WO2008002057A1

WO2008002057A1 - Water purifying apparatus using cyclones

Info

Publication number: WO2008002057A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/003089
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kyoun-Hee Goh; Nam-Dong Oh; Gi-Chul Lim
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-06-28
Filing date: 2007-06-27
Publication date: 2008-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 2008-12-28
Also published as: KR100652840B1

Abstract

The present invention provides a water purifying apparatus using cyclones, which removes impurities from inlet water through centrifugal separation using the theory of cyclones, thus preparing pure water. The water purifying apparatus includes a housing having a sediment chamber in a lower portion thereof for collecting impurities therein, a water inlet pipe for supplying inlet water with impurities into the housing, a cyclone provided around a vertical guide pipe placed in the housing and separating the impurities from the inlet water introduced into the housing through the water inlet pipe, and a water outlet pipe for discharging pure water purified by the cyclone.

Description

[DESCRIPTION]

[invention Title]

WATER PURIFYING APPARATUS USING CYCLONES

[Technical Field]

The present invention relates, in general, to water purifying apparatuses using cyclones and, more particularly, to a water purifying apparatus using cyclones, which removes impurities from inlet water through centrifugal separation using the theory of cyclones, thus preparing pure water.

[Background Art]

In present-day industrial society, people receive the benefits of civilization according to industrial development, however, they inevitably suffer from serious problems of environmental pollution. Particularly, city water may become contaminated with impurities in the pipeline while the city water flows in the pipeline from a water purifying plant to homes, and thus most users do not drink the city water as it is, but boil the city water or purify the water using water purifiers prior to using the city water as drinking water. Further, some users never use the city water as drinking water, but use underground water or commercially sold mineral water as drinking water. Thus, many users of city water purchase water purifiers for removing impurities from city water and producing pure water which is good to be used as drinking water. However, the water purifiers for purifying city water are expensive and the filters for the water purifiers must be frequently changed with new ones, thus being inconvenient to users. Further, when the filters of the water purifiers are not changed with new ones at a scheduled time, users may drink contaminated water.

Thus, in an effort to solve the problems, Korean Registered Patent No. 0511640 proposed "an apparatus having a multi-layered cyclone structure for removing impurities from water" . As shown in FIG. 10, the apparatus having the multi- layered cyclone structure for removing impurities from water includes a hollow cylindrical housing 10 having a sediment tank 11 at a lower end thereof, with a sediment drain pipe 12 extending from a side surface of the sediment tank 11, and an inlet water distribution unit 20 placed on the side surface of the housing 10 and distributing contaminated inlet water into the housing 10. The apparatus further includes a filtering unit 33, which is placed in the housing 10 and includes a plurality of cyclones 31, each having a cylindrical part 31a and a conical part 31b, which extends downwards from the lower end of the cylindrical part 31a and causes the swirling flow of water therein. The cyclones 31 are open at upper and lower ends thereof and are stacked in a vertical direction such that one is stacked on another while they are spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval and define a water discharge layer 32 between them. Thus, the contaminated inlet water, which is distributed by the inlet water distribution unit 20, primarily flows into the cylindrical parts 31a of the respective cyclones 31 and secondarily flows in the conical parts 31b in a swirling pattern, so that impurities are removed from the inlet water by centrifugal separation. The processed water, which is discharged upwards through the water discharge layers 32 after the impurities are removed from the water, is discharged outside the housing 10 through a water outlet pipe 40, which extends outwards from the upper end of the housing 10.

In other words, in the operation of the conventional apparatus having the above-mentioned construction, the inlet water contaminated with impurities is introduced into the apparatus through the water inlet pipe 21 and is distributed to the respective cyclones 31 by the inlet water distribution unit 20. In the cyclones 31, the inlet water flows downwards in the conical parts 31b in a swirling flow pattern, so that the impurities are removed from the water by centrifugal force and drop into the sediment tank 11 through a vertical guide pipe 3Id, thus being collected in the tank 11. In the above state, the swirling water in the respective conical parts 31b collides against the lower surfaces of the conical parts 31b of upper cyclones 31 due to the upward swirling flow of water in the respective conical parts 31b, so that processed water, from which impurities have been removed, is discharged outside the cyclones 31 through the water discharge layers 32 and is, thereafter, discharged outside the housing 10 through the water outlet pipe 40.

