Aquarium filter device

Claim 2

A filter system for aquariums and the like, utilizing aerobic action, comprising a filter structure adapted to be disposed exteriorly of the body of water in the aquarium tank, said filter structure having a water inlet adapted to operatively communicate with water in the aquarium tank, and a water outlet, a pump adapted to deliver water under pressure, a tray-like structure, upon which discrete material may be supported, adapted to lie on the bottom of the aquarium tank, said tray-like structure being adapted to form a plurality of independent closed chambers at the bottom of the aquarium tank and beneath the surface of said tray, closed conduit means in communication with said pump and said plurality of independent closed chambers, the surface of said tray-like structure having openings therein adapted to operatively communicate with the main body of water, with said openings being adapted to form the only water outlets for the respective chambers and disposed to provide relatively uniform flow and distribution therefrom, said closed conduit means operatively connecting the filter outlet to the respective chambers for supplying filtered water, in approximately equal volumes to the respective independent chambers under sufficient pressure to force the returning water upwardly relatively uniformly into the main body of water with sufficient force to provide a flushing action with respect to said tray-like structure sufficient to flush debris and foreign material into the main body of water for ultimate withdrawal and accumulation in said filter.

Claim 3

A filter system for aquariums and the like, utilizing aerobic action, comprising a filter structure adapted to be disposed exteriorly of the body of water in the aquarium tank, said filter structure having a casing in which is disposed a filter body, the top of which is provided with a water inlet and the bottom of which is provided with a water outlet, said casing being constructed to form a water chamber laterally adjacent the filter body and communicating with the outlet in the bottom thereof, a tray-like structure, adapted to lie on the bottom of the aquarium tank, said tray-like structure having side and opposed top and bottom walls forming at least one closed chamber, the upper surface of said opposed top wall being adapted tO support discrete material, partition means extending between said opposed top and bottom walls and dividing the chamber into a plurality of respective independent sections, the top walls of said sections defining substantially equal areas and having openings therein for providing a relatively uniform flow throughout the area of a section, with such openings being adapted to form the only water outlets for the respective section, closed conduit means forming a supply and distribution conduit extending adjacent an edge of the tray-like structure, said conduit having a water inlet opening therein for the supply of filtered water, under pressure, thereto, said supply and distribution conduit adapted to have passageways therein for the distribution of approximately equal volumes of water therefrom to each respective section, an impeller type water pump having a suction side and a pressure side, the suction side of said pump being operatively disposed in the lower portion of said water chamber for withdrawing water therefrom, closed conduit means connecting the pressure side of said pump to the water inlet opening of the distribution conduit, means for actuating said pump, said filter structure being constructed for external mounting on an aquarium with the top of the filter body so disposed below the surface of the main body of water in the aquarium that the surface of such main body represents the maximum head of water above the filter body, syphon means operatively connecting the main body of water and the top of the filter body, and manually adjustable valve means in said conduit at the pressure side of said pump for controlling the water volume discharged by said pump, whereby such volume may be so adjusted that the water level in said water chamber may be operatively maintained at a height intermediate the pump inlet and the surface of the body of water above said filter body to provide a pressure head thereacross, and at the same time the water supplied to said tray-like structure will be forced upwardly relatively uniformly into the main body of water with sufficient force to provide a flushing action with respect to said tray-like structure, sufficient to flush debris and foreign material into the main body of water for ultimate withdrawal and accumulation in said filter.

Claim 4

A filter system for aquariums and the like, utilizing aerobic action, comprising a filter structure adapted to be disposed exteriorly of the body of water in the aquarium tank, said filter structure having a casing in which is disposed a filter body, the top of which is provided with a water inlet and the bottom of which is provided with a water outlet, said casing being constructed to form a water chamber laterally adjacent the filter body and communicating with the outlet in the bottom thereof, a tray-like structure, adapted to lie on the bottom of the aquarium tank, said tray-like structure having side and opposed top and bottom walls forming at least one closed chamber, the upper surface of said opposed top wall being adapted tO support discrete material, partition means extending between said opposed top and bottom walls and dividing the chamber into a plurality of respective independent sections, the top walls of said sections defining substantially equal areas and having openings therein for providing a relatively uniform flow throughout the area of a section, with such openings being adapted to form the only water outlets for the respective section, closed conduit means forming a supply and distribution conduit extending adjacent an edge of the tray-like structure, said conduit having a water inlet opening therein for the supply of filtered water, under pressure, thereto, said supply and distribution conduit adapted to have passageways therein for the distribution of approximately equal volumes of water therefrom to each respective section, an impeller type water pump having a suction side and a pressure side, the suction side of said pump being operatively disposed in the lower portion of said water chamber for withdrawing water therefrom, closed conduit means connecting the pressure side of said pump to the water inlet opening of the distribution conduit, means for actuating said pump, said filter structure being constructed for external mounting on an aquarium with the top of the filter body so disposed below the surface of the main body of water in the aquarium that the surface of such main body represents the maximum head of water above the filter body, syphon means operatively connecting the main body of water and the top of the filter body, and manually adjustable valve means in said conduit at the pressure side of said pump for controlling the water volume discharged by said pump, whereby such volume may be so adjusted that the water level in said water chamber may be operatively maintained at a height intermediate the pump inlet and the surface of the body of water above said filter body to provide a pressure head thereacross, and at the same time the water supplied to said tray-like structure will be forced upwardly relatively uniformly into the main body of water with sufficient force to provide a flushing action with respect to said tray-like structure, sufficient to flush debris and foreign material into the main body of water for ultimate withdrawal and accumulation in said filter.

