IMPROVEMENTS IN SINKING AND OPERATING WELLS, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
in, the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SINKING AND OPERATING WELLS, AND IN THE APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THEREIN."-A communication from abroad by James Suggett,
of Cortland State of Now Vask United States of
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 30th November 1865, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SINKING AND OPERATING WELLS, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN,"
and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made
solemn Declaration that the said Invention is communicated to me from
abroad by James Suggett, of Cortland, State of New York, United States,
of America.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification under my hand and seal
fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed in and by the following state-
ment, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
The said Invention relates to a simple mode of and apparatus for
sinking and operating wells. In carrying out this Invention I first bore
with any ordinary drill of the same or larger size than the pipe to be used
for drawing the water to the desired depth. The drill is then entirely
withdrawn. I then prepare an iron pipe a, a, (shown in the accompanying
Drawing), which may be lengthened as desired by adding pieces, connect-
ing them by means of the collar d, into which they are tightly screwed.
The lower end of the pipe is perforated with holes, c, c, c, for a space of
one or two feet, to allow water to flow in freely. In the end of the pipe
is fitted and rivetted a conical point b. The perforated portion of the pipe
may be filled with old rope or rags to prevent dirt sifting in in its passage
through the soil, such rope to be drawn up through the pipe after it is put
down. The pipe thus prepared is driven down into the hole prepared by
the drill, and pieces are added as it is forced down until the perforated
portion reaches water. Any desired pump is then screwed or soldered on
to the upper end of the pipe. After a slight pumping the loose dirt about
the holes c, c, is drawn off and a perfect well is formed.
By the old method a pipe was forced down in company with the drill to
the desired depth. The drill was then drawn up, inside the pipe, leaving
the pipe to act as a wall or curb for the well. A separate suction or draw
pipe was then passed down inside the first pipe. One great difficulty in
this method was experienced in forcing down the first pipe, as it must be
always larger than the drill to admit of the drill being drawn out inside the
pipe, and to reduce the pipe in size as much as possible it was necessary
to use thin and consequently weak pipe, which would not bear driving.
Whereas by this improved method the drill being first put down alone it
can be used as large or larger than the pipe, and thus remove all obstruc-
tions, while the pipe which is to be put down after the drill is taken out,
"may be made of any desired thickness, and of strength sufficient, when
armed with the sharpened point b, to bear the necessary driving. This
method dispenses also with one pipe, the pipe above referred to answering
for both curb to the well and suction or draw pipe.
Instead of the rags or rope in the perforated portion of the pipe an

page_text: auxiliary pipe or rod of a diameter to fit the interior of the main pipe may
be used to keep it free from obstructions; when the well is sunk this
auxiliary pipe or rod is withdrawn. Or the perforations may be temporarily
protected by an outer pipe or sleeve until the requisite depth is attained;
the sleeve is then slipped up, and the perforations are exposed. The
latter mode is preferable when the well is sunk through quicksand or
other like substance. apt to fill the perforations of the main pipe. The
pointed rod may be driven by means of a pile driver or sledge if the soil
is not too compact.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that what I consider to
be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention is, the employ-
ment of a perforated pipe with a pointed end constructed as a drill and
united with a pump, substantially in the manner and for the purpose
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Thirtieth day of November, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-five.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)