Abstract:
A replaceable DC electric motor and kit for a groundwater sampling and pumping device and system for withdrawing groundwater from a well. The motor is provided with means to align the motor with an alignment pin in the groundwater sampling device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/060,168, filed on Feb. 17, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,525,141 B2. 

   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not applicable 
   INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
   Not applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates generally to systems and methods for gathering liquid samples using a submersible pump placed into a pre-established well for analysis and/or groundwater removal and groundwater remediation and circulation of fluids, and more particularly to a device and system for these purposes which includes an easily replaceable motor and a unique water flow passage structure and internal sealed electrical contacts which both prolong motor life and facilitate replacement thereof. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   The taking of groundwater samples from a pre-established well for the purpose of groundwater sampling and/or removal is well known. These samples are typically taken by a submersible pump device which is descended into the well as supported and controlled by electrical power conduits and a flexible fluid conduit for conveying groundwater up to the ground surface by the pump device for removal or analysis. 
   A number of prior art devices are known to applicant which are disclosed in the following U.S. Patents:
         U.S. Pat. No. 5,238,060 to Niehaus, et al.   U.S. Pat. No. 6,158,509 to Peterson   U.S. Pat. No. 5,708,220 to Burge   U.S. Pat. Re. No. 34,754 to Dickinson, et al.   U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,829 to Manke, et al.   U.S. Pat. No. 6,758,273 to Learned       

   U.S. Pat. No. 5,238,060 to Niehaus discloses a fluid sampling apparatus for withdrawing samples of groundwater or other fluids. The pump includes a packer associated therewith which minimizes the amount of liquid which must be pumped to purge the well prior to obtaining an acceptable sample. 
   A method and apparatus for gathering liquid samples using a submersible pump is further disclosed by Peterson in U.S. Pat. No. 6,158,509. The submersible pump is operated by means of a surface valving system and solenoid systems mounted on the submersible pump. U.S. Pat. No. 5,708,220 to Burge teaches a liquid sampling device comprising a submersible liquid sampling device and a ground level sample receiving and control facility. 
   Dickinson, et al., in U.S. Pat. Re. No. 34,754 discloses a fluid sampling apparatus for withdrawing samples of groundwater or other fluids from a well or other monitoring site, said apparatus comprising a pump means, conduit means and a wellhead assembly. U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,829 to Manke, et al. teaches a downhole formation test pump including a progressive cavity pump and Learned discloses methods, apparatus and a low-flow groundwater sampling system in U.S. Pat. No. 6,758,273. 
   The present invention provides such a groundwater sampling device and system for withdrawing groundwater from a pre-established well which device is readily serviceable by the quick and convenient removal and replacement of the motor contained therein and for heightened flow and cooling characteristics around the motor for extended life. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention is directed to a groundwater sampling and pumping device and system for withdrawing groundwater from a well. The device includes a hollow outer housing having water inlet ports formed through a bottom thereof and a hollow inner housing sized to be positioned coaxially within the outer housing and defining a water flow passage therebetween, the respective bottoms being spaced to define a lower portion of the water passage whereby water ports are in fluid communication with the water passage. An electric motor in the inner housing is connected to a water impeller operably positioned between the bottoms to draw groundwater into the water passage. A motor module cap establishes sealed connection to the electrical conduit passing longitudinally to the electrical input terminals of the motor while an output cap is sealingly removably engaged to the open end of the outer housing and includes an aperture for sealingly passing the electrical conduit longitudinally therethrough and a water outlet port for discharging water from the well upwardly therefrom. The water passing upwardly through the water flow passage provides cooling for the motor. 
   It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a groundwater sampling device for withdrawing groundwater from a pre-established well which is highly serviceable by the quick and easy replacement of the sealed internal electric motor contained therein. 
   Still another object of this invention is to provide a very high quality and high capacity groundwater sampling device and system for withdrawing groundwater from a pre-established well and which includes a jacket or water passage for water flow around the motor for heightened cooling and increased motor longevity. 
   Yet another object of this invention is to provide a groundwater sampling device for pumping groundwater from a pre-existing well which is readily serviceable and includes convenient sealed internal electrical contact components which facilitate servicing and replacement of the internal sealed motor by providing automatic electrical contact between the electrical conduit and the motor contacts. 
   In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
       FIG. 1  is a simplified pictorial view of the system of the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the groundwater sampling device and associated above-ground electrical conduit reel apparatus. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the power booster/controller of the system. 
       FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6  are collectively an exploded view of the components of the groundwater sampling device  12 . 
       FIG. 7  is a cross section view of the groundwater sampling device  12  of  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6 . 
       FIG. 8  is an alternate embodiment of  FIG. 7 . 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  are alternate embodiments of the bottom of the outer housing of  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the drawings, and firstly to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , the system is there shown in  FIG. 1  generally at numeral  10  and includes a water sampling device  12  in the form of a submersible groundwater pump, an electrical conduit reel apparatus  14  which interconnects a voltage controller/booster device  16  to the device  12  and further includes a sample vial  18  into which the groundwater is pumped out of a pre-established well W through a water conduit  22  for collection. 
   The device  12  is described in more detail herebelow and is positionable within the well W formed into the ground below grade level G. The depth of the device  12  is controlled primarily by the feeding of the electrical conduit  20  from the reel apparatus  14 . The system voltage/current controller/booster  16  includes a connection to the electrical conduit  20  through attachment of fitting  32  to the mating fitting  28  connected to the reel apparatus  14 . Electrical contacts  34 , which are attachable to the terminals of a low voltage d.c. electrical power source such as a 12-volt battery, provide the power input into the controller  16 . By the adjustment of the variable voltage adjuster  36  which is monitored by the liquid crystal display at  38 , voltage output from the controller  16  into the motor contained within the device  12  is thereby provided. 
   The controller  16  inputs direct current from the 12-volt battery and produces an output voltage to run the device  12  with the specified parameters. The controller  16  boosts the voltage to a fixed 30 volts and then, using a buck converter, puts out a selected fixed voltage to the pump to operate the device  12  at the selected parameters. Consideration is given to the effective wire loss to maximize water output or pressure head that can be pumped. 
   Still referring to  FIG. 1 , when the sampling device  12  is activated, groundwater is forced upwardly through flexible conduit  22 , through a disposable valve  24  for dispersion of a controlled volume of groundwater into a VOA vial  18 . Alternately, the system  10  may also be used to simply evacuate groundwater from a pre-established well W, in which case the upper end of the flexible conduit  22  is directed to discharge the groundwater into a suitable container, above ground basin or the like. 
   The system  10  described herein is currently available commercially through Proactive Environmental Products of Bradenton, Fla. Two groundwater sampling devices  12  are generally available, the first under the trademark SS-MEGA-TYPHOON pump providing groundwater sampling and purging to a depth of 80′ and the SS-MONSOON model providing a pumping depth to 120′. The pumping depth and performance in gallons per minute for each of these two sampling devices are shown herebelow: 
   
