One way venturi for use with a cold fog generator and/or natural smoke/fog distribution system

A venturi apparatus for use with a cold fog generator and/or smoke/fog distribution system comprising: a pipe having an air impeding object, a smoke producing means, an expansion chamber, and an ambient air chamber, said expansion chamber sized to fit with a smoke producing means, said expansion chamber sized to fit with said venturi, said cfgnsfds chamber and said smoke producing means chamber, said ambient air chamber located perpendicularly in relation to said cfgnsfds chamber and said ambient air chamber.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

A Cold Fog Generator and/or Natural Smoke/Fog Distribution System

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the area of smoke machines and pertains more particularly to methods, apparatus, and systems for generating fog, flash freezing smoke and disbursing both to a remote location.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many entertainment events and other uses for smoke call for a heavy, thick, and low-lying fog effect. In order to produce a low-lying fog effect from a fluid smoke machine which will roll low over the ground, the smoke must be cooled significantly. If the hot smoke is not cooled significantly, it will rise, spread and dissipate. However, since smoke producing machines produce smoke at around 165°-200°, it quickly rises and dissipates if left unchanged.

Therefore, what is clearly needed in the art is a system, apparatus, and methods thereof for producing a low-lying fog effect which is cooled such that the fog and/or smoke will remain low over the ground and will not quickly rise and dissipate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A venturi apparatus for use with a Cold Fog Generator and/or Natural Smoke/Fog Distribution System comprising: a pipe having gate or reed means, a fog producing means chamber, a cfgnsfds chamber, and an ambient air chamber, said fog producing means chamber sized to fit with a fog producing means, said cfgnsfds chamber sized to fit with a cfgnsfds, said cfgnsfds chamber and said fog producing means chamber located directly opposite each other, or in other placements, said ambient air chamber located perpendicularly in relation to said cfgnsfds chamber and said ambient air chamber, said gate or reed means being housed in said ambient air chamber.

In some preferred embodiments each of the three chambers is complimentarily threaded in order to receive and engage with its corresponding part. In some preferred embodiments the venturi apparatus may be made of either PVC or metal or other suitable materials.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a unique system, method, and apparatus is used to prevent compressed smoke or other gases from inlet orifice of chamber from leaching out of chamber. This, in turn forces the smoke and gases to be cooled within the chamber. The present invention is described in enabling detail below.

FIG. 1is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Cold fog generator and smoke/fog distribution system100(hereafter cfgnsfds) comprises a smoke machine101, a chamber102, a one way venturi103, (or in some preferred embodiments an inlet orifice125as illustrated inFIG. 1), and tubing105.FIG. 2illustrates the remaining elements: an ice tray106, support apparatus107, exhaust duct108, ice109, expansion chamber110and flash freeze chamber111.

It should be pointed out here that cfgnsfds100in this preferred embodiment is a sealed system. Although cfgnsfds100possesses orifices, it is to be understood that the mentioning of these orifices is for the purpose of fabrication of the present invention.

Ice109is used for the purpose of cooling the smoke thereby enabling a low-lying fog-effect. In some preferred embodiments, ice109may be either regular ice or dry ice. For the purposes of clarity, the term ice109shall refer to both regular ice or dry ice. In some preferred embodiments no ice is used. Therefore, the specific use of ice is not specifically required. Other cooling means may be used to cool the ice.

Chamber102is a container with three orifices125,113, and. Inlet orifice125is where the smoke is directed through. Orifice114is where melting ice water drains from the chamber102(it should be pointed out here that in other preferred embodiments where ice is not used, orifice114and water drain tubing105will not be required). And orifice113is where fog exits from cfgnsfds100.

Inside the chamber102is the exhaust duct108. Exhaust duct108passes through wall of chamber102through orifice1113. From the point of attachment, exhaust duct108has a length such that it traverses the height of both support apparatus107and ice tray106. Exhaust duct108in a preferred embodiment is made of a garden-variety PVC piping material. However other materials and pipes may be equally expedient to constitute the exhaust duct108. Therefore, the specific material and apparatus used to constitute the exhaust duct108is of no consequence.

However, it is not specifically required that the exact means of exhaust duct108be used. There are other means and ways of diverting fog out of cfgnsfds100without the use of exhaust duct108.

Smoke machine101is the apparatus which produces the smoke. There abound many different types of smoke machines with which cfgnsfds100may be adapted to work. In a preferred embodiment, smoke machine101is attached to the one-way venturi103. In turn, the one-way venturi103is attached to orifice110of chamber102.

