US2744579A

US2744579A - Well point

Info

Publication number: US2744579A
Application number: US321140A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carl W Gerhardt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1952-11-18
Filing date: 1952-11-18
Publication date: 1956-05-08
Anticipated expiration: 1973-05-08

Description

I a-1445 fXwEL roiNr Carl W. GerhardtyDayton, Ohio Application ii o't en b fii s, i952, Serial No. 321,140 raisin or. 166-160) This invention relates to a well point for use in drilling and obtaining water, oil or other fluids, but is not necessarily so limited. g,

{It is an object of this invention to provide a well point which does not permit clogging of its. openings during the drilling process. t, I

Another object of this invention is to provide a well point which hasa filter element with openings adjustable in size. 1

Another object of this invention is to provide a well point which does not easily clog while fluids are obtained through it from the ground. 7

A further object of this invention is to provide a well point, the filter of which cannot easily be contaminated.

further object of thisinvention isto providea well point, the filter of which may beeasily cleaned, it any degreeof'clogging exists. v

Still another object of this invention is to provide a filter which. may be constructed to withstand usage throughout along period of time without breaking or becoming damaged. I v

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, the combination thereof and the mode of operation, as will become more apparent from the follow-' ing description. v g

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal view of thelwell point with a portion of the'well' point device shown in sectional view. Figured ,shows the well point device as it' is used during the drilling process.

Figure 2' is a fragmentary, longitudinal view with ah'portion of the device shown'in sectional ,view. Figure 2 showsthe relative position of the components of the well point device after they have been adjusted in the ground for obtaining fluids through it.

Referring in detail to the drawings,'.a point 10 is slidably attached to a pipe section '12 by means of a shank 14 and a pin 16. The'shank 14 is inserted into the end of thepipe section 12. A portion of the pin 16 is firmly attached in the shank 14. The other end of the 16 isloo sely fitted intoa vertical slot 18 which terminates in the pipe section 12'. I I a I A plurality of orifices 20 are cut through the wall of the pipe section 12 through which ,fluidsmay flow if the orifices 20 are uncovered by the, turns of a helical spring 22. The helical spring 22 closely encirclesthe pipe section1 2. Figure 1 shows the spring 22 tightly compressed between a shoulder 23 of a collar 24' and a" shoulder 26 of the'point 10. ,'The collar,24, which may consist of an ordinary pipe coupling, is fixedly attached to the pipe section 12. It may also be observed in Figure 1 that the shoulder'26 of point 10 is in contact with the lower end of the pipesection 12. I

The position of the components, as shown in Figure 1, is that position which is maintained during the drilling process. The spring 22 is so tightly compressed that there isno space between the turns of 'it'to, allow entrance of dust, dirt-sand, gravel, or other'foreign material to the orifices 20 as the well point device is forced into the ground with the point 10 cutting an entrancethrough the ground.- The act of forcing the well point device through the ground eauses the shoulder, 26 of the point 10 to lie firmly against the lower end of the pipe section 12. The spring 22 is of shoulder .26 of the point 10'abuts the lower, end of the pipe section 12, the spring 20 will be entirely compressed;

The orifices .20 are then entirely closed by the spring When the proper depth for the well point device has been. reached, it isdesir'ed to open the orifices 20 to allow a flow of fluid through them. The orifices 20 can be opened by forcing only the point lofarther into,tl' ie. ground. This can be accomplished by driving on the.

end surface 30 of the shank 14 by any suitable means extending downwardly throughthe'pipe section 12. This. causes the point 10 to move farther into the ground while the other components of the well point device remain, at the prepositioned depth. As the point 10smoves farther.

downward with respect to the other componentsjthe shoulder 26 moves away from the lower end of the pipe.

the lower end of the slot' 18-which guides the move-..

ment of the pin 16.

Often the well point deviceis used in veryhard soils which may retain the spring member so tightly thatit.

will not expand as the point 10 and the collar 24 are further separated. When used in such hard ground, the spring 26 is fixedly attached tto the point 10 and to the collar 24. Thereby the spring is forced to expand as. the distance betwen the point 10 and the collari24is,

increased. t

Another method of pipe section 12 including the collar 24.- The pointa10 then remains at the prepositioned depth; The increased distance betweenthe shoulder 23 of the collar 24: andthe shoulder 26 of the p0int 1 0 allows expansionsof thef spring 22. The spring 22 may also be expandedby forcing fluid downwardlyin the pipe section 12. This. causes downward movementof the point 10, thus increasingthe distance between the point 10 and the collar 24, which allows expansion of the spring 22. seen that this procedure also provides an excellent-cleam ing action, in that it serves to move the spring 22-at the time when fluid is flowing in reverse directionthr'ough the turns of the spring 22.

. As shown in Figure 2, the expansion of the-spring.22

allows space between each turn of the spring 22. When space exists between the turns of the spring 22, the orifices 20 are partially uncovered. This makes it possible for fluids to flow through the orifices 20 and upwardly through i the pipe section 12. The extent to which the orificesare uncovered depends upon the-permitted expansion of the spring 22. -A very high degree of accuracy and control may be maintained in the opening between turns'of the spring 22 by expansion. Each movement of thepoint 10 beyond the lower end of the pipe section- 12 must be: divided by-the number of turns of the spring 22 to' deter-- mine the change in distance between each turnof the. spring 22.- In other words, each small increment of movement of the point 10 means that the distance between;

each turn has changed the amount of the incrementadi vided by the number of turnsof the spring 22.

The expansion of the spring 22 maybe adjusted-with, slight openings between turns in sandy locations, whilethe spring 22. may beexpanded further to allowmore; space between turns in gravel or in rocky locations. The",

I spring 22 can be easily and accurately adjusted as -;de-.

sired.

