IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WELLS OR SUNK RESERVOIRS AND IN MEANS FOR PROCURING WATER THERE- FROM
Year: 1884

page_text: I ARTHUR WILLIAM LOVELL REDDIE of the Office for Patents, 6 Bream's
Buildings Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF WELLS OR SUNK RESERVOIRS AND IN MEANS FOR PROCURING WATER THERE-
FROM, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
t
The invention relates in part to what is known as the gang system of wells
according to which a single pump is adapted to a plurality of well tubes by
connecting the upper ends of the said tubes by a pipe or conduit with which the
pump cylinder communicates.
In carrying out my invention I employ a main well or reservoir which consists
of a tube or cylinder which is sunk in the earth below the water level therein and
in which is placed a pump for raising water therefrom.
In the latter
The tube or cylinder may have a downwardly flaring lower portion to facilitate
the sinking of it, and this downwardly flaring lower portion may be constructed
with inlet openings for water, and protected, by a strainer, thus constituting a
main well; or it may be imperforate and constitute a simple reservoir.in which the
pump is placed and to which water is conducted from other sources.
case water may be supplied to the reservoir by a number of comparatively small
driven wells or tubes extending downward through the closed_bottom of the
reservoir and if desired an additional supply of water may be obtained by a large
number of such driven or tube wells connected in an air tight manner with the
reservoir near its top, and serving to collect water from a large area, If desired
the reservoir may be supplied entirely by driven or tube wells connected with its
upper part, the driven or tube wells in the bottom thereof being dispensed with.
When the cylinder or casing which is sunk in the earth has water inlet openings
in its lower part so as to constitute a main well, an additional supply of water may
be procured by employing driven or tube wells extending downwards from the
bottom of the main well or connected with its upper part, either or both.
The invention consists in the combination with a main well or reservoir consisting
of an air tight cylinder or tube sunk below the level of water in the earth and
constructed with or without water inlet openings in its lower part, of supplemental
P11

page_text: tube or driven wells having an air-tight connection with the upper part of the
main well or reservoir, and a pump for delivering water from said main well or
reservoir.
The invention also consists in combining with the above described main well or
reservoir and tube or driven wells, of a main pump extending downwards through
the closed upper part of the well or. reservoir for delivering water therefrom, and
an air pump or auxiliary pump connected with the closed upper part of the main
well or reservoir and serving to exhaust air from the main well or reservoir and
from the supplemental tube or driven wells; said air pump being preferably
operated continuously and connected with the discharge of the main pump so that
after the air has all been exhausted from the main well or reservoir and supplemental
tube or driven wells the auxiliary pump will work water and thus insure the
maintenance of a vacuum.
The invention also consists in the combination with a main well or reservoir
constructed as above described and a pump for delivering water from said main well
or reservoir, of a main pipe extending from the upper part of the main well or
reservoir and a number of supplemental driven wells connected with said main
pipe and each preferably provided with a valve near its junction with the main
pipe, whereby provision is afforded for cutting off any well or wells from the
system, when such well or wells becomes defective and needs removal or repair.
I also combine with the foregoing when more than one main pipe and connected
series of tube or driven wells are employed, a valve in each main pipe near its
junction with the main well or reservoir and thereby afford provision for cutting off
the connection between the main well or reservoir and any one of the main pipes
and its series of supplemental tube or driven wells.
The invention also consists broadly in the combination with a well or reservoir
consisting of a cylinder or tube sunk below the level of water in the earth and
constructed with or without water inlet openings in its lower part, of a pump
arranged within the well or reservoir for delivering water therefrom, and preferably
comprising a long cylinder or casing extending from a point above the water level
in the well or reservoir to a point above the top thereof, and there provided with a'
discharge or delivery opening.
The invention also consists in the combination with the main well or reservoir
and its contained pump, of a number of supplemental driven or tube wells
extending downward through and below the bottom of the main well or reservoir
and serving as a source of supply to the main well or reservoir.
