JP3935576B2 - Filter device for ornamental fish tank - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a filtration device used for an aquarium fish tank for breeding ornamental fish or aquatic plants. More specifically, there is no weight (weight) at the bottom of the aquarium, it can be stably installed as it is, the device is easy to clean, and when it is taken out of the aquarium, dirt accumulated around the device or the device is removed. The present invention relates to a filter device for an aquarium fish tank that can be taken out without diffusing into the tank.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the aquarium fish tank filtration device, the water in the aquarium is guided to the purification chamber while passing through the filtration chamber and filtered, and the water injected into the purification chamber is discharged to the upper side of the device to discharge the water in the aquarium. Devices for filtering water are conventionally known. In this device, an air supply device is provided outside the water tank, and the filtration device itself is reduced in size so that it can be installed in the water tank. Since the water is circulated by the buoyancy of air, the structure is simple and handling is easy. It is an easy filtration device.
[0003]
Since such a conventional filtration device is generally formed of a plastic material such as acrylic resin or polypropylene, it is light in weight, so if it is installed in the water tank as it is, the stability at the bottom of the water tank is lacking. Therefore, a gravel or iron weight is incorporated in order to stably fix it to the bottom of the water tank (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-153910). As another conventional example, there is a device that is used so that the bottom of the filtration device formed of synthetic resin is buried in the bottom sand in the aquarium (sand laid on the bottom of the aquarium) so that the filtration device does not float up. No. 61-107914).
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional filtration device as described above, gravel and iron weight, etc., which are unrelated to the water filtering action in the aquarium, are installed in the device, so the structure of the device becomes complicated, and it is decomposed accordingly. It takes time and effort to clean.
In addition, filth such as residual food and excrement tends to collect around the weight such as gravel and iron, and if the filth is stuck over time, it takes time and effort to remove it. Furthermore, when a fine granular weight such as gravel is used for the device, gravel spills out when disassembling the device for cleaning, and the work is quite troublesome. On the other hand, an iron weight is used. In this case, it cannot be applied to a saltwater fish tank.
[0005]
In addition, in the type in which the bottom of the filtration device is buried in gravel or the like in the aquarium, when the filtration device is taken out of the aquarium, the bottom sand around the device or around the device is moved. As a result, the water was often contaminated again.
In addition, in order to give the gravel at the bottom of the aquarium a certain degree of filtering action, a water supply port is provided on the lower side of the filtration device to supply water that has passed through the gravel built into the device as a weight, and the filtration area There is also known an apparatus for increasing the filtration performance, but the gravel tends to accumulate filth such as residual food and excrement, which causes clogging and lowers the filtration efficiency. In addition, when the filtration device is lifted to take it out of the water tank, there is a problem in that dirt accumulated in the device flows backward from the lower water supply port and diffuses into the water tank.
[0006]
In addition, a pipe for sending pressurized air to the purification chamber is passed through the bottom that contains gravel, iron weight, etc., or the pipe protrudes downward from the bottom of the device. Therefore, there is a problem that the circumference of this pipe also becomes a place for collecting filth, and cleaning is quite troublesome.
[0007]
Therefore, in order to solve such problems, the object of the present invention can be stably installed in the aquarium without using a weight, and the apparatus can be easily cleaned and used in a seawater fish tank. Another object of the present invention is to provide a filter device for an aquarium fish tank that can be taken out of the apparatus or the filth accumulated in the tank without being diffused into the water.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve such an object, an ornamental fish tank filtering device according to the present invention comprises an upper opening type container made of a ceramic or glass material having an apparent specific gravity of 1 or more, and a bottom connected to the container . a pedestal which is provided in a central portion, a cylindrical body having an elastic member is being dressed by detachably mounted interposed and at least the upper opening against the pedestal, formed by said container wall and the tubular member A filtration chamber; a water passage that allows the filtration chamber to communicate with the cylinder; a pipe that is inserted into the cylinder from its upper opening and is detachably mounted; and a supply of pressurized air to the pipe. The ornamental fish tank filtering device is characterized by comprising a pressurized air supply section and a filter medium filled in the filtration chamber.
[0009]
The operation of the present invention will be described below.
Since the container is made of a ceramic or glass material with an apparent specific gravity of 1 or more, it is sufficiently heavy as it is, and can be stably fixed to the bottom of the aquarium without the need for a separate gravel or iron weight. This eliminates the problem of dirt sticking to the weight. Therefore, it is not necessary to clean the weight or the like. Further, since it is not necessary to bury the filtration device in gravel at the bottom of the water tank, there is no concern that the bottom sand on or around the device will be moved when the filtration device is taken out of the water tank. Since the pipe for supplying pressurized air is inserted from the upper open end in the cylinder of the container, the pipe does not pass through parts such as weights or through the bottom of the device. Dirt is hard to stick.
