USRE14937E

USRE14937E - Air-lift separator-pump

Info

Publication number: USRE14937E
Authority: US
Publication date: 1920-08-24

Description

0 M. PRUITT. AIR LIFT SEPARATOR PUMP. APPLICATION FILED JULY 19,191].

Reissud Aug. 24, 1920.

IIYVE/YTOIE 0m MPEU/TT Arr-Tamers ,UNITEDTSTATES, PATENT OFFICE,

ORAN M. PRUITT, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO INDIANA AIR PUMP COMPANY, or INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA,

A coRPona'r oN OF INDIANA.

AIR-LIFT SEPARATOR-PUMP.

14,937. Original No. 1,214,951, dated useful Air-Lift ep'arator-Pump, of which the following is a specification.

In the operation of airlift pumps, it is sometimes'desirable to use the Water directly in, a closed system, or to send it directly into condensing or cooling coils, or to move the water horizontally a ter it has been raised to the ground level and then to raise the I water still higher into the-desired reservoir;

and in all these cases to obtaina steady .stream. Itis very necessary, however, first to remove theair from the water in order to do these things, as otherwise the air and water will separate later and the flow of the water will be greatly interfered with. It has already been proposed to separate the air from the water at the top of the well by means of a separating chamber, by which the pressure of theseparated air is utilized to force the water on into the associated tem. The accumulated air in this separating chamber must be allowed to escape as it accumulates, so as to maintain the proper pressure and properwater level therein and a constant flow of water therefrom.

It is the object ofmy invention to provide means for controlling both the escape of air and water from such a'se'parating chamber,

whereby a constant stream of alr-free-water the associated system.

The accompanying drawing illustrates my is supplied from suchseparating chamber to invention. Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing a well having an air-lift separator pump, embodying myinvention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the separator; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

At a suitable depth within the well casing 10 is located the airlift pump 11 of any suitable type, which airlift pump receives water from within the well casing 10, and receives air from an lair-supply 'pipe- 12 supplied from a reservoir 13 in which the pressure is maintained by' -any suitable compressor 14.

The mixture of air and" water produced within the pump 11 rises by the eduction chamber 16, the eduction pipe '15 preferfrom the eduction pipe 1-5 allowing the water sys- lower end into pipe 15 and is discharged into a separatingably extending through the bottomof the separatlng chamber and well up into it and being' covered by a suitable umbrella or Specification of Reissued Letters latent. Ri sued A g. 24 1920 I mushroom plate '17 with sides 17" overhanging the upper end of the eduction pipe 15 so as to'deflect downward the water discharged and allow the escape of the air from such water, the mush room plate 17 and the perforations in the depending sides l7 assisting in the separatlon of air and water, and the perforations I to escape from within the perforated sides 17 more freely, so as to steady the level of the water in the separatmg chamber '16. A water discharge pipelS projects into the chamber -16, preferably through the bottom thereof, and may be carried horizontally to any desired point and then turned upward to discharge into any suitable system,here a suitable reservoir 19, as clear from 'Fig. 1. The intake end of the water discharge pipe 18 within the casing 16 is located within a cylinder or bell 20, which at t e bottom is provided with inlet openings 21, preferably widerat the top than at the bottom, as shown in Fig. 2.

A cut-off ring 22'has a sliding fit on the cylinder 20 and is carried by an annularfloat 23 surrounding such cylinder, so that such cut-off ring rises; and falls with the water level wlthin the casing l6 and closes to a greater or less degree the openings 21 as the Watenlevel in such casing falls, so as to diminish the size of the outlet openings .when*the pressure above the'water in the casing 16 (by which pressure the Water level is depressed) increases, thus tending' to maintain the outflowing stream iii-.ioughthe pipe 18 constant.

