Water flow pattern simulation tank

• US 8,481,328 B1
• Filed: 04/12/2011
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adam G. Willard
• Original Assignee: Adam G. Willard
• Inventors: Willard, Adam G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fernstrom, Kurt
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLLINS, DOLORES R
• Application Number:
  US13/066,307
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 434/126
• US Class Current: 436/126
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/063 by using visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/196666 Carbon containing compound [e.g., vinylchloride, etc.]

Abstract

A water flow pattern simulation tank includes a tank base, a tank aquarium having an aquarium interior carried by the tank base, at least one nozzle in the tank aquarium, at least one drain in the tank aquarium in spaced-apart relationship to the nozzle, a pump disposed in fluid communication with the nozzle and the drain and at least one insert placed in the tank aquarium generally between the nozzle and the drain.

Claims

1. A water flow pattern simulation tank, comprising:

a tank base;

a tank aquarium having an aquarium interior carried by said tank base;

at least one nozzle in said tank aquarium;

at least one drain in said tank aquarium in spaced-apart relationship to said at least one nozzle;

a pump disposed in fluid communication with said at least one nozzle and said at least one drain; and

at least one insert placed in said tank aquarium generally between said at least one nozzle and said at least one drain, said at least one insert including at least one of the following;

a strainer insert including a strainer insert frame having a strainer mesh;

a plurality of downstream inserts having a plurality of panel notches, respectively;

a pair of meandering inserts having a pair of misaligned panel notches, respectively;

a low head dam insert having a base panel portion and an angled panel portion carried by said base panel portion;

a low water bridge insert having a pair of spaced-apart insert panels and at least one insert conduit extending through and between said insert panels;

a hydraulic insert having a generally rectangular hydraulic insert panel; and

an eddy insert having an eddy insert panel and a panel notch in said eddy insert panel.

2. The water flow pattern simulation tank of claim 1 further comprising at least one panel insert groove in said aquarium interior and wherein said at least one insert is inserted in said at least one panel insert groove.

3. The water flow pattern simulation tank of claim 2 wherein said at least one panel insert groove comprises a pair of spaced-apart side insert grooves in said tank aquarium.

4. The water flow pattern simulation tank of claim 3 wherein said at least one panel insert groove further comprises a bottom insert groove in said tank base and registering with said side insert grooves.

5. The water flow pattern simulation tank of claim 1 wherein said at least one insert comprises said strainer insert.

6. The water flow pattern simulation tank of claim 1 wherein said at least one insert comprises said plurality of downstream inserts.

7. The water flow pattern simulation tank of claim 1 wherein said at least one insert comprises said pair of meandering inserts.

8. The water flow pattern simulation tank of claim 1 wherein said at least one insert comprises said low head dam insert.

9. The water flow pattern simulation tank of claim 8 wherein said at least one insert further comprises a bar insert panel generally adjacent to said low head dam insert.

10. The water flow pattern simulation tank of claim 1 wherein said at least one insert comprises said low water bridge insert.

11. The water flow pattern simulation tank of claim 1 wherein said at least one insert comprises said hydraulic insert having.

12. The water flow pattern simulation tank of claim 1 wherein said at least one insert comprises said eddy insert.

13. A water flow pattern simulation tank, comprising:

a tank base;

a tank aquarium carried by said tank base and including;

a pair of generally elongated, parallel, spaced-apart aquarium side walls and a pair of aquarium end walls extending between said aquarium side walls; and

an aquarium interior defined by and between said aquarium side walls and said aquarium end walls;

at least one nozzle in said aquarium interior of said tank aquarium;

at least one drain in said aquarium interior of said tank aquarium in spaced-apart relationship to said at least one nozzle;

a pump disposed in fluid communication with said at least one nozzle and said at least one drain;

a plurality of inserts removably, individually and interchangeably placed in said aquarium interior of said tank aquarium generally between said at least one nozzle and said at least one drain, said plurality of inserts comprising;

a strainer insert including a strainer insert frame having a strainer mesh;

a plurality of downstream inserts having a plurality of panel notches, respectively;

a pair of meandering inserts having a pair of misaligned panel notches, respectively;

a low head dam insert having a base panel portion and an angled panel portion carried by said base panel portion;

a low water bridge insert having a pair of spaced-apart insert panels and at least one insert conduit extending through and between said insert panels;

a hydraulic insert having a generally rectangular hydraulic insert panel; and

an eddy insert having an eddy insert panel and a panel notch in said eddy insert panel.

14. The water flow pattern simulation tank of claim 13 further comprising at least one panel insert groove in said aquarium interior and wherein said at least one insert is inserted in said at least one panel insert groove.

15. The water flow pattern simulation tank of claim 14 wherein said at least one panel insert groove comprises a pair of spaced-apart side insert grooves in said aquarium side walls, respectively, of said tank aquarium.

16. The water flow pattern simulation tank of claim 15 wherein said at least one panel insert groove further comprises a bottom insert groove in said tank base and registering with said side insert grooves.

17. A water flow pattern simulation tank, comprising:

a tank base;

a tank aquarium carried by said tank base and including;

a pair of generally elongated, parallel, spaced-apart aquarium side walls and a pair of aquarium end walls extending between said aquarium side walls; and

an aquarium interior defined by and between said aquarium side walls and said aquarium end walls;

at least one nozzle in said aquarium interior of said tank aquarium;

at least one drain in said aquarium interior of said tank aquarium in spaced-apart relationship to said at least one nozzle;

a pump disposed in fluid communication with said at least one nozzle and said at least one drain;

a drain spigot disposed in fluid communication with said aquarium interior of said tank aquarium;

a plurality of inserts removably, individually and interchangeably placed in said aquarium interior of said tank aquarium generally between said at least one nozzle and said at least one drain, said plurality of inserts comprising;

a strainer insert including a strainer insert frame having a strainer mesh;

a plurality of downstream inserts having a plurality of panel notches, respectively;

a pair of meandering inserts having a pair of misaligned panel notches, respectively;

a low head dam insert having a base panel portion and an angled panel portion carried by said base panel portion;

a low water bridge insert having a pair of spaced-apart insert panels and at least one insert conduit extending through and between said insert panels;

a hydraulic insert having a generally rectangular hydraulic insert panel; and

an eddy insert having an eddy insert panel and a panel notch in said eddy insert panel.

18. The water flow simulation tank of claim 17 further comprising at least one panel insert groove in said aquarium interior and wherein said at least one insert is inserted in said at least one panel insert groove.

19. The water flow pattern simulation tank of claim 18 wherein said at least one panel insert groove comprises a pair of spaced-apart side insert grooves in said aquarium side walls, respectively, of said tank aquarium.

20. The water flow pattern simulation tank of claim 19 wherein said at least one panel insert groove further comprises a bottom insert groove in said tank base and registering with said side insert grooves.