Drinkable water well structure and method for making drinkable water wells

Abstract

A drinkable water well structure ( 1 ) comprises: a structural tube ( 2 ) defining a lateral wall of a well; a submersible pump ( 6 ), positioned at a lower end ( 3 ) of the tube ( 2 ) and connected to a delivery conduit ( 10 ); and a support device ( 7 ) that supports the pump ( 6 ) and connects mechanically and in a fluid-tight manner the pump ( 6 ) to an inner lateral surface ( 12 ) of the tube ( 2 ), in such a way that the tube ( 2 ) performs both a structural function, since the tube ( 2 ) defines the lateral wall of the well, and a function of channelling the water drawn by the pump ( 6 ), since the tube ( 2 ) also defines the delivery conduit ( 10 ) of the pump ( 6 ).

1 . A drinkable water well structure ( 1 ), comprising a structural tube ( 2 ) defining a lateral wall of a well; and a submersible pump ( 6 ), positioned at a lower end ( 3 ) of the tube ( 2 ) and connected to a delivery conduit ( 10 ); the structure being characterized by comprising a support device ( 7 ) that supports the pump ( 6 ) and connects mechanically and in a fluid-tight manner the pump ( 6 ) to an inner lateral surface ( 12 ) of the tube ( 2 ), in such a way that the tube ( 2 ) performs both a structural function, since the tube ( 2 ) defines the lateral wall of the well, and a function of channelling the water drawn by the pump ( 6 ), since the tube ( 2 ) also defines the delivery conduit ( 10 ) of the pump ( 6 ). 
     
     
         2 . A structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the support device ( 7 ) is positioned at the lower end ( 3 ) of the tube ( 2 ) and divides the tube ( 2 ) in a lower zone ( 21 ) for water suction, in which an inlet ( 17 ) of the pump ( 6 ) is located, and an upper zone ( 22 ), communicating with an outlet ( 18 ) of the pump ( 6 ) and that constitutes the delivery conduit ( 10 ) of the pump ( 6 ). 
     
     
         3 . A structure according to  claim 2 , wherein the support device ( 7 ) includes a gasket ( 23 ) that separates in a fluid-tight manner the two zones ( 21 ,  22 ). 
     
     
         4 . A structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support device ( 7 ) comprises a mounting flange ( 24 ) on which the pump ( 6 ) is mounted and which is connected mechanically and in a fluid-tight manner to the inner lateral surface ( 12 ) of the tube ( 2 ), so as to support the pump ( 6 ) in the tube ( 2 ). 
     
     
         5 . A structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support device ( 7 ) comprises a support element ( 11 ), substantially ring-shaped and fixed to the inner lateral surface ( 12 ) of the tube ( 2 ); and a mounting flange ( 24 ) on which the pump ( 6 ) is mounted and which rests on the support element ( 11 ). 
     
     
         6 . A structure according to  claim 5 , wherein an axial sealing gasket ( 23 ) is positioned between a lower face ( 27 ) of the mounting flange ( 24 ) and an upper face ( 15 ) of the support element ( 11 ). 
     
     
         7 . A structure according to one of  claims 1  to  4 , wherein the support device ( 7 ) comprises a mounting flange ( 24 ) on which the pump ( 6 ) is mounted; and an expandable gasket ( 23 ), in particular a pneumatic inflatable gasket, carried by the mounting flange ( 24 ). 
     
     
         8 . A structure according to  claim 7 , wherein the gasket ( 23 ) is a radial sealing gasket, radially inserted between the mounting flange ( 24 ) and the inner lateral surface ( 12 ) of the tube ( 2 ), and is housed in an annular seat ( 28 ), positioned along a radially outer peripheral edge ( 48 ) of the mounting flange ( 24 ) and facing the inner lateral surface ( 12 ) of the tube ( 2 ). 
     
     
         9 . A structure according to  claim 7  or  8 , wherein the gasket ( 23 ) is configured to selectively assume a retracted installation configuration, in which the gasket ( 23 ) is entirely housed in the seat ( 28 ) and does not project radially outside the seat ( 28 ); and an expanded sealing configuration, in which the gasket ( 23 ) projects radially outside the seat ( 28 ) and beyond the edge ( 48 ) for contacting the inner lateral surface ( 12 ) of the tube ( 2 ), and in which the gasket ( 23 ) exerts a pressure onto the inner lateral surface ( 12 ) of the tube ( 2 ). 
     
