CA2051746A1 - Method and apparatus for generating and illuminating individual droplets in moving stream of droplets - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for generating and illuminating individual droplets in moving stream of dropletsInfo
- Publication number
- CA2051746A1 CA2051746A1 CA002051746A CA2051746A CA2051746A1 CA 2051746 A1 CA2051746 A1 CA 2051746A1 CA 002051746 A CA002051746 A CA 002051746A CA 2051746 A CA2051746 A CA 2051746A CA 2051746 A1 CA2051746 A1 CA 2051746A1
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- droplets
- stream
- supply pipe
- streams
- individual
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21S2/00—Systems of lighting devices, not provided for in main groups F21S4/00 - F21S10/00 or F21S19/00, e.g. of modular construction
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21W—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
- F21W2121/00—Use or application of lighting devices or systems for decorative purposes, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
- F21W2121/02—Use or application of lighting devices or systems for decorative purposes, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00 for fountains
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Special Spraying Apparatus (AREA)
- Physical Water Treatments (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present invention relates to method and apparatus for discriminating individual moving droplets and altering the movement and appearance of individual moving droplets in moving fluid streams generated be producing sound waves in such fluid streams.
The present invention relates to method and apparatus for discriminating individual moving droplets and altering the movement and appearance of individual moving droplets in moving fluid streams generated be producing sound waves in such fluid streams.
Description
2~ 7~
METE~OD AND APPARA~S FOR GE~IER~ING AI~ LI~IN~ING
INDIYIDllAL DROPLl~TS IlN MOVI~G STREAN OE DROPI~TS
BAl :RGRO~D AND S~A~Y OF INYENTI02a The present in~ention relates to method and apparatus for generating individual granular components (droplets) in moving streams of fluid, such as water, in fountains, waterfalls or streams, by producing sound waves in such fluid streams. More particularly, the present invention relates to method and apparatus for illuminating individual moving droplets, and altering the movement and appearance of the individual moving droplets, in moving fluid streams generated by producing sound waves in such fluid streams.
Formerly, sound waves in a moving stream of water have been produced by a timer and apparatus for s~riking at regular intervals a hose through which water was flowing.
When the dense parts of this in-water sound wave approach the narrow aperture of the hose, the molecules of ~he water in the dense areas begin moving very rapidly and pressure increases. When these rapidly moving molecules exit from the aperture, they cause the formation of distinct and individual droplets of water. When the stream of water exiting the aperture is illuminated by a continuous strobe light, the stream appears as a series of individual droplets. This method is the subject of a patent of the present applicant, Japanese Patent No. 86026068, issued June 2 ~ c ~ 3 18, 1986, entitled Method for Genera~ing a Stream of Distinct Droplets by In-Water Sound Waves."
The invention of Japanese Patent No. 86026068 was designed as instructional material to explain the nature of parabolas using a ~ingle s~ream of wa~er. As shown in FIG.
1 hereof, along a hose (T) carrying water (W) at a fixed pressure, an AC magnetic timer (not shown~ provides an Lmpact at regular intervals, thereby generating within the water sound waves (S~ at the same frequency as the alternating current (e.g., 60 Hz). In this way, dense areas of water will occur 60 tLmes every second.
When the dense part of this in-water sound wave arrives at an aperture (N) in a wall that is perpendicular to the direction of movement of the sound wave [S3, an area (F) in which the water molecules are moving extremely rapidly and water pressure is increasing is produced in the area of the aperture (N). When this area of fast-moving molecules ~F) ~0 leaves the aperture (N), as shown in FIG. 1, the parabolic stream of water (W) becomes a series of separate droplets (a), (b)...(f). When the stream containing the individual droplets is illuminated by light, the individual droplets can be viewed for scientific or aesthetic purposes.
Applicant~s prior me~hod was lLmited in certain respects in terms of variations in the movement and appearance of the individual droplets within the moving stream of water. For example, illuminating the droplets in a single, unchanging color, left something to be desired from an aesthetic point of view. To provide greater variation in the appearance of the water stream, two or more strobe lights could be used for illumination of the individual droplets, however, a problem would then arise in getting individual droplets to shine in a single, pure color.
Also, Applicant's prior method utilized a strobe light operating at a single frequency corresponding to the lS frequency of the in-water sound waves. Operating the strobe lights at a single frequency further lLmited the variations in appearance of the apparent movement of the individual droplets in the stream of water.
In addition, Applicant's prior method utilized only a single stream of water exiting from a fixed nozzle.
Creating multiple streams of water using the prior method would have required the apparatus employed to be extremely complex and consequently impractical. Moreover, utilizing a fixed nozzle for the water stream further limited the . .
variability of the appearance of the movement of the streams of water.
Whenever water is moved by a pump, that stream of water contains pl-lse and turbulence. This pulse and turbulence may also, depending upon the state of the water path, be present in water flowing due to gravity. Pulse in a stream of water means large changes in water pressure, which generate secondary turbulence as well. When generating a stream of individual water droplets using Applicant~s prior method, it was determined that even the slightest pulse or turbulence in the water supply caused irregular water droplets to form and diffuse the water stream. The need to reduce or substantially eliminate pulse and turbulence in the water stream was apparent, however, the prior method still allowed slight pulse and turbulence to remain in the water flow.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to ~0 provide method and apparatus for discriminating moving individual droplets by illuminating the droplets with alternating beams from multistrobe lights of two or more colors.
It is another object of the present invention to provide method and apparatus for altering the apparent 6 `~ !
movement of individual droplets in a stream of water by altering the frequencies of the strobe lights illuminating the droplets.
It is yet another object of the present inven~ion to provide method and apparatus for altering the apparent movement of individual droplets in a stream of water by altering the frequencies of the in-water sound waves within the water stream.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide method and apparatus for altering the movement of individual droplets in a stream of water by oscillating the no~zle from which the water stream exits to create a wave-like motion in the water stream.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide method and apparatus for producing sound waves in multiple streams of water.
~0 It is still another object of the present invention to provide method and apparatus for altering the apparent movement of individual droplets in multiple streams of water produced by multiple devices for generating in-water sound waves by altering the frequency or phase, or ~he ra~e of .
altering the frequency or phase, of the alternating current to the in-water sound wave generating devices.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide method and apparatus for producing sound waves in multiple streams of water in which the production of reflected and diffracted waves is suppressed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide method and apparatus for substantially eliminating pulse and turbulence in a water stream.
These and other objects are achieved by ~he present invention, which, in a preferred embodiment, discriminates moving water droplets in a water stream by alternate illumination with multiple strobe lights. If the moving droplets are illuminated by alternating strobe lights of, for example, red and green light, the individual droplets that at one point are illuminated with red light will, after traveling a given distance, be illuminated with green light.
At this point, the previously red droplets will remain illuminated as an after-image such ~hat a viewer will simultaneously perceive distinct red and green droplets separated by a certain distance. Thus, if the droplets are alternately illuminated by red and green alternating strobe lights as they move, the many and continuously moving droplets o~ the water stream will appear as many individual points of brilliant light alternately illuminated in red and green light, creating an extremely pleasing and beautiful aesthetic effect.
In accordance with another eature of the present invention, the droplets in the water stream may be made to appear to stand still, all rise or all fall by altering the frequencies of the strobe lights and/or the frequencies of the in-water sound waves. In accordance with another feature of the present invention, the apparent movement of individual droplets in multiple water streams produced by multiple devices for generating in-water sound waves can be independently controlled by altering the frequency or phase, or the rate of altering the frequency or phase, of the alternating current to the in-water sound wave generating devices.
In accordance with another feature of the present invention, apparatus for producing sound waves in multiple .streams of water is provided comprising a cylindrical lower body to which is attached a water supply pipe in the center of the bottom, and topless cone-shaped upper body from which a plurality of branching pipes extend from the upper periphery, the upper and lower bodies being connected by a hollow area. Inside the upper body and extending down from the center is an inverted cone. Inside the lower body and extending up from the bottom is a cylinder containing a set of devices for producing sound wa~es in water, wi~h a circular water path surrounding the cylinder, this circular water path being penetrated by several support pipes which support the lower body. The device for producing sound waves in water comprises a round, elastic vibration membrane stretched over the top of the cy~ der, and installed below the center of this membrane is a vibration coil surrounded by a ring-shaped permanent magnet, with a cylindrical projecting core fitting up into the center of the coil within the magnet.
In accordance with another feature of the present invention, a filter is provided for reducing or substantially eliminating pulse and turbulence within a water stream. Along the path of a water supply that contains pulse and turbulence a widened area is formed of vibration-resistant rubber or plastic or sLmilar material.
Within this widened area is provided an elastic, porous, multi~holed sponge through which the water supply must pass.
As the water passes through the widened area and ~he sponge, a pocket of trapped air is formed, into which one por~ion of the sponge protrudes. When the water containing the pulse and turbulence passes through the expanded area and the sponge in its path, the pulse and turbulence are reduced and ~ 3 virtually elLminated by the compound effect of the elasticity of the sponge itself and the bulk elasticity of the air in the air pocket and the ~ir in that portion of the sponge that protrudes into the air pocket.
The present invention will be described in detail based upon the following drawings:
BRI~F D~5CRIPTION OF TH~ DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates Applicant's prior method for generating sound waves in a stream of water;
FIG. 2 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention in which 2 types of multistrobe light, one red (R) and one green (G), are shining alternately. The Y
axis shows ~he strength of the light (R) and the X axis shows the time (t);
FIG. 3 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the .present invention in which a fountain of water droplets is illuminated by a red (R) multistrobe light at time (t) = 0.5/60 second;
_ g _ ~r~ i / J ~ ~i I i f ) FIG. 4 illustra~es ~he preferred embodiment of FIG. 3 in which a fountain of water droplets is illuminated by a green (G) multistrobe light at tLme (t) = 1/60 second;
FIG. 5 illustrates a side sec~ional view of a first preferred embodiment of the filter of the present invention;
FIG. 6 illustrates a side sectional view of a second preferred embodLment of the filter of the present invention;
FIG. 7 illustrates a side sectional view of a third preferred embodiment of the filter of the presen~ invention;
FIG. 8 illustrates apparatus utilizing the present invention to generate a stream of distinct droplets in the form of a parabola;
FIG. ~ illustrates a prior art filter for reducing pulse and turbulence from a water stream;
FIG. 10 illustrates a side sectional view of a preferred em~odiment of the apparatus for producing multiple streams of water containing sound waves of the present invention;
FIG. 11 illustrates a side view of the embodLment of FIG 10;
FIG. 12 illustrates a top view of the embodLment of FIG. 10;
FIG. 13 illustrates a bottom view of the embodLment of FIG. 10~
FIG. 14 illustra~es a section view of the embodiment of FIG. 10 taken along line A-A of FIG. 10;
FIG. 15 illustrates a section view of the embodiment of FIG. 10 taken along line B-B of FIG. 10;
FIG. 16 illustrates a side sectional view of an upper body having a water supply pipe attached to its conical wall;
FIG. 17 illustrates a top view of a sound wave .producing device having a square configuration;
FIG. 18 illustrates a section view of the sound wave producing device of FIG. 17 taken along line C-C of FIG. 17;
FIG. 19 illustrate~ a preferred embodLMQn~ of apparatus for producing multiple streams of water containing sound waves of the present invention in which streams of droplets form a waterfall;
FIG. 20 illustrates another preferred embodiment of apparatus for producing ml~ltiple streams of water containing sound waves of the present invention in which streams of droplets form a waterfall;
1~
FIG. 21 illustrates a side sectional view of an embodiment of the apparatus for producing multiple streams of water containing sound waves of the present invention;
15FIG. 22 illustrates a ~op view of the apparatus of FIG.
