Aquarium air-lift water pump, aerator, and filter
US5139659A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 11, 1991 |
| Grant date | Aug 18, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 11, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA01K63/047
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A combined water pump, aerator, and filter for an aquarium comprises a central connecting manifold 68, a vertical outer air tube (26) which extends down into a fish tank (12). Pressurized air (22) is supplied to the manifold which directs it to the outer tube. It flows down to the bottom thereof to a bubble reducer (36) which breaks the air into small bubbles. These travel by gravity up an inner, water-lift tube (28) with entrained water from the tank, thereby pumping water from the tank up the inner tube. The water-lift tube extends up into the manifold and into a turret (58A) at the top of a replaceable filter cartridge (56) above the tank; at this point the air and water separate and flow down into the housing which contains filter media (52, 54). The air exists via a hole (60) in the side of the cartridge while the water flows down via gravity through the media which filter it. The filtered water flows out via holes (62) into the bottom of the housing to a vertical heater support and outflow tube (16) and back into the tank where it is heated by a heater (72) in a conventional manner.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.