US2787495A

US2787495A - Fountain installation and an electric circuit for operating same

Info

Publication number: US2787495A
Application number: US377596A
Authority: US
Inventors: Przystawik Otto
Original assignee: DANCING WATERS Inc
Current assignee: DANCING WATERS Inc
Priority date: 1952-09-03
Filing date: 1953-08-31
Publication date: 1957-04-02
Anticipated expiration: 1974-04-02

Description

April 1957 o. PRZYSTAWIK 2,787,495

FOUNTAIN INSTALLATION AND AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT FOR OPERATING SAME Filed Aug. 51, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.7 5 1 f CIEIDIJDDIJDDDDU DDCIDIIDUDUDUD ucuooaa one DGDDDDU MID DUDDUDDUDDUD a so on n c o a non Jnven for: 0:5, PRZVSTA W/K Attorney Apnl 2, 1957 o. PRZYSTAWIK 2,787,495

FOUNTAIN INSTALLATION AND AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT FOR OPERATING SAME Filed Aug. 31, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jnven for: M PR2 r5 r4 Wm Afforney' April 2, 1957 o. PRZYSTAWIK 2,787,495

FOUNTAIN INSTALLATION AND AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT FOR OPERATING SAME Filed Aug. 31, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jhventor: 012:, PR 2 )6 TA Vl/f Attorney United States Patent FOUNTAIN INSTALLATION AND AN ELECTRKZ CIRCUIT FOR OPERATING SAME Otto Przystawik, Berlin-Lichterfelde-Ust, Germany, as-

signor to Dancing Waters, Inc., New York, N. Y., in corporation of New York Application August 31, 1953, Serial No. 377,596

Claims priority, application Germany September 3, 1952 17 Claims. (Cl. 299-7) This invention relates to fountain installations, and more particularly to an electrical control system for fountain installations having a plurality of pipe lines connected with or provided with spray nozzles or the like, said pipe lines communicating individually or in groups with pumps driven by electric motors being controllable within wide range and being equipped with a starter regulator.

An object of the invention is to provide an electrical control system for the electrical devices of a fountain installation, by means of which the water jets produced by the nozzles or the like may be subjected to any desired rhythm or combination of playing.

Another object of the invention is to improve on the construction of electrical control systems for the electric devices of fountain installations as now ordinarily made.

Other objects and structural details of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of the main portion of the fountain installation having three groups of pipe lines with twelve pipe lines each,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line IIlI of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a disassembled group of pipe lines,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 1V-lV of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of a detail of the installation,

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the detail shown in Fig. 5, partly in section,

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of two parts of a pipe coupling, partly in section along line VIl-VII of Fig. 8,

Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of one of the two halves of the pipe coupling shown in Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatical illustration of electric circuits for two pump motors of the installation, and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary top plan view of the switch board of the installation.

Referring to Fig. 1, a tub 1 of elongated shape, made of an elastic material, for example rubber, contains the system of pipe lines of the installation when the latter is ready for operation. As best shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the center portion of the tub has a deep trough 2;

troughs

3 and 4 respectively of less depth are arranged next to said deep trough 2 at both sides thereof. Furthermore the tub I has a comparatively wide rim 5 surrounding the troughs. The tub I may be brought into and held in the desired shape by blowing air into inflatable chambers 6 formed by a double bottom and arranged within the range of the

troughs

3 and 4 of the rim 5. The chambers 6 are formed by flexible partitions 7 aiding in maintaining the shape of the tub. It is sufficient to provide only one chamber with a closable valve (not shown) for the supply of compressed air as all of the chambers communicate with each other. Of course, if desired, a plurality of valves may be arranged in chambers of the tub; in such a case the deflating of the tub may be carried out at a faster speed.

If desired the tub may also be formed by a series of boxes (23 arranged in the shape of a rectangular, as shown in dash lines in Fig. l, and covered by a sheet of rubber or other waterproof material.

