US3101173A

US3101173A - Fountain device

Info

Publication number: US3101173A
Application number: US92639A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard H Jennings
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-03-01
Filing date: 1961-03-01
Publication date: 1963-08-20
Anticipated expiration: 1980-08-20

Description

Allg- 20, 1963 R. H. JNNINGS 3,101,173

FOUNTAIN DEVICE Filed March 1, 1961 v s sheets-sheet 1 /rjj j r-,L- 14j jd 4 k la 1 y; ff EEJ- PA 5 l INVENTOR.

E cdrJ/Sf, 5617777??? s.

Aug. 20, 1963 R. H. JENNINGS FOUNTAIN DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 1. 1961 yf/M Aug. ZO, 1963 R. H..JENN|NGs 3,101,173

FOUNTAIN DEVICE Filed March 1, l1961 :s sheetshsheex s /fd sl- 3,101,173 FUUNTAIN DEVICE Richard H. Jennings, 1129 Eerden, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Filed Mar. 1, 1961, Ser. No. 92,639 11 Claims. (Cl. 239-23) yclean liquid at the desired pressure to the high pressure sprayheads or nozzles through which a stream of liquid is projected into the air. These conventional fountain systems are characterized by the inherent disadvantage of being inflexible due to the permanency of their installation and their relatively high cost because of the extensive network of high pressure piping required. In addition, the conventional lfountain systems employing high-pressure spray nozzles are limited in the variety of fountain configurations that can be obtained, some of which are accompanied by an undesirable and excessive fine spray component or fallout, which is readily carried by air currents beyond the limits of the liquid pool.

It is, accordingly, a primary object of the present invention to provide fan improved apparatus and method for creating fountains which is of simple design, which can be simply installed and easily maintained, which is readily adaptable to a variety of dierent type of liquid pools, and which is readily movable to Various locations in a pool providing versatility and flexibility unobtainable in fountain systems heretofore known. j

Another object of this invention is to provide an irnproved fountain apparatus which enables the attainment of a variety of different fountain configurations having Sttes Patent and an elaborate pumping Y dramatic visible and audible kinetic effects unobtainable f in fountain systems heretofore known.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved fountain apparatus which can 'be employed singly or in multiples providing therewith .a plurality of compound fountains of similar or varying configuration producing a composite aesthetic or-utilita1ian effect and which fountain apparatuses can be simply and automatically controlled to provide periodic configuration changes producing therewith a dynamic aesthetic display.

A further object of the present invention is to 'provide an improved fountain apparatus which is of simple design, of economical construction, of durable operation, and which apparatus concurrently simplifies and reduces the cost and maintenance of the design, construction and maintenance of the liquid pools -in'which the fountain system is employed.

The foregoing and other objects of this invention are achieved by a fountain apparatus incorporating therein a combined high-pressure spray nozzle and an impeller immersed in a pool of liquid and disposed adjacent the surfaces thereof which is rotated by a submersible motor whereby a compound fountain configuration is created including a substantially solid column of liquid projected upwardly through the spray nozzle and a substantially solid column of liquid projecting above the surface of the body of liquid through the action of the impeller which can be varied in accordance with the speed of rotation of the impeller, the size of the impeller, the configuration of the impeller, the depth of the impeller beneath the surface of the liquid, and the particular configuration and type of guide means employed for encircling the impeller.

Other `objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a fountain apparatus constructed in accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention and generally illustrating the relationship between thejsubmersible impeller and spray nozzle supported on a suitable supporting frame- Work;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an impeller employed in the fountain apparatus shown in FIGURE l;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation view of the impeller shown in FIG. 2 and mounted on a rotatable drive shaft;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the fountain apparatus shown in FIGURE l and illustrating in particular the axial alignment of the spray nozzles and impeller thereon;VV

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional View of anlalternate embodiment of a fountain apparatus of the type shown in FIGURE l utilizing a hollow drive shaft as the spray nozzle;

FIG. 6 `is a fragmentary transverse-vertical sectional view of a fountain apparatus of the type shown in FIG- URE l illustrating another alternate satisfactory modification thereof;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary yside elevation view partly in.

section of. still another alternate satisfactory modification of the fountain apparatus'shown` in FIGURE l employing a main pump at the base thereof for ejecting a stream of liquid upwardly through a tubular central shaft;

FIGS. 8 to l2, are schematic vertical sectional views illustratingk the installation of a fountain apparatus of a type shown in FIGURE 1 in a variety of pools of diffe-rent configuration;

FIGS. 13 and v14 illustnate two typical fountain configurations which are obtainable with the fountain apparatus comprising the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a schematic plan View of a liquid pool incorporatingvtherein fou-r fountain apparatus providing multiple fountain effects; and

