WO1999041980A1

WO1999041980A1 - Device for moving aquarium water

Info

Publication number: WO1999041980A1
Application number: PCT/BR1998/000015
Authority: WO
Inventors: João Carlos BASSO
Original assignee: Basso Joao Carlos
Priority date: 1998-02-20
Filing date: 1998-04-02
Publication date: 1999-08-26
Also published as: BR9800752A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hydraulic device specially developed for moving aquarium water comprising (i) a 90° bent tube (1); (ii) a rotating bushing (4) coupled to the inlet (2) of said bent tube (1); (iii) a connecting base (5) for said bushing (4); and (iv) a nozzle (6) for controlling the water flow and rotation of the device coupled to the outlet (3) of said bent tube (1). Said device is suitable to be used either in sea aquariums or fresh water aquariums.

Description

"DEVICE FOR MOVING AQUARIUM WATER"

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to a device specially developed for generating aquarium water movement.

More particularly, the present invention is related to a hydraulic device to be dipped into aquariums and thus generate an overall oscillation in the water therein towards several directions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Aquarium cultivation is within the five greatest hobbies all over the world and is presently provided with means and devices for providing the fish with conditions closer to those found in their natural habitat, either specific sea and/or ocean conditions as found in sea aquariums or conditions of rivers and lakes as found in fresh water aquariums. One of the most important conditions is provide the aquarium water with movement. As is well known by people who own aquariums, hereinafter referred to as "aquarium cultivator", the movement of the water plays an important role with respect to the other conditions that should be kept at such levels that are not harmful to the fish, as an example the oxygen level, the feeding cycle, the lighting, and the like. Thus, it is possible to be aware of the vital importance of a means for providing an optimum aquarium water movement, no matter if they are seawater or fresh water aquariums, aquariums for industrial purposes or even those designed for hobby.

There is only a few means in the aquarium cultivation for providing aquarium water movement. Basically, two kinds of devices are now available.

The first one, which is known as 'Wave Maker" and basically comprises four electronically actuated pumps that can be reciprocally connected, from one to four of them. The purpose of four pumps is to generate aquatic streams towards four directions within the aquarium.

The second one, is known as "Osci-Wave" and is provided with some improvements towards the first one. The main improvement is related to the aquatic streams generated thereby. The only pump of this device can be positioned at angles ranging up to 180°.

However, said devices have limitations with regard to the aquatic streams generated thereby. While the first device "Wave Maker" can only generate aquatic streams towards four stationary directions, the second one "Osci-Wave" is restrained to a 180° coverage area thus not covering the full area of the aquarium. The performance of devices disclosed in the state of the art are considered to be unsatisfactory for the purpose they have been designed to. In addition to this disadvantage, the pumps of such devices are kept within the aquarium water, thus bringing about a considerable filling of inner space as well as functional problems with the movable parts of the pumps. The result is a number of frequent forced breakdowns for the maintenance thereof in such a way that their useful life is drastically reduced.

Another restraining factor of such devices is the high cost they are sold at, what limits its acquisition by most of the aquarium cultivator. In such devices, the need for external space adjacent to the aquarium walls for the installation thereof is still a known fact.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to overcome the failures of the devices for generating movement in the water of prior art aquariums.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device for generating aquarium water movement that may satisfactorily fulfill the requirements of the natural habitat of fish.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for generating aquarium water movement which device can have a long useful life, can be easy for contructing and installing, and which does not require maintenance and can be cost-effective. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects, improvements and effects of the device for moving aquarium water of the present invention shall be apparent to those skilled in the art from the drawings, wherein:

- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device according to the present invention;

- Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the rotating bent tube;

- Figure 3 is a longitudinal view of the connecting and nesting base; - Figure 4 is a longitudinal view of the rotating bushing;

- Figure 5 is a longitudinal view of the flow and rotation control nozzle;

- Figure 6 is a longitudinal view of an alternative part of the device of the present invention; - Figure 7 is a longitudinal view of an alternative configuration for the control nozzle; and

- Figure 8 is a schematic view showing an example of the water flow distribution in the aquarium.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in Figure 1, the device for moving aquarium water according to the present invention comprises a bent tube (1) having an angle of 90° and a water inlet (2) and an outlet (3). In said inlet (2) a rotating bushing (4) is connected within a connecting base (5) with the air blowing tube of a pump (not shown). The outlet (3) of said bent tube (1) has connected thereto a nozzle for controlling the water flow and the rotation of the device.

Figure 2 shows said inlet (2) having a depressed portion (2') and a backstop (2") and said outlet (3) having a depressed portion (3') and a backstop (3"). The length of said portions (2'; 3') can be variable and are designed to thoroughly couple the rotating bushing (4) and the control nozzle (6), respectively, over them.

