Aquarium filter arrangement with control valve
A filter arrangement for an aquarium is disclosed. The filter arrangement can include a housing assembly, a pump assembly, a transfer tube assembly, and a valve assembly for controlling water flow through the transfer tube assembly. The transfer tube assembly can include a tube structure within which a valve body of the valve assembly is rotatably disposed. The tube structure can be formed from a first tube half mated to a second tube half to permanently secure the valve body within the tube structure. A valve operator can be connected to the valve body to advantageously allow a user to manipulate the flow of water through the transfer tube assembly. Control of water flow through the filter arrangement is beneficial for obtaining a desired water flow for a certain aquarium size and application and for reducing flow during certain periods, such as during feeding.
1. A filter arrangement for an aquarium, the filter arrangement comprising:
(a) a housing assembly defining an interior volume;
(b) a filter cartridge within the interior volume;
(c) a pump assembly including a pump having an inlet and an outlet;
(d) a transfer tube assembly having an inlet and an outlet; the transfer tube assembly inlet being operably connected to the pump outlet, and the transfer tube outlet being in fluid communication with the interior volume;
(i) the transfer tube assembly including a tube structure; and
(e) a valve assembly for controlling flow through the transfer tube assembly; the valve assembly having a valve body;
(i) the valve body being rotatably disposed within the tube structure; and
(ii) the valve body being rotatable between a closed position and an open position in 90 degrees or less of rotation; and
(iii) the valve body being non-removable from the tube structure.
2. The filter arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly further includes a valve operator connected to the valve body.
3. The filter arrangement of claim 2 wherein:
(a) the valve body has a rotational axis;
(b) the tube structure has a longitudinal axis; and
wherein the rotational axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
4. The filter arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the housing assembly further includes a removable cover having an aperture; and a portion of the valve operator extends through the aperture of the removable cover.
5. The filter arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the valve operator includes an indicator for providing a visual indication of the position of the valve operator.
6. The filter arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the valve assembly further includes a seal member mounted to the valve operator; the seal member providing a seal between the valve operator and the tube structure.
7. The filter arrangement of claim 1 wherein the tube structure comprises a first tube half and a second tube half mated to the first tube half.
8. A method of controlling flow; the method comprising:
(a) providing a housing assembly defining an interior volume; a filter cartridge within the interior volume; a pump assembly including a pump having an inlet and an outlet; a transfer tube assembly having an inlet and an outlet; the transfer tube assembly inlet being operably connected to the pump outlet, and the transfer tube outlet being in fluid communication with the interior volume; the transfer tube assembly including a tube structure; and
(b) controlling flow through the transfer tube assembly by rotating a valve body between a closed position and an open position in 90 degrees or less of rotation using a valve body rotatably disposed within the tube structure;
wherein a valve operator is connected to the valve body; and
(c) the step of rotating the valve body includes rotating the valve operator between first and second stop surfaces on the transfer tube assembly.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the valve body has a rotational axis; the tube structure has a longitudinal axis; and
the step of rotating a valve body includes rotating the valve body so that the rotational axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of rotating a valve body includes rotating the valve body toward the closed position until seeing a visual indicator to provide a visual alert that flow through the transfer tube is reduced.
11. A filter arrangement for an aquarium, the filter arrangement comprising:
(a) a housing assembly defining an interior volume;
(b) a filter cartridge within the interior volume;
(c) a pump assembly including a pump having an inlet and an outlet;
(d) a transfer tube assembly having an inlet and an outlet; the transfer tube assembly inlet being operably connected to the pump outlet, and the transfer tube outlet being in fluid communication with the interior volume;
(i) the transfer tube assembly including a tube structure;
(ii) the tube structure comprising a first tube half and a second tube half mated to the first tube half, wherein the first and second tube halves are bonded to each other;
(e) a valve assembly for controlling flow through the transfer tube assembly; the valve assembly having a valve body;
(i) the valve body being rotatably disposed within the tube structure; and
(ii) the valve body being rotatable between a closed position and an open position in 90 degrees or less of rotation.
12. The filter arrangement of claim 11 , wherein the valve assembly further includes a valve operator connected to the valve body.
13. The filter arrangement of claim 11 wherein:
(a) the valve body has a rotational axis;
(b) the tube structure has a longitudinal axis; and
wherein the rotational axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
14. A filter arrangement for an aquarium, the filter arrangement comprising:
(a) a housing assembly defining an interior volume;
(b) a filter cartridge within the interior volume;
(c) a pump assembly including a pump having an inlet and an outlet;
(d) a transfer tube assembly having an inlet and an outlet; the transfer tube assembly inlet being operably connected to the pump outlet, and the transfer tube outlet being in fluid communication with the interior volume;
(i) the transfer tube assembly including a tube structure; and
(e) a valve assembly for controlling flow through the transfer tube assembly; the valve assembly having a valve body;
(i) the valve body being rotatably disposed within the tube structure; and
(ii) the valve body being rotatable between a closed position and an open position in 90 degrees or less of rotation;
(iii) the valve assembly further includes a valve operator connected to the valve body; and
wherein the transfer tube assembly includes a first stop surface against which the valve operator abuts when the valve operator is rotated to a position corresponding to the valve body being in a fully open position.
15. The filter arrangement of claim 14 , wherein the transfer tube assembly includes a second stop surface against which the valve operator abuts when the valve operator is rotated to a position corresponding to the valve body being in a relatively closed position.