FIG. 16 is a schematic wiring diagram of a control circuit for automatically and sequentially controlling the operation of the fountain apparatuses installed in the pool a-s shown in FIG. 15. n Y

Referring now in detailrto the drawings and as may be best seen in FIGURES l to 3, -a fountain apparatus 20 constructed in accord-ance with one embodiment of this invention is comprised of a tripod supportingl fname 22 including three adjustable telescoping legs 24 which are securely fastened to a central housing sleeve 26. A variable speed motor 28 isv slidably disposed in the central housing sleeve 26 and is securely fastened therein' vby means of a series of set screws 30. The motor 2S may comprise van electrical motor whichis provided with a liquid tight housing enabling the motor to be submerged in a pool of liquid, such as water, for example. Alternatively, the motor 28 may comprise a fiuid drive unit such as la hydraulic motor, for example, which receives a` supply of pressurized hydraulic iiuid through suitable conduit means extending through the pool of liquidl and `shown in FIGURE 1i, a shaft 34 of the motor 28 is provided with an impeller assembly 36 comprising an impeller blade 38 and a hub 4t)i which is securely fastened to the end of the shaft 34. The impeller blade 3S includes upturned portions 42 as may be best seen in FIG. 3, which Iare disposed along the trailing edgethereof and 'which serve toY deect the water upwardly as the impeller blade 38 is rotated at high speed. The angularity of the upturned portions 42 can be varied depending on the specific fountain configuration desired.

During operation, the impeller blade 38 is disposed beneath the surface of the liquid and the rapid rotation thereof by the motor 28,raises a substantially solid column of water above the surface of a pool. It h-as been' observed that as the depth of the impeller beneath the surface of the pool increases, the substantially solid column 'of water rising above the surface of the pool, becornes more precise and less divergent. This characteristic is attributed to the belief that the water surrounding the upwardly traveling column of water before it projects above the surface -of a pool, is relatively stagnant and serves as a directional lguide or shield which improves the vertical orientation of the rising column of liquid wth respect to the axis of rotation of the impeller assembly 36.

This shielding or guiding effect of the liquid surrounding the upwardly rising lcolumn of liquid, can be supplemented, if desired, by a mechanical guide means such as a duct 44 as shown' in FIGURE l, which er1-circles the impeller blade 38 and is disposed in substantial axial alignment with the axis rotation thereof. The duct 44 can be suitably mounted on a series of radially extending support members 46 which extend upwardly and outwardly from the housing sleeve 26, to which they are securely fastened. The duct 44 is preferably of a venturi configuration to facilitate entry of the liquid from beneath the duct rand upwardly therethrough in response to rotation of the impeller blade 38. While a venturi-shaped duct comprises a preferred embodiment of this invention, it will also be appreciated that satisfactory operation has also been achieved by employing ducts of a general cylindrical and conical configuration. The use'of mechanical guide means such as cylindrical ducts, conical ducts, or the venturi duct 44 as shown in FIGURE 1 increases the efficiency of the impeller blade 38 by minimizing tip losses and accordingly increases the height of the column of liquid obtaintable for a given' impeller design and speed of rotation.

Further increases in the eiciency of the impeller and height of the column of liquid projected by the impeller assembly 36, can be achieved by incorporating a series of varies 48, as shown in FIG. 5, extending radially inas may be best seen in FIGS. l and 4 having the lower end portions thereof afxed to Iand in communication with a distributor ring -52 extending around and supported by the upper edge of the duct 44. The distributor ring 52 is provided with a depending conduit 54 to which a suitable exible tube or other piping 56- is connected for supplying the requisite capacity of a liquid at the desired pressure to the distributor ring S2 and the noozles Si) mounted thereon. The end of the distributor ring 52 as shown in FIG. 4, is provided with ya removable plug 58 which can be quickly removed for cleaning the interior of the distributor ring. The sloping configuration of the nozzles Si? as shown in FIGURE il is preferred in that the resultant configuration does not interfere with the upwardly rising column of water moving upwardly through the duct 44 in response to the rotation of the impeller blade 38. Accordingly, the substantially solid characteristics of the water column raised by the impeller are not disturbed by the nozzles 50.

