US3213950A

US3213950A - Well point construction

Info

Publication number: US3213950A
Application number: US305125A
Authority: US
Inventors: Leo L Ghelfi; David A Werblin
Original assignee: Griffin Wellpoint Corp
Current assignee: Griffin Wellpoint Corp
Priority date: 1963-08-28
Filing date: 1963-08-28
Publication date: 1965-10-26
Anticipated expiration: 1982-10-26

Description

Oct. 26, 1965 L. GHELFI ETAL 3,213,950

WELL POINT CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 28, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 28 1 FIG. I FIG. 2

INVENTORS LEO L. GH l DAVID A. W LIN icmw Oct. 26, 1965 GHELFl ETAL 3,213,950

WELL POINT CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 28, 1963 INVENTORS LEO L, GHELFI DAVID A. WERBLIN 6 a 4 O ag/unfa- ATTORNEYS Oct. 26, 1965 L. GHELFI ETAL 3,213,950

WELL POINT CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 28, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 ZS FIG. 7

INVENTORS LEO L. GHELFI DAVID A. WERBLIN ATTORNEYS Oct. 26, 1965 L. 1.. GHELFI ETAL WELL POINT CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 28, 1963 INVENTORS LEO L. GHELFI DAVID A. WERBLIN all!!! il'llln illlllll flail!!! nrlrlll viii 23!: Iii:.iiiiiii:.iiti in United States Patent 3,213,950 WELL POINT CONSTRUCTION Leo L. Ghelfi, Coventry, Conn., and David A. Werblin,

Riverdale, N.Y., assignors to Griifin Wellpoint Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 28, 1963, Ser. No. 305,125 7 Claims. (Cl. 175314) The present invention relates to devices for draining water or other fluid from soil and particularly to such devices commonly known as well points.

Such well points are usually provided with nozzles at their lower end so that they may be placed in position in the soil at the required depth by jetting them into position, that is, by forcing water through the nozzle thereby sinking the device into the soil. After reaching the required depth these devices are subjected to suction and are therefore provided with a valve, usually a float valve which closes off the jetting nozzle and permits water to flow into the well point and be pumped to the surface by means of suction pumps or otherwise.

It is desirable that during the jetting into position the inflow passages be closed in order that there be no waste of water exiting through these passages but that the flow during jetting be confined to the nozzle.

Our invention is an improvement on the device shown in Griffin Patent No. 2,035,313, particularly in that the inflow passageways shown in that patent are provided with valves which close during the jetting action and prevent the water wastage mentioned above.

It is an object of the invention to provide a well point having valves closing the inflow passages so that no wastage of water occurs during the jetting of the well point into position.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a well point with inflow valves which are simple in construction and reliable in operation and which may be provided in such number that they form little restriction to flow.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent when the following description is considered in connection with the annexed drawings, in which,

FIGURE 1 is a central longitudinal section of one embodiment of the well point of our invention;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the well point of FIGURE 1 showing particularly the flap valves and mode of pivoting these valves in the structures;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one of the flap valves of FIGURES l and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a central longitudinal section of a preferred embodiment of the invention in which the flap valves are hinged on a vertical aXis rather than on a horizontal axis;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken on a plane at right angles to the view of FIGURE 4 showing particularly a vane mounted on the flap valve;

FIGURE 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the structure of FIGURES 4 and 5, the view being taken on the plane of the line 66 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a modified form of the valve of FIGURES 4, 5 and 6;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary transverse cross-sectional view taken on the plane of the line 88 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 shows another modified form of the valve of FIGURES 4, 5 and 6;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary transverse cross-sectional view taken on the plane of the line 10-10 of FIG- URE 9;

FIGURE 11 shows a further modification of the valve of FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, this view being a fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view;

3,213,950 Patented Oct. 26, 1965 FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary transverse cross-sectional view of the structure of FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 13 illustrates a still further modification of the preferred form of the invention shown in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6; and

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary transverse cross-sectional view taken on the plane of the line 14-14 of FIG- URE 13.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG- URES 1 to 3, the lower head of the well point structure is designated 20. This head includes the usual valve seat 21 against which the ball 22 seats during the pumping, or suction, this ball being lighter than water and constituting a float valve. The lower head 22 is provided with a nozzle 23 which, as described fully in the patent above mentioned, is provided with nozzle apertures which cause water pumped through the device to be expelled forcibly and thereby permit jetting of the device into a desired position.

Extending between the lower head 20 and an upper head 24 is a cylindrical pipe 25 which constitutes the inflow section. Surrounding the pipe 25 and concentric therewith is a cylindrical screen 26 which, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 1, also extends from the lower head 20 to the upper head 24. The screen 26 is spaced from the pipe 25 by means of the corrugated perforated plate 27 thus providing a number of flow channels extending the entire length of the inflow section 25.

