Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Elevating Water by Means of Compressed Air.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1895
COME JIMIN SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Elevating Water by
Means of Compressed Air.
A communication by THE PNEUMATIC ENGINEERING COMPANY, of the State
of West Virginia, United States of America, Manufacturer, having its
principal office at 7 Beekman Street, in the City of New York, County and
State of New York, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6 Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, 118 New Street, Birmingham in
the County of Warwick, and 31 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to the use of compressed-air, for the elevation of water in
deep wells, formed by sinking a tube through the earth into water-bearing strata or
subterranean streams, and in which the compressed-air is applied either by injecting
it into the upper end of the well-tube, which is there closed, and has an eduction-
tube extending longitudinally within and through it to a submergence in the water
at the bottom, whereby the air-pressure upon the water surface in the well-tube
depresses the level thereof and thereby raises the water level in the eduction-tube;
by injecting the compressed-air into the lower portion of the water-column
formed in the eduction-tube, thereby overcoming the weight of said column and
causing it to rise in said tube or by simultaneously applying the air-pressure to
the water-surface in the weil and injecting compressed-air into the water column,
as aforesaid.
In the drawings
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the top of a driven-well tube and its contained
eduction-tube and illustrates devices for applying air-pressure to the water surface
in the well-tube :
Figure 2 is a plan of the cap for the well-tube shown in Figure 1 ;
Figure 3 is a plan of the gland for said cap;
Figure 4 is a vertical section of a driveu-well and eduction-tube, with a modified
form of cap, and a pipe for injecting compressed-air into the water column in said
eduction-tube;
Figure 5 is an enlarged cross section of the compressed-air supply-pipe shown in
Figure 4, on line a, a, thereof:
Figure 6 is a vertical, sectional elevation of a driven well-tube and air-pipes
illustrating a feature of the invention;
Figure 7 is a similar view of a group of wells and an air-pipe, illustrating a
modification of the feature of the invention shown in Figure 6;
Figure 8 is a plan of the screen for closing the intake of the well-tube or
eduction-tube;
Figure 9 is an enlarged side elevation of a section of a well-tube showing a detail
of a feature of the invention; and
Figure 10 is a vertical, sectional view of an apparatus illustrating a further
feature of the invention.
A is a well-tube in the several figures, having the perforated intake-section, E³,
sunk in the water-bearing stratum or stream, and the delivery-end E' at its ton.

page_text: reaching downward at 61, around. the top thereof above the ground, with its internal
face,, preferably flaring downward to form a space, ba, between it and the exterior
of the tube A. The cap has the internal shoulder, b, above the tube-curb, and on
its upper side the nipple. *. C is a gland fitting loosely on the tube below the cap
and entering the space, ³, to hold a packing therein. Clamping-bolts c, passing
through holes,, in the gland and cap respectively, hold the gland in place.
D is a tube-section of the same diameter as tube A, forming an air-chamber,
and is openly attached to the cap-nipple, 62, by union, 6º, and is closed at its top by
a lid, d, having a central neck, d' provided with a flange, is the water-eduction
tube, extending longitudinally through chamber D, cap B and tube A to a
submergence at its lower end in the water in said tube A. The tube E is sustained,
and may be seated or unscated and withdrawn without disturbing the other parts,
by means of a screw-collar, e, at its upper end, resting upon the flange, d²; and is
held in place, together with its delivery spout, E', by bolts, e', passing through the
spout-flange, e, said collar, e and said neck flange, d, and suitable gaskets e³, at
the joints.
The combined weights of the cap, B, chamber, D, and tube, E, will thus be felt
at the joint of the cap with the tube A; and when the cap is internally flared, at b,
this weight will assist in compressing a packing held in the space, b³, by the gland C.