The invention also consists in a well or reservoir to be sunk in the earth having
a downwardly flaring lower portion constructed with or without strainer protected
water inlet openings, the downwardly flaring lower portion serving to facilitate the
sinking of the well or reservoir by lessoning the friction on the exterior of the
cylinder above such flaring lower portion.
The invention also consists in the combination with a well or reservoir to be
sunk in the earth, consisting of a cylinder composed of internally flanged sections
and having a downwardly flaring lower portion, and a downwardly flaring tip
piece or shoe within the lower portion and joining the same so as to form a sharp
edge for entering the earth.
The invention also consists in the combination with a well consisting of a
cylinder having a downwardly flaring and perforated lower portion protected by
a strainer and having the upwardly contracted tip piece or shoe within the lower
portion, of a supplemental strainer extending from the shoe to the interior of the
cylinder at a point above the openings in the flaring lower portions, whereby
provision is afforded for removing and replacing the inner strainer when desired
and the well is not left destitute of a strainer in case of the outer strainer giving
way.
The invention also consists in the combination with a well or reservoir having a
downwardly flaring lower portion and tip piece or shoe as above described, the
well or reservoir being usually constructed of sections joined by internal flanges,

page_text: of a guard or lining tube extending upwards from the upwardly contracted or
downwardly flaring tip piece or shoe to one of the flange joints in the cylinder.
This guard or lining tube is preferably made with a very slight upward flare and
hence as the well descends in the earth during sinking the earth entering within it
is relieved of lateral pressure as the well or reservoir descends. When the guard
or lining tube is employed in sinking a well having strainer protected inlet openings
in its lower part, it is made removable, and during the process of sinking the well,
it keeps the water from entering through the inlet openings, but after the well is
sunk to the desired depth the guard or lining tube is removed and a supplemental
strainer inserted in place thereof.
The pump which I prefer to employ comprises a single valvular piston, or two
valvular pistons, the object when the invention is embodied in a pump having but
one piston being to provide a very large valve area in the piston, so that the water
will not have to acquire a high velocity in passing through the piston and will be
moved with comparatively little friction.
A further object when the invention is embodied in a pump having two pistons
inoving simultaneously towards and from each other, is to produce a continuous
onward and upward movement of the water, and thus avoid the waste of power
necessary to overcome the impetus and inertia of the water at each change of
piston stroke.
:
The invention also consists in the combination with an upright pump cylinder
or casing having in its lower part a working barrel which is preferably removable
and capable of being introduced and removed through said cylinder or casing, of a
piston consisting of an annular body provided with valves, and an upward tubular
extension also provided with valves. The cylinder or casing preferably has an
annular enlargement above the working barrel, and the tubular extension is
preferably flaring so that its upper end will constitute a valve seat nearly as large
in area as is the piston itself, the annular enlargement in the cylinder or casing
forming ample space for the water to pass around such extension.
The invention also consists in the combination with an upright pump cylinder
or casing having in its lower portion a working barrel, of two pistons consisting of
annular bodies provided with valves, and upward and downward tubular extensions
also provided. with valves.
In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a partly sectional elevation
of a main well having supplemental driven wells extending downwards from the
bottom, and other series or gangs of supplement tube or driven wells connected
with its upper part, also showing a pump for delivering water from the main well..
Fig 2 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the apparatus looking at right
angles to the plane of the section Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a plan of the apparatus.
Figures 4 and 5 are plans of the top of the flaring tubular extension of the
upper piston and the annular body thereof, upon a larger scale.
Figure 6 is a sectional view on a still larger scale of a portion of the piston and
one kind of valve which may be employed therefor.
Figure 7 is a partly sectional elevation of a main reservoir deriving a water
supply from a number of supplemental tube or driven wells connected with its
upper portion and containing a pump for delivering water from it.
