Aquarium purification system for livestock tanks
The simplified water purification device for breeding tanks addresses the complexity of conventional aquariums by integrating an air supply, purification tank, and drain pipe with a notch and guide, achieving efficient seawater purification and aeration with reduced components and easier maintenance.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- 黒岩 光雄
- Filing Date
- 2024-03-11
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-05
Smart Images
Figure 0007870587000001 
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Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a breeding aquarium that can circulate and use seawater.
Background Art
[0002] Conventionally, a breeding aquarium as described in Patent Document 1 is known. This breeding aquarium is for seawater, and a microbial cultivation box is provided at the lower part of the aquarium. It has an air supply pipe for introducing air into this microbial cultivation box, and a drainage tower is provided at the counter electrode to this air supply pipe. An air stone is arranged inside the drainage tower, and the air supply pipe is connected to this air stone. The drainage tower is located inside a salt leakage prevention box. The bottom of the salt leakage prevention box and the bottom of the aquarium are connected by a communication pipe.
[0003] In this breeding aquarium, by supplying air to the air supply pipe, air is supplied to the microorganisms to maintain their decomposition ability. At the same time, air is supplied into the exhaust pipe, and the water in the microbial cultivation box is raised in the exhaust pipe by the rising of the bubbles, and the water purified by the microorganisms is supplied into the salt leakage prevention box. This water is supplied to the aquarium through the communication pipe at the bottom. By repeating this circulation and purification, the quality of the seawater in the breeding aquarium is maintained.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0004]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0005] However, in the above - mentioned conventional breeding aquarium, since it is necessary to send air to both the air supply pipe and the exhaust pipe, there is a problem that the structure becomes complicated. The present invention has been made to solve such a problem. <(
Means for Solving the Problems
[0006] The present invention provides a water purification device for a breeding tank, comprising: a tank body for storing water; an air supply means with an air stone attached to the end of a tube; a purification tank installed on the bottom side of the tank body, housing a filter material to which microorganisms are attached, and having holes for water intake and drainage; and a drain pipe, which is tubular, inserted through the drainage hole of the purification tank, with its lower end located inside the purification tank, and having a notch at the lower end that is tapered at the top, and a guide provided to position the air stone so that a part of it protrudes to the outside from this notch.
[0007] The aforementioned septic tank preferably has a gate provided below the cut portion and the water intake hole, forming an air layer defined by the cut portion and the gate.
[0008] The purification device for a breeding tank according to the present invention comprises a box-shaped main body having an opening for water intake and a hole for drainage, an air supply means having an air stone at the end of a tube, and a drain pipe which is tubular and inserted through the drainage hole of the aerobic tank, with its lower end located inside the aerobic tank, and a notch with a narrowed upper part provided at the lower end, and a guide provided to position the air stone so that a part of it protrudes to the outside from this notch.
[0009] The opening has a gate plate provided below it, and the main body is preferably configured to form an air layer defined by the cut portion and the gate plate. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0010] [Figure 1] This is an explanatory diagram showing a breeding tank according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is an assembly diagram showing the breeding tank. [Figure 3] This is an explanatory diagram showing the components of an aquarium. [Figure 4] This is an explanatory diagram showing the flow of seawater and air in a breeding tank. [Figure 5] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the function of a breeding tank. [Figure 6] It is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the breeding tank. [Figure 7] It is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the breeding tank. [Figure 8] It is a configuration diagram showing a purification device for a breeding tank according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. [Figure 9] It is an assembly diagram of the purification device shown in FIG. 8. [Figure 10] It is an explanatory diagram showing the components of the purification device. [Figure 11] It is an explanatory diagram showing the flow of water and air when the purification device is installed in a bucket. [Figure 12] It is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the purification device. [Figure 13] It is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the purification device. [Figure 14] It is a perspective view showing the lid of the bucket using the purification device. [Figure 15] It is a configuration diagram showing a deep - sea fish capture device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. [Figure 16] It is an explanatory diagram showing the structure near the lid. [Figure 17] It is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the capture device. [Figure 18] It is a perspective view showing a breeding tank according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. [Figure 19] It is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the purification device. [Figure 20] It is an assembly diagram (a) and a configuration diagram (b) of the silencer. [Figure 21] It is an explanatory diagram showing a modification example of the breeding tank according to Embodiment 4. [Figure 22] It is a perspective view showing a purification device according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. [Figure 23] It is an assembly diagram of the purification device shown in FIG. 22. [Figure 24] It is an assembly diagram and an explanatory diagram showing the water absorption part and the drainage part. [Figure 25] It shows a conceptual assembly diagram of the main body. [Figure 26] It is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of this purification device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0011] (Embodiment 1) Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a breeding tank according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Figure 2 is an assembly diagram showing the breeding tank shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 1(a), this breeding tank 100 consists of a tank body 1 for breeding marine fish with seawater, an aerobic tank 2 provided at the bottom of the tank body 1, an anaerobic tank 3 located below the aerobic tank 2, an air supply device 4 for supplying air to the seawater in the tank, an intake / drainage unit 5 for drawing up seawater from the aerobic tank 2 and the anaerobic tank 3 and draining it into the tank, and a water intake unit 6 for drawing seawater from the tank into the aerobic tank 2 and the anaerobic tank 3. The aerobic tank 2 and the anaerobic tank 3 are located at the bottom inside the tank body 1. The tank body 1 may be a dedicated product or a general-purpose product.
