Abstract:
A method and system for maintaining desired water levels in a gravity flow fountain. The fountain includes manifolds that define reservoirs for storing water. The fountain is capable of generating displays by expelling variably sized and arranged water droplets, at varying rates, from the reservoirs. The expelled water must be replaced in the reservoir to continue sustained operation of the fountain. Even though the volume of water needed at each reservoir as the fountain operates is non-constant and varying, the water is controllable, and therefore, predictable. The fountain uses a programmable logic device, in combination with a variety of components, to anticipate the need for water in the reservoirs. The fountain can also use programmable logic devices, in combination with sensors and a variety of components, to historically determine the need for water in the reservoirs or meet water supply demands on a real time basis.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a gravity flow fountain and, more particularly to a method of, and apparatus for, supplying water to a gravity flow fountain. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Gravity flow fountains of various designs and configurations can generate a display comprising a cascade of water droplets. These water droplets, when grouped together and properly synchronized, assume or compose various shapes, images, and/or messages. 
     In general, gravity flow fountains capable of generating these displays arc known in the art. By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,196,471 to Ruthenberg discloses an apparatus for providing a waterfall or fountain capable of making displays formed from water droplets. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,423 to Jacobsen, U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,822 to Simmons, and U.S. Pat. No. RE35,866 to Simmons teach methods of producing fountain images and displays using nozzles or timely released, gravity-affected droplets. Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,737,860 to Whigham discloses a method and apparatus employing gravity to display a message. 
     To ensure that the displays are properly produced, a consistent and reliable supply of water must be provided to one or more water reservoirs within the fountain. Failure to properly replenish water expelled from these reservoirs can result in displays being malformed. Thus, the aesthetic qualities and advertising capabilities of the fountain can be compromised. As displays produced by the fountain increase in complexity, the adequate and timely supply of water becomes more critical to preserve and maintain a cohesive and coordinated water droplet display. 
     One method of providing water to a reservoir within a fountain includes oversupplying each of the reservoirs with water. By providing a continual overabundance of water, the reservoirs can remain filled. However, this approach dramatically increases the cost of operating the fountain. For example, large and expensive equipment (e.g., pumps, fill valves, etc.) must be purchased and serviced, a large volume of water must be accessed or transported with the fountain, and a burdensome amount of energy is required to operate the fountain. 
     In addition to adding undesirable expense, the oversupplying method fails to recognize or appreciate sudden or unpredictable needs for an increased, or decreased, amount of water at one reservoir relative to another reservoir. Consequently, water supply systems that rely on the oversupply method cannot disproportionately divert water to individual reservoirs in the fountain as water is inconsistently expelled by the reservoirs. For example, depending on the display being generated, each reservoir can have its own unique, time-based demand for re-supply of water as the fountain operates. 
     In short, conventional gravity flow fountains are ill-equipped to provide a varying, yet efficient and timely, supply of water to each individual reservoir as fluid is non-constantly expelled from different reservoirs during fountain operation. Thus, a method and apparatus capable of anticipating or predicting water supply needs, and fulfilling those needs, would be highly desirable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, the invention provides a method of supplying fluid to a gravity flow fountain on an anticipated basis. The method comprises providing an apparatus having a manifold, a fluid fill valve, and a programmable logic device. The manifold includes a reservoir capable of receiving and expelling the fluid, the fluid fill valve is associated with the manifold and capable of providing the reservoir with the fluid, and the programmable logic device is associated with the fluid fill valve. 
     A display to be generated by the gravity flow fountain is selected and, based on the selected display, a desired fluid level for the reservoir is anticipated. The anticipated desired fluid level is then programmed programmable logic device and the fountain operated. As the fountain is operated, the fluid is expelled from the reservoir to generate the selected display. Therefore, the fluid fill valve is actuated, based on the anticipated desired fluid level programmed into the programmable logic device, to maintain the anticipated desired fluid level within the reservoir. Thus, the fluid is supplied to the fountain on the “anticipated” basis. 
     The apparatus can further comprise a valve assembly within the manifold. The valve assembly is capable of regulating the fluid expelled by the reservoir. Further, the valve assembly can comprise a pintle that permits formation of the selected display or a solenoid capable of being selectively energized by a transistor driver associated with the programmable logic device. 
