Filtration device for tank water for aquarium fish

Details Filtration device for tank water for aquarium fish Filtration device for tank water for aquarium fish

1999-06-14

2001-04-03

Simmons, David A. (Department: 1724)

Liquid purification or separation

Structural installation

Closed circulating system

C210S252000, C210S282000, C210S287000, C210S336000, C119S227000, C119S260000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06210567

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL AREA
This invention pertains to aquarium water filtration equipment with its main focus on smaller equipment size, maximum reduction of water to filter medium contact surface and ease of filer medium installation and replacement.
BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY
In order to successfully raise and breed aquarium fish such as goldfish, fresh water tropical fish and marine fish it is necessary to use a filter devise capable of purifying the aquarium water by trapping and breaking down debris such as fish waste and excess fish food.
A cross section diagram
FIG. 6
is an example of a conventional filtering device, commonly called the open system. Medium such as glass wool (
21
) and ceramic beads (
22
) are layered to form a filtration layer. Water in the tank (
23
) is siphoned by a pump (
24
) then passing through multiple holes (not shown) in the sprinkler head (
25
) and sprayed over the filtration layer. First the larger debris is trapped by the glass wool (
21
), next the ceramic beads (
22
) function as biological filter (bacteria in the medium breaks down the organic material such as fish waste, decomposing plants matte, fish food, etc. into nitrate, a harmless compound). Then the filtered water is returned to the tank (
23
).
System such as the ones described above is either fixed at the upper part of a tank as part of the cover or placed separately from the tank. There are several drawbacks to this type of filtration device. To accommodate larger quantity of filter medium, larger aquarium requires a larger filtration device relative to the aquarium capacity. Larger filtration device takes away from the esthetic value of an aquarium. In a larger device when the filter medium is not completely even in consistency water in the filtration device tends to follow its own narrow path instead of filtering throughout the medium, whereby causing an uneconomical and inefficiency condition called channeling. Increasing the speed of water flow through the system can make a smaller sized filtration device to function sufficiently, but the turbulence from fast flowing water may affect the fish adversely.
In order to promote the growth of necessary bacteria, the open system is designed to expose the filter surface for oxygen intake, but this allows the necessary element for plant growth, carbon dioxide, to escape and retards the growth of aquarium plants.
Further more, to keep the aquarium water consistently clean; filter medium must be cleansed or replaced regularly. In the conventional filtering device, removing and replacing specific filter medium could not be performed readily. As a result sudden and unexpected drop in the number of beneficial bacteria occurs from removal of the entire filter medium for cleaning and replacement
FIG. 7
, a schematic cross section diagram, illustrates another type of conventional filtration device commonly known as the sealed system. In this system, water from the tank (
23
) is siphoned up by a pump (
24
) and forced through a sealed cylinder or column (
26
) containing layers of several different types of filter medium (
27
). Similar to the aforementioned system, water will establish its own narrow path in the areas of least resistance in the filter medium (
27
) resulting in channeling where only a very limited portion of the filter medium is actually utilized. Difficulty in changing or cleaning the filter medium as well as the placement requirement of the device at a level below the tank (
23
) to insure the release of gas developing in the system are other disadvantages.
EXPLICATION OF THE INVENTION
The purpose of this invention is to design a compact sealed forced water aquarium filtration equipment that is easy to remove isolated filter medium for cleaning and replacement thus providing the solution to the problems common to the conventional aquarium filtration device.
The special design of this forced water aquarium filter system consists of a thin box shaped casing. The casing is divided vertically into several filtration chambers using partitions. Each of the multiple chambers holds readily removable cartridge of single filter medium. Water flow is designed so that the water from the tank is forced in through the top panel of the cartridge, down through the base panel, from the adjacent base panel up to the to panel in a down-up, up-down zigzag pattern.
The above water flow design successfully reduces the size of the filter system without compromising the efficiency. By directing the water flow through the medium in a zigzag pattern following results can be reached: reduction of medium to water contact surface, prevent channeling and increasing the distance of water passing through the medium.
Additionally, simplicity of removal and replacement of single filter medium for cleaning and replacement accomplished by installing cartridges for individual filter medium in each of the filtration chambers.


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