Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses a device creating a visual or optical illusion other than objective reality, comprising as fluid source, a reloadable container, pumps creating a chopped or oscillating water flow as a flow control unit comprising a fluid inlet connected via a fluid medium conduit, a fluid spout connected to their fluid outlets by a fluid medium conduit and, furthermore, a manually adjustable illuminating unit illuminating the fluid flow exiting the fluid spout in a chopped way. By switching the device on, water pumped from the water container in a sectioned or oscillating way flows out and back to the water container through an outlet, while the illuminating unit on the device illuminates the water flow by chopped light via an adjustable controller unit, and by changing the frequency of the interruptions, the effect of undulating water or water droplets floating in the air or moving backwards or moving downwards in the direction corresponding to gravity can be created. The portable device completely fulfils its original purpose of creating an illusion, but its "self-serving" use requires filling it separately with water; the desired sight can be set by the operating means of its control unit after switch-on, and the water outflow can even be touched or tapped, but in such case the water container quickly runs out of water that has to be replaced to a next run after the device is switched off. Therefore, the device cannot be part of everyday life; due to the necessary preparations and operating constraints, its use is increasingly relegated into the background, and creating a visual illusion is lacking. Theoretically, by a minor conversion causing no problem to those skilled in the art, this known device would also be suitable for everyday use, e.g. to take water, but because of the pumps, its yield would not be sufficient and its use could not be called water-saving either.

A further example of an an optical illusion fluid display device is given by document <CIT>. In particular, an improved magical illusion fluid display device that produces an ideal, pleasing, nearly flawless and natural view of a very stable rising, falling, levitating and dancing droplets and/or solid stream of fluid with undulations and other magical illusion display patterns.

The invention aims at creating a fluid supply arrangement that exerts such visual effect on the user during each use without special preparations and measures as if the fluid flowing out in a water-saving way flew backwards in the form of droplets, or floated in one place in the air or moved in slow motion in the direction of gravity.

The invention is based on the recognition that the incoming fluid flow is chopped keeping in mind the properties of human vision and perception, allowing to achieve substantially bigger fluid-saving than e.g. with aerators used in water taps, in a way that implies no disadvantage to the user who does not perceive it as a restriction.

The object is achieved by a fluid supply arrangement according to claim <NUM>.

According to preferred embodiments of the arrangement the fluid source can be a water source constituted by the utility water network, or a wine or soft drink container.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the arrangement in case of using two closing means for the mains cold water source and hot water source, the outlet of the closing means connected to an angle valve connected to the mains cold water source with its inlet, and the outlet of the closing means connected to an angle valve connected to the mains hot water source with its inlet are connected to the inlet of the flow control unit through a flow combiner.

According to further preferred embodiments of the arrangement the sensors directly detecting the status of the closing means are micro-switches mounted on the closing means, and the sensors indirectly detecting the status of the closing means are pressure sensors sensing the water flow created in the open position of the closing means.

In an also preferred embodiment of the arrangement the operating means determining the frequency of the pulse sequence produced by the generator stage is a potentiometer in electrical connection with the generator stage.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the arrangement a through channel is formed in the valve unit adjustably influencing the flow of the fluid flow coming from the fluid source, said through channel is in communicating relationship with the rotatably embedded valve body provided with a through channel, and the valve body is connected through a flexible connecting means to the axis of the electric motor used as drive unit, connected to the output of the electrical control unit.

In a further preferred embodiment of the arrangement a pressure control valve and/or a water hammer arrestor are/is fitted in flow direction in front of the fluid inlet of the flow control unit.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the arrangement the illuminating unit is arranged in the head part of the fluid outlet and can be provided with variable-colour light emitting diodes.

In the following, the arrangement according to the invention is described in more detail with the help of an exemplary embodiment, with reference to the enclosed drawings where.