An alternate satisfactory method of providing a pressurized column of liquid extending upwardly and substantially axially of the fountain created by the impeller is illustrated in the fountain apparatus 20u shown in FIG. 5 wherein la tubular shaft 60 is employed in lieu of the nozzles 50. The basic features of the fountain apparatus 20a are similar to those heretofore described in connection withthe fountain :apparatus Ztl shown in FIGURE l and includes an impeller 38 mounted to rotate within a duct 44 having vanes 48 therealong for raising a substantially solid column of liquid above the surface of the pool. The upper portion of the motor 28 as shown in FIG. 5 is provided ywith a streamlined housing 462 including an inner chamber 64 which is connected to an inlet tube 66 for wardly from the inner surface of the duct 44 which coact v with the rising column of liquid moving upwardly therethrough and provide vfor a reduction in the centrifugal or spiral component thereof thereby reducing the divergence of the column of liquid above the sur-face of the pool. The inclusion of the vanes 48 in the duct 44 also reduces the diameter of the return' pattern lof the column of liquid on the surface of the pool. As shown in FIG. 5, the vanes 48 may terminate at a point corresponding to the upper end of the duct 44 or may extend upwardly therefrom -as the vanes 48a shown in FIG. 7. Regardless `of the specific type of vanes, if any, employed, the upper edge of the duct 44 is disposed substantially at or below the surface of the liquid in the pool. Accordingly, the upper portions of the vanes 48a project above the surface of the pool.

`In addition to the impeller assembly 36 for raising a substantially solid column of liquid upwardly lfrom the surface ofthe pool, the fountain apparatus 20 also includes at least one spray jet or nozzle 50 through which a pressured stream of liquid is projected upwardly above the surface of -a liquid pool. In the exemplary fountain apparatus shown in FIGURE l, three nozzles 50 are employed which extend upwardly and Iinwardly in a manner supplying the requisite quantity of pressurized liquid. The tubular shaft `60` is rotatably journaled in a pair of bearings 618 which are supported by the streamlined housing 62 and the shaft is rotatably sealed by means of a disc seal 70 encircling the lower portion of the shaft adjacent to the lower bearing 68 as viewed in FIG. 5.

Rotation of the `tubular shaft 60 is achieved by the motor shaft 34 including a coupling 72 thereon fastened to the lower portion of the tubular shaft `60x for transmitting rotational torque thereto. The impeller 38 is aixed to the projecting end portion of the tubular shaft 60 and adjacent to the end of streamlined housing 62. The upper end portion of the tubular shaft 60 extends upwardly beyond the upper edge of the duct 44 and above the high Water mark of the liquid pool to prevent interference between the liquid in the pool and the high-pressure stream ejecting therefrom.

In the exemplary fountain apparatuses shown in FIG- URES l and 5, the liquid `for creating the pressurized fountain of liquid ejected from the nozzle is supplied to the 'apparatus by means of suitable piping or conduits 56 which are connected to a principal liquid supply system or a suitable central pumping station. Two alternate embodiments of the fountain apparatus are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 which comprise .units having a self-contained pumping circuit for supplying pressurized fluid to the nozzle ofthe fountain apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 6r, the fountain apparatus 20b includes a streamlined housing 62h including an inner chamber 64b including Ian inlet tube 66b disposed in communication therewith which may be provided with a suitable screen or strainer (not shown)` for filtering the liquid entering the inner chamber 64b. The liquid in the inner chamber '64b is drawn upwardly vthrough an annular port 74 and into a pump body 7'6 from which it is pumped outwardly through one or more tubular nozzles l50i; extending upwardly above the duct 44 in a manner as shown in FIG. 6. The pump can be of a centrifugal vane-type, for example, including a series of radially extending vanes 478 which are adapted to be rotated at high speed so as to lforce the liquid byvcentrifugal action under the requisite pressure .outwardly and upwardly through the nozzles 50h.

The nadial vanes 78 are affixed to an extensionshaft 80 which is connected to the motor shaf-t 34 and rotatably driven thereby. The extension shaft 80 is rotatably journaled in a pair of axially spaced bearings `82 and projects upwardly beyond the streamlined housing 6211 to which the impeller blade assembly 36 is ixedly secured. The extension shaft `80 adjacent to the lower bearing 82 is sealed by means of a resilient seal 84 preventing leakage upwardly through the housing.

In accordance with the construction shown in FIG. 6, rotation of the motor 28 causes concurrent pumping and discharge of liquid through the nozzles 5017 and ejection of a column of liquid upwardly through the duct 414 through the rotation of the impeller blade 38. To enable relative variation of the fountain created by the impeller and the pressurized stream discharged from the nozzles 50b, the inlet tube 661; may be provided with a suitable inlet valve 86 'which is manually or remotely adjustable, such as by a solenoid, for example, to enable variation of the inlet flow of liquid into the pump body 76 for any given speed of rotation of the extension shaft 80.

