Improvements in Fountains
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 11th July, 1899-Accepted, 7th Oct., 1899
Improvements in Fountains.
I, EDWIN DWIGHT BRAINARD, of 164, West 97th Street, New York City, in the
County and State of New York, United States of America, Contractor, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for
fountains..
In the accompanying drawings-
Figure 1 shows a longitudinal sectional view of one form of my apparatus.
Figure 2 a similar view of another form thereof.
Figure 3 a plan view of Figure 2.
Figure 4 a plan view of the piping shown in Figure 1.
Figure 5 a vertical sectional view of one form of my regulating overflow.
Figure 6 a similar view of another form of this overflow;
Figure 7 a similar view of still another form of the overflow;
Figure 8 a vertical sectional view of one-of my jet pipes;
Figure 9 a view of my tablet bracket, detached.
Figure 10 a plan view of the top of the funnel on Figure 6;
Figure 11 a plan view of the top of Figure 7; and
Figures 12 and 13 elevations of my apparatus showing display effects.
Viewing Figure 1, the numeral 1 shows the basin-or receptacle, which may be
composed of any desired material and preferably but not necessarily has sloping
or inclined side walls. 2 shows the main water intake pipe, which is to be con-
nected to a water supply under pressure; and 3 a tubular casting having a
plurality of outlet openings; 4 shows the main distributing pipes arranged to
carry the water to the jet pipes, a plan of which is seen in Figure 4. 5 shows
the connecting tubes, ends of which tubes 5, 5 are connected with concentric
rings or headers 6, 6¹ and 7, as seen clearly in Figure 4, 7 showing the centre
ring or header, G₁ the next larger and 6 the largest or outer ring or header. The
uumerals 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 show the jet pipes which have jet outlets of different
sizes and capacities, and these are preferably composed of the lower and larger
pipes 71, in communication with the tubular rings or headers 6, 6 and 7, while
at S is shown a reducer attached to top of pipe 71 followed by a smaller tube 9,
and 9 by a still smaller one 10, this last pipe bearing the nozzle 11, these nozzles
arying in size of outlet orifices and being set to stand at different heights, and
n the drawings shown as being set so that the central tube is the shorter, the
next set somewhat higher and the outer circle the highest of the aggregation.
The object of forming the jet pipes of different sized tubes is to reduce the
riction in the jet pipes by causing the central portion or core of the flowing
water to flow through an outer ring of water, which outer ring clings to the walls
of each of the pipes composing the jet pipes and therefore friction is reduced to
ts lowest terms. 12 shows my regulating overflow. As the water jets flow or

page_text: are forced upward, the mouths of the jet pipes being under water, the central
portion of the body of the water in the basin 1, is more or less lifted, which
causes it to recede from the walls of the basin, and very soon after the apparatus
is started in operation produces waves or pulsations, which rise above and again
recede from the jet pipes, sometimes covering and sometimes leaving these pipes
uncovered. The water is therefore in constant motion and is also constantly
deepening by the fall of the water jets in it. To regulate this I have made my
1egulating overflow, which consists of tube 12 connected at its lower end with
a drain pipe or other means for carrying off the surplus water. In the upper
end of pipe 12 is a smaller pipe or tube having a flaring or funnel-shaped end 13,
said tube working telescopically in tube or pipe 12, as seen in Figure 1 and
Figure 6, but arranged with threading, as seen in Figures 5 and 7. Across the
mouth of the funnel 13 is a bar 14, having a threaded boss or nut, with the
threads of which mesh the outer threaded tube 15, the upper end of which rotates
in the overhanging jaw of the bracket 18 and is operated by the handle 16, see
Fig. 1. At the lower end of tube 15 is an inverted funnel 151, or the tube may
be formed into this funnel shape in any desired manner. 19 shows a stiff wire
attached to an index 20, 25 shows a scale-carrying or tablet bracket, the object
of all of which is to not only provide an overflow for the apparatus but one that
will also act as a regulator thereto by controlling the varying depths of the water
over the jet pipes. 21 shows a key by which the valves 4" 4 and 4 are
operated. By viewing Figure 4 it will be seen the piping is divided into a
plurality of sections, viz.: A, B, C and D, each of which proceeds from the tubular
casting 3, Figure 1, and is looped as seen and passes to some one of the con-
centric rings 6, 6 and 7. In section A. I have a general intake valve 4', through
which the basin 1 is filled whether the valves in the other sections are closed or
opened. 4" is a lock valve in each of the sections whose object it is to regulate
the pressure and volume of the water at the jet pipes 7¹ which may receive their
water supply through this valve, and when the correct pressure or volume of
water is found by operating valve 4" it is then locked fast so as not to be again
moved, except as those operating the apparatus may desire to unlock and change.
