1

ABSTRACT
In the lush villages of Buikwe District, women spend many hours and have to walk many miles
every day to get water for their families to cook and drink. Water is a very important resource, that people
in first world countries take for granted because it is as easy as turning the faucet handle on. Humans can
only survive three to five days without water and getting clean water in third world countries and in
particular Buikwe District is a difficult problem. Most communities in this District get water from
standing sources including rivers, lakes, and even puddles which are often full of dirt and other dangerous
water borne diseases. In an effort to tap into the potable water just below the surface, the Rope pump
Team has decided to take the widely known designs of one of the simplest and cheapest water pumps, the
rope pump, and improve upon them.
The team has enhanced designs for almost every component of the pump. Things such as the
frame of the pump which could be made from spare bike parts or just scrap metal. The rope and seals are
also an important area of study that we will be spending a majority of our time working on. Traditional
rope pumps utilize knots what create a seal within a pipe and bring up water as they are pulled to the
surface. A third and final area of study is the drive mechanism of which we are considering a bike and its
connecting mechanism.
After much research, calculations and experimental tests, we were able to find the best
combination of improvements to improve output nearly 200% over traditional rope pumps. With the
improvements stated in this report the team will be able to not only increase the water output to the
surface but also eliminate a lot of the danger associated with the construction of the guide box as well as
improving the durability of the pump by using proper rope and seal combinations.
The team hopes all of the work this semester will be diffused across many third world districts
and if it can improve just one life out there then we can deem all our hard work, sweat and tears a raging
success.




2

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

With a sense of gratitude, we would like to thank every body who gave us his or her time and
inconsistent pieces of advice concerning the project and in learning the intricacies that were
related to it.

We would like to express our indebtedness to Mr. Ssempebwa Ronald, and Dr.Ssengonzi
Bagenda for their wordily advice, commendable guidance, constant inspiration and
encouragement that we got from them throughout the course of the project. Without them, this
project wouldnt have got off the ground.

















3

DEDICATION

This work is dedicated to our parents and guardians who strived to see that our academics are a
success.






















4

DECLARATION

We declare that this work is out of our hard work and has never been presented to any institution
of higher learning for the award of any academic qualification.

NAME REG.NO SIGNATURE
ORTEGA IAN 11/U/11049/EMD/PD
SSEBUNYA ISA 11/U/10740/EME/PE
OKELLO DANIEL 13/U/450/EMD/GV
AKELLO LILIAN 11/U/864/EMD/GV
SSEBUUFU HUSSEIN 11/U/209/EMD/GV
















5

APPROVAL

I hereby approve that the work herein presented was done by the student under my supervision.

Signature Date


MR. SSEMPEBWA RONALD



















6

ACRONYMS

Acronym Meaning
PVC Polyvinyl Chloride Pipe
Shs. Shillings

























7

Table of Contents
ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................................... 1
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ................................................................................................................................... 2
DEDICATION .................................................................................................................................................. 3
DECLARATION ............................................................................................................................................... 4
APPROVAL ..................................................................................................................................................... 5
ACRONYMS ................................................................................................................................................... 6
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 9
1.1Background .............................................................................................................................................. 9
1.2 Problem Statement ............................................................................................................................... 10
1.3Objectives of the Study .......................................................................................................................... 10
1.3.1General Objective ............................................................................................................................... 10
1.3.2Specific Objectives .............................................................................................................................. 10
1.4Scope of the Study ................................................................................................................................. 10
1.5Significance of The study ....................................................................................................................... 10
1.6 Justification of the Study ....................................................................................................................... 11
1.7Research Questions ............................................................................................................................... 11
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ......................................................................................................... 12
2.1 Overview ............................................................................................................................................... 12
2.2 Structure of A Rope Pump And Operation ............................................................................................ 12
2.3 Bicycle Power (Pedal Power) ................................................................................................................ 13
2.4 Pumping Water Using A Bicycle ............................................................................................................ 19
2.5 Drive Design Specifications ................................................................................................................... 20
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY .............................................................................................................. 26
3.1Overview ................................................................................................................................................ 26
3.2 Research Design .................................................................................................................................... 26
3.3 Data Source ........................................................................................................................................... 26
3.3.1 Primary Sources ................................................................................................................................. 26
3.3.2 Secondary Sources ............................................................................................................................. 26
3.4 Data Collection Method ........................................................................................................................ 26
CHAPTER FOUR:PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS .............................................................. 28
4.1 Overview ............................................................................................................................................... 28
8

4.2 Conceptual Design Concepts ................................................................................................................ 28
4.3 Drive Design Concept 1 ......................................................................................................................... 28
4.4 Drive Design Concept 2 ......................................................................................................................... 29
4.5 Drive Design Concept 3 ......................................................................................................................... 31
4.6 Drive Design Concept 4 ......................................................................................................................... 33
4.7 Drive Design Concept 5 ......................................................................................................................... 35
4.8 Drive Design Concept 6 ......................................................................................................................... 36
4.9 Drive Design Concept Weighting Factors .............................................................................................. 37
Drive Design Concept Ranking .................................................................................................................... 37
Structure Concept 1 .................................................................................................................................... 39
Our Problem Solving Approach ................................................................................................................... 40
Final Design Assembly (Sketch) ................................................................................................................... 41
Mathematical Model .................................................................................................................................. 41
Pedaling Rate .............................................................................................................................................. 42
Economic Evaluation of The Design ............................................................................................................ 42
Rope Pump ............................................................................................................................................... 42
Bike Mount ............................................................................................................................................... 42
Other Costs ............................................................................................................................................... 43
CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION............................................................................ 44
5.1 Overview ............................................................................................................................................... 44
5.2 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 44
5.3 Recommendations ................................................................................................................................ 44
REFERENCES ................................................................................................................................................ 46




9

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
Imagine that bottled water does not exist, running taps are non-existent, and walking a mile or
more to fetch water with a bucket is a daily activity from scarce boreholes and open wells. On top of the
difficulties of retrieving water, that source of water is most often than not polluted and undrinkable. But
when there is no other source of water, the most essential ingredient to life, there is no choice but to
consume the polluted water. High quality H2O is only obtained from chemical treatment, filtering or from
a clean ground water well. In Buikwe District, filtration is often absent, chemical treatment is unheard of,
and groundwater wells are not properly built or maintained and also become polluted from run-off. These
conditions are those of the bottom 80 percent of the worlds population which live in low standards of
living and 48 percent make an average wage of $2.00 USD per day or less.
One simple solution for retrieving safe water is by carefully implementing an innovative,
human-powered water pump. The team takes the challenge of successfully designing and building an
innovative rope pump for use in third world districts. More important than the design itself is the method
of communicating how to build, and maintain such a device in the simplest manner possible. With the
teams main focus on the rural areas of Buikwe District, we intend to make the rope pump a highly
adaptable device for any country. In order to achieve this, the pump must be physically adaptable and also
detailed yet simple.
With these mountain high goals of simplicity, functionality, and a large target population, the team
expects to achieve a large impact in communities worldwide. Results of this design project were intended
to improve the quality of life for third world communities by providing easy access to safe drinking water.
Even helping one community or even one person within a community by providing clean and safe
drinking water by the implementation of this rope pump will be considered success.



