US3018829A - Pitless well adaptors - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 30, 1962 H. w. MAAss 3,018,829

PITLESS WELL ADAPTORS Filed Feb. 8, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 b I INVENTOR.

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Jan. 30, 1962 H. w. MAAss PITLESS WELL ADAPTORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 8, 1960 INVENTOR. Miami/7M BY imam/272M HTTORNE'VAS'.

nited States atent a "the clined walls to afford effective drainage of water of condensation into the well casing and away from "the pipe connections, the lower edge or lip of the 'box projecting into the casing at an inclination and preventing condensation or water from collecting on the inner wall of the casing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pitless well adaptor which is of very simple construction, which meets all sanitary and code requirements, which is extremely easy to install and service, which is efficient in operation, and which is well adapted for the purposes described.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved well adaptor, and its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

in the accompanying drawings in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view through the upper portion of a well installation of the pitless submersible pump type embodying the improved adaptor;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the showing in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side view of that portion of the well casing which includes the sealed horseshoeshaped box and the water supply pipe leading from the Well casing;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken approximately along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a view of the inner face portion of the horseshoe-shaped box forming part of the assemblage.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and to FIG. 1 thereof, it will appear that the well casing, of circular form in cross section, is indicated generally by the numeral 8 and protrudes above the ground level a required distance. The upper end of the casing 8 has applied thereto a suitable flanged sealing cap 9 which may be secured in closing relation by a .set screw 10. A portion of the sealing cap 9 has a slightly upwardly offset and then downturned hollow extension 11 which accommodates the electrical cable 12 surrounded by a protective tube 13. There may be used with the well a conventional pump and motor of the type found on the open market, and which have not been illustrated, but the motor receives electricity from the cable 12.

A particular feature of the invention and which is an improvement over the equivalent member shown in Patent No. 2,841,223, resides in the provision of a box 18 which in its overall contour is substantially of horseshoe or oval shape as is best seen from FIGS. 4 and 5. Said box 18 has a peripheral well casing wall engaging ledge or lip .19, slightly outwardly offset at its upper end from the plane of the major portion of the lip, as at 19' in FIGS. 1 and 3. The inner margin of the lip 1919' of the box carries an integral rib 20 whose plane is at right angles to the plane of the lip. The hollow body portion of the box 18 is in the form of an angular section of a cylinder with the bottom wall 21 of the box being at right angles to the axis of its body portion. The central lower margin of the bottom wall 21 of the box, between the terminal portions of the lip 19, is formed with a protruding tongue 22 (see FIGS. 3 and 5).

The well casing 8, below the frost level, is provided with a horseshoe-shaped opening 23 to which the box 18 is applied in the manner shown in the drawings to close the opening in the well casing wall and to project outwardly laterally therefrom. To seal the horseshoeshaped box 18 to the well casing and to close the well casing wall opening 23, the downwardly directed tongue 22 on the box 18 is inserted into the correspondingly shaped, tapered lower end portion of the well casing opening 23 and the tongue 22 will engage the stock or sill surrounding the portion of the opening but will form This invention relates to improvements in pitless well adaptors.

Well installations of the so-called pitless type, including a submersible pump, must, according to various state codes, provide for the well casing being sealed against the entrance of foreign matter and drainage, but it IS essential that the construction permit the removal and inspection of the submersible pump and its motor from time to time.