it. Valve 4 is used for turning the water on or off from the various sections.
Valve 4 is a by-pass valve whose use is as follows: When valve 41 is shut and
valve 4 is opened, the water passes through the by-pass and may be sent to
the jet orifices at full pressure and volume or at any desired pressure or volume
by more or less opening valve 4. This arrangement of the valves allows of the
apparatus being changed in its display features at will by the operator, who after
having operated it by use of valve 4 may shut that valve and the apparatus
will then operate as prearranged when valve 411 was set and locked. The valves
similarly numbered operate similarly in all the sections.
The jet pipe 10 is made of flexible material, preferably of lead, for the reason
that when the jet pipes are set in proper position they should be exactly vertical
and if not so the flexible pipe will give and may be bent until the water jet
shoots exactly perpendicular, which is necessary before the apparatus will display
at its best; and again, when the jet pipes are so constructed they are not easily
thrown from the perpendicular by being struck by foreign bodies that may be
thrown into the basin. 21 shows a key arranged to reach any of the valves when
under water, and 22 a conduit leading to the drain, and 23 (Figure 4) a draw-off
valve connecting with the drain.
In Figure 5 I show another form of regulating overflow without the threaded
tube 15. In this Figure 5, 12 shows the larger and lower tube and 13 the smaller
tube moving vertically in tube 12 by means of the threading shown therein, but
having a funnel-shaped mouth turned or formed at practically right angles to
the outer threaded tube 13, and when the water overflows into the funnel it passes
down the pipe in such a manner as to leave sufficient opportunity for the air to
escape without the intervention of any specially designed air passage tube or
other device and the water escapes practically noiseless. The outer threading on

page_text: tube 13 in this Figure is to allow the tube to be raised and lowered in the end of
inner threaded pipe 12.
In Figures 5, 6 and 7 I also show my regulating overflow 12, arranged with a
telescopic jacket composed of the cylinders 28 and 32. In the upper portion of
cylinder 28, Figures 5 and 7, are air escape openings 33, and in the bottom of
cylinder 32 are openings or slots 34 so set and arranged that by lowering or
raising cylinder 28 the openings 34 may be decreased or increased in area, but
in Figure 6 I leave the top of cylinder 28 open without a cover for some forms of
my apparatus. The object of thus jacketing the regulating overflow is, that when
certain qualities of water are used, i.e., such as promote vegetable growths, such
as alga, this growth forms upon the sides and bottom of the basin to such an
extent that it interferes with the action of the apparatus, destroying or undesir-
ably affecting the display features. In order to prevent this vegetable formation
I set the jacket as shown, whereby I am enabled to force the bottom strata of
water to enter at openings 34 and rise in the jacket and overflow at the mouth
of the regulating overflow, thus constantly keeping the bottom. strata in motion
and carrying them off before the vegetable formation has time to grow and form
and adhere to the basin, thus preventing it from interfering with the action of
the apparatus. When water is used that does not produce such a growth, the
jacket is still useful as it draws off the stagnant lower strata, leaving the fresh
or live water in the basin, and providing a basin in which fish may be kept in
the best possible condition.
In Figure 2 I show another form of my apparatus, whereby each jet nozzle
may be separately cut out from its associate nozzles. In Figures 2 and 3, 11'
shows the nozzles or jets attached to a pipe 10. This pipe 10 sets into and works
telescopically in a connection 26, in order that the jets or nozzles 11 may be raised
or lowered. Pipes A, 4 proceed from each jet pipe 10 to a common header 2.
which is connected to a water supply under pressure. Each of said pipes 4, 4
has a valve 29 therein by which the water may be regulated or entirely shut off
or let on to each of said pipes. 27 shows the base or form to which the pipes are
attached in any well known manner. In this figure I have omitted to show my
regulating overflow although I make use of one.