The installation shown in the drawings has twelve pipe lines d arranged parallel to each other at predetermined distances from each other. Said pipe lines 8 are divided into three groups I, II and III, the groups I and III being located in the range of the

troughs

3 and 4 respectively and the group H being located in the range of the deep trough 2 (see Figs. 1 and 4). Each group has twelve pipe sections, an exemplary length of the pipe sections being 2.5 meters. As best shown in Fig. 3, the pipe-sections of a group, for example group I are subdivided into three sub-groups a, b and c. The pipesections of each sub-group are welded onto transversely extending tubular rods 9 which may be connected with each other by a screw bolt inserted therein for forming above mentioned group of pipe-sections. The two extreme sub-groups a and c are provided with wheels 9 rotatably arranged on the center portion of the tubular rods 9 pertaining to said sub-group. Said wheels ll of the groups of pipe-sections are engaged with a bottom 62 inserted into the tub when the installation is set up.

Each pipe-section of the pipe lines 8 is provided at its ends with coupling elements designed in such a manner that the pipe-sections of adjacent groups of pipesections may be tightly connected with each other. Figs. 7 land 8 illustrate an embodiment of such coupling elements. Sleeves 13 and 13' having an exterior thread are welded to the ends of the pipe-sections. The

coupling members

11 and 12 are tightly screwed onto said

sleeves

13 and 13 respectively. Each of the

coupling members

11 and 12 has a packing ring 14 partly projecting from the coupling member. Furthermore, each

coupling member

11 and 12 is provided with hook-like portions 15 arranged for gripping engagement with the inner surface if a sectional annular flange 16 of the complementary coupling member when the coupling members are engaged with each other.

If a group of pipe-sections is used as a group arranged at one of the ends of the installation, for example groups I and HI, the outermost ends of the pipe-sections are sealed by closing elements or by welding. However, if it is desired to use more than three groups of pipesections for a subsequent setting-up of the installation, additional groups having coupling elements at both ends of their pipe-sections are inserted into the arrangement. The division of a group of pipe-sections into sub-groups, described in connection with Fig. 3, is also applied to the groups II and III.

The pipe lines 8 are provided with jet nozzles of different construction. The pipe-sections 17 (see Fig. 2) arranged at an outer end of each group carry tubes 18 projecting upwardly and supporting sections 19 extending parallel to the above described pipe-sections. The sections 19 closed at their ends are provided with a plurality of spray nozzles 2h, preferably of the adjustable type, said spray nozzles being arranged along the length of said sections. The pipe line 21 (see Fig. l) carries pipe rings 22 through the medium of pipe supports. Said pipe rings 22 are provided with a plurality of spray nozzles 23 extending upwardly and being arranged along the circumference of said pipe rings. Each ring of an additional series of rings arranged within the ring 22 is connected with an additional pipe line. The pipe line 24 is provided with roseheads 25. The pipe line 26 is provided with rotatable eight-fold nozzles 27, which may be driven by an electro-motor 28. It is understood that the various forms of nozzles capable of use in the installation is not limited to the type of nozzles mentioned above. For example, each group of pipe-sections is also provided with two

nozzle pipes

29 and 36 extending in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the longitudinal axis of the pipe-sections, one of said two nozzle pipes being illustrated in Fig. 6 in an enlarged scale. A pin 31 welded to the closed end of the nozzle pipe 29 is journalled in a bearing 32 carried by a support 33 secured to a pipe-section 34. A hollow cone 35 having an inlet opening is screwed onto an extension arranged at the opposite end of the nozzle pipe 29. Said cone 35 is rotatably arranged in a casing 36 communicating with a pipe-section 38 through a tube 37. A dependent control arm 39 welded to the nozzle pipe 29 is pivotally connected with a rod 46. As best shown in Fig. 5, a de pendent arm 41 of the corresponding nozzle pipe 2 of the next group is also pivoted to said rod 49. Said rod lis reciprocated by means of an electrical motor 42 and a crank 43. The nozzle pipe of the group provided with the dependent arm 41 has an additional erect arm 44 connected with dependent arm 46 of the nozzle pipe 34 through the medium of a link 45. Furthermore, a link .7 leading to the dependent arms on the corresponding nozzle pipe of adjacent group or groups is pivoted to the arm 46. Thus, the nozzle pipes 29 and 3d of each group will be oscillated in opposite directions by reciprocation of the rod 40. The nozzle pipe or pipes 29 respectively communicate with the pipe line 38 (Fig. l) and the nozzle pipe or pipes 30 respectively communicate with the pipe line 34. If desired, instead of oscillating the

