Aquifer recharge valve and method

Abstract

An aquifer recharge valve assembly comprises a valve movable along the interior of a pipe section to open and close aquifer recharge openings through the pipe section. The position of the valve controls the extent to which the recharge openings are available for delivery of recharge water into the aquifer. The valve may be a seamless resilient cylinder which expands due to well head pressure to assist in sealing the recharge openings when the valve is closed.

1 . An aquifer recharge valve assembly comprising: 
 a pipe section comprising a wall with an interior surface and an exterior surface;    at least one aperture extending through the wall; and    a valve positioned within the interior of the pipe section and movable between a first closed position in which the valve overlies a portion of the interior surface of the wall and the at least one aperture and at least one open position wherein the valve is shifted so as to no longer overlie the at least one aperture at least in part such that aquifer recharge water may flow through the aperture and into the aquifer, wherein the valve has flexibility such that when the valve is in the closed position, a head of water pressure within the pipe section forces the valve outwardly against the overlaid at least one aperture;    a valve actuator for moving the valve between the first closed position and the at least one open position, the valve actuator comprising at least one hydraulic piston coupled to the valve, a first hydraulic fluid chamber associated with said at least one piston, said at least one piston being movable in a direction to urge the valve toward one of said first closed position and said at least one open position upon delivery of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic fluid chamber associated with said at least one piston.    
   
   
       2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein there is only one of said hydraulic pistons.  
   
   
       3 . An apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein said hydraulic piston is movable in a direction to urge the valve toward said first closed position upon delivery of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic fluid chamber associated with said hydraulic piston.  
   
   
       4 . An apparatus according to  claim 3  comprising a biasing mechanism coupled to the valve to bias the valve toward said at least one open position.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein the pipe section has a longitudinal axis and is blocked to prevent the flow of water through the pipe section in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the pipe section, and wherein upon relief of hydraulic fluid pressure on the hydraulic fluid delivered to the hydraulic fluid chamber, the piston is movable in a direction to urge the valve toward said at least one open position in response to the pressure of water within the pipe section.  
   
   
       6 . An apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein said hydraulic piston is movable in a direction to urge the valve toward at least one open position upon delivery of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic fluid chamber associated with said hydraulic piston.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus according to  claim 6  comprising a biasing member coupled to the valve to bias the valve toward the first closed position.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein the pipe section has a longitudinal axis and is blocked to prevent the flow of water through the pipe section in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the pipe section, and wherein upon relief of hydraulic fluid pressure on the hydraulic fluid delivered to the hydraulic fluid chamber, the piston is movable in a direction to urge the valve toward said first closed position in response to the pressure of water within the pipe section.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the valve comprises a valve cylinder of a polymer material with an exterior surface that is sized to slide along a portion of the interior of the pipe section, the apparatus further comprising a valve coupler that couples the valve to the at least one hydraulic piston.  
   
   
       10 . An apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the valve cylinder comprises first and second valve end portions and a plurality of axially extending bores that extend between the first and second end portions of the valve cylinder, wherein the valve coupler comprises a plurality of coupling members respectively each extending through an associated bore, each coupling member having a first end portion coupled to the at least one hydraulic piston.  
   
   
       11 . An apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein the coupling members comprise rods, wherein an end portion of each rod is threadedly coupled to said at least one hydraulic piston, and wherein at least one stop limits the movement of the valve along the rods toward the at least one hydraulic piston.  
   
   
       12 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein there is only one of said hydraulic pistons positioned below the valve when the apparatus is installed for recharging an aquifer.  
   
   
       13 . An apparatus according to  claim 12  in which the hydraulic piston is movable in a first direction upon delivery of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic fluid chamber associated with the hydraulic piston, and a biasing member coupled to the piston to bias the piston in a direction opposite to said first direction.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus according to  claim 13  in which the biasing member comprises a coil spring.  
   
   
       15 . A aquifer recharge valve assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the valve actuator comprises first and second hydraulic pistons coupled to the valve, a first hydraulic fluid chamber associated with the first piston and a second hydraulic fluid chamber associated with the second piston, one of the first and second pistons being operable to urge the valve toward said first closed position upon delivery of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic fluid chamber associated with said one of the first and second pistons, the other of the first and second pistons being operable to urge the valve toward at least one open position upon delivery of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic fluid chamber associated with the said other of the first and second pistons; and 
 a biasing member coupled to the valve and operable to bias the valve toward said first closed position.    
   
   
       16 . An apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein the biasing member comprises a spring.  
   
   
       17 . An apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein the spring comprises a coil spring positioned within the hydraulic fluid chamber associated with said one of the first and second pistons.  
   
