Rus Alit or Tee Water Pump

1. Rus Alit or Tee Water Pump • The principles making this pump work have been known for a very long time. • Rus Alit has been a key person in developing this to ensure it is easy to make in villages. • Recently we saw another version, operating in remote Cambodia. Enjoy the pictures and explanation! • Don’t just read about it, make one.

2. Rus Alit training in Bali • Rus Alit and Mark showing how the inner pump moves, while the outer stays in the water. Water is being pumped out the top of the inner pipe. Put a tee on and set it up… • The inner pipe doesn’t have to be a close fit with the outer pipe. However the foot valve in the inner pipe needs to fit well/closely with the outer pipe. See later on.

3. Hand pump, made from simple and cheap parts • Foot valve at left hand, ready to slide inner into the outer pipe, which is set in the top of an underground water tank. Tee at top of pipe to direct water flow. • Protect both pipes from sunshine as bright sun causes pipe to become brittle and break. • Underground tanks are reasonably safe from attack by those who desire destruction.

4. This end has a cap to stop water running out both ends. The tee is lifted up and down, water flows out this side- nowhere else for it to go, as it is progressively lifted, through the two foot valves. Tee A Ordinary tee fitting – at one end a cap to stop water running out both ends. A Outer pipe remains fixed- pls protect from harsh sun, so it doesn’t become brittle and break. B Pipe B is larger diameter, but only just, than Pipe A’s flange- the flange, is at the bottom of pipe A. This orange bar here is just to alert you- there might be a few metres of length in the two pipes at this point. (Pipe B might be concreted into the lid of the tank or well covering.) This wider portion (on pipe A) simply makes use of the flange always provided by manufacturer on one end of a long length of pipe, the wooden footvalve is fitted into this wider portion of pipe. Refer more detailed diagrams for how to make. A Foot valve built here and here. Water is sucked in, at bottom, as person lifts tee at top of pump. Top foot valve is then closed as bottom chamber fills with water. B C Foot valves are shown in next diagram, this bottom foot valve (C) is fixed to the pipe, by small screws through pipe and into wood.

5. Top, moving foot valve, at bottom of pipe A in main diagram A flap of heavy rubber, stronger than bike tubing is cut and attached at one side of the cylinder- so when water pushes down on the flap, the hole is closed Refer photo to see a footvalve This inner pipe with its top foot valve is what goes up and down. On the downstroke the top foot valve should not hit the bottom foot valve. Adjust length of pipes to set that correctly. Approx 25 mm diameter holes in footvalves to allow water to pass easily. This outer pipe, with its bottom foot valve stays stationary. Hole’s are drilled in pipe to allow water into the bottom portion of pipe. Only needed if the pipe were to sit on bottom of a concrete tank/well.

6. Bottom foot valve, position C in diagram showing whole pump Making a foot valve- A cylindrical piece of hard wood, (use rosewood or teak or something equally hard and durable) about the diameter of the INSIDE of the large stationary pipe- has a hole drilled in it.- The water is sucked through that hole, so make the hole at least 20, better still 25 mm diameter. The wood is fixed to the pipe about 10-15 cm from bottom of pipe- can be v. close to bottom of pipe, to allow almost all water to be pumped out of an underground tank. A flap of heavy rubber, stronger than bike tubing is cut and attached at one side of the cylinder- so when water pushes down on the flap, the hole is closed Hinged on this side, when closed, the flap covers the hole made in the tube of wood. Small screws or nails can be used to hold the flap to the side of the circular piece of wood. Hole’s are drilled in pipe to allow water into the bottom portion of pipe. Only needed if the pipe were to sit on bottom of a concrete tank/well. Bottom of well, or tank, but could be sitting in pond also, so long as the outer pipe is fixed to something above. Hole is made through centre of the tube of wood that is fitted carefully into pipes. The two foot valves have different outside diameters as each fits into a different sized pipe.

7. Foot valve to go in the inner pipe Foot made from durable timber. Rubber washer is flexible but strong- must be able to hold weight of water that builds above it, without collapsing This part of foot valve needs to fit closely into the inner pipe. This part of foot valve needs to be larger- it must fit closely with the inside diameter of the large outer pipe. If the fit isn’t good, lots of water will leak back instead of being pumped out the top of the pump.

8. Go Kiwi! Jonathon provides the energy Flexible hose attached to Tee at top of pump to allow a tank to be filled, while pump is in middle of the line. Some pipe should be buried to protect from damage.The main pump could be carried home if theft makes this necessary.

9. Cambodian set up from pond to open tank Seang who is wearing the cap pulls then pushes the pipe, which is supported by the frame in a swing like - backwards and forwards motion. He is pulling to make water flow into the tank. The tank could be taller and would therefore create a greater head for water to flow under pressure to house or garden.

10. Cambodian innovation • One wooden foot valve is replaced with heavy plastic and car tubing tying it all together. • The pump has been pulled apart to show how it works. • Push the plastic bag covered pipe end into larger pipe and as the left hand (inner) pipe is pulled, the bag opens out and catches water. A long stroke is possible, and remember the long outer pipe going into the pond or river (on the right) still needs a wooden foot valve.

11. Tanks made from pre-cast pipe pieces, mortar and slurry to seal them, one tank in this instance is to be used as a sand filter to remove large dirt- water is pumped from open pond.

12. Needed? • Methods for tank making • Methods for sealing ponds to stop water loss during dry periods – (manure, straw and lime?)

13. Acknowledgements • Rus Alit in Bali has been a key player in ensuring pumps like these have spread widely in Asia. • Pls acknowledge his input in any work arising from these slides. • Visit his web site at www.campbali.com/BATI.htm and • www.facebook.com/people/Rus-Alit/773256114 • Thanks- Dave Askin- dave@davidaskin.org

14. Tee A A B A B C A friend from Bangladesh assures us that if a second pipe is attached as shown it will halve the work of lifting water. The top of this second pipe must be fitted with a cap to stop air entering/escaping. This forms an air chamber that works to reduce work. Water level in river, or underground tank or in well. Water enters pump at bottom of pump