US871191A - Electrically-operated fountain. - Google Patents

Description

N0. 871,191. PATENTED NOV. 19, 1907.

A. D. SUTHAM.

BLBCTRICALLY OPERATED FOUNTAIN.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4. 1906.

4 SHEETS-51122151.

56 i5 @L .J5 Ma UMA-r K PATENTED NOV. 191.1907 A. D. SOUTHAM. ELECTRICALLY OPERATED FOUNTAIN.

APPLTCATION PLED AUG.4.1'0G.

Hoz nur No. 871,191. PATBNTED Nov. 19. 1907.

A. D. SOUTHAM. ELECTRICALLY OPERA'IED FOUNTAIN.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.4,1'906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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I @ivi/b4 losco l W05 PATENTE-:D Nov. 19, 1907. A. D. SOUTHAM. BLBCTRICALLY OPERATED FOUNTAIN.

APPLICATIO FILED AUG. 4. 1.906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4,

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UNITED STATES PATE T DEFI ELECTRICALLYOPERATED FOUNTAIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 19, 1907.

Application tiled An' 151:4, 1906. Serial Nc. 329.157.

To all whom may concern.:

`Be it known that l, Aiiriii'ii DUDLEY Sou'riiAiu, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at llighland Court., city and county of Hartford, State of Connecticut, have. invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrically-Operated Fountains, of which the following is a specification, reference heilig had therein to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure .t is a central vertical sectional view of the apparatus; Fig. 2 a horizontal sectional view on thcline ll--ll of Fig. l; Fig. 3 a bottom plan view of the transmission disk; Fig. 4 a transverse sci-tional viev.v thereof; Fig. 5 an enlarged vertical sectional vview of the nozzle; Fig. ti a similar View of a slightly dillerent form of discharge pipe;

Fig. 7 a detail vertical sectional view of a ortion of the pump casing taken on a line H-VH of Fig. 2; Fig. 8 at.'aiLsverse vertical sectional view showing a slightly dill'erentv arrangement. of the contact points for completing the eleetiic circuit; Fig. 9a vertical sectional view showing a slightly iltler ent forni of basin, and motor containing casing or sup ort; Fig. lt) a vertical sectional view of a s ightly dill'erent forni of luhricating means; and Fig. ll another foim of lubricating device. Fig. l2 an enlarged detail sectional view of the motor-shaft support shown in Fig. t); and Fig. 13 a detail horizontal sectional view thereof.

This invention relatcsto fountains in gcneral, .but more ,particularly to small fountains designed for table and indoor use and decoration.

f" T he invention has for one of its objects to provide a fountain ot artistic and pleasing desi in which will be contained means for forcing the water upwards to form the jet or jets; and means whereby the water or other liquid contained in the fountain may inrFurthermore, the. fountain is portable `and.

he' forced through the jet or jets over and overv again. By being thus continuouslv circulated through the fountain, there. will be no waste (except from eviqwration), and ,no possibility of leakage, and `the fluid 1mav be perfumed or tinted, et' both, :is-desired.

can be readily moved at pleasure.

A further object of the invention is to-so `locate and connect the pump and motor that no fixe or accurate ahnement h v means of '15 n. union, togglefjoint or coupling is necessary to ad just the position of the motor andpump and their'shai'ts; also, so that the motor may be separated from the pump, at any time for the purpose of repairs, adjustment or oiling; and so that on replacing the motor, the pump. and motor will at once be located in correct alinenient. A

A further object of the invention is to provide thc motor shaft with means of lubrication, so that there will he no necessity for oiling the sa me for lengthy eriods.

Another object of t e invention is to deaden or eliminate an i noise or "huin which may he produced by the motor, so that the fountain operates silently.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for making the electric connection between the electric mechanism in thc fountain and the outside source of supply; and particularly, to establish electric connection when the fountain is lar-cd on n table, so that. visible wires are lis )ensed with, and without having to inaterialllyinjure the table cloth or cover b v making holes through which the connecting wires would otherwise have to he passed.

