US2699729A - Deep well pump - Google Patents

Description

E. M. STEVENS DEEP WELL PUMP Jan. 18, 1955 3 Shets-$heet 1 Filed Nov.- l4, 1950 IN VENTOR. .ATZerZ 127252 672612 5,

ATTDRN EYS Jan. 18, 1955 E. M. STEVENS DEEP WELL PUMP 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 14, 1950 INVENTOR. 75672 77?;5fevens,

ATTEIRN EYE Jan. 18, 1955 E. M. SI EVENS 2,699,729

DEEP WELL PUMP Filed Nov. 14, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N V EN TOR.

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ATTORNEYS United States Patent DEEP WELL PUMP Elbert M. Stevens, San Antonio, Tex. Application November 14, 1950, Serial No. 195,621 3 Claims. (Cl. 103--46) This invention relates to deep well pumps of the type used for elevating fluid where the head is too great for conventional pumping operations, and in particular an air pressure actuated pumping device where flexible pressure bags are inflated in valved sections of well cas-- ings for forcing fluid in the sections upwardly into superimposed sections.

The purpose of this invention is to provide means for pumping water and other fluid from well casings and the like without the use of extended and bulky piston rods and other mechanically actuating instrumentalities.

The purpose of this invention is to provide means for utilizing the pressure of the gas from a gas well, or from the gas accompanying oil in the well, to pump oil merely by application of its pressure head without requiring a compressor.

The purpose is also to provide a pumping system which it is practical to lower into existing standard casings and to remove therefrom for any very rarely required repair.

In the conventional pumping unit the distance from the pump to the water or fluid level is limited as the head breaks the seal and the pump ceases to operate. Also well casings vary from plumb line vertical with sections at some times extending horizontally at points far underground. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates means for forcing fluid upwardly through pipes or well casings by compressed fluid with the fluid pumped or injected into the well casing and exhausted therefrom by comparatively small pipes andwith the fluid elevated intermittently from one section of the casing to another, so that it flows from the upper end of the casing in an intermittent or interrupted stream.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for efliciently pumping water from well casings by compressed air wherein the air is controlled to elevate the fluid from one section of the casing to another.

.Another object of the invention is to provide a deep well pumping systemfor pumping liquid by means of pressurized air or othergas alternately by one system of chambersandthen by the other, and wherein several units or a single unit may be used independently in a shallow well.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved deep well pumping system for pumping water and other fluids from Well casings and the like which is comparatively simple and inexpensive.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a pair of air pipes having spaced transversely disposed seals with valves therein carried by the pipes and rubber composition or plastic bags connected to the pipes and positioned between the seals.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view illustrating the pressure control mechanism showing the apparatus positioned toward the upper end of a well casing with the end of the casing shown in section.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1 showing the mounting of a balancing weight on the rod of the rocking cradle.

Figure 4 is a cross section through a control valve showing the valve in the position of applying pressure to the air supply pipe in the left hand side of the casing with the pipe in the right hand side opened to the exhaust.

2,699,729 Patented Jan. 18, 1955 Figure 5 is a similar view showing the position of the valve reversed.

Figure 6 is a vertical section through a well casing showing the deep well pump incorporated therein with a bag in one section of the casing inflated and with a bag in a section above deflated.

Figure 7 is a cross section on an enlarged scale taken irim liine 7-7 of Figure 1a showing the pressure bag inate Figure 8 is a similar detail taken on line 8-8 of Figure 1a showing a plan View of one of the valve seals in the casing.

Figure 9 is a vertical section through a portion of the well casing showing the seals and air pipes while in process of being lowered and set in the casing, or while being raised out of the casing.

Figure la is a vertical section through a portion of the well casing, also on an enlarged scale showing the pressure bag in the section inflated and showing a seal at the lower end of the bag in section.

Figure 1b is a similar view showing the bag deflated and illustrating the position of the valves with fluid passing upwardly into the section and with the seal shown in elevation.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved deep well pump of this invention includes a plurality of flexible pressure bags 10 and 11, an air pressure tube 12 to which the bags 10 are connected, a similar tube 13 through which the bags 11 are connected, cup shaped washers 14, of flexible material, forming seals, discs 15 upon which the seals are positioned, units 16 which, in combination with the discs, provide valves, a rocking cradle 17, a control valve 18 and pressure cylinders 19 and 20.

In the design shown the air pressure tubes and bags are incorporated in a well casing 21 with the seals positioned by collars 22 and 23 on the tube 12 and 24 and 25 on the tube 13.

With the parts arranged in this manner the pressure tubes are lowered into the well casing with the seals retained in spaced relation by the collars on the tubes, particularly as shown in Figure 9, and with the bags 10 secured to the ends of nipples 26 and 27 extended from the tube 12 by clamps 28 and 29, respectively, and also with the bags 11 secured to similar nipples 3t] and 31 of the tube 13 by clamps 32 and 33, respectively.

With the pressure bags alternated whereby every other bag is connected to the tube 12 and the intermediate bags to the tube 13 the bags on one side are expanded to force the fluid upwardly through the valves in the seals above with the valves in the seals below the bag preventing the fluid passing downwardly. As the bags of the tube 12 are inflated or expanded the bags 11 of the tube 13 are deflated providing sufficient area for the fluid and after this step is completed the bags 11 are expanded and the bags 10 deflated whereby the fluid is forced upwardly to the next stages or sections.

