JPH10507124A - High precision rain curtain - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract: A water display is disclosed that includes a plurality of drip tubes (12) that are suspended from a structure and periodically drip to drip so as to simulate "rainfall." These drip tubes are attached to a tank (16) containing a ballast (24) and a certain amount of run off. When the water display is off, the ballast is in the upper position such that the level of fluid is below the opening of the tube. The display further includes a control mechanism (26) for lowering the ballast into the fluid. By lowering the ballast, the fluid moves to a level above the opening of the tube and the fluid flows out of the tank and passes through the tube. The control mechanism then raises the ballast to the first position, causing the fluid to drop again to a level below the tube opening. The ballast descent and rise cycle is repeated periodically.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION High Precision Rain Curtain Background of the Invention FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to water displays for making rain curtains. 2. 2. Description of the Related Art Large public buildings typically have chandeliers or other decorative devices to enhance the appearance of the structure. Water displays, such as fountains, are particularly attractive due to the soothing sound of flowing water and the addition of natural elements to non-building artifacts. A common fountain is one or more streams of water flowing out of an orifice and falling into a puddle. The novelty of traditional waterfalls and water displays is no longer a source of entertainment. It is therefore desirable to provide a water display that can entertain the audience. It would also be desirable to have a fun water display that creates a stream of water that simulates rainfall. The unique water flow pattern of such a display captures the viewer's attention and provides a softened rain sound. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is a water display including a plurality of drip tubes suspended from a structure and periodically dropping fluid drops to simulate "rainfall." These drip tubes are attached to a tank containing a ballast and an amount of fluid. When the water display is off, the ballast is in the upper position such that the level of fluid is below the opening of the tube. The display further includes a control mechanism for lowering the ballast into the fluid. By lowering the ballast, the fluid moves at the same time to a level above all tube openings, and the fluid flows out of the tank and passes through the tubes. The control mechanism raises the ballast to the first position and causes the fluid to drop again to a level below all tube openings. The ballast descent and rise cycle is repeated periodically. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a water display according to the present invention in an "off" position. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the water display in an "on" position. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a water display that creates a rain curtain. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a water display mounted on a ceiling. Looking at the detailed description the drawings of the invention in more detail by reference numbers, water display 10 of the present invention is shown in Figure 1. The water display 10 is generally suspended from a structure such as a ceiling or a roof of a building. For example, the display may be installed in an open area of an airport or a shopping street. The water display 10 creates a fluid flow simulating "rainfall". Simulated rainfall improves both the acoustic appearance and the visual appearance of the structure. In addition to this, rain-producing displays can create a source of enjoyment for people occupying buildings. The water display 10 includes a plurality of tubes 12 mounted on a lower floor 14 of a tank 16. Tank 16 contains a volume of fluid 18. A fluid other than water can be used as the fluid 18, but is generally water. The tubes 12 each have an outlet 20 and an inlet opening 22. The inlet opening 22 is located at a predetermined distance from the lower floor 14 of the tank 16. Each tube 12 has a small enough inside diameter to create a droplet of fluid from the outlet 20 as the fluid flows into the inlet opening 22. There is a ballast 24 inside the tank 16. The ballast 24 is connected to a control mechanism 26 that can move the ballast 24 between a first position shown in FIG. 1 and a second position shown in FIG. When the ballast 24 is in the first position, the level of the fluid 18 is below the inlet opening 22 of the tube 12 so that no fluid can flow from the display 10. When the ballast 24 is moved to the second position, the volume of the ballast 24 is replaced by the same volume of fluid. Fluid moves to a level above inlet opening 22 and fluid flows from tank 16 through tube 12. The tank 16 is connected to a supply pipe 28 that is in fluid communication with a storage tank 30. When the ballast 24 is at the second position, fluid is supplied from the supply pipe 28 and the storage tank 30 to the tank 16. Fluid flows into tank 16 at approximately the same speed as the fluid flowing through tube 12, so tank 16 is refilled with fluid when the display produces simulated rainfall. The control mechanism 26 includes a piston 32 connected to the ballast 24. The piston 32 is pushed to the closed position shown in FIG. 1 by a spring or other means, and when the fluid pressure of the fluid in the pipe 28 exceeds a predetermined value, the piston 32 is moved to the open position shown in FIG. Move to. When the hydraulic pressure in tube 28 drops below the threshold, the spring moves piston 32 back to the closed position. The control mechanism 26 further includes a latch that holds the piston 32 in the second position until the hydraulic pressure drops below a threshold level by a predetermined value. The latch prevents the piston 32 from being locked in the forward and backward positions when the hydrostatic pressure reaches a threshold. Although a spring controlled piston is described, the piston 32 may be controlled by a source of compressed air or a solenoid. Control mechanism 26 also includes a valve (not shown) that allows fluid to flow from tube 28 to tank 16 as ballast 24 moves toward the second position. The valve may be associated with the piston 32 such that fluid flows to the tank 16 as the piston 32 lowers the ballast 24. The tank 16 and the tubing 12 are typically located on top of a pool 34 that captures fluid flowing out of the tank 16. The pool 34 is coupled to the reservoir 30 by a pump 36 that returns the fluid captured by the pool 34 to the tank 16. The output of pump 36 can also be controlled to fill reservoir 30 and supply tube 28 at a rate lower than the rate of fluid flowing into tank 16. The relatively slow fill rate of the supply line 28 serves as a timer that periodically opens and closes the piston 32 to induce a corresponding movement of the ballast 24 