# US 10,864,468 B2 · Water purifier > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,864,468 B2 - Document ID: US10864468B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/586,529 - Filed: 2017-05-04 - Published: 2017-11-09 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2016-05-04 - Assignees: LG Electronics Inc. - Applicants: LG Electronics Inc. - Inventors: Jewook Jeon; Kobong Choi; Yonghyun Kim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864468B2 ## CPC - B01D 35/153: Anti-leakage or anti-return valves - B01D 29/60: integrally combined with devices for controlling the filtration - B01D 35/1573: {Flow control valves} - B67D 1/0009: {the beverage being stored in an intermediate container connected to a supply} - B67D 1/0014: {the beverage being supplied from water mains} - B67D 1/0082: {entirely mechanical} - B67D 1/0857: {Cooling arrangements (cooling systems per se F25B)} - B67D 1/0864: {in the form of a cooling bath} - B67D 1/0878: {Safety, warning or controlling devices (B67D1/12 takes precedence)} - B67D 1/0884: {Means for controlling the parameters of the state of the liquid to be dispensed, e.g. temperature, pressure} - B67D 1/0895: {Heating arrangements} - B67D 1/125: {Safety means, e.g. over-pressure valves} - B67D 1/1256: {Anti-dripping devices (drip trays B67D1/16)} - B67D 1/1281: {responsive to pressure} - B67D 1/14: Reducing valves or control taps - C02F 1/001: {Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance (C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00)} - C02F 1/003: {using household-type filters for producing potable water, e.g. pitchers, bottles, faucet mounted devices (C02F9/20 takes precedence)} - B01D 2201/167: Single-way valves - B67D 1/0888: {Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)} - B67D 2001/0093: {Valves} - B67D 2210/0001: for liquid - B67D 2210/00031: Housing - B67D 2210/00044: Insulation - B67D 2210/00047: Piping - B67D 2210/00065: related to the use of drinking cups or glasses - B67D 2210/00118: Heating and cooling - C02F 2201/005: Valves - C02F 2209/40: Liquid flow rate - C02F 2209/44: Time - C02F 2307/10: as part of a potable water dispenser, e.g. for use in homes or offices - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - B67D: DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes B08B9/02; emptying or filling of bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for B67C; water supply E03; pipe systems F17D; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D; measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level, metering by volume G01F; coin-freed or like apparatus G07F) - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) ## Abstract A water purifier that includes: a filter unit that is configured to purify water; a cooling unit that is configured to cool water purified by the filter unit using cooling water; a water discharge unit that is configured to discharge water cooled by the cooling unit; a cold water flow path that couples the cooling unit to the water discharge unit and through which water cooled by the cooling unit passes; a cold water discharge valve that is coupled to a first side of the cooling unit and that is configured to control water flow inside the cold water flow path; and a check fitting unit that is coupled to a first side of the water discharge unit and that is configured to block pressure change inside the cold water flow path is disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A water purifier comprising: a filter unit that is configured to purify water; a purified water flow path that is coupled to the filter unit and that is configured to guide purified water; a cold water flow path that is divided from a first division point of the purified water flow path; a cooling unit that is located at the cold water flow path and that is configured to cool water purified by the filter unit using cooling water; a hot water flow path that is divided from a second division point of the purified water flow path, the second division point being located upstream of the first division point; a heating unit that is located at the hot water flow path and that is configured to heat water purified by the filter unit; a cold water discharge valve that is located between the first division point and the cooling unit at the cold water flow path and that is configured to, based on a pressure change in the cold water flow path, control water flow inside the cold water flow path; a main body that extends in a vertical direction and accommodates the filter unit, the cooling unit, and the heating unit therein; a water discharge unit assembly that comprises a rotation part and a water discharge unit extending in a front direction from the rotation part to an outside of the water purifier, the rotation part being configured to rotate the water discharge unit in left and right directions about a center line of the rotation part within a predetermined angle, the center line extending parallel to the vertical direction of the main body; a first check valve located between the cooling unit and the water discharge unit and configured to block water flow inside the cold water flow path; and a second check valve that is installed at the purified water flow path, that is located between the first division point and the second division point, and that is configured to control water flow inside the purified water flow path. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The water purifier of claim 1, further comprising: a check fitting unit that is coupled to a first side of the water discharge unit and that is configured to block a pressure change in the cold water flow path. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The water purifier of claim 2, further comprising: a cooling water tank assembly that is coupled to the cooling unit and that is configured to store cooling water to cool water purified by the filter unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The water purifier of claim 2, wherein the heating unit comprises: a hot water tank assembly that is configured to store hot water; and an induction heater that includes a working coil and that is configured to inductively heat water in the hot water tank assembly using the working coil, and wherein the hot water flow path couples the purified water flow path to the water discharge unit and through which hot water heated by the hot water tank assembly passes. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The water purifier of claim 4, further comprising: a control module that is configured to control a frequency of the induction heater to control a discharge temperature of hot water. