University of Michigan BLUELab Guatemala Team
Starting fall 2008 a group of dedicated, energetic and really bright students from the University of Michigan BLUELab accepted a challenge from the Appropriate Technology Collaborative (ATC). To design a treadle pump using only materials that might be found in Tanzania or another mostly rural African or SE Asian country. Moreover they would have to document the design such that other NGOs or individuals could easily read their drawings and copy their work.
BLUELab Treadle Pump Prototype
The BLUELab team responded with a robust design + documents that set a new standard in ease of use. They chose to work with us in Guatemala as an exercise in working with limited resources.
The following is from a letter I sent to our host NGO, AIDG:
The BLUELab team has been working on an open source treadle pump design since the start of school 2008. They got as far as a prototype or proof of concept model in their workshop, drew up incredibly detailed and easy to read documents and arrived in Guatemala after a daylong delay due to weather in the US. They also had to cut their visit short by a day on the other end due to flight scheduling problems.
The BLUELab team made up for lost time by being very well organized. They formed working groups for each component of the assembly. The reality of building in the developing world was made clear early when certain types of plastic weren’t available, pipe sizes were different from standards in the US and steel parts were also different from standards we have in the shop back home. Much was redesigned on the fly.
BLUELab worked all day at the AIDG workshop (thank you very much!) and then reviewed the next day’s assignments over a late dinner every night. They were successful in proving their prototype works on the last day of the build, at the last hour, with their bags already packed and their shuttle waiting.
BLUELab posted their work on their website and within 3 days NGOs from Africa were already asking for copies of their drawings. We plan on posting the revised design on the ATC website at the end of the semester and BLUELab is considering returning to Guatemala to build the new design.
Guatemala is probably not the place where treadle pumps will make a good business sense, but it is a great place to learn what it is like to build with limited resources. The experience for the student team, working with people from Guatemala and living embedded in a new culture will change how they view their work.
Documents are available upon request. We will be publishing the final documents when the BLUELab team is done redesigning based on what we learned in Guatemala.
Prototype drawings are available: Prototype Treadle Pump Drawings
It is a great job. I am a design student in China. I am very interested in this project. I this my hometown is also very needed of that kind of pump. I really want to join you and do something, design for the other 90%. Could you send me the drawings of the prototype pump and other documents.
Good for you. Cheers!
Shuo Yang
am very impressed with your knowledge sharing about this type of treadle pump, however i would request you to be detailed so the i can capture more details. if possible send me the actual drawing.
Hi-
I am sending you a copy of the prototype treadle pump drawings. We will have revised drawings sometime this fall, please stop back to check them out.
jsbarrie
Hi-
I tried to email you drawings but the email I sent bounced back.
jsbarrie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1x6MtQ7KUE
pls see our treadle pump
regards
pawan saxena
vice president
+91-9810043051
CleanPwr is serving a major non-profit agriculture organization in West Africa, who have need of a large number of snall irrigation pumps. Capacities and head have not yet been defined. They have asked for design of a solar-powered system, with which we will comply, but treadle pumps could be much more cost-effective. We have downloaded and are printing your open plans, and would like to assist them in manufacturing the U. Michigan pumps in West Africa.
With whom can we correspond to move on with this plan?
Thank you for your attention.
Joe Heineck
Pres., CleanPr Inc. Joeheineck@clearwwire.net Jheineck@cleanpwrinc.com
CleanPwr Inc. 930 Sunnyside Blvd., Everett, WA 98205
Cell: 425-345-6100
Joe-
I copied this to the Treadle Pump team. If you don’t hear from them in a few days re-contact me here and I will do what I can to help you.
Good work on this prototype. To my knowledge no one has succeeded on the market with a treadle pump with plastic cylinders because they are not durable enough. Glad to see someone is still working on this, as PVC is much easier to work with than metal. My two comments looking at your photographs and manual. First I think the cylinders are not well enough supported and will not take any abuse. Test the pump with children or teenagers:) Second I think the piping is too small diameter relative to the cylinders and the majority of your energy will be spent overcoming pipe friction, resulting in a greatly reduced flow rate.