Drinking water supply device and method of controlling the same
AssigneeLG Electronics Inc.
InventorKiwon Yu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of controlling a drinking water includes allowing a user to input a water discharge signal through an input lever, opening a first valve when a channel is closed by a water discharge valve to supply drinking water to a mixing tank, when the amount of drinking water supplied to the mixing tank reaches a first predetermined amount, opening a second valve to supply minerals to the mixing tank, and, when the amount of drinking water supplied to the mixing tank reaches a second predetermined amount, opening the water discharge valve to discharge mineral water to the outside through a spout.
Claims13
A drinking water supply device comprising:
- a first channel through which drinking water flows, the first channel including a first valve that opens and closes the first channel and a flow rate sensor that senses a flow rate of the drinking water through the first channel;
- a water discharge channel connected to the first channel and configured to discharge the drinking water which is supplied from the first channel;
- a connection pipe that connects the first channel to the water discharge channel;
- a second channel through which minerals are supplied to the connection pipe, the second channel including a second valve that opens and closes the second channel;
- a mineral container connected to the second channel and provided upstream of the second valve to hold the minerals which are to be supplied to the second channel;
- a tank connected to the water discharge channel and configured to store the drinking water and the minerals which are supplied through the water discharge channel to form mineral water;
- a water discharge valve provided downstream of the tank to allow discharge of the mineral water through the tank and close the water discharge channel;
- an input lever to allow dispensing of the mineral water;
- and
- a controller configured to open the first valve and the second valve first and then open the water discharge valve upon receiving an input signal from the input lever,
- wherein the controller is configured to close the water discharge valve and open the first valve to supply a first predetermined amount of the drinking water to the tank, and
- wherein when the first predetermined amount of the drinking water is supplied to the tank, the controller opens the second valve while keeping the water discharge valve closed and the first valve open so as to supply minerals to the tank along with the drinking water.
A method of controlling a drinking water supply device comprising:
- inputting a water discharge signal through an input lever;
- opening a first valve when a discharge channel is closed by a water discharge valve to supply drinking water to a tank when the water discharge signal is input;
- opening a second valve to supply minerals to the tank when an amount of drinking water supplied to the tank reaches a first predetermined amount while the first valve is open and the water discharge valve is closed;
- and
- opening the water discharge valve to discharge mineral water from the tank to an outside through a spout when the amount of drinking water supplied to the tank reaches a second predetermined amount greater than the first predetermined amount.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.