Apparatus for producing moving variable-play fountain sprays

• US 5,918,809 A
• Filed: 10/27/1997
• Issued: 07/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas R. Simmons
• Original Assignee: Thomas R. Simmons
• Inventors: Simmons, Thomas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ganey, Steven J.
• Application Number:
  US08/957,931
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 239/16, 239/17, 239/18, 239/22, 239/23, 239/211
• US Class Current: 239/17
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/08 Fountains drinking fountains E03B9/20; wash fountains E03C1/16

Abstract

The invention is an apparatus for producing fountain displays which include moving variable-play fountain sprays and comprises one or more nozzles with dual entry or multi-entry ports which are mounted on one or more moveable floats and are connectable to a source of pressurized liquid through a control apparatus which includes an alternating valve and valve system for producing oscillating, stationary and intermittent nozzle dispersal streams. The moveable floats can be controlled to move by mechanically means or hydraulically by the thrust of one or more nozzle dispersal streams from an underwater nozzle or nozzles mounted below the waterline to thereby provide for complex movements of the various nozzle dispersal streams included in a particular fountain display.

Claims

1. A fountain apparatus for producing fountain streams and sprays adapted to move in complex oscillatory fashion to provide an aesthetically pleasing and entertaining display, said apparatus comprising:

a float provided with a hull adapted for flotation in a body of water;

a first dual entry nozzle having dual entry ports and a single exit port, said first dual entry nozzle being mounted on said float with its exit port providing an opening in the top of said float;

a second dual entry nozzle having dual entry ports and a single exit port, said second dual entry nozzle being mounted on said float with its exit port providing an opening in the hull of the float below the waterline;

liquid supply means for generating and delivering pressured flows of liquid medium from a reservoir of liquid to the dual entry ports of said first and second dual entry nozzles, said liquid supply means including a pump having an outlet port and a conduit system connecting said pump outlet with each of the dual entry ports of said first and second dual entry nozzles; and

valve means in said conduit system for communicating the outlet of said pump with the dual entry ports of each of said first and second dual entry nozzle in a fashion to produce a nozzle dispersal stream from the exit port of each of said first and second dual entry nozzle which moves in an oscillatory fan-like motion;

said second dual entry nozzle being mounted in and oriented with respect to said float such that the nozzle dispersal stream from said second dual entry nozzle moves in an oscillatory pivotal motion to thereby produce a thrust force resulting in a reciprocating oscillatory to and fro movement of said float,

wherein, the nozzle dispersal stream produced from said first dual entry nozzle ejects upwardly from the hull of said float.

2. A fountain apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including guide means for controlling the direction of movement of said float.

3. A fountain apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said guide means are located below the surface of water in which said float is located.

4. A fountain apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the float is provided with electric illumination means for directing a beam of light upward from the float.

5. A fountain apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said float is provided with a deck and with additional dual entry nozzles, each having dual entry ports and a single exit port which opens in the deck and said apparatus includes conduits which join each of the entry ports of the additional dual entry nozzles to the outlet port of the pump.

6. A fountain apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein at least one of the dual entry nozzles having an exit port opening in the deck of the float is provided with means for producing an oscillating fan-like dispersal when pressured liquid flows are delivered to its entry ports by said pump.

7. A fountain apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein a sheet of flexible material of select configuration is fastened along one edge to the deck of the float between the deck openings corresponding to the exit ports of a pair of said dual entry nozzles and is maintained upright and imparted with an oscillatory waving motion by the nozzle dispersal streams from said pair of dual entry nozzles which impact thereon in alternating fashion to thereby simulate the motion of animate or inanimate creatures.

8. A fountain apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein at least two of the dual entry nozzles having an exit port which opens in the deck of the float are each provided with means for producing an oscillating dispersal stream from its exit port when pressured liquid flows are delivered to their entry ports by said liquid supply means and said valve means, said apparatus further including a flexible sheet which is fastened to said float along an edge portion of said sheet and can be maintained in an upright position and moved in pivotal fashion about its fastened edge portion by the oscillating dispersal streams from said at least two dual entry nozzles.

9. A fountain apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said sheet is configured in the outline of an animal creature.

10. A fountain apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including means for manually operating said pump and valve means to control the speed and magnitude of oscillation of the nozzle dispersal streams.

11. A fountain apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of said floats arranged in an array whereby the nozzle dispersal streams of the nozzles having exit ports in the top of said float are adapted to be moved in concert as individual ones of said floats are moved in reciprocating back and forth fashion.

12. A fountain apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a flexible tubular sleeve which at one end is fastened to the float in encompassing relation to the exit port of said first dual entry nozzle which opens in the top of said float whereby said flexible tubular sleeve receives the nozzle dispersal stream of said first dual entry nozzle and moves in concert with the nozzle dispersal stream of said first dual entry nozzle.

13. A fountain apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the float in said fountain apparatus is provided with at least one dual entry nozzle communicating with said valve means and pump mounted on the float with its exit port below the waterline and in an orientation such that the nozzle dispersal stream moves in an oscillatory motion in a plane which is other than vertical.

14. A fountain apparatus for producing fountain streams and sprays adapted to move in complex oscillatory fashion to provide an aesthetically pleasing and entertaining display, said apparatus comprising:

a float provided with a hull adapted for flotation in a body of water, said hull having a centerline keel;

a first dual entry nozzle having dual entry ports and a single exit port, said first dual entry nozzle being mounted on said float with its exit port providing an opening in the top of said float;

a second dual entry nozzle having dual entry ports and a single exit port, said second dual entry nozzle being mounted on said float with its exit port providing an opening in the hull of the float below the waterline and along the centerline thereof;

liquid supply means for generating and delivering pressured flows of liquid medium from a reservoir of liquid to the dual entry ports of said first and second dual entry nozzles, said liquid supply means including a pump having an outlet port and a conduit system connecting said pump outlet with each of the dual entry ports of said first and second dual entry nozzles; and

valve means in said conduit system for communicating the outlet of said pump with the dual entry ports of each of said first and second entry nozzle in a fashion to produce a nozzle dispersal stream from the exit port of each of said first and second dual entry nozzle which moves in an oscillatory fan-like motion;

said second dual entry nozzle being mounted in and oriented with respect to said float such that the nozzle dispersal stream from said second dual entry nozzle moves in an oscillatory fan-like motion in a plane coincident with the centerline of the hull.

15. A fountain apparatus as set forth in claim 14 further comprising a plurality of said floats in an array whereby the nozzle dispersal streams are adapted to move in concert to provide an aesthetically pleasing display.