FR2562637A1 - Method and device for making fountains luminous and application of this device - Google Patents

Abstract

The method and the device for making fountains luminous are characterised in than one or more elongated light guide 6 of small diameter with respect to the cross-sectional area of the jet are introduced into the jet 3, 4, 5 to be illuminated, and one end of the guide or guides 6 is illuminated in order for the other end introduced into the jet and surrounded by the water of the jet to make the light enter the jet at an angle of incidence such that most of the radiation undergoes internal reflection on the surface of the jet which then behaves as an elongated light guide.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MAKING WATER JETS

  LIGHT AND APPLICATION OF THIS DEVICE.

  The present invention relates to a method and a device for making the water jets luminous. The method applies in particular to the water jets of luminous fountains or intended to be made luminous, but can also be applied to water jets used in all circumstances such as for example jets for baths, showers, watering can, spray, faucet, mattress

hydrotherapy etc ...

  When it is desired to make a jet of water iC luminous in light fountains, the jet is illuminated by the intermediary of a light source either aerial or more usually submerged. In the case of aerial light sources, the jet or all of the illuminated jets are not very visible due to the very great loss of light, which cannot really

enter the water.

  In the case of immersed light sources such as DroiyDt; ers, a slightly better efficiency is obtained but which remains incapable of significantly illuminating relatively long jets, and it can easily be seen visually that only the most

  bass of the jets is truly illuminated.

  The present invention proposes to remedy these drawbacks and to provide a method and a device for making the water jets luminous, which are of simple design, inexpensive but which provide a very high luminosity.

  significant length of the jet.

  Another objective of the invention is to obtain a light output from the illumination of the jets which allows

  saving electrical energy.

  Yet another objective of the invention is to allow the electrical source or sources to be placed outside of

  water, which avoids electrical insulation problems.

  The subject of the invention is a method for making the water jets luminous, characterized in that one or more elongated light conductors, of small diameter compared to the transverse surface of the jet, are introduced into the jet, one end is in contact with the water in the jet and forms an angle with the direction of the jet at this point such that the incidence of the radiation from said end or at least most of said radiation is such that the rays are subjected to an internal reflection on the surface of the jet, which, being surrounded by air, behaves like a light conductor

elongate. -

  The light conductors introduced into the jet are advantageously small diameter optical fibers

  the ends of which are arranged in the jet.

  The subject of the invention is also a device for making the jets of water luminous, said device being characterized in that it comprises, for each jet to be illuminated, at least one elongated light conductor, such as in particular one or more optical fibers whose transverse dimension is small compared to the section of the jet, the end of said conductor being located in the jet, while said conductor is connected to its other

  end, to a light source.

  In the case where a plurality of fibers is used, it is advantageous to arrange these fibers so as to be separated from each other and to be bathed

  all separately by spray water.

  The direction of the fiber or of the light conductor forms with the direction of the jet an angle which can be arbitrary, but it is preferred in practice that this angle is less than 680, for example zero, the free end of the fiber To the conductor preferably looking downstream of the jet, it being assumed that the end surface of the light conductor, through which light exits the conductor and enters the water of the jet, is assumed

  perpendicular to the direction of the light conductor.

  In a preferred embodiment, the light conductor (s) or optical fibers are arranged and

  held in the nozzle which forms the jet.

  In the case where it is a question of illuminating a large number of jets, it is possible to use a single light source to supply a large number of fibers distributed in the

different jets.

  It is found that thanks to the invention, it is thus possible to form streams of water or jets whose edges are bright. Indeed, the jet being surrounded by air having a refractive index lower than that of the water forming the jet, behaves in turn like an elongated light conductor in which the light travels by successive reflections. These reflections are in greater number than in the case of an optical fiber and with each reflection there is a certain loss, which corresponds to a light energy which passes outside and thus makes it possible to ensure the illumination of the jet. over its entire length, a sufficient quantity of light remains available, however - generally at the end of the jet where it breaks, the broken fragments and the droplets then remaining still illuminated. In the case of very vertical nets or jets whose angle at the apex is very acute, a large part of the light comes out from the apex. In the case of nets describing a parabolic path and falling back into a basin, an illumination of the bottom of the basin is obtained. In the event that the net breaks, an illumination of the

  drops near the end of the spray.

  Other advantages - and characteristics of

  the invention will appear on reading the description

  following, made by way of nonlimiting example and referring to the appended drawing in which: FIG. 1 represents a schematic view of a fountain with several jets provided with fibers or bundles of fibers. FIG. 2 represents a schematic view of a dispenser such as a shower head in a first

embodiment.

  Figure 3 shows a view of such a dispenser according to a second embodiment of the invention. Referring to Figure 1, there is shown schematically a basin 1 in the center of which is disposed a multiple nozzle device 2 intended to produce a plurality of water jets 3, 4, 5 of various angles, the jet 3 being for example vertical. The means of bringing water to

  device 2 have not been shown.

  A set 7 of optical fibers of a usual type, for example the fibers sold under the name CROFON by the company DUPONT de NEMOURS in Geneva, Switzerland, are used in the present invention. These fibers form light conductors formed by a light-conducting strand such as, for example, a polymethyl methacrylate, surrounded by a sheath of a transparent polymer whose refractive index is lower, such as, for example, polyethylene. These fibers 6 firstly form an assembly or cable 7, one end of which, formed by the ends of the various individual fibers 6, is arranged opposite a light source such as a projector 8, in a usual manner for bring the light into the different fibers 6. When they arrive in the distribution device 2, the different fibers 6 of the bundle or cable 7 go individually to the different nozzles and we see that they end in the

different nozzles.

