Aquarium lid opening and closing mechanism

Abstract

This article is an opening and closing mechanism for the lid of a large water tank installed on the rooftop of a building or similar structure. An opening is formed in the top of the water tank for inspection purposes, and the lid is a component that seals this opening. The main components of this article are a fixing member 10 and a rotating member 30 (see reference front view, reference rear view, and reference figures 1 to 4 showing the main components). The fixing member 10 is connected to the peripheral wall that defines the opening. The rotating member 30 is connected to the top surface of the lid. The lid is opened and closed by the rotation of the rotating member 30 relative to the fixing member 10 together with the lid. The rotating member 30 is connected to the fixing member 10 in a manner that allows it to rotate relative to the fixing member 10 by two shafts 50A and 50B arranged in the vertical direction (see reference front view and reference rear view). The fixing member 10 has a vertically elongated through hole 14s, which is a straight through hole (see reference figures 1 and 2 showing the main components). The rotating member 30 has a circular through-hole 36s and an arc-shaped through-hole 34s (see Reference Figures 3 and 4 showing the main member). The shaft 50A is positioned to pass through the elongated through-hole 14s and the circular through-hole 36s. The shaft 50B is positioned to pass through the elongated through-hole 14s and the arc-shaped through-hole 34s. The shaft 50A maintains its position while the rotating member 30 is rotating (see Reference Figures 1 and 2 showing the intermediate state of change). The shaft 50B moves within the arc-shaped through-hole 34s as the rotating member 30 rotates (see Reference Figures 1 and 2 showing the intermediate state of change). One end of the arc-shaped through-hole 34s is a protruding portion 34as that projects toward the circular through-hole 36s. When the lid is fully opened, the shaft 50B enters the protruding portion 34as (see front view of the changed state). In this state, gravity acting on the lid and the rotating member 30 maintains the position where the shaft 50B is inserted into the protrusion 34as, ensuring that the lid remains open. As the shaft 50B enters the protrusion 34as, the rotating member 30 moves downward relative to the fixed member 10 (see front view, rear view, front view of the changed state, and rear view of the changed state).

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