US5423978A — Rotating biologic aquarium filter system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 140 words

A filter system for filtering aquarium water comprising: a filter box; a filter screen dividing said filter box into a first compartment and a second compartment; means for circulating aquarium water from the aquarium to the first compartment said water flowing through the filter screen from the first compartment and into the second compartment; a discharge lip through which water can flow from the second compartment into the aquarium; and a rotatable filter element adjacent to the discharge lip, said filter element being positioned to be partially submerged in the aquarium water such that rotational movement is imparted to the filter element by the flowing water, wherein at least a portion of the rotatable filter element is exposed alternately to the aquarium water and the air to foster the growth of aerobic bacteria on the surface of the filter element.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 140 words

A filter system for filtering aquarium water comprising: a filter box; a filter screen dividing said filter box into a first compartment and a second compartment; means for circulating aquarium water from the aquarium to the first compartment said water flowing through the filter screen from the first compartment and into the second compartment; a discharge lip through which water can flow from the second compartment into the aquarium; and a rotatable filter element adjacent to the discharge lip, said filter element being positioned to be partially submerged in the aquarium water such that rotational movement is imparted to the filter element by the flowing water, wherein at least a portion of the rotatable filter element is exposed alternately to the aquarium water and the air to foster the growth of aerobic bacteria on the surface of the filter element.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 39 words

The filter system of claim 1 wherein the rotating filter element comprises a filter body having a disk shaped portion with a plurality of radially oriented blades extending therefrom and said filter body is mounted on a central axle.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 43 words

The filter system of claim 2 wherein the rotating filter element further comprises a second disk shaped portion wherein the blades are made of a sheet of pleated porous material extending from the first disk shaped portion to the second disk shaped portion.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 16 words

The filter system of claim 1 wherein the filter element comprises a portion of porous material.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 141 words

An aquarium, comprising: a containment vessel having a plurality of walls for containing aquarium water; a filter box, said filter box being disposed adjacent at least one wall of the vessel; means for circulating aquarium water between the vessel and the filter box, wherein the circulating means includes a discharge lip positioned adjacent the filter box and over at least one vessel wall, such that water flows from the filter box over the discharge lip into the vessel; and a rotatable filter element suspended adjacent the discharge lip, said filter element being positioned to be momentarily immersed in the aquarium water such that rotational movement is imparted to the filter element by the flow of water flowing over the discharge lip, wherein at least a portion of the rotatable filter element is exposed alternately to the aquarium water and the atmosphere.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 141 words

An aquarium, comprising: a containment vessel having a plurality of walls for containing aquarium water; a filter box, said filter box being disposed adjacent at least one wall of the vessel; means for circulating aquarium water between the vessel and the filter box, wherein the circulating means includes a discharge lip positioned adjacent the filter box and over at least one vessel wall, such that water flows from the filter box over the discharge lip into the vessel; and a rotatable filter element suspended adjacent the discharge lip, said filter element being positioned to be momentarily immersed in the aquarium water such that rotational movement is imparted to the filter element by the flow of water flowing over the discharge lip, wherein at least a portion of the rotatable filter element is exposed alternately to the aquarium water and the atmosphere.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 53 words

The filter apparatus of claim 5 wherein the rotatable filter element comprises a central axle, and filter body having a disk shaped portion with a plurality of radially oriented blades extending from the disk shaped portion, said filter body being mounted on the central axle adjacent the filter box and the discharge lip.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 18 words

The filter apparatus of claim 6 wherein the filter element comprises at least a portion of porous material.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 36 words

The filter apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a second disk shaped portion wherein the blades comprise a sheet of pleated porous material extending about the central axle from the first disk to the second disk.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 16 words

The filter apparatus of claim 6 wherein the blades are angled slightly from the radial orientation.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 121 words

A filter apparatus for an aquarium filter system for an aquarium having walls, said filter system producing a flow of moving water, comprising: a filter container adjacent at least one wall; a discharge lip for water flowing from the filter container into the aquarium; a rotatable filter element; and a saddle adapted to be received by the discharge lip, and for rotatably carrying the filter element so that the filter element is positioned to be momentarily immersed in the aquarium water such that rotational movement is imparted to the filter element by the flow of water flowing over the discharge lip, wherein at least a portion of the rotatable filter element is exposed alternately to the aquarium water and the atmosphere.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 121 words