F is a pipe leading from an air-compressor into the chamber D, at ³, F is a
drum, surrounding the air-pipe F near said chamber D, and an orifice f in the
A deflector, f',
underside of said pipe communicates with the interior of the drum.
projects upward within the pipe, F, at the edge of the orifice f, which is adjacent
to the chamber D. Any volatilized oil which may be carried by the air from the
compressor will be caught and thrown by said deflector through said orifice into
the drum, whence it may be withdrawn at f, and so be prevented from entering the
well. The drum may have a safety-valve 2, and pressure-gauge, f³, and will
serve in place of a compressed-air receiver between the compressor and chamber D.
Compressed-air entering at d³, into chamber, D, will pass into the tube A, outside
the tube E, and act to depress the water-level in A and raise the water-level in E
to a height therein, whereat it may be pumped therefrom, so as to cause a flow at El
In Figure 4 the well-tube cap, B', is screwed upon the tube-curb, and the tube E
is screwed into a flanged neck, ', on the cap, and a flanged tube-section, E³,
A lid, e
communicating with E, surmounts the cap and leads to the delivery E¹.
closes the top of the section. E³, and has a central flanged neck e, supporting, by a
collar, g, a compressed-air supply pipe, G, which leads, by the connection, g, from
an air-compressor and passes through said neck and extends longitudinally within
the tube. E, to near the lower end or intake, thereof, and is there closed. The
pipe, G, has lateral apertures, g². g³, g', in its wall at several points; along its length,
opening into the tube, E. H, H1, H2, are valves, composed of hollow cylinders,
fitted to slide within the pipe, G, to open and close the said apertures respectively.
The valves are carried by a rod. 7, reaching longitudinally within the pipe, G, and
extending through its closed top to a screw ', working in a nut, h2, said rod having
au operating hand-wheel, 3. By these means the rod and its valves may be moved
up or down in the pipe Ġ to open or close the apertures described.
9
Compressed-air, at a pressure and in a volumn adequate to overcome the weight
of the water-column formed in the tube, E, may, by the devices shown in Figure 4,
be injected through the described apertures in the pipe, G, into said water-column
at several points throughout its height, either simultaneously, or successively, and
thereby elevate said column in said tube; and it is desirable, in cases of very deep
wells, where-in the water-column is of great height and weight, that the uppermost
valve, H, should be proportioned to maintain the uppermost aperture, 92, closed
while the apertures below, are open and the lowermost valve, H³, so proportioned
as to maintain the lowermost apertures, 9', closed until the apertures above are
closed and the intermediate valve, or valves, H', so proportioned and formed in
sections, as to successively close: the intermediate apertures, y³; as, by this means
the injection of the air may be made to lift first the upper portion only of the
"

page_text: water-column, and immediately thereafter, successive lower portions of said column,
antil the injection at the lowest part of the column is finally established and the
entire column, which has thus been put in motion, is, by the said injection at the
lowest apertures 9', maintained in its upward movement.
In said Figure 4, a pipe, F, leads from the air-compressor into the cap, B', at f
so that a pressure of air upon the water-surface in the tube, A, may be exerted as
and for the purpose herein-before described in Figure 1; and this may be done in
conjunction with the air-injection through the pipe, G; or, the operation of the
pipe, G, may be carried on independently...
Figures 6 and 7, illustrate a method of elevating water, in or through a tube; or
tubes, A, the intake, or intakes, E, of which are sunk into and have uninterrupted
communication with the body of a water-bearing stratum, S, and in which tube, or
tubes, the water has rise by static pressure, by injecting air directly into and within
the body of said stratum through a pipe, or pipes, P, sunk therein through an earth-
bore or bores, which are in the vicinity of, but independent from, the earth-bore, or
hores, for said well-tube or tubes, and the outlet, or respective outlets, p, of sai!
pipe, or pipes, P, are within the body of said stratum S, and maintaining such
injection of the air at a pressure adequate to be exerted through said stratum upon,
and to overcome the weight of, the water-column or columns, created by said
static pressure in said tube or tubes, A; whereby the injected air will pass with
and induce the movement of the water in said stratum, S, to and upward in sail
tube, or tubes, A.
In Figure 6, A is a single well-tube, and P, P, are several air-pipes which take
compressed air through a common union, p¹, and supply pipe 12, and are sun'
through separate earth-bores into the stratum S, in the vicinity of and surrounding
the bore in which the tube, A, is sunk.
