IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS WATER FROM WELLS HAVING WATER BEARING STRATA OF DIFFERENT HYDROSTATIC LEVELS
Year: 1883

page_text: FOR RAISING
LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Julius Boult, of 323 High Holborn in the
County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
WATER FROM WELLS HAVING WATER BEARING STRATA OF
DIFFERENT HYDROSTATIC LEVELS a communication from Jacob Bloom
Yeagley of Indianapolis in the County of Marion and state of Indiana in the
United States of America
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Alfred Julius Boult at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th October 1883.
HAVING
ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn, in the county of Middlesex,
IMPROVEMENTS IN "APPARATUS FOR RAISING WATER FROM WELLS
WATER-BEARING STRATA OF DIFFERENT HYDROSTATIC LEVELS" communicated
to me from abroad by Jacob Bloom Yeagley of Indianapolis in the county of
Marion and State of Indiana in the United States of America
The object of this invention is to automatically raise to the earth's surface, as a
fountain, water from bored, driven or dug wells in which the fountain or water
vein struck rises only a part way by employing two fountains of different
hydrostatic levels, Now it must be remembered that, every bored, driven or dug
well of plentiful water has a fountain within itself, and is governed in its rise
when tubed by the fountain bead-water supplying it, flowing through sand and
gravel, crevices or cracks often for great distances. The geological stratification in
numerous districts is such as to form alternate sand, and gravel (water) strata and
clay strata, frequently to very great depths as for instance in this locality. These
sand and gravel strata, at a depth of from twenty feet to one-hundred feet,
contain an inexhaustible supply of water. Several clay strata impervious to
water must however be bored through to reach the deeper sand and gravel (water)
strata.
Now it is found by experience especially so in this locality that often the second
third, or fourth sand and gravel (water) stratum furnishes an hydrostatic rise or

page_text: level when tubed above the first sand and gravel (water) stratum from five to
fifteen feet in exhaustible quantities while in wells in the first stratum at a depth
of twenty feet water would stand only a few feet high from the bottom of the
well and would act as a drain for any quantity of water that may be thrown
into it.
The reason of this is plainly to be seen as the two sand and gravel strata in
question are separated by an impervious clay stratum or strata (I mean impervious
to water) having different fountain-heads of different hydrostatic levels, the lower
water-bearing stratum being tubed through the upper water bearing stratum will
rise about as high as its fountain head, but if simply a bore is made and not tubed
the lower water-bearing stratum would rise through the clay stratum, above it, and
into the first sand and gravel (water) bearing stratum and there be drained off, as
the two waters uniting could not rise higher than the fountain of the upper water
bearing stratum without the two forming an independent or secondary fountain
head and drawing off through the sand and gravel towards a lower level possibly
in every direction. The invention therefore consists in novel features of
construction and arrangement and construction of parts, all as will be hereinafter
fully described and set forth in the claims hereto annexed. Referring to the
accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a vertical section through the
improved apparatus for raising water after it has been placed in the desired
stratum. Figures 2 and 3 similar views to be hereinafter referred to. Figures 4
and 5 are sectional views of tools or devices used for excavating and dredging the
cavity or basin for the reception of the fountain ejector. Figures 6 and 7 detailed
views to be hereinafter referred to. In the drawings A. B is the influx fountain
pipe. CDE is the eflux fountain pipe and F G in Figs 2 and 3 is the drainage
pipe. His the air chamber valve. I, I, is the wire chain or cord to stop the
working of the apparatus at will. J is the pump cylinder and K is the water
stratum cavity. LL' L' are the pump handle and piston-rod. M is the eflux
cylinder and N is a shoulder on the double acting eflux valve-stem. O is the air
chamber. P P are metallic adjusting rings or circular plates with holes in center.
