US3814254A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Aquarium cleansing apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-10-18
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Granted: 1974-06-04
•
Expires: 1992-10-18
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for maintaining a clean environment in an aquarium. A false bottom having a perforate top and defining an open flow space thereunder is placed in an aquarium and is covered with a layer of gravel. An air-lift pump continuously pumps water out of the flow space and thereby circulates water downward through the gravel, and the gravel acts as a filter bed to collect wastes. A standpipe integral with the false bottom forms part of the airlift pump and defines an open flow channel of large capacity from beneath the false bottom through the filter bed. Periodically, e.g., once a week, water is discharged from the tank through the standpipe, preferably with a piston pump, so as to produce a strong pulsating, flushing flow downward through the gravel bed, which cleans the gravel and removes accumulated waste from the tank, without disturbing the gravel or any decorative plants of the like which may be present. The air lift pump desirably includes a bottom-slotted conduit extending transversely beneath the false bottom, an air inlet pipe at one end thereof, and an upstanding aerator pipe within the standpipe. This provides a two-stage pumping action, first, within the aerator pipe and, second, within the standpipe, which produces strong continuous circulation, and good aeration of the water.
Inventors
- 👤 P Schatz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:30
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K63/00; A01K63/04; A01K63/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
277 words
Apparatus for maintaining a clean environment in an aquarium comprising: a perforate false bottom for supporting a gravel bed above the bottom of the aquarium over a predetermined area thereof and for defining a flow space under the false bottom and gravel bed over such area; a standpipe upstanding from said false bottom defining a passage from said flow space and having an outlet above the gravel bed; means for continuously circulating water downward through the gravel bed and into the flow space to deposit waste material in the gravel bed over said predetermined area; and means for periodically withdrawing water rapidly through the standpipe from said open flow space and discharging the same from the aquarium, said means including a water withdrawal device, connection means to establish a suction connection between said device and the outlet of said standpipe which connection is substantially closed against direct entry of water from the body of water in the aquarium, and a discharge conduit to convey withdrawn water to a discharge point outside the aquarium, said flow space being substantially closed except for entrance of water through the perforate false bottom over said predetermined area and withdrawal of water through said standpipe and water withdrawal device, said water withdrawal device being constructed and arranged to withdraw water through the standpipe in such quantities as to cause rapid flushing flow downward through the gravel bed over said entire predetermined area to remove deposited waste material therefrom and to discharge the waste material from the aquarium through said discharge conduit, whereby waste material is removed from said gravel bed substantially without roiling or clouding the body of water in the aquarium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
277 words
Apparatus for maintaining a clean environment in an aquarium comprising: a perforate false bottom for supporting a gravel bed above the bottom of the aquarium over a predetermined area thereof and for defining a flow space under the false bottom and gravel bed over such area; a standpipe upstanding from said false bottom defining a passage from said flow space and having an outlet above the gravel bed; means for continuously circulating water downward through the gravel bed and into the flow space to deposit waste material in the gravel bed over said predetermined area; and means for periodically withdrawing water rapidly through the standpipe from said open flow space and discharging the same from the aquarium, said means including a water withdrawal device, connection means to establish a suction connection between said device and the outlet of said standpipe which connection is substantially closed against direct entry of water from the body of water in the aquarium, and a discharge conduit to convey withdrawn water to a discharge point outside the aquarium, said flow space being substantially closed except for entrance of water through the perforate false bottom over said predetermined area and withdrawal of water through said standpipe and water withdrawal device, said water withdrawal device being constructed and arranged to withdraw water through the standpipe in such quantities as to cause rapid flushing flow downward through the gravel bed over said entire predetermined area to remove deposited waste material therefrom and to discharge the waste material from the aquarium through said discharge conduit, whereby waste material is removed from said gravel bed substantially without roiling or clouding the body of water in the aquarium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said means for circulating water downward through the gravel bed comprises air lift pump means operative to pump water upward through said standpipe from said flow space, and thereby induce said downward circulation through the gravel bed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
93 words
Apparatus as in claim 2 in which said air-lift pump means comprises an aerator tube disposed in said standpipe, air conduit means to supply air to the bottom of said tube, and a port to supply water to said tube from said flow space so as to mix water and air in said tube to induce air lift pumping action therethrough, said aerator tube discharging to the standpipe intermediate the height thereof, so as to discharge air to the standpipe to induce a second stage of air lift pumping action in said standpipe.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
99 words
Apparatus as in claim 2 further comprising an air supply pipe spaced from said standpipe, a manifold extending transversely beneath the false bottom from the air supply pipe to the standpipe, an aerator tube mounted on said manifold and positioned within the standpipe, an air conduit in the manifold connecting the air supply pipe to the aerator tube to discharge air upward therethrough, and a water inlet port for supplying water from the flow space to the aerator tube for admixture with the air therein so as to cause air lift pumping of said water in said aerator tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said perforate false bottom comprises horizontal wall portions and a series of spaced hollow ribs upstanding from said wall portions and defining downward open channels communicating with said flow space, said ribs having openings through the sidewalls thereof to permit passage of water from an overlying gravel bed through the false bottom to the underlying flow space.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as in claim 5 in which said upstanding ribs have top walls bridging the openings in the sidewalls thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said water withdrawal device is a reciprocating pump having an inlet connection for connection to the standpipe and an outlet for discharging liquid outside the aquarium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as in claim 7 in which said reciprocating pump is a piston pump.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus as in claim 7 in which said pump has a hollow actuating rod by which the displacement element of the pump is reciprocated by manual operation, the hollow rod having a passage therein communicating with the pump displacement chamber and having an opening positioned to be manually closed by the hand of the operator during operation and to be opened when operation is stopped to vent the displacement chamber and thereby break any siphon action through the pump.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-03 | 1977-12-03 | 1978-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-03 | 1981-12-03 | 1982-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-03 | 1985-12-03 | 1986-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |