JPS6349514B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an apparatus for making cloud sculptures from water mist, suitable for use, for example, in indoor or outdoor stage settings.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates generally to a device for creating various cloud or fog sculptures from fog generated using water, and more specifically to an apparatus for creating various cloud or fog sculptures from fog generated using water, and more specifically to an apparatus for creating various cloud or fog sculptures from fog generated using water. It concerns the size, shape, and movement of air masses, as well as devices for controlling the position of the air masses. The control involves controlling the fog to produce the intended effect in creating a cloud (fog) sculpture with a somewhat stable shape and controlled movement according to an aesthetic or artistic purpose. This is done either by directly influencing the air mass containing the fog, or indirectly by changing the surrounding air surrounding the fog-containing air.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The aesthetic and artistic effects of cloud (fog) carvings include
Alternatively, when artificial fog is used for special effects indoors and outdoors, for example in dramatic scenes, stage settings, movie sets, discos, etc., it is important to be able to control the behavior of the air containing the fog. It is often necessary to confine fog to a certain area for aesthetic or artistic effects, and it is also necessary to prevent people or objects from getting wet by contact with the fog. The visual effect of cloud or fog air mass shapes is particularly susceptible to destruction.

For example, under weather conditions where the surrounding air contains a large amount of moisture, the fog will not be confined to a certain area but will spread, and the audience will be buried in the dispersing fog and their view will be obstructed. The shape of the contained air mass becomes imperceptible. These types of problems that arise in photography and film production are often subtle. Sometimes it is required that some objects or people be hidden in the fog and others be outside the fog. It is also often necessary to prevent objects and surfaces outside the fog from getting wet, such as electrical systems from getting wet or floor surfaces from getting wet and slippery.

Even in such cases, water mist is still preferable because chemical mist is dangerous, as disclosed in US Pat. No. 2,070,038. The mist created by the oil is said to adhere to the lungs and cause pneumonia. Fog created with dry ice fills the air with carbon dioxide gas,
On the one hand, it reduces the amount of oxygen needed for breathing, but on the other hand, unlike water mist, it also has a disadvantage in that it tends to stick to the floor. Smoke, commonly used on theater and film sets, can be extremely unpleasant for those performing inside, not only choking and suffocating, but also making it difficult to sing or dance in the fog. It has the disadvantage of being a significant hindrance. Water-based mist is completely safe and does not cause any discomfort to those inside. Unlike other artificial fogs (smoke and dry ice), water fog can be used in amusement parks and other public facilities because it is completely harmless to health even if you enter the fog.

Another reason why water is used to create fog instead of chemicals such as oil or smoke is that it can create various visual effects. For example, dry ice fog flows along the ground and does not rise. Water fog is far more versatile than dry ice or smoke fog. For example, it is possible to perform control such as suppressing one effect of fog's inherent properties while emphasizing another effect. Water fog can be instantly extinguished by turning off the fog generator and warming the air. Oil and smoke mist cannot be dissipated without wind or fans. Dry ice fog is heavy and flows close to the ground,
Smoke mist tends to rise slightly upwards. Water fog is similar in weight and behavior to that of the surrounding air and is therefore easier to control to create cloud sculptures or other desired aesthetic or artistic effects.

It can therefore be seen that the use of water mist has quite significant advantages compared to the other types of fog mentioned above. In this sense, when creating cloud (fog) sculptures using water, control methods and devices are also needed to produce the desired effect.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Broadly speaking, it is an object of the present invention to create cloud (fog) sculptures with water mist that overcome or avoid the above-mentioned disadvantages that arise when using oil, smoke or chemical fogs as mentioned above. Our goal is to provide equipment for Furthermore, these devices can be used to control the position, size, shape, and movement of clouds (fog) to achieve the desired effect, for example, when creating a somewhat stable cloud (fog) sculpture for aesthetic or artistic purposes. It is necessary for producing.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for creating special effects using water mist in both indoor and outdoor settings such as amusement parks, theaters, stage sets, movie sets, discotheques, etc. be.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has a means for artificial fog generation with water and a means for controlling the shape and position of the fog using the same to create cloud (fog) sculptures.

Furthermore, control means include an air curtain using pipes with multiple holes to blow out compressed air, or multiple fans installed in a box whose top can be opened and closed. It consists of means such as an air curtain created by blowing air out from the top of the ceiling, or individually placed fans.

Furthermore, the control means may consist of a fog module made up of several pipes to which a plurality of fog-generating nozzles are mounted side by side at regular intervals, and each of these nozzles can be fitted with a tube-shaped cylinder.

Furthermore, it has means for generating water mist, means for controlling the shape and position of the mist to create a cloud (fog) sculpture, and means for creating an environment around the mist-laden air. The means for regulating this environment consists of increasing or decreasing the relative humidity of the environment surrounding the fog-laden air.

It further includes a means for generating a water mist and a method of controlling the shape and position of the mist-laden air using the generating means itself to create a cloud (fog) sculpture.

Principle of the Invention Artificial fog using water can be considered to be influenced by the same physical conditions that affect natural fog. In the present invention, the control method and mechanism of the device can be considered to some extent as a simulation of natural weather conditions. In order to understand how water-based fog can be controlled using the method and device of the present invention, it is first necessary to understand the conditions necessary for the existence of the fog itself, and the conditions that affect the presence of the fog to determine its shape. It is effective to consider the natural elements that control balance, balance, and movement. Fog is a condition in which a given atmosphere (air) contains excess water in the form of suspended water droplets at a relative humidity of 100% and saturation. In this case, it is necessary to distinguish between water vapor, which is always contained in the air to some extent, and water vapor, which exists as mist particles. Both are necessary to generate fog.

Water vapor enters the air through evaporation. The amount of water vapor contained in the atmosphere (air) is expressed as relative humidity, which is the percentage of the maximum amount of water vapor contained when the atmosphere reaches saturation and the amount of water currently contained as water vapor. The absolute amount of water that the atmosphere can contain as water vapor depends on the temperature of the atmosphere. In other words, the amount of water vapor that can be held changes as the temperature changes. As temperature increases, air can expand and hold more moisture as water vapor. For example, temperature
Air at a temperature of 95° can contain 39 g/m ³ of water at saturation, while air at a temperature of 32° can contain only 4 g/m ³ at saturation. When the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere reaches 100%, the excess water carried into it does not evaporate. When excess water is released into the atmosphere in the form of water droplets of a few tens of microns in size, the water droplets become visible mist suspended in the atmosphere.

The relative humidity of a foggy atmosphere is 100%, and the atmosphere contains excess water in the form of water droplets, or fog. The surrounding air, on the other hand, is unsaturated and has a relative humidity of less than 100%. If the air is calm,
Moisture within the fog is not carried into the surrounding air by air currents or convection. All that needs to be considered is turbulent transport. The amount of transport due to this turbulent flow is greatest where the difference in concentration of the transported substances is large. When considering water vapor, transport is most active near the area where fog disappears from view and near the boundary with the surrounding dry air.

This transport of water vapor has the function of removing moisture from the fog and supplying it to the surrounding area. Fog droplets near the outer edge of the fog gradually evaporate and disappear because the surrounding air is not saturated. At this time, as the water evaporates, it absorbs the heat of vaporization from the surrounding air and lowers the temperature. The relative humidity of the surrounding air increases as the absolute humidity increases and the temperature decreases due to evaporation.
It will exceed 100%. Then, the water vapor begins to condense and fog particles are formed again. At this time, the water vapor releases latent heat of condensation and serves to warm the air.

Thus, if evaporation and condensation occur at the same time and in approximately equal amounts around the fog, and a state of balance is maintained, the fog will continue to exist. By reinforcing these two phenomena or adding various operations to force the fog to move in one direction, it is possible to control the shape and density of the fog to a certain extent. However, when it comes to the shape of fog and its confinement to certain areas, the effect of air flow is overwhelmingly greater than the evaporation and condensation processes.

Artificially generated fog droplets are not formed by condensation, so no latent heat is released. Fog droplets were released into the atmosphere using an artificial fog generator. Initially, the fog particles evaporate until the air reaches saturation. As evaporation occurs, heat of vaporization is removed from the air and the temperature of the saturated air decreases. Because cold air is denser and heavier than warm air, gravity tends to cause foggy air to fall and crawl over the ground. The fog will spread horizontally unless some obstacle is placed to interrupt its flow, or other forces prevent it from flowing.

If the desired effect is not to create a flat fog that covers the ground, fog that spreads horizontally beyond the intended area may be forced back into the intended area by some force, evaporated or or must be removed by other methods. If you want to create a fog of a certain height in a predetermined area, for example, if you want to create a cloud-like visual effect,
It may become necessary to take measures to converge and raise the fog, or to place it at a higher position than it would naturally take.

Because the water droplets in the fog flow together with the surrounding air,
By introducing ways to move the surrounding air, it is possible to change the shape of the fog and the direction of its movement. According to the invention, the devices used to create such an air flow include the fog generator unit itself, an air curtain, a fan, etc., which simultaneously generate wind during the fog generation process. It is possible to use heat to create convection currents and cause the fog-laden air to rise, but this is somewhat problematic as the amount of heat required to move the entire fog is quite large. However, this method is effective if heat is used to move a portion of the fog in a limited manner.

When wind is supplied to move the fog, dry air is mixed into the fog, making the fog-laden air unstable. As the contact between saturated and unsaturated air increases, the amount of evaporation of fog droplets increases and the amount of fog decreases. At the same time, the amount of water vapor in the surrounding air increases. Therefore, it becomes necessary to increase the emission of fog droplets in order to replenish the amount of fog lost to evaporation.

If you continue to create fog indoors using a fog generator, or outdoors under weather conditions with high relative humidity and almost no wind, the fog will eventually spread throughout the room, and to some extent outdoors. The air in the entire area reaches saturation, and fog fills the area. In this case, it is difficult to obtain the desired effect of a distinct shape of the fog. Furthermore, since condensation occurs on all surfaces of objects, it is necessary to take measures to prevent fog and excessive water vapor from entering areas that should be protected from fog.

Within the range (area) where clouds (fog) are formed, fog can be sustained by maintaining high humidity conditions and ensuring sufficient water vapor and water droplets. Within this range, the cloud exists in a somewhat stable form as an air mass containing fog particles, minimizing the transport of water vapor and water droplets between the cloud portion and the surrounding air. In order to maintain the cloud air mass stably in this way, the following methods and means are used. (b) A method of controlling the direction of fog movement by changing the installation location of the fog generator, the position of the nozzle of the fog generator, the installation angle, the nozzle direction, etc. (b) While keeping the incorporation of dry air to a minimum,
A method that uses the speed, direction, and temperature of airflow to mechanically suppress the outflow of fog and keep the fog within a certain area most effectively. (c) The positional relationship between existing obstacles and barriers and the generated fog, and the control method based on the positional relationship when installing obstacles. The broadest range of these possibilities goes from filling a closed box with fog at one end to keeping moisture and water droplets inside while circulating through convection at the other end. The scope is wide-ranging, from creating a state of autonomous airflow balance to sustaining fog. In practice, this is accomplished by various combinations of various means and devices.

To summarize the above, in addition to creating a balanced state of air mass in clouds (fog), it is necessary to keep water vapor and fog particles in specific positions. Thus, various measures are taken to ensure that the humidity of the surrounding air is not increased too much and that, within the area containing the fog, the humidity and conditions conducive to the persistence of the fog are increased.

