DE20117708U1 - Safety lock especially for fermentation tanks for the C02 production for aquariums or the like - Google Patents

Description

"SAFETY LOCK ESPECIALLY FOR

FERMENTATION TANK FOR CO ₂ PRODUCTION FOR AQUARIUMS OR SIMILAR"

The present invention relates to a safety closure, in particular for fermentation containers for CO ₂ production for aquariums or the like.

The fermentation tanks for CO ₂ production are used to increase the percentage of CO ₂ dissolved in the water, which is used by the vegetation contained in the aquarium to transform the carbohydrates that compose it through the process of photosynthesis.

A fermentation vessel for _CO2 production consists of a container inside which the fermentation takes place and a cover.

The container is attached to the outside of the aquarium and connected to it via a hose connected to the cover.

More specifically, one end of the hose is connected to the closure, while the other end is connected to a diffuser attached to the aquarium.

Under normal conditions, the pressure inside the fermentation tank is about 0.3 to 0.5 meters of water column, with the pressure head being determined by the liquid in the aquarium.

If there is a blockage in the connecting hose

between the aquarium and the fermentation tank, for example due to foreign bodies floating in the water, this can be due to the

Fermentation process can lead to an increase in the pressure inside the fermentation vessel, so that even a value of 30m water column can be reached.

It goes without saying that such high pressure values can lead to the fermentation vessel breaking.

The fermentation tanks of the known type are not sufficiently equipped with safety precautions to prevent such accidents.

The main object of the present invention is to solve or fundamentally reduce the problems encountered in conventional types of fermentation tanks for aquariums or the like.

Within the main task, an important goal is to create a closure which, due to its structure, averts the problem of high pressure accidentally created inside the fermentation vessel.

Another aim is to create a closure that allows the gases contained inside the fermentation vessel to escape if they exceed a certain pressure value.

Last but not least, a simply constructed closure should also be created.

The main purpose, the aims sought and further aims which will become clearer below are achieved by a safety closure particularly for fermentation vessels for C0 ₂ production for aquariums and the like, characterized in that it comprises a plate-shaped element provided with a hole and a

corresponding part for the connection of a connecting hose between the fermentation tank and the aquarium, on the outer edge of which there is a ring mounted at right angles to the position plane for use in reversible coupling with a corresponding connecting part of a fermentation tank and shaped in such a way that through-openings for the gas are formed, wherein the plate-shaped element has a circular retaining lip in the lower region for use on the upper edge of the connecting part of the fermentation tank and at least a part of the part of the plate-shaped element which lies between the retaining lip and the ring has the thickness and shape which allow elastic bending.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description of the preferred but not exclusive embodiment given by way of example but in no way limiting in the accompanying figures and drawings, in which:

- Figures 1 and 2 show a closure according to the invention, respectively in perspective view from above and from below;

- Figure 3 shows schematically a cross-section of a fermentation vessel for CO ₂ production provided with a closure according to the invention;

- Figure 4 shows the closure according to the invention in cross-section;

Figure 5 schematically shows the functioning

of the closure according to the invention;

Figure 6 shows a detailed section of a closure and the part for connection to a fermentation vessel for CO ₂ production.
With particular reference to the figures described above, a safety closure, in particular for fermentation containers for aquariums or similar, is designated as a whole with the number 10.

The closure 10, which in this embodiment is advantageously made of plastic of the polypropylene, polyethylene or a corresponding material, comprises a disc-shaped element 11 which is convex towards the outside and which is provided with an axial hole 12 from which a hose-like connection part 13 for a connecting hose 14 of the fermentation container 15 extends in the opposite direction of the concavity, via which the closure 10 is connected to an aquarium (not shown in the figure).

From the outer edge of the disc-shaped element 11, at right angles to the position plane of the disc-shaped element 11 itself and in correspondence with the concavity, there extends a ring 16 which is provided internally with a thread 17 for the use of the connecting part 24 of the fermentation vessel 15 equipped with the counter thread.

The thread 17 is an interrupted thread, so that when the closure 10 is mounted on the fermentation container 15, the gas contained in the fermentation container 15 passes through the through openings 19 between the inner wall of the ring 16 and

the connecting part 24 to the outside.

The disc-shaped element 11 also has a circular retaining lip 20 which is parallel to the ring 16 in the rest position.

The retaining lip 20 is bevelled at the bottom of the outer wall 25 and has an outer diameter which is slightly above the inner diameter of the connecting part 24 of the fermentation container 15.

