Water Well Seal

Abstract

A seal for use within a water well includes a rigid body including a lumen extending vertically through the rigid body and configured to enable connection of a water supply line therethrough, a cylindrically-shaped expandable seal membrane connected to the rigid body, and a bladder defined by and between the rigid body and the expandable seal membrane. The seal further includes a bladder fill port connecting and enabling flow of water between the bladder and lumen. The expandable seal membrane is configured to expand outwardly when head pressure within the bladder is elevated as compared to an ambient air pressure. Expansion of the expandable seal membrane is configured to force the expandable seal membrane outward against an interior surface of a well casing of the water well.

1 . A seal for use within a water well, the seal comprising: 
 a rigid body including a lumen extending vertically through the rigid body and configured to enable connection of a water supply line therethrough;   a cylindrically-shaped expandable seal membrane connected to the rigid body;    a bladder defined by and between the rigid body and the expandable seal membrane; and   a bladder fill port connecting and enabling flow of water between the bladder and lumen; and   wherein the expandable seal membrane is configured to expand outwardly when head pressure within the bladder is elevated as compared to an ambient air pressure; and   wherein expansion of the expandable seal membrane is configured to force the expandable seal membrane outward against an interior surface of a well casing of the water well.   
     
     
         2 . The seal of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid body includes two disc-shaped ends. 
     
     
         3 . The seal of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid body includes a cylindrically-shaped rigid body. 
     
     
         4 . The seal of  claim 1 , wherein the bladder and the lumen are connected such that a head pressure within the bladder is the same as the head pressure within the lumen. 
     
     
         5 . The seal of  claim 1 , wherein the bladder fill port includes a valve configured to, when the bladder is filled to an expanded state, prevent pressurized water from exiting the bladder through the valve. 
     
     
         6 . The seal of  claim 5 , wherein the valve is adjustable. 
     
     
         7 . The seal of  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure release valve. 
     
     
         8 . The seal of  claim 7 , wherein the pressure release valve is configured to selectively release pressurized water from within the bladder. 
     
     
         9 . The seal of  claim 8 , wherein the pressure release valve is activated by an electrical signal. 
     
     
         10 . The seal of  claim 8 , wherein the pressure release valve is activated by tension applied to the pressure release valve. 
     
     
         11 . The seal of  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrically-shaped expandable seal membrane is sealingly affixed to the rigid body by two constriction bands, a first of the constriction bands being disposed about a circumference of a top portion of the seal and a second of the constriction bands being disposed about a circumference of a bottom portion of the seal. 
     
     
         12 . A water well system, the system comprising: 
 a well casing configured to extend vertically downward below a ground level;   a water supply line;   a water pump configured to:    connect to the water supply line;    draw in a flow of water from a volume of aquifer water within the well casing; and   supply the flow of water to the water supply line;   
       an electrical power line configured to be connected to the water pump; and 
       a seal configured for use within the well casing, the seal including: 
 a rigid body including a lumen extending vertically through the rigid body and configured to enable connection of a water supply line therethrough; 
 a cylindrically-shaped expandable seal membrane connected to the rigid body;  
 a bladder defined by and between the rigid body and the expandable seal membrane; and 
 a bladder fill port connecting and enabling flow of water between the bladder and lumen; and 
 wherein the expandable seal membrane is configured to expand outwardly when head pressure within the bladder is elevated as compared to an ambient air pressure; and 
 wherein expansion of the expandable seal membrane is configured to force the expandable seal membrane outward against an interior surface of the well casing of the water well. 
 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the seal further includes: 
 a fitting attached to one of a top of the seal or a bottom of the seal and configured for the electrical power line to pass through a center of the fitting; and   a shrink wrap coating applied to the fitting and the electrical power line passing through the fitting configured to prevent water from passing through the fitting.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the rigid body includes two disc-shaped ends. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the rigid body includes a cylindrically-shaped rigid body. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the bladder fill port includes a valve configured to, when the bladder is filled to an expanded state, prevent pressurized water from exiting the bladder through the valve. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the valve of the bladder fill port enables pressurized water to be retained within the bladder when the water pump is no longer operational.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a check valve connected to the water supply line and configured to prevent water from flowing backward to the water pump. 
     
     
         19 . A method for utilizing a seal within a water well, the method comprising: 
 disposing an assembly within a well casing of the water well, the assembly including: 
 a water supply line; 
 a water pump connected to the water supply line and configured to draw in a flow of water from a volume of aquifer water within the well casing and supply the flow of water to the water supply line; 
 an electrical power line connected to the water pump; and 
 the seal including:  
 a rigid body including a lumen extending vertically through the rigid body and configured to enable connection of a water supply line therethrough; 
 a cylindrically-shaped expandable seal membrane connected to the rigid body;  
 a bladder defined by and between the rigid body and the expandable seal membrane; and 
 a bladder fill port connecting and enabling flow of water between the bladder and lumen, wherein the expandable seal membrane is configured to expand outwardly when head pressure within the bladder is elevated as compared to an ambient air pressure and wherein expansion of the expandable seal membrane is configured to force the expandable seal membrane outward against an interior surface of a well casing of the water well; and 
 positioning the assembly within the well casing at a desired vertical location; 
   activating the water pump to expand the expandable seal membrane against the well casing; and   utilizing the water pump to provide the flow of water through the water supply line.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 deactivating the water pump;    releasing head pressure from the bladder such that the expandable seal membrane retracts from the well casing; and   removing the assembly from the well casing.