GB508820A - Improvements in or relating to indoor fountains - Google Patents

Abstract

508,820. Fountains ; electric switches. GETTWART, K., and SCHMIDT, H. Aug. 8, 1938, Nos. 23339 and 23340. Convention dates, Aug. 31, 1937, and June 20, 1938. [Class 69 (i)] [Also in Group XXXVII] A self-contained fountain for standing or floating in a basin of water comprises a casing 1, 2, entirely closed except for the water inlet 6 and outlet to the jet nozzle 44, and containing a diaphragm pump 9, a motor 31 for driving it, dry batteries 27 supplying the motor, a gravity-operated switch 34 controlling the motor circuit, and an air chamber 26 for rendering the jet continuous. The use of a gravity switch, operated merely by tilting the whole device, and of a glandless diaphragm pump, avoids the possibility of leakage into the casing either through an aperture in it for a switch-operating member or from the pump. In the construction shown, the parts 1, 2 of the casing are separable, the joint being rendered water-tight by a sealing ring 3. The rubber or like diaphragm 10 of the pump is held by a cover 11 on the pump casing 9, which is integral with the lower part 1 of the casing. The pump draws water through the inlet 6 and delivers it through a passage 19 and connection 23 to the air chamber 26, whence it passes out through the jet nozzle 44, the inlet and outlet valves 17, 22 consisting of rubber flaps. The down strokes of the diaphragm are effected by a piston-plate 13 which bears on it and is carried by a rod 12 driven from a crank disc through reduction gearing 32 by a motor 31, the return strokes being made by a spring 15. Alternatively, the return as well as the down strokes may be effected by the motor. The cells 27 supplying the current are held by spring contact members 28. The gravityoperated switch shown in Fig. 4 comprises a tube 34 pivoted at 35 and containing a ball 40 which runs from one end of it to the other when the apparatus is tipped and retains it either in the open position shown or tilted in the opposite direction, when a ring 38 on it contacts with a spring 37 and makes the circuit. A buffer spring 41 limits the movement of the tube in the opposite direction of tilt. Another form of fountain differing in constructional details is described. In this construction, the switch comprises a pivoted member of U-form in cross-section, on which runs a ball, and which carries adjacent the pivoted point a laterallyextending tongue which in one direction of tilt engages a contact pin.