IMPROVEMENTS IN SINKING OR FORMING WELLS, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED FOR THIS AND SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Lee Norton, of Belle Sauvage Yard, Ludgate
Hill, in the City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SINKING OR FORMING WELLS, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED FOR THIS AND
SIMILAR PURPOSES."-Partly a communication from abroad by Stephen
Brewer, of Cortland, New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 6th March 1868, and dated the 23rd October 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Lee Norton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
23rd October 1867.
I, JAMES LEE NORTON, of Belle Sauvage Yard, Ludgate Hill, in the City
of London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Iк-
PROVEMENTS IN SINKING OR FORMING WELLS, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED FOR
THIS AND SIMILAR PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in sinking or forming wells,
and in apparatus used for this and other similar purposes. If a simple pipe
or tube of metal be forced, screwed, or driven into the soil without removing
any earth in the process until sufficient water is reached, and if a pump be
applied to the said pipe water can for an indefinite period be drawn up by
the pump.
The Invention consists of suitable means and methods for constructing this
kind of well. A conducting tube made of iron or other suitable material
constructed either in sections or one continuous piece is employed; common iron

page_text: gas tubing of about an inch or an inch and a quarter bore, and three-sixteenths
of an inch thick with the ordinary screw couplings or connexions is very
suitable for a small well. This tube is provided at the end designed for the
bottom and for a short distance of its length (say 12 to 20 inches) with a series
of perforations or small holes about three-sixteenths or one-fourth of an inch
each in diameter, so as to form a communication between the outside and inside
thereof. The areas of these holes collectively should amount to at least twice
the area of the bore of the pipe. The same end of the pipe is also pointed.
One convenient method of making this point is to weld a short piece of round
iron into the end of the tube, at the same time drawing it to a properly
tapered point of octagonal shape.
The apparatus which is employed for driving the pipes or tubes into the earth
consists of a clip, which is applied to the pipe; this clip is made in two parts.
It is made of wrought iron, with a steel lining welded within it, in which a
screw thread with ratchet-like teeth is cut, or it may be roughened inside like
a coarse rasp. The two parts of the clip are firmly bound around the pipe
by bolts and nuts; the nuts are made semi-globular on their bearing surfaces,
and the bolt holes are made somewhat slack, so that all tendency to twist the
bolts in screwing up may be avoided. The clip should be applied to the pipe
at about two feet from the surface of the land, and it may advantageously be
truly faced on the upper surface. On to this clip a weight or driver strikes;
the weight or driver has a hole through it longitudinally of such a size as to
enable it to pass freely over the pipe. Lugs on the weight or driver receive
the hand ropes, and these ropes pass up over pulleys which are carried by a
clamp, which may as the strain on it is comparatively light be clipped to the
pipe by a set screw. This clamp is furnished with two arms, each carrying a
pulley, and the hand ropes pass over them, or the clamp may be made with
four arms and pulleys. The weight or driver is raised several feet by men
hauling on the ropes, and is then suddenly allowed to descend on to the clip,
and by numerous rapidly repeated blows so struck the pipe is driven into the
earth, the clip and clamp being shifted from time to time. When the first
length of pipe is driven so far down that the portion remaining above the
surface of the land is insufficient for the rise and fall of the driver a length-
ening piece is applied; it is of the same diameter as the pipe for the greater
part of its length, and has its end reduced so as to enter within the pipe. By
means of this lengthening piece the first pipe is driven nearly down to the
surface of the land, and then another length of pipe is screwed on-and-the
clip is applied above the socket, and so the work is continued until the desired
depth is attained.

