Water pumps of LEGO

12 suoidnemánnu 2023

A water pump made of LEGO®? Surely that can't work, I thought. But as you can see from Brick Technology's video, it can. Some versions even work surprisingly well. Brick Technology passes along seven different versions in the video that all end up working with each other through the use of sensors and LEGO®'s Powered Up app.

Different types of pumps

So in the video, seven different types of pumps pass by. In the LEGO® versions, some work better than others. But the basic principles of these techniques are still used in real pumps. Then, of course, they are optimized and leak-proof.

The first water pump on display is the Screw of Archimedes. Archimedes' Screw is an invention of Archimedes that can be used to transport liquids, slurries or powders. A helical screw is suspended in bearings in a tube. Displacement is due to the rotational motion of the spiral screw inside the tube. Now the LEGO® version does not have a tube around the screw. But by using the chutes, the raised edge is enough to transport the water upwards.

The Centrifugal Pump is a common pump for such things as aquarium pumps and pumps for set-up pools.

The Chain pump is basically very similar to the paddle wheel. Bowls spinning and scooping up the water. Only you can cover greater distances with a chain pump.

A technique you've certainly seen with an "old-fashioned" water pump is the piston pump technique. This principle not only works very well for water, but it also works great with air in a bicycle pump.

A gear pump or chain pump can be used to inflate the chain.

A gear pump or gear pump is a simple and therefore inexpensive rotary volumetric pump that consists of one or more pairs of interlocking gears with very little play between the gears and the pump housing. This technique is used, for example, as an oil pump in cars

The last pump to pass by in the video is the peristaltic pump or peristaltic pump. Fluids that can cause problems in other types of pumps, such as damage to pump parts due to corrosion by an acid, or damage to the substances in the fluid. Can be pumped with a peristaltic pump, however, because the liquid only comes into contact with the inner wall of the pump element: a tube made of plastic, such as silicone, that keeps the liquid to be pumped separate from other pump parts, thereby protecting both the pump and the liquid.

All the pumps together

It's great to see how all the different pumps are brought together and can work in harmony with each other by connecting the system to LEGO®'s Powered Up sensors and motors. This is how you end up with an infinite water course and all from LEGO®.

About Brick Technology

Brick Technology is a YouTube channel that makes crazy LEGO® Technic creations. The creator of the channel builds and tests different types of LEGO® mechanisms, such as water pumps, motors, cars and tanks. He also uses LEGO® Powered Up App and the LEGO® Colour distance sensor to program and automate his creations. The channel has more than 879 thousand subscribers and 23 videos. Some of his popular videos include "Can LEGO® create a Vortex in a Sphere?", "LEGO® Car Suspension Testing Device" and "Running LEGO® Engines with Air". The YouTube channel is definitely of interest to people who like LEGO®, engineering and experiments. So if you don't follow him yet, be sure to do so. Anyway, we thank him again for sharing this informative and fun video.

About LEGO® Powered Up

LEGO powered up is an innovative system that brings LEGO sets to life with motion, light, sound and Bluetooth® remote control. LEGO powered up allows children and adults to create their own smart toys by adding motors, power hubs, sensors and LED lights to their LEGO builds.

With the LEGO powered up app, users can control their LEGO creations in an intuitive and fun way. The app offers various functions and features, such as programming actions and reactions, customizing sounds and colors, playing challenges and sharing ideas with other fans. The app also works with LEGO trains to transport goods or passengers through LEGO City

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