QQ is an ordinary pump stock or pipe drainer at will. R is the eflux double
acting valve stem. SS are valve stem guards and guides or keepers, t is a ring or
hook on the valve stem to attach a wire, chain or cord I. I.-V is, the double
acting eflux valve playing in etlux cylinder M, W, W, W, W, is the first water
flow through sand and gravel strata, W¹, W, W', W¹, is the second water flow
through sand and gravel strata, xx represents a suppositional height to which
the water rises from K. Y, Y, Y, Y, represent the upper line of first water
flow through W, W, W, W, ZZZ Z represent clay stratum impervious to water,
D¹ D' represent in Fig's 2 and 3 walled holes or openings or cavities dug out and
in Fig, 1 a dug well into the first water bearing stratum.
EE is soil and mixed earth overlying the first water stratum h¹ h¹ are the air
chamber, valve stem guards guides or keepers for the valve. I* I* is the cross-bar
rest or stop for adjusting rings PP to rest on. a¹ b¹ is the eflux supply pipe
leading water to surface. C¹ is a spout to eflux supply pipe. A B and C D form
in Figs 2 and 3 siphons in which A B is the short and C D the long leg, the water
rising to a Fig, 2 by hydrostatic pressure, at which point the siphon begins,
Fig's 2 and 3 simply show instances where in different localities the water in the
stratum or strata formed in W W and W¹ W' may have different hydrostatic levels
or fountain heads. The pump part of the improved apparatus may be dispensed
with and pipe R R¹ screwed on pipe a¹ instead of the pump. When in Fig's 2
and 3 the ejector requires a small hand pump or extinguishing syringe to start
water-flow through siphon A B C D where the pump is dispensed with, the pump-
stock or pipe drainer Q Q is attached to pipe R₁ R¹ Fig's 4 and 5 show the tools
or devices used for excavating and dredging the cavity or basin K in Figs 1, 2
and 3 through the fountain tubes A B after they have been placed in the desired
stratum; II in Fig. 4 is a tube or tubes screwed together of required length
necessary. This tube I'I' has two longitudinal slots on opposite sides near its

page_text: bottom. Through these slots pass the excavators or cutters 2, 2, which are
adjustable to cross bar 3, 3, in a mortise or slot and held by small bolts or pins on
which said excavators may turn as the rod 41, 4¹ is forced up and down, The
cross bar 3, 3, being securely fastened by screwing rod 4', 4', into it or it may be
fastened with a nut. Now if the rod 41, 41, is forced up and down within the
tube I¹ I' the excavators will slide through the longitudinal slots in the direction
shown by the dotted lines in Fig, 4, where at the same time the whole device may
be turned by tube handles 1, 1, giving the excavators a double motion, one as
shown by dotted lines and the other circular thus cutting and boring light or
strong at will as the excavators are thrust in or out of tube I I. Now this
excavator as a whole is of such size as to freely pass through the bore or tube A B
before the top part of the apparatus is screwed on.
The excavator may be made to operate as soon as the slots in tube F I' pass
below the lower end of fountain tube A B excavating even above and around the
lower end of the tube A B causing (by dredging or pumping out from time to time
the quick-sand, and fine gravel) an excavation or basin as shown at K in Fig's 1, 2
and 3. Figure 5 shows the dredging tool used in connection with the excavator.
both to be used alternately, the dredging tool first and then the excavator. The
dredging tool is simply a short tube with a valve opening upwards a few inches
above and within the short tube 6, 6 Figure 5. The same rod 4' 4¹ is used for
both excavator and dredging tool alternately
Figure 6 shows more plainly the upper side of cross bar 3, 3 in Fig 4, 7, 7, being
the mortises or slots with pins in which the excavators, or cutters are adjusted.
The devices in Fig's 4, 5 and 6, are shown and described with the apparatus in
order that such an excavation as shown at K is easily made through a tube or
bore where water is formed in quick-sand, sand and gravel, or other water-pervious
strata as such excavations, either natural or artificial are necessary to give free
flow and full force in the apparatus.
