US3190223A

US3190223A - Air injector for water well pressure systems

Info

Publication number: US3190223A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dale H Birdsall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-09-21
Filing date: 1962-09-21
Publication date: 1965-06-22
Anticipated expiration: 1982-06-22

Description

June 212, in# H. BIRDSALL am: mummia von WATER WELL sYsTEMs termed sept. 2L, am

3,190,223 AIR INIECTOR FORWATER WELL Y PRESSURE SYSTEMS Dale H. Birdsall, 2830 Reed Ave., Livermore, Calif. Filed Sept. 21, 1962, Ser. No. 225,338

6 Claims. (Cl. 103'-6) The present invention relatesin general to a device for recharging the air volume in a water well pressure system, and in particular to a device Vfor injecting air into, and thus'maintaining sufficient air volume in, a pressure tank of the type which depends upon a cushion of air for proper operation. Y

In domestic water systems, Water is pumped into a pressure tank at a point near the bottom thereof. As the Water rises, the air already Vin the tank is compressed againstV the upper end of the tank.V The system is provided with a means for automatically stopping the water pump at such time as the pressure of the compressed air reaches a 4preset value. Therair thus compressed provides a cushion which will deliver, under presure, a substantial part of the water in the tank (with an accompanying drop in pressure), before the `pumpresupplies the tank with water.

An inherent problem of such water systems is that the pressure tank tends to lose part of such cushion of air (e.g. due to absorption by the fresh water, leaks, etc.) after a period yof time. The reduction of lair cushion volume causes the pumping on time to become shorter, and results in less water being pumped into the tank during each part of the on cycle. V.The air cushion can ,become so small in volume that the pumping operation resolves into a continuous start and stop operation of the pump.

There are several devices of varying configurations and theories of operation for solving the problem of air cushion loss in commercial use at the present time. In general, however, such devices comprise a complicated maze of inter-coupled `components which are expensive to install and which are particularly diicult, time consuming and cumbersome to service. A prior art device of simple construction is inuse at the present time, but is extremely diicult to service. Such device utilizes two orifices, which are inserted in Ithe water supply pipe of a watersystem to drain a section of the pipe and replace the water with air during the off cycle of the pump. Since the orifices are located below the well cap the entire United States Patent O F. ICC

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a means for periodically recharging the air volume l installation fthereof.

supply pipe and attached pump must be raised sufficiently to permit servicing. This Yis a difiicult and time consuming operating, requiring heavy equipment and necessitating disassembly of portions of the Water supply pipe. lIn this prior :art device it is furthermore extremely diiiicult to alter the amount of air introduced to the pressure tank during each cycle. Since most air recharging devices require periodic cleaning and/or servicing, it is particularly advantageous and` desirable toreplace the abovementioned complicated prior art devices (or those devices which are diiiicult to service) with an inexpensive air charging device of simple construction, which any layman can install and periodically service with a minimum of labor, effort and expense..

The present invention solves not only the old problem of recharging the air cushion (volume) in a water well pressure system tank, but does so in an exceedingly simple and straight-forward manner. Intheory, means are provided to siphon a volume of Water from the upper end of the water supply pipe of a Water well system, and to replace such volume with a quantity of air. Upon operation of the pump the quantity of air is prevented from escaping to the atmosphere and is delivered along with the water being pumped, to the pressure tank thereby replenishing any losses in the air cushion volume therein.

It is a furtherobject ofthe present invention to provide a means for siphoning a predetermined volume of water. from a water pressure system, and replacing such` volume of Water with air, which air is then delivered to the pressure tank. l' 7 Y i It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a pressure tank air charging device which can be serviced without necessitating the removal of thenwate-r well supply pipe from within the well casing.

Y It is still another object of the present invention toV provide anair charging device which is unaffected -by temperature changes o r various water conditions,

Further objects and advantages will be apparent inthe following description and claims considered together with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional view'of the present invention as installed in a submersible pump water pressure system during, the oli V cycle thereof.

' FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional viewof a portion of the invention apparatus showing a modication thereof.

