Heron's Fountain

[Pirate88179]

This past weekend I constructed a Heron's Fountain according to the attached diagram.  I will post a video of it in operation when I get a chance.  This is a really cool project and cost me nothing to build.  It is amazing to see the water lifted higher than the starting point.  More later...

Bill

Instructions I used are here: http://blog.makezine.com/2008/06/08/build-herons-fountain-1/  I modified a few things to fit the materials I had laying about.

[TinselKoala]

Good for you! I think I used the same diagram for my first one too.

For my latest version I used some bigger plastic jars from instant coffee, and I stacked the lids and jars a little differently.
I've found that PermaTex (3M) Super WeatherStrip Adhesive, the yellow kind, found in car parts stores, works well for gluing these plastics. Sand the surfaces, degrease with MEK, follow instructions on the glue, and you will get a good, airtight and water resistant bond.

I think it's hilarious that Heron of Alexandria also invented the first coin-operated vending machine: A Holy Water dispenser.

[Pirate88179]

TK:

Good tips, thanks.  I used my hot glue gun and it worked well.  I did have to touch up a few joints but it worked on the first try.  I used small 16 oz bottles and a few tupperware type pieces.  The onlyy thing is, the "supply" bottle empties fairly quickly...so i put a nozzle on the end of the fountain head with a reduced diameter and it makes it last longer but...it still empties.  Is the supply bottle supposed to refill at all during this process?  Obviously it can't on a 1 for 1 basis but, is there any way to partially refill the supply bottle while it is running from some of the drain from the fountain cup?

I showed a friend of mine and he said there is no way that the water was going to go higher than it started out....which is what I thought too.  It sprays out with good pressure with the restricted nozzle.

Vending machine you say?  I had not read that.

Bill

[Magluvin]

So the real trick would be to have the top container drain into the second chamber and that pressurizes the bottom chamber to force the fountain from the bottom chamber.

Now we are filling the second chamber and depleting the bottom. After all is said and done, if its possible, it wont require work to get the water from the second chamber to the bottom again. ;]

MaGs

[Magluvin]

Like this.  ;]

MaGs