Figure 8 is a sectional elevation of a main well or reservoir. having no water
inlets in its sides but supplied from a series of supplemental tube or driven wells
extending through its bottom, and a partial section of a pump contained therein;
and Figures 9 and 10 are vertical sections respectively of a main well and a main
reservoir having an internal guard or lining tube arranged to be used in sinking
them as hereinafter more fully described.
Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.
The complete apparatus is illustrated in Fig: 1 and will be first described.
A designates the main well which is a cylinder or tube, airtight save where it is
provided with water inlet openings; -
:.

page_text: '
.It is represented as composed of cylindric sections united by internal flanged
joints a and its lower portion is flared from about the point, to the lower end.
The flaring portion for the principal part of its length is perforated, or of open
construction, and is protected by a strainer a¹ of wire gauze or other perforated
or reticulated metal. At the lower end of the well A is an internal shoe or tip
piece A¹ which forms a sharp edge a* at its juncture with the downwardly flaring
lower portion, and is upwardly contracted to a diameter at the upper end slightly
less than the internal diameter of the flange joints a for a purpose hereinafter
explained.
The bottom of the well is closed by a lower head. A* which is shown as outwardly
convex and is joined to the upper edge of the downwardly flaring shoe or tip piece
in any suitable manner, as for example by bolts or rivets. From the exterior of
.the shoe or tip piece a perforated lining tube A² extends upwards to the point *
where the downward flare of the well commences, and there fits the interior of a
flange joint a. This perforated lining tube A³ is protected by a second or
supplemental strainer a².
.
At the upper end, the well A is closed by a head A³ which is designed to be air
tight; and below said head it has connected with it one or more horizontally
extending main pipes B which may be extended to any desired distance.
I have shown in Figure 3 four of these main pipes extending at angles of 90°
with each other.
J
With each main pipe B are connected a series or gang of supplemental driven or
tube wells B', which are connected with opposite sides of the main pipe alternately,
and have their lower portions perforated and protected by strainers and are shod
with points b for readily entering the earth. In each tube or driven well B¹ is a
union coupling b₁ which provides for readily connecting it with the main pipe B ;
and between each union and the main pipe is a stop valve 62, whereby any one or
any number of the supplemental wells B¹ may be cut off from the main pipe B
when desired for repairing or replacing the wells thus cut off.
For a similar. reason when two or more main pipes are employed, I provide in
each, near its junction with the well A, a valve or gate B* which may be closed
in case it becomes necessary to cut off a main pipe and its attached supplemental
wells B¹ for repair or otherwise to avoid stopping the pump or interfering with the
rest of the apparatus.
In order to form a source of supply additional to the main pipes B and the
supplemental wells B' connected therewith, I provide other supplemental wells B'
extending through the bottom or lower head A* of the main well as shown in
Fig. 1.
The pump here represented consists of a cylinder or casing C which is or may be
composed of flanged sections and which extends from a point above the head A³ to
a point below the water level in the well. The pump cylinder or casing should
form an airtight joint where it passes through the head A³, and this may be
accomplished by casting the said head integral with one of the sections of the
cylinder or casing C. The top of the pump cylinder or casing C is closed by a
head C, and just below the head is the discharge outlet c for water.
In the lower part of the cylinder or casing C is a working barrel C³ which is
preferably removable and which may be introduced downwards through the
cylinder or casing to its seat therein and removed, therefrom in a similar manner
in case of repair or renewal. The barrel Chere shown has a flange c¹ at the
upper part whereby it is supported in the cylinder or casing, and at a point just
above the barrel the cylinder or casing is constructed, with an annular enlargement C*.
for a purpose hereinafter described.
D D' designate upper and lower pistons, each consisting of an annular body d
fitting the barrel C² and provided with any suitable packing if desired and each
having a tubular extension d' and a valve seat d of large area at the end thereof.
