`
`:19]
`
`[111
`
`3,891,535
`
`1451*June 24, 1975
`Wikey
`
`154] AQUARIUM WATER TREATMENT
`APPARATUS
`
`{76]
`
`Inventor:
`
`[ * ] Notice:
`
`Arnold Wikey, 5040 W. Newport.
`Chicago, 111. 60641
`
`The portion of the term of this
`patent subsequent to Oct. 30, 1990,
`has been disclaimed.
`
`[22]
`
`Filed:
`
`July 9, 1973
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 377.597
`
`Related US. Application Data
`[63] Continuation of Ser. No. 123,342, March 11, 1971,
`Pat. No 3.720.014.
`
`[52] U.S. CI. ........... 204/275; 204/DIG. 6; 204/149;
`210/169
`Int. Cl. ....... C02b 1/82; BOlk 3/00; C02b 3/00
`Field of Search ............... 204/149, 275, DIG. 6;
`210/169
`
`[51]
`[58]
`
`[56]
`
`751.986
`
`References Cited
`UNITED STATES PATENTS
`2/1904
`Kartzmark .......................... 204/149
`
`3,479,281
`3,769,196
`3.778.307
`
`”/1969
`Kikindai et a1. ................ 204/149 X
`
`10/1973 Wikey ................... 204/275
`Beer et al. .......................... 117/221
`12/1973
`
`FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS
`
`189,214
`
`”/1905 Germany ....................... 204/DIG. 6
`
`Primary Examiner—John H. Mack
`Assistant Examiner—A. C. Prescott
`Anorney, Agent, or Firm—Alter and Weiss
`
`[ 5 7]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Water treatment apparatus for use in aquariums and
`the like comprising the serial arrangement of spaced
`apart paralled disposed plates positioned in the water
`being treated. Consecutive plates are oppositely polar-
`ized at a relatively low voltage. The polarization of the
`plates is periodically or randomly reversed. The appa-
`ratus acts to kill bacteria, aerate and increase the cir-
`culation of the water thereby improving the general
`environment of the aquarium.
`
`4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures
`
`
`
`Tennant Company
`Exhibit 1112
`
`Tennant Company
`Exhibit 1112
`
`
`
`PATENTEDJUH 24 ms
`
`. 8 S 1, 5 3 5
`
`32
`
`FIG.I
`
`
`
`F163)
`
`
`
`
`
`1
`AQUARIUM WATER TREATMENT APPARATUS
`
`3,891,535
`
`2
`
`in fish tanks, aquariums and the like. A reversing power
`supply generally designated as 12 feeds power to the
`electrodes units 13 diagrammatically shown under
`water 14. The electrode unit comprises a plurality of
`5 juxtaposed plates or electrodes, such as electrodes 16
`and 17. In a preferred embodiment of the invention,
`the electrodes are plates made of platinum coated tita-
`nium.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`The consecutive plates are oppositely polarized. For
`example, when plate 16 is positively polarized, then
`plate 17 is negatively polarized. The conductor 18 is
`connected to plate 16 and 19 and then passes around
`or through plate 17. There is no electrical connection
`between plate 17 and conductor 18. The plate 21 is
`also connected to the alternate plates, Similarly, con-
`ductor 23 is coupled to the alternate plate commencing
`with plate 17 at 24.
`The plates are all shown mounted on an insulated rod
`26 and separated from each other with insulated wash-
`ers, such as washer 27. In a preferred embodiment of
`the invention, the washers are made from teflon.
`The power supply 12 is shown schematically as com-
`prising a DC. source, such as battery 28, which is con—
`nected to conductors 29 and 31.
`
`Means are provided for periodically changing the po—
`larity of the electrodes. As schematically shown in FIG,
`1, a small synchronous motor is coupled to a source of
`AC. power. The motor 32 drives cam 33 through a
`drive shaft 34. As the cam rotates, it operates a pair of
`switches 36 and 37 simultaneously to interconnect con-
`ductors 29 and 31 to conductors 18 and 23, respec-
`tively.
`that any well
`It should be understood, of course,
`known means for periodically or randomly changing
`the polarity of the alternate plates, such as plates [6
`and 17, for example, can be used within the scope of
`this invention.
`
`This invention is a continuation in part of my prior
`application filed on Mar.
`1 1, 1971, having Ser. No.
`123,342, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,720,014 and entitled
`WATER
`TREATMENT
`APPARATUS
`AND
`METHOD. This invention relates to water treatment
`apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for im-
`proving the environment of the aquariums and the like.
