Flow Control In Ornamental Fountains

Abstract

An ornamental fountain is comprised of a discharge nozzle and a mounting base through which water is supplied to the nozzle. Two pairs of water supply ducts communicate to a chamber within the base. One pair of ducts is coaxially aligned opposite each other diametrically of the chamber, and the other pair of ducts communicates tangentially of the chamber. Water for the fountain is supplied to the nozzle via either pair of ducts so that, depending upon the pair of ducts used, the fountain pattern has one or the other of two distinctly different aesthetic characteristics.

Parent Case Text

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 87,886 filed Nov. 9, 1970, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,705,686 issued Dec. 12, 1972. This application incorporates by reference specific portions of the description appearing in U.S. Pat. No. 3,705,686.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to ornamental fountains or the like having upwardly discharging liquid discharge nozzles. More specifically, the invention relates to a novel support base for ornamental fountains.

2. Description of the Prior Art

There is incorporated herein by reference as though fully set forth at this point herein that portion of the specification of Pat. No. 3,705,686 extending from column 1, line 12 through and including column 2, line 23.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A fountain base according to the present invention in one of its operative states assures a symmetrical discharge pattern by producing a uniform liquid flow rate into the fountain nozzle. In this state, it provides an essentially laminar axial liquid flow into the nozzle thereby facilitating the non-aerating or aerating operation of the nozzle as defined by its own structure. In another operative state of the base, it provides essentially uniform helical liquid flow into the nozzle. Depending upon the operative state of the base, i.e., the manner in which the water is supplied to the base, the fountain has one or the other of two distinct discharge patterns. The particular properties of the discharge patterns are determined by the nature of the nozzle itself.

In the present invention, the fountain base comprises a housing having an internal chamber of circular cross-sectional configuration. A first pair of diametrically disposed liquid inlet ducts are defined through the housing side walls to the chamber. A liquid outlet opening is defined through the chamber ceiling and has a nozzle-engaging collar mounted on the ceiling exteriorly of the chamber. The collar defines a passage therethrough for receipt of the nozzle; the longitudinal axis of the passage intersects the center of the liquid outlet opening. This base is characterized in that the mean cross-sectional area of the chamber in a plane parallel to the chamber floor is at least twice the cross-sectional area of the fountain nozzle at the inlet thereof. Each inlet flow path alone would increase the probability of an asymmetrical fountain discharge pattern since it would produce a non-uniform liquid flow rate at the liquid outlet opening from the base. The presence of diametrically opposed, coaxially aligned liquid inlet flow paths cancels the adverse asymmetrical effects, notwithstanding that each flow path through the base is essentially right angled. Furthermore, the greater area of the chamber relative to the opposing inlet openings serves to reduce the liquid velocity, and thus the Reynolds number, thereby providing an essentially laminar, essentially axial liquid flow at the liquid outlet opening of the base, i.e., at the inlet of a fountain nozzle secured to the base.

The base also defines a second pair of inlet ducts through its side walls; these ducts have inlet openings which are diametrically opposed across the chamber, but the ducts within the chamber walls are aligned substantially tangentially of the chamber. When water is supplied through the second pair of ducts, but not through the first pair of ducts, the water flow pattern at the outlet is balanced, i.e., uniform, but is substantially helical and may be somewhat turbulent.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects, advantages and features of the present invention are more clearly set forth in the following description of the presently preferred embodiment of this invention, which description is presented with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional elevation view of a fountain base according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 represents one possible discharge pattern achievable by the fountain base and nozzle combination of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a complete ornamental fountain system, including a fountain base shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 represents another possible discharge pattern achievable by the fountain base and nozzle combination of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

There is incorporated by reference at this point as though fully set forth herein that portion of the description of Pat. No. 3,705,686 extending from column 4, line 10 to and including column 7, line 3.

