Simple PVC Hand Pump

This is a very simple and inexpensive direct-action hand pump that I designed while living in South America. It's made entirely of materials that won't corrode - PVC pipe and fittings, rubber bicycle inner tube, a Coke bottle cap, stainless steel screws, and copper wire. There are no seals on the piston to wear out, just an annular gap, but that requires that a simple filter be used below the foot valve to keep sand out. I make the filter out of a length of PVC pipe that I perforate with many holes, then wrap it with a round or two of plastic woven feed sack material and some wire or rope to hold it on. The pump works with little effort. There are a couple of other videos I'm posting of this pump showing how it can be used. I was able to sell the kit to make the whole pump including the filter (but minus the length of PVC pipe needed to reach water, which varies) for just $10 and I know of at least some that are still in use after more than 3 years of daily use. Because this pump is so simple and made of locally-available materials it's not difficult for people to do their own repairs. Simple, affordable, maintainable, reproducible - this is what I aim for.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• hand
• pump
• handpump
• bomba
• de
• agua
• mano
• simple
• inexpensive
• affordable
• maintainable
• reproducible
• AT
• appropriate
• technology
• tecnologia
• apropiada
• water
• lifter

[hickeyj22]

Did you say you were going to upload more videos describing the design process? Also I'm designing a similar pump to be used in Peru and was wondering if I could talk to you about your design.

[approtechie]

@hickeyj22 Someone was going to put together plans for me but I haven't heard from them in a long time. Looks like I'm back on my own, as time allows.

Email me at approtechie@gmail.com for details or discussion.

[soapshouse]

fix a small wind mill and u will get water pumped when there is wind and also fix a tub to collect water

[approtechie]

@soapshouse Yup.

[spdh]

could you point me towards a diagram of the how it works?

[approtechie]

@spdh I'm still working to put plans together. Will let you know when I have them.

[ParalegalDesignation]

Any one know a some good bauler buckets for sell under $60 bucks .I am going to make a well.

[agukoy]

@approtechie there's another 'how to' posting by someone from Indonesia, just search this title - simple save cost pvc hand well pump

[allowacan]

It would be great to replicate your design : ) Looking forward to your how-to

[cvl85]

AWESOME!!