`Just as the death of natural bodies of water is caused
`by cultural and natural eutrophication, fish tanks and
`aquariums are also subject to the hazards of natural
`pollution. Among the most prominent characteristics
`of such nonusable polluted fish tank water are the high
`bacteria count and lack of oxygen. Of course, there are
`other characteristics, such as a putrid smell and/or al~
`gae, for example.
`In the past, aeration of fish tanks and aquariums has
`been accomplished through the use of pumps and agita-
`tors. The pumps and agitators are relatively inefficient
`and noisy. Furthermore, they fail to reduce the bacteria
`in the tank.
`
`Accordingly, an object of this present invention is to
`provide economical and efficient equipment for aerat-
`ing fish tanks and the like.
`A related object of the present invention is to provide
`the apparatus for aerating water while sterilizing the
`water.
`
`A further object of this present invention is to pro-
`vide electrolysis equipment for use in sterilizing water,
`wherein the electrolysis equipment is resistant to resid-
`ual insulation.
`
`Yet another object of the present invention is to pro-
`vide electrolysis equipment, wherein such equipment
`utilizes a change of polarity to prevent residual insula-
`tion.
`
`35
`
`Yet another object of this invention is to provide an
`aerating and circulating pump with no moving parts for
`use on fish ponds or aquariums.
`Yet a further object of the invention is to provide low
`voltage,
`low current flow electrolysis equipment that
`can be used to both aerate and sterilize water to over-
`come pollution.
`A preferred embodiment of the present invention uti-
`lizes two or more plates spaced apart and insulated
`from each other. The plates are immersed in a fish tank
`or the like. A power source is provided for oppositely
`polarizing juxtaposed plates. A low voltage field is peri-
`odically reversed to prevent any buildup of impurities
`on the plates. Means may further be provided for carry-
`ing the released gases; i.e., the oxygen to the bottom of
`the bodies of waters to enhance the aerating effect
`along with the sterilization of the water.
`The foregoing and other objects and advantages of
`this invention and the manner of obtaining them will be
`more apparent, and the invention itself will be best un-
`derstood by reference to the following description of an
`embodiment of this invention taken in conjunction with
`the accompanying drawings, wherein:
`FIG. I is a schematic view of the inventive water aer-
`ating treatment apparatus;
`FIG. 2 shows the apparatus of FIG. 1 adapted for use
`in fish ponds or aquariums; and
`FIG. 3 shows a further refinement of the apparatus of
`FIG. 1.
`
`In FIG. I the number 11 generally shows the electrol-
`ysis apparatus utilized for aerating and treating water
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`the
`In a preferred embodiment of the invention,
`plates are maintained at a distance of [/64 inch apart
`by the insulators and a 6 volt D.C. source is utilized.
`The amperage between the plates, of course, depends
`on the size of the plates and the conductivity of the
`water in which the electrodes are placed. Nonetheless,
`the relative amperage of the preferred embodiment is
`in the order of 5% amp. With the low voltage across the
`alternate plates, the water tends to electrolyze and
`break into its constituent gases; i.e., two parts hydrogen
`and one part oxygen. With a platinum coated titanium
`plate,
`the bubbles of gas including oxygen are ex-
`tremely small, and the plates themselves tend to resist
`any buildup of residue of impurities thereon. In addi-
`tion, the reversing of the polarity also has tendencies to
`retain the plates in a clean condition so that they maxi-
`mize the action of electrolysis obtained between the
`plates.
`FIG. 2 shows utilization of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in
`a fish tank 39 where it is used for purifying and aerating
`the water. The size of the fish tank is of little conse-
`quence since more electrode units are added if re—
`quired by the volume of water and number of fish in the
`aquarium.
`The electrode unit 13 is shown connected to a power
`supply 12. The showing, of course, is schematic, and
`the plates of the unit are in actuality more closely
`packed together to be within the dimensions set forth
`in the description of the plates of FIG. 1.
