Method and apparatus for creating a spectacular display

• US 4,901,922 A
• Filed: 05/26/1988
• Issued: 02/20/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Georgius J. C. L. Bruls, Herman P.M. Kessener
• Original Assignee: Georgius J. C. L. Bruls, Herman P.M. Kessener
• Inventors: Bruls, Georgius J. C. L., Kessener, Herman P. M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Forman, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US07/200,518
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 239/4, 239/12, 239/18-20, 239/71, 239/75, 239/102.1, 239/102.2, 239/289, 239/590, 362/32, 362/96, 362/802, 362/25
• US Class Current: 239/12
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/08 Fountains drinking fountains E03B9/20; wash fountains E03C1/16
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/085 designed to produce sheets or curtains of liquid, e.g. water walls
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0404 Constructional or functional features of the spout
• 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: F21V 33/004 Sanitary equipment, e.g. mirrors, showers, toilet seats or paper dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/40 with provision for controlling spectral properties, e.g. colour, or intensity
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/02 for fountains
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0001 specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch

Abstract

A stream of liquid is formed having a substantially smooth outer boundary surface contacting ambient atmosphere, and light is introduced into the steam closely adjacent the formation of the stream and in the direction of flow of the stream to be guided downstream by total internal reflection of light in the stream. Exit of light from the stream may be controlled by modifying the outer boundary surface of the stream or by introducing matter into the stream. The light is varied automatically in accordance with the temperature of the liquid in the stream to provide a visual perception of the temperature of the liquid.

Claims

1. The method of creating a spectacular display comprising the steps of forming an elongated stream comprising a body of liquid medium having a first index of refraction into a medium which is ambient atmosphere having a second index of refraction lower than the first index of refraction to provide a substantially smooth continuous outer boundary surface enclosing the stream and contacting the ambient atmosphere, introducing light of a certain intensity directly into the body of liquid forming the stream closely adjacent the formation of the stream at its emergence into ambient atmosphere and in the direction of liquid flow in the stream in such a manner that light striking the outer boundary surface at an angle of incidence greater than or equal to the critical angle for the media is initially guided downstream within the liquid at substantially the same intensity by the phenomenon of total internal reflection of light in the stream, and creating a spectacular display by controlling the exit of light from the stream.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the exit of light is controlled by modifying the outer boundary surface of the stream so that light within the stream will strike certain portions of the outer boundary surface at an angle less than said critical angle.

3. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein the outer boundary surface is modified by the creation of turbulence in the stream.

4. The method as defined in claim 3 wherein the turbulence is created in said outer boundary surface in the direction of flow of the stream.

5. The method as defined in claim 4 wherein the turbulence is created by placing an obstruction in the path of flow of a portion of said outer boundary surface.

6. The method as defined in claim 3 wherein the turbulence is created in said outer boundary surface in a direction laterally of the flow of the stream.

7. The method as defined in claim 6 wherein the turbulence is created by moving a means laterally into the stream to create turbulence.

8. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein the outer boundary surface is modified by providing vibrations in the liquid medium adjacent the formation of the stream to form undulations in said outer boundary surface extending in the direction of liquid flow in the stream.

9. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the exit of light from the stream is controlled by providing air bubbles in the liquid.

10. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the exit of light from the stream is controlled by providing particulate matter in the liquid.

11. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the light is provided at a location remote from the formation of the stream at its emergence into ambient atmosphere, and guiding the light to the, point where it is introduced into the stream.

12. The method as defined in claim 1 including the step of varying the light uniformly throughout the body of liquid in accordance with the temperature of the liquid in the stream to provide a visual perception of the temperature of the liquid.

13. The method as defined in claim 12 including the steps of sensing the temperature of the liquid and automatically varying a characteristic of the light in accordance with the sensed temperature.

14. The method as defined in claim 13 wherein the characteristic of the light which is varied is the color of the light.

15. The method as defined in claim 13 wherein the characteristic of the light which is varied is the intensity of the light.

16. The method as defined in claim 1 including the step of controlling the introduction of light in accordance with flow of liquid.

17. The method as defined in claim 16 including the steps of sensing the flow of liquid and introducing light into the liquid when flow of liquid is sensed.

