RP-01638

inch
0t-r1
10
10
30
cm
20
50
B
CD
1
C (top)
A
Fig. 5. Details of L3 pump: (A) (rame and wooden bearings, (B) big-end bearing, and (C) final handle design showing position of
wooden bearings.
components of these pumps (see Table 1 and
Fig. 4) worked well and did not require
modification. Originally, a 7.5-cm cylinder
was used for the riser pipe and a 5-cm pipe
was used for the above-ground portion of the
pipe. However, this meant that the 7.5-cm
piston could not be removed for repairs without
cutting the cylinder. To make repairs
easier and to save time and labour, a 5-cm
piston is now used along with a 5-cm pipe
for the entire length of the riser pipe and
cylinder.
The V i pump
Nine of the Vl pumps (Fig. 4) have been
installed: four at Akurala; four at Yatiyana;
and one at Hingurudugoda. The wells at these
sites are 3-4 m deep. The above-ground
components of this pump were modified based
on our experience, the results of the field
testing, and the suggestions of the users. We
found that the original metal handle made
this pump difficult to operate, therefore we
switched to a wooden handle. We also discovered
that the piston could be pulled out of
the cylinder during use so we installed a
simple metal bracket to prevent over-raising
(see Fig. 6). The cost of this pump is low;
about US$75 for the complete pump to draw
water from 3 m. However, because there is
no lever mechanism in the design, the user
must lift the full weight of the water in the
column, thus making extensive use tiring.
Frame The pump frame is made of 5.1-cm
galvanized pipe. A galvanized plate is used to
fix the frame to the well and a 2.5-cm socket
is welded onto the frame for attachment of
the spout.
Spout The spout, made of 2.5-cm pipe,
is screwed to the pump frame. The other end
of the spout is bent, using heat, to an angle
of 90°.
Handle Hard wood such as satin and jak
is used to make the handle, which is held in
place by a bolt. The pump is very easy to
operate, but usage for a long period can be
tiring. In a few instances, the wooden handle
broke when the pump was in operation; however,
it is interesting to note that the people
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