Improvements in or connected with the Raising of Water.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 31st May, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 27th Feb., 1900-Accepted, 14th Apr., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with the Raising of Water.
We, GEORGE ROMEO YOUNG, Engineer, residing at Ridgewood, New Jersey,
and CLIFFORD SHAW, Engineer, residing at 100, Broadway, in the Borough of
Manhattan, New York, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
-
The object of the invention is to facilitate the raising of water from wells
in a highly efficient manner, by means of the air-lift or aerated-column.
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view and Figure 2 an illustrative section
of a system embodying the invention.
In many instances several supply wells are necessary to collect the desired
amount of water and it is frequently inexpedient, as well as expensive, to sink
such wells to any great depth. Furthermore, it is frequently necessary to raise
the water to a considerable height above the level of the source of supply and to
do this by the air lift requires a correspondingly great depth for the aerated
column below the water level. The present invention is particularly well adapted
to both of these requirements especially if the water has also to be carried
some distance horizontally from the wells before its final delivery.
When all these requirements are to be met by the present invention, the supply
wells are to be sunk to such depth only as may serve to allow the raising of the
water above ground, and the water from all the supply wells is delivered to a
deep well or pit 1), which with its uptake F and air-pipe I and other connections,
forms our means for delivering the water to the intended elevation and locality.
The air-supply pipe I supplies the air from the compressor or other source to
the bottom of the column of water in the uptake pipe F. Preferably above
ground and near the reservoir well is located a separating tank G, into which
the uptake F delivers the air and water, and within which the air separates from
the water. By the apparatus so far described, therefore, the water may be raised
to the separating tank, and if this tank is at or above the level of final delivery
no further raising of the water is of course necessary. If it be required, however,
to raise the water to a higher level and at some horizontal distance, we send the

page_text: water directly from the separator G to and up to the final place of delivery, as E,
through suitable piping H, preserving within the separator G enough air pressure
to force the water up to the point of delivery. Instead of wasting the compressed
air in the tank G, we utilize the whole or as much as may be desired, to effect
the raising and delivery of water from the supply well A to the reservoir well D,
employing if needed regulating valves Z for each supply well. The pipe L
delivers the air from the separator to the gang of wells A, through the branch
connections C. The uptakes B deliver into the runners or horizontal pipes M
which in turn deliver to the reservoir well D. The air pipe L may also be
connected so that air may be delivered to it from the pressure pipe I through
valve 3 to operate the supply wells in order to fill the reservoir well if necessary,
before starting the reservoir well. The valve 2 (Fig. 1) serves in such case to
shut off the air from the reservoir well I until the latter is filled sufficiently.
As there is a tendency under certain conditions to very considerable irregularity
or fluctuations in the separator, if it be small or shallow and if no automatic
regulating valve is employed, we construct the separator G of such height that
the column of water within it may exert a regulating influence on the whole
system by the increase or decrease of the hydrostatic pressure due to the difference
of levels between the water level in the separator and the point of final delivery.
If the separator is one-fifth or even one-tenth of this height, its regulating
nction is very effective.
The operation of the invention in its most complete form as described, is as
follows:
Supposing the levels in the supply wells and in the reservoir wells to be what-
ever the wells are designed for, compressed air is introduced into the air pipe I
of well D under enough pressure to force it below the foot of the uptake pipe F.
The amount of air supplied can then he controlled by the valve 2 (Fig. 1), and the
rate at which the water is delivered up the uptake will vary accordingly, after
the full operation has once been established. Air will escape to supply wells A
when the air pressure in the separator G is sufficient to force air down to the
bottom of the respective uptakes B. The system balances itself and becomes
steady in operation when the level in the separator G is such that the water is
forced freely up the pipe H, overcoming some friction, while the air passes off
through pipe L overcoming friction in pipes and the depth of water in the
supply wells A and finally escaping up the uptakes B with the water. The
valves Z may regulate the several wells to keep them running evenly, notwith-
standing very considerable differences in the amount of water flowing and in
the water levels in them The depth to which the well D should be sunk, may
vary considerably for any given requirements, but in general the depth of the
foot of the uptake F below the water level in the well D should be about double
the height of final delivery above the separator level plus the height of the
separator above the level in the well D. The most advantageous depth for
the supply wells as measured from water level to the bottom of the uptakes B.
will be equal to the normal difference between the water level in the separator G
and the final point of delivery. Under such circumstances, the need of restraining
the flow of air from the separator by a regulating valve, is largely obviated.
As the column of water within the separator acts (when the separator is sufficiently
tall, as described) to regulate and to prevent fluctuations, the separator so con-
structed constitutes also a regulator or compensator.
11
51
1
x 1000