[0010]
In addition, since the pipe and the cylinder are separate parts from the container and are detachable, the filter medium can be easily taken out and the container or the like can be easily cleaned.
In addition, since the container is an upper opening type and the side and bottom are not open, when the filtration device is lifted to take it out of the water tank, the accumulated filth flows backward and diffuses from the side opening to the water tank. There is no problem of end.
[0011]
Furthermore, in the present invention, there is no need to make a hole for passing a pipe through the bottom or bottom of the container, so there is no risk of impairing filtration efficiency. That is, if the sealing property between the bottom and bottom holes of the container and the pipe is poor, water in the water tank enters through the gap and the filtration efficiency decreases. Therefore, it is not desirable to make a hole in the bottom of the container as in the conventional apparatus because it may reduce the filtration efficiency.
In addition, since the elastic member is interposed between the pedestal and the cylindrical body, the pedestal and the cylindrical body can be fitted while tightening the elastic member, so that the fitting property is improved.
[0012]
In the present invention, as the mounting serial to claim 3, the filtering material is more preferably made of a porous ceramic material. That is, such a filter medium has a pore structure that is more suitable for microbial habitation than a conventionally used wool mat structure, so that microorganisms related to water purification are also efficiently fixed. As a result, the so-called biological filtration action of changing ammonia and nitrous acid, which are harmful to ornamental fish and aquatic plants, to relatively harmless nitric acid is also carried out efficiently, and since it is resistant to repeated washing, the period of use is also long.
[0013]
Then, as the mounting serial to claim 4, further better performance when the detachably loaded filtering device spongy filtering material on the filtering material. Since the sponge-like filter material is suitable for filtering large solid floats such as residual food and fish excrement, a large solid float is previously filtered by the physical filtration action by this sponge-like filter medium, By purifying ammonia, nitrous acid, etc. through the biological filtration action of microorganisms with a filter medium, it is possible to prevent the entry of large solid suspended substances that cause clogging of the lower filter medium, and high filtration over a long period of time Efficiency is obtained.
[0014]
In particular, when the filter medium is made of a porous ceramic material, when the filter medium is used to filter large solid suspended matters such as residual food and fish excrement, the suspended substances adhere to the surface of the filter medium, Since there is no place where microorganisms can live, the biological filtration action of the microorganisms is not performed efficiently. In addition, the suspended matter is clogged between the filter media, and a water path is formed. Water passes only through a part of the filter chamber, and the filtration performance is lowered. In order to prevent this, a sponge-like filter material is detachably mounted on a filter material made of a porous ceramic material, so that a large solid suspended matter is filtered by the sponge-like filter material. By mainly performing the biological filtration action by, the filtration performance is not lowered and the performance is improved.
[0015]
As described in claim 5, when the filtering device is made of a ceramic material in which at least the container is subjected to glaze among the container, the pedestal, and the cylindrical body, dirt such as residual food and fish excrement does not stick to the container, and it is easier. The surface can be wiped off, and even if the surface is rubbed strongly with a scourer, it will not be damaged. Furthermore, the pedestal and the cylindrical body are more desirable because the same effect can be obtained when the glaze is applied. In addition, the container has a vivid luster on its surface, which enhances the design of the entire apparatus.
[0017]
As described in claim 2, when the elastic member is a silicon-based member, the fitting state between the pedestal and the cylinder is improved, and the silicon-based member does not harden even when used in water. Can withstand long-term use. It also does not elute toxic substances that adversely affect the living body in water.
[0018]
As described in claim 6, when a diffused breathable member is connected to the tip of the pipe, air is ejected from the breathable member in a state of being diffused from the beginning. It becomes easy to be mixed and rises by involving a wider range of water in the cylinder. Further, as described in claim 7, when the cross-sectional area of the upper part of the cylinder is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the other part, the air rises upward to the upper part of the cylinder and the flow of water is good. Become.
[0019]
As described in claim 8, if the upper part of the wall of the container is curved in a substantially U shape and a recess is formed on the inner periphery of the upper surface of the container, a filter medium such as a sponge is engaged with the recess. The filter medium can be prevented from floating in the water in the water tank. If the outer surface of the curved portion of the container is inflated, the container can be easily held by grasping the lower side thereof.
