WATER FOUNTAIN

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for ejecting a liquid, comprising a base segment, a central segment which is mounted on the base segment in a pivotal manner about a first pivot axis, an end segment which is mounted on the central segment in a pivotal manner about a second pivot axis (ignition) that is arranged at an angle to the first pivot axis and which comprises a nozzle portion for dispensing the liquid, said nozzle portion being radially spaced from the second pivot axis, and a supply system for the liquid, said supply system being connected to the nozzle portion. The aim of the invention is to provide measures by means of which negative effects of forces reacting to a device for ejecting a liquid are reduced in the device. According to the invention, this is achieved in that the supply system comprises two end lines which open into the nozzle portion from different directions.

Claims

1. Device for spraying a liquid, comprising a base segment, a central segment which is mounted on the base segment in a pivotal manner about a first pivot axis, an end segment which is mounted on the central segment in a pivotal manner about a second pivot axis that is arranged at an angle to the first pivot axis and which comprises a nozzle portion for dispensing the liquid, said nozzle portion being radially spaced from the second pivot axis, and a feed system for the liquid, said feed system being connected to the nozzle portion, wherein the feed system comprises two end lines which open into the nozzle portion from different directions.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and second pivot axes are perpendicular to one another.

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and second pivot axes intersect one another.

4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the nozzle portion is arranged such that the central segment is located in a backward extension of an emission direction of the liquid, which is predetermined by the nozzle portion.

5. Device according to claim 1, characterized by a first motor unit for pivoting the centre segment as well as a second motor unit for pivoting the end segment, the first and second motor units being disposed opposite one another with respect to the first pivot axis on the central segment.

6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the rotational axes (X, Y) is designed as a hollow axis, which serves as a line for the liquid.

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that two basic lines of the feed system open at their ends into the first pivot axis, which is designed as a hollow axis, the first pivot axis connecting within the centre segment with the second pivot axis, which is designed as a hollow axis, and the two end lines being connected at their ends to the second pivot axis.

8. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the first motor unit is disposed between the base lines and the second motor unit is disposed between the end lines.

9. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the end lines designed so as to be symmetrical to a plane that runs through the first pivot axis and along a plane that runs through the second pivot axis.

10. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the basic lines are designed so as to be symmetrical to a plane that runs through the second pivot axis and along a plane that runs through the first pivot axis.

11. Pivoting unit for a device for spraying a liquid, comprising a basic segment, a central segment which is mounted on the basic segment a pivotal manner about a first pivot axis, an end segment is mounted on the central segment such that it is pivotal about a second pivot axis that is arranged at an angle to the first pivot axis and which comprises two end connections, which are intended for connection of two end lines of a feed system, which lead to a nozzle portion wherein the pivoting unit is additionally connected to at least one further connection for connection to a liquid reservoir, which is connected to the end connections.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Details of the invention are explained below with reference to two exemplary embodiments with reference to the figures, wherein,

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a pivoting unit of a second embodiment of a device according to the invention

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a first side view of the pivoting unit from FIG. 2, and

[0025] FIG. 4 shows a second side view of the pivoting unit from FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention, which is provided for generation of water fountains. The device 1 comprises a basic segment 2, a central segment 3 and an end segment 4. The basic element 2 comprises two basic lines 7.1, 7.2 of a feed system, which is connected to a water reservoir (not shown here), and which is pressurised there by means of a pump (which is also not shown): The basic lines first extend vertically and then bend at an angle of 90 to the horizontal, where they are connected to basic connections 12. The basic connections 12 are part of a first pivot axis X, which is embodied as a hollow axis, and of which the central segment 3 is pivotable with respect to the basic element 2. The pivot operation can be controlled via a motor unit 14 with a gear wheel 15, wherein the gear wheel 15 engages with a gear wheel 13, which is mounted coaxially on a basic connection 12 and is connected non-rotatably thereto. The end segment 4 is supported via a second pivot axis Y so as to be pivotable with respect to the central segment 3. The second pivot axis Y is offset by 90 with respect to the first pivot axis X, and intersects the latter within the central segment 3. The pivotability of the end segment 4 with respect to the central segment 3 is in turn controlled via a motor unit 10, which has a gear wheel 11. The latter engages with a gear wheel 9, which is mounted non-rotatably on an end connection 8, which extends coaxially to the second pivot axis Y.

