Water from a source such as a stream or spring is used to feed a supply tank. The fall of water from the supply tank down a steady incline provides the energy for the Ram pump to divert a smaller but continous flow of water to a different location. This destination can be much higher than the pump and hundreds of metres away.
The fall of water necessary to work a Ram can be as low as 500mm (20 inches) and with such a fall, water can be raised to 18m (60 feet). With higher falls, such as from 2m (6.7 feet) to 7m (23.3 feet) and over, water can be raised to upwards of 300m (1000 feet) or more in height, and distance is more or less unlimited: several of our Ram installations pump to over 5km (3.13 miles).
The pump itself operates in four phases:
Phase 1: drive water flows through the pump
Water from the supply tank flows in to the Ram pump and through the pulse valve. Excess water is returned to the stream.
Phase 2: pulse valve slams shut
The drive water accelerates through the pulse valve (shown in orange) causing it to slam shut. The sudden closure causes a rapid rise in pressure behind the valve.
Phase 3: delivery valve opens
The back pressure pulse (also known as “water hammer”) is sufficient to open the delivery valve (shown in orange) and pressurised water flows into the vessel.
Phase 4: water is driven to its final destination
As the back pressure is released into the vessel, the delivery valve shuts and the pulse valve opens again. The pressure in the vessel is sufficient to drive water through a supply pipe to wherever it is required. The air in the vessel acts as a damper, evening out the pulses in pressure to deliver a more stable flow of water.
Repeat
The cycle continues, 40-90 times per minute.
Different types of Ram pump
The above graphics illustrate the operation of a Simple Ram pump, where the pumped water is drawn from the drive water. However, if there is a potable water source that does not have an adequate fall to drive the pump, but there is a secondary source of impure water (such as a stream) that does have the required fall, a Compound Ram pump can be used instead.
A Compound Ram uses the impure water for power purposes and raises the pure water only. We manufacture two types of Compound Ram:
Piston Compound Ram
With this type of Ram we guarantee that the impure water which drives the Ram cannot in any way be mixed with the pure water that is pumped. This type of Ram is extremely useful where there is an ample supply of impure water but only a limited supply of pure water from a small spring. The spring is led down to the Ram and pumped by the Piston Type Compound Ram from a tank adjacent to it. This type of pump will pump under the most severe conditions.
The Leviathan Hydraulic Engine Ram
The self-working Patent Hydraulic Engine raises water 200 feet, or more, above the level of the spring or river where it is applied. By this Engine, towns, houses, factories, canals, gardens, farms and land upon elevated situations can be supplied with a constant stream of running water.