Aquarium filtration device

Claim 2

An aquarium filtration device for use with an aquarium tank containing a first volume of water, said device comprising a filtering tank operatively associated with said aquarium tank containing a second lesser volume of water and means for filtering the same, a siphon operatively arranged in communication with both said volumes of water so as to serve as an inlet to said filtering tank during unidirectional fluid flow of water from said aquarium tank into said filtering tank, a filtering tank outlet conduit having first and second operative openings at opposite ends thereof operatively arranged with said first operative opening submerged in said water volume in said filtering tank to define an inlet opening and said second operative opening in communication with said water volume in said aquarium tank to define an outlet opening such that there is unidirectional fluid flow from the second operative opening of said outlet conduit into said aquarium tank, and a valveless pumping means located in alignment with said submerged first operative opening of said outlet conduit including a waterdisplacing member operatively arranged for movement through strokes between a position removed from said outlet conduit and an alternate position in closer proximity thereto such that during each of said strokes away from said alternate position, an amount of previously filtered water within said filtering tank is forced into said outlet conduit, whereby said amount of previously filtered water by displacement causes said unidirectional fluid flow through said outlet conduit and a corresponding amount of water in opposing unidirectional flow to move from said aquarium tank into said filtering tank.

Claim 3

An aquarium filtration device as defined in claim 1, wherein said submerged first operative inlet opening of said outlet conduit is flared to facilitate the movement of water into said conduit.

Claim 4

An aquarium filtration device as defined in claim 2, wherein said outlet conduit is adjustably movable through a range of positions of movement relative to said water-displacing member to thereby selectively control the amount of water forced into said outlet conduit during each of said strokes of said water-displacing member away from said alternate position.

Claim 5

An aquarium filtration device as defined in claim 3, including a wall bounding the path of movement traversed by said water-displacing member during said strokes thereof effective to channel water into said outlet conduit.

Claim 6

An aquarium filtration device for use with an aquarium tank containing a first volume of water, said device comprising a filtering assembly supported on said aquarium tank including a filtering tank containing a second lesser volume of water, a raised trivet located within said filtering tank in a clearance position from said tank bottom wall so as to define a pump compartment therebelow and filtering material supported on said trivet, a siphon operatively arranged in communication with both said volumes of water so as to serve as an inlet to said filtering tank during unidirectional fluid flow of water from said aquarium tank into said filtering tank, a filtering assembly outlet conduit having first and second operative openings at opposite ends thereof operatively arranged with said first operative opening projected into said filtering tank pump compartment to define an inlet opening and said second operative opening in communication with said water volume in said aquarium tank to define an outlet opening such that there is unidirectional fluid floW from the second operative opening of said outlet conduit into said aquarium tank, and a valveless pumping means located in said pump compartment in alignment with said submerged first operative opening of said outlet conduit including a water-displacing piston operatively arranged for movement through strokes between a position removed from said outlet conduit and an alternate position in closer proximity thereto such that during each of said strokes away from said alternate position, an amount of previously filtered water within said filtering tank is forced into said outlet conduit, whereby said amount of previously filtered water by displacement causes said unidirectional fluid flow through said outlet conduit and a corresponding amount of water in opposing unidirectional flow to move from said aquarium tank into said filtering tank.

Claim 7

An aquarium filtration device for use with an aquarium tank containing a first volume of water, said device comprising a filtering assembly supported on said aquarium tank including a filtering tank containing a second lesser volume of water, a raised trivet located within said filtering tank in a clearance position from said tank bottom wall so as to define a pump compartment therebelow and filtering material supported on said trivet, a siphon operatively arranged in communication with both said volumes of water so as to serve as an inlet to said filtering tank during unidirectional fluid flow of water from said aquarium tank into said filtering tank, a filtering assembly outlet conduit having first and second operative openings at opposite ends thereof operatively arranged with said first operative opening projected into said filtering tank pump compartment to define an inlet opening and said second operative opening in communication with said water volume in said aquarium tank to define an outlet opening such that there is unidirectional fluid floW from the second operative opening of said outlet conduit into said aquarium tank, and a valveless pumping means located in said pump compartment in alignment with said submerged first operative opening of said outlet conduit including a water-displacing piston operatively arranged for movement through strokes between a position removed from said outlet conduit and an alternate position in closer proximity thereto such that during each of said strokes away from said alternate position, an amount of previously filtered water within said filtering tank is forced into said outlet conduit, whereby said amount of previously filtered water by displacement causes said unidirectional fluid flow through said outlet conduit and a corresponding amount of water in opposing unidirectional flow to move from said aquarium tank into said filtering tank.

