GB2563500A

GB2563500A - Water jet arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2563500A
Application number: GB1808749.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Milton Anthony; Darren Jonathon Jones Mark
Original assignee: Tonark Marketing Ltd
Current assignee: Tonark Marketing Ltd
Priority date: 2018-05-29
Filing date: 2018-05-29
Publication date: 2018-12-19
Also published as: GB201808749D0; WO2019229419A1

Abstract

A water jet arrangement comprises a geared, water-driven turbine 20, a shaft 22 connected to the turbine for rotation about an axis of the shaft and a plurality of outlet conduits (4 figure 1). Each outlet conduit terminates in an outlet for a jet of water (8 figure 1) and a plurality of valves are arranged along the shaft, each valve being upstream of a respective outlet conduit such that rotation of the shaft causes one or more the valves to open. This admits water flowing from the turbine to one or more of the outlet conduits and to cause one or more jets of water at one or more of the outlets, and causes the one or more of the valves to close, to stop the one or more jets of water. The shaft may be hollow so as to allow water flow through its inside. The valves may be operated by cams 146 mounted on the shaft.

Description

Background to the Invention [0001] This invention relates to a water jet apparatus for recreational use.

[0002] A known installation, seen for example in a public park, and provided for children's play, includes a number of water outlets at ground level. These emit jets of water at unpredictable times. A source of water under pressure is connected via a manifold to the outlets. Each outlet is fitted with a valve including a solenoid, and a controller actuates the solenoids to activate the jets of water and shut them off.

[0003] In such an installation, care must be taken to isolate the electrical system, including the solenoids, from the water.

Summary of the Invention [0004] The invention seeks to provide an unpredictable water jet arrangement for domestic use.

[0005] The invention provides a water jet arrangement comprising a geared, water-driven turbine; a shaft connected to the turbine for rotation about an axis of the shaft; a plurality of outlet conduits, each outlet conduit terminating in an outlet for a jet of water; and a plurality of valves arranged along the shaft, each valve being upstream of a respective outlet conduit, such that rotation of the shaft causes one or more the valves to open, to admit water flowing from the turbine to one or more of the outlet conduits and to cause one or more jets of water at one or more of the outlets, and causes said one or more of the valves to close, to stop said one or more jets of water.

[0006] In embodiments of the invention, the valves are opened and/ or closed at different rotational positions of the shaft, i.e. at different times. At least one of the valves may be arranged to be opened twice during a revolution of the shaft. At least two of the valves can be arranged to be opened at the same rotational position of the shaft.

[0007] Each outlet may be set within a respective pad, for example centrally, and the pads may be circular. The outlet conduits may be in the form of hoses.

[0008] In one embodiment, the shaft is hollow, and in use, water flows through a bore of the shaft.

[0009] The shaft may have a cylindrical wall, provided with shaft apertures at a plurality of axial locations, the shaft apertures forming elements of the valves, such that alignment of any one of the shaft apertures with an outlet conduit admits water to that conduit.

[0010] At least some of the shaft apertures may be arranged at different circumferential locations on the shaft, to open different ones of the valves at different times.

[0011] A plurality of the shaft apertures may occupy the same axial position, to open the same valve at different times.

[0012] The shaft apertures may have different shapes. The shapes of the shaft apertures may be selected from circles, squares, oblongs, rhombi, triangles, keyhole shapes or irregular shapes.

[0013] The outlet conduits can be connected to an outer cylinder surrounding the shaft, via outlet apertures in said outer cylinder.

[0014] As an alternative to, or in addition to, the different shapes and/or different circumferential locations of the shaft apertures, the outlet apertures may have different shapes and/or different circumferential locations.

[0015] In another embodiment, the valves are operable by cams on the shaft. Each valve may provided in one of the outlet conduits at a point corresponding to the axial position of one of the cams. The valves may be include levers and sprung valve elements, which in their unstressed state can close the valves.

[0016] The shaft may be hollow, and provided with rotating seals at upstream and downstream ends of the shaft, such that in use, water flows through the shaft, and into the outlet conduits as far as the valves.

[0017] Alternatively, the shaft may be solid, the outlet conduits leading from a point between the turbine and the shaft, and a rotating seal being provided between said point and the shaft.

[0018] The cams may be arranged to protrude from the shaft at different shaft angles, so as to operate the valves at the different angles. At least one of the cams may have more than one protrusion, to operate a valve more than once during a revolution of the shaft. At least one of the cams may have an edge that extends substantially radially with respect to the shaft, for rapid switch-on or switch-off of a valve. At least one of the cams may have an irregular shape.

