Patent Publication Number: US-2019166809-A1

Title: Effluent switching device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to a Chinese patent application No. 201721664193.6, filed Dec. 4, 2017, disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to the technical field of aquariums, and more particularly relates to an effluent switching device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The progress of the times allows people to have more and more space for leisure activities. Keeping pets has become a way of entertainment as well as releasing stress. One way of keeping pets is keep a pet fish in an aquarium, and accordingly the aquarium has become a piece of indispensable furniture or decoration in a home or working environment. 
     As aquariums get increasingly big, however, water discharge and change with the aquarium have become a big problem. At present, a siphon or a water pump plus a siphon is generally used for draining water from the aquarium. When only the siphon is used, air in the siphon needs to be emptied. When the water pump with the siphon is used, the water pump with the siphon as well as necessary duct connections needs to be prepared additionally. This leads to complicated water discharge and change operations thereby causing tremendous inconvenience for people. 
     In view of the above problem, there is an urgent need for an effluent switching device which is capable of convenient and rapid water discharge and change with the aquarium thus reducing the difficulty with water discharge and change. 
     SUMMARY 
     An object of the present disclosure is therefore to provide an effluent switching device to achieve convenient and rapid water discharge and change with the aquarium thereby reducing water discharge and change difficulty. 
     To achieve this object, the present disclosure provides the technical solution described below. 
     An effluent switching device, including a water outlet base and a rotating mechanism. 
     The water outlet base is disposed at an outlet end of a suction pipe. 
     The rotating mechanism is inserted into the water outlet base. A water outlet is defined in the rotating mechanism; when the rotating mechanism is moved to a first configuration position relative to the water outlet base, the water outlet communicates with the suction pipe to define a first water outlet channel; and when the rotating mechanism is moved to a second configuration position relative to the water outlet base, the water outlet communicates with the suction pipe to define a second water outlet channel. 
     Furthermore, the rotating mechanism is a water outlet tube with one closed end, the water outlet tube is inserted into the water outlet base, and the water outlet is defined in a side wall of the water outlet tube or in the closed end of the water outlet tube. 
     Furthermore, a partition plate is disposed inside the water outlet tube along an axial direction of the water outlet tube, the partition plate divides the water outlet tube into a first cavity and a second cavity, and the water outlet includes a first water outlet and a third water outlet. The first water outlet is defined in an arcuate side wall of the first cavity or in the closed end of the water outlet tube, the third water outlet is defined in an arcuate side wall of the second cavity, and a bottom opening of the first cavity is a first water inlet and a bottom opening of the second cavity is a second water inlet. 
     A second water outlet is defined in the water outlet base. 
     When the water outlet tube is moved to the first configuration position relative to the water outlet base, the first water inlet is closed, and the second water outlet, the third water outlet, the second cavity, the second water inlet and the suction pipe communicate to define the first water outlet channel. When the water outlet tube is moved to the second configuration position relative to the water outlet base, the second water outlet is closed, and the first water outlet, the first cavity, the first water inlet and the suction pipe communicate to define the second water outlet channel. 
     Furthermore, the water outlet tube is provided with a rotary handle on the closed end and the rotary handle is configured for rotating the water outlet tube. 
     Furthermore, a flow guiding tube is disposed on an outer wall of the water outlet tube and an end of the flow guiding tube communicates with the first water outlet. 
     Furthermore, an annular groove is defined in an outer wall of the water outlet tube along a circumferential direction of the water outlet tube, a sealing ring is disposed in the annular groove and the sealing ring abuts against an inner wall of the water outlet base. 
     Furthermore, a first locking plate is projected downward out of a side wall of the water outlet tube, and the first locking plate is provided with a snap that is snap-fitted with a bottom end surface of the water outlet base at an end away from the water outlet tube. 
     Furthermore, a second locking plate is projected downward out of the side wall of the water outlet tube, the second locking plate is disposed adjacent to the first locking plate, and the first locking plate and the second locking plate work in conjunction with a limiting plate that is projected out of a bottom end of the water outlet base to restrict a circumferential rotation of the water outlet tube. 
