Improvements in Luminous Fountains.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 23rd May, 1893-Accepted, 24th June, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Luminous Fountains.
I, GUSTAVE TROUVÉ of 14, Rue Vivienne, Paris, France, Electrical Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to luminous fountains with multiple multi-colored jets and
wherein mechanism whereby automatically changing colored effects are produced is
set in motion and driven by the water supplied to the fountain.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this
Specification, in which
Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional elevation of the fountain mechanism.
Figure 2 is a similar section of another form of pedestal within which the
operative parts are concealed.
Figure 3 is an underside plan of the basin, drawn to a larger scale, shewing the
frames carrying the colored glasses and their operative mechanism.
Figure 4 is a vertical section, on line 1-2 Figure 3.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
Beneath the basin a in which are glass chambers 6 from which the jets of water
are projected are arranged glow lamps c contained within reflectors d one directly
beneath each chamber b. Instead of several glow lamps, a single arc lamp may be
employed, placed beneath the central jet so as to illuminate it directly while the
lateral jets would also be illuminated by the light from the same are concentrated
by lenses on to mirrors or reflectors plated at an angle of 45° and thence reflected
upwards through the said jets.
Each chamber 6 comprises a bottom e and a rose f both of glass, the connection
of the water pipes with these chambers being so made as to avoid obstructing the
light. Between. the vessels and the lamp or lamps c is mounted a revolving
annular frame g in which colored glasses are mounted, said frame being supported
on rollers running in a circular path. To the underside of the frame 9 is fixed a
toothed wheel receiving motion from a pinion & keyed on the shaft of a worm
wheel in with which gears a worm m' keyed on the shaft n of a bucket wheel o, a
turbine, or equivalent motor. Between the glass bottom e' of the central chamber
and the lampe is mounted to revolve an annular frame carrying colored glasses,
said frame being mounted on a sleeve provided with a chain wheel geared by a
chain with another wheel a keyed on the shaft l.
The action is as follows :- On turning on a cock on the main supply pipes, the
water under pressure passes through an air chamber s¹ to avoid shocks and then
enters the pipe 2 on which are branched the pipes connected to the rose
chambers at the side thereof. The water collected in the basin a runs off through
a spout a on to the bucket wheel o which it turns, so operating the colored glass
discs and is received in a basin t.
The spout a may have a cock for regulating the flow of water and consequently
the frequency with which the colors are changed. c² ² are the cables for
conveying the current to the lamps c c¹ enclosed in a sheath 3. The colored discs
for producing the multicolored luminous effects are thus rotated by the water.
The
They may be driven by any kind of hydraulic, electric, or mechanical motor.
velocity of rotation of the colored discs may vary relatively to one another, whereby
infinitely variable combinations and effects similar to those of the figures of a
kaleidoscope may be produced, instead of recurrent series of colored effects in the
same order.
The aspect form and dimensions of the monumental pedestal of the fountain, are
capable of considerable variation, for example the basin may be mounted upon a

page_text: mass of irregular form resembling a rock, as in Figure 1, or supported upon a
pedestal such as shewn in Figure 2; in this case the basin may be provided with
an aperture opposite each reflector closed by a medallion a² to admit of removing
the reflector for replacing the lamp.
'
A distinctive feature of this improved fountain is that it requires no special
foundation but may be applied to any existing basin and that it is consequently
portable and capable of being employed on the stage of a theatre.
The cock controlling the water supply may be connected with an electric com-
mutator so that by one motion the jets may be turned on, the colored screens set in
motion, and the lamps lighted, thus putting the entire apparatus in action.
Dated this 24th day of August 1892.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Luminous Fountains.
1, GUSTAVE TROUVÉ of 14, Rue Vivienne, Paris, France, Electrical Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to luminous fountains with multiple multi-colored jets and
wherein mechanism whereby automatically changing colored effects are produced is
set in motion and driven by the water supplied to the fountain.
Reference is to be had to the drawings, accompanying my Provisional Specifi-
cation, in which
Figure represents a vertical sectional elevation of the fountain mechanism.
