IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF OBTAINING AN INCREASED WATER SUPPLY FOR CITIES, TOWNS, MANUFACTORIES, AND FOR PURPOSES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE SAME
Year: 1880

page_text: OTHER
LETTERS PATENT to Nelson Goodwin Green, of the City of New York, now
resident at 56, Torrington Square, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF OBTAINING AN INCREASED
WATER SUPPLY FOR CITIES, TOWNS, MANUFACTORIES, AND FOR
PURPOSES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE SAME." A communication from
abroad by Nelson Winch Green, of the City of New York, United States of
America, Engineer.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nelson Goodwin Green at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th October 1880.
NELSON GOODWIN GREEN, of the City of New York, now resident at
56, Torrington Square, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE METHOD OF OBTAINING AN INCREASED WATER SUPPLY FOR CITIES,
TOWNS, MANUFACTORIES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE
SAME. A communication from abroad by Nelson Winch Green, of the City of
New York, United States of America, Engineer.
"
This Invention relates to the method or system of obtaining an inexhaustible
supply of pure water for the use of cities, towns, manufactories, and for other
purposes described in the Specification of a Patent granted unto William Robert
Lake, and bearing date 28th August, 1879, No. 3470, and consists in improvements
on the method or system, and also on the apparatus therein described and claimed.
The Invention referred to consists in the embodiment of a system of water
supply derived from a gang or series of driven wells, the perforated portions of
which are caused to enter the stratum of water underlying the town or place
required to be supplied with water, and thereby to form a vent or outlet for the
main body of the water as it is drawn off by the action of suitable pumps, and
conveyed through connecting pipes and distributing apparatus as required.
Now it is the object of the present Invention to introduce certain improvements
in the method or system described in the Specification above referred to, and
also in the apparatus employed therin.
With reference to the improvements in the method or system they consist
mainly in the rangement of the connecting pipes in combination with the
respective driven wells and with the gangs or series thereof so as to provide for the
required flow of water through the several wells towards the pumps in the most
regular manner and with the least amount of friction in its passage through the
pipes. For these purposes, after determining the number of wells required to meet
the water supply that may be needed, the arrangement of the wells is made to
Drinn 71

page_text: depend on the extent and form or contour of the underlying water bed. For
instance, supposing that five hundred gallons of water per minute are required to
be supplied and assuming a capacity of supplying twenty gallons per minute by
each well, then from thirty to thirty five wells should be sunk, and preferably (if
allowed by the extent and form of the underlying water bed) they should be sunk
in a single extended line, and from ten to fifteen feet apart, but if such water bed
will not permit, then they may be arranged in two or more rows, in which case the
wells should not be less than twenty feet apart.
When the said wells are completed suitable trenches are dug, and all the wells
are connected with the general suction main by means of branch pipes at an angle
suited to direct the water in its flow towards the pump, so that the line of flow
from each well shall join that in the common suction main at an angle of 45
degrees or less, the suction main itself gradually increasing in size as it approaches
the pump. By arranging the said branch pipes in the manner stated friction will
be diminished.
It is preferred that the pipe connecting directly with any single well should be
about two inches in diameter, and connected thereto by a T, the perpendicular arm
of which should extend to within a foot or so from the surface of the ground, and
be securely capped by a coupling and plug. The object of this arrangement is two-
fold, viz. 1. That the space above the T may act as an air-chamber; and, 2, that
the well may be cleared from time to time, as required.
In connecting into a gang or series the above mentioned thirty or thirty five
wells it is preferred that the ten or twelve wells nearest the pump should be con-
nected to an eight inch suction main, the six or eight next succeeding wells into a
six inch suction main, and so decreasing until the last three wells discharge into a
two and a half inch main, so that the suction main may graduate in size from the
pump at the rate of one half inch to each well or thereabouts. And the said
connections should be as perfectly air tight as possible, the said main being fixed
at a level below the influence of frost.
The above stated system of driven wells acting in combination as well as that
described and claimed in the Specification, No. 3470 (1879), above referred to
constitutes a system whereby the general subterranean water deposit of the earth
is or may be utilized for furnishing large quantities of water by calling into
activity the cumulative reaction of the resultant of the earth's centrifugal and
centripetal forces, and thereby causing a subterranean flow toward the exhausted
district penetrated and drawn upon by the action of the said pump or pumps
through the said series or combination of driven wells connected thereto.