Claim 8

An aquarium filtration device as defined in claim 5, wherein the portion of said outlet conduit bounding said first operative inlet opening has an outwardly flaring configuration and said conduit is adjustably movable through a range of positions of movement relative to said water-displacing piston to thereby selectively control the amount of water forced into said outlet conduit during each of said strokes of said piston away from said alternate position.

Claim 9

An aquarium filtration device as defined in claim 5, wherein said piston is fabricated at least in part of magnetically attracted material and is surrounded by a magnetic field-producing coil effective, upon operation, to actuate said piston through successive strokes.

Claim 10

An aquarium-filtering system as defined in claim 7, wherein said magnetic field-producing coil is sealed off from said water volume in said filtering tank.

Claim 11

An aquarium filtration device as defined in claim 2, wherein said water-displacing member is provided therein with a bore extending through one end thereof and a small opening at the other end of said water-displacing member communicating with said bore, said small opening being adjacent to and in alignment with said submerged first operative inlet opening such that during each of said strokes away from said alternate position, a jet of water issues out of said small opening and is directed into said first operative inlet opening of said outlet conduit.

Claim 12

An aquarium filtration device as defined in claim 9, wherein said filtering tank outlet conduit is oriented vertically, and the movement of said water-displacing member during said strokes is similarly vertically oriented.

Claim 13

A filtration device for use with an aquarium tank, said device comprising a filtering tank operatively associated with said aquarium tank, said filtering tank containing a volume of water, a filtering tank outlet conduit having first and second operative openings at opposite ends thereof operatively arranged with said first operative opening submerged in said water volume in said filtering tank to define an inlet opening and said second operative opening in communication with said aquarium tank to define an outlet opening such that there is fluid flow of water from said second operative outlet opening of said outlet conduit into said aquarium tank, said submerged first operative opening of said outlet conduit including an outwardly flaring configuration to facilitate the movement of water into said conduit, and a valveless pumping means including a water-displacing piston operatively arranged for movement through strokes between a position removed from said first operative opening of said outlet conduit and an alternate position in closer proximity thereto, said piston being provided therein with a bore extending through one end thereof and a small opening at the other end of said piston communicating with said bore, said small opening being adjacent to and in alignment with said flared first operative opening such that during each of said strokes away from said alternate position, a jet of water issues out of said small opening and is directed into said flaRed opening of said outlet conduit, whereby said jet of water by displacement causes a fluid flow of water through said outlet conduit to said second operative opening from where the water flows into said aquarium tank.

Claim 14

A filtration device for use with an aquarium tank, said device comprising a filtering tank operatively associated with said aquarium tank, said filtering tank containing a volume of water, a filtering tank outlet conduit having first and second operative openings at opposite ends thereof operatively arranged with said first operative opening submerged in said water volume in said filtering tank to define an inlet opening and said second operative opening in communication with said aquarium tank to define an outlet opening such that there is fluid flow of water from said second operative outlet opening of said outlet conduit into said aquarium tank, said submerged first operative opening of said outlet conduit including an outwardly flaring configuration to facilitate the movement of water into said conduit, and a valveless pumping means including a water-displacing piston operatively arranged for movement through strokes between a position removed from said first operative opening of said outlet conduit and an alternate position in closer proximity thereto, said piston being provided therein with a bore extending through one end thereof and a small opening at the other end of said piston communicating with said bore, said small opening being adjacent to and in alignment with said flared first operative opening such that during each of said strokes away from said alternate position, a jet of water issues out of said small opening and is directed into said flaRed opening of said outlet conduit, whereby said jet of water by displacement causes a fluid flow of water through said outlet conduit to said second operative opening from where the water flows into said aquarium tank.