An Improved Device for Drawing-off the Water from Aquariums, Tanks, Cisterns, and the like, and for Promoting a Continuous and Constant Flow of Water therethrough.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Mar., 1894-Accepted, 2nd June, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Device for Drawing-off the Water from Aquariums,
Tanks, Cisterns, and the like, and for Promoting a Continuous
and Constant Flow of Water therethrough.
I, ROBERT GREEN of The Floral Establishment, Crawford Street, Bryanston
Square, London, W., Florist do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has for object to produce an improved siphonal device for the
purpose of drawing off water from aquariums and the like and which device will
also be found of advantage in use when it is desired to effect a constant flow of
water through the aquarium or tank. By its employment the water is drawn off
from the very bottom of the aquarium or tank and hence the same may be entirely
emptied, and when a constant flow of water is maintained the contents of the
aquarium or tank remain clear and bright, all sediment and impurities being
drawn off by and through the device herein referred to.
And in order that this my invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe same with reference to the accompanying
drawings upon which in Fig. 1. is represented a fish aquarium fitted with my
siphonal device the latter being partly in section to facilitate illustration.
In Fig. 2. is represented in side elevation a modification of the siphonal
device.
Now in accordance with this invention and referring particularly to Fig. 1. of
the drawings I have a vertical discharge pipe a open at its upper end and
extending upwards to a convenient height say to just below the normal level of
the water in the tank. This pipe a protrudes through the bottom of the tank to a
short distance below where it may be fitted with a cock or tap to allow of same
being opened or closed at will. Placed concentrically around the discharge pipe a
I have a second pipe closed at both ends, but around its lower end pierced with
a convenient number of holes or apertures c. At its upper end I have the tap or
cock d. for the purpose of admitting or shutting off air as may be required.
To maintain a constant flow of water through the aquarium or tank the inlet e
is opened as shewn and the water will flow into the tank enter the pipe 6 through
the apertures c at bottom thereof. The top or cock d on pipe b is opened so as to
maintain an atmospheric pressure within said pipe b. As the water rises in the
tank it will also rise in the tube or pipe 6 until reaching the open upper end of
the discharge pipe a when it will flow through same and be discharged through
the lower end. The water from the tank entering the tube or pipe b through the
perforations c at bottom of the same will carry with it all impurities, sediment, and
the like, usually lett, and forming hitherto a very great disadvantage.
For the siphonal application of this device to the purpose of emptying the
aquarium or tank I close the air tap d hence the atmospheric pressure is entirely
upon the surface of the water contained in the tank.
The inlet e is also closed and to start the siphon the lower end of discharge
pipe b may also be closed by tap or otherwise until such pipe is filled with water.
It is then opened and the atmospheric pressure upon the surface of the water will
force the latter up the pipe a in the direction of the arrows and down the discharge
pipe 6 until the tank or aquarium is quite emptied. This complete emptying of
the tank is rendered possible by the device, in accordance with this invention,
drawing off from the bottom of the tank.
In Fig. 2. of the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a modification of

page_text: my siphonal device in which instead of the uptake pipe or tube being arranged
concentrically around the discharge pipe or tube I have the two pipes (the uptake b
and discharge a) placed vertically side by side, and connected by the cross pipe f
in which is fitted the air tap d hereinbefore referred to with reference to Fig. 1.
9 is a stay connecting the two pipes near their lower ends. It will at once be
observed that the action of this modification of my siphonal device is similar to
that of the arrangement already described with reference to Fig. 1. the water
from the aquarium or tank flowing upwards through tube b and downwards through
discharge pipe a.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
· claim is :
1. The improved device for drawing-off the water from aquariums, tanks,
cisterus, and the like; and for promoting a continuous and constant flow of water
therethrough substantially as herein before described and shown in the accompanying
drawings.
2. The combination and arrangement of uptake discharge pipe a and air
tap or valve d substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and
.shewn.
Dated this 20th day of March 1894.
HUGHES, ELI & HUGHES,
76, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.