Separator With Aerator Patents (Class 210/167.26)
  • Patent number: 11778792
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus is provided to prevent the arc flash generated in a board from flowing out to a operation surface for operating the board, and also to relieve the pressure inside the board to the outside from the flapper section provided on the ceiling. The power conversion apparatus that has taken measures against an arc flash composed of a power converter and a board accommodating the power converter is provided. A BUS which constitutes the power converter has the first processing that makes it hard to fly the flash in a place where arc flash is not desired to occur. A door is placed on the front board that can be opened and closed by the operator. The board has an explosion-proof shutter part to prevent the arc flash from being released to the outside by the pressure inside the board, and has a flapper section for releasing the pressure inside the board to the outside from the ceiling of the board unit, when the arc flash occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Oda, Kenichiro Omote, Ryo Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11622545
    Abstract: The circulating water system for intensive aquaculture disclosed herein includes a submersible pump, an outlet tube, an outer casing tube and a deflector plate. The submersible pump is adapted for being mounted on the bottom of an aquaculture pool at a position close to the circumferential wall. The outlet tube has a tapered section sleeved onto a discharge port, while the outer casing tube is sheathed outside the outlet tube. The deflector plate is mounted laterally to the submersible pump, such that when the submersible pump is pumping water from the aquaculture pool through the discharge port, the deflector plate acts to guide the discharged water approach the circumferential wall, thereby generating a circulating swirling flow rotating in tangential direction along the circumferential wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Inventor: Ding-Yuan Wang
  • Patent number: 11457616
    Abstract: A water purification system for an ornamental aquarium is easily assembled as either a canister or a hang-on-back type model with a water tank or aquarium without compromising with an aesthetic appearance and low noise. The filtration element includes filtration blocks connectible in series for function and can be disassembled into a plurality of blocks that are reassembled to form the canister model and the hang-on-back model with a secure positioning feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: QUABIT, INC.
    Inventor: Kiyofumi Saito
  • Patent number: 11432486
    Abstract: A foldable aquaponics, and greenhouse container system and method, includes an insulated shipping container having foldable insulated roof panel disposed thereover; a foldable glazing on a sun facing side at an angle to maximize winter sunlight attached to the roof panel; a foldable floor panel attached to the container with a foldable vent panel attached thereto connecting to the glazing; foldable side panels attached to sides of the container, glazing and roof panel; a plant growing under the glazing; a mushroom growing area within the container having an integrated water wall thermal mass and disposed between the plant and mushroom growing areas; a fish tank within the container; and a natural air ventilation system within the container under the roof panel to provide CO2 and O2 gas exchange between the mushroom growing area and the plant growing area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Inventors: John L. Haverkamp, Carlos R Villamar
  • Patent number: 10912285
    Abstract: In a support device for aquarium accessories including a first fixing element appliable on the inner surface of a wall of an aquarium and a sustaining element for an accessory supportable by the first fixing element, the first fixing element has a concave cap and the sustaining element has a convex cap housable at least partially inside the concave cap. Furthermore, the support device includes a cap-shaped first magnetic or ferromagnetic element, the first fixing element includes a second magnetic or ferromagnetic element, and the convex cap of the sustaining element is interposed between the concave cap of the first fixing element and the first magnetic or ferromagnetic element so that, due to magnetic attraction between the first magnetic or ferromagnetic element and the second magnetic or ferromagnetic element, the sustaining element is supported by the first fixing element and, at the same time, it is rotationally movable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: HYDOR SRL
    Inventor: Valerio Bresolin
  • Patent number: 10662096
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system, including: an equalization tank arranged to receive wastewater; a flow tube including an interior space bounded by at least one side wall of the flow tube; a plurality of media particles disposed within the interior space; and a pump arranged to pump the wastewater from the equalization tank to the flow tube. The plurality of media particles has a mean diameter of at least 4 millimeters. The wastewater is arranged to drain to the equalization tank through the plurality of media particles and the interior space. The flow tube is arranged to reduce a concentration of an organic contaminant in the wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Inventors: Scott Wolcott, Lee Newman, Peter Martin, Joshua Goldowitz