     In another embodiment, the invention discloses a method of supplying a fluid to a gravity flow fountain on a historical basis. The method comprises providing an apparatus having a manifold, a fluid fill valve, and a programmable logic device. 
     The manifold includes a reservoir, a valve assembly, and a sensor. The reservoir is capable of receiving the fluid. The valve assembly has a selectively actuatable solenoid that permits the valve assembly to expel the fluid from the reservoir when the solenoid is actuated. The sensor is capable of sensing historical data within the manifold. 
     The fluid fill valve is associated with the manifold and is capable of providing the reservoir with the fluid. The programmable logic device includes a memory and is associated with the solenoid, the sensor, and the fluid fill valve. 
     A display to be generated by the fountain is selected, the fountain is operated thereby selectively actuating the solenoid and permitting the valve assembly to expel the fluid from the reservoir, and the selected display is generated. The historical data within the manifold is sensed with the sensor as the fountain operates and stored in the memory. Thereafter, the operation of the fountain is terminated. Then, based on the historical data stored in the memory, a desired fluid level for the reservoir is determined and programmed into the programmable logic device. 
     Operation of the fountain is resumed, thereby selectively actuating the solenoid and permitting the valve assembly to expel the fluid from the reservoir, and the selected display is once again generated. Therefore, the fluid fill valve is actuated, based on the desired fluid level programmed into the programmable logic device, to maintain the desired fluid level within the reservoir as the fountain is operated. Thus, the fluid is supplied to the fountain on a “historical” basis. 
     The historical data can include a solenoid firing sequence within the manifold or fluid depth, height, weight, or rate of the fluid received within the reservoir. 
     In a further embodiment, the invention discloses a method of supplying a fluid to a gravity flow fountain on a real time basis. The method comprises providing an apparatus including a manifold, a fill valve, and a programmable logic device. 
     The manifold has a reservoir, a valve assembly, and a sensor. The reservoir is capable of receiving the fluid. The valve assembly contains a selectively actuatable solenoid that permits the valve assembly to expel the fluid from the reservoir when the solenoid is actuated. The sensor is capable of sensing data within the manifold. 
     The fluid fill valve is associated with the manifold and is capable of providing the reservoir with the fluid. The programmable logic device has a memory and is associated with the solenoid, the sensor, and the fluid fill valve. 
     A desired fluid level to be maintained within the reservoir in the manifold is determined and programmed into the memory of the programmable logic device. Thereafter, the fountain is operated and the data within the manifold is sensed with the sensor. Using the programmable logic device, the sensed data is compared with the desired fluid level data that is stored in the memory. Based on the comparison of the sensed data and the desired fluid level, the fluid fill valve is actuated to maintain the desired fluid level within the reservoir as the fountain is operated. Thus, the fluid is supplied to the fountain on a “real time” basis. 
     The sensed data can be stored in the memory and a transistor driver that is instructed by the programmable logic device can perform the actuating. The fluid can be water or a mixture of water and an additive. Additives can be used to control a property of the mixture such as odor, color, viscosity, purity, appearance, temperature, freezing point, flavor, and reflectivity. 
     The programmable logic device can be associated with another programmable logic device, a network server, a hub, a network, and the Internet. The manifold can contain a seal having seal apertures therein while the valve assembly can include pintles. The pintles can alternatively rest within the seal apertures to prohibit expulsion of the fluid or can disengage from the seal apertures to permit expulsion of the fluid. A bottom of the manifold can contain bottom apertures having nozzles therein. The nozzles are capable of directing the fluid expelled from the reservoir. The bottom apertures can contain a salient disposed therein to prohibit pintles from further receipt into the bottom apertures at an equal depth. 
     In another aspect, the invention discloses a system for maintaining a desired fluid level in a gravity flow fountain. The system comprises a plurality of manifolds, sensors, fluid fill valves, a base, a pump, and a plurality of programmable logic devices. 
     The manifolds can include a reservoir for receiving and expelling a fluid. Sensors can be associated with each of the manifolds and each sensor is capable of collecting data within at least one of the manifolds. Fluid fill valves can be associated with each of the manifolds and each of the fluid fill valve is capable of selectively supplying the fluid to at least one of the reservoirs within the manifolds. 
