GB2394427A

GB2394427A - An oil wheel

Info

Publication number: GB2394427A
Application number: GB0320442A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shamsudin Sandeela; Paul Conway Fisher
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-09-04
Filing date: 2003-09-01
Publication date: 2004-04-28
Anticipated expiration: 2023-09-01
Also published as: GB2394427B; GB0220558D0; GB0320442D0

Abstract

An oil wheel 2 comprising at least one compartment 4, at least one barrier 6, 8 in the compartment 4, and a mixture of air and at least two immiscible liquids in the compartment 4, the barrier 6, 8 being such as to cause the mixture 10 of the air and the immiscible liquids to break up and provide aesthetic effects consequent upon relative movement between the oil wheel and the immiscible liquids. The relative movement may be caused by the wheel being rotated in a projection apparatus. Alternatively the relative movement may be achieved by the immiscible liquids being pumped around the compartment 4 (See Figure 10).

Description

AN OIL WHEEL

This invention relates to apparatus known as an oil wheel.

Oil wheels are well known and they are used for producing continuously varying aesthetic effects, for example for general lighting purposes, theatres, discotheques, home lighting and shop window displays.

The known oil wheels usually comprise at least one sealed compartment, and a mixture of air and at least two immiscible liquids in the compartment.

The oil wheel is able to be mounted for rotation in a projector. A visual effect is then produced as the immiscible liquids flow within the oil wheel.

The visual effect can be projected where desired by the projector.

With the known oil wheels, the visual effect produced by the oil wheel is dependent upon the rotation of the oil wheel, and the heat from the light source in the projector. Due to the heat generated by the light source, for example a lamp, the liquids need to have a low viscosity in order to achieve the desired visual effect during use. If the liquids become too hot, the viscosity increases to such an extent that the visual effect becomes lost. The known oil wheels normally only have two compartments due to problems in focusing further compartments by the lighting projectors. Thus the visual effect tends to be limited in scope.

It is an aim of the present invention to reduce the above mentioned problems, and thereby to produce an improved oil wheel.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided an oil wheel comprising at least one compartment, at least one barrier in the compartment, and a mixture of air and at least two immiscible liquids in the compartment, the barrier being such as to cause the mixture of the air and the immiscible liquids to break up and provide aesthetic effects consequent upon relative movement between the oil wheel and the immiscible liquids.

The oil wheel may be one in which the relative movement is caused by the oil wheel being adapted for rotation in projection apparatus. The oil wheel can be rotated clockwise or anti-clockwise as may be desired. Any suitable and appropriate type of projection apparatus may be employed.

Any suitable and appropriate light source may be employed.

The oil wheel may alternatively be one in which the relative movement is caused by the oil wheel being adapted to be static, and in which the immiscible liquids are able to be pumped around the compartment. The oil wheel may be one in which the compartment has at least one entry port and at least one outlet port for use in the pumping of the immiscible liquids around the compartment.

The oil wheel may be one in which the barrier is such that it extends to the periphery of the oil wheel. Alternatively, the oil wheel may be one in which the barrier is such that it does not extend to the periphery of the oil wheel. The oil wheel may be one in which there are at least two of the barriers, and in which the barriers are such that they all extend to the

periphery of the oil wheel. Alternatively, the oil wheel may be one in which there are at least two of the barriers, and in which the barriers are such that they all do not extend to the periphery of the oil wheel.

Preferably the oil wheel is one in which there are at least two of the barriers, and in which at least one of the barriers is such that it extends to the periphery of the oil wheel, and in which at least one of the barriers is such that it does not extend to the periphery of the oil wheel. With such an arrangement, the barrier or barriers that extend to the periphery of the oil wheel may be regarded as primary barriers. These primary barriers operate during use of the oil wheel to move the mixture of the air and the immiscible liquids towards the centre of the oil wheel. The barrier or barriers that do not extend to the periphery of the oil wheel may be regarded as secondary barriers. These secondary barriers move the mixture of the air and the immiscible liquids into another direction from the arriving direction.

The oil wheel will usually be such that the compartment has first and second sides which are made of a transparent material. The transparent material may be a plastics material or a borosilicate material.

The oil wheel may be one in which there are at least two of the compartments, and in which the compartments are positioned on top of each other so that they share a common axis of rotation. Preferably, there are two or three of the compartments.