  • Patent number: 10201626
    Abstract: The Portable Ultra Violet C Sanitizer is a self-contained, portable, self-shut-off, preprogrammed/programmable UVC light irradiation microorganism inactivation device that more effectively, efficiently and safely sanitizes surfaces than comparable products presently on the market. Advantageously, the device provides a faster alternative for UVC sterilization of a surface, while protecting the operator from potentially dangerous exposure to the UVC radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Inventor: Luke Edward Rapp
  • Patent number: 9783432
    Abstract: A non-chemical apparatus and method to lower the surface tension of a solution of liquid water and gaseous oxygen. An apparatus of the present invention comprises a source of chilled purified water, and gaseous oxygen fed into a positive displacement pump, followed by a cylinder reduced at one end by means of a convergent cone, a section of a smaller diameter cylinder attached to a divergent cone tapering up to another cylinder of a diameter the same or larger than the original cylinder. A coil of refrigeration tubing is wrapped around the smaller center cylinder to control the temperature of the inner cylinder surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Inventor: Thomas James Mohr
  • Patent number: 9637401
    Abstract: A combination water and air pump and method of use, for simultaneously circulating and aerating water. The pump including a housing, a first chamber for circulating water, having an inlet for water to be drawn into the first chamber and an outlet for water to exit the first chamber, a second chamber for aerating water, having an inlet for water to be drawn into the second chamber, an apparatus to draw air into the second chamber, and an outlet for aerated water to exit the second chamber. A rotatable shaft connected to a first rotatable impeller in the first chamber and a second rotatable impeller in the second chamber. In use, rotation of the shaft simultaneously rotates the impellers to circulate water within said first and second chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: EUGENE G. DANNER MANUFACTURING INC.
    Inventor: Steven R. Sawicki
  • Patent number: 9392781
    Abstract: An apparatus with a submersed unit, an air pump, a switching-mode power supply, a power transmission cable, a multi-position selector switch, and an air hose is used to aerate and also heat a quantity of water that holds live bait used for fishing. The switching-mode power supply and the air pump are enclosed within a head unit housing which is plugged into a power source. The water containing the live bait is aerated through an aeration stone connected to the air pump through the air hose. When the water needs to be heated a temperature sensitive heating element heats the water. The supplied conditions are controlled by the multi-position selector switch. The temperature sensitive heating element is powered through the power transmission cable and contains a thermistor and a resistive wire. More specifically, when the thermistor detects a drop in temperature, the resistive wire converts electricity into heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Inventor: Scott Elmer Quast
  • Patent number: 8992772
    Abstract: An aeration and microbial reactor system for use in decontaminating water including a housing adapted to float and/or submerged within the medium such that a top portion thereof remains adjacent a top surface of the contaminated water while the bioreactor containing inoculated carrier media is attached below. Beneficial microbial populations thrive and spread throughout the liquid medium, and consume or fix the contaminant such that the contaminant is removed from the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventor: Eros G. Kaw
  • Patent number: 8747764
    Abstract: An inline intravenous (IV) fluid sterilization system can be located within directly upstream of the patient's access point, downstream of any breach points, so as to ensure fluid sterility. The chamber space between the walls is accessed by a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port between which the fluid flows. The inlet port is connected to a conduit/tubing from the fluid source and the outlet port is interconnected with a conduit/tubing that is free of breach points and interconnects to the patient access point. The inner wall allows for transmission of UV light into the fluid space. The walls define a space therebetween that is relatively small radially, allowing for a sufficient flow rate, but providing a large surface area and small fluid depth for exposure to the UV light. The UV light is provided by an elongated lamp within a cavity of the inner wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic
    Inventors: Corey A. Burchman, Steven D. Reinitz, Kathryn E. Boucher, Renee N. Cottle
  • Publication number: 20130313175
