JP4330010B2 - Fish tank cooling device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cooling device for an aquarium fish tank for breeding ornamental fish such as goldfish and tropical fish.

Since ornamental fish raised in this type of tank are sensitive to changes in the water temperature in the tank, it is important to manage the water temperature.
For this reason, various devices for maintaining the water temperature in the water tank at a preset temperature have been proposed and put into practical use.
A typical conventional water temperature control device is equipped with a thermostat that sets the water temperature and a heater connected to the thermostat. When the water inside is heated and the water temperature reaches a set temperature, the heater is turned off to keep the temperature in the water tank constant.
However, the conventional water temperature adjusting device is effective when the outside air temperature is lower than the set temperature, but there is a problem that the water temperature adjusting function does not work when the outside air temperature becomes higher than the set temperature as in summer.
In particular, in the case of a tropical fish or the like whose optimum breeding temperature is around 27 ° C., even if the water temperature rises by 2 to 3 ° C. above the optimum breeding temperature, for example, it may be weakened or killed.

In order to solve such a problem, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes a water tank cooling device for cooling water in the water tank.
The water tank cooling device of Patent Document 1 includes a heat exchanger and a cooling fan at the top of the water tank, and supplies air from the air pump to the air lift pump in the water tank so that the water in the water tank is above the heat exchanger. The water is pumped up to the water sprinkler provided in the water, and the water is sprinkled to the heat exchanger.
And when the sprinkled water passes through the heat exchanger, it is cooled by the air that is passed to the heat exchanger by the cooling fan, and not only the cooling air by the cooling fan but also the air from the air pump is used. Since the water after pumping can be cooled, an excellent cooling effect can be obtained.
JP 2003-235396 A

However, the water tank cooling device described in Patent Document 1 has the following problems due to the configuration in which the water in the water tank pumped by the air lift pump is directly passed through the heat exchanger for cooling.
In other words, even if the water in the water tank pumped by the air lift pump is filtered by the filter, there are some impurities and scales, so if the water is passed through the heat exchanger for a long time, the impurities are transferred to the heat exchanger. It adheres and the heat exchanger becomes clogged, and the cooling effect is extremely reduced.
For this reason, it will be cleaned regularly like the filter, but heat exchangers use multi-layer heat radiation fins to increase the heat transfer area, and impurities and scales adhere to the surfaces of these heat radiation fins. In this case, it takes a lot of labor and time to clean this, and if a strong force is applied at the time of cleaning, there is a problem that the radiating fin is bent or broken.
In addition, because the cooling fan sucks the air that has passed through the heat exchanger together with water and discharges it to the outside, the mist-like water droplets that are generated when passing through the heat exchanger are sucked into the cooling fan together with the air, resulting in cooling. There is also a problem that the electric motor that drives the fan is constantly exposed to air containing moisture, causing the cooling fan to fail early.

  This invention was made in order to improve this problem, and it aims at providing the cooling device of the aquarium for ornamental fish which the cooling effect of the heat exchanger which cools the water in an aquarium does not fall early. To do.

  The appreciation fish aquarium cooling device of the present invention is an appreciation fish aquarium cooling device for cooling the water in the aquarium for breeding the appreciation fish, and a main body freely attachable to the upper part of the aquarium by the main body attaching means, A heat exchanger composed of a heat radiating pipe and a heat radiating fin, and installed in the vicinity of the heat exchanger and distributes air through the heat exchanger and cools the heat exchanger. A cooling fan that discharges toward the water surface of the aquarium, a water pump that filters the water in the aquarium through a filter and then distributes it to the heat radiating pipe of the heat exchanger, and directs the water cooled by the heat exchanger toward the water surface of the aquarium It consists of a watering pipe that sprays water.