The tubular extension d of the piston D is presented upward and the tubular
extension of the piston' D₁ is presented downward. The lower piston D¹ is
=

page_text: operated by a single rod D² which extends therefrom upwards through the tubular
extension of the upper piston D, and through a stuffing box e in the head C², and
the upper piston D is operated by two rods D* fixed therein and extending
upwards through stuffing boxes e* in the head C. As here shown the rod D2 of
the lower piston works through a long hollow stem or sleeve D³ projecting upwards
from the upper piston, and thereby the better guidance of both pistons is effected.
The annular bodies d of both pistons and the valve seats 2 of their extensions
are provided with valves d³, all of which open upwards and which may be of any
suitable or known constructions. That shown in Figure 6 is very desirable The
valve there shown consists of a simple disk d³ made of or faced with india-rubber
and guided upon a stem d, which is screwed fast into a yoke or bail do. The
valve is held to its seat d by a spring d* the tension of which may be regulated
by a thumb nut de on the stem d. By this valve nearly the whole area of the
aperture which it controls is made available for the passage of water.
The stroke of the pistons is not designed to be sufficient to carry the valve-
seats into the barrel C2, and hence the said seats may be nearly as large in
diameter as the pistons themselves, and hence a very large number of valves may
be provided for each piston and an area of opening secured but little if any less
than the area of the working barrel C². Hence the water may be moved at a
slow speed and consequently with but little friction.
The annular enlargement C* in the pump cylinder C provides for the passage of
water upward around the extension of the upper piston.
The mechanism for moving the two pistons D D₁ simultaneously towards and
from each other may be of any suitable character. I have here shown rock
shafts E E supported by brackets C³ projecting from the upper part of the pump
cylinder or casing C. On the shaft E is a bell crank lever E³, the horizontally
extending arm of which is connected with the rod D2 of the lower piston D¹, and
on the shaft E¹ are two bell-crank levers E³ the horizontal arms of which are
connected with the rods D* of the upper piston D. The upwardly extending arms
of the bell crank levers E³ E³ are connected by a rod E4, and they are all operated
by a rod E³ from a crank disc E on a shaft E7, the said shaft being rotated by an
engine, an arbitrary illustration of which is shown at E³. In the operation of the
two pistons the water all passes through each piston during its downward stroke,
the water being impelled upwards by the simultaneous upward movement of the
other piston. There being no reverse movement of the water column the impetus
it acquires insures a continuous if slightly decreased upward and onward movement
even when the pistons are momentarily stationary at opposite ends of their
strokes.
It will be observed that when the whole system of wells shown in Fig: 1 are
airtight, the main well, in connection with each supplemental well attached to the
pipes B constitutes a syphon and hence the pump which extends into the lower.
part of the main well acts to maintain the syphon action. To accomplish this
however it is essential that no air shall be allowed to accumulate in the well, and
to this end I provide an air pump F the piston rod f of which is operated by an
arm f' from the rock shaft E. The suction opening f of this pump is in the
head A³ of the well A, and its discharge opening f3 is into the top of the pump
cylinder or casing C. Both openings are controlled by suitable valves as is also a
suitable opening in the piston f* and hence the air rising to the top of the well
will be withdrawn and discharged into the top of the pump cylinder or casing from
which it readily escapes through the discharge outlet. I prefer to operate the
pump F continuously, as it will then keep the well free from air, and when not
pumping air, will form an auxiliary to the main water pump.
In Figure 7 I have represented the invention as embodied in a well system
comprising in lieu of a main well, a main reservoir A which is similar to the well
in all particulars save those hereinafter mentioned. The reservoir has no openings
for water inlet in its lower portion, but has a closed bottom A* attached to the
upper end of the downwardly flaring shoe or rtip piece A¹, and in lieu of a
i
:

page_text: perforated lining tube A2 such as is shown in Fig. 1., there is employed an
imperforate guard or lining tube A³, hereinafter more fully described.
Water is supplied to the main reservoir A by main pipes B having series or
gangs of supplemental tube or driven wells connected with them, the construction
and combination of all these parts and the pump for removing water from the
reservoir being as described with reference to Figure 1. All letters of reference on
Fig 7 not here referred to designate parts similar to those described with
réfèrence to Fig: 1. and the pump.pistons may be operated by similar means.
