Loading ...The spring I used to power the hydraulic ram was about 150-200 yards from the log home I had just built. The spring came out of the ground on about the same elevation as my home and dropped over a steep bank. I had ample flow to capture/fill a 2″ pipe continuously without getting any air into the system. I built and submerged a screened input box at the spring to keep any debris from entering the system, ran the 2″ pipe through a hole in the intake box and down to the Hydraulic Ram, a drop of about 15 feet as I recall. The continuous flow of the water into the Ram set off the “clacker” (which was a u-shaped piece of flat iron with a rubber cup over the exit pipe that delivered the water through a 1″ PVC pipe to a 200 gallon tank I had installed in the loft of my house. I also had installed an overflow in that tank so when the water was not being used it would drain out the overflow and back into a gravel basin I dug in the ground. The system ran 24/7 and provided all the water we needed in the house to flush toilets, etc just like any other home. Once I knew the system would work I buried all the outside lines and covered the spring with a small insulated shed.
The pictures you are showing is a commercially made hydraulic ram, as you know, and would probably be much easier to work with. The plan I used I had to build the Ram from scratch. I got my plans from an old (1938?)Popular Mechanics magazine I found in the main Library in Modesto California. It gave detailed instructions on how to build a Hydraulic Ram and I followed them as closely as possible. I used all the same material they suggested including cast iron pipe which had to be embedded in concrete. Otherwise I think the water hammer would have broken it….So when my ram was completed it looked like a concrete block about 3’X3′ with cast iron pipes sticking out. Of course when those original plans were drawn there was no such thing as PVC or ABS pipe.
Since I am no longer living remotely close to that property (800 miles away)I have to use memory and guess to try to answer your other questions. I think the water dropped about 15′ from the spring inlet box to the Hydraulic Ram Pump. So from the pump to the house loft tank I’m guessing there was an elevation change of 30-50′, and the horizontal distance of 150-200 yards. The water hammer I can still “hear” in my mind (lol) and it seems it was slightly faster than one clack per second when properly adjusted. Once it was all “tuned” properly there was very seldom a problem with it’s continuity. It just clacked away night and day and deliver maybe a half gallon of water to the tank every minute….and if it was interrupted for some reason it would create a continuous “clatter” sound rather than the one clack per second sound….and also, then, it would not produce any water.
I hope there is something in this that is helpful Aquila. Let me know if I can answer any more questions….and all the Best from Silverngold!