However, the above-mentioned conventional apparatus is problematic as follows.

The contaminated inlet water is distributed to the respective cyclones by the inlet water distribution unit, which reduces the pressure of inlet water. Thus, the swirling motion of inlet water in the cyclones is insufficient due to the reduced pressure of the inlet water.

Further, when impurities removed from water in each cyclone drop and arrive in a lower cyclone, the impurities fly due to the upward swirling flow of water in the lower cyclone, so that the impurities may be discharged outside the cyclones along with the processed water through the water discharge layers.

Further, the conventional apparatus is configured such that the impurities are removed from water in each cyclone by centrifugal force and such that the processed water is discharged from each cyclone through the water discharge layer, so that, although impurities having a high specific gravity may be successfully removed from the water, impurities having a small size and low specific gravity may not be removed from the water.

Thus, the conventional apparatus has only low operational efficiency of removal of impurities from contaminated inlet water.

[Disclosure]

[Technical Problem]

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and provided a water purifying apparatus using cyclones, in which inlet water containing impurities is sequentially processed through several steps so that impurities are removed from the inlet water through centrifugal separation at each step, whereby impurities ranging from large-sized and high specific gravity impurities to small-sized and low specific gravity impurities can be almost completely removed from the inlet water, and clear pure water can be supplied to homes, etc.

[Technical Solution] In an aspect, the present invention provides a water purifying apparatus using cyclones, including: a housing having a sediment chamber in a lower portion thereof for collection of impurities therein; a water inlet pipe for supplying inlet water with impurities into the housing; a cyclone provided around a vertical guide pipe placed in the housing and separating the impurities from the inlet water introduced into the housing through the water inlet pipe; and a water outlet pipe for discharging pure water purified by the cyclone. Here, the cyclone may include the vertical guide pipe, extending between the water inlet pipe and the water outlet pipe, with a water inlet hole and a water outlet hole formed in the vertical guide pipe, and a partition plate provided in the vertical guide pipe for separating the water inlet hole from the water outlet hole; and an inner tank placed around the vertical guide pipe for dropping the impurities.

Further, the water inlet hole and the water outlet hole may be oppositely formed on the vertical guide pipe such that the water outlet hole is placed at a location higher than the water inlet hole.

Further, the partition plate may be provided in the vertical guide pipe such that the partition plate is placed around an upper end of the water outlet hole at a first end thereof, and is placed around a lower end of the water inlet hole at a second end thereof.

Further, the vertical guide pipe may include a guide provided around each of the water inlet hole and the water outlet hole. In an embodiment, the water purifying apparatus may further include an inverse current prevention unit provided around the vertical guide pipe at a predetermined lower location so as to prevent collected impurities from flowing upwards . The inner tank may include a cylindrical part defining a middle portion of the inner tank, and conical parts defining upper and lower portions of the inner tank, wherein an upper end of the inner tank is mounted to the vertical guide pipe and a lower end of the inner tank is spaced apart from an outer surface of the vertical guide pipe, thus forming a path.

Further, a plurality of sets of water inlet holes and water outlet holes may be arranged on the vertical guide pipe in a longitudinal direction of the vertical guide pipe. Further, a plurality of cylindrical bodies may be stacked at locations above the inner tank such that the cylindrical bodies form a multi-layered structure and cover respective water inlet holes and water outlet holes. The cylindrical bodies may be stacked in the multi- layered structure and may be spaced apart from each other, thus forming a plurality of paths.

The water inlet pipe may be placed in the sidewall of the housing such that an inner end of the water inlet pipe is located inside the inner tank.

The water inlet pipe may be inclined on the inner end thereof placed inside the inner tank, and the apparatus may further include a guide unit for discharging the inlet water from the water inlet pipe in one direction. The guide unit may be provided with a guide groove for receiving the inner end of the water inlet pipe therein, the guide groove being open in a water discharging direction, with a wedge-shaped protrusion formed on the guide unit at a location opposite the guide groove. Further, the housing may be provided with a sediment drain pipe on the lower portion thereof .