nozzle pipes

29 and 3 in opposite directions, it is also possible to design the controlling mechanism in such a way that all of the nozzle pipes are oscillated in the same direction. Of course, different combinations of movement are also feasible. As will be pointed out hereinafter the pipe lines 34, 33 are capable of being fed selectively with water under pressure to obtain sundry ornamental effects.

One of the groups of pipe sections, for example the center group H according to the embodiment shown in the drawings, is provided with connections 48 for supply conduits 49. Said connections comprise disengageable couplings, for example of the type described above. The supply conduits &9 could be made of flexible hoses. Each pipe line of the installation is connected with a separate supply conduit 49. Each supply conduit 49 is connected with a separate pump 51 operable by an electric. motor 56. The inlet of each pump 51 is connected with a pipe or flexible hose 52 (see Fig. 2) which, in turn, is connected through the medium of a coupling 53 with a suction pipe 54 extending into the trough 2. The pumps 52 must be arranged in such a relation to the tub 1, that all of the inlets are at a level below the highest level of the water in the troughs when the fountain installation is not in operation and consequently a filling of the pumps 5; with water prior to the operation is obtained so as to assure a delivery of water by the pumps upon actuation. thereof. Said highest level of the water is indicated in Fig. 2 by the line 51. The suction pipes 5d have a slot extending at the lower side thereof from end to end so as to obtain a. maximum suction of the inlet opening. A check valve 55 arranged in each suction pipe 54 prevents water from flowing out of the inlets of non-operating pumps 51 when the level of the water in the tub 1 falls below the level of the inlets owing to the operation of one or more of the other pumps. A manually operable throttle valve 56 is arranged in each pipe 52 connected with the inlet of the associated pump 51.

Each outlet of three water supply tanks 57 is connected with a valve 58. Said valves 58 are connected with a conduit 59 leading to one of the pumps 51 which is of especially large dimensions. The system of conduits communicating with the supply tanks 57 is also provided with couplings so that it may be readily taken 4. apart. Preferably, the supply tanks 57 and the assembly of pumps 51 are provided with rollers or wheels or are mounted on carriages, so that they may be readily moved from one place to another one.

The electrical parts of the electric motors 28, .2 and 5 are connected by a

disengageable cable

60, 66 with a switchboard 61 comprising the necessary main switch. starter, fuses, etc. for the electric motors. The switchboard comprises also lteys for selectively switching on and switching the motors individually or. in various cornbinations. electrical system and the operation thereof will be described in detail hereinafter. Preferably, the switchboard 61 is provided with wheels or rollers or is mounted on a carriage for an easy transfer from one place to another one. For the operation of the installation the switchboard 61 is located at a place from which the operator may readily observe the entire installation.

Fig. 9 illustrates the connections of the motors driving the pumps, only two motors being shown and one; of said two motors being indicated by the reference M0. The motors are so-called three-phase slip-ring motors capable of regulation of their power output within a very wide range. The stator winding mo of each motor M0 is connected with the three phases R, S and T of a threephase line or network through fuses Si and three main contacts a of a first switching device A having an auxiliary contact aand a relay winding a The auxiliary contact a bridges two stationary contacts a when the first switching device A is in closed position.

A regulator B is connected with the rotor winding m0 of the motor M0 in a manner knov '11 per se. The three resistors such as b of said starter regulator B may be connected in star by a member I) which is slidable along the resistors 72 so as to insert any portion thereof between their full value and zero. The resistors b may also be short circuited by a second switching device C having three main contacts 0 and an auxiliary contact 0 and being controlled by a relay winding c An auxiliary contact c of the second switching device C bridges two stationary contacts c when the switch C is in closed position.