The Herbert W. Maass et al. prior Patent No. 2,841,-

223 has as its general objective the provision of a pitless well adaptor for submersible pump wells in which the pump and its appurtenances can be conveniently and quickly removed for repairs and inspection, the construction of said prior patent also providing a well casing below the frost line in the ground with a laterally extendmg sealed box of triangular contour forming a part of but offset from the well casing and communicating with the interior thereof in a manner so as to seal the well casing against the entrance of foreign matter and drainage water. The pitless well adaptor of the present invention is an improvement over that of United States Patent No. 2,841,223, and the box, forming a part of the well cas mg, is substantially horseshoe in shape and is mounted in an opening provided therefor in the well casing, the shape of the box and the corresponding shape of the opening therefor in the well casing rendering it impossible for the welder or installer to mount the box incorrectly in the casing opening and insuring the projection of a marginal portion of the box through the opening into the well casing, thus facilitating the connection of internal fitting portions with a housing nipple.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a pitless well adaptor, a laterally extending horseshoe shaped box which, during installation, may be lowered against the outer wall portion of the well casing and accurately registered with a curved opening provided therefor in the casing wall, leaving an annular, accessible, protruding ledge or sill which facilitates the welding of the horseshoe shaped box to the casing.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a pitless well adaptor, a horseshoe shaped box which is so shaped that the welder or installer can see the peripheral portions thereof which are to be welded onto the casing and respecting which there are no bottom blind spots, the shape of the box minimizing the extent of welding required.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a pitless well installation, an adaptor including a horseshoe shaped box communicating with the interior of the well casing and sealed thereto, which box and associated portion of the well casing will meet all sanitary requirements in the elimination of pockets or crevices which might collect foreign matter and condensation to prevent contamination of the water in the well or that passing through the flow or supply pipes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pitless well adaptor which is easy to remove from the pump casing because the box is devoid of abrupt edges or shoulders which might contact the casing when the installation is being raised for removal and inspection.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a pitless well adaptor of the class described, an easily applied box of horseshoe contour which has steeply in a flush continuation of the inner surface of the well casing, as is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The ledge portion 19 of the box 18 will engage the outer surface of the well casing immediately surrounding the opening 23, but the rib 20 will project slightly into the opening adjacent the stock surrounding the opening and thus locate the box in proper position and prevent dislocation thereof. The offset top portion 19 of the ledge 19 permits said portion to rest on the outer surface of the casing where as the lower tongue 22 actually enters the casing wall opening 23. As is best shown in FIG. 1, the inner face of the offset portion 19' of the ledge has an upwardly, outwardly inclined portion 28 terminating in a groove 29. As will appear from FIG. said groove 29 is adjacent to and surrounds the horseshoe-shaped rib and terminates at the lower extremities of the ledge 19. This requires the installer to cut a sufficiently large opening 23 in the casing wall to receive the box rib 20. The surrounding groove 29 will accommodate any burr which may be left on the casing from the torch cutting and burning operation to form the opening 23. When the box is positioned, as described, the welder making an installation will then weld the lip margin 19 of the box 18 to the outer face of the well casing surrounding the opening 23, as indicated at 24 in the drawing. All edges which are to be welded together are readily accessible and visible and the welder can perform the welding operations with facility and full access to all of the surfaces including the bottom. The step inclination of the bottom wall 21 of the box also aids access to the surfaces to be welded together and the overall shape of the unit is such that less welding is required than in respect to other pitless well adaptor boxes.

Projecting into the lower inclined bottom wall 21 of the box 18 and welded thereto, is a stainless steel nipple 25 whose threaded outer end portion is threaded into one end portion of a 45 elbow 26 which also has threaded thereinto the inner end portion of a horizontally directed water supply pipe 27.

The numeral 30 designates a bronze casting in the form of a fitting having a downwardly directed oblique lateral extension. The main portion of the fitting 30 has a chamber 31 therein in communication with the hollow portion of a downwardly inclined oblique lateral extension 32, which, in the installation, projects into the hollow interior of the horseshoe-shaped box 18 to receive and connect with the inner tapered end portion of the nipple 25 which has a force fit within the bore of the fitting extension 32, fluid leakage being prevented by an O-ring 33. The lower portion of the bronze fitting 30 has a vertically directed internally threaded opening therein communicating with the fitting chamber 31 and into which is threaded the upper end portion of a flow pipe 34 which extends downwardly into the lower portion of the well casing to have water forced upwardly therein when the well pump is in operation. It will be obvious that the flow of water will be as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1, the water passing from the upper end of the flow pipe 34 through the bronze fitting cavity 31, into and through the nipple 25 and below 26, and then through the supply pipe 27 to Wherever the water is to be utilized. This entire passageway is devoid of obstructions of any character.

The upper end portion of the bronze fitting 30 is provided with an internally threaded socket 35 into which the lower end portion of a drop pipe 36 (see FIG. 1) may be threaded when the installation is being made or when parts are to be removed from the well casing for repairs and inspection. The drop pipe 32 is, of course, only temporarily applied when the top cap 9 of the well casing is removed or opened. The installation, when it is disconnected from the nipple 25 may be moved vertically through the well casing 8 by the means described, and there are no ledges nor protruding portions which will catch or snag against the inner wall portions of the well casing. For servicing the well adaptor and other parts, no digging around the Well casing is required.

