US 12,410,075 B2
Water softening device
Noriyoshi Ueya, Osaka (JP); Mai Saito, Osaka (JP); and Yasunari Maeda, Osaka (JP)
Assigned to Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd., Osaka (JP)
Appl. No. 17/925,820
Filed by Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd., Osaka (JP)
PCT Filed Apr. 8, 2021, PCT No. PCT/JP2021/014900
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 16, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/235128, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 25, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 2020-089790 (JP), filed on May 22, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0183105 A1, Jun. 15, 2023
Int. Cl. C02F 1/461 (2023.01); C02F 1/00 (2023.01); C02F 5/00 (2023.01)
CPC C02F 1/4618 (2013.01) [C02F 1/008 (2013.01); C02F 5/00 (2013.01); C02F 2201/005 (2013.01); C02F 2201/46125 (2013.01); C02F 2201/46145 (2013.01); C02F 2209/055 (2013.01); C02F 2209/06 (2013.01); C02F 2209/10 (2013.01); C02F 2209/11 (2013.01); C02F 2301/046 (2013.01)] 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A water softening device comprising:
an electrolysis device that generates alkaline water and acidic water by electrolysis;
a first circulation flow path and a second circulation flow path connected to the electrolysis device, the first circulation flow path and the second circulation flow path being capable of alternately passing the alkaline water and the acidic water generated by the electrolysis device;
a first sensor that detects a parameter of water flowing through the first circulation flow path;
a second sensor that detects a parameter of water flowing through the second circulation flow path; and
a controller,
wherein the controller
controls the electrolysis device to execute a first mode in which the alkaline water is allowed to flow through the first circulation flow path and the acidic water is allowed to flow through the second circulation flow path, and a second mode in which the acidic water is allowed to flow through the first circulation flow path and the alkaline water is allowed to flow through the second circulation flow path, and
controls to stop electrolysis by the electrolysis device based on a detection value of the first sensor or the second sensor in the first mode and the second mode
wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are any one of a pH sensor, a turbidity sensor, a conductivity sensor, a hardness sensor, a chromaticity sensor, and a TDS sensor
wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are any one of a pH sensor, a conductivity sensor, and a TDS sensor; and
the controller
determines whether or not a variation value of the detection value of the first sensor during a predetermined period is within a predetermined range in the first mode,
when it is determined that the variation value is within the predetermined range, then determines whether or not an increased value of the detection value of the first sensor during the predetermined period is the predetermined value or more,
controls to stop electrolysis by the electrolysis device when the increased value is determined to be the predetermined value or more,
determines whether or not a variation value of the detection value of the second sensor during a predetermined period is within a predetermined range in the second mode,
when it is determined that the variation value is within the predetermined range, then determines whether or not an increased value of the detection value of the second sensor during the predetermined period is a predetermined value or more, and
controls to stop electrolysis by the electrolysis device when the increased value is determined to be the predetermined value or more.