In another aspect, the present invention provides a water purifying apparatus using cyclones, including: a housing having a sediment chamber in a lower portion thereof for collecting impurities therein; a water inlet pipe for supplying inlet water with impurities into the housing; an impurity separation unit, comprising: a first separation part placed in the housing so as to remove impurities from the inlet water supplied through the water inlet pipe, a second separation part placed in the first separation part so as to remove impurities from the inlet water, and a third separation part placed in the second separation part so as to remove impurities from the inlet water; and a water outlet pipe for discharging pure water purified by the impurity separation unit.

Here, the first separation part may include a conical part fixed to an inner surface of the housing and being open so as to discharge impurities; the second separation part may include a conical part, which is open at a lower end thereof, and a cylindrical part provided with a communication pipe for communicating with a space inside the first separation part; and the third separation part may include a conical part, which is open at a lower end thereof, and an inner tank provided with a communication pipe for communicating with a space inside the second separation part .

Further, the water inlet pipe may be provided with a water distribution unit and is connected to the first, second and third separation parts through respective water supply pipes so as to supply the inlet water from the water distribution unit into the first, second and third separation parts .

The water purifying apparatus may further include an inverse current prevention unit provided at a location below the impurity separation unit so as to prevent collected impurities from flowing upwards.

Further, the housing may be provided with a sediment drain pipe on the lower portion of the housing.

[Advantageous Effects]

As described above, in the operation of the apparatus according to the present invention, impurities are stepwisely removed from inlet water while the inlet water with the impurities flows upwards through a vertical guide pipe, so that impurities ranging from large-sized and high specific gravity impurities to small-sized and low specific gravity impurities can be almost completely removed from the inlet water, and clear pure water can be supplied to users, thus allowing the users to safely use the pure water as drinking water.

Further, the impurities, removed from the swirling water by centrifugal force, are drained outside the cyclone through separate paths, so that the impurities can be more efficiently drained outside the apparatus and can be prevented from being mixed again with processed water due to the dispersion of impurities by the upward swirling motion of water in the cyclone.

Further, when the inlet water is discharged outside the vertical guide pipe through the water outlet holes of the vertical guide pipe, the water is guided by guides formed around the respective water outlet holes and collides against the inner wall of the cylindrical bodies, thus strongly swirling in the cylindrical bodies, so that impurities can be more efficiently removed from the water.

[Description of Drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view illustrating a water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view illustrating the water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front sectional view illustrating the operation of the water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a front sectional view illustrating a water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to a modification of the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a water inlet pipe shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating the water inlet pipe shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a front sectional view illustrating a water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a plan sectional view illustrating the water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to the second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 9 is a front sectional view illustrating the operation of the water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to the second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view illustrating a conventional sediment removing apparatus having a multi- layered cyclone structure.

[Best Mode]

Hereinbelow, preferred embodiments of the water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings .

[First Embodiment]

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view illustrating a water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view illustrating the water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a cylindrical housing 100, which has a sediment chamber 102 in a lower end thereof so as to collect impurities in the chamber 102, with a sediment drain pipe 104 extending outwards from the sediment chamber 102 and draining collected impurities outside the sediment chamber 102.

Further, a water inlet pipe 106 is mounted to the lower end of the housing 100 so as to supply inlet water into the housing 100.

A cyclone 110 is placed in the housing 100 so as to remove impurities from inlet water, which has been introduced into the housing 100 through the water inlet pipe 106. A water outlet pipe 108 is mounted to the upper end of the housing 100 so as to discharge pure water, which has been processed by the cyclone 110, outside the housing 100.