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The water purifier of claim 5, further comprising: a water supplying valve (i) that is configured to control a flow of water that is purified by the filter unit and (ii) that is located at a first side of the filter unit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The water purifier of claim 6, further comprising: a purified water discharge valve that is installed at the purified water flow path, that is located downstream of the first division point, and that is configured to, based on a pressure change in the purified water flow path, control water flow inside the purified water flow path, wherein the control module is configured to control timings to open or close the water supplying valve, the purified water discharge valve, and the cold water discharge valve. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The water purifier of claim 7, wherein the control module is configured to (i) close the water supplying valve earlier than closure of the purified water discharge valve or the cold water discharge valve and (ii) open the water supplying valve later than opening of the purified water discharge valve or the cold water discharge valve. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The water purifier of claim 6, wherein the first side of the filter unit is an output side of the filter unit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The water purifier of claim 2, further comprising: a purified water discharge valve that is installed at the purified water flow path, that is located downstream of the first division point, and that is configured to, based on a pressure change in the purified water flow path, control water flow inside the purified water flow path, wherein the cold water flow path is connected to a rejoin point of the purified water flow path between the purified water discharge valve and the water discharge unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The water purifier of claim 10, wherein the rejoin point of the purified water flow path is located between the water discharge unit and the first division point. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The water purifier of claim 1, wherein the water discharge unit includes: a faucet body; a first faucet part that is located inside the faucet body and that is coupled to an output water flow path at which the cold water flow path and the purified water flow path join together; and a second faucet part that is located inside the faucet body and that is coupled to the hot water flow path. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The water purifier of claim 1, wherein the cooling unit includes a cooling coil. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The water purifier of claim 1, wherein the second check valve is configured to prevent residual water in the purified water flow path and the cold water flow path from being discharged through the water discharge unit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The water purifier of claim 1, wherein the water purifier is a direct water type purifier that is configured to directly discharge water outside of the water purifier without storing the water in a water tank. ### Claim 16 A water purifier comprising: a water supply flow path that is configured to guide water and through which water is provided; a filter unit that is coupled to the water supply flow path and that is configured to purify water provided from the water supply flow path; a purified water flow path that is coupled to the filter unit and that is configured to guide water purified by the filter unit; a cold water flow path that is coupled to the purified water flow path and that is configured to guide a first portion of water from the purified water flow path, a hot water flow path that is coupled to the purified water flow path and that is configured to guide a second portion of water from the purified water flow path; a 3-directions connection pipe (i) that is coupled to the purified water flow path and configured to receive purified water from the purified water flow path, (ii) that is coupled to the cold water flow path and configured to receive cold water from the cold water flow path, and (iii) that couples the purified water flow path and the cold water flow path to a single output water flow path and configured to provide the purified water and the cold water to the single output water flow path; a water discharge faucet that accommodates the single output water flow path and the hot water flow path, that is configured to receive the purified water and the cold water provided through the single output water flow path, and that is configured to receive hot water provided through the hot water flow path; a main body that extends in a vertical direction and accommodates the filter unit therein; and a water discharge unit assembly that comprises a rotation part and a water discharge unit extending in a front direction from the rotation part to an outside of the water purifier, the rotation part being configured to rotate the water discharge unit in left and right directions about a center line of the rotation part within a predetermined angle, the center line extending parallel to the vertical direction of the main body, wherein the water discharge unit comprises: a first tube that defines a flow path connected to both of the purified water flow path and the cold water flow path, and a second tube that is separate from the first tube and that is connected to the hot water flow path. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The water purifier of claim 16, wherein the cold water flow path is divided from a first division point of the purified water flow path, and the hot water flow path is divided from a second division point of the purified water flow path disposed upstream of the first division point, and wherein the water purifier further comprises: a first check valve that is coupled to the single output water flow path and that is configured to control water flow inside the single output water flow path; and a second check valve that is coupled to a portion of the purified water flow path between the first division point and the second division point, and that is configured to control water flow inside the purified water flow path. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The water purifier of claim 16, wherein the water discharge faucet is disposed downstream of the 3-directions connection pipe. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The water purifier of claim 16, wherein the 3-directions connection pipe comprises: a first inlet coupled to the purified water flow path and configured to receive purified water from the purified water flow path; a second inlet coupled to the cold water flow path and configured to receive cold water from the cold water flow path; and an outlet coupled to the single outlet water flow path and configured to provide the purified water and the cold water to the single output water flow path. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The water purifier of claim 19, wherein the hot water flow path extends to the single outlet water flow path and connects to a position of the single outlet water flow path downstream of the outlet of the 3-directions connection pipe.