Field of the invention

The present invention relates to the field of water purification equipment, in particular to a high-pressure switch used in a water purifier.

Background of the invention

In existing water purification products, the booster pump is controlled by a high-pressure switch. The pre-adjusted stop pressure of one model of notable high-pressure switch (i.e. the pressure at which the high-pressure switch connects and disconnects) is 0.25 ± 0.02 MPa; the pressure difference between connection and disconnection is 0.06 MPa. In the case of a water purification device equipped with a water storage barrel, too small a pressure difference between connection and disconnection will result in a phenomenon whereby the booster pump starts up frequently when the water purification device is being used. In the case of a water purification device equipped with a control circuit, this unfavourable phenomenon can be eased by means of program control of delayed starting of the booster pump, but such a solution cannot fundamentally resolve a contradiction caused by too low a pressure difference between connection and disconnection, namely that the starting times of the booster pump are not coordinated with the amount of water stored in the water storage barrel. In the case of a water purification device with not control circuit, frequent starting of the booster pump is unavoidable.

Summary of the invention

First aspect of the present invention provides a pressure-adjustable high-pressure switch, comprising

• a micro switch,

• a triggering assembly for triggering the micro switch,

• a valve body with a water flow channel provided therein, • a support fixed to the valve body,

• a piston disposed in the support for triggering of the micro switch by the triggering assembly;

• a water passage channel in fluid communication with the water flow channel provided in the valve body,

• a diaphragm, positioned at one end of the water passage channel wherein the diaphragm pushes the piston under the action of water pressure,

• a spring, wherein the spring causes the piston to move towards the diaphragm,

• an adjuster for adjusting the degree of compression of the spring is provided on the support; and

• a housing, comprising the support, the micro switch and the triggering assembly.

Second aspect of the present invention provides a water purifier, comprising a feed water pipe and a filter connected to the feed water pipe, with a pump being provided on the feed water pipe, a pure water output pipe being connected to the filter, and a water storage barrel being connected to the pure water output pipe by means of a water storage pipe, wherein a pressure-adjustable high-pressure according to the first aspect provided on the water storage pipe.

Brief Description of the Accompanying Drawings

Fig. 1 is a structural schematic diagram of of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a structural schematic diagram of of the present invention in a state of use.

Fig. 3 is a structural schematic diagram of of the present invention.

The references of the parts represented by numerals in the drawings are as follows: 1 - micro switch; 2 - triggering assembly; 3 - valve body; 4 - support; 5 - piston; 6 - water passage channel; 7 - diaphragm; 8 - spring; 9 - adjuster; 10 - housing; 1 1 - signal output line; 12 - micro switch contact; 21 - triggering piece; 22 - slider; 23 - limiting assembly; 31 - water flow passage; 41 - support inner cavity; 61 - water passage hole; 62 - first channel; 63 - second channel; 91 - adjustment nut; 92 - adjustment seat; 100 - feed water intake pipe; 200 - RO reverse osmosis membrane filter; 300 - booster pump; 400 - pure water output pipe; 600 - water storage pipe; 101 - pressure reduction valve; 102 - pre- filter ; 401 - downstream filter; 501 - combined flushing valve; 601 - water storage barrel; 231 - flat hole; 232 - limiting post. Detailed Description

In response to the problem in the prior art of frequent starting of the booster pump due to too small a pressure difference between connection and disconnection of the high- pressure switch, the present invention provides a pressure-adjustable high-pressure switch and a water purifier using the high-pressure switch.

