US1782943A - Liquid-display apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 25, 1930" F. G. STANFORD ET AL LIQUID DI SPLAY APPARATUS Filed Sept. 9. 1929 Jay. I

Patented Nov. 25, 1930 ASSIGNOR 'ro GEORGE r1. HYLAND, or nos A enLEsfcaLIFoaivrA "rirouIn-nIsrLAY' PPARATUS Application filed September 9; 1929. s r al Nb. 3913144; I

Thehereinafter described invention relates to liquid display apparatus and deals more particularly with apparatus of the class used to attract attention by displaying turbulent liquid 'vvithin a transparent container.

Our inventionin its entirety contemplates an advertising medium, Wherein'a liquid,

7 preferably colored, is intermittently. forced from a container reservoir intoand out ofa transparent container. One lntention of this invent on lStO further helghten the effectiveness of this display byzcausingthe liquid to be agitated idurin g substantially the entire cycle ofoperation; We are aware that cer taintypes of display apparatus ofthischaracter fiause the liquid to be agitated during a part of the cycle of operation, but; insofar as we know, there isno apparatus handling a liquid inthe vvayvve contemplate that does not havea prolonged quiescent periodduring a certain part of the cycle of operation. Accordingly, it is an object ofthis invention to provide an apparatus of theIforegoing char .acter wherein the agitation of the: liquid is practically constant during {the entireperiod of operation of the device.

Another feature of this invention resides in the nae'ans of actuating the device; the

means in this instance" contemplating continuously operatedifluid pressure means. It

is Well known in the art of dispensing liq juids that fluid pres'sureactuating means is available" in a great many places V where Fother means, such as? vacuum actuating "means, is i Therefordf in prder to take ffu'll' adjvaritage of'thecus mary equipi'nentin bever ay (5' ablishinents it is an object of Y 'tion tdfprovi-de an; apparatusthat be actuated byfluidipress'urel} ce thief-invention contemplates anad: vertisingi medium tlia'tiis intended 'to be o grated y aaican continuously; ai s:- m; in a t a ving Ipfarts, and these of thesiinpljest and 1 tofprfovide an gapparaths'having' fevv moist ruggecl onstructim commensurate with the'p'iirpose' aadnsflfth devme; jln tilizing i fl 'id; pressure as any actuating fenabled tofprovide'an appa 'a': tuskif f evv p ts and'iri'this 'invention wefinf tendte haveno outside va1ves;-nor'ftiming mechanism of the sort sometimeseinployed f in vacuum actuated apparatus. Itis, therefore; an object ofithis invention to incorpo;

rate all valves and controllingpartsinto a single piece of apparatusand thus have but one outside connection; that is, the pressure connectionforactuating the apparatus.

Our invention is carried into: effect by the container with meansby Which' liquid is forced from said reservoir by fluid pressure into said display container and operable :to allow the liquid to returntosaid reservoir;

the organization being-arrangedin a-rnanner to provide agitation of the liquidsubstantially throughout the entire operation of the device." WVith the foregoing objects in vieyv, yto'- gether withsuch other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear the invention resides in the parts and in the come bination construction and arrangement of partsherieinafter described and claimed and illustrated by Wayaofexample in the accom panying dravvings,i11 WhlChF-f I Fig. 1 is a vertical cross section of the apparatus; p "Fig. 2 is horizontal sectionas seen on line'2 2 of Fig.1;

v Fig.6 diagrammatically shovvs v the operaprovision of a containerreservoirfor liquid to be displayed andwa transparent display tion of the device in its first stage or just as the display container isstarting tof fill;

" Fig; tfshe'vvs the same 1 in t the second stage withfthe liquid turbulentyf Fig. 5 shows; the same inthe thirdstage asithe,; displaj containeris emptying; j a; a Fig. 6-shoWsjthesame at the end of the cycle and as functioningr'prelirninary to the V first stageoperhatiori sheenip Fig.3.

"Referring to the drawlngs more speeifi cally, indicates displayjcontainen and Bdenotesa-re'servoir carried-upon a suitable support Cl The foriri fandshape-of the reservoir is notinaterial to this invention, eon se quently this invention is intended to include reservoirs of all shapes and suitable 'materials, as Ewell as display 'containe'rsl; Of all shapes and of i any suitable material that is suificiently' transparent to" suit eurispurpose.

'8 of the container A into the reservoir B and affording a support for the display container.

