TUBE-WELL is an American contrivance, introduced into England in 1867, having for its object the obtaining of a small supply of water in a very short space of time by the application of a limited amount of manual power.
The apparatus comprises three parts—a tube or well, a rammer or monkey, and a pump. The tube consists of an iron pipe about 11 in. diameter, made in pieces of con venient length, which can be screwed together end to end. The pipe terminates at the lower end with a solid tempered steel point, and is perforated for about 16 in. from the end with small lateral apertures. The pipe is driven a short way into the ground, just sufficient to keep it upright without falling, and is temporarily kept in that position by hand. A strong iron clamp is fixed to the tube by clamping-screws at a short distance above the ground; and another clamp is similarly fixed higher up. Two pulleys are supported by the upper clamp. The rammer or monkey, consists of a 56 lb. iron weight, which slides up and down the tube, encircling it like a ring or belt. The rammer, being raised by two men, is allowed to fall with its full weight on the lower clamp; thus giving a series of blows which drive the tube into the ground. When the lower clamp becomes level with the surface of the ground, it is raised up the tube; as is likewise the other clamp, which supports the two pulleys. Successive lengths of tube and successive shiftings of the clamps afford the means of enabling the perforated end of the tube to reach soil whence water can be obtained. When the symptoms appear of water having been reached a small suction-pump is applied, and the water pumped. It is only when
water is expected to be reached at a moderate distance below the surface that this apparatus is available, as it is not powerful enough for great depths, nor is the bore of the tube sufficient for a large influx of water; but the required conditions being found to exist, the apparatus saves a large amount of ordinary boring. As the water is pumped up, the loose sand and gravel disappear from the point of the tube, allowing the forma tion of a small pool or well;. while small pebbles which collect around the perforations act as a sort of filter. The tube can be extracted from the ground by forcing the rammer upward against the upper clamp.
During the trial of this apparatus in the cricket-ground at Old Trafford, Manchester, the tube was sunk to a depth of 10 ft. in 22 minutes, and water had been reached in even less than that time. Such a form of well, it is considered, will be free from the liability of received dirty surface-water; and no accident is possible from foul air or from the falling in of the sides. A well 15 ft. deep was sunk in one hour in the botanical gardens at Manchester, and excellent water reached. Another was sunk in the grounds of St Cloud in half an hour, and pumped up water at the rate of 20 liters (18 quarts) per minute. The inventor accompanied the American federal army, and enabled the troops frequently to obtain water by the aid of these pumps. On one occasion, to try the capabilities of the tube, he sank one to a depth of 150 ft. at Ithaca, in New York state. Tube-wells were sent out with the British military force to Abyssinia.