10

1.2 Problem Statement
Women from Buikwe spend many hours and have to walk many miles every day to get water for their
families to cook and drink from not only distant boreholes but also wells contaminated by runoff.
This sanitation level and related water crisis can not be ignored since its leaving a mark of
an increasing toll on human life, health and livelihoods. One simple solution is to carefully
design a simple, innovative bicycle powered rope pump to address the issue.

1.3 Objectives of the Study
1.3.1 General Objective
The main objective was to design a simple, innovative bicycle powered rope pump for
Buikwe district where existing few bore holes are too distant yet the remaining
alternative wells are contaminated by runoff with related water born diseases.
1.3.2 Specific Objectives
This project was guided by the following specific objectives;
1. To devise a concept thats cheaper compared to other forms of water-pumping yet
very efficient.
2. To design a simple rope pump thats easy to fabricate, and very easy to maintain
3. To make a design where the bicycle is still reusable after the pumping purposes are
done.
1.4 Scope of the Study
The bicycle powered pump only considered utilization in the rural communities of Buikwe
District where access to boreholes is only after miles of walking yet available contaminated wells
have a scare of water borne diseases. The material of the rope pump had to be of waste materials,
very durable yet cheap at the same time.

1.5 Significance of The study
Once the design of the bicycle rope pump is adopted, it will solve the water-supply problem in
Buikwe District by using a cheap, efficient and innovative means. This means that more families
will have access to safe and clean drinking water in addition to other domestic purposes so as to
increase on health and living standards in the district.

The researched work is to be used as a basis of further research and compilation of study books,
journals which can be utilized by different groups of people.

11

1.6 Justification of the Study
If access to safe drinking water and corresponding long distances for the only contaminated
water is not addressed, it will cost Buikwe District a couple of ages to penetrate through a circle
of poor health and living standards. A simple design of a bicycle powered rope-pump could be
an immediate savior.

1.7 Research Questions
This study was guided by the following research questions;
1. What is the structure of the rope pump and how does a rope pump operate?
2. What are the various factors and parameters concerned with bicycle power?
3. How can water be pumped using a bicycle?
4. How could a suitable lay out of the designed system be developed in relation to the
already existing bicycle powered rope pump designs (our design specifications)?







12

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Overview
This chapter contains the relevant information and facts about
the rope pumps design and operation, bicycle power and
design parameters to be considered while developing a bicycle
powered rope pump, major aspects considered in the design,
operation of these components and the well-depth
characteristics in Buikwe district versus the bicycle powered
rope pump, and water that can be delivered.
2.2 Structure of A Rope Pump And Operation
According to a briefing paper from Water Aid in Ghana, the
rope pump is a simple technology hand pump that has the
potential of reducing the cost of installing hand pumps by
about 75 to 80 percent. The Rope Pump features a unique
design in which small plastic pistons are lined up on a rope.
The distance between the pistons is approximately 1 m. The
drive wheel is crank operated and pulls the rope through a
plastic rising pipe. The drive wheel consists of cut old tires. A
concrete guide box with a glass bottle at the well ground leads
the rope with the pistons into the rising main pipe.

2.2.1 Mode and Operation
This pump type works with
a loop of rope, which is pulled through a plastic riser pipe. Regularly spaced washers are fixed
on the rope (approx. 1 m spacing), which are guided into the riser pipe at the bottom of the well
and are carrying water to the spout. At the pump stand, the rope is moved by a rubber lined
pulley, mostly made of cuttings from worn car tires. The pulley is operated with a crank handle
in a steady speed, so that sufficient water is flowing from the spout.
Because of the required clearance between the washers and the riser pipe, the movement of the
rope needs a certain speed, so that the velocity of the drawn water is continuous.
As soon as the operation stops, the water in the rising main will drain slowly.
This type of pump is usually placed on a dug-well and its mostly used as family pump.
However, there are different models existing that are suitable for larger communities and also to
be installed on boreholes.
Figure 1: Rural Water Supply Image
13

The rope and washer pump has the advantage of a simple design and fairly easy maintenance.
In the words of Wikipedia; A rope pump is a kind of pump where a loose hanging rope is
lowered down into a well and drawn up through a long pipe with the bottom immersed in water.
On the rope, round disks or knots matching the diameter of the pipe are attached which pull the
water to the surface. The original rope pumps used knots along the rope length but can be made
with flexible or rigid valves on the rope instead of knots. Alternatively they may use only rope,
simply relying on the water clinging to the rope as it is quickly pulled to the surface

2.3 Bicycle Power (Pedal Power)
In talking about bicycle power, we are concerning ourselves more with the aspect of pedal power
that is, the power generated from the act of a human being pedaling on a bicycle. A person can
generate four times more power (1/4 horsepower (hp)) by pedaling than by hand-cranking. At
the rate of 1/4hp, continuous pedaling can be done for only short periods, about 10 minutes.
However, pedaling at half this power (1/8 hp) can be sustained for around 60 minutes. Pedal
power enables a person to drive devices at the same rate as that achieved by hand-cranking, but
with far less effort and fatigue. Pedal power also lets one drive devices at a faster rate than
before (e.g. winnower), or operate devices that require too much power for hand-cranking (e.g.
thresher). This in reference with Darrow and Kens book on Pedal power.
POWER LEVELS
The power levels that a human being can produce through pedaling depend on how strong the
pedaler is and on how long he or she needs to pedal. If the task to be powered will continue for
hours at a time, 75 watts mechanical power is generally considered the limit for a larger, healthy
non-athlete. A healthy athletic person of the same build might produce up to twice this amount.
A person who is smaller and less well nourished, but not ill, would produce less; the estimate for
such a person should Probably be 50 watts for the same kind of power production over an
extended period. The graph in Figure 1 shows various record limits for pedaling under optimum
conditions. The meaning of these curves is that any point on a curve indicates the maximum
time that the appropriate class of person could maintain the given average power level.
14