A further object of-thc invention is to provide a simple and etliciciit combination of motor and pump for fountains which may be clica I v constructed and silent in action, and capa le ot' operating for lengthy periods without requiring attention or lubricating, with 'means for obtainiiig access to the mechanism when necessai'v.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Referring to the various arts by numerals, 1 desivnates the pedesta' or casing which is adapted to contain the operating apparatus. An electric motor 2 is arranged within 'this casing and is preferably suspended from the top thereof, by means of a screw head 3, to which is connected the motor frame 4. The to i of this casing preferably forms an integral part of the bottoni of basin 1", in which the pump is placed, so that theinotor will be suspended from the bottom of the basin. One of the objects of thus suspend-4 ing the motor, is to have the motor shaft 'as short as possible. The suspended motor frame 4 is provided with a bottoni piece 5 in the center of which is formed an upward extending stationary centerimY pin or thrust block 6. This motor frame also carries the field magnet coils' The armature S is 'i hy n vertical shaft. D which extends filly upward through the screw head 2%, the armature ooit extending downwsrd from the end oi sind shnt- :ind fitting properlj.Y within the tieid coils. XVithin the arlnnture coil is urrunged :L depending tubular puri itt of the. shut't, this tubular part iitting wer the stutionnry centering pin carried b3' the n"iter-supporting frame. Around the centering pin is formed n cup i1 into which the rnhulzir part 1U of the armature slntt't extends. the lower end ot' this tubulin* part, of the shuftresting on the. liottoin of said ono. This @up is somewhat larger than the tuhnhir extension of the 'armature shaft und i: adapted to he filled with oil or grease, the bot" n o1 said @up taking the thrust of sind It will, therefore, 'ne seen that the arms; ure is suspended hy its sha't and that, the uit or )ease-cup and thrust block :1re protected by thc'aruiuture. The electrifcircui is completed through wires 12, oonnected' to the motor and to the contact,-

plutes .73 arranged in the hott-oni of the. snpportirzg casing. n'otorsupporting traine is entirely suspended from the top ot' the casing, or the bottom of the basin, and does not touch the casing at any other point. Y

The screw head 3 is formed with an up wurd extending tubular pnrt 14 through which e 'tends the shaftV of the armature, d ,ular part extending within the basin to u pointy above the proposed water level therein. This tubular part excludes water from the. casing 1 Aand serves :1s a. guide und centering means for the arinaure shaft.

The pump l empoy in this fountain is of the centrifugal type and preferilhly is provi ed Ywith u ,'lnnlity of properiy curved mid blu es, The puntp consists of a entrai tuhuiar .shaft- 15 v-fiich is adopted to ht, over the extension 14 of the screw henri. The .1 r end oth the shat't is piovided wit;A

ed aperture whic?L sdfipted to rethrended upper end of the urinar slit. und ny look nut. 'if'e holh'fw' sii-:tft is of .sntcierit tength to permit the binde. lo; w1 -h :are seeured to :he iower cud t. zo rota-te close 'to the f ot im of Li hns-n. in the bottom of the basin i-f wurd wending founder flange i? the Dump ti. ll'it T115; with n zblecorer 1% er this eux e." ein zprrarxi tension E l :s stunned, this extension 'pn ing si: t' lite upper end ofthe Emilien.' snsft ig the sinne. In the cover it thc tnhni )am it?, num-Jer of It. will he noted that, the

will pass from smid cus-ing to the outlet pipe 22 which lends upward to the dischurge noz zie 23. projectingr wull 21"* which is purallel with the outer wull of the cusingt'orins n channel 22 leading to tht-discharge out- 70 let. The bottoni of thi.`l channel is intlined upward to flic discharge outlet :is illustrated in Fig. T. 'ihe witter from the pump passes into this` ehunnel :ind then upward into the pipe 22 :is will he reudil)v understood. The 7 inlet holes 2() :ire preferably covered hy :t struiner or filter 24 to prevent foreign mutter passin! in to the pump casing. The purpose` of this is to prevent the tine jets or nozzles from becoming choked. 80

