Aquarium heater

Abstract

The present invention relates to an aquarium heater for maintaining a constant water temperature in an aquarium, and is characterized by comprising: a heating rod made of a hollow tube; a heater inserted inside the heating rod and generating heat by an electric supply; a holder connected in a sealed manner to the upper end of the heating rod and having a control unit provided inside; a thermal fuse disposed between one end of the heater and one end of the control unit; and a water detection sensor, one end of which is connected to the control unit and the other end of which protrudes outward from the holder in the same direction as the heating rod.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an aquarium heater for maintaining a constant water temperature in an aquarium. Background Technology

[0003] When raising fish for ornamental purposes or in fish tanks at sushi restaurants, the water temperature must be maintained within an appropriate temperature range. To achieve this, electric heaters are used to regulate the water temperature in the tank to a suitable level.

[0004] As prior art related to the present invention, there was the "submersion heater for aquariums" of Korean Registered Utility Model No. 20-0408843. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a submersion heater for aquariums according to the prior art.

[0005] As described above, a immersion heater for an aquarium according to the prior art comprises a heater rod body (2) bent into a U shape, a heater (3) inserted into the heater rod body (2), an electrode (4) exposed to the outside of the heater rod body (3) and a wire (5) connected to the electrode (4), and an insulating member (6) coupled to the bottom of the heater rod body and the outside of the electrode and wire connection part, wherein the insulating member (6) comprises a case (7) in which the bottom of the heater rod body and the electrode and wire connection part are inserted, with the top side open and the wire insertion hole (7a) formed on the bottom side, and the epoxy layer (8) filled in the bottom of the case to contact the electrode and wire connection part inserted into the case (7), and a heat-resistant silicone layer (9) filled in the top of the epoxy layer to contact the bottom of the heater rod body.

[0006] The water level in the aquarium gradually decreases due to various causes, and if this condition persists, there was a problem where the heater installed in the aquarium would overheat and be damaged. In other words, existing immersion heaters for aquariums have the problem of continuing to generate heat even when there is no water inside the aquarium or the water level drops rapidly while electricity is supplied. Prior art literature

[0008] Republic of Korea Registered Utility Model No. 20-0408843 The problem to be solved

[0009] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide an aquarium heater that prevents damage to the heater and other safety accidents by stopping the heating of the heater when the water level of the aquarium drops below a certain range, thereby enabling safer use. means of solving the problem

[0011] The aquarium heater of the present invention for achieving the objectives as described above is characterized by comprising: a heating rod made of a hollow tube; a heater inserted inside the heating rod and generating heat by an electric supply; a holder connected in a sealed manner to the upper end of the heating rod and having a control unit provided inside; a thermal fuse disposed between one end of the heater and one end of the control unit; and a water detection sensor, one end of which is connected to the control unit and the other end of which protrudes outward from the holder in the same direction as the heating rod.

[0012] Preferably, the water detection sensor is characterized by functioning to cut off the power supply to the heater when the water level drops and there is no contact with water.

[0013] Preferably, a water level sensor capable of measuring the water level by irradiating light toward the water surface is provided on one side of the holder.

[0014] Preferably, the water level sensor comprises: a hollow rod coupled to one side of the holder, with its lower end open to allow water to flow in; a float inserted into the hollow rod and having buoyancy to move up and down according to changes in water level; a reflector attached to the upper surface of the floater; and a sensing unit coupled to the upper end of the hollow rod to irradiate light downward and detect light reflected by the reflector.

[0015] Preferably, a connector is provided along two adjacent faces of the holder to be fixedly installed at the corner of the aquarium. Effects of the invention

[0017] The aquarium heater according to the present invention has the effect of preventing fire and damage caused by overheating by automatically controlling the heater so that it does not generate heat when the water level of the aquarium drops below a certain level.