21;
FIG. 23 illustrates another preferred embodiment o apparatus for producing multiple streams of water containing 20sound waves of the present invention, and FIG. 24 illustrates a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 23.
~ Tl~ D DE:SCRIPTION OP' PR~FE~ D EMBODIMeNT
Referring to FIGS. 2~4, along a hose (T) carrying water (W) at a fixed pressure, an AC magnetic ti~er (not shown) provid~s an impact ~t regular interYals, ~hereby generating within the wat~r sound waves (S) at the same frequency as the current (e.g., 60 Hz). In this way, dense areas (F) of water will occur 60 times every second. When the dense part of these waves arrives at a fountain aperture (N) that i5 perpendicular or close to perpendicular to the wave, the water molecules near the aperture begin moving sx~remely rapidly and pressure increases such that when this highly active water leaves the aperture, the parabolic stream of water (W) forms into distinc~ and separate droplets (a), (b)... (f), which sparkle when illumina~ed by a multistrobe light, producing a beautiful water-flow effect.
When the thus obtained stream of droplets (W) is illuminated by a red (R) multistrobe light (not shown) at time (t) = 0.5/60 second, the droplets (a), (b).... (f) shine red as shown in F~G. 3. Then, when the stream is illuminated by a green (G) multistrobe light at t.Lme (t) = 1/60 second, as shown in FIG. 4, the droplets that were shining red in locations (a), (b)...(f), now shine green (G) in locations (a'), (b')... (f). If the light source is illuminated such that the after-Lmage of a viewer observing the fountain lasts 0.4/60 secondl to that viewer's eyes the red droplets shining at positions ta), (b)...(f) will remain, so at (t) = 1/60 second the red (R) and green (G) droplets will be seen simultaneously. At the times following, the same effect is repeated, creating a beautiful and brillian~ continuously flowing stream of orderly and alternating red (R) and green (G) dxoplets.
In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, both red (R) and green (G) multistro~e lights are operated at the same frequency (e.g., 60 Hz). The multistrobe lights need not, however, be operated at the same frequency. If, for example, the red ~R) multistrobe light shines at 60 Hz while the green (G) multistrobe light shines at 55 Hz, the red (R) droplets (a), (b)... ~f) will appear stationary, while the green (G) droplets (a'), (b')...(f') will appear to be moving along the parabola away from the fountain hose (T). On the other hand, if the multistrobe lights are changed such that the red ~R) lîght is operated at 60 Hz while the green (G) light is operated at 65 Hz, the red (R) droplets (a), (b)...(f) will appear stationary, while the green (G) droplets ~a'),(b')...(f') will appear to move along the parabola toward the fountain hose (T). If in the above examples the multistrobe light intervals for the red (R) and green (G) lights are reversed, 2 ~J ~ ~ 7 i~ ~
the movement of the droplets perceivPd by ths viewer will appear to reverse.
In accordance with another feature of the present inv~ntion, if the red (R) and green (G) multistrobe lights are set out of initial phase and u~ed to illuminate the same area of a conventional fountain that scatters numerous individual droplets, the movements of the droplets of each color will not appear uniform. Rather, it will appear to the viewer that the number of droplets has suddenly doubled.
Also, if two or more multistrobe lights are used to illuminate rain, a waterfall, or a stream or brook, the droplets will appear to increase and the movements will become extremely complex, producing the appearance of tremendous variation.
In addition, if glass or plastic beads are hurled as from a fountain or dropped as from a waterfall, and illuminated with two or more multistrobe lights, the effect ?0 will be the same as for the water droplets described above.
Further, air bubbles in water can be beautifully illuminated in the same way.
In accordance with another feature o the present invention, a filter is provided for reducing or substantially eliminating pulse and turbulence in a water stream. Referring to FIG. 5, a first embodiment o~ t~e filter of the pres~nt invention is shown in a horizontal position. An expanded area of the water path 1 comprises a large cylinder on either end of which, facing ou~, are S gradually dLminishing conical sections of round pipe 2, 2a, and at the center of the enlarged area 1 a narrowed section 3 is formed to create a smaller internal diameter. A water supply pipe 4 is connected to the small diameter end of circular cone 2, while a water discharge pipe 5, the diameter of which is larger than the diameter of the supply pipe 4, is connected to the small diameter end of the circular cone 2a. The enlarged area 1, the circular cones 2, 2a, the narrowed section 3, the water supply pipe 4, and the water discharge pipe 5 are all formed of a vibration-resistant material, such as rubber or plastic.
Elastic, porous, multi-hole sponges 6, fonmed, for example, of plastic or rubber, are placed within enlarged area 1. In ~he embodiment shown in Fig. 5, a sponge 6 is ~0 provided on each side of the narrowed section 3.
Thus, when a stream of water containing pulse and turbulence Wl flows into the enlarged area 1 from water supply pipe 4, water Wl passes through both sponges 6 and flows out of the water discharge pipe 5. Because the filter in this embodiment is placed in a level and horizontal .
t configuration, a pocket of trapped and compress~d air 7 forms at the top of the enlarged area 1. The ends of the sponges 6' protrude into this air pocket 7 so the air is separated into three areas -- a sec~ion of the air pocket 7 S within the narrowed sec~ion 3, and a section of the air pocket 7 within each of the circular cones 2 and 2a. The trapped air 7 also exists within the protruding portions 6' of the sponges 6, so the three sections of air pocket 7 are actually all connected. ThPn, when the stream of water W1 containing pulse and turblllence passes through the enlarged area 1, the elasticity of the sponges 6, and the bulk elasticity of the air pocket 7 and the air in the protruding sections of the sponges 6, all work together ~o reduce and eliminate the pulse and turbulence such that the stream of lS water W2 exiting through the water discharge pipe 5 is free of pulse and turbulence.
It has been found that the structure of the present invention is most effective to substantially eliminate pulse ~0 and turbulence from the water stream. If the sponges 6 are eliminated and the air pocket 7 is used alone, or if the filter is placed vertically and the air pocket 7 is eliminated, the pulse and turbulence are only slightly reduced. The water discharge pipe 5 is given a larger diameter than the water intake pipe 4 in order to reduce resistance and facilitate a stable flow of pulse and ~J
turbulence free wa-ter W2. ~he sam~ principles are applied in ~he other preferred embodiments of the present invention shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.
Referring to FIG. 6, a second embodiment of the filter of the present inv~ntion is shown in a horizontal position.
As in the first preferred embodiment described above, an enlarged area la is provided in the water supply path, but this embodimen~ differs from the first embodiment in that walls 8, 8a on both ends of the enlarged area la are flat.
Accordingly, sponges 6a are placed such that one surface of each sponge 6a contacts a flat wall 8 or 8a on one end and the other surface contacts the narrowed section 3a in the middle of the enlarged area la. An air pocket 7a is formed only in the center narrowed section 3a.
In this second embodiment, the air pocket 7a is somewhat smaller than that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, so the bulk elasticity of the air is reduced.
However, the effectiveness of this embodiment of the present invention is nearly the same as for the first embodiment and this second embodiment is somewhat easier to manufacture.
FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the filter of the 25` present invention in a vertical position. Water intake pipe 4b is connected to the bottom of enlarged area lb and a water discharge pipe 5b, the diameter of which is ~rg~
than the diameter of the water intake pipe 4b is connected at the top of enlarged area lb and axtends down into the center of the enlarged area lb. Toward the lower end of S the enlarged area lb i9 a cut-off plate 9 with several flow holes 10 drilled through it near and around the outer circumference~ Within the enlarged area lb and on the cut-off plate 9 iR pla.ced an elastic, porous, multi-holed sponge 6b of rubber or plastic, and the water discharge pipe 5b fits down into a cavity formed in the upper surface of the sponge 6b.
Thus, when a strec~m of water Wl containing pulse and turbulence enters the enlarged area lb through water intake pipe 4b, the water Wl flows in the upward direction of the arrows as shown in FIG. 7 through the holes 10 in the cut-off plate ~, through the sponge 6b, and up and out through the water discharge pipe 5b. As it does so, the water level W3 in the enlarged area lb rises in the sponge 6b to a point somewhat higher than the lower edge o~ the water discharge pipe 5b. Air is trapped and compressed in an air pocket 7b and in a portion 6b' of sponge (6b) that protrudes into the air pocket 7b. The effectiveness of the filter in this third embodiment of the present invention in substantially eliminating pulse and turbulence from a water ~3, stre~m is approximately tha same as in the first two embodiments described above.
FIG. 8 is a diagram of apparatus incorporating the filter of the present invention. A box A is shown having a reservoir of water B at the bottom. To this reservoir B is connected a water pipe H and a gear pump P and the filter F
of the present invention as it appears in FIG. 1. The water passes on to an in-water sound genera~ing device S where a vibration a~ 60 Hz is provided through a rubber sheet in contact with the stream. A nozzle N pointing diagonally upward is set on the end of the water pipe H beyond the in-water sound generating device S.
The gear pump P used for this fountain apparatus produces a great deal of pulse and turbulence. However, the ~ilter F effectively reduces and eliminates the pulse and turbulence, and when the in-water sound generating device generates a sound in the water 60 times per minute, the stream of water T coming from the nozzle N is formed into separate and distinct droplets D. When this stream T is illuminated with a multistrobe ligh~, the droplets D shine individually and a ~eautiful parabola can be clearly seen and con~irmed.
r~
When the filter F in the fountain apparatus described above was replaced with previously used glass ch,~mber~ as shown in FIG. 9, the remaining pulse and turbulence producQd numerous droplets other than those produced hy the in-water sound. The water stream wa~ diffused and no clear parabolic line was observable, thus it was not useful as an instructional tool.
In accordance with another feature of the present invention, a fountain of multi-branching streams of distinct droplets produced by sound waves in the water stream can be created without allowing any undesirable droplets in the streams. The sources of undesirable droplets are as follows:
(a) Pulse flow or turbulence in the water;
(b) Vibrations from outside the s~und wave producing device;and (c) Diffractions and reflections of the sound waves ~0 produced in the water.
Pulse flow and turbulence are suppressed or substantially elLminated by a filter of the type described abo~e.
~5 To eliminate the influence of vibrations from outside the sound wave producing device, bo~h the upper body and lower body of the device are preferably made of vibration resistant ma~erials, such as rubber or plas~ic.
The structure of this feature of the present invention has been designed to avoid producing reflected or diffracted waves. That is, the water coming in rom the water supply pipe passe~ first through a filter of the type described above. The compound effect of ~he Qlastici~y in the sponge and in the air pocket, in adclition to the bulk elasticity of the air trapped in the sponge, serve to reducQ or eliminate the pulse and turbulence in the water supply. Then, this water is fed into a circular wa~er path through which it rises and fills ~he space in an upper body, the internal circumference of which is cone shaped. Suspended at the very centQr of this space in the upper body is an inverted cone. Thus, all the internal surfaces of the upper body are round, with no flat surfaces, protrusions, or indentations.
The iower portion of the upper body is round, and, proceeding upward, the cross section is doughnut-shaped with gradually decreasing area until the water flows into branching pipes at the top.
At the bottom of the cone-shaped space formed by the upper body is positioned a vibration membrane of the sound wave producing device. Thi~ membrane, through the operation of a vibration coil, sends 50 to 60 vibration per second into the wa~er filling ~he space. The vibration membrane is round and the operation of the vibration source at its S center sends out a uniform wave. This struc~ure s~ppresses the generation of diffraction waves.
Also, the cone shaped walls of the upper body and the suspended cone at the top of the space mean there are no surfaces perpendicular to the direction of the waves being produced. This struc~ure suppresses the generation of reflected waves.