`
`
`
`3,891,535
`
`4
`
`3
`FIG. 3 teaches the device utilizing the electrolysis ap-
`paratus 11 in a way, that among other things, over—
`comes thermal stratification which may occur on larger
`aquariums. More particularly, FIG. 3 shows means for
`increasing the circulation of the water and intersper<
`sion of oxygen therein affected by the electrolysis. A
`circulating device, such as vertical tube 41, is provided
`which surrounds the electrolysis unit 13. The electroly—
`sis unit is connected through conductors 18 and 23 to
`a source of power, such as power source 12. The bot-
`tom 42 of tube 41 is open to enable the flow of water
`therein. The top 43 of tube 41 is also open and extends
`above the normal level of water in the tank. A pumping
`action in tube 41 is caused by the electrolysis action of
`apparatus 13. in fact, the level of the water in tube 41
`increases until water is flowing in the direction shown
`by arrows 44 in the horizontal tube 46 and back down
`through second vertical tube 47. The water that flows
`through the three tubes is forced therethrough by the
`electrolysis action and because of the electrolysis ac-
`tion contains a plethora of oxygen bubbles. The hydro-
`gen that is released in tube 41 escapes into the atmo-
`sphere at opening 43. The water containing the oxygen
`bubbles passes back down through tube 47 which is
`open at the bottom portion 48 thereof to enable aer-
`ated water to flow therethrough and supply oxygen to
`the lower levels of the tank.
`For aquariums, the extra circulation increases the ox-
`ygen in all levels of the tank and contributes to the
`health of the fish life in the aquariums.
`A sufficient number of such tube arrangements desig—
`nated as 40 is placed in the aquarium to assure a proper
`supply of oxygen and incidentally to kill bacteria. The
`tubes 41, 44 and 47 can be made of plastic, glass or
`they can even be metallic.
`Thus, there is herein described an electrolysis unit
`uniquely suited for treating water by aeration and ster-
`ilization. The water treated, as described herein, can
`either be for aquariums, fish ponds or fish tanks. The
`apparatus described herein effectively counteracts in-
`creased biochemical oxygen demand.
`While the above principles and advantages of the in-
`vention have been described in connection with spe-
`cific arrangements and apparatus, it is to be clearly un-
`derstood that the description is only made by way of ex-
`ample and not as a limitation on the scope of the inven-
`tion.
`1 claim:
`1. Water treatment apparatus for aerating and steril-
`izing fish tanks,
`said apparatus comprising at least one pair of elec-
`trodes immersed in said fish tank,
`said electrodes being juxtaposed but non-contiguous
`to one another,
`a low voltage source for oppositely polarizing said
`electrodes to cause electrolysis of the water to re~
`lease gases for simultaneously sterilizing and aerat—
`ing the water,
`
`l0
`
`IS
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`tube
`
`means for periodically changing polarization to main—
`tain the gaseous discharge at said electrodes,
`tube means surrounding said electrolysis unit in said
`fish tank,
`'
`said tube means comprising a first vertical
`opened at the bottom thereof,
`said tube means further comprising a second vertical
`tube,
`said second vertical tube closed at the top and open
`at the bottom thereof,
`a horizontal tube joining said first and second vertical
`tubes, and
`said horizontal tube being located so as to be below
`the surface of the water when said fish tank is in op-
`eration, whereby circulation for aeration is accom-
`plished by the electrodes being energized to force
`water from said first vertical tube through said hor-
`izontal tube and said second vertical tube to aerate
`the lower levels of said fish tank.
`2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said horizontal
`tube joins said second vertical tube at the top thereof
`so that the second vertical tube is closed at the top
`thereof.
`3. A water treatment apparatus for aerating and ster-
`ilizing fish tanks,
`said apparatus comprising at least one pair of elec-
`trodes immersed in said fish tank, said electrodes
`being juxtaposed but non—contiguous to one an-
`other,
`a low voltage source for oppositely polarizing said
`electrodes to cause electrolysis of the water to re-
`lease gases to simultaneously sterilize and aerate
`the water,
`means for periodically changing the polarization to
`maintain the gaseous discharge at said electrodes,
`tube means surrounding said electrolysis unit in said
`fish tank,
`a horizontal tube joining said first and second vertical
`tubes,
`said electrodes disposed within said first vertical
`tube,
`said first and second vertical tubes extending below
`the water line and open at said tube bottoms,
`said first vertical tube also open at the top and said
`second vertical tube closed at the top,
`said horizontal tube providing a conduit for circula-
`tion of aerated water from said first vertical tube
`through said horizontal tube and down said second
`vertical tube into the water adjacent to the bottom
`of the tank.
`
`4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said electrodes
`are spaced 1/64 inch apart,
`said space maintained by insulators disposed between
`said electrodes, and
`said electrodes being platinum plated titanium in
`plate shape.
`4‘
`t
`1i
`*
`i
`
`