Embodiments Before showing embodiments of the present invention, specific examples of each part used in the present invention will be described.

Fog generators A device that generates fog under the desired conditions typically requires a low-pressure water supply pump to feed water to the fog generator using a high-pressure pump, and a low-pressure filter to remove particles larger than 10 microns in diameter from the service water. shall be. A pressure gate and a solenoid valve are installed between the low-pressure filter and the high-pressure pump to automatically turn off the high-pressure pump to prevent it from running dry and burning out due to insufficient water supply. Water is passed through a high pressure pump from 150~
It is compressed to a pressure of 500 psi and passes through a high-pressure filter that removes particles larger than 10 microns in diameter, leading to a valved distribution unit (manifold).
It enters the nozzle unit through a subsequent high-pressure hose and is sprayed from a fog-generating nozzle attached to the nozzle unit. The distribution manifold is provided with ball type valves to allow individual on/off control of each nozzle unit. By opening and closing these valves, the nozzle units can be operated individually in various combinations.
A fog generator suitable for use in the present invention is manufactured by MEE INDUSTRIES, INC. of San Gabriel, California.

Using nozzle units to create wind The wind generated by nozzle operation can be used to provide momentum and direction to the movement of fog.
Further, depending on the arrangement, it is possible to give a spiral motion to the fog matrix and fix it to some extent as an air mass containing fog. The mist droplets ejected from the fog-generating nozzle at high pressure have a considerable amount of momentum, and part of that momentum is transmitted to the air, causing it to move. An air current is generated in the direction in which the fog particles fly, and the air containing the fog is swept in that direction.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first example of a fog generation module. The nozzle 2 has a thread cut in it, and is attached to the saddle tee 4 made of vinyl chloride, which also has a thread cut in it, by tightening it with a screw. The saddle tee is glued directly above the hole drilled in the PVC pipe 6 of the Schedule Yule 80. A pipe 8 processed in this way is prepared. Saddle Tee 4 is a unique part designed by Mee Industries. The pipe 6 to which the saddle tee 4 is attached may be any commercially available pipe as long as it can withstand a pressure of 500 psi and has an r that matches the saddle tee. The pipe with the nozzle is threaded on one end and connected with a hose to the outlet of the distribution manifold of the fog generator pump using rust-proof fittings such as brass (not shown). If rust particles enter the nozzle 2, they will clog the nozzle hole, so it is important to use a material that will not rust for fitting. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a second example of the fog generation module. 1
0 indicates a tube-like cylinder with both ends open. This tube-shaped cylinder 10 is attached around each nozzle 2, and in the process of ejecting the mist emitted from the nozzle from one side through this cylinder, the direction and speed of the mist can be controlled more precisely. Tubes of different diameters (e.g. 10-15 cm) are used in the present invention to facilitate this.
In addition, it is also possible to attach a cover 12 to the rear of the cylinder, whose opening degree can be adjusted with an aperture, to control the amount and speed of mist discharge.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, if the nozzles 2 are attached to the pipes 8 at the correct spacing and the distance between the pipes is maintained optimally, the nozzle arrangement will provide an effective force for controlling the position of the mist. becomes. To stabilize the fog using this force to some extent, the nozzle spacing should be narrowed considerably so that there are no gaps in the airflow through which the fog can escape. At certain times of the day, depending on temperature conditions, this arrangement can be used to limit fog.

Although it is possible to effectively use the wind produced by the operation of the fog nozzle itself to limit fog, the number of nozzles required to generate sufficient fog may be greater than the number of nozzles required to generate sufficient wind. In many cases, the number of nozzles required is greater than the number of nozzles required. However, preparing extra nozzles to create wind is disadvantageous from an economic point of view (not only the nozzles but also the pump and all other parts of the fog generator are added up). Therefore, the number of nozzles should be determined by the amount of mist required, and other means should also be used to control their movement.
Moreover, these additional control means are also generally essential under conditions of high humidity or when producing special effects, including the suspension of the fog generator as described below.

For example, in a stage environment where there are performers on the stage between the clouds and the audience, fog limited to clouds can be used as an effect to move the stage forward (in the direction of the audience seats) for a certain period of time. ). This effect is made possible by temporarily turning off fog generators and other devices that push the fog up and keep it at the back so it doesn't drift away. To return the fog to the rear fog generator, restart the nozzle (the nozzle is facing away from the audience seats or the stage) and use the airflow generated by the nozzle to The fog can be returned to its original position instantly.

An example of how the nozzle arrangement circulates the air flow and maintains the mist is shown in FIG. The nozzle 2 attached to the pipe 8 is installed at an angle such that the mist is sprayed upward. An obstruction 12 placed at some distance from the nozzle serves to prevent the mist from flowing over it and to redirect the flow back towards the nozzle. The fog eventually falls or rises upon hitting an obstacle. The fog may encounter an obstacle after it begins to descend due to gravity, and depending on the angle at which the obstacle is encountered, the obstacle may act as a current converter and change the flow of fog upward. . In either case, the mist curves back towards the nozzle unit where it is again forced upward and forward by the air flow generated by the active nozzle.

Nozzle selection There are various nozzles, each with different particle size, spray angle, flow rate,
By changing the amount of momentum given to the fog,
You can choose different aesthetic effects. When the Maruyama nozzle manufactured by Maruyama Seisakusho is operated at 30Kg/ ^cm2 ,
Produces finer droplet size than any other nozzle available. The flow rate when operating at 30Kg/cm ² is 0.073/min. per nozzle. Since the particle size is quite small, a large amount remains suspended in the air. Furthermore, the small particle size means that the particles have small momentum, and therefore the flow of air containing the mist is relatively gentle. This nozzle is effective when it is desired to generate dense fog with a small volume. As shown in FIG. 4, by arranging two rows of Maruyama nozzles 14 near the front of the fog generating area 16, dense fog quickly and effectively hides other devices 18 and 20 from view. can be generated.

