JP2021073921A - Filter device for water tank - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a filter device for a water tank that needs no exclusive flow channel selector.SOLUTION: The filter device includes: a filter 2 for filtering water inside a water tank; a pump 3 for sending off filtered water; a flow channel formation part for transferring the water sent off; and a discharge port 512 that is installed in the flow channel formation part and that can return the sent-off water back to the water tank. The flow channel formation part is equipped with a first pipe situated in an upstream side and a second pipe situated in a downstream side. The first pipe has an opening 42 formed on the surface of the pipe. The second pipe is externally fitted on the first pipe and is transferrable between a first position and a second potion in the vertical direction. Also, the second pipe is structured rotatably around the pipe axis of the first pipe and, at the first position, the water sent off from the pump 3 is discharged from the discharge port 512 through the first pipe and the second pipe while, at the second position, the water sent off from the pump 3 is returned to the water tank through the opening 42.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5A

Description

The present invention is a flow path forming portion which is installed in a water tank and forms a filter for filtering the water in the water tank, a pump for sending out the filtered water, and a flow path for transferring the water sent out from the pump. The present invention relates to a water tank filter device having a discharge port provided in the flow path forming portion and capable of returning the transferred water into the water tank.

When ornamental fish and ornamental plants are bred and cultivated in an ornamental aquarium in a general household, it is necessary to replace the water in the aquarium regularly or when the water quality deteriorates in order to maintain a good breeding environment. In such a case, a hose is used to drain the water in the aquarium through the hose by utilizing the siphon phenomenon. In addition, a manual pump and an electric pump are also used as needed, but the work is complicated. In view of such a problem, wastewater treatment can be easily performed by using the filter device disclosed in Patent Document 1 below.

The aquarium filter of Patent Document 1 circulates with a filter casing containing a filter material, a circulation flow path in which water in the water tank flows into the filter casing, passes through the filter material, and flows out from the filter casing into the aquarium. It is provided with a circulation pump set on the flow path, and is configured so that water flows along the circulation flow path by driving the circulation pump. Further, a flow path switching means is provided on the downstream side of the circulation pump, and the flow path switching means is arranged at a position away from the circulation flow path with the inflow port and the circulation outlet arranged corresponding to the circulation flow path. A circulation state in which water flowing in from the inflow port is discharged from the circulation outlet and circulated along the circulation flow path, and drainage in which water flowing in from the inflow port is discharged from the drainage outlet. It is configured so that it can be switched between states.

Patent No. 6417312

In the prior art, water is discharged from the circulation outlet and returned to the water tank in the circulation state, and water is discharged from the discharge outlet and sent to the outside of the water tank in the drainage state. That is, there are two water outlets, and a dedicated flow path switching member (inner pipe) is required to switch between them.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a water tank filter device that does not require a dedicated flow path switching member.

In order to solve the above problems, the aquarium filter device according to the present invention
A filter installed in the aquarium that filters the water in the aquarium,
A pump that pumps out filtered water,
A flow path forming part where a flow path for transferring the water sent from the pump is formed, and
A water tank filter device having a discharge port provided in the flow path forming portion and capable of returning the transferred water into the water tank.
The flow path forming portion is
It is equipped with a first pipe located on the upstream side and a second pipe located on the downstream side.
The first pipe includes an opening formed on the surface of the pipe.
The second pipe is fitted onto the first pipe, is movable between the first position and the second position in the vertical direction, and is configured to be rotatable around the pipe axis of the first pipe. Ori,
At the first position, the water delivered from the pump is discharged from the discharge port via the first pipe and the second pipe.
At the second position, the water delivered from the pump is configured to be returned into the water tank through the opening.

The operation and effect of the aquarium filter device according to this configuration will be described. In the normal circulation state (the second pipe is in the first position), the water sent out from the pump is discharged from the discharge port via the first pipe and the second pipe and returned to the water tank. When draining the water in the water tank, the second pipe is lifted and moved upward (second position) as the first step. At this time, the water is returned to the water tank through the opening formed on the surface of the first pipe, and the water is not discharged from the discharge port.

