US1756500A - Apparatus for exhausting wells - Google Patents

Description

April 29, 1930. c. A. ANDERSON APPARATUS FOR EXHAUSTING WELLS Filed May 22, 1928 IN VEN TOR. CHA El. 55' /-7. HNDERSON- 3 BY f r W ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 29, 1930 I PATENT OFFICE CHARLES A. mnnson, or LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA APPARATUS FOR EXHAUSTING WELLS Application filed May 22,

This invention relates to certain improvements on an apparatus for exhausting wells disclosed in my prior application filed November 25,1925 and bearing Ser. No. 71,290,

5 patented July 30, 1929,#1,722,552.

In this prior application I disclose an a paratus for lifting fluids from deep wells y air pressure. This apparatus. includes an air induction pipe which extends downwardly into the well and fitted at its lower end with a discharge nozzle. The upper end of the induction pipe is connected with an air reservoir to which air .under pressure may be delivered from any suitable source. All auto matic control valve controls the discharge of air'from the reservoir to the induction pipe,-

which valve operates automatically to admit air from the reservoir to the induction pipe when the pressure in the reservoir reaches the maximum working pressure. This valve,

however, also automatically closes to interruptcommunication between the reservoir and the induction pipe-when the pressure in thereservoir drops below the minimum working pressure, which is considerably less than the maximum working pressure? The apparatus just described discharges the air under pressure'below the fluid level in the well.

- This air discharging upwardly lifts the fluid in the well. c

In the present instance it is my object to increase the efficiency of this device by the provision of additional means for forcingthe oilbr contents of the'well upwardly by cre- 3 ating an air pressure on the fluid and causing this. pressure to pass into the eduction pipe to assist the air discharge "nozzle in lifting the fluid.

One form which the invention may assume 40 is exemplified in the'following description 1928. Serial No. 279,764.

ment with the eduction pipe 11*. The'joint between the T 14: and the flange 14 is, of course, fluid-tight. At its upper end the T 14 is fitted with a packing gland structure 14:"- through which the air induction pipe 15 extends. This packing gland structure 14 prevents theleakage of fluid through the T 14 around the air induction pipe 15. The outlet of the T 14:, indicated by the numeral 14, may be connected to a pipe line through which it is desired to discharge the contents of the well.

The lower end of the air induction pipe 15 extends below the fluid level in the well and is fitted with an air discharge nozzle 16 which is in the shape of ,an inverted cone. nozzle is formed with a plurality of upwardly directed discharge ports 17 arranged in spaced relation around the upper face of the nozzle exteriorly of the induction pipe 15 with the interior of which they communicate.

From this description it is manifest that air under pressure discharged downwardly This through the air induction pipe 15 will discharge upwardly through the ports 17 below the fluid level in thewell. This air by natural expansion and pressure will lift the fluid in the eduction pipe 11 and cause it to discharge through the outlet 14 of the T 145*.

The present apparatus includes means for intermittently discharging air under pressure'within the well through the pipe 15. This permits the well to fill up after each. operation and also renders the use of large capacity air pumps and'accompanying equip ment unnecessary.

To accomplish this I provide a storage tank 18 to which air under pressure may be deliv-. ered by a small air compressor ofany standard design (diagrammatically illustrated in the drawing). The pipe line between the compressor and tank 18 is fitted with a safety valve 19 which is adapted to open after a predetermined pressure has been built up in the tank. For example, it will be assumed that the maximum working pressure is 250 pounds and that the safety valve will open at. 260 pounds to prevent any excessive pressure to be built up in the tank.

The tank 18 is also fitted with a discharge pipe 20 which connects with a T fitting 21. One leg of this fitting is connected with a discharge pipe 21 and the other leg with an automatic control valve 22. This valve .is controlled by a spring 23 which will permit the valve to open when the pressure in the tank equals the working pressure. When this valve is opened air under pressure will pass through the valve and into a pipe 24 which communicates with the operating cylinder 25 of a main cut-off valve 26. This operating cylinder 25 is fitted with a springpressedplunger 27 which will rise when a predetermined pressure is built upin the pipe 24. The pressure required to elevate the plunger 27 being the minimum working pressure which in the present instance is 100 pounds. .That is, the plunger 27 will remain elevated as long as a pressure of 100 pounds is exerted thereon. The plunger 27 is 35.. valve- 26 will open and when the plunger connected by a .link 28 to the operating arm 29 of the main cut-ofl valve 26 which controls the passage of 511- through the .discharge pipe 21 which connects the tank 18 with the eduction pipe 14. This connection is such that when the plunger 27 rises the lowers the valve 26 will close. I

The cylinder 25 also connects with the induction pipe 15. Aeheck. valve 31 isinterposed between the pipe 15 and the cylinder 25 so that pressure passing into the cylinder 25 through'the pipe 24 will not pass into the.

pipe 15. However, when the main valve 26 1s opened the pressure will open the valve and place the cylinder 25 into communication with the'pipe 15.

Therefore, as long as the pressure in the pipe 15 is above 100 pounds the plunger 27 -Will remain raised and maintain the main sure of 100 pounds which is required to main-v tain the plunger 27 elevated in the cylinder 25.