The Ikeuchi nozzle of Ikeuchi Co., Ltd. is 10Kg/
Different types of fog can be generated with changing pressure from ^cm2 to 35Kg/ ^cm2 . When operated up to 35Kg/ ^cm2 , it produces the fastest-flowing mist of all nozzles. Ikeuchi nozzle has a particle size of 10~
It generates a large amount of 100 micron fog particles, but the larger particles fall to the ground. Therefore, although this nozzle may produce more mist than other nozzles, it also causes more water droplets to fall to the ground. The spray angle of this nozzle is 80°, and the mist near the spray opening is conical or cylindrical. Because of its shape and the speed with which the fog moves, the appearance of this fog is unnatural. However, the large momentum (velocity) of this nozzle
can carry fog higher or farther than any other nozzle. As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 4, two rows of Ikeuchi nozzles 18 are used in parallel on the back side of one row of Mi nozzles 20 manufactured by Mi Industry Co., Ltd. Activating these nozzles after they are generated can cause existing clouds to rise. Since the nozzle itself is hidden within the cloud, the shape of the outlet, which is a disadvantage of this nozzle, does not necessarily have a large effect on the overall shape of the cloud. The advantage of using an Ikeuchi nozzle to give height to the entire fog is that unlike other methods of raising the fog, it does not take away moisture from the fog; on the contrary, it has the effect of adding moisture to the fog and replenishing the fog. be. In situations where it is desirable to add moisture to the surrounding environment under low humidity conditions,
This is the more preferred method. The Mi nozzle produces mist particles with a particle size of 5-50 microns, a spray angle of 90°, and a flow rate of 35 Kg/cm ² and 0.084/min.
The Mi nozzle gives the mist just the right amount of movement, allowing the mist to maintain its natural shape and reach considerable heights.
A hypothetical cross-sectional view of the artificial fog cloud generated by the example shown in FIG. 4 is as shown in FIG.

Optimal placement of nozzles and pipes with nozzles In order to generate and sustain artificial fog, it is necessary to maintain the humidity of the air containing fog particles at 100% saturation. If the air is relatively dry at first, the released mist will evaporate rapidly and will not stabilize. However, by continuing to emit fog, the internal humidity gradually increases, and the conditions for the stable existence of fog gradually become established. When a moderate amount of fog is released, the fog will no longer disappear and will continue to exist. The arrangement of fogging nozzles ensures that the space between the nozzles quickly reaches 100% humidity. By doing so, you can minimize the amount of moisture that escapes into the surrounding dry air as water vapor, and quickly generate visible fog. Nozzle spacing should also be considered to ensure proper flow of airflow.

For each nozzle, the optimal spacing between nozzles and the optimal distance between pipes are shown in the table below.

Nozzle spacing Pipe spacing Me 12cm 12~15cm Ikeuchi 13cm 15cm Maruyama 18cm 18cm The specifications of the above three types of nozzles are as follows.

Maruyama nozzle Body = ceramic, nylon, stainless steel Spray angle = 100° Particle size = around 30 microns Flow rate = 0.073/min at 30Kg/ ^cm2 . Ikeuchi nozzle Body = stainless steel, ceramic Nozzle diameter = 0.15 mm Particle size = 50 microns average (10 to 100 microns) Spray angle = 80° Flow rate = 0.082/min at 10Kg/ ^cm2 . 0.116/min at 20Kg/ ^cm2 . 0.153/min at 30Kg/ ^cm2 . Me nozzle Body = Brass or stainless steel Nozzle Diameter = 0.006 inch Particle size = 5-50 microns Type = Impact pin type Spray angle = 90° Flow rate = 0.084/min at 30Kg/ ^cm2 . Optimal spacing between fog modules Minimum of 30 nozzles (10 Nozzles are installed in three rows of pipes, or 7 to 8 nozzles are installed in 4 pipes, or 6 nozzles are installed in 5 pipes) as one module. , it is also possible to obtain the best results in terms of efficiency. The nozzles are attached to the pipes 6 at optimal intervals, and the units of pipes with nozzles are assembled into modules, and several units are assembled in either direction with the length of one module as the interval between modules to cover a large area. Multiple modules can also be used to add moisture to dry air.

Nozzle spray angle and position The nozzle spray angle and installation position are factors that determine the position and height of the air mass containing fog. Furthermore, various distinctive shapes can be created by combining the nozzle type, spray angle, and installation position. For example, by arranging one to several rows of Ikeuchi nozzles horizontally on the top of a structure such as a wall, and spraying 10 to 15 kg/cm ² of fog by directing the nozzles toward the front and 135 degrees downward from directly above. You can make a waterfall. Also,
By installing additional nozzles at different angles and heights, it is also possible to create a more dynamic and variable artificial fog waterfall effect. The cascading mist provides a relatively flat surface of descending mist, depending on nozzle selection and placement. In combination with other devices to create a uniform surface, various interesting effects can be obtained. It is also possible to project images from slides or projectors, making it possible to form images with little distortion on the sides of flat clouds.

There must be sufficient space between the nozzle and the back wall, otherwise the airflow caused by the fog droplets transferring momentum to the surrounding air will be reduced. If you want to keep the airflow small,
By attaching sunshade-type louvers to the back side, it is possible to adjust the wind speed and the distance the fog travels. For example, a cover 12 with an aperture can be used, as previously explained. In addition, by placing an obstacle at a distance in front of the nozzle, creating a waterfall-like depression, or flowing airflow in the opposite direction, you can adjust the angle of the nozzle and the obstacle to reduce fog. Part or all of the flow can be changed and shaped.