In Figure 7 a group of well-tubes is shown sunk into the same stratum, and an
air-pipe, P, taking compressed-air through a pipe p³, is shown sunk into said
stratum, through an independent earth-bore located centrally of the group.
In practicing this method it is desirable to apply an air-pressure greater than
that which is theoretically adequate to lift the water-columns in the well-tube-,
because of the partial diffusion of the air-pressure in the water-bearing stratum.
In a well 200 feet deep in which the water-column created by static pressure is,
say, 50 feet in height, the air-pressure applied to the stratum, S, through a pipe, 1.
should desirably be about 35 or 40 pounds per square inch; and in a well of said
depth in which the static pressure raises the water-column to the top of the well,
or causes a flow, the air-pressure applied through a pipe, l', to the stratum S,
should desirably be about 100 to 120 pounds per square inch.
To discharge the water-column from a tube, A, in which it has been raised to a
height, whereat it is dischargeable therefrom, by the means shown in Figures 6
and 7, an auxilliary air-pipe, m or n, shown in said figures, and taking compressed-
air from pipes, or pinay extend downward within the tube so as to inject the
air, at an adequate pressure, into the water-column at or near its lower end.
In Figures 4, 7 and 8, R is a screen composed of a metal plate or casting,
preferably formed of the hub or body r, having the radical arms, with the
sectors between the arms, having each a series in close succession of radially
extending, parallel, transverse slots, as shown plainly in Figure 8. This screen is
adapted in form and diameter to fit freely Hat-wise within the well-tube, or
eduction-tube, as the case may be, and to seat in the lower end of the intake-
section, E of such tube, where it is sustained by a rigid support extending from
it upwardly to the top of said tube. The hub, r, may have the threaded
recess, and be thereby screwed upon the lower end of, and so supported by,
the air-pipe, as shown in Figure 4; or upon the end of a rod or pipe-section,
carried fixedly on the end of the air-pipe, n, as shown in Figure 7. This screen will
prevent the entrance of gravel into the eduction or well-tube; and may be readily with-
drawn with the air-pipe, and reseated without disturbing the well-tube or other parts.
In Figure 7, W is an extension-section of the well-tube, A, mountel on and

page_text: communicating with the upper end of said tube above the delivery E', thereof;
is an apertured plug closing the upward end of said section, W, and through
which the air-pipe n passes and has longitudinal play; w¹, is a stuffing-box around
the air-pipe on said plug, and, w², is a clamp-collar on the gland of said stuffing-
box, to grip and hold said air-pipe. By means of this arrangement the air-pipe, n,
rod t, and screen R may be rigidly supported in position and may be vertically
adjusted, or removed and replaced; while the section W will form an air-
chamber and act to maintain a steady flow of the water lifted by the action of
the air and discharged at E'.
In Figure 7, L is a valved-vent tapping the tube A at a point immediately
below the natural water-level therein, whereby when the well is idle in cold
weather, the flow permitted at said vent will prevent the freezing of the water in
the well-tube. In like manner, and for the same purpose, L is a valved-vent
tapping the air-pipe, », at said natural water-level, and extending through a
slot, , in the tube, A, so as to permit the vertical adjustment of the air-pipe,
the said slot being closed by a movable plate, l, held by straps which are
bolted to the exterior of the wall of the tube A, as illustrated in Figure 9.
In Figure 10, K illustrates a subterranean water-course having movement or
flow in a determinate direction; k are pipes, taking compressed-air from a
supply-pipe, 2 and sunk in, and located in succession in the direction
across, said water-course with their outlets discharging air into the sail
water-course; and A, are well-tubes sunk into said water-course with their
intakes, E², located therein, relatively to the direction of the flow thereo",
above said points of air-discharge by pipes k. By means of this arrangement
the flow of the water-course may be retarded, and its velocity in passing the
intakes E may be checked or impeded and the water surrounding said intakes
be put in a condition favorable to its efficient elevation, in said tubes, A, by th
natural pressure of the water-course. The water columns thus formed in the
tubes, A, may be further lifted and discharged therefrom by the injection of
compressed-air through a pipe k¹ leading into the lower portion of the tube A, in
the manner hereinbefore described.