One of the stationary contacts a is connected in series with the blade of a hand operated switch G which is in turn connected in series to a normally closed push button switch E. The other of the stationary contacts a is connected with a normally open. push button switch D. The normally open push button switch D and the normally closed push button switch E have stationary contacts d and e, respectively, which are connected to a common conductor g connected to a conductor 65 to be described more in detail hereinafter.

The other of the stationary contacts as is connected to a conductor i to which the stationary contacts k, h, f of hand operated blade switches K, H, F, respectively, are connected. The blade of switch K is connected by a conductor k to a conductor 68 to be described more in detail hereinafter. Similarly the blade of switch H is connected by a conductor 11' to a conductor 67 to be described more in detail hereinafter. The blade of switch F is connected through the conductor 3 mentioned hereinabove to the conductor 66.

The relay winding a is connected with one end thereof to the conductor i and with the other end thereof over an indicatory lamp 72 to one of the main contacts a Furthermore the other end of winding a is connected to a conductor 1' which in turn is connected to a conductor 65 to be described more in detail hereinafter.

As clearly shown in Fig. 9 the switches C, D, E, G, F, H, K are switches designed and connected in the same manner as the switches A, D, E, G, F, H, K respectively described more in detail hereinabove. However the blades of switches F, H and K are connected, respectively, through conductors f, It" and k to

conductors

69, 70 and 71 respectively, to be described more in detail hereinafter.

All of the motors of the installation are equipped with above described electrical means, the switches and push buttons being connected with

conductors

65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71 common to the electric systems of the motors. The conductor 65 is connected with the neutral conductor NL of the network through a switch L. The remaining conductors 6671 are connected with one of the three phases of the network, for example the phase T through switches M and P or group push buttons N, O, Q and V respectively.

Each winding a and each winding 0 is connected with the conductor 65 through conductors l and 1 respectively. Each switch D, E and F is connected with the conductor 66, each switch H is connected with the conductor 67, each switch K is connected with the conductor 68, each switch D, E and F is connected with the conductor 69, each switch H is connected with the conductor 70 and each switch K is connected with the conductor 71.

Of course all of the conductors are protected against short circuit by fuses Si inserted at the side of the network.

All of the manually operable push buttons and switches are mounted on the switchboard 61 shown in Fig. 10.

The operation of the device shown in Figs. 9 and is as follows:

The above described electrical control system permits an individual or a group-wise operation of the motors, so that different eiiects may be obtained with the fountain installation during an operation thereof. As a matter of example, some of the efiects and the methods for obtaining same will be described hereinafter.

It is assumed that the installation is filled with water. For an operation of the fountain installation, at first the electromagnetically controlled switches A and C of all motors are connected with the neutral conductor NL by closing the hand-actuated switch L. A closing of switch M causes a connection of the conductor g and thus of the contacts d, e of the push buttons D, E of the blade of the switch F with one of the three phases such as phase T of the three-phase network. Now, upon pressing the start push button D associated with a single motor M0, the circuit including the winding a of the associated switch A is closed. Thus, said switch A causes a closing of its contacts a and a bridging of its contacts a by the auxiliary contact a The closed contacts a connect the stator m0 of the motor with the three phases of the network. Upon releasing the start push button switch D the current in the winding a of the switch A is again interrupted. If it is desired to maintain the energization of the winding a after releasing the start push button switch D the switch G associated therewith has to be closed in advance. Then upon release of the start push button D current still flows through the winding a of the switch A through the closed stop button E and the bridged contacts a Let it be assumed that the motor M0 runs at a speed of approximately of the maximum speed when the switch A is closed and the regulator B is set for highest resistance, and that the pump connected with the motor supplies an amount of water causing a vertical Water jet of a height of .5 meter. If, for example, the pump driven by said motor delivers the water to the pipe line 17, a water jet of said height is ejected from each nozzle of the nozzle pipes 19. Upon actuation of the stop push button E the holding circuit of the winding of the switch A is interrupted so that the contacts a and a of said switch A are opened. Thus, the motor is switched off. The pump connected with the motor stops the delivery of water, so that all water jets collapse.