     Furthermore, the water outlet base includes a communication tube, the second water outlet is defined in a side wall of the communication tube, and the limiting plate is projected inward in a radial direction of the side wall of the communication tube. When the water outlet tube is inserted into the communication tube and when the rotating mechanism is moved to the first configuration position relative to the communication tube, an end surface of the first water inlet abuts against the limiting plate to close the first water inlet, and when the water outlet tube is moved to the second configuration position relative to the communication tube, the second water outlet and the third water outlet are staggered to close the second water outlet. 
     Furthermore, the water outlet base further includes a flow guiding mechanism and the communication tube is disposed inside the flow guiding mechanism. 
     The present disclosure has the following beneficial effects: 
     The effluent switching device provided by the present disclosure is provided with a water outlet base and a rotating mechanism disposed within the water outlet base. The rotating mechanism is provided with a water outlet. The water outlet base and the rotating mechanism are then installed in conjunction on a suction pipe of a water pump in the aquarium. The position of the rotating mechanism, resulting in the rotating mechanism and the water outlet base in a first configuration position or a second configuration position. When the rotating mechanism is moved to the first configuration position relative to the water outlet base, the water outlet communicates with the suction pipe to defined a first water outlet channel so that water can be circulated within the aquarium. When the rotating mechanism is moved to the second configuration position relative to the water outlet base, the water in the aquarium can be discharged out of the aquarium for subsequent water change. The simple and rapid operations effectively solve the problem of complicated water discharge and change operations with the aquarium. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of an effluent switching device according to an embodiment 1 of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a first axonometric drawing of a water outlet tube according to the embodiment 1 of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a second axonometric drawing of the water outlet tube according to the embodiment 1 of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the effluent switching device in a first configuration position according to the embodiment 1 of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view of the effluent switching device in a second configuration position according to the embodiment 1 of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of an effluent switching device according to an embodiment 2 of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is a first axonometric drawing of a water outlet tube according to the embodiment 2 of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  is a second axonometric drawing of the water outlet tube according to the embodiment 2 of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 9  is a first axonometric drawing of a water outlet base according to the embodiment 2 of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 10  is a second axonometric drawing of the water outlet base according to the embodiment 2 of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional view of the effluent switching device in a first configuration position according to the embodiment 2 of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 12  is a sectional view of the effluent switching device in a second configuration position according to the embodiment 2 of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     In the drawings: 
       1 : Water outlet base;  11 : Communication hole;  111 : Limiting plate;  112 : Second water outlet;  113 : Baffle;  12 : Flow guiding mechanism;  121 : Fixing tube;  122 : Flow guiding plate; 
       2 : Water outlet tube;  21 : Flow guiding tube;  22 : First locking plate;  221 : Snap;  23 : Second locking plate;  24 : Sealing ring;  25 : Rotary handle;  26 : Third water outlet;  27 : Partition plate;  28 : First water inlet;  29 : Second water inlet. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     To better illustrate the problem sought to be solved, the solutions adopted, and the effects that can be achieved in accordance with the present disclosure, the present disclosure will now be described in further detail in connection with some illustrative embodiments and the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the embodiments set forth below are intended for the mere purpose of illustration and not to limit the present disclosure. For ease of description, only a part, rather than all, related to the present disclosure is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     Embodiment 1 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , this embodiment provides an effluent switching device including a water outlet base  1  and a rotating mechanism. The water outlet base  1  is installed at an outlet end of an existing suction pipe of a water pump in an aquarium. The rotating mechanism is a water outlet tube  2  with one closed end. The water outlet tube  2  is inserted into the water outlet base  1 , and a water outlet (not shown in the figure) communicated with a cavity within the water outlet tube  2  is disposed on a side wall of the water outlet tube  2  or the closed end of the water outlet tube  2 . When the rotating mechanism is moved to a first configuration position relative to the water outlet base  1 , the water outlet communicates with the suction pipe to form a first water outlet channel; and when the rotating mechanism is moved to a second configuration position relative to the water outlet base  1 , the water outlet communicates with the suction pipe to form a second water outlet channel. 