To solve the abovementioned technical problem, the present invention employs the following technical solution:

A pressure-adjustable high-pressure switch, comprising a micro switch and a triggering assembly for triggering the micro switch, and also comprising a valve body with a water flow channel provided therein, a support fixed to the valve body, and a piston which is disposed in the support and used for realizing triggering of the micro switch by the triggering assembly; a water passage channel in communication with the water flow channel is provided on the valve body, an end of the water passage channel is provided with a diaphragm which pushes the piston under the action of water pressure, a spring which causes the piston to move towards the diaphragm is provided round the piston, and an adjuster for adjusting the degree of compression of the spring is also provided on the support. The degree of compression of the spring is adjusted by means of the adjuster, so that the spring generates an elastic force which acts on the piston, causing the piston to move towards the diaphragm, and in turn effectively increasing the incoming water pressure. Conversely, the amount by which the compressed spring is compressed can be reduced by means of a pressure adjuster, to in turn bring about a relative reduction in the incoming water pressure, so as to realize adjustment of the pressure difference between connection and disconnection of the micro switch.

A water purifier, comprising an feed water intake pipe and an RO reverse osmosis membrane filter connected to the feed water intake pipe; a booster pump is provided on the feed water intake pipe, a pure water output pipe is connected to the RO reverse osmosis membrane filter, a water storage barrel is connected to the pure water output pipe by means of a water storage pipe, and a pressure-adjustable high-pressure switch is provided on the water storage pipe; the pressure-adjustable high-pressure switch comprises a micro switch and a triggering assembly for triggering the micro switch, and also comprises a valve body with a water flow channel provided therein, a support fixed to the valve body, and a piston which is disposed in the support and used for realizing triggering of the micro switch by the triggering assembly; a water passage channel in communication with the water flow channel is provided on the valve body, an end of the water passage channel is provided with a diaphragm which pushes the piston under the action of water pressure, a spring which causes the piston to move towards the diaphragm is provided round the piston, and an adjuster for adjusting the degree of compression of the spring is also provided on the support. The structural form of the triggering assembly can effectively increase the pressure difference between a connection pressure and a disconnection pressure, so that when the water purification apparatus is being used, the triggering assembly will only leave the micro switch contact when the water pressure in the water storage barrel is sufficiently low, i.e. the booster pump will only begin operating when the amount of water stored in the water storage barrel is sufficiently low. The frequency of starting of the booster pump is effectively reduced, and the problem that the starting times of the booster pump are not coordinated with the amount of water stored in the water storage barrel is fundamentally resolved.

The present invention provides a pressure-adjustable high-pressure switch, comprising,

• a micro switch,

• a triggering assembly for triggering the micro switch,

• a valve body with a water flow channel provided therein,

• a support fixed to the valve body,

• a piston disposed in the support for triggering of the micro switch by the triggering assembly;

• a water passage channel in fluid communication with the water flow channel provided in the valve body,

• a diaphragm, positioned at one end of the water passage channel wherein the diaphragm pushes the piston under the action of water pressure,

• a spring, wherein the spring causes the piston to move towards the diaphragm,

• an adjuster for adjusting the degree of compression of the spring is provided on the support; and

• a housing, comprising the support, the micro switch and the triggering assembly. It is preferred that the spring is provided around the piston. It is preferred that a middle part of the support is a support inner cavity; a piston head of the piston is in sealed contact with the support inner cavity and can slide in the support inner cavity; a piston rod of the piston passing out of an end of the support and being connected to the triggering assembly.

Preferably, the adjuster comprises an adjustment nut disposed at the top of the support, and an adjustment seat which is connected by screw-thread to the adjustment nut and surrounds the piston rod of the piston; one end of the spring abuts the piston head of the piston, while the other end abuts the adjustment seat; when the adjustment nut is turned, the adjustment seat moves in the axial direction of the piston rod of the piston. By designing the adjuster in such a way, adjustment of the amount by which the spring is compressed can be realized; the structure is simple to operate and convenient to install.

