Method for installing a water well pump

#Referring to FIG. 1, after drilling a water well 10, an electric pump 12, which is connected to a hose 14 and an electric power cord 16, must be installed in the well for pumping water through the hose 14 to the surface. The power cord typically includes four wires, three for supplying single phase 220-volt power and a fourth to apply a ground for the pump 12. The power cord is typically spot bound to the hose 14 or pipe (with binding locations 18 separated by twenty feet of hose length or less) with tape or clamps as the pump 12, hose 14 and cord 16 are being lowered into the well.

#Unfortunately, this method leaves quite a bit to be desired. First, it requires the repeated action of binding the cord 16 to the hose 14, slowing the pump lowering and installation process. Second, the cord 16 is exposed both as it is being lowered and after the installation process is complete and the pump is in operation. It is a common practice in well drilling to sheath the interior of the upper part of the well hole with metal tube 20, to prevent the movement of mud into the well. Further down, where the well hole extends through bedrock 22, the tube 20 is unnecessary. The transition 24 from tube 20 to unsheathed rock can include some rather sharp rock surfaces or the hole may not be plumb. As a result, the power cord 16, which is clad only in standard insulation, may be severed by sharp rocks during pump installation or operation or when pulling the pump during servicing. In either instance the cord must be retrieved and repaired, which is a time consuming operation.

#A number of references do address problems associated with operating electrical equipment in oil drilling and in association with vacuum cleaner hoses.

#FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a water well according to the prior art.

#FIG. 2 is an isometric drawing of a hose and wire combination according to the present invention, connected to a water well pump and also connected to a water pipe for delivering water to an end user.

#FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the hose and wire combination of FIG. 2, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

#Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is a hose and wire combination 110 preferably made of PVC or other flexible polymer. A hose portion 112 preferably has a one inch inner diameter and a one and three quarter inch outer diameter. It is to be understood that the hose and wire can be any size. A conduit portion 114 extends along the length of the hose portion 112 and accommodates a set of four individually insulated wires 116. A slot 124 extends the length of the conduit portion 114.

#The hose and wire combination 110 is to be provided in a long length wrapped about a spool, to well pump installers. The installation would begin by pulling the ends of wires 116 through the slot 124 and snipping away the now empty end of conduit portion 114 so that it does not obstruct the attachment process. It may be necessary to cut back hose portion 112 so that wires 116 extend a sufficient length beyond hose portion 112 to permit connection. Then wires 116 are attached to corresponding set of electrical terminals 136 on pump 126. The output spout 138 of pump 126 is inserted into the end of hose portion 112 and secured in place with two clamps 140. The pump 126 is then lowered into the well as the hose and wire combination 110 is unspooled.

#At least two advantages are evident from this operation. First, the operation of periodically attaching the wires 116 to the hose portion 112 with clamps is unnecessary because wires 116 are held in place by conduit 114. This saves time and labor. Second, the wires 116 are held close to the hose portion 112 and are protected from sharp rocks by the conduit portion 114. During operation the wires 116 continue to be protected from sharp rocks that the combination 110 may vibrate against during the operation of the pump 126. As noted in the BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION section and referring to FIG. 1, it is a common practice in well drilling to sheath the interior of the upper part of the well hole with the metal sheet 20, to prevent the movement of mud into the well. Further down, where the well hole extends through the bedrock 22, this sheathing is unnecessary. The transition 24 from sheathing to unsheathed rock can include some rather sharp rock surfaces and as the wires clad only in standard insulation are slid past this region they are sometimes severed. In addition, the entire hole may not be plumb resulting in the wires rubbing on the wall of the hole. When this happens the pump must be reinstalled. The extra protection afforded by the conduit portion 114 in the preferred embodiment prevents the severing of the wires 116 in this manner.