     The water outlet base  1  and the rotating mechanism are installed in conjunction on the suction pipe of the water pump in the aquarium and a position of the rotating mechanism is adjusted. When the rotating mechanism is moved to the first configuration position relative to the water outlet base  1 , the water outlet communicates with the suction pipe to form the first water outlet channel to achieve water circulation in the aquarium. When the rotating mechanism is moved to the second configuration position relative to the water outlet base  1 , the water outlet communicates with the suction pipe to form the second water outlet channel so that water in the aquarium may be discharge out of the aquarium for water exchange. The simple and rapid operation effectively solves a problem of complicated water discharge and exchange operations in the aquarium. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the water outlet base  1  includes a flow guiding mechanism  12  and a communication tube  11  disposed inside the flow guiding mechanism  12 . The flow guiding mechanism  12  includes a fixing tube  121  which is vertically disposed and a flow guiding plate  122  fixedly connected to the fixing tube  121 . The flow guiding plate  122  is horizontally disposed and vertically connected to the fixing tube  121 . The communication tube  11  has an oblique section at an end away from the suction pipe. A limiting plate  111  is projected downward out of a side wall of the communication tube  11 . The limiting plate  111  has an L shape in whole and specifically includes a first limiting plate and a second limiting plate. The first limiting plate is projected downward out of the side wall of the communication tube  11 . The second limiting plate is fixedly connected to the first limiting plate and vertically disposed with respect to the first limiting plate. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the water outlet tube  2  is provided with a rotary handle  25  on the closed end for rotating the water outlet tube  2 . The water outlet communicated with the cavity within the water outlet tube  2  and a flow guiding tube  21  communicated with the water outlet are disposed on the side wall of the water outlet tube  2  or the closed end of the water outlet tube  2 . An annular groove is disposed on the side wall of the water outlet tube  2  along a circumferential direction thereof, and a sealing ring  24  is disposed in the annular groove. When the water outlet tube is installed inside the communication tube  11 , the sealing ring  24  is in contact with an inner wall of the communication tube  11 . The sealing ring  24  is disposed to achieve the sealing between an outer wall of the water outlet tube  2  and the inner wall of the communication tube  11  and prevent the water in the suction pipe from flowing out from a gap between the water outlet tube  2  and the communication tube  11 . 
     A first locking plate  22  and a second locking plate  23  are projected downward out of the side wall of the water outlet tube  2 . The first locking plate  22  is provided with a snap  221  that may be snap-fitted with a bottom end surface of the communication tube  11  at an end away from the water outlet tube  2 . The snap  221  is used for restricting an axial movement of the water outlet tube  2  when the water outlet tube  2  is moved to the second configuration position relative to the communication tube  11 . The second locking plate  23  is disposed adjacent to the first locking plate  22 , and the first locking plate  22  and the second locking plate  23  work in conjunction with the limiting plate  111  to restrict a circumferential rotation of the water outlet tube  2  when the water outlet tube  2  is moved to the first configuration position relative to the communication tube  11 . 
     How to use the effluent switching device will be described in detail below. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the water outlet tube  2  is moved to the first configuration position relative to the communication tube  11 , an outlet end of the flow guiding tube  21  faces an interior of the aquarium, a lower end surface of the water outlet tube  2  is in close contact with an upper surface of the limiting plate  111 , and the limiting plate  111  limits the second locking plate  23  of the water outlet tube  2  to restrict the circumferential rotation of the water outlet tube  2 . At this time, the water in the aquarium flows through the suction pipe, the communication tube  11 , the water outlet tube  2 , the water outlet and the flow guiding tube  21  into the aquarium again, thereby achieving the water circulation in the aquarium. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , after being lifted upward and rotated 180°, the water outlet tube  2  is moved to the second configuration position relative to the communication tube  11 , the water outlet of the flow guiding tube  21  faces away from the interior of the aquarium, and a lower end surface of a tube wall of the communication tube  11  is in contact with an upper surface of the snap  221  disposed on the first locking plate  22  to restrict the axial movement of the water outlet tube  2  and prevent the water outlet tube  2  from continuing to rise to be away from the communication tube  11 . At this time, the water in the aquarium flows through the suction pipe, the communication tube  11 , the water outlet tube  2 , the water outlet and the flow guiding tube  21  and is discharge out of the aquarium, thereby achieving the water discharge in the aquarium. 