As a result, when the sound waves in the water arrive near the branching pipes, the water molecules begin moving rapidly, and the streams sent forth from the branching pipes become separate, distinct, and beautiful droplets.
This fountain of water droplets may then be illuminated 2~ for pleasing aesthetic effect in accordance with another feature of the present invention described above in which moving droplets are illuminated by alternating colored strobe lights of, for example, red and green light. The individual droplets created by the present invention then shine a beautiful red or green and the resulting fountain can be appreciated as an object of aesthetic beauty.
~, ",~ ,~; ~ ?, /1 ,\
Referring now to the accompanying drawings (FIGS. 10-15), this feature of ~he present invention will be described in further detail. Lower body 20 comprises a cylindrical case having an open top and closed bottom and made of a hard, resilient mat~rial, such as plastic, wi~h a flange 21 around the upper edge and a water supply pipe 22 fixedly connected at the center of the bottom. A~ shown in FIG. 13, there are a plurality of water supply holes 24 located in the bottom surface of the bore of the water supply pipe 22.
Upper body 26 is formed of a hard, resilient material, such as plastic, in the shape of a cone with the top cut off. A flange 28 i5 formed around the lower circumference of the upper body 26 with branching pipes 30 connected around the upper periphery.
The flanges 21 and 28 of the lower body 20 and the upper body 26, respectively, are connected with a packing ~O seal 27 of known construction between them by bolts 31 and nuts 32 to form a hollow interior. From the center of the peak inside this hollow body i~ suspended an inverted cone 34. The cylindrical in-water sound wave generating device 40 is positioned within the lower body 20 such that it creates a circular water path 42. ~he lower body 20 is supported by four supporting pipes 44 that penetrate ~he circular water pa~h 42.
The structure of the in-water sound wave generating device 40 is described in further detail as follows. At approximately the mid-point of the vertical cylinder 46 is a center base 48. Stretched over and blocking off the top of the cylinder 46 is a circular vibration membrane 50, formed, for example, of rubber, held in place by a restraining ring 52, which is itself held in place by numerous screws 54. A
vibration coil 56 is located under the center of this vibration membrane 50, and around the outside of this coil 56 is a permanent magnet 58 in the shape of a ring. A small gap G is provided between the magnet 58 and ~he coil 56. The magnet 58 is attached to a round seat 60 that forms the bottom of a core 62, the protruding cylinder of which fits up into the center of the vibration coil 56. This core is set on the center base 48.
Between the core 62 and the vibration membrane 50 and within the coil 56 is a sponge cushion 64 to prevent the vibration membrane 50 from bending in a downward direction excessivaly due to water pressure.
The supporting pipes 44 also serve as pathways supplying air to the inside of the in-water sound wave generating device 40 and through one of these pipes an electric power cord (not shown~ is introduced to supply power to the vibra~ion coil 56.
A filter 66 form5 ~he ~ottom portion of the lower body 20. As described in detail above, the filter 66 comprises an elastic and porous multi-holed sponge 68, which ~xtends across the inner diameter of the lower body and blocks the bottom of the circular water path. The sponge 68 extends about halfway up into the in-water sound wave generating device and is partially filled with water. An air pockat 70 is formed between the upper surface of this sponge 72 and the center base 48.
Specifically referring to FIG. 10, water introduced via the water supply pipe 22 passes through the water supply holes 24 into the bottom of the lower body 20. The water passes through the sponge 68, enters the circular water path 42, and continues to move in an upward direction as shown in the drawing. However, water contained inside the in-water sound wave generating device 40 is indicated at water level W within the sponge 68 in the lower part of the cylinder 4S.
Air in the ~ponge 68 above this water level W and in the air pocket 70 is trapped and compressed.
J~ ; i J
In this way, when the water passes through the sponge 68, the compo~nd effect of the elasticity of the sponge 68 itself and the bulk elasticity of the air in the air pocket 70 and the air in the sponge 68 above the water level W
filters out and smoothes any pulse or turbulence that may be in the water. Therefore, the water that fills the space S
in the upper body 26 is smoothed and rectified.
However, at the bottom of the space S this water contacts the vibration membrane 50 of the in-water sound generating device 40. Nhen, for example, 60 Hz alternating current is supplied to the ~ibrating coil 56, the permanent magnet 58 is affected by the resulting magnetic field and vibrates up and down. This in turn vibrates ~he vibration membrane S0, which then generates sound waves in the water within the space S.
In generating these sound waves, it is essential that the shape of the in-water sound wave generating device 40 ~0 inhibit the production of diffracted wavas. FIGS. 16-18 show for illustrative purposes examples of configurations of in-water sound wave generating devices that do produce diffracted waves. In FIG. 16, a water supply pipe 22' enters the space S through the conical wall of an upper body. Thus, the point t where the water pipe 22' and the conical wall meet produces diffracted waves k as indicated ~;J '~. : J ~
by the broken-line arrows. These diffracted waves k cause the production of undesirable droplet~. ~herefore, the surrounding walls are preferably smooth and without deformities as shown by the above-described embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 17 shows a top view of a square in-water sound generating device 40~ and FIG. 18 shows a cross sectional view of the same device shown in FIG. 17. Because the four corners p, q, r, and s of the square vibrating membrane 50' are difficult to vibrate due to this configuration, the sound waves generated at the center of ~he membrane 50~ are diffracted in ~he four corners p, q, r, and 5, leading to the production of undesirable droplets. Thus, the vibration membranes are preferably round as shown by the above-described embodiment of the present invention.
~Ioreover, because reflec~ed waves are easily produced by any surface perpendicular to the direction of movement of the in-water sound waves, without the inverted cone 34 of the upper body 26 extending down into the space S, the top of the upper body 26 would be a flat surface. The in-water sound waves would reach that flat surface and reflec~ back.
Again, these reflected wAves would create undesired droplets. Thus, the surfaces in the space S preferably are 2 ~J ~ 7 1~ ~
not perpendicular to the direction of movement of the in-water sound waves.
In the ways described ahove, the structure of the present in~ention is designed to avoid producing reflected and diffracted waves. The sound waves produced in the water in the space S travel upward and arrive near the branching pipes 30~ The molecules begin moving increasingly rapidly and the water spewed from the aper~ures of the branching pipes 30 forms separate and distinct droplets.
When using a plurality of devices for producing droplets in streams, each with a different frequency of in-water sound, to produce streams containing individual droplets separated by varying intervals, illuminating these streams of droplets spaced apart by varying intervals with strobe lights at fixed frequencies can cause certain undesirable results. If, for example, three streams of droplets are produced using droplet-producing equipment generating in-water vibrations at (A) = 3500 rpm, (B) = 3600 rpm, and (C) = 3700 rpm, and if these streams are illuminated by strobe lights at a fixed frequency, the following states result:
~5 I. With the strobe light illuminating at 3400 rpm, the droplets in streams (A), (B), and (C3 all will _ 29 -q r~
appear to be falling down, the falling speed increasing from (A) to (B) to (C). Moreover, the speed at which the droplets in stream (C) fall will be extremely fast, which may make the individual droplets difficult t~ see S and cause the eyes of the viewer to tire quickly.
II. With the strobe light illumina~ing at 3600 rpm, the droplets in s~ream (A) will appear to be rising, the droplets in stream (B) will appear to be standing still, and the droplets in ~tream (C) will appear to be falling.
III. Wi~h the strobe light illuminating at 3800 rpm, the droplets in streams (~), (B), and ~C~ all will appear to be rising, the speed of rising increasing from (C) to (B~ to (A). Moreover, the speed at which the droplets in stream (A) rise will be extremely fast, which may make ~he individual droplets difficult to see and cause the eyes of the viewer to tire quickly.
Thus, when generating several streams of droplets produced at different inter~als, if the intervals at which the droplets are produced are fixed, the range of change in the appearance of the drople~s and the aesthetic value may be somewhat limited. In some cases, the droplets may become - 3~ -difficult to see and the effect extremely tiresome to the eyes of the viewer.
Referring now to FIG. 19, another feature of the present invention is shown in which streams of droplets produced by devices for producing streams of individual droplets 80, 80a form a waterfall. From each of these devices 80, 80a, d~scribed in greater detail above, branch a plurality of tubes 82, 82a, each having a nozzle 83, 83a, respectively, on the end, with the tubes 82, 82a from each device 80, 80a lined up alternately. Fluid droplets 84, 84a, formed, for example, of water, exit from the nozzles 83, 83a in streams 85, 85a to form a waterfall. If, on the other hand, the nozzles 83, 83a are directed upward, the streams 85, 85a form parabolas and the effect would be that of a fountain. When these streams 85, 85a are illuminated by fixed-interval strobe lights, as described above, the droplets 84, 84a sparkle brilliantly, producing an aesthetically appealing waterfall or fountain.
By altering the frequency and phase of the vibrations generating sound waves in the water in the devices 80, 80a, which produce the individual water droplets, the droplets 84, 84a can be generated under differing conditions such that, when illuminated by fixed-interval strobe lights, the droplets 84, 84a appear to rise, fall, or stand still. By causing the appearances of streams 85, 85a to differ from each other and from time to time, an extremely beautiful visual effect is produced.
In an example of operation of this fPature of the present invention, when the vibration frequency of one of the droplet forming devices 80 is gradually altered from, for example, 3500 to 3700 rpm while the frequency of the other droplet forming device 80a is simultaneously and at the same rate altered from 3700 to 3500 rpm, and ~he streams 85, 85a are illuminated by a fixed interval stroba light at, for example, 3600 rpm, the droplets 84 in streams 85 will appear to change gradually from rising rapidly to slowly rising to standing still to falling slowly to rapidly falling. The drople~s 84a in other streams 85a, on the othQr hand, will appear to change from falling rapidly to slowly falling to standing still to rising slowly to rapidly rising. In other words, the droplets 84, 84a in streams 85, 85a, respectively, will alter their apparent movement reciprocally. By changing the frequency and phase and the speed of change of the frequency and phase of the coil 56 (see FIGS. ~0-15), the apparent movement of ~he droplets 84, 84a in the streams 85, 85a can be altered freely.
FIG. 20 illustrates a different embodiment of this feature of the present invention utilizing three devices - 3~ -~ J.'~ ~'i .`
for producing droplets in streams 95, 95a, 95b. Each of the e devices 91, 9la, 9lb sends ou~ a branching array of streams that creates a waterfall effec~ as shown in FIG. 19, but to avoid complicating the drawing, only one stream from each device 91, 9la, 9lb is shown. Also, the components of each device 91, 9la, 9lb are labelled with the same numbers used for the embodiment shown in FIG. 19.
Three droplet-producing devices 91, 9la, 9lb as described above qenerate streams containing sound waves through tubes 92, 92a, 9~b, then through the nozzles 93, 93a, 93b from which they emerge as parabolic streams 95, 95a, 95b containing individual droplets 94, 94a, 94b. These streams 95, 95a, 95b are ~hen illuminated by the continuous lS fixed-interval strobe light 96 at 3600 rpm.
By slowly changing the frequencies of the in-water sound in each of the three devices 31, 9la, 9lb, the resulting streams 95, 95a, 95b can be altered as follows:
~0 I. Droplets 94, 94a, 94b all rise together;
II. Droplets 94 rise, droplets 94a stand still, and draplets 94b fall;
III. Droplets 94 fall, droplets 94a stand s~ill, and droplets 94b rise; or IV. Draplets 94, 94a, 94b all fall together.
1!~ . , i l1 ! j~ j Thus, fountains and water~alls can be obtained that manifest this ~ort of variety and change in the appearance of individual streams of individual dxoplets.