Turning the nozzle on and off Taking advantage of the fact that the force of the wind generated from the nozzle pushes the mist in the direction of the wind, the nozzle can be sprayed backwards to secure the mist at the rear. In this case, by stopping the operation of the nozzle, the mist that has accumulated at the rear can drift forward. For example, it is possible to use this method to cause mist to float above the stage and then fire the nozzle again to pull the mist back to the rear. Also,
By repeatedly turning the nozzle on and off in time, it is possible to create multiple independent clusters of clouds and make them drift.

Air Curtain The air curtain 22 shown in FIG.
It consists of two sections 24, each 9 feet long, and when five sections are connected, it creates a continuous updraft (indicated by the arrows) with a total length of 45 feet. By deploying this from end to end along the entire front surface of the area where fog is generated,
You can create an invisible barrier. Each section 24 of the air curtain 22 consists of a nine foot long plywood box and a fan 26 mounted therein at 21/2 foot spacing, as shown in FIG. A fan 26 is mounted laterally on the box, and an intake port 28 is arranged to suck in dry air. The exhaust port 30 of each fan faces upward and the top of the box is open. Attach the 18-inch lid 32 to the plywood box by attaching a hinge on one side of the top of the box, on the side of the area you want to protect from mist. The lid 32 is angularly adjustable by means of another angle hinge 34 to adjust the direction of the airflow. The fan 26 displaces 150-200 cubic feet of air per minute, so a total of 3500 cubic feet per minute of air is discharged along the 45-foot boundary between the fogged and non-fogged areas.

By directing the airflow, the air curtain 22 can be used in a manner similar to airflow generated by a nozzle. However, in the case of an air curtain, unlike the case of air containing a large amount of water vapor and water droplets, dry air is blown in, so the effect on fog is different from the former. The air curtain is introduced as a secondary air stream, but the time of operation will vary depending on humidity conditions. Blowing dry air evaporates the fog particles and reduces the amount of fog. Therefore, it becomes necessary to maintain a balance between the amount of mist emitted and the supply of dry air.

The air curtain is also effective as a means for giving direction to the movement of fog when the fog generator is stopped, that is, when no airflow is generated by the nozzles.

Air curtains not only influence fog density and movement, but they can also be most usefully used as effective barriers between areas with and without fog. An air curtain functions to block the flow of air without any visible obstruction, and to block the exchange of heat and water vapor with the air on the opposite side through it. Therefore, it is effective when keeping the fog in a certain area, such as a part of the stage, for example. An air curtain is placed on the floor or ground along the boundary between the fog area and the outside, and blows air upward. By doing this, the part where the airflow is strongest, the part that comes into contact with the fan and the air outlet, is placed close to the ground, so the part where the fog is thickest coincides with the part where the fan is strongest.

When the airflow introduces dry air and creates a continuous wall of air, the mist that enters this airflow evaporates into water vapor when it comes into contact with the dry air. Lid 32
By creating a flow of air at an angle of do not. Another example of an air curtain, shown in FIG. 8, consists of a pipe 36 with an outlet 38 cut away. In the same way as the lid 32 used in the air curtain created by the fan mounted on the plywood box described above, the installation angle of the pipe 36 determines the direction of airflow.

By applying heat to the air curtain, the effectiveness of fog elimination can be further increased. When warm, dry air comes in contact with the fog, the rate of evaporation is accelerated.

Heat and Evaporation Relative humidity is determined by temperature and water vapor content, so changing either of these conditions will also change relative humidity. Relative humidity decreases if the amount of water vapor decreases or the temperature increases. Therefore, a heater can be used to increase the temperature of the air. If you somehow warm up the area that is protected from fog,
Before fog forms, the amount of water in the air increases as water vapor. Therefore, by heating, the amount of fog can be reduced even in areas where fog exists or where fog is not desired. If you raise the overall temperature of the air, the amount of water vapor it contains will increase.
When fog is generated in this heated zone, the fog droplets evaporate until the air reaches saturation, at which point conditions are met for the fog to persist once again. If heating continues, the mist particles will continue to evaporate.

The purpose of the present invention is to control fog and is not limited to eliminating fog. The main focus of the present invention is to generate fog in a desired area, maintain the fog in a desired shape, volume or movement, and prevent the fog from flowing into other areas. It is not necessary to completely block water vapor and fog from entering the surrounding air outside the fogging area. It depends on the amount of moisture allowed to be transported to the surrounding area, the aesthetic effect, the humidity of the atmosphere, and what other precautions have been taken to prevent condensation from forming on surfaces outside the fog.

Heating surfaces to prevent condensation Condensation occurs on any surface that is cooler than the dew point of the surrounding air. Similarly, when the temperature of the surrounding air is higher than the temperature of the wet surface,
Evaporation occurs. When the temperature decreases under constant pressure,
At low temperatures, the capacity to contain water vapor decreases, so at a certain temperature the water vapor in the air becomes saturated. That temperature is the dew point. Deposition can be prevented by heating the surface to avoid wetting and keeping the temperature of that surface above the dew point of the surrounding air.

Mist droplets in the air tend to fall due to gravity, but certain surfaces can be prevented from getting wet by falling droplets or water vapor in the air. In addition to preventing dew condensation on the surface as described above, heating can actively prevent heavy air containing large amounts of mist and water vapor from falling. The heated surface emits radiant heat, which acts mechanically on the fog droplets. The heated surface warms the air above it, and the lighter air rises in an updraft. Also, heat causes the mist droplets to evaporate and become smaller or disappear completely. The amount of heat required to heat this surface, for example a floor, depends on the material of the object to be heated and its heat conservation rate.

A stage made of 3/4 inch thick plywood covered with vinyl was observed to lose 75% of its temperature difference from ambient temperature in 9 minutes. The stage floor can be warmed with theater lights before the fog generator is activated. If you turn on the light when there is fog between the light and the floor, most of the infrared rays that generate heat will be absorbed by the fog. However, this method can create convection currents and cause the mist to rise, so it is an effective method along with preheating the bed.

