Archimedes' Screw x Windmill

[johno]

Okay, here's another crazy project I need to do in the garden. I have a lily pond in the center of my garden with a couple fat goldfish, some fat leopard frogs, no mosquitos :) , and a dying water lily. The guy at a local garden center says it needs moving water, so my first question is does anyone know if that's true? Assuming it is true, I've come up with another Ozark Engineering project. I want to build a windmill from scratch, maybe only having to shell out a few bucks for a couple of good industrial bearings - not for anything else - and attach it either via chain and sprockets or via worm gears to an Archimedes' screw. For those of you who don't know what this is, it's basically a screw in a tube which draws up water when it is turned, or something to that effect. The idea is that I would only need to move the water periodically throughout the day to make the lily happy.

Questions - Thoughts - Comments - Advice ?

[Lavandula Girl]

That sounds really awesome. It would make sense that an occasional turn of the archemides screw would be all that was needed - after all, the water lily wouldn't get constant and consistent water movement in nature, right? When you build it, please post pictures!

[zebraman]

Hey Johno;An electrical,submersible pump is the way to go.And water lilies are indigenous to rivers and streams.So yes they would get constant water movement.Even in a large pond the wind aerates and moves the water.The actual electricity use is minimal.-

[johno]

You are right, Z, about the submersible pump. We looked into those, and found some European models at a reasonable price - solar, of course, since the garden is too far for an extension cord. But if the periodic movement dependant on the wind is enough (do you think it would be?) I just don't want to spend any money on it if I can help it - old world Lithuanian values, I guess. Waste not, want not, as they say. Okay, fine, I admit it, I'm Fred Sanford reincarnated...

[GeorgeSims]

Just out of curiosity, I have visited many places which have fountains that pre-date electricity or even modern mechanical contrivances. How did the old-timers get the water to spout?

[cReAtIoN gRoAnS]

Hey man,

Go solar. Much easier. There is a guy pretty close to us who does this kind of thing very well. He was at the baker creek spring festival. Alternitive Energy is the name of his business.

I will try to find the number if you are interested. Let me know.

Chad

[johno]

You know, the more I think about it, and as much as I just want to build it, it would be somewhat of a monstosity in the middle of the garden...

I'm really curious to see if anyone can answer George's question!

I probably will go solar for now. We were deep cleaning today and I found a small submersable pump that is just about right - wait, I'd need an inverter to run that, wouldn't I? Would that be any better than getting a low voltage pump to match the solar set up?

Yes, Chad, I'dbe interested in that info.

[TastyofHasty]

Check eBay for solar ...
But the Archimedes' Screw idea sounds interesting ... jestdoit :D !
but don't let it cost you an arm and a leg ... or a back!!

[GrowTheSeeds]

I came across this link and don't know if it help's but looks interesting about windmills
http://www.windmillworld.com/windmills/faq.htm

and at the bottom of the page a link to watermills

[TastyofHasty]

solar lily pad-looking fountain:

http://image.sportsmansguide.com/dimage/91520_ts.JPG?cell=200,200&cvt=jpeg

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=187187

[johno]

Nice links. I like the solar lilypad.

It just occurred to me the easiest mechanical system to transfer the angle of the props to the angle of the water screw - driveshaft with U-joints... I'll have to look around for parts.

[finnteara]

johno, don't give up the idea, it can be done with a nod to the artist in you. Butterfly wings for blades, stucco cylinder to incase the screw, etc. Just cover the intake opening so you don't get aquatic mulch.

[johno]

I'll stuff the intake with luffa - thanks to TOH for the idea! Good point, I hadn't thought that far ahead.