:
In Fig 8 I have represented a main reservoir A supplied with water from a
number of supplemental tube or driven wells B, extending through the bottom A*.
A pump similar in construction and operation to that before described is employed
for delivering water from this reservoir.
I will now describe how the main wells and reservoirs A A' are to be sunk,
referring particularly to Fig 9 which represents a well, and Fig 10, which represents
a. reservoir.
The upper end of the downwardly flaring or upwardly contracted tip piece or
shoe A is smaller in diameter than the internal diameter of the flange joints a, so
that a lining tube or guard A³ which is upwardly flaring to a slight degree may
be introduced as shown in Figures 9 and 10 the lower end thereof surrounding the
tip or shoe piece A¹ and the upper end fitting the interior of a flange joint a.
The well A shown in Fig: 9. has its downwardly flaring lower portion provided
with water inlet openings protected by a strainer a¹.
I first sink the cylinder which constitutes the well or reservoir by excavating
within it until its lower end is below the level of water in th earth.
I then close the upper end of the cylinder in an air-tight manner and exhaust
the air therefrom, thus forcing the cylinder downwards by atmospheric pressure.
From time to time I remove from the cylinder the earth and water which have
been received through its open lower end either by a centrifugal pump having its
suction pipe extending through the closed head in an air-tight manner or by
removing the head and then taking out the earth and water in any other suitable
way.
When the cylinder has openings in its lower portion as in Fig 9 it is desirable
to prevent water from entering through them while sinking, and in any case a
smooth throat or interior is needed for the passage of earth.
The guard or lining tube A³ prevents the entrance of water through the side and
its slight upward flare enables the earth to pass into the cylinder easily.
After the well or reservoir has been sunk to the desired depth the bottom A* is
secured in place and supplemental tube or driven wolls are extended downwards
from it if desired.
When the cylinder has openings in its lower part the guard or lining tube is
removed after sinking, and a perforated lining tube having a supplemental strainer
similar to the lining tube and strainer A³, a² shown in Fig: 1 are inserted in the
place thereof.
One advantage of making the guard or lining A5 with a slight downward taper
is that the perforated lining tube A² may have a similar degree of taper and may
then be introduced downward tightly into place.
When the cylinder has no.openings in its lower part the lining tube or guard A³
may be allowed to remain in place.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The combination with a main well or reservoir consisting of an airtight cylinder
or tube sunk below the level of water in the earth and constructed with or without
water inlet openings at the lower part, of supplemental tube or driven wells
having an air-tight connection with the upper part of said main well or reservoir,
and a pump for delivering water from said main well or reservoir, substantially as
'herein described.

page_text: 2. The combination with a main well or reservoir consisting of an air tight
cylinder sunk below the level of water in the earth and constructed with or without
water inlet openings at the lower part, of a pump extending downwards through
the closed upper end of the well or reservoir, supplemental driven wells connected
with the upper part of the main well or reservoir, and an air pump connected with:
the upper part of the main well or resorvoir, substantially as herein described.
3. The combination with a main well or reservoir constructed with or without
water inlet openings at the lower part, of a pump extending downwards through
the closed head of the well and having a discharge outlet above said head, a,
number of supplemental or driven wells connected with the upper part of the main
well or reservoir, and an auxiliary pump having its suction connected with the
upper part of said main well or reservoir and its outlet connected with the
discharge from said pump, substantially as heroin described.
4. The combination with a main well or reservoir consisting of an air-tight
cylinder sunk below the level of water in the earth and constructed with or without
water inlet openings at its lower part, of a pump for delivering water from said
main well or reservoir, a main pipe extending from the upper part of said well or
reservoir and a number of supplemental driven wells connected with said main
pipe, substantially as described.
