[Illustration: FIG. 175.]
[Illustration: FIG. 175-A.]
Aside from the wells described on page 45 and those following it, there
are wells made by forcing iron tubing down into the earth until a water
supply is reached. Within reasonable distances and in a remarkably
large proportion, these pipe wells are directly connected with the
suction part of hand pumps.
NOTE.—“When a well fails to yield a fair amount of oil or water,
an increase in the flow is often effected by means of the Roberts
torpedo. This is a thin water-tight cylinder of metal or paper,
4 to 6 ft. long and 2 or 3 in. in diameter, charged with powder,
gun-cotton or nitro-glycerine. It is lowered to the bottom of the
well, or to a depth that will bring it opposite the desired stratum,
and the well is then flooded. The charge is exploded by a cap or
electric spark, and the explosion often clears away the obstruction
from the oil or water vein. This applies particularly to deep wells.”
To this class also belong the famous oil and artesian wells which
penetrate through earth and rock thousands of feet, many of them
operated by power pumping machines.
[Illustration: FIG. 176.]
[Illustration: FIG. 177.]
The process of driving tube-wells resembles pile-driving, but with
this distinction, that while piles receive the blows of the “monkey”
on their heads, the tubes are not struck at all, the blow being
communicated by the clamp, which receives the blow near the ground.
The tube-well, as in ordinary use, is not intended for piercing rock
or solid formations, but is quite capable of penetrating very hard
and compact soils, and can be also successfully driven through chalk,
breaking through the flints which may obstruct its passage downward.
When solid masses of rock or stone are reached, special means of
drilling have to be provided for it. When coming upon rock or stone,
the best plan is to pull up the tube and try in another spot. This
applies also when deep beds of clay are driven into; for, by going a
little distance off, and testing again, in many cases water will be
found.
[Illustration: FIG. 178.]
The operation is as follows: The first or pioneer tube, shown in Fig.
175 is furnished with a steel point of bulbous form, and perforated
with holes varying from one-eighth to an inch, extending from 15 in.
to 3 ft. from the point, Fig. 178. The enlargement of the point serves
to clear a passage for the couplings by which the tubes are screwed
together. On this tube the clamp Fig. 176 is held about 3 ft. from the
point by two bolts; the clamp is of wrought iron with steel bushing
screwed internally so as to form teeth to grip the tube. Next, the
cast-iron driving-weight or monkey is slipped on to the tube above the
clamp. The monkey is operated with ropes.
_Sucker-Rod Couplings._ These couplings are usually made of iron
galvanized and are used to connect the ends of wooden sucker rods for
deep well pumps. Each half of coupling is secured to the end of wooden
rods by three bolts; the ends of the couplings are joined by male and
female threads in the usual way.
Either bolts or rivets may be used to attach the rods to the couplings.
(See Fig. 179.)
[Illustration: FIG. 179.]