US3064736A

US3064736A - Well system

Info

Publication number: US3064736A
Application number: US61663A
Authority: US
Inventors: Howard A Tubbs
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-10-10
Filing date: 1960-10-10
Publication date: 1962-11-20
Anticipated expiration: 1979-11-20

Description

H. A. TUBBS WELL SYSTEM Nov. 20, 1962 Filed Oct. lO, 1960 r9 TTWPME Y iinited States 3,064,736 WELL SYSTEM Howard A. Tubbs, 406 S. Elizabeth St., Whitewater, Wis. Filed Get. 1li, 1960, Ser. No. 61,663 11 Claims. (Cl. 166-67) The invention relates to a well system of the type normally used in supplying water in rural areas for domestic or commercial purposes.

In particular, the invention relates to the type of Well system in which a submersible type pump is located within the well casing, such pump together with its motor being suspended from the drop pipe which delivers the water to the storage tank. Y

The principal object is to provide an above ground well head discharge unit for use in a well system.

A specific object is to provide in a well system, a' well head discharge unit which may' be readily assembled during the initial installation of the well system and which may be readily disassembled for servicing purposes.

Another object is to provide in a well system of the type employed, means for effecting balancing of the water level in the system.

Another object is to provide a well system having an above ground water discharge while providing a means for preventing freezing during extremely cold weather.

A further object is to provide a generally improved well system wherein the water discharge level is situated above the normal ground level.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the ensuing specification and drawing in which: f

FlG. l is an elevational view, shown partly fragmentarily, of the entire well system. Y v' FlG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the distributor head.

FlG, 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FiG. l. A

FlG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the drop pipe assembly and pertinent valves.

in general, the well system includes thewell casing A, which in practice would be made up of sections of pipe secured together to form a continuous pipe extending down into the ground to a depth sufficient to encounter the source of water. The well casing normally has a common inside diameter throughout its length to accommodate the pump and motor unit B which is submerged at all times below water level within the casing. The pump and motor unit is suspended from the drop pipe C which, of course, is formed of sections connected together so as to extend throughout the length of the well casing continuously. The upper end of the drop pipe is connected to the water distributor D from whence the water enters the storage tank E and is dispensed into the house or other place of usage through the discharge pipe F (only a portion of which is shown). Suitable electric wiring G leads from the source of electricity (not shown) into the interior of the well casing, down through the distributor head and on down through the well casing to the pump and motor unit.

in a well system of this type, it is conventional practice to supply a pressure switch (not shown) which is responsive to the air pressure within the storage tank for automatically controlling the operation of the pump and motor unit.

The distributor D may include a single casting, gengenerally in the form of a spool, having axially spaced lands 16 and 11 with annular grooves 10a and 11a for receiving the O-

ring type seals

12 and 13 thus closing oli the annular water chamber 14 which communicates 3,?0643356 Patented Nov. 20, 1962 lee with the water transfer pipe 15 through the opening 16 in the casing adapter section 17. The Water thus travels up through the drop pipe C from the uppermost section 1S thereof into the diametric slot 19 which opens into the annular chamber 14 from whence the water is discharged through opening 16 into the interior of the nipple 15a and thence through the transfer pipe 15 into the storage tank E. The distributor casting may have a passage 2t) opening through the opposite ends thereof through which the conductor wires G pass.

It is necessary to admit air into the interior of the storage tank as needed to provide a suitable air cushion above the water level in said tank for pressurizing the system and this air is introduced into the tank through appropriate bleeders 21 and 22 in a manner to be explained hereinafter. Excess air within the tank is discharged to atmosphere through the discharge pipe 23 in accordance with water level within the tank. Whenever the water level reaches a predetermined height within the tank, the oat 24 moves vertically upwardly following the water level and opens an air control valve 25 allowing air in vthe storage tank to escape through the pipe Z3 to atmosphere, through the interior of plug 27 and out through ground type, that is, buried in the ground with adequate space from the well casing A. It will be understood that the storage tank could be located within the basement or other location of the home or other building employing the well system. The stand pipe 29 which houses the air release pipe 23 may be threaded into the boss 30 formed at the upper end of the storage tank and an air cushion is thus formed within the stand pipe between its internal wall and the external wall of the air release pipe 23.

By using a stand pipe of fairly large diameter, the air escape pipe 23 can be threaded into the plug 27 which in turn is threaded into the stand pipe. The tapered pipe threads provide a very suitable seal for preventing loss of air from the storage tank whereby water logging within the tank is effectively controlled and the water level within the tank is kept well below frost level to prevent freezing. The stand pipe 29 also permits removal of the float valve assembly for servicing.

