JP3013248B1 - Aquarium water filtration and cooling device - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to reduce the size of an aquarium water cooling device for aquarium fish, and to facilitate cleaning and maintenance of the device. [Solution] A water tank (3) is installed at an open end of an upper end of a water tank.
The filtration device (2) that pumps up the water of (3) with a pump (21) and passes it through a filtration layer, and then discharges the filtered water to the water tank (3).
And a storage chamber (20) provided on the discharge side of the filtration device (2) and temporarily storing filtered water before being discharged to the water tank (3).
c) and a removably provided cooling device (1) such that the heat exchange member on the heat absorbing side of the heat transfer function section is submerged in the filtered water of the storage chamber (20c). .

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a filtration and cooling device for aquarium water for ornamental fish and aquatic plants.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various live fish, including goldfish and tropical fish, are cultivated and bred in a water tank in general homes and stores for the purpose of appreciation and display. In order to breed these appreciation fish smoothly, it is necessary to maintain the water temperature in the water tank within an appropriate temperature range, and various water temperature maintaining devices are used. As a method of maintaining the water temperature, a method of preventing a decrease in the water temperature by installing a small electric heater in winter has been established as a simple and inexpensive means. On the other hand, as means for preventing the rise in water temperature in summer, there are methods such as compressors, cooling devices using Peltier elements, fans, etc., and methods for maintaining the room temperature of the room where the water tank is installed at a constant temperature with a cooler or the like. Has been taken.

[0003] In the case of tropical fish, which is generally widely cultivated,
It is desirable to keep the water temperature below 30 ° C, and if the water temperature rises above 30 ° C as the temperature rises, life support becomes dangerous. Further, since the water temperature of 30 to 40 ° C. is the optimum temperature for the growth of many germs floating in the air, germs may multiply in the water tank or the decay of water may be accelerated. Also, in recent years, water quality control systems and the like have become more sophisticated, and it has become possible to easily raise marine fish that have a lower temperature range than tropical fish, making it necessary to provide a cheaper and easier water tank cooling device than ever before. Have been.

[0004] So far, as a cooling device for aquarium water,
For example, JP-A-1-320949, JP-A-8-140525, JP-A-8-14
0526, JP-A-9-318192 and the like are disclosed. JP-A-1-
320949, the water tank water cooling device provided by Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-140526 takes water in the water tank into the cooling device with a dedicated pump,
After cooling by the Peltier effect, it is a type that returns to the inside of the water tank. These devices need to be large-sized for the efficiency of the pump mechanism and heat exchanger for circulating the water in the water tank, and require a special space outside the water tank for installation. In a small aquarium such as the one described above, it is apt to be expensive in terms of installation in a limited season such as summer.

[0005] In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-318192, in order to solve the problem of the installation space of the cooling device, the heat exchange portion and the power supply / control portion of the water cooling device of the water tank are separated and the heat exchange device portion can be mounted on the upper portion of the water tank. Although the size is reduced to the size, there is no great difference in structure from the above two water tank water cooling devices, and the cost is high. JP
The aquarium water cooling and purifying device disclosed in 8-140525, the purifying device and the cooling device are integrated, enabling the combined use of the aquarium water circulation pump and the installation on the upper portion of the aquarium. This is due to the agitation of the air flow by the fan provided in the apparatus and the effect of water spray, which results in a low cooling efficiency and an increase in cost due to the complexity of the apparatus.

[0006] Further, the cooling device of the aquarium water described in the above three cases (JP-A-1-320949, JP-A-8-140526 and JP-A-9-318192)
In common, water is taken from the water tank into the cooling device using a dedicated circulating pump, and the cooling method is used, so that fine dust such as dust and food left behind in the water tank is taken into the cooling device together with the water. It is conceivable that the heat exchange efficiency is reduced by adhering or accumulating in the cooling unit, and a tube or a pipe for circulating water in the aquarium is closed.