5. The combination with a main well or reservoir consisting of an air-tight
cylinder sunk below the level of water in the earth and constructed with or without
water inlet openings at the lower part, of a pump for delivering water from said.
main well or reservoir, a main pipe B with or without a valve: B* extending from
the upper part of said main well or reservoir, and supplemental driven wells B¹
connected with said main pipe and each provided with a valve 62 substantially as
herein described.
6. The combination with a well or reservoir consisting of a cylinder or tube sunk;
below the level of water in the earth and constructed with or without water inlets
at the lower part thereof, of a pump arranged within the well or reservoir and
serving to deliver water therefrom substantially as herein described.
7. The combination with a well or reservoir consisting of a cylinder or tube
sunk below the level of water in the earth and constructed with or without water
inlets at the lower part thereof, of a pump cylinder or casing arranged within the
well or reservoir within its lower portion below the water level and its upper
portion and discharge above the top of the well or reservoir, substantially as
herein described.
8. The combination with a well or reservoir consisting of a cylinder or tube
sunk below the level of water in the earth and having supplemental driven wells
extending downwards through its bottom, of a pump arranged without the well or
reservoir for delivering water therefrom substantially as herein described.
9. The combination with a well or reservoir consisting of a cylinder or tube sunk
below the level of the water in the earth and constructed with or without water
inlets at its lower part, of the pump cylinder or casing C having a working
barrel C² extending downwards within said well cylinder or tube below the water
level therein, and a valvular piston or pistons working in said barrel, all
substantially as herein described."
10. A well or reservoir to be sunk in the earth having a downwardly flaring
lower portion constructed with or without strainer-protected water inlet openings,
substantially as and for the purpose herein described.
11. A well or reservoir to be sunk in the earth consisting of a cylinder composed
of internally flanged sections and having a downwardly flaring lower portion and a
downwardly flaring tip piece or shoe within the lower portion substantially as
herein described.
12. The combination with a well consisting of a cylinder having a downwardly
flaring and perforated lower portion protected by a strainer, and having an
upwardly contracted shoe within said lower portion, of a supplemental strainer
extending from said shoe to the interior of the cylinder at a point above the

page_text: openings in said downwardly flaring portion, substantially as, and for the purpose
herein described.
13. The combination with a well or reservoir consisting of a cylinder or tube
having a downwardly flaring lower portion and an upwardly contracted shoe or
tip within said lower portion, of a guard or lining tube extending upwards from
said upwardly contracted shoc or tip, substantially as and for the purpose herein
described.
14. The combination with a well or reservoir consisting of a cylinder or tube
composed of sections united by internal flange joints and having at and within the
lower end an upwardly contracted shoe or tip, the smaller diameter of which is less
than the internal diameter of said flanged joints, of an upwardly flaring guard or
lining-tube fitting the exterior of said shoe or tip and the interior of one of said
flange joints, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.
15. The combination with a well consisting of a cylinder or tube having openings
in its lower portion covered by a strainer, of a removable guard or lining tube
extending upwards within said cylinder to a point above said openings and
serving to prevent the entrance of water through said openings, substantially as
and for the purpose herein described.
16. The combination with an upright pump cylinder or casing having in its
lower end a working barrel, of a piston consisting of an annular body provided
with valves and an upward tubular extension also provided with valves,
substantially as herein described.
17. The combination with an upright cylinder or casing and a working barrel
fitted to the lower part thereof, and capable of being introduced and removed
through said cylinder or casing, of a piston consisting of an annular body provided
with valves and an upward tubular extension also provided with valves,
substantially as herein described.
18. The combination with the cylinder or casing C having in its lower part a
working barrel C² and having above said barrel an annular enlargement C*, of the
piston consisting of an annular body provided with valves and an upwardly flaring
tubular extension also provided with valves substantially as herein described.
19. The combination with an upright pump cylinder or casing having in its
lower part a working barrel, of two pistons consisting of aunular bodies provided
with valves and upward and downward tubular extensions also provided with
valves substantially as herein described.
Dated this 21st day of October 1884.