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[Bill Jones <billj AT harborside.com>]

Today I had a few new ideas on designing the simplest vapor engine 
ever.  It's all made out of cheap, replaceable tubing.

Before I can get any more specific with my design, I have to know 
certain things about hand-operated water pumps, since that's the load my 
engine is expected to drive.  I played around with an old-fashioned pump 
some when I was a kid, but now I don't have access to one.  It seems to 
me that once the pump is primed, water flow can be maintained with only 
short strokes, but as I recall they must be frequent, depending on the 
state of the check valve.

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.

Bill