It is obvious that under proper working conditions whentheapparatu's is in operation air will be discharged under pressure through the nozzle 16, causing the fluid in the well to be lifted and discharged through the T 14*.

To assist this lifting action I provide'a, pressure line 33 which is in communication at one end with the top of the well casing and at its upper end with the pipe line 21 andthe induction pipe 15.- From the drawing it will be noticed that a cross 34 is provided to form a connection between the cylinder 25, pipe 21*, the induction pipe 15 and the pressure .line 33. This pressure line 33 is provided with a control valve 35. The pressure line is also connected by a pipe 36'to the cylinder 25.

. The connection between the pipe 36 and the cylinder 25 is at a point above the plunger 27 in the cylinder 25 when the latter is in its lowered position. Therefore, when the plunger-27 is in its lowered position maintaining the valve 26 closed, the interior of the well casing 10 will be in communication with the atmosphere through the pipe lines 33, 36 and the cylinder 25.-

It will be noticed that the upper end of the cylinder is open. Therefore, the pressure in the casing at such a time will be atmospheric. However, when theplunger 27 rises due to pressure being built up in pipe line 24, communication-between the pipe 36 and the atmosphere will be automatically cut-off and when the valve 26 is opened, pressure from the reservoir will in addition to passing down the induction pipe 15 pass through the pipe line 33into the well casing'lO. As the upper end of this casing is closed and fluid-tight, a

pressure will be built up on'thefiuid causing the fluid to pass into the eduction pipe through the check valve fitting 37 at the lower end thereof. Thus, by building up the air pressure the nozzle 16 will gbe assisted in its lifting action so as to render. the device very eflicient in lifting fluid. I

When the pressure in the reservoir becomes below the minimum working pressure, the

plunger 27 will descend in cylinder 25 establishing communicationbetween the pipe 36 a and the atmosphere through the open upper end of the cylinder 25. Thus, the pressure in the casing will be relieved permitting the well to refill.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The air compressor is operated to de liver compressed air to the tank '18, it being assumed that the valves 22 and 26 are closed. The air compressor will continue to deliver air to the tank 18 until the pressure therein reaches the maximum of working pressure of 250 pounds. -At this point the valve 22 will open and admit air through the pipe 24'to the cylinder 25. This air under pressure will raise the plunger 27 and through the medium will discharge through the ports 17 in the nozzle 16 at the lower end of the pipe and through natural expansion and pressure will elevate the liquid in the well and discharge it through the T 14*.

In addition to the lifting action of the air dischargin through the nozzle 16, air will discharge rom the pipe 21 through the pipe line 33 into the upper end of the casing creating a pressure, on the fluid in the well and causing it to pass into and upwardly into the eductionpipe 11 As soon as-the-pressure in the tank 18 becomes below the maximum working pressure of 250 pounds, the valve 22 will close. This, however, will not afiect the plunger 27 as communication will be established from the induction pipe 15 through the check valve 31 to the cylinder 25 and act against the plunger 27 As this plunger will remain elevated as long as a pressure of 100 pounds is exerted thereagainst the main valve 26 will be maintained open until the pressure ip the tank drops below the minimum working pressure of 100 pounds.

When this low pressure has been reached the plunger 27 will lower and close the valve 26, thereby entirely disconnecting the air tank 18 from the induction pipe 15.

Communication will be automatically reestablished between the tank 18 and the in duction pipe 15 as soon as the air compressor builds up the pressure in the tank 18 to the maximum working pressure 0f'250 pounds. At this point the operation will be just as described until the pressure in the tank drops below the minimum workingpressure. The communication between the tank 18. and the pipes 15 and 33 will then again be automatically interrupted as described.

It is intended that the uantit charged at each operation e su cient to elevate all the. liquid in the well above the nozzle 16 at the lower end of the pipe 15. Therefor during the interruption in the operation 0 the apparatus the well will have opportunity to fill up again to the normal level therein. By constructing the apparatus according to my invention a very inexpensive device can be built to raise liquid from considerable depths. Also the device will be comparatively inexpensive to construct due to the fact that avery simple air compressing apparatus may be employed.

The present apparatusis capable of use in connection with deep oil wells and also may be used for elevating water from deep wells in dry arid lands. It would be particularly applicable for usein desert countries where water must be lifted from great depths. In the latter use awindrnill may be provided for operating the air compressor.

This would provide very economical means for elevating water from wells.

While I have shown the preferred form of myinvention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construction without departing lfrom the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claim. Having thus described my invention, what ,I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is An apparatus for lifting liquids from deep wells comprising an induction pipe extending downwardly into said well below the fluid level therein, a discharge nozzle .at the lower end of said induction pipe, an eduction pipe extendingdownwardly around the induction pipe to a point below the nozzle, a check valve at the lower end of said eduction pipe, said well having a casing with a closed upper end downwardly into which said eduction and induction pipes extend, .an air reservoir adapted to contain air under pressure, means connecting the upper end of the well casing and the induction pipe with said reservoi'r, a valve controlling said connection. I

means whereby said valve will be automati'-- I ressure in said re's-v cally opened when the ervoir reaches a pre etermmed pressure,

means whereby-said valve will be automati cally closed and the well casing placed in communication with the atmosphere when the pressure in said reservoir drops below a predetermined pressure.

CHARLES A. ANDERSON.

of air dis-

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