US2369939A - Well construction - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 20, 1945. .1. R. BE-r'rs WELL CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 26, 1942 Patented Feb. 2o, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WELL CONSTRUCTION John Ri Betts, Kearney, Nebr. Application October 26, 1942, Serial No. 463,372 9 Claims. (Cl.` 10S-229) The present invention relates to improvements in well construction and more particularly an improved foot valve and suction pipe assembly for use with pumps of very large capacity such as are required for irrigation.

An object of the present invention is t'o provide an improved unitary foot valve and suction pipe assembly which can be readily inserted into and removed from the well at any time.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved suction pipe construction in whichprovision is made for sealing the assembly to the rest of the well after the suction pipe has been lowered in position.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a foot valve and suction pipe assembly of extremely simple construction which can be produced from standard parts with a minimum cost.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent froma consideration of the accompanying specication, claims and drawing, in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view showing one form of my suction pipe and foot valve construction, and

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view showing a modication of my improved foot valve and suction pipe construction.

The present invention is a continuation in part of my co-pending application Serial No. 309,817,

led December 18, 1939, for Variable capacity pumps, now Patent No. 2,299,734, issued October 27, 1942. I'he present application is concerned with the improved foot valve and suction pipe construction disclosed in Figure 7 of said copending application and originally claimed in said application. The present application is also concerned with an improved modification of this suction pipe and foot valve assembly.

Referring to the ldrawing for a more detailed understanding of the invention, the reference numeral 48 is employed to indicate a lining tube for the well. Welded to the lower end of the liner 48 is a ring 49, trapezoidal in cross-section. Disposed on the trapezoidal ring 49 is a gasket 50 of a rubber composition. This gasket is generally of triangular cross-section. vAn annulus is provided with a sleeve 52 extending downwardly and screw-threadedly connected to the ring 49.

Thel gasket 50 which is preferably of the kind known in the trade as a Dresser gasket is compressible by turning the annulus 5| on the. ring 49 so as to screw sleeve 52 into ring 49. Extending through the sleeve 52 is the upper end of a suction pipe 56. pipe 56 is turned over to provide a ange 58 which rests on the annulus 5I to support thesuction l'pipe and foot valve. At its lower end, the suction pipe 56 is provided with a sand screen 51. At the juncture of the conical screen 51 and the suc- The upper end of the suction tion pipe 56 is a foot valve 59 with a guard 60 to prevent displacement of the foot valve. foot valve 59 which is in the form of a ball is seated upon a valve seat 6| threadedly secured on the collar 62 within the suction pipe 56.

The annulus 5| is provided with a bail 63 which may be grasped -by any suitable tool either for turning the annulus or for hoisting the suction pipe and foot valve assembly out of the well through the casing 48.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that the entire suction pipe and foot valve assembly can be readily, removed from the well at any time by turning the bail 63 until sleeve 54 has become disconnected from the ring 49 and then raising the baill 63 out of the well.

The arrangement of Figure 1 is primarily designed for wells'of smaller diameter. In Figurcz,

I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention which incorporates certain of the advantages of the species of Figure 1 but which is capable of being employed with wells of relatively large diameter, such as wells having a -bore of from 10 to 32 inches in diameter.

Referring to Figure 2, the reference character 66 is employed to indicate a well liner corresponding to the liner 48- of Figure 1. This liner rests upon an annulus |I which in turn is supported by a sand screen l0. Secured to the lower interior portion of the liner 66 is a ring 61 of triangular cross-section. This ring is turned to conform with the shape of a Dresser gasket 68 of a rubber composition. The Dresser gasket 68 is secured over bell-shaped member 69 which is secured to a suction pipe 10 corresponding in function to suction pipe 56. A conical screen 1I is l section 69 is a, plate 12 which is provided with a plurality of apertures with which are associated check valves 14. These valves may be of any of various constructions. As illustrated, each of the valves 14 comprises a valve plate 15 slidable upon a stem 16. Each valve pla-'te 15 is biased to closed position by a spring 11. The valves are mounted within open cages 18 which allow free exit of the water passing upwardly beyond valve plate 15.

A bail 8|) is secured to the plate 12 and hence to the suction pipe 10 by any suitable means of fastening such as being sealed toplate 12. It will be obvious that the entire assembly comprising suction pipe 10 and the valves 14 which function as foot valves, can be raised by raising the bail 80.