If you use an infrared heater hanging from the ceiling,
You can warm up the floor in advance more efficiently. If the fog is in the middle, it will still not be able to warm the floor, but the warmed fog will rise and evaporate and diffuse, so it can be used in combination with the method of prewarming the floor. Infrared heaters only heat the surface of materials and do not heat the air, but if people are between the floor and the heater, they will also be heated. This must be taken into account when determining the amount of heat to use. If there is space under the floor, you can also use a large kerosene heater to heat the floor from below.

Installing a thermal barrier at the boundary between the area where the fog is created and the outside world Another way to prevent fog from flowing out of the area where the fog is to be kept and wetting the floor is to create a thermal barrier at the boundary. As shown in Figure 9, an 18-inch high Styrofoam barrier 39 is erected at the edge of the stage between the stage and the fog area, and between the cool, wet fog area at the rear and the room temperature, dry stage. Create a heat barrier of boards. Behind this fence 39 is a 6.3 kilowatt elongated electric heater 40 (each unit 7 feet long).
They are placed along the perimeter to be defended. Heater 40 is placed 2 inches from an 18 inch high barrier 39 to create a hot air barrier between the fog and the stage. Due to the combination of barrier 39 and electric heater 40, some of the mist particles that enter the hot air barrier evaporate and disappear, and large water droplets become smaller. Some of the fog passes over the barrier 39, but along the way, large droplets collide with the styrofoam wall and fall. The fog that has become lighter and lighter contains fog particles that have become much smaller, but it takes a long time for this fog to cross the barrier 39.
Must rise 18 inches. This fog crosses over the dry stage at a considerable height, so it must fall a short distance before it wets the floor. Floor surface 4 heated by heater 42
When combined with 1, the effectiveness of these defenses will increase considerably. The insulation properties of the styrofoam walls also reinforce the effectiveness of this barrier in preventing condensation and wet floors.
As the amount of heat increases, so does the effect on evaporation and rising of the fog air mass.

Heaters and Lighting Lights In addition to the general effect of increasing the amount of water vapor held in the air, heaters can be used both inside and outside the area to provide local fog retention. The partially heated, less dense air rises upward in updrafts, cooling as it rises until its density matches that of its surrounding environment. When a heater is placed in air containing mist, the surrounding mist particles evaporate and form a bubble, which has the effect of pushing up the mist above. This method can also be used to change the shape of the fog. A similar effect can be achieved by partially heating a mass of air containing fog from the outside, but some of the fog evaporates. for theater
A similar effect can be produced more clearly using a 500 watt to 1 kilowatt lighting light as a heat source. Light emits a large amount of heat, which can create updrafts that locally push up the inversion layer.

If there is an object in the area to be filled with fog, such as a musical instrument, that should not get wet, warm up the object by shining a light on it for a few minutes before the fog starts drifting in, so that the fog performance can begin. You can keep it dry by leaving it exposed to strong light even after washing. You can also adjust the amount of time the object is covered in fog so that the light hits it every 10 to 60 seconds. This is because a heated object emits radiant heat, which keeps the adjacent air above the dew point. Lights may also be used solely for visual effects. The light hits the water droplets and reflects diffusely, making the fog glow white and giving it a sense of volume. Shining a backlight from inside the fog has the effect of increasing depth and contrast. In addition to the effect of using light as a heat source, it is necessary to consider the visual effect. If only visual effects are desired, use monochromatic lights (that do not emit infrared rays) with as little heat as possible.

Juan Juan can be used to move the entire fog in the desired direction. Furthermore, by imparting momentum to a portion of the air, it is possible to move a portion of the mist or change its shape. Small home fans or window fans with adjustable speeds are used to control subtle effects and small areas of fog. Excessive wind speeds on fog-laden air masses have the effect of causing water droplets to collide, form larger droplets, and cause the droplets to fall.
It has the effect of accelerating evaporation and carrying away and dispersing water droplets, so it has the effect of eliminating fog. Juan is
It can also be placed in foggy areas. In this case, since saturated air is blown in, there is an advantage that evaporation does not occur. The use of fans is a relatively simple method of using mechanical effects. By imparting momentum to all or part of the air containing the fog, all or part of the fog can be moved. By changing the size, number, rotation speed, position, and direction of the fans, the amount of momentum imparted and its direction can be controlled. Furthermore, it is also possible to perform complex movements by moving a large number of fans.

The fan can also be used in conjunction with a fogging module to fill the gap between the airflows generated by the operation of the nozzles. When combined with stage equipment, the fan can be placed in an inconspicuous location and is very effective. In addition, it can be used effectively in the same way as an air curtain when fog is intentionally allowed to drift out from an area where it is kept, and when the fog is returned to the area where it is kept. When the fan is turned in the direction of the mist, the mist is pushed and flows in the direction of the wind created by the fan. The factors that determine this flow are the size and rotation speed of the fan. A large fan is convenient for dispersing the entire mist. Also, a large fan can impart a large amount of momentum to the entire air with a lower rotational speed than a small fan. A smaller fan requires more revolutions to provide the same momentum. By arranging several fans (for example, pointing them at the fan next to each other from three directions) and blowing wind, the air itself is given momentum to rotate, creating the effect of causing the mist to swirl and rise. It will be done. Rather than applying the fan directly to the mist, the movement can be controlled more softly by bouncing the fan using a reflector or guide plate and applying the wind indirectly. Point the fan in the opposite direction of the fog so it acts like a ventilation fan, pulling the fog instead of pushing it. This method is particularly effective in closed spaces. Usually, pulling is more effective in dispelling mist than pushing. By blowing the fan upwards inside the fog, the fog droplets will collide and form larger droplets, which will cause the larger droplets to fall, resulting in fewer fog droplets and a thinner fog.

