Laminar flow water jet with energetic pulse wave segmentation and controller

• US 20060102757A1
• Filed: 11/17/2005
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pentair Water Pool And Spa Incorporated (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Original Assignee: Bruce Johnson
• Inventors: Johnson, Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 7,845,579 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/590.300
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/3402 to avoid or to reduce turbulencies, e.g. comprising fluid flow straightening means
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/06 for effecting pulsating flow nozzles, spray head or outlet with means for generating a discharge of pulsating nature B05B1/08
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/08 Fountains drinking fountains E03B9/20; wash fountains E03C1/16
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/00 Lighting devices intended for fixed installation F21S9/00, F21S10/00 take precedence; using a string or strip of light sources F21S4/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/02 for fountains
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/00 Elongate light sources, e.g. fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

An apparatus for producing and controlling an energetic pulse wave in a laminar flow having an at least one water input and a housing with a water channel flowing therethrough. At least one jetting element for jetting a laminar flow tube from a laminar flow passing through the water channel. With at least one energetic pulse wave generating element generating an energetic pulse in a controlled fashion that travels into the laminar flow and selectively interrupts the laminarity therein.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an at least one water input

a housing with a water channel flowing therethrough;

an at least one jetting element jetting a laminar flow tube from a laminar flow passing through the water channel; and

an at least one energetic pulse wave generating element generating an energetic pulse in a controlled fashion that travels into the laminar flow and selectively interrupts the laminarity therein.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a controller in communication with the at least one energetic pulse wave generating element, the controller sending a command to the at least one energetic pulse wave generating element to send the energetic pulse into the laminar flow.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energetic pulse wave provides a turbulent section within a continuous laminar flow tube.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energetic pulse wave provides a gap between discrete parts of the laminar flow water tube, creating discrete laminar flow columns.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the controller receives an input from a timer.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the controller receives an input from an audio or video input.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the controller receives an input from a master controller.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the controller sends signals to at least one of an at least one audio system, video system, and a timer.

9. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an at least one lighting element.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one lighting element lights the laminar flow tube.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the controller sends signals to the at least one lighting element.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one lighting element changes a color input into the laminar flow water tube based on instructions from the controller.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one lighting element further comprises an at least one lighting tube and an at least one light source.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pliant member surrounding the water channel in the direction of flow of the water in the water channel, wherein the pliant member absorbs pump surges.

15. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a laminar flow disruptor in communication with the controller, wherein the laminar flow disrupter causes interruption of the laminar flow tube issuing from the jet causing discrete laminar flow columns to issue.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a light source communicating with the controller and lighting the discrete columns of laminar flow water.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the discrete columns of laminar flow are interrupted by the energetic pulse wave such that a discrete column is discretely segmented and the light source provides light to each of the discrete segments.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein each of the discrete segments is lit by a different color.

19. A laminar flow water jet, comprising:

an at least one water input admitting water into a housing;

a housing conducting the water into a laminar flow water channel and ejecting the laminar flow water channel,

a controller; and

an at least one energetic pulse wave generating component, wherein the energetic pulse wave generating component sends an energetic pulse wave into the laminar flow water channel in a part of the laminar flow channel to interrupt the laminarity within the laminar flow at that part.

20. The laminar flow water jet of claim 19, wherein the laminar flow water channel is ejected as a laminar flow tube.

21. The laminar flow water jet of claim 20, further comprising an at least one lighting element.

22. The laminar flow water jet of claim 21, the at least one lighting element further comprises a lighting tube and an at least one light source.

23. The laminar flow water jet of claim 22, wherein the laminar flow tube is colored by the lighting element.

24. The laminar flow water jet of claim 23, wherein the energetic pulse wave provides a turbulent section within a continuous laminar flow tube.

25. The laminar flow water jet of claim 23, wherein the energetic pulse wave provides a gap between discrete parts of the laminar flow water tube, creating discrete laminar flow columns.