[0020]
As described in claim 9 , if the cylindrical body is a cylindrical body and protrudes from the upper edge surface of the container, the cylindrical body can be formed longer, and water can be formed as compared with a quadrilateral shape. Since there is no rising dead space, the rising force of water becomes larger and the filtration efficiency is improved. In addition, it is possible to avoid the entry of large floating solids accumulated on the top of the filter medium such as sponge into the cylinder, and efficient filtration becomes possible. In addition, the design is improved.
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, the filtration apparatus includes a container 1, a pedestal 2, a cylindrical body 3, a pipe 6, a pressurized air supply unit 7, and a filtering material 8 as main components.
The container 1 is an upper-opening type container having a shape of only a ceramic hot water with glaze. Moreover, although the upper part of the wall of the container 1 is curved in a substantially square shape and the concave part 1a is formed on the inner periphery of the upper surface of the container, the outer surface of the curved part of the container is inflated accordingly. In addition, the container 1 having a cylindrical shape of a lower closed type having a vertical and horizontal ratio of approximately 1: 1 is favorable in terms of the amount of filter medium to be filled and the area of passage of purified water.
[0022]
The pedestal 2 is provided at the center of the bottom of the container 1, and a silicon-based cylindrical elastic member 2 a is externally fitted to the periphery of the pedestal 2, and the lower end of the cylindrical body 3 is detachably fitted thereto. ing. As shown in FIG. 2, the main body of the pedestal 2 includes a columnar shaft portion 2b and a plurality of fitting pieces 2c projecting radially from the side surfaces thereof. A space formed by the member 2 a forms a water passage 5 that allows the filtration chamber 4 and the inside of the cylinder 3 to communicate with each other.
In addition, the fitting piece 2c is of a downwardly widened type, and a support portion 2d for supporting the cylindrical body 3 and the elastic member 2a is provided protruding at the lower end thereof. Further, a blind hole 2e for fixing the tip of the pipe 6 from the upper end thereof is formed in the shaft portion 2b.
[0023]
In addition, the container 1 and the base 2 are couple | bonded so that it may integrate by the following means. That is, a hole 1b is formed at the center of the lower surface of the container 1 at the time of molding the material, and a protrusion 2f that fits into the hole 1b is provided at the lower center of the shaft 2b of the base 2. When the paste 1f is applied to the hole 1b of the container 1 and the pedestal 2 thus formed and the periphery thereof, the protrusions 2f are fitted, the glaze is applied, and then fired, the container 1 and the pedestal 2 are integrated.
[0024]
The cylinder 3 has openings 3 a and 3 b at the top and bottom, the lower opening 3 b is detachably attached to the base 2, and the filtration chamber 4 is formed by the cylinder 3 and the wall of the container 1. The cylindrical body 3 is a cylindrical body having a width that is approximately one third of that of the container 1, and protrudes from the upper edge of the container 1 by approximately one third of the height of the container 1. Further, in order to improve the flow of water and air, the cross-sectional area of the upper portion of the cylindrical body 3 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the other portions and becomes thinner toward the top. Further, in the middle of the outer periphery of the cylindrical body 3, a locking projection 3 c for locking the sponge-like filter material 9 is provided on the upper part of the filtration chamber 4.
[0025]
A pipe 6 made of an elastic material such as a silicon tube is inserted into the cylindrical body 3 from the upper opening 3a, and the tip of the pipe 6 is detachably attached to a breathable member 10 described later. The proximal end side of the pipe 6 is connected to a pressurized air supply unit 7 such as an air pump for supplying pressurized air from the outside of the water tank into the cylindrical body 3.
[0026]
The air-permeable member 10 is made of a diffused cylindrical porous ceramic member called air stone, and a plastic bamboo shoot-like member 10a is provided on the upper portion thereof, and the central portion at the lower end projects in a conical shape. A fixing portion 10b for fixing to the blind hole 2e of the base 2 is provided. A cylindrical elastic member 10c made of a silicon-based member similar to the elastic member 2a is fitted into the fixing portion 10b and fixed to the blind hole 2e.
[0027]
The filtration chamber 4 is formed by the container 1 and the cylinder 3, and the filtration chamber 4 is filled with a filtration material 8 made of a porous ceramic material. The material of the filter medium 8 can be selected according to the living body bred in the water tank and the water quality in the water tank. For example, in aquariums where common freshwater fish and aquatic plants such as discus and cassilin that prefer weakly acidic water quality are bred, a filter medium made of porous ceramic material mainly composed of kaolinite-based active silica or activated alumina It is preferable to select and use 8. Porous ceramic materials mainly composed of wollastonite, anorthite, and quartz are used in aquariums that breed saltwater fish, seawater invertebrates, or some freshwater fish that prefer weak alkaline water quality such as guppy and goldfish. It is preferable to selectively use the filter medium 8 comprising
[0028]
The shape of the filter medium 8 is a columnar or cylindrical shape having a width and length of 3 to 25 mm, a large number of voids having a width of 50 to 1000 μm on the surface, and 0.1% on the wall of the void. What has a small space | gap with a width | variety of 10 micrometers is desirable.
