By Pieter Bosch
A farmer from the Southern Free State, Kobus Breytenbach, uses the wheel of an old LM corn planter built into a metal frame to remove submersible pumps from boreholes efficiently. This not only saves labour but also reduces potential leaks in the pipe.
Thanks to a clever plan, Kobus from the farm Koesberg near Zastron can now effortlessly remove a submersible pump from a borehole. “The minimum wage resulted in minimum labour. Therefore, we no longer have enough workers to pull pipes cables, and pumps out of boreholes. I made a simple piece of equipment from scrap metal to get the work done faster and with less labour.”
About a year ago, Kobus started thinking about a mechanical alternative for removing submersible pumps from boreholes – a task for which he previously needed up to five workers.
In his design, a wheel is key to extracting and retrieving the 50mm water pipe and the electrical cable connected to the submersible pump at the bottom of the borehole. The ideal wheel was that of an old LM corn planter that Kobus’ wife, Antjie, had been using as an ornament in her garden.
Despite initial resistance, Kobus persuaded her to donate one of the planter’s metal spoke wheels (with a diameter of 75 cm) to improve efficiency and productivity on the farm. What made the LM corn planter’s wheel so attractive was the deep groove in the outer rim that could “hold” the pipe and cable of a submersible pump when pulled from a borehole to remove the pump itself.
The wheel is bolted to an axle cut to the correct size on a lathe. The wheel and axle are mounted in two roller bearings in the middle of an iron framework (1 m high and 75 cm wide) made of U-iron. This setup ensures that the wheel turns effortlessly. The frame is stabilised with a solid U-iron base (1 m long and 75 cm wide) that can slide over borehole casings. This positions the wheel and guarantees that it remains balanced and secure during use.
Reduces joint points
Thanks to the wheel, only two workers are needed to quickly and efficiently remove submersible pumps from boreholes, says Kobus. One worker ensures that the pipe and cable run in the wheel’s groove, while the second worker pulls the pipe “over” the wheel and out of the borehole until the submersible pump can come out. In addition to completing the work in a shorter time, using the wheel reduces the chance of human error, such as dropping the pump back into the borehole or damaging the pipe.
The wheel allows the pump to be pulled out at a comfortable angle, reducing the chance of a kink in the pipe. This often occurs when a group of workers pulls the pipe out or when a farmer succumbs to the temptation of using a bakkie to pull out pipes and cables.
Any kink or bend in the pipe is a potential leak point, requiring it to be joined, as leaks will affect the water supply.
Kobus explains: “You can see where a joint leaks when it is above ground, but underground joints are not visible. When a joint starts leaking, it can lead to an inefficient water supply where you need it. A pipe should preferably never be unnecessarily kinked and then joined.”
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