WO2020150768A1

WO2020150768A1 - Device for wave-like generation in an aquarium

Info

Publication number: WO2020150768A1
Application number: PCT/AU2020/000008
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alfred Petro
Original assignee: Mack Aquarium Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2019-01-25
Filing date: 2020-01-20
Publication date: 2020-07-30
Also published as: AU2019200524B1

Abstract

A water circulation system (1) to emulate a natural wave motion in an aquarium includes an electric pump (2) - having a water inlet (4) and two outlets (5,6) - connected to a water distribution device (3) - having two outlets (10,11). Each conduit (10,11) includes a ball valve (14,15) interconnected by a stepper motor (18). The discharge bores of the ball valves (14,15) are set orthogonal to each other. The ball valves (14,15) and stepper motor (18) are interconnected to provide substantially a 90 degree step rotation to each ball valve (14,15) when the stepper motor (18) is activated. The water circulation system (1) is controlled by a wireless mobile application on a smart-phone.

Description

DEVICE FOR WAVE-LIKE GENERATION IN AN AQUARIUM

Technical Field

THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to water movement. In particular, it is directed to a device and its method of use to simulate a natural wave motion of the water in an aquarium or the like.

Background Art

Water movement is essential for aquatic life - it carries nutrients and oxygen to the aquatic life, disposes of their waste and distributes the heat in the aquatic environment. Such water movement is particularly essential for corals and other aquatic species which are incapable of independent travel to forage for nutrients.

In a natural environment, water movement is a relatively consistent flow of the water in a river or stream but in an ocean environment this water movement is achieved by pulsating periods of strong and weak currents creating waves - volumes of water moving to and fro periodically. In an aquarium mimicking a natural aquatic environment, in addition to the required water movement, it is also desirable to prevent“dead spots” - areas in which there is no water movement - as such areas provide the desired conditions for unwanted algae growth or detritus to collect. The correct water movement within an aquarium is therefore essential for the health and well-being of its contained living organisms.

Simulating the consistent flow of water of a river or stream is relatively simple in an aquarium by using any one of a number of continuous-flow circulation pumps readily available which pick up water from the volume within the aquarium at one point and discharge that water at another location within the aquarium. However, a single continuous-flow pump is not suitable to simulate the pulsating current of an ocean within an aquarium and there have been a number of prior art attempts to provide this type of flow. Typically, this is achieved by devices that are timed to create surges within the water. For example, two or more continuous-flow pumps are controlled by timing devices that activate or deactivate each pump separately at predetermined intervals to mimic periodic flows of water; or by using a switching current water director whereby a unit generates a double directional movement of the water by directing the incoming water flow to two alternate outputs controlled by the incoming pressure of the water.

However, disadvantages of these prior art water current emulators include cost - as multiple heads or pumps are required along with timer controls; the cycling of power heads on and off causes premature failure which may be mitigated by including“soft start” devices but, of course, lead to a further increase in cost and complexity; and multiple power heads take up space within an aquarium, can be noisy and consume significant power. The mechanical switching current water directors have limited adjustability of water flow as they are essentially dependent on the singular pressure generated by the particular pump to which they are attached. It is a general object of the present invention to overcome, or at least ameliorate, one of more of these disadvantages and to provide a water circulation device for use in an aquarium or the like to simulate the wave motion of a natural marine environment.

Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a distribution device for water in an aquarium or the like for connection to a pressurised pump to simulate wave motion of a natural marine environment, said pump having at least one inlet for said water and a plurality of outlets for said water passing through said pump, wherein said distribution device comprises: a body operatively connected between at least two of said plurality of outlets of said pump to receive incoming water from said at least two outlets of said pump and having at least a first water outlet and a second water outlet to subsequently dispense said incoming water into said aquarium or the like; and a control means operatively connected to said body adapted to dispense a variable flow of said incoming water out of each said first water outlet and said second water outlet alternately into said aquarium or the like.

Preferably, said control means includes a ball valve positioned within each of said first water outlet and said second water outlet.

Preferably, the discharge bore of the said ball valve in said first water outlet is substantially orthogonal to the discharge bore of the said ball valve in said second water outlet.

Preferably, said control means includes a stepper motor to control movement of each said ball valve.

Preferably, said stepper motor is adapted to provide substantially a 90 degree step rotation to each said ball valve.