The cyclone 110 includes a vertical guide pipe 120, which is connected to the water inlet pipe 106 and to the water outlet pipe 108 at upper and lower ends thereof, respectively, such that they communicate with each other. An inner tank 130 is placed around the vertical guide pipe 120 and removes impurities from inlet water by centrifugal force . The vertical guide pipe 120 has a plurality of water inlet holes 122 and a plurality of water outlet holes 124, all formed in the sidewall of the vertical guide pipe 120 at predetermined locations inside the cyclone 110. The water inlet holes 122 and the water outlet holes 124 are formed opposite each other in the sidewall of the vertical guide pipe 120. Further, a plurality of partition plates 126 is installed in the vertical guide pipe 120 at predetermined locations inside the cyclone 110 such that the partition plates 126 separate the water inlet holes 122 from the water outlet holes 124.

One water inlet hole 122, one water outlet hole 124 and one partition plate 126 form one set, and a plurality of sets of water inlet holes 122, water outlet holes 124 and partition plates 126 are sequentially arranged in the vertical guide pipe 120 in a longitudinal direction.

Further, each of the water inlet holes 122 is preferably formed at a location lower than that of an associated water outlet hole 124. Each of the partition plates 126 is placed around the upper end of an associated water outlet hole 124 at a first end thereof, and is placed around the lower end of an associated water inlet hole 122 at a second end thereof. In the above state, the lowermost water inlet hole 122, which is the first water inlet hole, communicates with the second water outlet hole 124, which is formed at a location just above the lowermost water outlet hole 124, which is the first water outlet hole.

Further, an outlet guide 125, which is open in one direction, is provided around each of the water outlet holes 124 such that, when the inlet water is discharged outside the vertical guide pipe 120 through the water outlet holes 124, the water swirls in the open directions of the outlet guides 125. An inlet guide 123, which is open in a direction opposite the swirling direction of the water, is preferably provided around each of the water inlet holes 122, so that swirling water can be more efficiently introduced into the vertical guide pipe 120 through the water inlet holes 122.

Further, a guide plate 127 may be provided around the sidewall of the vertical guide pipe 120 at a location between each water outlet hole 124 and an associated water inlet hole 122, so that the swirling water can flow into the vertical guide pipe 120 while swirling in one direction, without dispersing in all directions.

Further, an inverse current prevention unit 128, having a parabolic shape, may be installed around the vertical guide pipe 120 at a predetermined lower location, which is above and spaced apart from the sediment chamber 102 inside the housing 100 by a predetermined distance, thus preventing the collected impurities from flowing upwards from the sediment chamber 102.

Further, the inner tank 130 is mounted at the upper edge around the outer surface of the sidewall of the vertical guide pipe 120 at a predetermined location such that the inner tank 130 covers both the first water inlet hole 122 and the first water outlet hole 124. The upper and lower parts of the inner tank 130 are configured as respective conical parts 132 and 134, and the lower conical part 134 is open on the lower end thereof. The open lower end of the inner tank 130 is spaced apart from the outer surface of the sidewall of the vertical guide pipe 120, thus forming a first path 136, through which impurities removed from water can drop downwards .

Further, a plurality of cylindrical bodies 140 is sequentially stacked along the vertical guide pipe 120 at locations above the inner tank 130 to form a multi-layered structure. Each of the cylindrical bodies 140 is mounted around the outer surface of the sidewall of the vertical guide pipe 120 at the upper edge thereof, and covers one water inlet hole 122 and one water outlet hole 124. The lowermost cylindrical body 140, which is the first cylindrical body located just above the inner tank 130, is spaced apart from the upper end of the inner tank 130 at the lower end thereof, so that a second path 142 is formed between the first cylindrical body 140 and the inner tank 130.

In the same manner, the stacked cylindrical bodies 140 are spaced apart from each other at regular intervals, so that a plurality of paths 142 is formed between the cylindrical bodies 140 so as to discharge impurities removed from water to the sediment chamber 102.

The water purifying apparatus using cyclones having the above-mentioned construction according to the present invention is operated as follows.

FIG. 3 is a front sectional view illustrating the operation of the water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the drawing, inlet water, which has been introduced into the housing 100 through the water inlet pipe 106, flows upwards through the vertical guide pipe 120. While the inlet water flows upwards through the vertical guide pipe 120, the water is discharged from the vertical guide pipe 120 into the inner tank 130 through the first water outlet hole 124 in the form of swirling flow. In the above state, the swirling flow of water is made stronger by the outlet guide 125, which is provided around the water outlet hole 124. The inlet water, discharged through the water outlet hole 124, collides against the inner surface of the inner tank 130 and swirls in one direction, and flows into the vertical guide pipe 120 through the first water inlet hole 122.