A protozoan that ingests and decomposes large solid suspended solids such as residual food and fish excrement into the voids of the filter medium 8, and a bacterium mainly responsible for nitrification of ammonia and nitrous acid in the small voids. Because they live and inhabit each other, they have a well-balanced microbial environment with a high growth rate.
[0029]
As a result, dirty water is efficiently purified. Further, the filter medium 8 made of a porous ceramic material mainly composed of kaolinite-based active silica or activated alumina has a unique buffering capacity composed of the main component, and raises the pH value of water caused by photosynthesis of aquatic plants. Suppress. On the other hand, the filter medium 8 made of a porous ceramic material mainly composed of wollastonite, anorthite, and quartz has a unique buffering capacity composed of the main component, and nitrogen compounds such as residual food and fish excrement are contained. Suppresses the drop in the pH value of water that occurs during the process of decomposition. Both of these filter media are used by filling the filtration chamber 4 with about 3 to 9 cm.
[0030]
Further, a sponge-like filter medium 9 is detachably mounted on the filter medium 8. This sponge-like filter material 9 is made of a porous sponge having high water permeability, has a flat top and bottom surface, an outer peripheral surface is aligned with the concave portion 1a on the inner surface of the container, and a donut shape having a circular hole that matches the cylindrical body 3 at the center. I am doing. In such a sponge-like filter material 9, the cylindrical body 3 is passed through the circular hole, the periphery of the circular hole is locked by the locking projection 3c, and the outer peripheral surface is fitted and fixed in the recess 1a on the inner surface of the container. Has been. The concave portion 1a serves to prevent the sponge-like filter material 9 from floating when the filter device is placed in the water tank.
In addition, the water flow is better when there is a gap of several mm or more between the sponge-like filter material 9 and the filter material 8 made of a porous ceramic material.
[0031]
Although the filtration apparatus of this embodiment is the above structures, the assembly procedure is demonstrated next.
First, while connecting the base end of the pipe 6 to the pressurized air supply part 7, the bamboo shoot-like member 10a attached to the air permeable member 10 is inserted deeply in the front-end | tip, and these are passed through the cylinder 3 from the upper opening part 3a. Next, the cylindrical elastic member 2a is externally fitted to the plurality of fitting pieces 2c of the pedestal, and the elastic member 10c is also fitted to the fixing portion 10b of the air-permeable member, and is inserted into the blind hole 2e of the pedestal. . Then, the cylindrical body 3 is fitted onto the plurality of fitting pieces 2c of the pedestal from above the elastic member 2a.
[0032]
The filtration chamber 4 formed by the cylindrical body 3 and the wall of the container 1 is filled with about 3 to 9 cm of the filtration material 8 made of a porous ceramic material into the filtration chamber 4, and the sponge-like filtration material 9 is placed thereon. At the same time as locking to the locking projection 3c, it is fitted into the recess 1a on the inner surface of the container and fixed.
As shown in FIG. 3, when the filtration device M of the present embodiment assembled in this way is put into a desired water tank C, all of the inside of the container 1 and the inside of the cylinder 3 are immersed in water. .
[0033]
Next, the operation of each part when the pressurized air supply unit 7 is operated will be described. First, the pressurized air sent from the pressurized air supply unit 7 to the breathable member 10 through the pipe 6 is finely dispersed by the breathable member 10 and is ejected into the cylindrical body 3, and then rises to reach the upper opening 3 a. It is discharged outside. At the same time, the water filled in the cylinder 3 is also drawn up into the air and is discharged.
[0034]
As a result, a water absorption force acts in the cylinder 3, and the water in the water tank C enters from the upper part of the container 1 through the sponge-like filter material 9 in the filter chamber 4 and then permeates through the porous ceramic filter material 8. It flows into the cylinder 3 through the water channel 5. In this way, the water in the water tank C passes between the upper opening 3 a of the cylindrical body 3 from the upper part of the container 1. At this time, a physical filtering action is performed by the sponge-like filter material 9, and a biological filtering action by microorganisms is performed by the porous ceramic filter material 8. As described above, the water in the aquarium C is purified one after another, and clean water can be given to the ornamental fish F and the aquatic plants P in the aquarium C.