The tablet bracket Figure 9 is to be attached to the regulating overflow 12 as
shown, and is so constructed that it may be raised or lowered to any desired
position. To establish the height of the permanent jet pipes I set up temporarily
in the rings a set of short jet pipes, the tops of which are all set at a level with
each other. These jet pipes are all of the same diameter as the permanent jet
pipes which are to take their place when the length of said permanent jet pipes
is determined. I now adjust the regulating overflow 12 to the same level as the
tops of the jet pipes. Water is now let in the pool or basin through valve 4' until
the jet pipes are submerged, and valve 41 is then closed and water turned in the
jet pipes by means of valves 411, and I find by gradually raising or lowering the
regulating overflow the amount of load or depth of water over the jet pipes is
such that the ring or group cf jet pipes is able to carry and display at its best
form, marking each separate ring of jet pipes as separately tried and determined,
on the paper or other tablet inserted in the tablet bracket 25.
I now shut off the supply of water and allow the pool basin or fountain to come
to a level.
The short jet pipes used to make this test would but partly fill the pool, basin
or fountain. After the water has come to a level, I measure on the wall at the
circumference of the pool or basin the additional distance or height to fill the
same to the height required and that will fill the pool or basin when all of the
rings and jet pipes are in full operation. These figures covering the additional
depth of water being added to the marks on the tablet for each ring of jet pipes
will give the height required to be added to each ring of jet pipes. It will be
seen that the first marks on the tablet were produced from the smallest volume
or pressure of water from the jet pipes, and consequently not able to lift a large

page_text: '
Joad but on the contrary the lightest load and has the least force, while its
location is lowest on the tablet, ring 61 delivering more water with greater force,
carrying more load, each ring being tested making its own record. By inverting
the readings on the tablet I bring the ring or group of jet pipes with the smallest
quantity of water and the lightest load nearest the surface and with the exact
quantity of water over it, as determined by the trial with the short jet pipes,
repeating the same operation with each ring of jet pipes. I have now established
for each ring or group of jet pipes their proper height when working under such
load or depth of water over said jet pipes as will in the judgment of the operator
enable them to display at their best form, and place the permanent jet pipes at
that height. As before explained the loading of the jet pipes, or the depth of
water over the jet pipes is obtained by raising the regulating overflow,
the water rising to the height of the regulating overflow. Each display
of water can be produced at will by the operator opening the valve
in that section or he can open all valves and operate all at one time as he desires.
The pressure valves and regulating overflow are now locked or fastened and the
apparatus becomes automatic. By placing a siphon overflow instead of my
regulating overflow the apparatus can be made to go through a cycle of displays.
When all of the valves are opened at one time a large volume of water and a
proportionately large amount of force is introduced into the pool or basin, and the
regulating overflow being stationary by reason of its being locked or fastened,
the water in the pool rises to the height required to furnish the necessary load.
Should the water in the pool by reason of an increased pressure or supply in the
main, or by a diminished pressure or supply in the main raise or lower, it can
be so equalized by increasing or diminishing the openings at the bottom of the
jacket 28, 32 covering the regulating overflow. If we now shut off the entire
supply and open the valve that supplies any of the groups or rings of jet pipes.
the regulating overflow will automatically discharge the surplus water or load
over that group of jet pipes and return to the display as previously determined.