The fluid supply arrangement according to the invention, presented here merely as one preferred embodiment of a water-taking arrangement, is used with a washbasin <NUM>, where a fluid source <NUM> forms the water supply, to which a corner valve <NUM> mounted at the cold water outlet of the water supply and a corner valve <NUM> mounted at the hot water outlet of the water supply is connected in the usual and known way. The corner valve <NUM> is connected to closing means <NUM> via a fluid medium conduit <NUM> and the corner valve <NUM> is connected to closing means <NUM> via a fluid medium conduit <NUM>. The arrangement comprises a fluid outlet <NUM> of a design to be presented in detail below. Unlike usual water-taking arrangements, the closing means <NUM>, <NUM> determining the cold water flow, the hot water flow and their mixing are not connected to the "water tap", i.e. a fluid outlet <NUM>, but they are connected through a fluid medium conduit <NUM> and a fluid medium conduit <NUM> to an input of a flow combiner <NUM>. In the presented embodiment, the outlet of the flow combiner <NUM> is connected to the inlet of a pressure control valve <NUM> via a fluid medium conduit <NUM> and the outlet of the pressure control valve <NUM> is connected via a fluid medium conduit <NUM> to the inlet of a water hammer arrestor <NUM>, and the outlet of the latter is tied to a fluid inlet <NUM> of a water control unit <NUM> via a fluid medium conduit <NUM>, and a fluid outlet <NUM> of the water control unit <NUM> is connected to a fluid outlet <NUM> via a fluid medium conduit <NUM>. As it is clear for a skilled person the mentioned fluid medium conduits are pressure resistant. In the sketch in <FIG> a fluid channel <NUM> is indicated with dense dashed line, said fluid channel <NUM> is connected to the fluid outlet <NUM> and divided in the present example at the outflow, i.e. head part 9a of the fluid outlet <NUM> into three fluid branches 20a that, according to our experience, provides more preferable fluid exit property than the exit of the fluid from fluid outlet <NUM> through a single channel.

Both closing means <NUM> and closing means <NUM> are associated with a respective micro-switch <NUM>, <NUM> directly sensing the status of the closing means <NUM>, <NUM> each, e.g. connected to their respective actuator means 6a, 8a, e.g. their knob or lever. Micro-switches <NUM>, <NUM> mechanically sense the operation of the closing means <NUM>, <NUM> necessary for the water-taking, and said micro-switches <NUM>, <NUM> are connected through respective electrical wires <NUM> and <NUM> to signal inputs 25a, 25b of an electrical control unit <NUM> connected to a fluid control unit <NUM>. The outlet 25c of control unit <NUM>, to be presented in more detail, is connected in the present example through an electrical wire <NUM> - its section extending in the water outlet <NUM> is indicated in rare dashed line - to the inlet of an illuminating unit <NUM> installed in an edge range of the discharge of the fluid outlet <NUM>. <FIG> indicates symbolically also operating means <NUM>, <NUM> designed to influence the operation of the control unit <NUM>.

Most parts named in the description of <FIG> can be selected by those skilled in the art, if the utilisation requirements and circumstances ever are known, and they are commercially available. The arrangement can be operationally implemented also without a pressure control valve <NUM> and a water hammer arrestor <NUM> referred to in the example, but their use is advisable to ensure lasting, reliable and maintenance-free operation.

<FIG> shows the discharge range of fluid outlet <NUM>, partly in section. One can observe the fluid channel <NUM> extending in the interior of the fluid outlet <NUM>, divided into three branches 20a in its head part 9a mounted at the outflow of the fluid discharge <NUM>, and the illuminating unit <NUM> realised with light-emitting diodes30 arranged in a ring around them.

