IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0940787
(2004-09-13)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
1 인용 특허 :
43 |
초록
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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 a
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.
대표청구항
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I claim: 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
I claim: 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 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 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 one of the first and second pistons, the other of the first and second pistons being movable in a direction to urge the valve toward the 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. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1 comprising first and second piston guides coupled to the pipe section, the first piston guide slidably guiding the motion of the first piston and the second piston guide slidably guiding the motion of the second piston. 3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the first and second pistons are each annular, the pipe section comprising respective first and second end portions, the apparatus comprising first and second end members, the first end member being coupled to the first end portion of the pipe section, the first piston guide projecting from the first end member and inwardly into the interior of the pipe section, the first piston guide comprising a first annular exterior piston guide surface for guiding the motion of the first piston, the second end member being coupled to the second end portion of the pipe section opposite to the first end portion, the second piston guide projecting from the second end member and inwardly into the interior of the pipe section, the second piston guide comprising a second annular exterior piston guide surface for guiding the motion of the second piston, and a water flow passageway extending through each of the first and second end members and through each of the first and second guide members. 4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the pipe section comprises first and second interior wall sections, the first piston comprising a first interior annular piston surface portion that is positioned to slide along the first annular exterior piston guide surface, the first piston further comprising a second exterior annular surface portion that is positioned to slide along the first interior wall section of the pipe section, the first piston comprising opposed first and second major piston surfaces spaced from one another by the first interior annular surface portion and second exterior annular surface portion, the first hydraulic chamber being annular and defined at least in part by a portion of the first annular exterior piston guide surface, the first major piston surface, a portion of the first interior wall section, and a portion of the first end member, wherein the first piston applies a valve moving force through the first pusher to the valve from the second major piston surface upon delivery of hydraulic fluid to the first hydraulic fluid chamber; wherein the second piston comprises a third interior annular piston surface portion that is positioned to slide along the second annular exterior piston guide surface, the second piston further comprising a fourth exterior annular surface portion that is positioned to slide along the second interior wall section of the pipe section, the second piston comprising opposed third and fourth major piston surfaces spaced from one another by the third interior annular surface portion and fourth exterior annular surface portion, the second hydraulic chamber being annular and defined at least in part by a portion of the second annular exterior piston guide surface, the third major piston surface, a portion of the second interior wall section, and a portion of the second end member, the apparatus also comprising a second pusher coupled to the fourth major piston surface and to the valve, wherein the second piston applies a valve moving force through the second pusher to the valve from the fourth major piston surface upon delivery of hydraulic fluid to the second hydraulic fluid chamber. 5. An apparatus according to claim 4 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, wherein the first pusher comprises a first set of a plurality of spaced apart push rods and the second pusher comprises a second set of a plurality of spaced apart push rods. 6. An apparatus according to claim 5 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, each push rod comprising a stem portion sized for insertion into an associated bore in one of the first and second valve end portions, and a push portion of a cross-sectional dimension that is greater than the cross-sectional dimension of the stem portion, the stem portions having a length such that the end of one stem of one push rod inserted into an associated bore at the first valve end portion engages the end of the stem portion of a push rod inserted into the same bore from the second valve end portion. 7. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the interior surface of the pipe section comprises a valve engaging surface portion and wherein the valve comprises a seamless valve cylinder of a polymer material with an exterior surface that is sized to slide along the valve engaging surface portion. 8. A 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 at least one aperture and into the aquifer; the valve comprising an annular valve body with an exterior surface and a water flow passageway, the valve body having a wall thickness and being comprised of a material that allows the valve body to resiliently expand against the interior surface of the wall in response to water pressure to assist in sealing the at least one aperture when the valve is positioned in the closed position; and a valve actuator for moving the valve between the first closed position and the at least one open position, the valve actuator comprising 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 the 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. 9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the first and second pistons are each annular with respective first and second openings extending therethrough, the apparatus further comprising first and second piston guides coupled to the pipe section, the first piston guide being inserted through the first opening of the first piston and slidably engaging the first piston, and the second piston guide being inserted through the second opening in the second piston and slidably engaging the second piston. 10. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein there are plural apertures arranged in a spiral pattern about the circumference of the pipe section, wherein the valve is movable to various open positions corresponding to various apertures being no longer being overlaid by the valve to thereby vary the recharge water flow rate through the valve and into the aquifer. 11. An aquifer recharge valve assembly for a well comprising: an elongated pipe section comprising a wall with an interior surface and an exterior surface; 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 first end portion of the valve and at least a second hydraulic piston coupled to the second end portion of the valve, the first and second pistons also being coupled to the interior surface of the wall of the pipe section and operable to shift the valve between the first closed position and the open positions; and 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. 12. An aquifer recharge valve assembly according to claim 11 wherein the first and second pistons are each annular with respective first and second openings extending therethrough, the apparatus further comprising first and second piston guides coupled to the pipe section, the first piston guide being inserted through the first opening of the first piston and slidably engaging the first piston, and the second piston guide being inserted through the second opening in the second piston and slidably engaging the second piston. 13. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the pipe section comprises respective first and second end portions, the apparatus comprising first and second end cap members, the first end cap member being coupled to the first end portion of the pipe section, a first piston guide projecting from the first end cap member and inwardly into the interior of the pipe section, the second end cap member being coupled to the second end portion of the pipe section opposite to the first end portion, a second piston guide projecting from the second end cap member and inwardly into the interior of the pipe section, and a water flow passageway extending through each of the first and second end cap members and through each of the first and second piston guides, the first piston guide slidably engaging and guiding the first piston and the second piston guide slidably engaging and guiding the second piston. 14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the wall with the interior surface of the pipe section comprises first and second interior wall sections positioned on opposite sides of the apertured portion of the pipe section from one another, the first piston comprising a first interior annular piston surface portion that is positioned to slide along the first piston guide, the first piston further comprising a second exterior annular surface portion that is positioned to slide along the first interior wall section of the pipe section, the first piston comprising opposed first and second major piston surfaces spaced from one another by the first interior annular surface portion and second exterior annular surface portion, the first hydraulic chamber being annular and defined at least in part by an exterior surface portion of the first piston guide, the first major piston surface, a portion of the first interior wall section, and a portion of the first end cap member, a first set of plural push rods coupled to the second major piston surface and to the valve, the first piston applying a valve moving force through the first set of push rods to the valve from the second major piston surface upon delivery of hydraulic fluid to the first hydraulic fluid chamber; wherein second piston comprises a third interior annular piston surface that is positioned to slide along the second piston guide, the first piston further comprising a fourth exterior annular surface portion that is positioned to slide along the second interior wall section of the pipe section, the second piston comprising opposed third and fourth major piston surfaces spaced from one another by the respective third interior annular surface portion and fourth exterior annular surface portion, the second hydraulic fluid chamber being annular and defined at least in part by an exterior surface portion of the second piston guide, the third major piston surface, a portion of the second interior wall section, and a portion of the second end cap member, a second set of plural push rods coupled to the fourth major piston surface and to the valve, the piston applying a valve moving force through the second set of push rods to the valve from the second major piston surface upon delivery of hydraulic fluid to the second hydraulic fluid chamber. 15. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the valve comprises a valve cylinder of a polymer material having first and second valve end portions, a plurality of axially extending bores extending into the first and second valve end portions, each push rod comprising a stem portion sized for insertion into an associated bore in one of the first and second valve end portions. 16. An aquifer recharge valve assembly according to claim 11 in which the apertures are arranged in a spiral pattern and in which the flow rate increases as the valve is shifted from the closed position to the fully open position. 17. An aquifer recharge valve assembly according to claim 11 comprising a hydraulic circuit through which operating fluid is supplied to and removed from the first and second hydraulic fluid chambers, the valve assembly comprising a visual valve position indicator coupled to the hydraulic circuit and operable to visually indicate the position of the valve within the pipe section at a location remote from the valve. 