[0018] In addition, the present invention is equipped with a water detection sensor and a water level detection sensor, so that even if either one malfunctions or fails, the heating of the heater can be stopped, thereby increasing reliability. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an aquarium immersion heater according to the prior art. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an aquarium heater according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional example diagram showing the main configuration of an aquarium heater according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is an example diagram showing a connector being formed in a holder. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0021] Hereinafter, a more detailed description of the aquarium heater according to the present invention will be provided with reference to the attached drawings. However, the drawings and specific descriptions provided are intended to explain one feasible example according to the technical concept of the present invention, and the technical scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an aquarium heater according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional example showing the main configuration of an aquarium heater according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 shows an example showing a connector formed in a holder.

[0025] As described above, the aquarium heater according to the present invention includes a heating rod (100), a heater (200), a holder (300), a temperature fuse (400), and a water detection sensor (500) as major components.

[0026] The heating rod (100) is manufactured by bending a hollow tube into a predetermined shape, and a metallic hollow tube having a predetermined outer diameter is suitable, and in this embodiment, a long hollow tube is bent into a roughly U-shape.

[0027] A heater (200) is inserted into the heating rod (100), and the heater (200) generates heat through the supply of electricity and serves to raise the water temperature of the aquarium.

[0028] A holder (300) is coupled while wrapping around the top of the heating rod (100), and a control unit (310) is provided inside the holder (300).

[0029] And a temperature fuse (400) is placed between one end of the heater (200) and one end of the control unit (310), and the temperature fuse (400) is cut when it overheats above a certain temperature.

[0030] Meanwhile, the aquarium heater of the present invention is equipped with a water detection sensor (500), one end of the water detection sensor (500) is connected to a control unit (310) by penetrating the holder (300), and the other end is exposed to the outside of the holder (300) and installed to protrude in the same direction as the heating rod (100).

[0031] The water detection sensor (500) recognizes that the water level of the aquarium is at an appropriate level when it is submerged in water, and functions to cut off power supply to the heater (200) when the water level of the aquarium drops and water does not come into contact with the water detection sensor (500).

[0032] The water detection sensor (500) is a capacitive detection sensor that accurately detects the presence of water and provides an electrical signal.

[0033] The detection signal generated by the water detection sensor (500) is transmitted to the control unit (310), and if it is recognized that there is no water, the power is automatically controlled so that electricity is not supplied to the heater (200).

[0035] In particular, the aquarium heater according to the present invention may be provided with a water level sensor (600) to enhance safety and reliability. The water level sensor (600) may be provided on one side of the holder (300) and refers to a means capable of measuring the water level by shining light toward the water surface of the aquarium and using the reflected light. The sensing value measured by the water level sensor (600) is transmitted to the control unit (310), and if the measured water level deviates from a predetermined set value range, the power supply to the heater (200) is cut off.

[0036] More specifically, the water level detection sensor (600) may include a hollow rod (610), a plotter (620), a reflector (630), and a sensing unit (640).

[0037] The hollow rod (610) is shaped like a hollow tube with an empty interior and is coupled to one side of the holder (300), with the bottom open to allow water to flow into it. Preferably, the bottom of the hollow rod (610) is partially open, and a floater (620) is inserted into the hollow rod (610).

[0038] The floater (620) is a plate-shaped body having buoyancy and has dimensions smaller than the inner diameter of the hollow rod (610) so that it moves up and down inside the hollow rod (610) according to changes in water level, and a reflector (630) is attached to the upper surface of the floater (620).

[0039] A sensing unit (640) is coupled to the top of a hollow rod (610), and the sensing unit (640) is equipped with a light-emitting unit (641) that emits light vertically downward, and a light-receiving unit (642) that detects the light emitted downward from the light-emitting unit (641) being reflected back by a reflector (630).

[0040] Meanwhile, since the aquarium heater of the present invention must be installed inside the aquarium, it must be possible to install it safely and stably. To this end, a connector (320) is provided along two adjacent sides of the holder (300) so that the connector (320) can be hooked onto the corner of the aquarium to be installed safely. That is, most aquariums are rectangular in shape, and the four corners have two sides that form right angles. Therefore, the connector (320) provided in the holder (300) is designed so that the connector (320) is joined along two adjacent sides of the holder (300) so that it can be installed stably on the corner of the aquarium.