A filter apparatus for an aquarium filter system for an aquarium having walls, said filter system producing a flow of moving water, comprising: a filter container adjacent at least one wall; a discharge lip for water flowing from the filter container into the aquarium; a rotatable filter element; and a saddle adapted to be received by the discharge lip, and for rotatably carrying the filter element so that the filter element is positioned to be momentarily immersed in the aquarium water such that rotational movement is imparted to the filter element by the flow of water flowing over the discharge lip, wherein at least a portion of the rotatable filter element is exposed alternately to the aquarium water and the atmosphere.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 31 words

The filter apparatus of claim 10 wherein the filter element is comprised of a filter body having a plurality of disks and a plurality of paddles extending axially between the disks.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 21 words

The filter apparatus of claim 10 wherein at least a portion of the filter element is comprised of a porous material.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 160 words

An aquarium comprising: a containment vessel having a plurality of walls for containing aquarium water; a housing mounted adjacent a wall of said vessel and defining a flow path for flow of aquarium water from said containment vessel, through said housing and back to said containment vessel; a rotatable filter element supported by said housing to be partly immersed in aquarium water flowing along said flow path in a manner such that rotational movement is imparted to said filter element by the water flowing along said flow path and at least a portion of said filter element is alternately immersed in the water flowing along said flow path and exposed to the atmosphere, wherein said filter element includes a body of a porous filter material for supporting bacteria, said body of porous filter material has radially extending portions which are disposed such that water flowing along the flow path impinges on the radially extending portions and rotates said filter element.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 160 words

An aquarium comprising: a containment vessel having a plurality of walls for containing aquarium water; a housing mounted adjacent a wall of said vessel and defining a flow path for flow of aquarium water from said containment vessel, through said housing and back to said containment vessel; a rotatable filter element supported by said housing to be partly immersed in aquarium water flowing along said flow path in a manner such that rotational movement is imparted to said filter element by the water flowing along said flow path and at least a portion of said filter element is alternately immersed in the water flowing along said flow path and exposed to the atmosphere, wherein said filter element includes a body of a porous filter material for supporting bacteria, said body of porous filter material has radially extending portions which are disposed such that water flowing along the flow path impinges on the radially extending portions and rotates said filter element.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 30 words

The aquarium of claim 13 wherein said filter element has a central axle and said body of porous filter material provides a large effective surface area for promoting bacteria growth.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 30 words

The aquarium of claim 14 wherein the filter element comprises a disk shaped portion and said radially extending portions comprise a plurality of blades extending from the disk shaped portion.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 13 words

The aquarium of claim 15, wherein said filter element is elongated and cylindrical.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 13 words

The aquarium of claim 15, wherein the plurality of blades comprises elongated paddles.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 24 words

The aquarium of claim 17, wherein porous filter material is loosely packed inside said filter element for increasing biological filtration and aerobic bacteria growth.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 32 words

The aquarium according to claim 17, wherein said filter element comprises a plurality of modules, each module having a disk and intersected elongated blades, each module being individually separable from other modules.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 23 words

The aquarium according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of modules are coupled to one another, defining a modular elongated cylindrical filter system.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 31 words

The aquarium of claim 15 wherein said filter element comprises a second disk shaped portion, and said blades extend between said first-recited disk shaped portion and said second disk shaped portion.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 76 words

The aquarium of claim 13 wherein: said filter element comprises a disk shaped portion and said radially extending portions comprise a plurality of blades extending from the disk shaped portion; said body of porous filter material provides a large effective surface area for promoting bacteria growth; and said filter element is mounted such that rotation is imparted to said filter element by impingement, on each blade in turn, of aquarium water flowing along said flow path.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 31 words

The aquarium of claim 13 further comprising a filter screen situated in said housing and interposed in said flow path for removing detritus from aquarium water flowing along said flow path.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 35 words

The aquarium of claim 13 wherein said filter element has an axis of rotation and said body of porous filter material comprises a pleated sheet of porous material which extends around said axis of rotation.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 27 words

The aquarium of claim 13 wherein said filter element comprises a disk shaped portion and a plurality of projecting members extending perpendicularly from said disk shaped portion.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1998-06-12	1998-12-12	1999-06-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2002-06-12	2002-12-12	2003-06-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2006-06-12	2006-12-12	2007-06-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Rotating biologic aquarium filter system

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