Self activating falling water display

• US 5,381,956 A
• Filed: 08/26/1993
• Issued: 01/17/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: WET Design
• Original Assignee: WET Design
• Inventors: Starr, Joseph W., Robinson, Alan S.
• Primary Examiner(s): YOUNG, KAREN MERRITT
• Application Number:
  US08/112,429
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 239/16-18, 239/20, 239/22, 239/23, 137/132, 137/138, 137/397
• US Class Current: 239/22
• 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: Y10T 137/2774 Periodic or accumulation responsive discharge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7319 By float

Abstract

A water display that has a container with a floor that defines an inner cavity. The container has a top opening adapted to allow a fluid to flow into the inner cavity at a first predetermined flowrate. The floor is constructed to contain the fluid when the fluid flows into the inner cavity, such that the fluid reaches a first predetermined level within the container. The floor also has a floor opening adapted to allow the fluid to flow out of the inner cavity. Within the container is a valve operatively connected to the floor opening that allows the fluid to flow out of the inner cavity at a second predetermined flowrate, when the fluid level reaches the first predetermined level. The second flowrate being greater than the first flowrate, such that when the valve allows the fluid to flow out of the container, the fluid level in the inner cavity decreases until the fluid level reaches a second predetermined level.

Claims

1. A liquid ornamental display, comprising:

a container that is suspended from a Structure and has a floor that defines an inner cavity, said container having a top opening adapted to allow a fluid to flow into said inner cavity at a first predetermined flowrate, said floor being constructed to contain said fluid when said fluid flows into said inner cavity such that said fluid reaches a first predetermined level from said floor, said floor further having a floor opening adapted to allow said fluid to flow out of said inner cavity;

valve means operatively connected to said floor opening for allowing said fluid to flow out of said inner cavity at a second predetermined flowrate when said fluid reaches said first predetermined level, said second flowrate being greater than said first flowrate such that when said valve means allows said fluid to flow out of said inner cavity said fluid level in said inner cavity decreases, said valve means being constructed to allow fluid flow out of said inner cavity until said fluid level reaches a second predetermined level, wherein said fluid no longer flows out of said container and said fluid level in said inner cavity increases; and

,

a pool located below said suspended container to collect the fluid.

2. The liquid ornamental display as recited in claim 1, further comprising fluid means for providing a continuous flow of said fluid through said container top opening into said inner cavity at said first flowrate.

3. The liquid ornamental display as recited in claim 1, wherein said fluid is water.

4. The liquid ornamental display as recited in claim 3, wherein said container is transparent.

5. The liquid ornamental display as recited in claim 4, wherein said water has a predetermined color.

6. The liquid ornamental display as recited in claim 4, wherein said container has a spherical shape.

7. The liquid ornamental display as recited in claim 1, wherein said container has a vent adapted to allow air to flow into said inner cavity such that the air pressure within said inner cavity is approximately equal to the air pressure outside said inner cavity.

8. The liquid ornamental display as recited in claim 1, wherein said container has a screen located below said floor opening, said screen being constructed to collect and collimate said fluid such that said fluid flows out of said container in a predetermined arrangement of fluid streams.

9. The liquid ornamental display as recited in claim 1, wherein said valve means is a siphon tube having a first opening in said floor adapted to allow said fluid to flow out of said container at said second flowrate, a second opening within said inner cavity adapted to allow said fluid to flow from said inner cavity into said siphon tube, said siphon tube having a portion located a predetermined distance from said floor approximately equal to said first predetermined fluid level, whereby when said fluid enters said inner cavity and reaches said first predetermined level said fluid flows through said siphon tube and out said first opening, said fluid level decreases until said fluid level reaches said second predetermined level which is no greater than the distance between said floor and said second opening of said second tube.

10. The liquid ornamental display as recited in claim 1, wherein said valve means has a first float adapted to close said floor opening when said first float is in a closed position, and to allow said fluid to flow through said floor opening at said second flowrate when said first float floats into an open position when said fluid level reaches said first predetermined level, said first float having a first buoyancy force when said fluid level reaches said first predetermined level, said valve means having means that bias said first float into said closed position with a predetermined force less than said first buoyancy force, whereby said buoyancy force overcomes said bias of said means and allows said first float to float into said open position when said fluid level rises to said first predetermined level, wherein said fluid flows through said floor opening until said first float floats back into said closed position.

11. The liquid ornamental display as recited in claim 10, wherein said biasing means is a pair of magnets having a first magnet spaced by means a predetermined distance from said floor and a second magnet operatively connected to said first float adjacent said first magnet, said magnets having a predetermined attractive magnetic force that biases said first float into said closed position, said magnetic force being less than said first buoyancy force of said first float when said fluid level is at said first predetermined level such that said first buoyancy force separates said magnet.

12. The liquid ornamental display of claim 11, wherein said valve means further has a second float spaced from and operatively attached to said first float, such that the combined second buoyancy force of said first and second floats when said fluid level reaches said first predetermined level is greater than said magnetic force.

