Research Topic #1: Fountain Pumps
Pumps, such as are generally used in fountains, fall into two
classifications: Dry and submersible (either single or multiple stage turbines). The
general purpose of a dry centrifugal pump is located in a cool dry pit or vault as
near to the fountain pool as possible. The suction entrance to the pump must be
below the minimum water level of the pool unless some other means of priming
the pump is provided. The pumping system is usually isolated from the pool by
means of isolation valves (normally a gate valve in the suction line and a ball
valve in the discharge line). These serve as barriers to prevent the back flow of
water should it be necessary to remove the pumps. When in operation, the
suction valve should be fully open. Flow regulation is accomplished through
adjustment of the ball or butterfly valve in the discharge line.
The submersible pump is built with a waterproof motor housing and is
mounted underwater and connected directly to the fountain through a ball or
other regulating valve. The power cord is fed into an underwater junction box
through a brass cord seal. While the submersible pump system is initially less
expensive then a dry system, a great share of the added cost is offset by lower
pool construction and installation costs. The long-range costs may exceed the
dry system due to the fact that additional periodic maintenance will be required
on the fountain kit systems since no filter units are designed. If the submersible
pump ever needs to be serviced, then the pool or pond must then be drained.
Certain classes of motors require motor starters and motor manufacturers
do not normally furnish them nor are they included in pricing of motors. Starters
are available in several types and characteristics and care should be taken to be
certain that the proper starter is specified.
D1
Research Topic #2: Fountain Valves
The following fountain valves are products of Long Island Fountain
Company, but they are products very similar to what our design needs or will
model.
Jumping Jet:
There is no requirement for an air compressor or high-pressure water
pump, as the jet needs only the display pump and electrical connection for
installation. Since the cutting device is electronic, without using air or high water
pressure, the jet operates almost silently. The new jet is smaller and incorporates
a larger laminar flow nozzle than other similar jets.
Oase Pumps, Inc. Jumping Jets are available with internal lighting kits to
illuminate the water stream, and also are avail-able without the chopping
mechanism for a static laminar flow display. Construction is of all high quality
stainless steel with PVC stabilizer screens and a brass submersible stepper
motor and brass light.
The Jumping jets will be used in the four spherical balls that border the
three larger rotating spheres. The jumping will be time by computer
programming so that it simulates water streams jumping from one sphere to the
next, creating a sort of border around the center three spheres.
For the model we were unable to purchase these jumping jets do to
budget restraints. Therefore they did not appear in the model.
D2
Jumping Jet Specifications
Flow
26GPM (100 LPM)
Pressure
12'TDH (0.4 Bar)
Connection
Orifice Diameter
1" FNPT
0.7" (18mm)
Recommended Pump
Nautilus 60
Alternate Pump
Atlantis 150
Internal screen mesh
Recommended filter
Internal light
Outer drive
0.8mm
600 micron bag type
12 volt / 75 watt
24 volt 2 amp dc stepper motor
Minimum reaction time
0.3 seconds
Maximum water depth
15.75" (400mm)
Material
Stainless steel
Vertical adjustment
Horizontal adjustment
Maximum display height
Maximum display throw
Weight
45" - 90"
5"
16' 3" (5m)
20' 0" (6m)
155lbs. (70Kg)
Motor cable
7x18ga. 0.315" O.D. (8mm)
Light cable
2x14ga. 0.35" O.D. (9mm)
Research
Topic #3:
Fountain
Nozzles
Sphere Nozzle:
Technical
description:


Water
Spheres
are
construct
ed of
Stainless
Steel and
incorporat
e Brass
nozzles.
Each
D3





"arm" is threaded in place by means of a male BSPP thread.
All Water Spheres are water level independent.
Nozzles are adjusted using an included feeler gauge.
Designed for public installations.
Casual vandals cannot remove nozzles.
Mounting base and hose connections are standard. Custom configurations
are available.
Sphere
Hemisphere
D4
The water effect that these nozzles give is what we were looking for in our
project design. We originally thought we would use a concept similar to the
pictures above, however we modified it a bit because of the space and design of
our sculpture. We found that hooking up manifolds to the PVC running through
the sculpture would be able to achieve the same effect. And instead of using
sold rigid rods like these sphere nozzles, we used flexible tubing to run from the
manifolds to the hemisphere shells. For the model we simply left the barbed
fittings open so that the water shoot out in more of a stream fashion then the
misty surface forming spray that is shown in the working images of the sphere
nozzles. We felt for the model this would still get the idea across to those who
see it.