    Abstract: An improved portable aquarium filter structure has a box body, wherein its inside has a submersible pump externally connected to an air pipe. Air enters the submersible pump through the air pipe to mix with water flow pumped by the submersible pump so as to produce bubbles. Accordingly, water flow can be treated with bubble removing and purification. A bubble collection box is disposed on the box body to collect filth that is treated with bubble removing, wherein an opening is disposed on the bubble collection box. A converged taper section is disposed at the opening wall of the opening extended toward the box body therein. The filth is decomposed to produce carbon dioxide and acid gas by a protein decomposition unit disposed in the bubble collection box to attract mosquitoes entering the Trap through the tapered opening so as to achieve a goal of catching mosquitoes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventor: Min-Che Weng
  • Patent number: 8361315
    Abstract: A filtration and air supply device(3) used in an aquatic equipment(2) ,comprising filtration system with air supply, including filtration box(31), water pump(33), filter cartridge(32), air pump(7), air inlet tube(8), air duct(36). The characteristics of this filtration and air supply device(3) are: Said filtration and air supply device(3) locates inside the aquatic equipment(2). Box wall(310) is with grids(312). Water pump(33) locates in one side of the filtration box(31), and filter cartridge(32) locates in the other side of the filtration box(31). Bottom slab(9) is equipped with air inlet hole(38) and water pump power cord inlet hole(40). The bottom of air inlet hole(38) connects the air pump(7) through air inlet tube(8). The upper part of air inlet hole(38) connects air outlet hole (318) through air duct(36). No-return valve(37) locates between air duct(36) and air outlet hole(318). Outside of the air outlet hole(318) is equipped with air filter hood(315).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Inventor: Cai Sun
  • Patent number: 8268166
    Abstract: Protein skimmers having an upright housing including an open topped body with a manually removable foam collection cup for sealing mounting on the body. The foam collection cups encircle a foam collection duct except for a recessed inspection window for exposing an area of the foam collection duct's exterior surface for enabling an aquarist a generally horizontal line of sight to continuously inspect the foam collection duct's interior. The protein skimmers have a canister-like configuration with a front control panel including a main inlet, a main outlet and at least one aspirating pump for circulating an air/water mixture. The protein skimmers include a disperser for dispersing an incoming flow of organic loaded water peripherally downward into a reaction chamber in a substantially uniform manner. The protein skimmers include a washing mechanism for periodically washing their foam collection ducts without having to remove their foam collection cups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Red Sea Fish Pharm Ltd.
    Inventors: Neil H. Marks, Sharon Ram
  • Patent number: 8246831
    Abstract: A method and system for filtering water in aquarium tanks comprising: a macerating/comminuting chamber with a continuously self-cleaning screen covering the discharge outlet that only allows, optimally sized, easily digestible, organic material to pass out of the macerating/comminuting chamber and into an, optionally self-cleaning, media containing denitrifying microbes. There are three different embodiments that use the method of the current invention. These comprise: a reverse flow under-gravel filter apparatus with the macerating/comminuting chamber and filter screen on the discharge side of the pump, a reverse flow under-gravel filter apparatus with the macerating/comminuting chamber and filter screen on the inlet side of the pump, and an external box filter apparatus with the macerating/comminuting chamber on the discharge side of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Inventor: Martin Allen McFarland
  • Patent number: 8216477
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing organics from water has an upwardly open and downwardly closed column having a tubular side wall and a floor and a generally closed chamber on the floor of the column and forming with the side wall an upwardly open annular space. The column has an outlet opening into the annular space. A pump forces water containing organics into the chamber and thereby fills the column with water that then flows out of the column through the outlet. An aerator pump moves at least some of the water containing organics out of the chamber, mixes the pumped-out water with bubbles, and pumps the water and bubbles back into a downwardly and horizontally closed but upwardly open flow space in the column above the chamber. A skimmer clears the organics from the surface of the water above the flow space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: DELTEC GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Weidl
  • Patent number: 7931801
    Abstract: An aquarium filter system mainly has a base and an uprightly mounted filtering cylinder; the filtering cylinder is provided therein with a pump unit, it can be optionally used to spray forceful water jet on the surface board of the base or to pump air into the filtering cylinder to form air bubbles in water in the filtering cylinder; after filtering, seawater in an aquarium can be kept clean.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Eiko Electric Products Corp.