13. A liquid ornamental display, comprising:

a container that is suspended from a structure and has a floor that defines an inner cavity, said container having a top opening adapted to allow a fluid to flow into said inner cavity at a first predetermined flowrate, said floor being constructed to contain said fluid when said fluid flows into said inner cavity such that said fluid reaches a first predetermined level from said floor;

a first tube attached to said floor having a first opening in said floor adapted to allow said fluid to flow out of said container at a second predetermined flowrate greater than said first predetermined flowrate, and a second opening located within said inner cavity a predetermined distance from said floor approximately equal to said first predetermined fluid level;

a housing constructed to essentially enclose said first tube and spaced from said first tube such that said first tube and housing define a passage, said passage has a third opening located a predetermined distance from said floor, wherein said third opening and said passage allow fluid communication between said inner cavity and said second opening of said first tube;

a pool located below said suspended container to collect the fluid;

whereby when said fluid enters said inner cavity and rises to said first predetermined level said fluid flows into said second opening, through said first tube and out of said container through said first opening at said second flowrate which is greater than said first flowrate of said fluid entering said inner cavity, said fluid level decreases until said fluid level reaches a second predetermined level from said floor which is no greater than the distance between said floor and said third opening of said second tube.

14. The liquid ornamental display as recited in claim 13, further comprising fluid means for providing a continuous flow of said fluid through said container top opening into said inner cavity at said first flowrate.

15. The liquid ornamental display as recited in claim 13, wherein said fluid is water.

16. The liquid ornamental display as recited in claim 15, wherein said container is transparent.

17. The liquid ornamental display as recited in claim 16, wherein said water has a predetermined color.

18. The liquid ornamental display as recited in claim 16, wherein said container has a spherical shape.

19. The liquid ornamental display as recited in claim 13, wherein said container has a vent adapted to allow air to flow into said inner cavity such that the air pressure within said inner cavity is approximately equal to the air pressure outside said inner cavity.

20. The liquid ornamental display as recited in claim 13, wherein said container has a screen located below said floor opening, said screen being constructed to collect and collimate said fluid such that said fluid flows out of said container in a predetermined arrangement of fluid streams.

21. A liquid ornamental display, comprising:

a container having a floor that defines an inner cavity, said container having a top opening adapted to allow a fluid to flow into said inner cavity at a first flowrate, said floor being constructed to contain said fluid when said fluid flows into said inner cavity such that said fluid reaches a first predetermined level from said floor, said floor further having a floor opening adapted to allow said fluid to flow out of said inner cavity;

a first float within said inner cavity adapted to prevent said fluid from flowing through said floor opening when said first float is in a closed position and to allow said fluid to flow through said floor opening at a second flowrate greater than said first flowrate when said first float is in an open position, said first float is adapted to float into said open position when said fluid level reaches said first predetermined level, said first float having a first buoyancy force when said fluid level reaches said first predetermined level;

a tube attached at one end to said first float;

guide means operatively connected to said tube such that said tube extends in an essentially vertical position; and

,

a pair of magnets having a first magnet spaced by support means a predetermined distance from said floor and a second magnet attached to an opposite end of said tube adjacent said first magnet, said magnets having a predetermined attractive magnetic force that biases said first float into said closed position, said magnetic force being less than said first buoyancy force of said first float when said fluid level reaches said first predetermined level such that said buoyancy force separates said magnet;

whereby when said fluid flows into said inner cavity and said fluid level reaches said first predetermined level, said first buoyancy force separates said magnets and said first float is allowed to float into said open position such that said fluid flows through said floor opening at said second flowrate until said first float reaches a level approximately at said closed position, wherein said pair of magnets biases said first float into said closed position.

22. The liquid ornamental display as recited in claim 21, further comprising a second float attached to said tube at a predetermined distance from said first float, said first and second floats having a combined second buoyancy force when said fluid level reaches said first predetermined level, greater than said magnetic force of said pair of magnets.

23. The liquid ornamental display as recited in claim 22, further comprising a float collar attached to said tube a predetermined distance from said floor, said second float being constructed to move relative to said tube along a vertical axis such that said second float abuts said float collar when said fluid level reaches a second predetermined level less than said first predetermined level.

24. The liquid ornamental display as recited in claim 22, wherein said floats are constructed as hollow spheres.

25. The liquid ornamental display as recited in claim 21, wherein said guide means is a rod that extends from said top of said container to at least said container floor.

26. The liquid ornamental display as recited in claim 21, wherein said support means includes a pair of walls extending from said floor in a vertical direction that supports a ceiling, said ceiling supports and separates said first magnet from said floor.

27. The liquid ornamental display as recited in claim 21, further comprising fluid means for providing a continuous flow of said fluid through said container top opening into said inner cavity at said first flowrate.

28. The liquid ornamental display as recited in claim 21, wherein said fluid is water.

29. The liquid ornamental display as recited in claim 28, wherein said container is transparent.

30. The liquid ornamental display as recited in claim 29, wherein said water has a predetermined color.

31. The liquid ornamental display as recited in claim 29, wherein said container has a spherical shape.

32. The liquid ornamental display as recited in claim 21, wherein said container has a vent adapted to allow air to flow into said inner cavity such that the air pressure within said inner cavity is approximately equal to the air pressure outside said inner cavity.

33. The liquid ornamental display as recited in claim 21, wherein said container has a screen located below said floor opening, said screen being constructed to collect and collimate said fluid such that said fluid flows out of said container in a predetermined arrangement of fluid streams.

34. The liquid ornamental display as recited in claim 21, wherein said container is suspended by means from a structure.

35. The liquid ornamental display as recited in claim 34, further comprising a pool located below said suspended container, wherein said pool collects said fluid.