Abstract: A method positions and installs a support for a fountain assembly permanently at a specific location and elevation relative to a water body at an amusement park, hotel, or resort. The method utilizes a crane equipped vessel to deploy a support over the desired location. The vessel has its location determined from position fixing instruments and then an installer positions the vessel precisely. The method then has an installer lift the support plumb and above the water body. The method next rotates the support to embed it into the bed of a water body. Rotation stops when the head of the support becomes coplanar with the surface of the water body. The support then receives framework for fountains while remaining concealed beneath the water.

Abstract: A device locates a fountain assembly permanently at a specific desired location while the fountain assembly floats in a confined area, or to fix the fountain assembly at a selected height. A sleeve upon a frame supports fountain equipment as the sleeve moves vertically upon the pier as adjacent water levels change. The invention also provides a method of installing a fountain assembly within a water body where an installer uses an alignment guide and a mechanical means to embed a metallic pier in the bottom of the water body at a precise location. Then the installer places the fountain assembly onto the installed pier as a float provides neutral buoyancy for the assembly. The frame and float generally locate the nozzle of a fountain proximate the surface of the water body with the remainder of the fountain equipment being submerged.

Abstract: The self-contained miniature laminar ornamental fountain shown in FIG. 1 comprises an enclosure and water reservoir, 5, a pump, 1 a flow control means, 3, pipe or tubing means, 2 to conduct water from the pump 1, to a laminar nozzle, 4. Water in the reservoir, 5, enters the pump, 1, where it is pressurized, thence through the adjustable valve or flow control means, 3 through the tubing, 2. to the laminar nozzle, 4. The laminar stream, 6, emanating ftom the laminar nozzle, 4, forms a graceful arch and then falls back into the reservoir, 5, to repeat the cycle. In another embodiment of the invention the fountain includes one or more additional laminar or non-laminar nozzles. In another embodiment the fountain above in which the laminar nozzle(s) contain internal lighting means for producing lighted laminar streams. In another embodiment in the fountain, the laminar stream(s) are interrupted to form jets of water which appear to leap ftom place to place.

Abstract: This invention discloses an ornamental fountain wherein a fountain nozzle is made to discharge a pressurized stream of liquid, and a shutter prevents or allows the stream to exit.

Abstract: The self-contained miniature laminar ornamental fountain shown in FIG. 1 comprises an enclosure and water reservoir, 5, a pump, 1, flow control means, 3, pipe or tubing means 5 to conduct water from the pump, 2, to a laminar nozzle, 6. Water in the reservoir, 1, enters the pump, 2, where it is pressurized, thence through the adjustable valve or flow control means, 4, through the tubing, 5, to the laminar nozzle, 6. The laminar stream, 7, emanating from the laminar nozzle, 6, forms a graceful arch and then falls back into the reservoir, 1, to repeat the cycle. In another embodiment of the invention the fountain includes one or more additional laminar or non-laminar nozzles nozzles. In another embodiment the fountain above in which the laminar nozzle(s) contain internal lighting means for producing lighted laminar streams. In another embodiment in the fountain, the laminar stream(s) are interrupted to form jets of water which appear to leap from place to place.

Abstract: This invention discloses an ornamental fountain wherein a fountain nozzle is made to discharge a pressurized stream of liquid, and a shutter prevents or allows the stream to exit.

Abstract: The self-contained miniature laminar ornamental fountain shown in FIG. 1 comprises an enclosure and water reservoir, 5, a pump, 1 a flow control means, 3, pipe or tubing means 2 to conduct water from the pump, 1, to a laminar nozzle, 4. Water in the reservoir, 5, enters the pump, 1, where it is pressurized, thence through the adjustable valve or flow control means, 3 through the tubing, 2 to the laminar nozzle, 4. The laminar stream, 6, emanating from the laminar nozzle, 4, forms a graceful arch and then falls back into the reservoir, 5, to repeat the cycle. In another embodiment of the invention the fountain includes one or more additional laminar or non-laminar nozzles. In another embodiment the fountain above in which the laminar nozzle(s) contain internal lighting means for producing lighted laminar streams. In another embodiment in the fountain, the laminar stream(s) are interrupted to form jets of water which appear to leap from place to place.