An embodiment of the devices for producing streams of droplets depicted in FIGS. 19 and 20 is shown in detail in FIGS. 21 and 22, which is similar to the embodiments of ~he apparatus for producing multiple streams of water containing sound waves described above. Each device 100 includes a bottom cylinder 101, a cylindrical main body 102, and a cover 103, the bottom cylinder 101 being attached to the main body 102 such that an elastic vibration membrane 104 is held between them. A water supply pipe 105 is connec~ed to the main body 102 near the bottom of the main body 102. The main body 102 is closed at the top by the cover 103 and in the center o the under-surface of the cover 103 i~ an inverted cone 106 extending down into the main body 102.
Near the outer circumference of the cover, a plurality of branching pipes 107 extend upward, to which the tubes (e.g., tubes 82, 82a of FIG. 19) are attached.
Below the center of the vibration membrane 104 is installed a movable coil 108 to which an electric current i8 supplied by a lead wire 109 from outside the device 100. A
permanent magnet 110 is fitted into the bottom cylinder 101 with a gap 112 between the magnet 110 and the vibration membrane 104. In the upper portion of the magnet 110 i8 a circular groove 114. The lower half of the coil 108 fits down into the groove 114 with a gap be~ween the coil 108 and both the inner and outer walls of the groove 11~. The magnet 110 provides the magnetic field rsquired to activate the coil 108. A sponge 120 is placed in the gap 112 between the vibration membrane 104 and the magnet 110 within the cylindrical coil 108. The sponge 120 prevents the vibration membrane 104 from sagging or flexing downward due to the weight of the coil 108 or water pressure.
Given the above structure, when water enters the main body 102 through the water supply pipe 105 and alternating current is supplied to the coil 103 by the lead wire 109, the coil 108, influenced by the magnetic field produced by the magnet 110, begins to vibrate at the same rate as the frequency of the alternating current. When the coil 108 vibrates, it causes the vibration membrane 104 to vibrate, 2n which then vibrates the water inside the main body 102, thus generating in-water sound waves. The in-water ~ound waves within the main body 102 are directed by the inverted cone 106 toward the outer circumference of the main body 102 as a ring the area of which decreases as it rises. The sound wave-containing water ultimately rises through main body 102 into branching pipes 107 and from there into the ~ubes 82, 2~7~
82a 2a, a~d exits from nozzles (e.g., nozzles 83, 83a of FIG. 19).
In accordance with another feature of the presen-t invention, and referring to FIGS. 23 and 24, a device 130 for generating multi-branching streams of sound-containing water, as descri~ed in greater detail above, is shown. From this device 130 exit a plurality (three are shown in the drawings) of tubes 132, 132a, 132b, a~ the ends of which are nozzles 133, 133a, 133b. These nozzles 133, 133a, 133b are attached to a belt 134 in a straight line and face directly downward. This belt 134 is driven by a fixed-interval reciprocating drive motor 135 by way of a drive pulley 136 and a coupled pulley 137. Because the movement is a fixed-cycle oscillation, the noz~les 133, 133a, 133b are moved horizontally in a simple harmonic oscillation such that the streams 138, 138a, 138b, and the droplets 139, 139a, 139b they contain, form waves. When ~hese streams 138, 138a, 138b are illuminated, for example, by a continuous strobe light (not shown in the drawings) as described above, the droplets 139, 139a, 139b sparkle brilliantly and the wave-like motion of the streams can be obssrved clearly.
To make the stream movement wave-like, in addi~ion to the method described above wherein the nozzles 133, 133a, 7 1 ~
133b are attached to a belt 104 and oscillated, the same oscillation can be accomplished in other ways such as attaching the nozzles to a cam, a cylinder, or rack and pinion.
s As described above, the present invention achieves various objects and advantages by providing novel method and apparatus for discriminating individual moving droplets and altering the movement and appearance of individual moving droplets in moving fluid s~reams generated by producing sound waves in such fluid streams. While the present invention has been illustrated with reference to specific embodiments thereof, such description i8 not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments shown and described. Various modifications to the construction and application of the preferred embodiments described herein may be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without depar~ing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which is only limited by the appended claims.
METE~OD AND APPARA~S FOR GE~IER~ING AI~ LI~IN~ING
INDIYIDllAL DROPLl~TS IlN MOVI~G STREAN OE DROPI~TS
BAl :RGRO~D AND S~A~Y OF INYENTI02a The present in~ention relates to method and apparatus for generating individual granular components (droplets) in moving streams of fluid, such as water, in fountains, waterfalls or streams, by producing sound waves in such fluid streams. More particularly, the present invention relates to method and apparatus for illuminating individual moving droplets, and altering the movement and appearance of the individual moving droplets, in moving fluid streams generated by producing sound waves in such fluid streams.
Formerly, sound waves in a moving stream of water have been produced by a timer and apparatus for s~riking at regular intervals a hose through which water was flowing.
When the dense parts of this in-water sound wave approach the narrow aperture of the hose, the molecules of ~he water in the dense areas begin moving very rapidly and pressure increases. When these rapidly moving molecules exit from the aperture, they cause the formation of distinct and individual droplets of water. When the stream of water exiting the aperture is illuminated by a continuous strobe light, the stream appears as a series of individual droplets. This method is the subject of a patent of the present applicant, Japanese Patent No. 86026068, issued June 2 ~ c ~ 3 18, 1986, entitled Method for Genera~ing a Stream of Distinct Droplets by In-Water Sound Waves."
The invention of Japanese Patent No. 86026068 was designed as instructional material to explain the nature of parabolas using a ~ingle s~ream of wa~er. As shown in FIG.
1 hereof, along a hose (T) carrying water (W) at a fixed pressure, an AC magnetic timer (not shown~ provides an Lmpact at regular intervals, thereby generating within the water sound waves (S~ at the same frequency as the alternating current (e.g., 60 Hz). In this way, dense areas of water will occur 60 tLmes every second.
When the dense part of this in-water sound wave arrives at an aperture (N) in a wall that is perpendicular to the direction of movement of the sound wave [S3, an area (F) in which the water molecules are moving extremely rapidly and water pressure is increasing is produced in the area of the aperture (N). When this area of fast-moving molecules ~F) ~0 leaves the aperture (N), as shown in FIG. 1, the parabolic stream of water (W) becomes a series of separate droplets (a), (b)...(f). When the stream containing the individual droplets is illuminated by light, the individual droplets can be viewed for scientific or aesthetic purposes.
Applicant~s prior me~hod was lLmited in certain respects in terms of variations in the movement and appearance of the individual droplets within the moving stream of water. For example, illuminating the droplets in a single, unchanging color, left something to be desired from an aesthetic point of view. To provide greater variation in the appearance of the water stream, two or more strobe lights could be used for illumination of the individual droplets, however, a problem would then arise in getting individual droplets to shine in a single, pure color.
Also, Applicant's prior method utilized a strobe light operating at a single frequency corresponding to the lS frequency of the in-water sound waves. Operating the strobe lights at a single frequency further lLmited the variations in appearance of the apparent movement of the individual droplets in the stream of water.
In addition, Applicant's prior method utilized only a single stream of water exiting from a fixed nozzle.
Creating multiple streams of water using the prior method would have required the apparatus employed to be extremely complex and consequently impractical. Moreover, utilizing a fixed nozzle for the water stream further limited the . .
variability of the appearance of the movement of the streams of water.
Whenever water is moved by a pump, that stream of water contains pl-lse and turbulence. This pulse and turbulence may also, depending upon the state of the water path, be present in water flowing due to gravity. Pulse in a stream of water means large changes in water pressure, which generate secondary turbulence as well. When generating a stream of individual water droplets using Applicant~s prior method, it was determined that even the slightest pulse or turbulence in the water supply caused irregular water droplets to form and diffuse the water stream. The need to reduce or substantially eliminate pulse and turbulence in the water stream was apparent, however, the prior method still allowed slight pulse and turbulence to remain in the water flow.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to ~0 provide method and apparatus for discriminating moving individual droplets by illuminating the droplets with alternating beams from multistrobe lights of two or more colors.
It is another object of the present invention to provide method and apparatus for altering the apparent 6 `~ !
movement of individual droplets in a stream of water by altering the frequencies of the strobe lights illuminating the droplets.
It is yet another object of the present inven~ion to provide method and apparatus for altering the apparent movement of individual droplets in a stream of water by altering the frequencies of the in-water sound waves within the water stream.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide method and apparatus for altering the movement of individual droplets in a stream of water by oscillating the no~zle from which the water stream exits to create a wave-like motion in the water stream.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide method and apparatus for producing sound waves in multiple streams of water.
~0 It is still another object of the present invention to provide method and apparatus for altering the apparent movement of individual droplets in multiple streams of water produced by multiple devices for generating in-water sound waves by altering the frequency or phase, or ~he ra~e of .
altering the frequency or phase, of the alternating current to the in-water sound wave generating devices.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide method and apparatus for producing sound waves in multiple streams of water in which the production of reflected and diffracted waves is suppressed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide method and apparatus for substantially eliminating pulse and turbulence in a water stream.
These and other objects are achieved by ~he present invention, which, in a preferred embodiment, discriminates moving water droplets in a water stream by alternate illumination with multiple strobe lights. If the moving droplets are illuminated by alternating strobe lights of, for example, red and green light, the individual droplets that at one point are illuminated with red light will, after traveling a given distance, be illuminated with green light.
At this point, the previously red droplets will remain illuminated as an after-image such ~hat a viewer will simultaneously perceive distinct red and green droplets separated by a certain distance. Thus, if the droplets are alternately illuminated by red and green alternating strobe lights as they move, the many and continuously moving droplets o~ the water stream will appear as many individual points of brilliant light alternately illuminated in red and green light, creating an extremely pleasing and beautiful aesthetic effect.
In accordance with another eature of the present invention, the droplets in the water stream may be made to appear to stand still, all rise or all fall by altering the frequencies of the strobe lights and/or the frequencies of the in-water sound waves. In accordance with another feature of the present invention, the apparent movement of individual droplets in multiple water streams produced by multiple devices for generating in-water sound waves can be independently controlled by altering the frequency or phase, or the rate of altering the frequency or phase, of the alternating current to the in-water sound wave generating devices.
In accordance with another feature of the present invention, apparatus for producing sound waves in multiple .streams of water is provided comprising a cylindrical lower body to which is attached a water supply pipe in the center of the bottom, and topless cone-shaped upper body from which a plurality of branching pipes extend from the upper periphery, the upper and lower bodies being connected by a hollow area. Inside the upper body and extending down from the center is an inverted cone. Inside the lower body and extending up from the bottom is a cylinder containing a set of devices for producing sound wa~es in water, wi~h a circular water path surrounding the cylinder, this circular water path being penetrated by several support pipes which support the lower body. The device for producing sound waves in water comprises a round, elastic vibration membrane stretched over the top of the cy~ der, and installed below the center of this membrane is a vibration coil surrounded by a ring-shaped permanent magnet, with a cylindrical projecting core fitting up into the center of the coil within the magnet.
In accordance with another feature of the present invention, a filter is provided for reducing or substantially eliminating pulse and turbulence within a water stream. Along the path of a water supply that contains pulse and turbulence a widened area is formed of vibration-resistant rubber or plastic or sLmilar material.
Within this widened area is provided an elastic, porous, multi~holed sponge through which the water supply must pass.
As the water passes through the widened area and ~he sponge, a pocket of trapped air is formed, into which one por~ion of the sponge protrudes. When the water containing the pulse and turbulence passes through the expanded area and the sponge in its path, the pulse and turbulence are reduced and ~ 3 virtually elLminated by the compound effect of the elasticity of the sponge itself and the bulk elasticity of the air in the air pocket and the ~ir in that portion of the sponge that protrudes into the air pocket.