A hollow cylindrical shell 2 is mounted on the top of the casing 16, by an air-tight mounting, and preferably has a conical botdown within the casing 16 to a point below the lowest water level therein. is provided at one side with an upwardly extending passage 27 outside the main body 16 and at'its upper enddischarges by a passage 28 leading tangentially into the shell 25 at its upper end. A pipe 29 projects axially into the shell 25 from the top, preferably nearly to the bottom of such shell 25,

tom which leads into a pipe projecting The shell 25 ,of such shell, which passage 27*o pens at its the-upper part of the casing and isprovided with a control valve 30 through whichit leads to the air escape .pIi pe 31, in which is a control valve 32. aair from within the upper part of the casing 16, mixed with whatever water it .still carries, passes up through the chamber 27 and is discharged by the passage 28 tangentially within the shell 25, and circulates in-a descendin water it still carries, the air coming to the center and the water to the outside. The

air then escapes through the pipe 29, While the water returns through the-pipe 26 into thecasing 16. The escape j of air 1S'COI1- trolled by the valve 30, which is regulated to maintain the water level within the casing lower end of the pipe 29 and above the pipe 16 at the desired point. This normally maintains the air pressure within the cas" lfi'substantiall constant, and the water leve therein at a su stantially fixed point. However, if the air pressure increases and the water level, therefore, falls,- the float 23 descends and-partly closes the openings 21 so as to maintain the stream of water passing through the pipe 18 substantially constant .in spite of such variation in air pressure andwaterlevel. In order to prevent an increase 30 of ressure within the separatin chamber 16 rom through the

pipes

29 and 31, a deflecting plate 33'is provided in the shell 25 below the 26 and conveniently supported by s aced arms 34 from the walls ofs aid shell; f water is shot up from the pipe 26, it strikes the deflecting plate 33 and is'prevented thereby from entering. the pipe 29. I

To supplement the air escape through the pipe 29 when necessary, I provide a vertical afloat-operated slide'valve, comprising an outer casing 35 which' communicates through an opening 36 with the upperpart .of the space within the casing 16, an annular jacket 37 around such casing 35 at the upper end thereof to provide therewith an annular space 38 which is connected by ports 39 with the interior of the casing 35, and a hollow vertically slidingl member 40 connected by a rod '41 passing t rough the hole 36 to" a float 42 within the casing-16. The hollow sliding member 40 is unperforated at its lower porair escape pipe 31.'

If desired, the air escape pipe may be con nected by an overflow pipe 46 to the interior of the well casing 10, so that in case any wa helixwithin such shell. 'The'centrifuga action of this helical -motion produoesa separation of the air from, whatever causing a sudden rush 0 water up ter is carried up into saidair escape pipe, as sometlmes happens, such water will over flow back into the well and will notes'cape on to the surrounding grounder floor.- This pipe 46 is opened or closed by means of "a flow into the well, the valve 32 may be partly or' wholly closed, when partly closed permitting air to escape through the pipe 31-into the atmosphere but preventing any rush of water throughout the pipe 31.' r a f valve 30'. In order to compel such water to In operation, the compressor 14 main-m tains the desired air pressure within the reservoir 13 from which air is withdrawn through the pipe '12 and discharged through the airlift pump 11,-which causes the'miX-- ture of air and water to rise through the eduction pipe 15 in the usua manner. This mixture of air and water is discharged from the topof the eduction pipe 15 against the 7 s5 under side of the mushroom plate or um ,b'rella 17, which partly separatesthe air and water, deflecting the water downward to the bottom of the chamber 16 and allowing theair to escape through the holes in the depending sides of such mushroom plate. The air accumulates in the upper part of the chamber 16', and the water in the lower part, and the pressure of the air forces the water through the slots 21 and upward within the cylinder 20 and over the top of the intake end of the pipe 18,-and along such pipe horizontally and then vertically into' the reservoir 1 9 or elsewhere. The air in the upper part of the chamber 16 still may carry considerable water, and this air passes up through the passage, 27

and is discharged therefrom through the opening 28 tangentially within the shell 25,

'wherein it circulates in a descending helix to' throw'to the outside, any water itstill carries and bring the air to the inside, the water returning through the pipe 26 into the chamber 16 and the air escaping through the pipe 29, valve 30,- and pipe 31 into the atmosphere or through-thepipe 46 into the well casing. The valve 30 is adsufiiciently rapidly vto maintain the water levelwithin the casing 16 at the desired point; If for any reason this valve-30 does not-allow the air to escape from the chamber 26 with sufiicient rapidity, the water .level within such chamber falls and the jus'ted to allow air normally to escape just floats 23, and 42. descend. The descentof .1

the .float' 23 causes the cut-off ring 22 to ,close partially the slots 21, so as to diminish the outlet area into-the pipe 18 and thus compensate by decreasing such outlet area for the increase in air pressure so asto mamtain the stream of water discharged 1 through thepipe l8 substantially constant.