18. An aquifer recharge valve assembly according to claim 17 in which the valve position indicator comprises a valve position indicating piston and cylinder in the hydraulic circuit, the valve position indicating piston being moved with the valve, whereby the position of the valve position indicating piston corresponds to the position of the valve. 19. An aquifer recharge valve assembly according to claim 18 comprising a movable member coupled to the valve position indicating piston for movement with the valve position indicating piston, the position of the movable member visually indicating the position of the valve position indicating piston and thereby the position of the valve. 20. An aquifer recharge system assembly for a well having a well head at the surface of the well and comprising: a well pipe extending from the well head and into the well; a pump comprising at least one water moving impeller in the well pipe and adjacent to the bottom of the well; a pump motor selectively operable to rotate the at least one water moving impeller to pump water from the well; a water recharge valve assembly comprising a section of the well pipe, the valve assembly comprising a pipe section having a wall portion with plural water recharge apertures therethrough which are spaced along at least a portion of the length of the wall portion, the wall portion comprising an interior wall surface, the valve assembly comprising a valve, the valve comprising a valve body that includes an aperture closing surface, the valve body being slidable along the interior wall surface between a closed position in which the aperture closing surface blocks the recharge apertures and open positions in which one or more recharge apertures are at least partially opened, the valve body comprising first and second valve end portions and comprising at least one opening through which water can flow between the first and second valve end portions, the valve body having a wall thickness and being comprised of a material that allows the valve body to resiliently expand to urge the aperture closing surface against the interior wall surface in response to water pressure to assist in sealing the apertures when the valve is positioned in the closed position; and at least one hydraulic actuator coupled to valve and operable to slide the valve body between the closed and open positions; the valve body being shifted to the closed position as water is pumped from the well; a water recharge pump operable to selectively pump recharge water from a water source and into the well to recharge the well, the valve body being shifted to one or more open positions to recharge the aquifer such that recharge water may flow through the open apertures and into the aquifer; a check valve in the well pipe and below the valve assembly and selectively operable to hold a column of water in the well pipe prior to delivery of recharge water into the well pipe; and a controller coupled to the at least one hydraulic cylinder and operable to shift the valve body between various open positions at least as recharge water is delivered to the well pipe so as to maintain a positive pressure at the well head. 21. An aquifer recharge system according to claim 20 in which the at least one hydraulic actuator comprises first and second hydraulic pistons coupled to the valve body, 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 body 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 body toward the 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. 22. An aquifer recharge system according to claim 20 in which the valve aperture closing surface is above the at least one water moving impeller. 23. An aquifer recharge system according to claim 20 in which the valve aperture closing surface is below the at least one water moving impeller. 24. An aquifer recharge system according to claim 20 in which the valve aperture closing surface is below the apertures when the valve is in its most open position. 25. An aquifer recharge system according to claim 20 in which the valve aperture closing surface is above the apertures when the valve is in its most open position. 26. An aquifer recharge system according to claim 20 comprising a visual indicator that is coupled to the valve and is operable to provide a visual indication of the position of the valve body at a location remote from the valve body. 27. An aquifer recharge system according to claim 26 wherein the visual indicator comprises a valve position indicating piston in a hydraulic fluid delivery circuit operable to supply hydraulic fluid to the at least one hydraulic actuator, the valve position indicating piston moving with the movement of the valve body such that the position of the valve position indicating piston corresponds to the position of the valve body. 28. An aquifer recharge system according to claim 27 in which the visual indicator comprises a piston position indicator coupled to the valve position indicating piston. 29. An aquifer recharge system according to claim 28 in which the piston position indicator comprises a piston extension coupled to the valve position indicating piston. 30. An aquifer recharge system according to claim 27 comprising a potentiometer coupled to the valve position indicating piston for providing an electrical signal indicative of the position of the valve position indicating piston. 31. An aquifer recharge system comprising: a pipe section comprising a wall with an interior surface and an exterior surface and plural apertures extending through the wall; 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 apertures and at least one open position wherein the valve is shifted so as to no longer overlie the apertures at least in part such that aquifer recharge water may flow through the aperture and into the aquifer; and the valve comprising resilient aperture closing means that expands against overlaid apertures at least when the valve is in the closed position to close such overlaid apertures.
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