GB2257378A

GB2257378A - Water filter

Info

Publication number: GB2257378A
Application number: GB9214711A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Peter Nigel Fisher
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-07-10
Filing date: 1992-07-10
Publication date: 1993-01-13
Anticipated expiration: 2012-07-10
Also published as: GB9214711D0; GB9114928D0; GB2257378B

Abstract

A water filter for a garden pool or fish pond comprises a bed of filter medium in which is buried a flow manifold for drainage or feed of water. The manifold comprises a central cylindrical chamber 1 with an inlet or outlet 12 leading to one end and one or more perforate distribution pipes 6 extending from its side wall. Pipes 6 extend radially or spirally and their lengths are adjustable to match the periphery of the pool. Perforations in pipes 6 may be deep transverse cuts, where the pipe may be broken off as required and then plugged, or pipes may be of telescopic construction to allow their lengths to be adjusted. Chamber 1 may be made in two halves, of plastics, or is a single shallow plastics cup (Fig. 2) whose open end is plugged with concrete or lead during assembly. <IMAGE>

Description

AN IMPROVED WATER FILTER This invention relates to an improved water filter and more particularly to an underground filter for cleaning water in fish ponds, garden pools and similar waterways.

Underground water filters for fish tanks are known in which the base of the tank has a hollow perforated plate connected to a water pump to pump water from the interior of the plate via the perforations to aerate a layer of gravel covering the plates. These filters are adequate for small areas and are dimensioned to fit the base area of different size tanks.

An aim of the present invention is to provide an improved underground water filter that can be adapted to fit large-scale fish ponds, garden pools and similar waterways.

According to the present invention there is provided a water filter comprising a closed central chamber having an inlet/outlet and an outwardly extending water channel or channels closed at its or their respective ends, the channel or channels containing perforations, wherein the or each channel has means to vary its length to accommodate the shape of a water course to be filtered.

Conveniently the water channels are tubes with spaced cross-cut slots to provide the perforations which radiate from the central chamber. These cross-cuts are preferably one third the diameter of the tube and the tube can be broken off at these cross-cuts to shorten the respective length of the tube as required.

The ends of each tube may be closed by a stopper when the tube has been shortened to its required length.

In a preferred construction the central chamber is cylindrical with a series of apertures formed in its cylindrical side wall for receiving the ends of the tubular channels with an interference fit.

The upper surface of the cylindrical member is conveniently provided with an inlet/outlet for connection to a water pump.

The inlets from the radial channels are connected with the inlet/outlet.

In an alternative construction the outwardly extending water channel spirals outwards from the central chamber.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of the improved water filter according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross-section of the water filter shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged detail of the water filter shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of a pond fitted with the water filter shown in Figures 1 to 3; Figure 5 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a water filter acording to the present invention; Figure 6 is an axial section of the upper half of the two part filter taken along-the line 6-6 of Figure 3; and Figure 7 is a fragmentary section of the fixing of the parts of the filter.

The water filter comprises a central chamber 1 having a cylindrical side wall 2 and an upper wall 3 made of plastics material. Located centrally of the upper wall is an inlet/outlet 4 for connection to an electric water pump 5 (See Figure 4).

Arranged radially of the chamber 1 are a plurality, in the example shown fifteen, water channels in the form of plastic tubes 6 which are inserted in apertures in the cylindrical side wall 2 with an interference fit. Each tube has a series of perforations in the form of spaced slots 7 cut at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the tube to a depth of one third of the diameter of the tube (see Figure 3). The outer ends of the tubes are closed by removable stoppers 8.

The water filter is assembled by fitting the tubes 6 into the central chamber 1 and pouring in a layer of wax 9 which is allowed to set, closing off the inlets from the tubes 6. Concrete 10 is poured into the central chamber and allowed to set. When the concrete is set the chamber 1 is heated, melting the wax 9 which is poured out through the central inlet/output 4 leaving a hollow space connecting the inlet/outlet 4 with the tubes 6.

In use the water filter is laid on the bottom of a pond 11 (See Figure 4) which is irregular in shape.

The concrete in the central chamber 1 weights the filter, anchoring it to the bottom of the pond. The ends of the tubes which do not fit into the pond are broken off at a slot 7 to enable the filter to fit into and lay flat on the bottom of the pond. The stopper 8 is removed from the broken-off piece of tube and inserted with a pushfit into the outer end of the shortened tube. When the water filter is accommodated into the pond base a layer of medium one to ten inches (2.54 - 25.45 cm) deep is placed over the filter and the inlet/outlet 4 is connected by a length of tube 12 to the electric water pump 5. The medium may be gravel, pea shingle, sea agregate or foam.

To clean and aerate the pond water the electric pump 5 is switched on and water is either sucked from the pond via the layer of gravel and the slots 7 to a separate container or back into the pond. Bacteria floating in the pond water act on the algae which collects on the gravel as it is sucked through the layer of gravel to the central chamber.

Alternatively, the electric pump can be reversed to pump water from an adjacent container or water course into the inlet/outlet 4 via the slots 7 in the tubes to replenish the pond with clean water.

With reference now to a second embodiment of the invention the control chamber generally indicated at 1 is made in two halves from plastics mouldings 13. Figure 5 is a plan view of an upper half of the control chamber comprising an annular member with an outer peripheral wall 14 and an inner central boss 15 with a central aperture 16. Radiating from the peripheral wall 14 are sixteen half circular members 17 which mate with the members 17 of the lower half to form radiating spigots 18. The two halves 13 are locked and sealed together by two male 19 and two female 20 projections moulded integrally with the central chamber 1.

By mating the two male projections 19 of one half with the two female projections of the other half and securing them with screws 21, the central chamber radially projecting spigots 18 are formed. Plastic tubes 22 are located with an interference fit on the spigots 18 to form radiating water chambers.

The central aperture 16 of the central chamber is connected with an electric pump to supply water to the water channels.

Various modifications may be made to the water filter. For example, instead of breaking the ends of the tube 6 to shorten them, they may be made of a number of lengths of different diameter tubes which telescope to allow the individual tubes to be varied in length to fit the shape of an irregular shaped pond. This construction has the advantage that the water filter can be reused in other ponds by varying the lengths of the telescopic tubes. In the case of a single or plural spiral channels these can be shortened to accommodate the area of the pond to be filtered.

The concrete in the central chamber 1 may be replaced by other forms of weight such as lead or other heavy metal.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A water filter characterised in that it comprises a closed central chamber (1) having an inlet/outlet (4) and an outwardly extending water channel or channels (6) closed at their respective ends, the channel or channels (6) containing perforations (7), the or each channel (6) having means to vary its length to accommodate the shape of a water course to be filtered.

2. A water filter as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the water channels are tubes (6) with spaced cross-out slots (7) to provide the perforations which radiate from the central chamber (1).

3. A water filter as claimed in Claim 2, characterised in that the cross-cuts (7) are one third the diameter of each tube or tubes (6) which can be broken off at a selected cross-cut to shorten the respective length of the tube (6).

4. A water filter as claimed in either of Claims 2 or 3, characterised in that the ends of each tube (6) is closed by a stopper (8) when the tube has been shortened to its required length.

5. A water filter as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the central chamber (1) is cylindrical with a series of apertures formed in its cylindrical side wall (2) for receiving the ends of the tubular channels (6) with an interference fit.

6. A water filter as claimed in Claim 5, characterised in that the upper surface of the cylindrical member (11) is provided with an inlet/outlet (4) for connection to a water pump (5).

7.. A water filter as claimed in Claim 6, characterised in tht the radial channels (6) are connected with the inlet/outlet (4).

8. A water filter as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that an outwardly extending water channel (6) spirals outwards from the central chamber (1).

9. A water filter as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the central chamber (1) is made in two halves the halves being connected by male (19) and female (20) projections secured together by screws (21).

10. A water filter as claimed in Claim 9, characterised in that the two halves are mirror images of each other and are moulded integral with the male (19) and female (20) projections.

10. A water filter as claimed in Claim 10, characterised in that the moulded halves of the central chamber (1) has radial half circular members (17) which mate with the members (17) of the other half to form radiating spigots (18).

11. A water filter as claimed in Claim 10, characterised in that each pair of mated half circular members (17) forming spigots (18) receive plastic tubes (22) with an interference fit.

12. A water filter as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the water channel (6) or channels (6) are made of lengths of different diameter tubes which telescope to allow the individual tubes (6) to be varied in length.