Research Topic #4: Fountain Lighting
There are very few unlighted fountains being installed today. As attractive
as a fountain may be during daylight hours, it is immeasurably more beautiful at
night with multi-hued lights playing upon it. A fountain can rarely be over light and
under lighting one can completely ruin its potential beauty. Lights with clear
D5
lenses when operating in conjunction with colored lenses tend to "wash" out the
color. Colored lenses have different light transmission values and for balanced
brilliancy this must be taken into consideration. Relative light transmission values
are approximately as follows: White (Clear - 100%; Amber - 50%; Green - 25%;
Red - 15%; Blue - 15%. Different shades of these basic colors will, or course,
affect these percentages.
High Quality, Long Lasting Underwater Lights are U.L.
approved and come complete with 200Watt Par46
300Watt Par56 or 500Watt Par56 Lamp with Rock Guard
and 7 Lens Colors. 12Volt also available.
King of Low Voltage Lighting May hold up to 7-75 Watt
Bulbs in 5 Colors. Bronze Fixture with .6" Bullet Proof
Lens.
Most Popular Budget Conscious Lights. Made of
corrosion resistant thermoplastics with stainless steel
mounting bracket. 120V Unit with 110Watt Lamp may be
put in series.
UL Listed MiniLight. Excellent confined space light.
Super bright Halogen bulb. Stainless steel fixture with
build-in Rock Guard and low water cutoff.
Lighting is important to the over all piece and if a full size permanent
installation of this design is actually done, then lighting is defiantly a must. I can
even be worked into the computer programming.
Research Topic #5: Fountain Motors
There are a multitude of motors that exist on the market. The general
ones are the linear actuators, rotary motors, stepper motors, and servomotors.
Each motor has a different use and must be chosen according to the situation.
D6
This requires some knowledge into what each motor does to aptly apply a correct
motor to the situation at hand.
Linear actuators are motors that move loads along a single axis. One
needs to know how fast the load needs to move back and forth, called the rate
speed. Along with the rate speed is the maximum rated force, which is the
maximum load the rod can move, the stroke, the distance the actuator can move
the load, and continuous power output. Also important is the backlash, which is
the positional error associated with the rod. Using either an ACME screw or a
ball screw can move these loads. ACME screws are used when using heavier
loads and for shock loads. Ball screws are more efficient and have better
backlash control and last longer than ACME screws.
Rotary motors are for rotational movement at continuous speeds. One
needs to know how fast the load needs to rotate, to specify the rotations per
minute, or rpm for the rotary motor. Another critical specification is the torque.
One needs to know how much torque is required to rotate the load to determine
an effective rotary motor. There are quite a few methods to create rotational
movement. One method is an electrical motor, that uses magnetic cases around
metal coils that when applied electricity, causes the motor to rotate. Others
include a piston assembly, which drives a shaft up and down connected
mechanical to some rod that rotates.
Stepper motors are similar to rotary motors except they don’t operate at
continuous speeds, and use small increments to move the load a set angular
distance. Important parameters include the step increment, measured in
degrees, the static holding force, and the terminal voltage phase. These work
similarly to the rotary motors except there are fine teeth inside the case which
can be magnetically induced, allow the coils inside to line up with the poles,
thereby having it rotate in increments. Another added benefit to stepper motors
is that the error isn’t cumulative. That is, each position is only going to be off by
an extremely small amount, and they don’t add due to the switching on and off of
the poles.
D7
Another important motor is the servomotor. These are any motors that
allow feedback. With standard motors, they receive an input and operate at that
input. Servomotors receive the input, and then send back the performance of the
motor. The user can adjust the input to reach the desired output. These allow
for greater control over whatever operation that needs control.
Stepper motors are required for this endeavor since the water fountain
needs to be rotated into certain specific positions. A stepper motor with an
increment of 1.8° and a static holding force of 1755 in-oz with a terminal voltage
of 220 V weights about 12 lbs and is priced at $487. We will still need to use a
few of these in conjunction due to the large nature of the water fountain.
D8