And with reference to the improvements in the apparatus employed in the method
or system referred to, this Invention consists in the following apparatus and tools for
the construction of the said driven wells, viz. :-A drill point supplied with per-
forations and intended to be used in connection with the hydraulic process of boring
with two pipes, one within the other, the outer of which is open at its lower end,
the said drill point being fixed to the lower end of the said inner and smaller pipe,
it being understood that no claim is intended to be made to the process of boring
or drilling by hydraulic pressure as such. Also a T to connect the hose of the
force pump with the inner or drill pipe. Also a driving plug or pin and an iron
sledge hammer faced with wood, or instead of these a cap and wooden mallet.
Also a fitting on each well extending perpendicularly to within a foot or there-
abouts of the surface of the ground suitably capped and furnished with an air-
tight plug in order to give access to the well pit or tube for taking soundings or
removing obstructions without disturbing its connections with the suction main.
And, lastly, a fitting composed of a short cylinder open and flanged at each end, in
the side or sides of which cylinder the branch pipe from each well is inserted, such
fitting being adapted to connect the wells into the said suction maiu at an angle
suited to direct the water in its flow towards the pump, and thereby diminish the
friction due to the passage of the water through the pipes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Nelson Goodwin Green in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th
April 1881.
NELSON GOODWIN GREEN, of the City of New York, now resident at
56, Torrington Square, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE METHOD OF OBTAINING AN INCREASED WATER SUPPLY FOR CITIES,
TOWNS, MANUFACTORIES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE
SAME. A communication from abroad by Nelson Winch Green, of the City of
New York, United States of America, Engineer.
This Invention relates to the method or system of obtaining an inexhaustible
supply of pure water for the use of cities, towns, manufactories, and for other
purposes described in the Specification of a Patent granted unto William Robert
Lake, and bearing date twenty eighth August, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy nine, No. 3470, and consists in improvements on the method or system
and also on the apparatus therein described and claimed.
The Invention referred to consists in the embodiment of a system of water
supply derived from a gang or series of driven wells, the perforated portions of
which are caused to enter the stratum of water underlying the town or place
required to be supplied with water, or contiguous thereto, and thereby to form a
vent or outlet for the main body of the water as it is drawn off by the action of
suitable pumps, and conveyed through connecting pipes and distributing apparatus
as required.
Now it is the object of the present Invention to introduce certain improvements
in the method or system described in the Specification above referred to, and also
in the apparatus employed therein.
With reference to the improvements in the method or system, they consist,
namely, in the arrangement of the connecting pipes in combination with the
respective driven wells, and with the gangs or series thereof, so as to provide for
the required flow of water through the several wells towards the pumps in the
most regular manner and with the least amount of friction in its passage through
the pipes. For these purposes after determining the number of wells required to
meet the water supply that may be needed the arrangement of the wells is made
to depend on the extent and form or contour of the underlying water bed, which
generally depends upon the subterranean upflow from the central portions of the
earth forced upward in obedience to the resultant force hereinafter mentioned.
For instance, supposing that five hundred gallons of water per minute are required
to be supplied, and assuming a capacity of supplying twenty gallons per minute by
each well, then from thirty to thirty five wells should be sunk, and preferably
(if allowed by the extent and form of the underlying water bed), should be sunk
in a single extended line, and from ten to fifteen feet apart, but if such water bed
will not permit, then they may be arranged in two or more rows, in which case the
wells should not be less than twenty feet apart.
When the said wells are completed suitable trenches are dug, and all the wells
are connected with the general suction main by means of branch pipes at an angle
suited to direct the water in its flow towards the pump, so that the line of flow
from each well shall join that in the common suction main at an angle of forty five
degrees or less, the suction main itself gradually increasing in size as it approaches
the pump. By arranging the said branch pipes in the manner stated friction will
be diminished.

page_text: It is preferred that the pipe connecting directly with any single well should be
about two inches in diameter, and connected thereto by a hollow T, the perpen-
dicular arm of which should extend to within a foot or so from the surface of the
ground, and be securely capped by a coupling and plug. The object of this
arrangement is twofold, viz., 1, that the space above the hollow T may act as an
air chamber; and 2, that the well may be cleared from time to time as required.