Figure 2 is a similar section of another form of pedestal within which the
operative parts are concealed.
Figure 3 is an underside plan of the basin, drawn to a larger scale, shewing the
frames carrying the colored glasses and their operating mechanism.
Figure 4 is a vertical section, on line 1-2 Figure 3.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
Beneath the basin a in which are glass chambers from which the jets of water
are projected are arranged glow lamps c contained within reflectors d one directly
beneath each chamber . Instead of several glow lamps, a single are lamp may be
employed, placed beneath the central jet so as to illuminate it directly while the
lateral jets would also be illuminated by the light from the same are concentrated
by lenses on to mirrors or reflectors placed at an angle of 45° and thence reflected
upwards through the said jets.
Each chamber comprises a bottom e and a rose f both of glass, the connection
of the water pipes with these chambers being so made as to avoid obstructing the
light. Between the chambers and the lamp or lamps c is mounted a revolving
annular frame g in which colored glasses are mounted, said frame being supported
on rollers running in a circular path. To the underside of the frame g is fixed a
toothed wheel i receiving motion from a pinion k keyed on the shaft of a worm
wheel m with which gears a worm m' keyed on the shaft of a bucket wheel o, a
turbine, or equivalent motor. Between the glass bottom e¹ of the central chamber
and the lamp c is mounted to revolve an annular frame p carrying colored glasses,
said frame being mounted on a sleeve p' provided with a chain wheel geared by a
chain with another wheel keved on the shaft 1.
?"
7
The action is as follows:-On turning on a cock on the main supply pipe s, the
water under pressure passes through an air chamber s¹ to avoid shocks and theu
enters the pipe 2 on which are branched the pipes connected to the rose
chambers at the side thereof. The water collected in the basin a runs off through

page_text: a spout a on to the bucket wheel o which it turns, so operating the colored glass
discs and is afterwards received in a basin t. The spout a' may have a cock for
regulating the flow of water and consequently the frequency with which the colors
are changed. The cables c³ c² for conveying the current to the lamps c c¹ are
enclosed in a sheath c³.
C
The colored discs for producing the multicolored luminous effects are thus rotated
by the water although they may be driven by any kind of hydraulic, electric, or
mechanical motor. The velocity of rotation of the colored discs may vary relatively
to one another, whereby infinitely variable combinations and effects similar to those
of the figures of a kaleidoscope may be produced; instead of recurrent series of
colored effects in the same order.
The aspect form and dimensions of the monumental pedestal of the fountain, are
capable of considerable variation, for example the basin may be mounted upon a
mass of irregular form resembling a rock, as in Figure 1, or supported upon a
pedestal such as shewn in Figure 2; in this case the basin may be provided with
an aperture opposite each reflector closed by a medallion a² to admit of removing
the reflectors for replacing the lamps.
A distinctive feature of this improved fountain is that it requires no special
foundation but may be applied to any existing basin and that it is consequently
portable and capable of being employed on the stage of a theatre.
The cock controlling the water supply may be connected with an electric switch
so that by one motion the jets may be turned on, the colored screens set in motion,
and the lamps lighted, thus putting the entire apparatus in action.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is : :-
1) In a luminous fountain, the combination, with the transparent water jet
chambers, of the revolving annular frames carrying colored glass arranged to rotate
the one above the other beneath said chambers, the actuating mechanism of said
frames driven by the water overflowing from the fountain basin and the lamp or
lamps and reflectors arranged beneath the colored glass frames so as to project the
light upwards through the same and through the transparent jet chambers, the
whole being set in operation by turning on the water supply and being self contained
within a pedestal requiring no special foundation, substantially as specified.
2) In a luminous fountain, the transparent water jet chambers having a glass
bottom and perforated glass top or rose and a lateral connection with the water
supply pipe so as to permit the free transmission of colored luminous rays for
illuminating the jets and producing, automatically, variable multicolored effects, as
specified.
Dated this 23rd day of May 1893.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.