Construction and operation of the improved apparatus. In Fig. 1. is shown a
dug well into the first sand and gravel (water) bearing stratum, the water rising
in the well to Y, Y. Now the tube A B is driven or sunk by boring through the
clay stratum, Z Z into the second sand and gravel (water) bearing stratum W¹ W¹.
If it is found that the water from the latter stratum rises when tubed four or more
feet above Y Y to x then the excavation K may be made; after pumping out
the finer sand, etc about the lower end of the pipe A B then the dredging tool Fig. 5
and excavator Fig, 4 are used to complete the excavation as shown at K. The
lower end of pipe A B resting in cavity or basin K should be perforated to admit
the water more freely then the other parts are screwed on pipe A B. then the
water from A B will flow through C D E lifting the valve V (which is made as light
as possible) and the water will rush out of the eflux cylinder. Now the adjusting
rings are slipped on the valve stem (see Fig. 1) to give just sufficient weight to the
valve so that the shoulder N N on the valve stem will lift the adjusting rings and
when the water through the pipe A B C D E has attained its greatest velocity
then the valve V will close the eflux chamber instantly and by the sudden
stoppage of flow, water will be forced into the air chamber O, forcing up the
valve H. The current having thus spent its force the valve V is immediately
made to fall, the adjusting rings or weights being arrested in their fall by the
cross-bar rests or stops 12 leaving the valve free to obey the pressure, thereby
again permitting the water to flow through the aperture, raising the valve V again
until the shoulders N will again lift the adjusting weights P P until the current
has again determined its greatest velocity the aperture will again be closed, thus
suddenly arresting the current as before and causing by its reaction or momentum
a pressure throughout the whole pipe, causing again a portion of the water to enter
the chamber O and so on at intervals of but little variation, The water by these
successive impulses is forced into the air chamber ◇ there condensing the air in
the upper part causing a steady stream to flow from the pipe and spout a¹ b¹ cl
otherwise without the air chamber the flow would be spasmodically governed by

page_text: "
The
the impulses of flow and arrest, above described, the principle of this operation
being well-known in the action of the "hydraulic ram Now where the water
through the pipe and spout a, b, c, is slow and water for a few moments is
required in greatest quantity, the pump can be used, when the valve V will
instantly close the aperture to the efluxing cylinder M thus making a perfect
pump through pipe A B & O and a b₁ c¹ the valve H serving for the usual lower
pump valve. Again should there be a heavy flood raising the surface water in
stratum W W up to or even above such surface water could not enter C D E
Fig, 1 thereby leaving the pump in good condition for obtaining clear fresh water
from the stratum W₁ W₁ until the flood subsides when the apparatus will again
automatically operate, Now should it be desired to stop the operation of the
ejector, then close the eflux aperture with the valve V by means of the wire-chain
or cord I, I, and open the drainer QQ thus preventing the possibility of freezing;
the reverse will again set the apparatus in operation. The other forms as shown
in Fig's 2 and 3 operate on virtually the same principle except that an additional
pneumatic principle is employed by means of the siphons A B C D
weights P P are employed to regulate the valve V in proportion as the fall of
water from Y Y to xx varies because the greater the fall, the greater the weights must
be to regulate the valve V to always close the eflux aperture at the time the current
attains its greatest flow or most rapid velocity in order to obtain its greatest
reaction and consequent greatest pressure throughout the pipe and valve H which
opens upwards to admit water into chamber O, Now it must be borne in mind
that the shortness of the pipe A B from the cavity or basin K to the eflux
aperture does not affect the apparatus like a short pipe from a reservoir to an
hydraulic ram, because the reservoir of the ejector is curbed while that of the
hydraulic ram is not, and the reaction of the water in the ejector cannot throw
itself back upon its reservoir (cavity or basin K) because it is full and forced
upward, not by the rapidity of the flow of water in the stratum but by hydro-
static pressure from the fountain head, which is really the main reservoir of the
