Human powered irrigation pump
AssigneeKickstart International, Inc.
InventorsAlan C. Spybey, Martin J. Fisher, Simon M. Mugo, Alex M. Mucheru, Fredrick Obudho
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A human-powered pump assembly includes a frame and a treadle pivot attached to the frame, such that the treadle pivot defines a horizontal rotational axis. The pump assembly includes a pair of treadles coupled to the treadle pivot and a rocker pivot attached to the frame, such that the rocker pivot defines a separate horizontal rotational axis. The pump assembly includes a reciprocating rocker coupled to the rocker pivot and to the pair of treadles to constrain the motion thereof, such that the rocker pivot axis is located below the treadle pivot axis.
Claims14
A human-powered pump assembly comprising:
- a frame;
- a first cylinder coupled to the frame and comprising a valve plate, wherein the valve plate forms a shaped inlet aperture and a shaped outlet aperture;
- and
- a corresponding inlet valve and a corresponding outlet valve, each valve comprising a portion having a shape substantially complementary to a respective one of the shaped inlet aperture and shaped outlet aperture, each valve (i) disposed within the cylinder, (ii) adapted to be installed in the valve plate via access to solely a first side of the valve plate, (iii) adapted to be secured to the valve plate using no structural support beyond the respective one of the shaped inlet aperture and the shaped outlet aperture and a portion of the valve plate proximate thereto by mating the complementary shape of each valve portion with the respective one of the shaped inlet aperture and the shaped outlet aperture, and (iv) comprising a single unitary body comprising a fixed portion fixedly attached to a second side of the valve plate opposed to the first side of the valve plate about the respective one of the shaped inlet aperture and the shaped outlet aperture at a first portion of the respective one of the shaped inlet aperture and the shaped outlet aperture and a deformable portion for sealing a remainder of the respective one of the shaped inlet aperture and the shaped outlet aperture by contacting one side of the valve plate.
A method of repairing a human-powered pump assembly comprising a frame, a first cylinder coupled to the frame and comprising a valve plate forming a shaped inlet aperture and a shaped outlet aperture, and a corresponding inlet valve and a corresponding outlet valve, each disposed within the cylinder and comprising a portion having a shape substantially complementary to a respective one of the shaped inlet aperture and the shaped outlet aperture, the method comprising the steps of:
- removing at least one of the inlet valve and the outlet valve by accessing solely a first side of the valve plate;
- and
- installing and securing a replacement valve comprising a single unitary body by accessing solely the first side of the valve plate, mating a complementary shape portion of the replacement valve with the respective one of the shaped inlet aperture and shaped outlet aperture, and fixedly attaching a fixed portion of the replacement valve to a second side of the valve plate opposed to the first side of the valve plate about the respective one of the shaped inlet aperture and shaped outlet aperture at a first portion of the shaped inlet aperture or shaped outlet aperture, wherein the replacement valve further comprises a deformable portion for sealing a remainder of the shaped inlet aperture or shaped outlet aperture by contacting one side of the valve plate,
- wherein the installing and securing step does not include use of a structural support beyond the shaped inlet aperture or shaped outlet aperture, a portion of the valve plate proximate thereto, and the replacement valve.
A method of manufacturing a human-powered pump assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
- coupling a first cylinder comprising a valve plate forming a shaped inlet aperture and a shaped outlet aperture to a frame;
- and
- installing and securing a corresponding inlet valve and a corresponding outlet valve, each valve comprising a single unitary body and comprising a portion having a shape substantially complementary to a respective one of the shaped inlet aperture and the shaped outlet aperture, by accessing solely a first side of the valve plate, mating the complementary shape of each valve portion with the respective shaped aperture, and fixedly attaching a fixed portion of each valve to a second side of the valve plate opposed to the first side of the valve plate about the respective one of the shaped inlet aperture and shaped outlet aperture at a first portion of the respective shaped aperture, wherein each valve further comprises a deformable portion for sealing a remainder of the respective shaped aperture by contacting one side of the valve plate,
- wherein the installing and securing step does not include use of a structural support beyond the respective one of the shaped inlet aperture or shaped outlet aperture, a portion of the valve plate proximate thereto, and the valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.