When the closure 10 is placed on the fermentation container 15, the retaining lip 20 engages the outer wall 25 at the upper inner edge 21 of the connecting part 24.

The part with round head 22 of the disc-shaped element 11, which is located between the retaining lip 20 and the ring 16, is designed in thickness and shape such that it bends elastically.

Part 22 is shaped like a circular arch in cross-section.

The ring 16 also has elevations 23 on the outside, which are suitable for making it easier for the user of the closure 10 to hold it when screwing/unscrewing it onto the fermentation container 15.

Regarding the functionality,

When the closure 10 is completely screwed onto the fermentation vessel, the lip 20 holds the upper inner edge 21 of the connecting part 24, preventing the CO ₂ gas contained inside the fermentation vessel 15 from escaping to the outside, except via the connecting hose 14 to the aquarium.

If the internal pressure of the CO ₂ gas exceeds the

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If the pressure were to rise beyond the limit value, for example as a result of a blockage of the hose 14, the part with the round head 22 would deform which, when a certain limit value is exceeded, would cause the retaining lip 20 to detach from the upper inner edge 21 of the connecting part 24, thereby allowing the gas contained in the fermentation vessel 15 to flow out and resulting in a rapid drop in pressure inside the fermentation vessel 15 itself.

In practice, it has been found how the present invention has achieved the objectives set for it.

In fact, a closure was created that acts as a drain valve for the fermentation container.

When a certain pressure level is reached inside the fermentation vessel, the closure bends elastically and allows the gas to escape from the vessel.

The closure has a particularly simple and easy-to-manufacture structure.

The closure is made entirely of flexible elastic material of the type polypropylene, polyethylene or an equivalent material, the thinnest point, which bends the most, being the round head between the retaining lip and the connecting ring on the fermentation vessel.

The technical details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

The materials must be compatible with the intended use, but may be

the dimensions vary according to requirements,

Claims (9)

1. Safety closure, in particular for fermentation containers for CO ₂ production for aquariums or the like, characterized in that it contains a plate-shaped element ( 11 ) which is provided with a hole ( 12 ) and a corresponding connection part ( 13 ) for a connecting hose ( 14 ) between the fermentation container ( 15 ) and the aquarium, on the outer edge of which there is a ring ( 16 ) attached at right angles to the position plane for use in reversible coupling with a corresponding connection part ( 24 ) of a fermentation container, and is shaped in such a way that through-openings ( 19 ) for the gas are formed, the plate-shaped element ( 11 ) having in the lower region a circular retaining lip ( 20 ) for use on the upper edge of the connection part of the fermentation container ( 15 ) and at least a part of the part of the plate-shaped element ( 11 ), which lies between the retaining lip ( 20 ) and the ring ( 16 ), has a thickness and shape which allow elastic bending. 2. Closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate-shaped element ( 11 ) is convex and disc-shaped and the ring ( 16 ) extends from its outer edge, the plate-shaped element ( 11 ) also having at the bottom the circular retaining lip ( 20 ) which runs parallel to the ring ( 16 ) in the rest position. 3. Closure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retaining lip ( 20 ) engages in the outer wall ( 25 ) at the upper inner edge ( 21 ) of the connecting part ( 24 ) of the fermentation container ( 15 ). 4. Closure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retaining lip ( 20 ) has an outer wall ( 25 ) which is bevelled at the bottom. 5. Closure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retaining lip ( 20 ) has an outer diameter which is greater than the inner diameter of the connecting part ( 24 ) of the fermentation container ( 15 ). 6. Closure according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the ring ( 16 ) is provided with a thread on the inside and is screwed to the counter thread of the connecting part ( 24 ) of the fermentation container ( 15 ), the thread of the ring ( 16 ) creating at least through openings ( 19 ) due to the fact that it is interrupted, so that the gas contained in the fermentation container ( 15 ) can escape to the outside. 7. Closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate-shaped element ( 11 ) which is located between the retaining lip ( 20 ) and the ring ( 16 ) is designed as a round head ( 22 ) and has a thickness which allows elastic bending. 8. Closure according to claims 1 and 7, characterized in that the plate-shaped element ( 11 ) which is located between the retaining lip ( 20 ) and the ring ( 16 ) is shaped as a round circular arc when viewed in cross section. 9. Closure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made of plastic.