Aquarium Overflow Device Using Venturi Suction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aquarium overflow devices require a suction pump to discharge air from the siphon pipe, leading to structural complexity and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
The aquarium overflow device uses a Venturi pipe with a connection tube to generate suction through water flow, eliminating the need for a suction pump and simplifying the structure by introducing air into the discharge pipe during power failures to prevent backflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a suction pump is installed to discharge air from the siphon pipe, then the air discharge function is reliable, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The suction pump is extracted and removed from the system. Instead of using a mechanical suction pump, the invention uses the water flow itself to create negative pressure through a throttling part, which automatically draws air out of the siphon pipe without requiring additional mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical suction pump system is replaced with a fluid dynamic system. The throttling part of the water flow generates negative pressure that substitutes for the mechanical suction action, eliminating the need for a motor-driven pump while achieving the same air discharge function.
2Reliability
If a suction pump is installed to discharge air from the siphon pipe, then the air discharge function is reliable, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The expensive suction pump component is extracted and removed from the system. The invention replaces it with a simple throttling structure that uses the existing water flow to create negative pressure, significantly reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining air discharge reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex, expensive suction pump is replaced with a simple, inexpensive throttling structure. This cheaper component achieves the same functional outcome (air discharge) without requiring expensive mechanical parts, motors, or complex assemblies.
3Device complexity
If the siphon pipe structure is simplified by removing the suction pump, then the device complexity reduces, but the ability to discharge air may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical suction pump is substituted with a fluid dynamic mechanism. The throttling part creates negative pressure through water flow acceleration, which reliably draws air out of the siphon pipe without mechanical moving parts, maintaining air discharge capability while simplifying the overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses hydraulic principles to achieve air discharge. The water flow through the throttling part creates negative pressure that pneumatically draws air out of the siphon pipe, replacing the need for mechanical suction while maintaining reliable air removal functionality.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design reduces the number of parts, simplifies the structure, and lowers costs while ensuring reliable water supply and preventing water backflow into the aquarium.
Implementation Method 1
a connecting portion of an upper middle portion of the discharge pipe is constituted by a Venturi pipe
Implementation Method 2
an inverted U-shaped siphon pipe to be disposed so as to straddle the aquarium inside and the aquarium outside, and an overflow pipe provided in the tank-outside water storing portion. In accordance with the water level difference (water pressure difference) between the aquarium and the tank-outside water storing portion, the water in the aquarium is supplied to the tank-outside water storing portion via the siphon pipe
Data Source
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AI summary
An aquarium overflow device capable of simplifying the structure and reducing the cost is provided. The present invention is directed to an aquarium overflow device for supplying the water W in an aquarium to an external device outside the aquarium and for supplying the water W in the external device into the aquarium. The device is equipped with an inverted U-shaped siphon pipe 55 for introducing the water W in the aquarium to an outside of the aquarium, the siphon pipe having an inlet side end portion to be disposed in the aquarium and an outlet side end portion to be disposed outside the aquarium, an inverted U-shaped discharge pipe 56 having an inlet side end portion to be disposed outside the aquarium and an outlet side end portion to be disposed in the aquarium, water conveyance means for discharging water from the external device to introduce the water into the discharge pipe 56, and a connection tube 8 connecting an upper portion of the siphon pipe 55 and an upper portion of the discharge pipe 56. When the water W is supplied to the discharge pipe 56 by driving the water conveyance means, a suction force generated by the flow of the water W causes suction of an inside of the siphon pipe via the connection tube 8.