Aeration accessories

Abstract

To provide a tool that has such conditions of a small size, not offensive to eyes, few water flows, feature of sufficient aeration while moving a water surface, and less noise, in an aeration type for feeding fishes which do not like strong water flows in a small-sized aquarium while being comfortable for people.SOLUTION: In an aeration attachment tool, a flat lumen of an enclosed space around an air discharge hole properly holds discharged bubbles while preventing the bubbles from becoming a sphere shape, thereby reducing bubble emission noise and reducing a size.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for connecting to an air pump to aerate an aquarium for raising aquatic life. [Background technology]

[0002] In order to raise aquatic organisms in an aquarium, unlike in the wild, there are a relatively large number of organisms compared to the volume of water, which consumes a lot of oxygen. This means that it is necessary to forcibly increase the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water (aeration). There are two main methods for aeration: air pump aeration and motor aeration. Air pump aeration uses an air pump to pump air into the water, and mainly involves attaching air stones or air lifts. Motor aeration uses a motor to create a water current, which absorbs and circulates oxygen, and there are various methods available.

[0003] Air pumps often come with an attached air stone. Because the device is small and unobtrusive, and because it generates less water current than motorized pumps, this is a suitable aeration method for fish that do not like current, especially in small aquariums. However, it is noisy, making it unbearable to keep in a bedroom. The noises produced consist of the bubble generation sound at the outlet and the bubble bursting sound at the water surface. The bubble bursting sound can be reduced by reducing the bubble size, and although it cannot be eliminated, it is not unpleasant unless there is a large amount. On the other hand, the bubble generation sound produced by a standard air stone is loud and harsh. Making the air stone smaller does not quiet it down, and the high-pitched sound can become even more harsh. If air is released directly without an air stone, the sound of bubble generation and bubble bursting will be even louder, and the water current will be stronger.

[0004] In addition, there is an air lift type water purifier that generates a large amount of air bubbles inside a pipe, and the force of the bubbles rising inside the pipe pushes the water up, causing it to flow out the top of the pipe, creating a water current. However, this type is also noisy, especially the sound of the bubbles bursting, making it unbearable to place in a bedroom.

[0005] Although there are some quiet underwater motor models, most produce an unpleasant operating noise. It is also difficult to reduce the water flow sufficiently, making them unsuitable for fish that do not like currents. Furthermore, their large size makes them an eyesore, making them unsuitable for small aquariums.

[0006] Fish that are best kept alone, such as bettas, and small fish like killifish are often kept in small tanks, but these fish do not like strong water currents. As mentioned above, air stones are the preferred aeration method for small tanks that are unobtrusive and have little water current, but there are issues with noise and no aeration devices that are suitable for placement in a bedroom. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2009-254317 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] To provide an aeration system that is small enough to not be an eyesore, has little water current, moves the water surface to provide sufficient aeration function, and is quiet, so that fish that do not like strong water currents can be kept in a small tank in a comfortable manner that is also suitable for human life.

[0009] With a conventional air pump with an air stone attached, the amount of oxygen supplied directly to the water from the bubbles is small. It is said that the primary factor in oxygen supply is the movement of the water surface by the bubbles. This is because the surface area of ​​the water is larger than that of the bubbles. Oxygen from the atmosphere dissolves in the water near the surface, resulting in a high dissolved oxygen concentration. Moving the water surface is the most important factor. Furthermore, moving the water surface also has the added effect of removing oil films. When a large number of bubbles are generated, the rising bubbles stir up the water, creating a current that also moves the water surface. However, this also increases the water current and increases the noise of the bubbles forming and popping, making them noisy. On the other hand, even with a low air flow rate, if the bubbles are small, they move the water surface, causing the water surface to move. This maintains aeration capacity and oil film removal despite the weak water current.

[0010] Observing the sound of bubble generation, it is not generated when the air pushes against the water, but rather at the moment the bubble leaves the nozzle. If the bubble becomes spherical due to surface tension the moment it leaves the nozzle, and the water below it suddenly collides with it from the surrounding area, vibrating the bubble and generating sound, it is assumed that reducing the collision energy will reduce the sound generated. It is also thought that smaller bubbles result in smaller collision energy. Bubble size is related to the size of the nozzle, air flow rate, and viscosity. For low viscosity fluids like water, and when the air flow rate is even lower, bubble size is closely related to the size of the nozzle. Although it was expected that reducing the nozzle size would reduce the sound of bubble generation, experiments using a tiny nozzle did not result in sufficient reduction in the sound. In this experiment, the air supplied from the air pump was reduced using a flow regulator, allowing the air to be ejected from the air nozzle into the water as discrete bubbles visible to the naked eye. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] As an alternative method, we therefore attempted to see if the sound of air bubbles being generated could be suppressed by preventing the bubbles from becoming spherical by changing the shape of the space around the outlet hole. Bubbles generated from the air outlet hole are spherical and have a diameter larger than the inner diameter of the air outlet hole, but if the width of the space beyond the outlet hole is narrow, the bubbles will not become spherical but will become squashed. Experiments were actually conducted in a water tank with air outlet holes of various inner diameters. As shown in Figure 3, an air supply pipe was passed through the outer pipe, and air was discharged from the tip of the air supply pipe located inside the outer pipe lumen. The flow rate of the air supplied from the air pump was reduced using a flow regulator, so that the air was discharged into the water from the air outlet hole as independent bubbles visible to the naked eye. The volume of the sound of air bubbles being generated was investigated by combining outer pipes and air supply pipes of various sizes.