[0012] The air supply device 4 consists of an air supply pump 41, a tube 42 connected to the pump 41, and an air stone 43 provided at the end of the tube 42. The air stone 43 is cylindrical in shape. The intake and drainage section 5 has a drain pipe 51 and a salt drip prevention box 52 and a drain U-shaped pipe 53 provided around it. A protein skimmer 80 is installed at the top of the salt drip prevention box 52. The protein skimmer 80 eliminates persistent bubbles and also acts as a silencer. The drain pipe 51 is cylindrical in shape, with its lower end 51a located inside the aerobic tank 2 and its upper end 51b located below the top of the tank body 1. The area around the lower end 51a of the drain pipe 51 is shown in Figure 3(a). The lower end 51a of the drain pipe 51 has a triangular notch 54. Furthermore, a guide part 55 is provided at the lower end 51a to position the air stone 43 so as to push it outward diagonally downward (see Figure 5). The upper end 51b of the salt drip prevention box 52 is provided with a lid 51c that has a groove for passing the tube 42 through.
[0013] The guide section 55 is provided with a triangular plate-like body having an angled portion so that the lower end 51a is open, but is not limited to this. The lower end 51a is inserted into the hole 21 on the upper surface (bottom surface) of the aerobic tank 2, and the opening of the lower end 51a faces the hole 31 of the anaerobic tank 3. The air stone 43 is divided into a portion exposed from the cut section 54 (external portion 43a) and a portion located inside the drain pipe 51 (internal portion 43b). The tube 42 connected to the air stone 43 extends from the top of the drain pipe 51 and is connected to the pump 41. The top of the drain pipe 51 is cut at an angle to allow seawater to flow out easily.
[0014] The aerobic tank 2 is box-shaped overall, with a bottom surface 2a, sides 2b, and top surface 2c forming a box shape. The drain hole 21 of the aerobic tank 2 and the drain hole 31 of the anaerobic tank 3 are located approximately coaxially. It is preferable that the drain hole 31 of the anaerobic tank 3 be smaller than the drain hole 21 of the aerobic tank 2. This is to reduce the flow rate of seawater into the anaerobic tank 3 and ensure sufficient decomposition.
[0015] The drain pipe 51 is placed inside the salt drip prevention box 52. The salt drip prevention box 52 is a transparent box-shaped body, and a drain hole 22 is provided on its bottom surface. A drain U-shaped pipe 53 is connected to the drain hole 22. The other end of the drain U-shaped pipe 53 opens to the bottom surface of the tank (discharge port 23). This drain U-shaped pipe 53 connects the inside of the tank to the inside of the salt drip prevention box 52.
[0016] Multiple discharge ports 51d are provided in the vertical direction on the side of the salt-drift prevention box 52. The discharge ports 51d are for discharging seawater into the tank to create a flow inside. To supply seawater to these discharge ports 51d from below, a passage is formed by a guide plate 58 with a U-shaped cross-section. This guide plate 58 is made of a transparent or translucent material and is installed inside the salt-drift prevention box 52. At this time, the discharge ports 51d are positioned at the openings. The upper end is positioned above the water surface, and the lower end is positioned above the lower end of the salt-drift prevention box 52. Alternatively, a hose may be provided outside the discharge ports 51d to create a water flow in any direction (not shown).
[0017] The water intake section 6 consists of a triangular box-shaped body 61 and is located at the position furthest from the drain pipe 51. At the bottom of the water intake section 6, the water intake holes 26 for the aerobic tank 2 and the water intake holes 36 for the anaerobic tank 3 are provided coaxially. The water intake holes 36 for the anaerobic tank 3 are smaller than the water intake holes 26 for the aerobic tank 2. This is to create an oxygen-deficient state in the anaerobic tank 3 and reduce the flow rate to ensure sufficient decomposition.
[0018] A V-shaped water intake groove 65 is provided at the top of the box-shaped body 61. This water intake groove 65 is used to draw in the supernatant of seawater from the tank body 1. The lid 64 can be opened and closed by moving it up and down, and when using the water intake groove 65, the lid 64 should be lowered and left open (see Figure 2(b)). The sliding structure of the lid 64 can be any known type. The lid 64 is opened and closed by pinching the tab 67. The tab 67 should be positioned above the water surface.