and outflow of fluid from the tank 16. In an alternative embodiment, the pool 34 may be coupled to a drain, and the reservoir 30 may be coupled to a municipal water source that again fills the supply line 28 at a lower rate than the fluid flow flowing into the tank 16. . As shown in FIG. 4, in the preferred embodiment, the tank 16 is formed as an annulus having a diameter of about 6 feet. Preferably, there are four individual supply tubes 28 that are about 20 feet long and 1 inch in diameter. Display 10 typically includes thousands of tubes 12, each of which has an inside diameter of 1/16 inch and is spaced from each other by 1/4 inch. The tubes 12 are preferably arranged in three rows so that the display creates water. Ballast 24 has approximately the same diameter as tank 16 and moves 1/2 to 1 inch between a raised position and a lowered position. During operation, the display is initially in the off position shown in FIG. 1, where the ballast 24 is located above the fluid. Fluid does not flow out of the tank 16 because the fluid level is below the inlet opening 22. The supply tube 28 is filled with fluid while the ballast 24 is in the raised position. Filling of supply tube 28 with fluid continues until the hydrostatic pressure in tube 28 exceeds a threshold, which is the point at which piston 32 lowers ballast 24 to the position shown in FIG. The ballast 24 displaces the fluid and raises the level of the fluid above the inlet opening 22 of the tube 12. Fluid flows into tube 12 and exits display 10. The small diameter of tube 12 constricts the flow of fluid into it, creating droplets that fall into pool 34. As shown in FIG. 3, the combination of many tubes creates a number of droplets that simulate a rain curtain. Movement of the piston 32 also opens a valve that allows fluid to flow from the supply tube 28 to the tank 16 to refill the fluid flowing out of the tube 12. Since the flow velocity toward the tank 16 is higher than the flow velocity from the pump 36 to the reservoir 30 and the pipe 28, the level of fluid in the pipe 28 and the corresponding hydrostatic pressure drop below the threshold. When the pressure of the fluid in tube 28 drops the predetermined level below the threshold, piston 32 raises ballast 24 back to the first position. The supply line 28 is again filled with fluid and the cycle is repeated. What is provided is a water display that can simulate a rain curtain periodically. While several embodiments are described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, such embodiments are merely illustrative of the broad invention and are not limiting, and those skilled in the art will appreciate various other modifications. It should be understood that as it occurs, the invention is not limited to the specific structures and arrangements shown and described.

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Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A tank having a lower floor and containing a fluid;   It has an opening attached to the tank and located at a predetermined distance from the lower floor Tubes and   A ballast located in the tank;   A first position where the level of fluid is below the opening in the tube; Between the second position where the body has been moved to a level above the opening of the tube, Moving the strike so that fluid flows out of the tank and through the tube Means Water display including. 2. 2. The water of claim 1 wherein said tube creates a plurality of droplets. ·display. 3. When the ballast is in the second position, the speed of the fluid through the tube is approximately Claims further comprising supply means for introducing fluid into said tank at the same rate. Item 2. The water display according to item 1. 4. The supply means includes a supply pipe coupled to the tank, and the moving means includes A pressure-sensitive piston coupled to the supply pipe, wherein the pressure-sensitive piston is within the supply pipe; When the fluid pressure in the section reaches a threshold level, the ballast is moved to the second position. The water display according to claim 3, wherein the display is moved. 5. The supply pipe is connected to the fluid at a speed lower than a speed at which the tank is filled with the fluid. 5. The water display of claim 4, wherein the water display is filled. 6. A pool located below the tank for collecting fluid flowing from the tube; The water display of claim 1 including: 7. A tank having a lower floor and containing a fluid;   An opening and a flow passage attached to the tank, each located at a predetermined distance from the lower floor. A plurality of tubes having a diameter to create body droplets;   A ballast located in the tank;   A first position where the level of fluid is below the opening in the tube; Between the second position where the body has been moved to a level above the opening of the tube, A piston that moves the strike so that fluid flows out of the tank and through the tube Tons and   A supply pipe coupled to the tank;   A fluid source for supplying fluid to the supply pipe;   Fluid flows from the supply pipe to the tank when the ballast is in the second position. With a valve Water display including. 8. The supply pipe is connected to the fluid at a speed lower than a speed at which the tank is filled with the fluid. The water display of claim 7, wherein the water display is filled. 9. A pool located below the tank for collecting fluid flowing from the tube; The water display according to claim 8, comprising: 10. A tank having a lower floor and containing a fluid;   It has an opening attached to the tank and located at a predetermined distance from the lower floor Tubes and   A ballast located in the tank;   A first position where the level of fluid is below the opening in the tube; Between the second position, which moves the body to a level above the opening of the tube, A controller that moves a strike so that fluid flows out of the tank and through the pipe Structure Water display including. 11. The wall of claim 10, wherein the tube creates a plurality of droplets. Data display. 12. When the ballast is in the second position, the velocity of the fluid through the tube is approximately Further comprising a fluid supply for introducing fluid into the tank at approximately the same rate. Item 11. The water display according to item 10. 13. The fluid supply includes a supply pipe coupled to the tank, and the control mechanism includes: A pressure-sensitive piston coupled to the supply pipe, wherein the pressure-sensitive piston is connected to the supply pipe; When the fluid pressure in the interior reaches a threshold level, the ballast is moved to the second position. 13. The water display according to claim 12, wherein the water display is moved. 14． The supply pipe is operated at a speed lower than the speed at which the tank is filled with fluid. 14. The water display of claim 13, wherein the display is filled with. 15. A pool located below the tank for collecting fluid flowing from the tube is further provided. The water display according to claim 10, comprising: