Rural Hygiene Part 11

_Hydraulic rams._

A hydraulic ram is the cheapest method of pumping water, provided that the necessary flow with a sufficient head to do the work is available.

It requires about seven times as much water to flow through the ram and be wasted as is pumped, so that if it is desired to pump five hundred gallons a day, the stream must flow at the rate of about thirty-five hundred gallons per day to lift the necessary water.

The two disadvantages of a ram are, first, that a fall of water is not always obtainable or that the stream flow is not always sufficient, and second, that the action of the ram is subject to interruptions on account of the acc.u.mulation of air in summer and on account of the formation of ice in winter. In fact, in winter it is necessary to keep a small fire going in the house where the ram is at work in order that this interruption may not take place. Its great advantage is that it requires no attendance, no expense for maintenance, and practically nothing for repairs. It operates continuously when once started, and, except for the occasional interruption on account of air-lock, is always on duty.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 44.--Installation of ram.]

Usually the water is led from above the dam or waterfall in a pipe to the ram and flows away after pa.s.sing through the ram, back into the stream. The water pumped is generally taken from the same stream and is a part of the water used to operate the ram. This is not necessary, however, and double-acting rams are manufactured which will pump a supply of water from a source entirely different from that which operates the ram. The following table from the Rife Hydraulic Engine Manufacturing Co. gives the dimensions and approximate costs of rams suitable for pumping against a head not greater than about thirty feet for each foot of fall available in the drive pipe:--

TABLE XI

======+=======================+=======+=========+===============+ Gallons per Dimensions Size Size Minute -------+-------+------- of of required Drive- Delivery to operate Number Height Length Width pipe -pipe Engine ------+-------+-------+-------+-------+---------+---------------+ 10 2' 1" 3' 2" 1' 8" 1-1/4" 3/4" 2-1/2 to 6 15 2' 1" 3' 4" 1' 8" 1-1/2" 3/4" 6 to 12 20 2' 3" 3' 8" 1' 9" 2" 1" 8 to 18 25 2' 3" 3' 9" 1' 9" 2-1/2" 1" 11 to 24 30 2' 7" 3' 10" 1' 10" 3" 1-1/4" 15 to 35 40 3' 3" 4' 4" 2' 0" 4" 2" 30 to 75 80 7' 4" 8' 4" 2' 8" 8" 4" 150 to 350 120 8' 9" 8' 4" 2' 8" 12" 5" 375 to 700 120 8' 9" 8' 4" 2' 8" 2-12" 6" 750 to 1400 ======+=======+=======+=======+=======+=========+================+

=======+===========+========+========+======= Least Feet Price Price of Fall Single- Double- Number Recommended Weight acting acting -------+-----------+--------+--------+------- 10 3 150 $ 50 $ 65 15 3 175 55 70 20 2 225 60 75 25 2 250 66 81 30 2 275 75 90 40 2 600 150 170 80 2 2200 525 575 120 2 3000 750 850 120 2 6000 1500 1700 =======+===========+========+========+=======

If the length of the discharge pipe is more than a hundred feet, the effect of friction is to reduce the amount of water pumped, but rams will operate successfully against a head of three or four hundred feet.

The writer remembers an installation in the northern part of New York State, where two large hydraulic rams furnish the water-supply supply for an entire village, pumping every day several hundred thousand gallons. Figure 44 shows an installation by the Power Specialty Co. of New York, using the fall of some rapids in a brook to pump water into a tank in the attic of a house.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 45.--Means of securing fall for hydraulic ram.]

In Fig. 45 are shown two methods of securing a fall for hydraulic rams, recommended by the Niagara Hydraulic Engine Co. The first method shows no drain pipe, but a long drive pipe; while the second method puts the ram in an intermediate position, with considerable lengths of each.

There are other methods of utilizing the fall of a stream, but usually they involve a greater outlay for the construction of a dam and other appurtenances. An old-fas.h.i.+oned bucket water wheel may be used, which, though not efficient, utilizes the power of the stream. The wheel may be belted or geared to a pump directly or may drive a dynamo, the power of which may in turn be transmitted to the pump. The objection to such construction usually is that during the summer the small streams which could be made of service at slight expense run dry or nearly so, while the expense of damming and utilizing a large stream where the water-supply is always sufficient is too great for a single house.

_Hot-air engines._

The simplest kind of a pump worked mechanically is the Rider-Ericsson hot-air engine (see Fig. 46), which is made to go by the expansive force of hot air. The fuel used may be wood, coal, kerosene oil, gasolene, or gas, the amount used being very moderate and the daily expense of maintenance very small.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 46.--A hot-air engine.]

For a number of years the writer used one of these machines to pump water from a tank in his cellar to a tank in the attic, so that running water could be had throughout the house. With an engine and pump costing $100, it was necessary to pump twice a week for about an hour to supply the attic tank and to furnish the necessary water for the family. The following table shows the dimensions, the capacity, and the fuel consumption of the different styles of pumps made by this company:--

TABLE XII

=========+===========+===========+=========+==========+============+====== Suction and Anthracite Size of Discharge Capacity Cu. Ft. Kerosene Coal Per Cylinder Pipe Per Hour of Gas Per Hour Hour Price ---------+-----------+-----------+---------+----------+------------+------ 5" 3/4" 150 gal. 12 1 qt. 4 lb. $ 90 6" 1" 300 gal. 16 2 qt. 4 lb. 130 8" 1-1/4" 500 gal. 20 2 qt. 5 lb. 160 10" 1-1/2" 1000 gal. 50 3 qt. 6 lb. 240 =========+===========+===========+=========+==========+============+======

_Gas engines for pumping._

During the last few years, on account of the great demand for gas engines for power boats and automobiles, the efficiency and reliability of these engines depending upon the explosive power of the mixture of gas and air has greatly increased. To-day, probably no better device for furnis.h.i.+ng a satisfactory source of power in small quant.i.ties at a reasonable cost can be found. One engine might readily be used in several capacities, pumping water during the day or at intervals during the day when not needed for running feed cutters; and possibly running a dynamo for electric lights at night. It would be easy to arrange the gas engine so that a s.h.i.+ft of a belt would transfer the power of the engine from a dynamo to a pump or to other machinery. In this case the pump is entirely distinct and separate from the engine, and while the gas engine may be directly connected with the pump and bolted to the same bed plate, if the engine is to be used for other purposes than pumping, an intermediate and changeable belt is desirable.

The term "gas engine" is properly restricted to engines literally consuming gas, either illuminating gas or natural gas; but the term is also applied to engines using gasolene as a fuel. The same principle is used in the construction of oil engines where kerosene oil is the fuel instead of gasolene, and it is probable that the latter engines are safer; that is, less subject to dangerous explosion than the former.

Whichever fuel is used, the engine may be had in sizes ranging from one half to twenty horsepower and are very satisfactory to use. Any ordinary, intelligent laborer with a little instruction can start and operate them, and except for occasional interruptions they may be depended upon to work regularly. The cost of operation with different fuels may be estimated from the following table, which also shows the cost when coal is used as in an ordinary steam plant, the data being furnished by the Otto Gas Engine Works:--

TABLE XIII

=================+=================+====================+=============== Fuel Consumption Cost of Fuel Per Brake H.-P. Per Brake Fuel Price of Fuel 10 Hours H.-P. 10 Hours -----------------+-----------------+--------------------+--------------- Gasolene 10c per gal. 1.25 gal. 12.5c -----------------+-----------------+--------------------+--------------- Illuminating gas $1.00 per 1000 180 cu. ft. 18c cu. ft. -----------------+-----------------+--------------------+--------------- Natural gas 25c per 1000 130 to 160 cu. ft. 3.25 to 4c cu. ft. -----------------+-----------------+--------------------+--------------- Producer gas, anthracite pea coal $4.00 per ton 15 lb. 2.67c -----------------+-----------------+--------------------+--------------- Producer gas, charcoal $10.00 per ton 12 lb. 5.35c -----------------+-----------------+--------------------+--------------- Bituminous coal, ordinary steam engine $3.00 per ton 80 to 100 lb. 10.7 to 13.4c =================+=================+====================+===============

A photograph of a small (2 H.P.) gas engine made by the Foos Gas Engine Co. with pump complete is shown in Fig. 47. This pump will lift forty gallons of water per minute, with a suction lift up to twenty-five feet, to a height of about seventy-five feet above the pump. The pump gear can be thrown out of connection with the engine, so that the latter can be used for other purposes where power is desired.

_Steam pumps._

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 47.--A gas engine.]

The use of a steam pump would probably not be considered for a single house unless a small boiler was already installed for other purposes.