[0019] Furthermore, the box-shaped body 61 is provided with an intake opening 62 for drawing water from below the supernatant portion of the seawater inside the aquarium body 1. This intake opening 62 is composed of multiple holes to prevent foreign matter from entering. The intake opening 62 may also be configured with a grid around a large hole. This intake opening 62 can be opened and closed by a vertically movable lid 64, and can be opened by moving the lid 64 upward (see Figure 2(c)). The intake opening 62 is positioned below the water surface. With this intake opening 62, seawater can be drawn in without sucking up bait that is floating on the water surface.
[0020] A sponge-like filter 66 is provided inside the box-shaped body 61 to prevent foreign matter from flowing into the filtration path. In addition to a sponge, any material with a filtering function, such as a net with a small mesh size, may also be used.
[0021] An annular gate 63 is provided below the water intake hole 26 in the passage of the aerobic tank 2. The gate 63 forms a wall that is higher than the thickness of the predetermined air layer K defined by the notch 54. As a result, the air K exits from the notch 54 rather than the gate 63. Furthermore, it also functions as a stopper to prevent the movement of the filter media 27 in the aerobic tank 2. Note that the shape of the gate 63 is not limited to an annular shape. It may also be a wall-like structure provided in the passage 28, as long as it functions as a stopper for the filter media 27.
[0022] As shown in Figure 2, the aerobic tank 2 is box-shaped, and a zigzag passage 28 is formed inside by multiple partition plates 25. The passage 28 is filled with filter media 27 that allows aerobic bacteria to live. Porous ceramic pieces are used for the filter media 27. This increases the surface area, allowing for efficient purification by bacteria. One end of the passage 28 has an intake hole 26, and the other end has a drain hole 21. Seawater is drawn in through the intake hole 26 and drained through the passage 28 and out through the drain hole 21. As the seawater passes through the passage 28, it is purified by bacteria.
[0023] Below the aerobic tank 2, an anaerobic tank 3 is provided. The anaerobic tank 3 is box-shaped, similar to the aerobic tank 2, and is approximately the same shape as the aerobic tank 2. These are stacked and integrated into one unit. The ceiling of the anaerobic tank 3 becomes the bottom surface 2a of the aerobic tank 2. Inside, a zigzag passage 38 is formed by multiple partition plates 35. The passage 38 is filled with filter media 37 that allows anaerobic bacteria to live. Porous ceramic pieces are used for the filter media 37. This increases the surface area, allowing for efficient purification by bacteria. One end of the passage 38 has a water intake hole 36, and the other end has a drainage hole 31. Seawater drawn in through the water intake hole 36 passes through the passage 38 and is drained through the drainage hole 31. As the seawater passes through this passage 38, it is purified by bacteria.
[0024] Filter media 37 can also be melamine sponge. If using melamine sponge, cut it into small pieces. Melamine sponge is easy to handle because it is inexpensive and lightweight.
[0025] The aerobic tank 2 and anaerobic tank 3 are integrated into a separate box-like structure, allowing them to be submerged in a general-purpose aquarium. In this case, the salt-prevention box 52, water intake section 6, aerobic tank 2, and anaerobic tank 3 can be used as a single system. Therefore, users can easily install it in their desired aquarium. The aerobic tanks 2 and 3 may be made opaque so that they are not visible from the outside.
[0026] Next, the operation of this breeding tank 100 will be explained. Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the flow of seawater and air in the breeding tank 100. The dotted line in the figure shows the flow of seawater. Seawater is placed in the tank body 1. The seawater is stabilized in this state. The power of the pump 41 is turned on and air is supplied to the air stone 43 via the tube 42. Air comes out of the air stone 43 as bubbles. The bubbles that come out of the outer part 43a of the air stone 43 aerate the seawater and accumulate near the ceiling of the aerobic tank 2, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, and spread throughout the aerobic tank 2 through the passage 28. This supplies air to the aerobic tank 2.
[0027] The anaerobic tank 3 is located below the aerobic tank 2, the lower end 51a of the drain pipe 51 is in the aerobic tank 2, and the air stone 43 is located in the area of the aerobic tank 2. The bubbles it ejects are supplied only to the aerobic tank 2, and no air is supplied to the anaerobic tank 3. As a result, the anaerobic tank 3 is in a suitable state of oxygen deficiency.
[0028] As shown in Figure 5, the air in the inner portion 43b rises inside the drain pipe 51. This rise draws up seawater, creating a seawater flow inside the drain pipe 51. This flow draws seawater from the aerobic tank 2 and the anaerobic tank 3. As seawater is drawn up from the aerobic tank 2 and the anaerobic tank 3, it is drawn in through the intake holes and purified inside.
[0029] In aerobic tank 2, ammoniacal nitrogen, which is produced when organic nitrogen (proteins, amino acids) or uric acid and urea derived from feces and urine decomposes, is broken down by microorganisms (nitrifying bacteria: nitrite bacteria, nitrate bacteria, etc.). In anaerobic tank 3, nitrate is removed.
[0030] Seawater rising from the drain pipe 51 enters the salt drip prevention box 52. The salt drip prevention box 52 has an opening 22 at its bottom, and purified seawater is discharged through the drain U-shaped pipe 53 and out of the opening 23 at the bottom of the tank body 1.
