Improvements in Luminous Fountains.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 8th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 17th Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Luminous Fountains.
I, PARIS EUGENE SINGER, 6 Victoria Road Kensington, Gentleman do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to produce a luminous fountain by the repeated
use of a small quantity of water.
In carrying out my invention I use one or more chambers which contain both air
and water. Through the air of each chamber pass electrical conductors of suitable
resistance; and each has an outlet and an inlet water pipe fitted with automatic
valves which permit the passage of the water in the proper direction only. On a
current of electricity being passed through the conductors in a chamber the air is
caused to expand and the water forced through the outlet pipe, which contains
a valve for automatically regulating the pressure, to the rose of the fountain. On
the water reaching a particular level the current is by an electro magnetic device
switched to the couductors in the second chamber when the same action there
proceeds. Meantime the air in the first chamber rapidly contracts and as a
consequence water is taken into it by the inlet tube from a reservoir placed
to receive what has passed through the rose.
When the water reaches a particular
level in the second chamber the electro magnetic device switches the current to the
conductors of the first chamber (or a 3d if used) when the events follow as before.
At each switching of the current the colour of the light is also changed by
the electro magnetic device. The heating current as well as that operating the
electro, magnetic device may be a shuut from the lamp circuit.
Instead of the resistances in the chambers electrodes dipping into a suitable
electrolyte may be used and the gases so produced give the necessary pressure,
but in this case when a particular pressure is attained a valve is automatically
opened and a portion of the gases allowed to escape.
Dated this 6th day of February 1892.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Luminous Fountains.
1 PARIS EUGENE SINGER of 6 Victoria Road, Kensington, London, Gentleman,
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:―
The object of this invention is to produce, by the aid of electricity, an automatic
luminous fountain, in which one charge or supply of water is made available
for continued use.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 shews in plan view my improved construction of fountain, and
Fig. 2 is a front view of the same.
The other figures. hereafter referred to, represent detached portions of the
fountain.
The fountain is constructed on well known lines, that is to say, there is a central
electric light surrounded by an intermittently rotating screen furnished with colored
glass for tinting the light transmitted to the lens, which forms the closed end of a
jet tube, which tube carries a glass nozzle projecting from the centre of the
fountain basin.

page_text: In the present instance, I employ electricity as a motor for projecting a stream
of water through the fountain nozzle, and maintaining the jet by returning the
water again and again to the ascending channel.
A, Figs. 1 and 2, is the fountain basin; B the jet pipe fitted at its lower end
with a lens, and at its upper end with a glass nozzle. C is the electric lamp
situate within the drum D, which forms a revolving screen fitted with variously
colored glasses. Below the basin A, are two air chambers E E', communicating by
pipes e with closed water chambers F F¹. These water chambers connect with
the pipe B by means of pipes ff', a valve box f* being interposed between the
length of each pipe, to receive a lip valve of well known construction, which is
The
fitted to that portion of the pipe that connects directly with the water cistern.
air chambers E E' are each fitted with a frame G, carrying pins g for receiving a
naked wire arranged as shown at Fig. 1, or better, a serpentine helix, as indicated
in the detached views Figs. 3. A detachable air-tight door serves to close each air
chamber when the frame is inserted. The ends of this wire or helix are attached
to insulated studs h h'. The stud h of the chamber E is connected to a brush i of a
disc commutator I, keyed to a shaft H, mounted on a brass bracket frame H'.
This bracket frame is bolted to a removable table K, shown detached, and in full
size, at Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7. To this table are also fitted the terminals k k¹,
connected with the main source of electricity.
The stud of the air chamber E is connected directly with the terminal k¹.
Similarly, the stud h of the air chamber E' is connected with the brush it, and the
the stud of that chamber is connected with the terminal k¹. Mounted in each
water chamber is a rocking lever L (see the sectional view Fig. 8), connected with
an electro magnet M, the wire from which leads to the terminal k¹. This magnet,
when energized, serves to actuate the commutator I, as will be presently explained.
Each water chamber is fitted with a stud l, which connects by a wire with
a spring, that bears upon the stud h of the air chamber with which the water
chamber is in connection. The lever L carries at one end a float which is borne
up by the water in the chamber, and sinks with it. On its descent to a given level,
the other end of the lever will come into contact with the insulated stud l, and thus
the lever will be brought into the electric circuit.
M' is an armature pivotted between brackets fitted to the bracket frame H¹, and
connected with a pawl lever N on the bracket frame, which takes into a ratchet
wheel N¹ keyed on the shaft H. This shaft has also keyed to it the drum or
screen D. As, therefore, the electro magnet M is excited, it will attract the
armature M¹, and cause it to drive round the ratchet wheel the distance of one
tooth, thereby moving round the screen a corresponding distance, and bringing
...about a change of color in the light that strikes upon the lens of the tube B. The
water chambers F and F', which are air-tight, connect respectively with the
basin A by means of pipes a a', which are fitted with lip valves a*, opening towards
the chambers, as shown best at Fig. 8. In order to set this fountain in action,
the water chambers are filled through the basin A, the lamp circuit is completed,
and a current is admitted to, say, the air chamber E. As the coil of wire contained
in this chamber becomes heated, the enclosed air is rarefied, and escaping into the
adjoining water chamber F by the pipes e, puts pressure upon the water contained
in the chamber F, and forces the same through the pipe f (divided by the valve
box f) into the jet pipe B, whence it is discharged into the air, as a jet. This
action of the rarefied air will be maintained until the water chamber is near
exhaustion. At this time, the lever L will be tipped, and contact will be made
with the stud l. The electric current will then flow through the coils of the electro
magnet M; the armature M' will be attracted, and the pawl lever caused to act
upon the ratchet wheel N¹, thereby shifting the commutator, and bringing the
brush into circuit. The effect of this movement of the commutator shaft, will be
not only to shift round the drum or screen, but to bring into circuit the coil in the
air chamber E'. The heat generated in this chamber will act upon the water
contained in the chamber F, and the like action to that described will then follow,

page_text: the supply to the pipe B being maintained until this chamber is, in its turn,
exhausted.
While this action is proceeding, the coil of wire in the chamber E will have had
time to cool down, and the exhaustion of water from the chamber F¹ will cause the
switching of the current again into the coil of the air chamber E.
I may remark that if it is found desirable, a third arrangement of air and water
chambers may be employed, to secure an extended time for cooling in the air
chambers. The mode of switching the current to the third coil in succession being
obvious, no further explanation of that multiplication will be needful.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The means above described for maintaining a continuous flow of water in a
fountain from a limited supply contained therein.
2. The means herein described for automatically shunting an electric current
from one circuit to another, for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 8th day of November 1892.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.