In preferred embodiments, the function of shutting down smoke flow from gate chamber205is accomplished through gate means209, a trap door means, a spring means, reeds etc. A skilled artisan within the art will be able to enable a spring means, trap door means, or other means of shutting down air flow from expansion chamber102. Therefore, the specific details shall not be detailed herein.

In order to attach the one-way venturi103to expansion chamber via orifice110both orifice110and one-way venturi103may be complimentarily threaded and sized to fit each other. However, it is not specifically required that the mode of attachment is via threading. Other modes of attachment such as gluing, soldering, etc. are equally expedient for the task, and will be readily understood by one skilled in the art.

Chamber102is a sealed container and may embody many different shapes and sizes.FIG. 2illustrates that chamber102comprises both the expansion chamber110and the flash freeze chamber111. The expansion chamber110in this specification shall mean the region of the chamber102below the ice tray109. The region above ice tray109is the flash freeze chamber111.

The main purpose of the expansion chamber110is to provide the natural engine for pushing out the smoke. Since the present invention does not use fans or other exhaust means in order to inject smoke out of cfgnsfds100, the expansion chamber110must accomplish this function. Expansion chamber110works by closing inlet to allow pressure to build up naturally within expansion chamber110thereby forcing smoke and fog out of exhaust duct108.

The main function of flash freeze chamber111is to cool the smoke. The cooling of the smoke accomplishes two main objectives. First, a cold smoke is more apt to lie low over the ground, which is desirable in the entertainment industry. Second, a cold smoke is much slower to rise and dissipate than a warm smoke.

FIGS. 8 and 9illustrates an alternative preferred embodiment of the chamber102. Chamber's102size and shape will be dictated primarily by factors of portability, capacity, and economic factors. Materials used to compose chamber102in a preferred embodiment is a plastic material. However, other equally expedient materials may also comprise chamber102.

Located in chamber102is the support apparatus107as seen inFIGS. 2 and 3. Support apparatus107is used for supporting ice tray106and ice109. Although support apparatus107in a preferred embodiment is made of PVC piping material, other equally expedient means for supporting ice tray106and ice109abound. For instance, flanges may be affixed to the inside walls of chamber102to support both ice109and ice tray106. In other preferred embodiments ice tray106may be affixed to walls of chamber102by soldering, glue, additional orifices in chamber102, etc. The number of alternative embodiments for support apparatus107are endless. Therefore, the specific means for support apparatus107is of no consequence to the present invention.

Ice tray106consists of a grill-like article of manufacture. Ice tray106supports ice109. Ice tray106may embody a panoply of different shapes and sizes. In a preferred embodiment, ice tray106is made of a lightweight metal. However, in other preferred embodiments, ice tray106may be made of plastic or other suitable material. In addition, ice tray106may also be a net of flexible material. The possibilities are endless. Thus, the specific means by which the ice109is supported is of no consequence.

FIG. 10illustrates a preferred method to be used in conjunction with the present invention. In step one501, smoke machine101is turned on and the expanding gases within smoke machine101passes through venturi apparatus103or inlet orifice125which enables the process of expansion which is completed within expansion chamber102. This step facilitates the expansion of smoke within the expansion chamber110. In step two502, flash freeze chamber111is filled with expanding smoke gases and air pressure within the expansion chamber110begins to build naturally. In step three,503air pressure in expansion chamber110instantly pushes gate means209in a closed position thereby preventing smoke from escaping through the one-way venturi103. (It should be pointed out here that gate means may be operated in conjunction with an electronic apparatus commonly used in the art) This step also facilitates the expansion of the smoke within the expansion chamber110. This step also harnesses natural pressure from expanding smoke gases inside the expansion chamber110which is the main engine in forcing smoke out of the expansion chamber110. In step four504, smoke is forced through ice cubes or dry ice ceiling (in some preferred embodiments smoke is forced directly out the exhaust where there is no cooling means) naturally by the expanding smoke gases, creating both actual fog and flash freezing the smoke. Eventually these natural forces result in fog and smoke to find its way out of cfgnsfds100via vortex orifice and out from the exhaust duct108.

It will be apparent to the skilled artisan that there are numerous changes that may be made in embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For instance, instead of using regular ice or dry ice to cool the smoke or fog, a refrigerator or other cooling means may be used to cool the fog. The ways of cooling the fog are endless. Also, the gate means in the venturi103may be operated in conjunction with an electronic apparatus commonly used within the art. As such, the invention taught herein by specific examples is limited only by the scope of the claims that follow.