    Inventor: Yu-Chin Wang
  • Patent number: 7918995
    Abstract: A filtering device for an aquarium which can easily perform maintenance, inspection and repair of a pump is provided. The present invention is directed to a filtering device for an aquarium to be installed outside an aquarium 1. The device includes a casing 20 open to the atmosphere, a filtration zone Z2 formed in the casing for filtrating water W introduced from the aquarium 1, a discharge pump 35 for sending the water passed through the filtration zone Z2 to an outside of the casing and discharging it into the aquarium, a functional component zone Z1 formed in the casing and separated from the filtration zone Z2, and a functional component unit 3 having the discharge pump 25 and a unit frame 31 for supporting the discharge pump 35. The functional component unit 3 is insertably and detachably accommodated in the functional component zone Z1 of the casing 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tominaga Jyushi Kogyosho
    Inventors: Ryuzo Arita, Kazutoshi Tominaga
  • Patent number: 7910001
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel arrangement of denitrification reactors for removal of nitrate compounds in a recirculating aquaculture system. The novel arrangement of an aquaculture system of the present invention includes positioning one or more anaerobic denitrification reactors upstream of aerobic nitrification and degassing processes. One aspect of the present invention includes a flow of aqueous medium from aquatic species rearing tanks towards one or more denitrification reactors. Another aspect of the present invention includes flow of aqueous medium from aquatic species rearing tanks to a solids removing filter or mechanical filtration means for removal of solid waste matter or biomass prior to flow of aqueous medium towards one or more denitrification reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Mote Marine Laboratory
    Inventors: James T. Michaels, II, Heather J. Hamlin, William H. Dutt, William Graham, Peter Steinbach, Brian Babbitt, Brian A. Richards, II
  • Patent number: 7867386
    Abstract: It is proposed to avoid an excessive formation of foam in the collection vessel of a protein separator by throttling the feed of air to a foam generator according to the foam generation rate in the separator. The foam generation rate in the separator can be measured by the amount of phase water that is separated in a second separator, which is located between the foam collection vessel and a first separator, in which second separator the mixture generated by the foam generator is freed from liquid constituents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Tunze Aquarientechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Axel Tunze, Claude Hug
  • Publication number: 20100224542
    Abstract: A filtering device for an aquarium which can easily perform maintenance, inspection and repair of a pump is provided. The present invention is directed to a filtering device for an aquarium to be installed outside an aquarium 1. The device includes a casing 20 open to the atmosphere, a filtration zone Z2 formed in the casing for filtrating water W introduced from the aquarium 1, a discharge pump 35 for sending the water passed through the filtration zone Z2 to an outside of the casing and discharging it into the aquarium, a functional component zone Z1 formed in the casing and separated from the filtration zone Z2, and a functional component unit 3 having the discharge pump 25 and a unit frame 31 for supporting the discharge pump 35. The functional component unit 3 is insertably and detachably accommodated in the functional component zone Z1 of the casing 20.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: Ryuzo Arita, Kazutoshi Tominaga
  • Publication number: 20100180829
    Abstract: In a skimmer (20,100) for aquariums comprising a first container (30) able to contain water of an aquarium (80), and water-air mixing means (50) which create a mixed flow of water and air which enters into said first container (30) to generate a foam and, finally, collecting means (40) of said foam, the mixing means (50) are placed inside said first container and are also submersion means, namely they work when they are immersed in water, said first container (30) is provided with a water suction duct (67) and air supply means (66,68) connected to said mixing means (50), so that said mixing means (50) may mix water to be purified with air taken from the outside environment, thus creating a mixed flow of water and air which rising upwards generates a foam which is collected inside said collecting means (40). The first container (30) is further provided with at least one opening (34) from which purified water goes out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: HYDOR SRL
    Inventor: Valerio BRESOLIN
  • Patent number: 7682503
    Abstract: An improved and more efficient design for an air driven algae filtration system is achieved because there are no moving parts other than an air pump, and the air is used twice. After using air to circulate water through a filtration unit, the air, still under pressure, is separated from the water. The air is then plumbed to other apparatuses or used for cooling. This allows the filter to be utilized using less electricity. The water is de-gassed before reaching the algae filter. Therefore, no splash guard is necessary to prevent water from splashing the lights. With no splash guard, lower wattage lights can be used to illuminate the algae. This also increases the efficiency of this system. This filter also lends itself to maintaining a reef aquarium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Inventor: Joe Norris
  • Patent number: 7682504
