Playpump

ThePlaypump is an ingenious made-in-Africa water pump driven by achildrens' roundabout. The kids spin, water is pumped. Next: storagebatteries hookup up to health-club treadmills.

Playpumps are specifically designed and patented roundabouts (1) thatdrive conventional borehole pumps (2), while entertaining children. Therevolutionary pump design converts rotational movement to reciprocatinglinear movement by a driving mechanism consisting of only two workingparts.

This makes the pump highly effective, easy to operate and veryeconomical by keeping costs and maintenance to an absolute minimum. Thepump is capable of producing1400 litres per hour at 16 rpm from a depth of 40 metres and iseffective up to a depth of 100 metres.A typical hand pump installation cannot compete with this deliveryrate, even with substantial effort.

Playing on a roundabout or merry-go-round has always been funfor children, so there is never a shortage of 'volunteers'. As thechildren spin, water is pumped from underground (3) into a 2500 litretank (4), standing seven metres above the ground. A simple tap provideseasy access for the mothers and children drawing water (5).

Source: roundabout.co.zaAdded: 5 March 2008