System and Method for Supplying Pressurized Water to a Recreational Splash Tower Apparatus

Abstract

A system and method for supplying pressurized water to a recreational splash tower apparatus are disclosed. The system comprises a water storage reservoir, an electric pump disposed within the reservoir, a splitter for dividing a residential water supply into separate flow paths, a first conduit for conveying pressurized water from the pump to the splash tower, and a second conduit for supplying water to a foam machine. The method involves filling the reservoir with water, submerging the electric pump, splitting the residential supply using the splitter, connecting the flow paths to the reservoir and foam machine, coupling the pump output to the splash tower, and operating the pump to pressurize the water and supply it to the splash tower at an enhanced pressure, thereby improving the splash tower performance compared to using the residential supply alone.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for supplying pressurized water to a recreational apparatus, the system comprising:
 a water storage reservoir adapted to contain a volume of water;   an electric pump disposed within the water storage reservoir, the electric pump configured to pressurize the water contained in the water storage reservoir;   a splitter having an inlet port coupled to a residential water supply   spigot and first and second outlet ports, the first outlet port in fluid communication with the water storage reservoir for filling the water storage reservoir with water from the residential water supply spigot;   a first conduit having a proximal end coupled to the electric pump and a distal end configured to be coupled to a water-spraying splash tower, wherein the electric pump is operable to supply the pressurized water from the water storage reservoir to the splash tower via the first conduit at a pressure sufficient to achieve a desired spray performance from the splash tower; and   a second conduit having a proximal end coupled to the second outlet port of the splitter and a distal end configured to be coupled to a foam machine, for separately supplying water from the residential water supply spigot to the foam machine.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the water storage reservoir has a capacity of approximately 100 gallons. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the splash tower comprises:
 a hemispherical base having a fluid inlet coupled to the distal end of the first conduit; and   a plurality of limbs extending from the base, each limb having at least one water outlet for dispersing water.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the splash tower further comprises:
 a top portion positioned above the hemispherical base; and   a plurality of additional limbs extending from the top portion, each additional limb having at least one water outlet for dispersing water.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of limbs comprises five limbs extending from the hemispherical base. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of additional limbs comprises three limbs extending from the top portion. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electric pump is submersible and configured to be fully immersed within the water contained in the water storage reservoir. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the foam machine is configured to generate foam by mixing air, water from the second conduit, and a foam concentrate. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a control unit for regulating the operation of the electric pump based on user input. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the control unit is configured to adjust the pressure of the water supplied by the electric pump to the splash tower to achieve different spray patterns from the splash tower. 
     
     
         11 . A method for providing pressurized water to a splash tower apparatus, the method comprising:
 filling a water storage barrel with water;   submerging an electric pump within the water contained in the water storage barrel;   splitting a residential water supply into a first flow path and a second flow path using a splitter coupled to a residential hose spigot, the splitter having an inlet and two outlets;   connecting the first flow path from a first outlet of the splitter to the water storage barrel via a first hose to enable filling of the water storage barrel from the residential water supply;   connecting the second flow path from a second outlet of the splitter to a foam machine via a second hose;   coupling an output of the electric pump to the splash tower apparatus via a third hose; and   operating the electric pump to pressurize the water from the water storage barrel and supply the pressurized water to the splash tower apparatus at a pressure greater than the residential water supply pressure, thereby enhancing the performance of the splash tower apparatus.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein submerging the electric pump comprises submerging a submersible electric pump configured to be fully immersed within the water contained in the water storage barrel. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising operating the foam machine to generate foam by mixing air, water from the second hose, and a foam concentrate. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the splash tower apparatus comprises:
 a hemispherical base having a fluid inlet coupled to the third hose; and   a plurality of limbs extending from the hemispherical base, each limb having at least one water outlet for dispersing water.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the splash tower apparatus further comprises:
 a top portion positioned above the hemispherical base; and   a plurality of additional limbs extending from the top portion, each additional limb having at least one water outlet for dispersing water.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of limbs comprises five limbs extending from the hemispherical base. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of additional limbs comprises three limbs extending from the top portion. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising regulating the operation of the electric pump using a control unit based on user input. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein filling the water storage barrel comprises filling the water storage barrel to a capacity of approximately 100 gallons. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising adjusting, via the control unit, the pressure of the water supplied by the electric pump to the splash tower apparatus to achieve different spray patterns from the splash tower apparatus.