[0041] Preferably, the connector (320) is shaped like a U as shown in the illustration so that it can be hung and fixed to the top of the aquarium.

[0043] The heater for the aquarium of the present invention is provided with a temperature fuse (400), a water detection sensor (500), and a water level detection sensor (600) to prevent overheating of the heater (200), so that the heating of the heater (200) can be stopped by the operation of any one of them.

[0044] Preferably, when the water level is detected to have dropped by the water detection sensor (500) first, the power supply to the heater (200) is cut off.

[0045] Secondly, when the water level measured by the water level sensor (600) drops below the set range, the power supply to the heater (200) can be cut off. Preferably, when the water level drops by, for example, about 10-15 mm based on the water level value measured when initially set, the power supply is cut off so that the heater (200) can no longer generate heat.

[0046] If the water detection sensor (500) malfunctions or fails, the water level detection sensor (600) detects that the water level of the aquarium has dropped abnormally low, thereby blocking the heating of the heater (200).

[0047] Meanwhile, if the water level sensor (600) also malfunctions or fails, the temperature fuse (400) is blown, thereby cutting off the heat generated by the heater (200).

[0048] Preferably, to increase reliability, the control of the aquarium heater of the present invention is such that when the aquarium heater is first installed inside the aquarium, a part of the water contact sensor (500) is submerged in water, and the initial water level measured by the water level detection sensor (600) is the same as the water level at which the water detection sensor (500) is submerged.

[0049] The water detection sensor (500) measures the degree to which it is submerged in water, and to eliminate this inconvenience, a length indicator (510) is preferably formed from the bottom of the water detection sensor (500) to check the length. Therefore, when the user first installs it, the water detection sensor (500) is submerged in water, and the degree to which it is submerged is checked visually.

[0050] Preferably, the range in which the water level is recognized as abnormally low by the water level detection sensor (600) can be set to the extent that the water contact sensor (500) is submerged.

[0051] If the water contact sensor (500) and the water level detection sensor (600) are operating normally, when the water contact sensor (500) detects that the water level has dropped, the water level detection sensor (600) will also recognize that the water level has dropped. Therefore, when either of the two recognizes that the water level has dropped, the heating of the heater can be stopped and reliability can be ensured. Industrial applicability

[0053] This invention is a useful technology that can be used as a heater for aquariums requiring proper water temperature management.

[0054] No content Explanation of the symbols

[0055] 100 : Heating rod 200 : Heater 300 : Holder 310 : Control unit 320 : Connector 400 : Thermal fuse 500: Water detection sensor 510: Length display 600: Water level sensor 610 : Hollow rod 620 : Floater 630 : Reflector 640 : Sensing unit 641 : Light-emitting part 642 : Light-receiving part

Claims

Claim 1 An aquarium heater characterized by comprising: a heating rod made of a hollow tube; a heater inserted inside the heating rod and generating heat by an electric supply; a holder connected in a sealed manner to the upper end of the heating rod and having a control unit provided inside; a thermal fuse disposed between one end of the heater and one end of the control unit; and a water detection sensor, one end of which is connected to the control unit and the other end of which protrudes outward from the holder in the same direction as the heating rod. Claim 2 An aquarium heater according to claim 1, characterized in that the water detection sensor functions to cut off the power supply to the heater when the water level drops and there is no contact with water. Claim 3 An aquarium heater according to claim 2, characterized in that a water level sensor capable of measuring the water level by irradiating light toward the water surface is provided on one side of the holder. Claim 4 In claim 3, the water level sensor comprises: a hollow rod coupled to one side of the holder, with its lower end open to allow water to flow in; a floater inserted into the hollow rod and having buoyancy that moves up and down according to changes in water level; a reflector attached to the upper surface of the floater; and a sensing unit coupled to the upper end of the hollow rod to irradiate light downward and detect light reflected by the reflector. Claim 5 An aquarium heater characterized in that, in any one of claims 1 to 4, a connector is provided for fixed installation at the corner of the aquarium along two adjacent faces of the holder.

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