If the water level in the chamber 16 continues to fall, the descent of the float 42 causes the slide valve 40 to produce registry l -an airlift pump separating chamber into which said eduction through. v

of the

openings

43 and 39. so as to permit a supplemental escape of air through such slide valve and pipe 44 and valve 45, Normally, the slide valvelO is closed, and only comes into play as a supplemental airescape means when the air escaping through the valve is not sufiicie'nt-in amount and the cut-off ring 22 has partially closed the slots 21. If the air escapes too rapidly the floats 23 and 42 rise and the reverse of the foregoing regulation takes place. In case any water is carried up either through the pipe 29 orthe carried back'through the pipe 46 into the pipe 44 into the pipe 31, it is well.

f Asa result of j-my arrangement, the stream of water discharged through the pipe 18 may be maintained substantially constant and substantially air-free.

' Sometimes, however, the separation of 4 the air from the water isnot entirely complete when the water enters through the slots 21,- so thatsome air is carried with-the water into the cylinder '20, this .air, though small in amount, might separate lf-rom'Ythe water within the cylinder 20, and collect at the top'of such'cylindeig-and in the course,

- a 'of time might make the system airbound.

In order to prevent this, cook 50 which connectsthe upper end of the cylinder 20 with the at I provide a pet space within the mosphere, so as to provide a restricted escape vent for any air which may collect.

By proper adjustmentof the pet cook 50,-

anyair which collects in the cylinder 20 may be permitted to escape while the vent is sufiiciently restricted so as to prevent any material amount of water from passing I claim as myinvention: Y 1 1. An airlift separator pump, comprising an airlift pump having an educti-on pipe, a separating chamber into which said eduction 4 pipe discharges, said. separating chamber having an outlet for permitting escape of air from the-u per part thereof,-a water outflow pipe lead a float-controlled valve controlling the'inlet' to 'said'water-outflow pipe, said float-controlled valve moving toward open and closed positions upon rise and fall respectively of the water level in said separating chamber.

ing from said chamber, and

2. An airlift separator pump, comprising having an eduction pipe, a

pipe discharges, said. separating chamber having an outlet for, permittingescape of air from the upper part thereof, a water outflow pipe leading from said chamber, and a float-controlled valve controlling the inlet to said water-outflow pipe.

3. An airliftsepar'ator. pump, comprising an'airlift pump having an' eduction ipe, a,

separating chamber into which said e uction pipe discharges, said separating chamber air-escape pipe;

having an outlet for permitting escape of air from the upper part thereof, a water outflow pipe having its intake end projecting upward into said separating chamber, a bell surrounding the intake end of said wateroutflow pipe, said bell being providedwith a atthe bottom,

' water-admitting slot wider atthe top than a cut-01f ring slidable on saidbell to variably open and close said slot, and

a float'carrying said cut-off ring and movable upon changeinwater level in said se arating chamber to varythe position of said" 4. I An airlift separator pump, comprising an airlift pump having an eduction pipe, a

. separating chamber into which said edu'ction pipe. discharges, said separating chamber having an outlet for perm tting escape of air from the upperpart thereof, a water-outflow I pipe having its intake end projecting up .ward into said separating chamber, a bell surrounding the intake end of said water.- outflow pipe, said bell being rovided with a water admitting slot, a cut-o ring slidable.

and the efiective'size of opening on said bell to variably-open and close said slot, and aj-float carrying said cut-oil ring f and movable upon change; in waterlevel in said separating chamberto vary the position of said cut-ofi'ring' and the efiective-size' of opening of said slot.

5. An airlift separator-pump, comprising an airlift pump having an eductionplpe, a separating chamber into which said eduction pipe discharges, a water-outflow-pipe lead-' ing from said chamber, a shell mounted on the top of said separating chamber and havingawater-return pipe leading therefrom intosaid separating chamber" below the minimum water level therein and also having apassage leading from the top of said separating chamber tangentially intothe upper part of said shell, an air-escape pipe projecting into the middle of said shell, and a valve controlling the efi'ective size of said 6. An airlift separating chamber into which said eduction pipe discharges, -a water-outflow pipe leading from said chamber,-a' shell mounted on the top of said separating chamber and having "a water return pipe leading therefrom into said separating chamber below the minimum water level therein and also havseparator comprising an. airlift-pump having an eduction pipe, 'a

ing a passage leading from the 'top -o f said separating "chamber tangentially into the upper'part of said shell, and anr'air-esca' e p pe projec'tinginto the middle of said she I.