In employing compressed air in accordance with this invention, the injection
thereof, under a pressure and in a volume adequate to overcome the weight of the
water-column created in a well-tube by static pressure, when said static pressure
and adequate pressure, are approximately equal, if made at a point about twenty
to twenty-four inches above the intake of said tube; and, when said pressures
are equal, if made at a point which is a greater or less distance than twenty to
twenty-four inches above said intake, proportionately to the ratio of the aforesaid
pressure to each other, the interference of the air-pressure with the static pressure
at the intake will be avoided and the maximum volume of water dischargeable
through the area of the well-tube by the static pressure will be approximated and
ejected therefrom.
For example:-In a well 8 inches in diameter and 150 feet in depth wherein a
static pressure of 65 pounds to the square inch raises the water 150 feet to the
water-tube curb, air, in the proportion of about three volumes thereof to one of
the water, and at a pressure of about 65 pounds to the square inch should be
injected into the water-column in the well-tube at a point about twenty to twenty-
four inches above the intake of said tube; while in a well of like size and depth,
wherein a static pressure of say 130 pounds per square inch raises the water to
and causes an overflow at the tube-curb, air at a pressure of about 65 pounds per
square inch should be injected into the water-column in the well-tube at a point
about ten to twelve inches above the intake of said tube; and in a well of like
diameter but 200 feet in depth, wherein a static pressure of 65 pounds per square
inch raises the water to a height of 150 feet, air at a pressure of 86 pounds per
square inch, which would be required to overcome the weight of a water-
column 200 feet high filling the tube, should be injected into said column at a
point about thirty to thirty-six inches above the intake of the well tube.
'

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a compressed-air water-elevating apparatus, the combination with a tubular
cap fitting loosely over and upon the curb of a well-tube and provided with an
internal shoulder abutting upon said curb, a gland encircling said tube and closing
the underside of said head around said tube, and a receiving-joint, or nipple on
its upward side, of an air-chamber openly attached to said receiving-joint on the
cap, together with an eduction-tube extending through said air-chamber and cap
and longitudinally within the well-tube, and adapted, at its extension through the
lid of said air-chamber to be suspensorily sustained thereby, as and for the purpose
specified.
2. In a compressed-air elevating apparatus, the combination with a tubular-cap
having an internal diameter greater than that of the well-tube to which it is fitted,
and internally downwardly flared, an internal shoulder adapted to abut upon the
well-tube curb, a gland to close the underside of the cap outside the tube, and a
nipple on the upper side of said cap, of an air-chamber openly attached to and
supported by said nipple on said cap, together with an eduction-tube extending
through said chamber and cap and longitudinally within the well-tube and
suspensorily sustained by its extension through the lid of the air-chamber, as and
for the purpose specified.
3. The combination with the well-tube and its tubular-cap and the air-chamber
surmounting said cap and having a top-lid with a Hanged neck, of an eduction-
tube extending through said chamber, cap and well-tube, and provided with a
detachable collar on its upward end resting on said flanged neck of said air-chamber,
as and for the purpose set forth.
4. The combination with the well-tube and its tubular-cap, an air-chamber on
said cap and an eduction-tube extending longitudinally through said chamber, cap
and well-tube, of a compressed-air supply-pipe discharging into said chamber, and
having an orifice on its underside with a deflector on the side of the rim thereof
adjacent to the pipe-discharge, together with a drum enclosing said orifice-portion
of said supply-pipe and having a drainage outlet, as and for the purpose specified.
5. In a compressed-air water elevating apparatus, the combination with a
water-eduction tube, of a compressed-air supply-pipe, within said tube and having
a closed lower end, and provided with lateral apertures at several different points
throughout its height, together with a series of valves within said air-pipe to open
and close said apertures, as and for the purpose set forth.