As indicated in FIGURE 1, the upper head 24 and pipe 25 are threaded and are connected to a riser pipe such as 28 which extends to the surface of the ground and is connected to a suction pump.

As shown in the patent already referred to, the cylindrical pipe 25 or inflow section is provided with openings through which water enters the pipe 25. However, these openings, as indicated above, cause loss of water and of jetting power when the well point is being jetted into position. In order to avoid this loss of power while at the same time providing suflicient passage for inflow of water through the screen 26 to the interior of pipe 25, we provide a number of door or flap valves generally designated 30. As is clearly shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, these valves are generally rectangular in shape and mate with rectangular openings 31 formed in the pipe 25. Each valve is pivoted at its top by means of a pivot pin 32 which extends through the member 30 and into a hole 33 drilled or otherwise formed in the pipe 25 which hole extends across a chord of the pipe as clearly shown in FIGURE 2.

As shown particularly in FIGURE 3 the lower edge of the door valve is bevelled as indicated at 34 and mates with a corresponding bevelled edge 35 of the opening formed in the pipe 25. At the top the edge of the door 30 is spaced slightly from the corresponding edge of the cutout 31 in the pipe 25 as indicated at 36 so that it will be free to move to the dotted position indicated in FIG- URE 3.

As will be seen, during the jetting operation water flows downwardly and causes the flap valves to move to their closed position preventing water from flowing out of the inflow section 25 so that all of the water must flow out through nozzle 23. When the well point has reached the desired depth the riser pipe 28 is connected to a suction source and water is caused to flow upwardly. The only entry for the water at this time is through the screen 26 and the openings 31 (the ball having closed ofl the nozzle) and therefore the suction causes the valves 30 to take the dotted line position of FIGURE 3 O permitting water to flow inwardly as desired and to be likewise may be spaced longitudinally thereof as shown particularly in FIGURE 1, in order that there be no interference of the flap valves. The number and size of such flap valves depends entirely upon the desired inflow rate, these valves being made sufliciently large and provided in sufliciently great numbers so that there will be little restriction to the flow of water from the surrounding soil into the interior of the pipe 25.

Referring now to FIGURES 4 through 6 there is shown therein a preferred form of the invention wherein the flap valve here designated 40 is hinged along a vertical line, i.e., a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of the well point. In its preferred form as shown in these figures, this valve is made of a plastic material, the hinge being formed by molding the plastic with a groove along one edge of the flap valve. As shown in FIGURE 4, a plastic cylinder 41 is placed within the bore of the pipe 25, this cylinder or liner having a flange 42 which is held in position between a shoulder on the lower head 20 of the well point and the lower end of the pipe 25.

The valve 40 is a portion of the liner cylinder 41, but is separated therefrom along three sides either by molding or by cutting subsequent to the fabrication thereof as indicated at 43, 44 and 45. On the fourth side of the generally rectangular valve 40 a groove 46 is formed in the plastic liner member 41, this groove extending vertically and forming a hinge. In this form of the invention the pipe 25 is provided with circular apertures 47 and the valves 40 seat against the areas such as 48 between the apertures 47 as clearly shown in FIGURE 4.

A vane 50 is formed integrally with each valve 40, these vanes extending inwardly and likewise extending diagonally across the rectangular valve 40 in a direction such that when water is pumped into the well point for jetting purposes the flow over the vanes causes the valves to close so that no jetting water is lost through the inflow passages. On the other hand, when suction is applied to the pipe 25 the pressure of the external water against the outer surface of the flap valves causes them to swing into the dotted line position shown in FIGURE 6 so that water to be pumped may flow though the apertures 47 to the interior of the pipe 25 and thus be removed by the suction pump or pumps.

FIGURES 7 and 8 show a form of the invention generally similar to that shown in FIGURES 4 through 6. In this instance, however, the cylinder or liner 41 is omitted and each flap valve 40a is formed with an extension 51 along its vertical edge, the extension being fixed to the interior of the pipe 25 by the use of suitable fastening such as the rivets 52. Here again the valve is grooved at 46 to provide an integral hinge. As indicated the valve of FIGURES 7 and 8 operates in exactly the same manner as does that of FIGURES 4 through 6.

Referring now to FIGURES 9 and 10, there is shown again a valve similar to that of FIGURES 4 through 6. However, in this instance, instead of using a complete liner 41 each valve comprises a plurality of cylindrical members 53 formed integrally with a rectangular piece 54 and spaced lengthwise thereof, the piece 54 being integral with or joined to the flap valve 40b at one edge thereof only, this edge being the edge adjacent to which a groove 46 is provided. These cylindrical members 53 are flexible and have a circumferential recess 55 formed therein.