Due to the relatively large size of the well in which the suction pipe and foot valve construction of Figure 2 is employed, the weight of the suction pipe and foot valve assembly is sumcient to maintain the gasket 68 properly seated under normal conditions. If for some reason the valves l 14 tend to stick in closed. position, the entire assembly will raise off of its seat to relieve the pressure. In other words, the "dresser` gasket 68 and the ring 61 will function together as a valve to supplement the action of valves 14.

ated with said suction pipe, and a gasket having an inclined outer face disposed between said ring and said suction pipe with the inclined surface of said gasket engaging the inclined surface of said ring and with said gasket supporting the weight of said suction pipe and check valves, said suction pipe and valve assembly having sufficient mass to retain themselves in operative relation on said ring.

6. In combination, a well casing, a ring secured within the lower end of said casing, the upper surface of said ring being downwardly and inwardly inclined, a suction pipe supported by `said ring, upwardly opening check valves assoinside said casing and welded thereto, the upper l surface of said ring being downwardly and inwardly inclined, a gasket seated on said ring and having a downwardly and inwardly inclinedv lower surface and a flat upper surface, a hollow cylinder having an annular fiat fiange at the upper extremity thereof, the arrangement being such that said cylinder may be inserted through said ring with saidI annular flat flange seated on the flat upper surface of said gasket.

2. In combination, a weli casing having a ring extending inwardly adjacent its lower end, the upper surface oi' said ring being downwardly and inwardly inclined, a suction pipe supported by said ring and having an enlarged upper end and a closure member for said upper end, an upwardly opening'check valve secured in said closure member, and a gasket having an inclined outer face disposed between said ring and said suction pipe with the inclined surface of said gasket engaging the inclined surface of said ring and with the gasket supporting the weight of said suction pipe.

3. In combination, a well casing, a ring secured. within the lower end of said casing, the upper surface of said ring being downwardly and inwardly inclined, a suction pipe supported by said ring, upwardly opening check valves associ.. ated with said suction pipe, and a gasket having an inclined outer face disposed between said ring and said suction pipe with the inclined surface of said gasket engaging the inclined surface of said ring and with said gasket supporting the weight of said suction pipe and check valves.

4. In combination, a well casing, a ring secured within the lower end of said casing, the upper surface of said ring being downwardly and inwardly inclined, a suction pipe supported by said ring, an upwardly opening check valve associated withsaid suction pipe, a gasket having an inclined outer face disposed between said ring and said suction pipe with the inclined surface of said gasket engaging the inclined surface of said ring-and with said gasket supporting the weight of said suction pipe and check valves, and screw threadedmeans for compressing said gasket.

5. In combination, a well casing, a ring secured within the lower end of said casing, the upper surface of said ring being downwardly and inwardly inclined, a suction pipe supported by said ring, upwardly opening check valves associciated with said suction pipe, a gasket having an inclined outer face disposed between'isaid ring and said lsuction pipe with the inclined surface of said gasket engaging the inclined surface of said ring and with said gasket supporting the weight of said suction pipe and check valves, said suction pipe and valve assembly having sufflcient mass to retain themselves in operative relation on said ring without any fastening means, and a bail secured to said suction pipe for facilitating the lifting of said suction pipe and valve assembly.

7. In combination, a well casing having a ring extending inwardly adjacent its lower end, the upper surface of said ring being downwardly and inwardly inclined, a suction pipe supported by said ring and having an enlarged upper end and a fiat closure member for said upper end, a circular row of upwardly opening check valves secured in said closure member, and a gasket having an inclined outer face and a horizontal upper face disposed between said ring and said suction pipe with the inclined surface of said gasket engaging the inclined surface of said ring and with the flat closure member engaging the horizontai upper face of the gasket so that the iatter supports ,the weightl of said suction pipe and check valves.

3. In combination, a well casing having a ring extending inwardly adjacent its lower end, the upper surface of said ring being downwardly and inwardly inclined, a suction pipe supported by said ring and having a projecting portion overhanging said ring, and a gasket having an inclined outer face disposed between said ring and said suction pipe with the inclined surface of said gasket engaging the inclined surface of said ring and with said gasket supporting the weight of said suction pipe, said suction pipe having sufcient mass to maintain itself in operative position on said ring without any fastenng means.

9. In combination, a well casing having a ring extending inwardly adjacent its lower end, the upper surface of said ring being downwardly and inwardly inclined, a suction pipe supported by said ring and having a projecting portion ov rhanging said ring, a gasket having an incllred outer face disposed between said ring and said suction pipe with the inclined surface of said gasket engaging the inclined surface of said ring and with said gasket supporting the weight of said suction pipe, said suction pipe having sufilcient mass to maintain itself in operative position on said ring without any fastening means, and a bail secured to the upper end of said suction pipe for lifting the same.

JOHN R. BE'I'IS.

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