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  System and method for generating flame effectsUSPTO Application #: 20070281258Title: System and method for generating flame effects Abstract: A system and method for generating flame effects. The system includes an array of burner heads, each having an igniter configured to generate an ignition spark. The system also includes a reservoir of a high flash point liquid and a pump configured to draw the high flash point liquid from the reservoir and pump it to the array of burner heads under high pressure. A valve is arranged at each burner in the array of burner heads to control a flow of the high flash point liquid through each burner head. Also, a nozzle is arranged at each burner head to atomize the high flash point liquid before ignition. A sensor is arranged at each burner head to generate an ignition confirmation signal upon detecting the ignition spark at the igniter. Accordingly, a controller is configured to independently control each valve to restrict the flow of the high flash point liquid to the burner unless the ignition confirmation signal is received from the sensor monitoring the burner. (end of abstract) Agent: Quarles & Brady LLP - Milwaukee, WI, US Inventors: Russell Carlton Clark, Jerome Gene Engerski, John Anthony Miller, Richard Neal Fleming USPTO Applicaton #: 20070281258 - Class: 431 74 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070281258. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001]Not applicable. STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0002]Not applicable. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003]The present invention relates generally to a system and method for generating flame effects and, more specifically, to a system and method for generating flame effects using a pumping system having a plurality of valve points configured to feed a material that is combustible when atomized or vaporized to an array of independently controllable burners. [0004]Effects systems are commonly used in a variety of entertainment environments. For example, some effects systems are individually designed for the filming of feature films and television programs while other systems are found in stage shows and at amusement parks that seek to repeatedly generate a realistic recreation of specific events. [0005]One common effect utilized in both types of effects systems is a flame effect that is typically generated by ejecting and igniting a volatile and combustible liquid or gas along a desired path. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,756,920, which is commonly assigned to Sigma Services, Inc., discloses a system that pressurizes propane into a liquid state and, using a regulator, permits a portion of the propane to escape through a nozzle where it encounters a pilot flame and is ignited to generate a mushroom-shaped flame. In this regard, the resulting flame yields the appearance of an explosion and is often used in action scene simulations commonly found at amusement parks and various stage shows. [0006]However, while these systems provide a highly accurate simulation of explosive flames, additional features are desired in some settings that are difficult and/or costly to achieve with these systems. For example, these systems are generally limited in the number of recursive firings that are possible. That is, since the systems rely on a pressurized flammable gas and a regulator that controls the escape of the gas from a pressurized vessel, recursive firing is limited by the sustainability of pressurization and the supply of flammable gas contained in the pressurized vessel. Once the supply of flammable gas contained in the pressurized vessel is consumed, the pressurized vessel must be physically disconnected from the system and replaced with a new vessel filled with the flammable gas or the pressurized vessel must be otherwise refilled. In either case, this can be a fairly arduous and time-consuming process that can significantly limit the applications in which the system can be utilized. Similarly, by using a pressurized material and a regulator, the system may be negatively impacted by changes in the surrounding weather conditions, such as temperature and pressure changes. [0007]Additionally, should a single pressurized reservoir of flammable gas be utilized to supply an array of nozzles, it may be difficult to accurately control each nozzle independently, such that the nozzles fire in a successive or highly sequenced pattern. That is, though a single, localized pressure vessel serving as a reservoir of flammable gas is desirable for logistic considerations, the single pressure source has a discrete amount of pressure that can be utilized over a given firing interval before it is significantly diminished and must be reloaded and/or re-pressurized. Therefore, even if flow from a given nozzle in the array is limited over a particular time while other nozzles in the array fire, when that nozzle is permitted to fire, the supply of pressurized flammable gas may be exhausted or significantly diminished, making the system unable to generate the flame effect desired from the nozzle. [0008]Therefore, it would be desirable to have a system and method for generating a flame effect that is highly controllable over multiple successive firings. In particular, it would be desirable to have a modular flame effect and control system that allows highly accurate isolation and control of individual portions of a flame effect system to generate a sustainable pattern of firings mapped to a desired sequence. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009]The present invention overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks by providing a system and method for generating flame effects using a pumping system having a plurality of valve points configured to feed a material that is combustible when atomized or vaporized to an array of independently controllable burners. Both the pump and the valve points can be controlled to generate a sustainable pattern of firings mapped to a desired sequence. [0010]In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a system generating flame effects is disclosed. The system includes an array of burner heads, each having a burner configured to generate an ignition spark. The system also includes a reservoir of a high flash point liquid and a pump configured to draw the high flash point liquid from the reservoir and pump it to the array of burner heads under pressure. A valve is arranged at each burner in the array of burner heads to control a flow of the high flash point liquid through each burner head. Also, a nozzle is arranged at each burner head to atomize the high flash point liquid to a combustible form. A sensor is arranged at each burner head to generate an ignition confirmation signal upon detecting the ignition spark at the igniter. Accordingly, an ignition module is configured to independently control each valve to restrict the flow of the high flash point liquid to the igniter unless the ignition confirmation signal is received from the sensor monitoring the burner. [0011]In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a system for generating flame effects is disclosed that includes a reservoir having a material stored therein that is in a liquid state and combustible when atomized or in a gaseous state. A pump is included that is configured to move the material from the reservoir toward an expelling port where at least one burner head is disposed. Each burner head includes a nozzle configured to receive the material and atomize or vaporize the material, and a valve configured to restrict the material from passing from the nozzle. Each burner head also includes a sparking igniter configured to ignite the material as it passes from the nozzle to generate the flame effects, and a sensor configured to monitor the igniter to determine ignition of the burner. An ignition module is included that is configured to control power supplied to the valve to restrict the material from passing from the nozzle if the sensor has not determined ignition of the igniter. [0012]In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a method for generating flame effects is disclosed that includes pumping a high flash point liquid from a reservoir toward a plurality of nozzles configured to atomize the high flash point liquid to a combustible form. The method also includes igniting a burner associated with each of the plurality of nozzles according to a predetermined pattern to ignite the combustible form of the high flash point liquid and generate the flame effects. As such, the method includes monitoring each burner to confirm ignition of each burner according to the predetermined pattern and independently controlling valves associated with each of the plurality of nozzles to only open a valve after ignition of the burner has been confirmed. [0013]Various other features of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description and the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014]Reference is hereby made to the following drawings in which like reference numerals correspond to like elements throughout, and in which: [0015]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a pumping system in accordance with the present invention; and [0016]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a burner system in accordance with the present invention that is designed to receive a material for combustion from the pumping system of FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0017]Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic diagram of a pumping system 10 in accordance with the present invention as shown. Pumping system 10 includes a high pressure pump 12 that draws a high flash point liquid 13 from a reservoir 14 through a filter 15. As used herein, "high flash point liquid" refers to a material that is a liquid under atmospheric pressure and room temperatures and becomes flammable when it is subjected to "high temperatures", such as temperatures greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit. A check valve 16 is included to selectively isolate pump 12 and reservoir 14 from the remainder of pumping system 10. In this regard, a bypass hose 18 is included that may be opened via a ball valve 20. Downstream from check valve 16 is a normally closed two-way solenoid valve 22 followed by a manifold 24 through which a high pressure switch 26 and a gauge 28 are connected. Further downstream, a plurality of ball valves 30, 32, 34 are arranged to isolate individual sections of pumping system 10. In particular, valve 30 may be utilized to isolate the previously-described section of pumping system 10 that includes pump 12 from an accumulator loop 36 and a burner head supply line 38. Additionally or alternatively, valves 32, 34 may be utilized to selectively isolate the previously-described section of pumping system 10 including motor 12 from one of accumulator loop 36 or burner head supply line 38. [0018]Accumulator loop 36 includes an accumulator 40, preferably in the form of a bladder accumulator, that may be isolated from a remainder of accumulator loop 36 via valve 34. Downstream of accumulator 40 and valve 34 are a normally open two-way relief solenoid valve 42 and a gauge 44 designed to relieve pressure in the accumulator loop 36 as the high flash point liquid 13 collected in accumulator 40 is delivered back to reservoir 14. Additionally, all pressure in burner head supply line 38 will be relieved upon removing power to the relief valve 42. Continue reading... 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