As a second step, the second pipe is rotated around the pipe axis of the first pipe. As a result, the discharge port can be moved to an area outside the water tank. Since the water sent from the pump returns to the inside of the water tank through the opening, the water is not discharged from the discharge port and the surroundings are not flooded. Prepare a container such as a PET bottle to collect the discharged water and set it under the discharge port. As the third step, the second pipe is pushed down. As a result, the water is discharged from the discharge port again, and the water in the water tank can be discharged to the outside of the water tank. According to the above configuration, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated flow path switching member, and it is possible to switch between the circulation state and the discharge state of water.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the opening is formed on the side surface of the first pipe, and the upper surface of the opening is closed in the first pipe.

According to this configuration, when the second pipe is in the second position, the upper surface of the opening is closed, so that the water discharged from the pump surely returns to the water tank through the opening and from the discharge port. It can be prevented from being discharged.

In the present invention, it is preferable that an annular gap is formed between the first pipe and the second pipe, and water is delivered to the discharge port through the annular gap.

According to this configuration, water can be discharged from the discharge port of the second pipe through the annular gap.

In the annular gap according to the present invention, it is preferable that a guide protrusion for guiding the vertical movement of the second pipe is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the first pipe.

By providing such a guide protrusion, the movement from the first position to the second position can be smoothly performed.

At the second position according to the present invention, it is preferable that an engaging portion for engaging the second pipe with the first pipe is provided.

By providing such an engaging portion, operability when moving the second pipe can be improved.

The guide protrusion according to the present invention preferably has a function of restricting the upward movement of the second pipe.

As a result, the second pipe can be operated safely.

External perspective view showing the state where the aquarium filter device is installed in the aquarium. External perspective view showing a state in which the second pipe can be pulled up. External perspective view showing a state in which the second pipe is rotated External perspective view showing the state of drainage Vertical cross-sectional view of the aquarium filter device in the water circulation state Partial enlarged view of the main part including the discharge port Partially enlarged perspective view of the aquarium filter device Vertical sectional view of the second pipe pulled upward Partially enlarged view of the main part of FIG. 5A Partial enlarged view showing the appearance of the filter device with the second pipe pulled upward It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the state which the 2nd pipe 5 was lowered to the 3rd position. Enlarged view of the main part of FIG. 7A Partial enlarged view showing the appearance An exploded perspective view of the filter device An exploded perspective view of the main part of the filter device An exploded perspective view of the main part of the filter device shown in half cross section.

First, a preferred embodiment of the aquarium filter device (hereinafter, simply abbreviated as the filter device) according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the filter device 1 is installed in the water tank W. It is possible to appropriately select on which wall surface of the water tank W the water tank filter device 1 is to be installed. As will be described later, the aquarium filter device 1 can be fixed to the wall surface by a suction cup. However, instead of using a suction cup, it may be simply placed on the bottom surface of the water tank W. 2 to 4 show an operation for discharging water in the water tank (details will be described later).

<Conclusion of casing>
FIG. 5A is a vertical cross-sectional view of the filter device 1 in a state where water is circulated. FIG. 5B is an enlarged view of a main portion including a discharge portion. FIG. 5C is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the appearance of the filter device 1. FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the filter device 1. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of the filter device 1 as well. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the filter device 1 shown in a half cross section.

The filter device 1 has an outer casing main body 10 and a lid 11 that covers the outer casing main body 10. The inner casing main body 100 is further inserted into the outer casing main body 1. These casing bodies 10 and 100 form a room for arranging each component. The casing configuration is not limited to this.

A large number of opening holes 10a are formed on the front surface of the outer casing main body 10, and water is introduced into the filter device 1 through the opening holes 10a. A filter chamber 10b is provided inside the portion where the opening hole 10a is formed, and the filter 2 is inserted. The filter 2 is removably inserted into the filter chamber 10b. The filter 2 is composed of a filter member (not shown) and a filter support 2a. The filter 2 is inserted in a state of being inclined at an angle of 45 ° in a plan view.

The water introduced from the opening hole 10a passes through the opening 100b formed in the inner casing main body 100 and is sent to the filter 2. The direction and size of the filter 2 are set so that the water always passes through the filter 2. The water that has passed through the filter 2 passes through yet another filter 20 and is sent to the pump 3. The flow of water is indicated by an arrow such as FIG. 5A. As the pump 3, a pump having a well-known configuration can be used.

The pump 3 is arranged in the pump chamber 10c at the bottom of the outer casing main body 1, sucks water that has passed through the filter 2, and sends it to an upper pipe (flow path forming portion: described later). As the filter 2 and the filter member, those having a well-known structure and material can be used. The delivery pipe 3a of the pump 3 is inserted into and fixed to the cylindrical convex portion 100c formed in the inner casing main body 100.

