Wells – Above ground apparatus – With assembly or disassembly means
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-29
2001-05-29
Lillis, Eileen D. (Department: 3673)
Wells
Above ground apparatus
With assembly or disassembly means
C166S088100, C166S088400, C166S242100, C285S197000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237685
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates broadly to pumping systems for sanitary water wells and, more particularly, pertains to a bolt-on well adapter mounted to the well casing for connecting the flow pipe of a submersible pump with a water supply pipe leading from the well casing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,958,632, issued May 25, 1976 to Buchman et al, a well pipe connector is provided for connecting a horizontal pipe outside a hollow well casing to a vertical pipe extending in the casing. The connector has a first or external unit for external connection to the horizontal pipe in which the first unit is externally secured to the casing over an aperture with a hollow sleeve extending therethrough in alignment with the aperture. Extending into the aperture is an annular seat, the lower periphery of which rests upon a lower edge of the aperture wall with the remainder of the periphery being generally flush with the inner surface of the casing. A blind channel extends from an upper seat edge downwardly and at an angle outwardly away from the casing exterior. A second or internal unit disposed within the well casing has an angled fluid passage with one end connected to the vertical pipe and the other end extending through a planar flange adapted to be slidably received in the blind channel of the first unit. The flange is positioned at an angle with respect to the wall of the well casing such that insertion of the flange into the channel to connect the first and second units will support the passage and align it with the hollow sleeve with the one end in vertical downward position. A single flattened gasket is placed between the periphery of the first unit and the exterior of the well casing to create a fluid tight seal therebetween.
As is well known, a vertical pipe or bar is used to lower the above-described second unit with its supported pipe and pump into the well casing so as to couple the first and second units together. In the course of lowering the well connector components (pump p, pump wires, etc.), a protrusion on the fixed upper portion of the first unit annular seat acts as an obstruction within the well casing interior causing damage to the well connector components. A similar problem occurs when it is desired to lift the well connector components out of the well casing for inspection and repair. In addition, the single gasket employed in Buchman et al '632 patent between the periphery of the first unit and the exterior surface of the well casing is disposed in such a manner that the gasket is liable to wear in an accelerated fashion and may cause premature leakage of water from the well casing.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a well adapter constructed and arranged so that the well components can be moved during installation and servicing without damage within the interior of the well casing. It is also desired to provide a well adapter having improved sealing capability at the interface between a bolted-on external unit and the exterior surface of the well casing. It is further desirable to provide a well adapter having an early warning detection system for monitoring leakage between the external unit and the well casing.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the invention, a well casing has a longitudinal axis, an exterior surface, an interior surface and an aperture formed therein. A first unit is secured to the exterior surface of the well casing and includes a horizontal fluid passage receiving a horizontal pipe and extending through a generally annular seat in registration with the aperture. A second unit is disposed within the interior surface of the well casing for supporting a vertical pipe and a pump assembly. The second unit includes a generally planar flange adapted to be slidably mounted in a blind channel of the first unit at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the well casing to provide a continuous fluid passage between the vertical pipe and the horizontal pipe. The annular seat of the first unit is completely recessed from the inner surface of the well casing such that upon release of the second unit from the first unit, the first unit and its pump assembly are movable in a totally obstruction-free path throughout the interior surface of the well casing. In the preferred embodiment, the angle between a plane passing through the blind channel and the annular seat and the longitudinal axis of the well casing is in the range of 22° to 25°. The first unit includes a curved lip engaged against the exterior surface of the well casing and forming an annular pocket lying outside the aperture formed in the well casing A pair of concentric gaskets are retained in the pocket to define a fluid-tight seal between the first unit and the well. The first unit further includes a port connecting the horizontal fluid passage with the pocket such that fluid in the horizontal passage is communicated to a space between the concentric gaskets retained in the pocket. The lip, the pocket, the concentric gaskets and the fluid port collectively define an early warning leak detection arrangement constructed and arranged to signal a fluid warning upon damage and destruction to at least one of the concentric gaskets and the engagement of the lip against the exterior surface of the wall casing. The annular seat has a lower periphery with a lip which seats in the rim of the aperture, and an upper periphery which extends to the rim of the aperture and lies spaced from the inner surface of the well casing.
In another aspect of the invention, a well adapter used in a well casing formed with an aperture has an exterior surface and interior surface and is equipped with a pump. The well adapter includes an external unit removably secured to the exterior surface of the well casing and includes a sleeve having a horizontal fluid passage receiving a horizontal pump and extending through a generally annular seat in registration with the aperture. The annular seat has a blind channel formed therein and extends at an angle downwardly and outwardly relative to the exterior surface of the well casing. An internal unit is disposed within the interior surface of the well casing for supporting a vertical pipe to which the pump is connected and includes a generally planar flange adapted to be slidably received in the blind channel of the external unit at the angle of the blind channel. The upper periphery of the annular seal lies completely recessed from the inner surface of the well casing so as to create a totally obstruction-free path for the pump during installation and repair. The external unit has internal structure and a sealing arrangement disposed outside the aperture between an inner surface of the external unit and the exterior surface of the well casing cooperable to signal a fluid warning upon damage and destruction to at least the sealing arrangement.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2707030 (1955-04-01), Ortman
patent: 2918972 (1959-12-01), Tubbs
patent: 2949961 (1960-08-01), Anderson
patent: 2960166 (1960-11-01), Haydin et al.
patent: 2968256 (1961-01-01), Williams
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patent: 3467181 (1969-09-01), Maass
patent: 3561796 (1971-02-01), Williams
patent: 3645333 (1972-02-01), Maass
patent: 3718185 (1973-02-01), Wellstein
patent: 3797571 (1974-03-01), Hamar
patent: 3805891 (1974-04-01), Reinhard et al.
patent: 3958632 (1976-05-01), Buchman et al.
patent: 4056144 (1977-11-01), Wellstein
patent: 4073513 (1978-02-01), Blakeley
patent: 5006044 (1991-04-01), Walker, Sr. et al.
patent: 5149144 (1992-09-01), Blakeley
patent: 5746273 (1998-05-01), Surinak
Andrus Sceales Starke & Sawall LLP
Lee Jong-Suk
Lillis Eileen D.
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