Fluid treatment systems

• US 6,158,386 A
• Filed: 08/18/1999
• Issued: 12/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Algaewheel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Aquatic Engineers, Inc.
• Inventors: Limcaco, Christopher A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Poon, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABBOTT, YVONNE RENEE
• Application Number:
  US09/377,042
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 119/245, 119/246, 119/248, 119/250, 119/251, 119/255, 119/256, 119/264, 119/260, 119/261, 119/266, 210/416.2, 210/169
• US Class Current: 119/245
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 63/04 Arrangements for treating water specially adapted to receptacles for live fish

Abstract

A fluid surge assembly for treating aquarium water and other fluids includes a treatment unit for receiving fluid, treating the fluid and depositing the fluid along a flow path to a body of fluid and a weir assembly disposed in the flow path between the treatment unit and the body of fluid. The weir assembly includes a lower weir blocking a portion of the flow path and an upper weir. The lower edge of the upper weir is offset from the crest of the lower weir to define a first fountain path. The crest of the upper weir defines a portion of a second fountain path. The second fountain path intersects the first fountain path to increase the velocity and distance traveled of the fluid. The invention also includes aquarium systems employing the fluid surge assembly. In some embodiments, the aquarium systems provide an opaque decorative member to block the treatment unit from view. In some embodiments, the decorative member is live rock. In preferred embodiments, a top portion of the decorative member is disposed below the first and second fountain paths to create the image that waves are crashing over rocks. In a particular embodiment, the aquarium tanks are constructed to surround the treatment unit and hide it from view from all sides of the tank.

Claims

1. An aquarium system, comprising:

a fluid inlet;

an aquarium tank in fluid communication with said inlet to receive fluid displaced from said inlet, the fluid displaced in a flow path;

a fluid outlet in fluid communication with said tank for receiving water displaced from said tank;

a fluid treatment in fluid communication with said inlet and said outlet; and

a weir assembly disposed between said inlet and said tank, said weir assembly including

a lower weir disposed in the flow path, said lower weir having a first height and a lower crest at a top portion, and

an upper weir disposed above said lower weir, said upper weir having a lower edge, said lower edge offset from said crest to form a portion of a first fountain path for the fluid.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an upper crest disposed at a top portion of said upper weir, said upper crest defining a portion of a second fountain path for the fluid.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said lower surface of said upper weir is displaced above said lower crest to form a vertical gap between said upper weir and said lower weir.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising a pump disposed in said treatment unit operable to displace fluid between said treatment unit and said tank.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said pump includes a fluid surge device that periodically:

displaces fluid from a higher level to a lower level in said treatment unit through said inlet and across said weir assembly to raise the level of fluid in the aquarium tank; and

then returns fluid from said aquarium tank through said outlet to the higher level of fluid in said tank to complete a single surge cycle.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said fluid surge device includes:

a wheel having an axis and a perimeter and rotatably supported in said treatment tank, said wheel divided into two continuous portions, each of said portions extending from said axis to said perimeter, a first of said portions being hollow to receive fluid when said first portion is rotated into fluid; and

a fluid displacement media disposed within a second of said portions and displacing fluid in said treatment unit when said second portion is rotated into fluid.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising an air capture member disposed on said perimeter of said wheel.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein said first height of said lower weir is configured so that fluid continuously flows over said lower crest during the entire surge cycle.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said upper weir has a height and position so that fluid flows over said upper crest as fluid is displaced from said treatment unit.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the second fountain path intersects the first fountain path.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said aquarium tank includes a transparent viewing wall and an opposite back wall adjacent said treatment unit.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

an opaque decorative member disposed within said tank between said viewing wall and said back wall.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said decorative member has the appearance of rocks and is configured and disposed adjacent said back wall to block said back wall and said treatment unit from view through said viewing wall.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein a top portion of said decorative member is disposed below said first and second fountain paths to create the image that waves are crashing over rocks.

15. A fluid surge assembly, comprising:

a treatment unit for receiving fluid, treating the fluid and depositing the fluid along a flow path to a body of fluid; and

a weir assembly disposed in said flow path between said treatment unit and the body of fluid, said weir assembly including

a lower weir having a first height and a lower crest at a top portion of said lower weir, said lower weir blocking a portion of said flow path, and

an upper weir having an upper crest and a lower edge, said lower edge vertically and horizontally offset from said lower crest,

wherein said lower edge of said upper weir and said lower crest define a first fountain path and said upper crest defines a portion of a second fountain path.

16. An aquarium system, comprising:

an inlet conduit emptying into an inlet reservoir;

an aquarium tank adjacent said inlet reservoir and in fluid communication with said inlet reservoir to receive fluid displaced from said inlet conduit, the fluid displaced in a flow path, said aquarium tank defining a front portion having a transparent front viewing wall and an opposite back wall adjacent said inlet reservoir, said aquarium further having a side portion in fluid communication with said front portion, said side portion having a transparent side viewing wall and an opposite outlet wall;

an outlet reservoir adjacent said outlet wall and in fluid communication with said tank for receiving water displaced from said tank, said outlet reservoir in fluid communication with an outlet conduit;

a fluid treatment unit in fluid communication with said inlet conduit and said outlet conduit; and

a weir assembly disposed between said inlet conduit and said tank, said weir assembly including

a lower weir disposed in the flow path, said lower weir having a first height and a lower crest at a top portion, and

an upper weir disposed above said lower weir, said upper weir having a lower edge, said lower edge vertically offset from said lower crest to form a portion of a first fountain path for the fluid.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising an opaque decorative member disposed within said tank to block said back wall and said treatment unit from view through said front viewing wall.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising an opaque decorative member disposed within said tank to block said outlet wall and said treatment unit from view through said side viewing wall.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said decorative member is live rock.

20. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

a second side portion of said aquarium tank in fluid communication with said front portion, said second side portion having a second transparent side viewing wall and a second outlet wall, said aquarium tank having a substantially U-shaped configuration defining a chamber; and

a second outlet reservoir adjacent said second outlet wall and in fluid communication with said tank for receiving water displaced from said tank, said outlet reservoir in fluid communication with a second outlet conduit;

wherein said treatment unit is disposed within said chamber in fluid communication with said second outlet conduit.