Referring to the drawing, a submersible pump 10'is connected to the bot-tom end of .a water supply pipe 12, which pipe extends from ground level to near bottom of a water well 14, within a well casing 16. Casing 16 is provided with a casing cover 18 at its upper end. The

24. A pressure tank pipe 26 is connected to the swingV check valve 24, and provides Ymeans for delivering waterfrom submersible pump 10,',through pipe 12 andV swingv check valve 24,to a pressure tank 27.

A The remaining outlet of pipe T 20 has threaded thereto.

a connecting nipple 28, which has in turn a capV 30 threaded thereon. A check (tair lsnifter) valve- 32 is secured to a hole through the cap 30 by means of a suitable connection, such as -pipe.34. A breather vent 36 is provided on the check .valve 32; the combination of valve 32, pipe 34 and vent 36, operating to introduce air into an upper volume 38 of the Water supply pipe 12, as further described infra. The action of check valve 32 Yis to pass air downwardly into the water supply pipe 412 while preventing the passage of water from the system water line to the atmosphere. Y

. One end 40a of a siphon tube 40 (which preferably may comprise a length of copper tubing bent in the gen-V eral shape of a U) is extended throughY a second hole in packing nut 44 are provided (in conjunction with a proper seal` seat in cap 30) to insure an easily demountable'air- 1 tight connection between the tube 40 and the cap 30.

,'I'he other end 4Gb of Siphon tube 40 extends downwardly, preferably through a hole in the casing cover 18,V

to protrude into the annular volume between casing 16 than the opposite end a thereof.

and supply pipe 12. A leakcheck valve 46 is attached to the end 4Gb of siphon tube 40, and is positioned lower Leak valve 46` can bersimply a restricted orifice of constant diameter V(i.e., canY be achieved by pinching the end 4Gb of tube 40),

ori can be a diierential ball check lvalve whose seal seatV is slightly deformed to purposely` allow leakage of a small quantity of waterv therethrough when the pump isi operating and the diierential ball check valve is in the closed position. casing cover 18 to prevent entrance of dirt, insects,y and the like between tuber40 and casing cover 18. l The seal 48 doesnot have to be air-tight, and can be any type of nut, cover, or packing whichis readily demountable and which will prevent entrance of Vforeign matter, into the well 1,4. As shown in FIGURE' l, tube 40 maybe con- A ,sanitaryf sealAS is provided onk While the invention has been described herein with Y respect to several embodiments, it wi1lbeapparent'that numerous variations and modifications mayV be'made within the spirit and scope .of the invention, and thus it is not intended to limit the invention except by the 1 structed in three parts; ytwo straight lengths 'of' tubing and one pre-formed return bend attached thereto in airtightV relation, preferably by means lof compression fittings of the type used in refrigeration systems. a .j

The swing check valve 24 is a standard check valve as utilized in submersible water pressure systems. Upon operation of pump 10 valve 24'opens to allow the passage of water therethrough into the pressuretank 27. When pump |10 Stops, the Vpressure within `the tank 27 forcesa swing gate within valve 24 against a seat thereinto thus isolate pipe 26 'and the pressure tank 27 from the rest of `the system- In operation of a pressure system inaccordance `with the conceptof the presentk invention, when submersible pump' 10 starts, water flows therefrom up supplypipe 12, through the, gate 50 in valve24 (asshown in Vphantom i line in FIGURE l) through pipe 26 and into the pres,-

sure tank 27. Simultaneously, water is forced into the end 40a of Siphon tube 40Jand the tube 40 is illed. Dur` ing operation of the pump (during the on cycle), a

small (and negligible) amount of water is forced through tube 40Y and the leak check valve 46, and is returned toY the well y14 down the annular region between casing n 16 and supply pipe 12. During the -on cycle, the check valve 32 is closed by water pressurefthereag-ainst to pre- Vent water from passing therethrough. When the pump 10 stops, the gate 50 of lvalve 24`closes due to vback- `mersi'ble pump to trap terms of the following claims. 4