'l`o reguatc the discharge I provide the regulating nozzle 123. This nozze is secured on the upper end of the discharge pipe 22 und consists ol' u screw cup .26 provia'ted with upc-rt ures in its top. The nozzie 23 is forinefl S5 with 21v downwurdj. eninrgiug portion 2T und at the upper end of this enturgingportion perf oruions 2S are formed. The cap is provided :it tower end with n lured part 29 which is adapted to tit cioseig' on the outer 90 surnhe of the eniargemeut 27, and. thereby close the perlorntions .Z. Itwill thus he seen that h z adjusting the cup 2S on the end ot' the nozze 23 the discharge through the pert'orniions S nur. he iegutnted. ln this 95 wn". the nozzle 11111;, lie used us u pump-check or governor. B). unserewing the cap from the en-:i of the nozzle water witl pass-freely through 'the )erforaions '2S und thence downward, und he discharged t` rom under the 10( iower end of the cup. Ot eourse, hlt screwing the cap down, sai'i apt-r2 nies nur.. he entireiy closed. In this wir. the amount of water passim; through the jet openings in the top of :he nozzle nur le regulated. "ithin 10J' the nozzle l'f-ow the apertures 2R is ar-4 ranged n strainer or lter 30. Supported on the pump easing is un uppelsnmiler basin 31 into which the diseharge from the perforations 2S oi: the no overflow from sitio :1min i sm he ow.

C is shot-:n En arrangement of the;

` :he ja@ teguiating device is temp. In this formof the 11' 'ge ipe is provided with an and perforations 2S near -On tli' pipe und adapted to p evi-ions is :i reguuting seeve (ennui h 'die flaring port 120". The. 12(

v ol this fort!! of the' .'f'eviee is ex- ."orllj. ns that lereinteforo desoriiefl und sloarn in :let in Fig. 5. i'" is :t :fnmntpiA sinlihtr 1:; appearance to pipe 22, mwi is there. tuin u syrometrieai @f4-arance. 1t willi of course, he understood that this pipe and ."z muy he intr-fluid with ronp-,ii f tno .su-mnt in or r ttm; 1 ma! 'rse iletnfsheu A .ieu iwnaninng the '-nitiin .WW vn-.

,"Io electrically connect the motor within the casing to the conductor wires I provide a contact plate or transmission disk 32, adapted to be located under the table cloth where the fountain is adapted for use on a table. This disk is formed with grooves' 33 through which the conductor wires 33* are adapted to extend to the center of the disk. The disk is also formed in its under side with a recess 34 in which two spring contact plates 35 are secured, said contact lates being arranved above the lower su ace of' the plate so tast thev will not contact with the surface of the table. The outer end of each of these )lates is provided with an upward extending needle pointI 36 which extends upward through a perforation in the disk, and through the table cloth, when said disk is arranged under a cloth. These points are line and will readily pass through a table or other cloth without injuryv thereto. 'lhe inner ends of the cenducor wires are connected to the inner sides of the contact plates. The pedestal or casing of the fountain is so placed over the transmission disk or contact plate that the contact. points carried by the pedestal willrest upon the contact points 36 carried by the spring plates. The upward pressure ol' the spring plates forces the nee-v ule points against the contact plates carriedx by the casLg so that a ood electrical con-I tact is made, and at t le. same time the springs permit the needles to be depressed so t iat the fountain will be level and may rest on the table cloth. Instead ofsecuring the spring contact plates inl the transmission disk 32 I may desire to secure saidfsprinr contact plates to the bottom ol' the pedestal as shown in Fig. 8, and in this view 35 .are the Contact plates; 36- the needle points carrie-d thereby. The transmission disk is provided with contact plates 13* to which the conductor wires are suitably connected; and the wires 12 are connected to the sp1-ino' con- .tact plates 35l and to the motor. As `sihown in'F 1g. 1 the basin is formed as ail-integral art. of the supportin pedestal-or base.

In Fig. 9 the top o the motor containing casing 1c forms the entire bottom of the basin, and the motor conta' the casing appears to be merely aparte the basin,'in

stead of a supporting pedestal. In this arrangement-o the parts, supporting legs 1d are employed. The to 1J of the casing l might be termed a false )ottoni for the basin, the apparent bottom of the basin being the bottom of the supporting casing. By this means the motor 1s very close to the pump', and the mot-or shaft can be made very short.- This is very desirable for obvious reasons. The bottom of the casing l is Aclosed by a hinged door 1* by which access to the motor may be had, a suitable catch being provided to hold said door in itseclosed position. The

bottom piece 5* of themotor supporting l l i l frame 4 is provided with an upward extending lubricating cup t5xi in which is arranged a bearing ball 7 the lower end of the motor shaftbearing against said ball. The lubricating cup is formed near its upper end, with an inward extending wall S through which the motor shaft extends and by which said shaft centered on the bearing ball. The lubricating cup to a. point above the wall 8 is filled with grease or other su table lubricating material. the motor shaft is slightly smaller in diameter than the interior of the tubular extension 14 of the head 3*l and the space sur'- rounding said shaft is filled with a lubricat- In this form of the device,

ing compound or material, such as grease.