Abstract: This invention discloses an ornamental fountain wherein a fountain nozzle is made to discharge a pressurized stream of liquid, and a shutter prevents or allows the stream to exit.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method and apparatus for creating a variable colored lighting effect at some desired remote location by means of multiple source lighting means, usually red, blue and green, illuminating the end of individual bundles of fiber optic cables which are then combined into one larger cable bundle which is then routed to the desired remote location.

Abstract: This invention discloses an inlet rigid pipe with a large number of holes drilled laterally through its side wall with each hole being significantly smaller than the pipe internal diameter such that fluid made to flow into an end of the pipe will tend to flow out through the lateral holes at substantially equal flow rates. By spacing the holes along the length of the tube at some fractional multiple of P apart, then fluid flowing out from adjacent holes will concurrently exhibit different pressure variations which will tend to mutually cancel. For example, if two adjacent holes are space P/2 apart, then while fluid flowing from the first hole is exhibiting a periodic maximum pressure, the adjacent hole will concurrently be exhibiting a minimum. Actually, a random spacing of the holes is very effective as long as they are not spaced an integral multiple of P apart.

Abstract: In FIG. 1, turbulent water or other fluid enters the nozzle body, 2, at inlet port, 1, and encounters the convex surface of a porous filter which has been formed into the shape of a hollow hemisphere, 3, at the center of which is the exit orifice. As the fluid flows through the hollow hemispherical diffuser it has its Reynold's Number significantly reduced. The energy of any gross turbulences on the convex side of the diffuser tends to be converted to a very great number of micro-turbulences which tend to be self canceling. Since the diffuser, 3, also shown in FIG. 3, is shaped as a hollow hemisphere centered upon the exit orifice, 4, then all water flowing from the diffuser to the exit orifice has substantially the same distance to travel from all directions. With this low-turbulence fluid all having substantially the same straight-line distance to travel to the exit orifice, 4, there tends to be little new turbulence introduced and the fluid, 5, exiting the orifice, 4, tends to be highly laminar.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a centrifugal pump or compressor which reduces pulsations and variations in pressure, commonly called “pump noise”. This invention discloses a centrifugal pump design wherein the relationship of the impeller to the volute shape and the exit port tend to decrease the net amplitude of the pulsations within the flow of pressurized fluid produced by cancellation of pulse peaks.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method and apparatus for creating a variable colored lighting effect at some desired remote location by means of multiple source lighting means, usually red, blue and green, illuminating the end of individual bundles of fiber optic cables which are then combined into one larger cable bundle which is then routed to the desired remote location.

Abstract: A trunnion assembly for mounting a launching device including a barrel for launching a liquid or a solid including at least one horizontal locating assembly to allow limited horizontal movement of the launching device; and at least one vertical locating assembly for varying the vertical inclination of the launching device. The structure for varying the extent of horizontal movement of the trunnion assembly includes at least one resilient movable stop assembly; and the structure for varying the extent of vertical movement of the trunnion assembly includes at least one resilient stop assembly.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention a method and apparatus for forming and launching a slug of liquid toward a designated target area includes a hollow chamber located on a desired incline having a lower liquid inlet and an upper exit orifice, which is preferably a knife edged orifice, in the upper surface of the chamber. A plug-stopper is located on the inner surface of the chamber which is movable between an engaged position blocking flow of liquid through the orifice and and a disengaged position allowing liquid to exit through the orifice. A pistion located within an operating cylinder has a piston rod which extends through the chamber and engages the plug-stopper and moves the plug-stopper between engaged and disengaged positions with the orifice. The piston is moved back and forth by a fluid moving the piston head in the cylinder back and forth. Preferably a stop is provided in the chamber which the stopper plug engages in the orifice disengaged position.