With the above configuration, the heat radiation area of the heat exchanger is greatly expanded by the large number of heat radiation fins attached to the heat radiation pipe, so that the water circulating in the heat radiation pipe can be cooled efficiently, and as in the summer Aquarium fish can be bred with peace of mind even when the outside air temperature is higher than the set temperature, and the water in the tank pumped by the water pump does not flow between the radiation fins, so it could not be removed by the filter Impurities and scales do not adhere to and accumulate on the surface of the radiating fins, which prevents clogging of the heat exchanger even when the water in the tank is circulated through the heat exchanger for a long time. The cooling effect of the exchanger is not reduced early.
In addition, since there is no need to periodically clean the heat exchanger, maintenance of the aquarium fish tank is facilitated and air containing mist-like water drops does not pass through the cooling fan. There is no worry that it will break down early.

  The cooling device for an aquarium fish tank according to the present invention is configured to discharge the air that has cooled the heat exchanger toward water droplets sprayed from the water spray pipe to the water surface of the water tank.

  With the above configuration, the mist-like water droplets sprayed from the water spray pipe to the water surface of the water tank are further cooled by the air that has cooled the heat exchanger, so that the cooling efficiency is further improved and oxygen is supplied to the water droplets. The oxygen in the water tank can be sufficiently supplied.

  In the cooling device for an appreciation fish tank according to the present invention, the main body attaching means is formed of a gripping part for gripping the upper part of the water tank and a flexible tube for connecting the gripping part and the case.

  With the above configuration, the direction of the air blown from the exhaust port of the main body can be freely changed by the flexible pipe, so that the main body is blown toward the water surface where the water temperature in the water tank is expected to rise. By adjusting the position and angle, the water in the aquarium can be cooled from the water surface, so that the water in the aquarium can be cooled more efficiently.

  According to the cooling device for an appreciation fish tank of the present invention, an ornamental fish can be bred with peace of mind even when the outside air temperature is higher than a set temperature as in summer, and impurities and scales that cannot be removed by a filter. Therefore, even if the water in the water tank is circulated through the heat exchanger for a long period of time, the cooling effect of the heat exchanger does not deteriorate early.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a usage state of the cooling device, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cooling device, FIG. 3 is a sectional view thereof, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the internal structure.
The ornamental water tank 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a watertight structure formed in a rectangular box shape having four surfaces formed of a transparent plate such as glass or acrylic resin and having an upper surface opened.
The main body 2 of the cooling device that cools the water accommodated in the water tank 1 has a flat case 3 whose side surface is formed in an approximately L shape, and the heat exchanger 4 and the cooling are provided in the horizontal portion 3a of the case 3. A fan 5 is accommodated, and a water pump 6 is accommodated in a lower portion of the vertical portion 3b.
The case 3 is entirely made of resin, and an operation panel 7 is attached to a chamfered portion 3c formed at a corner of the horizontal portion 3a and the vertical portion 3b. The cooling fan 5 is turned on on the operation panel 7. A fan switch 8 for turning off, a pump switch 9 for turning on and off the water pump 6, a temperature setting switch 10 for setting the temperature, and a display 11 for displaying the set temperature and the water temperature in the water tank 1 are provided.

The water pump 6 installed in the vertical portion 3b of the case 3 is composed of an impeller (not shown) as an electric motor, and the electric motor is connected to a power source via a pump switch 9 and a cord 12. Yes.
From the lower part of the water pump 6, a water absorption pipe 14 is suspended in the water tank 1, and a cylindrical filter 15 is detachably attached to a water immersion part of the water absorption pipe 14.
The filter 15 is formed, for example, in a cylindrical shape from a sponge-like porous material, and filters water impurities when the water pump 6 sucks up water in the water tank 1. The removed water is sucked into the water pump 6 through a plurality of long hole-like water suction holes 14 a formed on the outer peripheral surface of the water suction pipe 14.
The water in the water tank 1 absorbed by the water pump 6 flows into the heat exchanger 4 through the discharge pipe 16 connected to the discharge side of the water pump 6.

