Easy Homemade Pumps
This pump may be run by any number of power sources such as our SAIL WING.
Or as is shown here, with a small commercially made wing that is powering one of the pumps in the greenhouse.
1. To build the pump first obtain the following items:
* 10' section of 1 inch PVC Schedule 40 pipe
* 10' section of ½ inch CPVC pipe
* 1 End cap for 1 inch PVC Schedule 40 pipe
* 2 End caps for ½ inch CPVC pipe
* 1 rubber grommet for ¾ inch EMT pipe
* 1 small glass marble 9/16 inch but less than ¾ inch in diameter
* 1 small ball bearing 3/8 inch in diameter.
2. Drill a ½ inch hole in the 1 inch end cap from the inside.
(Click on picture to see larger view)
3. Glue the 1 inch end cap to the 1 inch pipe and drop the marble down from the inside. Insure the marble seals the end hole but also travels freely.
4. Cut ¼ inch from the open end of one of the ½ inch end caps. You should have a circle ¼ in tall when finished. Slide this component up one end of the ½ inch CPVC pipe about 2 inches.
5. Drill ¼ inch hole from inside of the ½ inch end cap.
6. Slide the rubber grommet up the end of the pipe until it meets the ring. Glue the ½ inch end cap with the hole in it on that end of the CPVC pipe. Slide the rubber grommet down until it fits snugly against the end cap. Slide the ring down until it holds the grommet firmly. Insert into the other end of the 1 inch pipe to see if it fits snug. If it fits too tight back the ring off a bit. Glue ring.
7. Insert completed top check down till it makes contact with the bottom check marble. Pull back up 3 inches and mark with a pencil. This will denote lowest point the top check should travel.
8. Drop ball bearing down the ½ inch pipe. Place in water and check to insure it pumps.
9. Install to Sailwing.
10. Let'er pump.
Another way to build a pump is this one done by Travis Hughey of South Carolina & Kenya:
This particular pump size is not suitable for the small sail wings but readily adaptable to hand pump, Savonius or windmill.
1. Cut a ½ inch wide slice from a 2 inch PVC pipe. Carefully cut 45 degree slots from this ring as shown in the photo until it will fit snugly around a piece of 1 ½ inch PVC pipe. The ring will have to be compressed by hand until it fits.
2. Cut a section of 1 ½ inch pipe so it fits in a 1 ½ inch end cap and 1 ½ inch connector with the correct amount of space for the ring above. The ring will have to be compressed until fit is assured. This ring will act as a leather or rubber washer with the inside check.
3. Insert a reducer to 1 inch in the top of the collar and glue all parts.
4. Drill a 1 ¼ inch hole in a 2 inch threaded cap for a top guide and assemble as shown.
5. Bottom check will consist of :
* 2 inch threaded cap male
* 2 inch "T"
* 2 inch PVC to 1 inch female pipe
* 2 one way check valves.
6. Assemble as shown in the photo with both valves in the same flow direction.
7. Attach to pumping mechanism and let'er pump!
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