As a means of insuring a leak-proof conneetion between the container A and the reservoir B, a soft rubber ring 11 is wedged into the opening 10 around the neck 8 of the container. The opening 10 is made of sufficient size to admit a flange 12 on the neck of the container A being passed there through, and the rubber ring is formed of such thickness as to fill the space between the neck 8 and the margin of the opening 10 and to seal the connection.

The container A is provided with'a small vent aperture 13 preferably located in the top of the container for the purpose of relieving entrapped air as the container fills which aperture may be very small and it is preferably made as a V-shaped opening with the apex of the V penetrating the interior of the container; the purpose of this arrangement being to prevent liquid from escaping through the vent aperture by occasional splashes of the turbulent liquid within the container. Mounted on the neck 8 of the container A, is a plate 14 having apertures 15 and extending through the plate 14 and aflixed thereto is a vertical tube 16, the lower portion of which extends downwardly to within a short distance of the bottom of the reservoir B and opens to the latter at 17 and the upper portion of which projects upwardly into the display container and opens thereto at 18. V

The reservoir top 9 is in the form of a cover which is here shown as seated on the upper margin of the receptacle and as secured in place thereon by a ring 19 which is screwed on the receptacle and has an inturned marginal flange 20 which engages the cover or top 9 to hold the latter in place. The pres sure actuating medium, in this instance air under pressure, is admitted to the top portion of the closed reservoir B through an inlet 24 which is shown connected to a flexible hose 25 that leads to a suitable source of air supply, under pressure. Since the source of air supply does not enter into this invention no ineansof providing the same is shown. It is obvious that if no local source of air under pressure is available a small compact unit may be installed to supply any desired quantity.

Means are provided for alternately closing and opening the apertures 15 in the plate 14 operable to automatically control the delivcry of liquid from thereservoir to the con tainer which means comprises a float valve I) here shown as embodying a cork float 26 re eiprocably mounted 011 the tube 16 and having a gasket 27 of suitable material mounted on the upper surface adapted to seat on the underside of the plate 14.

Extending through the top 9 closely adjacent the external circumference of the flange 14 is a vent tube 29 communicating with the atmosphere. The lower end of the vent tube 29 is arranged to extend to the plane of the underside of the plate 14 and the float valve D is designed and adapted to close the lower end of the vent tube 29 simultaneously as it seats on the plate 14 and closes the mouth of the container A. The vent tube 29 is mounted for vertical adjustment on the top 9 so that its lower end may be positioned in proper alignment with the underside of the plate 14 for which purpose the vent tube 29 has a threaded portion 30at its upper end screwed into engagement with an internally threaded opening in the top 9; the upper end of the vent 29 being formed with a kerf 31 for the reception of a screw driver or similar tool for effecting rotation of the vent tube 29 to advance or retract the latter on the top 9. As a means for confining the travel of the float valve D to a portion of the length of the tube instead of substantially the entire length thereof a stop 32 comprising a spider is affixed in the reservoir B and through which the tube 16 slidably extends. This arrangement also operates to prevent the float valve D from descending to the lowermost end of the tube 16 and obviates any possibility of the float valve becoming locked over the lower end of the tube.

The aperturedplate 14, with the tube 16 a'tflxed thereto, is here shown as demountablv attached to the lower end of the neck 8 of the container by bolts 33 which have their heads countersunk in the plate 14 and have their threaded shanks extending through marginal slots 34 formed in the flange 12; nuts 35 being screwed on the bolts and seating on the upper face of the flange 12 in such mam ner as to clamp the plate 14 against the neck of the container. By this construction the container with the apertured plate and the tube 16 may be removed from the reservoir by lifting the display container therefrom.

In the operation of the invention the reservoir B is filled with a suitable liquid to a level at which the float valve closes the mouth of the container A and the tube 29. After inserting the container A in its inverted position, air under pressure is delivered into the reservoir above the liquid therein through the hose 25 and the inlet 24. The pressure forces the liquid up through the tube 16 into the container A in the form of a fountain as illustrated by Fig. 3. When the liquid accumulating in the container reaches a level above the upper end of the tube 16, the liqthe evacuating liquid.

uid is agitated and rendered turbulent by flows back through the aperture 15 into the reservoir B.

