Induction liquid pump and magnetic tank scrubber

• US 7,313,840 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2003
• Issued: 01/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles E. Watkins
• Original Assignee: Charles E. Watkins
• Inventors: Watkins, Charles E.
• Primary Examiner(s): GUIDOTTI, LAURA COLE
• Application Number:
  US10/627,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20040018104A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,621 Days
• Field of Search: 152/202, 151/03, 15/222, 15/28, 366273-274, 119/264, 119/245, 114/222
• US Class Current: 15/103
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 63/047 Liquid pumps for aquaria air pumps for aquaria A01K63/042
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/027 Details of the magnetic circuit

Abstract

An induction liquid pump includes a power unit and a circulation unit that are oppositely mountable to a tank with a plurality of fixation units. The liquid pump power unit includes a power induction unit to produce a variable magnetic field. The submersible liquid pump circulation unit includes an impeller unit to agitate or induce liquid flow in response to the variable magnetic field. A magnetic scrubber includes a power unit and a pad unit. The scrubber power unit produces a variable magnetic field in response to supplied power. When the scrubber power unit is held against a first surface of a tank, the scrubber pad unit is held oppositely against a second surface of the tank. The scrubber pad unit moves in response to the variable magnetic field to scrub the second surface of the tank.

Claims

1. A handheld magnetic scrubber for use in cleaning an aquarium wall:

a. a power unit having

(i) a first housing,

(ii) a plurality of magnets distributed about a surface of said first housing, and

(iii) a plurality of electromagnets orientated within said first housing, wherein said plurality of electromagnets produces a variable magnetic field in response to supplied power; and

b. a pad unit having

(i) a second housing,

(ii) at least one piece of ferrous or magnetic material distributed about a surface of said second housing,

(iii) a bore formed in said second housing, said bore having a center of radius,

(iv) a scrubbing material releasably received in said second housing bore, wherein said scrubbing material is rotatable and radially moveable with respect to said second housing bore center of radius,

(v) at least one piece of ferrous or other magnetic material operatively coupled to said scrubbing material so that said scrubbing material is rotatable and radially moveable with respect to said second housing bore center of radius in response to said variable magnetic field produced by said plurality of electromagnets,

wherein when said power unit is placed on an outside of the aquarium wall and when said pad unit is placed on the inside of the aquarium wall opposite said power unit, said plurality of first housing magnets attract said pad unit at least one piece of ferrous or magnetic material to maintain said pad unit adjacent to said power unit as said scrubbing material is rotated with respect to said second housing.

2. The magnetic scrubber according to claim 1, wherein

said power induction unit includes at least one electromagnet and at least one control unit,

said control unit varies the force of magnetic attraction created by said power unit at least one electromagnet in response to power supplied from a source of electrical power, and

said pad unit moves in response to variations in the force of magnetic attraction created by said power induction unit at least one electromagnet.

3. The magnetic scrubber according to claim 1, wherein said at least one piece of ferrous or other magnetic material is encapsulated by a water impermeable material.

4. The magnetic scrubber according to claim 1, wherein said power induction unit receives power from a power cord through a ground fault interrupting switch or fuse.

5. A handheld magnetic scrubber for use in cleaning an aquarium wall, comprising:

a. a power unit having

(i) a first housing,

(ii) a plurality of magnets distributed about a surface of said first housing, and

(iii) a power induction unit within said first housing, wherein said power induction unit produces a varying magnetic field in response to supplied power; and

b. a pad unit having

(i) a second housing,

(ii) at least one piece of ferrous or magnetic material distributed about a surface of said second housing,

(iii) a bore formed in said second housing,

(iv) a scrubbing material releasably received in said second housing bore, wherein said scrubbing material is eccentrically rotatable with respect to said second housing,

(v) at least one piece of ferrous or other magnetic material operatively coupled to said scrubbing material so that said scrubbing material is eccentrically rotatable in response to said varying magnetic field produced by said power induction unit,

wherein when said power unit is placed on an outside of the aquarium wall and when said pad unit is placed on the inside of the aquarium wall opposite said power unit, said plurality of first housing magnets attract said pad unit at least one piece of ferrous or magnetic material to maintain said pad unit adjacent to said power unit as said scrubbing material is rotated with respect to said second housing.

6. The magnetic scrubber according to claim 5, said power induction unit having an electric motor that rotates at least one magnet to thereby produce a variable magnetic field in response to power supplied from a source of electrical power, wherein said pad unit rotates in response to rotation of said magnet.

7. The magnetic scrubber according to claim 5, wherein

said at least one piece of ferrous or other magnetic material is sealed in a water impermeable material and induces agitation of said pad unit to scrub the second side of the tank side wall or bottom.

8. The magnetic scrubber according to claim 5, wherein

said power induction unit has at least one electromagnet and a control unit which produce a variable magnetic field in response to the power supplied from a source of electrical power, and

said pad unit moves in response to said variable magnetic field.

9. The magnetic scrubber according to claim 5, wherein

said power induction unit having a plurality of electromagnets and a control unit, said control unit having at least one control surface by which the user may control the force of magnetic attraction created by said power unit electromagnet in response to power supplied from a source of electrical power, and

said pad unit moves in response to variations in the polarity of said power induction unit plurality of electromagnets.

10. The magnetic scrubber according to claim 5, wherein

said power induction unit having at least two electromagnets and at least one control unit,

said control unit varies the magnetic polarity created by said at least two electromagnets in response to power supplied from a source of electrical power, and

said at least one piece of ferrous or other magnetic material moves in response to variations in the magnetic polarity created by said at least two electromagnets.

11. The magnetic scrubber according to claim 5, wherein said pad unit is positively buoyant.

12. The magnetic scrubber according to claim 5, wherein said power induction unit receives power from a power cord.

13. The magnetic scrubber according to claim 5, wherein said power induction unit receives power from a battery.

14. The magnetic scrubber according to claim 5, wherein said power induction unit receives power from a power cord and transformer.

15. A handheld magnetic scrubber for use in cleaning an aquarium wall, comprising:

a. a power unit having

(i) a first housing,

(ii) a plurality of magnets distributed about a surface of said first housing, and

(iii) a plurality of electromagnets mounted within said first housing, wherein said plurality of electromagnets produce a varying magnetic field in response to changes in power supplied to each of said plurality of electromagnets; and

b. a pad unit having

(i) a second housing,

(ii) at least one piece of ferrous or magnetic material distributed about a surface of said second housing,

(iii) a bore formed in said second housing,

(iv) a scrubbing material releasably received in said second housing bore, wherein said scrubbing material is rotatable with respect to said second housing,

(v) at least one piece of ferrous or other magnetic material operatively coupled to said scrubbing material so that said scrubbing material rotationally moves in response to said varying magnetic field produced by said plurality of electromagnets,

wherein when said power unit is placed on an outside of the aquarium wall and when said pad unit is placed on the inside of the aquarium wall opposite said power unit, said plurality of first housing magnets attract said pad unit at least one piece of ferrous or magnetic material to maintain said pad unit adjacent to said power unit as said scrubbing material is rotated with respect to said second housing.