Any suitable and appropriate type of immiscible liquids may be employed. Where there are two immiscible liquids, then one liquid may be water and the other liquid may be oil. Altematively, the two liquids may be

two different types of oils. With two immiscible liquids, the colours achievable may be black and clear, blue and fuscia, blue and yellow, and blue and red.

If desired, there may be at least three of the immiscible liquids in the compartment. Generally, any suitable and appropriate number of immiscible liquids may be employed in the compartment.

Advantageously, the oil wheel is such that it includes at least one wetting agent in the compartment. Wetting agent may be effective to help the travel of the mixture of the air and the immiscible liquids due to the relative movement between the oil wheel and the immiscible liquids. The amount of the wetting agent employed may control the degree of the break up of the mixture of the air and the omissible liquids, and may thereby control the produced aesthetic effects. Generally, an increasing amount of wetting agent can cause the break up of the mixture of the air and the immiscible liquids from large blobs, to medium blobs, to small blobs, to a virtual complete break up of the mixture giving an aesthetic effect in the nature of a plurality of little stars.

Advantageously, the oil wheel includes a filter for reflecting light which is not in the visible spectrum. The use of the filter is preferred because the oil wheel tends to get hot during use in the projection apparatus. The heat is caused by the oil wheel receiving too much light. If one of the immiscible liquids is water, then the water may boil, giving a vapour pressure build-up which tends to burst seals in the oil wheel. If the immiscible liquids are only oils, then the oils may heat up to a high

s temperature which is sufficient to melt the sides of the oil wheel if they are made of a plastics material. If the sides of the oil wheel are made of a borosilicate glass instead of the plastics material, then the borosilicate glass tends to get thermally stressed due to the high temperatures, with the result that the glass cracks. The use of the filter for reflecting light which is not in the visible spectrum is able to drastically reduce on the amount of heat generated by the oil wheel during use.

Preferably, the filter is one which reflects ultraviolet and infrared light.

Thus, for example, the filter may reflect light below 350 nanometres in order to reflect the ultraviolet light, and the filter may reflect light above 650 nanometres in order to reflect the infrared light, whereby the filter only passes light in the bandwidth of 350 - 650 nanometres for only passing light in the visible spectrum.

The filter may be provided with a secondary coating for giving neutral density reflection whereby, across the entire spectrum of the light able to be passed, a percentage is reflected. The percentage of light reflected can be modified in dependence upon the power output of the light source, for example the lamp, of the projection apparatus. Typically, 50% of the light may be reflected for a light source in the form of a 150 watt discharge lamp.

The percentage of light reflected may be increased for higher wattage discharge lamps.

Advantageously, the oil wheel is one in which the filter has a first layer giving the ultraviolet reflection, a second layer giving the infrared reflection, and a third layer giving the neutral density reflection.

The filter is preferably formed as part of the oil wheel. The filter may however be separate from the oil wheel and therefore the present invention also extends to the combination of the oil wheel and the filter, with the filter being separate from the oil wheel.

The oil wheel of the present invention is preferably in the shape of a disc. The oil wheel may be of other shapes if desired.

The present invention also extends to a colour projection system comprising the oil wheel and projection apparatus. Any suitable type of projection apparatus may be employed from a simple projector up to complicated projection arrangements.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of a first oil wheel of the present invention; Figure 2 is a section through the oil wheel shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the oil wheel shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a section through a second oil wheel of the invention; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the oil wheel shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 shows an oil wheel of the present invention in a frame for enabling the oil wheel to be rotated in projection apparatus; Figure 7 shows the oil wheel of Figure 6 in projection apparatus and ready for use;

Figure 8 is a section through the oil wheel shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and illustrates a 2-colour effect that can be obtained using two immiscible liquids with the colours being represented as black and clear/white; Figure 9 is a section through the oil wheel shown in Figures 4 and 5 and illustrates colour combinations that can be obtained with the oil wheel, the colour combinations being indicated by black, clear/white and different shades of grey; and Figure 10 shows an oil wheel of the present invention in which the oil wheel is adapted to be static and in which immiscible liquids are pumped around the oil wheel.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown an oil wheel 2 comprising a sealed compartment 4, and two barriers 6, 8 in the compartment 4. Also in the compartment 4 is a mixture 10 of air and at least two immiscible liquids.

The barriers 6, 8 are such as to cause the mixture 10 of the air and the immiscible liquids to break up and provide aesthetic effects consequent upon rotation of the oil wheel 2 in projection apparatus. The oil wheel 2 can be rotated clockwise or anticlockwise as may be desired.