Preferably, the triggering assembly comprises a triggering piece for triggering the micro switch, and a slider connected to the triggering piece; the slider is connected to the piston rod end of the piston and can slide in the axial direction of the piston rod relative to the triggering piece; a limiting assembly which restricts sliding displacement of the slider is also provided on the triggering assembly. Since the slider is designed to be able to slide in the axial direction of the piston rod relative to the triggering piece, during the process of water pressure reduction, at first the slider slides in the triggering piece under the action of the piston; at this time, the triggering piece does not move, i.e. in such a state, the micro switch is still in a disconnected state. The triggering piece will only leave the micro switch contact under the driving action of the slider when the water pressure is sufficiently low and reaches the connection pressure, realizing connection of the micro switch. Such an arrangement enables the pressure difference between the disconnection pressure and the connection pressure to be sufficiently large, so as to reduce as far as possible the starting frequency of the water pump.

Preferably, the limiting assembly comprises a flat hole disposed on the slider and a limiting post disposed on the triggering piece; the limiting post is inserted in the flat hole and can slide in the length direction of the flat hole. The limiting assembly may also have other structural forms, e.g. a limiting post disposed on the slider and a flat hole disposed on the triggering piece. The flat hole limits the sliding of the slider in the triggering piece, with the length of the flat hole being the sliding distance of the slider in the triggering piece.

Preferably, the water passage channel comprises a water passage hole in communication with the water flow channel, and a first channel and a second channel successively connected to the water passage hole. It is further preferred that the internal diameter of the first channel is smaller than the internal diameter of the second channel; not only can water pressure be transferred to the diaphragm, so as to drive the piston action, but at the same time, disturbance of the flow of water in a main path is avoided, thereby preventing problems such as turbulence and noise.

Preferably, also included is a housing, in which are disposed the support, the micro switch and the triggering assembly. Having the support, the micro switch and the triggering assembly all provided inside the housing can have a certain protecting effect, and at the same time avoids accidental triggering of the micro switch.

It is preferred that the micro switch is provided with a retractable micro switch contact and a signal output line for transmitting a control signal.

The present invention provides a water purifier, comprising a feed water pipe and a filter connected to the feed water pipe, with a pump being provided on the feed water pipe, a pure water output pipe being connected to the filter, and a water storage barrel being connected to the pure water output pipe by means of a water storage pipe, wherein a pressure-adjustable high-pressure according to the present invention is provided on the water storage pipe.

Preferably, a pressure reduction valve and a pre- filter are also provided on the feed water intake pipe, and a downstream filter is provided on the pure water output pipe. Pre- treatment of feed water by means of the pre- filter improves the water purification result, and at the same time has the effect of protecting the RO reverse osmosis membrane filter. The provision of the downstream filter on the pure water output pipe improves the water quality and taste. It is preferred that the filter has a reject output pipe having a flushing valve. The RO reverse osmosis membrane filter is flushed by means of the combined flushing valve, ensuring the water purification effect of the RO reverse osmosis membrane filter, and at the same time increasing the service life thereof.

Due to the adoption of the technical solution described above, the present invention has the following significant technical effects:

In the present invention, through the provision, in the high-pressure switch, of an adjuster capable of adjusting the pressure difference between connection and disconnection of the micro switch in the high-pressure switch, control of a component on a water purification pipeline controlled by the micro switch is realized.

The present invention is described in further detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

The present invention provides a pressure-adjustable high-pressure switch, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, comprises a micro switch 1 and a triggering assembly 2 for triggering the micro switch 1 , and also comprises a valve body 3 with a water flow channel 31 provided therein, a support 4 fixed to the valve body 3, and a piston 5 which is disposed in the support 4 and used for realizing triggering of the micro switch 1 by the triggering assembly 2. Two ends of the water flow channel 31 are a water inlet and a water outlet of the high-pressure switch respectively. Also included is a housing 10; the support 4, micro switch 1 and triggering assembly 2 are all disposed in the housing 10. The support 4, micro switch 1 and triggering assembly 2 etc. are protected by the housing 10.