18. Apparatus for creating a spectacular display comprising means for forming an elongated stream comprising a body of liquid medium having a first index of refraction into a medium which is ambient atmosphere having a second index of refraction lower than the first index of refraction to provide a substantially smooth continuous outer boundary surface enclosing the stream and contacting the ambient atmosphere, means for introducing light of a certain intensity directly into the body of liquid forming the stream closely adjacent the formation of the stream at its emergence into ambient atmosphere and in the direction of liquid flow in the stream in such a manner than light striking the outer boundary surface at an angle of incidence greater than or equal to the critical angle for the media is initially guided downstream within the liquid at substantially the same intensity by the phenomenon of total internal reflection of light in the stream, and means for creating a spectacular display by controlling the exit of light from the stream.

19. The method of creating a spectacular display comprising the steps of forming a solid elongate stream of substantially non-turbulent liquid medium having a first index of refraction into a medium which is ambient atmosphere having a second index of refraction lower than the first index of refraction to provide a substantially smooth outer boundary surface of the stream contacting the ambient atmosphere, introducing light into the liquid forming the stream closely adjacent the formation of the stream at its emergence into ambient atmosphere and in the direction of flow of the stream so that light which enters the stream to strike the outer boundary surface at an angle of incidence greater than or equal to the critical angle for the media is guided downstream within the stream by the phenomenon of total internal reflection of light in the stream, creating a spectacular display by controlling the exit of light from the stream, and varying the light in accordance with the temperature of the liquid in the stream to provide a visual perception of the temperature of the liquid.

20. The method as defined in claim 19 including the steps of sensing the temperature of the liquid and automatically varying a characteristic of the light in accordance with the sensed temperature.

21. The method as defined in claim 20 wherein the characteristic of the light which is varied is the color of the light.

22. The method as defined in claim 20 wherein the characteristic of the light which is varied is the intensity of the light.

23. The method as defined in claim 19 including the step of controlling the introduction of light in accordance with flow of said liquid.

24. The method as defined in claim 19 including the steps of sensing the flow of liquid and introducing light into the liquid when flow of liquid is sensed.

25. The method as defined in claim 19 wherein the exit of light is controlled by modifying the outer boundary surface of the stream so that light within the stream will strike certain portions of the outer boundary surface at an angle less than said critical angle.

26. The method as defined in claim 25 wherein the outer boundary surface is modified by the creation of turbulence in the stream.

27. The method as defined in claim 26 wherein the turbulence is created in said outer boundary surface in the direction of flow of the stream.

28. The method as defined in claim 27 wherein the turbulence is created by placing an obstruction in the path of flow of a portion of said outer boundary surface.

29. The method as defined in claim 26 wherein the turbulence is created in said outer boundary surface in a direction laterally of the flow of the stream.

30. The method as defined in claim 29 wherein the turbulence is created by moving a means laterally into the stream to create turbulence.

31. The method as defined in claim 25 wherein the outer boundary surface is modified by providing vibrations in the liquid medium adjacent the formation of the stream.

32. The method as defined in claim 31 wherein the frequency of said vibrations are varied in accordance with the temperature of the liquid in the stream.

33. The method as defined in claim 19 wherein the exit of light from the stream is controlled by providing air bubbles in the liquid.

34. The method as defined in claim 19 wherein the exit of light from the stream is controlled by providing particulate matter in the liquid.

35. The method as defined in claim 19 wherein light is provided at a location remote from the formation of the stream at its emergence into ambient atmosphere, and guiding the light to the point where it is introduced into the stream.

36. Apparatus for creating a spectacular display comprising means for forming a solid elongate stream of substantially non-turbulent liquid medium having a first index of refraction into a medium which is ambient atmosphere having a second index of refraction lower than the first index of refraction to provide a substantially smooth outer boundary surface of the stream contacting the ambient atmosphere, means for introducing light into the liquid forming the stream closely adjacent the formation of the stream at its emergence into ambient atmosphere and in the direction of flow of the stream so that light which enters the stream to strike the outer boundary surface at an angle of incidence greater than or equal to the critical angle for the media is guided downstream within the stream by the phenomenon of total internal reflection of light in the stream, means for creating a spectacular display by controlling the exit of light from the stream, and means for varying the light in accordance with the temperature of the liquid in the stream to provide a visual perception of the temperature of the liquid.