Human-powered irrigation pump
AssigneeKickSmart International, Inc.
InventorsAlan Spybey, Martin J. Fisher, Simon M. Mugo, Alex M. Mucheru, Frederick Obudho
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims19
A human-powered pump assembly comprising:
- a frame;
- a treadle pivot attached to the frame, the treadle pivot defining a fixed horizontal rotational axis;
- a pair of treadles coupled to the treadle pivot;
- a rocker pivot attached to the frame, the rocker pivot defining a separate horizontal rotational axis;
- a pair of cylinders coupled to the frame;
- a piston disposed in each of the cylinders, each piston comprising a connecting rod forming a channel along a longitudinal axis of the connecting rod;
- and
- a reciprocating rocker coupled to the rocker pivot and to the pair of treadles to constrain the motion thereof, wherein the rocker pivot axis is located below the treadle pivot axis throughout a full range of motion of the assembly.
A method of operating a human-powered pump assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
- applying a downward force to a first treadle to rotate the first treadle about a horizontally fixed treadle pivot axis in a downward direction, thereby pushing down a first piston within a first cylinder coupled to a frame, the first treadle coupled to a second treadle by a reciprocating rocker rotating about a rocker pivot axis located below the treadle pivot axis throughout a full range of motion of the assembly, such that the second treadle rotates in an upward direction, thereby pulling up a second piston within a second cylinder coupled to the frame;
- and
- applying a downward force to the second treadle to rotate the second treadle about the treadle pivot axis in a downward direction, such that the first treadle rotates in an upward direction, whereby the first and second pistons move in the direction of the first and second treadles, respectively,
- wherein each piston comprises a connecting rod forming a channel along a longitudinal axis of the connecting rod.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.