A different eitect may be obtained in the following manner: Upon closing the switch G and actuating the start push button D the motor M0 is switched on, whereby again one or more Water jets of a height of .5 meter are obtained as described above. Now, when the switch P is closed the operating switches and push buttons for the electromagnetically controlled switch C are also connected with said one phase T of the three-phase network, so that current flows to the winding c of the electromagnet of the switch C upon a pressing of the start push button D. The contacts 0 of the switch C are closed and the contacts c are bridged by the auxiliary contact 0 The contact c closes the holding circuit of the winding 0 of the switch C through the switch G and the stop push button E, so that the start push button D may be released provided the switch G was closed first. The contacts 0 of the switch C short circuit the resistors 17 of the regulator B so that now the motor M0 runs at maximum speed with highest power output. Thus, a sudden increase in the delivery of water by the associated pump occurs, so that all of the water jets suddenly shoot upwardly to their maximum height adjusted by the valve 56. Upon actuation of the stop push button E the holding circuit of the winding of the switch C is interrupted, so that the contacts 0 and 0 c of the switch C are opened again. The speed of the motor drops to the original value, so that all of the water jets are lowered again to a height corresponding to the 25% output ofthe motor. When the push buttons or momentary switches D and E are alternatively actuated, pressure shocks or bursts are obtained which result in a shock-like rising and lowering of the water jets. Such bursts of the water jets and subsequent fast lowering of the water jets may give the impression of water curtains closing and opening in vertical direction.

If a slow rising of the water jets is desired instead of above described shock-like rising of said water jets, upon the connection of the switch A in the above described manner the speed of the motor and thus the delivery output of the associated pump may be increased or reduced by a change of adjustment of the regulator B in any desired manner.

If several motors shall be controlled simultaneously by connecting and disconnecting the switches A, the switches F associated with the motors to be controlled are closed and the connecting and disconnecting of the switches A is effected by closing and opening the switch M. In a similar manner the short circuit of the regulators B connected with the motors to be controlled simultaneously may be obtained by closing the switch P after a preceding closing of the switches F associated with the motors to be controlled.

The switches H, K and H, K respectively in conjunction with the group push buttons N, O and Q, V respectively permit a simultaneous operation of selected groups of motors. Let it be assumed for example that the plant is equipped with ten pumping aggregates and correspondingly with ten motors (only two motors being shown in Fig. 9; however the remaining motors not shown in Fig. 9 are associated each with starting and switching means similar to those shown in Fig. 9). Let it further be assumed that the first, third. fifth, seventh and ninth motors form a first group, the first, fifth and ninth motors form a second group, and the second, fifth and eighth motors form a third group. In this case at the switchboard such as 61 shown in Fig. 10 the following operations have to be performed; for the first motor the switches F and K have to be closed, for the second motor the switch H has to be closed, for the third motor the switch F has to be closed, for the fifth motor the switches F, H and K have to be closed, for the seventh motor the switch F has to be closed, for the eighth motor the switch H has to be closed, for the ninth motor the switches F and K have to be closed. Thus by opening and closing the group switch M all those motors are switched on and elf for which the switches F are closed. With the group push button switch 0 all those motors are controlled for which the switches K are closed. With group push button switch N all those motors are controlled for which the switches H are closed.

It should be understood that the above is only an example, the kind of switching depending entirely on the effects to be desired.

In the same manner the short-circuiting switches C can switch A which is connected by the connection I to the connection 65' connected through-switch-L with the neutral wire NL.

In order to facilitate the operation incertain cases blade switches such as N, O, Q, andV can be provided which shunt, respectively, the push buttonswitches N, O, Q, and V.

Also the blade switches M- and P maybe, if desired, bridged, respectively, by push button-switches M and P shown in Fig. 9 in dotted lines.- These push button switches facilitate the operation-of the switching plant it it is intended to operate for a short time the switchesA and C, respectively, connected therewith.