26. The laminar flow water jet of claim 19, wherein the controller receives an input from a timer.

27. The laminar flow water jet of claim 19, wherein the controller receives an input from an audio or video input.

28. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the controller receives an input from a master controller.

29. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the controller sends signals to at least one of an at least one audio system, video system, and a timer.

30. The laminar flow water jet of claim 21, wherein the controller sends signals to the at least one lighting element.

31. The laminar flow water jet of claim 30, wherein the at least one lighting element changes a color input into the laminar flow water column based on instructions from the controller.

32. The laminar flow water jet of claim 19, further comprising a pliant member surrounding the water channel in the direction of flow of the water in the water channel, wherein the pliant member absorbs pump surges.

33. The laminar flow water jet of claim 20, further comprising a laminar flow disruptor in communication with the controller, wherein the laminar flow disrupter causes interruption of the laminar flow tube issuing from the housing, causing discrete laminar flow columns to issue therefrom.

34. The laminar flow water jet of claim 33, further comprising a light source communicating with the controller and lighting the discrete columns of laminar flow water.

35. The laminar flow water jet of claim 34, wherein the discrete columns of laminar flow are interrupted by the energetic pulse wave such that a discrete column is discretely segmented and the light source provides light to each of the discrete segments.

36. The laminar flow water jet of claim 35, wherein each of the discrete segments is lit by a different color.

37. A method of providing multiple colors within a laminar flow of water, comprising the steps of:

providing a laminar flow of water;

lighting the laminar flow of water;

inputting an energetic pulse wave to disrupt the laminarity of the water flow at a specific part and provide discreet segmentation of the laminar flow of water; and

changing the light color between different discrete segments in the laminar water flow.

38. The method of providing multiple colors within a laminar flow of water of claim 37, further comprising the method step of jetting the laminar flow of water into a laminar flow tube.

39. The method of providing multiple colors within a laminar flow of water of claim 38, further comprising the method step of columnarizing the laminar flow tube, discrete columns are created in laminar flow tube with the discrete segmentation therein.

40. A method of operating a laminar flow water jet comprising the method steps of:

generating a laminar flow within a water channel in conjunction with a pump;

monitoring a control input with a controller;

sending an energetic pulse wave into the laminar flow upon a command from the controller;

jetting the laminar water flow to form a laminar jet tube with controlled interruptions imparted by the energetic pulse wave to segment the laminar jet tube; and

ejecting the laminar flow column.

41. The method of operating a laminar flow water jet of claim 40, wherein the method step of sending an energetic impulse upon a command further comprises sending a command based on a change in or signal from a control input.

42. The method of operating a laminar flow water jet of claim 41, wherein the control input is an at least one of a timer, an audio input and a video input.

43. The method of operating a laminar flow water jet of claim 42, wherein the method step of sending an energetic impulse is accomplished via an energetic wave generating component.

44. The method of operating a laminar flow water jet of claim 40, wherein the method step of sending an energetic impulse energetic pulse occurs after jetting the water tube.

45. The method of operating a laminar flow water jet of claim 40, further comprises the method step of changing color for each segment ejected.

46. A method of producing segmentation in a laminar flow tube comprising the method steps of:

providing a laminar flow tube;

generating an pulse wave; and

transmitting the pulse wave into the laminar flow tube, wherein the surface tension in the tube is interrupted at a transmission horizon.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising the method step of lighting the laminar tube, wherein the step of lighting is coordinated with the step of transmitting the pulse wave into the laminar flow tube.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the step of lighting further comprises providing multiple wavelengths of light for each segment created by a pulse wave in the laminar flow tube.

49. A water feature, comprising:

a housing with a water channel;

an at least one water input providing water to the water channel;

an at least one laminar flow member to impart laminarity into the water in the water channel;

an at least one issuing element, issuing a laminar flow from the housing; and

an at least one energetic pulse wave generating member generating and transmitting an at least one energetic pulse wave into the laminar flow of the water channel in a controlled fashion to interrupt the laminarity in part of the laminar flow.