apparatus which main reservoir or fountain head may be at a great distance, the
pervious water stratum (supplying the cavity or basin K) representing an
infinitely large and curbed aqueduct. In Fig. 3 where it happens that an upper
stratum furnishes the required fall to a lower stratum then the pipe F G must be
made as a light fitting curbing pipe through the different strata into the drainage
stratum WW' otherwise the two waters of the two strata would unite; the water
in K W W would to quite an extent drain through the opening made through the
stratum Z Z and be drained off by stratum W W. The drainage pipe F G may be
perforated or open as shown in Fig's 2 & 3 to allow the water to pass out and in
with the water in the stratum, and the sand and gravel taken out to the bottom of
the drain pipe. Where the fountain is found in a crack, crevice or fissure no
excavation as shown at K is necessary, Likewise in the drainage, Where the
pump is not used and the pipe R¹ R¹ screwed on pipe a¹ instead the apparatus can
be started in Fig's 2 and 3 with a small hand pump, or exhausting syringe by
attaching it to the spout of the pipe The valve V is of double convex form so it
can close both apertures the one above and the other below it. The valve stem
guards etc are more plainly shown in detail or detached view Fig. 7. The cross-bars
(for the adjusting weight P P to rest on) form a cross joining the guards. These
cross-bars have a round opening large enough for the shoulder N N or valve
stem R to pass through. Now as the force of the water carries the valve upwards
it will lift the adjusting weights when the water has its greatest eflux and close
the aperture, then as soon as the reactionary force has been expended, the water
coming to a rest the weighted valve will drop leaving the adjusting weights
resting upon cross bar rests thus relieving the valve of the weights and allow an
easy flow again to commence through eflux aperture till the most rapid eflux has
again been attained as before and so on. It will be seen that the secret of success
of the improved apparatus, lies in the employment of two sand and gravel (water)
strata of different fountain heads or levels separated by clay or other impervious
-

page_text: strata, and the one rising the highest, whether the second, third, fourth or any
other is tubed through those lying above, and the lowest water rising stratum is
used as a drain should this latter be the second water stratum and say the third or
fourth the higher, then the second must also be tubed to prevent the first water
from joining by means of a large tube to admit the long leg of the siphon, with its
eflux devices, see illustrations in Fig's 2 and 3, But where the first water bearing
stratum raises the water higher than the second, then it is arranged as shown in
Fig. 3, Where wells dug to the first water vein as shown in Fig, 1, are not desired
then the siphon form of the apparatus may be employed as shown in Fig. 2 and
the ordinary pipe F G set into the drainage stratum as shown in Fig, 2. Where
an upper water vein gives a higher rise than a lower one, then the form shown in
Fig, 3 is employed, In Fig, 3 the pump should be placed on the other side of the
air chamber where pipe K' K¹ stands, so as to stand perpendicularly and over
pipes A B and F G. For ordinary purposes the pipes A B and C D E are from 1
to 1 inches in diameter inside while the pipes a¹ a' and R' R' are much smaller
while the drainage pipe F G need only be for ordinary purposes, from four to six
inches in diameter; just large enough to freely admit pipe C D E with its eflux
cylinder. The valve H must be made to fit accurately especially when forms are
used as shown in Fig's 2 and 3 otherwise the water would run back and allow the
air to enter the siphon A B C and then the water in A B would drop to which
represent the suppositional beight to which the water will rise from stratum W¹ W!
in Fig. 2 while the water in CD will drop into the drainage stratum W W same
figure, The line x x x x represents, the suppositional height to which the water
will rise in A B Figs 1, 2 and 3 while y yyy represents the rise in Fig's 1 and 2
from stratum W, W. In Fig, 3 different strata are supposed to be employed from
those in Figs 1 and 2 being a suppositional reversion from veins formed in
Figs 1 and 2 and being simply to illustrate how much a reversion can be
successfully overcome and employed
In Figs 2 and 3 A B C D with air chamber 0 could be run up to surface
dispensing with excavations D D but I prefer it in form shown to prevent liability.