In the appended claims the switches D, E, F, H, K are termed first connecting means and the switches M, N, O

first switching means associated with the first connecting means so as to render the same operative inpredetermined groups. The switches D, E, F, H, K" aretermed hereinafter the second connecting means and theswitches P, Q, V the second switching means associated with the second connecting means.

Alternatively the switches F, H, K are termedhereinafter the set of switching means arranged in parallel with one another.

Alternatively, the switch L is termed hereinafter the hand-actuated switch, the switches F, H, K a set of 'first switching means, and the switches M, N, O a set of second switching means.

Fig. 10 illustrates the arrangement of the push buttons and switches, described above in connection with the electrical system shown in Fig. 9 on the switchboard 61. Each series of push buttons and switches arranged one above the other and each switch wheel 73 of a regulator B are associated with a certain motor. The switching means arranged in a line next to each other are associated with several motors. Of course, the connections of the pump motor 64' (see Fig. l) are the same as the connections of the pump motors 50. Furthermore, the switchboard comprises additional switches 280 and- 420 for the switching on and switching off of the motors-28 and 42. Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate only the electrical connections and switching means. for two motors. Of -course, the switchboard comprises also the switching meansfor the other pump motors.

Only some of the methods of operation controlled from a single switchboard arranged remote from the water displays have been described above. However, it is to be understood that many additional effects may be obtained by other combinations of individual and/or various group-wise operations of the motors and pumps. Furthermore, special effects may be obtained bythrowing light beams, preferably alternating in colors, against the water jets of the fountain in a darkened room; if desired, the rhythm of play of the fountain may be animated by accompanying music.

I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, but it is understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration and that various omissions; or changes in shape, proportion and arrangement of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those herein shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit, and scope of this invention as set forth-in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An electrical system for use in combination with a fountain installation including a spraying device, a pipe connected to said spraying deviceand apump communicating with said pipe so as to feed said spraying device, saidelectrical system comprising: anelectrioline, an electrio motor having a variable power output for driving saidpump, a first switching device connecting said elec-v tric motor with said electric line, a. first relay controlling said first switching device, first connecting means for operatively connecting said first. relay. with said electric line so as to render said first relay operative, regulating means operatively connected with said electric motor for regulating the power output thereof, a second switching device arranged for shortcircuiting said regulating means, a second relay controlling said second switching device, and second connecting meansfor operatively connecting said second relay-with said electric line so as to render said second relay operative.

2. An electrical system for use in. combination with a fountain installation including a spraying device, a pipe connected to said spraying device and a pump communicating with said pipe so as to feed said spraying device, said electrical system comprising: an electric line, an electric motor having a variable power output and including a stator and a rotor, said, rotor being arranged for driving said pump, a first switching device connecting said stator of said electric motor with said electric line, a first relay controlling, said first switching device, first connecting means for operatively connecting said first relay with said electric line so as to render said first relay operative, regulating means operatively connected with said rotor of said electric motor for regulating the power output of said motor, a second switching device arranged for shortcircuiting said regulating means, a second relay controlling said second switching device, and second connecting means for operatively connectingsaid second relay withsaid electric line so as to render said second relay operative.

3. An electricalsystemfor use in combination with a fountain installation including a plurality of spraying devices, a plurality ofpipesconnected, respectively, to said spraying devices and a plurality of pumps communicating, respectively, with said pipes so as to feed said spraying devices, said electrical system comprising: an electric line, a plurality of electric motors having a variable power output for driving, respectively, said pumps, a plurality of first switching devices connecting, respectively, said electric motors with said electric line, a plurality of first relays controlling, respectively, said first switching devices, a plurality of first connecting means for operatively connecting, respectively, said first relays with said electric line so as to render said first relays operative, a plurality of first switching means associated, respectively, with said first connecting means so as to render the same operative in predetermined groups, a plurality of regulating means operatively connected, respectively, with said electric motors for regulating the power output thereof, a plurality of second switching devices arranged, respectively, for short circuiting said regulating means, a plurality of second relays controlling, respectively, said second switching devices, a plurality of second connecting means for operatively connecting, respectively, said second relays with said electric line so as to render said second relays operative, and a plurality of second switching means associated, respectively, with said second connecting means so as to render the same operative in predetermined groups.