The parts 10 and 11 are illustrated as connected to the air pressure tubes with diagonally positioned or sloping nipples and in the design illustrated in Figure 1a the lower nipple is closed with the tube 12 so that the nipple 27 merely forms a support for the lower end of the bags. It will be understood that both of the nipples may be opened so that air may be supplied to and removed from both ends of the bags, or only one nipple may be opened to the pressure tube with the other providing a support, or the bags may be provided with single connections, only alt either the upper or lower ends with the opposite ends 0 use It will be also understood that expansible units or elements of any suitable type or design may be used and these elements which may be of any suitable size or shape may be connected to the supply tubes or pipes at any suitable point or points.

It will be noted that as the bag 11 shown in Figure 1b is inflated water pressure of the section above the seal 14 at the lower end of the bag moves the ball 16 at the lower end on the seat whereas the ball in the opposite or upper end is elevated above the seat by the flow of water passing upwardly through the upper seal.

The discs 15 are provided with centrally disposed downward.

openings 34 which provide seats for the units 16 forming valves and the discs are also provided with cages 35 that retain the units in position in relation to the valve seats and at. the'same timepermit freedom of movement there of; Although'the' valve units are illustrated. as being formed with balls, valves of other types or designs. may be used; I

It will be understood that air. may be supplied' to the pressure tubes 12 and 13' by any suitable means and that inFigures l to a typical control mechanism isprovided wherein air pressure supplied by any suitable means is provided through a pipe 36 to the valve 18.and with the. valve positioned as shown in Figure 4 the air pressure is supplied through the port 37 to a connection 38 which is connected to the upper end of the tube 12 by a union 39.

The connection 38 is connected to an auxiliary tank 40 by a connection 41 and the tank 40 is connected to the lower end of. the cylinder 19'through a connection 42.

The air pressure is supplied to the bag and when the bags are fully expanded the pressure builds up in the tank and forces a piston 43 in the lower end of the cylinder 19 upwardly whereby the rocking cradle 17 is actuated until the end 44 which is connected to the connecting rod 45 of the piston 43 by a clevis 46 is elevated above thecenter and to such a position that a weight 47 carried by a rod 48 passes down the rod and forces the opposite end 49 downwardly with a piston 50in the cylinder 20, which is connected to the cradle 17 by a clevis 51. through the upper end of the connecting rod 52 moving In this movement a link 53 pivotally connected to the cradle 17 by a pin 54 at one end and to an arm 55 extended from the valve 18 by a pin 56 at the other, reverses the position of the valve whereby pressure from the pipe 36 is applied to the tube 13 through a connection 57. The connection 57 is attached to the upper end of the tube 13 by a union 58 and to the cylinder 20 through an auxiliary tank 59 to which it is connected by a connection 60, the tank being connected to the cylinder20 by a connection 61.

The rocking cradle 17with the cylinders 19 and 20 are mounted upon a base 62' and the base may be positioned over the upper end ofv the well casing 21. The rocking cradle 17 is pivotally mounted on the base by brackets 63 and 64 with pins 65 and 66.

The weight 47 is provided with rollers 67 and 68 which are rotatably mounted on pins 69 and 70 and the rod 48 upon which the weight is mounted is supported by end plates 71 and 72 from the ends of the rocking cradle. The rod 48 is provided with'threaded ends and adjusting nuts 73 and 74 are adjustably mounted on the rod, providing means for adjusting the travel of the weight 47 whereby thepressure to the bags 10 and 11 may be cut off as desired.

The upper end of the well casing 21' is provided with discharge openings 75 and these openings may be positioned at. any suitable point or points.

With the deep wellrpump of this type parts may be assembled above a well casing and lowered into the casing by the tubes 12 and 13 and,,as illustrated in Figure 6 expansion of a bag 10, with the valve in the seal below the bag closed, forces fluid upwardly through the casing and at the completion of this step, expansion of the bag 11 in the section above with the valve in the seal below the bag closed, forces the fluid further upward.

The bag 10 and sealing washers 14 may be formed of rubber or any suitable material and the parts may be connected by any suitable means.

It will be understood that other modifications may be made in theldesign and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a deep well pump, the combination which comprises a vertically disposed well casing, fluid pressure means including a pair of tubes positioned in the casing, spaced expansible bags positioned in the casing, means connecting alternate ones of the said expansible bags to one of the said tubes, means connecting. the remainder of the said bags to the other of the said tubes, so that said bags are alternately connected to said tubes at both ends thereof, seals extended across the casing between the bags, and check valves in the said seals.

2. In a deep well pump, the combination which comprises a vertically disposed well casing, a pair of tubes positioned in the casing, spaced expansible bags positioned in the casing, means connecting alternate ones of the said expansible bags to one of the said tubes, means connecting the remainder of the said bags to the other of the said tubes, so that said bags are alternately connected to said tubes at both ends thereof, seals extended across the casing between the bags, check valves in the said seals, means supplying air under pressure through the tubes to the said bags alternately.

3; In a deep well pump, the combination which comprises a vertically disposed well casing, a pair of tubes positioned in the casing, spaced expansible bags positioned. in the casing, means connecting alternate ones of the said expansiblebags to one of the said tubes, means connectingthe remainder of the said bags to the other of the said tubes, so that said bags are alternately connected to said tubes at both ends thereof, seals extended across the casing between the bags, check valves in the said seals, means whereby air under pressure is supplied to a lower one of said tubes, and control means whereby upon reaching a predetermined pressure the supply of air under pressure is applied above said first tube with the pressure in the first tube relieved.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,851,666 Evans Mar. 29, 1932 2,162,748 Richards et al June 20, 1939 2,196,993 Kidder Apr. 16, 1940 2,404,524 Norton July 23, 1946 2,435,179 McGovney Jan. 27, 1948 2,606,500 Schmidt Aug. 12, 1952

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