inner diameter of the partitioning container may be less than the outer diameter of the blade of the agitator.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A water purifier comprising:
a coolant tank configured to store coolant;
a tank cover covering an opened upper surface of the coolant tank;
an agitating motor mounted in the tank cover;
a partitioning container including a head coupled to the tank cover, a cylindrical body extending from the head and including a grid rib, and a base formed on a lower end of the body;
a partitioning plate configured to partition an internal space of the coolant tank into an upper space and a lower space and having a grid rib formed therein to enable coolant of the upper space and coolant of the lower space to circulate;
an evaporator disposed in the upper space and provided to surround the partitioning container;
a cold water pipe disposed in the lower space, the cold water pipe being wound in a spiral shape; and
an agitator including a shaft inserted into the body and connected to a rotation shaft of the agitating motor and a blade formed on a lower end of the shaft and placed in a cylindrical space formed by the spiral shape of the cold water pipe,
wherein an inner diameter of the body is less than an outer diameter of the blade.

2. The water purifier of claim 1 , wherein the head includes:
a plurality of fastening arms radially extending from an upper end of the body; and
a tank cover fastener formed on an end of each of the plurality of fastening arms, and

wherein an arm fastener coupled with the tank cover fastener is formed on the tank cover.

3. The water purifier of claim 2 , wherein the tank cover fastener is detachably coupled to the arm fastener.

4. The water purifier of claim 2 , wherein the tank cover fastener includes a fastening hook protruding from an upper surface of an end of each of the fastening arms, and
wherein the arm fastener protrudes from an upper surface of the tank cover and includes a reception groove, into which the fastening hook is inserted.

5. The water purifier of claim 4 , wherein a fastening projection protrudes from an outer circumferential surface of the fastening hook,
wherein a locking projection protrudes from an inner circumferential surface of the reception groove, and
wherein the fastening projection is locked by the locking projection such that the fastening hook is fixed in the reception groove.

6. The water purifier of claim 1 , further comprising an outer water flow guide sleeve extending from a bottom surface of the partitioning plate and surrounding an outer edge of the cold water pipe.

7. The water purifier of claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of water flow guide projections protruding from an outer circumferential surface of the outer water flow guide sleeve, extending in a vertical direction and spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the outer water flow guide sleeve.

8. The water purifier of claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of the base is greater than that of the blade.

9. The water purifier of claim 8 , further comprising an inner water flow guide sleeve extending from a bottom surface of the partitioning plate and surrounding an inner edge of the cold water pipe,
wherein a through-hole is formed in the inner water flow guide sleeve.

10. The water purifier of claim 9 , wherein the blade passes through the through-hole to be placed in the lower space.

11. The water purifier of claim 9 , wherein the base includes:
a circular seating end having a greater diameter than the body; and
a connection grid connecting a lower end of the body with the seating end.

12. The water purifier of claim 11 , wherein the seating end is fitted into the through-hole.

13. The water purifier of claim 11 , wherein the body includes:
a grid including the grid rib to allow the coolant to pass therethrough; and
a blocking portion formed below the grid to block passage of the coolant.

14. The water purifier of claim 11 , further comprising a blocking sleeve extending upwardly from an edge of the through-hole so as to prevent the coolant rising through the partitioning plate from flowing into the through-hole, and
wherein the seating end is seated on an upper end of the blocking sleeve.

15. The water purifier of claim 14 , further comprising a seating sleeve having a greater outer diameter than the blocking sleeve and extending from an upper end of the blocking sleeve,
wherein the seating end is fitted into an outer circumferential surface of the seating sleeve.

16. The water purifier of claim 14 , wherein the body includes:
a grid including the grid rib to allow the coolant to pass therethrough; and
a blocking portion formed below the grid to block passage of the coolant.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Park Jongwoo
• An Kwangyong
• HWANG Seonwoong

Classifications

• E03C1/044 Primary

  having a heating or cooling apparatus in the supply line (water heaters, e.g. with continuous flow, F24H) · CPC title

• B67D1/0859

  the evaporator being in direct heat contact with the beverage, e.g. placed inside a beverage container · CPC title

• F25D31/003

  with immersed cooling element · CPC title

• B67D2210/0001

  for liquid · CPC title

• B67D1/0801

  of beverage containers, e.g. casks, kegs · CPC title