An alternate exemplary construction of a self-contained fountain apparatus 20c is illustrated in FIG. 7 wherein the pump body 76a is mounted adjacent to the base of the motor 28 and is drivingly connected to the lower projecting end portion of a tubular motor shaft 88. A series of radial vanes 78a are aflixed to the tubular motor shaft 8'8 and are effective to transmit pressurized fluid entering the pump body through :an inlet valve 86a through a transmission bore 90 in the pump body housing and thence through a series of apertures 92 in the tubular motor shaft 88 which comrnunicate with a longitudinal bore 93 extending upwardly through the tubular motor shaft 88. The pressurized liquid is finally discharged out the upper projecting end of the shaft 88.

The construction of the fountain apparatus 20c as shown in fFIG. 7 provides an advantage over the fountain apparatus '20h shown in FIG. 6 by reducing the congestion immediately below and adjacent to the impeller 38 avoiding restriction of liquid iiow upwardly through the duct 44. The inlet valve 86a to the pump body 76a can also be remotely or manually adjustable to provide the desired iiow rate of liquid out yof the tubular motor shaft 88 for a given r.p.m. toachieve the desired configuration of the pressurized stream or upstanding fountain in relationship to the upwardly rising column of liquid or base fountain ejected through the duct 44 by the impeller blade 38.

In accordance with the fountain apparatuses hereinbefore shown and described, a variety of different fountain configurations can be created dependent upon the specific configuration of the pressurized column of liquid and the specific configuration of the substantially solid column of liquid directed upwardly by the rotation of the impeller. The particular configuration of the column of liquid or base fountain projected upwardly by the impeller is primarily dependent upon the following variables: the size, conguration and pitch of the impeller blade; the depth of the impeller blade beneath the surface of the liquid pool; the speed of rotation of the impeller blade expressed in terms of revolutions per minute or in tip speed in feet per second; and the typeof duct means employed for encircling the impeller which may include a series of radially projecting vanes for reducing the spiraling motion of the rising column. `On the other hand, the specific configuration and height of the pressurized stream of liquid or upstanding fountain directed upwardly through the nozzle of the fountain apparatus is dependent upon the pressure and rate of flow of liquid ejected; the number of nozzles employed and their relative anguliarity relative to the axis of rotation of the impeller; and the relative angularity of a multiple nozzle fountain apparatus relative to each other. The extreme flexibility provided by the fountain apparatuses comprising the present invention make them ideally suitable for both utilitarian and aesthetic purposes including aeration, cooling, and

' decorative displays, for example. The rotary action of the impeller additionally serves to disintegnate any iiotsam floating on the surface of the liquid which constitutes still another advantage of the present invention.

The extreme flexibility pnovided by the units enalbles their placement in any one of a variety of pools, typical examples of which are schematically illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 12. The pool installation shown in FIG. 8 is typical lof a conventional pool wherein the fountain apparatus Z0 can |be placed at any yconvenient location yon the floor of the pool 914 and the telescoping legs thereof can be appnopriately adjusted so as to position ythe impeller blade at the appropriate depth fbeneath the surface of the liquid. In the specific installation shown in FIG. 8, the motor of the fountain apparatus 20` is of the hydraulic type which is driven by hydraulic fluid transmitted thereto iby submenged piping 96 extending beneath the surface of the pool and connected' to a submerged manifold 98. The use of a submerged manifold is particularly applicable to installations wherein a plurality of fountain apparatuses are employed to create combined utilitarian or aesthetic effects. Suitable hydraulic fluid in the desired quantity and at the requisite pressure is supplied to 1the submerged manifold 918 by means of a conduit 100 connected to a hydraulic supply unit 102 which can be conveniently located at the edge Iof the pool. In fountain apparatuses of the type which are not self-contained but rely on an outside pressurized liquid source for supplying liquid in the requisite quantity and pressure to the spray nozzle thereof, a suitable liquid manifold similar to the submerged manifold 9S can lbe ernpl'oyed having flexible tubes extending therefrom and connected to the ,

inlet tubes

54 and 66 of the apparatuses shown in FIGURES 1 and 5, respectively.

In addition to the conventional pool shown in FIG. 8, a shallowpool 104, as shown in FIG. 9, can also be provided with a fountain apparatus 210 wherein the pool is provided with a central sump portion 106 in which the fountain apparatus is disposed. A shallow pool 10-8` is illustrated in FIG. l0 halving a substantially constant depth which is insuliicient to completely submerge a fountain apparatus tof the type shown in FIGURE 1. To achieve satisfactory `operation in such a shallow pool, a modilied version of the fountain apparatus 20 is employed which utilizes a right angle drive mechanism of a type well known in the art which substantially reduces the overall height of the unit enabling .complete submersion thereof beneath the surface lof the pool. y'I'he modiiied fountain apparatus which i-s Igenerally indicated at 110 is provided with adjustable legs similar to the telescoping legs 24 :of the unit shown in FIGURE l enabling vertical adjustment thereof so as tot dispose the impeller at the appropriate depth beneath the surface of the pool.