[0031] Seawater in the tank body 1 is drawn into the interior of the triangular box-shaped body 61 of the intake section 6 from the top, and then drawn into the aerobic tank 2 and anaerobic tank 3 through the intake holes at the bottom. An intake groove 65 is provided at the top of the box-shaped body 61, at the seawater surface level. This allows for the intake and purification of oily organic matter that tends to form on the surface of the seawater. Through this series of movements, the seawater in the tank body 1 is purified. If a large foreign object enters the interior, it is captured by the filter 66. To further close the intake groove 65 and draw water in through the intake opening 62, the lid 64 is slid upward and the intake opening 62 is opened.
[0032] Next, where bubbles create an upward flow around the air stone 43, a triangular notch 54 is provided to separate the air stone 43 into an outer part 43a and an inner part 43b (see Figure 3). In the aerobic tank 2, an air layer K is formed at the top, and this air layer K is adjusted by the top of the notch 54, as shown in Figure 7. That is, when the air layer K becomes lower than the top, the air moves through the notch 54 to the discharge pipe and is released outside. At this time, because it is triangular, when the air crosses the notch 54, it does not cross it all at once, but crosses it gradually. If it were rectangular, the air would cross it all at once, the bubbles would become larger and the sound would be louder, but by making it triangular and setting the passable area narrow, the volume of bubbles crossing is reduced, so the sound is quieter.
[0033] Furthermore, since the height h of the gate 63 wall is below the top of the cut section 54, no air escapes from the gate 63.
[0034] With the above configuration, only one air stone 43 is needed, which simplifies the piping of the tube 42. Because the air stone 43 is installed at an angle, the air stone 43, along with the tube 42, can be inserted from above and then exited through the notch 54. This makes removal and assembly easy during disassembly and cleaning.
[0035] As described above, the breeding tank 100 according to the present invention can maintain good water quality of seawater in the tank. Furthermore, since only one air stone 43 is needed, the structure is simplified and maintenance is easy. In this embodiment 1, as shown in Figure 1(b), a spring pipe 101 may be added to the aerobic tank 2. The spring pipe 101 is a cylindrical body with a curved upper end, its lower end opening into the aerobic tank 2, and its upper end opening towards the inside of the tank body 1. There is no limit to the number of spring pipes 101. This allows any desired flow to be formed inside the tank body 1.
[0036] (Embodiment 2) Figure 8 is a configuration diagram showing a purification device for a breeding tank according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Figure 9 is an assembly diagram of the purification device. This purification device 200 is placed at the bottom of a container such as a bucket. This purification device 200 has a configuration in which an air supply device 204 is provided on a flat cylindrical box-shaped body 201. The air supply device 204 consists of a pump 241, a tube 242 connected to the pump 241, and an air stone 243 provided at the end of the tube 242. These are the same as those in Embodiment 1.
[0037] The main body 201 is a box-shaped body consisting of a top plate 201a, side plates 201b, and a bottom plate 201c. Inside the main body 201, as shown in Figure 9, a zigzag passage 226 is formed by a plurality of partition plates 225. The shape of the passage 226 is not limited. A drain pipe 251 is provided at the end of the passage 226. An opening 263 is provided at the beginning of the passage 226. As shown in Figure 10(c), an annular gate plate 263a is provided below the opening 263, and a filter 264 with many holes is provided at the end of the gate plate 263a. The opening 263 may also be a gate plate provided so as to partition a part of the passage 226 in a plan view from a hole provided in the main body 201 (not shown). A sponge 265 is provided inside the opening 263.
[0038] The drain pipe 251 is cylindrical in shape, with its lower end 251a located inside and its upper end located above the top of the main body 201. The area around the lower end 251a of the drain pipe 251 is shown in Figures 10(a) and (b). Half of the lower end 251a of the drain pipe 251 is a notched portion 254, and a guide portion 255 is provided to position the air stone 243 so as to push it outward diagonally downward from this notched portion 254.
[0039] The guide section 255 is provided inside the lower end 251a of the air stone 243, which has a triangular plate-like body with an angled portion so that the lower end 251a is open. However, it is not limited to this. The air stone 243 is divided into a portion exposed from the cut section 254 (external portion 243a) and a portion located inside the drain pipe 251 (internal portion 243b). The tube 242 connected to the air stone 243 extends from the top of the drain pipe 251 and is connected to the pump 241.
[0040] A filter material 227, consisting of porous ceramic pieces to which microorganisms are attached, is sealed in the passage 226 to form an aerobic tank 202. The configuration of the aerobic tank 202 is the same as in Embodiment 1. If an anaerobic tank is to be formed, a porous ceramic piece to which microorganisms that form an anaerobic tank are attached is sealed upstream of the aerobic tank 202 (not shown). The filter material 227 may also be a melamine sponge, as described above.
[0041] The main unit 201 may be integrated with bucket B, or it may be installed separately at the bottom of bucket B.
