GB2375874A

GB2375874A - Rippling water feature.

Info

Publication number: GB2375874A
Application number: GB0105659A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Percival
Original assignee: ART IN LANDSCAPE Ltd
Current assignee: ART IN LANDSCAPE Ltd
Priority date: 2001-03-08
Filing date: 2001-03-08
Publication date: 2002-11-27
Also published as: GB0105659D0

Abstract

A water feature comprises a container 10 within which a liquid is located and moveable surface 24 arranged to move perpendicular to the surface of the liquid. Vibration of the moveable surface causes ripples to form on the surface of the liquid. The frequency of vibration is preferably between 5 Hz and 20 kHZ, and it may be related to a musical source. The movable surface may either form part of a wall of the container or be a separate plate located within the container. The depth of liquid above the moveable surface is preferably between 3mm and 10 mm. Coloured liquids may be used and also suitable lighting devices.

Description

"Water Feature" This invention relates to a water feature in which water or another liquid is caused to move to create an effect which is eye-catching According to the present invention there is provided a water feature comprising a container within which a liquid is to be located, and a moveable surface moveable under the control of a drive arrangement in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the surface of liquid.

The drive arrangement is preferably arranged to cause the moveable surface to vibrate. The frequency of vibration is preferably within the range of around 5 Hz to around 20 kHz. The drive arrangement may be connected, for example, to an output of an amplified musical instrument or a cassette, compact disc, or recorder player or to another device for playing back recorded music.

The moveable surface preferably forms part of a wall of the container.

Alternatively, the surface could be defined by a separate plate located within the container.

Preferably the depth of the container is such that the depth of liquid over the moveable surface is between 3 mm and 10 mm.

The invention will further be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing (Figure 1) which is a diagrammatic sectional view of a water feature constructed in accordance with an embodiment

of the invention.

The water feature illustrated in Figure 1 comprises a container of shallow depth containing a liquid. The container is of generally square or rectangular form and consists of four side members 10, each of generally L-shaped section.

Each side member 10 defines an upstanding side wall 12 and an inwardly extending flange 14. The inwardly extending flanges 14 of the side members 10 carry a flexible gasket 16 which is connected to a plate 18 forming the majority of the lower wall of the container. The plate 18 is of generally the same shape as the container, the edges of the plate 18 being spaced from the side walls 12 of the container by a relatively small distance. In one example, this distance is approximately 30 mm.

The plate 18 is supported upon a drive arrangement 20 which includes a plate support member 22 moveable under the influence of a varying magnetic field generated by varying the current flowing through windings surrounding part of the member 22. The drive unit 20 may take the form of a modified loudspeaker coil drive arrangement. It will be appreciated, however, that other techniques may be used to drive the plate 18, and that the nature of the drive unit 20 is not of great relevance to the invention. The orientation of the drive unit 20 is such that the plate 18 is moveable vertically. As shown in Figure 1, the container is filled with water or another liquid to a depth such that the upper

surface 24 of the plate 18 is covered to a depth of between 3 and 10 mm of liquid.

Once the liquid is in position, operation of the drive unit 20 to cause the surface 24 to vibrate in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the surface of the liquid will cause ripples to form on the surface of the liquid, the appearance of the liquid varying depending upon the frequency of vibration of the plate 18. The drive unit 20 may be connected to a signal generator so as to cause the plate 18 to vibrate at a consistent rate. Alternatively, the drive unit 20 may be connected to an output of, for example, an electrically amplified musical instrument or an output of a device for playing back recorded music, for example a compact disc player. It will be appreciated that, in such an arrangement, the frequency of vibration of the plate 18 will vary, and so the ripples formed on the surface of the liquid will also alter in appearance as the input signal varies. If, in addition, the music is played back audibly, the appearance of the liquid will change in time with the music.

It will be appreciated that the device may be modified in a number of ways. For example, the plate 18 could be located within the container rather than forming part of the lower surface of the container. Further, the plate could be of a different shape. The container may be of dimensions permitting several such plates to be located therein, for example in a matrix arrangement. The plate

18 need not be the same shape as the container, thus the spacing of the edge of the plate 18 from the side wall 12 of the container need not be uniform. If desired, the device could also be used with coloured liquids. Further, suitable lighting devices could be incorporated into the device to enhance the visual impact.

It is thought that if the depth of liquid above the plate 18 is shallower than 3 mm or deeper than 10 mm, then the device is not operative in producing ripple patterns on the surface of the liquid corresponding to the frequency of vibration of the plate. However, the range of workable depths may vary depending upon the viscosity of the liquid used and also upon the amplitude of vibration of the plate 18. The range given above applies where the liquid is water or has a viscosity close to that of water and where the amplitude of vibration of the plate 18 is between approximately 0.1 mm and 5 mm.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A water feature comprising a container within which a liquid is to be located, and a moveable surface moveable under the control of a drive arrangement in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the surface of liquid.
2. A water feature according to Claim 1, wherein the drive arrangement is arranged to cause the surface to vibrate.
3. A water feature according to Claim 2, wherein the drive arrangement is arranged to cause the surface to vibrate at a frequency of between about 5Hz and about 20kHz.
4. A water feature according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the frequency of vibration is a function of the output of an amplified musical instrument or device for playing back recorded music.
5. A water feature according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the moveable surface forms part of a wall of the container.
6. A water feature according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the moveable surface is defined by a separate plate located within the container.
7. A water feature according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the depth of liquid in the container over the surface is between about 3mm and about 10mm.

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8. A water feature substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.