Power levels are also directly related to the environment of the person doing the pedaling. To
be able to continue pedaling over an extended period, a person must be able to keep cool--
whether because the ambient temperature is low enough, or because there is adequate breeze.
There is a vital difference between pedaling a stationary device and pedaling a bicycle at the
same power output. On a bicycle, much of the pedaling energy goes into overcoming wind
resistance; this wind resistance, however, provides an important benefit: cooling. Because of the
wind, even in hot, humid climates, so long as the bicyclist drinks enough liquids, dehydration
and heat stroke are unlikely to occur.
On the other hand, when pedaling a stationary device on a hot or humid day at more than about
half the maximum possible power output, there is a considerable danger of the pedaler's
collapsing because of an excessive rise in body temperature.
15

Therefore, it is essential that an individual pedaling such a stationary device in hot or humid
conditions be provided with shade from the sun, plenty of water, and preferably some sort of fan.
A portion of the power that the pedaler is producing can be used to drive this fan; this is an
efficient use for the power, since it will help prevent damage to the pedaler's health.
PEDALING RATE
How fast should a person pedal? Human beings are very adaptable and can produce power over a
wide range of pedaling speeds. However, people can produce more power--or the same amount
of power for a longer time--if they pedal at a certain rate. This rate varies from person to person
depending on their physical condition, but for each individual there is a pedaling speed
somewhere between straining and flailing that is the most comfortable, and the most efficient in
terms of power production. (For centuries, this fact was apparently not recognized.
The predominant method of human power production was to strain with maximum strength
against a slowly yielding resistance. This is neither comfortable nor efficient. Neither is the
opposite extreme of flailing at full speed against a very small resistance.
A simple rule is that most people engaged in delivering power continuously for an hour or more
will be most efficient when pedaling in the range of 50 to 70 revolutions per minute (rpm). See
Figure 2. For simplicity's sake, we will use 60 rpm, or one revolution of the pedal cranks per
seconds an easy reference value for estimates of the gear ratios required to drive a given load.

16

GEAR RATIOS
The relationship between the rotating speed of whatever is being driven and the pedaling rate
(both expressed in revolutions per minute) is called the gear ratio. Most practical applications of
Pedal power will use bicycle-chain drives, which on bicycles range from 1:1 (the rear wheel
turns at the same speed as the turns at five times the speed of the cranks) for high gears.
Very-Low-Power Applications
There are some very-low-power applications of pedal power, in which the required power
output is so far below that of which human beings are capable that maximum efficiency is not a
concern. For example, sewing machines are generally limited to a less than optimum value to
allow the sewing table to be placed at a convenient height. The pedaler provides a range of
sewing speeds without gear-change mechanisms. A large step-up ratio is usually given by a
round belt made of leather. It cannot transmit large torques; this inability serves a purpose,
because when the sewing needle jams, the belt slips, preventing the needle from breaking.
High-Power Applications
An example of an application at the higher-power end of the scale is a hypothetical maximum-
power drive for an irrigation pump. Let us suppose that the pump has the speed-versus-power
characteristics shown in Figure 3, and that the pedalers will be paid to produce as much power as
they comfortably can for periods of two hours at a time.

Choosing a conservative value from Figure 1, we estimate that a mechanical output of 100 watts
seems reasonable for this length of time. Furthermore, we estimate from Figure 2 that the
optimum pedaling speed to give this power output is 55 rpm.
17

We can then see from Figure 3 that when the pump absorbs 100 watts, its speed of revolution
should be 95 rpm. We need, therefore, a step-up gear of 95:55. We have available a set of
bicycle cranks and pedals with a chain wheel having 48 teeth. To achieve our ratio of 95:55, we
then need:
45 x 55/95 = 27.8 teeth on the cog (the smaller sprocket attached to the pump shaft).
Ideally then, we should use a sprocket of 28 teeth. However, sprockets of 27, 28, or 29 teeth
would be acceptable.
No allowance has been made in this calculation for energy losses in the chain
transmission. This is because a single chain going over two sprockets is very efficient--over 95
percent, even for unlubricated, worn, or dirty chains.
However, some applications require two stages of step-up transmission, and in these cases,
power losses are greater. For instance, suppose that a ventilation fan must be driven for a long
period at 900 rpm, and the optimum pedaling speed is estimated to be 60 rpm. The step-up ratio
is then 900:60 = 15:1. The smallest sprockets generally available for bicycles have 12 teeth. The
chain-wheel for a single step-up stage would need:
12 x 15 = 180 teeth.
Such a chain-wheel is not available, but even if one were specially made, it would have a
diameter far too large to pedal around. Moreover, using a very large-chainwheel with a very
small cog produces a small angle of contact (or wrap) around the cog; this causes high tooth
wear on the cog.
Therefore, a step-up ratio of 15:1 is better produced by a two-stage step-up gear. For example,
a standard high-gear arrangement from a bicycle could be used. It has a chainwheel of 48 teeth
driving a cog of 13 teeth, fixed to a second shaft on its own bearings(*) (for instance, another
bicycle crankset with another chainwheel of 48 teeth on the countershaft, driving a cog of 12
teeth on the shaft to be driven. The combination would then be:
(48/13) x (48/12) = 14.8.
This is close enough to 15:1 to be useful.
In this case, it would be best to assume that there would be a 10 percent loss of power. For
example, if the pedaler can produce an output of 50 watts for the desired period, the driven
device will receive 45 watts input.


18

PEDALING POSITIONS
There are three common pedaling positions:
* The first is the upright position used by the majority of cyclists around the world. In this
position, the seat, or saddle, is located slightly behind where it would be if it were a seat, or
vertically above the crank axis; the hand grips are placed so that the rider leans forward just
slightly when pedaling. Tests have shown that subjects using this position are able to produce
the most pedaling power when the top of the saddle is fixed at a distance 1.1 times the leg length
to the pedal spindle at the pedal's lowest point.
* The second position is the position used by riders of racing bicycles with dropped handlebars,
when they are holding the upper parts of the bars. Their back is then at a forward lean of about
40 degrees from the vertical. Their saddle height requirements are similar to those of cyclists in
the first position. (The position of the racing bicyclist who is trying to achieve maximum speed is
not suitable for power production on a stationary device. Even racing bicyclists sometimes
experience great pain after a long time in this position, and the position is unnecessary on a
stationary device because there is no wind resistance to overcome.
* The third position is the position used in modern semi-recumbent bicycles. The placement of
the center of the pedaling circle relative to the seat is shown in Figure 4.