   
       18 . An aquifer recharge valve assembly for a well comprising: 
 an elongated pipe section comprising a wall with an interior surface and an exterior surface and being closed at one end portion thereof;    a plurality of apertures through the wall of an apertured portion of the pipe section, at least some of the apertures being at different locations along the length of the apertured portion of the pipe section;    a valve comprising first and second opposed end portions, the valve being positioned within the pipe section and comprising a cylindrical aperture closing section slidable along the interior surface of the wall between a first closed position and open positions, wherein when in the first closed position the aperture closing section overlies and closes the apertures, wherein when the aperture closing section is in open positions, the aperture closing section does not overlie and close the apertures, the flow rate through the valve being varied by the extent to which the apertures are not overlaid when the valve is in the various open positions, the valve being of a resilient material such that, upon installation of the valve assembly in a well, head pressure of water within the well urges the valve closing section outwardly and against the interior surface of the wall at least when the valve is in the closed position;    at least a first hydraulic piston coupled to the valve and positioned within the pipe section at least partially between the closed end portion of the pipe section and the valve, the first hydraulic piston also being coupled to the interior surface of the wall of the pipe section and being operable to shift the valve between the first closed position and open positions; and    a first hydraulic fluid chamber associated with the first piston, the first piston being operable to urge the valve toward one of said first closed position and said open positions upon delivery of hydraulic fluid to the first hydraulic fluid chamber.    
   
   
       19 . An apparatus according to  claim 18  wherein there is only one of said hydraulic pistons.  
   
   
       20 . An apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein said hydraulic piston is movable in a direction to urge the valve toward said first closed position upon delivery of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic fluid chamber associated with said hydraulic piston.  
   
   
       21 . An apparatus according to  claim 20  wherein the pipe section has a longitudinal axis and is blocked to prevent the flow of water through the pipe section in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the pipe section, and wherein upon relief of hydraulic fluid pressure on the hydraulic fluid delivered to the hydraulic fluid chamber, the piston is movable in a direction to urge the valve toward said at least one open position in response to the pressure of water within the pipe section.  
   
   
       22 . An apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein said hydraulic piston is movable in a direction to urge the valve toward at least one open position upon delivery of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic fluid chamber associated with said hydraulic piston.  
   
   
       23 . An apparatus according to  claim 22  wherein the pipe section has a longitudinal axis and is blocked to prevent the flow of water through the pipe section in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the pipe section, and wherein upon relief of hydraulic fluid pressure on the hydraulic fluid delivered to the hydraulic fluid chamber, the piston is movable in a direction to urge the valve toward said first closed position in response to the pressure of water within the pipe section.  
   
   
       24 . An apparatus according to  claim 18  comprising a biasing member coupled to the valve and operable to apply a biasing force in opposition to the motion of the valve in response to the delivery of hydraulic fluid to the first hydraulic fluid chamber.  
   
   
       25 . An aquifer recharge valve assembly for a well comprising: 
 an elongated pipe section comprising a wall with an interior surface and an exterior surface and being closed at one end portion thereof;    a plurality of apertures through the wall of an apertured portion of the pipe section, at least some of the apertures being at different locations along the length of the apertured portion of the pipe section;    a valve comprising first and second opposed end portions, the valve being positioned within the pipe section and comprising an aperture closing section slidable along the interior surface of the wall between a first closed position and open positions, wherein when in the first closed position the aperture closing section overlies and closes the apertures, wherein when the aperture closing section is in open positions, the aperture closing section does not overlie and close the apertures, the flow rate through the valve being varied by the extent to which the apertures are not overlaid when the valve is in the various open positions, the valve being of a resilient material such that, upon installation of the valve assembly in a well, head pressure of water within the well urges the valve closing section outwardly and against the interior surface of the wall at least when the valve is in the closed position;    at least a first hydraulic piston coupled to the valve and positioned within the pipe section at least partially between the closed end portion of the pipe section and the valve, the first hydraulic piston also being coupled to the interior surface of the wall of the pipe section and being operable to shift the valve between the first closed position and the open positions;    a first hydraulic fluid chamber associated with the first piston, the first piston being operable to urge the valve toward one of said first closed position and said open positions upon delivery of hydraulic fluid to the first hydraulic fluid chamber;    wherein there is only one of said hydraulic pistons;    wherein the valve cylinder comprises first and second valve end portions and a plurality of axially extending bores that extend between the first and second end portions of the valve cylinder, a valve coupler comprising a plurality of coupling members respectively each extending through an associated bore, each coupling member having a first end portion coupled to the at least one hydraulic piston.    
   
   
       26 . An apparatus according to  claim 25  comprising a biasing member coupled to the valve and operable to apply a biasing force in opposition to the motion of the valve in response to the delivery of hydraulic fluid to the first hydraulic fluid chamber.