Wlthin said tubular, extension and head is arranged a spiral coil of wire 14"- which, preferably, is in the form of a spring. This spiral is attached to the tubular extension by solder, pr in any other suit able manner, and the motor shaft extends through it. It will thus be seen that the spiral forms a means for supporting the 'lubricating material, land as a caring for the shaft. It also supports the ,shaft in the lubricatin material, and with a very slight bearing su ace. instead of forcing the water to a singlel elevated central nozzle, I may in some cases, prefer to have a series of nozzles 23* around the periphery or outer margin of the basin, as shown in Fig. 9.

-T hesel nozzles may be arranged to deliver the water to an elevated central cup, as indicated in dotted lines in said figure. It will, of course, be understood that if desired, the jet regulating nozzle, such as shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 6, may be used in the arrangement of jets shown in Fig. 9.

In Figs. 10 anc 11, are shown slightly different forms of centering and lubricatinv' devices for the u per portion of motor shaft. A'sshown in ig. 10, the head 3 is formed with a recess 3b. To the motor shaft, below said head,is attached a Cup 3". This cup extends up into said recess and `receives the lubricatingcompound. Apertures 3* are formed through the inner tubular part of thel head 3 to receive the lubricatingcompound,

the apertures being provided through which the compounds may ass to the motor shaft. lt will thus be seen, t iat by providing means for holding a supply of lubricant around the motor shaft, near its ends,the,n 1otor may be run for a long period of time without the mr cessity ol rer-lubrication.

The form of the apparatus illustrated in F ig. 9 is especially adapted for large fountains, where, if the mot-onwcre mount-ed in a base or pedestal below the basin, or what a ears to be thebasin, the motor s'haft wou dA e too long to obtain the best results, but so far as the principle of the inventionis concern'ed, it will, of course,.be understood, that the two constructions shown are the mechanical equivalents of each other.

By suspending the motor as described I largely overcome the noise or hum made by the rotating armature. lt will be noted that bythe peculiar constmction of the motor and pump no )ecial care will be required in assembling tie parts or in alining the armature shaft and the pump shaft, the pump and armature shaft being practically one solid piece.

From the fore roing itwill be seen that I pro` vide a verysimp l electric motor and pump for operaing the fountain; and that these fountains maybe used for table or other decorations with novel and artist-ic effects. It will be noted that the water or other liquid used in the fountain will not be wasted but will be. used over and over again, so' that it may ne perfumed or tinted or both to secure the desired effect. A It will be apparent that an endless number and variet)r of designs of supporting casings, basins and nozzles can be made; and that different types of rotary pumps may be employed without departing from the scope of my invention. It will, of course, be. understood, that the motor and the pump may be located in any convenient position within casini. It is also clear that the fountain may oe placed on anornamental bracket or on a staudor pedestal in hallways, reception rooms and the, like'.

Having thus described my invention, what I clai .1 as new and desire to secure by Letters Pat-ent, is

l. An elect-.c fountain comprising a basin, a central tubular vlug dctachably connected to said basin at the bot-tom thereof and extending to a point above the normal water level thereof, its lower end carrying a depending motor frame below the basin, a motor shaft extending upward through said 'tubular plug and carrying at its lower end witlun thc motor frame the motor armature, a rotary -pump within the basin, means connecting,r

said pump to the motor shaft above the tubular plug, a nozzle, and means for delivering the fluid from the pump to said nozzle.

2. An electric. fountain comprising a basin,

Aa central tubular plug detachably connected to said basin at the bottom thereof, its lower end carrying a depending motor frame below the basin, a motor shaft extending upward through said tubular plug and carrying at its lower end within the motor frame the motor '-::aature, a rotary pump within the basin,

sus cbnnectng the send pump to the inowf --haft above thrtubular plug, a nozzle, :.r-f: -zoansfor de vering the Huid from the wenn tojsaid renale. `f u electric-mom ivf comprising a basin, :enti-il tuhuar plug if-tachalil) connected -ao oas-in at the betom thereof, its lower l end carrying a depending motor frame below the basin, a motor shaft extending upward through said tubular plug and carrying at its lower end within the motor frame the motor armature, a rotary pump within the basin, means connecting the said pump to the ino-- tor shaft above the tubular dug, a nozzle, means for deliveringr the fluid iront the pump to saidnozzle, and a bearing fi .ned on the lower )art of the armattire-supporting frame and adapted to receive the lower end of the armature shaft.

