Abstract: A water pump assembly for an aquarium aeration system includes a housing surrounding an electric pump. Within the housing, a water conduit passes an impeller of the pump for the generation of a stream of moving water. An air-breather conduit conducts air from a location above the housing to an air-induction port in a sidewall of the water conduit. The aquarium power head is provided with a clamp for attaching the power head to the aquarium tank. The clamp has a ring which mates a tubular inlet portion of the housing and engages that inlet portion. A flow diverter to adjust the water flow exiting the power head in a desired direction is adjustably connected to the outlet portion of the housing of the power head.

Abstract: A floating impeller assembly for use with an electromagnetic stator unit includes a stationary shaft with a magnetic rotor rotationally mounted on the shaft. An impeller unit is rotationally mounted on the shaft and a unitary retaining and clutch mechanism between the magnetic rotor and the impeller unit drives the impeller unit by means of rotation of the magnetic rotor. The magnetic rotor and the impeller float on the shaft facilitating reducing the noise, friction and wear, heretofore, present in prior art units. The floating impeller assembly is used within an aquarium filter for drawing water from the aquarium into the aquarium filter for filtration and discharge back into the aquarium tank.

Abstract: A water pump assembly for an aquarium aeration system includes a housing surrounding an electric pump. Within the housing, a water conduit passes an impeller of the pump for the generation of a stream of moving water. An air-breather conduit conducts air from a location above the housing to an air-induction port in a sidewall of the water conduit. The aquarium power head is provided with a clamp for attaching the power head to the aquarium tank. The clamp has a ring which mates a tubular inlet portion of the housing and engages that inlet portion. A flow diverter to adjust the water flow exiting the power head in a desired direction is adjustably connected to the outlet portion of the housing of the power head.

Abstract: A water pump including a rotating impeller is located between the two filter chambers, and pumps water from the aquarium tank, via the inlet conduit, into a corridor which communicates with the two filter chambers. The impeller is constructed with relatively closely spaced radially extending blades, each of which is formed of a circular disk. A base edge, or chord, of each blade is inclined upon a frustoconical surface of a central hub of the impeller.

Abstract: An aquarium filtration system is formed as a filter assembly for mounting on the wall of an aquarium tank, and includes a pair of filter chambers, each having a filter element, mounted side by side along the aquarium wall. An inlet conduit is located in a transverse medial plane of the assembly. A water pump including a rotating impeller is located between the two filter chambers, and pumps water from the aquarium tank, via the inlet conduit, into a corridor which communicates with the two filter chambers. The impeller is constructed with relatively closely spaced radially extending blades, each of which is formed of a circular disk. A base edge, or chord, of each blade is inclined upon a frustoconical surface of a central hub of the impeller. A discharge end of the inlet conduit directs water upon the impeller blades, the latter urging the water outward along a horizontal plane into the corridor.

Abstract: An aerobic filter which comprises a chamber for holding a medium for aerobic bacterial growth. The chamber is positioned to receive filtered water from a primary file which at least physically filters contaminated aquarium water. The chamber is also positioned to be at least partially out of the aquarium water to provide oxygenation of the aerobic bacteria to enhance their growth, and to directly return the aerobically filtered water to the aquarium.

Abstract: A water pump assembly for an aquarium aeration system includes a housing surrounding an electric pump. Within the housing, a water conduit passes an impeller of the pump for the generation of a stream of moving water. An air-breather conduit conducts air from a location above the housing to an air-induction port in a sidewall of the water conduit wherein the moving water produces a venturi action for drawing in air and entraining the air as a series of bubbles in the stream of water. The process of mixing air with the water produces sound. A muffler disposed on top of the housing is connected serial with the air-breather conduit for attenuating the sound to permit a viewing of the aquarium without the distraction of the sound. A valve may be located on an air inlet port above the muffler for adjusting a rate of flow of the air.

Abstract: An aquarium filter assembly which can be utilized as a diatomaceous earth filter which is self-priming. The filter includes a housing having a pump means from which depends a filtering element. The water pumped through the filtering element can be directed either back into the housing for recirculation of the water in the housing, or out of the housing and back into the aquarium tank for filtering of the aquarium tank water. A valve within the housing operates to permit water entry into the housing upon initial insertion and during filtration of the aquarium tank water. The valve closes when the water flow from the filtering element is directed back into the housing. Diatomaceous earth can be added into the housing and the water recirculated within the housing serves to self-prime the filter element. After charging the filter element, the water flow from the filtering element is directed into the aquarium tank and the valve opens to permit regular filtering of the aquarium tank water.

