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 Title: |
US4939859:
Air-liquid kinetic sculpture apparatus
[ Derwent Title ]
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| Country: |
US United States of America
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| Inventor: |
Bradt, Gordon E.; Eureka Springs, AR 72632
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| Assignee: |
None
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| Published / Filed: |
1990-07-10
/ 1989-04-13
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| Application Number: |
US1989000336781
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| IPC Code: |
Advanced:
A63H 23/08;
F03B 17/02;
G04B 45/00;
G09F 19/02;
Core:
A63H 23/00;
F03B 17/00;
G09F 19/00;
more...
IPC-7:
G09F 19/00;
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| ECLA Code: |
A63H23/08; F03B17/02; G04B45/00; G09F19/02; Y02E10/20;
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| U.S. Class: |
Current:
040/406;
040/407;
040/409;
040/439;
Original:
040/406;
040/407;
040/409;
040/439;
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| Field of Search: |
040/406,407,409,441,439,477,480
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| Priority Number: |
| 1989-04-13 |
US1989000336781 |
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| Abstract: |
A kinetic sculpture apparatus comprising a transparent tank filled with a transparent liquid and an air supply system wherein air bubbles are introduced along the bottom of the container and thus are distributed thorughout the liquid. Immersed in the liquid are a multiple of vessels that are substantially closed on their sides and top, and substantially open on their bottom. The vessels are weighted so that they have a negative buoyancy when holding a small amount of air but will become positively buoyant when they accumulate more air from the rising air bubbles. The vessels are also weighted so that their center of gravity remains below their center of buoyancy even when in a full positive state. The apparatus comprises techniques for releasing the air from the vessels at the top of their rise so that will sink back towards the bottom until they collect more air and rise again. Also techniques are provided for controlling the movement of the individual vessels and arranging certain vessels to move in sequence with others.
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| Primary / Asst. Examiners: |
Cranmer, Laurie K.;
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| Maintenance Status: |
E3 Expired Check current status
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| INPADOC Legal Status: |
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| Family: |
None
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First Claim:
Show all 7 claims |
What I claim is:
1. In an air-liquid kinetic motion apparatus including an unsealed container with at least one transparent side suitable for viewing into said container, said container filled with a transparent liquid, an air supply means for discharging an array of air bubbles throughout the liquid;
- wherein the improvement comprises; vessels submerged in said liquid, said vessels being substantially closed on all their sides except their bottoms which are substantially open, said vessels weighted so that they have a specific gravity less than unity when containing a small amount of air but the weight is limited to allow the vessels to become buoyant when they accumulate a greater amount of air, and said vessels weighted so that their center of gravity remains below their center of buoyancy even when said vessels are in a buoyant state; a lower stop means to position the vessel at the bottom of its travel until it accumulates enough air to become buoyant, an upper stop means to terminate the rise of a buoyant vessel at some point below the surface of said liquid, said upper stop means combined with an escape means for discharging enough air to return the vessel to a non-buoyant state, said escape means functioning without the use of mechanical valves; whereby said vessels rise and fall within said container in a cyclical manner.
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| Background / Summary: |
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| Drawing Descriptions: |
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| Description: |
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| Forward References: |
Show 34 U.S. patent(s) that reference this one
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