Additionally, each cylinder 53 is provided with a bevel 55 at its outer face whereby the cylinders may be forced through the apertures 47 in the pipe 25 thus holding the flap valve 4% in position to cover the various apertures 47, the valve, as seen in FIGURE 10, seating against the rectangular piece 56.

In FIGURES 11 and 12 there is shown a further modification of the preferred form of the invention in which the flap valves 400, instead of being held in position by flexible cylindrical members 53, are held in position by similar members 57 which, however, are not flexible.

Members 57 are inserted through the openings 47, the sides which extend outwardly as indicated by the dotted lines 58 being thereafter crimped over the outer edges of the apertures holding the hinge in place, the crimped over edges being designated 60.

FIGURES 13 and 14 show an additional modification of the preferred form of the invention in which the vertically hinged flap valves 40a, instead of being made of plastic or like material, which is grooved to form the hinge, are made of any desirable material which may be metal or plastic and are hinged to the inner surface of the pipe 25 by means of a piano hinge 61 forming part of a strip 62 which is suitably fastened to the inner wall of the pipe 25 as for example by means of the rivets 63.

As shown in the drawings, the

vanes

50, 50a, 50b, 50c, 50d are curved in side elevation as seen, for example, in FIGURES 4, 9 and 11. This, however, is not essential and the vanes might be of any desired shape as for example rectangular.

As indicated, the valve structures of FIGURES 4 through 14 are all similar in that the valve members are hinged along a vertical axis and operate in the manner described in detail in connection with FIGURES 4 through 6. The modifications shown in the later figures are purely modifications in mounting of the valve structures rather than in the operation thereof.

While preferred embodiments of our invention have been described, it will be understood that we wish to be limited not by the foregoing description, but solely by the claims granted to us.

What is claimed is:

1. In a well point having an inflow pipe section and a jetting nozzle joined thereto with a float valve therebetween, means to permit inflow of water to the inflow section during application of suction thereto at the end removed from the nozzle while preventing outflow from the inflow section when pressure is applied to said remote end during a jetting operation, said means comprising, in combination, a plurality of openings in the wall of the inflow pipe, a plurality of flap valves each said valve comprising a generally rectangular member having its long dimension parallel to the longitudinal axis of said inflow pipe section and attached to the inner surface of said pipe by means of a hinged means along its long dimension, each said member covering at least one of said openings and a vane mounted on the inner surface of each said valve member and projecting into the interior of said inflow section, said vane extending generally diagonally of said rectangle with the end of said vane which is at the end of said rectangle closest to said nozzle being closer to said hinge means than the end of said vane which is at the end of said rectangle remote from said nozzle whereby flow of water through said inflow section under pressure during a jetting operation causes said flap valves to close and to seal against the inner wall of said inflow section preventing escape of fluid through said openings.

2. In a well point having an inflow pipe section and a jetting nozzle joined thereto with a float valve therebetween, means to permit inflow of water to the inflow section during application of suction thereto at the end removed from the nozzle while preventing outflow from the inflow section when pressure is applied to said remote end during a jetting operation, said means comprising, in combination, a plurality of groups of openings in generally rectangular form in the wall of said inflow section, a plurality of generally rectangular flap valves each having its long dimension parallel to the longitudinal axis of said inflow pipe section and fixed on the inner surface of said inflow pipe section in position to close the openings of one of said groups of openings, each said flap having a hinge extending along one of the long sides of said rectangle and parallel to the inflow section axis, said flap valves being formed of flexible material and having a groove therein providing said hinging action, each said valve having a vane fixed to its inner surface, projecting into the interior of said section and extending at an angle to said hinge with the end of said vane which is at the end of said rectangle closest to said nozzle being closer to said hinging groove than the end of said vane which is at the end of said rectangle remote from said nozzle whereby flow of water under pressure during jetting operation closes said valves and seals said openings thereby preventing flow of water from said inflow pipe section during jetting operation.