Brief Description of the Drawings [0019] The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0020] Figure 1 is a top view of an arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0021] Figure 2 is a partly sectional view of the water distribution unit of the arrangement of Figure 1;

[0022] Figures 3A to 3D show possible alternative shapes of shaft apertures for the arrangement;

[0023] Figure 4 is a schematic top view of an arrangement according to another embodiment of the invention;

[0024] Figure 5 is a side view of the arrangement of Figure 3;

[0025] Figure 6 shows a switch of the arrangement of Figure 3; and [0026] Figures 7A to 7D show possible cams for the arrangement of Figure 3.

Detailed Description of Particular Embodiments [0027] Figure 1 shows a water jet arrangement comprising a water distribution unit 2, arranged to supply water to a set of outlet conduits 4 in the form of flexible hoses, each conduit 4 terminating in a water jet pad 6.

[0028] In this example, the water jet pads 6 are in the form of rubberised domes or discs which can be placed on the ground in different configurations. They could have any shape, for example flowers or animals. Each water jet pad 6 receives an outlet conduit 4 at a periphery of the pad, and the water is led to a central outlet 8, which can be formed to create a vertical or angled jet of water therefrom.

[0029] Figure 2 shows the water distribution unit 2. Water flows generally from left to right as viewed in the drawing.

[0030] The unit has a generally bottle-shaped housing 10 having a body 12 and a neck 14. The neck 14 terminates in an end cap 15 which also functions as a pressure relief valve.

[0031] The body 12 has an inlet 16, provided with a nozzle 18 for attachment to a hose, and contains a water-driven turbine 20 communicating with the inlet 16. The turbine 20 is of a type used in garden sprinklers and is fitted with a series of gears (not shown). At its right hand (output) end, the turbine drives a hollow shaft 22 which extends into the neck 14. The neck 14 includes outlet apertures 24 having threaded nozzles 26 for attaching the outlet conduits 4. In this example, six outlet apertures 24 are provided, spaced equally along the neck 14, with alternate apertures on opposite sides.

[0032] The shaft 22 has shaft apertures 28, 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d in its wall, at axial locations coinciding with the outlet apertures 24. Each axial location can include one or more of the shaft apertures 28.

[0033] In use, water is supplied to the turbine 20 through the inlet 16. The gears cause the shaft 22 to rotate at about 0.017 Hz (1 rpm), whilst water flows into the shaft. When a shaft aperture 28 aligns with its respective outlet aperture 24, water flows from the shaft 22, through the apertures 28, 24, into the respective outlet conduit 4 and creates a jet from the water jet pad 6.

[0034] Where two or more of the apertures 28a, 28b are at the same axial location, water will be emitted from the same water jet pad at different shaft angles, i.e. more often than once per minute.

[0035] Where two or more of the apertures 28c, 28d are at the same circumferential location, water will be emitted from different water jet pads at the same time.

[0036] Figures 3A to 3D show possible different shapes for the shaft apertures. Figure 3A shows a rectangle, providing rapid switch-on and switch-off of the water. Figure 3B shows a circle, providing more gradual switch-on and switchoff, the water jet rising and falling more slowly. Figure 3C shows a triangle, which can provide a gradual increase in the jet and a rapid switch-off, or vice versa. Figure 3D shows a lozenge, providing a gradual rise and fall of the jet. All of the shapes can be altered, for example by extending their circumferential length to keep the water jet in place for longer.

[0037] In this example, the outlet apertures 24 are square, but they could be of different shapes. Also, in this example, the outlet apertures 24 are arranged in two rows at diametrically opposite locations on the neck 14, but they could be at different angles, and two or more outlet apertures could be at the same axial position on the neck, so that two or more of the jets are activated by the same shaft aperture(s) at different shaft angles.

[0038] Figures 4 and 5 show an alternative water distribution unit 102. A frame 130 includes a first end bracket 132, a base 134 and a second end bracket 136. A turbine 120, of the same type as the turbine 20 described above, is fixed to the first end bracket 132 by means of an inlet 116 which communicates with a nozzle 118 on the outside of the bracket.

[0039] The turbine 120 drives a hollow camshaft 140 arranged between the turbine and the second end bracket 136. The camshaft 140 is provided with a first rotating seal 142 at its turbine end, and a second rotating seal 144 at its downstream end. The camshaft 140 carries cams 146 which have, for example, a cross-section as shown in Figure 7A.