    Abstract: A recirculated marine aquaculture system for growing crustaceans within a body of water includes a wholly submerged chamber situated in the body of water having a filtering wall connecting the chamber floor and ceiling permitting water to flow from the water body into the first chamber while excluding particulate materials. A second chamber is situated above the first chamber having a plurality of water outlets below the body of water upper surface, and a top having an air inlet above the body of water upper surface. A stand pipe has an open lower end opening into the first chamber and a plurality of laterally directed openings into the top of the second chamber. An impeller coupled to the stand pipe moves filtered water from the first chamber through the laterally directed openings into the second chamber adjacent to the air inlet, the water exiting the second chamber into the body of water through the plurality of water outlets after mixing with air drawn in through the air inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Aqua Manna, LLC
    Inventors: James E. Bradley, Jeremy L. Bradley
  • Patent number: 7651610
    Abstract: A water aerating and dirt collecting device for an aquarium includes a pumping device having a paddle device for pumping and circulating the water contained within the aquarium, a receptacle having an entrance coupled to the pumping device for receiving the water from the pumping device and for agitating the water and for generating an eddy current, and a casing having an inlet port coupled to the receptacle for receiving a filtered dirt from the receptacle and having a mouth coupled to the pumping device for allowing an air in the casing to be drawn into the pumping device. The receptacle includes a tubular member for collecting the filtered dirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Inventor: Hsueh Lee Tsai
  • Publication number: 20090211958
    Abstract: The construct of DARS described by (FIG—A) which incorporates by reference all assemblies and sub assembly drawings outlined in the DARS master drawing list (FIG—1) will result in a portable recirculating aquaculture system or fish farm that will provide the user with the following capabilities; A means by which to raise or store edible varieties of fish to a market-size. A means by which to raise or store live ornamental or bait fish. A means by which to raise or store live fish specimens used in research. A means by which to deliver live fish to local markets. A means by which to produce up to 200 liters of nutrient rich water to nourish hydroponic, aquaponic and terrestrial farm-plants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventor: Thomas Edward Orsillo
  • Patent number: 7578933
    Abstract: This invention provides a filtration system for home aquaria that uses a closed-circuit pathway having a surface that contacts a flow of water moving between a tank inlet and tank outlet. The surface allows for algal growth thereon, and for transmission of light thereonto so as to provide photosynthetic energy to the algae. The algae acts to scrub contaminants (nitrogenous compounds, for example) as part of its growth cycle, and thereby purify the water. Additional components, such as injected air and filter media can also be provided to the water circuit to enhance algal growth, oxygenate the water and remove particulates. In an illustrative embodiment, the surface is transparent or translucent and a light that transmits appropriate wavelengths (for example, full-visible spectrum) is placed in proximity to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Inventor: Benjamin B. Selman
  • Patent number: 7544286
    Abstract: Submerged media useful with or without aeration and/or mixing to enhance an aquatic environment by promoting and retaining biogrowth. The media takes the form of a cluster of individual flexible elements having free ends. The media are submerged in a liquid such as a water or wastewater treatment basin or an aquaculture environment. The media are characterized by the ability to promote and retain microbial growth. The media clusters have substantial flow through thicknesses to provide a three dimensional effect along with baffling for increased contact with the liquid being treated. The media may be thin strips constructed to avoid sticking together to allow maximum exposed surface area. The media clusters can create oxic, anoxic and anaerobic environments for maximum treatment during flow through the media cluster. The flexibility of the media elements and their free ends automatically dislodges excessive biomass buildup to avoid clogging of the media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Environmental Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Tharp, Peter Riddell
  • Patent number: 7544290
    Abstract: An aquarium is provided that hides ugly electrical wires. The aquarium comprises: a tank capable of holding water, the tank having an interior and an exterior, and a bottom, the bottom having an opening within the interior of the tank, a hollow member disposed within at least the interior of the tank and having an upper opening, a lower opening, an inner surface and an outer surface, the lower opening capable of aligning around or with the opening in the bottom of the tank so that water is prevented from leaking out the opening in the bottom of the tank, the outer surface of the hollow member capable of preventing water flow into the inner surface of the hollow member, and the inner surface of the hollow member capable of receiving one or more electrical wires to or from the upper and lower openings of the hollow member. In various embodiments, a decorative structure is provided that can hide and protect electrical devices typically used in the aquarium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Reading Etc., Inc.