Still another typical installation is shown in FIG. 11 wherein a relatively deep pool `11.2 is provided with a caisson ,1'14 submerged in the pool and providing a Waterproof housing for a conventional motor 116 which is mounted therein and supported thereby. The installation shown in FIG. -ilil is particularly satisfactory for use with relatively high horsepower motors and lange diameter impellers in relatively deep pools. The motor drive shaft extends upwardly through a watertight bearing 118 in the upper surface of the caisson 114 and to the projecting shank portion off which the impeller blade assembly is afiixed.

Another illustration `of a fountain apparatus is illustrated in lFIG. l2 wherein the unit is buoyantly supported iby a suitable float 120 for maintaining the impeller and nozzle there-0f in appropriate position relative to the surface tof the body of lwater. The installation as shown in FIG. l2 is particularly applicable to deep pools and relatively deep fb'odies of waters such as lakes, streams, bays and the like having deep and irregular bottoms making it difficult to accurately position the impeller relative `tc the surface of the liquid and to adequately support the unit. In electrically driven self-contained fountain apparatuses, the float 120' can be suitably anchored to the bottom by a suitable line 122 and electrical energy supplied to the motor thereof by a conductor extending beneath the surface of the body 4of Water to a power source on the shore of the body of water. In units relying on a separate pressure source for supplying liquid to the spray nozzle and for units which are provided vvith hydraulically driven motors, the appropriate liquids in the `quantities and requisite pressures can be satisfactorily supplied to the unit through flexible conduits extending along the bottom of the body of water and connected to pressurized supply sources on the edge thereof.

In accordance with the fountain apparatuses hereinbefore described, a variety Iof fountain configurations can be achieved which have a particular aesthetic appeal or which may provide optimum cooling or Vaeration of a liquid in which the fountain apparatus is submerged. Two typical compound fountain configurations obtainable by the fountain apparatus comprising the present invention are illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14 and comprise a base fountain Y124 created by the rotation of the i-mpeller blade of the apparatus and a centrally disposed upright central column or upstanding, fountain 126 created by the discharge of the pressurized liquid through the spray nozzles. The specific configuration of the base fountain 124 can be varied by modifying the depth of the impeller blade beneath the surface of the liquid, the size, configuration, and speed of rotation of the impeller blade; and the specific type of ducting encircling the impeller blade. By selecting the appropriate conditions for each of the above variables, base fountain configurations can be produced having a ratio cf height to the diameter of the upward moving column of water taken at the surface which ranges from about 3:-1 up to about 10:1 and a Width ratio comprising the ratio of the fallout or return pattern of the liquid on the surface .of the pool to the diameter of the upward moving column of water taken at the surface thereof ranging from about 3:1 up to about 15:1. ligurations within the above mentioned ratios are characterized as having a substantially solid column of water emerging from the surface yof the pool of liquid and which 'column is substantially devoid of fragmentation or droplets until the column attains the upper trajectory thereof. The base fountain is further characterized as having a socalled conical hollow inner portion which is disposed in substantial axial alignment With the axis of rotation of the impeller blade and through which conical cavity, the opstanding fountain of pressurized liquid is ejected.

The relatively height of the upstanding fountain `126 is proportional to the pressure employed and can be varied to produce the desired utilitarian and aesthetic effects. In addition, the upstanding fountain 126 may be comprised of a single seemingly unitary column such as shown in FIG. 13 which may comprise a column ejected from a single centrally disposed nozzle or a plurality of smaller nozzles of the type such as shown in FIGURE l which converge together and form a single unitary up- Wardly moving column of liquid. An alternate configuration of the upstanding fountain is illustrated in FIG. 14 wherein the fountain 1126er comprises a plurality of individual streams which are adapted to converge at a point spaced above the upper trajectory lof the base fountain 124 forming therewith alternate aesthetic effects.

In addition to the variations obtainable in the configuration of the base fountain 4and upstanding fountain, the specific changes in fountain configuration are also accompanied by changes in audible kinetic effects which provide dramatic changes in the audible effects of the returning 'water as it strikes the surface of the pool. By the use of a suitable cont-rol system, the speed of rotation of the impeller, land the pressure of the liquid `supplied to the spray nozzle can be varied and controlled so as to achieve Each of the base fountains having conthe desired fountain configuration. In addition to the composite configuration produced by the base fountain and `the opstanding fountain, each of the fountains can `also be employed independently of the other to achieve a multiple variation in fountain configuration. In addition to the variations obtainable in one fountain apparatus, multiple aesthetic or utilitarian aeration effects can be achieved by automatically controlling the sequential independent or Icollective operation of a plurality `of fou-ntain apparatuses.