The triggering assembly 2 comprises a triggering piece 21 for triggering the micro switch 1 , and a slider 22 connected to the triggering piece 21. A slide groove is provided on the triggering piece 21 ; the slider 22 is located in the slide groove and can slide in the slide groove. The slider 22 is connected to a piston rod end of the piston 5 and can slide in the axial direction of the piston rod relative to the triggering piece 21. The bottom of the slider 22 is provided with a connection hole for the piston rod to be inserted in; the piston rod is connected by screw-thread to the connection hole, to facilitate detachment of the triggering assembly 2 from the piston 5. A limiting assembly 23 which restricts sliding displacement of the slider 22 is also provided on the triggering assembly 2; the limiting assembly 23 comprises a flat hole 231 disposed on the slider 22 and a limiting post 232 disposed on the triggering piece 21 . The limiting post 232 is inserted in the flat hole 231 and can slide in the length direction of the flat hole 231.

A middle part of the support 4 is a support inner cavity 41. A piston head of the piston 5 is in sealed contact with the support inner cavity 41 and can slide in the support inner cavity 41 ; the piston rod of the piston 5 passes out of the support 4, passing out of an end of the support 4 and being connected to the triggering assembly 2. Under the action of the piston 5, the slider 22 can be made to move, and the motion of the slider 22 brings about motion of the triggering piece 21 , thereby causing the triggering piece 21 to trigger the micro switch 1. The micro switch 1 is provided with a retractable micro switch contact 12 and a signal output line 1 1 for outputting a control signal. Thus, extension/retraction of the micro switch contact 12 can be realized under the action of the triggering piece 12, thereby realizing connection and disconnection of an internal circuit of the micro switch 1 , and in turn, different control signals are outputted to control a component on a water path.

A water passage channel 6 in communication with the water flow channel 31 is provided on the valve body 3. The water passage channel 6 comprises a water passage hole 61 in communication with the water flow channel 31 , and a first channel 62 and a second channel 63 successively connected to the water passage hole 61. The first channel 62 and second channel 63 together form a cavity of the valve body 3; the internal diameter of the first channel 62 is smaller than the internal diameter of the second channel 63, and the length of the first channel 62 is greater than the length of the second channel 63. An end of the water passage channel 6 is provided with a diaphragm 7, which deforms elastically under the action of water pressure and thereby pushes the piston 5. A spring 8, which causes the piston 5 to move towards the diaphragm 7, is provided round the piston 5.

An adjuster 9 for adjusting the degree of compression of the spring is also provided on the support 4. The adjuster 9 comprises an adjustment nut 91 disposed at the top of the support 4, and an adjustment seat 92 which is connected by screw-thread to the adjustment nut 91 and surrounds the piston rod of the piston 5. One end of the spring 8 abuts the piston head of the piston 5, while the other end abuts the adjustment seat 92; when the adjustment nut 91 is turned, the adjustment seat 92 moves in the axial direction of the piston rod of the piston 5. In this embodiment, the adjustment seat 92 comprises an adjustment rod and a spring seat connected to the adjustment rod; the adjustment rod can pass out of the support 4, and a rod arm thereof is provided with an outer thread which fits the adjustment nut 91 . The adjustment seat 92 is provided with a recess in which the spring 8 is engaged, and can adjust a high-pressure switch connection pressure to be PON and a disconnection pressure to be POFF. An initial value of the connection pressure PON is 0 MPa, and the size of PON can be adjusted by turning the adjustment nut 91 . When the adjustment nut 91 is turned clockwise, the adjustment seat 92 will be driven to move downwards axially; when the spring 8 is compressed, the value of PON increases. In the opposite case, the value of PON decreases.

In a normal state, the limiting post 232 is at the bottommost part of the flat hole 231 . During operation, a water flow flows in through the water inlet; most of the water flow flows out through the water outlet, but a part of the water flow flows into the cavity of the valve body 3 through the water passage hole 61 on the valve body 3. The diaphragm 7 moves under the action of water pressure in the cavity of the valve body 3; when the incoming water pressure is greater than PON, the diaphragm 7 drives the piston 5 to move upwards. The pushing action of the piston 5 causes the triggering piece 21 and the slider 22 to move upwards at the same time.