A fountain base in accord with the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-3 and is designated generally by the reference numeral 134. Base 134 is very similar to base 10 described in the above-referenced description from Pat. No. 3,705,686. Thus, base 134 has a cylindrical housing 12' defining a chamber 24' therein in essentially the same manner as chamber 24 is defined in base 10. Additionally, nozzle-engaging collar 46 is identical with that of base 10 as are an identical pair of diametrically opposed inlet openings 26 defining diametrically opposed liquid inlet ducts 27. Inlet ducts 27 are defined through side walls 14' of housing 12' with their longitudinal axes aligned with each other.

Housing 12' is longer in a vertical direction than housing 12 of base 10 so that the distance Y, measured from the longitudinal axes of inlet ducts 27 to the liquid outlet opening 19' (or to the nozzle inlet), is essentially equal to or greater than the mean diameter of chamber 24' taken in a plane parallel to the chamber floor 16' . Additionally, base 134 is further characterized in that the mean cross-sectional area of the chamber in a plane parallel to the chamber floor, such area being represented by diameter X, is essentially twice the cross-sectional area at the inlet of whichever fountain nozzle is employed, such area being represented by dimension Z in FIG. 1 hereof. These specific dimensions, i.e., X.gtoreq.Y and Area X=2 Area Z, are desirable to achieve the uniform liquid flow rate and substantially laminar flow at the nozzle inlet in fountain bases, such as base 134, where there are opposing inlets, but no baffle, such as baffle 28 of base 10 according to the referenced description. More specifically, the greater length Y of housing 12' relative to that of housing 12 compensates for the loss of the uniform liquid flow rate producing features of baffle 28. Stated another way, if a baffle, such as baffle 28, were included in base 134, the vertical length Y could be substantially reduced.

Fountain base 134 includes an additional pair of diametrically opposed liquid inlet openings 136 at the inner ends of ducts 137 channeled through housing side walls 14. The longitudinal axes of ducts 137 are parallel and eccentric with each other and with the longitudinal axes of ducts 27. If inlets 26 alone are used, base 134 functions similarly to base 10. The liquid flow paths through ducts 27 cancel each other's adverse effects from right-angled flow as they interact with each other in chamber 24' and the longer chamber length establishes a uniform velocity flow rate at base outlet 19' . Additionally, the substantially greater effective area of chamber 24' relative to that of openings 26 causes a substantial velocity reduction, thereby producing an essentially laminar axial liquid flow at outlet 19'.

Preferably, base 134 is to be used with non-aerating liquid discharge nozzles of the type shown by nozzle 138 in FIG. 1. Nozzle 138 includes a tubular body 139 defining a duct-like chamber 141 longitudinally therethrough. Nozzle 138 has a conical-shaped insert plug 140 of smaller diameter than the diameter of chamber 141 and is fixedly disposed within the chamber by support struts 142 engaged with inner walls 143 of the nozzle body. The conical plug acts as a turbulence eliminator thereby producing an essentially non-aerated discharge when the water supplied to it has a laminar flow characteristic.

What makes base 134 so highly desirable is its ability to drastically change the discharge from nozzle 138 from non-aerative to aerative. Not only is the aeration character of the discharge changed, but the shape and configuration of the discharge pattern is likewise changed. This change is accomplished by feeding liquid into chamber 24 through liquid inlet ducts 137 only and not through inlet ducts 27. Since the longitudinal axes of ducts 137 are eccentric and parallel with each other, a swirling and spiraling effect is generated in the liquid within chamber 24. The swirling liquid is turbulent, notwithstanding the velocity reduction by the increased effective area of chamber 24 relative to the effective area of inlets 136. Conical plug 140 reduces some of the turbulence, but the overall effect is an aerated widespread discharge.

Thus, base 138 can control the liquid discharge pattern most effectively by utilizing either of the two pairs of inlet openings. With inlets 26 in use the base functions to provide a uniform liquid flow rate and essentially laminar flow at the nozzle inlet. The discharge pattern produced by nozzle 138, with the base operating in the above mode, is shown in FIG. 4 and is designated generally by the reference numeral 145. By substituting inlets 136 for inlets 26, the discharge is changed to a pattern such as that shown in FIG. 6 and designated generally by the reference numeral 147.