A typical arrangement of four fountain apparatuses submerged in a pool is schematically shown in FIG. l5. A kidney-shaped pool 123 is illustrated in the drawing having four fountain `apparatuses submerged therein each of which is connected to a central control panel 13d disposed adjacent to the edge of the pool 128. Each of the fountain apparatuses is provided with la variable speed electrical motor which is electrically connected to the central control panel in accordancee with a wiring diagram as shown in FIG. 16. The system shown illustrates one exemplary method of providing automatic, controlled sequential independent and collective `operation of the units on a time sequence basis to achieve any desired sequence of conversion of the configuration of each of the fountains with respect to each other. `It will, of course, be appreciated that Iany number of fountain apparatuses can be coordinated in accordance with the arrangement and control system shown in FIGS. l5 and 16 to provide for selective automatic `group and individual unit sequencing thereby achieving a multitude of variations in operating sequences and fountain configurations. In addition, the portable characteristics cf eac-h of the fountain apparatuses enables the simple inclusion or removal of one or more additional units from the pool or their relocation therein providing an extremely bigh degrec of versatility and flexibility.

In the schematic control diagram shown in FIG. 16, each of the four fountain units lare automatically controlled on la time sequence basis by varying the quantity of direct current supplied to each of their respective variable electric speed motors. 'llhe control system `asl illustrated comprises a direct current source 132 having connected thereto in parallel an electric timer `134, which is presettable to periodically energize 1an electric servo motor 136 which rotates wiper contacts 13S mounted on a suitable shaft extending through the variable rheostats which are connected in series in the conductors supplying each of the electric motors 23 of the fountain apparatuses. The particular orientation of each of the wiper contacts 138 with respect to their respective variable rheostat 14u establishes the appropriate operating sequence through which the base fountain of each of the fountain apparatuses will undergo.

The variable rheostats 140 :can also be employed for controlling -a solenoid valve 142 in each of the conduits 144 supplying a pressurized liquid to the spray nozzles of each of the fountain apparatuses. Accordingly, the timed variation of the variable rheostat setting as determined by the wiper contacts 138 serve `to concurrently vary the height of the opstanding fountain in accordance with the variation in pressure of the liquid supplied thereto and also the particular configuration of the base fountain as effected by the speed of rotation of the impeller blade.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments of the invention disclosed are vvell calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation, and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In `an apparatus for creating `a compound fountain including la base fountain land an opstanding fountain, the combination comprising impeller means adapted to be immersed in fa liquid and disposed adjacent to the surface thereof, said impeller means including 'a plurality of blades thereon having 'at least a portion thereof angularly pitched relative to the plane of rotation lof said impeller means and adapted to dellect the liquid upwardly in ya su'bstantially solid sheet above the surface of the liquid in response .to rotation of said impeller means, guide means encircling said impeller means and formed with an lopening in the base and top thereof for directing the llow of liquid upwardly toward the sun-face of the liquid, nozzle means projecting above the surface of the liquid in a position above said impeller means for discharging a substantially solid stream of liquid therefrom, submersible moto-r means for rotating said impeller means, conduit means disposed in communication with said nozzle means for supplying a pressurized liquid thereto, and supporting means for maintaining said impeller mea-ns and said nozzle means in appropriate position relative to the surface lo-f the body liquid. i

2. In an apparatus for creating a compound fountain including a base fountain and tan opstanding fountain, the combination comprising impeller means adapted to be immersed in `a liquid and disposed adjacent to the sunface thereof, shaft means for rotating said irnpeller means about an axis substantially perpendicular to the surface of the liquid, said impeller means including a plurality of blades thereon raving at least a portion thereof angularly pitched relative to the plane of rotation of said impeller means and adapted to dellect the liquid upwardlyin a substantially solid sheet above the surface of the liquid in response to rotation of said impeller means, nozzle means projecting above the surface of the liquid for ejecting an upstanding substantially solid column 4of liquid in substantial axial alignment with said shaft means, submersible motor means for rotating said shaft means, conduit means disposed in communication with, said nozzle means for supplying a pressurized liquid thereto, and supporting means for mounting said impeller means and said nozzle means in appropriate position relative to the surface of the body of liquid.

