Improvements in Apparatus for Raising Water from Artesian Wells.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Raising Water from Artesian Wells.
We, JOHN HENDERSON Junior, Artesian Well Engineer, General Terminus,
Paisley Road, in the City of Glasgow, and WILLIAM GILLESPIE, Engineer,
3 Church Road, Bellahouston, Govan, Lanarkshire, do hereby declare the nature
of this Invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to apparatus for raising water from artesian walls by
means of compressed air carried down by a pipe and discharged at such a depth
under the normal water level as to carry upwards and deliver the water at or
above the surface.
The apparatus employed comprises a water delivery pipe of nearly the diameter
of the bore of the well and extending to some depth under the level normally
attained by the water supply. Within this pipe is a tube of small diameter
through which air under pressure is conveyed from an air compressor at the
surface and discharged into the water within the outer pipe, the air being directed
in an annular stream between the pipes by means of a cup secured at the
extremity of the air tube. This cup is formed on or secured to a casing or cage
arranged to carry a ball or other valve closing downwards on a seat in the lower
end of the outer or water pipe. The object of the valve, which is a special
feature of the improved apparatus, is to prevent the water accumulating in the
bore being driven back by the air pressure. At the surface or above it the water
pipe is terminated in a casing provided with a discharge branch for the water and
an air outlet at a higher level.
In the operation of the apparatus air under pressure is forced by the compressor
down the air pipe, whereupon the valve in the bottom of the water pipe closes.
The air pressure first forces out the water in the air pipe, and drives it up the
water pipe, and then the air discharged from the lower end of the air pipe bubbles
upwards and carries with it the water in the water pipe, thus lightening the
water column in that pipe. The bottom valve is then opened by the pressure of
the accumulated water in the well and the water rises through it. When thus
started and so long as air is injected into the pipe a continuous upward flow of
water at the full bore of the outer pipe takes place and is delivered through the
casing at the top, the air being freed from it at the surface and being allowed
to escape to the atmosphere.
In a modified form of the apparatus the central tube is used as the water
delivery pipe and is made of larger diameter the air being led down the outer
tube and being directed upwards into the lower end of the central water pipe
by means of a conical deflector. In this case a downwardly closing or non-return
valve is fitted in the lower end of the central water delivery pipe and a similar
valve is fitted in the bottom of the outer tube, so that on the injection of air
which takes place through the space between the valves, the bottom valve is closed
temporarily and the upper valve opens to permit of the passage of the water

page_text: forced upwards by the air pressure and that subsequently raised by the buoyant
action of the injected air.
The volume of water raised, provided the supply is ample, will be, for any given
bore of pipe, dependent on the supply of air under pressure, a factor which may
be readily varied.
Dated this 31st day of December 1896
Improvements in Apparatus for Raising Water from Artesian Wells.
We, JOHN HENDERSON Junior, Artesian Well Engineer, General Terminus,
Paisley Road, in the City of Glasgow, and WILLIAM GILLESPIE, Engineer,
3 Church Road, Bellahouston, Govan, Lanarkshire, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
This Invention relates to apparatus for raising water from artesian walls by
means of compressed air carried down by a pipe and discharged at such a depth
under the normal water level as to carry upwards and deliver the water at or
above the surface.
The Invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2
of which shew the improved apparatus in vertical and horizontal section respec-
tively. Figures 3 and 4 are views, corresponding respectively to Figures 1 and 2,
of a modification of the apparatus.
The apparatus employed comprises a water delivery pipe A of nearly the
diameter of the bore of the well and extending to some depth under the level
normally attained by the water supply. Within this pipe A is a tube C of small
diameter through which air under pressure is conveyed from an air compressor
at the surface and discharged into the water within the outer pipe A, the air
being directed in an annular stream between the pipes by means of a cup D
secured at the extremity of the air tube C. This cup D is formed on or secured
to a casing or cage E arranged to carry a ball or other valve F closing downwards
on a seat G in the lower end of the outer or water pipe A. The object of the
valve F, which is a special feature of the improved apparatus, is to prevent the
water accumulating in the bore B being driven back by the air pressure.
the surface or above it the water pipe A is terminated in a casing H provided
with a discharge branch I for the water and an air outlet at a higher level.
At
In the operation of the apparatus air under pressure is forced by the com-
pressor down the air pipe C whereupon the valve F in the bottom of the water
pipe A closes. The air pressure first forces out the water in the air pipe C, and
drives it up the water pipe A, and then the air discharged from the lower end
of the air pipe C bubbles upwards and carries with it the water in the water
pipe A, thus lightening the water column in that pipe. The bottom valve F
is then opened by the pressure of the accumulated water in the well B and the
water rises through it. When thus started and so long as air is injected into
the pipe A a continuous upward flow of water at the full bore of the outer pipe A
takes place and is delivered through the casing H at the top, the air being freed
from it at the surface and being allowed to escape to the atmosphere.
In a modified form of the apparatus as shewn at Figures 3 and 4, the central

page_text: tube is used as the water delivery pipe and is made of larger diameter, the air
being led down the outer tube A and being directed upwards into the lower end
of the central water pipe C by means of a conical deflector J. In this case a
downwardly closing or non-return valve is fitted in the lower end of the central
water delivery pipe a few feet above the conical deflector, and a similar valve K
is fitted in the bottom of the outer tube A, so that on the injection of air which
takes place through the space between the valves, the bottom valve is closed
temporarily and the upper valve opens to permit of the passage of the water
forced upwards_by_the_air_pressure_and_that_subsequently_raised_by_the_buoyant
action of the injected air.
The volume of water raised, provided the supply is ample, will be, for any
given bore of pipe, dependent on the supply of air under pressure, a factor which
may be readily varied.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said In-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The improved apparatus for raising water from artesian wells constructed
and arranged to operate substantially as described with reference to Figures 1
and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
2. The improved apparatus for raising water from artesian wells constructed
and arranged to operate substantially as described with reference to Figures 3
and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Of the Firm of Cruikshank & Fairweather,
Chartered Patent Agents
62 Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicants.