[Homestead] Physical Properties of Hand-Operated Well Pumps

Don Bowen don.bowen at earthlink.net
Mon Oct 4 20:31:36 EDT 2004


At 10/4/2004, you wrote:
>I need to know things like the minimum amount of force required to drive 
>the handle (both up and down), the minimum length of stroke required to 
>maintain the flow, and the minimum speed requirements, if any, and the 
>associated rate of water flow.  Maybe someone knows of a mannufacturers 
>website with some specs.  At this point I'd be happy to hear any anecdotes 
>that might give me some clue.

The total weight is easy.  It is the weight of the pump and pump rods, the 
water below the pump and the water above the pump.  The weight of the water 
is the inside volume of the pipe above and below the pump plus the volume 
of the pump minus the volume of the pump rod times the weight of water per 
volume.  Water flow is the pump volume times the number of strokes over time.

What you see on the top of the pump is just the handle.  The actual pump 
will be something less than 30 feet above the surface of the water.  You 
have to lift the water that distance plus the distance from the pump to the 
outlet.  Distance from the water surface to the pump decreases as you go up 
in altitude, I have my books packed or I could give a chart.

Don Bowen
Awl Knotted Up Woodworking
Valley Center, CA             http://www.braingarage.com




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