3. In an apparatus for creating a compound fountain including a base fountain and an upstanding fountain, the combination comprising impeller means adapted to be irnmersed in a liquid and disposed adjacent to the surface thereof, said irnpeller means including a plurality of blades thereon having at least a portion thereof langularly pitched relative to the plane of rotation of said impeller means 'and adapted to deflect the liquid upwardly in a substantially solid sheet above the surface of the liquid in response to rotation of said impeller means, guide means comprising a substantially cylindrical shroud encircling said inlpellery means and disposed contiguousto the tips of the blades thereof for directing the ilow of liquid upwardly toward the surf-ace of the liquid, nozzle means projecting above the surface of the liquid for ejecting :anupstanding column of liquid in substantially axial alignment with said guide means, submersible motor means for rotating said impeller means, :conduit meansv disposed in communication lwith `said nozzle means for supplying la pressurized liquid thereto, and supporting means for main-taining said impeller means and said nozzle means in appropriate position relative to the surface of a body of liquid.

4. In an apparatus for creating a compound fountain including a base fountain and lan opstanding fountain, the combination comprising impeller means adapted to be immersed in a liquid and disposed adjacent to the sur- I face thereof, tubular shaft means for rotating said irnpeller means labout an axis substantially perpendicular to the surface of the liquid, said :shaft means projecting above the surface of the liquid forming therewith nozzle means, conduit means disposed in communication with said :tubular shaft means for supplying -a pressurized liquid thereto, submersible motor means for rotating said shaft means, and supporting means for maintaining :said im.- peller means and said tubular shaft means in appropriate position relative to the surface of the body of liquid.

5. In tan apparatus for creating a compound fountain including a base fountain and an upstanding fountain, the

combination `comprising impeller means adapted to be immersed in a liquid and disposed adjacent to the surface thereof, said irnpeller means including a plurality of blades thereon having at least a pontion thereof Iangularly pitched relative to the plane of rotation of said impeller means land adapted to deflect the liquid upwardly in a substantially solidsheet above the surface of Ithe liquid in response to rotation of said impeller means, nozzle means projecting above the surface of the liquid at a position above said impeller means, submersible motor means for rotating said impeller means, pumping means for discharging a susbtantially solid column of liquid therefrom drivingly connected to said motor means including conduit means disposed in communication with said nozzle means .for supplying -a pressurized liquid thereto, and supporting means for maintaining said impeller means and said nozzle means in [appropriate position relative to the surface of the body of liquid.

6. In :an apparatus for creating a compound fountain including a base lfountain and an upstandingfountain, the combination comprising impeller means adapted to be immersed in aliquid and disposed adjacent to the surface thereof, tubular shaft means for rotating said impeller means about an axissubstantially perpendicular to the surface of the liquid, the upper end of said tubular shaft means projecting above the surface of the liquid forming therewith `a nozzle means, submersible motor means for rotating said shaft means, pump means drivingly conuected to said submersible motor means including cond-uit means disposed in communication with said tubular .sh-af t means for supplying la pressurized liquid thereto, and supporting means for maintaining said impeller means and said tubular shaft means in appropriate position relative to the surface of the body of liquid.

7 In an apparatus for creating a compound fountain including la base fountain and an upstanding fountain, the combination comprising impeller means adapted to be immersed in a liquid and disposed adjacent 'to the surface thereof, nozzle means projecting above the surface of the liquid at a position above said impeller means, submersible variable speed hyd-raulic motor means for rotating said impeller means, conduit means disposed in cornmunication with said nozzle means for supplying a pressurized liquid thereto, supporting means for maintaining said impeller means and said nozzle means in appropriate position relative to the Isurface of the body of liquid, and supply means including submersible pipe means for supplying a pressurized fluid to said hydraulic motor means for causing rotation thereof.

8. In an appanatus Afor creating a compound fountain including a base fountain and an opstanding fountain, the combination comprising irnpeller means adapted -to be immersed in a liquid and disposed adjacent to the sur-face Ithereof, said impeller means including a plurality of blades thereon having at least a portion thereof angullarly pitched relative to the plane of rotation of said impeller means and adapted to deflect the liquid upwardly in a substantially solid sheet above the surface of the liquid in response to rotation of said impeller means, guide means encircling said impeller means and formed with an opening in the base and top thereof for directing the ilow of liquid upwardly toward the surface of the liquid, nozzle -means projecting above the surface of the liquid at a position above said impeller means, submersible motor means for rotating said impeller means, conduit means disposed in communication with said nozzle means for :supp-lying a pressurized liquid thereto, a buoyant body disposed in oating relationship 4on the surface of the body liquid, means for connecting said buoyant body to said motor means for supporting said apparatus and maintaining said impeller means and said nozzle mean-s in appropriate position relative to the surface of the body of liquid, and mooring means. for anchoring said apparatus in the body of liquid.