4. An electric fountain.comprising a basin, a central tubular plug detachably connected to said basin at the bottom thereof, its'lower end carrying a depending motor frame helow the basin, a motor shaft extending npward through said tubular plug and carrying at its lower end within the motor frame the motor arunxture, a rotary ump within the basin, means connecting t 1e said pump lo the motor shaft above the tubular plug, a nozzle., means for delivering the lluid from the pump to said nozzle, a'bearing formed on the lower part of the armature-sulmorting fre'ue and adapted. to receive the lower end of the armature shaft, and means for maintaining a supply of lubricant around the inotor shaft above and below the armature.

5. An electric fountain comprising a basin, a central tubular plug detachably connected to said basin at the bottom thereof and extending to a point above the normal water level thereof, is lower end carrying a depending motor frame below the basin, a motor shaft extending upward through said tubular plug and carrying at its lower end within the motor frame the motor armature, a rotary pump within thc basin, means connecting said pump to the motor shaft above the tubular plug, a nozzle, means for varyin ihc discharge from the nozzle, whereby Sai nozzle may bc used as a governor device.

An electric fountain comprising a basin, a central tubular plug detachably connected to said basin at the bottom thereof and extending to a point above the normal water level thereof, its lower end carrying a depending motor frame belowthe basin, a motor shaft extending upward through said tubular plug and carrying at its lower end within themotor frame the motor armature, a ro tary pump within the basin, means connecting said pump to the motor shaft above the tubular dug, a nozzle, means for delivering the ilui from the pump to said nozzle, an adjustable cap forming part of the nozzle and by which the discharge from the nozzle may be varied.

7. Au electric fountain comprising a basin, a central tubular plug detachably connected to said basin at the imttontthereof, its lower end carrying a. depending motor frame below the basin, a motor shaft extending upward through said tubular plug and carrying at its lower end within ho motorframe the mot-or armature, s. rotary? pump Wllnm tlg@ basin, means connoctmp; clic said pump to the motor shaft above fh@ tubular plug, n nozzle,

electrical supply,

firougli aperturas in thc disk and adaptcd Lo ongagc vonoct nlutcs in thc liaise, and means for conncc ing L c spring platos t-o n source of 8. An el tric fountain uomprisingn basin, a central uifular ,lug defachably connor-,lcd

t-o said basin at -t ic bottom thereof and cxtending to a point above the nox-mol water level thereof, its lower end carrying a dcpcnding motor frame below the basin, a. motor shaft extending upward lhrough said 'Lubular plug and4 carrying at its lower end within the. nxoor frame the motor armature, a ro tary pump Within the basin, moons connect ing said pump Lo the motor shaftnbovc the inliulnr ilng, a. nozzle, moans for delivering tho luio frozr me pump to said nozzlefan u ward extenn lubricating cup carried by t e lowsr cud of t e motor-supporting frame spring pianos-:imi adapted to project. up

and adapted to receive Athe'lower end of the armutureshnt, a ball in said cup to sup ort thc shaft, and means for centering said s aft on said ball.

'9. An eloctx'ic fountain comprising a basin, a central tubular nlug detachably connected to said i12/sin at lle lmttomthercof and cxtencling to s oin above. the normal water level tile-roof, its lower end carrying a depend- .ing mol-or frame below the basin, a mot-or shaft extending upward through said tubular ping and. co frying at. its lower end within the ,-inotor frame thc motor armature, said shaft being snr-.aller in diamctventhan the. interior diameter of tiic tubular.' lug', a spiral lubri- Cani supp-Orr Within sniiij tubular plug and rigidly secured chereto, said spiral bndgin the space between the armaiure shaft an the interior-all of the tubular luv', whereby saidspiral Wil form a hearing or ille shaft, a rot-ary pump within the basin, means connecting said f ump to the motor shaft above the tulular p ug, a nozzlo, and means for delivering the fluid from the pump to said nozzle. .f

In testimon whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in tlie rcsence of two witnesses this 24th day of' anuary 1906.

HEBBT A. Ross, Com A. STEIN.

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