  According to the invention, the light from the projector 8 is guided by the fibers 6 towards the respective jets 3, 4, 5 and it can be seen that these different jets are illuminated over their entire height and, in the case of the jet 5 which falls into the basin 1 without breaking beforehand, an illumination of the bottom of the basin is obtained. The fibers or light conductors 6 were, in the example produced, addressed individually to the different jets, so that each jet is illuminated by

a single fiber.

  In practice, it is understood that a bundle of fibers can be addressed to each jet, the number of which varies in proportion to the transverse surface of the jet. It is preferred, in accordance with the invention, that the ratio between the total light-conducting transverse surface presented by the fiber or fibers penetrating the jet and the transverse surface of the jet is between a minimum value of the order of... And a maximum value of the order of. The minimum value is such that, taking into account the capacitances of ira: nsport of light of these conductors, there is still sufficient brightness of the jet. The maximum surface is determined so that the fiber ends at the level of the jet are completely bathed in water with a minimum of eddying. If necessary, when using several fibers addressed in a single jet, it is possible, instead of grouping all these fibers in a bundle directed towards the jet, to distribute them individually or in sub-assemblies over the entire surface of the jet so to promote the flow of

  water and ensure good quality optical penetration.

  We now refer to Figure 2.

  In this embodiment, there is shown a jet distributor constituted by a kind of head 9, similar to a shower head supplied by a water inlet pipe 10 and provided with a plurality of nozzles. o

emerge from the respective jets 11.

  Also provided, illuminated by a projector 12, is a bundle of fibers 13 distributing inside the apple 9 in individual fibers 14 which pass through the

  apple and penetrate into the nozzles forming the jets.

  Maintaining the fibers of the fiber bundle in the respective nozzles can be carried out in any suitable manner, for example by fixed supports arranged centrally in the nozzle and leaving an annular space for the flow of water between them and the corresponding surface of the nozzles. The fibers can enter the nozzle over a distance which can vary and can emerge out of

  the nozzle to penetrate the aerial part of the jet.

  In the examples of FIGS. 1 and 2, the ends of the fibers 6 or 14 have been arranged substantially in

  the axial alignment of the nozzle at the jet.

  The embodiment of FIG. 3, which is a variant of FIG. 2, shows however that the fibers 14 could be made to end up so as to penetrate the jet 11 with any incidence, for example oblique.

25.62637

  If such distributors are used for example as shower distributors, it can be seen that the jets are illuminated over their entire length up to the point where they strike the ground or they form as many light points, of scr, C as the we can by arranging asLuciously! es uj taes, obtain on the ground a luminous projection giving the image of the nozzle which can be for example an aublicitaire image etc. The color of the light can also be modified by placing the light source 12 of the suitable filters. If the filters are sensitive to water temperature and the filters are placed in the current of water which supplies the nozzle device, the color of the light can be varied according to the temperature of the water or other factors, for example the ambient humidity; if the filters are placed in the ambient air. Although the invention has been described with regard to a particular embodiment, it is understood that it is not infinitely limited and that it can be made with various modifications in form or material without

  that is to go out of its frame - or out of its mind.

Claims (7)

  1 / Method for making the water jets luminous,   characterized in that one or more is introduced into the jet   elongated light conductors (6), (14) of small diameter with respect to the transverse surface of the jet and one end of which is in contact with the water in the jet and forms with the direction of the jet an angle such as that the incidence of at least most of the   radiation from said end is such that the radiations   yons are subjected to internal reflection on the surface of the   jet which, being surrounded by air, behaves like a con elongated light conductor.   2 / A method according to claim 1, characterized in that one introduces into the jet optical fibers of small diameter.   3 / Method according to any one of the claims   1 and 2, characterized in that the direction of the fiber or light conductor at its end forms,   with the direction of the jet, an angle less than 68.   4 / Method according to any one of the claims   1 to 3, characterized in that the light conductor (s) are penetrated into the jet through the nozzle forming the jet.    / Device for making the water jets luminous, characterized in that it comprises, for each jet to be illuminated,   at least one elongated light conductor, the dimension of which   transverse sion is small compared to the section of the jet,   the end of said conductor being located in the jet, a-   when said conductor is connected, at its other end to a light source.   claim OJ - 7 / Device according to / 6 characterized in   what the light conductor is an optical fiber.   8 / Device according to one of claims 6 and   7 characterized in that a jet is used for the jet   reality of light or fiber conductors, arranged   so as to be adequately bathed by the water of the jet.   9 / Device according to any one of the claims   cations 6 to 8, characterized in that it comprises means for receiving and maintaining one or more elongated light conductors or optical fibers in a nozzle or a jet.    / Device according to any one of the res-   dications 6 to 9, characterized in that it comprises one or more   filters placed between the light surface and the   ends of the light conductor (s) receiving the light miter by the light source.   11 / Illuminated fountain incorporating a   tif according to any one of claims 5 to 10.   and 12 / Shower / hydrotherapy unit incorporating a   device according to any one of claims 5 to 10.