The water transfer pipe 15 may be provided with a T 31 to permit the use of a removable plug 32. A suitable iitting 33 is welded at 34 within an opening 35 in the bottom wall of the lower half 36 ofthe closure shell which may be generally identified by the letter H. A T 37 receives one end of a balancing pipe 3S, the other end of which is in communication with the interior of the stand pipe 29 for reasons to be explained hereinafter.

The lower half 36 of the closure shell is of cylindrical cross-section and has radially inwardly turned annular ange 39 formed at its upper end and providing an annular shoulder 4@ against which the complementary upper half 41 of the closure shell abuts. The upper half of the shell is likewise of cylindrical cross-section. Both the upper and lower halves of the closure shell are lined interiorly with suitable blankets of

insulation material

42 and 43 for assisting in preventing freezing during cold weather. A device known commercially as a heating tape 44 is wrapped continuously around the casing section 17 and an electrical conductor 45 leads from the coiled heat tape through an automatic thermally responsive switch mechanism 46 and thence through the conduit 47. The conduit 47 is of the underground type and serves to carry the houses the cables G and 45.Y

Yrecede any further.

conductor wire li5 for the heat tape and also the electrical conductor cable G which leads to the pump motor unit B. A hollow coupling 4S is welded at 49 within an opening in the bottom wall of the shell 36 and the end of the conduit 47 is threaded into such coupling. The heat tape 44 will be automatically energized by the closing of the switch mechanism 46 whenever the temperature within the interior of the shell closure H drops to a level in which freezing of the water might be apt to occur. Thus I have made it possible t'o discharge the Water from the drop pipe C into the annular chamber 14 above ground level and then transfer such water through the transfer pipe 15 to the storage tank E -while providing a suitable means for preventing freezing of the water during extremely cold weather. t

As has been previously pointed out, it is necessary to admit air periodically into the storage tank E and this is accomplished by iirst introducing such atmospheric air to the interior of the well casing A from whence it is ultimately transferred through the drop pipe C, annular chamber 14 and transfer pipe 15.into the storage tank E during each period when thew pump is operating. l

While the shell enclosure H is suliiciently tight yto prevent entry of foreign materials (such as might be voccasioned by inclement weather), atmospheric air is always present within the closure shell-entry thereto being possible at the joint where the upper and lower halves of the shell abut and also through the conduit 47 which also The atmospheric air within the shell enclosure gains entry to the interior of the well casing A through the passages and 20a in the distributor head D.

When the pump is operating, water is being delivered up through the drop pipe and into the storage tank until the pressure switch opens the electric circuit to the pump motor. Then when the pump ceases operating, a one way check valve 55 prevents the water in the storage tank from running back down through the drop pipe, however, the receding of the water within the drop pipe below the check valve causes a suction condition to tend to want to build up within the drop pipe wherein `the valve ball 56 (see FIG. 4) within the bleeder 21 would tend to close against its outer seat 51 and Vthus prevent admission of air into the interior of drop pipe C, however, the second bleeder 22 allows escape of the receding water until the opening 52 is exposed to the atmospheric air which is present within the well casing A. Then the partial vacuum condition within the drop pipe beneath check valve 55 causes a charge of air to be drawn into the interior of the drop pipe. The water within the drop pipe will recede to a level in the vicinity of the second bleeder, check valve 53 at the pump motor unit preventing the water level to The check valve 53 may be of the same general construction as shown in FIG. 4 with reference to valve `55 and the bleeder 22 may be of the same general construction as bleeder 21. Thus, with a column of air supplied within the drop pipe, when the pump next operates, a charge of air is pushed through the check valve 55 and on into the storage tank ahead of the column of water coming up through the drop pipe. As has been previously explained, if too -much air is introduced into the storage tank, the excess will be expelled out through me tube 23 by operation of the air control 25. Y

The lower shell half 36 has a large opening 60 in the bottom Wall and a hollow stub in the form of a section of casing 61 is welded at 62 to the shell. The casing adapter section 17, which has the same inside and outside diameter as the -well casing A, is welded to the upper end of the casing section 61, as indicated at 63. The inside diameterV of the casing section 61 is slightly larger than the outside diameter of the well casing A and when the lower shell half 36 is installed onto the upper end 65 of the well casing, the adapter casing section 17 rests on the upper end of the Well casing and becomes automatically axially aligned with the well casing.