    Inventors: Diana Lynn Pulice, Jeff Cameron Wright
  • Publication number: 20090134532
    Abstract: A water aerating device for an aquarium includes a carrier, a pumping device attached to the carrier and having a motorized impeller for pumping a water, a siphon tube coupled to the pumping device and having a tube member engaged into the aquarium for allowing the water to be drawn into the siphon tube and drawn into the carrier by the impeller, and a number of rods disposed in the carrier for agitating the water and for minimizing an air contained in the water into smaller air bubbles. One or more air minimizing devices or helical spring members may further agitate the water and minimize the air contained in the water for supplying the reduced air bubbles to the water plants or the water weeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventor: Hsueh Lee Tsai
  • Publication number: 20090120853
    Abstract: A single tank configuration of a fish tank or livewell includes an outer container; an inner container installed inside the outer container, the inner container having a first end with an entry hole and a second end with an exit hole; and a pump installed between the inner and outer containers at one end of the fish tank or livewell for facilitating water circulation inside the fish tank or livewell. The inner and outer containers have an elongated shape. A double tank configuration of a fish tank or livewell includes two single tanks; connecting pipes for connecting the two single tanks to each other; and at least one pump installed between the two single tanks (130), the at least one pump being connected to the connecting pipes (150) for facilitating water circulation in the two single tanks. In each of the tank configurations, an endless water stream is formed in one straight direction within the tank and the water speeds can be adjusted by the pump(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: KEEPALIVE, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas Joseph Vento
  • Publication number: 20090120860
    Abstract: A water aerating and dirt collecting device for an aquarium includes a pumping device having a paddle device for pumping and circulating the water contained within the aquarium, a receptacle having a three housing members coupled to the pumping device, a vessel disposed on an upper housing member and having a tubular member for forming a peripheral chamber and for allowing an air bubble and a dirt to flow upwardly through the tubular member and to be collected in the peripheral chamber of the vessel, a cap attached to the vessel and having an exit coupled to a dirt collector for collecting the dirt, and having a mouth coupled to the pumping device for vacuuming purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventor: Hsueh-Lee Tsai
  • Publication number: 20090120859
    Abstract: A water aerating and dirt collecting device for an aquarium includes a pumping device having a paddle device for pumping and circulating the water contained within the aquarium, a receptacle having an entrance coupled to the pumping device for receiving the water from the pumping device and for agitating the water and for generating an eddy current, and a casing having an inlet port coupled to the receptacle for receiving a filtered dirt from the receptacle and having a mouth coupled to the pumping device for allowing an air in the casing to be drawn into the pumping device. The receptacle includes a tubular member for collecting the filtered dirt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventor: Hsueh Lee Tsai
  • Patent number: 7445706
    Abstract: A protein skimmer for filtering and cleaning water in an aquarium having a foam generating assembly having an air chamber (73) and a nozzle (74) in the air chamber, the nozzle being provided with a plurality of air holes (741) and being connected to an inlet tube (71), the inlet tube communicating with a foam cavity within a vertical guide tube (20) for foam, the guide tube (20) generally being tapered as a whole and including an open upper end (202), a bottom end (203) and a hollow cone-shaped circumferential wall being formed between the upper end and the bottom end and encircling the foam cavity (21) thereby tapering toward and communicating with the upper end (202).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Inventor: Chun-Chieh Liu
  • Publication number: 20080217225
