_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-fashioned 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 furnishing 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 shift 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 furnishing steam and hot water for washing 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.]