The distributor head D has radially outwardly projecting lugs 66 formed at the upper end thereof for resting on Vthe upper end 67 of the 'casing seetio'n 1'7. Thus the entire pump and motor unit, drop ,pipe C and distributor head D are suspended within the well casing for subsequent removal, if necessary, for servicing purposes. The distributor head is provided with a threaded boss 68 for use in connecting to a suitable hoist during installation or removal of the drop pipe and pump motor unit as needed. The -boss 68 is internally threaded at 7G for receiving the threaded end of eye -bolt 71 which is rotatably associated with the upper shell half 41. Rigid washers 72 and 73 are welded to the eye bolt 71 dier said eye bolt has been inserted through the opening 54 and

suitable washers

74 and 75, formed of rubber or some similar material, are placed on the eye bolt 71 in the positions as indicated in FIG. 1 prior to the welding, at 75 and 76 of the washers 72 and 73 lto the eye bolt. The rubber Washers are spaced from each other sogas to engage the shell wall between them rather snugly but such as to permit rotation of the 'eye bolt during assembly or disassembly of the upper shell half relative to the lower shell half. The rubber washers serve to prevent entry of foreign materials into the shell closure. During assembly of the upper shell half to the lower shell half, the eye bolt is threaded into the boss 68 and during disassembly, the eye bolt is rotated in the reverse direction and the axial thrust exerted against the boss 68 will cause the upper shell half to be raised upwardly relative to the lower shell half during the process of the reverse rotation of the eye bolt. In order to prevent rotation of the distributor head as a consequence of rotation of the eye bolt, a plug 30 is threaded into the internally threaded hollow fitting 81 until the inner end 82 of such plug enters the diametric slot 19 thereby temporarily locking the distributor head D relative to the casing section 17 (that is, locking same against rotation relative to such casing section). The fitting 81 is permanently anchored in the opening 16a in the same manner that the hollow iitting 16 is permanently anchored in opening 16h thereby establishing the annular chamber 14 so that it -is Water tight for preventing escape of water into the interior of the shell closure H. i When the upper shell half is tightened down against the lower shell half, as Vshown in FIG. l, then removal is prevented by means of a conventional padlock 83, the loop portion 84 of which passes through the eye 85 of the eye bolt and a leg 86 of .which passesthrough the eye 87 of a second eye bolt 88 which may be welded to the outer wall of the shell.

A fitting 89 is Vwelded into an opening in the bottom Wall of the lower shell half and a discharge pipe 90 extends down into the ground for discharging any moisture that Vmight accumulate within the interior of the shell closure.

After the pump has delivered a supply of water into tank E and then ceases pumping, the pump pressure ceases and the water level within the entire system will tend to become common-that is, water seeks a common level. The air pressure within the tank E is promptly transferred through lbalancing pipe 38 from the interior of standpipe 29 into the interior of water transfer pipe 15 at the T 37. Thus the water within pipe 15 will promptly drain into tank E until the water level in tank E is common with the water level in pipe 15.

I claim:Y

l. A well system comprising: a hollow Well casing extending down into the ground to the source of water; a water delivery pipe within the well casing; a pumping device for pumping water up through the delivery pipe; an enclosure situated partially above Vground level and surrounding the upper ends of the casing and delivery pipe; said enclosure having an opening in its under side through which the well casing projects, a hollow stub secured to the enclosure and projecting interiorly thereof and in substantial registry with the opening in the under side thereof, said hollow stub having an inside diameter greater than the outside diameter of the well casing whereby the well casing projects vthrough the interior of the stub; a water discharge pipe projecting from within the enclosure to the exterior thereof; a water distributing device in the well casing and within the enclosure said distributing device |being situated above ground level and serving to direct the water from the delivery pipe to the discharge pipe.

2. A well system comprising: a hollow well casing extending down into the ground to the source of water; a water delivery pipe within the well casing; a pumping device for pumping water up through the delivery pipe; an enclosure situated partially above ground level and surrounding the upper ends of the casing and delivery pipe; said enclosure comprising an upper section and a lower section removably interconnected; the lower section having an opening in its under side; a hollow stub secured to the lower section in substantial registry with the opening and projecting into the interior of the enclosure; a separable section of well casing anchored to the hollow stub and situated at the upper end of the well casing in substantial longitudinal alignment therewith so as to serve as an extension of the -well casing; a water discharge pipe projecting from within the enclosure to the exterior thereof; a water distributing device secured to the upper end of the water delivery pipe and situated within the separable section of well casing, said water distributing device being situated above ground level and serving to direct the water from the delivery pipe to the discharge pipe.