The oil wheel 2 is such that there are at least two of the barriers 6 and at least two of the barriers 8. The barriers 6 are such that they extend to the periphery of the oil wheel 2. The barriers 8 are such that they do not extend to the periphery of the oil wheel 2. The barriers 6 may be regarded as primary barriers which move the mixture 10 of the air and the immiscible liquids towards the centre of the oil wheel 2. The barriers 8 may be regarded as secondary barriers which move the mixture 10 of the air and the

immiscible liquids off into another direction from the direction in which the mixture arrives at the barriers 8.

The compartment 4 has a first side 12 and a second side 14. These first and second sides 12, 14 are made from a transparent material such for example as a transparent plastics material or a borosilicate material. The compartment 4 is formed as a sealed compartment by an O-ring seal 16 which is sandwiched as shown between the first and the second sides 12, 14. The first and the second sides 12, 14 and the O-ring seal 16 will usually all be stuck together with an adhesive. Any suitable and appropriate adhesive may be employed.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, there is shown an oil wheel 18 which comprises three of the sealed compartments 4. Similar parts as in the oil wheel 2 have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding. As best shown in Figure 4, the three compartments 4 are positioned on top of each other so that they share a common axis of rotation. For simplicity of description, the compartments 4

have been described as being on top of each other but it will of course be appreciated that if the oil wheel 18 is turned through 90 , then the compartments 4 are positioned side by side as opposed to on to of each other. Inner side walls in the oil wheel 18 are shown as inner side walls 19.

Figure 6 shows an oil wheel 20 of the present invention comprising the oil wheel 2 shown in Figures 1 - 3, and mounted in a frame 22. The frame 22 is provided with holes 24.

Figure 7 shows the oil wheel 20 of Figure 6 mounted in projection apparatus 26.

If any one compartment 4 has only two immiscible liquids in it, then examples of colour combinations that may be employed are black: clear/white, blue: fuchsia, blue: yellow, and blue: red. If desired, there may be three or four immiscible liquids in each compartment 4. Also, in each compartment 4, there are preferably four of the primary barriers 6 and three or four of the secondary barriers 8. More or less of the primary barriers 6 and the secondary barriers 8 may however be employed.

The oil wheels 2, 18, 20 may be employed to give a wide variety of pleasing aesthetic effects. The oil wheels 2, 18, 20 can be used in projection apparatus installed in a variety of different types of premises including theatres, shops, discotheques and homes.

Figure 8 is similar to Figure 2 and shows how the mixture 10 is able to given a two colour combination of black areas 28 and clear/white areas 30. Figure 9 is a section like Figure 4 and shows how the oil wheel 18 is able to give a variety of colours. This variety of colours is shown in black and white but the colours obtained are actually blue areas 32, fuchsia/magenta areas 34 and yellow areas 36. Figure 9 also shows the use of a wetting agent 38 and air 40. Air 40 has also been shown schematically in Figure 8.

Referring now to Figure 10, there is shown a colour display system 42 comprising an oil wheel 44. The oil wheel 44 is in the form of a three

compartment disc with each compartment being arranged on top of each other so that all three compartments share a common access. The three compartments are sealed so that the entire oil wheel 44 is a sealed oil wheel having three sealed compartments. Only the uppermost compartment 46 is shown. This compartment 46 has five barriers 48. Three pumps 50 are provided. There is one pump 50 for each compartment 46. The pumps 50 are connected to their respective compartments 46 by conduits 52, 54 as shown. The pumps 50 are reversible direction pumps. The conduits 52, 54 form exiVentry tubes for the pumps 50 and the compartments 46. At least one of the compartments 46 contains a mixture of air and at least two immiscible liquids. Usually all of the compartments 46 will contain a mixture of air and at least two immiscible liquids. The system 42 is such that the oil wheel 44 is stationary. Relative movement between the oil wheel 44 and the immiscible liquids is caused by the immiscible liquids being pumped around the compartments 46 by the pumps 50. Inlet and exit ports to the compartments 46 may be positioned where desired, for example in seals sealing the compartments 46.