Figures 3 and 4 show the base (5) of the device wherein on a first end (5') is connected a rotating bushing (4) and on the opposite end (5") is connected a pump piping (not shown). The dimension of the section (5') where the rotating bushing (4) is coupled is smaller than that of the section (5") where the pump piping is coupled. This arrangement is due to the configuration of the rotating bushing (4) itself which is provided with an oblong tube portion (4') ending in a collar (4"). In the inner portion said base (5) is provided with a N-shaped shoulder (7) at the border of said constricted section having an angle α of approximately 45° whereon said collar (4') of the rotating bushing (4) is thoroughly supported. This positioning can be better seen in Figure 1. It should be appreciated that, since the bushing (4) is a rotating part, and thus movable, its external dimensions should be smaller than the inner dimensions of the base (5), so that a small gap can exist between them for assuring the optimum rotation of said bushing within said base. Mother important feature related to the maintenance of said gap between the bushing (4) and the base (5) is that, because the device is within the aquarium water, there shall always be a small liquid film between these portions which shall promote a self- lubrication of the parts that may hypothetically be in constant rotating contact with each other.

The nozzle (6) for controlling the water flow and rotation of the device of the present invention is shown in Figure 5. As can be seen, said control nozzle (6) is a tube with a restrained inner section (6') and an oblique outlet (6") having a angle β of approximately 10°. Said angle β plays a critical role in guiding the flow of the water recirculated by the pump towards the interior of the aquarium and making the bushing (4) rotate. Therefore, said nozzle (6) can be rotated in 360° for guiding the water flow according to the better position for generating the water movement within the aquarium media. The rotation of the nozzle (6) in 360° can be obtained in any of the several different configurations and dimensions of the aquariums.

.Alternately, as shown in Figure 6, said bushing (4) can be replaced by a small bearing (8) that shall be similarly connected within the base (5). In this case, said base (5) shall not need to have the N-shaped shoulder (7) provided in its inner profile.

Alternately, still as shown in Figure 7, the control nozzle (6) may have a straight configuration and internally provided in its outlet with a wedge-shaped shoulder (9) that shall provide the same effect as that of the oblique outlet (6"). For such, said wedge-shaped shoulder (9) has an inclination angle of approximately 10°. W wOw 99^y/^/4198w0 ' PCT/BR98/00015

The inventive device for moving aquarium water has small dimensions. Therefore it is suitable to be submerged in the aquarium water. The preferred external dimensions for the device of the present invention shall not exceed approximately 67 mm of length by 67 mm of height when fully assembled. The inner diameter is approximately 11 mm and it can be variable. The most preferred external dimensions are approximately 67 mm of length by approximately 52 mm of height. Of course anyone skilled in the art shall know how to properly dimension the part in accordance with the aquarium water volume.

The device according to the present invention shall be coupled to a small pump which may be the pump generally used in aquariums which may range, for example from a 500 1/h pump to a high flow rate quiet one type pump.

Once the inventive device is installed and the recirculation pump is actuated, the pressure of the water flow generated by the pump in the aquarium liquid media will start the actuation of the set comprised by the bent tube (1) plus the control nozzle (6) in a rotating direction over its vertical axis which movement is generated by the rotation of the bushing (4) supported on the shoulder (7) of the base (5) or by the bearing (8). Of course the flow of water from the control nozzle will sweep the full area of the aquarium, thus generating a constant movement in the water at a 360° angle and towards several directions at the same time. This fact can be better seen by the flow indicating arrows shown in Figure 8. The inventive device generates a full and gentle movement in the aquarium water either salty water or fresh water aquariums. Among other benefits said oscillation provides: (i) a greater turbulence of the sediments present in the water, thus providing a better cleaning of same; (ii) elimination of undesirable anaerobic zones within the aquarium; (iii) a better aeration and consequent increase in the water oxygen content; (iv) a larger "forced" displacement of fish within the aquarium; (v) the invertebrates perception of the inverted water flow; and (vi) the desirable dispersion of oligoelements throughout the aquarium media.

The device for moving aquarium water according to the present invention does not require any sort of preventive and/or corrective maintenance. Its components made of nontoxic material can all be coupled to one another and do not have metallic parts subject to corrosion or other weather effects.

Claims

1. A device for moving aquarium water which comprises: (i) a 90┬░ bent tube;

(ii) a rotating bushing coupled to the inlet of said bent tube; (iii) a connecting base for said bushing; and

(iv) a nozzle for controlling the water flow and rotation of the device coupled to the outlet of said bent tube.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said inlet and said outlet of the bent tube has both a depressed portion and a backstop.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said rotating bushing is a part comprised of an oblong tube portion ended in a collar.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein said base of the device has a N-shaped shoulder whereon said collar of said rotating bushing is supported.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein said N-shaped shoulder has an ╬▒ angle of approximately 45┬░.

6. A device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the external dimensions of the bushing are smaller than the inner dimensions of the base. 10

7. A device according to claim 1 wherein said control nozzle comprises a tube with a restrained inner section and an oblique outlet.

8. A device according to claim 7 wherein said oblique outlet has a ╬▓ angle of approximately 10┬░.

9. A device according to one of claims 7 or 8 wherein said nozzle (6) can be rotated 360┬░ for guiding the water flow.

10. A device according to claim 1 wherein said device is also provided with a bearing instead of the rotating bushing.

11. A device according to claim 1 wherein said control nozzle is also provided with a straight outlet having a wedge-shaped shoulder instead of the oblique outlet.

12. A device according to claim 11 wherein said wedge has an inclination angle of approximately 10┬░.