<FIG> shows a possible structure of an electromechanical flow-chopper unit <NUM> arranged in flow control unit <NUM>. The flow-chopper unit <NUM> is expediently assembled of a valve unit <NUM> and a drive unit <NUM> in operating relationship with it, mounted on a mounting plate <NUM> constituted by the cover of the flow-control unit <NUM>, not represented in the drawing separately. The valve unit <NUM> presented in more detail and separately in <FIG> is made of corrosion-resistant material, in the presented embodiment of copper, and it comprises two channels <NUM> and <NUM> extending perpendicularly to one another. The channel <NUM> connects a fluid inlet <NUM> and a fluid outlet <NUM> of the valve unit <NUM>, and its interior is open to the interior of channel <NUM>. In channel <NUM>, in ready-mounted condition, a cylindrical valve body <NUM> shown in <FIG> is embedded rotatably and sealed against the fluid flow. A channel <NUM> is formed in the valve body <NUM>, perpendicularly to its longitudinal axis, which coincides in the correct angular position of the valve body <NUM> properly installed in channel <NUM> with the channel <NUM> and provides for the unobstructed flow through it of the introduced fluid, and in the present case in a position of the valve body <NUM> turned off by <NUM>° completely closes the channel <NUM>, preventing thereby the flow of the fluid directed there. The valve body <NUM> is arranged by its rotation axis <NUM> in bearings <NUM> in the two extreme seats 36a of the channel <NUM> in the range of the two ends of channel <NUM> in a sealed manner, of material and design ensuring the compliance of valve unit <NUM> with the safety requirements applicable to the fluid concerned, for potable water, for example, the forthcoming European regulations on substances in contact with drinking water. Axis end 41a of the valve body <NUM> extending from the valve unit <NUM> of the valve body <NUM> towards drive unit <NUM> is connected with an axis of a <NUM> V DCelectric motor <NUM> applied in the present example as drive unit <NUM>. Fluid inlet <NUM> and fluid outlet <NUM> comprise the known, usual internally threaded, connecting section, and boreholes <NUM> receiving screws <NUM> for mounting are formed in the corner ranges of valve unit <NUM>.

An electrical control unit <NUM>, a possible embodiment of which is shown in the block diagram of <FIG>, is also placed in the flow-chopper unit <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> seemingly plays a role similar to similar controls in the known solutions, but its function is not merely the stroboscope-like illumination of the fluid flowing out of fluid outlet <NUM>, but also the promotion of fluid-saving - in the case of water, water-saving - operation through the appropriate operation of the motor constituting drive unit <NUM>.

The flow-control unit <NUM> of the arrangement according to the invention presented here functions, logically, if the user operates, i.e., opens the closing means <NUM> if there is one kind of fluid or one or both of closing means <NUM> and <NUM> if there are two kinds of fluids, e.g. cold and hot water. If so, the electrically default open state(s) of micro-switch <NUM> and/or micro-switch <NUM> assigned to them and mounted in the usual way by a person skilled in the art changes, and it gets closed. This change of state is detected by an electrical trigger stage <NUM> connected to signal inputs 25a and 25b of the control unit <NUM> outlined in <FIG>, the output of which is connected to the input of a generator stage <NUM> determining frequency. The trigger stage <NUM> and the generator stage <NUM> can, for example, be constructed by the well-known integrated circuit of type NE555. One output of the generator stage <NUM> is connected via the already mentioned wire <NUM> to the illuminating unit <NUM>, and an additional output is connected to the input of an impulse-width adjusting stage <NUM>. The impulse-width adjusting stage <NUM> is also a commercially available circuit well-known for those skilled in the art, for example a circuit of the type designated as "Motor fordulatszám szabályozó PWM 1803B" (source: https://hobbielektronikabolt. hu/Motor-fordulatszam-szabalyozo-PWM-1803B-DC-<NUM>-8V-3V-5V-6V-12V-2A). The output of the impulse-width adjusting stage <NUM> constitutes in the present example, with the insertion of an amplifier stage <NUM>, a output 25d of the control unit <NUM>, to which the motor forming drive unit <NUM> is electrically connected. <FIG> symbolically indicates a power supply unit <NUM> used, in the known and usual way, to supply the individual electrical stages, units. In the presented embodiment, power supply unit <NUM> provides, for safety reasons, <NUM> V DC, and its capacity is such as can properly provide for the supply of the motor constituting the drive unit <NUM> and the light emitting diodes <NUM> used in the illuminating unit <NUM>. Otherwise, the power supply of control unit <NUM>, illuminating unit <NUM> and the motor can also be realised by a proper external power supply unit <NUM> connected to some constant power source <NUM>, e.g. the mains, and its output is <NUM> is connected by a wire 54c to an electrical terminal block <NUM> of the flow control unit <NUM>. Power supply can be made simpler by the design according to another embodiment, where batteries or accumulators in the control unit <NUM> itself or connected to it provide for the input supply voltage for the power supply unit <NUM>.