of water freezing in and about top part of BCHON. Now in many other
localities the geological stratification of alternate pervious and impervious water
strata of sand and gravel or chalk on the one hand, and clay or stone on the other,
do not exist but after digging down but short distances, stratified lime stone, in
the form of layers with seams between them are found, and no wells can then be
dug (except to great depths frequently) as the water passes off rapidly through
these seams, leaving the well dry because these strata at intervals sometimes at
long distances, have cracks or crevices or fissures downward through which the
surface water flows until some impervious stratum is reached, upon which it will
flow seeking a lower level combining in its course with other similar streamlets,
and often reaching larger streamlets having as their fountain heads probably
a river, lake or reservoir. These then run along upon the impervious stratum, and
may sooner or further on in their course be found between two impervious water
strata which are elevated where a larger basin or reservoir is formed often,
extending for many miles. Now if a bore is made through the upper impervious
stratum a fountain is struck and when tubed will rise nearly as high as its
fountain head waters. This rise can then be drained to a lower water rise level
upon the surplus water, from the ejector may be drained off as shown in the
drawing, Thus it will be seen that almost under any condition of the geological
stratification of the earth's crust, fountains may be obtained sometimes rising to
the earth's surface when tubed and are then called artesian wells or fountains, but
in many cases artesian fountain seekers have bored and drilled to great depths
succeeding in finding an abundance of water to rise within from ten to fifteen or
twenty feet of the earth's surface after expending a large sum of money and labor.
Now with this improved apparatus, artesian wells may almost to a certainty be
secured at small expense, for the fountain is found to rise say from five or more
feet above the water in another stratum either sand and gravel or lime stone as

page_text: before explained this latter can be used as the draining stratum of the waste water
from the apparatus, There are many attempted artesian wells or fountains all
over the country on which there have been large sums of money expended, that
now stand abandoned because the water could only be brought from ten to twenty
feet of the earth's surface,
All such cases can be made a success by applying this improved apparatus,
What I claim is -1 The combination with a pump or exhausting device of
an influx fountain pipe, an eflux fountain-pipe and an intermediate connecting
valved air chamber substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and
described
2nd The combination of an influx fountain pipe, an eflux fountain pipe (the
two pipes adapted to connect two water bearing strata of different hydrostatic
levels or fountain-beads) the intermediate connecting valved air chamber and
eflux valved cylinder substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and
described,
3rd The combination with a pump or exhausting device of an influx fountain
pipe an eflux fountain pipe (the two pipes adapted to connect two water bearing
strata of different hydrostatic levels or fountain heads) the intermediate connecting
valved air chamber, the eflux cylinder, valve V and operating mechanism sub-
stantially as described and for the purpose specified, 4th The combination with
a pump or exhausting device, of an influx fountain pipe, an eflux fountain pipe
(the two pipes forming a siphon adapted to connect two water bearing strata of
different hydrostatic levels or fountain heads) the intermediate connecting valved
air chamber O, the eflux cylinder M drainage pipe F G valve V and operating
mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose specified, 5th The combination
with a pump or exhausting device, of an influx fountain pipe, an eflux fountain
pipe, an eflux cylinder M having a double acting valve V and an intermediate
connecting valved air chamber O substantially as and for the purpose specified.
6th The combination with a pump or exhausting device, of an influx fountain pipe,
an eflux fountain pipe, an eflux cylinder having an adjustable weighted valve V
and operating mechanism and the intermediate connecting valved air chamber
substantially as and for the purpose specified, 7th The combination of the pipes
a', b' influx fountain pipe A. B, eflux fountain pipe C D E, eux chamber M,
having valve V and intermediate connecting valved air chamber O, substantially
as and for the purpose specified, 8th The combination with a pump or exhausting
device of an influx fountain pipe, an eflux fountain pipe, intermediate valved air
chamber, eflux cylinder having a valve, and meaus for operating said valve,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof I the said Alfred Julius Boult have hereunto set my hand
and seal this fifth day of October in the year of our Lord, One thousand Eight
hundred and Eighty three
ALFRED J. BOULT (L.S.)