GB2437090A

GB2437090A - Double-shell air pump

Info

Publication number: GB2437090A
Application number: GB0607051A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chiao-Ming Wang
Original assignee: Meiko Pet Corp
Current assignee: Meiko Pet Corp
Priority date: 2006-04-07
Filing date: 2006-04-07
Publication date: 2007-10-17
Anticipated expiration: 2026-04-07
Also published as: GB0607051D0; GB2437090B

Abstract

A double-shell air pump to absorb vibration and reduce noise includes an upper cap 1, a base 2, a bottom tray 5 and at least one air pump assembly 4. The upper cap 1 and the base 2 adopt a double-shell structure which has an inner shell 12, respectively 22, and an outer shell 11, respectively 20. The bottom tray 5 holds the air pump assembly 4 to deliver air which passes through a connection duct 531 or 532 into a side air chamber C1 or C2 and an air reservoir C3, then is discharged through an air discharge duct 541 to supply air for an aquarium.

Description

243 709Q

DOUBLE-SHELL AIR PUMP

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a double-shell air pump and particularly to a shock-absorbing and noise-reducing air pump to supply air for aquariums.

2. Description of the Prior Art T90

he general aquarium requires an air pump to supply oxygen to the living things bred therein. The air pump compresses air to generate air suction and discharge operations. It is a high speed reciprocal operation and produces irritating noise which becomes an annoyance in the house. Many schemes have been proposed in the prior art trying to resolve this problem. For instance R.O.C. patent publication Nos. 519194 and 416488 (called prior references hereinafter) have a plurality of enlarged air discharge chambers on one side of an air pump to form a muffling chamber to overcome the noise problem.

While the prior references can reduce the noise, they create other problems, notably: 1. To increase airflow the air pump needs a greater power. The greater power generates a greater noise. Merely relying on the muffling chamber canrot reduce the noise to a desired level.

2. With increasing power of the air pump, vibration and shaking of the chassis also increase. This results in even greater irritating noise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforesaid problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an air pump that is shock-absorbing and can reduce noise. It includes a upper cap, a base, a bottom tray and at least one air pump assembly. The upper cap and the base have respectively an irmer shell and an outer shell to form a double-shell structure. The bottom tray holds the air pump assembly to deliver air which passes through a connection duct to enter a side air chamber, then is collected in an air reservoir and discharged through an air discharge duct to supply air for an aquarium, it overcomes the noise and vibration problems occurred to the conventional air pump.

The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the invention..

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of airflow direction of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, the present invention includes a upper cap 1, a base 2, a bottom tray 5 and at least one air pump assembly 4.

The upper cap 1 has a first hollow housing chamber 10, a first outer shell 11 and a first inner shell 12 on the lateral side. The first inner shell 12 and the first outer shell 11 are spaced to form a first housing compartment 13 between them to be filled with a filler B. The base 2 is coupled with a pad 3 on the upper side, and fastened to the upper cap 1 to form the casing of an air pump set A. The base 2 has a second hollow housing chamber 21, a second outer shell 20 and a second inner shell 22 on the lateral side. The second inner shell 22 and the second outer shell 20 are spaced to form a second housing compartment 23 between them to be filled with the filler B. The second housing chamber 21 has at least one air inlet 211. On the bottom of the base opposite to the air inlet 211, there is an air filter chamber 252 which is covered by an outer plug 25. The outer plug has at least one vent 251.

The bottom tray 5 is circular and has a top surface 50, a housing trough 51 on one side, two fastening struts 521 and 522 on another side to hold a fastening rack 56 through two screws 563 and 564, and fastening holes 561 and 562 formed on the fastening rack 56. Thereby the air pump assembly 4 can be fastened to the bottom tray 5. The bottom tray further has two connection ducts 531 and 532 on one side and apertures 501 and 502 on two sides on the top surface in the center to be coupled respectively with a buffer sleeve 551 and 552. The bottom tray 5 also has a muffling chamber 58 on one side of the bottom beneath the connection ducts 531 and 532. The muffling chamber 58 contains a plurality of partitions T to form side air chambers Cl and C2 and an air reservoir C3. The connection ducts 531 and 532 have apertures 5311 and 5321 on the lower ends communicating with the side air chambers Cl and C2. The air reservoir C3 has vents El and E2 on two sides communicating with the side air chambers Cl and C2, and an air discharge duct 541 on an outer side to discharge air. There is a lid 59 on the bottom of the bottom tray corresponding to the muffling chamber 58. The lid 59 has a plurality of partitions T' on an inner side corresponding to the partitions T of the muffling chamber 58. The lid further has stubs 591 and 592 to buffer air discharge.

