Special effects spark generating system

A special effects spark generating system, comprising:

• a rotatable assembly;
• an elongate sparker member;
• and
• fluid pressure biasing means for biasing with fluid pressure said sparker member axially against said rotatable assembly with said rotatable assembly rotating to thereby produce a special effects shower of sparks;
• wherein the amount of the fluid pressure and the axial biasing time of said biasing means are both generally independently adjustable to thereby controllably adjust the size of the shower of sparks.

A special effects spark generating system, comprising:

• a nozzle having a nozzle inlet and a nozzle outlet;
• spark generating means for generating a stream of sparks towards said nozzle inlet;
• and
• injecting means for injecting a pressurized air stream into said nozzle to thereby propel the stream of sparks out said nozzle outlet as a special effects shower of sparks.

A special effects spark generating method, comprising the steps of:

• biasing with fluid pressure an elongate sparker member against a striker assembly;
• rotating the striker assembly and thereby generating a stream of sparks from the impact of the rotating assembly and the sparker member biased thereagainst;
• and
• propelling with air pressure the stream of sparks out and away from the striker assembly and as a special effects shower of sparks.

A special effects spark generating system, comprising:

• a rotatable striker assembly having different first and second portions;
• a sparker rod which when in a sparking position and struck by said striker assembly, when rotating, generates a shower of sparks;
• and
• mounting means for mounting said rod in alternative different first and second positions relative to said striker assembly, such that when said rod is in the first position it is biased against said striker assembly in a sparking position and causes primary striker wear in said first portion of said striker assembly when said striker assembly is rotated, and such that when said rod is in the second position it is also in a sparking position and causes primary striker wear in said second portion of said striker assembly when said striker assembly is rotated, such that by moving said rod from the first position to the second position the operating life of said striker assembly is extended.

A special effects spark generating method, comprising the steps of:

• urging a flint rod against a rotating cutting wheel and thereby generating a stream of sparks;
• propelling with fluid pressure the stream of sparks out and away from the striker assembly as a special effects shower of sparks;
• and
• adjusting the rotation time of the cutting wheel and the urging force of the flint rod against the rotating cutting wheel to thereby controllably adjust the size of the stream of sparks.