Aquarium filtration apparatus

Claim 2

In an aquarium filtration apparatus, the combination comprising: a generally trough-shaped filter housing having an open top and a bottom; bracket means for suspending said filter housing on an aquarium edge; an impeller type suction means within said housing fixedly positioned relative to the bottom thereof; intake tube means extending from within said housing over said bracket means and having one end thereof in fluid communication with said suction means and the other end thereof configured for immersing beneath the water level of the aquarium, said suction means having an inlet aperture engaging said one end of said intake tube means in spaced relation therewith to define an annular shaped bypass passageway, said suction means and passageway being so constructed and configured that with water within said filter housing above said inlet aperture, said suction means is generally self-priming by drawing water from within said filter housing through said passagewy thereby generating sufficient intake suction to draw water and any trapped air from said intake tube means into said filter housing and that in normal operation said suction means is generally free of cavitation effects, said impeller means generating sufficient suction for drawing said one end of said intake tube into abutment with said impeller means after said self-priming is effected for providing a fluid seal between said filter housing and said impeller inlet opening; and means on said housing for generally fixedly position said intake tube means relative to said housing.

Claim 3

The combination according to claim 1 wherein said filter housing includes spillway means adjacent the open top thereof for returning water to the aquarium.

Claim 4

The combination according to claim 2 wherein said bracket means is an integral bracket portion and said spillway means is a spillway formed in a portion of said bracket portion.

Claim 5

The combination according to claim 3 wherein said filter housing includes means for receiving a generally vertically filtration cartridge and said apparatus further includes a member for covering the open top of said housing and a float member pivotably coupled to the undersurface of said cover member, said float member including an indicator portion extending through said cover member for providing a visual indication of the water level within said filter housing beneath said float member.

Claim 6

In an aquarium filtration apparatus, the combination comprising: a generally trough-shaped filter housing having an open top and a bottom; bracket means for suspending said filter housing on an aquarium edge; suction means within said housing generally fixedly positioned relative to the bottom thereof; a second inverted generally trough-shaped housing configured for positioning within said filter housing; a bottom plate member configured for mating engagement with the bottom opening of said second housing for defining a filter chamber, said bottom plate member having an outlet aperture in fluid communication with said suction means; an inlet aperture in the top of said second housing aquarium water intake means having one end thereof configured for coupling to said inlet aperture for drawing fluid from the aquarium into said second housing; a filter media structure within said filter chamber between said inlet and outlet apertures, said structure having an opening in sealing engagement with said outlet aperture, said filter structure being so constructed and arranged for having diatomaceous earth adhere to the surface thereof to provide filtering as water is drawn into said second housing for passage through said filter structure and through said outlet aperture.

Claim 7

In an aquarium filtration apparatus, the combination comprising: a generally trough-shaped filter housing having an open top and a bottom; bracket means for suspending said filter housing on an aquarium edge; suction means within said housing generally fixedly positioned relative to the bottom thereof; a second inverted generally trough-shaped housing configured for positioning within said filter housing; a bottom plate member configured for mating engagement with the bottom opening of said second housing for defining a filter chamber, said bottom plate member having an outlet aperture in fluid communication with said suction means; an inlet aperture in the top of said second housing aquarium water intake means having one end thereof configured for coupling to said inlet aperture for drawing fluid from the aquarium into said second housing; a filter media structure within said filter chamber between said inlet and outlet apertures, said structure having an opening in sealing engagement with said outlet aperture, said filter structure being so constructed and arranged for having diatomaceous earth adhere to the surface thereof to provide filtering as water is drawn into said second housing for passage through said filter structure and through said outlet aperture.

Claim 8

The combination according to claim 5 wherein said filter structure includes a porous filter bag.

Claim 9

The combination according to claim 6 wherein said suction means includes an impeller rotatably mounted within an impeller housing and said impeller housing is attached to said bottom plate member.