page_text: Improvements in or connected with the Raising of Water.
We, GEORGE ROMEO YOUNG, of Ridgewood, New Jersey, United States of
America, and CLIFFORD SHAW, of 100, Broadway, Borough of Manhattan, New
York City, United States of America, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement: -
The object of the invention is to facilitate the raising of water from wells
in a highly efficient manner, by means of the air-lift or aerated-column.
In the drawings left with the Provisional Specification, Figure 1 is a diagram-
matic plan view and Figure 2 an illustrative section of a system embodying the
invention.
In many instances several supply wells are necessary to collect the desired
amount of water and it is frequently inexpedient, as well as expensive, to sink
such wells to any great depth. Furthermore. it is frequently necessary to raise
the water to a considerable height above the level of the source of supply and to
do this by the air lift requires a correspondingly great depth for the aerated
column below the water level. The present invention is particularly well adapted
to both of these requirements, especially so if the water has also to be carried
some distance horizontally from the wells before its final delivery.
When all these requirements are to be met by the present invention, the supply
wells are to be sunk to such depth only as may serve to allow the raising of the
water above ground, and the water from all the supply wells is delivered to a
deep well or pit D. which with its uptake F and air-pipe I and other connections,
forms our means for delivering the water to the intended. elevation and locality.
The air-supply pipe I supplies the air from the compressor or other source to
the bottom of the column of water in the up-take pipe F. Preferably above
ground and near the reservoir well is located a separating fank G, into which
the up-take F delivers the air and water, and within which the air separates from
the water. By the apparatus so far described, therefore, the water may be raised
to the separating tank, and if this tank is at or above the level of final delivery
no further raising of the water is of course necessary. If it be required however,
to raise the water to a higher level and at some horizontal distance, we send the
water directly from the separator G to and up to the final place of delivery, as E,
through suitable piping H, preserving within the separator G enough air pressure
10 force the water up to the point of delivery. Instead of wasting the compressed
air in the tank G. we utilize the whole or as much as may be desired. to effect
the raising and delivery of water from the supply well A to the reservoir well D,
employing if needed regulating valves Z for each supply well. The pipe L
delivers the air from the separator to the gang of wells A. through the branch
connections C. The up-takes B deliver into the runners or horizontal pipes M
which in turn deliver to the reservoir well D. The air pipe L may also be
connected so that air may be delivered to it from the pressure pipe I' through
valve 3 to operate the supply wells in order to fill the reservoir well if necessary,
before starting the reservoir well. The valve 2 (Fig. 1) serves in such case to
shut off the air from the reservoir well D until the latter is filled sufficiently.
As there is a tendency under certain conditions to very considerable irregularity'
or fluctuations in the separator, if it be small or shallow and if no automatic
regulating valve is emploved, we construct the separator G of such height that
the column of water within it may exert a regulating influence on the whole
system by the increase or decrease of the hydrostatic pressure due to the difference

page_text: of levels between the water level in the separator and the point of final delivery.
If the separator is one-fifth or even one-tenth of this height, its regulating
nction is very effective.
The operation of the invention in its most complete form as described, is as
follows:
The
Supposing the levels in the supply wells and in the reservoir wells to be what-
ever the wells are designed for, compressed air is introduced into the air pipe I
of well I under enough pressure to force it below the foot of the up-take pipe F.
The amount of air supplied can then be controlled by the valve 2 (Fig. 1), and the
rate at which the water is delivered up the up-take will vary accordingly, after
the full operation has once been established. Air will escape to supply wells A
when the air pressure in the separator G is sufficient to force air down to the
bottom of the respective up-fakes B. The system balances itself and becomes
steady in operation when the level in the separator G is such that the water is
forced freely up the pipe H, overcoming some friction, while the air passes off
through pipe L overcoming friction in pipes C and the depth of water in the
supply wells A and finally escaping up the up-takes B with the water.
valves Z may regulate the several wells to keep them running evenly, notwith-
standing very considerable differences in the amount of water flowing and in
the water levels in them. The depth to which the well D should be sunk, may
vary considerably for any given requirements, but in general the depth of the
foot of the up-take F below the water level in the well I should be about double
the height of final delivery above the separator level plus the height of the
separator above the level in the well D. The most advantageous depth for
the supply wells as measured from water level to the bottom of the up-takes B,
will be equal to the normal difference between the water level in the separator G
and the final point of delivery. Under such circumstances, the need of restraining
the flow of air from the separator by a regulating valve, is largely obviated.
As the column of water within the separator acts (when the separator is sufficiently
tall, as described) to regulate and to prevent fluctuations, the separator so con-
structed constitutes also a regulator or compensator.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :
1. The process of raising liquid which consists in forcing air into an uptake
pipe immersed in the liquid and causing the aerated column to rise in the pipe,
delivering and separating the air and the liquid in a closed tank at greater than
atmospheric pressure, forcing the liquid without aeration from the separator to a
higher level, and withdrawing and utilizing the air in said tank as it accumulates.
2. In the process set forth in Claim 1, the utilization of air under pressure
from the said separator for aerating columns of liquid in shallower uptake pipes
in one or more supply wells and delivering the liquid therefrom to the first-said
uptake-pipe.
3. In combination in a water-raising system, an air-lift reservoir well, an
uptake therefor, means for aerating the column of water in the uptake to raise it,
a separating vessel or tank to which the uptake delivers, a pipe for delivering
water from the separating vessel or tank to a higher level without aeration,
and means for discharging the air from the separating vessel or tank while
maintaining the requisite pressure within the tank, substantially as set forth.
4. In combination in a water raising system, a deeper air-lift well and a
shallower air-lift well, an uptake in each, means for delivering compressed air
to the uptake of the deeper well, means for separating the air from the water
under pressure greater than the atmosphere, and means for delivering a portion
at least of such air under pressure to the up-take of the shallower well, substantially
as set forth.

page_text: 5. In combination with a plurality of supply wells, a relatively deeper reser-
voir well, to which the said supply wells deliver, an uptake for the reservoir
well, and an air-pipe and connections delivering air under pressure to the uptake,
a separating vessel or tank for separating under pressure the water and air
delivered from such uptake, an uptake in each supply well and air connections
from the separating vessel or tank to such uptakes to aerate and raise the water
therein, and regulating valves for adjusting the supply wells severally, sub-
stantially as set forth.
6. In combination in an air-lift system for raising water, a separating tank of
considerable vertical dimension and acting as a hydrostatic regulator or com-
pensator for such system, substantially as set forth.
ated this 27th day of February 1900.
For the Applicants,
J. G. LORRAIN, M.I.Mech.E., M.I.E.E.,
Norfolk House, Victoria Embankment, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.