7 An airlift separator pump, comprising an airlift nump having an eduction ipe, a separating chamber into which said e uction. pipe discharges, a water-outflow pipe lead-. 'ing from said chamber,. said separating chamber having a primary air outlet-for allowing escape of air from the upper part of said separating chamber, a manually controlled valve controlling said primary air escape outlet, and said separating chamber also having a supplemental air-escape outlet for allowing escape of air from the upper part of said separating chamber under abnormal conditions, and afloat-operated valve responsive (to the water level in said separating chamber and controlling said supplemental air-escape outlet. 2

-8. An airlift separator pump,-comprising an airlift pump having an eduction pipe, a

separating chamber into which said eduction pipe discharges, a wateroutflow pipe. leading from said chamber, said separating chamber having a primary air outlet for allowing escape of air from the upper part of said separating chamber, and also having a supplemental air-escape outlet .forallowing escape of air from the upper part. of said separating chamber under abnormal condi= tions; and afloat-operated valve responsive to the water level in said separating chamber and controlling outlet.

9. An'air-lift separator pump, comprising said supplemental air-escape an airlift pump having an eduction pipe, a separating chamber into which said eduction pipe discharges, a water-outflow pipe leading from said chamber, said separating chamber having a primary air outlet for allowing the escape of air from the upper part'of said separating chamber, and also having a supplemental air-escape outlet for allowing escape of air from the upper part. of said separating chamber under abnormal -con'(lit1ons, and a float-controlled valve responsive to the water level in saidseparating chamber andcontrollingthe size of the inlet opening to said water-outflow pipe.

10. An airlift separator pump, comprising an airlift pump having an eduction pipe, a

' separator chamber into which said eduction ing pipe discharges, a water-outflow pipe leadfrom said chambergsaid separating chamber having a primary air outlet for allowing escape of air from theupper part of said separating chamber, and also having a supplemental air-escape outlet for allowing escape of air from the u per part of said separating chamber un er abnormal conditions, a float-operated valve responsive to the water level in said separating chamber and controlling said supplemental air escape outlet, and a float-controlled valve responsive to the water level in said separating chamber and controlling the size of the inlet opening to said water-outflow pipe, 11. Anairlift separator pump, comprising an'air-lift pump having an eduction pipe, a separating chamber into 1 which said educ tion pipe discharges, a water-outflow pipe leading [from said chamber, a float controlledvalve controlling the escape of air area of said water outflow pipe.

from the tofp part of said separating chamher, and a oat-controlled valve controlling the inlet to said water-outflow pipe, said two val ves operating oppositely upon a vanation in the water level in said-separating chamber.

12. An airlift separator pump, comprising an airlift pump having an eduction pipe, a

separating chamber into which said eduction pipe discharges, a water-outflow pipe leading from said chamber, a float-controlled valve controlling the escape of air from the top part of said separating chamber, and a floatecontrolled valve controlling the inlet to said water-outflow pipe;

13. An airlift separator pump, comprising v an airlift pump'liaving an eduction pipe, 2;

separating chamber into which said eduction pipe discharges, a water-outflow pipe leading from said chamber, a float-controlled valve controlling the escape of'air from the top part of. said separatingchamb'er, and a float-controlled valve controlling the inlet to said water-outflow pipe, saidfirst-named valve opening and said second-namedvalve closing upon a fall in the water level in said separatin chamber. 14. An airli separator pump, comprising an airlift pump having. an eduction pipe, a separating chamber-into which said eduction pipe discharges, a water out-flow pipe on the topv of said separating chamber and having a water-return pipe leading therefrom into said separating chamber below the minimum water level thereon and also having a passage leading from the topvof said separating chamber tangentially into the upper part of said shell, an air-esca 'e pipe projecting into the middle of. said she l, a valve controlling the effective size of said air-escape pipe and a float-controlled valve responsive to the water level in such separating chamber and controlling the inlet leading fro m said chamber, a shell mounted 15.'An airlift separator pump, comprising an airlift pum p having an eduction plpe, a separating chamber into which said eduction pipe discharges, a water-outflow pipe leading from said chamber, a shell mounted on the top of said separating chamber and having a water-return pipe leading therefrom into said separating chamber below the minimum water level therein andalso h av-v ing a passage leadingv from-the top of said separating chamber tangentially into the upper part of said shell, an air-escape pipe projecting into themiddle of said shell, and a float-controlled valve responsive to the water level in such separating chamber and controlling the inlet. area of said water out- "16. Anairlift separator pump, comprising an airlift pump having an eduction pipe, at: "separating chamber into which said educ- 'tion pipe discharges, said separating chamber having an outletfor permitting the escape of air from the upper part thereof,-