Claim 10

The combination according to claim 7 wherein said aquarium water intake means includes an inverted generally J-shaped tube configured for drawing water from the aquarium into said second housing.

Claim 11

The combination according to claim 8 wherein the end of said intake tube coupled to said inlet aperture is an enlarged generally bell-shaped portion for generally preventing siphoning of water from said filter chamber back into the aquarium.

Claim 12

In an aquarium filtration apparatus, the combination comprising: a generally trough-shaped filter housing having an open top, a bottom, opposing side walls, a front wall and a rear wall, said rear wall including a bracket portion for hanging on an aquarium, said rear wall having means at a lower height than said side walls for returning water to the aquarium over said braket portion; an impeller assembly having an inlet opening in an upper surface thereof and an impeller therebelow and coaxial therewith, said impeller being coupled to a drive magnet; means within the bottom of said filter housing for positioning said impeller assembly therein with said magnet in spaced proximate relation to said bottom; an aquarium water intake tube having one end thereof configured for coupling to the inlet opening of said impeller assembly in fluid communication therewith but with an annular shaped bypass passageway therebetween, said tube also configured for immersing the other end within the fluid in an aquarium tank; means for fixedly positioning said aquarium water intake tube relative to said impeller assembly; and a motor assembly having a power driven magnet, said motor assembly being coupled on the under surface of said filter housing bottom for retaining said motor thereon with said power driven magnet in spaced proximate relation to said impeller magnet, said motor assembly and said impeller assembly being so constructed and so configured for being generally self-priming and for generating suction sufficient for drawing water from the aquarium and any trapped air through said water intake means into said filter housing adjacent the bottom thereof with an initial amount of water within said filter housing covering the inlet opening of said impeller assembly, the water being returned to the aquarium over said water returning means, said impeller assembly generating sufficient suction for drawing said one end of said intake tube into abutment with said impeller assembly after said self-priming is effected for providing a fluid seal between said filter housing and said impeller inlet opening.

Claim 13

In an aquarium filtration apparatus, the combination comprising: a generally trough-shaped filter housing having an open top, a bottom, opposing side walls, a front wall and a rear wall, said rear wall including a bracket portion for hanging on an aquarium, said rear wall having means at a lower height than said side walls for returning water to the aquarium over said braket portion; an impeller assembly having an inlet opening in an upper surface thereof and an impeller therebelow and coaxial therewith, said impeller being coupled to a drive magnet; means within the bottom of said filter housing for positioning said impeller assembly therein with said magnet in spaced proximate relation to said bottom; an aquarium water intake tube having one end thereof configured for coupling to the inlet opening of said impeller assembly in fluid communication therewith but with an annular shaped bypass passageway therebetween, said tube also configured for immersing the other end within the fluid in an aquarium tank; means for fixedly positioning said aquarium water intake tube relative to said impeller assembly; and a motor assembly having a power driven magnet, said motor assembly being coupled on the under surface of said filter housing bottom for retaining said motor thereon with said power driven magnet in spaced proximate relation to said impeller magnet, said motor assembly and said impeller assembly being so constructed and so configured for being generally self-priming and for generating suction sufficient for drawing water from the aquarium and any trapped air through said water intake means into said filter housing adjacent the bottom thereof with an initial amount of water within said filter housing covering the inlet opening of said impeller assembly, the water being returned to the aquarium over said water returning means, said impeller assembly generating sufficient suction for drawing said one end of said intake tube into abutment with said impeller assembly after said self-priming is effected for providing a fluid seal between said filter housing and said impeller inlet opening.

Claim 14

The combination according to claim 10 wherein said impeller assembly includes a housing having openings therein for passage of water therethrough.

Claim 15

The combination according to claim 11 wherein said means for fixedly positioning said intake tube relative to said impeller assembly are clip means on the bracket portion of said filter housing, said clip means being configured for gripping said intake tube means.

Claim 16

The combination according to claim 12 wherein said impeller magnet is generally washer-shaped.