Understanding Ram Pump Mechanics and Components
At 2:42 in
You've never seen a farm water system like this...cheap, easy no electrical required!
What happens here
The ram pump itself consists of several PVC and metal components. Water from a higher source flows down, building pressure. This pressure slams a waste valve closed, generating a pressure wave. Part of this wave forces water into an inline valve connected to a pressure tank (accumulator), which then pushes the water uphill to the delivery point. The remaining pressure shoots water back towards the source, causing the waste valve to reopen by gravity, and the cycle repeats. The efficiency is a 1:7 ratio, meaning a 1-foot drop can pump water 7 feet vertically. The components shown include a ball valve, pipe nipples, unions, a T-piece, a swing valve, an inline PVC spring valve, and a pressure tank made from a 2-inch PVC pipe with a cap and a bicycle inner tube inside acting as a snifter valve. Teflon tape and PVC cement are used for secure connections.
Goal: Grasp the operational principle and identify the individual parts of a ram pump.
Tools and materials
- Ball Valve — Controlling water flow in the pump assembly
- Bicycle Inner Tube — Acting as a snifter valve inside the pressure tank
- Inline PVC Spring Valve — Allows water to flow in one direction towards the pressure tank
- Pipe Nipples — Connecting various components of the pump
- PVC Bushing — Adapting pipe sizes within the assembly
- PVC Cap — Sealing the top of the pressure tank
- PVC Cement Oatey — Permanently bonding PVC pipe and fittings
- PVC Pipe — Constructing the pressure tank/accumulator
- Swing Valve — The primary valve that creates the water hammer effect
- T-Piece — Creating branches in the pipe system