     The base for receives the fluid expelled by the reservoirs. The pump is associated with the base and the fluid fill valve such that the pump is capable of receiving water from the base and providing water to the fill valve. Each of the programmable logic devices is associated with at least one of the manifolds, at least one of the sensors, and at least one of the fluid fill valves. 
     When the fountain is operated, the sensors sense the data as the fluid is expelled by the reservoirs, the sensed data is compared with the desired fluid levels by the programmable logic device, and the fluid fill valves are selectively actuated by the programmable logic device to increase or decrease the fluid received by the reservoirs. As such, the desired fluid levels in the reservoirs of the fountain are maintained. 
     The system can include a hub, a network server, and a network in association with the plurality of programmable logic devices. The system can also contain a manifold support apparatus that elevates the manifolds vertically above the base. The system is capable of compensating for valve assembly malfunctions, pump inefficiencies, and leaks in fountain components. To reduce noise generated by a valve assembly in the manifold, the valve assembly can include a dampening plate. 
     Various other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description and the drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the following accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only. The invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction or the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in other various ways. Like reference numerals are used to indicate like components. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gravity flow fountain in operation. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a manifold, with the manifold front wall removed, used within the fountain of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevational, cross-sectional view of the manifold of FIG. 2 taken along line  3 — 3 . 
     FIG. 4 is a partially exploded, perspective view of a valve assembly, disposed above a seal with a plurality of seal apertures, employed within the manifold of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded, perspective view of a comb pintle, used with the valve assembly and the seal of FIG. 4, as well as a manifold bottom with a plurality of bottom apertures. 
     FIG. 6 a  is an elevational, cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a manifold bottom as a single pintle, from the comb pintle of FIG. 5, engages the seal and the manifold bottom, the manifold bottom having a nozzle therein. 
     FIG. 6 b  is an elevational, cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a manifold bottom as a single pintle, from the comb pintle of FIG. 5, engages the seal and the manifold bottom, the manifold bottom having a nozzle therein. 
     FIG. 6 c  is an elevational, cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a manifold bottom as a single pintle, from the comb pintle of FIG. 5, engages the seal and the manifold bottom, the manifold bottom having a nozzle therein. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the underside of the manifold bottom of FIG. 5 illustrating the comb pintle received within the bottom apertures within the manifold bottom. 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevational, cross-sectional view of the manifold bottom and bottom apertures of FIG. 5 taken along line  8 — 8  illustrating an integrally formed nozzle. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a gravity flow fountain  2  comprises a plurality of manifolds  4  secured above a base  6  by a manifold support apparatus  8 . Manifold support apparatus  8  comprises one or more manifold stands  10  secured to opposing, angled flanges  12 , such that the manifold support apparatus can receive the manifolds  4 . Manifolds  4  resting in manifold support apparatus  8  are, in preferred embodiments, minimally displaced from adjacent manifolds. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 2, manifold  4  comprises manifold top  14 , manifold bottom  16 , manifold front wall  18 , manifold back wall  20 , and manifold side walls  22 . Typically, manifold front wall  18  and manifold back wall  20  are constructed of rigid, water-tight material (e.g., polyvinyl chloride, etc.) while manifold side walls  22  are constructed of a water-tight, pressed metal (e.g., aluminum, etc.). 
     Still referring to FIG. 2, valve assembly mantle  24  defines, along with manifold bottom  16  and lower manifold portion  26  of manifold side walls  22 , manifold front wall  18 , and manifold back wall  20 , reservoir chamber  28 . As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, reservoir chamber  28  contains reservoir  30 , for storing water  32 , overflow weir  34 , having weir wall  36 , fluid supply tube  38 , one or more sensors  40 , seal  42 , and one or more lower portions of valve assemblies  44 . 
     Droplet control system mantle  46  defines, along with valve assembly mantle  24  and middle manifold portion  48  of manifold side walls  22 , manifold front wall  18 , and manifold back wall  20 , valve assembly support chamber  50 . Droplet control system mantle  46  contains a plurality of valve assembly apertures  52  extending therethrough. Valve assembly support chamber  50  houses a plurality of valve assemblies  44  that can be received in valve assembly apertures  52 . Thus, a lower portion of each valve assembly is located in reservoir chamber  28  and an upper portion is located in valve assembly support chamber  50 . 