page_text: When using a tool to cut through rock it requires to be turned partly round
after each blow of the driver, for this purpose I apply to the pipe a clip with
vertical biting grooves, and having sockets for handspikes. I also keep the
tool supplied with water, which issues into the hole by side openings just above
the cutting edge. Before driving the tube which is to form the permanent
well I drive a much smaller but similar tube to test the ground and ascertain
if water is to be found within a convenient distance from the surface. In
some cases the driving of the pipe is facilitated by bringing a strong down-
ward strain to bear upon it by means of springs. Although this arrangement
inay be used with pipes of the dimensions herein-before given, it is of greater
service when larger pipes are employed, but stronger springs may then advan-
tageously be used. It is also applicable in driving piles, also in driving open
ended pipes; or where large tubes are being driven a weight box may be
applied over the pulley clamp to give a permanent downward pressure, and a
spring may be applied between the weight box and the clamp. In place of
mounting the pulleys for the hand ropes on a clamp secured to the pipe they'
may be carried by a separate tripod or support, and thus the time required to
shift the clamp up the pipe at intervals may be saved.
In some cases where the soil is comparatively loose I screw the pipe into the
ground in place of driving it. The pipe is made in the same way as for
driving, but with in addition a wrought-iron worm brazed on it. It is
screwed down into the earth by means of the clip and handspikes. Where a
band of rock has to be perforated in order to sink the well to water
beneath I sink an open-ended tube down to the rock, which I then perforate
by jumping tools as is usual in boring rock, and afterwards I force down the
well tube as already described. I make a joint between the two tubes by
driving in the metal ring, in other case also open-ended pipes may be used.
They should be made with an internal shoulder at the lower end to form a
seat for a plug, with which the lower end of the pipe is stopped when the
well is complete to prevent the dirt working up and choking the well. The
use of pipes with closed ends is, however, more generally advantageous.
The pipe being thus driven down to the water by any of these means a suction
pump is connected to its top, and pumping may be commenced. At first a
good deal of dirt is raised mixed with the water; in fact the water is com-
pletely muddy, but. continuing to pump in a short time the fine dirt which the
perforations will admit through them is drawn up with the water, leaving the
coarse gravel and material around the perforations, forming a complete and
excellent filter, and the water finally becomes clear, and is usually inex-
haustible. Since there is sometimes danger that so much soil will work

page_text: through the perforations into the interior of the pipe in the process of driving
as to prevent the starting of the water by the pump, in such cases a means
may be provided of keeping these perforations covered or protected until the
pipe is down to its final position, and then readily uncovering them, which is
as follows:-The point above referred to instead of being attached to the
main pipe is attached to a short piece (say a foot long) of smaller pipe
containing the perforations which slides up loosely over the main pipe.
Perforations may also be made in the main pipe protected on the outside
by the small pipe before mentioned. The extent of the movement of this
smaller tube on the larger or main tube is limited by a key or pin passing
through the main pipe and a vertical slot, and the pipes are likewise by this
means prevented from coming entirely a part. When the pipe is down
to its final position in the soil, the perforations are uncovered either by
raising the main pipe a short distance, thus letting the perforated piece
slide out, or by putting a small rod down inside and forcing the same out.
There are other means of protecting these perforations, for instance, the two
pipes instead of sliding out, and it can be so constructed as to turn the one
within the other, and effect the same object, or a coiled cylinder of thin elastic
metal or other substance can be placed within the lower portion of the pipe
covering the holes and be withdrawn.by a cord extending up through the pipe.
It is not often however that any protection of the perforations is needed, and
only when driving through soils containing much fine sand or wet clay, since
a moderate amount of dirt in the pipe will form no serious obstruction to the
flow of water, and is quickly removed in the current created by the action of
the pump. When the pipe with unprotected perforations is used in constructing
a well and dirt works through the perforations to such an extent as to prevent
the starting of the water by the pump, a smaller size tube (it may con-
veniently be a flexible hose) should be run down the interior of the pipe,
and by means of a reducing socket the pump is attached thereto, and by it
the dirt is pumped out, the dirt being agitated by water poured in at the top,
so that a continuous current of the water down the outer pipe and up the
smaller or inner pipe is maintained, the muddy or sandy water being pumped
up the inner pipe and clean water being poured into the outer pipe; the
dirt being thus removed the pump is then attached to the main pipe. In
order to clear the dirt out of the pipe an instrument may be used consisting
of a tube a little smaller than the piping, and having a contraction in it nea
its lower end to form a seat for a ball valve; this instrument is allowed to fal
by its own weight down the pipe, or it is thrust down with a rod, it is agai
drawn up and the dirt discharged from it, and the operation is repeated a

