Anti-alteration wellhead vault

Abstract

A wellhead vault for preventing alteration of the wellhead of a water supply. The vault is a heavy bell-shaped structure, formed of concrete, and having a downwardly facing concavity, and the vault placed over, with the concavity around the wellhead. The vaults too heavy to be removed by human lifting. Lifting elements are provided to allow the vault to be installed and removed by heavy construction equipment. The vault has a vent that communicates between the concavity and the outside, allowing air, but not liquid, liquid or solid contaminants, or animals, to pass through.

The invention having been thus described, what is claimed as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 
     
         1 . An anti-alteration well connection comprising:
 a) a wellhead protruding from the ground, and   b) a wellhead vault enclosing the wellhead,
 i) the wellhead vault being made in such a manner so as to be difficult for a few individuals to gain access to the wellhead by penetrating the vault wall or by moving the vault, and 
 ii) comprising a wall surrounding the wellhead, closed at the top and open at the bottom defining an inner chamber, 
 Iii) the vault positioned to securely enclose the wellhead within the inner chamber, 
 iii) thereby prohibiting alteration of the wellhead. 
   
     
     
         2 . An anti-alteration well connection as recited in  claim 1  wherein the well vault is constructed of pre-formed concrete. 
     
     
         3 . An anti-alteration well connection as recited in  claim 1  wherein the well vault is constructed of pre-formed concrete, and includes two steel rods, each rod having a first and second end portion, the end portions securely embedded opposite each other in the well vault wall, each rod having a bight portion midway between the end portions protruding from the top of the well vault, forming two overlapping diametrically opposed lifting points, centered over the well vault, for attaching heavy duty lifting equipment for moving and positioning the well vault. 
     
     
         4 . An anti-alteration well connection as recited in  claim 1  wherein the well vault further comprises a bore beginning at the outer surface of the well vault wall and opening to the inner chamber, providing air flow to the wellhead. 
     
     
         5 . An anti-alteration well connection as recited in  claim 1  wherein the well vault further comprises a bore beginning at the outer surface of the well vault wall and opening to the inner chamber, providing air flow to the wellhead, the bore specifically oriented upward towards the inner chamber, preventing liquid from being poured therein. 
     
     
         6 . An anti-alteration well connection as recited in  claim 1  wherein the well vault further comprises a bore beginning at the outer surface of the well vault wall and opening to the inner chamber, providing air flow to the wellhead, including a metal screen situated in the bore, filling the entire cross-section of the bore, and held in place by a plurality of rods which are secured to the bore wall, thereby preventing foreign particulate material from entering the inner chamber. 
     
     
         7 . An anti-alteration well connection as recited in  claim 1  wherein the well vault further comprises a bore beginning at the outer surface of the well vault wall and opening to the inner chamber, providing air flow to the wellhead, including a vented cap covering the outside opening of the bore. 
     
     
         8 . An anti-alteration well connection as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a rodent-resistant screen mesh laid at ground level, sealed around the wellhead, extending to the outer circumference of the well vault wall, and held in place by the well vault, forming a barrier to infiltration of the inner chamber by rodents. 
     
     
         9 . An anti-alteration well connection as recited in  claim 1  wherein the well vault is bell shaped, the top being rounded, thereby shedding rain and snow efficiently. 
     
     
         10 . An anti-alteration wellhead connection as recited in  claim 1  wherein the vault sits on a water impermeable pad and is connected to the pad by a water impermeable sealant, and the vents have check valves the prevent flood water from entering the vault. 
     
     
         11 . An anti-alteration well connection comprising:
 a. a wellhead protruding from the ground and   b. a bell shaped wellhead vault enclosing the wellhead,
 i) the well vault constructed of pre-formed concrete in such a manner to be difficult for a few individuals to gain access to the wellhead by penetrating the vault wall or by moving the vault, comprising a surrounding wall defining an inner chamber, closed and rounded at the top and open at the bottom, positioned to securely enclose the wellhead within the inner chamber, thereby prohibiting malicious tampering of the wellhead, and 
 ii) includes two steel rods, each rod having a first and second end portion, the end portions securely embedded opposite each other in the well vault wall, each rod having a bight portion midway between the end portions protruding from the top of the well vault, forming two overlapping diametrically opposed lifting points, centered over the well vault, for attaching heavy duty lifting equipment for moving and positioning the well vault, and 
 iii) including a bore beginning at the outer surface of the well vault wall and opening to the inner chamber, providing air flow to the wellhead, the bore specifically oriented upward towards the inner chamber, thereby preventing liquid from being poured therein, and including a metal screen situated in the bore, filling the entire cross-section of the bore, and held in place by a plurality of rods which are secured to the bore wall, thereby preventing foreign particulate material from entering the inner chamber, and including a vented cap covering the outside opening of the bore, and including a rodent-resistant screen mesh laid at ground level, sealed around the wellhead, extending to the outer circumference of the well vault wall, and held in place by the well vault, forming a barrier to infiltration of the inner chamber by rodents. 
   
     
     
         12 . An anti-alteration wellhead vault, comprising:
 a. a bell shaped concrete vault, including and a wall that defines an open-ended cavity the is shaped to enclosed a wellhead,   b. an air vent system through the wall that lets air pass between the cavity and the outside of the vault,   c. a lifting element that allows the vault to be lifted by heavy construction equipment.   
     
     
         13 . An anti-alteration wellhead vault as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the vent system includes a check valve that allows air to flow freely through the vent, unless flood water enters the vent, in which case, the check valve closes and prevent water from entering the chamber. 
     
     
         14 . An anti-alteration wellhead vault as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the vault has a ledge on its outside to facilitate access to the top of the vault. 
     
     
         15 . An anti-alteration wellhead vault as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the vent includes a check valve the allows air to pass through the vent unless water enters the event in which case, the vent is blocked. 
     
     
         16 . An anti-alteration wellhead vault as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the vent includes a check valve with a floating ball, and the valve allows air to pass through the vent unless water enters the event in which case, the vent is blocked. 
     
     
         17 . A method of preventing alteration of a wellhead, comprising enveloping the wellhead by placing a bell-shaped vault over and around the wellhead, the vault being too heavy to be removed from the wellhead without heavy construction equipment. 
     
     
         18 . A method of preventing alteration of a wellhead, as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the concrete pad is placed around the wellhead, and the vault is placed on the pad to seal off the chamber. 
     
     
         19 . A method of preventing alteration of a wellhead, as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the concrete pad is placed around the wellhead, and the vault is placed on the pad with flexible sealant between the vault and the pad to seal off the chamber. 
     
     
         20 . A method of preventing alteration of a wellhead, as recited in  claim 17 , wherein a screen is laid on the ground before placing the vault on the wellhead, so that the cavity cannot be entered by animals.