[0035]
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be embodied with appropriate modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention.
For example, the material of the container 1 is usually a ceramic with glaze applied, but any material can be applied as long as it is a ceramic or glass material having an apparent specific gravity of 1 or more. In this embodiment, the container 1 and the pedestal 2 are integrated at the time of firing, but they are combined so that the pedestal does not come out of the container even when the cylinder is picked and the device is taken out of the water. If it is done, it is enough.
[0036]
The elastic member 2a is externally fitted to the plurality of fitting pieces 2c of the pedestal. However, the elastic member 2a covers the elastic member 2a so that the elastic member 2a covers the entire outer surface from the inner surface of the lower opening 3b of the cylinder. The cylindrical body 3 may be mounted on the pedestal 2 while the elastic member 2a is tightened by the cylindrical body 3 and the fitting piece 2c of the pedestal 2.
The fitting piece 2 c may be fitted inside the cylinder 3 or may be sandwiched from the outside of the cylinder 3. The pedestal 2 may consist only of a fitting piece. Further, although the portion surrounded by the elastic member 2a, the shaft portion 2b of the base 2 and the fitting piece 2c is the water passage 5, the water passage 5 is provided on the lower side surface of the cylindrical body 3 without providing the lower opening 3b. It may be provided.
[0037]
Instead of connecting the breathable member 10 to the tip of the pipe, a plurality of holes may be provided at the tip of the pipe 6 to supply pressurized air directly into the cylinder 3. Moreover, although the thing which consists of a porous ceramic material was used as the filter material 8, you may use a plate-shaped water-permeable member or a mat-like or sponge-like thing.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the filter device for ornamental fish tanks of the present invention, it can be stably installed as it is in the aquarium without a weight, and the apparatus can be easily cleaned and used for aquarium fish tanks. Moreover, when taking out outside a water tank, there exists a great effect that the waste accumulated in the apparatus or the water tank can be taken out without diffusing into the water tank.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a filtration device of the present invention.
2 is a perspective view of the pedestal of FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a use state of the filtration device of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container 1a Recessed part 1b Hole 2 Base 2a Elastic member 2b Shaft part 2c Fitting piece 2d Supporting part 2e Blind hole 2f Protrusion 3 Cylindrical body 3a Upper opening part 3b Lower opening part 3c Locking protrusion 4 Filtration chamber 5 Water passage 6 Pipe 7 Pressurized air supply part 8 Filter medium 9 Sponge-like filter medium 10 Breathable member 10a Bamboo shoot-like member 10b Fixing part 10c Elastic member M Filtration apparatus C Water tank F Fish P Aquatic plant

Claims (10)

The apparent specific gravity of the upper opening type comprising one or more ceramic-based or glass-based material container (1), a pedestal (2) provided at the bottom center portion bonded to the container, with respect to the pedestal an elastic member (2a) is mounted freely desorption is interposed and at least the upper opening (3a) tubular having a body (3), the tubular member and the container (1) wall and filtration chamber formed by (4), a water passage (5) for communicating the filtration chamber and the inside of the cylindrical body (3), and inserted into the cylindrical body (3) from its upper opening (3a) and detachably mounted. A pipe (6), a pressurized air supply part (7) for supplying pressurized air to the pipe, and a filter medium (8) filled in the filtration chamber (4). A filtering device for ornamental fish tanks. The ornamental fish tank filtering device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member (2a) is a silicon-based member. The ornamental fish tank filtration device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the filter material (8) is made of a porous ceramic material. The ornamental fish tank filtration device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a sponge-like filter material (9) is detachably mounted on the filter material (8). The aquarium fish tank according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least the container (1) of the container (1), the pedestal (2), and the cylinder (3) is made of a ceramic material with glaze. Filtration device. The ornamental fish tank filtering device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a breathable air-permeable member (10) is connected to a tip of the pipe (6). The ornamental fish tank filtering device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a cross-sectional area of an upper portion of the cylindrical body (3) is smaller than a cross-sectional area of another portion. The aquarium fish tank filtration device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein an upper portion of the wall of the container (1) is curved in a substantially square shape and a recess (1a) is formed on the inner periphery of the upper surface of the container. 9. The ornamental fish tank filtering device according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical body (3) is a cylindrical body and protrudes from an upper edge surface of the container (1). 10. The ornamental fish tank filtering device according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical body (3) is a cylindrical body and protrudes from an upper edge surface of the container (1).

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