3. A well system comprising: a hollow well casing extending down into the ground to the source of water; a Water delivery pipe within the well casing; a pumping device for pumping water -up through the delivery pipe; an enclosure situated partially above ground level and surrounding the upper ends of the casing and delivery pipe; said enclosure comprising a lower section and an upper section, removably interconnected with the lower section, the lower section having an opening in its under side through which the upper end of the well casing projects; a water discharge pipe projecting from within the enclosure to the exterior thereof; a water distributing device in the well casing and within the enclosure, said distributing device being situated above groundV level and serving to direct the water from the delivery pipe to the discharge pipe; means connecting the upper section of the enclosure to the distributing device for adjusting the upper section relative to the lower section.

4. A well system as set Iforth in claim 3 wherein the upper section has an opening therein and a rod extends through the opening and engages the distributing device for effecting the movement of -the upper section relative to the lower section.

5. A well system as set forth in claim 4 wherein means are carried on the well casing for engaging the distributing device to prevent rotation thereof while the rod which engages the distributing device is being adjusted.

6. A Well system comprising: a hollow well casing extending down into the ground to the source of water; a water delivery pipe within the well casing; a pumping device for pumping water up through the delivery pipe; an enclosure situated partially above ground level and surrounding the upper ends of the casing and delivery pipe; a water discharge pipe projecting from within the enclosure to the exterior thereof; a water distributing device in the well casing and within the enclosure, said distributing device being situated above ground level and serving to direct the water from the delivery pipe `to the discharge pipe; said enclosure including a lower section and an upper section removably interconnected with the lower section, said upper section having an opening therein; a rod projecting through the opening so that one end thereof is adjustably engaged with the distributing device and the other end extends exteriorly of the enclosure; a rigid washer secured to the rod exteriorly of the enclosure and a rigid washer secured to the rod interiorly of the enclosure, whereby rotation of such rod is effected without incurring axial movement thereof and whereby movement of the upper section toward or away from the lower section is effected.

7. A well system as set forth in claim 6 wherein resilient sealing washers are mounted on the rod on either side of the wall of the upper section of the enclosure and so that each is interposed, one, between one of the rigid washers and the inner wall surface of the enclosure and the other between the other rigid washer and the outer wall surface of the enclosure.

8. A well system comprising: a hollow well casing extending down into the ground to the source of water; a water delivery pipe within the well casing; a pu-mping device for pumping water up through the delivery pipe; an enclosure situated partially above ground level and surrounding the upper ends of the casing and delivery pipe; a water discharge pipe projecting from within the enclosure to the exterior thereof; a water distributing device in the well casing and within the enclosure, said distributing device being situated above ground level and serving to direct the water from the delivery pipe to the discharge pipe and a heating element su-rrounding the well casing within the enclosure for heating the interior of the enclosure.

9. A well system comprising: a hollow well casing extending down into the ground to the source of water; a water delivery pipe within the well casing; a pumping device for pumping water up through the delivery pipe; an enclosure situated partially above ground level and surrounding the upper ends of the casing and delivery pipe; a water discharge pipe projecting from within the enclosure to the exterior thereof; a water distributing device in the well casing and within the enclosure, said distributing device being situated above ground level and serving to direct the water from the delivery pipe to the discharge pipe; a water storage tank for receiving the water 4from the water discharge pipe and a balancing pipe extending from and establishing communication between the water discharge pipe and the interior of the storage tank for electing balancing of the water level in the discharge pipe and storage tank after the pump ceases operating.

l0. A well system comprising: a hollow well casing extending down into the ground to the source of water; a water delivery pipe within the Well casing; a pumping device for pumping water up through the delivery pipe; an enclosure situated partially above ground level and surrounding the upper ends of the casing and delivery pipe; said enclosure having an opening in its underside through which the well casing projects; a hollow stub secured to the enclosure in substantial registry with the opening and projecting into the interior of the enclosure; a separable section of well casing anchored to the hollow stub and situated at the upper end of the well casing in substantial longitudinal alignment therewith so as to serve as an extension of the well casing; a water discharge pipe projecting from Within the enclosure to the exterior thereof; a water distributing device secured to the upper end of the Water delivery pipe and situated within the separable section of well casing, said water distributing device 4being situated above ground level and serving to direct the water from the delivery pipe to the discharge pipe.

ll. A well system as set forth in claim 10- wherein the separable section of casing is of smaller diameter than the stub whereby the lower end thereof `'forms an annular shoulder for engaging the upper end of the well casing which projects through the stub.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,807,214 Patterson Sept. 24, 1957 2,847,939 Tubbs Aug. 19, 1958