Abstract: A filter cartridge comprising a framework and a surrounding envelope of filter material. The framework is reusable and provided with a rough, granular surface texture to provide increase surface area available for the propagation of aerobic bacteria. The envelope is disposable. Thus, biological filtration of the water provided by the aerobic bacteria is not interrupted upon replacement of the filter material. A second filter medium may be disposed within the envelope. The envelope is held in place by a pair of flaps which sandwich an edge of the filter material.

Abstract: An aquarium air pump includes an electromagnetic motor-operated pump unit positioned in the housing of the pump and including two vibrating arms energized by the motor and each carrying a pump diaphragm forming with a closure member of the pump unit casing a pump chamber. Each vibrating arm is positioned on the casing to be pivoted to an operative position to close the respective closure member and a non-operative position in which the arm can be removed from the casing and interchanged. The pump housing includes a bottom part and a top part connectable to each other and sealed in the connected position by a peripheral seal. Cushioning cups support the pump unit in the pump housing to absorb vibrations.

Abstract: An air stone suitable for use in aerating water in an aquarium is formed of a body of porous material permeable to air. Included within the body is a central chamber having an inlet port for receiving a connector, the chamber extending beyond the port to form a plenum for distribution of air throughout the air stone. In an embodiment of the air stone constructed with a circular cylindrical configuration, the plenum is enclosed by a cylindrical wall of porous material and closed off by an end wall of porous material. The cylindrical wall has uniform thickness equal to the thickness of the end wall. The connector includes a nipple extending into the chamber to make a press fit for securing the stone to the connector. A similar nipple directed in the opposite direction secures the connector to an air-supply tube.

Abstract: An external aquarium filter having a housing which is mountable onto a wall of an aquarium tank. The housing includes an intake compartment and a filter compartment which in turn includes a contaminated water chamber receiving contaminated water drawn into the intake compartment from the aquarium tank and a filter chamber for filtering the water. A motor unit supported at the filter housing has an impeller which sits into it depending from a collar which fits into the intake compartment of the filter. The impeller draws water from the aquarium tank into the intake compartment of the filter. The impeller is encased in a tubular collar. The tubular collar has two opposing windows. The window, which faces the front wall of the intake compartment, is offset in a clockwise direction, as viewed from above, relative to the window which faces the rear wall of the intake compartment, to effectively close off the right edge thereof, to thereby reduce turbulence in the water flowing in the filter.

Abstract: An aquarium accessory for removable attachment to the top rim of an aquarium tank. The accessory includes an instrument useful for the functional or aesthetic benefit of the aquarium tank. A coupling arrangement is connected to the instrument. The coupling arrangement includes a clamping screw for securing to the rim. Coaxillay arranged with the claimping screw is a biting device positioned on the coupling means for biting into the rim upon securement by the clamping screw.

Abstract: An external aquarium filter of the canister type formed of a flat, substantially cylindrical container with a screw-top cover. Both inlet and outlet ports extend through the cover. The inlet port continues with a depending tube to be in flow communication with the bottom of the container and the outlet port is in flow communication with the top of the container. A sheet of foam filtering material is supported in the middle of the container to define a contaminated water chamber beneath the filtering material and a clean water chamber above the filtering material. An air pump or water pump can be used to provide the continuous flow of water through the filter. The water pump can be integrally formed on the cover and include an encapsulated stator, whose housing is integrally molded with the cover. A magnetically coupled impeller is positioned within the outlet flow path to aid in the flow of water through the filter.

Abstract: A vent valve of an air pump typically utilized in an aquarium apparatus. The vent valve includes a wall member with a vent hole in the wall member. A valve body having a flap member closes onto the vent hole. The closure action of the flap member is regulated so that the flap is twisted under the force of air flowing through the vent hole in a direction toward the flap member and returns to a closed position against the wall member with a rolling sidewise fold-down motion when an air flow lessens. In this manner, there is a reduction in the flapping noise of the valve.