page_text: often as it may be necessary. Or in order to remove the sand effectually
from the well I insert a pump down to the bottom of the well; near the
upper end of the well an air-tight joint is made between the well tube and the
pump tube by an india-rubber ring, or the joint may be made near the bottom
of the well and the upper part of the inner tube dispensed with. When the
pump becomes choked with sand from time to time it is taken out and cleared.
The same system of pumping is employed permanently when the depth of the
well is too great to admit of its being pumped by a suction pump at the surface.
In order that the valves of the pumps used with these wells may not be cut by
the sand which frequently comes up with the water, more especially when the
well is first driven, a pump with india-rubber lip valves should be used, or
very advantageously pumps formed with two V form troughs, the one inverted
on the other, may be employed to pump these wells, as sand will pass through
such pumps without injuring them; or to prevent the passage of sand into
the pump a sand trap may be used consisting of a chamber screwed on to
the top of the well pipe which rises up within the chamber and is surrounded
by a cylindrical hood closed at the top and having its sides formed of wire
gauze. The suction valve of the pump is placed at the top of the chamber.
In cases where a large supply of water is required, and the tackle to drive a
large pipe is not readily procurable, several smaller pipes may be driven and
connected by screw unions above the surface of the ground, so that one pump
may draw from all the tubes. Occasionally it happens that pipes driven in
this manner fail to yield water in consequence of their.ends penetrating a small
patch of clay or impervious matter. In such cases they may be rendered
serviceable by forcing water down, then under a heavy pressure the water so
forced down makes for itself small channels by which to escape, and these
afterwards serve for the flow of water to the pipe. In some cases also I
employ a pump to force water into the pipe under a heavy pressure whilst it
is being driven, the water from the combined effect of the pressure and the
jar of the blow escapes in small quantities through the perforations in the
pipe and lubricates the passage. The pipes may be drawn out of.the earth
when required by screw lifting apparatus. It consists of a stand or frame
encircling the pipe and resting on the land at its upper end, an internal screw
thread is cut which receives a screw plug having a passage through it for the
pipe. The clip on the pipe is brought down to rest on the screw plug and is
there secured, then by, turning the screw by levers the clip is forced, upwards
and it takes the pipe with it. At the end of the stroke of the screw plug
it is brought back and the clip is again brought down to it;, or to withdraw
the pipes from the ground when necessary, the driving. apparatus may be.

page_text: employed by simply reversing the machine, placing the clip above and the
weight below, and throwing the latter violently up against the former, dispensing
with the use of the pulleys in this instance, and handling the weight with
the cords.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Lee Norton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
⚫ 23rd April 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
LEE NORTON, of Belle Sauvage Yard, Ludgate Hill, in the City of London,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her:
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto I, the said James Lee Norton, Her special licence that I, the said
James Lee Norton, my executors, administrators, and assigns; or such
others as I, the said James Lee Norton, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree, with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SINKING OR FORMING WELLS, AND IN APPARATUS
TO BE USED FOR THIS AND SIMILAR PURPOSES," partly the result of a communi-
cation made to me from.abroad by Stephen Brewer, of Cortland, New York,
United States of America, and is partly my own Invention, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said James Lee Norton, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what. manner the same was to be performed,
and cause. the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately, after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Lee Norton, do hereby declare.
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-

page_text: This Invention has for its object improvements in sinking or forming wells,
and in apparatus used for this and other similar purposes. If a simple pipe
or tube:of metal be forced, screwed, or driven into the soil without removing
any. earth in the process until 'sufficient water is reached, and if a pump be
applied to the said pipe water can for an indefinite period :be drawn up by
the pump..
"
This Invention consists of suitable means and methods for constructing
this kind of well, which means and methods are particularly and fully set forth
and described in the following statement, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon.
A conducting tube made of iron (or other suitable materiál constructed either
in sections or one continuous piece) is employed. Common iron gas.tubing
of about an inch or an inch and a quarter bore and three-sixteenths of an
inch thick with the ordinary screw couplings or connections is very suitable
for a small well. This tube is provided at the end designed for the bottom
and for a short distance of its length (say 12 to 20 inches) with a series of
perforations or small holes about three-sixteenths or one-fourth of an inch in:
diameter, so as to form a communication between the outside and inside
thereof. The areas of these holes collectively should amount to at least twice
the area of the bore of the pipe; the same end of the pipe is also pointed..
One convenient method of making this point is to weld a short piece of round-
iron into the end of the tube, at the same time drawing it to a properly
tapered point of octagonal shape.
A portion of such a pipe or tube is represented by Figure 1 in the Drawings.
When the soil in which the pipe is to be driven is hard a steel point may
advantageously be welded in. The point may be made of various forms
thus, Figure 2 shows a form suitable for gravel or sand, and Figures 3 a
form suitable for stone; the pipe or tube thus prepared is driven or forced
perpendicularly into the soil .until sufficient water is reached. So far the
arrangement is not new, it is the subject of a Patent. granted to William
Edward Newton, and dated the 24th day of August 1865, No. 2178, and of
which I am the assignee. The apparatus which is employed according to the
present Invention for driving, the pipes or tubes into the earth is represented
at Figure 4.
.
a is the pipe.pointed at its lower end; 6 is a clip which is applied to it;
this clip is made in two parts, as is shewn in plan at Figure 5, and in hori-
zontal section at Figure 6; a front view of one-half of the clip is also shewn
at Figure 7. It is made of wrought iron with a steel lining welded within