[0042] Next, the method of using this purification device 200 will be explained. Figure 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the flow of water and air when the purification device is installed in a bucket. The purification device 200 is used by placing it in a commercially available bucket B. Install and fix it to the bottom of the commercially available bucket B. The tube 242 of the purification device 200 installed at the bottom of bucket B is brought out from the side of bucket B and the pump 241 is attached to the side of the bucket. Fill bucket B with seawater and supply air with the pump 241. The air is ejected as bubbles from the air stone 243.
[0043] The bubbles released from the internal component 243b of the air stone 243 rise inside the drain pipe 251. This rise draws up seawater, creating a flow of seawater inside the drain pipe 251, as shown in Figure 12(a). This flow draws seawater in through the opening 263. The drawn-in seawater exits into bucket B through the discharge port 251a at the top of the drain pipe 251.
[0044] In the aerobic tank 202, seawater decomposes organic matter, removes phosphorus, and nitrifies ammonia. Bubbles released from the outer part 243a of the air stone 243 aerate the seawater and accumulate near the ceiling of the aerobic tank 202, as shown in Figure 12(b), and spread throughout the entire aerobic tank 202 through the passage 226. This supplies air to the aerobic tank 202, forming an air layer K near the ceiling.
[0045] As shown in Figure 13, the aerobic tank 202 has a wall at the ceiling (the part of the drain pipe 251 that is on the ceiling side from the top of the notch 254) provided by a drain pipe 251. On the other hand, a gate plate 263a is provided below the opening 263 which has holes for water intake, and this gate plate 263a is inverted and higher than the wall of the drain pipe 251. As a result, the air in the air layer K at the ceiling moves to the discharge pipe 251 via the notch 254 and goes outside. At this time, because it is triangular, the air does not go over the notch 254 all at once, but gradually. As a result, large bubbles are not generated and the sound is reduced.
[0046] The air in the inner section 243b rises inside the drain pipe 251. This rise draws up seawater, creating a flow of seawater inside the drain pipe 251, and the purified seawater is discharged into bucket B.
[0047] The lid of bucket B is provided with an air vent. A filter is provided to prevent seawater from splashing out of the air vent inside bucket B. Figure 14 is a diagram showing an example of the lid of bucket B. The air vent of this lid 290 has a hole 291 in the center, and a sponge-like filter 292 is provided over this hole 291. This filter prevents seawater from being ejected when the purification device 200 is placed inside bucket B.
[0048] This purification device 200 can purify the seawater inside even a commercially available bucket B, making it possible to keep saltwater fish. Alternatively, a filter-like material such as a sponge may be installed in the hole 251b of the drain pipe 251 to defoam (not shown).
[0049] (Embodiment 3) Figure 15 is a configuration diagram showing a deep-sea fish capture device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Figure 16 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure near the lid. This capture device 300 consists of a cylindrical metal pressure-resistant body 301 and a suspension string 302 connected to the body 301. The body 301 is a pressure-resistant container formed from a metal plate of a predetermined thickness and has a lid 303 that opens inward at its top. The end of the operating string 303a is connected to a fitting 308 on the lid 303. Inside the body 301, a purification device 200 according to Embodiment 2 is provided at the bottom. However, the purification device 200 is connected to an oxygen supply pipe 311, which will be described later, and its end is located inside the body of the purification device 200. The other end is connected to a check valve 310 provided on the body 301, which will be described later. Furthermore, a circulation device powered by a motor 320 is provided at the end of the internal passage, and an opening 263 is provided at the starting end.
[0050] As shown in Figure 16(a), the lid 303 is connected to the main body 301 by a hinge 304, and a seal 306 is provided around the lid 303. When the internal pressure is high, the lid 303 closes due to the internal pressure. The lid 303 is provided with a pressure regulating valve 307 for reducing pressure. The main body 301 is provided with a viewing window 309. The main body 301 is also provided with a check valve 310 for oxygen supply. A flexible pure oxygen supply pipe 311 is connected to the check valve 310, and its end is connected to the main body of the purification device 200. By providing the check valve 310, pure oxygen can be supplied without leaking air and seawater to the outside even when the internal pressure is high. In addition, by supplying pure oxygen, oxygen can be supplied to the inside for a long period of time with a small volume. The supplied pure oxygen accumulates near the ceiling of the main body of the purification device 200, forming an oxygen layer or air layer.
[0051] The lid 303 can also have the structure shown in Figure 16(b). In this lid 303, an annular wall portion 306b is formed inside, and a pressure regulating valve 307 is constructed by sealing through contact between the top of the wall portion 306b and the umbrella-shaped valve 303b. A screwed shaft is provided in the center of the umbrella portion 303b, and its tip protrudes to the outside of the lid 303, with a ring-shaped fitting 308 provided at the tip. The lid 303 has an opening and closing structure by a hinge 304. In addition, a small lid 303a is provided inside the lid 303 and is connected to the lid 303 by a hinge 304a so that it can be opened and closed inward. A seal 306 is placed between the lid 303 and the main body 301. A seal is also placed on the small lid 30a to ensure airtightness between it and the lid 303.