     Droplet control system mantle  46  defines, along with manifold top  14  and upper manifold portion  54  of manifold side walls  22 , manifold front wall  18 , and manifold back wall  20 , droplet control system chamber  56 . Droplet control system chamber  56  includes one or more programmable logic devices  58  and one or more transistor drivers  59 . Programmable logic devices  58  can comprise a variety of programmable logic circuits, a typical personal computer, an industrial controller, an imbedded microprocessor, or other like devices. In a preferred embodiment, an imbedded microprocessor manufactured by can be employed as the programmable logic device. Transistor driver  59  can comprise a variety of drivers, a solid state relay driver, or other like devices. 
     Programmable logic device  58  and transistor driver  59  are associated through an electrical connection  60  to one or more valve assemblies  44 . In combination, programmable logic device  58  and transistor driver  59  can transmit instructions, actuate, and/or manipulate valve assemblies  44 . Further, programmable logic device  58  and/or transistor  59  can be connected through programmable logic device line  62  to hub  64 , a network server (not shown), one or more networks, the Internet, and the like. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, hub  64  (or other like device) receives information from, and supplies information to, each programmable logic device  58  in the plurality of manifolds  4  through the programmable logic device lines  62 . Hub  64  can be connected to programmable logic device  58 , transistor driver  59 , a network server (not shown), one or more networks, the Internet, and the like, by electrical connection  60 . 
     Referring back to FIG. 1, gravity flow fountain  2  further comprises pump  66 . Pump  66  can be associated with base  6  by pump inlet tube  68  such that the pump is provided a supply of water  32  from the base. Pump  66  discharges water  32  through pump outlet tube  70  to provide fluid fill valve  72  with water  32 . Fluid fill valve  72  selectively expels water  32  through one or more fluid supply tubes  38 . Fluid fill valve  72  can be associated with, and controlled by, a network server (not shown), programmable logic device  58 , and the like. Although a single fluid fill valve  72  is illustrated, a plurality of fluid fill valves can be employed. In such embodiments, each manifold  4  can be associated with one or more fluid fill valves  72 . 
     Each fluid supply tube  38  is connected to one of manifolds  4  proximate overflow weir  34  as shown in FIG.  3 . When water  32  expelled by fluid fill valve  72  reaches one of manifolds  4 , the water can enter the manifolds by flowing over weir wall  36  and splashing into reservoir  30 . Also, when water  32  within reservoir  30  becomes overabundant, the water can flow over weir wall  36  and be expelled from the reservoir through a drain (not shown) or otherwise re-routed within fountain  2 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 3, manifold bottom  16  comprises a plurality of bottom apertures  74  extending therethrough. Disposed above manifold bottom  16 , within the reservoir chamber  28 , is seal  42 . Seal  42  comprises a plurality of seal apertures  76 . Seal apertures  76  and bottom apertures  74  are typically aligned with each other. The volume within each seal aperture  76  and bottom aperture  74  defines droplet cavity  78 . Droplet cavity  78  provides a location for the formation of water droplets  80 . Water droplets  80  can be expelled from reservoir  30  through seal apertures  76  and bottom apertures  74 . 
     Again referring to FIG. 3, located within manifold  4  is sensor  40 . Sensor  40  is capable of detecting data such as one or more fluid properties (e.g., a water level, depth, weight, and/or rate of flow) and/or other manifold data. Sensor  40  can thereafter relay that data, through an electrical connection  60 , to a programmable logic device  58 , a hub  64 , and a network server (not shown). Sensor  40  may be immersed in, or proximate, water  32  in reservoir  30 . Although a single sensor is shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of sensors, monitoring one or more different water properties, can be employed within fountain  2 . In preferred embodiments, a plurality of sensors  40  can be interconnected and in communication with each other. Further, each of the sensors  40  can be associated with programmable logic device line  62 , hub  64 , a network server (not shown), one or more networks, the Internet, and the like. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, each valve assembly  44  comprises solenoid  82 , electrical connection  60 , armature  84 , coil  86 , stiff plate  88 , dampening plate  90 , shaft  92 , and comb pintle  94 . Solenoid  82  includes threaded lower portion  83 . Threaded lower portion  83  is smaller in circumference than solenoid  82  and can be received in one of valve assembly apertures  52  within valve assembly mantle  24  (FIG.  2 ). Lock washer  85  and nut  87  can thereafter secure solenoid  82  to valve assembly mantle  24 . 