In the above state, the water more efficiently flows into the vertical guide pipe 120 due to the inlet guide 123, which is provided around the water inlet hole 122.

When the inlet water strongly swirls inside the inner tank 130 while colliding against the inner surface of the inner tank 130, impurities in the water collide against the inner surface of the inner tank 130 due to centrifugal force, thus being removed from the water and dropping. The impurities, removed from the water, move downwards along the inner surface of the lower conical part 134 of the inner tank 130 and are discharged from the inner tank 130 through the first path 136, so that the impurities settle in the sediment chamber 102. Meanwhile, only the primarily purified inlet water, processed in the inner tank 130, is introduced into the vertical guide pipe 120 through the first water inlet hole 122.

The primarily purified inlet water, which has been introduced into the vertical guide pipe 120 through the first water inlet hole 122, flows upwards while being guided by the lowermost partition plate 126, which is the first partition plate, until the water is discharged from the vertical guide pipe 120 into the first cylindrical body 140 through the second water outlet hole 124, located above the first water outlet hole 124. In the above state, impurities are removed from the primarily purified inlet water, which has been discharged from the vertical guide pipe 120 into the first cylindrical body 140 through the second water outlet hole 124, in the first cylindrical body 140 in the same process as that described for the inner tank 130. Described in detail, the inlet water, flowing into the first cylindrical body 140, is guided by the outlet guide 125 of the water outlet hole 124, thus strongly swirling in one direction in the first cylindrical body 140 while colliding against the inner surface of the first cylindrical body 140 due to centrifugal force. Thus, impurities are removed from the water and drop through the second path 142, thus settling in the sediment chamber 102. The secondarily purified water flows into the vertical guide pipe 120 through the third water inlet hole 122 and is discharged into the second cylindrical body 140, which is stacked on the first cylindrical body 140.

As described above, the inlet water sequentially passes upwards through the vertically stacked cylindrical bodies 140 from the lowermost to the uppermost cylindrical bodies 140 while strongly swirling in the respective cylindrical bodies 140. During the above-mentioned process, impurities are repeatedly removed from the inlet water in the cylindrical bodies 140, so that clean pure water, from which impurities have been completely removed, flows from the uppermost cylindrical body 140 into the vertical guide pipe 120 through the uppermost water inlet hole 122.

In the operation, the impurities removed from the water drop into the sediment chamber 102 through the paths 142, which are defined below the respective cylindrical bodies 140, and settle in the chamber 102.

In the above state, the inverse current prevention unit 128 prevents the impurities, which are collected in the sediment chamber 102, from flowing upwards or from dispersing in all directions.

The water, which flows into the vertical guide pipe 120 from the uppermost cylindrical body 140 and from which impurities have been completely removed, is discharged outside the housing 100 through the water outlet pipe 108 and is supplied to desired places where the water is used as drinking water or industrial water.

Further, the impurities that have settled in the sediment chamber 102 are drained outside the chamber 102 through the sediment drain pipe 104. FIG. 4 is a front sectional view illustrating a water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to a modification of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a water inlet pipe shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating the water inlet pipe shown in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIGS. 4 through 6, the water purifying apparatus according to the modification has no main water inlet pipe 106, but another water inlet pipe 106b is installed in the sidewall of the housing 100 in a radial direction such that the inner end of the water inlet pipe 106b is located in the inner tank 130.

Here, the inner end of the water inlet pipe 106b, which is placed inside the inner tank 130, is configured to have an inclined end 106a, which is inclinedly open in the swirling direction of inlet water in the inner tank 130.

Further, a guide unit 150 is provided around the inclined inner end 106a of the water inlet pipe 106b so as to discharge inlet water in one direction.

The guide unit 150, which receives the inclined inner end 106a of the water inlet pipe 106b therein, is open in the water discharging direction, thus forming a guide groove 152 so as to discharge the inlet water into the inner tank 130 while forming swirling flow.