     Embodiment 2 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , this embodiment provides an effluent switching device including a water outlet base  1  and a rotating mechanism. The water outlet base  1  is installed at an outlet end of an existing suction pipe of a water pump in an aquarium. A second water outlet  112  is disposed on the water outlet base  1 . The rotating mechanism is inserted into the water outlet base  1 . As shown in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , the rotating mechanism is a water outlet tube  2  with one closed end. A water outlet disposed on the water outlet tube  2  includes a first water outlet and a third water outlet  26 . The water outlet tube  2  is inserted into a communication tube  11 , and the water outlet tube  2  is provided with a rotary handle  25  on the closed end for rotating the water outlet tube  2 . A partition plate  27  is disposed inside the water outlet tube  2  along an axial direction thereof, and a length of the partition plate  27  is less than or equal to a length of the water outlet tube  2 . In this embodiment, the length of the partition plate  27  is equal to the length of the water outlet tube  2 . The partition plate  27  divides the water outlet tube  2  into a first cavity and a second cavity. A bottom opening of the first cavity is a first water inlet  28 , and a bottom opening of the second cavity is a second water inlet  29 . The first water outlet is disposed on an arcuate side wall of the first cavity or on the closed end of the water outlet tube  2 , and the third water outlet  26  is disposed on an arcuate side wall of the second cavity. A flow guiding tube  21  is disposed on an outer wall of the water outlet tube  2 , and an end of the flow guiding tube  21  communicates with the first water outlet. In this embodiment, a sectional area of the first cavity is smaller than a sectional area of the second cavity and the sectional area of the first cavity is smaller than an area of a baffle  113  to enable the baffle  113  to close the first cavity or close the first water inlet  28  when a lower end of the water outlet tube  2  is in contact with the baffle  113 . 
     When the rotating mechanism is moved to a first configuration position relative to the water outlet base  1 , the first water inlet  28  is closed, and the second water outlet  112 , the third water outlet  26 , the second cavity, the second water inlet  29  and the suction pipe communicate to form a first water outlet channel. When the rotating mechanism is moved to a second configuration position relative to the water outlet base  1 , the second water outlet  112  and the third water outlet  26  are staggered and closed, and the first water outlet, the first cavity, the first water inlet  28  and the suction pipe communicate to form a second water outlet channel. 
     To achieve the sealing between the water outlet tube  2  and the communication tube  11 , two annular grooves are respectively disposed above and below the third water outlet  26  along a circumferential direction of the water outlet tube  2 , a sealing ring  24  is disposed in the annular grooves, and the sealing ring  24  abuts against an inner wall of the communication tube  11 . 
     To smoothly switch between the first water outlet channel and the second water outlet channel, a first locking plate  22  and a second locking plate  23  are disposed adjacently and extended downward out of a side wall of the water outlet tube  2  on a side of the second cavity. The first locking plate  22  is provided with a snap  221  that is snap-fitted with an end surface of a bottom tube wall of the communication tube  11  at an end away from the second cavity. An area of the second locking plate is greater than an area of the second water outlet  112  so that the second locking plate  23  may completely block the second water outlet  112  to close the second water outlet  112  when the water outlet tube  2  is moved to the second configuration position relative to the communication tube  11 . The snap  221  at a lower end of the first locking plate  22  works in conjunction with the end surface of the bottom tube wall of the communication tube  11  to restrict the water outlet tube  2  in an axial direction and prevent the water outlet tube  2  from continuing to rise to be away from the communication tube  11  when the water outlet tube  2  is moved to the second configuration position relative to the communication tube  11 . The first locking plate  22  and the second locking plate  23  work in conjunction with the baffle  113  to restrict the water outlet tube  2  in a circumferential direction and prevent a circumferential rotation of the water outlet tube  2  when the water outlet tube  2  is moved to the first configuration position and the second configuration position relative to the communication pipe  11 . 
