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SYSTEMS EXAMINATION QUESTION - MECHANISMS
V. Ryan © 2004
 

A small hillside village has discovered a fresh water spring and wish to pump the water up to the surface, into a bottling plant. A local engineer has developed a simple pump.
As the motor spins, a pulley belt rotates a pulley wheel. A connecting rod then pushes a plunger downwards. Water rises through holes in the plunger and as the plunger rises water is lifted to the water spout, where it pours out. This cycle of events continues until the motor is turned off.

 

1. List three possible safety improvements that could be applied to this design of pump.
 

A. The mechanism at the top of the system needs to be guarded. A wire mesh or a sheet steel guard would protect the operator.

 

B. A low voltage motor to replace a 240 volts powered motor would remove the possibility of electrocution.

 

C. Adding emergency stop buttons so that the operator could stop the motorised pump immediately in case of an accident

   
 
   

2. The motor has broken down and the pulley mechanism has been removed. Draw in the box an alternative mechanism, powered by hand, that could be used as a short term alternative to the motorised system.

3. List four advantages / disadvantages of your design.

A. The mechanism is hand powered and as such it does not need electrical power.
B. The gears can be changed so that the ratio is improved and the handle is easier to turn or the driven gear is driven round faster or slower

C. .The system is simple and easy to maintain.

D. Two handles could be added so that the mechanism can be driven round by two people or the handle can be lengthened so that the mechanical advantage is increased.

 

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