     
       
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
           
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
             
               SS-MEGA-TYPHOON PUMP CHART 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               Pumping Depth in Feet 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               3 
               10 
               20 
               30 
               40 
               50 
               60 
               70 
               80 
               90 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
         
             
               Gallons Per 
               3.5 
               3.0 
               2.75 
               2.55 
               2.00 
               1.25 
               1.00 
               .50 
               .25 
               N/A 
             
             
               Minute 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   
     
       
             
           
             
             
           
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
           
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
             
               SS-MONSOON PUMP CHART 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               Pumping Depth in Feet 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               3 
               10 
               20 
               30 
               40 
               50 
               60 
               70 
               80 
               90 
               100 
               110 
               120 
               130 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
         
             
               Gallons Per 
               4.0 
               3.75 
               3.5 
               3.25 
               3.0 
               2.75 
               2.0 
               1.75 
               1.5 
               1.25 
               1.0 
               .50 
               .25 
               N/A 
             
             
               Minute 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   Referring now to  FIGS. 4 to 7 , the preferred groundwater sampling device  12 , as best seen collectively in  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6 , may be viewed and best understood in three separate component stages, most of which are generally formed and/or machined of substantially non-corrosive material, such as TEFLON and stainless steel for strength. As seen in  FIG. 6  in which both side and bottom views are shown, an outer cylindrical housing  40  formed of thin wall stainless tubular material hollow on the interior thereof, includes a machined bottom  42  threadably engaged into the tubular material which is formed as a segmented sphere having water inlet ports  44  formed centrally therethrough as also best shown in  FIG. 7 . These inlet ports  44  lead to an interior chamber  86  into which groundwater is drawn in the direction of arrows A in  FIG. 7 . 
   In  FIG. 5 , showing side, top and bottom views, the inner hollow cylindrical tubular housing  46 , also formed of thin wall stainless tubular material, includes a bottom  46  having a water seal  80  centrally disposed having an axial passageway to receive an output shaft  52  of a d.c. motor  48  sealingly fit there through upon motor  48  insertion into the inner housing  46 . A water impeller  50  is attached to the output shaft  52  and is positioned as best seen in  FIG. 7  within the interior chamber  86 . A clearance gap is established by diameter selection between the inner diameter of the outer housing  40  and the outer diameter of the inner housing  48  to define a water passage or jacket  88  which upwardly receives groundwater in the direction of the arrows caused to flow into the inlet ports  44  in the direction of arrow A, continuing through the interior chamber  86 , again in the direction of the arrows into the water passage  88 . 
   The upper end of the motor  48  includes two electrical contacts  56  and  58  which receive electrical d.c. current and voltage from the controller  16  through the electrical conduit  20  as will be described in more detail herebelow. The preferred motor operating parameters for the SS-MEGA-TYPHOON model is 12.6 a/16.4 v.d.c. The SS-MONSOON model operates at 12.6 a/17.4 v.d.c. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , showing side and bottom views, the upper portion of the device includes a motor module cap  62  and an output cap  72 . The output cap  72  is threadably engaged as best seen in  FIG. 7  into the mating threads formed into the upper end of the outer housing  40 . The motor module cap  62 , also formed of machined material, includes outwardly extending pins  66  which, as best seen in  FIG. 5 , lockably engage into L-shaped slots  60  formed into the upper end of the inner housing  46  as shown. Following axial movement together with the pins  66  properly aligned with the longitudinal portion of these L-shaped slots  60 , a simple twisting action seals and locks the motor module cap  62  into engagement with the upper end of the inner housing  46 , O-rings  64  establishing the water-tight seal. Note importantly that alignment pin  94 , anchored into bottom  46   a , establishes proper rotational alignment between the motor  48  and the inner housing  46 . 