In connecting into a gang or series the above mentioned thirty or thirty five wells
it is preferred that the ten or twelve wells nearest the pump should be connected
to an eight inch suction main, the six or eight next succeeding wells into a six inch
suction main, and so decreasing until the last three wells discharge into a two and
a half inch main, so that the suction main may graduate in size from the pump at
the rate of one half inch to each well, or thereabouts, and generally to determine
whether the suction pipe at given point is sufficiently large to do the work pro-
posed, the following rule may be applied :-The square of the diameter of the
suction pipe at a given point should in no case be much less than the square of
the diameter of each well multiplied by the number of wells below the given point.
But it is to be borne in mind that if the gang is to be utilized for a town supply,
including fire service, the rule should be liberally construed"; that is to say, the
suction pipe at any given point may be largely in excess of the square of the
diameter of a well multiplied by the number of wells, with a view to overcome
friction. Thus while an eight inch suction main would be ample for thirty or
forty wells in a water supply for manufacturing purposes, where a specific number
of gallons of water per minute have been sold, say five hundred gallons; yet if
the same were to be used for fire service the suction main at the pump should be
ten or twelve inches, and proportionably graduated in accordance with the rule
stated above, it being always understood that the well itself should discharge into
a larger pipe. Thus an inch and a half well should discharge into a two inch pipe.
And the said connections should be as perfectly air tight as possible, the said main
being fixed at a level below the influence of frost.
It may sometimes become necessary to protect the said main by artificial means,
as it often happens that the water in the wells will flow up into the main when
the pump is not worked, if it should be lowered the three or four feet in the earth
necessary to avoid the action of frost. This may be done by placing the main
sufficiently high to avoid this overflow, even though it be near the surface, and
covering the same with about eight inches of white pine shavings, tan bark, or
their equivalents, and one foot of sand above that, this being equal to four or five
feet of earth; and the main should in all cases be on a descending grade from the
pump, so that the water will drain back into the wells when the pump is
stopped.
The above stated system of driven wells acting in combination, as well as that
described and claimed in the Specification, No. 3470 (1879) above referred to,
constitutes a system, whereby the general subterranean water deposit of the earth
is or may be utilized for furnishing large quantities of water, by calling into
activity the cumulative re-action of the resultant of the earth's centrifugal and
centripetal forces, and thereby causing a subterranean flow toward the exhausted
district penetrated and drawn upon by the action of the said pump or pumps
through the said series or combination of driven wells connected thereto.
And with reference to the improvements in the apparatus employed in the
method or system referred to, this Invention consists in the following apparatus and
tools for the construction of the said driven wells, videlicet, a drill point supplied
with perforations, and intended to be used in connection with the hydraulic process
of boring with two pipes one within the other, the outer of which is open at its
lower end, the said drill point being fixed to the lower end of the said inner and
smaller pipe, it being understood that no claim is intended to be made to the
process of boring or drilling by hydraulic pressure as such. Also a T pipe to
connect the hose of the force pump with the inner or drill pipe. Also a driving

page_text: plug or pin, and an iron sledge hammer faced with wood, or instead of these a cap
and wooden mallet. Also a fitting on each well extending perpendicularly to
within a foot or thereabouts of the surface of the ground, suitably capped and
furnished with an air tight plug, in order to give access to the well pit or tube for
taking soundings or removing obstructions without disturbing its connections with
the suction main. And lastly, a fitting composed of a short cylinder open and
flanged or screwed at each end, in the side or sides of which cylinder the branch
pipe from each well is inserted, such fitting being adapted to connect the wells into
the said suction main at an angle suited to direct the water in its flow towards the
pump, and thereby diminish the friction due to the passage of the water through
the pipes.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention, I will proceed to describe
more particularly in what manner the same is to be performed by the aid of the
accompanying Drawings, in which are represented the general mode of arranging
the driven wells with the main and branch pipes and the pumping apparatus
constituting the improved system of drawing and supplying water, and also the
several parts of apparatus and tools hereinbefore referred to.
Fig. 1 is a diagram, shewing in plan view an arrangement of driven wells A, A,
with branch pipes B, B, leading therefrom into a main pipe C, to which is connected
a suction pipe D, which is in communication with the pumping at E, by means of
which the water drawn from the gangs or series of wells A, A, is forced through
the discharge pipe F into the street main G, whence it is distributed as required in
the ordinary manner.
The arrangement thus referred to is intended to afford an illustration of the
general mode of combining the gang or gangs or series of wells with the pipes and
apparatus for drawing water from the wells and distributing it, but the precise
number of driven wells and of gangs thereof may be varied as required, and an
increase in the number thereof, involving a corresponding multiplication and
arrangement of pipes and other apparatus to be combined therewith, will have to
be adapted to the particular requirements of the locality to be supplied. In order
however to make the Invention the better understood, it may be advisable to
describe the following mode of proceeding (illustrated by Fig. 1) which may serve
as a guide in other cases.
Having selected the locality and sunk several experimental wells in the manner
hereinafter described, for the purpose of determining the abundance of supply and
of fixing the locality and probable area of the water bed penetrated, and the
strength of the subterranean upflow, the number of wells required to furnish the
amount of water to be supplied as determined upon, and in practice it has been found
expedient to adopt the following rule-If, for example, a supply of five hundred
gallons of water per minute be required, and the said experimental wells shew a
capacity of yielding twenty gallons per minute (which is about the average yield
of a good driven well), from thirty to thirty five wells are sunk for this purpose,
and preferably, where the extent and contour of the underlying water bed will
permit, these wells should be arranged in a single extended line, at a distance of
about from ten to fifteen feet apart; but if such water bed will not allow of it,
then two or more rows of wells may be used, in which case such wells should not
be less than twenty feet apart. When the said wells are completed, suitable
trenches are dug, and all the wells are connected by means of the diagonal connec-
Lions hereinafter described with the common suction pipe D in communication
with the pumping apparatus, so that the line of flow from each well shall
join that in the suction main at an angle of 45° or less, the suction pipe itself
gradually increasing in size as it approaches the pump. The pipe B, connecting

page_text: directly with any single well, should be a two inch pipe, connected thereto by a
hollow T (hereinafter described), the perpendicular arm of which should extend to
within a foot or so from the surface of the ground, and securely capped by a
coupling and plug, the object being twofold, viz., 1, that the space above the hollow
Tmay operate as an air chamber, and 2, that the well may be cleared from time to
time (as hereinafter described), which, however, should not be necessary if the well
be properly sunk and completed in the first instance.
In connecting into a gang or series the above mentioned thirty or thirty five
wells, the ten or twelve wells nearest the pump should be connected to an eight
inch suction main, the six or eight next succeeding wells into a six inch suction
main, and so decreasing until the last three wells discharge into a two and a half
inch main, or the suction main should graduate in size from the pump at the rate
of about one half inch to each well, and the said connections should be perfectly
air tight, or as nearly so as possible, and the said main should be sunk to a level
below the influence of frost.
The driven wells are constructed in the following manner :—In the first place
there is driven into the earth at the point determined upon a twelve feet length of
one and a half inch pipe, pointed at its lower end, and with no perforations or slots
therein, such pipe being driven for nearly its full length. Then on withdrawing
this pipe or piercer, there is inserted a length of one and a half inch pipe open at
both ends, and having four rows of holes three eighths of an inch in diameter, each
about three inches apart, drilled through the pipe, and so arranged that two rows
will be opposite to cach other, the said perforations or holes extending up the
length of the pipe for about eighteen inches. This pointed bottom length of pipe
is shewn at Fig. 2.
The pipe so inserted is then driven into the earth to the depth of its whole length
(if the soil will permit) by means of the driving tools represented in Figs. 3, 4, 5, and
6, and described. When this is done, the "washing process" is carried on by means
of the apparatus shewn in Fig. 7. To a three quarter inch tube a, which may
be called the "wash tube," is fitted at its lower end the "wash drill" b, shewn on
an enlarged scale in section at Fig. 3 and in elevation at Fig. 4, having perforations
c, c, formed in it. This drill is to be used in connection with the hydraulic process
of boring with two pipes (a and d Fig. 7) one within the other, the outer pipe d
being open at its lower end, and the inner pipe a with the drill at its lower end
being inserted in the pipe d already driven into the ground by means of the sledge
hammer shewn in Fig. 5, which is composed of iron as at e, faced with wood as at
f, or by means of a wooden mallet and an iron cap (Fig. 6).
To the upper end of the tube a is connected with the hollow T, g, Fig. 8, to the
smaller end of which is connected by sliding over it or by a male and female screw
nut an India rubber hose h, to the other extremity of which is connected a force
pump i, as shewn at Fig. 9, which when worked forces the water down the tube a
and out through the perforations c, c, in the wash drill b, forcing the débris or
soil (loosened by turning the "wash tube" a by means of the hollow T at its
upper end, and thereby working the drill b) up the interior of the outer tube d, and
so out of the spout connected to the upper end thereof until the core of soil within
the tube d is brought to the surface.