[0052] Figure 17 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the capture device. In this capture device 300, the main body 301 is suspended by a suspension cord 302 with the lid 303 open. As shown in Figure (a), it is submerged in the sea and landed on the seabed, and as shown in Figure (b), the lid 303 is left open. After leaving it like this for a certain period of time, as shown in Figure (c), when a deep-sea fish enters the inside, the operating cord 303a is pulled to close the lid 303 and the device is pulled up. If the water pressure inside and outside is the same, the lid 303 will remain closed. When the main body 301 is pulled up in this state, the internal pressure increases, and the lid 303 is pressed against the periphery of the main body 301 from the inside, creating a seal.
[0053] By lifting the fish in this state, deep-sea fish can be captured while maintaining the pressure of the deep sea. Pure oxygen is supplied to the inside from the check valve 310 and the pure oxygen supply pipe 311. Pure oxygen is supplied from the pure oxygen supply pipe 311 to the purification device 200, forming a pure oxygen layer K inside as shown in Figure 13. If the oxygen inside becomes insufficient, oxygen is supplied as needed from the check valve 310. The purification device 200 has an aerobic tank formed inside, which purifies the seawater inside. The effects of the purification device 200 are as shown in Embodiment 2. Next, when using it as a capture device, air is supplied temporarily, then stopped and the check valve 310 is closed.
[0054] In the case of the lid 303 shown in Figure 16(b), the lid 303 is lowered to the seabed with the small lid 303a open and the valve 303b closed, and then the lid 303 is closed and raised. At this time, the decompression chamber 303c formed by the valve 303b and the lid 303 is at normal water pressure. The lid 303 is sealed by the internal pressure. When feeding the captured fish, the bait is placed through the small lid 303a and the small lid 303 is closed. Then, the shaft of the valve 303b is rotated to open the sealing surface 306a between the valve 303b and the wall portion 306b, and the bait is dropped into the main body. At this time, the decompression chamber 303c becomes high pressure, and the small lid 303a is sealed. Then, the valve 303b is closed to create the sealing surface 306a. At this time, because the decompression chamber 303c is at high pressure, seawater leaks to the outside from the threaded part. The amount of seawater that leaks is small. The threaded part acts as a decompression structure. As a result, the pressure in the decompression chamber 303c gradually decreases to normal pressure. The small lid 303a becomes depressurized and can be opened again. This prevents a rapid drop in pressure inside the main body when feeding.
[0055] The internal circulation of seawater is facilitated by a motor 320 installed in the drain pipe that supplies air, which generates a flow with a screw and sends seawater into the purification device. This flow causes seawater to flow out through the opening 263. As a result, seawater circulates internally without the need for oxygen supply, and purification takes place in the aerobic tank.
[0056] Furthermore, when feeding, the internal pressure is gradually reduced by the pressure regulating valve 307. When atmospheric pressure is reached, the lid 303 is opened and the food is given. The lid 303 is then closed again and a pressurizing pump is connected to the pressure regulating valve 307 to increase the internal pressure.
[0057] Thus, the capture device 300 of the present invention has a pressure-resistant body, an inner lid that opens and closes on the body, an oxygen generating means provided inside the body, a viewing window provided on the body, and a pressure regulating valve provided on the lid or the body, and therefore can capture deep-sea fish with a simple structure and use them for viewing.
[0058] (Embodiment 4) Figure 18 is a perspective view showing a breeding tank according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. This breeding tank 400 consists of a tank body 401 for holding seawater and a purification device 402 installed next to the tank body 401. Figure 19 shows the configuration of the purification device. This purification device 402 has multiple layers of partition plates 404 arranged vertically inside a box-shaped body 430. Each partition plate 404 forms a zigzag path 405. In addition, a wall portion 406 is provided at the end of the partition plate 405 to form an air layer K (a state in which pure oxygen or air is accumulated in layers below the partition plate 404). The thickness of the air layer K is determined by the height of the wall portion 406.
[0059] A drain pipe 410 is provided at the top of the main body 403. The drain pipe 410 discharges seawater into the silencer 450 of the tank body 410. The silencer 450 is a transparent box-shaped body. Figure 20 shows the assembly diagram (a) and configuration diagram (b) of the silencer. The top and bottom are open, and multiple discharge ports 451 are provided on the sides in the vertical direction. A guide plate 452 with a U-shaped cross-section is positioned inside the silencer 450 relative to these discharge ports 451, so that seawater rises from below and is discharged from the discharge ports 451. In addition, a sponge 453 for defoaming is provided inside the silencer 450. The drain pipe 410 passes through the sponge 453. The sponge 453 is provided, for example, at an intermediate position in the vertical direction.