4. An electrical system for use in combinationwith a fountain installation including a plurality of spraying devices, a plurality of pipes connected, respectively, to said spraying devices and a plurality of pumps communicating, respectively, with said pipes so as to feed said spraying devices, said electrical system comprising: an electric line, a plurality of electric motors each having a variable power output and each including a stator and a rotor, said rotors being arranged for driving, respectively, said pumps, a plurality of first switching devices connecting, respectively, said stators of said electric motors with said electric line, a plurality of first relays controlling, respectively, said first switching devices, a

plurality of first connecting means for operatively connecting, respectively, said first relays with said electric line so as to render said first relays operative, a plurality of first switching means associated, respectively, with said first connecting means so as to render the same operative in predetermined groups, a plurality of regulating means operatively connected, respectively, with said rotors of said electric motors for regulating the power output of said motors, a plurality of second switching devices arranged, respectively, for shortcircuiting said starting devices, a plurality of second relays con-trolling, respectively, said second switching devices, a plurality of second connecting means for operatively connecting, re spectively, said second relays with said electric line so as to render said second relays operative, and a plurality of second switching means associated, respectively, with said second connecting means so as to render the same operative in predetermined groups.

5. An electric circuit for pumps feeding spraying devices, comprising, in combination: an electric polyphase line having at least one phase conductor and a neutral conductor, an electric polyphase motor driving the pump feeding the spraying device, said polyphase motor having a stator and a rotor, said stator being arranged for being fed with current from said polyphase line, a first electric switching device associated with the circuit of said stator of said polyphase motor, a second electric switching device associated with the circuit of said rotor of said polyphase motor, relays, respectively, controlling said switching devices, said relays being connectable between said one phase conductor and said neutral conductor, and sets of switching means arranged in parallel with one another between said relays and said one phase conductor, said switching means each alternating between an open and a closed position so as to energize the associated relay when at least one of said switching means is in the closed position thereof.

6. An electric circuit as claimed in claim 5, and normally open push button switches arranged in parallel, respectively, to said switching devices, each of said normally open push button switches being momentarily closed for energizing the associated relay.

7. An electric circuit as claimed in claim 6, normally closed push button switches, hand-operated switches, and switches controlled, respectively, by said relays, each set of normally closed push button switches, said hand-operated switches and relay-controlled switches being connected in series, each of said series-connections being connected in parallel to the associated normally open push button switch so that the associated relay remains energized when said hand-operated switch is in the closed position thereof.

8. An electric circuit for pumps feeding spraying devices, comprising, in combination: an electric polyphase line having at least one phase conductor and a neutral conductor, an electric polyphase motor driving the pump feeding the spraying device, said polyphase motor having a stator and a rotor, said stator being arranged for being fed with current from said polyphase line, a first electric switching device associated with the circuit of said stator of said polyphase motor, a second electric switching device associated with the circuit of said rotor of said polyphase motor, relays, respectively controlling said switching devices, each of said relays having a winding, hand-actuated switches for connecting, respectively, one terminal of said winding to said neutral conductor, sets of first switching means arranged in parallel with one another, said sets of parallel connected switching means be ing connected, respectively, to the other terminal of said windings, and sets of second switching means arranged, respectively, in series to said first switching means and connected to said one phase conductor, said first and second switching means each alternating between an open and a closed position thereof so as to energize said winding of the associated relay when said hand-actuated switch and at least one of said first and second switching means I0 connected in series to each other are in the closed posi tion thereof.

9. An electric circuit as claimed in claim 8, and normally open push button switches arranged in parallel, respectively, to said first switching means, each of said normally open push button switches being momentarily closed for energizing said winding of the associated relay.