     
         10 . A structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting flange ( 24 ) is attached to a suspension element ( 34 ), for example a chain or cable or other similar element, which is fixed, at an upper end ( 4 ) of the tube ( 2 ), to a releasable locking device ( 35 ). 
     
     
         11 . A method for making a drinkable water well, comprising the steps of:
 providing a tube ( 2 ) defining a lateral wall of a well;   lowering inside the tube ( 2 ) a submersible pump ( 6 );   mechanically connecting the pump ( 6 ) to an inner lateral surface ( 12 ) of the tube ( 2 ) by means of a support device ( 7 ) that supports the pump ( 6 ) and connects mechanically and in a fluid-tight manner the pump ( 6 ) to the inner lateral surface ( 12 ) of the tube ( 2 ), in such a way that the tube ( 2 ) performs both a structural function, since the tube ( 2 ) defines the lateral wall of the well, and a function of channelling the water drawn by the pump ( 6 ), since the tube ( 2 ) also defines the delivery conduit ( 10 ) of the pump ( 6 ).   
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the support device ( 7 ) is positioned at a lower end ( 3 ) of the tube ( 2 ) so at to divide the tube ( 2 ) in a lower zone ( 21 ) for water suction, in which an inlet ( 17 ) of the pump ( 6 ) is located, and an upper zone ( 22 ), communicating with an outlet ( 18 ) of the pump ( 6 ) and that constitutes the delivery conduit ( 10 ) of the pump ( 6 ). 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , comprising a step of inserting a gasket ( 23 ) that separates in a fluid-tight manner the two zones ( 21 ,  22 ). 
     
     
         14 . A method according to one of  claims 11  to  13 , comprising the steps of: mounting the pump ( 6 ) on a mounting flange ( 24 ) and connecting mechanically and in a fluid-tight manner the mounting flange ( 24 ) to the inner lateral surface ( 12 ) of the tube ( 2 ), so as to support the pump ( 6 ) in the tube ( 2 ). 
     
     
         15 . A method according to one of  claims 11  to  14 , comprising the steps of: providing a lower end ( 3 ) of the tube ( 2 ) with a support element ( 11 ), substantially ring-shaped and fixed to the inner lateral surface ( 12 ) of the tube ( 2 ) and arranged to receive and support a mounting flange ( 24 ) that carries the pump ( 6 ); and leaning the mounting flange ( 24 ) on the support element ( 11 ). 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein an axial sealing gasket ( 23 ) is positioned between a lower face ( 27 ) of the mounting flange ( 24 ) and an upper face ( 15 ) of the support element ( 11 ). 
     
     
         17 . A method according to one of  claims 11  to  16 , comprising the steps of:
 mounting the pump ( 6 ) on a mounting flange ( 24 ), provided with an expandable gasket ( 23 ), in particular a pneumatic inflatable gasket, housed in an annular seat ( 28 ) positioned along a radially outer peripheral edge ( 48 ) of the mounting flange ( 24 ); 
 lowering the mounting flange ( 24 ) with the pump ( 6 ) in the tube ( 2 ), the gasket ( 23 ) being in a retracted installation configuration, in which the gasket ( 23 ) is entirely housed in the seat ( 28 ) and does not project radially outside the seat ( 28 ); 
 expanding the gasket ( 23 ), to bring the gasket ( 23 ) in an expanded sealing configuration, in which the gasket ( 23 ) projects radially outside the seat ( 28 ) and beyond the edge ( 48 ) for contacting the inner lateral surface ( 12 ) of the tube ( 2 ). 
 
     
     
         18 . A method according to one of  claims 11  to  17 , comprising the steps of attaching the mounting flange ( 24 ) to a suspension element ( 34 ), for example a chain or cable or other similar element, and fixing the suspension element ( 34 ), at an upper end ( 4 ) of the tube ( 2 ), to a releasable locking device ( 35 ). 
     
     
         19 . A method according to one of  claims 11  to  18 , wherein the tube ( 2 ) is a tube already installed in an existing well, and the method comprises the steps of removing from the well the pump present in the well and the associated delivery conduit, and inserting in the tube ( 2 ) the pump ( 6 ) and the support device ( 7 ).