If the soil about to be penetrated be clay or other compact stratum tending to
impede the pipe d in its descent, the washing process is continued below this pipe
until a hole of sufficient depth has been made by the drill b, but where the soil be
of gravel, or other soil of less stiffness, the washing process cannot be continued
below the lower end of such pipe, composed by preference of ordinary lengths of
pipe coupled on as the pipe is lowered. When the hole of sufficient depth has
been so drilled, the "wash tube" a is withdrawn, and the outer tube d' driven
as above described, lengths of pipe being screwed at the top as required.
The above described process is repeated or continued until the water stratum or
deposit intended to be reached has been penetrated, care being always taken in

page_text: loose soils (especially sand and gravel) to keep the wash tube almost constantly in
motion, as it is liable to become packed and immovable, necessitating the with-
drawal of both pipes. In order also to avoid this danger, the above mentioned pump
connected to the "wash tube" should be kept in motion constantly until the wash
tube is withdrawn from the outer tube. Care should also be observed not to allow
too great a depth of sand to accumulate above the "wash drill," which may be
avoided by raising and lowering the "wash tube as it is turned.
"
When the water bed or stratum has been reached, that is to say, when the water
in the outer pipe falls away or ceases to rise to the surface and overflow, as herein
described, then the said outer pipe should be carefully driven until the full depth of
the said water bed has been penetrated, and the bottom of the water bearing
stratum has been reached, after which an ordinary pump may be applied
and worked until a full stream has been developed. When the flow of water
is satisfactory the said outer pipe is withdrawn, and in its stead is inserted a one and
a half inch pipe of sufficient length, to the lower end of which is fixed by a proper
coupling the above mentioned point and driven until the full depth of the water
stratum has been penetrated, when a suitable pump is again connected and worked
until the water becomes clear and abundant, to which end the pump may be
frequently clarified, or the pump removed and the "wash tube" inserted. When
completed the well should be securely capped at its upper end, and it is then ready
to be connected and form one of a gang or series of wells to be worked in the manner
herein before described. At Fig. 10 is represented a fitting for capping a well and for
connecting it with the branch pipe B leading to the suction main pipe C (Fig. 1). At
Fig. 11 is shewn an old driving block, and at Fig. 12 an old cap. Fig. 13 shews the
fitting to connect the branch pipes with the suction main pipe C. This fitting
consists of a short cylinder k, open and flanged at each end to receive ends of the
lengths of suction main secured as required, the branch pipes being inserted at the
required angle in the sides of the cylinder.
The Invention as hereinbefore described consists in improvements on the method
or system and also on the apparatus described in the Patent No. 3470 (1879), but
it is to be understood as based on the same principles of action as are therein stated,
and which therefore need not be repeated. It is also to be understood that what is
therein stated as to the mode of arranging for an ample supply of water with a
reserve of power to meet contingencies, applies equally to the present Invention.
It is not necessary either to repeat here a statement of the advantages in the above
described system over that due to the action of gravity, and over the ordinary
pumping system, or over any open well system, or over any system depending for
pure water upon the filtering capacity provided therewith, but reference is hereby
made to the said former Patent for statements on these points.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention communicated to me from
abroad as aforesaid and in what manner the same is to be performed, I hereby
declare that what I claim as of the said Invention is,—
First. The improvements on the method or system of supplying water described
with reference to Fig. 1, that is to say, the improved arrangement of the pipes and
apparatus combined, so as to form an improved system, in the manner hereinbefore
described.
Secondly. The apparatus described with reference to Fig. 7, but disclaiming the
process of boring or drilling by hydraulic pressure as such.
Thirdly. The drill shewn at Figs. 3 and 4, and described.
Fourthly. A hollow T to connect the hose of the force pump with the inner or
drill pipe, as represented in Fig 8. and described.
Fifthly. A driving plug or pin and a sledge hammer, as shewn at Fig. 5 and
described, or a cap, as shewn at Fig. 6, to be driven by a wooden mallet.
Sixthly. A fitting for each well to enable its soundings to be taken at any
time without disturbing the soil.
And, lastly. The fitting shewn at Fig. 13 for connecting each well with the

page_text: suction main at an angle suited to direct the water in its flow toward the pump, so
as to diminish friction, as herein before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Nelson Goodwin Green, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
NELSON G. GREEN. (L.S.)