Obstacles You can control the movement of the fog by placing obstacles in appropriate locations. When used in conjunction with a fan, it is possible to create more complex airflow and give the fog more complex movement. For example, when wind is blown toward an obstacle, the wind rises in front of the obstacle, forming an upward flow. A vortex forms behind the obstacle, causing rotational motion in the air. This allows for control over the rise and rotation of the fog. Obstacles can be used to keep the fog inside the barrier, or they can be used to block the movement of the fog or change the direction of its movement. It can also help protect fog from airflow, and can change the airflow pattern to influence the effectiveness of the airflow.

The presence of obstructions makes a considerable difference to other methods of retaining fog. Areas surrounded by barriers on all sides have a relatively stable environment, so fog persists. Obstacles do not reduce the amount of fog, unlike when wind is used to retain fog. Fog entering an enclosed area first fills the entire area, and then either goes behind the obstacle or returns in the direction from which it came. When using airflow in conjunction with obstacles, the obstacles help direct the airflow which deflects the airflow and gives shape to the fog. The fog pushed by the wind passing through the narrow passage converges and rises. Obstacles positioned to deflect the wind, as described above, change the movement and shape of the fog, reduce the wind speed, and cause the flow to collide with the surface and spread over the entire area, giving a soft effect. I mentioned earlier that using obstacles in conjunction with fans is effective in keeping the fog at the boundary between the area of the fog and the outside world.
Effectiveness always depends on the size and shape of the obstacles used.

Outdoors, you can create a "cloud lake" using a depression or a crater-like moat dug into the ground. The fog inside the crater is protected from the wind and is stable.
When the crater is filled to the surface with fog, the excess fog rises and forms a mountain. A gust of wind blows and momentarily disperses the mist, but then more mist comes up from the bottom and fills the hole.

A large piece of cloth, similar to a theatrical screen curtain, that can be lowered and raised to the stage floor using a pulley, is used to collect and pile up the fog behind it prior to the fog production. When the gauze curtain was lifted all at once, the mist slowly descended like a cascading waterfall and drifted towards the front of the stage. The gauze curtain hangs vertically from what looks like a horizontal bar between the area where the fog is collected and the rest of the stage. This iron bar is
It can be raised and lowered using a pulley. When raised, the curtain rises into the ceiling of the stage and is no longer visible from the front; when lowered, it can be stopped at any height or lowered until its bottom edge touches the stage floor. .

Remove large air masses of fog at once. If the amount of fog accumulates in an extremely large amount compared to the volume of the area in which the fog is retained (this occurs in weather conditions with high relative humidity), remove large amounts of fog at once. It is also effective to remove fog and saturated air from the entire environment by thoroughly cleaning the air.

Foggy air is cooler than the surrounding air, and because it contains a significant amount of water in the form of droplets, it is heavier than dry air. As shown in FIG. 10, if there is a basement or space 44 under the floor 46 of the stage or podium, a trap door 4 that can be opened and closed by remote control is placed over a hole in the floor like a parlor.
8 can be fitted. This type of underfloor space is often found in theaters, and can be created in advance if an outdoor stage is being set up. By opening this trap door, the fog will descend through the door to the floor below. In other words, you can use a trap door to pull the fog below the floor.

Door The characteristics of the air inside a room are quite different from the air outside. When you open the door of a room, the air inside the room goes out and the outside air comes in. As a result, the fog flows out and the indoor air becomes dry. There is a pressure difference between the inside and outside of a closed room, creating a strong wind almost instantaneously that blows the fog outside and the outside air into the room. The fog comes from the top half of the open door.
The cold outside air comes in all at once from the bottom half,
There is almost no mixing of the two, and results can be obtained in a very short time. Once you see the air starting to mix, you should close the door, otherwise the effect will diminish. If you want to secure a large space for mist, you can leave it open for a while. Any amount of mist can be discharged by controlling the time the door is opened.

Outdoor Control Outdoors, just like indoors, fog availability and persistence are largely dependent on relative humidity. The major difference between outdoor and indoor environments is the presence or absence of wind. By using meteorological data, detailed planning, and experimental installation design, it is possible to create cloud (fog) sculptures while effectively using the wind, even in windy outdoor conditions.
Outdoors, design the placement of fog generators and controls by taking into account wind patterns and terrain characteristics. For indoor cases, when two nozzle units pointing in the same direction are separated from each other, how to use a fan to reinforce the gap in the airflow created by the nozzles to prevent fog from flowing out of that limited area. As mentioned before. In this indoor example, this gap was compensated for by using a fan, but in an outdoor case, for example, the wind blowing through the space between naturally occurring large rocks could be compensated for by using a mist with the same specifications as the indoor fan. It can also be used to secure. After carefully observing the site, it is possible to design the arrangement of equipment in a manner similar to this example, replacing the existing natural conditions themselves with control equipment. In large areas, computer programs can also be used to automatically turn on and off nozzles and operate control means using electromagnetic pulp. By inputting meteorological data such as wet and dry bulb temperature at the site and wind direction and speed online and automatically controlling it, cloud (fog) sculptures can be installed as permanent facilities.

Local weather data provides reliable information for design and installation. Once the expected wind direction and speed are known, changes due to local topography can be calculated and the number and location of nozzles needed to achieve coverage can then be determined. Changes in wind direction in the morning and evening must be handled according to the prevailing wind direction. You can also create an interesting effect by piling up large amounts of fog high in a sheltered outdoor area and then suddenly blowing it away when it reaches the top, which is not protected from the wind. Minimize the influence of wind outdoors,
Means for orientation can also be used in the present invention. These are:

Nets Unlike barriers, nets do not completely block airflow, they only prevent it. Therefore, when the wind is stronger than necessary outdoors, etc., by using the net, it is possible to reduce the wind speed and prevent the fog from spreading and disappearing. The size of the mesh is delicate, and if it is too large or too small, the effect may be diminished. In addition, by controlling the amount of moisture in the net, it is possible to remove moisture from the air or add moisture to it, thereby controlling the density of the fog.