In a further possible embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention, light-emitting diodes <NUM> used in illuminating unit <NUM> are elements capable of producing a changeable colour. The colour ever is determined by the electronics of illuminating unit <NUM>, e.g. based on it being in wireless connection with a remote controller serving specifically this purpose. Such products are commercially available in ready-for-use status e.g. from the web source https://www. hu/wifis-rgb-led-szalag-<NUM>-allo-<NUM>-rgb/pd/DJ7ZY0MBM/. In a further possible embodiment, light emitted by light-emitting diodes <NUM> may depend on the strength and/or temperature of the fluid flow transmitted to fluid outlet <NUM>, where the strength and/or temperature of the fluid flow is detected by an appropriate sensor, e.g. pressure sensor or temperature sensor connected to the fluid medium conduit <NUM> after the flow combiner <NUM> in the way known to those skilled in the art, which indirectly also detects the opening/closing of closing means <NUM>, <NUM>, and its output is connected to a dedicated input of the illuminating unit <NUM> by a wire that is not shown in the drawing.

In a further possible embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention outlined in <FIG>, the output of the trigger stage <NUM> in the control unit <NUM> is connected also to the input of a timer stage <NUM>. Timer stage <NUM> can also be realised by using the known integrated circuit NE555, and its timing determines the period of fluid supply, e.g. so that after the timer expires, e.g. after <NUM> minutes, by operating a two-states electric shut-off valve <NUM> inserted in the fluid medium conduit <NUM> of the flow combiner <NUM>, not shown in <FIG>, the fluid flow will be shut off. This allows to avoid wasteful fluid supply if closing means <NUM>, <NUM> are unintentionally left open. The timer stage <NUM> receives another impulse from the trigger stage <NUM> upon the next switch-on of the control unit <NUM>, under the effect of which it resets the two-states shutter valve <NUM> again, so the fluid flow will be unobstructed.

In the arrangement according to the invention being presented here, the illuminating unit <NUM> is built into the head part 9a of the fluid output <NUM>, but it can also be placed outside it, so that its light illuminates the fluid flow exiting fluid channel <NUM> or one or several of its branches 20a.

The arrangement according to the invention presented here functions so that, by opening the closing means <NUM> or <NUM>, the integrated micro-switches <NUM>, <NUM> trigger the generator stage <NUM> through the trigger stage <NUM> of the control unit <NUM>, and this drives the illuminating unit <NUM> connected to its output and the impulse-width adjusting stage <NUM> that actuates, according to its setting, the motor used as drive unit <NUM> that operates the valve unit <NUM> of the flow-chopper unit <NUM>. Depending on the position of the flow-through channel <NUM> of the valve body <NUM> in the former, the fluid being introduced in the latter flows through the channel <NUM> unobstructed, or its flow is completely blocked by the valve body <NUM>. This is repeated in function of the rotation of valve body <NUM>, the rotational speed of the motor connected to it, and results in that, instead of being continuous, the fluid flow exiting the fluid output <NUM> consists of short fluid sections, fluid droplets, following each other with a break, spaced, that are illuminated at the same frequency by the strobe-like flashes of the illuminating unit <NUM>. If the rotational speed of the motor and of the valve body <NUM> connected to it is appropriately chosen, in default case, when the rotational speed of the valve body <NUM> and the flashing frequency of the light emitted by the illuminating unit <NUM> are synchronous, the user perceives the fluid droplets exiting the fluid outlet <NUM> as standing, floating, contrary to gravity. If the flashing frequency of the light emitted by the illuminating unit <NUM> is decreased, the fluid droplets apparently start to move slowly upwards; this sight is called anti-gravitation sight. If the flashing frequency of the light emitted by the illuminating unit <NUM> is increased, the fluid droplets apparently start to slowly move downwards, in the direction of gravity.

