The cylinder pump is located
inside the windmill's drop pipe near the bottom
of the water well. It pumps water from the
bottom of the well by ratcheting it upward
through the drop pipe, towards the storage tank.
It achieves this by repeatedly
drawing water in through the bottom of the drop
pipe and lifting the water column upward. This
cycle repeats until water pours out of the top
of the drop pipe into the storage tank.
Cylinder Pump Valves
Two valves work together in an
opposing manner to pump water. The top valve is
called the "plunger" and the lower valve is
called the "check valve". Power is provided by
the windmill motor and transmitted to the
plunger through the sucker rod.
Several Things Happen At Once
...
As you view the animated cylinder pump
illustration keep several things in mind:
Water can only flow
upward through the valves. It's strictly an
upward, one-way flow of water.
Each valve has a
watertight seal at its base. Water passes
through the valve's bottom then up-and-out
through the valve's side vents.
When a valve's ball is
down, the valve is closed. When a valve's
ball is up, the valve is open.
Only the plunger moves.
The plunger's seal is watertight in the drop
pipe. But as it slides up and down, the
plunger creates a pumping action.
The lower check valve is
fixed in position. Water enters through the
strainer and flows upward through the check
valve.
When the wind stops
blowing, both valves close and pumping
stops, The water column above the plunger
and the "cylinder water" trapped between the
two valves are held in place, ready for the
pumping to resume when the wind begins to
blow again.
Ball Valves in Action
The ball's orientation in the
valve basket is the key.
• When the ball is "up",
the valve is open.
• When the ball is "down", the valve is
closed.
Water Flows Upward
Dark blue well water is drawn
upward through the lower check valve, filling
the cylinder pump.
The sky blue water column
water above the plunger is lifted upward.
Pale blue water in the
cylinder area becomes the new bottom of the
water column as the plunger moves downward.
Valves Work in Opposition to
Each Other
When the wind blows, the
plunger moves up and down. As the plunger moves,
each valve opens and closes at the appropriate
time causing water to be pumped upward.
Upstroke
On the upstroke, plunger valve
closes and the check valve opens. Water above
the plunger (the water column) is lifted. This
lifting motion also creates a vacuum between the
plunger and the check valve. This vacuum opens
the check valve, and well water flows up through
the strainer into the drop pipe.
Down-Stroke
On the down-stroke, plunger
valve opens and the check valve closes. The
plunger can then pass through the water being
held "in check" by the lower check valve. This
down-stroke forms the new bottom of the water
column.