Claim 5

A filter system according to claim 2, wherein said supply conduit is disposed adjacent the rear edge of said tray-like structure and above the latter, with the top wall thereof forming the bottom wall of such conduit and openings in such wall forming the supply passageways for the respective sections thereof.

Claim 6

A filter system according to claim 3, wherein said tray-like structure comprises an intermediate tray-like member and a similar member at each side thereof forming three closed chambers, each being divided into respective independent sections, and each tray-like member having a supply conduit, and a plenum conduit carried by said intermediate tray member having a water inlet for connection to the pressure side of said pump, and having outlets therein communicating with the respective supply conduits of the individual tray members.

Claim 7

A filter system according to claim 2, wherein said tray-like structure comprises a plurality of individual tray-like members cooperable to cover the entire bottom area of an aquarium tank, each having a water inlet for the supply of filtered water thereto.

Claim 8

A filter system for aquariums and the like, utilizing aerobic action, comprising a filter structure adapted to be disposed exteriorly of the body of water in the aquarium tank, said filter structure having a water inlet adapted to operatively communicate with water in the aquarium tank and a water outlet, a tray-like structure, adapted to lie on the bottom of the aquarium tank, said tray-like structure having side and opposed top and bottom walls forming at least one closed chamber, the upper surface of said opposed top wall being adapted to support discrete material, partition means extending between Said opposed top and bottom walls and dividing the chamber into a plurality of respective independent sections, the walls of said sections operatively bonding on the main body of water defining substantially equal areas and having openings therein for providing a relatively uniform flow throughout the area of a section, with such openings adapted to form the only water outlets for the respective sections, closed conduit means forming a supply and distribution conduit extending adjacent an edge of the tray-like structure, said supply and distribution conduit having a water inlet opening therein for the supply of filtered water, under pressure, thereto, said supply and distribution conduit adapted to have passageways therein for the distribution of approximately equal volumes of water therefrom to each respective section, means operatively connecting said filter outlet to the water inlet conduit, for supplying water under pressure to said tray-like structure whereby such water will be forced upwardly relatively uniformly into the main body of water with sufficient force to provide a flushing action with respect to said tray-like structure, sufficient to flush debris and foreign material into the main body of water for ultimate withdrawal and accumulation in said filtering step.

Claim 9

A filter system for aquariums and the like, utilizing aerobic action, comprising a filter structure adapted to be disposed exteriorly of the body of water in the aquarium tank, said filter structure having a water inlet adapted to operatively communicate with water in the aquarium tank and a water outlet, a tray-like structure, adapted to lie on the bottom of the aquarium tank, said tray-like structure having side and opposed top and bottom walls forming at least one closed chamber, the upper surface of said opposed top wall being adapted to support discrete material, partition means extending between Said opposed top and bottom walls and dividing the chamber into a plurality of respective independent sections, the walls of said sections operatively bonding on the main body of water defining substantially equal areas and having openings therein for providing a relatively uniform flow throughout the area of a section, with such openings adapted to form the only water outlets for the respective sections, closed conduit means forming a supply and distribution conduit extending adjacent an edge of the tray-like structure, said supply and distribution conduit having a water inlet opening therein for the supply of filtered water, under pressure, thereto, said supply and distribution conduit adapted to have passageways therein for the distribution of approximately equal volumes of water therefrom to each respective section, means operatively connecting said filter outlet to the water inlet conduit, for supplying water under pressure to said tray-like structure whereby such water will be forced upwardly relatively uniformly into the main body of water with sufficient force to provide a flushing action with respect to said tray-like structure, sufficient to flush debris and foreign material into the main body of water for ultimate withdrawal and accumulation in said filtering step.

Claim 10

A filter system according to claim 6, wherein said supply conduit is disposed adjacent the rear edge of said tray-like structure and above the latter, with the top wall thereof forming the bottom wall of such conduit and openings in such wall forming the supply passageways for the respective sections thereof.

Claim 11

A filter system according to claim 7, wherein said tray-like structure comprises an intermediate tray-like member and a similar member at each side thereof forming three closed chambers, each being divided into respective independent sections, and each tray-like member having a supply conduit, and a plenum conduit carried by said intermeidate tray member having a water inlet for connection to said water supply means, and having outlets therein communicating with the respective supply conduits of the individual tray members.

Claim 12

A filter system according to claim 7, wherein said tray-like structure comprises a plurality of individual tray-like members cooperable to cover the entire bottom area of an aquarium tank, each having a water inlet for the supply of filtered water thereto.