Ram Pump

This is a still representation and possibly also a low-resolution image of a fully animated pump.

Ram Pumps only have two moving parts, making them virtually maintenance-free.

Water enters the lower of two chambers through a pipe from an elevated water source. This pipe must be relatively long and thick so that significant force (inertia) is developed as the water moves down it to the chamber.

As water rushes in it starts the pump. The chamber fills and the ESCAPE VALVE (on the left here) shuts. The DELIVERY VALVE to the AIR DOME opens.

The momentum of the rushing water pushes some water into the air dome and compresses the air that partially fills that chamber. When the pressure is great enough it opposes the force of the incoming water and the second valve drops shut.

After the delivery valve shuts, air pressure pushes water up the outlet pipe. In the first chamber, all valves are closed and no water can move, so the escape valve drops open and the cycle begins to repeat, about once a second.

This is an ideal pump when a plentiful water source is available. Roughly 3/4's of the water that passes through the system exits via the escape valve.

Related Material Outside this Web Site: Donald Burger, collector of Hydraulic Water Rams.

Mr. Burger's site contains additional links to other sites with more information about these marvelous pumps.  The Ram Company.

Manufacturers of several non-electric pumping solutions.

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