It can be seen, therefore, that fountain base 134 can be used to achieve two distinct discharge patterns from any of a wide variety liquid discharge nozzle used therewith; base 134 is not restricted to use with nozzle 138. For instance, nozzle 58 described in the above-referenced description could be used with base 134 and, when liquid is fed only through inlets 136, would produce an aerative effect to the discharge shown in FIG. 3 of the referenced patent and, additionally, might inject asymmetry into the pattern. As stated previously, asymmetry is usually undesirable especially where the desired discharge pattern is like that of FIG. 3 of the referenced patent. However, base 134 allows an entirely new effect to be created, i.e., the periodic switching from a non-aerative, symmetrical pattern to an aerative possibly asymmetrical pattern merely by directing liquid into base chamber 24 through a different pair of inlets, i.e., inlets 136 in lieu of inlets 26.

An ornamental fountain system useful with fountain base 134 is shown in FIG. 5 and is designated generally by the reference numeral 142. Fountain 142 includes a pool of water stored in container 74 and used in a recirculating manner. The recirculation cycle starts with water flowing out of the pool through opening 78 in the bottom of container 72. The water is guided to pump 80 by means of conduit 76. Another conduit 144 couples the output of pump 80 to a base inlet selector valve 146. Valve 146 has a pair of outlets 149 and 151 which are selectively coupled to an inlet 153 to which conduit 144 is connected. Valve 146 is operable to selectively establish a water flow path from inlet 153 to either outlet 149 or 151. Further, a pair of conduits 148 and 150 have their inlets coupled to respective ones of outlets 149 and 151 of valve 146. Each of conduits 148 and 150 branches off into two separate water flow paths which are coupled to a respective pair of fountain base inlet openings by coupling hoses 152. In other words, conduit 148 is coupled between base inlets 136 and outlet 149 of valve 146, whereas conduit 150 is coupled between opposing inlets 26 and outlet 151 of valve 146.

Merely by switching the permissible flow path through valve 146 from its inlet to one of its outlets or the other, water is selectively supplied to base chamber 24 through either inlets 26 or inlets 136. Thus, the discharge pattern produced by fountain 142 can be either as shown in FIG. 4 or as shown in FIG. 6.

The foregoing description has been presented with reference to certain specific structural arrangements embodying the invention. These arrangements have been illustrated and described for the purposes of example and illustration and are not exhaustive of all forms which the invention may assume. Therefore, the foregoing description of the accompanying figures should not be regarded as limiting the scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A support base for an ornamental fountain nozzle and the like comprising:

a. a housing defining therein a chamber having side walls, a ceiling and a floor;

b. a first pair of coaxially aligned liquid inlet ducts through the housing and communicating with the chamber through the side walls thereof at opposed locations;

c. a liquid outlet opening defined through the chamber ceiling and means in cooperation therewith for receiving a fountain nozzle with a liquid inlet opening thereof in communication with the chamber outlet opening; and

d. a second pair of liquid inlet ducts defined through the housing and communicating with the chamber through the side walls thereof, the axes of the second pair of liquid inlet ducts being parallel to and spaced from each other, the openings of the second pair of ducts to the chamber being opposed across the chamber.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the effective distance along the length of the chamber perpendicular to the axes of the first inlet ducts from the openings thereof to the chamber outlet opening is at least equal to the mean diameter of the chamber.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the base defines liquid flow controlling and directing means operatively associated with the flow path through the chamber from the first inlet ducts to the inlet opening of a nozzle received on the base for causing liquid flowing through the chamber to have an essentially laminar axial flow characteristic and an essentially uniform liquid flow pattern at the nozzle inlet opening when liquid is supplied to the chamber only through the first inlet ducts.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the flow controlling and directing means includes proportioning the chamber to have a mean cross-sectional area in a plane parallel to the chamber floor which is substantially greater than the effective flow area to the chamber through the first inlet ducts.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a fountain nozzle mounted to the base, and wherein the chamber is of circular configuration and has a mean cross-sectional area in a plane parallel to the floor thereof which is at least twice the effective area of the nozzle inlet opening.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 including controllable means for supplying liquid to the chamber either through the first inlet ducts or through the second inlet ducts.