When fixing the filter device 1 to the water tank, a suction cup 6 is used. As shown in FIG. 8, four suction cups 6 are attached to the back side of the outer casing main body 10. Another method may be adopted for attaching the filter device 1.

<Structure of flow path forming part>
The flow path forming portion is formed by the first pipe 4 and the second pipe 5. Each part is formed by resin molding. The first pipe 4 is composed of one component, and the second pipe 5 is composed of three components as described later. However, how many parts each pipe is composed of can be appropriately determined.

<Structure of the first pipe>
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the first pipe 4 includes a lower pipe main body 40 and an upper pipe main body 41, and has a substantially cylindrical shape. Two openings 42 are formed on the side surface of the pipe between the lower pipe main body 40 and the upper pipe main body 41, and the lower pipe main body 40 and the upper pipe are formed by the connecting portion 43 where the openings 42 are not formed. It is connected to the main body 41. In this embodiment, there are two connecting portions 43. The number and shape of the openings 42 can be appropriately determined.

A ring-shaped groove 400 is formed in the lower part of the lower pipe main body 40. As will be described later, the ring-shaped groove 400 is configured so that the lower end portion of the second pipe 5 is engaged with the ring-shaped groove 400. As shown in FIG. 5A, a cylindrical protrusion 100e is integrally formed on the upper wall surface 100d of the pump chamber 10c. The lower end portion 401 of the lower pipe main body 40 is fitted to the cylindrical protrusion 100e, and the lower pipe main body 40 is fixed to the inner casing main body 100. A groove (recess) 402 is formed in the lower end 401, and is inserted into a convex portion (not shown) formed on the inner wall of the cylindrical protrusion 100e of the inner casing main body 100. As a result, the first pipe 4 is positioned, and the opening 42 can be fixed so as to face a predetermined direction. Fixing is performed by press fitting, welding, or the like. The ring-shaped groove 400 is formed at a position immediately above the cylindrical protrusion 100e.

A ring-shaped groove 410 is also formed at a position close to the opening 42 of the upper pipe body 41. When the second pipe 5 is pulled up, the lower end of the second pipe 5 engages with the ring-shaped groove 410. A wall surface 411 is formed and closed immediately above the opening 42. Therefore, the water that has passed through the first pipe 4 cannot rise as it is, and is once discharged from the opening 42.

A first guide protrusion 412 and a second guide protrusion 413 are formed up and down in the upper pipe main body 41, and serve as a guide when the second pipe 5 moves up and down. The second guide protrusion 413 is located at the upper end of the upper pipe main body 41. The first guide protrusion 412 is located between the ring-shaped groove 410 and the second guide protrusion 413. The outer diameters of the first guide protrusion 412 and the second guide protrusion 413 are the same.

<Structure of the second pipe>
Next, the configuration of the second pipe 5 will be described. The second pipe 5 is composed of three parts, a lower pipe member 50, an upper pipe member 51, and a lid member 52. The lower pipe member 50 includes a large-diameter portion 500, which is a pipe body, and an engaging claw portion 501 located below the large-diameter portion 500. The engaging claws 501 are formed at three locations along the circumferential direction. The outer diameter of the engaging claw portion 501 is smaller than that of the large diameter portion 500 and corresponds to the small diameter portion. Further, an engaging projection 502 is integrally formed at the lower end of the engaging claw portion 501. The engaging projection 502 can be engaged with the ring-shaped groove 400 and the ring-shaped groove 410. Therefore, the engaging claw portion 501 is elastically deformable. An annular gap S (see FIG. 5A) is formed between the inner wall of the large diameter portion 500 and the outer walls of the lower pipe main body 40 and the upper pipe main body 41 of the first pipe 4.

In the upper pipe member 51 of the second pipe 5, the pipe body 510, the lateral pipeline 511, and the downward discharge port 512 are integrally formed of resin. The pipe body 510 has the same outer diameter dimension as the large diameter portion 500. A step portion 513 is formed at the lower end of the pipe body 510. The step portion 513 has a smaller diameter than the pipe body 510. The step portion 513 is inserted into the upper inner wall of the large diameter portion 500.

Further, an engaging groove 516 is formed in the step portion 513, and is inserted into the guide protrusion 504 formed on the inner wall of the large diameter portion 500 for positioning. As a result, the lower pipe member 50 and the upper pipe member 51 are combined and integrated. The bond is integrated by an appropriate method such as press fitting, adhesion, or welding.

