GB2162586A - Apparatus for raising water from underground wells - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for pumping water from an underground well comprising a pump 2 located in the well and a pipe 4 descending into the well, the pipe forming the actuating member for the pump and also acting as a conduit through which the water can be raised. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for raising water from underground wells This invention relates to apparatus for raising water from an underground well.

Where the well is deeper than 7.5 metres it is necessary to locate the pump at the bottom of the well. The problem of raising water from such depths has been influenced largely by the quantity of water which can be raised taking into account the energy necessary to obtain a good yield.

Pumps at present located at the bottom of wells are generally actuated by one or more rigid metallic rods. The rod or rods reciprocate in a pipe which forms the well liner, and this pipe also serves to conduct the water to the surface. Such rods tend to corrode and are generally unsatisfactory, particularly as they also absorb large quantities of energy and have to be provided with lateral thrust bearings at intervals which also act as guide members.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome these drawbacks.

According to the present invention apparatus for raising water from an underground well comprises a pump located in the well, and a pipe, preferably of suitable rigid plastics materials, descending into the well, the pipe forming the actuating member for the pump and also acting as a conduit through which the water can be raised.

By using a suitably rigid plastics material pipe of an appropriate diameter less energy is lost, and moreover the number of thrust bearings may be reduced or these may not be necessary at all.

Preferably the pipe is connected to the reciprocating member of the pump at its lower end and which slides in a pump chamber.

The reciprocating member preferably has an internal chamber with a non-return valve at its lower end and adapted to close on upward movement of the pipe, whilst a second non-return valve is arranged at the lower end of the pump chamber to admit water into on upward movement of the reciprocating member.

The apparatus of the present invention thus results in a lower energy requirement for raising water and is particularly suitable to be driven by wind powered apparatus.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a well including a pump according to the present invention, and, Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-section of the pump at the lower end of the reciprocating member.

The well represented in Figure lisa conventional well and is lined with a lining tube 5.

As shown more clearly in Figure 2 the lining tube 5 descends to the bottom of the well where there is located an enlarged tube 1 forming the pump chamber. A pipe 4 descends from the surface to the lower end of the lining tube 5 and forms the operating mechanism for the pump. The pump comprises a pump reciprocating member indicated generally at 2 connected to the pipe 4 and which has an internal chamber at the lower end of which is mounted a non-return valve in the form of a ball 6 adapted to seat against a sealing ring 8 moveable from a lower position shown in full lines to an upper position shown in dotted lines the upper movement being limited by a bar 10. The reciprocating member 2 has at its lower end a washer 3 which seals it with respect to the pump chamber 1.

A further non return valve is provided at the lower end of the pump chamber 1 and comprises the ball 7 seating against sealing ring 9.

In operation the pipe 4 which is the actuating member is first lowered opening valve 6 and closing valve 7. On raising the pipe 4 the valve 6 is closed to carry water up the pipe with upward movement, whilst permitting water to flow into the valve chamber 1. The flows are illustrated by the arrows a and b.

Thus with the present invention a simple and effective apparatus is provided for pumping of water from an underground well which requires less energy than hitherto known wells.

1. Apparatus for pumping water from an underground well comprising a pump located in the well and a pipe descending into the well, the pipe forming the actuating memberforthe pump and also acting as a conduit through which the water can be raised.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the pipe is formed of a suitable rigid plastics material.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the pipe is connected to the reciprocating member of the pump at its lower end and which slides in a pump chamber.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which the reciprocating member has a chamber with a nonreturn valve at its lower end and adapted to close an upward movement of the pipe, and a second nonreturn valve arranged at the lower end of the pump chamber to admit water into it on upward movement of the pipe.

5. Apparatus for raising water from an underground well substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Apparatus for raising water from underground wells This invention relates to apparatus for raising water from an underground well. Where the well is deeper than 7.5 metres it is necessary to locate the pump at the bottom of the well. The problem of raising water from such depths has been influenced largely by the quantity of water which can be raised taking into account the energy necessary to obtain a good yield. Pumps at present located at the bottom of wells are generally actuated by one or more rigid metallic rods. The rod or rods reciprocate in a pipe which forms the well liner, and this pipe also serves to conduct the water to the surface. Such rods tend to corrode and are generally unsatisfactory, particularly as they also absorb large quantities of energy and have to be provided with lateral thrust bearings at intervals which also act as guide members. It is an object of the present invention to overcome these drawbacks. According to the present invention apparatus for raising water from an underground well comprises a pump located in the well, and a pipe, preferably of suitable rigid plastics materials, descending into the well, the pipe forming the actuating member for the pump and also acting as a conduit through which the water can be raised. By using a suitably rigid plastics material pipe of an appropriate diameter less energy is lost, and moreover the number of thrust bearings may be reduced or these may not be necessary at all. Preferably the pipe is connected to the reciprocating member of the pump at its lower end and which slides in a pump chamber. The reciprocating member preferably has an internal chamber with a non-return valve at its lower end and adapted to close on upward movement of the pipe, whilst a second non-return valve is arranged at the lower end of the pump chamber to admit water into on upward movement of the reciprocating member. The apparatus of the present invention thus results in a lower energy requirement for raising water and is particularly suitable to be driven by wind powered apparatus. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a well including a pump according to the present invention, and, Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-section of the pump at the lower end of the reciprocating member. The well represented in Figure lisa conventional well and is lined with a lining tube 5. As shown more clearly in Figure 2 the lining tube 5 descends to the bottom of the well where there is located an enlarged tube 1 forming the pump chamber. A pipe 4 descends from the surface to the lower end of the lining tube 5 and forms the operating mechanism for the pump. The pump comprises a pump reciprocating member indicated generally at 2 connected to the pipe 4 and which has an internal chamber at the lower end of which is mounted a non-return valve in the form of a ball 6 adapted to seat against a sealing ring 8 moveable from a lower position shown in full lines to an upper position shown in dotted lines the upper movement being limited by a bar 10. The reciprocating member 2 has at its lower end a washer 3 which seals it with respect to the pump chamber 1. A further non return valve is provided at the lower end of the pump chamber 1 and comprises the ball 7 seating against sealing ring 9. In operation the pipe 4 which is the actuating member is first lowered opening valve 6 and closing valve 7. On raising the pipe 4 the valve 6 is closed to carry water up the pipe with upward movement, whilst permitting water to flow into the valve chamber 1. The flows are illustrated by the arrows a and b. Thus with the present invention a simple and effective apparatus is provided for pumping of water from an underground well which requires less energy than hitherto known wells. CLAIMS

1. Apparatus for pumping water from an underground well comprising a pump located in the well and a pipe descending into the well, the pipe forming the actuating memberforthe pump and also acting as a conduit through which the water can be raised.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the pipe is formed of a suitable rigid plastics material.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the pipe is connected to the reciprocating member of the pump at its lower end and which slides in a pump chamber.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which the reciprocating member has a chamber with a nonreturn valve at its lower end and adapted to close an upward movement of the pipe, and a second nonreturn valve arranged at the lower end of the pump chamber to admit water into it on upward movement of the pipe.

5. Apparatus for raising water from an underground well substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.