US1730682A - Air lift system - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 8, 1929. J. OLIPHANT AIR LIFT SYSTEM Filed March 26, 1926 5 m n6 w pf Z Wu 4 a w m Patented Oct. 8, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN OLIIPHANT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO SULLIVAN MACHINERY COM- PANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS AIR LIFT SYSTEM Application filed March 26, 1926. Serial No. 97,651.

My invention relates to air lift systems. In air lift systems and particularl n such systems employed in the raisin r o water from deep wells, it frequently appens that the standing level of the liquid to be pumped rises to such a height in the well above the foot piece that an air pressure adequate to maintain pumping during normal pumping operation is insuflicient to start discharge against the liquid head. Provision is therefore necessary for blowing off the excess head and the present invention relates more particularly to air lift pumping systems provided with means for effecting this result.

An object of the invention is to provide improved airlift pumping means. Another object of the invention is to provide improved air lift pumping apparatus having improved means for blowing off an excess head. A 2Q further object of the invention is to provide improved fluid conducting and discharge means for air lift pumping systems whereby the control of a starting mechanism can be most simply accomplished. Other ob ects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown for purposes of illustration one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings,-

Fig. 1 shows in partial section a side elevation of an air lift system equipped with the illustrative embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale through a booster and through one form of controlling mechanism for the improved starting valve mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section mal level of the liquid to be pumped during pumping operation and is connected at its.

upper end with a booster or separator 7 in which the rising column of liquid and gaseous pumping fluid is separated. The pumped liquid is discharged through a line 8 to a point of storage or use. At its lower end the down pipe 5 carries a foot piece 10 which may be of any usual construction and which is herein shown in the form of a chamber forming member 11 provided at its lower end with supporting wings 12 resting upon transversely extending rods 13 which extend from side to side of the riser pipe 6. The chamber forming member 11 is traversed by a plurality of upwardly inclined discharge passages 14 through which the gaseous pumping fluid is discharged into the liquid column in the riser pipe 6 to effect pumping.

The down pipe 5 is made in two parts respectively designated 5 and 5". The lower part 5* is provided at its upper end'with a threaded connecting element 15 onto whose outside is screwed a sleeve-like member 16 having at its upper end an inwardly directed annular shoulder 17. Within the bore 18 of the member 16 is reciprocable the enlarged head 20 of a nozzle member 21 which.is threadedly connected through a coupling 22 to the lower end of the upper down pipe section 5. The lower end of the portion 20 is provided with a tapered portion 23 adapted to seat under certain conditions upon a correspondingly tapered seat portion 24: at the upper end of tie sleeve 15. The upper surface of the portion 20 is also similarly provided with a conically tapered portion 25 which cooperates with a corresponding portion 26 upon the inner side of the radially extending flange 17. The lower end of the coupling 22 is formed with a conically bored seat portion 29 adapted to seat on a corresponding surface 29 on flange 17 when the surfaces 23 and 24 are in contact. Seating between surfaces 29 and 29 is more essential than seating between surfaces 23 and 24. The member 21 is traversed by a series of discharge openings 27 throughwhich fluid may be discharged into the liquid column when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3. The parts 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, etc. are

arranged at such distance above the foot tion 5 is carried upon the cross rods 13.

Adjustment of the upper pipe section 5 relative to the lower pipe section 5 is accomplished by means of a hand wheel 30 which rotates a nut 31 cooperating with the threaded end 32 of the upper down pipe section 5 A stuffing box 33 is provided at the upper end of the threaded portion 32 and cooperates with a smooth terminal portion 34 of the valve controlled receiver discharge line. If desired, any suitable means for supporting the portion 3a against movement on sliding longitudinally thereof of the pipe section 5 may be provided, as, for example, a hanger mounted on the top of the booster casing 7.

The mode of operation of this mechanism will be readily understood. Let it be assumed that the pump has been shut down for some time and that the liquid level in the well casing has risen to such an extent that discharge through the jets 14 will be impossible with the pressure available. The compressor 1 having been started up and the valve 4 opened the impossibility of the air discharging against the standing level will be demonstrated by a failure of the pump to begin operation. The hand wheel 30 may then be turned to raise'the riser pipe section 5 to bring the parts into the position shown in Fig. 3. lVhen this position is reached, it will be observed that the nozzles 27 are uncovered and capable of freely discharging into the column of liquid in the riser pipe. It will be noted, moreover, that any escape of liquid between the inturned flange 17 and the outside of the member 21 will be prevented by the engagement of the seat 26 by the tapered portion 25 on the member 20. Vhen the operator is sure the excess head has been blown olf, which may be ascertained by observation of pressure changes in the receiver, for example, the hand wheel 30 may be operated to lower the upper down pipe section 5 and the conical surface 29 on the coupling 22 may be causedto seat upon the upper surface 29 of the upturned flange 17 and prevent all leakage at the auxiliary excess head discharging jet.