As shown in FIG. 4, the heat exchanger 4 is formed of a heat radiating pipe 4a formed in a meandering manner and a plurality of heat radiating fins 4b provided in a direction perpendicular to the heat radiating pipe 4a. When the air flows, the water flowing through the heat radiating pipe 4 a is cooled, the inflow side of the heat radiating pipe 4 a is connected to the water pump 6 through the discharge pipe 16, and the outflow side is connected to the water spray pipe 17. It is connected.
The water spray pipe 17 is bent in a substantially L shape along the inner side of the opening 3d that is elongated in the width direction of the horizontal part 3a of the vertical part 3b of the case 3 and faces the opening 3d. A large number of sprinkling holes 17a are formed in the surface at intervals in the longitudinal direction, and water is ejected substantially horizontally from the sprinkling holes 17a downward to the horizontal portion 3a.

The cooling fan 5 installed below the heat exchanger 4 includes an electric motor 5a and a fan 5b that is rotationally driven by the electric motor 5a. The electric motor 5a is connected to a power source via a fan switch 8 and a cord 12. .
The upper surface of the horizontal portion 3a of the case 3 is formed with an intake port 3f that sucks air on the horizontal portion 3a along with the rotation of the cooling fan 5, and prevents foreign matter from entering the intake port 3f. A grill 3g is provided over the entire surface, and on the lower surface of the horizontal portion 3a, air that has passed through the heat exchanger 4 is sprinkled from the water spray pipe 17 and discharged toward the water surface in the water tank 1. An exhaust port 3h is formed on substantially the entire lower surface.

The vertical portion 3b of the case 3 is provided with a body attachment means 20 on the side surface opposite to the side surface where the opening 3d is opened.
The main body attaching means 20 attaches the main body 2 to an arbitrary upper portion in the water tank 1 and at the same time allows the direction of the air discharged from the exhaust port 3h to be arbitrarily adjusted, and can be bent in any direction. It consists of a flexible pipe 20a made of metal and a gripping part 20b made of a clip.
One end of the flexible tube 20a is fixed to the side surface of the vertical portion 3b of the case 3, the cord 12 extending from the vertical portion 3b is inserted through the inside, and the water tank 1 is fixed by the holding portion 20b fixed to the other end side. The main body 1 can be attached to an arbitrary position of the water tank 1 by gripping the frame-like portion 1 a provided on the upper edge of the water tank 1.

Next, the action of the cooling device for the aquarium fish tank constructed as described above will be described.
A thermostat and a heater (not shown) are provided in the water tank 1, and when the water temperature in the water tank 1 falls below a preset temperature set in the thermostat in advance, the heater is energized and the water in the water tank 1 is heated by the heater. Therefore, although the water temperature in the water tank 1 is always maintained at the set temperature, the water temperature in the water tank 1 may be higher than the set temperature because the outside air temperature is high as in summer.
In such a case, the temperature setting switch 10 provided on the operation panel 7 is operated in advance to set the temperature at which the main body 2 operates.
If the operating temperature of the main body 2 is set to 28 ° C., for example, when a water temperature detecting means (not shown) detects that the water temperature in the water tank 1 has become 28 ° C. or higher, the cooling fan 5 of the main body 2 and The water pump 6 starts operating.
Thus, the water in the water tank 1 from which impurities have been filtered by the filter 15 attached to the water absorption pipe 14 is absorbed by the water pump 6 and then flows from the discharge pipe 16 into the heat radiating pipe 4 a of the heat exchanger 4.

