Description
AN AQUARIUM WAVE-MAKING WATER DEVICE
Technical Field
[1] The present invention relates to a water flow-generating device for an aquarium, and more particularly, a water flow-generating device for an aquarium that is provided with a sealing member elastically supported by means of a spring in such a manner as to be tightly coupled to a lower connecting pipe, the sealing member and the lower connecting pipe having the coupled portion made of carbon and ceramic therebetween such that the leakage of water is prevented and the abrasion generated due to the friction therebetween is also prevented, with a connecting member adapted to couple a housing to a bracket such that the device is disposed at various positions according to the mounting direction of the bracket on an aquarium, thereby making the discharging direction of water differently varied, with an worm gear disposed in the interior of the housing such that a water outlet pipe is rotated, with a vibration-absorbing member adapted to reduce the vibration generated from a motor, and with a control unit connected electrically to the motor such that the rotating speed and radius of the water outlet pipe are controlled. Background Art
[2] A conventional water flow-generating device for an aquarium is provided with a rubber O-ring disposed along a connected portion between a sealing member and a lower connecting pipe, and when the lower connecting pipe and a water outlet pipe are rotated, a friction between the sealing member and the lower connecting pipe is great, thereby making the smoothness of rotation undesirably low and also making the rubber O-ring seriously worn out. Furthermore, the tight contact between the sealing member and the lower connecting pipe is not constantly kept.
[3] On the other hand, as a motor is actuated, the lower connecting pipe and the water outlet pipe are rotated, but the power of the motor is not constantly sent, such that the rotation of the lower connecting pipe and the water outlet pipe is not evenly maintained, thereby making the water flows unstably generated. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem
[4] Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a water flow-generating device for an aquarium that is provided with a sealing member elastically supported by means of a spring in such a manner as to be tightly coupled to a lower connecting pipe, the sealing member and the lower connecting pipe
having the coupled portion made of carbon and ceramic therebetween such that the leakage of water is prevented and the abrasion generated due to the friction therebetween is also prevented.
[5] It is another object of the present invention to provide a water flow-generating device for an aquarium that is provided with a connecting member adapted to couple a housing to a bracket such that the device is disposed at various positions according to the mounting direction of the bracket on an aquarium, thereby making the discharging direction of water differently varied.
[6] It is still another object of the present invention to provide a water flow-generating device for an aquarium that is provided with an worm gear disposed in the interior of the housing such that a water outlet pipe is rotated, with a vibration-absorbing member adapted to reduce the vibration generated from a motor, and with a control unit connected electrically to the motor such that the rotating speed and radius of the water outlet pipe are controlled. Technical Solution
[7] To accomplish the above objects of the present invention, according to the present invention, there is provided a water flow-generating device for an aquarium that includes: a water inlet pipe for flowing in water therethrough; a water outlet pipe rotatably mounted for discharging the water flowing in through the water inlet pipe; an upper connecting pipe fixedly connected at one side end portion thereof to the water inlet pipe; a lower connecting pipe rotatably coupled at one side thereof to the water outlet pipe and fit at the other side thereof around the other side end portion of the upper connecting pipe; a motor for generating a driving force to rotate the lower connecting pipe and the water outlet pipe such that water flows are generated; a housing for containing the motor and the upper and lower connecting pipes therein; a sealing member elastically supported by means of a spring mounted around the outer periphery of the upper connecting pipe, the sealing member having a sealing structure in which the sealing member comes in tight contact with the lower connecting pipe and prevents the water from being leaked; and a worm gear mechanically connected to the motor for rotating the lower connecting pipe and the water outlet pipe.
[8] Preferably, the sealing member and the lower connecting pipe may have a coupled portion made of carbon and ceramic therebetween.
[9] Preferably, the water inlet pipe may be coupled to the housing by means of a cap such that the water inlet pipe is freely exchanged.
[10] Preferably, the worm gear may be mounted to the inside of the housing by means of a plurality of fixing pins.
[11] Preferably, the water flow-generating device may further include a vibration-
absorbing member for reducing the vibration of the motor.
[12] Preferably, the water flow-generating device may further include a control unit connected electrically to the motor for controlling the rotating speed and radius of the water outlet pipe.
[13] Preferably, the water flow-generating device may further include a connecting member and a bracket mounted to one side of the housing for varying the mounting direction thereof on the housing to make the rotating direction of the water outlet pipe freely varied. Advantageous Effects
[14] The water flow-generating device for an aquarium according to the present invention is provided with the sealing member elastically supported by means of the spring in such a manner as to be tightly coupled to the lower connecting pipe, under the mechanical sealing structure, and with the sealing member and the lower connecting pipe having the coupled portion made of carbon and ceramic therebetween such that the leakage of water is prevented and the abrasion generated due to the friction therebetween is also prevented.
[15] In addition, the water flow-generating device for an aquarium of this invention is provided with the connecting member adapted to couple the housing to the bracket such that the device is disposed at various positions according to the mounting direction of the bracket on the aquarium, thereby making the discharging direction of water differently varied.