19

In this seating position, the pedaling forces are countered by the lower back pushing into the seat
(which is similar in construction to a lawn chair made of tubes and canvas). The arms and hands
do not need to remain on the handlebars to perform this function, the way they usually do in the
first two positions.
They can remain relaxed, and free to guide the work that the pedaler is powering. The upper
body too can remain relaxed, and the chest is in a position that makes breathing easier than when
the pedaler bends forward. The major disadvantage of this position is that, since the pedaler's
legs move forward from the body, it may be hard to position large, deep equipment like a lathe or
saw so that it is in reach without being in the way.
In almost all other respects, the semi-recumbent position is highly desirable, though not essential.

2.4 Pumping Water Using A Bicycle
This is concerned with observing various means in which water can be pumped using a bicycle
thus the idea of a bicycle powered water pump. Attaching the pump to the bike is a critical part
of our design. We want to make it in such a way that the bike can still be used as a means of
transportation and the pump can be attached and detached easily, no matter what shape the frame
is. Below are a list of possible mounting solutions for each of the different pumps.
1. Piston Pump: This design requires changing the rotational motion into linear motion. This
can be done by attaching a wheel or crank arm of some sort with an offset pin to attach the piston
to.
-It is possible to mount the pistons to the pedals of the bike so that the pedals move up and down
and compress the piston. However, this is hard to prevent from interfering with normal pedaling
and requires a mounting point on the frame.
-Also, a second wheel could be attached to the back wheel so that the second wheel takes force
from the wheel and then converts it to linear motion. This is very easy to remove and since tires
are usually similarly sized, it can be adapted to different frames. However, this design relies on
friction and may lead to slipping or inefficiency.
-Redesigning the back wheel to be switched out for the pump would utilize many of the existing
components. However, designing this in such a way that the bike is still usable is difficult.

2,3,4. All these pumps accept rotary motion, which is abundant on a bicycle.
-Mounting a gear to attach to the chain would be a way to tap energy from the chain but it
requires a mounting point on a bicycle.
20

-Tapping into the rear wheel is a nice way of mounting the pump and the speed and resistance
can be controlled by using the gear shifters. It's more controllable than mounting to the chain as
it can be controlled by both the front and rear derailleurs.
-The back wheel could be redesigned, which is probably the most durable option but again has
problems with using the bike as a bike.
-It would be possible to attach a friction wheel to the back wheel but there is no advantage of this
system over attaching it to the chain.
2.5 Drive Design Specifications
Each of the following subsections describes each design specification that must be taken into
consideration when developing a rope pump design. Each design specification will then be
weighted based on importance in the subsequent section.
Function/Performance
Performance of the pump must be able to function in wells up to 20 meters in depth and pump
water at a rate at least 5 gallons per minute. With this performance in mind, we wish to build a
pump that can pump at least 5 gallons per minute at an angle (from 0 to 80 degrees, 0 being
straight down).
Product Cost
In the end the cost of the pump must be no more than $100 USD. The Gross National Income
(GNI) Per Capita for Uganda is $2,740 and for the Lower Middle class the average annual
income is $1,619 in US dollars. In the end the pump needs to be below $100 in order to be
implemented. Current rope pumps in place range from $35 to $150 depending on model, location
of production, and cost of materials and labor.
Delivery Date
Delivery date for the working model*, mini-model**, and a training manual to create the pump
to be created is no later than May 26, 2014. *=6.096 meter or 20 feet depth, **= 0.6096 meters
or 2 feet depth
Quantity
A minimum for this project was 1 full* scaled model, 1 mini** model, and a training manual to
create the pump to be completed by the delivery date (May 26, 2014). *=6.096 meter or 20 feet
depth, **= 0.6096 meters or 2 feet depth


21

Environmental Issues
Product must be created with the aim to create zero environmental issues. The parts for the
pump are to be used from reusable waste or recycled materials.
Safety
Operation of the pump must not harm the operator in any way and thus will have a guard
protecting the crank mechanism, the rope, the piping from the well, as well as over the well.
There will be zero sharp edges to be cut on.
Quality
Commonly the rope on the rope pump is most likely to fail. The rope is to be made from a
material with a high UV resistance, low water absorption rate (less than 20% water absorbed of
its weight in water if full emersion of rope in water for one hour), little to no elasticity, and be
able to withstand a water PH level of at least 7.5. The pipe is to be made from a low pressure
material that does not break down by UV rays and constant water usage (must last 10 years
before breaking).
Energy Consumption
Energy that the pump must consume in order to operate is a critical design specification to meet.
The majority of people who use the pump on a daily basis are women and children. The women
and weaker children must be able to crank the handle with little difficulty. This means that the
force exerted on the handle by the user must be below a specified value. This value is currently
unknown but will be determined through experimentation. This experiment will involve a crank
that is to be turned by several willing volunteers. These volunteers will be of varying gender,
age, strength, and height. This large sample size will allow for the most accurate results. Each
volunteer will turn the crank several times each having varying resistance. From this, the
maximum force that any given person is able to exert on the crank can be determined. Using
these results, that maximum force can be applied to the rope pump design and in turn meet this
design specification of 75 watt input, at 5 m head or about 4.5 m/hour.
Reliability
Since the pump is used on a regular basis, reliability is an essential factor. All components must
be able to withstand daily utilization without breaking for at least 1 year. This includes the rope,
piping, rubber stoppers, crank mechanism, handle, and support structure. The rope must be able
to withstand the exerted forces and constant rubbing/friction against the piping without stretching
beyond functionality or breaking. The piping must not wear down beyond functionality or crack
at any location along the 20m span. The rubber stoppers must keep a strong seal in the piping
and not wear from the friction along the piping. The crank mechanism and handle cannot fatigue
or fail due to repeated use. The support structure must be strong enough to take the repeated
22