VWhat is claimed is: Y l i A pressure tank air chargingdevice for use ina water well pumping system including an air-tight pressure tank, a submersible pump, a water supply pipe extending frontV said pump to said pressure tank and a'water check valve Vdisposed in saidsupply pipe in the region Ithereof near said pressure tank, said device comprising a Siphon tube having one end extending downwardly a substantial kdis-v tance through an upper portion of said supply pipe and in sealed relationship therewith, said Siphon tube and supply pipe dening an annular volume therebetween, air( valve means connected -to saidupper portiony of supply. pipe in communication with said volume, said Aair valve being adapted to open and introduce air into thepipe at such time as said pump is inoperative, said siphon tube to Siphon a quantity of water from said supply pipe upon introduction of air `vthrough said air valve. means, such quantity/'being commensurate to said volume therein` and4 determined by theextent of said siphon tube end therein, said air valve means to close upon operationofl said sublthe air introduced to, said supply` plpe- Y 2. A pressure tank air charging device for use in a water well pressure system including a water supply pipe, a well pressure from the tank 2.7, and the check valve 32 opens due tothe lack offwater vpressure thereagainst@y Thus Siphon tube 40 continues its Siphon action (sincethe upper end of pipe'12 is open to atmospheric pressure) and water is passed therethrough by way of leak valve 46 during the pump oiY cycle. The rate of water leakage (during Vthe pump on cycle) or of water siphoned (during the pump oft cycle) is regulated by the size of the `orice Vof leak valve 46. The siphon action continues until the water level .within pipe 12 reaches'the bottom of end 40a `of the Siphon tube l40,V at which pointV the siphon action ceases.` As mentioned supra, the siphon action is generated by allowing'ar at atmosphericpres-V sure to enter pipe 12 through the check valve 32, whereby the volume of water siphoned through tube 40 is replaced by a like volume of air (volume'38herein).

Upon subsequent operation of pump 1l),A check valve 32 is closed bythe water pressureand the slugl of air entrapped in volume 38 is forced through swing check valve 24 and into the pressure tank 27 along withnthe water pumped Vfrom the well 14. `Suchslug of air is forcedl into'` the pressure tank each time the pump goes through a pumping on, oiTcycle y It may Vbe seen-from FIGUREY 1 that the size of the' ,volume 38 (ie, the size of therslug of air) can be Varied simply by increasing Vor decreasing the distance that end 40a of tube `40 extends into the pipe 12. VHowever it is to be understood that end 40a of tube/40 may be extended into the pipe4 12Vwith no regards as to the extent of volume 38, and end 40b instead may beextended a predetermined distance downwardly along pipe 12, as indicated in FIG- URE 2 by numeral 40e. Thus, at such time as the water casing, a pump, and a swing check valve, said supply pipe and casing defining therebetween an annular region, said device comprising a pipe,V T having one ofV `its outlets coupled tothe upper portion of said supply 'pipe and a-r second of its outlets coupled to said swing check valve; a Siphon tube having one end thereofdisposed in -Vairf tightrrelation through la third outlet of said pipe .T andi.` into said supply pipe; the otherend of said tube extending in-to the annular region between said supply pipe and the.. casing of said water well; and a check valve coupledinl 1 air-tight relation to saidupper portion-of saidfsupplypipey and adapted to introduce Vair at atmospheric pressure into r the supply pipe at such. time as said pump is turned olf.`

3. A pressure tank air charging device foruse in a pres-Y sure system having a submersible'pump connected Vt0 a` waterfsupply pipe comprising a Siphon tube having'a first Y and a second end, said first `endextending into an upper portion of said supply pipe a substanti-al distance, said Y w second end extending upwardly fromY said supply'pipe to terminate at a position lower than that of said iirst end,1V said second end having a water restrictingrorifice securedy thereto, a check valve coupled Vto said upper portion of said supply pipe to introduce airat atmospheric pressure to said supply pipe at such time as said pump is turned olf to cause said Siphon tube to Siphon water from said supply pipe and replace same with air,V y A' 4. A pressure` system air chargingdvevice forv use in a` submersible pump water pressure system having casing, a

` water supply pipe, a pump, and a swing Yclie'ckvalv'e,

wherein said casing and kpipe denne therebetween an-an,

nular region, said device comprising a pipe T having. one outlet threaded to said supply pipe `and a second outlet threaded to said swing check valveya nipple demou'nt?.VV ably sealed to a third outletfofsaid-pipe T; a cap demountably sealed to said nipple; a Siphon tube having. one end thereof disposed in air-tight relation through Said.

