Magnetic fluid pump assembly for aquarium
A fluid pump assembly is provided. The pump has a pair of units magnetically coupled to each other. The first unit contains a drive motor and a magnetic assembly. The second unit contains a magnetic assembly and a blade of a propeller/impeller for imparting movement to a fluid. As the first unit is activated by the drive motor, a magnetic flux is created which in turn rotates the magnetic assembly in the second unit, driving the blade.
1 . An aquarium, comprising:
a housing comprising a plurality of interconnected sidewalls, a bottom, and an open top, at least some of the sidewalls made of a transparent material; and
a pump affixed to one of the sidewalls, the pump comprising a pump housing, a base, and a nozzle;
wherein the nozzle releasably connects to the base by rotatable engagement of locking tabs and locking grooves;
a rotator at least partially contained in the housing, the rotator comprising a magnet constructed and arranged to be magnetically coupled to and rotationally driven by a magnet of a drive unit;
a shaft operatively connected to the rotator;
a blade operatively coupled with the shaft;
a magnet cover cooperating with the base to enclose the rotator magnet so that the rotator magnet is disposed between the base and the magnet cover; and
an axle concentrically surrounded by the shaft.
2 . The aquarium of claim 1 , wherein the axle comprises a flanged base, and wherein the flanged base contacts a surface of the base.
3 . The aquarium of claim 2 , further comprising a ceramic sleeve concentric with the axle and positioned between the axle and the shaft, wherein at least a portion of the ceramic sleeve is concentric with and surrounded by a bearing.
4 . The aquarium of claim 1 , wherein the axle comprises a metallic material.
5 . The aquarium of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle comprises a plurality of spaced ribs forming openings allowing fluid to flow therethrough.
6 . The aquarium of claim 1 , further comprising a casing surrounding the magnet.
7 . The aquarium of claim 1 , further comprising a lower bearing connected to the rotator.
8 . The aquarium of claim 1 , wherein the drive unit comprising the drive unit magnet magnetically couples to and rotationally drives the blade of the magnetically driven rotator.
9 . An aquarium, comprising:
a housing comprising a plurality of interconnected sidewalls, a bottom, and an open top, at least some of the sidewalls made of a transparent material; and
a pump housing comprising a base and a nozzle, the nozzle having a base section connecting to the base, an end section, and a central section extending between the base section and the end section;
a rotator at least partially contained in the housing, the rotator comprising a rotator magnet constructed and arranged to be magnetically coupled to and rotationally driven by a drive unit magnet of a drive unit;
a shaft operatively connected to the rotator;
a blade operatively coupled with the shaft;
a magnet cover cooperating with the base to enclose the rotator magnet so that the rotator magnet is disposed between the base and the magnet cover; and
an axle concentrically surrounded by the shaft.
10 . The aquarium of claim 9 , wherein the axle comprises a flanged base.
11 . The aquarium of claim 10 , wherein the flanged base contacts a surface of the base.
12 . The aquarium of claim 9 , further comprising a ceramic sleeve concentric with the axle and positioned between the axle and the shaft.
13 . The aquarium of claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the ceramic sleeve is concentric with and surrounded by a bearing.
14 . The aquarium of claim 9 , wherein the axle comprises a metallic material.
15 . The aquarium of claim 9 , wherein the nozzle comprises a plurality of spaced ribs creating openings allowing fluid to flow therethrough.
16 . The aquarium of claim 9 , further comprising a casing surrounding the magnet of the rotor.
17 . The aquarium of claim 9 , further comprising a lower bearing connected to the rotator.
18 . The aquarium of claim 9 , wherein the drive unit comprising the drive unit magnet magnetically couples to and rotationally drives the blade of the magnetically driven rotator.
19 . The aquarium of claim 9 , wherein the axle has a first end supported on the base and a second end supported by the nozzle.
20 . The aquarium of claim 9 , wherein the magnet cover cooperates with the base to enclose the magnet of the rotator between the base and the magnet cover, and wherein a magnetic shield is positioned on the magnet of the rotator.