Valentines Sump
- Thread starter Ralph
- Start date
Well it can't be realistically baled as the drain is still blocked, however SamT (plus others) have set up a mechanism with a pump at the Eating House end which sets a syphon off down the Filthy Five. It still takes a couple of hours to get decent airspace.
Several Eldon members did the round trip going down Geology, up the FF and back through St. Valentines a couple of years ago. I don't think it's been done since.
Jase
Several Eldon members did the round trip going down Geology, up the FF and back through St. Valentines a couple of years ago. I don't think it's been done since.
Jase
SamT
Moderator
Yep - the syphon does need looking at.
Its in a state of semi completion and has been for a year or so.
We did have some success with it, and once set up properly, it should work a treat.
Its been on my list of things to go and finish off for too long.
Problem is this.
The syphon tubes (there will be 3 * 3/4" fire hoses) need to be left 'sucking' at the deepest part of the sump. which is a small air bell about 20 feet in. They also need some baskets putting on the end to stop them sucking up gravel and getting blocked.
It was tricky to get them primed and syphoning by the dam, then get them down to the deepest part of the sump. (if left by the dam, they become 'beached' and the syphon stops before the sump is de-roofed).
So
I have bolted a pump to the wall by the little dam. This is connected to a hose that runs along the wall to the air bell.
The plan would be that some unlucky volunteer would crawl up to the air bell, fish around for one of the syphon hoses and connect it to the pump hose.
Another person would then pump for a few strokes until the syphon starts. The wet and cold person would then pull the hose off the connection and dump it back down in the water... then fish around for the 2nd hose, connect that - get it going.. fish around for 3rd hose...etc.
With 3 hoses going, I reckon the waiting time would be reduced to maybe an hour. Time to either go round and up the filthy five, (not recommended on the rope that is currently in situ).
or
Go and rig geology pot, then come back and wait. Then go down the Filthy Five and back out.
Once the syphon is set up and running, The filthy 5 need re-rigging with new bolts (I think DCA have agreed to do this with P bolts) and maybe even pull through systems.
The rigging on them at the moment is pretty bloody dangerous at the moment.
Its in a state of semi completion and has been for a year or so.
We did have some success with it, and once set up properly, it should work a treat.
Its been on my list of things to go and finish off for too long.
Problem is this.
The syphon tubes (there will be 3 * 3/4" fire hoses) need to be left 'sucking' at the deepest part of the sump. which is a small air bell about 20 feet in. They also need some baskets putting on the end to stop them sucking up gravel and getting blocked.
It was tricky to get them primed and syphoning by the dam, then get them down to the deepest part of the sump. (if left by the dam, they become 'beached' and the syphon stops before the sump is de-roofed).
So
I have bolted a pump to the wall by the little dam. This is connected to a hose that runs along the wall to the air bell.
The plan would be that some unlucky volunteer would crawl up to the air bell, fish around for one of the syphon hoses and connect it to the pump hose.
Another person would then pump for a few strokes until the syphon starts. The wet and cold person would then pull the hose off the connection and dump it back down in the water... then fish around for the 2nd hose, connect that - get it going.. fish around for 3rd hose...etc.
With 3 hoses going, I reckon the waiting time would be reduced to maybe an hour. Time to either go round and up the filthy five, (not recommended on the rope that is currently in situ).
or
Go and rig geology pot, then come back and wait. Then go down the Filthy Five and back out.
Once the syphon is set up and running, The filthy 5 need re-rigging with new bolts (I think DCA have agreed to do this with P bolts) and maybe even pull through systems.
The rigging on them at the moment is pretty bloody dangerous at the moment.
JAM
New member
Cheers for the info Sam. Sounds like an "interesting" project... 
How big or small is the airbell precisely and would you have to do a duck in order to get to it ? I've crawled in to where water is almost reaching roof... does it actually sump completely or is the 1" gap nearly always available?
Rich
How big or small is the airbell precisely and would you have to do a duck in order to get to it ? I've crawled in to where water is almost reaching roof... does it actually sump completely or is the 1" gap nearly always available?Rich
jasonbirder
Member
You got a day off this week? We could go have a look...
SamT
Moderator
Jam said:Cheers for the info Sam. Sounds like an "interesting" project...
Rich
The 'airbell' I refer to...
You can crawl to this easily - and only just about get your chest wet. There is a raising of the roof and a deepening of the floor where you can stoop/squat happily, beyond sumps immediately. There is a dive line tied on to a thread in the right hand wall/roof. The pipe from the pump ends here.
There is various (excess) hose laid about on the sump floor. Two of these hoses run through the sump - and up and over and down the FF. Find the ends, get them primed and you could drain the sump. The do need 'baskets' over the end to prevent them hoovering up gravel mind. I have two 'floats' from cistern a ball cock all ready to go in my garage, cut in half and drilled with holes - perfect for the job. they just need jubilee clipping to the ends of the pipe.
I was hoping to drain the sump one day, then pull the excess hose through and further down filthy five.
I was also hoping that there would be enough spare hose to rig up a third hose, further reducing the time needed to drain the sump.
Time time time