The present invention will be described in detail based upon the following drawings:
BRI~F D~5CRIPTION OF TH~ DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates Applicant's prior method for generating sound waves in a stream of water;
FIG. 2 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention in which 2 types of multistrobe light, one red (R) and one green (G), are shining alternately. The Y
axis shows ~he strength of the light (R) and the X axis shows the time (t);
FIG. 3 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the .present invention in which a fountain of water droplets is illuminated by a red (R) multistrobe light at time (t) = 0.5/60 second;
_ g _ ~r~ i / J ~ ~i I i f ) FIG. 4 illustra~es ~he preferred embodiment of FIG. 3 in which a fountain of water droplets is illuminated by a green (G) multistrobe light at tLme (t) = 1/60 second;
FIG. 5 illustrates a side sec~ional view of a first preferred embodiment of the filter of the present invention;
FIG. 6 illustrates a side sectional view of a second preferred embodLment of the filter of the present invention;
FIG. 7 illustrates a side sectional view of a third preferred embodiment of the filter of the presen~ invention;
FIG. 8 illustrates apparatus utilizing the present invention to generate a stream of distinct droplets in the form of a parabola;
FIG. ~ illustrates a prior art filter for reducing pulse and turbulence from a water stream;
FIG. 10 illustrates a side sectional view of a preferred em~odiment of the apparatus for producing multiple streams of water containing sound waves of the present invention;
FIG. 11 illustrates a side view of the embodLment of FIG 10;
FIG. 12 illustrates a top view of the embodLment of FIG. 10;
FIG. 13 illustrates a bottom view of the embodLment of FIG. 10~
FIG. 14 illustra~es a section view of the embodiment of FIG. 10 taken along line A-A of FIG. 10;
FIG. 15 illustrates a section view of the embodiment of FIG. 10 taken along line B-B of FIG. 10;
FIG. 16 illustrates a side sectional view of an upper body having a water supply pipe attached to its conical wall;
FIG. 17 illustrates a top view of a sound wave .producing device having a square configuration;
FIG. 18 illustrates a section view of the sound wave producing device of FIG. 17 taken along line C-C of FIG. 17;
FIG. 19 illustrate~ a preferred embodLMQn~ of apparatus for producing multiple streams of water containing sound waves of the present invention in which streams of droplets form a waterfall;
FIG. 20 illustrates another preferred embodiment of apparatus for producing ml~ltiple streams of water containing sound waves of the present invention in which streams of droplets form a waterfall;
1~
FIG. 21 illustrates a side sectional view of an embodiment of the apparatus for producing multiple streams of water containing sound waves of the present invention;
15FIG. 22 illustrates a ~op view of the apparatus of FIG.
21;
FIG. 23 illustrates another preferred embodiment o apparatus for producing multiple streams of water containing 20sound waves of the present invention, and FIG. 24 illustrates a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 23.
~ Tl~ D DE:SCRIPTION OP' PR~FE~ D EMBODIMeNT
Referring to FIGS. 2~4, along a hose (T) carrying water (W) at a fixed pressure, an AC magnetic ti~er (not shown) provid~s an impact ~t regular interYals, ~hereby generating within the wat~r sound waves (S) at the same frequency as the current (e.g., 60 Hz). In this way, dense areas (F) of water will occur 60 times every second. When the dense part of these waves arrives at a fountain aperture (N) that i5 perpendicular or close to perpendicular to the wave, the water molecules near the aperture begin moving sx~remely rapidly and pressure increases such that when this highly active water leaves the aperture, the parabolic stream of water (W) forms into distinc~ and separate droplets (a), (b)... (f), which sparkle when illumina~ed by a multistrobe light, producing a beautiful water-flow effect.
When the thus obtained stream of droplets (W) is illuminated by a red (R) multistrobe light (not shown) at time (t) = 0.5/60 second, the droplets (a), (b).... (f) shine red as shown in F~G. 3. Then, when the stream is illuminated by a green (G) multistrobe light at t.Lme (t) = 1/60 second, as shown in FIG. 4, the droplets that were shining red in locations (a), (b)...(f), now shine green (G) in locations (a'), (b')... (f). If the light source is illuminated such that the after-Lmage of a viewer observing the fountain lasts 0.4/60 secondl to that viewer's eyes the red droplets shining at positions ta), (b)...(f) will remain, so at (t) = 1/60 second the red (R) and green (G) droplets will be seen simultaneously. At the times following, the same effect is repeated, creating a beautiful and brillian~ continuously flowing stream of orderly and alternating red (R) and green (G) dxoplets.
In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, both red (R) and green (G) multistro~e lights are operated at the same frequency (e.g., 60 Hz). The multistrobe lights need not, however, be operated at the same frequency. If, for example, the red ~R) multistrobe light shines at 60 Hz while the green (G) multistrobe light shines at 55 Hz, the red (R) droplets (a), (b)... ~f) will appear stationary, while the green (G) droplets (a'), (b')...(f') will appear to be moving along the parabola away from the fountain hose (T). On the other hand, if the multistrobe lights are changed such that the red ~R) lîght is operated at 60 Hz while the green (G) light is operated at 65 Hz, the red (R) droplets (a), (b)...(f) will appear stationary, while the green (G) droplets ~a'),(b')...(f') will appear to move along the parabola toward the fountain hose (T). If in the above examples the multistrobe light intervals for the red (R) and green (G) lights are reversed, 2 ~J ~ ~ 7 i~ ~
the movement of the droplets perceivPd by ths viewer will appear to reverse.
In accordance with another feature of the present inv~ntion, if the red (R) and green (G) multistrobe lights are set out of initial phase and u~ed to illuminate the same area of a conventional fountain that scatters numerous individual droplets, the movements of the droplets of each color will not appear uniform. Rather, it will appear to the viewer that the number of droplets has suddenly doubled.
Also, if two or more multistrobe lights are used to illuminate rain, a waterfall, or a stream or brook, the droplets will appear to increase and the movements will become extremely complex, producing the appearance of tremendous variation.
In addition, if glass or plastic beads are hurled as from a fountain or dropped as from a waterfall, and illuminated with two or more multistrobe lights, the effect ?0 will be the same as for the water droplets described above.
Further, air bubbles in water can be beautifully illuminated in the same way.
In accordance with another feature o the present invention, a filter is provided for reducing or substantially eliminating pulse and turbulence in a water stream. Referring to FIG. 5, a first embodiment o~ t~e filter of the pres~nt invention is shown in a horizontal position. An expanded area of the water path 1 comprises a large cylinder on either end of which, facing ou~, are S gradually dLminishing conical sections of round pipe 2, 2a, and at the center of the enlarged area 1 a narrowed section 3 is formed to create a smaller internal diameter. A water supply pipe 4 is connected to the small diameter end of circular cone 2, while a water discharge pipe 5, the diameter of which is larger than the diameter of the supply pipe 4, is connected to the small diameter end of the circular cone 2a. The enlarged area 1, the circular cones 2, 2a, the narrowed section 3, the water supply pipe 4, and the water discharge pipe 5 are all formed of a vibration-resistant material, such as rubber or plastic.
Elastic, porous, multi-hole sponges 6, fonmed, for example, of plastic or rubber, are placed within enlarged area 1. In ~he embodiment shown in Fig. 5, a sponge 6 is ~0 provided on each side of the narrowed section 3.
Thus, when a stream of water containing pulse and turbulence Wl flows into the enlarged area 1 from water supply pipe 4, water Wl passes through both sponges 6 and flows out of the water discharge pipe 5. Because the filter in this embodiment is placed in a level and horizontal .
t configuration, a pocket of trapped and compress~d air 7 forms at the top of the enlarged area 1. The ends of the sponges 6' protrude into this air pocket 7 so the air is separated into three areas -- a sec~ion of the air pocket 7 S within the narrowed sec~ion 3, and a section of the air pocket 7 within each of the circular cones 2 and 2a. The trapped air 7 also exists within the protruding portions 6' of the sponges 6, so the three sections of air pocket 7 are actually all connected. ThPn, when the stream of water W1 containing pulse and turblllence passes through the enlarged area 1, the elasticity of the sponges 6, and the bulk elasticity of the air pocket 7 and the air in the protruding sections of the sponges 6, all work together ~o reduce and eliminate the pulse and turbulence such that the stream of lS water W2 exiting through the water discharge pipe 5 is free of pulse and turbulence.
It has been found that the structure of the present invention is most effective to substantially eliminate pulse ~0 and turbulence from the water stream. If the sponges 6 are eliminated and the air pocket 7 is used alone, or if the filter is placed vertically and the air pocket 7 is eliminated, the pulse and turbulence are only slightly reduced. The water discharge pipe 5 is given a larger diameter than the water intake pipe 4 in order to reduce resistance and facilitate a stable flow of pulse and ~J
turbulence free wa-ter W2. ~he sam~ principles are applied in ~he other preferred embodiments of the present invention shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.
Referring to FIG. 6, a second embodiment of the filter of the present inv~ntion is shown in a horizontal position.
As in the first preferred embodiment described above, an enlarged area la is provided in the water supply path, but this embodimen~ differs from the first embodiment in that walls 8, 8a on both ends of the enlarged area la are flat.
Accordingly, sponges 6a are placed such that one surface of each sponge 6a contacts a flat wall 8 or 8a on one end and the other surface contacts the narrowed section 3a in the middle of the enlarged area la. An air pocket 7a is formed only in the center narrowed section 3a.
In this second embodiment, the air pocket 7a is somewhat smaller than that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, so the bulk elasticity of the air is reduced.
However, the effectiveness of this embodiment of the present invention is nearly the same as for the first embodiment and this second embodiment is somewhat easier to manufacture.
FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the filter of the 25` present invention in a vertical position. Water intake pipe 4b is connected to the bottom of enlarged area lb and a water discharge pipe 5b, the diameter of which is ~rg~
than the diameter of the water intake pipe 4b is connected at the top of enlarged area lb and axtends down into the center of the enlarged area lb. Toward the lower end of S the enlarged area lb i9 a cut-off plate 9 with several flow holes 10 drilled through it near and around the outer circumference~ Within the enlarged area lb and on the cut-off plate 9 iR pla.ced an elastic, porous, multi-holed sponge 6b of rubber or plastic, and the water discharge pipe 5b fits down into a cavity formed in the upper surface of the sponge 6b.
Thus, when a strec~m of water Wl containing pulse and turbulence enters the enlarged area lb through water intake pipe 4b, the water Wl flows in the upward direction of the arrows as shown in FIG. 7 through the holes 10 in the cut-off plate ~, through the sponge 6b, and up and out through the water discharge pipe 5b. As it does so, the water level W3 in the enlarged area lb rises in the sponge 6b to a point somewhat higher than the lower edge o~ the water discharge pipe 5b. Air is trapped and compressed in an air pocket 7b and in a portion 6b' of sponge (6b) that protrudes into the air pocket 7b. The effectiveness of the filter in this third embodiment of the present invention in substantially eliminating pulse and turbulence from a water ~3, stre~m is approximately tha same as in the first two embodiments described above.
FIG. 8 is a diagram of apparatus incorporating the filter of the present invention. A box A is shown having a reservoir of water B at the bottom. To this reservoir B is connected a water pipe H and a gear pump P and the filter F
of the present invention as it appears in FIG. 1. The water passes on to an in-water sound genera~ing device S where a vibration a~ 60 Hz is provided through a rubber sheet in contact with the stream. A nozzle N pointing diagonally upward is set on the end of the water pipe H beyond the in-water sound generating device S.