The operation of my apparatus is as follows:
When the water is turned on by the use of valve 4¹ (see Figure 4), the water
flows into the basin 1 until sufficient water to cover the jet pipes enters the
basin, and valve 4 is closed. Valve 41 in all the sections is closed. Valve 4111
in all the sections is now opened. I now operate valve 4¹¹ in section A until the
pressure and volume of water delivered at the central jet set on the inner ring 7
is as may be desired. This central jet will then produce wave action or a pulsating
action in the water in the basin 1, which waves as they recede from the central
jet toward the side walls rise to a certain elevation when the funnel 13 is set so
as to just allow the water at its highest flux to enter it. By setting this funnel 13
the wire 19 is moved and the index 20 registers a certain point on a removable
piece of paper or other suitable material set on the scale guard 25, and the
position is marked and valve 41 is locked and valve 411 is closed. I now operate
valve 411 in section B until the desired pressure or volume of water is delivered
to the four outer jets set on ring 7, and if it should be found that the desired
action is not thus obtained I now lower or raise the regulating overflow, and as
the funnel 13 is thus moved the index 20 produces another register on the
removable paper or other suitable material and this is marked. I now lock
valve 411 in section B and shut valve 411 in that section. I now operate the
valve 4 in section C, precisely as I have described doing with the corresponding
valve 4 in sections A and B, and set the funnel 13 at the desired point, which
makes a new register on the paper or other suitable material which is marked.
I now lock valve 411 in section C fast and shut valve 411 in that section. The
same operation is repeated with section D and the register similarly produced,
and if I find I can not produce the desired effect by operating any of the valves 411,
I lower or raise the jet pipes supplied by such a section until I obtain the
desired effect. The removable scale card cr paper is now removed from scale
guard or bracket 25 and filed for future reference, as if any one should meddle

page_text: with the apparatus and throw it out of balance, by restoring the card or paper
to the scale guard, the funnel 13 can be quickly and easily set to any of the marks
thereon and the valves easily and quickly adjusted to their former action.
If it should be desired to change the operation of the apparatus, this can be
done without operating valve 411 and valve 4111 simply by operating valve 41111
which allows the water to pass through the by-pass pipe, and it is unaffected by
the valves 41 and 4, and a vast number of effects can thus be produced in the
display, and when it is desired to set the apparatus at its normal operating point,
valve 4 is shut, when the display will be at what may be called normal. It
will at once be seen that the operator may operate one or more of the sections A,
B, C and D to suit his taste, or all together, thus producing a great variety of
effects. In Figures 2 and 3, I show another form of my apparatus, wherein the
jets 11 are each supplied with a separate supply pipe 4, and each supply pipe
with a separate controlling valve 29, whereby all of the jets may be controlled
and balanced or changed in operation at will, by simply setting valves 29 at any
desired position. In Figures 5, 6 and 7 I show different forms of regulating
overflows. In Figure 5 I show the telescopic tube 13 having the funnel turned
or set at practically right angles to the tube, and when the water enters the
funnel it flows down the tube, leaving space therein sufficient for the escape of
any air and is practically noiseless in operation. In Figure 6 I show the same
form used in Figure 1, but enlarged, that it may be clearly seen.
The escaping
water enters the funnel 13 which is set in the larger tube telescopically, but as the
tube fills with water some means is desirable by which to allow the escape of the
confined air, and I have set the tube 15 with its funnel-shaped lower end in the
tubes forming the regulating overflow and provide a set nut 17, so that when the
funnel 13 is set at the desired height, the set nut 17 is moved on the tube 15
preferably by means of threading the nut. and tube, and when in proper position
I lock it fast by any well-known means, thus preventing the upward movement
of the funnel 13 and preventing too great a depth of water accumulating over the
jet pipes and overloading them.
In Figure 7 I show still another form of regulating overflow, consisting of a
casting 12 set in connection with the drain 30 and a threaded tube 13 arranged
to rise and fall at will in the casing 12 by means of the threading shown. On
top of tube 13 I set a circular flanged piece 131 with a bar crossing it diametric-
ally, in the centre of which bar is a threaded boss or nut with the threads of
which mesh the outer threaded tube 15. At the lower end of tube 15 is an
inverted funnel 151, making an adjustable air vent pipe, the object of which is to
make the device practically noiseless by allowing the confined air to escape and
not prevent the free flow of water down the overflow .tube during the period that
the regulating overflow is submerged by the waves or pulsations caused by the
jets when the apparatus is in operation.
In Figures 12 and 13 I show my apparatus in operation, showing two only of
the many displays made by it. In Figure 12 I show it in full eruption, and in
Figure 13 as it appears when the eruption is nearly ended and the water is coming
to its lowest ebb.
