Q.e.d. Environmental Systems, Inc.

Oed Environmental Systems, Inc.

K Lynn Niehaus

Kevin L Newcomer

David H Edwards

David A Fischer

David Mioduszewski

Steven C Richter

A wellhead assembly is disclosed which has a gas flow control valve with a tubular inlet into which a fluid from a well tube flows, and a gas flow line through which the fluid flows out from the gas flow control valve. An inlet tube has a first end operably coupled to the well tube, and a second coupled to the inlet of the valve. The inlet has a first groove formed on a surface thereof, and the inlet tube has a second groove formed on a surface thereof. A split lock ring is used which partially rests in, and which is substantially fully compressed into, one of the grooves, when the inlet tube is telescopically coupled to the inlet. The lock ring engages with the other one of the grooves as the two grooves become axially aligned during coupling, to lock the inlet tube to the inlet while permitting rotational movement of the inlet tube relative to the inlet.

Wellhead assembly having integrated locking ring

A float operated pneumatic pump which separates water from hydrocarbons within a well at the pump in accordance with the density or specific gravity of the water and hydrocarbon fluid. The pump includes a displaceable fluid inlet for allowing fluid to enter the pump which generally tracks the level of the water/hydrocarbon interface. The pump includes an outer tube forming an outer chamber and an inner or dip tube placed within the outer chamber of the outer tube and forming an inner chamber. A well float includes the fluid inlet and has a density which enable the float to remain in proximity to the water/hydrocarbon interface. A tubular coil or conduit provides fluid passage between the fluid inlet and the outer chamber. Also, a fluid separator is located at the bottom end of the outer tube and defines a fluid passage between the inner and outer chambers. In one configuration, the separator allows water to exit the pump from the outer chamber while the hydrocarbons remain within the outer chamber. In a second configuration, the separator prevents water from entering the pump and enables hydrocarbons to be discharged from the pump. In an alternative embodiment a single piece intake manifold is used which has a fixed fluid inlet. This permits the overall pump to be made significantly less in length to permit the pumping of shallower amounts of fluids from within a well.

Float operated pneumatic pump to separate hydrocarbon from water

A float operated, top fill, recovery unit floats in a body of contaminated groundwater to recover a layer of liquid hydrocarbons residing on top of the groundwater. The recovery unit has an upper end fitted with a discharge check valve assembly and a lower end that is closed, the discharge valve assembly including a semi-permeable screen which is positioned in and skims the liquid hydrocarbons, and a series of passages and check valves for directing the hydrocarbons via a return line to a holding tank. In an embodiment disclosed, the lower end of the unit is formed in part by an inlet check valve arrangement which has had its check ball removed such that the arrangement does not operate to inhibit flow, and a closure plate is secured to the inlet valve arrangement to prevent external fluid from entering the unit. Sinking of the recovery unit allows hydrocarbons to pass through the screen to fill the interior of the unit so that it can be pumped out of the unit by compressed air and conveyed to the holding tank. The top fill recovery unit is easily modified to a bottom fill underground contaminated water recovery unit by removing the closure plate and replacing the check ball in the inlet valve arrangement, removing the top discharge valve assembly, and connecting the return line directly to the top of the unit.

Float operated pneumatic pump

A counting apparatus which is designed to be placed in parallel to a fluid flow line has a differential pressure switch which is placed across an orifice positioned within the fluid flow line. A counting mechanism is associated with the differential pressure switch to register a count when signaled by the differential pressure switch. The differential pressure switch is operable to react to the difference in pressure across the orifice to signal the counter to register a count. The orifice can be a fixed or a variable orifice. In another embodiment of the invention, a fixed or variable orifice is placed within the diaphragm of a diaphragm type differential pressure switch to adapt the differential pressure switch to be placed in series with the fluid flow line rather than in parallel to it.