The gear pump P used for this fountain apparatus produces a great deal of pulse and turbulence. However, the ~ilter F effectively reduces and eliminates the pulse and turbulence, and when the in-water sound generating device generates a sound in the water 60 times per minute, the stream of water T coming from the nozzle N is formed into separate and distinct droplets D. When this stream T is illuminated with a multistrobe ligh~, the droplets D shine individually and a ~eautiful parabola can be clearly seen and con~irmed.
r~
When the filter F in the fountain apparatus described above was replaced with previously used glass ch,~mber~ as shown in FIG. 9, the remaining pulse and turbulence producQd numerous droplets other than those produced hy the in-water sound. The water stream wa~ diffused and no clear parabolic line was observable, thus it was not useful as an instructional tool.
In accordance with another feature of the present invention, a fountain of multi-branching streams of distinct droplets produced by sound waves in the water stream can be created without allowing any undesirable droplets in the streams. The sources of undesirable droplets are as follows:
(a) Pulse flow or turbulence in the water;
(b) Vibrations from outside the s~und wave producing device;and (c) Diffractions and reflections of the sound waves ~0 produced in the water.
Pulse flow and turbulence are suppressed or substantially elLminated by a filter of the type described abo~e.
~5 To eliminate the influence of vibrations from outside the sound wave producing device, bo~h the upper body and lower body of the device are preferably made of vibration resistant ma~erials, such as rubber or plas~ic.
The structure of this feature of the present invention has been designed to avoid producing reflected or diffracted waves. That is, the water coming in rom the water supply pipe passe~ first through a filter of the type described above. The compound effect of ~he Qlastici~y in the sponge and in the air pocket, in adclition to the bulk elasticity of the air trapped in the sponge, serve to reducQ or eliminate the pulse and turbulence in the water supply. Then, this water is fed into a circular wa~er path through which it rises and fills ~he space in an upper body, the internal circumference of which is cone shaped. Suspended at the very centQr of this space in the upper body is an inverted cone. Thus, all the internal surfaces of the upper body are round, with no flat surfaces, protrusions, or indentations.
The iower portion of the upper body is round, and, proceeding upward, the cross section is doughnut-shaped with gradually decreasing area until the water flows into branching pipes at the top.
At the bottom of the cone-shaped space formed by the upper body is positioned a vibration membrane of the sound wave producing device. Thi~ membrane, through the operation of a vibration coil, sends 50 to 60 vibration per second into the wa~er filling ~he space. The vibration membrane is round and the operation of the vibration source at its S center sends out a uniform wave. This struc~ure s~ppresses the generation of diffraction waves.
Also, the cone shaped walls of the upper body and the suspended cone at the top of the space mean there are no surfaces perpendicular to the direction of the waves being produced. This struc~ure suppresses the generation of reflected waves.
As a result, when the sound waves in the water arrive near the branching pipes, the water molecules begin moving rapidly, and the streams sent forth from the branching pipes become separate, distinct, and beautiful droplets.
This fountain of water droplets may then be illuminated 2~ for pleasing aesthetic effect in accordance with another feature of the present invention described above in which moving droplets are illuminated by alternating colored strobe lights of, for example, red and green light. The individual droplets created by the present invention then shine a beautiful red or green and the resulting fountain can be appreciated as an object of aesthetic beauty.
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Referring now to the accompanying drawings (FIGS. 10-15), this feature of ~he present invention will be described in further detail. Lower body 20 comprises a cylindrical case having an open top and closed bottom and made of a hard, resilient mat~rial, such as plastic, wi~h a flange 21 around the upper edge and a water supply pipe 22 fixedly connected at the center of the bottom. A~ shown in FIG. 13, there are a plurality of water supply holes 24 located in the bottom surface of the bore of the water supply pipe 22.
Upper body 26 is formed of a hard, resilient material, such as plastic, in the shape of a cone with the top cut off. A flange 28 i5 formed around the lower circumference of the upper body 26 with branching pipes 30 connected around the upper periphery.
The flanges 21 and 28 of the lower body 20 and the upper body 26, respectively, are connected with a packing ~O seal 27 of known construction between them by bolts 31 and nuts 32 to form a hollow interior. From the center of the peak inside this hollow body i~ suspended an inverted cone 34. The cylindrical in-water sound wave generating device 40 is positioned within the lower body 20 such that it creates a circular water path 42. ~he lower body 20 is supported by four supporting pipes 44 that penetrate ~he circular water pa~h 42.
The structure of the in-water sound wave generating device 40 is described in further detail as follows. At approximately the mid-point of the vertical cylinder 46 is a center base 48. Stretched over and blocking off the top of the cylinder 46 is a circular vibration membrane 50, formed, for example, of rubber, held in place by a restraining ring 52, which is itself held in place by numerous screws 54. A
vibration coil 56 is located under the center of this vibration membrane 50, and around the outside of this coil 56 is a permanent magnet 58 in the shape of a ring. A small gap G is provided between the magnet 58 and ~he coil 56. The magnet 58 is attached to a round seat 60 that forms the bottom of a core 62, the protruding cylinder of which fits up into the center of the vibration coil 56. This core is set on the center base 48.
Between the core 62 and the vibration membrane 50 and within the coil 56 is a sponge cushion 64 to prevent the vibration membrane 50 from bending in a downward direction excessivaly due to water pressure.
The supporting pipes 44 also serve as pathways supplying air to the inside of the in-water sound wave generating device 40 and through one of these pipes an electric power cord (not shown~ is introduced to supply power to the vibra~ion coil 56.
A filter 66 form5 ~he ~ottom portion of the lower body 20. As described in detail above, the filter 66 comprises an elastic and porous multi-holed sponge 68, which ~xtends across the inner diameter of the lower body and blocks the bottom of the circular water path. The sponge 68 extends about halfway up into the in-water sound wave generating device and is partially filled with water. An air pockat 70 is formed between the upper surface of this sponge 72 and the center base 48.
Specifically referring to FIG. 10, water introduced via the water supply pipe 22 passes through the water supply holes 24 into the bottom of the lower body 20. The water passes through the sponge 68, enters the circular water path 42, and continues to move in an upward direction as shown in the drawing. However, water contained inside the in-water sound wave generating device 40 is indicated at water level W within the sponge 68 in the lower part of the cylinder 4S.
Air in the ~ponge 68 above this water level W and in the air pocket 70 is trapped and compressed.
J~ ; i J
In this way, when the water passes through the sponge 68, the compo~nd effect of the elasticity of the sponge 68 itself and the bulk elasticity of the air in the air pocket 70 and the air in the sponge 68 above the water level W
filters out and smoothes any pulse or turbulence that may be in the water. Therefore, the water that fills the space S
in the upper body 26 is smoothed and rectified.
However, at the bottom of the space S this water contacts the vibration membrane 50 of the in-water sound generating device 40. Nhen, for example, 60 Hz alternating current is supplied to the ~ibrating coil 56, the permanent magnet 58 is affected by the resulting magnetic field and vibrates up and down. This in turn vibrates ~he vibration membrane S0, which then generates sound waves in the water within the space S.
In generating these sound waves, it is essential that the shape of the in-water sound wave generating device 40 ~0 inhibit the production of diffracted wavas. FIGS. 16-18 show for illustrative purposes examples of configurations of in-water sound wave generating devices that do produce diffracted waves. In FIG. 16, a water supply pipe 22' enters the space S through the conical wall of an upper body. Thus, the point t where the water pipe 22' and the conical wall meet produces diffracted waves k as indicated ~;J '~. : J ~
by the broken-line arrows. These diffracted waves k cause the production of undesirable droplet~. ~herefore, the surrounding walls are preferably smooth and without deformities as shown by the above-described embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 17 shows a top view of a square in-water sound generating device 40~ and FIG. 18 shows a cross sectional view of the same device shown in FIG. 17. Because the four corners p, q, r, and s of the square vibrating membrane 50' are difficult to vibrate due to this configuration, the sound waves generated at the center of ~he membrane 50~ are diffracted in ~he four corners p, q, r, and 5, leading to the production of undesirable droplets. Thus, the vibration membranes are preferably round as shown by the above-described embodiment of the present invention.
~Ioreover, because reflec~ed waves are easily produced by any surface perpendicular to the direction of movement of the in-water sound waves, without the inverted cone 34 of the upper body 26 extending down into the space S, the top of the upper body 26 would be a flat surface. The in-water sound waves would reach that flat surface and reflec~ back.
Again, these reflected wAves would create undesired droplets. Thus, the surfaces in the space S preferably are 2 ~J ~ 7 1~ ~
not perpendicular to the direction of movement of the in-water sound waves.
In the ways described ahove, the structure of the present in~ention is designed to avoid producing reflected and diffracted waves. The sound waves produced in the water in the space S travel upward and arrive near the branching pipes 30~ The molecules begin moving increasingly rapidly and the water spewed from the aper~ures of the branching pipes 30 forms separate and distinct droplets.
When using a plurality of devices for producing droplets in streams, each with a different frequency of in-water sound, to produce streams containing individual droplets separated by varying intervals, illuminating these streams of droplets spaced apart by varying intervals with strobe lights at fixed frequencies can cause certain undesirable results. If, for example, three streams of droplets are produced using droplet-producing equipment generating in-water vibrations at (A) = 3500 rpm, (B) = 3600 rpm, and (C) = 3700 rpm, and if these streams are illuminated by strobe lights at a fixed frequency, the following states result:
~5 I. With the strobe light illuminating at 3400 rpm, the droplets in streams (A), (B), and (C3 all will _ 29 -q r~
appear to be falling down, the falling speed increasing from (A) to (B) to (C). Moreover, the speed at which the droplets in stream (C) fall will be extremely fast, which may make the individual droplets difficult t~ see S and cause the eyes of the viewer to tire quickly.
II. With the strobe light illumina~ing at 3600 rpm, the droplets in s~ream (A) will appear to be rising, the droplets in stream (B) will appear to be standing still, and the droplets in ~tream (C) will appear to be falling.
III. Wi~h the strobe light illuminating at 3800 rpm, the droplets in streams (~), (B), and ~C~ all will appear to be rising, the speed of rising increasing from (C) to (B~ to (A). Moreover, the speed at which the droplets in stream (A) rise will be extremely fast, which may make ~he individual droplets difficult to see and cause the eyes of the viewer to tire quickly.
Thus, when generating several streams of droplets produced at different inter~als, if the intervals at which the droplets are produced are fixed, the range of change in the appearance of the drople~s and the aesthetic value may be somewhat limited. In some cases, the droplets may become - 3~ -difficult to see and the effect extremely tiresome to the eyes of the viewer.
Referring now to FIG. 19, another feature of the present invention is shown in which streams of droplets produced by devices for producing streams of individual droplets 80, 80a form a waterfall. From each of these devices 80, 80a, d~scribed in greater detail above, branch a plurality of tubes 82, 82a, each having a nozzle 83, 83a, respectively, on the end, with the tubes 82, 82a from each device 80, 80a lined up alternately. Fluid droplets 84, 84a, formed, for example, of water, exit from the nozzles 83, 83a in streams 85, 85a to form a waterfall. If, on the other hand, the nozzles 83, 83a are directed upward, the streams 85, 85a form parabolas and the effect would be that of a fountain. When these streams 85, 85a are illuminated by fixed-interval strobe lights, as described above, the droplets 84, 84a sparkle brilliantly, producing an aesthetically appealing waterfall or fountain.
By altering the frequency and phase of the vibrations generating sound waves in the water in the devices 80, 80a, which produce the individual water droplets, the droplets 84, 84a can be generated under differing conditions such that, when illuminated by fixed-interval strobe lights, the droplets 84, 84a appear to rise, fall, or stand still. By causing the appearances of streams 85, 85a to differ from each other and from time to time, an extremely beautiful visual effect is produced.