[0007] Even if the cooling device itself is configured so that cleaning and maintenance of the cooling unit can be easily performed, the cooling unit is located inside the device, so that it is difficult to know the timing of cleaning, and it is also necessary to clean the suction pipe and the discharge pipe. And the work is complicated. It is also conceivable to install a filter in the suction part of the tank water to prevent the entry of dirt components into the device.
Clogging occurs due to adhesion of dirt to the suction part filter, and the aquarium water cannot be sucked smoothly, which also imposes a load on the circulation pump. Therefore, it is necessary to clean a thin filter, which is troublesome.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a cooling device for aquarium water for ornamental fish and aquatic plants, which is small in size and facilitates cleaning and maintenance.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

* 1. The technical means of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problem is as follows. "The filter is installed at the upper end opening of the water tank, and the water in the water tank is pumped up by a pump and passed through a filtration layer. A filtering device portion for discharging, a storage portion provided on the discharge side of the filtering device portion and temporarily storing filtered water before being discharged to a water tank, and a heat exchange member on the heat absorbing side of the heat transfer function portion. And a cooling unit that is detachably provided so as to be submerged in the filtered water of the storage unit ”.

The above technical means works as follows. According to the above-described means, the water in the aquarium can be cooled by using the aquarium water circulation system of the filtration device installed in the aquarium for aquarium fish, as seen in a conventional aquarium water cooling device. In addition, there is no need for the water tank water cooling device itself to have a dedicated circulation pump. Therefore, the number of components of the device is reduced, and the size can be reduced.

Since the heat exchange member of the cooling unit is installed so as to be submerged in the filtered water of the storage unit, the filtration cooling unit of the present invention is extremely large in comparison with the conventional filtering unit by providing the cooling unit. Never do. In addition, since the heat exchange member of the cooling device is immersed in the clean filtered water filtered by the filtration device, adhesion of dirt components to the heat exchange member on the heat absorption side is small.

[0012]

According to the present invention having the above configuration, the following specific effects are obtained. Conventionally, since a circulating pump dedicated to the cooling device is not required, the size and weight of the cooling device can be reduced as compared with the conventional device. In addition, since the dedicated circulation pump is not required, the amount of electric power consumed during operation of the cooling device is significantly reduced as compared with the conventional product, which is economical.

The heat exchange member on the heat absorption side of the cooling unit is always submerged in clean filtered water after filtration, so that dirt components do not easily adhere to the heat exchange member. Since the cooling device is detachably provided in the filtering device, the cooling device can be installed only when the water tank needs to be cooled and only when it is necessary to cool the water tank, and can be stored when it is unnecessary. Also, cleaning and maintenance of the heat exchange member are easy. [Others] * In Paragraph 1 and Paragraph 1, the heat exchange member of the cooling unit has a configuration in which a plurality of fins are arranged, and is a heat absorbing fin member submerged in the filtered water of the storage unit. The heat-absorbing fin member is disposed so as to be disposed above or around the outlet of the filtered water provided at the bottom of the storage section. ” Since more heat can be exchanged over time, the filtered water in the storage section is efficiently cooled.

Since the filtered water is freely falling into the water tank from a discharge port provided at the bottom of the storage section in which the heat absorbing fin member is submerged, a water flow always flows into the discharge section in the storage section. The filtered water around the heat absorbing fin members disposed above and around the outlet is also stirred without stopping by the water flow, so that the water in the aquarium is cooled efficiently and uniformly. In addition, since the drainage of the filtered water is caused by free fall, electric power for stirring the filtered water is not required, which is economical. * 3. In Paragraph 1, 1 or 2, "the heat exchange member includes a pair of heat absorbing fin members arranged in parallel with each other, and the heat absorbing fin member includes a plurality of fins extending in a horizontal direction arranged vertically. In this configuration, the pair of heat absorbing fin members are disposed to face each other with the discharge port interposed therebetween, so that the filtered water flowing into the storage chamber moves from the top of the storage chamber to the bottom discharge port. The heat exchange is performed by contacting a plurality of fins arranged vertically. Thereby, the filtered water is cooled efficiently. Further, since the heat absorbing fin members are arranged to face each other with the discharge port interposed therebetween, the heat absorbing fin members do not prevent the drainage of the filtered water from the discharge port. * In the item 4 and the items 1 to 3, the “cooling device portion is a Peltier element in the heat transfer function portion”, so that the cooling device portion can be further reduced in size and noise can be reduced.