Further, when the swirling water collides against the water inlet pipe 106b at a position opposite the guide groove 152 of the guide unit 150, the swirling speed of the inlet water may be reduced due to resistance. Thus, to prevent the swirling water from colliding against the water inlet pipe 106b, a wedge-shaped protrusion 154 is preferably formed on the back surface of the guide unit 150.

In the apparatus, it is that only the water inlet hole 122 in the lower part of the vertical guide pipe 120, which is covered with the inner tank 130, be formed, so that inlet water, which has been introduced into the inner tank 130 through the water inlet pipe 106b, flows into the vertical guide pipe 120 through the water inlet hole 122 and flows upwards to the first cylindrical body 140.

In the operation of the apparatus according to the modification, impurities can be removed from the inlet water, while pure water can be discharged outside the housing 100 through the water outlet pipe 108 in the same manner as that described for the first embodiment. Further, the impurities removed from the inlet water settle in the sediment chamber 102.

Described in detail, inlet water is directly introduced into the inner tank 130 through the water inlet pipe 106b. In the above state, the inlet water discharged from the water inlet pipe 106b is guided by the guide groove 152 of the guide unit 150, so that the water can strongly swirl in the inner tank 130 while colliding against the inner surface of the inner tank 130.

When the inlet water swirls in the inner tank 130, the water smoothly passes over the wedge-shaped protrusion 154 of the guide unit 150, so that the swirling water meets with less resistance from the guide unit 150 and the swirling speed of the water in the inner tank 130 can be maintained without being reduced.

When the inlet water with impurities swirls in the inner tank 130 while colliding against the inner surface of the inner tank 130, as described above, the impurities are removed from the water by centrifugal force while the water maintains its swirling motion. The impurities, removed from the water, swirl along the inner surface of the inner tank 130 and drop until they are discharged from the inner tank 130 through the path 136 and settle in the sediment chamber 102.

Thereafter, the water, which has been primarily purified in the inner tank 130, flows into the vertical guide pipe 120 through the first water inlet hole 122, which is formed at the lowermost location. The primarily purified water is, thereafter, discharged from the vertical guide pipe 120 into the first cylindrical body 140, which is placed above the inner tank 130, through the first water outlet hole 124, which is formed inside the first cylindrical body 140.

In the first cylindrical body 140, impurities are removed from the swirling water. The secondarily purified water flows into the vertical guide pipe 120 through the second water inlet hole 122 and is discharged into the second cylindrical body 140 through the second water outlet hole 124.

As described above, the water sequentially flows upwards through the cylindrical bodies 140 until it is introduced into the vertical guide pipe 120 from the uppermost cylindrical body 140. During the above-mentioned process, impurities are completely removed from the water, while pure water is discharged outside the housing 100 through the water outlet pipe 108. [Second Embodiment]

FIG. 7 is a front sectional view illustrating a water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a plan sectional view illustrating the water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a housing 200, which has a sediment chamber 202 in the lower end thereof for the collection of impurities in the chamber 202, with a sediment drain pipe 204 extending outwards from the sediment chamber 202 and draining collected impurities outside the sediment chamber 202.

Further, a water inlet pipe 206 is provided on the apparatus and supplies inlet water with impurities into the housing 200.

An impurity separation unit is placed in the housing 200 so as to remove impurities from inlet water introduced into the housing 200 through the water inlet pipe 206. A water outlet pipe 208 is provided in the housing 200 so as to discharge pure water, which has been processed by the impurity separation unit, outside the housing 200.

The impurity separation unit includes a first separation part 210, which is placed in the housing 200 and removes impurities from water, a second separation part 220, which is placed in the first separation part 210 and removes impurities from the water, and a third separation part 230, which is placed in the second separation part 220 and removes impurities from water. The first separation part 210 includes a conical part 212, which is fixed to the inner surface of the housing 200 and is open at the lower end thereof so as to discharge impurities downwards from the first separation part 210.