page_text: it in which a screw thread with ratchet like teeth is cut, or it may be
roughened inside like a coarse rasp. The two parts of the clip are firmly
bound around the pipe by bolts and nuts 6, 61; the nuts are made semi-
globular on their bearing surfaces, and the bolt holes are made somewhat
slack, so that all tendency to twist the bolts in screwing up may be avoided.
The clip 6 should be applied to the pipe at about two feet from the surface
of the land, and it may advantageously be truly faced on the upper surface.
cis the weight or driver, it is shewn in section at Figure 8'; it has a hole
through it longitudinally of such a size as to enable it to pass freely over
the pipe a. The weight or driver may advantageously be truly faced on its
striking surface. c, c', are lugs on the weight or driver to receive the hand
ropes c, c²; these ropes pass up over pulleys which are carried by a clamp d;
it is, shewn in plan at Figure 9, it may as the strain on it is comparatively
light be clipped to the pipe by a set screw d'. This clamp is furnished with
two arms each carrying a pulley, and the hand ropes c³, &, pass over them..
Figures 10 and 11' show other ways of making the clamp d, or it may be
made with four arms and pulleys, as is shewn at Figure 12. The weight or
driver c is raised several feet by men hauling on the ropes c³, and is then
suddenly allowed to descend on to the clip b, and by numerous rapidly repeated
blows so struck the pipe is driven into the earth, the clip b and clamp & being
shifted from time to time; a léngthening piece or bar, such as is shown at
Figure 12*, is employed temporarily to increase the length of the pipe until
another section is applied to avoid the interference of the sockets. When
using the tool shewn at Figure 3 to cut through rock it requires to be turned
partly round after each blow of the driver. For this purpose I apply to the
pipe a clip with vertical biting grooves and having sockets for handspikes, as
is shewn at Figure 13; I also keep this tool supplied with water which issues
into the hole by the side openings just above the cutting edge.
In some cases before driving the tube which is to form the permanent well
I drive a much smaller but similar tube to test the ground and ascertain if
water is to be found within a convenient distance from the surface. The
driving may be very greatly facilitated by bringing a strong downward strain
to bear upon it, by means of springs. This arrangement is represented in plan
at Figure 14. e, e, are stays connected at their upper ends to the pipe in any
convenient manner; for example, the clamp, Figure 12, may be used with
pulleys on two arms only, the other arms being occupied by the stays. In
the length of each stay springs of vulcanized india-rubber are introduced; by
-preference there are numerous springs in each stay, so that the stay may

page_text: have a strain of several hundredweight put upon it without risk of injury to
the springs. The stays e, e, pass down and around pulleys ff; they are con-
nected together and pass over the sheave g at the end of a chain h which is
wound up upon a windlass or crab until the desired tension is obtained, as
will be seen by the elongation of the springs. The pulleys f, f, are carried
upon a strong frame i which is secured to the land either by screw moorings
or by pins driven into the holes i¹. The pins may be driven in the same way
as the pipe if necessary, and clips may be applied to the pins to hold down
the frame. Although this arrangement may be used with pipes of the
dimensions herein-before given it is of greater service when larger pipes are
employed; but stronger springs may then advantageously be used, and in
place of mounting the pulleys for the hand ropes con a clamp d secured to the
pipe they may be carried by a separate tripod or support, and thus the time
required to shift the clamp d up the pipe at intervals may be saved.
A perspective view of the arrangement I employ in driving large tubes to
great depths is shewn at Figure 15. a is the well tube; it is steadied by
the three tripod legs b, b, b.; they have discs at their ends so that they may
stand firmly on the land. c. is a cross head at-the top of the tube a; d, d, are
two powerful combinations of springs connected with the cross head-at their
upper ends, and at their lower with chains passing over strongly anchored
pulleys e to the crab ƒ by which tension is put on the springs. 9 is the driver;
as its weight is in this case considerable it is not worked by man ropes, but is
wound up by a winch i fixed on one of the steadying piles 6; a chain from the
winch barrel i is connected with two other chains going over pulleys on the
head of the steadying piles to catches & capable of travelling up and down on
the pipe and guided thereby. The catches & take into a groove in the driver g
which is thus carried up as the catches are raised by the winch until the tails
of the catches come against the trip 2 clamped to the pipe; the driver is then
released and it falls upon the clip m and so the pipe is driven.
The construction of the combined springs d is shewn in detail at Figures 16.
a, a, are two strong shackles each. receiving a pin b, on which a number of
thin plates c, c, are threaded with washers or distance rings d, d, between
them; e, e, are bolts passed through the plates, c, and these also have distance
rings upon them between the plates which are so kept evenly spaced;
fiff are numerous rods passed through the plates c, and tapped into the
outer plate on one side of each set; .h, h, are rings of vulcanized india-rubber
tbreaded upon the rods ff, and linking the rods of one set with those of the
other. In the arrangement shewn there are 280, such rings, each of them