Not infrequently a boiler is found in connection with a dairy for the purpose of furnis.h.i.+ng steam and hot water for was.h.i.+ng and sterilizing bottles and cans. Where silage is stored in quant.i.ty, a steam boiler and engine are often employed for the heavy work of cutting up fodder. In both these cases it may be a simple matter to connect a small duplex pump with the installed boiler, as is done frequently in creameries, for the sake of pumping the necessary water-supply for the house. Whenever extensive improvements are contemplated, it is well worth while to consider the possibilities of one boiler operating the different kinds of machinery referred to. In Fig. 48 is shown a small pump, made by The Goulds Manufacturing Co., capable of lifting forty-eight gallons of water per minute against a head of a hundred feet. The diameter of piston is four inches and the length of stroke is six inches. It is operated by a belt from a steam engine used for other purposes as well.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 48.--Pump operated by belt.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 49.--Duplex pump, operated directly by steam.]

TABLE XIV

==========+==========+========+=============+=============+=========+ Diameter Diameter Length Gallons of Steam of Water of Gallons per Revolutions per Cylinders Pistons Stroke Revolution per Minute Minute ----------+----------+--------+-------------+-------------+---------+ 3 3/4 3 0.019 80 1.5 3 1 3 0.033 80 2.6 4-1/2 1 4 0.044 75 3.6 4-1/2 1-1/4 4 0.064 75 4.8 5-1/4 1-1/4 5 0.08 70 5.6 5-1/4 1-3/4 5 0.18 70 12.7 6 1-3/4 6 0.22 65 14.0 6 2 6 0.29 65 19.0 6 2-1/4 6 0.38 65 25.0 7-1/2 2-1/2 6 0.38 65 25.0 6 2-1/2 6 0.48 65 31.0 7-1/2 2-1/2 6 0.048 65 31.0 7-1/2 2-3/4 6 0.056 65 36.0 9 2-3/4 6 0.056 65 36.0 9 3-1/2 6 0.079 65 51.0 ==========+==========+========+=============+=============+=========+

==========+======================================+================== Size of Pipes for Approximate Short Lengths To be s.p.a.ce Occupied increased as Length Increases Feet and Inches +-------+---------+---------+----------+--------+--------- Diameter of Steam Steam Exhaust Suction Delivery Cylinders Pipe Pipe Pipe Pipe Length Width ----------+-------+---------+---------+----------+--------+------ 3 3/8 1/2 1-1/4 1 2 9 1 0 3 3/8 1/2 1-1/4 1 2 9 1 1 4-1/2 1/2 3/4 2 1-1/2 2 10 1 1 4-1/2 1/2 3/4 2 1-1/2 2 10 1 1 5-1/4 3/4 1-1/4 1-1/2 1 3 1 1 4 5-1/4 3/4 1-1/4 1-1/2 1 3 1 1 4 6 1 1-1/4 1-1/2 1 3 5 1 5 6 1 1-1/4 1-1/2 1 3 5 1 5 6 1 1-1/4 1-1/2 1 3 5 1 5 7-1/2 1-1/2 2 4 3 3 6 1 6 6 1 1-1/4 1-1/2 1 3 5 1 5 7-1/2 1-1/2 2 4 3 3 6 1 9 7-1/2 1-1/2 2 4 3 3 7 1 9 9 1-1/2 2 4 3 3 8 1 11 9 1-1/2 2 4 3 3 9 1 11 ==========+=======+=========+=========+==========+========+======

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 50.--Raising water by means of compressed air.]

Figure 49 shows a cut of a small duplex Worthington pump which operates by steam, not requiring any intermediate engine. To show the variety of pumps made and the way in which the proportions vary with the capacity of the pumps, the preceding table is given of pumps of small capacity designed to work with low steam pressure.

_Air lifts for water._

Compressed air is also a source of power for raising water from a deep well; but it is neither economical in first cost of apparatus nor in operation. The principle is shown by the diagram of Fig. 23, and explains without words how air pressure may be carried down into the well through one pipe and thereby force the water of the well up into another pipe far above its natural level. The machinery needed involves an engine or motor and an air compressor, the latter taking the place of the ordinary pump. It has the single advantage that it avoids the maintenance of valves and similar deep-well machinery at a great distance below the ground, the air pump not requiring any mechanism in the well.

In Fig. 50 is shown a plant installed by the Knowles Pump Co. for a hotel where the air compressor furnished compressed air to raise the water from the deep well into a tank, whence a steam pump lifts the water to a reservoir, not shown.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 51.--Wooden tank.]

