Home Smart 100 2011 Perennial pump primer (SMART 100)

Perennial pump primer (SMART 100)

May 5, 2011

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The following SMART 100 profile and the information it contains is a duplication of content submitted by the applicant during the entry process. As a function of entry, applicants were required to declare that all details are factually correct, do not infringe on another’s intellectual property and are not unlawful, threatening, defamatory, invasive of privacy, obscene, or otherwise objectionable. Some profiles have been edited for reasons of space and clarity. More about the SMART 100.

Perennial pump primer

This innovation initially came to life when…

I invented a device to block drains and then automatically to draw water from drains. It was called the everydrop water harvester and appeared on the New Inventors and won the episode people’s choice award. I then found it was difficult getting a pump that could draw water from below it and continue to hold prime. Such pumps that could do it like diaphragm pumps were more expensive, less efficient and not usually for the domestic market. Further, even these pumps were prone to shorter life when left to run dry for too long. Hence I developed this new product.

WHAT & HOW

The purpose of this innovation is to…

Allow a pump to start wet and draw water up a dry hose whilst still being wet. Then, when the pump stops it will automatically reset itself so that the pump will remain wet and start wet again.

It does this by…

Using the lower chamber as a vacuum system to draw water from source when the pump starts and using the upper chamber as a reservoir for water that, when the pump stops, allows the connecting valve to open and drop water into the lower chamber, hence re-priming the system for the next start.

PURPOSE & BENEFITS

This innovation improves on what came before because…

It can be retrofitted to all pumps. It can be scaled up or down. It turns non-priming pumps into priming pumps and it turns self-priming pumps into better ones. It has only one moving part. It can be used to draw water from great depths even through dry hose. It can operate without a stop valve.

Its various benefits to the customer/end-user include…

Increases working life of pumps as they will last longer from starting wet all the time. Saves the trouble of re-priming a dry pump. Means you can use one type of pump for more applications. Makes pump more efficient.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

In the past, this problem was solved by…

Using a diaphragm pump. Using a stop valve. Having a cutout switch so that if the pump ran dry for too long it would turn itself off.

Its predecessors/competitors include…

Manufacturers of diaphragm pumps. Impeller pumps with flexible blades.

TARGET MARKET

It is made for…

Clients who wish to draw fluid from below the location of the pump. Firefighters could use it to get water from dams. Helicopters drawing water for firefighting could use it. A farmer could use it to draw water from below ground to above ground. A householder could use it (as was my original plan) to get storm water out of the drain and use it to water the garden or put it in the tank. A car wash place could use it to recycle the water.

DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY

It is available for sale through…

I would like to sell the domestic item through a large hardware chain and/or through an irrigation distributor.

Our marketing strategy is to…

Link up with a manufacturer who wants to value add with this product. A manufacturer who does not have pumps that self prime but has a market that would like this. Then, offer the product as part of their product line.

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