When the parts are assemled as in FIGS. 1 and 3, it will be obvious that the assemblage is devoid of internal horizontal walls and ledges such as might collect and retain condensation and foreign matter. The steeply inclined walls of the box 18, which is offset from the casing proper, and which houses the nose portion of the bronze fitting 30 and nipple, facilitate the flow of water of condensation and foreign matter into the interior of the well casing 8 so that condensation and foreign matter will not collect around the fitting joints. The bottom wall 21 of the box eliminates pockets and provides the tongue 22 projected at a steep inclination into the well casing to cause undesired foreign matter to flow or gravitate into the well casing and not pocket or collect in the area of the box and fittings.

From FIG. 1 it will be seen that the inner surface of the end of the tongue 22, after being welded in place contacts the sill of the casing opening and forms a flush continuation of the inner surface of the casing wall thereadjacent. The upper end portion of the bronze casting 30 is formed with a downwardly outwardly inclined auxiliary port 37 which allows drainage of condensation or foreign matter which might collect in the socket 35 in the upper end of the member 30.

An outwardly projecting box on a wall portion of a well casing to house a portion of the detachable connections is important in the event that the flow pipe and connections are required to be removed from the casing in the manner previously described for redrilling or for servicing of the well. In this event, the fitting 30 is pulled vertically out of the well casing and is detached from the nipple 25 with which it has a force fit. As nothing then will remain within the full cross-sectional area of the well casing proper, it is unobstructed for the use of a drill or other tools.

Besides providing pocketless inclined surfaces to eliminate the collection of condensation and foreign material, the adaptor, and horseshoe-shaped box 18 are of a construction which greatly facilitate and simplify the installation. As was previously described, the well casing opening 23 must be made sufficiently large to adequately receive the ribbed portion 20 of the box, plus the inclined surface 28 of the box lip offset 19'. With the lip 19, the rib 20, and tongue 22, it is impossible to err in the location of the box prior to the welding operation and the contour of the box and its lip 19 is such that the welding operation may be carried out with vision and access to the the surfaces and a relatively small extent of welding is required. By insuring the correct and positive location of the box on the well casing, the nose portion 32 of the fitting 30 is sure to be properly alined with the nipple 25. u

The improved pitless well adaptor is of simple and novel construction, and is well adapted for the purposes described.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. In a well casing having an underground hollow section with an opening in its wall, an edge of which forms a sill, a laterally extending box of ovate contour rigidly secured to the casing section in registration with said opening with the lowermost wall of the box forming an acute angle to the axis of the casing section and having a peripheral laterally extending ledge with an inwardly spaced rib terminating at the lower end of the box in a downwardly inwardly inclined tongue extending beyond the ledge and rib and being interposed between the ends of the same, said tongue and said rib extending into said casing section opening with the tongue engaging said sill, a flow pipe within said casing section, a chambered, oblique lateral fitting having its main portion connected to and in communication with the flow pipe, a nipple rigidly mounted in the lower wall of said box and connected at its inner end to a portion of the fitting, and a supply pipe connected to the outer end portion of the nipple.

2. In a well casing having an underground hollow, vertically directed section with a horseshoe-shaped opening in its wall, a lower edge of which forms a sill, a laterally extending box of horseshoe contour rigidly secured to the casing section in registration with said opening with the lowermost wall of the box forming an acute angle to the axis of the casing section and having a peripheral laterally extending edge engaging the outer surface of the casing section around the major portion of the opening therein and also having an inwardly spaced rib extending into said opening and terminating at the lower end of the box in a downwardly inwardly inclined tongue extending beyond the ledge and rib and being interposed between the ends of the same, said tongue and said rib extending into said casing section opening with the tongue engaging said sill and secured thereto to direct condensation and foreign matter into said casing section, a vertical flow pipe within said casing section, a chambered, oblique lateral fitting having its main portion connection to and in communication with the flow pipe, a nipple having an intermediate portion rigidly mounted in the lower wall of said box and connected at its inner end to a portion of the fitting, and a supply pipe connected to the outer end portion of the nipple.