loading and not fatigue or fail. Since the pump will produce a consistent flow rate of 5 gpm
throughout its expected lifespan of 20 years, reliability is essential.
Maintenance
Bases upon reliability, the pump needs to be able to go untouched/maintenance free for a 1-2
year period. This entails that no components will break or fatigue beyond functionality for at
least one year (see reliability). Beyond that, simple lubrication or rope replacement may be
needed. After 1 year of use, and every one year thereafter, the pump should be inspected for any
wear and determine if components are in need of repair or replacement. Potential crank
mechanism repairs/replacement may be needed after 5 years due to climate. This includes the
wheel and handle of the crank. All routine maintenance must be able to be completed with the
limited tool supply of the locals and require no power machinery. The piping material should be
able to last at least 10 years before breaking
Mechanical Loading
All moving components of the pump must be able with withstand at least 5 years of repeated
loading without major fatigue or failure, averaging about 10,000 cycles. These moving
components of the pump include the internals of the crank mechanism. Aside from routine yearly
maintenance of lubrication, the mechanism must be able to withstand regular use for 5 years
without having to be replaced. This means that material choice has a large impact on the lifespan
of the crank mechanism components. Therefore, this material selection will be researched and
chosen carefully.
Size
Overall height must be no more than 6 feet tall so that all repair/maintenance can be accessed
easily without help from equipment. This will ensure more efficient maintenance and all
components are within arms-reach if a situation arises. The crank handle is to be no more than 4
feet from the ground as children must be able to operate the pump without assistance. When
disassembled, all components must be small enough to be transported easily (see transportation
and packaging).
Weight
Total weight of the product must be no more than 50 pounds but may vary due to well depth.
Rope pumps must be heavy enough that it does not move around or tip will in use. On the other
hand, components must be light enough that transportation by hand is possible. The given 50
pound constraint is for a pump capable of reaching a depth of 20m. Pumps beyond 20m may
weigh upward of 50 pounds due to the additional piping and rope needed.

23

Spatial Constraints
There are zero spatial constraints as the pump will be utilized in an open outdoor environment.
Aside from any size design specifications (see size).
Aesthetics
All metal components are to be coated in a single color of durable/anti-rust paint that is not
offensive to the culture of Ugandan people. Part of aesthetics includes the touch and feel of the
product. All edges will be rounded smooth with at least a 0.020 radius. The product will appear
clean, smooth and simple. There will be a maximum of 60-65 decibels, the equivalent of a
normal conversation, generated from operation, no decibels generated when stationary, and no
noise pollution created. The product will appeal to the lower class (bottom 30% of the population
in terms of income) and for all age groups.
Transportation and Packaging
All components of the pump must be small enough to be transported easily in an available
vehicle (approx. 2m x 2m x 2m). The piping must be assembled from short 3-5m sections as
transportation of 20m length piping is not possible. All parts will be packaged separately except
for any fasteners and pipe fittings which will be bagged together. All other components will be
wrapped in 1 layer of bubble wrap and in one cardboard box.
Personnel
People using this pump are men, women, and children of all ages, sizes, strength, and nutrition.
The design is to specialize in ease of use for women and children in order to meet the previous
criteria. The product will utilize only one person for operation.
Service Life
Under normal service conditions the pump must be able to continue to function properly with
minimal repair and maintenance for a 5 year period. All components of the pump must be able
with withstand at least 1 year of repeated loading without major fatigue or failure. The required
repairs during the service life will be rope replacement annually, paint after 3 years and new
crank bearings after 3 years.
Noise Radiation
Noise pollution must be less than 60 dB as the operator must stand directly next to the pump for
operation. To reduce noise all moving joints will be greased with wheel bearing grease, including
the crank mechanism bearings.

24

Operation Instructions
One manual is to be provided displaying how the mechanism works, how to assemble and install,
how to operate, and tables showing the ideal diameters of pipe/rope for various well depths. The
manual will be written so that anyone over the age of 14 in a third world country can understand,
install, maintain and operate the rope pump.
Human Factors
Rope Pumps must be designed in such a way that human interaction is ergonomically feasible.
Design of the pump will incorporate ease of maintenance, operation and installation. The overall
installed height of the pump shall not exceed 4 feet. A mechanical advantage of at least 2 will
allow anyone to operate the crank mechanism and pump water. Use of the pump will be
desirable with noise pollution under 60 dB, mechanical advantage, ergonomic grip, and
satisfactory water outputs.
Health Issues
Rope pumps will not cause any adverse health effects. In fact with the clean filter option it can
actually eliminate 99.9% of water-borne disease through the use of a bio-sand filter. Any pinch
points will be covered or addressed to eliminate any accidental injuries. An auto locking feature
will also be included to prevent the wheel from reversing in direction while there is water in the
pipe causing it to spin rapidly and cause possible injury. All materials will be non-toxic
according to US regulations to prevent any toxins from entering the water stream.
Government Regulations
There are zero government regulations regarding types of pumps used. No government
regulations currently exist that prevents any of the materials needed to construct the rope pump
from being imported if needed.
Shelf-Life Storage
Replacement parts for the rope pump should be available in local shops or junkyards. At these
shops the parts would have a limited life span of 10 years before degradation will occur in the
polyester rope and rubber stoppers. Metal components (wheel, cover, handles) as long as they are
kept out of the weather have a very long life span of nearly 100 years.
Operating Costs
There is to be zero operating costs outside of routine maintenance and replacement parts. Human
input is used to power the machine unless it is wind driving getting rid of the fuel operating cost.
Once the rest of the parts are purchased and assembled on a already dug well there are no further
costs to the user besides the use of human power.
25

Environmental Conditions
Access to safe drinking water is a widespread problem throughout most of Uganda. This leads to
many illnesses including intestinal parasites and amoebic dysentery, among others. Industrial and
agricultural runoff and intentional pollution is dumped into the rivers and lakes by commercial
farms. Products will be made of materials used to withstand UV light that is greater than 3 eV
with exposure lasting an average of 16 hours a day year round.












26

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY
3.1 Overview
This chapter contains how the research was conducted and the major description of
the methods which were used to obtain data, tools and instruments used in the design
of the bicycle powered rope pump.
3.2 Research Design
The research of this project was designed basing largely on the study of the pedal-
powered rope-pump, as regards, the structure of the rope pump, bicycle power and
pedal power, pumping water using a bicycle and the drive design specifications.
3.3 Data Source
In this design, research was based on both the primary and secondary sources of
information.
3.3.1 Primary Sources
This was directly obtained from different pump dealers online including among
others and various domestic water pumping systems already in use in Uganda in
different homesteads.
3.3.2 Secondary Sources
This data type was obtained from mechanical engineering text books like
mechanical engineering design, rated design. Other sources included the previous
reports done already by colleagues in the same field of engineering.
3.4 Data Collection Method
This was our major tool in arriving at our final design consideration. Each design
specification was rated based upon weighting factors. Rating was done on a scale of 1
to 5, where 5 is the most important. The results are tabulated in Table 1 below.

27



From the Weighting Factor table shown above, it is evident that some design specifications
heavily outweigh and hold more importance than others. The design specifications that had a
weighting factor of five, therefore being of utmost important, are function/performance, product
cost, safety, quality, noise radiation, operating instructions, human factors, health issues, and
environmental conditions. As a result, those design specification were be always considered
when choosing a final design.