[0015]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a use state of an aquarium water filtration and cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 2 shows a filtration device in which the cooling device (1) of FIG. 1 is installed.
It is II-II sectional drawing of the main body case (20) of (2).

The filter and cooling device of the aquarium water of this embodiment is a filter for the aquarium water (2) installed at the upper end opening of the aquarium (3) in order to keep the water of the aquarium for aquarium clean. ) And a cooling device (1) mounted on the storage chamber (20c) of the filtration device (2) to cool the water in the aquarium. * Filtration device (2) The filtration device (2) in which the cooling device (1) is installed is placed across a pair of opposed side walls (31) of the water tank (3) as shown in FIGS. The main body case (20) is provided. The main body case (20) has an elongated rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a pump (2) for pumping water in the water tank (3) along its longitudinal direction.
The storage chamber (20a) in which the filter medium (1) is stored, the filtration chamber (20b) in which the filter medium (22) is laminated, and the upper part where the water after filtration is temporarily stored before being discharged to the water tank (3) Rectangular box-shaped storage room (20c)
Are formed. This storage room (20c) is a cooling device described later.
This is a portion for accommodating the heat absorbing fin member (5) of (1).

The filter (2) operates as described below to circulate the water in the water tank (3). The impeller (211) interlocking with the output shaft of the motor (210) of the pump (21) is rotated in the relay box (212), and the water in the water tank (3) is sucked into the suction pipe (21).
3) Pump from the suction port (214) at the end to the discharge pipe (215) through the relay box (212). The pumped tank water flows from the discharge port (216) at the tip of the discharge pipe (215) to the filtration chamber.
(20b) Discharged to the upper surface of the filter medium (22) at the end, the filter medium (22)
By moving from upstream to downstream and from above to below. The filtered aquarium water is supplied to the filtration chamber (20b).
Flows into the storage chamber (20c) from the slit of the partition plate (23) fitted in the most downstream part of the storage chamber. Outlet (24) diameter and pump
Since the ratio of the amount of water discharged from the tank to the filtration chamber (20b) by (21) is set to a predetermined value, the filtered water stays in the storage chamber (20c) for a while and then is discharged (24). The water returns to the water tank (3) through the discharge pipe (25). By this circulation type filtration system, the water in the water tank (3) is always kept clean. * Configuration of Cooling Device (1) FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view of the cooling device (1) of FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cooling device (1) of FIG. 1, taken along the line IV-IV, and FIG. It is a VV sectional view of a filtration device. Cooling device of this example (1)
Is composed of a heat transfer element (4) using the Peltier effect and heat exchange members attached to the heat absorbing surface (4a) and the heat radiating surface (4b).

The heat exchange member on the heat absorption side comprises a heat conduction block (51) and a heat absorption fin member (5), and the heat exchange member on the heat radiation side comprises a heat conduction block (61) and a heat radiation fin member (6). A heat-insulating block surrounding the heat transfer element (4) and the heat-conducting blocks (51) (61) superposed on it
(7) through the heat absorbing fin member (5) and the heat radiating fin member
(6) is connected and integrated.

Further, on the heat radiation side, a heat radiation fin member (6)
In order to make the heat radiation from the air more efficient, a forced air cooling circuit is formed by the fan (8). The heat transfer element (4) is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4 and a square plate-like member, the lower surface is a heat absorbing surface (4a) and the upper surface is a heat radiating surface (4b). In the filtration cooling device of this example, the heat transfer element (4)
(4) is used as a rectangular shape in which two are arranged in the horizontal direction. Each heat conducting element (4) (4) has a heat absorbing surface (4a) and a heat radiating surface
(4b) are provided and lead wires (40) and (41) are provided, and heat is generated by flowing an electric current between these lead wires (40) and (41), and the heat absorbing surface (4a) It becomes low temperature and one heat radiation surface (4
b) is a configuration in which the temperature becomes high.