In an example of operation of this fPature of the present invention, when the vibration frequency of one of the droplet forming devices 80 is gradually altered from, for example, 3500 to 3700 rpm while the frequency of the other droplet forming device 80a is simultaneously and at the same rate altered from 3700 to 3500 rpm, and ~he streams 85, 85a are illuminated by a fixed interval stroba light at, for example, 3600 rpm, the droplets 84 in streams 85 will appear to change gradually from rising rapidly to slowly rising to standing still to falling slowly to rapidly falling. The drople~s 84a in other streams 85a, on the othQr hand, will appear to change from falling rapidly to slowly falling to standing still to rising slowly to rapidly rising. In other words, the droplets 84, 84a in streams 85, 85a, respectively, will alter their apparent movement reciprocally. By changing the frequency and phase and the speed of change of the frequency and phase of the coil 56 (see FIGS. ~0-15), the apparent movement of ~he droplets 84, 84a in the streams 85, 85a can be altered freely.
FIG. 20 illustrates a different embodiment of this feature of the present invention utilizing three devices - 3~ -~ J.'~ ~'i .`
for producing droplets in streams 95, 95a, 95b. Each of the e devices 91, 9la, 9lb sends ou~ a branching array of streams that creates a waterfall effec~ as shown in FIG. 19, but to avoid complicating the drawing, only one stream from each device 91, 9la, 9lb is shown. Also, the components of each device 91, 9la, 9lb are labelled with the same numbers used for the embodiment shown in FIG. 19.
Three droplet-producing devices 91, 9la, 9lb as described above qenerate streams containing sound waves through tubes 92, 92a, 9~b, then through the nozzles 93, 93a, 93b from which they emerge as parabolic streams 95, 95a, 95b containing individual droplets 94, 94a, 94b. These streams 95, 95a, 95b are ~hen illuminated by the continuous lS fixed-interval strobe light 96 at 3600 rpm.
By slowly changing the frequencies of the in-water sound in each of the three devices 31, 9la, 9lb, the resulting streams 95, 95a, 95b can be altered as follows:
~0 I. Droplets 94, 94a, 94b all rise together;
II. Droplets 94 rise, droplets 94a stand still, and draplets 94b fall;
III. Droplets 94 fall, droplets 94a stand s~ill, and droplets 94b rise; or IV. Draplets 94, 94a, 94b all fall together.
1!~ . , i l1 ! j~ j Thus, fountains and water~alls can be obtained that manifest this ~ort of variety and change in the appearance of individual streams of individual dxoplets.
An embodiment of the devices for producing streams of droplets depicted in FIGS. 19 and 20 is shown in detail in FIGS. 21 and 22, which is similar to the embodiments of ~he apparatus for producing multiple streams of water containing sound waves described above. Each device 100 includes a bottom cylinder 101, a cylindrical main body 102, and a cover 103, the bottom cylinder 101 being attached to the main body 102 such that an elastic vibration membrane 104 is held between them. A water supply pipe 105 is connec~ed to the main body 102 near the bottom of the main body 102. The main body 102 is closed at the top by the cover 103 and in the center o the under-surface of the cover 103 i~ an inverted cone 106 extending down into the main body 102.
Near the outer circumference of the cover, a plurality of branching pipes 107 extend upward, to which the tubes (e.g., tubes 82, 82a of FIG. 19) are attached.
Below the center of the vibration membrane 104 is installed a movable coil 108 to which an electric current i8 supplied by a lead wire 109 from outside the device 100. A
permanent magnet 110 is fitted into the bottom cylinder 101 with a gap 112 between the magnet 110 and the vibration membrane 104. In the upper portion of the magnet 110 i8 a circular groove 114. The lower half of the coil 108 fits down into the groove 114 with a gap be~ween the coil 108 and both the inner and outer walls of the groove 11~. The magnet 110 provides the magnetic field rsquired to activate the coil 108. A sponge 120 is placed in the gap 112 between the vibration membrane 104 and the magnet 110 within the cylindrical coil 108. The sponge 120 prevents the vibration membrane 104 from sagging or flexing downward due to the weight of the coil 108 or water pressure.
Given the above structure, when water enters the main body 102 through the water supply pipe 105 and alternating current is supplied to the coil 103 by the lead wire 109, the coil 108, influenced by the magnetic field produced by the magnet 110, begins to vibrate at the same rate as the frequency of the alternating current. When the coil 108 vibrates, it causes the vibration membrane 104 to vibrate, 2n which then vibrates the water inside the main body 102, thus generating in-water sound waves. The in-water ~ound waves within the main body 102 are directed by the inverted cone 106 toward the outer circumference of the main body 102 as a ring the area of which decreases as it rises. The sound wave-containing water ultimately rises through main body 102 into branching pipes 107 and from there into the ~ubes 82, 2~7~
82a 2a, a~d exits from nozzles (e.g., nozzles 83, 83a of FIG. 19).
In accordance with another feature of the presen-t invention, and referring to FIGS. 23 and 24, a device 130 for generating multi-branching streams of sound-containing water, as descri~ed in greater detail above, is shown. From this device 130 exit a plurality (three are shown in the drawings) of tubes 132, 132a, 132b, a~ the ends of which are nozzles 133, 133a, 133b. These nozzles 133, 133a, 133b are attached to a belt 134 in a straight line and face directly downward. This belt 134 is driven by a fixed-interval reciprocating drive motor 135 by way of a drive pulley 136 and a coupled pulley 137. Because the movement is a fixed-cycle oscillation, the noz~les 133, 133a, 133b are moved horizontally in a simple harmonic oscillation such that the streams 138, 138a, 138b, and the droplets 139, 139a, 139b they contain, form waves. When ~hese streams 138, 138a, 138b are illuminated, for example, by a continuous strobe light (not shown in the drawings) as described above, the droplets 139, 139a, 139b sparkle brilliantly and the wave-like motion of the streams can be obssrved clearly.
To make the stream movement wave-like, in addi~ion to the method described above wherein the nozzles 133, 133a, 7 1 ~
133b are attached to a belt 104 and oscillated, the same oscillation can be accomplished in other ways such as attaching the nozzles to a cam, a cylinder, or rack and pinion.
s As described above, the present invention achieves various objects and advantages by providing novel method and apparatus for discriminating individual moving droplets and altering the movement and appearance of individual moving droplets in moving fluid s~reams generated by producing sound waves in such fluid streams. While the present invention has been illustrated with reference to specific embodiments thereof, such description i8 not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments shown and described. Various modifications to the construction and application of the preferred embodiments described herein may be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without depar~ing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which is only limited by the appended claims.
Claims (18)
1. A method for discriminating individual moving droplets in a moving stream of droplets comprising:
- generating sound waves at a predetermined frequency within the moving stream of droplets flowing through a supply pipe;
- discharging said stream of droplets from said supply pipe through a small aperture in said supply pipe that is substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of said sound waves within said stream of droplets to create a series of individual droplets;
- illuminating said individual droplets with a plurality of colored strobe lights;
- said plurality of strobe lights illuminating said individual droplets at alternating times.
- generating sound waves at a predetermined frequency within the moving stream of droplets flowing through a supply pipe;
- discharging said stream of droplets from said supply pipe through a small aperture in said supply pipe that is substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of said sound waves within said stream of droplets to create a series of individual droplets;
- illuminating said individual droplets with a plurality of colored strobe lights;
- said plurality of strobe lights illuminating said individual droplets at alternating times.
2. A method for discriminating individual moving droplets in a stream of droplets according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of colored strobe lights are operated at the same frequency.
3. A method for discriminating individual moving droplets in a stream of droplets according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of colored strobe light are operated at different frequencies.
4. A method for discriminating individual moving droplets in a stream of droplets according to claim 3 wherein a first colored strobe light is operated at a first frequency and a second colored strobe light is operated at a second frequency, said first frequency being lower than said second frequency.
5. A method for discriminating individual moving droplets in a stream of droplets according to claim 3 wherein a first colored strobe light is operated at a first frequency and a second colored strobe light is operated at a second frequency, said first frequency being higher than said second frequency.
6. Apparatus for discriminating individual moving droplets in a stream of droplets comprising:
- means for generating sound waves at a predetermined frequency in a stream of droplets moving through a supply pipe;
- said stream of droplets forming into individual moving droplets as said stream of droplets is discharged from a narrow aperture in said supply pipe that is substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of said sound waves in said stream of droplets;
- a plurality of colored strobe lights;
- said plurality of colored strobe lights illuminating said individual moving droplets at alternating times.
- means for generating sound waves at a predetermined frequency in a stream of droplets moving through a supply pipe;
- said stream of droplets forming into individual moving droplets as said stream of droplets is discharged from a narrow aperture in said supply pipe that is substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of said sound waves in said stream of droplets;
- a plurality of colored strobe lights;
- said plurality of colored strobe lights illuminating said individual moving droplets at alternating times.
7. A method for creating individual moving droplets in a moving stream of droplets comprising:
- pumping a moving stream of droplets through a supply pipe;
- passing said moving stream of droplets through a filter to substantially eliminate pulse and turbulence in said stream of droplets;
- generating sound waves at a predetermined frequency within the moving stream of droplets flowing through said supply pipe;
- discharging said stream of droplets from said supply pipe through a small aperture in said supply pipe that is substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of said sound waves within said stream of droplets to create a series of individual droplets; and - illuminating said individual droplets.
- pumping a moving stream of droplets through a supply pipe;
- passing said moving stream of droplets through a filter to substantially eliminate pulse and turbulence in said stream of droplets;
- generating sound waves at a predetermined frequency within the moving stream of droplets flowing through said supply pipe;
- discharging said stream of droplets from said supply pipe through a small aperture in said supply pipe that is substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of said sound waves within said stream of droplets to create a series of individual droplets; and - illuminating said individual droplets.
8. A filter for substantially eliminating pulse and turbulence from a stream of droplets comprising:
- a supply pipe;
- a discharge pipe;
- said supply pipe having a smaller inner diameter than said discharge pipe;
- a first circular cone having its small diameter end connected to an end of said supply pipe;
- a second circular cone having its small diameter end connected to an end of said discharge pipe;
- said first circular cone being connected at its large diameter end to one end of a cylinder;
- said second circular cone being connected at its large diameter end to another end of said cylinder;
- said first and second circular cones and said cylinder forming an enclosure;
- said stream of droplets flowing horizontally from said supply pipe through said enclosure and into said discharge pipe;
- said cylinder having a larger inner diameter than said discharge pipe such that a pocket of air will form above the level of the stream of droplets flowing through the enclosure from the supply pipe to the discharge pipe;
- said enclosure having a narrowed section substantially in the center of said enclosure;
- said enclosure further having first and second elastic, porous, multi-holed sponges on each side of said narrowed section;
- the elasticity of said sponges and the bulk elasticity of said air pocket and air in portions of said sponges protruding into said air pocket substantially eliminating said pulse and turbulence in said stream of droplets.
- a supply pipe;
- a discharge pipe;
- said supply pipe having a smaller inner diameter than said discharge pipe;
- a first circular cone having its small diameter end connected to an end of said supply pipe;
- a second circular cone having its small diameter end connected to an end of said discharge pipe;
- said first circular cone being connected at its large diameter end to one end of a cylinder;
- said second circular cone being connected at its large diameter end to another end of said cylinder;
- said first and second circular cones and said cylinder forming an enclosure;
- said stream of droplets flowing horizontally from said supply pipe through said enclosure and into said discharge pipe;
- said cylinder having a larger inner diameter than said discharge pipe such that a pocket of air will form above the level of the stream of droplets flowing through the enclosure from the supply pipe to the discharge pipe;
- said enclosure having a narrowed section substantially in the center of said enclosure;
- said enclosure further having first and second elastic, porous, multi-holed sponges on each side of said narrowed section;
- the elasticity of said sponges and the bulk elasticity of said air pocket and air in portions of said sponges protruding into said air pocket substantially eliminating said pulse and turbulence in said stream of droplets.