28

CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
4.1 Overview
This chapter presents the findings on the different studies made, the various components
considered in the design of the bicycle powered rope pump and the intended design
under study.
4.2 Conceptual Design Concepts
Conceptual ideas below were the result of hours of research and contemplation, which
were most certainly subject to change, as well as included additional ideas as the project
progressed and experimental results proved an idea worthy of use or not.
4.3 Drive Design Concept 1
Drive design concept 1 is through the use of an indoor bicycle trainer device (see Figure
1). Drive design concept 1 is a simple, yet effective, structure that suspends the rear
wheel of the bicycle off of the ground allowing the user to pedal in place. There is also a
small wheel that the rear wheel of the bicycle rests on. Normally, this is used to create
resistance to the user; however, we have no use for the resistance mechanism. Instead,
that small wheel will be linked to the top rotating wheel of the rope pump. Therefore, as
the bicycle is pedaled it will turn the small wheel, thus rotating the top wheel of the rope
pump. Two wheels will be linked using a bicycle chain or of the same rope used in the
pump itself. Drive design concept 1 will allow the user to pedal their bicycle in place and
simultaneously pump water with minimal effort.
Figure 1: Example of Stationary Bike Trainer

There exists several pros and cons of this design concept. The first pro is that the bicycle
is easily removable. The user can use their personal bicycle, attach it to their rope pump,
29

and then disconnect and ride away when finished. It will require no modification to the
bicycle and is also very easy to use. Simply clamp in the rear axle of the bicycle between
the pins, and it is ready to use. So another pro is ease of use. Since the device is of
simplistic design and has minimal moving parts, it is less likely to break. This will be
beneficial as it creates less maintenance for the user. Another pro is the compact size,
allowing for easy transportation to storage or to another rope pump.

Design Concept 1 also has several cons. First being that is may be difficult to build with
available materials. Since it must support the weight of the rider, the device must be
made of high strength steel. It also requires very accurate and reliable bearings and
requires the rider to need more stability to use. Since the bicycle is only supported by the
rear wheels axle, the rider must keep high balance or else they may fall over. Design
Concept 1 may prove difficult if children utilize the device. Another con is it may be
easily susceptible to theft due to its small and lightweight size. There is the potential for
slip between the bike tire and the small wheel on the device. If a large force is needed to
turn the pump wheel, slip may occur if not enough force is being applied to the wheel
and may cause a loss of efficiency in the pump.
4.4 Drive Design Concept 2
Drive Concept 2 also utilizes a stationary bicycle trainer device. Design of this device is
much different than the previous. This device utilizes a set of long rollers placed parallel
to each other (see Figure 2). The rear wheel of the bicycle sits in the gap between the two
rollers (see Figure 3). So the rider can pedal in place and turn the rollers that are in
contact with the rear wheel. Transferring the power between the device and the pump is
the same as Design Concept 1. One of the rollers will be linked to the top wheel of the
rope pump. Therefore, as the bicycle is pedaled it will turn the rollers, thus rotating the
top wheel of the rope pump. The roller and pump wheel will be linked using a bicycle
chain or of the same rope used in the pump itself and will allow the user to pedal their
bicycle in place and simultaneously pump water with minimal effort.

30


Figure 2: A second example of a Stationary Bike Trainer


Figure 3: Example of a Roller Bike Trainer

31

One pro of this design concept is that there is no attachment of the bicycle to the device
needed. Since the bicycle simply rests on top of the rollers, no modification to the bicycle
is necessary. One can use their personal bicycle and ride away when finished pumping
water. Similar to the first design concept, the device has minimal moving parts and is
very simplistic, creating less maintenance for the user. Another pro is that it could be
built easily with available materials and can be made of wood, PVC piping, and basic
hardware (see Figure 3), resulting in lower costs. Design Concept 2 is that there will be
minimal slip between the roller and the bicycle tire. Unlike design concept 1, 100% of
the rider weight will be directly on the rollers. Create a larger force and more friction
between the tire and roller will result in minimal slip. Therefore, pump efficiency will be
high.

Cons of this design concept include high stability of rider, high chance of theft, and a
heavier rider is required. Since the bicycle is not supported in any way, the rider must
keep perfect balance otherwise they may fall over and may prove difficult for children to
accomplish. Theft is a big con as the device is lightweight and small. Therefore, the
device must be secured to avoid theft. Lastly, Drive Design Concept 2 will have it so that
a light rider will not be as efficient as heavy riders. Since, the amount of friction between
the roller and tire depends on the weight of the user; lighter riders will not create as much
friction. In turn, when being used by a lighter rider, slip may occur between the rollers
and tire, causing a decrease in pump efficiency.

4.5 Drive Design Concept 3
Design Concept 3 involves joining the bicycle axle with the top rope pump wheel axle.
The rear of the bicycle will be supported off of the ground at the same vertical height as
the top wheel of the rope pump and will have the bicycles rear axle be lengthened and
supported by a frame (see Figure 4). The top pump wheels axle will also be lengthened
in such a way that the two axles (bike and pump) can be joined together. Axles will be
connected using simple hardware that can be easily undone for removal. Since the
bicycle wheel and pump wheel now share an axel, pedaling the bike will turn the pump
wheel simultaneously pumping water with little effort.

32


Figure 4: Example of a Mounted Stationary Bike Trainer Pumping Water
33


One major pro of this design concept is that 100% of the power is transferred from the
bicycle to the pump, resulting in a high efficiency. Since both wheels share an axle, there
is no possibility for any type of slip. There is also no extra stability required of the rider.
This is due to the rear axle being completely supported by a frame. The rider has no fear
of falling over. Another pro is that any size or age of person can utilize it. Weight is not a
factor of efficiency like the previously discussed design concepts and can also be easily
constructed from available materials and is of simplistic design. Lastly, since the frame is
large and heavy, chances of theft decrease significantly.

Major cons of this design concept are that the rear bicycle wheel must be at the same
vertical height as the top pump wheel. Therefore, if the rope pump was built with a high
wheel, the bicycle will have to be supported very high as well. Another major con is that
this design will require some modification to the bicycle. The rear axle must be extended
and makes removal of the bicycle much more difficult. The bicycle will still be rideable,
but with some slight modifications. Connection of the two axles may also prove fairly
difficult and connections must be secure, but also not permanent in order to remove the
bicycle after use.
4.6 Drive Design Concept 4
Design Concept 4 uses friction between the rear bicycle wheel and the top rope pump
wheel. The rear wheel of the bicycle is supported just off of the ground by the axle,
similar to Design Concept 1. It is placed in such a way that the tire butts up against the
top wheel of the pump (see Figure 5). Therefore as the bicycle wheel is turned, it will
turn the pump wheel by friction between the tire and pump wheel. Pedaling the bicycle
will pump water with minimal little.
34

Figure 5: Example of a Mounted Bike Being Used to Pump Water

Pros of this design concept include similar ones to those of the previously discussed
design concepts. One being that there is no extra stability needed to utilize the pump.
User will have no fear of falling over because the rear wheel is supported by a frame.
Any size or age person can operate this device and weight has no effect of pump
efficiency. Design Concept 4 is very simplistic and can be easily built from available
materials. Since the structure is secured to the ground, theft is less likely to occur.
Another pro of this design concept is that no modification is done on the bicycle.
Securing the wheel is similar to design concept 1, therefore removal is simple and fast.
The bicycle can be ridden normally after the user is done pumping water.

