IP Library Granted Patent US 7,845,579
Granted Patent B2
US 7,845,579 · App. 11/280,392 · Granted Dec 7, 2010

Laminar flow water jet with energetic pulse wave segmentation and controller

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,845,579
App. No.
11/280,392
Granted
Dec 7, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus for producing and controlling an energetic pulse wave in a laminar flow having an at least one water input and a housing with a water channel flowing therethrough. At least one jetting element for jetting a laminar flow tube from a laminar flow passing through the water channel. With at least one energetic pulse wave generating element generating an energetic pulse in a controlled fashion that travels into the laminar flow and selectively interrupts the laminarity therein.

Claims (41)

1. An apparatus comprising:

an at least one water input with water flowing therein;

a housing with a water channel, the housing creating a laminar flow in the water channel from the water flowing from the at least one water input and flowing through the housing;

an at least one lighting element;

an at least one jetting element jetting a laminar flow tube from the laminar flow passing through the water channel in the housing, the laminar flow tube being ejected from the housing as a glass-rod like laminar flow tube having a smoothed tubular surface and being lit by the at least one lighting element; and

an at least one energetic pulse wave generating element generating an energetic pulse in a controlled fashion that travels into the laminar flow and selectively interrupts the tubular surface at a specific location on the glass-rod like laminar flow tube, thereby impairing the surface of the glass-rod like laminar flow tube and effecting the light passing within the glass-rod like laminar flow tube without disrupting the cohesion of the glass-rod like laminar flow tube.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a controller in communication with the at least one energetic pulse wave generating element, the controller sending a command to the at least one energetic pulse wave generating element to send the energetic pulse into the glass-rod like laminar flow tube.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the controller receives an input from a timer.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the controller receives an input from an audio or video input.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the controller receives an input from a master controller.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the controller sends signals to at least one of an at least one audio system, video system, and a timer.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a laminar flow jet disruptor in communication with the controller, wherein the laminar flow jet disruptor causes interruption of the glass-rod like laminar flow tube issuing from the jet causing discrete glass-rod like laminar flow columns to issue instead.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the at least one lighting element communicates with the controller and lights the discrete glass-rod like laminar flaw columns.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the discrete glass-rod like laminar flow columns are interrupted by the energetic pulse wave such that the discrete column is distinctly segmented and the light source provides light to each of the distinct segments.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein each of the distinct segments is lit by a different color.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the energetic pulse wave provides a turbulent section within a continuous glass-rod like laminar flow tube.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the energetic pulse wave provides a gap between discrete parts of the jetted, glass-rod like laminar flow water tube, creating discrete laminar flow tubular columns.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller sends signals to the at least one lighting element.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the at least one lighting element changes a color input into the laminar flow water tube based on instructions from the controller.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the at least one lighting element further comprises an at least one lighting tube and an at least one light source.

16. A laminar flow water jet, comprising:

an at least one water input admitting water into a housing;

an at least one lighting element;

a housing moving the water into a laminar flow water channel, smoothing and adding laminarity to the water within the laminar flow water channel and ejecting the laminar flow water channel as a laminar flow tube having a cohesive, generally smooth surface and a glass-rod like appearance and being lit by the at least one lighting element;

a controller; and

an at least one energetic pulse wave generating component, wherein the energetic pulse wave generating component sends an energetic pulse wave into the laminar flow water channel and into a part of the laminar flow tube to interrupt the laminarity within the laminar flow tube at that part, creating an aberration in the generally smooth surface and in so doing changing the light transmission characteristics along the laminar flow tube.

17. The laminar flow water jet of claim 16 , the at least one lighting element further comprises a lighting tube and an at least one light source.

18. The laminar flow water jet of claim 17 , wherein the laminar flow tube is colored by the lighting element.

19. The laminar flow water jet of claim 18 , wherein the energetic pulse wave provides a turbulent section within a continuous laminar flow tube.

20. The laminar flow water jet of claim 18 , wherein the energetic pulse wave provides a gap between discrete parts of the laminar flow water tube, creating discrete laminar flow columns.

21. The laminar flow water jet of claim 16 , wherein the controller receives an input from a timer.

22. The laminar flow water jet of claim 16 , wherein the controller receives an input from a audio or video input.

23. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the controller receives an input from a master controller.

24. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the controller sends signals to at least one of an at least one audio system, video system, and a timer.

25. The laminar flow water jet of claim 16 , wherein the controller sends signals to the at least one lighting element.

26. The laminar flow water jet of claim 25 , wherein the at least one lighting element changes a color input into the laminar flow water column based on instructions from the controller.

27. The laminar flow water jet of claim 16 , further comprising a pliant member surrounding the water channel in the direction of flow of the water in the water channel, wherein the pliant member absorbs pump surges.

28. The laminar flow water jet of claim 16 , further comprising a laminar flow disruptor in communication with the controller, wherein the laminar flow disruptor causes interruption of the laminar flow tube issuing from the housing, causing discrete laminar flow columns to issue therefrom.

29. The laminar flow water jet of claim 28 , further comprising a light source communicating with the controller and lighting the discrete columns of laminar flow water.

30. The laminar flow water jet of claim 29 , wherein the discrete columns of laminar flow are interrupted by the energetic pulse wave such that a discrete column is discretely segmented and the light source provides light to each of the discrete segments.

31. The laminar flow water jet of claim 30 , wherein each of the discrete segments is lit by a different color.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 3, 2014
From: KBK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: PENTAIR WATER POOL AND SPA, INC.
Reel/Frame 031887/0455 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 29, 2013
From: KBK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: PENTAIR WATER POOL AND SPA, INC.
Reel/Frame 030895/0724 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 19, 2012
From: JOHNSON, BRUCE
To: KBK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 028982/0426 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 6062822600 · Nov 17, 2004
Provisional Application 6062822700 · Nov 17, 2004
Related Publication 20060102757A1 · May 18, 2006