The Bamford "Hi-Ram Pump ®"
Installation and Drive Pipe Construction
[Introduction] [Pump Operation] [Installation] [Drive Pipe] [Installation Photographs]
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The Bamford "Hi-Ram Pump ®"
Australian Patent No 741896
Introduction
Welcome to a new type of self-powered water pump, using new technology combined with the long established operating principle of hydraulic ram pumps.
Please read very carefully the following information for pump installation and drive pipe construction. We suggest that you read this entire booklet before testing or installing a pump.
Our Internet Site at http://www.bamford.com.au also has additional information, which is progressively updated.
Installation Generally.
For proper operation, the pump and the drive pipe must operate as one unit. The drive pipe and associated pipes form "half" of the pump. Successful operation depends upon you constructing a suitable drive pipe and correctly installing it.
The drive pipe determines the size of the "water hammer" needed in the operating cycle. Because of its rigidity, steel pipe gives the greatest water hammer effect to allow the best operation of the pump. The use of steel pipe is recommended wherever possible. For ease of transport the necessary lengths of drive pipe can be made up from shorter lengths of pipe, each say 1.5 metres long.
In normal operation, each operating cycle should be about one second long.
Based on experience, a standpipe should always be used at the entry to the drive pipe.
Initial Set-up to Test Pump.
If you have not previously installed a Bamford Hi-Ram Pump, you should temporarily set up the pump, drive pipe and standpipe on flat ground and run the pump from an existing source of piped or reticulated water.
This can be done, for example, by connecting a garden hose to the standpipe where water enters to drive the pump. There must be no water leakage at the hose connection to the standpipe. During testing, water should flow from the top of the standpipe. The standpipe gives the drive head for the pump and is best made about 2 metres high for first testing, but not more than 4 metres.
The outlet from the black plastic Philmac non-return valve should initially be blocked off (e.g. with a 1 inch plug) so that a back pressure is provided without a delivery pipe.
After flushing air etc out of the pump, get it going using the stainless steel tube with 2 or 3 holes at the bottom of the tube. It is important to get all air out of the system. Once you have it running, try variations of steel tubes, inlet head and outlet head.
Although it does not accurately reproduce normal operating conditions or pump output, this initial testing will give you experience and confidence in pump operation without the variations that may occur from a natural water supply.
Home Page http://www.bamford.com.au
Bamford Industries, Post Office Box 11, YASS NSW 2582, AUSTRALIA
NSW BN97702171 ABN 65 532 775 937
Phone +(61 2) 6226 4068
"Hi-Ram Pump" is a Registered Trade Mark
Copyright ©John Bamford 2003-2014