Patent US3578169A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3578169A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reverse-flow aquarium filter device
Assignee: KORHUMEL Inc A CORP OF
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Filing: 1969-03-07
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Granted: 1971-05-11
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Expires: 1989-03-07
Abstract
Abstract An aquarium water purification system employing a tertiary filter cycle utilizing a shallow gravel-trickling filter with underwater aeration and sedimentation followed by anaerobic action and final tertiary cycle, in a filter structure having the filter material thereof disposed in a removable replaceable cartridge.
Inventors
- 👤 Eugene B White
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 19:51
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K63/00; A01K63/04; A01K63/045; B; B01; B01D; B01D24/00; B01D24/002; B01D24/004; B01D24/02; B01D24/04; B01D24/06; B01D24/10; B01D24/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
248 words
In a purification system for aquariums, utilizing a tertiary filter cycle, the combination of a relatively shallow undergravel trickling filter comprising a tray structure, constructed to be disposed on the bottom of the aquarium tank, said tray structure having an outlet therein for water passing through said undergravel filter and being provided with a top wall forming a receiving surface for a primary filter material and a secondary filter material in the form of discrete particles, the secondary filter material having a particle size which is less than that of the primary filter material, said top wall having openings therein for the passage of water therethrough, which openings are smaller in size than the particles forming said secondary filter material, said tray structure being constructed to provide a plenum chamber for water passing through said openings, a structure forming a tertiary filter, pump means operatively connected with said tertiary filter structure for circulating a flow of water therethrough, the inlet of said pump means operatively communicating with said outlet of the tray structure whereby said tertiary filter structure is supplied from said plenum chamber, the outlet of said tertiary filter structure being disposed to return the filtered water to the aquarium, and means interposed between said plenum chamber and said tray outlet providing greater flow area out of said plenum chamber remote from said outlet than adjacent said outlet, tending to effect an equalization over the tray area in the volume of water passing through said undergravel filter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
248 words
In a purification system for aquariums, utilizing a tertiary filter cycle, the combination of a relatively shallow undergravel trickling filter comprising a tray structure, constructed to be disposed on the bottom of the aquarium tank, said tray structure having an outlet therein for water passing through said undergravel filter and being provided with a top wall forming a receiving surface for a primary filter material and a secondary filter material in the form of discrete particles, the secondary filter material having a particle size which is less than that of the primary filter material, said top wall having openings therein for the passage of water therethrough, which openings are smaller in size than the particles forming said secondary filter material, said tray structure being constructed to provide a plenum chamber for water passing through said openings, a structure forming a tertiary filter, pump means operatively connected with said tertiary filter structure for circulating a flow of water therethrough, the inlet of said pump means operatively communicating with said outlet of the tray structure whereby said tertiary filter structure is supplied from said plenum chamber, the outlet of said tertiary filter structure being disposed to return the filtered water to the aquarium, and means interposed between said plenum chamber and said tray outlet providing greater flow area out of said plenum chamber remote from said outlet than adjacent said outlet, tending to effect an equalization over the tray area in the volume of water passing through said undergravel filter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A purification system according to claim 1, wherein said tertiary filter structure is constructed for disposition exteriorly of the aquarium water, with said pump means operatively connecting said tertiary filter structure and said tray structure for transporting water from said plenum chamber to said tertiary filter structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A water purification system according to claim 2, wherein said pump means includes a base portion carried by said tray structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
A water purification system according to claim 2, comprising in further combination a cartridge casing removably disposed in the tertiary filter structure, and having a water inlet and a water outlet therein, said tertiary filter structure having filter material disposed in said cartridge casing and interposed between said water inlet and water outlet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
172 words
A water purification system according to claim 4, wherein said tertiary filter structure comprises a casing having a partition wall therein which defines a water inlet chamber at one side of said wall and a filtering chamber at the opposite side thereof, said filter cartridge being disposed in said filtering chamber and having a pair of opposite walls which respectively form said water inlet and water outlet, said partition wall forming a weir around which water may flow to said inlet wall, said casing having a water inlet communicating with said water inlet chamber through which water from the aquarium is supplied, and a water outlet communicating with the outlet side of said cartridge through wHich filtered water may be returned to the aquarium, said filter cartridge containing activated filter material in the form of coarse discrete particles of relatively large size and fine discrete particles of relatively small size, said material being interposed between said inlet and outlet sides and graded from coarse to fine in the direction of flow therethrough.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
76 words