     Armature  84  and coil  86  can be received, at varying depths, upwardly into a recess (not shown) in solenoid  82 . Shaft  92  connects comb pintle  94  to stiff plate  88 . Electrical connection  60  connects solenoid  82  to transistor driver  59  such that the solenoid can be selectively energized. As solenoid  82  is energized, armature  84  and coil  86  are drawn upwardly into the recess (not shown) in solenoid  82 . When solenoid  82  is not being energized, armature  84  and coil  86  fall downwardly due to the pull of gravity permitting comb pintle  94  to rest within seal apertures  76 . Thus, as solenoid  82  is selectively energized and de-energized, valve assembly  44  is actuated causing comb pintle  94  to be raised or lowered. In preferred embodiments, stiff plate  88  can receive thereon dampening plate  90 . Dampening plate  90  is typically constructed of a compressible material (e.g., rubber) to muffle the sound of the stiff plate striking nut  87 , solenoid  44 , or the like. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 6 a ,  6   b , and  6   c , the cross-section of various bottom apertures  74 , or portions thereof, can comprise a square, a rectangle, a semi-circle, or a triangle. In addition to those shapes illustrated, other shapes are contemplated. Each bottom aperture  74  can be machined to a common depth such that each pintle  96  in comb pintle  94  is dissuaded from further entering the bottom aperture at the same depth. In some embodiments, bottom apertures  74  can receive-tubes, rings, or other objects to form nozzles  98 . Nozzles  98  are received by, and disposed within, bottom apertures  74  to divert or alter the path of water  32  being expelled from reservoir  30  and/or manifold  4 . Nozzles  98  can be angled or bent with respect to the axis of the tube such that the water droplet can be released in varying directions. Nozzles  98  can be a variety of nozzles known in the relevant art to provide a laminar flow, a spray, a mist, or other fluid stream. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, the association of comb pintle  94 , seal  42 , and manifold bottom  16  is illustrated. When comb pintle  94  is removed from both seal apertures  76  and bottom apertures  74 , the unobstructed droplet cavity  78  permits water  32  to be expelled from reservoir  30 . In contrast, as comb pintle  94  engages either or both of seal apertures  76  and bottom apertures  74 , the droplet cavity  78  is blocked and water  32  is retained in reservoir  30 . 
     The operation of a typical gravity flow fountain is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,294,406 to Pevnick and is incorporated herein by this reference. With regard to the present invention, the pull of gravity acting on water  32  in droplet cavity  78  urges water droplets  80  to be expelled, the water droplets fall from reservoir  30 , and are thereafter received by base  6 . Droplets aggregate with water  32  already present in base  6  and, as necessary, the water  32  can be routed back to reservoirs  30  for further formation and release. As this process is repeated and choreographed, fountain  2  becomes capable of forming displays, images, and/or messages as long as an adequate supply of water  32  is received by reservoirs  30 . Even though water  32  used by fountain  2  is non-constant and varying, the water is controllable and, therefore, predictable. 
     The amount of water  32  a particular reservoir  30  contains, over time, is a function of two major factors. The first factor is the design to be created by the fountain  2 . In other words, the volume of water  32  being expelled from a reservoir  30  at a given time. The second factor is the rate at which water  32  can be delivered to a reservoir  30  in a particular manifold  4 . In other words, the rate at which expelled water  32  can be replaced. By incorporating a programmable logic device  58  into each manifold  4 , solenoid  82  activity can be controlled and data regarding the frequency of solenoid  82  actuation, as well as the length of time droplet cavities  78  remain open, can be collected and stored. With this data, the volume of water  32  used by each manifold  4 , over time, can be calculated. In turn, this data can be shared with programmable logic devices  58  located in other manifolds  4 , with a hub, a network server, and the like. 
     Since the volume of water  32  that is being expelled from an individual manifold  4  can be calculated or is known, a fluid fill valve  72  can be selectively operated to supply water to one or more reservoirs  30 . The fluid fill valve  72  can receive instructions for operation from one or more programmable logic devices  58  and/or from a network server. Thus, water  32  can be quickly supplied to an individual manifold  4  before that manifold has drained its reservoir  30  of water  32 . 