9. A filter for substantially eliminating pulse and turbulence from a stream of droplets comprising:
- a supply pipe;
- a discharge pipe;
- said supply pipe having a smaller inner diameter than said discharge pipe;
- a cylinder being connected at one end to an end of said supply pipe and at a second end to an end of said discharge pipe;
- said cylinder forming an enclosure;
- said stream of droplets flowing horizontally from said supply pipe through said enclosure and into said discharge pipe;
- said cylinder having a larger inner diameter than said discharge pipe such that a pocket of air will form above the level of the stream of droplets flowing through the enclosure from the supply pipe to the discharge pipe;
- said enclosure having a narrowed section substantially in the center of said enclosure;
- said enclosure further having first and second elastic, porous, multi-holed sponges on each side of said narrowed section;
- the elasticity of said sponges and the bulk elasticity of said air pocket and air in portions of said sponges protruding into said air pocket substantially eliminating said pulse and turbulence in said stream of droplets.
- a supply pipe;
- a discharge pipe;
- said supply pipe having a smaller inner diameter than said discharge pipe;
- a cylinder being connected at one end to an end of said supply pipe and at a second end to an end of said discharge pipe;
- said cylinder forming an enclosure;
- said stream of droplets flowing horizontally from said supply pipe through said enclosure and into said discharge pipe;
- said cylinder having a larger inner diameter than said discharge pipe such that a pocket of air will form above the level of the stream of droplets flowing through the enclosure from the supply pipe to the discharge pipe;
- said enclosure having a narrowed section substantially in the center of said enclosure;
- said enclosure further having first and second elastic, porous, multi-holed sponges on each side of said narrowed section;
- the elasticity of said sponges and the bulk elasticity of said air pocket and air in portions of said sponges protruding into said air pocket substantially eliminating said pulse and turbulence in said stream of droplets.
10. A filter for substantially eliminating pulse and turbulence from a stream of droplets comprising:
- a supply pipe;
- a discharge pipe;
- said supply pipe having a smaller inner diameter than said discharge pipe;
- a cylinder being connected at one end to an end of said supply pipe and at a second end to said discharge pipe;
- said cylinder forming an enclosure;
- an end of said discharge pipe extending substantially into the center of said enclosure;
- said stream of droplets flowing vertically from said supply pipe through said enclosure and into said discharge pipe;
- said cylinder having a larger inner diameter than said discharge pipe such that a pocket of air will form above the level of the stream of droplets flowing through the enclosure from the supply pipe to the discharge pipe;
- said enclosure having a plate positioned in the lower portion of said enclosure;
- said plate having a plurality of holes through which said stream of droplets flows;
- said plate further having an elastic, porous, multi-holed sponge adjacent thereto;
- said end of said discharge pipe extending into a cavity in said sponge;
- the elasticity of said sponge and the bulk elasticity of said air pocket and air in portions of said sponges protruding into said air pocket substantially eliminating said pulse and turbulence in said stream of droplets.
- a supply pipe;
- a discharge pipe;
- said supply pipe having a smaller inner diameter than said discharge pipe;
- a cylinder being connected at one end to an end of said supply pipe and at a second end to said discharge pipe;
- said cylinder forming an enclosure;
- an end of said discharge pipe extending substantially into the center of said enclosure;
- said stream of droplets flowing vertically from said supply pipe through said enclosure and into said discharge pipe;
- said cylinder having a larger inner diameter than said discharge pipe such that a pocket of air will form above the level of the stream of droplets flowing through the enclosure from the supply pipe to the discharge pipe;
- said enclosure having a plate positioned in the lower portion of said enclosure;
- said plate having a plurality of holes through which said stream of droplets flows;
- said plate further having an elastic, porous, multi-holed sponge adjacent thereto;
- said end of said discharge pipe extending into a cavity in said sponge;
- the elasticity of said sponge and the bulk elasticity of said air pocket and air in portions of said sponges protruding into said air pocket substantially eliminating said pulse and turbulence in said stream of droplets.
11. Apparatus for generating sound waves at a predetermined frequency in multiple streams of droplets comprising:
- a supply pipe;
- a cylindrical lower body having a first end connected to an end of said supply pipe;
- said stream of droplets flowing from said supply pipe into said lower body;
- said lower body forming a cylindrical enclosure in which a filter for substantially eliminating pulse and turbulence in said stream of droplets is positioned;
- means for generating sound waves at a predetermined frequency in said stream of droplets moving through said lower body;
- a conical upper body having a first end connected to a second end of said lower body;
- said upper body forming an enclosure in which an inverted cone is positioned;
- said upper body having a plurality of branching pipes connected to a second end of said upper body;
- said stream of droplets flowing from said lower body through said upper body into said branching pipes to form multiple streams of droplets containing sound waves at a predetermined frequency.
- a supply pipe;
- a cylindrical lower body having a first end connected to an end of said supply pipe;
- said stream of droplets flowing from said supply pipe into said lower body;
- said lower body forming a cylindrical enclosure in which a filter for substantially eliminating pulse and turbulence in said stream of droplets is positioned;
- means for generating sound waves at a predetermined frequency in said stream of droplets moving through said lower body;
- a conical upper body having a first end connected to a second end of said lower body;
- said upper body forming an enclosure in which an inverted cone is positioned;
- said upper body having a plurality of branching pipes connected to a second end of said upper body;
- said stream of droplets flowing from said lower body through said upper body into said branching pipes to form multiple streams of droplets containing sound waves at a predetermined frequency.
12. Apparatus for generating sound waves at a predetermined frequency in multiple streams of droplets comprising:
- a supply pipe;
- a cylindrical body to which an end of said supply pipe is connected;
- said stream of droplets flowing from said supply pipe into said cylindrical body;
- said cylindrical body forming an enclosure;
- means for generating sound waves at a predetermined frequency in said stream of droplets moving through said lower body positioned within said enclosure;
- an inverted cone positioned within said enclosure;
- a plurality of branching pipes connected to an end of said cylindrical body;
- said stream of droplets flowing from said cylindrical body into said branching pipes to form multiple streams of droplets containing sound waves at a predetermined frequency.
- a supply pipe;
- a cylindrical body to which an end of said supply pipe is connected;
- said stream of droplets flowing from said supply pipe into said cylindrical body;
- said cylindrical body forming an enclosure;
- means for generating sound waves at a predetermined frequency in said stream of droplets moving through said lower body positioned within said enclosure;
- an inverted cone positioned within said enclosure;
- a plurality of branching pipes connected to an end of said cylindrical body;
- said stream of droplets flowing from said cylindrical body into said branching pipes to form multiple streams of droplets containing sound waves at a predetermined frequency.
13. A method for altering the apparent movement of individual droplets in a plurality of streams of droplets comprising:
- generating sound waves at a predetermined frequency in a plurality of streams of droplets;
- altering the frequency of the sound waves in one or more streams of droplets;
- illuminating said individual droplets with a strobe light.
- generating sound waves at a predetermined frequency in a plurality of streams of droplets;
- altering the frequency of the sound waves in one or more streams of droplets;
- illuminating said individual droplets with a strobe light.
14. A method for altering the apparent movement of individual droplets in a plurality of streams of droplets comprising:
- generating sound waves at a predetermined frequency in a plurality of streams of droplets;
- altering the phase of the sound waves in one or more streams of droplets;
- illuminating said individual droplets with a strode light.
- generating sound waves at a predetermined frequency in a plurality of streams of droplets;
- altering the phase of the sound waves in one or more streams of droplets;
- illuminating said individual droplets with a strode light.
15. A method for altering the apparent movement of individual droplets in a plurality of streams of droplets comprising:
- generating sound waves at a predetermined frequency in a plurality of streams of droplets;
- altering the rate of change of the frequency of the sound waves in one or more streams of droplets;
- illuminating said individual droplets with a strobe light.
- generating sound waves at a predetermined frequency in a plurality of streams of droplets;
- altering the rate of change of the frequency of the sound waves in one or more streams of droplets;
- illuminating said individual droplets with a strobe light.
16. A method for altering the apparent movement of individual droplets in a plurality of streams of droplets comprising:
- generating sound waves at a predetermined frequency in a plurality of streams of droplets;
- altering the rate of change of the phase of the sound waves in one or more streams of droplets;
- illuminating said individual droplets with a strobe light.
- generating sound waves at a predetermined frequency in a plurality of streams of droplets;
- altering the rate of change of the phase of the sound waves in one or more streams of droplets;
- illuminating said individual droplets with a strobe light.
17. A method for making the movement of individual droplets in a plurality of streams of droplets appear wavelike comprising:
- generating sound waves at a predetermined frequency in a plurality of streams of droplets;
- oscillating said plurality of stream of droplets;
- illuminating said individual droplets with a strobe light.
- generating sound waves at a predetermined frequency in a plurality of streams of droplets;
- oscillating said plurality of stream of droplets;
- illuminating said individual droplets with a strobe light.
18. Apparatus for making the movement of individual droplets in a plurality of streams of droplets appear wavelike comprising:
- means for generating sound waves at a predetermined frequency in a plurality of streams of droplets;
- each of said stream of droplets forming into individual moving droplets as each said stream of droplets is discharged from nozzles connected to said generating means;
- means for oscillating said nozzles;
- a colored strobe light for illuminating said individual moving droplets.
- means for generating sound waves at a predetermined frequency in a plurality of streams of droplets;
- each of said stream of droplets forming into individual moving droplets as each said stream of droplets is discharged from nozzles connected to said generating means;
- means for oscillating said nozzles;
- a colored strobe light for illuminating said individual moving droplets.
Applications Claiming Priority (10)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP90-253533 | 1990-09-21 | ||
| JP2253533A JPH0746522B2 (en) | 1990-09-21 | 1990-09-21 | How to observe and observe a continuously flowing granular object |
| JP26821390A JPH073279B2 (en) | 1990-10-04 | 1990-10-04 | Filter that reduces / eliminates pulsation and turbulence in water flow |
| JP90-268213 | 1990-10-04 | ||
| JP2324116A JPH0748128B2 (en) | 1990-11-26 | 1990-11-26 | Multi-branch water flow generator including underwater sound |
| JP90-324116 | 1990-11-26 | ||
| JP3115277A JPH0823730B2 (en) | 1991-04-18 | 1991-04-18 | A method of changing the movement of polka dots in a stream containing polka dots |
| JP91-115277 | 1991-04-18 | ||
| JP91-124717 | 1991-04-25 | ||
| JP12471791A JPH087525B2 (en) | 1991-04-25 | 1991-04-25 | A method to show the movement of a polka dot in a stream containing polka dots by changing it into a wave shape. |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2051746A1 true CA2051746A1 (en) | 1992-03-22 |
Family
ID=27526686
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002051746A Abandoned CA2051746A1 (en) | 1990-09-21 | 1991-09-18 | Method and apparatus for generating and illuminating individual droplets in moving stream of droplets |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| KR (1) | KR930006364A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU8461791A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2051746A1 (en) |
-
1991
- 1991-09-18 CA CA002051746A patent/CA2051746A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1991-09-19 AU AU84617/91A patent/AU8461791A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1991-09-20 KR KR1019910016515A patent/KR930006364A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU8461791A (en) | 1992-03-26 |
| KR930006364A (en) | 1993-04-21 |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| FZDE | Dead |