Automatic well skimmer

Claim 1

An automatic well skimmer for removal of floating contaminates from water wells comprising: a supporting structure adjacent to a well; a horizontal balance beam mounted upon the supporting structure and pivoting upon a fulcrum; a motor and a winch mounted upon the balance beam; adjustment means attached to the balance beam and capable of compensating for forces acting upon the balance beam to attain a balance under a variety of force conditions; a pulley attached to one end of the balance beam; a cable wound upon the winch and routed over the pulley and vertically downward at the end of the balance beam; an open top bailer attached to the end of the cable and including unloading means; stop means attached to the supporting structure and engaging the bailer to prevent raising the bailer beyond a certain point; first electrical signaling means mounted adjacent to and acted upon by the balance beam, providing a first electrical signal when the bailer weight is reduced by flotation within the well and a second electrical signal when the bailer weight is subsequently increased to a selected weight as liquid enters the bailer; second electrical signaling means acted upon by the bailer and providing a third electrical signal when the bailer engages the stop means; motor reversing means connected to the motor; and a control system, interconnected with the first electrical signaling means, the second electrical signaling means, the motor, and the motor reversing means, and comprising: first control means to initiate incremental lowering of the bailer within the well in increments which are a fraction of the total length of the bailer upon receiving the first electrical signal; second control means to reverse the motor and initiate raising the bailer to the surface upon receiving the second electrical signal; and third control means to initiate lowering of the bailer within a first preset time after receiving the third electrical signal.