6. The combination with a water-eduction tube of a compressed-air supply-pipe
within said tube and having a closed lower end, and provided with lateral
apertures at several different points throughout its height, and a series of valves
within said air-pipe to successively open said apertures beginning at the one
nearest the discharge-end of said eduction-tube, and while each said aperture is
thus open to maintain the other apertures closed, as and for the purpose specified.
7. The combination with a water-eduction tube, of a compressed-air supply pipe
within said tube and having a closed lower end, and provided with lateral apertures
at several different points, throughout its height, and a series of valves within said
pipe, composed of hollow cylinders, the uppermost of which is proportioned to
maintain the uppermost apertures, closed while the lower apertures are open, the
lowermost of which is proportioned to maintain the lowermost aperture closed until
the apertures above are closed, and the intermediate of which are sectional anl
proportioned to successively close the intermediate apertures, as an 1 for the purpose
specified.
8. The method of elevating water in or through a well tube the intake of which
is sunk into and has uninterrupted communication with the body of a water-bearing
stratum, and in which the water has rise by static pressure, which consists in
injecting air directly into and within the body of said stratum through a pipe sunk

page_text: therein through an earth-bore in the vicinity of but independent from the earth-
bore for said well-tube, and maintaining such air-injection at a pressure adequate
to be exerted through said stratum upon, and to overcome the weight of, the
water-column created by static pressure in said tube, as and for the purpose
specified.
9. In a driven-well apparatus, the combination with the intake-section of the
well-tube to be sunk in a water-bearing stratum, of a slotted or perforated plate
fitting freely within said tube and its intake and setting within the lower open end
of said intake, together with a rigid support, extending longitudinally through
said tube and intake and having said plate rigidly attached to its lower end,
and removably sustained in position in said tube, ns and for the purpose specified.
10. The combination with the intake-section of a driven-well tube to be sunk in
a water bearing stratum, of a slotted or perforated plate fitting freely within said
tube and its intake and setting within the lower open end of said intake, together
with the compressed-air injection-pipe extending, and adjustably and removably
sustained, longitudinally within said tube, and a rigid extension below the injection
outlet of said pipe adapted to reach to the open lower end of said intake, with the
said plate fixedly attached thereto, as and for the purpose specified.
11. The combination with the well-tube and its intake section, and the compressed-
air injection pipe extending longitudinally of the well-tube and having a rigid
extension below its injection outlet, reaching into the open lower end of said intake
and fixedly carrying therein a screen fitting loosely in and closing said end of the
intake, of an extension-section of said well-tube above the delivery spout thereof,
an apertured plug in the top of said extension-section, in which said air-injection
pipe, has longitudinal play, a stuffing box on said plug, and a clamp-collar on said
stuffing box to grip said air-injection pipe, as and for the purpose specified.
12. The combination with the well-tube and adjustable air-injection pipe
therein, of a valved vent tapping the well-tube below the natural water-level
therein, and a removable valved vent tapping said air-pipe at said natural water-
level and extending through the wall of said well-tube, as and for the purpose
specified.
13. The method of retarding the flow of a subterranean water-course which
consists in injecting under pressure into such water-course, having movement or
How in a determinate direction, at a series of points or places which are located
in succession in the direction across said water-course, whereby the velocity of
the movement of the water-course in passing the intakes of well-tubes located
therein, relatively to the direction of said flow thereof above said points or places
of air injection, may be checked or impeded and the water surrounding said
intakes be in a condition favorable to its efficient elevation in said well-tubes by
the natural pressure of said water-course as and for the purpose specified.
14. The method of promoting the ejection of water from a well, wherein the
water is elevated in a tube by static pressure, which consists in injecting air
under a pressure and in a volume adequate to overcome the weight of said
water-column into said column at a point, when said static pressure and said
adequate air pressure are about equal about twenty to twenty-four inches above
the intake of said tube; and at a point, when said pressures are unequal, which
is a greater or less distance above said intake than when said pressures are equal
proportionate to the ratio of the aforesaid pressure to each other as and for the
purpose specified.
Dated this 9th day of September 1905