page_text: capable of exerting a strain of over half a hundredweight, so that a very
heavy downward pressure may be applied to the well pipe by the combined
action of the two sets of springs. At the commencement of the operation, or
where the soil is favorable, the pipe may be pressed down for a considerable
distance into the ground without driving. In place of india-rubber springs a
considerable length of a hempen rope may be used, but less advantageously.
This method of applying a continuous downward pressure whilst driving by
percussion is also applicable in driving piles, also in driving open-ended pipes
such as are sometimes used in exploring for coal and minerals.; or where
large tubes are being driven a weight box may be applied over the pulley
clamp d to give a permanent downward pressure, and a spring may be applied
between the weight box and the clamp d; it is preferred however to employ
the springs extended by suitable tackle, as described.
In some cases, according to this Invention, where the soil is comparatively
loose I-screw the pipe into the ground in place of driving it. Figure 17 is a
side view of a pipe suitable for being so used; it is constructed in the same
way as the pipe shewn at Figure 2 with perforators for some distance up,
and with in addition a wrought-iron worm brazed on it; it is screwed down
into the earth by means of the clip and hand spikes, shown at Figure 18, or
the screw thread may be on a boss which is able to traverse along the pipe, so
that when the pipe has been screwed down for some distance it may be driven
deeper. The pipe being thus driven down to the water by any of these means
a suction pump is connected to its top and pumping may be commenced. At
first a good deal of dirt is raised mixed with the water; in fact, the water is
completely muddy, but continuing to pump in a short time the fine dirt
which the perforations will admit through them is drawn up with the water,
leaving the coarse gravel and material around the perforations forming a
complete and excellent filter, and the water finally becomes clear, and is usually
inexhaustible.
When in constructing a well dirt works through the perforations to such
an extent as to prevent the starting of the water by the pump, the pipe is
according to this Invention cleared in the following manner:--A smaller
sized tube (it may conveniently be' a flexible hose) is run down the interior of
the pipe, and by means of a reducing socket the pump is attached thereto,
and by it the dirt is pumped out, the dirt being agitated by water poured in
at the top of the well pipe by a funnel mouth, so that a continuous current of
the water down the outer pipe and up the smaller or inner pipe is main-
tained, the muddy or sandy water being pumped up the inner pipe, and clean

page_text: water being poured into the outer pipe, the dirt being thus removed the pump
is then attached to the main pipe.
In cases where a large supply of water is required, and the tackle to drive
a large pipe is not readily procurable, I drive several smaller pipes and
connect them by screw unions above the surface of the ground, so that one
pump may draw from all the tubes. Occasionally it happens that pipes
driven in this manner fail to yield water in consequence of their ends pene-
trating a small patch of clay or impervious matter. In such cases according
to this Invention they may be rendered serviceable by forcing water down
them under a heavy pressure, the water so forced down makes for itself small
channels by which to escape, and these afterwards serve for the flow of water
to the pipe. Figure 18 is a longitudinal section of a force pump to be
employed for this purpose.
In some cases also according to this Invention I force water into the pipe
under a heavy pressure; whilst it is being driven the water from the combined
effect of the pressure and the jar of the blow escapes in small quantities
through the perforations in the pipe and lubricates the passage; the pump
shown at Figure 18 is applicable for this purpose.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that what I claim is the
driving a well tube by means of a weight or driver guided in its rise and fall
by the well pipe itself or by a guide or lengthening bar carried thereby.
I also claim the employing a ring clamp capable of being fixed on the tube
at any part of its length to receive the blows of the weight or driver.
I also claim the construction of the said clamp in the manner described.
I also claim the employing a ring clamp fixed on the tube or on a
lengthening bar carried thereby to carry the pulleys for the ropes or chains to
lift the weight or driver.
Also, I claim the carrying these pulleys and steadying the upper end of the
pipe by means of a tripod or similar support.
Also I claim the applying springs to maintain a strong downward pressure
on the well tube whilst it is driven by the blows of a weight or driver.
Also I claim a tube perforated at its lower end and with a screw thread
upon it externally applied to produce a well, in the manner described.
Also I claim the application of springs in a similar manner when driving
piles and exploring tubes.
Also I claim the clearing the soil from the interior of the well tube by
the introduction within it of a smaller tube having a pump applied and

page_text: worked so as to draw up the soil, together with water poured down the well
tube.
Also I claim the forcing water down the well tube, both to lubricate it
during the driving, and also to form passages to the water bearing strata.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Lee Norton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
J. L. NORTON. (L.S.)