Further, due to the rotation of the cooling fan 5, the air above the main body 2 is sucked into the heat exchanger 4 from the air inlet 3 f opened on the upper surface of the horizontal portion 3 a of the case 3, and between the radiating fins 4 b of the heat exchanger 4. The water flowing through the heat radiating pipe 4a is cooled by the passing air.
Since the heat transfer area of the heat exchanger 4 is greatly expanded by the large number of radiating fins 4b attached to the radiating pipe 4a, the water circulating in the radiating pipe 4a is efficiently cooled and the water in the water tank 1 is also cooled. Does not flow through the heat radiating pipe 4 and flows between the heat radiating fins 4b, so that impurities and scales that cannot be removed by the filter 15 are not deposited on the surface of the heat radiating fins 4b.
The water cooled by the heat exchanger 4 is sprinkled almost horizontally from the sprinkling hole 17a of the sprinkling pipe 17 toward the lower part of the horizontal portion 3a, and then flows down into the water tank 1. At this time, the water is exhausted by the cooling fan 5. Since the air discharged downward from the mouth 3h is sprayed from above onto the mist-like water droplets sprayed from the water spray pipe 17, the water is further cooled and at the same time oxygen is supplied to the water droplets. The oxygen in the water in 1 can be sufficiently supplied.

The cooling of the water in the water tank 1 is continued until the water temperature in the water tank 1 reaches the set temperature, and when the water temperature detecting means detects that the water temperature has reached the set temperature, for example, 28 ° C., the cooling fan 5 and the water pump 6. Stops working.
As a result, even in summer when the outside air temperature is higher than the set temperature, the water temperature in the aquarium 1 does not become higher than the set temperature. Therefore, even tropical fish sensitive to the water temperature can be safely raised. become able to.
In addition, air containing mist-like water droplets does not pass through the cooling fan 5, and the body attachment means 20 for attaching the body 2 to the water tank 1 is the direction of the air blown out from the exhaust port 3h by the flexible tube 20a. Since the position and angle of the main body 2 are adjusted so that air is blown toward the water surface where the water temperature in the aquarium 1 is expected to rise, the water in the aquarium 1 can be changed. Therefore, the water in the water tank 1 can be cooled more efficiently.

The above is a case where the cooling fan 5 and the water pump 6 are automatically turned on and off to cool the water in response to a signal from the water temperature detecting means, but the temperature obtained from the water thermometer for detecting the water temperature in the water tank 1 Of course, the pump switch 7 and the fan switch 8 may be manually operated based on the information to cool the water in the water tank 1.
Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the water in the water tank 1 was sucked up by the water pump 6 installed in the case 3 of the main body 2, the water is transferred to the heat exchanger in the case 3 by the submersible pump installed in the water tank 1. Of course, the water may be supplied to 4 to cool the water.

It is a block diagram of the use condition of the cooling device of the tank for appreciation fish which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the cooling device of the tank for appreciation fish which becomes an embodiment of the invention. It is sectional drawing of the cooling device of the tank for appreciation fish which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view inside the cooling device of the aquarium for appreciation fish which becomes an embodiment of the invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Water tank 2 Main body 3 Case 4 Heat exchanger 4a Radiation pipe 4b Radiation fin 5 Cooling fan 6 Water pump 15 Filter 17 Sprinkling pipe 20 Main body attachment means 20a Flexible pipe 20b Grip part

Claims (3)

  A cooling device for an aquarium for aquarium that cools water in an aquarium for breeding appreciation fish, a body that can be attached to the upper part of the aquarium by a body attachment means, a case provided in the case of the body, and a radiator pipe And a heat exchanger composed of radiating fins, and installed in the vicinity of the heat exchanger, and air is circulated through the heat exchanger, and the air that has cooled the heat exchanger is directed toward the water surface of the water tank. A cooling fan to be discharged, a water pump that filters water in the water tank through a filter and then circulates to the heat radiating pipe of the heat exchanger, and water that is cooled by the heat exchanger is sprayed toward the water surface of the water tank. A cooling device for an aquarium fish tank comprising a watering pipe.   The cooling device for an aquarium fish tank according to claim 1, wherein air that has cooled the heat exchanger is discharged toward water droplets sprayed from the water spray pipe toward the water surface of the water tank. The cooling of the fish tank for appreciation fish according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the main body attaching means is formed of a grip part for gripping an upper part of the water tank and a flexible tube connecting the grip part and the case. apparatus.

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