cap and extending a predetermined distance through said T and into a portion of said supply pipe; a leak Valve secured to the other end of said siphon tube; wherein said other endof the siphon Vtube is extended into the annular region between said supply pipe and Vsaid casingV to a position lower than the end which is in the supply pipe; and a check valve coupled to Vsaid cap and adapted to open when said pump is inoperative to introduce air into said supply pipe, said check valve to close upon operation of said pump to trap said `air within said supply pipe and deliver same to said pressure tank.

5. A pressure tank air charging device for use with a submersible pump water pressure system having a water t supply pipe extending from the submersed pump to the pressure tank and including a water check valve disposed in-line Within said supply pipe, said device comprising,r a Siphon tube having an end extending a substantial distance into an upper portion of said supply pipe in sealed Y volume within said upper portion'of the'supply pipe,

air valve means connected to theY upper portion of said water supply pipe in communication with said substantial volume therein and adapted to introduce air to said substantial volume at such time as said pump is inoperative, said siphon tube to provide a siphoning action for removing the water contained in said substantial volume within said supply pipe upon introduction of air through said air valve means, said air valve means being adapted to close upon operation of said pump to trap in said pipe the air introduced therein.

6. A pressure tank air charging device for use in a pressure system having a submersible pump connected to a water supply pipe comprising ay Siphon tube having a rst and a second end, said irst end extending into an upper portion of said supply pipe a substantial distance, said second end of said Siphon tubeV extending downwardly along saidl supply pipe a substantial distance to terminate at a'position higher than the termination of said iirst end, said second end having a water restricting orifice secured thereto, a check valve coupled to said upper portion of said supply pipe to introduce air at atmospheric pressure to said supply pipe at such time as said pump is turned off to cause said Siphon tube to Siphon water from said supply pipe and replace same with air.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,625,892 4/ 27 Hollander n 103-6 2,3 87,941 10/45 lPatterson V10S-6 2,787,220 4/57 Patterson et al 103-6 2,847,939 8/58 Tubbs 103-6 2,851,951 9/58 Deters 103-6 3,GO2,460 10/61 Ward 103---6Y FOREIGN PATENTS 765,445 3/ 34 France.

LAURENCE V. EFNER, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A PRESSURE TANK AIR CHARGING DEVICE FOR USE IN A WATER WELL PUMPING SYSTEM INCLUDING AN AIR-TIGHT PRESSURE TANK, A SUBMERSIBLE PUMP, A WATER SUPPLY PIPE EXTENDING FROM SAID PUMP TO SAID PRESSURE TANK AND A WATER CHECK VALVE DISPOSED IN SAID SUPPLY PIPE IN THE REGION THEREOF NEAR SAID PRESSURE TANK, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A SIPHON TUBE HAVING ONE END EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE THROUGH AN UPPER PORTION OF SAID SUPPLY PIPE AND IN SEALED RELATIONSHIP THEREWITH, SAID SIPHON TUBE AND SUPPLY PIPE DEFINING AN ANNULAR VOLUME THEREBETWEEN, AIR VALVE MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID UPPER PORTION OF SUPPLY PIPE IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID VOLUME, SAID AIR VALVE BEING ADAPTED TO OPEN AND INTRODUCE AIR INTO THE PIPE AT SUCH TIME AS SAID PUMP IS INOPERATIVE, SAID SIPHON TUBE TO SIPHON A QUANTITY OF WATER FROM SAID SUPPLY PIPE UPON INTRODUCTION OF AIR THROUGH SAID AIR VALVE MEANS, SUCH QUANTITY BEING COMMENSURATE TO SAID VOLUME THEREIN AND DETERMINED BY THE EXTENT OF SAID SIPHON TUBE END THEREIN, SAID AIR VALVE MEANS TO CLOSE UPON OPERATION OF SAID SUBMERSIBLE PUMP TO TRAP THE AIR INTRODUCED TO SAID SUPPLY PIPE.