The inner diameter of the pipe body 510 has the same dimensions as the inner diameter of the large diameter portion 500. An annular gap S is formed between the inner wall of the pipe body 510 and the outer wall of the upper pipe body 41. The annular gap S functions as a flow path.

The guide protrusions 504 described above are formed at six locations along the circumferential direction of the inner wall of the large diameter portion 500. On the other hand, six guide protrusions 514 are formed along the circumferential direction of the inner wall of the pipe body 510. These guide protrusions 504 and 514 are convex portions along the longitudinal direction (vertical direction), and the lower pipe member 50 and the upper pipe member 51 are connected so as to have the same phase.

When the second pipe 5 is lifted upward, the first guide protrusion 412 and the second guide protrusion 413 described above are guided by the guide protrusions 504 and 514 formed on the inner wall of the large diameter portion 500 and the pipe body 510. Therefore, the second pipe 5 can be lifted in a stable posture. Further, the space in which the guide protrusions 504 and 514 are not formed functions as an annular gap S.

A lid member 52 is provided on the upper portion of the second pipe 2, and is fixed on the upper pipe member 51 by an appropriate method such as welding or adhesion. A ring-shaped protrusion 520 is formed on the back surface of the lid member 52, and the size is set so that the second guide protrusion 413 formed in the upper pipe main body 41 can be fitted.

The second pipe 5 is arranged concentrically with the first pipe 4 and is configured to be fitted on the outer circumference of the first pipe 4. As a result, as described above, an annular gap S is formed between the first pipe 4 and the second pipe 5, and the second pipe 5 is configured to be rotatable around the center of the pipe axis of the first pipe 4. There is.

As shown in FIG. 5C, a discharge portion 100a is formed in the outer casing main body 10, and the filtered water discharged from the discharge port 512 of the second pipe 5 is returned from the discharge portion 100a into the water tank. Is done. Further, the lid 11 is formed with recesses 11a on both sides of the lid member 52 so that a finger can be inserted. Similarly, in order to facilitate insertion of a finger, a curved portion 521 is formed on the lid member 52, and a curved surface 515 is also formed on the upper pipe member 51. As a result, the second pipe 5 can be lifted by inserting a finger.

<Circulation state of filter device>
Next, the operation of the filter device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. First, the flow of water in a normal water circulation state will be described. The water introduced from the opening hole 10a of the outer casing main body 10 is filtered by passing through the filter 2. The filtered water is sucked by the pump 3 and sent upward.

As shown by the arrow in FIG. 5A, the discharged water rises inside the lower pipe body 40 of the first pipe 4 and collides with the wall surface 411. Here, the direction of water flow changes and is pushed out toward the periphery of the first pipe 4 through the opening 42. This water continues to rise while passing through the annular gap S formed between the upper pipe body 41 of the first pipe 4 and the pipe body 510 of the second pipe 5. The rising water is horizontally changed from the pipe body 510 to the sideways pipeline 511 and discharged from the discharge port 512. This water is further returned into the water tank from the discharge unit 100a (see FIGS. 8 and 5C). The position of the second pipe 5 shown in FIG. 5A is the first position.

<First stage to second stage of discharge operation>
Next, the operation when the water in the water tank is discharged to the outside of the water tank will be described. In order to perform the discharge operation, it is necessary to pull up the second pipe 5 upward as the first step. FIG. 6A is a vertical cross-sectional view of the second pipe 5 in a state of being pulled upward. FIG. 6B is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 5A. FIG. 6C is a partially enlarged view showing the appearance as well. Further, FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a state in which the second pipe 5 including the water tank W is pulled upward.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the second pipe 5 is pulled up from the first position to the upper second position. In this state, as shown in FIG. 6B, the engaging protrusion 502 formed at the lower end of the engaging claw portion 501 of the second pipe 5 engages with the ring-shaped groove 410 of the first pipe 4. As a result, the second pipe 5 can be stably held at the second position. Further, the stepped portion formed at the bottom of the large diameter portion 500 abuts on the first guide protrusion 412. The second pipe 5 is regulated so that it cannot be moved upward any more.

Further, the engaging claw portion 501 is in a state of being substantially in contact with the outer periphery of the upper pipe main body 41. Further, since the wall surface 411 also exists, the water delivered by the pump 3 collides with the lower part of the wall surface 411, changes its direction, and is discharged from the opening 42. This water is returned into the water tank from the discharge portion 100a of the outer casing main body 10. That is, water is not introduced into the second pipe 5. Therefore, it is not discharged from the discharge port 512 of the second pipe 5.

As the second step, the second pipe 5 is rotated around the first pipe 4 from the state where the second pipe 5 is pulled up. Since the second pipe 5 is engaged by the engaging protrusion 502 described above, the second pipe 5 does not inadvertently lower in the direction of the first position during the rotation operation. Therefore, the second pipe 5 can be rotated while maintaining the state in which water is not discharged from the discharge port 512 of the second pipe 5.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the 180 ° second pipe 5 is rotated to the side surface of the short side of the water tank W. It should be noted that the side surface of the long side may be rotated by 90 °. Since the discharge port 512 may be located outside the water tank in order to discharge water, the angle at which the second pipe 5 is rotated can be appropriately set.

<Third stage of discharge operation>
Next, as a third step, the second pipe 5 is lowered. The lowered position corresponds to a third position between the first and second positions. FIG. 7A shows a state in which the second pipe 5 is lowered to the third position. FIG. 7B is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 7A. FIG. 7C is a partially enlarged view showing the appearance as well.

As shown in FIG. 7A, the amount of lowering is at least a position where the opening 42 is closed by the second pipe 5. As shown in the flow path, the water discharged from the opening 42 passes through the annular gap S and is discharged from the discharge port 512. The flow of water is the same as when the second pipe 5 is in the first position, but since the discharge port 512 is located outside the water tank W, the water in the water tank W can be discharged to the outside of the water tank. it can.

FIG. 4 shows how the water discharged from the discharge port 512 is collected by a PET bottle. The container to be collected is not limited to PET bottles, and can be appropriately determined according to the amount of water to be discharged.

<Another Embodiment>
The structure of the flow path is not limited to this embodiment, and various modifications are possible. In the present embodiment, the flow path forming portion is formed by the first pipe 4 and the second pipe 5, but an additional pipe may be further provided. Regarding the connection between the pump 3 and the first pipe 4, another pipe may be added and connected. The delivery pipe 3a of the pump 3 and the first pipe 4 may be directly connected.

S ring gap W water tank (aquarium)
1 Casing body 10 Outer casing body 10a Opening hole 10b Filter chamber 10c Pump chamber 11 Lid 2 Filter 2a Filter support 3 Pump 4 First pipe 40 Lower pipe body 400 Ring-shaped groove 401 Lower end 41 Upper pipe body 410 Ring-shaped groove 411 Wall surface 412 1st guide protrusion 413 2nd guide protrusion 42 Opening 43 Connecting part 5 2nd pipe 50 Lower pipe member 500 Large diameter part 501 Engagement claw part 502 Engagement protrusion 503 Upper inner wall 504 Guide protrusion 51 Upper pipe Member 510 Pipe body 511 Sideways pipeline 512 Discharge port 513 Step portion 514 Guide protrusion 52 Lid member

Claims (6)

A filter installed in the aquarium that filters the water in the aquarium,
A pump that pumps out filtered water,
A flow path forming part where a flow path for transferring the water sent from the pump is formed, and
A water tank filter device having a discharge port provided in the flow path forming portion and capable of returning the transferred water into the water tank.
The flow path forming portion is
It is equipped with a first pipe located on the upstream side and a second pipe located on the downstream side.
The first pipe includes an opening formed on the surface of the pipe.
The second pipe is fitted onto the first pipe, is movable between the first position and the second position in the vertical direction, and is configured to be rotatable around the pipe axis of the first pipe. Ori,
At the first position, the water delivered from the pump is discharged from the discharge port via the first pipe and the second pipe.
A water tank filter device characterized in that the water delivered from the pump at the second position is configured to be returned into the water tank through the opening. The aquarium filter device according to claim 1, wherein the opening is formed on a side surface of the first pipe, and the first pipe is closed on the upper surface of the opening. The aquarium filter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an annular gap is formed between the first pipe and the second pipe, and water is delivered to the discharge port through the annular gap. apparatus. The aquarium filter device according to claim 3, wherein a guide protrusion for guiding the vertical movement of the second pipe is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the first pipe in the annular gap. The aquarium filter device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an engaging portion for engaging the second pipe with the first pipe is provided at the second position. The aquarium filter device according to claim 4, wherein the guide protrusion has a function of restricting the upward movement of the second pipe.

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