[0040] An outlet 148 of the camshaft 140, at its downstream end, extends downwardly and then back parallel to the camshaft 140, to a series of switch conduits 150. Each switch conduit is arranged transverse to the camshaft 140, below a respective cam 146. A switch 152, shown in Figure 6, is located in each switch conduit 150 so as to be switchable by the cam in question. The switch comprises a sprung valve element 154 operable by a lever 156.

[0041] The switch conduits 150 terminate in connections for outlet conduits 104, similar to the outlet conduits 4 described above, and these lead to water jet pads which can be the same as those shown in Figure 1.

[0042] In use, water entering the turbine 120 rotates the camshaft 140, and flows along it, to the outlet 148 and the switch conduits 150. The cams 146 operate the respective switches 152 at different shaft angles. Therefore water is caused to flow to the different outlet conduits 104 and create water jets at different times.

[0043] Figures 7A to 7D show differently shaped cams that can be used to create the water jets. The cam of Figure 7B can create a slowly rising jet which suddenly switches off as the edge 160 releases the lever 156. The cam of Figure 7C creates several jets as the camshaft rotates. The cam of Figure 7D facilitates the functionalities of those of Figures 7B and 7C.

[0044] In an alternative version, the camshaft is solid; instead of the outlet 148 there is a pipe immediately downstream of the turbine, feeding the outlet conduits with their switches. A rotating seal is provided around the camshaft adjacent the pipe.

[0045] The invention provides a pseudorandom sequence of water jets with no requirement for electricity, so that it is safe and inexpensive.

Claims

1. A water jet arrangement comprising a geared, water-driven turbine; a shaft connected to the turbine for rotation about an axis of the shaft; a plurality of outlet conduits, each outlet conduit terminating in an outlet for a jet of water; and a plurality of valves arranged along the shaft, each valve being upstream of a respective outlet conduit, such that rotation of the shaft causes one or more the valves to open, to admit water flowing from the turbine to one or more of the outlet conduits and to cause one or more jets of water at one or more of the outlets, and causes said one or more of the valves to close, to stop said one or more jets of water.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the valves are arranged to be opened and/or closed at different rotational positions of the shaft, i.e. at different times.

3. An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the valves is arranged to be opened twice during a revolution of the shaft.

4. An arrangement according to claim 2 or 3, wherein at least two of the valves are arranged to be opened at the same rotational position of the shaft.

5. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein each outlet is set within a respective pad that can be placed on an area of ground

6. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the outlet conduits are in the form of hoses.

7. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the shaft is hollow, and in use, water flows through a bore of the shaft.

8. An arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the shaft has a cylindrical wall, provided with shaft apertures at a plurality of axial locations, the shaft apertures forming elements of the valves, such that alignment of any one of the shaft apertures with an outlet conduit admits water to that conduit.

9. An arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the shaft apertures have different shapes.

10. An arrangement according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the shapes of the shaft apertures are selected from circles, squares, oblongs, rhombi, triangles, keyhole shapes or irregular shapes.

11. An arrangement according to claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein the outlet conduits are connected to an outer cylinder surrounding the shaft, via outlet apertures in said outer cylinder.

12. An arrangement according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the outlet apertures have different shapes and/or different circumferential locations.

13. An arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the valves are operable by cams on the shaft.

14. An arrangement according to claim 13, wherein each valve is provided in one of the outlet conduits at a point corresponding to the axial position of one of the cams.

15. An arrangement according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the valves include levers and sprung valve elements, which in an unstressed state close the valves.

16. An arrangement according to claim 13, 14 or 15, wherein the shaft is hollow, and provided with rotating seals at upstream and downstream ends of the shaft, such that in use, water flows through the shaft, and into the outlet conduits as far as the valves.

17. An arrangement according to claim 13,14 or 15, wherein the shaft is solid, the outlet conduits being fed from a point between the turbine and the shaft, and a rotating seal being provided between said point and the shaft.

18. An arrangement according to any one of claims 13 to 17, wherein the cams are arranged to protrude from the shaft at different shaft angles, so as to operate the valves at the different angles.

19. An arrangement according to any one of claims 13 to 18, wherein at least one of the cams has more than one protrusion, to operate a valve more than once during a revolution of the shaft.

20. An arrangement according to any one of claims 13 to 19, wherein at least one of the cams has an edge that extends substantially radially with respect to the shaft, for rapid switch-on or switch-off of a valve.

21. An arrangement according to any one of claims 13 to 20, wherein at least one of the cams has an irregular shape.