3. In a well joint having an inflow pipe section and a jetting nozzle joined thereto with a float valve therebetween, means to permit inflow of water to the inflow section during application of suction thereto at the end removed from the nozzle while preventing outflow from the inflow section when pressure is applied to said remote end during a jetting operation, said means comprising, in combination, a plurality of groups of openings in said inflow pipe section arranged in generally rectangular form, a liner of plastic material fixed within said inflow section, a plurality of generally rectangular flap valves formed by cutting said liner along one long side and two short sides of a rectangle each said valve having its long dimension parallel to the longitudinal axis of said inflow section, one said flap overlying each group of openings, said liner being grooved along the remaining long side of each said rectangular valve to form a hinge, each said valve having a vane fixed to its inner surface, projecting into the interior of said inflow section and extending at an angle to said hinge with the end of said vane which is at the end of said rectangle closest to said nozzle being closer to said hinging groove than the end of said vane which is at the end of said rectangle remote from said nozzle whereby flow of water under pressure during jetting operation closes said valves and seals said openings thereby preventing flow of water from said inflow pipe section during jetting operation.

4. In a well point having an inflow pipe section and a jetting nozzle joined thereto with a float valve therebetween, means to permit inflow of water to the inflow section during application of suction thereto at the end removed from the nozzle while preventing outflow from the inflow section when pressure is applied to said remote end during a jetting operation, said means comprising, in combination, a plurality of groups of openings arranged in generally rectangular form in the wall of said inflow section, a plurality of generally rectangular flap valve members each having its long dimension parallel to the longitudinal axis of said inflow section, each member having a plurality of outwardly extending tubular portions formed integrally therewith, said tubular portions extending through the openings of a group of openings thereby holding said members in position within said inflow pipe section, each said member having a flap portion formed integrally therewith and being hinged thereto along a long dimension of said rectangle by means of a groove formed in said material, and a vane on the inner side of each said flap and projecting into said inflow section, said vane extending diagonally of said flap with the end of said vane which is at the end of said rectangle closest to said nozzle being closer to said hinge than the end of said vane which is at the end of said rectangle remote from said nozzle when said inflow section has pressure applied thereto said valves close and seal said openings of said corresponding group.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said tubular portions of said valve members have a groove in the outer walls whereby said members may be installed in the openings of said inflow section by forcing said flexible tubular members through said openings from the interior.

6. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said tubular portions of said valve members are rigid and said valve members are fixed in said inflow pipe section by inserting said tubular portions through the openings of one of said groups of openings and crimping the edges over the outer surface of said inflow pipe section.

7. In a well point having an inflow pipe section and a jetting nozzle joined thereto with a float valve therebetween, means to permit inflow of water to the inflow section during application of suction thereto at the end removed from the nozzle while preventing outflow from the inflow section when pressure is applied to said remote end during a jetting operation, said means comprising, in combination, a plurality of groups of openings in generally rectangular form in the wall of said inflow section, a plurality of generally rectangular flap valves each having its long dimension parallel to the longitudinal axis of said inflow section, each cooperating with the openings of one of said groups of openings, means comprising a metallic hinge having one element thereof fixed to and extending along one of the long sides of each said rectangle for supporting each said flap valve adjacent its group of openings, means fixing the second element of said metallic hinge to the inner wall of said inflow pipe section adjacent said rectangularly arranged group of openings and a vane fixed to each flap valve and projecting into said inflow section, the end or each said vane which is at the end of said rectangle closest to said nozzle being closer to said metallic hinge than the end of said vane which is at the end of said rectangle remote from said nozzle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 61,726 2/67 Edgett 314 X 236,719 1/81 Renton 137525.3 X 385,999 7/88 Chase l37525.3 X 400,466 4/89 Lowery et al. 175-314 2,028,447 l/36 Grifiin 175-314 X 2,191,968 2/40 Meiser 137-525 X 2,512,695 6/50 Stout et a1. 137-107 3,145,783 8/64 Sibley 175314 X JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Primary Examiner. CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A WELL POINT HAVING AN INFLOW PIPE SECTION AND A JETTING NOZZLE JOINED THERETO WITH A FLOAT VALAVE THEREBEWEEN, MEANS TO PERMIT INFLOW OF WATER TO THE INFLOW SECTION DURING APPLICATION OF SUCTION THERETO AT THE END REMOVED FROM THE NOZZLE WHILE PREVENTING OUTFLOW FROM THE INFLOW SECTION WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO SAID REMOTE END DURING A JETTING OPERATION, SAID MEANS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A PLURALITY OF OPENINGS IN THE WALL OF THE INFLOW PIPE, A PLURALITY OF FLAP VALVES EACH SAID VALVE COMPRISING A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR MEMBER HAVING ITS LONG DIMENSION PARALLEL TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID INFLOW PIPE SECTION AND ATTACHED TO THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID PIPE BY MENS OF HINGED MEANS ALONG ITS LONG DIMENSION, EACH SAID MEMBER COVERING AT LEAST ONE OF SAID OPENINGS AND A VANE MOUNTED ON THE INNER SURFACE OF EACH SAID VALVE MEMBER AND PROJECTING INTO THE INTERIOR