The air pump assembly 4 includes air pumps 41 and 42, and an electromagnetic induction means 43 to generate air (the structure of the air pump assembly 4 is known in the art, thus details are omitted).

By means of the construction set forth above, when in use, the air pump set A starts operation, the air pumps 41 and 42 are driven by the electromagnetic induction means 43 to generate air suction and air discharge operations alternately. External air is drawn through the vent 25 1 of the outer plug 25 into the air filter chamber 252 which contains filtering material to filter out impurities in the air. The filtered air enters the air pumps 41 and 42 through the air inlet 211 to be compressed, then is discharged through air delivery ducts 4111 and 412. The air passes through elbow ducts 571 and 572, the connection ducts 531 and 532, and hits the stubs 591 and 592 to be buffered, then passes through the apertures 5311 and 5321, enters the side air chambers Cl and C2, passes through the vents El and E2, enters the air reservoir C3, then is discharged through the air discharge duct 541 into an aquarium to supply the required air.

The invention set forth above has a double-shell structure which includes the inner shells 12 and 22, and outer shells 11 and 20 on the upper cap 1 and base 2, thus can reduce noise transmission. Furthermore, the housing compartments 13 and 23 between the inner shells 12 and 22, and the outer shells 11 and 20 contain the filler B which is preferably a material of a higher density such as sand granules. Therefore the upper cap 1 and base 2 are heavier and more stable, and can reduce vibration while the air pump is operating.

In short, the invention adopts a double-shell structure and a muffling chamber, thus can absorb vibration and reduce noise.

Claims

I claim: 1. A double-shell air pump comprising a upper cap, a base, a

bottom tray and at east one air pump assembly, wherein: the upper cap includes a first hollow housing chamber, a first outer shell and a first inner shell on one side, the first outer shell and the first inner shell being spaced from each other to form a first housing compartment which contains a filler; the base is coupled with a pad in a upper side and fastened to the upper cap to form a casing of the air pump, and has a second hollow housing chamber, a second outer shell and a second inner shell on one side, the second outer shell and the second inner shell being spaced from each other to form a second housing compartment which contains the filler; the bottom tray is circular and has a housing trough and two connection ducts on the top, a muffling chamber on the bottom beneath the connection ducts covered by a lid; the air pump assembly includes an air pump set and an electromagnetic induction means to generate air.

2. The double-shell air pump of claim 1, wherein the second hollow housing chamber has at least one air inlet on the bottom thereof.

3. The double-shell air pump of claim 1, wherein the second hollow housing chamber has an air filter chamber on the bottom side covered by an outer plug which has at least one vent.

4. The double-shell air pump of claim 1, wherein the muffling chamber has two side air chambers and an air reservoir formed by a plurality of partitions.

5. The double-shell air pump of claim 4, wherein the air reservoir has vents on two sides communicating with the side air chambers.

6. The double-shell air pump of claim 4, wherein the air reservoir has an air discharge duct on an outer side.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

CLAIMS

1. A double-shell air pump comprising an upper cap, a base, a bottom tray and at least one air pump assembly, wherein: the upper cap includes a first hollow housing chamber, a first outer shell and a first inner shell on one side, the first outer shell and the first inner shell being spaced apart from each other to form a first housing compartment which contains a filler; the base is coupled with a pad in an upper side and fastened to the upper cap to form a casing of the air pump, and has a second hollow housing chamber, a second outer shell and a second inner shell on one side, the second outer shell and the second inner shell being spaced apart from each other to form a second housing compartment which contains a filler; the bottom tray is circular and has a housing trough and two connection ducts on the top, a muffling chamber on the bottom beneath the connection ducts and a lid covering the muffling chamber; the air pump assembly includes an air pump set and an electromagnetic induction device to generate air flow; and the second hollow housing chamber has *** an air filter chamber on the bottom side covered by an outer plug which has at least one vent. 6 (1

2. The double-shell air pump of Claim 1, wherein the second hollow housing, : chamber has at least one air inlet on the bottom thereof 3. The double-shell air pump of Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the muffling chamber has two side air chambers and an air reservoir formed by a plurality of partitions.

4. The double-shell air pump of Claim 3, wherein the air reservoir has vents on two sides communicating with the side air chambers.

5. The double-shell air pump of Claim 3, wherein the air reservoir has an air discharge duct on an outer side.