Design Notes for Low Cost Solar Water Pumps

FYI - Here's some information you might find useful in designing Low Cost Solar Water Pumps.

As a start, how about these old Solar Water Pumps patents that have expired due to age (generally more than 20 years old from the filing date). Expired patents are free to use by anyone.
Pumping system using solar energyUS Pat. 3937599 - Filed Oct 11, 1974
Heat-powered water pumpUS Pat. 4177019 - Filed Mar 27, 1978
APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING ATMOSPHERIC OR SOLAR HEAT FOR RAISING WATERUS Pat. 433055 - Filed Feb 2, 1887
Solar powered liquid metering deviceUS Pat. 4407637 - Filed Jan 22, 1981
Heat-powered water pumpUS Pat. 4212593 - Filed Jan 25, 1979
SOLAR ENERGY PUMPUS Pat. 2688922 - Filed Oct 27, 1951
THERMAL-GRAVITY FLUID PUMPING METHOD AND APPARATUSUS Pat. 3765799 - Filed May 1, 1972
Passive solar powered plant watering systemUS Pat. 4304528 - Filed Oct 12, 1979

To search for more Solar Water Pumps patents, try the following. Please remember that newer patents are probably not expired, and therefore active.

For a Worldwide search, go to esp@cenet.
1 - In the "International Patent Classification (IPC)" field, copy and paste in the following - f04b OR f04f OR f03g
2 - In the "Keyword(s) in title or abstract" field, copy and paste in the following - (solar* OR sun) AND water AND pump*
3 - Press SEARCH. View your results.

For the U.S. only, go to U.S. Issued Patents.
1- In the "Query" field, copy and paste in the following - CCL/417/$ AND ABST/(solar$ OR sun) AND (water OR well OR wells)
2 - Press SEARCH. View your results.

For the latest in U.S. only, go to U.S. Published Applications.
1- In the "Query" field, paste in the same search string above.
2- Press SEARCH. View your results.

In addition, here's some other information you might find interesting.
Solar water pumping
A simple water pump, powered by solar energy
Water pumping: The solar alternative by M. G Thomas (Unknown Binding - 1987)
Understanding Solar Water Pumps (Understanding Technology) by C. J. Swet (Plastic Comb - May 1985)
Design of a cost effective solar powered water pump (Hydraulics and hydrology series) by Duane G Chadwick (Unknown Binding - 1980)
Solar-powered pumps

So what can you do with all this information? Here's some suggestions.
+ You could make and sell the device described in the expired patent. Please note that just because something is patented or written, it might not work all that well or might not be safe in today's standards. Use your own judgment, or seek help, to stay safe and out of trouble.
+ You could "translate" the expired patent into easy-to-understand instructions for others to make the device. These instructions could use easy-to-find materials, like trees, plants, rocks, people, scrap materials, etc.
+ You could recruit the inventors or authors to help you, since they are experts in their field. Some of the inventors of older patents might be retired now and might be looking for something to do.
+ Existing manufacturers of Solar Water Pumps could use this information to make their already fine products even better, more efficient, or less expensive.
+ You could use the information to brainstorm new ideas. Build on the work of others.

Here's some brainstorming ticklers to help you launch in new directions around the topic of Solar Water Pumps.
Solar water pumpUS Pat. 4409961 - Filed Mar 23, 1981
Pulsing steam solar water pumpUS Pat. 4309148 - Filed Dec 7, 1979
Solar diaphragm pumpUS Pat. 4427350 - Filed Jan 11, 1982
IMPROVEMENT IN WATER-ELEVATORSUS Pat. 116025
Solar driven power unitUS Pat. 4068476 - Filed Nov 14, 1974
Multiple-stage small temperature differential heat-powered pumpUS Pat. 4347045 - Filed Mar 10, 1981
Build your own solar-powered water pumping station by Jeffrey Yago ...

That's about all for now. As background, the site "Design for the Other 90%" said to "GET INVOLVED", so I did. I plan to continue posting these LOW COST DESIGN TOPICS on my Blog for a while yet. Let me know if you have a topic you would like covered. I'm open to suggestions on improving my blog format, too. Please e-mail me directly.

I hope you find this helpful. I'm sure you can do much better though! Go for it! Good Luck!

For more of my LOW COST DESIGN TOPICS - Click on the tag below "design for the other 90%".

See disclaimers on TG Ideas LLC publications and website - http://www.athenet.net/~ideas/,

Thanks!