Patented May 8, I

such length that when the obtainingexpansion of the spring 4 22 is that of partially withdrawing from the ground'ithe- It maybe.

'Iliepreferredembodiment shows the spring 22 of trapezoidal cross section.

The spring 22 also acts as a filter or screen over the orifices 20. This results in a filter which cannot easily become contaminated or clogged. The opening between each turn is a lengthy helical opening. These openings tend to cause foreign material to move away from the orifices 20 and not remain over these orifices.

The orifices 20 cannot become clogged during the drilling process due to the fact that they are completely covered by thespring 22. The orifices 20 will not easily clog while fluids are flowing from the ground through the orifices 20. This is attributed to filtering action of the spring 22 and the shape of the openings between turns. of the spring 2 2.

The components of the well point device are of a type which may be so constructed that they may withstand long term use without deterioration or damage. This well' point device readily lends itself to usage in any type of soil or ground.

Although the device has been described as consisting ofa coil surrounding a pipe provided with apertures, any other suitable structure may. be used instead of the, pipe for holding the convolutions of the coil properly aligned during the drilling operation.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a well point device having a conical point with a shank of smaller cross section than the largest part of the conical point thereby forming a shoulder between the shank and the conical point, a pipe section having a plurality of orifices and a slot-formed in the wall of the pipe section, the shank being slidably positioned in one end of the pipe section, a pin fixedly attached in the shank of the conical point, the pin extending from the shank into the slot formed in the wall of the pipe section, the pin being slidably movable within the slot, a collar fixedly attached around the pipe section at a position on the pipe section at a distance from'the orifices, and a helical spring encircling the pipe section, one end of the helical spring abutting-the collar and the other end of the helical spring abutting the shoulder of the conical point, the spring. being compressible toclose the orifices and expandable to open the orificesv to any desired degree, the spring also acting as a "filter of the fluids flowing through the orifices.

2. In a well point device havinga pipe section provided with a plurality of orifices and a longitudinal slot formed in the wall of-the pipe section, the longitudinalslot having both ends thereof terminating in the pipe section, a cortical point including a shank of .smallercross section than thegreatest cross section of the conical point thereby forming a shoulder between the conical point and the shank, the shank being slidably positioned in the pipe section, a pin at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the shank, thepin extending into the shank andinto the slot, the pin being slidably movable in the slot thereby limiting the movement. of the conical point with, respect tothe pipe section, a collar around the pipe section fixedly attached to the pipe section at alocation spaced from the orifices, a helical spring closely encircling the pipe section and disposed over the orifices thereof, the helical spring abuttingly engaging the shoulder of the conical point and the collar and being compressed therebetween, the amount of -compression of the helical springdepending upon the position-of the shoulder of the conical point relative to thecollar, the helical spring acting as a closure and a filter over the orifices, the degree of closure depending upon the compression of the helical spring;

3. In a well point device comprising a pipe section, said pipe section having an orifice and a slot formed in the wall thereof, a relatively short collar encircling the pipe section and attached thereto,- a helical spring encircling the pipe section adjacent the orifice, a conical point including a shank forming a shoulder and slidably positioned in one end of the pipe section, and a pin attached to the shank and slidably movable in the slot of the wall of the pipe, the helical spring being compressed between the collar and the shoulder of the conical. point, the degree of compression depending uponthe-position of, the shoulder of the conical point with respect to the collar, the helical spring acting as a closure and a filter over the orifice, the degree of closure and the degree of filtering depending upon the compression of the helical spring.

4. In a well point device comprising a pipe section, said pipe section having a plurality of orifices formed through the Wall of the pipe, section, a conical point adjustably attached to one end, of said pipe section, sard conical point having a shoulder, a collar attached to the outer surface of the pipe section in spaced relation from the end thereof. to which the conicalpoint is attached, and a helical spring encircling the pipe section and cornpres sed between the collar and the shoulder of the C011!- cal point, the degree of compression of the helical spring depending upon the distance between the shoulder of the conical point andthe collar, the helical spring, acting as a closure and as a filter over the orifices in the wall of the pipe section, the degree of closure and filtering action depending upon the compression ofthe helical spring.

5. In a well point device including a conduit section having an orifice therein, a conical point movably attached to the conduit section, the conical point having, an abutment shoulder, the conduit section having a collar attached thereto, and a resilient helical. member engaging the shoulder of. the conical point andv the collar of the conduit section, the'helical member encircling the conduit section adjacent the orifice and being adapted to cover the orifice.

6. In a well point assembly comprising a conduit member provided with. an external abutment surface and having an orifice therein, a point member movably attached to the conduit, and a helicalresilient spring, member compressedv between the point member and the abutment surface adjacent the orifice, the conduit. member also serving as means for adjusting the compression of the helical spring member.

7. In a well point. assembly including a, conduit member and a point member movably attached one to. the other, the conduit member having a fluid. port therein, each of the membersbeing provided with an abutment surface, and a resilient helical member encircling the conduit member adjacent the fluid port, the helical member being compressed between the abutment surfaces having one end thereof in engagement with the abutment surface of the conduit member and the other end thereof in engagement with the abutment surface of the point member, the interstices between the convolutions of the helical member being openable and closable by movement of the conduit member with respect to the point member, the helical member acting as a closure and filter means for the fluid port of the, conduit membenthe degree, of closure and, filtering, by the helical member depending upon the movement of the conduit member with respect to the point member.

References Cited in the file of, this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 4,267 Duck Feb. 21, 1871 77,772 Skilling May 12, 1868 408,487 Jewell Aug. 6, 1889 1,211,415 Cross Jan. 9, 1917 1,638,731 Hansom Aug. 9, 1927 1,983,428 Zeidler, Jr Dec. 4, 1934 2,280,054 Beck Apr. 21, 1942