Abstract: An enclosure made of rugged metal or plastic is provided including a top, at least one side wall and a bottom. An inlet is provided in the bottom wall and an internal chamber is provided above the inlet. This internal chamber contains a valve similar to valve 20 which is capable of opening and closing rapidly and may be controlled by external electrical or hydraulic power. Preferably a commercial available filter screen material is provided in the inlet to the internal chamber to insure that no large particles which would harm the system, are permitted to enter the internal chamber. The internal chamber is in fluid communication with an upper chamber which is preferably cylindrical and which optionally includes the diffuser material to reduce turbulence. After the fluid flows through the upper chamber, it is in substantially laminar flow and exits through a knife edge orifice into an outer chamber pool defined by an extension of the outer enclosure and the top of the enclosure.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, liquid material enters circumferencially into a generally cylindrical outer walled cylinder. A baffle may be provided to facilitate circumferencial flow. The tangential, circumferencial flow tends to reduce turbulence. In the outer chamber a top wall is provided and a cushion of air is located between the top wall and the top of the liquid medium to effect cushioning. After circumferencial flow, the liquid flows radially inwardly into an inner fluid chamber through a plurality of openings in an inner cylindrical wall. Within the inner chamber and spaced between the bottom wall and the top wall is a diffuser section. The diffuser section provides a large plurality of parallel fluid flow paths to dampen remaining major currents by lowering the fluid velocity and thus the Reynolds number. The upper surface is arcuate. Thus fluid flows radially upwardly and inwardly to a knife-edged type orifice which results in laminar fluid flow exiting therefrom.

Abstract: Pressurized fluid enters by way of the flow control valve 90 which regulates flow and thus simulated raindrop size, through the fluid supply tube 80 and enters the fixed fluid distributor body 20, past a rotational seal 154 and into the rotating shaft 10, cushioned by the accumulator chamber 50. As the rotating shaft is made to rotate by means of the drive motor 60 and transmission means 70, the radial outlet port(s) 14 sequentially line up momentarily with each side port 26, allowing fluid flow through each outlet tube 30-35 in turn overflowing each respective conical vessel 40-45 to create a fluid drop at the lower point 48 which falls as simulated rain 160 in a desired three dimensional array. Each raindrop is thus timed perfectly according to the speed of rotation of the rotating shaft 10. The transducer 100 produces an electrical pulse for each rotation, also perfectly timed to the raindrops, which is input to the triggered oscillator 110 to ultimately control the strobe light 140.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, liquid material enters circumferencially into a generally cylindrical outer walled chamber. A baffle may be provided to facilitate circumferencial flow. The tangential, circumferencial flow tends to reduce turbulence. In the outer chamber a top wall is provided and a cushion of air is located between the top wall and the top of the liquid medium to effect cushioning. After circumferencial flow, the liquid flows radially inwardly into an inner fluid chamber through a plurality of openings in an inner cylindrical wall. Within the inner chamber and spaced between the bottom wall and the top wall is a diffuser section. The diffuser section provides a large plurality of parallel fluid flow paths to dampen remaining major currents by lowering the fluid velocity and thus the Reynolds number. The upper surface is arcuate. Thus fluid flows radially upwardly and inwardly to a knife-edged type orifice which results in laminar fluid flow exiting therefrom.

Abstract: A lighted laminar-flow fluid nozzle is provided for use in decorative water fountains and industrial applications which defines fluid flow through a double-walled, bladder-like fluid supply hose, into a fluid chamber and through a diffuser, past trapped air pockets and exiting through a knife-edged outlet orifice. The fluid nozzle is mounted upon one or more stages of vibration dampening springs and the outlet orifice is located off center from the walls of the fluid chamber, all so that pump surges and vibrations are greatly dampened and the output fluid stream is sufficiently highly laminar so that light is conducted through the length of the output fluid stream in the manner of a fiber optic cable.