Hydraulic Ram...

[Niloc]

I am installing a trickle irrigation system. I have a channel at my boundary which has a good flow of water and I would like to install a hydraulic ram to pust the water up to my storage tanks so I can reticulate down the irrigation system.

Does anyone know where I can get a hydraulic ram to do this?

[bino]

I am installing a trickle irrigation system. I have a channel at my boundary which has a good flow of water and I would like to install a hydraulic ram to pust the water up to my storage tanks so I can reticulate down the irrigation system.

Does anyone know where I can get a hydraulic ram to do this?

I don't quite understand how a hydraulic ram would work in this application....

I think you are looking for a pump of some kind. Available at HomePro or any hardware dealer.

[sbk]

ram pump definition

WHAT IS A RAM PUMP ?

The hydraulic ram pump is a reliable, old-time water pump that works just as well today as ever. Often called a water ram, one of these simple devices can pump water from a flowing source of water (spring, creek, river, etc.) to any point above the source, and this without any power requirement except the force of water moving downhill, contained inside a ‘drive pipe‘. This rugged and dependable device is typically installed today at remote home sites and cabins that are off the power grid and would otherwise be without a water supply. Sometimes a ram is used as a backup water system, or for watering livestock, gardens, decorative lily ponds, irrigation water pump. Simply because a ram uses no power opens up a world of possibilities for using water that would otherwise flow on downstream, wasted. All that is really required is the surface water source. The water has to be moving, have a flow to it...not much, but some. The creek need not be large either - 4 gallons per minute is the minimum.

The Atlas Ram Pump as it stands today is a rugged, compact unit able to withstand 200 psi and pump water to a theoretical 230 feet of vertical lift. The materials are ALL easily obtained at plumbing or hardware stores, consisting of galvanized iron plumbing fittings ,brass check valves and a PVC pressure tank (air dome). The tank has an air bladder (no snifter valve!) which prevents a water-logged or air-logged condition within the pressure dome, thereby increasing the overall efficiency of the unit and decreasing the required maintenance. The air bladder is a 12" scooter inner tube, very common and easy to find.

The clack valve can be any size from 1'' to 2", drive pipe as well. The clack valve is weight activated and adjustable, no spring to break, stretch or adjust. The unit is quiet- the valves seal with rubber O-rings. The unit is anchored by the sheer weight of a block of concrete molded around the base, although all working parts are easily accessible. The installation is simple, reliable and almost maintenance-free.

The Hydraulic Ram Water Pump is a piece of Americana that is as useful today as ever. Utilizing a simple principle, the hydraulic ram can pump water above a source of flowing water with no other power required.

Moving water contains a small amount of kinetic energy (inertia); this is the energy of water falling downstream under the force of gravity, for our purposes called, "fall." The ram pump utilizes this inertial energy to pump water to a height greater than the source of the water. It runs all the time, requires no fuel, and needs only minor adjustments and cleaning for maintenance.

There are two things needed to operate a ram pump: (1) Enough water to run the ram - about four gallons per minute, minimum, and (2) enough fall to run the ram pump - about five feet, minimum.

The ram pump occupies a narrow niche in the array of water pump systems available today. Because it is somewhat more involved to set up than a powered pump, it is generally used only where electricity is too expensive or not available, or where the water source is too small to use a high-capacity pump. Where it is called for, a ram pump system is a dependable, economical alternative to a conventional electric or gasoline water pumping system. It will give years of service and require only minimum routine maintenance.

Detailed info about ram pumps

and a book to order that tells you how to build your own

good luck!

[bino]

They say that you learn something new every day- thanks for today's lesson SBK!

I never knew anything like this existed. I thought hydraulic rams were for bulldozers and dump trucks!

[sbk]

My dad grew up on a farm in the Depresssion and has quite an extensive knowledge of this kind of thing. Its amazing the stuff kids absorb

[Niloc]

Thanks, I have used Ram pumps before and I have an article on building my own but the 'clack' valve is difficult. If I could buy one of these I can build my own pump, if I had a workshop I could make a valve but with only a screwdriver and shifting spanner it is a bit difficult! Give me a lathe and there would be no problem.

I read on the net 'cheap copies of Ram pumps are made in Asia, China, Malaysia and Thailand' so I was hoping to find out where I can buy a 'cheap copy' here.

[sbk]

Can't say as I have ever seen one here but I'll ask my husband and get back to you.

In the meantime, here is link to a drawing of a clack valve you could try printing out and showing around

[chownah]

Can't help in finding the hardware but you might find a link that tells how to estimate how much water you could expect to pump based on the stream flow velocity, flow volume, and the required lift....I think that these are the three parameters you will need to know. Then you could determine if it will do the job before investing more time into finding one. My guess is that before you buy one you will have to know some of these parameters anyway to know what size of one to buy...but I'm not sure since I've only read about them and have no direct experience with them.

Chownah