GB2480329A

GB2480329A - Filtering pond water

Info

Publication number: GB2480329A
Application number: GB201008138A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Peter Lovell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-05-15
Filing date: 2010-05-15
Publication date: 2011-11-16
Anticipated expiration: 2030-05-15
Also published as: GB2480329B; GB201008138D0

Abstract

A vessel 100 for filtering pond water comprising an inner hollow section 102 having a first substantially circular cross section, an outer hollow section 104 having a second substantially circular cross section of diameter larger than said first cross section, a cylindrical mesh 108 disposed between said inner and outer sections, an inlet (110, fig 1), a clean water outlet 112, a waste outlet 114, and a stop plate 116. The vessel functions to remove solids from pond water prior to the use of a biological filter. The vessel takes advantage of the vortex created by the water therein to eliminate the need for a pump.

Description

Patent Application of Anthony Peter Lovell for Pond filter for removing solids prior to biofiltering

Background of the Invention

[1] The present invention relates to solid filtration for ponds.

[2] It is known in the art to filter pond water in two stages. In a first stage, solids are removed from the water, to prepare the water for biofiltration. In a second stage, biofiltering by bacteria takes place to remove ammonia caused by decomposing matter.

[3] The bacteria in the biofilters must build up over time, and can be damaged by cleaning. Therefore solids are removed in the first stage to avoid clogging the biofilter material, to reduce the need to clean the material.

[4] Demonstrating this principle, JP 9276625 to Takashi discloses a water cleaning device which activates bacteria living in a pond and thereby promotes a natural purification effect by biofiltration. A freely rotatable filter drum is provided in a water tank, the inside of which communicates with the suction aperture of a vacuum device and the inflow aperture of a magnetic field resonance water activator. On the outer periphery of the filter drum, a filter layer consisting of powder for filtration is provided for removing solids. Further, a scraping blade is also provided for thinly peeling off the outer peripheral surface of the filter layer consisting of the powder for filtration together with suspended solid sticking to the outer peripheral surface.

[5] Furthermore, JP 9248585 to Maruyama discloses a filter for removing solids from pond water and to adsorbing and decomposing a soluble sludge on a filter media while stagnating water pollutants by the action of microorganism generated on the filter medium. Fine mesh sheets are arranged above and below the filter media, over the whole surface of a filtration tank.

Zeolite having a particle diameter of 10-50mm is placed on the sheets as the filter media. Coarse refuse is removed from the pondwater by a mesh screen. The water is then fed to a biological filtration tank where it is brought into contact with the surface of the filter media. Generation of microorganisms on the surface of the zeolite of the filter media is thereby accelerated and the water pollutants are received by the mesh sheet 4 and pollution of the water is suppressed.

[6] Furthermore, US 2008217226 to Porter discloses a solids separator fur use with a skimmer/filter combination of the sort traditionally utilized in ornamental ponds. A new sedimentation chamber is provided comprising a vortex solids separator which utilizes directed fluid flow to create a peripheral water circulation within a generally cylindrical body. At the lower terminus of the vortex filter, the base will preferably increase in diameter, thereby creating a zone of relatively immobile water. As water enters this zone, any solids suspended therein will tend to fall to the bottom of the separator. Then, the water which has been relieved of much of its solid contaminants will then tend to make its way up through the center of the separator where it will preferably pass through a mat-type filter before being discharged either back into the pool or into another water treatment component.

Brief Simmary of the Invention [7] It can be seen from the forgoing that a need has arisen for means to remove solids from pond water before biofiltration.

It would be advantageous to do so at the fastest possible rate.

It would be further advantageous to do so by a means which reduces the frequency of cleaning any filters, reducing the maintenance necessary for the filter.

[8] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a pond water filter for removing solids from pond water prior to biofiltration, which is a low maintenance filter, that is, requires minimal cleaning.

[9] To this end, a vessel for filtering pond water is disclosed, comprising: an inner hollow section having a first substantially circular cross section; an outer hollow section having a second substantially circular cross section of diameter larger than said first cross section; a cylindrical mesh disposed between said inner and outer sections; an inlet; a clean water outlet; a waste outlet; and a stop plate.

[10] An advantage of the present invention is that most solids are removed by the vortex prior to coming into contact with the mesh, reducing the solid deposits on the mesh and therefore the frequency of cleaning. A further advantage is that the mesh receives the greatest surface area of water and the water from the naturally fastest part of the vortex, thus increasing the speed of filtration without the need to pump the water or use other artificial means to increase the speed of the water.

[11] An arrangement is disclosed wherein a connecting pipe is disposed towards the top of said inner section, connecting said inner and outer sections. An advantage of this arrangement is that the central outlet pipe takes its inlet from the top of the water, which is the cleanest part, further reducing the solid deposits on the mesh and the frequency of cleaning required.

Brief Description of the Several Views of the Drawing [12] The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings, in which: [13] Figure 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the invention; and [14] Figure 2 shows the inside of the preferred embodiment of the invention; and [15] Figure 3 shows an arrangement including a connecting pipe between the inner and outer sections.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[16] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in Figures 1 -3 wherein like numerals refer to like components, a vessel 100 for filtering pond water is disclosed, comprising: an inner hollow section 102 having a first substantially circular cross section; an outer hollow section 104 having a second substantially circular cross section of diameter larger than said first cross section; a cylindrical mesh 108 disposed between said inner and outer sections; an inlet 110; a clean water outlet 112; a waste outlet 114; and a stop plate 116.

[17] Preferably, said filter comprises: a fine mesh which is most preferably of the order of 500 microns; a wide mesh which is most preferably of the order of 10mm; and an opening 122. Most preferably, the fine mesh is on the inside of the filter, while the wider mesh is on the outside of the filter.

[18] The vessel is preferably shaped as shown in the figures with the mesh filter disposed between the inner and outer sections of the vessel, towards the top of the vessel. An advantage of this is that the water passing through the mesh filter is taken from the outer edges of the vessel. When a vortex is created in the vessel, the outer edges of the vortex is travelling fastest and being pushed outwards. Thus disposing the filter here takes advantage of the natural speed of the water at this point to cause water to travel through the mesh filter at a faster rate, without the need to pump the water or use other artificial means to increase the speed of the water. Furthermore, the mesh is disposed over the largest possible surface area, further increasing the rate of filtering.

[19] In one arrangement, a connecting pipe 106 may be disposed towards the top of said inner section, connecting said inner and outer sections, as shown in Figure 3. The connecting pipe is preferably disposed towards the top of the inner section.

An advantage of this is that the water flowing through the pipe will have dropped a large proportion of its large particle matter as described previously. Furthermore, the connecting pipe is preferably disposed to the centre of the inner section, since this does not interrupt the vortex flow in the inner section, and further since larger particles will be pulled to the outer edges of the vortex leaving water at the centre relatively clean. With this arrangement, the outlet of the connecting pipe is connected to a divider 126 which divides the remainder of the inner and outer sections from each other, ensuring that only water from the connecting pipe reaches the mesh filter.

[201 The connecting pipe thus feeds water to the outer section. The flow of water from the connecting pipe to the outer section creates a second, slower vortex in the outer section.

Forces in the vortex drive the water and particles outwards through the cylindrical filter.

[211 Preferably the vessel comprises polypropylene or other suitable waterproof and weatherproof material.

[22] The inlet is preferably disposed towards the lower end of the inner section and feeds water from an attached pond directly to the inner section. The influx of water to the inner section creates a vortex in the inner section. Gravity causes large particles in the water to fall downwards to the bottom of the inner section. The waste outlet is preferably disposed at the bottom of the inner section for collecting these large particles.

Preferably, the waste outlet comprises a tap which can be opened to collect and dispose of the particles. The particles may be manually removed or the tap may feed a compost heap or other waste disposal means. The inner section may taper towards its lower end, having a smaller cross section at its bottom than at its top, to enable debris to collect at a central point and be drained at the waste outlet.

[23] In the cylindrical filter, the fine mesh filters out blanket weed and other large and small debris, while the wide mesh gives strength and helps to support the fine mesh. Thus, cleaner water leaves the vessel through the clean water outlet, which is connected to the outer section of the vessel. The opening in the cylindrical filter enables water to flow even if the rest of the filter becomes clogged with waste, preventing a blockage of the apparatus. The cylindrical filter may comprise a rubber rim at its base for holding the mesh in place. The stop plate is a flat plate which may be formed out of the same piece of material as the vessel itself, disposed radially in the outer section as shown in the figures. The stop plate helps to create water flow, maintaining the outer vortex.

[24] The vessel preferably comprises a lid 124 across the top of the vessel which can be easily removed or opened, such that the cylindrical filter can be removed for cleaning. The lid may be hinged onto the vessel and may or may not comprise a latch, or may be a completely separate component which fits over the vessel, or may be any type of lid known in the art.

[25] The cleaner water exiting the vessel may then be fed to a biofilter of a pond, where it will be less likely to clog biofilters causing them to require cleaning less frequently, thus reducing maintenance.