It will be noted that this mechanism is very simple, has comparatively few parts, permits the use of the air lift pumping method with a central down pipe type of air lift pumping system without the necessity for recourse to any auxiliary valves actuated through separate connections with the top of the well, and further provides against waste of air through leakage during the inactive period of the auxiliary nozzle device or inefiicient discharge therefrom during the pumping period.

While I have in this application specifically described one form which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an air lift pumping mechanism, a riser pipe, a down pipe therein, a foot piece at the lower end of said down pipe having a plurality of constantly open discharge orifices, an auxiliary starting jet between the ends of said down pipe and comprising a telescopic joint in the latter, and means for moving the upper end of said down-pipe to control said jet.

2. In an air lift pumping mechanism, a riser pipe, a down pipe therein, a foot piece at the lower end of said down pipe having a plurality of constantly open discharge orifices, said down pipe comprising relatively movable upper and lower portions, and means at the junction of said ortions forming an auxiliary pumping fiiiid discharge device and controlled by relative movement between said portions.

3. In an air lift pumping mechanism, a riser pipe, a down pipe therein, a foot piece at the lower end of said down pipe, said down pipe comprising relatively movable upper and lower portions, and means at the junction of said portions formin an auxiliary pumping fluid discharge device and controlled by relative movement between said portions, means for supporting said lower portion in said riser pipe permitting flow therein, and means permitting adjusting of said upper portion without varying or interrupting pumping fluid discharge at said foot piece.

4. A collapsible jet comprising an imperforate tubular body portion, a sleeve reciprocable relative to said body and providing a series of discharge nozzles adapted to discharge directly into a rising column of liquid, the discharge nozzle carrying portion of said sleeve being wholly receivable in said body in one relative position of said parts and movable to an opposite position in which 'said discharge nozzles lie outside said body portion, means carried on said sleeve to prevent complete separation of said sleeve and body, and means including a portion on said sleeve and a portion carried by said body for sealing communication between the interior of said body and the exterior thereof when said sleeve is in full telescoped position relative to said body.

5. A collapsible jet comprising an imperforate tubular body portion, a sleeve reciprocable relative to said body and providing a series of dischar e nozzles spaced longitudinally thereof and adapted to discharge directly into a rising column of liquid, the discharge nozzle carrying portion of said sleeve being wholly receivable in said body in one relative position of said parts and movable to an opposite position in which all of said discharge nozzles lie outside said body portion, means carried on said sleeve to prevent complete separation of said sleeve and body, I and means including a portion carried by said body and a cooperating collar above said sleeve for sealingcomfiiunication between the interior of said body and the exterior thereof, said collar having means adapted to seat on the exterior of said body ortion when said sleeve is in full telescope position relative to said body.

6. In an air lift pumping system, a downpipe for conveying actuating fluid into a well, a discharge pipe surrounding said down-pipe, means for discharging fluid from said down-pipe adjacent the lower end of the well, means controllable f1 m the top of the well-for moving said down-pipe, and valve means actuated by movement of said downpipe fordischarging actuating fluid into said riser pipe above said other discharge means when the latter is precluded from discharg in solely by excessive hydraulic head.

In an air lift umping system, a riser pipe, a down-pipe t erein, a foot piece adjacent the lower end of said down-pipe, said down-pipe bein made up of a plurality of relatively mova 1e sections, valve means at the junction of two of said sections forming an auxiliary pumping fluid discharge device and controlled by relative movement of two of said sections, and means for supporting the lower section in said riser pipe at the lower end thereof, said supportin means comprising transversely extendin in said riser pipe at a point of fufil diameter therein.

8. In an air lift limping mechanism, a riser pipe, a down plpe therein, means constituting a foot piece disposed at the lower end of said down pipe and havin pumping fluid discharge orifices, an auxi lary starting jet between the ends of said down pipe and comprising a telescopic 'oint in the latter, and means for moving t e upper end of said down pipe to interru t discharge through said starting jet while ow continues through the pumping fluid discharge orifices in said foot piece constituting means.

In testimony whereof I aflix m signature.

- JOHN OLI HANT.

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