Preferably, said distribution device includes one or more printed circuit boards or similar adapted to provide electrical operation of said pump and said stepper motor by an external device. Preferably, said external device is a mobile device.

Preferably, said mobile device is a smart-phone.

Preferably, said smart-phone manages said electrical operation of said control means and said pump by a mobile application transmitted by the wireless technology WiFi or Bluetooth® (registered trade mark of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group.)

Preferably, said mobile application manages the variable pressurisation of said pump, and the frequency and duration of activation of said stepper motor.

In an embodiment of said mobile application, a user of the present invention can selectively: activate/deactivate said pump and said control means as required, with the respective status being visually displayed on said smart-phone; adjust the rate of flow of said water through said pump, with the selected value being visually displayed on said smart-phone; set the duration and frequency of said stepper motor, with the selected values being visually displayed on said smart-phone; and have the temperature of said water in said aquarium displayed on said smart-phone.

Preferably in all embodiments of said distribution device, said pump has two of said outlets for said water passing through said pump. As a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a circulation system for water in an aquarium or the like to simulate wave motion of a natural marine environment, said circulation system comprising: a pressurised pump having at least one inlet for said water and a plurality of outlets for said water passing through said pump; and a distribution device as hereinbefore described connected to said pressurised pump.

Preferably, said circulation system further includes a first monitoring means to monitor the temperature of said water in said aquarium or the like. Preferably, said circulation system further includes a second monitoring means to monitor the flow of said water passing through said pump.

A third aspect of the present invention is a method of circulating water in an aquarium or the like to simulate wave motion of a natural marine environment, said method comprising: placing an electrically operated pressurised pump in said water of said aquarium or the like, said pump having at least one inlet for said water and a plurality of outlets for said water passing through said pump; connecting an electrically operated said distribution device as hereinbefore described to at least two of said plurality of outlets of said pressurised pump; and operating said pressurised pump and said distribution device as required with a mobile application by wireless technology installed on an external mobile device.

In an embodiment of said method, said mobile application manages the variable pressurisation of said pump and the operation of said control means.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a system constructed in accordance with the present invention for circulating water in an aquarium to simulate wave motion of a natural marine environment; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-section view of a component of the system of FIG. 1.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to the FIGS., a water circulation system (1 ) (FIG. 1 ) includes an electric pump (2) and a water distribution device (3). The pump (2) is a brushless DC motor powered with a 110-240V AC to DC converter microcontroller (MCU) mounted on a printed circuit board (not illustrated) housed within the body of the pump (2). The pump (2) has a water inlet (4) directing incoming water from being immersed in an aquarium to two outlets (5,6). Each outlet (5,6) has respective short conduits (7,8) extending away from the casing of the pump (2). The water distribution device (3) (FIG. 2) has a hollow body (9). Conduits (10,1 1 ) extend through the body (9), the lower sections (12,13) of which are connected to the respective short conduits (7,8) of the pump (2). Short respective upper sections (16,17) of the conduits (10,1 1 ) extend away from the exterior of the body (9). Each conduit (10,1 1 ) includes a respective ball valve (14,15) interconnected by a stepper motor (18) (FIG. 2). The discharge bores of the ball valves (14,15) are set substantially orthogonal to each other. The ball valves (14,15) and stepper motor (18) are interconnected to provide substantially a 90 degree step rotation to each ball valve (14,15) when the stepper motor (18) is activated. The required electrical circuitry to control operation of the stepper motor (18) is located on a printed circuit board housed within the body (9) of the distribution device (3); this board also includes the circuitry necessary for the Bluetooth/WiFi operation of both the pump (2) and distribution device (3); this control is provided by a suitable mobile application on an external mobile device such as a smart-phone.

In use, the system (1 ) is immersed in the water in an aquarium. If required, flexible conduits of a required length are attached to the respective upper sections (16,17) of the conduits (10,1 1 ) to direct water exiting therefrom to the required area of the aquarium. The pump (2) and stepper motor (18) are energised and the pump flow rate and rotation of the ball valves (14,15) are controlled by the mobile application on the smart-phone. As the stepper motor (18) is limited to a 90 degree rotation and the bores of the valves (14,15) are always orthogonal to each other after such rotation, each revolution of the stepper motor results in alternating opening and closing of the ball valves (14,15), with only one outlet open at any given operation, thereby providing the alternating flows of water to simulate ocean wave action. By adjusting the flow rate of the pump (2), a single system (1 ) can be adapted for aquaria of differing volumes and, also, the wave-like action generated by the device (3) can be temporarily lowered during fish feeding time so that the food is not widely dispersed through an aquarium and can be more easily consumed by the fish; and by adjusting the flow rate of the pump (2) and the activation of the stepper motor (18), the speed and height of the generated wave can be varied. From the above, it can be seen that the present invention offers a number of advantages which include: simulates a natural wave motion within an aquarium; can vary the speed and height of the wave; the cycle time of the wave can be varied; reduces the likelihood of any“dead spots” within an aquarium; assists in ensuring the heath and well being of the animal and plant life within the aquarium.

The terms "comprising" or "comprises" as used throughout the specification and claims are taken to specify the presence of the stated features, integers and components referred to but not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other feature/s, integer/s, component/s or group thereof.

It will be appreciated that the above described embodiment is only an exemplification of the various aspects of the present invention and that modifications and alterations can be made thereto without departing from the inventive concept as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A distribution device for water in an aquarium or the like for connection to a variable pressure pump to simulate wave motion of a natural marine environment, said pump having at least one inlet for said water and a plurality of outlets for said water passing through said pump, wherein said distribution device comprises: a body having at least a first inlet and a second inlet for operable connection to at least two of said plurality of outlets of said pump to receive incoming water from said at least two outlets of said pump and having at least a first water outlet and a second water outlet to subsequently dispense said incoming water into said aquarium or the like; a respective first flow adjustment means to adjust flow of water exiting said at least first water outlet; a respective second flow adjustment means to adjust flow of water exiting said at least second water outlet; and a control means operatively connected to said respective first flow and said second flow adjustment means, adapted to control the dispensation of a variable flow of said incoming water out of each said first water outlet and said second water outlet into said aquarium or the like.

2. A distribution device as defined in Claim 1 wherein, each of said first flow and said second flow adjustment means is a ball valve.

3. A distribution device as defined in Claim 2 wherein, the discharge bores of each said ball valve are substantially orthogonal to each other.

4. A distribution device as defined in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein, said control means includes a stepper motor to control movement of each said ball valve.

5. A distribution device as defined in Claim 4 wherein, said stepper motor is adapted to provide a substantially 90 degree step rotation to each said ball valve.

6. A distribution device as defined in Claim 4 or Claim 5 which further includes one or more printed circuit boards or similar adapted to provide electrical operation of said pump and said stepper motor by an external device.

7. A distribution device as defined in Claim 6 wherein, said external device is a mobile device.

8. A distribution device as defined in Claim 7 wherein, said mobile device is a smart-phone.

9. A distribution device as defined in Claim 8 wherein, said smart-phone manages said electrical operation of said control means and said pump by a mobile application transmitted by wireless technology.

10. A distribution device as defined in Claim 9 wherein, said mobile application manages the variable pressurisation of said pump.

11. A distribution device as defined in Claim 10, when appended to any one of Claims 4 to 9, wherein said mobile application manages the frequency and duration of activation of said stepper motor.

12. A distribution device as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 11 wherein, said pump has two of said outlets for said water passing through said pump.

13. A circulation system for water in an aquarium or the like to simulate wave motion of a natural marine environment, said circulation system comprising: a variable pressure pump having at least one inlet for said water and a plurality of outlets for said water passing through said pump; and a distribution device as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 12 connected to said variable pressure pump.

14. A circulation system as defined in Claim 13 which further includes a first monitoring means to monitor the temperature of said water in said aquarium or the like.

15. A circulation system as defined in Claim 13 or Claim 14 which further includes a second monitoring means to monitor the flow of said water passing through said pump.

16. A method of circulating water in an aquarium or the like to simulate wave motion of a natural marine environment, said method comprising: placing an electrically operated variable pressure pump in said water of said aquarium or the like, said pump having at least one inlet for said water and a plurality of outlets for said water passing through said pump; connecting an electrically operated said distribution device as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 12 to at least two of said plurality of outlets of said pump; and operating said pump and said distribution device as required with a mobile application by wireless technology installed on an external mobile device.

17. A method of circulating water in an aquarium or the like as defined in Claim 16 wherein, said mobile application manages the variable pressurisation of said pump and the operation of said control means.