The second separation part 220 includes a conical part 224, which is open at the lower end thereof, and a cylindrical part 222, which is integrated with the conical part 224 and is provided with a first communication pipe 226 extending into the space inside the first separation part 210. Further, the third separation part 230 includes a conical part 234, which is open at the lower end thereof, and an inner tank 232, which is integrated with the conical part 234 and is provided with a second communication pipe 236 extending into the space inside the second separation part 220.

The water inlet pipe 206 is connected to a water distribution unit 240, while first, second and third water supply pipes 218, 228 and 238 extend from the water distribution unit 240 to the first, second and third separation parts 210, 220 and 230 so as to supply distributed inlet water into the first, second and third separation parts 210, 220 and 230.

Here, the inner ends of the water supply pipes 218, 228 and 238 are inclinedly connected to the sidewalls of the housing 200, the cylindrical part 222 and the inner tank 232 such that the distributed inlet water swirls along the inner surfaces of the housing 200, the cylindrical part 222, and the inner tank 232.

At a location below the impurity separation unit, an inverse current prevention unit 250 is placed to prevent impurities, which have settled in the sediment chamber 202, from dispersing or flying towards the impurity separation unit .

Further, the water outlet pipe 208 is preferably installed so as to communicate with the first separation part 210 such that both the processed water, from which impurities are removed in the second and third separation parts 220 and 230 and which flows into the first separation part 210, and the processed water, from which impurities are removed in the first separation part 210, can be discharged outside the housing 200.

The water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to the second embodiment of the present invention is operated as follows . FIG. 9 is a front sectional view illustrating the operation of the water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 9, in the operation of the apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, inlet water, supplied from an external source through the water inlet pipe 206, is distributed by the water distribution unit 240 and flows into the first, second and third separation parts 210, 220 and 230 through the respective water supply pipes 218, 228 and 238. The inlet water, which has been introduced into the first, second and third separation parts 210, 220 and 230, swirls along the inner surfaces of the first, second and third separation parts 210, 220 and 230, so that impurities are removed from the swirling water by centrifugal force and drop into the sediment chamber 202 through respective paths, thus being settled in the chamber 202.

In the above state, the inlet water, which has been introduced into the third separation part 230, swirls along the inner surface of the inner tank 232, so that impurities are removed from the swirling water by centrifugal force. The processed water, from which the impurities have been removed in the third separation part 230, flows upwards into the second separation part 220 through the second communication pipe 236.

The processed water, which has flowed from the third separation part 230 into the second separation part 220, is mixed with the processed water, from which impurities have been removed in the second separation part 220 by centrifugal force, and flows upwards into the first separation part 210 through the first communication pipe 226.

The processed water, from which impurities have been removed in the second and third separation parts 220 and 230 and which has flowed into the first separation part 210, is mixed with the processed water, from which impurities have been removed in the first separation part 210 by centrifugal force, is discharged outside the housing 200 through the water outlet pipe 208, and is supplied to desired places, such as houses.

Meanwhile, impurities, which have been removed from the inlet water in the first, second and third separation parts 210, 220 and 230, settle in the sediment chamber 202. The impurities, having settled in the sediment chamber 202, are drained from the sediment chamber 202 to a sediment treatment place through the sediment drain pipe 204.

Although embodiments of the water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to the present invention have been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims .

[industrial Applicability]

As described above, the present invention provides a water purifying apparatus using cyclones. More particularly, the present invention provides a water purifying apparatus using cyclones, which removes impurities from inlet water through centrifugal separation using the theory of cyclones, thus preparing pure water.

Claims

[CLAIMS]

[Claim l]

A water purifying apparatus using cyclones, comprising: a housing having a sediment chamber in a lower portion thereof for collection of impurities therein; a water inlet pipe for supplying inlet water with impurities into the housing; a cyclone provided around a vertical guide pipe placed in the housing and separating the impurities from the inlet water introduced into the housing through the water inlet pipe; and a water outlet pipe for discharging pure water purified by the cyclone.

[Claim 2]

The water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to claim 1, wherein the cyclone comprises: the vertical guide pipe, extending between the water inlet pipe and the water outlet pipe, with a water inlet hole and a water outlet hole formed in the vertical guide pipe, and a partition plate provided in the vertical guide pipe for separating the water inlet hole from the water outlet hole; and an inner tank placed around the vertical guide pipe for dropping the impurities .

