JPH07108380B2 - Method and apparatus for forming water display - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method of forming a water display and an apparatus thereof.

(Prior Art) A typical prior art water display device typically changes the water flow shape itself over time, changing the water flow rate over time, or both. , I was trying to get modeling by running water. By the way, if changing the flow rate quickly between on and off states can be done easily in practice, it can create an interesting water display. One means of attempting to form such an interesting water display is to couple the nozzle to a water source by means of pressure on a valve, such as a solenoid valve, to quickly control the nozzle between on and off states.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) By the way, in the above-described water display device,
Although it will cause a rapid change in flow,
It has limitations, primarily due to the inertial effects of water in the device. In particular, when the valve is opened, the water in the device is under pressure but still
Before the water discharged from the nozzle had a substantial velocity, it was necessary to accelerate the water by the unbalanced pressure. Therefore, the initial water discharged from the nozzle is usually relatively slow, but for subsequently discharged water the valve will reach a peak velocity or the valve will open very shortly after opening. The velocity increases progressively until either closed condition is reached. Since the water stream released during the time the valve is open has a velocity difference in its various parts, the beginning part of the water stream-if the valve is only opened for a very short period of time, most of the water stream or Everything-even a few in the coalesced state-has a tendency to break up into numerous droplets, thereby creating a droplet-like chaotic view. Also, closing the valve can result in a substantial water hammer effect, which can damage equipment and distract the audience watching the display.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a method and an apparatus for forming a water display capable of obtaining a very short water flow to form a substantially single water mass and obtaining ordered water formation. The purpose is to provide.

(Means and Actions for Solving the Problem) In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is to provide running water supply means, a suction port connected to this running water supply means, and first and second
A three-way valve for controllably switching the connection with the discharge port, a nozzle having a suction port and a discharge port, the suction port being connected to the first discharge port of the three-way valve, the running water supply means, and the A flow rate control means that is interposed between the three-way valves and adjusts the flow rate so as to obtain a predetermined discharge rate according to water pressure fluctuations, and connecting / switching the first discharge port or the second discharge port to the suction port of the three-way valve. And a control means for performing control in a short time.

A constant flow rate of water is supplied to the three-way valve via the flow rate control means, and the suction port of the three-way valve can be switched to the first discharge port of the valve in a short time. Are ejected from the nozzle, and substantially all of the water flow is pulled together by the surface tension to form a substantially single water mass traveling in the air.

(Example) Hereinafter, the Example of this invention is described with reference to drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the present invention. A water tank 20 is provided in this example, but since it releases only a small amount of water circulating in the device to make a water display, residual water can be recovered as described in detail below. . In any case, the water tank supplies water to a pump (running water supply means) 22 which supplies pressure to the doll valve (flow control valve) 24 to supply water. A Dole valve is a valve that functions to limit the flow through the valve to a relatively constant flow rate, substantially independent of legitimate variations in suction pressure at the inlet. The valve includes an elastic member having a surface exposed to suction water pressure of the valve and having an opening through which a flow passes. In this way, when the suction pressure acting on the surface of the elastic member becomes large, the surface tends to be deformed in order to maintain a constant flow rate, and the size of the opening tends to be reduced (because the pressure becomes large, it becomes thin. Flow rate is increased, resulting in a substantially constant volume flow rate independent of pressure). Similarly, of course, when the pressure applied to the surface of the elastic member decreases, the opening portion further opens and the flow passes through at a low speed to maintain a constant volume flow rate.

Therefore, a relatively constant volume flow is provided through line 26 to a three way valve, preferably a high speed solenoid operated valve 28. The valve can be quickly switched between two states, a first state in which line 26 is connected to discharge nozzle 30 and a second state in which line 26 is connected to return line 32. In the second state, of course, the three-way valve 28 connects the flow in the pipe 26
It only returns through 32, resulting in a recirculating pressure flow, albeit with a relatively low pressure downstream of the Dole valve. In the first state, the three-way valve 28 couples the flow from the pipe 26 to the nozzle 30, thus providing the nozzle 30 with a steady flow if the three-way valve 28 is left in the first state for an extended period of time. .
Finally, a float valve 34, typically a microcomputer, for supplying makeup water through a suction line 36 to the reservoir for replenishing water against water loss in the apparatus, which is described in more detail below. The controller 38 is also shown schematically in FIG. This controller 38 controls the three-way valve 28 and a plurality of similar valves provided on a large water display device in a typical installation.

To operate in accordance with the method of the present invention, the three-way valve 28 is moved from the second state to the first state so that the nozzle 30 initiates the discharge of the water stream.
Switching to a state, and shortly thereafter, switching back to a second state to make the actual discharged flow into only a short flow or segment of flow. This is shown in FIG. 1 at stream or stream segment 40, which has unusual features due to the operation of the previously described apparatus. In particular,
When the three-way valve 28 is in the second state, not only the pump 22 and the dolly valve 24 but all the water in the pipes 26, 42 and 44 are operating at a desired flow rate. The only water that is not moving in the device is the water in the nozzle 30, which can be kept to a minimum by keeping the nozzle relatively short, i.e. close to the three-way valve 28. desirable.
Therefore, when the three-way valve 28 is switched to the first state, the nozzle
Only a small amount of the water released from 30 needs to be accelerated to the desired velocity, most of the water is already in transit, and its inertial effect is already in the nozzle. It will help accelerate the water. This is true when at least some of the tubing, such as tubing 26, is smaller than the approximate diameter or area of the nozzle, resulting in the desired or faster rate of water being expelled by the nozzle. As a result, the nozzle 30
The first water, which forms the leading edge 46 of the segment of flow discharged by, has a velocity that is substantially the same as the velocity of the trailing edge 48 of the segment when the three-way valve 28 is switched back to the second state. Becomes Due to the substantially uniform velocity within stream 40, as the flow segments leave nozzle 30, they tend to combine due to surface tension that pulls the stream into one undulating water mass 50. By virtue of the action of the fast acting valve, the proper control of that valve and the control of other parameters, a mass of water 50 can be repeatedly advanced into the air by means of a nozzle 30, which is independent of one of the masses of water. There is no dripping or at least virtually no dripping.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, if the nozzle 30 is oriented vertically upwards and two water stream segments are traveling into the air at the same time, a splash will occur before the two actually collide. No, but in the end the two will collide and create a fly. On the other hand, if the nozzle 30 is vertical, but only one stream segment can be advanced into the air at a time, a mass of water 50 will remain until it falls toward the nozzle. Of course, the nozzle 30 can be tilted, for example, towards the front or back of the paper, in which case a large number of individual drops can be levitated in the air at one time without interfering with each other. Is clear. It is worth noting in that regard,
Since the device does not require recovery time to prepare for the next operating cycle, as soon as the three-way valve returns to the second state and the trailing edge 48 of one water stream segment is formed, at any time thereafter. Ready to start the discharge of the next water stream segment.