During use of the oil wheel of the invention, the relative movement between the oil wheel and its immiscible liquids churns the air/liquids mixture. The liquids are randomly broken up into different sized blobs, and the air is randomly broken up into bubbles which are smaller than the blobs.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. For

example, the or each compartment 4 in the oil wheel preferably contains a wetting agent for controlling the degree of the break up of the mixture 10 of the air and the immiscible liquids. The amount of the wetting agent employed is thus able to control the aesthetic effects obtained. The oil wheel also preferably include a filter which reflects light which is not in the visible spectrum. Preferably the filter comprises a first layer giving ultraviolet reflection, a second layer giving infrared reflection, and a third layer giving neutral density reflection. The use of the use of the filter is effective to reflect light which is not in the visible spectrum and which is therefore not required by the present invention. All light which passes through the oil wheel of the present invention tends to generate heat which can adversely affect the aesthetic display by overheating the immiscible liquids and/or the materials from which the compartments are made. The use of the filter is able to substantially reduce the heat generated in the oil wheel of the present invention, since the filter only passes light in the visible spectrum.

The illustrated oil wheels 2, 18, 20 are in the shapes of discs but they may be in other shapes if desired. The projection apparatus 26 has been shown as a simple projector for ease of illustration but the projection apparatus 26 may be of a more complex design as may be suitable and appropriate for various installations and various aesthetic effects.

Claims

1. An oil wheel comprising at least one compartment, at least one barrier in the compartment, and a mixture of air and at least two immiscible liquids in the compartment, the barrier being such as to cause the mixture of the air and the immiscible liquids to break up and provide aesthetic effects consequent upon relative movement between the oil wheel and the immiscible liquids.

2. An oil wheel according to claim 1 in which the relative movement is caused by the oil wheel being adapted for rotation in projection apparatus.

3. An oil wheel according to claim 1 in which the relative movement is caused by the oil wheel being adapted to be static, and in which the immiscible liquids are able to be pumped around the compartment.

4. An oil wheel according to claim 3 in which the compartment has at least one entry port and at least one outlet port for use in the pumping of the immiscible liquids around the compartment.

5. An oil wheel according to any one of the preceding claims in which the barrier is such that it extends to the periphery of the oil wheel.

6. An oil wheel according to any one of the preceding claims in which the barrier is such that it does not extend to the periphery of the oil wheel.

7. An oil wheel according to any one of the preceding claims in which there are at least two of the barriers, and in which the barriers are such that they all extend to the periphery of the oil wheel.

8. An oil wheel according to any one of the preceding claims in which there are at least two of the barriers, and in which the barriers are such that they all do not extend to the periphery of the oil wheel.

9. An oil wheel according to any one of the preceding claims in which there are at least two of the barriers, and in which at least one of the barriers is such that it extends to the periphery of the oil wheel, and in which at least one of the barriers is such that it does not extend to the periphery of the oil wheel.

10. An oil wheel according to any one of the preceding claims in which the compartment has first and second sides which are made of a transparent material.

11. An oil wheel according to claim 10 in which the transparent material is a plastics material or a borosilicate material.

12. An oil wheel according to any one of the preceding claims in which there are at least two of the compartments, and in which the compartments are positioned on top of each other so that they share a common axis.

13. An oil wheel according to claim 12 in which there are two or three of the compartments.

14. An oil wheel according to any one of the preceding claims in which there are at least three of the immiscible liquids in the compartment.

15. An oil wheel according to any one of the preceding claims and including at least one wetting agent in the compartment.

16. An oil wheel according to any one of the preceding claims and including a filter which reflects light which is not in the visible spectrum.

17. An oil wheel according to claim 16 in which the filter reflects ultraviolet light and infrared light.

18. An oil wheel according to claim 17 in which the filter reflects light below 350 nanometres in order to reflect the ultraviolet light, and in which the filter reflects light above 650 nanometres in order to reflect the infrared light, whereby the filter only passes light in the bandwidth of 350 - 650 nanometres for only passing light in the visible spectrum.

19. An oil wheel according to any one of claims 16 -18 in which the filter has a secondary coating for giving neutral density reflection whereby, across the entire spectrum of the light able to be passed, a percentage is reflected.

20. An oil wheel according to claim 19 in which the filter has a first layer giving ultraviolet reflection, a second layer giving infrared reflection, and a third layer giving neutral density reflection.

21. The combination of the oil wheel according to any one of claims 1 -

15, and the filter defined in claims 16 - 20, the filter being separate from the oil wheel.

22. An oil wheel according to any one of the preceding claims and which is in the shape of a disc.

23. An oil wheel substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

24. A colour projection system comprising the oil wheel according to any one of claims 1 - 23 and projection apparatus.