When the incoming water pressure reaches the disconnection pressure POFF, a contact of the slider 22 presses the micro switch contact 12 into the interior of the micro switch 1 , the internal circuit of the micro switch 1 disconnects, and a booster pump 300 connected to the micro switch 1 by the signal output line 1 1 stops operating.

When the incoming water pressure begins to fall from POFF, the slider 22 moves downwards in the triggering piece 21 under the action of the spring. At this time, the triggering piece 21 is subject to the action of a frictional force of the micro switch contact 12 and does not move. When the incoming water pressure is not smaller than PON, the micro switch 1 is in a disconnected state. As the incoming water pressure decreases, when the incoming water pressure decreases to PON, the triggering piece 21 , driven by the slider 22, leaves the micro switch contact 12; the micro switch contact 12 springs up, the internal circuit of the micro switch 1 connects, and the booster pump 300 connected to the micro switch 1 by the signal output line 1 1 starts operating.

Clearly, the structural form of the high-pressure switch used in this embodiment can result in there being a significant pressure difference between the connection pressure PON and the disconnection pressure POFF. The high-pressure switch is utilized to control the starting times of the booster pump 300 rationally, effectively reducing frequent starting of the booster pump 300.

The present invention provides a water purifier, as shown in Fig. 3, comprises a feed water intake pipe 100 and an RO reverse osmosis membrane filter 200 connected to the feed water intake pipe 100. A pressure reduction valve 101 , a pre- filter 102, an incoming water solenoid valve and a booster pump 300 are provided in sequence on the feed water intake pipe 100. The RO reverse osmosis membrane filter 200 is connected to a pure water output pipe 400 and a reject output pipe 500. The pure water output pipe 400 is provided with a downstream filter 401 , and connected to a water storage barrel 601 via a water storage pipe 600. Moreover, a non-return valve is provided at a water outlet of the pure water output pipe 400, to prevent pure water from flowing back to the RO reverse osmosis membrane filter 200. The pressure-adjustable high-pressure switch of embodiment 1 is provided on the water storage pipe 600; a combined flushing valve 501 is provided on the reject output pipe 500.

Also included is a control module connected to all of the following: the pressure reduction valve 101 , incoming water solenoid valve, booster pump 300, combined flushing valve 501 and micro switch 1 . Of the pure water that is obtained after passage through the RO reverse osmosis membrane filter 200, a portion flows into the water storage barrel 601 through the water outlet of the high-pressure switch, while another portion enters the inner cavity of the valve body 3 through the water passage hole 61 on the valve body 3, and realizes triggering of the micro switch 1 via the piston 5 and the triggering piece 21 on the piston 5, etc., so that the micro switch 1 disconnects or connects, and a control signal is outputted to the control module through the signal output line 1 1 on the micro switch 1. The control module controls components such as the pressure reduction valve 101 , incoming water solenoid valve, booster pump 300 and combined flushing valve 501 according to the control signal received, to realize various functions of the water purifier.

The triggering assembly 2 in the high-pressure switch used in this embodiment employs a special structural form, such that there is a significant pressure difference between the connection pressure PON and the disconnection pressure POFF; moreover, the initial connection pressure PON thereof can be adjusted. Thus, when the water purification apparatus is being used, the booster pump 300 will only begin operating when the amount of water stored in the water storage barrel 601 is sufficiently low, lower than a certain value. The problem that the starting times of the booster pump 300 are not coordinated with the amount of water stored in the water storage barrel is fundamentally resolved, and the problem of frequent starting of the booster pump 300 is effectively reduced.

In summary, the embodiments above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention. All equivalent changes and modifications made within the patent application scope of the present invention shall be included in the scope of the present invention patent.