[16] Furthermore, the water flow-generating device for an aquarium of this invention is provided with the worm gear disposed in the interior of the housing such that the water outlet pipe is rotated, with the vibration-absorbing member adapted to reduce the vibration generated from the motor, and with the control unit connected electrically to the motor such that the rotating speed and radius of the water outlet pipe are controlled. Brief Description of the Drawings
[17] FIG. 1 is FTG.1 is a perspective view showing a water flow-generating device for an aquarium according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[ 18] FIG.2 is a sectional view of FTG.1 ;
[19] FTG.3 is a partly enlarged view of FTG.2;
[20] FTG.4 is a separated perspective view showing the configuration of the water flow- generating device for an aquarium of this invention;
[21] FTG.5 is a front view showing a control unit of the water flow-generating device for an aquarium of this invention; and
[22] FTG.6 is a view showing the usage example of the water flow-generating device for an aquarium of this invention.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
[23] Now, an explanation on a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be in detail given with reference to attached drawings.
[24] FlG.1 is a perspective view showing a water flow-generating device for an aquarium according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG.2 is a sectional view of FIG.1, and FIG.3 is a partly enlarged view of FIG.2. Referring to FIGS.l to 3, a water flow-generating device for an aquarium according to the present invention includes: a water inlet pipe 12 for flowing in water therethrough; a water outlet pipe 14 rotatably mounted for discharging the water flowing in through the water inlet pipe 12; an upper connecting pipe 22 fixedly connected at one side end portion thereof to the water inlet pipe 12; a lower connecting pipe 24 rotatably coupled at one side thereof to the water outlet pipe 14 and fit at the other side thereof around the other side end portion of the upper connecting pipe 22; a motor 58 for generating a driving force to rotate the lower connecting pipe 24 and the water outlet pipe 14 such that water flows are generated; and a housing 50 for containing the motor 58 and the upper and lower connecting pipes 22 and 24 therein.
[25] The housing 50 has, as shown, upper and lower housing bodies 52a and 52b in which the upper and lower connecting pipes 22 and 24, the motor 58, and a worm gear comprised of a worm 54 and a worm wheel 56 are mounted.
[26] The water that flows in through the water inlet pipe 12 is sent to the water outlet pipe 14 via the upper and lower connecting pipes 22 and 24 and finally to the interior of the aquarium. The water inlet pipe 12 and the upper connecting pipe 22 are fixedly mounted to the upper housing body 52a. The water inlet pipe 12 is secured by means of a cap 18 in such a manner as to be exchangeable when the cap 18 is opened and closed. The upper connecting pipe 22 is fixedly mounted to the upper housing body 52a by means of screws or pins. Thus, even if the lower connecting pipe 24 and the water outlet pipe 14 are rotated, the water inlet pipe 12 and the upper connecting pipe 22 can be stably secured to the upper housing body 52a.
[27] As the water outlet pipe 14 is rotated together with the lower connecting pipe 24 with the driving force of the motor 58 generated by the actuation of the warm gear, it discharges water to thus generate water flows in the interior of aquarium.
[28] A rubber O-ring 16 is disposed around the coupled portion between the water inlet pipe 12 and the upper connecting pipe 22, and a ring 32 is disposed around the coupled portion between the lower connecting pipe 24 and the lower housing body 52b, such that they prevent water from being leaked. Also, a sealing member 28 and the lower connecting pipe 24, which have a coupled portion made of carbon and ceramic therebetween, are tightly contacted with each other to thus be sealed therebetween,
such that the water is not leaked to the interior of housing 50. A spring 26 functions to elastically support the coupling state between the sealing member 28 and the lower connecting pipe 24, for preventing water from being leaked therefrom.
[29] Such the sealing structure, which is made by the formation of the spring 26, is adopted from a mechanical seal.
[30] F1G.4 is a separated perspective view showing the configuration of the water flow- generating device for an aquarium of this invention. According to the present invention, as shown, the lower connecting pipe 24 and the water outlet pipe 14 are rotated by the actuation of the warm gear mechanically coupled to the motor 58, and as they are rotated, the water flows are generated. Also, the sealing structure between the sealing member 28 and the lower connecting pipe 24 is elastically supported by means of the spring 26 mounted around the upper connecting pipe 22, thereby preventing water from being leaked therebetween. Furthermore, the upper and lower housing bodies 52a and 52b and a bracket 64 are coupled by means of a connecting member 66, which allows the housing 50 to be varied in its mounting direction to the aquarium, to thus make the rotating direction of the water outlet pipe 14 varied. This enables the generation direction of the water flows to be varied.
[31] The water inlet pipe 12 is fixedly coupled to the upper housing body 52a by means of the cap 18. The water that flows to the water inlet pipe 12 is discharged via the upper and lower connecting pipes 22 and 24 to the water outlet pipe 14, and at this time, the upper and lower connecting pipes 22 and 24 are coupled in such a manner that the upper connecting pipe 22 is inserted into the lower connecting pipe 24. In this case, so as to prevent water from being leaked, the rubber O-ring 16 is disposed around the coupled portion between the water inlet pipe 12 and the upper connecting pipe 22 and the ring 32 is disposed around the coupled portion between the lower connecting pipe 24 and the water outlet pipe 14.