     When the water outlet base  1  and the rotating mechanism are installed in conjunction on the suction pipe of the water pump in the aquarium, a position of the rotating mechanism is adjusted to make the rotating mechanism moved to the first configuration position relative to the water outlet base  1  so that the second water outlet  112 , the third water outlet  26 , the second cavity, the second water inlet and the suction pipe communicate to form the first water outlet channel to achieve water circulation in the aquarium. When the rotating mechanism is moved to the second configuration position relative to the water outlet base  1 , the flow guiding tube  21 , the first water outlet, the first cavity, the first water inlet  28  and the suction pipe communicate to form the second water outlet channel so that water in the aquarium may be discharge out of the aquarium for water exchange. The simple and rapid operation effectively solves a problem of complicated water discharge and exchange operations in the aquarium. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 , the water outlet base  1  includes a flow guiding mechanism  12  and the communication tube  11  disposed inside the flow guiding mechanism  12 . The flow guiding mechanism  12  includes a fixing tube  121  which is vertically disposed and a flow guiding plate  122  fixedly connected to the fixing tube  121 . The flow guiding plate  122  is horizontally disposed and is vertically connected to the fixing tube  121 . The communication tube  11  is disposed inside the fixing pipe  121 . The communication tube  11  has an oblique section at an end away from the suction pipe. A baffle  113  is disposed inward in a radial direction where the communication tube  11  is connected to the suction pipe. In this embodiment, the baffle  113  has an irregular shape and an area of the baffle  113  is less than a sectional area of the communication tube  11 . A second water outlet  112  is disposed on a bottom side wall of the communication tube  11 . In this embodiment, a communication hole is disposed between the fixing tube  121  and the flow guiding plate  122  and the communication hole works in conjunction with the second water outlet  112 . The second water outlet  112 , the third water outlet  26  and the communication hole form the first water outlet channel, and the communication hole is vertically disposed. When the first water outlet channel is formed, the water flows out from the second water outlet  112  through the communication hole to an arcuate plate of the flow guiding plate  122  and then flows into the aquarium to achieve the water circulation in the aquarium. 
     The communication hole is disposed to work in conjunction with the second water outlet  112  to slow down a flow velocity of the water in the aquarium on the flow guiding plate  122  so that the water flow may be sufficiently in contact with air to increase oxygen content of the water. The arcuate plate of the flow guiding plate  122  is disposed to achieve a directional flow of the water. 
     How to use the effluent switching device will be described in detail below. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , when the water outlet tube  2  is moved to the first configuration position relative to the communication tube  11 , the baffle  113  circumferentially restricts the first locking plate  22  and the second locking plate  23  to prevent the water outlet tube  2  from rotating in the circumferential direction. An end of the first cavity close to the baffle  113  is in close contact with the baffle  113  to close the first water inlet  28 . At this time, the second water outlet  112 , the third water outlet  26 , the communication hole and the suction pipe communicate to form the first water outlet channel; the water drawn by the suction pipe of the water pump flows through the second water inlet, the second cavity, the third water outlet  26 , the second water outlet  112 , the communication hole and the flow guiding plate  122  into the aquarium again to achieve circulating filtration of the water in the aquarium. 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , the water outlet tube  2  is rotated by a certain angle and lifted upward. In this embodiment, the rotation angle is 90°. When the water outlet tube  2  is moved to the second configuration position relative to the communication tube  11 , the snap  221  at the lower end of the first locking plate  22  is located at a lower end of the end surface of the bottom tube wall of the communication tube  11 , and an upper surface of the snap  221  is in contact with the end surface of the bottom tube wall of the communication tube  11  so that the communication tube  11  restricts the water outlet tube  2  in the axial direction and prevent the water outlet tube  2  from continuing to rise to be away from the communication tube  11 ; meanwhile, the baffle  113  circumferentially restricts the first locking plate  22  and the second locking plate  23  to circumferentially restrict the water outlet tube  2  and prevent the water outlet tube  2  from rotating circumferentially. At this time, the second locking plate  23  blocks the second water outlet  112  and an inner wall of the communication tube  11  blocks the third water outlet  26  to close the second water outlet  112  and the third water outlet  26  so that the water pumped by the water pump flows through the suction pipe, the first water inlet  28 , the first cavity, the first water outlet and the flow guiding tube  21  out of the aquarium to achieve water discharge in the aquarium for water exchange. 
     The above embodiments describe only the basic principles and characteristics of the present disclosure and the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments. Various modifications and changes may be made in the present disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. These modifications and changes fall within the scope of the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.