Telescopic fountain nozzle with discrete extension and water activation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020078816-A1
Application number	US-201916545175-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 20, 2019
Priority date	Sep 6, 2018
Publication date	Mar 12, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fountain system is provided. The fountain system includes a fountain nozzle that includes a body configured to telescope during extension and retraction and a nozzle outlet coupled an end of the body. The fountain system also includes an extension system configured to actuate the extension and retraction of the body. The fountain system also includes an actuation system configured to activate discharge of a liquid, such as water, from the nozzle outlet. The extension system and the actuation system are discrete systems.

First claim

1 . A fountain system, comprising:
a fountain nozzle comprising:
a body configured to telescope during extension and retraction; and
a nozzle outlet coupled to an end of the body;
an extension system configured to actuate the extension and retraction of the body; and an actuation system configured to activate discharge of a liquid from the nozzle outlet; wherein the extension system and the actuation system are discrete systems.

2 . The fountain system of claim 1 , wherein the extension system is configured to keep the body extended without the liquid being discharged from the nozzle outlet.

3 . The fountain system of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of the fountain nozzles, and the extension system is configured to independently control the extension and retraction of each fountain nozzle of the plurality of fountain nozzles.

4 . The fountain system of claim 3 , wherein the actuation system is configured to independently control the discharge of the liquid from each fountain nozzle.

5 . The fountain system of claim 1 , wherein the extension system comprises a piston configured to extend and retract the body of the fountain nozzle.

6 . The fountain system of claim 5 , wherein the piston comprises a hydraulic actuated piston.

7 . The fountain system of claim 5 , wherein the piston comprises an electrically actuated piston.

8 . The fountain system of claim 1 , wherein the actuation system comprises a pump configured to flow the liquid into the body of the fountain nozzle to extend the body of the fountain nozzle.

9 . The fountain system of claim 8 , comprising a valve, wherein the actuation system is configured to close the valve when the body is fully extended to keep the liquid within the body to keep the body extended.

10 . The fountain system of claim 1 , wherein the extension system comprises a pneumatic system configured to extend and retract the body of the fountain nozzle.

11 . The fountain system of claim 1 , wherein the actuation system comprises a pump configured to flow the liquid into the nozzle outlet via a conduit for discharge of the liquid.

12 . A modular fountain system, comprising:
a plurality of fountain nozzles, wherein each fountain nozzle of the plurality of fountain nozzles comprises:
a body configured to telescope during extension and retraction; and
a nozzle outlet coupled to an end of the body; and
a control system coupled to the plurality of fountain nozzles, wherein the control system is configured to independently control extension and retraction of each fountain nozzle of the plurality of fountain nozzles and to keep the body of at least one fountain nozzle of the plurality of fountain nozzles extended without a liquid being discharged from the nozzle outlet of the at least one fountain nozzle.

13 . The modular fountain system of claim 12 , comprising an extension system configured to actuate the extension and retraction of one or more respective fountain nozzles of the plurality of fountain nozzles, an actuation system configured to activate discharge of the liquid from the nozzle outlet, wherein the control system is coupled to and controls the extension system and the actuation system.

14 . The modular fountain system of claim 13 , wherein the extension system and the actuation system are discrete systems.

15 . The modular fountain system of claim 13 , wherein the control system is configured to separately control actuation of discharge of the liquid from one or more fountain nozzles of the plurality of fountain nozzles.

16 . The modular fountain system of claim 13 , wherein the extension system of each fountain nozzle of the plurality of fountain nozzles comprises a piston configured to extend and to retract the body of the fountain nozzle.

17 . A method for utilizing a fountain system, comprising:
extending, via an extension system, a portion of a telescopic body of a fountain nozzle out of a liquid, wherein a nozzle outlet is coupled to an end of the portion of the telescopic body extending out of the liquid; and activating, via an actuation system, discharge of water from the nozzle outlet, wherein the extension system and the actuation system function separately from each other.

18 . The method of claim 17 , comprising keeping, via the extension system, the portion of the telescopic body of the fountain nozzle extended without the liquid being discharged from the nozzle outlet

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the fountain nozzle is one of a plurality of fountain nozzles forming a modular fountain system, wherein the method comprises extending, via the extension system, one or more fountain nozzles of the plurality of fountain nozzles while keeping one or more fountain nozzles of the plurality of fountain nozzles retracted.

20 . The method of claim 19 , comprising activating, via the actuation system, discharge of the liquid from the one or more fountain nozzles while not discharging the liquid from one or more fountain nozzles of the plurality of fountain nozzles.

Assignees

• Universal City Studios Llc

Inventors

• Churchill David Michael

Classifications

• B05B15/72

  using hydraulic or pneumatic means · CPC title

• B05B15/68 Primary

  Arrangements for adjusting the position of spray heads (B05B15/628, B05B15/652, B05B15/656 take precedence) · CPC title

• B05B12/04

  for sequential operation or multiple outlets · CPC title

• B05B17/08 Primary

  Fountains (drinking fountains E03B9/20; wash fountains E03C1/16) · CPC title

• B05B15/656

  whereby the flow conduit length is changeable · CPC title