3. In a well casing having an underground hollow section with an ovate opening in its wall with stock of the casing section surrounding the opening, the lower edge of said wall opening being transverse to the axis of the hollow section and forming a sill, a laterally extending box of ovate contour applied to the casing section in registration with said opening with the lowermost wall of the box forming an acute angle to the axis of the casing section and having a peripheral laterally extending ledge overlapping the stock of the casing section around th major portion of its opening and welded thereto, said ledge having an inwardly spaced peripheral rib broken and terminating at the lower end of the box, there being a downwardly inwardly inclined tongue interposed between the lower ends of the rib, said tongue and said peripheral rib extending into said casing section opening with said tongue seating on said sill and welded thereto, a How pipe within said casing section, a chambered, oblique lateral fitting having its main portion connected to and in communication with the flow pipe with its oblique portion projecting into and accommodated by said box, a nipple rigidly mounted in the lower wall of said box and connected at its inner end to a portion of the fitting, and a supply pipe connected to the outer end portion of the nipple.

4. In a well casing having an underground hollow section with an ovate opening in its wall, an edge of which forms a sill, a laterally extending box of ovate contour rigidly secured to the housing in registration with said opening with the lowermost wall of the box forming an acute angle to the axis of the casing section, said box having a peripheral laterally extending ledge with an inwardly spaced peripheral rib broken at the lower end of the box, a downwardly inwardly inclined tongue interposed between the ends of the ledge, said tongue arid said peripheral rib extending into said casing section opening with the tongue engaging said sill, the upper end portion of said ledge being slightly outwardly offset to engage outer surface portions of the casing section, a flow pipe within said casing section, a chambered, oblique lateral fitting having its main portion connected to and in communication with the flow pipe, a nipple rigidly mounted in the lower wall of said box and connected at its inner end to a portion of the fitting, and a supply pipe connected to the outer end portion of the nipple.

5. In a well casing having an underground hollow section with an ovate opening in its wall, a lower edge of which forms a sill, a laterally extending box of ovate contour rigidly secured to the housing in registration with said opening with the lowermost wall of the box forming an acute angle to the axis of the casing section, said box having a peripheral laterally extending ledge with an inwardly spaced peripheral rib, both of which are broken at the lower end of the box, a downwardly inwardly inclined extended tongue interposed between the broken portions of the ledge and rib, said tongue and said peripheral rib extending into said casing section opening with the tongue engaging said sill, the up er end portion of said ledge being slightly outwardly ofiset, a portion of said rib formed on said ofiset being inclined to enter the casing section opening and an adjacent portion of said offset also being formed with a groove, a flow pipe within said casing section, a chambered, oblique lateral fitting having its main portion connected to and in communication with the flow pipe, a nipple rigidly mounted in the lower wall of said box and connected at its inner end to a portion of the fitting, and a supp-1y pipe connected to the outer end portion of the nipple.

6. In a well, a vertical casing having an ovate opening in its wall surrounded by the stock of the casing, the lower edge of which forms a sill, a laterally offset ovate box rigidly secured to the casing over said opening communicating with the interior of the casing and forming a pocket oblique to the axis of the casing, said box having a peripheral laterally extending ledge overlapping the stock of the casing section around the major portion of said opening with the ledge being formed on its inner face portion with an inwardly spaced rib entering the casing opening and broken and terminating at the lower end of the box, a downwardly inwardly inclined extended tongue interposed within the break in the lower end of the rib and extending into the casing opening and engaging the sill, said tongue being secured to the sill by a line of weld applied laterally of the casing, there also being a line of weld between the box ledge and the casing, a water supply pipe exteriorly of the casing, a vertical Water fiow pipe within the casing, a downwardly outwardly directed nipple anchored in a lower wall portion of the box oblique to the water flow pipe, an elbow connecting the supply pipe to the outer end portion of the nipple, and a fitting for forming a connection between the upper end portion of the flow pipe and the nipple, said fitting having a main body portion directly conneotable with the flow pipe and a downwardly directed oblique lateral extension whereby when the fitting is lowered into the casing to connect with the flow pipe, rotation of the fitting will project the oblique lateral extension thereof into the box in registration with the nipple, there being O-ring and taper means on the lateral extension and inner end portion of the nipple for eifecting a force fit between the same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,570,974 Stevens Jan. 26, 1926 2,841,223 Maass et al, July 1, 1958 2,903,067 Hall Sept. 8, 1959 2,918,972 Tubbs Dec. 29, 1959

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