One con of the design concept is that the rear wheel of the bicycle must be supported off
of the ground. Another major con of the design is that slip may occur between the tire
35

and pump wheel. If there is not enough force between the two wheels, friction will be
lowered and slip will occur. Thus, the efficiency of the pump will go down.
4.7 Drive Design Concept 5
Design Concept 5 involves some modification to the bicycle. A small third wheel is
mounted to the front of the bicycle (see Figure 6) and the wheel is linked to the main
sprocket of the bicycle using a chain. The rear wheel of the bicycle must be supported
just off the ground so it can rotate freely and is then connected to the top pump wheel by
chain or the same rope used in the pump itself. As the bicycle is pedaled, the attached
third wheel will rotate, and in turn rotate the top pump wheel. Thus, pedaling the bicycle
will pump water with minimal effort.

Figure 6: Mounted Bike Being Used for Mechanical Power
A major pro of this design concept is that 100% of the power is transferred to the pump.
Since there is no friction necessary, no slip will cause a lowered efficiency and also
requires no extra stability to ride. There is no fear of the rider falling over because the
rear wheel of the bicycle if fully supported. Another pro is that any age or size person
can utilize the device with ease. Another bonus is that the entire concept can be built
from available materials and extra bicycle parts. Lastly, since the drive connection device
is attached to the bicycle, theft will not be a factor.

An obvious con of this design concept is that major modification must be done to the
bicycle. A third wheel must be attached and extra chain run to that wheel. Bicycles will
36

not be rideable with the chain attached to the third wheel. In turn, removal of the bicycle
from the pump is difficult and requires the removal of a chain. This concept is also more
difficult to construct. Bicycle modification must be precise and accurate in order for it to
operate properly. Materials are readily available, but skill level of the worker must be
high.

4.8 Drive Design Concept 6
In the final design concept, a few major modifications were added to the bicycle and are
permanently attached. These modifications include the rear tire of the bicycle is removed
from the rim, the rear end of the bicycle is mounted to a support frame near the top wheel
of the pump, and finally the rear bicycle wheel and top pump wheel is connected via
rope, just at the rope runs around the rim of the pump wheel (see Figure 7). There will be
tension in the rope and friction will cause the wheels to turn in unison. Pedaling the
bicycle will turn the pump wheel, thus pumping water with minimal effort.


Figure 7: Another Example of a Mounted Bike Being Used for Power

37

Pros of this design concept includes: extra stability, accept a wide range of users, and is
easily constructed. There is no extra stability required to utilize this device because the
entire bicycle is supported by a frame. This means that the rider will have no need to fear
of falling over. This concept also accepts a wide range of users. Any age, size, or gender
person can operate the pump with ease. Weight has no effect on pump efficiency. Lastly,
the device is easily constructed from readily available materials. Design of the structure
is simplistic and easy to build.

This design concept has numerous cons, first being that heavy modification of the
bicycle is needed. Due to the modification, bicycle will no longer be rideable and will not
be removable like in the previous design concepts. Since the bicycle must be left at the
location of the pump, theft is a large factor. Parts and main components may be stolen
and it will no longer be usable. The last con is that slip may occur. There must be high
tension in the rope running from the rear bicycle wheel to the top pump wheel.
Otherwise, slip will occur and pump efficiency will decrease significantly.
4.9 Drive Design Concept Weighting Factors
When choosing the top design concept, several weighting factors come into play. All of
which are a factor in the design concept. They may either be a benefit or a downfall of
the design. This brings to question of what factors are most important and why. It is
critical to specify what factors have the biggest impact on the possible success or failure
of the design. Weighting factors that were examined and rated for our six design
concepts are:

1 Bicycle is easily removable from pump
2 Bicycle requires no modifications
3 Bicycle is still ride able after use
4 Simple to construct
5 Can be made of readily available materials
6 Device is not susceptible to theft
7 Requires no extra or special ability to operate
8 High power transfer efficiency
9 Device is easily maintained
10 Wide range of people can operate the device with ease
Drive Design Concept Ranking
All weighting factors were evaluated for each conceptual design concept. If the design
concept satisfied the condition, it was given a 1. If the design concept did not satisfy
the condition, it was given a 0. Each design concept was then totaled. Each of the
design concept(s) with the highest score were the top concepts rated by the weighing
factors. Results from the tabulated analysis are shown below:
38

Table 2: Drive Design Concept Ranking

Co
nc
ep
t 1
Co
nce
pt 2
C
o
n
ce
pt
3
Co
nc
ep
t 4
C
o
n
ce
pt
5
C
o
n
c
e
p
t
6
Easily Removable 1 1 0 1 0
0
No Modifications 1 1 0 1 0
0
Bike Still Rideable 1 1 1 1 1
0
Easy Construction 1 1 0 1 0
1
Available Materials 0 1 1 1 1
1
Low Chance of
Theft
0 1 0 0 1
1
Low Ability
Required
1 0 1 1 1
1
High Efficiency 0 0 1 0 1
1
Easily Maintained 1 1 1 1 0
1
Usable by All
People
0 0 1 1 1
1
TOTAL: 6 7 6 8 6
7

39

According to the ranking system, conceptual design concept 4 is the best choice based
upon the chosen weighting factors. Design concepts 2 and 3 are close behind with one
less point than the top choice.
Structure Concept 1
Structure Concept 1 will be a basic A-Frame design with steel plates to reinforce critical
joints (see Figure 8). A- Frames are known to be very durable. Size and simplicity of
design means fairly easy construction. This design limits the amount of space
underneath and can not fit as many well sizes.

Figure 8: Drawing of A-Frame Pump Design
Structural Concept 2
Structure Concept 2 (see Figure 9) will consist of a square base with a A-Frame riser.
This design allows for a wider base and is simple to construct. This concept is better for
fitting more well types and is less spatially constrained. This design requires slightly
more material than concept one as it has 4 additional legs.