[0012] As shown in Figure 1, the index value ((ID-od) / id) was calculated by subtracting the outer diameter of the air supply pipe 1 from the inner diameter of the outer pipe 2, ID, to obtain the excess lumen minor diameter R. This is then divided by the inner diameter of the air discharge hole in the air supply pipe, id. Table 1 lists the index values ​​in order. The experimental results showed that an index value greater than 0.5 and less than 1.5 was effective in silencing noise. When the index value was 0.5 or less, the rising speed of the bubbles in the outer pipe was slow, causing them to combine and generate noise when they emerged from the top of the outer pipe. On the other hand, when the index value was 1.5 or more, noise from bubble generation was heard. This is presumably because the excess lumen minor diameter was too large to trap the bubbles and prevent them from becoming spherical. Therefore, it was necessary for the outer pipe bore size to be neither too large nor too small compared to the discharge hole bore.

[0013] [Table 1]

[0014] If we apply this to a different configuration from the above, as shown in Figure 7, where an air discharge hole is open in the cavity of a flat cylinder, the minor axis length fID of the cavity of the flat cylinder must be greater than 0.5 times and less than 1.5 times the inner diameter length fid of the air discharge hole.

[0015] Furthermore, if the air discharge port mentioned above is not circular but has a different shape, the bubbles will be approximately spherical as if they were discharged from a circle of the same area, so the above can be applied. If the area of ​​the air discharge port is X and the radius of the circle of the same area is a, then the inner diameter of an approximately circular air discharge port is 2a = 2√(X / π). Applying this to the above, it follows that the minor axis length of the flat cylinder bore must be greater than √(X / π) and less than 3√(X / π).

[0016] Based on the above results, the device we have devised is an device that is used by connecting to an air pump, in which a cylindrical air supply pipe is passed through a cylindrical outer pipe, and air is discharged from the tip of the air supply pipe inside the lumen of the outer pipe. The excess inner lumen minor diameter length, which is the value obtained by subtracting the outer diameter length of the air supply pipe from the inner diameter length of the outer pipe, is greater than 0.5 and less than 1.5 times the inner diameter length of the air discharge hole in the air supply pipe. The air discharge hole is located inside the lumen of the outer pipe, and the long axis of the outer pipe is vertical. The flow rate of the air supplied from the air pump is reduced using a flow regulator, so that the air is discharged into the water from the air discharge hole as visible independent bubbles.

[0017] In the above variant, when an air discharge hole is opened in the cavity of the flat cylinder, the short axis length of the cavity of the flat cylinder is greater than 0.5 times and less than 1.5 times the inner diameter length of the air discharge hole of the air supply pipe. The air discharge hole is located within the cavity of the flat cylinder, and the long axis direction of the flat cylinder is vertical.

[0018] Furthermore, if the air discharge hole is not circular, and the area of ​​the air discharge hole is X square millimeters, the minor axis length of the flat cylinder bore is greater than √(X / π) and less than 3√(X / π). [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] As mentioned above, the air flow rate is low and the water flow is weak, but the air bubbles glide across the water surface, moving the water surface and maintaining sufficient aeration and oil film removal effects.

[0020] As mentioned above, the noise generated by the bubbles has been reduced, making it acceptable to place the device in a bedroom. Although the bubbles do make a popping noise, the volume is not too loud because the bubbles are small, and the sound quality is rather pleasant and not a problem.

[0021] The air supply pipe and outer pipe are thin and transparent, so they won't be an eyesore even in small aquariums. The size is significantly smaller than the existing aeration devices mentioned above. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] Axial cross-sectional view of embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 2] Overall perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] Schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention in actual use. [Figure 4] Overall perspective view of embodiment 2 of the present invention. [Figure 5] Overall perspective view of embodiment 3 of the present invention. [Figure 6] Overall perspective view of embodiment 4 of the present invention. [Figure 7] Axial cross-sectional view of embodiment 4 of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] A first embodiment of the device of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. The air supply pipe 1, which is composed of an air supply pipe 1 and an outer pipe 2, has a smaller diameter than commonly used soft silicone air tubes and can be made of either soft or hard material, but in this first embodiment it is made of hard material. The lower end of the air supply pipe 1 is an air discharge hole 101. The outer pipe 2 is transparent and cylindrical, and as mentioned above, the minor diameter length of the excess inner lumen R, which is the value obtained by subtracting the outer diameter length od of the air supply pipe from the inner diameter length ID of the outer pipe, is greater than 0.5 and less than 1.5 times the inner diameter length id of the air discharge hole of the air supply pipe 1. As a preferred example, if a cylindrical air supply pipe with an outer diameter of about 4.8 mm, a wall thickness of 1.0 mm, and an inner diameter of 2.8 mm is used, which can be connected to a general soft silicone air tube, the inner diameter of the outer pipe 2 should be greater than 6.2 mm and less than 9.0 mm.

