Ultraviolet Sterilizer

This invention relates to an ultraviolet sterilizer for use with aquarium filters.

In many aquariums, fluorescent tubes used as a source of ultraviolet light sterilize the water as it recirculates in the aquarium filter system. These fluorescent tubes are placed adjacent the stream of flow of the water and employ powers of 8 to 15 watts irradiating the solid mass of the stream of water. Further, the sterilizing action takes place without there also occurring an elimination of noxious odors produced in the aquarium.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved ultraviolet sterilizer for recirculating water flow systems in aquariums.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved ultraviolet sterilizer requiring less power to accomplish the same sterilizing action as previously encountered.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide such an ultraviolet sterilizer in which an ozone layer is created to further cleanse the recirculating air-water mixture.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a sterilizer which is easily adaptable for use with conventional and pre-existing aquarium equipment, being of minimal cost, good durability and good quality.

Another object of this invention is to provide such an ultraviolet sterilizer which is portable.

Other objects, advantages and features of this invention will become more apparent from the following description.

In accordance with the principles of this invention, the above objects are accomplished by providing for an aquarium having a recirculating water flow filter system including a diffuser, the diffuser comprising means for thinning out the stream of water into a thin sheet, emptying the thin sheet into a container, the ultraviolet sterilizer being adapted in a housing to be mounted on top of the diffuser so as to place the source of ultraviolet light in the sterilizer a small distance from the thin sheet. In this manner, the stream of water is hollowed out by the diffuser to become a thinner sheet, the thinner sheet permitting a lower intensity to be utilized for the ultraviolet power, while accomplishing the same if not improved results as compared with the prior art devices. Further, provision of a small air gap between the sheet and the source of ultraviolet light permits an ozone area to be generated which further cleanses the recirculating air-water mixture to remove noxious odors.

It has been found that the prior art employs fluorescent tubes of 8 to 15 watts, while the present invention can accomplish the same results with only 4 watts of power and also further provide the generation of an ozone region.

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a portion of a water-recirculating filter system for use in an aquarium with the ultraviolet sterilizer attached thereto; and

FIG. 2 is an exploded sectional view similar to FIG. 1, illustrating the ultra-violet sterilizer in greater detail.

Referring to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown an air lift tube 10 having an inner concentric air-carrying tube 12 terminating in an air stone 14, the air stone allowing pressurized air carried in tube 12 to enter the outer water-carrying tube 10. The air stone 14 produces numerous small bubbles and as the total surface area of the bubbles rises, the water recirculates through the air lift tube 10 and is carried to a diffuser 16. The recirculating filter system illustrated in Patent Re 28,116 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,850,806 can be used with the present invention in which the air lift tube 10 forms a part of the aquarium filter system. The diffuser 16 terminates in a spout 18, and the air-water mixture rises to the diffuser 16 by means of a conduit 20 connected to an elbow portion 22 of the air-lift tube assembly. The conduit 20 at its bottom edge terminates in a baffle 24 by which the air-water mixture is forced to rise through the conduit 20 entering into a container 26 formed as part of the diffuser 16.

Referring to FIG. 2, as the air-water mixture 28 rises, a thin sheet thereof is formed at the exit point of conduit 20, and the air-water sheet can pass through a carbon filter chamber 30 provided in container 26.

The diffuser 16 thins or hollows out the air-water mixture so that the sheet 28 flowing out of conduit 20 is much thinner than the general water stream irradiated by prior art ultra-violet sterilizers. In accordance with the principles of this invention, an ultra-violet sterilizer 32 is attached to the diffuser 16, the ultra-violet sterilizer including a housing 34 in which there is seated an ultra-violet source of light 36, such as a fluorescent bulb or the like. The housing 34 is adapted to conform to the configuration of container 26 so that a friction fit is obtained when the distal end 38 of the housing is fit on to the container 26 and is held there by friction. The ultra-violet source of light 36, when the housing 34 is placed on the container 26, is slightly removed from the sheet so as to enable the formation of an ozone region to take place. The ozone oxidizes noxious odors in the air-water sheet and contributes to the over-all sterilization and cleansing of the recirculating water.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above apparatus without departing from the scope of this invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.