9. In an apparatus for creating a plurality of compound fountains each including a base fountain and an upstanding fountain, the combination comprising a plurality of fountain units adapted to be submerged ina lbody #of liquid and disposed at spaced intervals therein, each of said fountain units comprising impeller means immersed in the liquid and `disposed adjacent to the surface thereof, said impeller means including a plurality of blades thereon having at least la portion thereof angularly pitched relative to the plane of rotation of said impeller means and adapted to deflect the liquid upwardly in a substantially solid sheet above the surface of the liquid in respense to rotation of said impeller means, guide means encircling said impeller means land Iformed With an opening in the base and top thereof [for directing the flow of liquid upwardly toward the surface of the liquid, nozzle means pnojecting above the sunface `of the liquid at a position above said impeller means, submersible motor means for rotating said impeller means for discharging a substantially solid celu-mn of liquid therefrom, conduit means disposed in communication with said nozzle means for supplying a pressurized liquid thereto, and supporting means for maintaining said impeller means and said nozzle means in lappropriate position relative to the surface of of the body of liquid.

10. In an apparatus ttor creating a plurality of cornpound fountains each including a base fountain and an upstanding fountain, the combination comprising a -plurality lof fountain units adapted to be submenged in a body of liquid and :disposed at spaced intervals therein, each of said lfountain units comprising impeller means immersed in the liquid and disposed adjacent to the surface thereof, nozzle means projecting above the surface of the liquid at a position above said impeller means, variable speed submersible motor means ttor rotating said impeller means, conduit means disposed in communication with said nozzle means for supplying a pressurized liquidthereo, supporting means lfor maintaining said impeller means and said nozzle means in appropriate position relative to the sunface of the body of liquid, and

control means including valve means for independently controlling fthe speed of rotation of said motor means and the pressure of the liquid supplied to said nozzle means of each of said fountain units.

11. The method of creating a decorative fountain display by raising a plurality Aof compound lfountains above the surface .of a langer body of liquid comprising she steps of submerging a plurality of fountain units at spaced intervals in the body of liquid, each of said plurality of yfountain units comprising submersible variable speed motor means including an impeller thereon ldisposed below and adjacent to the surface of the body 'of liquid and rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular thereto, positioning a nozzle in the body of liquid having the end thereof projecting above the surface of the liquid at a position above said impeller, energizing each :of said motor means to rotate each of said impellers and raise a plurality orf substantially solid columns of liquid above Lshe surface of the body of liquid forming therewith a plurality of base fountains, 'discharging a pressurize-d stream .of liquid upwardly from each of said nozzles forming therewith a plurality of upstanding fountains each disposed in substantial axial alignment with respective :ones of said base fountains, and independently controlling the speed of rotation of each of said motor means and the pressure of liquid supplied to each of said nozzles for automatically and sequentially varying the configuration of each of said base .fountains and each of said upstanding fountains.

` References Cited in the le of this patent UNiTED STATES PATENTS

Claims

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR CREATING A COMPOUND FOUNTAIN INCLUDING A BASE FOUNTAIN AND AN UPSTANDING FOUNTAIN, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING IMPELLER MEANS ADAPTED TO BE IMMERSED IN A LIQUID AND DISPOSED ADJACENT TO THE SURFACE THEREOF, SAID IMPELLER MEANS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF BLADES THEREON HAVING AT LEAST A PORTION THEREOF ANGULARLY PITCHED RELATIVE TO THE PLANE OF ROTATION OF SAID IMPELLER MEANS AND ADAPTED TO DEFLECT THE LIQUID UPWARDLY IN A SUBSTANTIALLY SOLID SHEET ABOVE THE SURFACE OF THE LIQUID IN RESPONSE TO ROTATION OF SAID IMPELLER MEANS, GUIDE MEANS ENCIRCLING SAID IMPELLER MEANS AND FORMED WITH AN OPENING IN THE BASE AND TOP THEREOF FOR DIRECTING THE FLOW OF LIQUID UPWARDLY TOWARD THE SURFACE OF THE LIQUID, NOZZLE MEANS PROJECTING ABOVE THE SURFACE OF THE LIQUID IN A POSITION ABOVE SAID IMPELLER MEANS FOR DISCHARGING A SUBSTANTIALLY SOLID STREAM OF LIQUID THEREFROM SUBMERSIBLE MOTOR MEAN FOR ROTATING SAID IMPELLER MEANS, CONDUIT MEANS DISPOSED IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID NOZZLE MEANS FOR SUPPLYING A PRESSURIZED LIQUID THERETO, AND SUPPORTING MEANS FOR MAINTAINING SAID IMPELLER MEANS AND SAID NOZZLE MEANS IN APPROPRIATE POSITION RELATIVE TO THE SURFACE OF THE BODY LIQUID.