The other day, Michael decided that I needed to learn about windmills. So here I am blogging about them. Here's what I learned about them.
Parts of a windmill pump, from the top:
The assembled pump in action:
Name to Use What I Call It
1. cylinder= case red thing
2. plunger= water puller metal stick
3. bottom check= holding water still valve
4. top and bottom check= holding water still bigger valve
5. leather= sealing water brown circle
The assembled pump in action:
We tried out the pump in a bucket of water. Ta da! It worked!
--cg
For those wanting extra credit, here's a description of how the parts work. This is taken from a catalog for windmill parts. There is a sketch in conjunction with the description, but most of the parts were identified in the photograph.
ReplyDeletePRINCIPLE OF CYLINDER OPERATION
Pump rod of wood or steel connects plunger of pump to valves in cylinder and brings about actual pumping action.
There is a check valve at bottom of cylinder and a similar valve in the plunger. Water flows into cylinder through check valve while plunger is making its up-stroke. On down stroke, water is held in cylinder by check valve and plunger descends to bottom while water passes through valve in plunger.
On next up stroke, valve in plunger closes and water above it is raised up into drop pipe. At same time check valve opens and cylinder fills with water again. With each up stroke of the pump, the plunger forces a cylinder full of water into drop pipe and out to discharge tank.
There you have it. The thing is not complicated. Consider that repairs were made by individuals who if fortunate had a third grade education. They learned by doing and observing, not from an instruction manual. Anyone who reads this is grossly overqualified.
Thanks to "The olde windmill man" Marvin Stinson of Leedy, Oklahoma for his conversation and experience. Marvin was a major contributor to the Shattuck, OK windmill museum until the women there wanted his mills to pump water for their flower garden. He thought this was not a proper use of his windmills or his time. Windmillers can be very contrary!
Aw, that's too easy! Make those children earn their keep by hauling buckets from the well! xoz
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