_Water tanks._

The standard form of wooden tank in which water may be stored and from which it may be delivered to the house fixtures is pictured in Fig. 51.

Figure 52 shows a galvanized iron tank for the same purpose. The tables appended, taken from catalogues of firms building such tanks, show the dimensions, weights, and costs of the two kinds of tanks.

TABLE XV. DIMENSIONS AND LIST PRICES OF WATER TANKS.

WOODEN STAVE TANKS

======+=======+=========+=====+======+=============+=============+============= 1-1/2 In. 2-In. 2-In.

Length Price Cypress Cypress Pine Of Dia. No. Galv. +------+------+------+------+------+------ Stave, Bottom, Capacity, of Hoops, Weight Weight Weight Feet Feet Gallons Hoops Extra Lb. Price Lb. Price Lb. Price ------+-------+---------+-----+------+------+------+------+------+------+------ 2 3 66 2 $ .30 105 $ 9.30 127 $12.00 110 $10.50 3 3 108 3 .40 146 12.00 182 15.00 157 13.20 2 4 125 2 .35 150 14.30 186 17.50 160 15.50 4 4 283 4 .65 260 21.00 321 26.00 277 23.00 2 5 207 2 .45 190 19.80 240 24.00 207 21.00 2-1/2 5 272 3 .65 247 21.30 305 26.00 263 23.50 3 5 337 3 .65 267 22.80 332 28.00 287 25.00 4 5 467 4 .85 342 25.80 425 32.50 367 28.50 5 5 597 4 1.00 409 28.90 508 37.00 438 32.00 2 5-1/2 252 2 .50 233 22.50 317 27.50 251 24.00 2-1/2 5-1/2 312 3 .75 275 24.00 341 31.70 294 28.00 2 6 304 2 .50 265 23.50 331 28.00 284 25.00 2-1/2 6 400 3 .75 310 26.30 387 31.00 334 28.00 4 6 688 4 1.25 443 31.80 546 41.00 473 35.00 5 6 880 4 1.40 520 36.90 645 48.00 557 41.00 6 6 1072 5 1.60 600 42.00 744 55.00 642 47.00 2-1/2 7 550 3 .85 381 29.00 475 38.00 409 32.00 5 7 1210 4 1.60 630 45.00 780 58.00 675 50.00 6 7 1474 5 2.00 738 51.50 910 66.00 789 56.50 7 7 1738 6 2.35 829 58.00 1028 74.00 889 63.00 2 8 551 2 .80 408 31.00 506 40.00 436 35.00 2-1/2 8 725 3 1.20 472 35.00 587 45.00 507 39.00 6 8 1943 5 2.60 880 61.00 1083 78.00 938 68.00 8 8 2639 7 3.50 1113 76.00 1363 97.00 1193 84.00 9 9 3825 8 5.20 1770 124.40 1539 108.00 6 10 3093 5 4.30 1458 107.00 1266 91.00 8 10 4200 7 6.20 1867 131.00 1630 113.00 10 10 5308 9 8.10 2277 155.00 1994 135.00 12 10 6516 11 10.00 2653 179.00 2323 157.00 6 12 4494 5 6.30 1930 138.00 1685 120.00 10 12 7714 9 11.35 2910 200.00 2555 174.00 12 12 9324 11 14.00 3393 231.00 2984 201.00 ======+=======+=========+=====+======+======+======+======+======+======+======

GALVANIZED IRON TANKS

=====+========+==========+==========+========+======== Height Diameter Capacity Weight No. Ft. Ft. Bbl. Lb. Price -----+--------+----------+----------+--------+-------- 150 5 8 60 475 $ 47.50 151 6 6 41 340 35.00 152 6 8 72 530 52.50 153 8 6 54 430 43.00 154 8 8 96 640 65.00 155 8 10 150 875 85.00 156 10 8 120 750 73.00 157 10 10 180 970 95.00 158 10 12 270 1400 128.00 159 12 12 324 1600 150.00 =====+========+==========+==========+========+========

There are many combinations and forms of these structures, and a detailed description of their characteristic construction and cost would occupy too much s.p.a.ce for this present work. By referring to the pages of any agricultural, architectural, or engineering magazine, advertis.e.m.e.nts may be found of firms who build such towers and who may be depended upon for satisfactory work.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 52.--Iron tank.]