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US 10,107,494 B2Granted
System and method for generating flame effect
AssigneeUniversal City Studios LLC
InventorsSteven C. Blum, Benjamin Robert Clark
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Present embodiments are directed to a system and method for generating a flame effect. An embodiment includes a nozzle assembly with an outer nozzle and an inner nozzle. At least a portion of the inner nozzle is nested within at least a portion of the outer nozzle. The system also includes a fuel source with two or more separate types of fuel.
Claims21
A system, comprising:
- a fuel source comprising a first tank for a first fuel and a second tank for a second fuel;
- a nozzle assembly, comprising:
- an outer nozzle defining an outer flow path configured to receive the first fuel from the first tank, wherein the first fuel comprises a first material composition;
- and
- an inner nozzle having a wall defining an inner flow path configured to receive the second fuel from the second tank, wherein at least a portion of the inner nozzle is nested within at least a portion of the outer nozzle such that the outer flow path of the outer nozzle contacts an outer surface of the wall of the inner nozzle, and wherein the second fuel comprises a second material composition different than the first material composition;
- and
- an ignition feature configured to receive and ignite the first fuel, the second fuel, or both to generate a flame effect, wherein the inner nozzle enters a sidewall of the outer nozzle at a non-90 degree angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the outer nozzle, and wherein the inner nozzle comprises a bend located within the outer nozzle such that the inner nozzle comprises a longitudinal segment having an additional longitudinal axis parallel with the longitudinal axis of the outer nozzle.
4 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a nozzle assembly configured to generate a flame effect visible from an exterior of the system, wherein the nozzle assembly comprises an ignition feature positioned proximate to an end of the nozzle assembly;
- and
- an automation controller configured to regulate fluid flows of a first fuel from a first tank and a second fuel from a second tank to a first nozzle and to a second nozzle of the nozzle assembly based at least in part on environmental factors surrounding the system that affect an aesthetic of the flame effect, wherein the automation controller is configured to regulate the fluid flows of the first fuel and the second fuel such that the first fuel and the second fuel pass over the ignition feature for ignition;
- wherein the second nozzle comprises a longitudinal axis extending through a flow path of the second nozzle, wherein the first nozzle enters a sidewall of the second nozzle at a non-90 degree angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the second nozzle, and wherein the first nozzle comprises a bend located within the second nozzle such that first nozzle comprises a longitudinal segment having an additional longitudinal axis parallel with the longitudinal axis of the second nozzle.
1 more element
A method of operating a nozzle system, the method comprising:
- determining factors around the system;
- fluidly coupling a first tank comprising a first fuel with a first nozzle and a second tank comprising a second fuel with a second nozzle, wherein the first fuel comprises a first material composition and the second fuel comprises a second material composition different than the first material composition;
- passing the first fuel through the first nozzle at a first pressure and the second fuel through the second nozzle at a second pressure;
- and
- passing the first fuel and the second fuel over an ignition feature, such that the first fuel and the second fuel ignite to generate a flame effect visible from an exterior of the system;
- wherein the second nozzle comprises a longitudinal axis extending through a flow path of the second nozzle, wherein the first nozzle enters a sidewall of the second nozzle at a non-90 degree angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the second nozzle, and wherein the first nozzle comprises a bend located within the second nozzle such that first nozzle comprises a longitudinal segment having an additional longitudinal axis parallel with the longitudinal axis of the second nozzle.
3 more elements
A system, comprising:
- an outer housing structure;
- a nozzle assembly configured to flow a first fuel and a second fuel through the nozzle assembly to facilitate generation of a flame effect from an outlet of the nozzle assembly, wherein the nozzle assembly is positioned within the outer housing structure such that the nozzle assembly is at least partially hidden within the outer housing structure and such that an end of the nozzle assembly is positioned proximate to an opening in the outer housing structure, wherein the opening in the outer housing structure is configured to expose the flame effect external to the outer housing structure;
- and
- an automation controller configured to regulate a flow of the first fuel and a flow of the second fuel to control desired aesthetic features of the flame effect;
- a first nozzle of the nozzle assembly;
- and
- a second nozzle of the nozzle assembly, wherein a portion of the first nozzle is nested within the second nozzle;
- wherein the second nozzle comprises a longitudinal axis extending through a flow path of the second nozzle, wherein the first nozzle enters a sidewall of the second nozzle at a non-90 degree angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the second nozzle, and wherein the first nozzle comprises a bend located within the second nozzle such that first nozzle comprises a longitudinal segment having an additional longitudinal axis parallel with the longitudinal axis of the second nozzle.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.