a water outflow pipe leading from said chamber and having its inlet end projecting upward into said chamber, a bell overhanging the. intake end of said ,water-outflow pipe, said bell being provided with a vent connecting the interior of said bell with a point outside said separating chamber, and a valve controlling said vent. 17 An airlift separator pump, comprising an airlift pump having an eduction pipe, a separating chamber into which said eduction pipe discharges, said separating cham-- "ber having an outlet for permitting the I escape of air from the upper part thereof,

a water-outflow pipe leading from said chamber and having its inlet end projecting upward into -said chamber, a bell overhanging the intake end of said water-outflow pipe, said bell being rovided with a vent connecting the' interior of. said bell with a point outside said separating chamber.

18. In combination, a closedchamber, a

' pipe leading from a well into such chamber and opening intosaid chamber above the liquid level therein,'an air nozzle in such pipe below such chamber, a pipe leading from such chamber and opening into such chamber below the liquid leveltherein, a down-- wardly opening hood located in said chamber and having its open end below the liquid level therein, said first namedvpipe discharging upwardly into said chamber and said last named pipe opening under said hood, said chamber having an air outlet opening therefrom which air outlet open-' ing communicates with the chamber at a point higher than the liquid level therein, and a manually operated valve wholly controlling said'air outlet openingto permit the escape of air from said chamber but to maintain a pressure greater than atmosphere in said chamber,

19. In combination, a closed chamber, ,a pipe leading from a well and discharging upwardly substantially vertically into such chamber,'an air nozzle in such pipe below such chamber, a pipe leading from such chamber, a hood in'such chamber over the end of said last named pipe, said-hood having its lower .end open below the liquid level, in said chamber and having itsup'per end closed, a container which is connected to said last named pipe to receive the discharge therefrom, said chamber having an air outlet opening therefrom, which air outlet chamber and having its upper end closed day of July, 1917 opening communicates with the chamber at a point higher than the liquid level therein, and a manually operated valve wholly controlling said air outlet opening to permit the escape of air from said chamber but to maintain a pressure greater than atmos- Iphere in said chamber.

20. In combination, a closed chamber, a pipe leading from a well into such chamber,

an air nozzle in such pipe below such chains ber, a pipe leading from such chamber, a

hood in said chamber over the end of s'aid last named pipe, said hood having its-lower end open below 'the liquid level in said said chamber having an air outlet opening therefrom which air outlet opening communicates with the chamber at a point higherthan the liquid level therein, and a manually operated valve wholly controlling said air outlet'opening to permit the escape of air from said chamber but to maintain a pressure greater than atmosphere in said chamber.

21. In combination, a closed chamber, a pipe leading from a well into such chamber,

an air nozzle in such pipe below such chamber, a pipeleading from such chamber and opening into the main space within the chamber below the liquid level therein and by a passageway which carries the liquid from the chamber first upward and then downward, said chamber having an air outlet opening therefrom which air outlet opening communicates with the chamber at a point higher than the liquid level therein, and a manually operated, valve wholly controlling said air outlet openingto permit the escape-of air from said-'chamberbut to maintain a pressure .greater than atmosphere in said chamber.

22. In combination, a closed chamber, a

pipe leading from a well into such chamber,

an air nozzle in such pipe below such cham- 'ber, a pipe leading from such chamber and opening into the main space within the chamber below the liquid level therein, said chamber having an air outlet opening therefrom which air'outlet opening communicates with the chamber at a point higher than the liquid level therein, and a manually operated valve wholly controlling said air outlet opening to permitthe escape of air from said chamber but to maintain a pressure greater than atmosphere in said chamber.

Inwitness whereof, I- have hereunto set my hand, at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 3rd ORAN M; PRUITT.