     Several methods for supplying water  32  to individual reservoirs  30  are contemplated. In one embodiment, a desired fluid level for each reservoir  30  is determined prior to, the operation of the fountain  2 . The desired fluid level can be any level, amount, and/or rate of fluid that the operator of the fountain, the programmable logic device, and the like, chooses and/or selects as the level of fluid to be substantially maintained in the reservoir. For example, the desired fluid level can be based on a water height, depth, volume, and the like. 
     After the desired fluid level is determined, a fountain operator selects the display to be generated by the fountain  2  and, considering that display, anticipates and/or predicts the amount of water  32  that each reservoir  30  will require, over time, as the fountain operates. The anticipated amount of water  32  can be programmed into programmable logic device  58  to direct an increased or decreased amount of water to individual reservoirs  30 . Thus, water  32  can be effectively routed on an “anticipated” basis to substantially maintain the desired fluid level in reservoir  30 , and as such, fountain  2  can more efficiently and effectively use the water. 
     In another embodiment, the desired fluid levels can be determined by first operating the gravity flow fountain  2 . As fountain  2  operates, data such as the sequence of solenoid  82  firing and/or water levels in reservoirs  30  can be collected and stored in a memory. This can be accomplished by using sensors  40 , programmable logic device  58 , a network server, and the like. Thereafter, the operation of the fountain  2  can be terminated and the desired fluid levels determined based on the data in the memory. After the desired fluid levels are determined, the desired fluid levels can be programmed into the programmable logic device  58  and operation of the fountain  2  can resume, possibly at a much later date. As fountain  2  once again operates, the fluid level information is retrieved from memory and water is accordingly delivered. Thus, water  32  can be effectively routed on a “historical” basis to substantially maintain the desired fluid level in the reservoir  30 . 
     Fountain  2  can also operate such that water  32  is supplied to reservoirs  30  on a “real time” basis. In other words, the desired fluid levels can be continually updated and compared to sensed fluid levels. This embodiment differs from previous embodiments in that the sensed fluid levels are sensed prior to desired levels being determined. As such, the fountain  2  uses the information collected by the sensor  40 , as the fountain is operating, to determine desired levels. In this embodiment, during fountain operations, one or more sensors  40  senses one or more water properties within reservoir  30  as fluid is being expelled. The sensed water property is then relayed to the programmable logic device  58  and compared with previously determined criteria such as, for example, the desired fluid level. If the sensed fluid level differs from the desired fluid level, fluid fill valve  72  can be actuated to either permit or restrict the flow of water  32  into reservoir  30 . Thus, water  32  can be effectively routed on a “real time ” basis to substantially maintain the desired fluid level in the reservoir  30 . 
     When the “real time” method of supplying water is used, unexpected difficulties that can affect the amount of water in the reservoirs, such as valve assembly malfunctions, pump inefficiencies, leaks in fountain components, and the like, can be compensated for. 
     In one embodiment, a plurality of pumps, similar to pump  66 , can be employed within fountain  2  in lieu of fluid fill valve  72 . Each pump can be directly connected to an associated reservoir  30 . Instead of controlling a fluid fill valve  72 , programmable logic device  58  and/or a network server can instruct the individual pumps  66  to operate as necessary to supply water  32 . In alternative embodiments, other devices can be utilized to fill reservoirs  30  such as, for example, a hamster feeder, a water tower, and the like. 
     If desired, an additive can be added to water  32  (or other fluid) used within fountain  2 . Such additives can affect odor, color, viscosity, purity, appearance, temperature, freezing point, flavor, or reflectivity of water  32 . 
     When the above-described methods are utilized, water  32  can be supplied to individual reservoirs  30  on a “anticipated”, “historical”, or “real-time” basis. Thus, the efficiency of water routing in gravity flow fountains  2  is greatly enhanced. While water supply methods have been described herein with respect to gravity flow fountain  2 , other fountains, for example, pressurized fountains, can also be used. 
     Although water  32  has been used as the preferred embodiment throughout the description, it is contemplated that other fluids (e.g., oils) can be used. Also, for example, commercial beverages such as soda, sports drinks, tea, coffee, and other commercial products, can be used, to encourage advertising. 
     In compliance with applicable statutes, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown and described. The present invention has been described in terms of the preferred embodiment, and it is recognized that equivalents, alternatives, and modifications, aside from those expressly stated, are possible and within the scope of the appending claims.