[0027] From the end connection 8, starts a first end line 6.1 starts out, first extends horizontally in the direction of the second pivot axis Y then bends upwards by 90 and finally bends again through 90 and guided in a direction parallel to the pivot axis Y. On the opposite side of the central segment 3, there is a second end line 6.2 which is designed so as to be symmetrical thereto and also starts from an end connection. The two end lines 6.1, 6.2 are merged together from opposite directions at a nozzle portion 5, which is designed as a T-T-piece. The nozzle portion 5, through which the water is ejected in operating station in an ejection direction A, is shown here without a special nozzle. Of course, such a nozzle can be provided.

[0028] The central segment 3, with, disposed thereon, the basic connections 12 and end connections 8, forms a pivoting unit 20, which can be regarded as the core portion of the device 1. The basic lines 7.1, 7.2, end lines 6.1, 6.2 as well as the nozzle portion 5 may be basically formed from commercially available elements that are known in the prior art.

[0029] As becomes clear from FIG. 1, the two basic lines 7.1, 7.2 extend in a plane with the first pivot axis X and are symmetrical to a plane that includes the second pivot axis Y. Furthermore, the two end lines 6.1, 6.2 extend in a plane with the second pivot axis Y and are symmetrical to a plane that includes the pivot axis X. If, during operation of the device 1, pressurised water flows through the aforementioned lines 6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 7.2, counterforces occur at the points at which a diversion of the water flow takes place. Because of the described symmetrical arrangement of the various lines, however, no resulting torques occur at the pivot axes X, Y. Furthermore, the two motor units 10, 14 are arranged on opposite sides of the first pivot axis X, such that, during pivoting, the torques caused by their weight essentially cancel one another out. The entire device 1 is thus (almost) in equilibrium both statically and dynamically, and consequently its components can be designed comparatively lightweight, and only slight deformation occurs in operation. It is also advantageous that the central segment 3, in which the pivot axes X, Y cross, is located in a backward extension of the ejection direction A. The reaction force of the ejected water thus acts toward the central segment 3, and consequently is optimally absorbed by it, and does not lead to any torques on the pivotability about each of the axes X, Y is fundamentally 180, 90 in each direction with respect to the central position shown in FIG. 1, wherein, depending on the pivot state about the other axis each case the full pivot range may possibly not be exploitable, since the end lines 6.1, 6.2 strike against the basic lines 7.1, 7.2. however, with the illustrated device 1, it is possible to achieve any (two-dimensional) angle range within a half-space. FIGS. 2-4 show a pivoting unit 120 in a further embodiment of the present invention. Here, FIG. 3 shows a side view of the perspective marked III in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 shows a side view of the perspective marked IV. The illustrated pivoting unit 120 can be used with basic lines and end lines of a feed system, as well as with a nozzle portion, which correspond to the elements shown in FIG. 1. The pivoting unit 120 comprises a central segment 103, which, with respect to a basic segment 102, is pivotable about a first pivot axis X and, on one end segment 104, is pivotable about a second pivot axis Y. The central segment 103 has in a corresponding manner, as in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, two motor units 110, 114, which are disposed opposite with respect to the second pivot axis Y. Here, too, the motor unit 110 used for pivoting with respect to the second pivot axis Y has two gear wheels on an end connection 108.2, to which an end line of the feed system can be connected. Another end connection 108.1 is present on an opposite side of the central segment 103.

[0030] The end connection 108.2 can be seen only partially in FIGS. 2-4, since it is disposed, together with the aforementioned gear wheels, in a gear housing 116. The gear housing 116 serves to protect the internal components against water, since the available pivoting unit 120 is intended for submerged use. To permit better access to the connection 108.2, a closure plate 118 is provided on the gear 116, which can be removed by releasing screw connections. In a corresponding manner, a basic connection 112.1 of the basic 102 is disposed together with the corresponding gear wheels in a housing 117, which has a corresponding closure plate 119. Here, too, a further basic connection 112.2 is provided on an opposite side of central segment 103. By means of the connections 112.1, 112.2, lines of a feed system can be connected in an analogous manner to that shown in FIG. 1. The internal structure of the central segment 103 corresponds to that shown in FIG. 1, that is to say that the connections 112.1, 112.2 of the basic element 102 is in connection with the connections 108.1, 108.2 of the end segment 104.