During this stage it is observed that the vent tube 29 is open to the atmosphere and that the pressure entering from the inlet 24 is spent without being confined to any work. The liquid perforce of gravity drains out of the container A and in so doing is rendered turbulent by airrushing in through the neck of the jar A to fill in part the space left by the aperture 13 which is provided to release entrapped air as the container is filled, but which is not great enough to supply a suflicient amount of air during the emptying of the container. As the container A emptles,

the liquid rises in the reservoir B until the float valve D again. closes the mouth of the container A and the vent tube 29, and the cycle of operation starts again. r

In Fig. 3-is diagrammatically illustrated A the start of the filling stage, and in Fig. i

an intermediate condition of the filling stage, while in Fig. 5 is shown an intermediate stage otemptying) of the display-container and in Fig. 6 the eginning of the refilling stage. It will be observed that in the filling and emptying stages the turbulence occurs; that in Figs. 3 and 4 it is caused by inrushing l1quid, but that in Fig. 5 the turbulence is caused by inrushing air.

' While we have shown a specific embodi.- ment of our invention we are aware that certain modifications and refinements may be made therein. We therefore reserve the right to make such alterations as do not depart from the scope of the specification nor the purview of the appended claims.

VJ e claim: 1 i i 1. In a liquid display apparatus, a reservoir adapted to contain a liquid, a display container invertedly communicable with said reservoir, float valve controlled means operable by liquid in said reservoir for causing intermittent flow of a liquid from said reservoir to said container when fluid pressure is developed in said reservoir,and means controlled by' said valve for developing fluid pressure in said reservoir.

2. In aliquid display apparatus, a reservoir adapted to contain a liquid, a display container invertedly communicable with said reservoir, float valve controlled means operable by the rise and fall of liquid in said Mention is made of reservoir for causing" an alternate flow of llquld to and from sald reservolr and said container when fluid pressure is alternately developed and negatived in said reservoir,

and means controlled by said valve for al ternately creatingand exhausting fluid pres sure in said reservoir.

3. In a liqu d dlsplay apparatus, a reservoir adapted-to contain a liquid, a display container invertedly communicable with'said reservoir, means forpadmitting fluid under pressure to saidreservoir, means for exhausting fluid pressure from said reservoir and valve means for automaticallycontrolling the flow of liquid back and forth between said reservoir and said container when fluid pressure is alternately developed and negatived in said reservoir, and means controlled by saidvalve whereby fluidlpre'ssure is alternately developed and negatived in said reservoir; said valve being actuatedbyrise and tall or liquid in said reservoir and container.

4. In a liquid display apparatus, a reservoir adapted to contain a liquid, a display container having an jopeningleading downwardly into said reservoir,.a tube having an open end in said conta ner and the opposite open end in said reservo r, a float valve asso ciated with said container opening for cover.-

ing and uncovering said opening and for causing liquid to flowthrough said tube into said container when said valve is in position to cover said container openlng and when fluid pressure is applied to said reservoir,

means tordirecting fluid pressure to said reservoir and a vent in said reservoir. nor-, mally closed by said float valve.

5. In a liquid display apparatus, a reservoir, a display container having an. opening leading downwardly into said reservoir, a tube extending from said reservoir intosaid display container, a float valve reciprocably mounted on said tube arranged to close the lower opening of said display container-fat a predetermined level of liquid in said reservoir, means for directing air under pressure into said reservoir, and a vent controlled by said float valve for exhausting air pres sure from said reservoir.

6. In a liquid display apparatus, a reser} voir having a fluid pressure inlet and a vent said reservoir, a valve arranged to close said" communicating with the atmosphere exteopening and said vent on liquid in said res- 1 ervoir reach ng a predetermined level and a tube leadmg iromsaid reservolr into sald container through which liquid from the res-. ervoir may be delivered to the contamer on flu1d pressure being directed 1nto the reservoir and said tube serving when liquid in the reservoir falls below the lower end thereof reservoir.

.to equalize pressures in. the container and A. a

7. I11 a liquid display apparatus, a reservoir, a display container having an opening leading downwardly into said reservoir and having a vent aperture, a vertically adjustable vent tube in said reservoir, a vertical tube affording communication between said reservoir and said container, a float valve guidedon said vertical tube arranged to simultaneously close said opening and said vent tube, and means for directing air under pressure into said reservoir.

8. In a liquid display apparatus, a reservoir, a cover thereon having a central opening, a vent tube projecting downward through said cover, a display container having an open ended neck, said container being disposed with said neck extending through the opening in said cover and communicating with said reservoir, a vertical tube carried by said container extending upwardly into the container and downwardly into the reservoir, a float valve guided on said vertical tube arranged to close said vent tube and the open ended neck of the container, said reservoir being formed with a fluid pressure inlet and said container being formed with avent.

FORREST Gr. STANFORD. GUY BAKER.

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