The heat-conducting block (51) superposed on the heat-absorbing surface (4a) of the heat-transfer element (4) is a mouth (7b) of the heat-insulating block (7).
The heat conductive block (51) has a lower surface in close contact with a top plate (53) connected to the heat absorbing fin member (5). Insulation block and lower part of heat conduction block (51)
In the gap of (7), a heat insulating frame (71) having a rectangular cross section is sandwiched between the flange (7a) of the heat insulating block (7) and the top plate (53) of the heat absorbing fin member (5). Screwed with bolts (52) in the state.

The heat absorbing fin member (5) is connected to the heat conducting block (5).
It is provided continuously on the lower surface of the top plate (53) to be superimposed on 1). Each heat absorbing fin member (5) is a leg piece (54) with fins (50) (50), a thick plate-like leg piece (54), and this leg piece (54).
And a plurality of plate-like fins (50) projecting horizontally on both sides. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the fins (50) (50) are arranged at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction of the leg pieces.

On the other hand, the heat conducting block (61) superposed on the heat radiating surface (4b) of the heat transfer element (4) is a plate housed above the flange (7a) of the heat insulating block (7), The upper surface is formed slightly larger than the lower surface, and the radiation fin member is formed.
Close to the bottom plate of (6). The peripheral wall of the heat conduction block (6) is an inclined surface, and a heat insulating frame (70) is interposed between the inclined surface and the collar (7a) in a state of being pressed.

The radiating fin member (6) is a heat conducting block (61).
And a plurality of plate-like fins (60) (60) standing upright on the upper surface thereof. The radiating fin member (6) is screwed to the heat insulating block (7) from outside the main body cover (10) by bolts (62). * Function of cooling device (1) When power is supplied to the cooling device (1), heat transfer by the Peltier effect occurs in the heat transfer element (4) energized through the lead wires (40) (41), and the heat absorbing surface (4a ) Has a low temperature and the heat radiation surface (4b) has a high temperature.

As the temperature of the heat absorbing surface (4a) decreases, the heat transfer block (50) and the heat absorbing fin member (5) connected to the heat absorbing surface (4a) become lower.
Heat transfer also occurs in the interior. The heat absorbing fin member (5), which has been cooled by the heat transfer, performs heat exchange with the filtered water in contact with the surface of the heat absorbing fin member (5), and as a result, the surrounding filtered water is cooled. On the other hand, heat dissipation surface (4b) by Peltier effect
The heat transferred to the radiator heats the heat radiating surface (4b) to a high temperature and is conducted to the heat conducting block (60) and the heat radiating fin member (6). The heat reaching the radiating fin member (6) is released from the radiating fin member (6) to the air that comes into contact with the fin. In this example, a fan (8) for sucking fresh air from the intake port (11a) and exhausting it from the exhaust port (11b) is provided above the radiation fin member (6). The forced cooling circuit is formed by the fan (8), and the air around the radiating fin member (6) is constantly stirred, so that the heat is efficiently radiated. * Installation of cooling device (1) In the filtration cooling device of this example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the filtering device (2) installed at the open top of the water tank (3)
The cooling device (1) is placed in the storage room (20c). Heat-absorbing fin members, which are heat exchange members on the heat-absorbing side of the cooling device (1)
Since the length of the downward projection of (5) is adjusted to the depth of the storage chamber (20c), the heat absorbing fin member (5) is directly submerged in the filtered water, and the lower end of the heat absorbing fin member (5) Is a storage room (20c)
Near the bottom of

In this example, as shown in FIG. 5, a pair of heat absorbing fin members (5) and (5) are provided, and these are one-dimensionally different from the planar shape of the rectangular parallelepiped storage chamber (20c). It is arranged so as to be inscribed in a small rectangular shape around the storage room (2
It is installed so as not to contact the inner wall of 0c). Between the pair of heat-absorbing fin members (5) and (5), so as not to hinder the drainage of filtered water from the outlet (24) provided at the bottom of the storage chamber (20c).
An interval of about the diameter of the discharge port (24) is provided. * Use of cooling and filtering device The filtering and cooling device for aquarium water in this example filters and cools water in the aquarium (3) for ornamental fish and aquatic plants as follows.

A water tank is provided by a pump (21) of the filtration device (2).
The tank water pumped up from (3) passes through the filtration chamber (20b) and flows into the storage chamber (20c) from the slit of the partition plate (23). The filtered water temporarily stays in the storage chamber (20c) before returning to the water tank (3) from the discharge port (24) at the bottom of the storage chamber (20c), and then reaches the discharge port (24). During this time, the filtered water flows from the cooling device (1) placed above the storage chamber (20c) to the storage chamber.
The heat is exchanged on the surface of the heat absorbing fin member (5) protruding into the water of (20c) and cooled. Since the filtered water flows into the outlet (24) after contacting each fin (50), the filtered water is stored in the storage chamber.
(20c) is cooled efficiently within the discharge pipe (24)
Return to the aquarium (3) through 25). The water in the water tank (3) is constantly cooled by the above system,
In summer or the like, the water temperature can be maintained at a certain temperature or less even when the outside air temperature rises.

The above example is an example of the embodiment of the present invention, and a method other than the Peltier effect may be used as the cooling means of the cooling device (1). The heat exchange member directly submerged in the storage chamber (20c) is not only a heat absorbing fin member (5) composed of a plurality of fins (50), but also a helical member if sufficient heat exchange can be performed. It may be formed into a shape, rod shape, cylindrical shape, or the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a use state of an aquarium water filtration / cooling apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a filtration device II- equipped with the cooling device of FIG.
II sectional view

FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view of the cooling device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of the cooling device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV of the cooling device of FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

(1) ・ ・ ・ Cooling device, (10) ・ ・ ・ Body cover, (2) ・ ・ ・ Filtration device, (20) ・ ・ ・ Body case, (20a) ・ ・ ・ Accommodation room, (20b) ・ ・・ Filtration chamber, (20c) ・ ・ ・ Storage room, (21) ・ ・ ・ Pump, (22) ・ ・ ・ Filter material, (24) ・ ・ ・ Discharge port, (25) ・ ・ ・ Discharge pipe, (3 ) ・ ・ ・ Aquarium,
(4) ... heat transfer element, (5) ... heat absorbing fin member, and the same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or corresponding parts.

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A filter device installed at an upper end open portion of a water tank for pumping water in a water tank by a pump and passing the water through a filtration layer, and then discharging filtered water to the water tank, and the discharging of the filter device. And a storage portion for temporarily storing filtered water before being discharged to the water tank, and a heat exchange member on the heat absorbing side of the heat transfer function portion is detachably provided so as to be submerged in the filtered water of the storage portion. And a cooling device section provided with a cooling device. 2. The heat absorbing fin according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanging member of the cooling device is a heat absorbing fin member having a plurality of fins arranged therein and submerged in the filtered water of the reservoir. An aquarium water filtration / cooling device installed such that the member is disposed above or around a discharge port of the filtrate water provided at the bottom of the storage section. 3. The heat exchanging member according to claim 2, wherein the heat exchanging member includes a pair of heat absorbing fin members arranged side by side, and the heat absorbing fin member has a plurality of fins extending in a horizontal direction arranged vertically. A filter / cooler for aquarium water, wherein a pair of the heat absorbing fin members are arranged to face each other across the discharge port. 4. The aquarium water filtration / cooling device according to claim 1, wherein the heat transfer function unit of the cooling device unit is a Peltier element.