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In that regard, the rectifier 52 provided in the flow of the nozzle 30
Nozzle 30 due to bending in supply piping, 3-way valve, etc.
It has been found that the turbulence generated in the flow emitted from the can be conveniently reduced, and the embodiment simply employs a very short cruciform wing arrangement for this purpose.
The use of the dolly valve 24 to substantially eliminate the effects of pressure fluctuations in the pressure supply line 44 allows multiple pumps 28 to be connected to a common pump 22, which allows multiple pumps to be connected. Of substantially similar display devices can be easily integrated into one piece of equipment, allowing the three-way valve 28 to be controlled by a common control device and the interaction of multiple displays to give an animated look. .
However, no water tank is required as the water source may simply be a pool, a pond or something that stores water with a water display device disposed therein. Nozzle 30
The tip of the is preferably flush with the ground, the water level of the pool or other physical surface, with all of the attached device hidden from view. However,
Considering that children tend to drink 50 lumps of water if the fountain is arranged to allow children to play around, for example below the deck of a courtyard or similar place. In the embodiment, the water tank 20 is used so that the circulating water can be kept clean and pure.

The present invention provides the most conventional display device, and relatively easily incorporates multiple nozzles 30 positioned and controlled by a common controller to provide a highly interesting, constantly changing shape. Can be made. While embodiments of the present invention have been presented and described herein, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

(Effect of the Invention) According to the present invention, the water flow ejected from the nozzle can be made into a substantially single water mass, and ordered water modeling can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. 20 …… water tank, 22 …… pump, 24 …… doll valve, 30 ……
Nozzle, 38 ... Control device.

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A running water supply means (22), and a three-way valve (28) for controllably switching the connection between a suction port connected to this running water supply means (22) and the first and second discharge ports, It has a suction port and a discharge port, and the suction port is a three-way valve (2
8) The nozzle (30) connected to the first discharge port and the flowing water supply means (22) and the three-way valve (28) are interposed so that a predetermined discharge amount can be achieved regardless of water pressure fluctuation. A flow rate control means (24) for adjusting the flow rate, and a control means (38) for controlling connection / switching of the first discharge port or the second discharge port with respect to the suction port of the three-way valve (28) in a short time. Including water display device. 2. The three-way valve (28) and the nozzle (30)
Has multiple pairs of three-way valves (28) and nozzles (30),
The water display device according to claim 1, wherein the suction ports of the plurality of three-way valves (28) are connected in parallel to the discharge side of the flow rate control means (24). 3. The water display device according to claim 1, wherein the flowing water supply means comprises one pump (22). 4. The water display device according to claim 3, further comprising a water storage tank (20) for supplying water to the pump (22). 5. The second outlet of the three-way valve (28) and the water tank (2
A water display according to claim 4, further comprising means (32) connected to the water discharge tank (20) for returning water from the second outlet of the three-way valve (28) to the water tank (20). apparatus. 6. The water display device according to claim 5, further comprising means (34) provided on the water supply side of the water storage tank (20) for maintaining a constant water storage amount of the water storage tank (20). 7. A water display device according to claim 1, characterized in that the nozzle (30) is oriented substantially vertically upwards. 8. The water display device of claim 1, wherein the nozzle (30) includes a rectifier (52). 9. Water according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the pipes connecting the running water supply means (22) to the inlet of the three-way valve (28) is smaller than the approximate diameter of the nozzle (30). Display device. 10. A three-way valve (28) for controllably switching the connection between one suction port and the first discharge port and the second discharge port is provided, and (b) the suction port and the discharge port are provided. A nozzle (30) having the suction port connected to the first discharge port of the three-way valve (28), (c) provided in the preceding stage of the three-way valve (28) and adapted to the water pressure fluctuation. To prepare a flow rate control means (24) for adjusting the flow rate so as to obtain a predetermined discharge amount, (d) supplying running water to the suction port of the three-way valve (28), and (e) running water to the nozzle (30). The three-way valve (28) is controlled so that the water is supplied or blocked, and the nozzle (3
0) water supply or blockage to maintain the flow of water to the three-way valve (28) regardless of the state of the three-way valve (28). Forming method. 11. A three-way valve (28) in step (e).
Is controlled to connect its suction port to the first discharge port in a short time, and as the water stream travels from the nozzle (30) into the air, the surface tension of the water pulls the water stream into a substantially single water mass. 11. A method according to claim 10, characterized in that the water stream is ejected from the nozzle (30) which is restricted in length to form. 12. The flowing water supply means (22) is connected to the suction port of the three-way valve (28) by at least one pipe smaller than the approximate diameter of the nozzle (30). 11 Method described.