[0060] Seawater entering the silencer 450 is supplied into the tank body 401 from the drain port 451, creating a flow inside. The air pump 460 supplies air to the lower part of the main body 430. The air supply pipe 461 is inserted from the top to the bottom of the main body 430, as shown in Figure 19. Furthermore, a pump 470 for supplying seawater is placed in the tank body 401. The water supply pipe 471 connected to the pump 470 is inserted from the top to the bottom of the main body 430, as shown in Figure 19. Inside the main body 430, a filter material 427 made of porous ceramic pieces to which microorganisms are attached is sealed, forming an aerobic tank. The configuration of the aerobic tank is the same as in Embodiment 1.
[0061] Seawater is drawn from the tank body 401 by the pump 470 and sent to the bottom of the purification device 402. Air is supplied from the bottom of the main body 403 by the air pump 460, and this air accumulates on the back of the partition plate 404. The overflowing air moves to the partition plate 404 of the upper level, and forms an air layer K on that partition plate 404 as well. In this way, an air layer K is formed on the back of each partition plate 404 in sequence.
[0062] Seawater is supplied from the bottom of the main body 430 and purified by the filter media 427. Microorganisms obtain oxygen from the air layer K. The air is sent to the silencer 450 through the drain pipe 410. When the water pressure inside the purification device 402 becomes high, seawater is drained from the drain pipe 410 into the aquarium body 401. Since the drainage takes place inside the silencer 450, the sound of bubbles is reduced and aeration of the aquarium is also performed.
[0063] This breeding tank 400 is highly versatile because it can be installed on a standard tank body 401. Furthermore, it can simultaneously supply air to the aerobic tank and provide aeration to the tank itself.
[0064] Figure 21 is an explanatory diagram showing a modified example of the breeding tank according to Embodiment 4. The purification device 402, silencer 450, and pump 470 may be configured to be used as a single system within a general-purpose tank S. In this case, the air pump 460 is installed on top of the main body 430, and the silencer 450 is integrated with the main body 430. This configuration allows the tank S to be used for transporting fish. It can also be applied to tanks S for transporting by truck or air.
[0065] (Embodiment 5) Figure 22 is a perspective view showing a purification device according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. Figure 23 is an assembly drawing of the purification device 600 shown in Figure 22. This purification device 600 has a box-shaped body 601 with an intake section 602 and a drainage section 603. Inside the body 601, a number of partition plates 604 are arranged at regular intervals to form a zigzag path 605. Holes 606 and 607 are provided at the start and end points of the path 605, with the intake section 602 located in the starting hole 606 and the drainage section 603 located in the ending hole 607. The body 601 may be opaque or transparent. A filter material 608 made of porous ceramic pieces to which microorganisms are attached is sealed in the path 605 to form an aerobic tank 609.
[0066] Figure 24 is an assembly and explanatory diagram showing the water intake and drainage sections. As shown in Figure 24(a), the water intake section 602 has a notch 632 at the top of the cylindrical body 631. An annular slider 633 is provided around the cylindrical body 631. A filter 634 is placed inside the cylindrical body 631, and a submersible motor 635 with water supply fins on its rotating shaft is provided at the lower end. As shown in Figure 24(b), in the assembled state, the submersible motor 635 is inserted into the lower part of the cylindrical body 631, and the filter 634 is placed on top of it. The slider 633 can move axially outside the cylindrical body 631, and the open / closed state of the notch 632 can be adjusted.
[0067] As shown in Figure (b), when the slider 633 is moved upward, the lower part of the notch 632 is exposed, and as a result, water is drawn into the intake section 602 from this part. This state is suitable for drawing in seawater from below the supernatant in the tank. For example, if bait is floating on the water surface, it is best to leave the slider 633 in this position to prevent it from being sucked in. On the other hand, when the slider 633 is moved downward, the upper part of the notch 632 is exposed, and water is drawn into the intake section 602 from this part. This state is suitable for drawing in seawater from the supernatant in the tank. In this case, it is suitable for taking in organic matter such as the oil film on the supernatant.
[0068] As shown in Figure (c), the drain section 603 has a drain pipe 641. A triangular notch 642 is provided at its lower end (see enlarged view in Figure (e)). Furthermore, as shown in Figure (f), a guide section 645 is provided at the lower end to position the air stone 643 so as to push it outward and diagonally downward. The guide section 645 is a triangular plate-like body with a slanted portion provided inside the lower end so that the lower end is open, but is not limited to this. The lower end is inserted into the hole 607 of the main body 601.
[0069] As shown in Figure (f), the air stone 643 is divided into an external portion 643a that is exposed from the cut portion 643 and an internal portion 643b that is located inside the drain pipe 641. The tube 646 connected to the air stone 643 extends from the top of the drain pipe 641 and is connected to a pump (not shown). The top of the drain pipe 641 is cut at an angle to allow seawater to drain easily.
[0070] The drain pipe 641 has a salt drip prevention box 647 on its outside. The lower part of the salt drip prevention box 647 is provided with multiple discharge ports 647d. The discharge ports 647d are for discharging seawater into the tank to create a flow inside. A hole is provided at the top, and a tube 646 that connects to the air stone 643 is inserted through this hole.