[32] The upper connecting pipe 22 has the sealing member 28 tightly contacted with the lower connecting pipe 24 for preventing water from being leaked, and the coupled state between the sealing member 28 and the lower connecting pipe 24 is elastically supported by means of the spring 26.
[33] Conventionally, a rubber O-ring is formed around the tightly contacted portion between the sealing member 28 and the lower connecting pipe 24, and when the lower connecting pipe 24 and the water outlet pipe 14 are rotated, a friction between the sealing member 28 and the lower connecting pipe 24 is great, thereby making the smoothness of rotation undesirably low and also making the rubber O-ring seriously worn out.
[34] Thus, the inventor of this invention provides the coupled portion between the sealing member 28 and the lower connecting pipe 24 that is made of carbon and
ceramic, such that there are some advantages that the sealing effect is maintained well, the friction is greatly reduced, and the lower connecting pipe 24 is freely rotated. Moreover, as the sealing member 28 is elastically supported by means of the spring 26, the coupling state between the sealing member 28 and the lower connecting pipe 24 can be tightly kept.
[35] In order to rotate the lower connecting pipe 24 and the water outlet pipe 14, the motor 58 and the worm gear are mounted. The worm gear is comprised of the worm 54 and the worm wheel 56. If the motor 58 is rotated, the rotating direction of the worm gear is changed, and next, the lower connecting pipe 24 and the water outlet pipe 14 are all rotated around the axial direction of the lower connecting pipe 24.
[36] Preferably, the worm 54 and the worm wheel 56 are fixed by means of a plurality of fixing pins 60a and 60b to the interior of the upper and lower housing bodies 52a and 52b such that they are not deviated while working. A vibration-absorbing member 62 is mounted to the one side portion of the motor 58 for absorbing the vibration generated from the motor 58. A control unit is further connected to the motor 58 for controlling the rotating speed and radius of the lower connecting pipe 24 and the water outlet pipe 14.
[37] To mount the water flow-generating device for an aquarium according to the present invention to the aquarium, the bracket 64 is coupled to the housing 50, and at this time, with the formation of the connecting member 66, the coupling direction of the bracket 64 to the housing 50 can be freely varied. In other words, as the connecting member 66 is mounted to the side portion of the housing 50, the bracket 64 has a plurality of coupling holes formed thereon such that it can be coupled to the connecting member 66 and the aquarium in different directions. If the mounting direction of the housing 50 is varied, the generation direction of water flows is also varied, which gives an advantage in that the water streams are much more formed in the interior of aquarium.
[38] F1G.6 is a view showing the usage example of the water flow-generating device for an aquarium of this invention. As shown, the water flow-generating device 10 for an aquarium is mounted on the inner side surface of the aquarium and takes water from the outside through the water inlet pipe 12 and discharges the water as the lower connecting pipe 24 and the water outlet pipe 14 are rotated, thereby generating water flows therein. The water supplied from the water inlet pipe 12 may be taken from the water charged in the interior of the aquarium, not from the outside.
[39] As the coupled direction of the bracket 64 to the housing 50 is varied, the coupled position of the water flow-generating device 10 to the aquarium may be changed, which makes the rotating direction of the water outlet pipe 14 and the generation direction of the water flows all varied. The addition of the control unit to the housing
50 permits the rotating speed and radius of the water outlet pipe 14 to be controlled in accordance with various conditions like the size of aquarium.
[40] Of course, the water flow-generating device for an aquarium of this invention can be applied to various places like big-sized aquarium and washing machines as well as aquariums.
[41] F1G.5 is a front view showing a control unit of the water flow-generating device for an aquarium of this invention. As shown, when the water flow-generating device for an aquarium of this invention is operated, the control unit functions to control the rotating speed and radius of the water outlet pipe 14. The control unit includes a manipulating panel having up/down buttons for controlling the rotating speed of the water inlet pipe 14, and setl and set2 buttons for controlling the rotating radius of the water outlet pipe 14. A reset button is additionally provided for converting the set state of the rotating speed and radius into an initial state.
[42] If power is supplied to the control unit, the water outlet pipe 14 is rotated in one direction, and if the set 1 button is pressed, the water outlet pipe 14 is rotated in a reverse direction to the one direction. If the set2 button is pressed, the water outlet pipe 14 is rotated in a reverse direction to the reverse direction. Thus, the points at which the setl and set2 buttons are pressed are set as a rotating section, such that the water outer pipe 14 reciprocates the rotating section, thereby generating the water flows in the aquarium. If the rotating section is to be changed, the setl and set2 buttons are pressed again at desired points. When it is desired to adjust the rotating speed of the water outlet pipe 14, the up/down buttons are pressed. Industrial Applicability
[43] As set forth in the foregoing, the water flow-generating device for an aquarium according to the present invention is made in a novel mechanical sealing structure, so that this device is applicable in various industrial fields.
[44] While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular il¬ lustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended claims. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.