Apparatus for counting cycles of fluid flow

There is provided a counting apparatus which is designed to be located in any position in series with a fluid flow line. The apparatus has a first magnet in an air chamber of the body of the counter. As the fluid passes through the air chamber, the first magnet is forced down the air chamber by the fluid flow. The magnetic field of the first magnet passes through a magnetic field of a second magnet located in the mechanical counter causing the counter to mechanically change the number. When the fluid flow is stopped, a spring returns the first magnet to its original position again passing by the second magnet in the counter allowing the counter to reset for the counting of the next cycle.

A float operated pneumatic pump has an outer pump body forming an outer chamber and a dip tube forming an inner chamber therein. The inner chamber of the dip tube is in communication with the outer chamber of the pump body through a back flow discharge check valve. An inlet is located at a first end of the outer pump body for permitting liquids to enter both the inner and outer chambers. A discharge housing is located at a second end of the tubes and contains a liquid discharge port in communication with the second end of the dip tube. An air inlet port is located in the discharge housing for permitting pressurized air to enter the second end of the outer pump body. An air exhaust port is provided for permitting air in the outlet chamber to escape to atmosphere when fluid is entering the inner and outer chambers. A float is disposed on the outside of the dip tube within the outer chamber of the pump body. The float provides buoyancy to actuate the pump and provides weight to de-activate the pump. An inlet valve is disposed within the air inlet port for selectively admitting in a discharge mode, and blocking in a refill mode the source of compressed air into the outer chamber of the pump body. An exhaust valve is disposed within the air exhaust port for selectively venting in the refill mode and blocking in the discharge mode the outer chamber to the air discharge port. An actuator linkage, or a lost motion device, is coupled between the float and an off center pivot lever. The off center pivot lever actuates both the inlet and exhaust valves with the off center feature of the pivot lever increasing the force of the buoyant float. The float operated fluid pump further includes first and second attracting magnets, the first magnet being located on the movable end of the off center pivot lever and the second magnet being located within the discharge housing. The first and second magnets come together by movement of the float and operate to keep the pumping system in the discharge mode until the weight of the float separates the magnets and moves the pumping system into the refill mode.

There is provided a flow-through cell with a diverter valve for continuously monitoring specific parameters of a fluid which passes through the flow-through cell. The diverter valve diverts a portion of fluid flow from a fluid line to the flow-through cell. The flow-through cell has an analyzing probe capable of monitoring a plurality of conditions of the fluid that is flow through the cell. By continuously monitoring specific parameters of the fluid as it moves through the flow-through cell, it is possible to constantly monitor the condition of the fluid and react to changes or stabilization of the readings provided by the probe.

Flow-through cell with diverter circuit

There is provided a fluid sampling apparatus for withdrawing samples of groundwater or other fluids from a well or other monitoring site. The apparatus preferably includes pump means, packer means, conduit means and a wellhead assembly that are permanently installed at the well or monitoring site and are thereby dedicated thereto in order to avoid or minimize cross-contamination of samples from site to site. The packer is integral with the pump and isolates the groundwater below the packer in order to minimize the amount of groundwater which must be pumped in order to purge the well prior to taking an acceptable sample. The apparatus preferably also includes a removable and portable controller means adapted for easy and convenient transportation and connection to such dedicated fluid sampling components at various wells or monitoring sites.

Sampling pump with packer

A liquid pump apparatus is disclosed for pumping groundwater samples, contaminants or other fluids from a well, monitoring site, tank, vessel, or the like. The pump apparatus is applicable in systems including dedicated wellhead assemblies permanently installed at such wells or monitoring sites in order to minimize cross-contamination from site to site. Another application of the pump apparatus for recovery, collection and control system for cleanup of leachate or other liquid material or contaminated groundwater from a landsite is also disclosed. The pump apparatus according to the invention includes check valve means adapted to accommodate vertical, horizontal, non-vertical, or even inverted pump orientations, without requiring a high level of static head in order to function properly.

Growing community of inventors

Manchester, MI, United States of America

K Lynn Niehaus