Natural Barriers When controlling fog outdoors, natural terrain and various objects act as obstacles. Rocks, trees, grass, etc. affect the wind in various ways. If these are used wisely, they can be made to function as natural obstacles similar to artificial obstacles. Rocks block the flow of air and act like barriers, while trees and grass block the flow of air and act like nets.

A method of controlling airflow by making slits in a barrier A flowing air mass is an obstacle 5 as shown in Figure 11a.
Upon hitting zero, the airflow is deflected. Some of the air continues to flow in its original direction, but
Once over or under an obstacle, some of the air spirals back up to fill the low-pressure air pocket created when the flowing air is deflected and detoured by the obstacle.
This spiral flow is called turbulent flow. 11a and 11b, the taller obstacle 52 in FIG. 11b causes more turbulence than the obstacle 50 in FIG. 11a. A smoother flow can be created by directing some of the flow through slit 54, as seen in Figure 11c. The flow can also be guided by wings (not shown) attached to the slits. Areas of low pressure are buried before turbulence occurs, and even if small turbulence does occur, it occurs at high altitudes and far away from obstacles. The area of relatively calm airflow is determined by the speed of the airflow, the size and shape of the obstruction, the size, location, and shape of the slit, and the angle at which the obstruction meets the airflow.

Water curtain Drops of water of a certain size (for example, about 500 microns in diameter, a size that does not disappear by evaporation in the air) are dropped from a height of several meters. This is a control that is performed outdoors and has the function of supplying water vapor into the air and supplying heat to cold air. The water curtain also serves to keep fog within a limited area in the same manner as the air curtain described above. The stable presence of fog can also be helped by spraying water to moisten surrounding objects and increase relative humidity. Furthermore, by running the water curtain along a glass or wall surface, a downdraft can be created along that surface. If the fog is flowed all over the wall from the top, it will form a somewhat flat sheet and descend together, making it possible to create a fog surface suitable for movie projection.

Prewetting the environment In addition to watering the area of fog, when the air is too dry and the relative humidity is low, prewetting surrounding objects can help reduce fog by increasing the relative humidity. assists in the continuation of

Using hot and cold water together By creating a temperature difference in the water that generates fog, it is possible to control the fog by causing convection movement and causing it to rise or fall without disappearing.

Example 1 The following example shows the main components and an example of the application of the present invention. It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited thereby.

The device shown in FIG. 12 is an illustration of one of the devices for controlling the size, shape, and movement of an air mass containing mist produced by clean water, as well as its position. Specifically, stage 5 with trap door 48
8 is provided. An air curtain 22 is disposed near the trapdoor 48 and along the right side of the stage, which is constructed using two parts 24 shown in FIG. The air curtain component 24 is set so that the air flows toward the center of the stage 58. Multiple holes 3 along the back and left side of the stage.
Two air curtains 22 of the type shown in FIG. 8 are provided, consisting of open pipes 36.
Adjacent to the front side of the stage is an elongated heater 40 and barrier 39 shown in FIG. Near the center of the stage 58, a fog generating module 60 consisting of one pipe with a nozzle of the type shown in FIG. A second fog generating module 62 consisting of two pipes arranged at an angle toward the direction of the trapdoor 48 is arranged. Fog modules 60 and 62 are connected to one and the same water supply pipe 66 through valve 64. Water supply pipe 66
is connected to the fog generator 68.

Simply put, the fog generator 68 includes a valve 64
actuation supplies compressed water to fog generating modules 60 and 62 at a pressure of, for example, 500 psi. fog generator 68, air curtain 22, heater 40,
The operation of the trap door 48 and the like can be controlled by a computer program. air curtain 2
2. The actual functions and effects of the trap door 48, heater 40, barrier 39, fog generating modules 60, 62, and fog generating device 68 are as described above, and they produce a wide variety of infinite aesthetic and artistic effects. .

Although the invention has been described with respect to a particular embodiment, it is to be understood that this embodiment is merely illustrative of the principal components and applications of the invention. It is also understood that countless variations and modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiments, and that other innovations and configurations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. It should be understood that this can be done.

For example, in implementation, the cloud (fog) carvings described herein can take on a wide variety of shapes.
In addition to free-standing cloud sculptures and the special effects already mentioned, there are also portable fog kits, objects or structures submerged in fog, fog waterfalls, fog fountains, cloud ponds, to name a few. There are cloud lakes, foggy rivers, foggy trees, etc.
All of these can be used in art exhibitions, exhibitions, everyday spaces such as plazas, and natural spaces such as gardens, amusement parks, and parks.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first example of a fog generation module, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a second example of a fog generation module, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing different arrangements of pipes with several types of mist generating nozzles attached, and FIG. 5 is a side view showing the situation in which the cloud ( 6 is a schematic diagram showing the first example of the air curtain device, FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the main parts of the device shown in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is the second example of the air curtain device. 9 is a side view showing the barrier effect due to heat, FIG. 10 is a side view when a trap door is used, and FIG. 11 is a side view showing the effect of the barrier against air containing fog. FIG. 12 is a top view showing an example of an apparatus for making cloud (fog) sculptures according to the present invention. 2... nozzle, 60, 62... water mist generating means,
22...Air blowing means, 39...Obstacle, 40...Heating means.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A shape of the water mist including means for ejecting water from a nozzle to generate water mist, means for heating the generated water mist, and an obstacle and blowing means for the generated water mist. and means for controlling the flow, and each of the above means is arranged at a desired position to stably control the position, concentration, flow and shape of the water mist. A device for making cloud sculptures.