Patent GB-190122765-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Raising Liquids such as Oil from Oil Wells by Direct Air Pressure.
Inventor: STIRLING ROBERT
Filed: 1901-11-11
Granted: 1903-01-10
Abstract: 22,765. Stirling, R. Nov. 11. Direct air-pressure apparatus.-Consists of improved apparatus by which oil or other liquid may be raised from a well by any available air pressure, whatever the depth of the well. Below the liquid level in the well is a chamber having a non-return inlet valve at the bottom, an air pipe at the top, and a discharge pipe leading from near the bottom. The chamber is proportioned to contain no more liquid than can be supported by the air pressure in the discharge pipe. The air supply to the chamber is controlled by an automatic valve D, Fig. 2, comprising the piston valve 3, 4, connected by a rod 5 to a piston 1 of larger diameter. Air is supplied by the pipe E, and, in the position shown, passes to the pipe E<1> leading to the well chamber. Some of the liquid discharged by the pipe H, Fig. 1, is caused to operate a three-way cock K. e.g., by filling a vessel G. The cock K is thus turned so as to admit pressure to the top of the piston 1 by the pipes E<3>, E'. This forces down the valve 3, 4, under the control of a dash-pot device such as the piston 2, and ultimately cuts off the air supply to the pipe E<1>, allowing the air remaining in the well chamber to complete the discharge by expansion. The bucket G has meanwhile emptied through a small hole in its bottom, and the cock K returns to its first position, in which the pipe E<2> is open to the atmosphere. The valve 3, 4 is thus forced up, but, owing to the dash-pot, moves slowly enough to allow any pressure air remaining in the well chamber to escape by the port 5<a>, hollow rod 5, and pipe E'. The valve ultimately regains the position shown in Fig. 2, and the cycle of operations begins again. Variations in the arrangement of the parts may be made : e.g., the pipe E<1> may be inside the pipe H. A modification is adapted to raise from two wells alternately. Fig. 5 shows the connections for one well, those of the others being similar; and Fig. 7 shows the modified automatic valve D. The pipes E, E<3> are connected to the air main, and the pipe E<1> to the well chamber. The admission of air from the pipe E is controlled by a piston valve P, which, when moved to the left, admits air by its port 11. The air pressure then forces up the piston 8, 9, 10, until the piston 10 passing beyond the inlet to the pipe E<1> admits air thereto. On the filling of the bucket G, the cock K admits air pressure to a chamber N containing liquid, which is thus forced through the pipe E<2> and retarding-valve 12, and, acting on the piston 8, depresses the same to the position shown in Fig. 7. The air supply is thus cut off, and the discharge finished by expansion. Liquid from the chamber N has meanwhile been forced through the pipe E to move the piston P of the companion well to the left, so starting the discharge in this well. On the emptying of the bucket G of the first well, the pressure is released from the chamber N, and the piston 8, 9, 10 can therefore be forced up by the spring 14. Owing to the retarding- valve 12, this movement is slow enough to allow of exhaust from the pipe E<1 >to the pipe 15 between the pistons 9, 10. The chamber N of the second well is connected to its valve D and to the corresponding valve of the first well, in a manner similar to that described with regard to the chamber N of the first well.