A purification system according to claim 5, wherein said tertiary filter material is in the form of two layers, the layer of coarse material being disposed adjacent the inlet side and the layer of fine material being disposed adjacent the outlet side of said cartridge, and a partition member disposed between said layers having openings of a size that will permit the passage of water therethrough, but not the passage of said particles of filter material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
75 words
A purification system according to claim 1, wherein said tertiary filter structure is constructed for disposition in the aquarium water in direct association with said tray structure and having its inlet disposed adjacent said plenum chamber to directly receive water therefrom with the inlet of said pumping means being operatively connected to the water outlet of said tertiary filter structure and the outlet of said pump means arranged to return filtered water to the aquarium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A purification system according to claim 7, wherein said pump means is disposed within said tertiary filter structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
A water purification system according to claim 7, wherein said tray structure has an opening therein at one corner thereof of a size and shape complemental to the plan configuration of said tertiary filter structure whereby the latter may set on the bottom of an aquarium tank, with the filter inlet disposed below the material-supporting face of the tray structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
A water purification system according to claim 7, comprising in further combination, a cartridge casing removably disposed in the tertiary filter structure and having a water inlet and a water outlet therein, said filter material being disposed in said cartridge casing and interposed between said water inlet and water outlet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
172 words
A water purification system according to claim 10, wherein said tertiary filter structure comprises a casing having a partition wall therein which defines a water inlet chamber at one side of said wall and a filtering chamber at the opposite side thereof, said filter cartridge being disposed in said filtering chamber and having a pair of opposite walls which respectively form said water inlet and water outlet, said partition wall forming a weir around which water may flow to said inlet wall, said casing having a water inlet communicating with said water inlet chamber through which water from the aquarium is supplied, and a water outlet communicating with the outlet side of said cartridge through which filtered water may be returned to the aquarium, said filter cartridge containing activated filter material in the form of coarse discrete particles of relatively large size and fine discrete particles of relatively small size, said material being interposed between said inlet and outlet sides and graded from coarse to fine in the direction of flow therethrough.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
76 words
A purification system according to claim 11, wherein said tertiary filter material is in the form of two layers, the layer of coarse material being disposed adjacent the inlet side and the layer of fine material being disposed adjacent the outlet side of said cartridge, and a partition member disposed between said layers having openings of a size that will permit the passage of water therethrough, but not the passage of said particles of filter material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
A water purification system according to claim 1, wherein the upper face of said tray structure is inclined upwardly from adjacent said pump means whereby a tapered bed of filter material may be provided which has its greatest thickness adjacent said pump means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
89 words
A purification system according to claim 1, wherein said tray structurE comprises an upper section and a lower section, defining said plenum chamber therebetween, the upper section being provided substantially throughout its area with openings for the passage of water therethrough, which openings are less in size than the particles of filter material to be disposed thereon, the lower section forming said equalization means and being provided with openings of more than one size, with the size of the openings increasing progressively at increasing distances from the tray outlet.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A purification system according to claim 1, wherein the volume of said plenum chamber increases in a direction away from said tray outlet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
A purification system according to claim 1 wherein the combined thickness of the primary filter material and secondary filter material disposed on the tray structure decreases in a direction away from said tray outlet.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
74 words
A purification system according to claim 1, wherein said tertiary filter structure is provided with filter material arranged for the passage therethrough of the water to be filtered thereby, such filter material being disposed in a plurality of layers of discrete particles with the smallest size particles being disposed in the layer at the outlet side of said filter material and the largest size particles disposed in the layer at the inlet side thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
A purification system according to claim 1, wherein said secondary filter material is disposed on said tray in the form of a relatively thin layer and said primary filter material, in the form of a layer, is disposed upon said layer of secondary filter material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
A purification system according to claim 18, wherein the thickness of said layer of secondary filter material decreases in a direction away from said tray outlet, and said layer of primary filter material is of relatively uniform thickness.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A purification system according to claim 1, wherein said primary material comprises aquarium gravel, and said secondary material comprises an activated filter material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-10 | 1974-11-09 | 1975-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-10 | 1978-11-09 | 1979-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-10 | 1982-11-09 | 1983-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |