GB2426513A

GB2426513A - UV light for aquarium

Info

Publication number: GB2426513A
Application number: GB0610500A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kaduk Lam
Original assignee: DONGGUAN K K ELECTRICAL APPLIA
Current assignee: DONGGUAN K K ELECTRICAL APPLIA
Priority date: 2005-05-26
Filing date: 2006-05-26
Publication date: 2006-11-29
Also published as: CN2807782Y; GB0610500D0

Abstract

A UV light for an aquarium includes an opaque housing 2 including an insulative socket (23, Fig. 2) at one end, and a shroud (24, Fig 2) secured to socket. The shroud includes an inlet (22, Fig. 3), an outlet (21, Fig. 3) and spaced guide plates 25 extending from an inner surface of the shroud to form a helical channel. A H-shaped UV bulb 3 has a base secured to the socket. Water entering the shroud from the inlet is adapted to flow along the channel and contact the surface of the bulb prior to leaving the shroud through the outlet when the aquarium is operating. The shroud further comprises a central dividing wall 26 for dividing the shroud into two equal compartments with half the bulb in each. Both the inlet and outlet are provide proximate to the socket. A filter may be provided external of the housing and in fluid communication with the inlet.

Description

UV LIGHT FOR AQUARIUM

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of Invention The present invention relates to lighting equipment for aquarium and more particularly to an UV (ultraviolet) light mounted in an aquarium for effectively killing bacteria and viruses.

Related Art Conventionally, a UV light is mounted in an aquarium for lighting and killing bactena and viruses in water. Further, light emitted by the UV light may bring an aesthetic effect to the environment. However, the prior UV light suffered from several disadvantages. For example, it is impossible of completely submerging a pump in water of aquarium. This may bring inconvenience in installation. Further, the UV light is covered by a transparent shroud. Thus, there is no direct contact with water flow. And in turn, it may lower the ability of killing bacteria and viruses by the light. Furthermore, water in some corners of the aquarium tank may become stagnant and dirty (i.e., bacteria and viruses may grow there significantly). In addition, UV bulb replacement is a tedious process since all components of aquarium are required to detach prior to the replacement.Hence, a need has arisen for an improved UV light for aquarium.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a UV light to be mounted in an aquarium. The UV light has advantages of safety, easy replacement, and being effective of killing bacteria and viruses contained in aquarium water. To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention provides a UV light for an aquarium comprising an opaque housing including an insulative socket provided at one end, and a shroud secured to the socket, the shroud including an inlet provided on a surface of the shroud proximate the socket, an outlet provided on the surface of the shroud proximate the socket, and a plurality of spaced guide plates extended from an inner surface of the shroud thereinto; and an H-shaped UV bulb having a base fixedly anchored in the socket; wherein a helical channel is formed in the shroud by the guide plates such that water entering the shroud from the inlet is adapted to flow along the channel and contact a surface of the bulb prior to leaving the shroud through the outlet when the aquarium is operating. In one aspect of the present invention the shroud further comprises a central dividing wall for dividing the shroud into two equal compartments each with half of the bulb being disposed. In another aspect of the present invention the shroud further comprises a shield capable of absorbing UV light rays provided in each of the inlet and the outlet. In a further aspect of the present invention there is further provided a filter unit externally of the housing and the filter unit is in fluid communication with the inlet. The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a lengthwise sectional view of a preferred embodiment of UV light to be mounted in an aquarium according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 1; and FIG. 4 is a perspective view with a portion broken away of the UV light.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a UV light to be mounted in an aquarium in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The light comprises an opaque, elongate housing 2 including an insulative socket 23 provided at one end and a shroud 24 secured to the socket 23 by snapping; and an H-shaped UV bulb 3. The bulb 3 has its base fixedly anchored in the socket 23. Within the shroud 24 there are provided a central dividing wall 26 for dividing the shroud 24 into two equal compartments each with half of the bulb 3 being disposed. Two compartments of the shroud 24 are in communication each other at the base of the bulb 3. Both inlet 22 and outlet 21 are provided on the shroud 24 proximate the socket 23. A filter unit 4 is provided externally of the housing 2 and is in fluid communication with the inlet 22.Outlet 21 is provided in one end of an outlet tube 11 which has the other end connected to an inlet of an electric pump 1 provided externally of the housing 2. A plurality of spaced guide plates 25 are extended from an inner surface of the shroud 24 thereinto to dispose externally of the bulb 3 and thus form a helical channel around the bulb 3 in the shroud 24. Water may flow along the channel as indicated by dash lines in FIG. 2 when the aquarium is operating. The opaque housing 2 is adapted to prevent light emitted by the UV bulb 3 from transmitting to the environment. Further, a shield 27 capable of absorbing most UV light rays is provided in each of the inlet 22 and the outlet 21. Otherwise, surrounding people (e.g., repair person or person works for replacing the UV light) may be exposed to a potential health hazard. Both the bulb 3 and the pump 1 are electrically connected to 12VDC or 24VDC power source. Thus, it is safe to install the UV light in an aquarium and operate same. In operation, water may first enter the filter unit 4 for filtering. Next, filtered water enters the shroud 24 through the inlet 22. Bacteria and viruses contained in water are killed by the emitted UV light rays of the bulb 3 as water flows through the helical channel in the shroud 24. Next, water leaves the shroud 24 through the outlet 21 to enter the outlet tube 11. Finally, water is sucked into the pump 1 prior to entering an aquarium tank (not shown) at end of a cycle. It is envisaged by the invention that water contained very few bacteria and viruses may flow to the aquarium tank. For replacing a consumed UV bulb 3, a user may simply remove the socket 23, the bulb 3, and the shroud 24 together. Thus, the bulb replacement is very simple and convenient. Further, the invention is applicable to a large aquarium in addition to a home fish-tank. While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A UV light for an aquarium comprising: an opaque housing including a socket provided at one end, and a shroud secured to the socket, the shroud including an inlet provided on a surface of the shroud, an outlet provided on the surface of the shroud, and a plurality of spaced guide plates extended from an inner surface of the shroud thereinto; and a UV bulb having a base fixedly anchored in the socket; wherein a helical channel is formed in the shroud by the guide plates such that water entering the shroud from the inlet is adapted to flow along the channel and contact a surface of the bulb prior to leaving the shroud through the outlet when the aquarium is operating.

Claims

2. A UV light of claim 1, wherein the socket is insulative, and the shroud is secured to the socket by snapping.

3. A UV light of claim 1, wherein the bulb is an H shape.

4. A UV light of claim 3, wherein the shroud further comprises a central dividing wall for dividing the shroud into two equal compartments each with half of the bulb being disposed.

5. A UV light of claim 1, wherein both the inlet and the outlet are provided proximate the socket.

6. A UV light of claim 1, wherein the shroud further comprises a shield capable of absorbing UV light rays provided in each of the inlet and the outlet.

7. A UV light of claim 1, further comprising a filter unit provided externally of the housing and being in fluid communication with the inlet.

8. A UV light for an aquarium as generally hereinbefore described with reference to and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.