[0024] An air supply pipe connection part 201 is provided at the upper end of the outer pipe 2, making it possible to detachably connect the air supply pipe 1 to the outer pipe 2. It is desirable that both the air supply pipe 1 and the outer pipe 2 be made of a transparent material so that it is possible to check if they are clogged. The outer pipe 2 should preferably be made of glass, but transparent resin is also acceptable. The air supply pipe 1 should preferably be made of a cuttable resin material so that its length can be adjusted to fit the size of the aquarium. The air supply pipe 1 is passed through the bore of the outer pipe 2, and is fixed at the air supply pipe connection part 201 so that the air discharge hole 101 is positioned within the bore of the outer pipe. The top of the air supply pipe 1 is fixed to the top end of the aquarium wall with clips 93. The outer pipe 2 is installed within the aquarium so that its longitudinal axis is vertical. An air tube 92 is connected to the air pump 90, and a flow regulator 91 is installed midway through the tube, and the air tube 92 is connected to the end of the air supply pipe 103. The flow rate of air supplied from the air pump 90 is restricted with the flow regulator 91 so that air is discharged from the air discharge hole 101 into the water as isolated bubbles that are visible to the naked eye.

[0025] The second embodiment is a variant of the first embodiment, as shown in Figure 4. The outer pipe does not have an air supply pipe connection at its upper end, and the outer pipe is fixed to the tank wall with a suction cup 202. The rest of the configuration is the same as the first embodiment.

[0026] Figure 5 shows the third embodiment. If the air supply pipe 1 from the first embodiment is changed to a soft material, the outer pipe 2 can be molded from glass, or a pipe molded from transparent resin can be wrapped with a weight such as lead so that it hangs straight under its own weight. By connecting a mooring member 7 to the air supply pipe 1, the supply pipe can be curved and hooked onto the upper end of the aquarium wall. The rest is the same as the first embodiment.

[0027] Unlike the above-mentioned cylinders placed inside cylinders, the fourth embodiment has an air discharge hole opening into the inner cavity of a flat cylinder. The inner cavity of the flat cylinder can be variously shaped, such as rectangular or oval, and the number of inner cavities can also be multiple. An example is shown in Figures 6 and 7. Figure 6 is a perspective view, and Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a, b, c, and d from bottom to top. The inner cavity of the flat cylinder has a rectangular cross section, and there are two rectangular cylinder lumens 5, with an air supply path between them. 6. There is an air discharge hole 601 at the bottom, and an exhaust port 501 at the top extending from the top end of the rectangular cavity to the front to allow air bubbles to escape. The short axis length fID of the cross section of the rectangular cylinder's cavity is greater than 0.5 times and less than 1.5 times the inner diameter length fid of the air discharge hole. An air tube is connected to the air pump, a flow regulator is installed midway, and the air tube is connected to the upper end 602 of the air supply path. The device is fixed in the water with a suction cup so that the long axis of the main body is vertical.

Claims

1. An apparatus used by connecting to an air pump to aerate an aquarium for raising aquatic life. The air supplied from the air pump is throttled using a flow regulator so that the air is discharged into the water from the air outlet hole as macroscopically isolated bubbles. The cylindrical air supply pipe is passed through the cylindrical outer pipe, and the length of the minor axis of the surplus inner cavity, which is the value obtained by subtracting the outer diameter of the air supply pipe from the inner diameter of the outer pipe, is greater than 0.5 times and less than 1.5 times the inner diameter of the air discharge hole of the air supply pipe, The air discharge hole is located inside the bore of the outer pipe and faces downward. The longitudinal direction of the outer pipe is vertical. A noise absorbing device with aeration.

2. An apparatus used by connecting to an air pump to aerate an aquarium for raising aquatic life. The air supplied from the air pump is throttled using a flow regulator so that the air is discharged into the water from the air outlet hole as macroscopically isolated bubbles. An air discharge hole is opened in the cavity of the flat cylinder, and the short axis length of the cavity of the flat cylinder is greater than 0.5 times and less than 1.5 times the inner diameter length of the air discharge hole, The air outlet hole is located on the side of the inner cavity of the flat cylinder. The longitudinal direction of the flat cylinder is the vertical direction. A noise absorbing device with aeration.

3. The noise-reducing device with aeration unit according to claim 2, characterized in that the air discharge hole described in claim 2 is not circular, and when the area of ​​the air discharge hole is X square millimeters, the short axis length of the flat cylindrical cavity is greater than √(X / π) millimeters and less than 3√(X / π).

4. 2. A silencer with aeration system according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer pipe has an air supply pipe connection at its upper end, and the air supply pipe can be attached and detached to the outer pipe.

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