Basically, the rotational speed of the motor of the drive unit <NUM> and the flashing frequency of light emitted by the illuminating unit <NUM> are set via the generator stage <NUM> to a value between <NUM> and <NUM>. Due to the identical mains frequency and to interference, the value of <NUM> may have an unpleasant effect on the user: with values of less than <NUM>, flashes may seem separate to the human eye, whereas for values exceeding <NUM>, the virtual fluid droplets start to converge and the water droplet effect ceases. Although frequency can be adjusted in a broader range, our experiments suggest that it is more advantageous to retain a value resulting in a sufficient fluid flow, and slightly changing the flashing frequency of the illuminating unit <NUM>, within the range of <NUM>-<NUM>, for the apparent upward or downward movement of the separate fluid drops.

In the example presented here, the flashing frequency of light emitted by the illuminating unit <NUM> and the rotational speed of the motor of the drive unit <NUM> can be set by potentiometers <NUM>, <NUM> used as operating means <NUM>, <NUM> but, depending on the design and operation of the generator stage <NUM>, push-buttons can also be used as operating means <NUM>, <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> can, of course, also be realised by a micro-controller and a programme written for it fulfilling the functions of the previously indicated units, stages.

Pressure controller <NUM> and water hammer arrestor <NUM> used in the exemplary embodiment ensures that "water-sectioning" with flow control unit <NUM> does not generate vibrations either in the individual elements of the arrangement, or backwards, towards the corner valves3, <NUM>.

The proposed arrangement can be used with a washbasin, a kitchen sink faucet, or a shower panel, or any other known faucet. Its main advantages include that it can be used to realise a fluid supply, primarily water-taking, design creating an antigravity sight, and its operation is simple and easy. Another important advantage of the invention is that, thanks to fluid chopping and pressure control, fluid discharged through the fluid outlet <NUM> is of much smaller quantity than in the traditional faucets, i.e., it operates in water-saving mode. If the user reaches into the stream of water droplets with his/her hands, he/she will experience no difference relative to the operation of traditional faucets.

Claim 1:
A fluid supply arrangement generating an anti-gravitational sight, comprising:
- a fluid source (<NUM>),
- at least one flow control unit (<NUM>) comprising a fluid inlet (<NUM>) connected to the fluid source (<NUM>) by a medium conduit (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>),
- a fluid outlet (<NUM>) connected to a fluid outlet (<NUM>) of the fluid control unit (<NUM>) through a medium conduit (<NUM>),
- an illuminating unit (<NUM>) comprising one or several light-emitting diode(s) (<NUM>) intermittently illuminating the fluid flow exiting the fluid outlet (<NUM>),
- an electrical control unit (<NUM>) determining the frequency of intermittent light emitted by the illuminating unit (<NUM>), illuminating unit (<NUM>) being connected to the output of the electrical control unit (<NUM>),
characterised in that
- the flow control unit (<NUM>) is connected to the fluid source (<NUM>) through one or several closing means (<NUM>, <NUM>) influencing the flow of the fluid flow reaching the fluid outlet (<NUM>),
- the flow control unit (<NUM>) comprises an electromechanical flow-chopper unit (<NUM>) adjustably influencing the flow of the fluid flow coming from the fluid source (<NUM>),
- the electromechanical flow-chopper unit (<NUM>) comprises a valve unit (<NUM>) comprising a rotatably embedded valve body (<NUM>) inserted in the flow path of the fluid flowing through it and opening and closing the flow path depending on its position,
the arrangement also comprises
respective sensors each detecting the status of the closing means (<NUM>, <NUM>) influencing the flow of the fluid flow directly or indirectly, the outputs of which are connected to signal inputs (25a, 25b) of the electrical control unit (<NUM>),
where the electrical control unit (<NUM>) comprises a generator stage (<NUM>) of controllable start-up for generating a variable low-frequency pulse sequence, and the illuminating unit (<NUM>) and an electric motor forming a drive unit (<NUM>) operating the rotatably embedded valve body (<NUM>) are connected to outputs (25c, 25d) of the electrical control unit (<NUM>), and
the electrical control unit (<NUM>) comprises operating means (<NUM>) determining the frequency of the pulse sequence produced by the generator stage (<NUM>).