    Abstract: An aquarium which includes a tank having a pump and an under gravel filter disposed in the tank below the pump and a sediment removal system for collecting and removing sediment which passes through the under gravel filter. The under gravel filter includes a hollow bubble dispersing base plate having a perforated top surface and an overlying substrate. An air conduit is provided for introducing air into the pump. The pump is connected to the plate such as to pump water and air into the interior of the plate to thereby cause oxygenated water and bubbles to exit upwardly through the perforated top surface of the plate and into and through the substrate. The pump includes a free floating magnetic impeller. A rotational torque generating unit is provided to rotate the impeller. The rotational torque generating unit includes a magnetic drive disk and a motor for rotating the magnetic drive disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: MAG-LIFE LLC
    Inventor: Anthony J. Allis
  • Patent number: 7381326
    Abstract: An aerated recirculated aquaculture system including a culture tank and an aeration and circulation system. The culture tank houses live aquaculture. The culture tank defines a first flow path. The aeration and circulation system includes an aeration device configured to aerate water. The aeration device defines a second flow path. The first flow path and second flow path at least partially defining a substantially closed flow path sequentially passing through the culture tank and the aeration device. The aeration and circulation system is configured to circulate the water around the substantially closed flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Inventor: Israel Haddas
  • Patent number: 7363878
    Abstract: A waste extraction system (10) for an aquaculture tank (12) includes a first conduit (18) having a first end (20) and a distant second end, with a second conduit (22) disposed within the conduit (18). The second conduit (22) has a first end (24) which is co-terminus with the end (20) of the first conduit (18). A plate (26) extends transversely across the ends (20, 24) and laterally of the first conduit (18). An axial hole (28) is formed in the plate (26) to provide fluid communication with the second conduit (22), but the plate (26) otherwise closes off or seals the end (20) of the first conduit (18). Legs (30) are formed on an underside of the plate (26) to space the plate (26) from a bottom wall (16) of the tank (12). Apertures (34) are formed in the conduit (18) near its first end (20) to allow water to flow into a flow chamber (36) created between an inner surface of the conduit (18) and an outer surface of the conduit (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Inventor: Ian McRobert
  • Publication number: 20080006569
    Abstract: A protein skimmer for filtering and cleaning water in an aquarium having a foam generating assembly having an air chamber (73) and a nozzle (74) in the air chamber, the nozzle being provided with a plurality of air holes (741) and being connected to an inlet tube (71), the inlet tube communicating with a foam cavity within a vertical guide tube (20) for foam, the guide tube (20) generally being tapered as a whole and including an open upper end (202), a bottom end (203) and a hollow cone-shaped circumferential wall being formed between the upper end and the bottom end and encircling the foam cavity (21) thereby tapering toward and communicating with the upper end (202).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Inventor: Chun-Chieh Liu
  • Patent number: 7316776
    Abstract: An improved aquarium filtration system is provided which includes a bio-reactor chamber. The bio-reactor chamber includes a plurality of bio-balls which have a high surface area for collecting bacteria for biological filtration. The bio-reactor includes one or more pumps for pumping both water and air into the bio-reactor chamber. Preferably, the oxygenated water creates protein laden foam and the bio-reactor chamber includes a removable protein collector. To this end, the bio-reactor chamber includes a vertical column for carrying the protein laden foam into the removable collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Inventor: Eric Kieselbach
  • Publication number: 20070278144
    Abstract: An automatic lifting level controller for the discharge of foam is mainly to install a foam collection port, a foam discharge port and foam guide channel on a body, which has a floating chamber that moves up and down according to the water levels. It is installed in a protein skimmer to reinforce the functionality and practicability of the protein skimmer by sucking and discharging the foams fractionated by the protein skimmer from the seawater or fresh water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventor: Tommy Chi-Kin Wong