[Claim 3]

The water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to claim 2, wherein the water inlet hole and the water outlet hole are oppositely formed on the vertical guide pipe such that the water outlet hole is placed at a location higher than the water inlet hole.

[Claim 4]

The water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to claim 2, wherein the partition plate is provided in the vertical guide pipe such that the partition plate is placed around an upper end of the water outlet hole at a first end thereof, and is placed around a lower end of the water inlet hole at a second end thereof.

[Claim 5]

The water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to any one of claims 2 through 4, wherein the vertical guide pipe comprises a guide provided around each of the water inlet hole and the water outlet hole.

[Claim 6] The water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to claim 5, further comprising: an inverse current prevention unit provided around the vertical guide pipe at a predetermined lower location so as to prevent collected impurities from flowing upwards.

[Claim 7]

The water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to claim 6, wherein the inner tank comprises a cylindrical part defining a middle portion of the inner tank, and conical parts defining upper and lower portions of the inner tank, wherein an upper end of the inner tank is mounted to the vertical guide pipe and a lower end of the inner tank is spaced apart from an outer surface of the vertical guide pipe, thus forming a path.

[Claim 8]

The water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to claim 7, wherein a plurality of sets of water inlet holes and water outlet holes are arranged on the vertical guide pipe in a longitudinal direction of the vertical guide pipe.

[Claim 9]

The water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of cylindrical bodies is stacked at locations above the inner tank such that the cylindrical bodies form a multi-layered structure and cover respective water inlet holes and water outlet holes .

[Claim 10]

The water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to claim 9, wherein the cylindrical bodies are stacked in the multi-layered structure and are spaced apart from each other, thus forming a plurality of paths.

[Claim ll]

The water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to claim 1, wherein the water inlet pipe is placed in a sidewall of the housing such that an inner end of the water inlet pipe is located inside the inner tank.

[Claim 12]

The water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to claim 11, wherein the water inlet pipe is inclined on the inner end thereof placed inside the inner tank, the apparatus further comprising a guide unit for discharging the inlet water from the water inlet pipe in one direction. [Claim 13]

The water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to claim 12, wherein the guide unit is provided with a guide groove for receiving the inner end of the water inlet pipe therein, the guide groove being open in a water discharging direction, with a wedge-shaped protrusion formed on the guide unit at a location opposite the guide groove .

[Claim 14]

The water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to claim 1, wherein the housing is provided with a sediment drain pipe on the lower portion thereof.

[Claim 15]

A water purifying apparatus using cyclones, comprising: a housing having a sediment chamber in a lower portion thereof for collecting impurities therein; a water inlet pipe for supplying inlet water with impurities into the housing; an impurity separation unit, comprising: a first separation part placed in the housing so as to remove impurities from the inlet water supplied through the water inlet pipe, a second separation part placed in the first separation part so as to remove impurities from the inlet water, and a third separation part placed in the second separation part so as to remove impurities from the inlet water; and a water outlet pipe for discharging pure water purified by the impurity separation unit.

[Claim 16]

The water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to claim 15, wherein the first separation part comprises a conical part fixed to an inner surface of the housing and being open so as to discharge impurities; the second separation part comprises a conical part, which is open at a lower end thereof, and a cylindrical part provided with a communication pipe for communicating with a space inside the first separation part; and the third separation part comprises a conical part, which is open at a lower end thereof, and an inner tank provided with a communication pipe for communicating with a space inside the second separation part.

[Claim 17]

The water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to claim 16, wherein the water inlet pipe is provided with a water distribution unit and is connected to the first, second and third separation parts through respective water supply pipes so as to supply the inlet water from the water distribution unit into the first, second and third separation parts.

[Claim 18]

The water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to claim 17, further comprising: an inverse current prevention unit provided at a location below the impurity separation unit so as to prevent collected impurities from flowing upwards .

[Claim 19]

The water purifying apparatus using cyclones according to claim 18, wherein the housing is provided with a sediment drain pipe on the lower portion of the housing.