My object in using a plurality of jet pipes is to produce an entirely different
display than can possibly be produced by the use of one jet pipe, and to do this
most successfully I arrange my jet pipes 71 and headers or distributers 6, 6¹ and 7,
so that the pressure and volume of water in each header may be varied at will,
so that the water from each jet pipe may be of equal pressure or volume, or may
be at any pressure or volume désired, in order to cause the water jets as they
leave the jet orifices to act in any desired manner on the water in the basin 1,
and in any desired manner on each other as they escape from the water in the
basin and rise above it. In order also to further vary the display, I preferably
set my jet pipes at different heights, as seen in Figure 1, wherein the centre jet
pipe will be seen to be the shortest and the others so set as to be of varying

page_text: heights. In Figure 2 I show the jet pipes as being of a uniform height, and when
so set the display is very different than when the jet pipes are set at differing
heights. The use of a plurality of jet pipes is therefore not mere duplication,
but their use produces an effect both upon the water in the pool or basin and upon
the jets themselves which is impossible to be obtained by the use of a single jet,
however arranged and operated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
3
1. An apparatus for a fountain composed of a plurality of submerged healers
or distributers, and jet pipes with outlet orifices submerged arranged to receive
their water supply therefrom when each of said headers or distributers is arranged
to receive a separate water supply under pressure and is provided with means for
controlling the volume and pressure of the water in each submerged header or dis-
tributer, in order that the volume and pressure in each submerged header or
distributer may be varied at will, substantially as described.
2. An apparatus for a fountain when composed of a plurality of submerged
headers or distributers and submerged jet pipes and outlet orifices arranged to
receive their water supply therefrom, and having each of said submerged headers
or distributers arranged to receive a separate water supply under pressure and
provided further with means for controlling the volume and pressure of water in
cach submerged header or distributer, the arrangement being such that when
the outlet orifices of the jet pipes are submerged in a body of water, the water
escaping under pressure from the orifices of the jet pipes will move the body of
water and cause pulsations or waves therein, whereby the orifices of the jet pipes
are covered and uncovered and the depth of the water over the orifices varied,
substantially as described.
3. An apparatus for a fountain composed of a plurality of submerged jet pipes
with outlet orifices submerged when each jet pipe is arranged to receive a separate
water supply under pressure and has means for controlling the volume and pres-
sure of water in each submerged jet pipe and outlet orifice, in order that the
pressure and volume of water in each submerged jet pipe and outlet orifice may
be varied at will, substantially as described.
4. An apparatus for a fountain having jet pipes and a system of water supply
pipes therefor when arranged in separate sections or groups and having means
whereby the volume and pressure in each section or group may be controlled at
will, some of said means being arranged to be set and locked and provided with
by-pass pipes and means for controlling the flow in them in order that a variety
of displays of the issuing water from the jets may be obtained, substantially as
described.
5. A plurality of jet pipes for a fountain when the jet outlet orifices of said
pipes are arranged in different planes.
6. A plurality of jet pipes for a fountain when the jet outlet orifices of said pipes
are arranged in different planes and submerged in a body of water.
7. A jet pipe for fountains when said pipe is composed of lengths of tubing
the bores of which vary in diameter.
8. A jet pipe for fountains when said jet pipe is composed of lengths of tubing
the bores of which vary in diameter and when one of said lengths is composed
of a flexible tube.
9. A discharge or overflow pipe for fountains when said pipe is provided with
an adjustable jacket having openings at the top and bottom thereof and so
arranged that the lower openings may be partially closed.
10. A discharge pipe for fountains having an adjustable jacket arranged to
cause the lower layers only of water in a basin or pool to enter the lower end
thereof and rise therein to the mouth of the discharge pipe.

page_text: 11. A tube forming a regulating overflow for fountains when said tube is
provided with a means for the escape of air from the overflow.
12. A tube forming a regulating overflow for fountains when said tube is made
vertically adjustable and is provided with a means for the escape of air from the
overflow.
13. A tube forming a regulating overflow for fountains when said tube is pro-
vided with an adjustable means for the escape of air from the overflow.
1000
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.