   The output cap  72  and the motor module cap  62  are held together in fixed spaced .relationship by a plurality of longitudinally extending threaded fasteners  67 . To maintain the spacing shown between these two components and, as best seen in  FIG. 7  to establish the upper portion of the water passage  88 , cylindrical sleeves  84  which are sealingly engaged at O-rings  74  at either end thereof, are fitted into mating aligned cavities formed into the facing surfaces of the output cap  72  and the motor module cap  62 . These tubular spacers  84  are also sized to receive one of two coated wires of the electrical conduit  20 , each wire of which extends through one of the spacers  84  as best seen in  FIG. 7 . Maintaining the water seal of the interior of the device  12  is again established by O-rings  74  at each end of each of these spacers  84 . 
   Positioned within the motor module cap  62  are two electrical contacts  68  and  70  which are longitudinally floatingly positioned for biased axial movement in the direction of arrow C by compression springs  76 . The contact blocks  68  and  70  are supported within slots formed into non-conductive arcuately configured spacers  82  which are themselves held in position by threaded fasteners as best seen in  FIG. 4 . The distal end portions of the electrical conduit  20  are preferably stripped of insulation to expose the conductive interior wiring and then clamped into position within mating holes formed through each of the contact blocks  58  by set screws  92 . By this arrangement, when the motor module cap  62  is locked into place as previously described, electrical contact between contact blocks  68  and  70  is automatically made with the motor contacts  56  and  58 , respectively. Again, note that alignment pin  94  in  FIG. 7  establishes proper rotational alignment and immobilization rotationally between the motor  48  and the inner housing  46 . 
   The outlet port  90 , as seen in  FIG. 7 , is formed axially through the outlet cap  72  which threadably receives a conduit nipple  26  shown in  FIG. 4  for receiving the lower end of the flexible conduit  22  as shown in  FIG. 1 . By this arrangement the groundwater flowing into the device in the direction of arrow A through inlet ports  44  flows upwardly through the passageway  88  for discharge upward through outlet port  90 . Note that the water flow through water passage  88  cools the motor  48  for increasing motor life and efficiency. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 8 , an alternate embodiment of the sampling device is there shown generally at numeral  12 ′ and includes all of the same components previously shown in  FIG. 7  except as noted herebelow. However, in this embodiment, the lower distal ends of the electrical conduit  20 , which are stripped of their insulated coatings, are soldered or mechanically attached at  20   a  to the electrical contacts  56  and  58  of the motor  48 . 
   In either case, simple replacement of the motor  48  is easily accomplished when required. This motor replacement procedure, as best understood from  FIGS. 4 to 7 , after removal of the water impeller  50 , involves unscrewing a sub-assembly of (a) the inner housing  46  with motor  48  therein (b) the motor module  62  connected to (c) the output cap  72 . The inner housing  46  with motor  48  therein is then twisted and pulled free of the motor module cap  62 /output cap  72 . Thereafter, the motor  48  is slidably removed from the inner housing  46  by applying axial pressure against the end of the output shaft  52 . This procedure is reversed to install a new motor. 
   Referring lastly to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , an alternate preferred embodiment of the bottom member  42 ′ of the outer housing is there shown. In this embodiment, which is also formed of machined stainless steel, the inlet ports  44  extend into radially spaced diagonally upwardly opening slots  100  which have been shown to greatly increase head pressure and thusly the overall flow at any specified submerged depth of the device  12 ′. The smooth flow of the groundwater shown by the arrows in  FIG. 10  is presumed to be the source of this operational benefit. 
   While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what are conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be afforded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent apparatus and articles.