10. An electric circuit as claimed in claim 9, normally closed push button switches, hand operated switches, and switches controlled, respectively, by said relays, each set of normally closed push button switches, hand-operated switches and relay-controlled switches being connected in series, each of said series-connections being connected in parallel to the associated normally open push button switch so that the associated relay remains energized when said hand-operated switch is in the closed position thereof.

11. An electrical system for use in combination with a fountain installation including a plurality of spraying devices, a plurality of pipes connected, respectively, to said spraying devices and a plurality of pumps communicating, respectively, with said pipes so as to feed said spraying devices, said electrical system comprising: an electric polyphase line including at least one phase conductor and a neutral conductor, a plurality of electric polyphase motors each including a stator and a rotor, said rotors being arranged for driving, respectively, said pumps, said stators being arranged for being fed with current from said polyphase line, a plurality of electric switching devices associated, respectively, with one of the circuits of said stator and said rotor of said polyphase motors, a plurality of relays controlling, respectively, said switching devices, said relays having, respectively, windings actuating the same, a hand actuated switch for connecting one terminal of said windings to said neutral conductor, a plurality of sets of first switching means, said first switching means forming, respectively, said sets being arranged in parallel with one another and connected to the other terminal of said windings, a set of second switching means arranged, respectively, in series to said first switching means and connected to said one phase conductor, each of said first and second switching means alternating between an open and a closed position thereof so as to energize said windings of said relays when said hand-actuated switch, said sets of first switching means, and said second switching means connected in series thereto are in the closed position thereof, a plurality of normally open push button switches arranged, respectively, in parallel to said first switching means, said normally open push button switches being momentarily closed, respectively, for energizing said windings of said relays, and a plurality of series connected normally closed push button switches, hand-operated switches controlled by said relays, respectively, said series connected switches being connected, respectively, in parallel to said normally open push button switches so that said relays remain energized, respectively, when said hand-operated switches are in the closed positions thereof.

12. A fountain installation comprising in combination: a plurality of Water displays integrated into a single physical unit, said water displays being hydraulically independent of one another, a plurality of separate electric motors, one for each water display, the operating speed of said electric motors being adjustable within a wide range, said electric motors being arranged for activating the associated water display, a series of speed adjusting controls electrically connected with said electric motors, a series of stop and start controls electrically connected with said electric motors, a switchboard arranged remote from said unit, said switchboard containing said series of controls, and electric means for connecting the controls arranged in said switchboard with a power line.

13. In a fountain installation as claimed in claim 12, said series of stop and start controls including settable grouping means and switching means connected therewith for simultaneous energization and deenergization of a predetermined selected number of said electric motors.

14. In a fountain installation as claimed in claim 12, said series of speed adjusting controls including a series of adjustable regulating means, each connected with an electric motor for controlling the speed of the latter, and switching means connected with said regulating means for an individual adjustment thereof.

15. In a fountain installation as claimed in claim 12, said series of speed adjusting controlsincluding a series of adjustable regulating means, each connected with an electric motor for controlling the speed of the latter, and settable grouping means and switching means connected therewith for adjusting simultaneously a predetermined selected number of regulating means.

' 16. In a fountain installation as claimed in claim 12, said two series-of controls including a series of adjustable regulating means, each connected with an electric motor for controlling the speed of the latter, first settable grouping means'and first switching means connected therewith for adjusting simultaneously a predetermined selected number of regulating means, and second settable grouping' means and-secondswitching means connected therewith for simultaneous energization and deenergization of a predetermined selected number of said electric motors.

17. In a fountain installation as claimed in claim 12, the operating speed: of said electric-motors being adjustable between amaximum speed and a minimum speed being approximately one quarter of said maximum speed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 312,958 Bolton Feb. 24, 1885 556,090 Dunlap Mar. 10, 1886 634,569 Brainard Oct; 10, 1899 2,007,856 Haldeman July 9, 1935 2,153,192 Koontz Apr. 4, 1939 2,423,028 Horton June 24, 1947 2,680,829 Rhyne June 8, 1954