40


Figure 9: Drawing of Trapezoid Based Pump
Our Problem Solving Approach
We chose to join the bicycle axle with the top rope pump wheel axle. This was done
using a detachable chain (a removable link) to ease work for connecting and
disconnecting the bicycle drive from the rope pump.

The rear of the bicycle is supported off of the ground to some suitable vertical height
using a simple frame to enable the behind wheel rotate and transfer drive. The wheel
axle for the rope pump is an old bicycle wheel. One major pro of our design concept is
that 100% of the power is transferred from the bicycle to the pump resulting in a high
efficiency.

Another pro of our design is that any size or age of person can utilize it. Weight is not a
factor of efficiency compared to previous designs. The other pro is that the bicycle is still
rideable after use.









41

Final Design Assembly (Sketch)

We used a quick release chain link to transfer the drive from the rear end of the bicycle to
the rope pump wheel axle.
Mathematical Model
A person can generate four times more power (1/4 horsepower (hp)) by pedaling than
by hand-cranking. At the rate of 1/4hp, continuous pedaling can be done for only short
periods, about 10 minutes. However, pedaling at half this power (1/8 hp) can be
sustained for around 60 minutes. Pedal power enables a person to drive devices at the
same rate as that achieved by hand-cranking, but with far less effort and fatigue. Pedal
power also lets one drive devices at a faster rate than before.

The power levels that a human being can produce through pedaling depend on how
strong the pedaler is and on how long he or she needs to pedal. If the task to be powered
will continue for hours at a time, 75 watts mechanical power is generally considered the
limit for a larger, healthy non-athlete. A healthy athletic person of the same build might
produce up to twice this amount.
A person who is smaller and less well nourished, but not ill, would produce less; the
estimate for such a person should Probably be 50 watts for the same kind of power
production over an extended period.



42

Pedaling Rate
How fast should a person pedal? A simple rule is that most people engaged in delivering
power continuously for an hour or more will be most efficient when Pedaling in the
range of 50 to 70 revolutions per minute (rpm). For simplicity's sake, we used 60 rpm, or
one revolution of the pedal cranks per second, as an easy reference value for estimates of
the gear ratios required to drive a given load.

Economic Evaluation of The Design
Rope Pump
For the total cost of the rope pump, all of the necessary materials and the quantity needed
are listed in the table below along with their corresponding prices.

Table 6: Cost Breakdown for Rope Pump


20m (65.6168ft.): PVC Pipe

Shs.18750
(7) Couplers Shs.7000
(1) 1/2 Bushing Shs.3000
(2)1/2 Ts Shs.2300
40m (131.264ft.)5/32 Polypropylene
Rope
Shs.25000
(2) cans of spray Paint Shs.20000
Rubber Sheet Shs.12000
Glue and Primer for PVC Shs.31000
#10 Washers Shs. 20000
3/16 Mild Plate Steel Shs. 10000
9ft.1 OD Mild Steel Tubing Shs.45000
TOTAL Shs.194050

Bike Mount
For the cost of the optional bike mount, all of the necessary materials and the quantity
needed are listed in the table below along with their corresponding prices.






43

Table 7: Cost Breakdown for Bike Mount

9ft. 1 OD Mild steel
Tubing
Shs.44000
(2) Pins for Risers Shs.5000
8ft. Bike Chain Shs.25000
(2) Casters Shs.40000
9ft.1 OD Mild Steel
Tubing
Shs.45000
(1)Can of Spray paint Shs.7500
TOTAL Shs.166500

Other Costs
Old Bicycle Cost Shs.150000
2 Sprockets Shs.70000
Hacksaw Shs.30000
4 Pins Shs.15000
Miscellaneous Shs.100000
Inflation estimates Shs.90000

TOTAL Shs.450000

The Overall cost estimate for our design comes to Shs.815550 which is less than one million
Ugandan shillings.







44

CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Overview
This chapter includes the conclusions on the intended design, the consequences and the
challenges encountered during the processes of developing the system. Furthermore in this
chapter there has been a number of recommendations drawn for purposes of adoption and also
aid for further related research.
5.2 Conclusion
This project focused on designing a bicycle powered rope pump for rural communities where
there exists no piped water and other means of extracting water egg boreholes are distant to
access for an average family. Basing on the findings of the study, the following conclusions have
been drawn;
There is need to tap into multi-function designs that can be applied to agriculture as far as
mechanical (pedal) power is concerned.
Our developed design means that the bicycle is still reusable for transport purposes after
its been engaged in pumping purposes, this means that an average family that already
has a bicycle doesnt incur an extra cost when it comes to getting pedal power, the only
costs incurred are those involved in the design of the rope pump and the bike mount plus
the drive connections.
Theres limited data when it comes to well-depths in Uganda and the depth of the water
tables, this in one way or another limited our study and may have contributed to a certain
degree of error.
Apart from using pedal power for pumping, it can further be applied to powering other
machines. These include; bicycle mills, bicycle blenders and bicycle nut shellers among
others, thus our design should simply be the tip of the ice burg as far as pedal power is
concerned in Uganda.
5.3 Recommendations
With regard to the process undertaken in the compilation of this document, the observations
made and the system developed, the following recommendations have been drawn;
The design should be adopted by government, especially for areas that are similar to
Buikwe district. This will enhance agricultural production, improve health through access
to safe water and also solve the energy problem.
Further research should be done on other ways of making a bicycle reusable after
pumping moments, in a way that aims at optimization and efficiency. Research should
also be done on other pumps other than rope pumps that could be used for the same
purpose at a cheaper cost.
45

Finally, we propose that further research is carried out as far as pedal powered machines
are concerned as this could solve many problems for this agricultural nation, with the
majority of areas lacking access to electricity.






















46

REFERENCES
1. Piloting the Rope Pump in Ghana, A WaterAid Briefing Paper-2004-No.1
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rope_pump
3. Darrow, Ken, and Pam, Rick. "Energy: Pedal Power," from Appropriate Technology
Sourcebook pp.189-196. Stanford, California: Volunteers in Asia, Inc., 1977.
4. "Pedal Power," a supplement to Energy for Rural Development. Washington, D.C.:
National Academy Press, 1981, pp. 137-148.
5. Whitt, Frank Rowland, and Wison, David Gordon. Bicycling Science. 2nd ed.
Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press, 1983.
6. http://appropriatetechnology.wikispaces.com/Bicycle+Water+Pump
7. Sustainable Water Demonstration Final Report by Bryan Dripps, Heather Reinhart and
Michael Henderson