[0071] The tip of the drain pipe 641 is inserted into the hole 607 of the main body 601, and the air stone 643 is located inside the aerobic tank 609. The dimensions of the hole 607 are the same as those of the drain pipe 641. The water intake section 602 has a cylindrical gate plate 636 (represented as part of the submersible motor, but not limited to this) at its lower end, and this gate plate 636 is inserted into the hole 606 and protrudes into the aerobic tank 609. As a result, the gate plate 636 and the tip of the drain pipe 641 protrude into the aerobic tank 609, so the air inside the aerobic tank 609 will remain near the ceiling inside the aerobic tank 609 unless it passes over the gate plate 636 and the drain pipe 641.
[0072] The main body 601 has a segmented structure. Figure 25 shows a conceptual diagram of the main body assembly. The main body 601 is divided by a partition plate 604, and in the example shown in Figure (a), it is divided into six sections. The boxes 601a and 601b at the left and right ends form the start and end points of the path 605, and are provided with holes 606 and 607 at the top for inserting the water intake section 602 and the drain pipe 641. The additional boxes 601c between these are provided with an inlet and an outlet that form the path 605, and additional boxes 601c with inlets and outlets at symmetrical positions are connected. By increasing the number of these additional boxes 601c, an aerobic tank 609 of any size can be formed.
[0073] As shown in Figure (b), the additional boxes 601c may be grouped together to form a single round-trip path 605. In this case, the additional boxes 601c can be manufactured with the same structure. Since the overall size can be adjusted by connecting them, there is no limit to the number of divisions.
[0074] Figure 26 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the purification device 600. The purification device 600 is submerged in any water tank S, and the submersible motor 635 of the water intake section 602 is driven. As a result, seawater from the water tank S is introduced into the passage 605 of the main body 601. A filter medium 608 is placed in the passage 605, and the seawater is purified by microorganisms attached to this filter medium 608. Air is supplied to the filter medium 608 from the air stone 643. The air sent to the air stone 643 of the drainage section 603 is supplied into the passage 605 from the outside, and accumulates near the ceiling of the main body 601, forming an air layer.
[0075] The air layer is defined by the top of the notch 642 of the drain pipe 641, which forms the boundary with the sea surface. The gate plate 636 of the water intake section 602 is located lower than the top of the notch 642. Therefore, any excess air supplied is discharged from the notch 642. At this time, because of the triangular shape, the air does not jump over the notch 254 all at once, but rather jumps over gradually. As a result, large bubbles are not generated and the sound is reduced.
[0076] The purified seawater that passes through path 605 is returned to the tank S from the drain pipe 641. Bubbles released from the internal component 243b of the air stone 643 rise inside the drain pipe 641. This rise draws up the seawater, creating a flow of seawater inside the drain pipe 641. This flow draws seawater in from path 605. The drawn-in seawater exits the drain pipe 641 through the outlet 251a at the top and into the salt drip prevention box 647. It is then discharged into the tank S from the outlet 647d at the bottom of the salt drip prevention box 647. This creates a flow within the tank S.
[0077] This purification device 600 can be easily installed and used in a general-purpose aquarium S. Furthermore, the overall dimensions can be changed by varying the number of additional boxes 601c, making it applicable to a variety of aquariums. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0078] 100 aquariums 1. Aquarium body 2 Aerobic tank 3 Anaerobic tank 4. Air supply device 5 Suction and drainage section 6 Water absorption part 21 drain holes 27 Filter media 28 aisles 31 drain holes 43 Airstone 51 Drain pipe 52 Salt drip prevention box 54 Cut section 55 Guide section
Claims
1. An air supply means equipped with an air stone at the tip of a tube, A septic tank that can be installed at the bottom of a water tank and contains filter media to which microorganisms are attached, and is provided with holes for water intake and drainage, A drain pipe is provided which is tubular in shape, inserted through the drain hole of the septic tank, with its lower end located inside the septic tank, and which has a notch at the lower end that is narrowed at the top, and which has a guide that positions the air stone so that a part of it protrudes from the notch to the outside, A water purification device for aquariums that has the following features.
2. The purification device for a breeding tank according to claim 1, wherein the septic tank has a gate provided below the cut portion and the water intake hole, and the air layer defined by the cut portion and the gate is formed.
3. A box-shaped body with an opening for water intake and a hole for drainage, An air supply means equipped with an air stone at the tip of a tube, A drain pipe is provided which is tubular in shape, inserted through the drain hole, with its lower end located inside the aerobic tank, and has a notch at the lower end that is narrowed at the top, and a guide that positions the air stone so that a portion of it protrudes to the outside from this notch, A water purification device for aquariums that has the following features.
4. The aforementioned opening has a gate plate provided below it. The main body forms an air layer defined by the cut portion and the gate plate, as described in claim 3.