Water-Pumping Windmill

Water-Pumping Windmill. . The power of moving air is harnessed to furnish water for livestock and human consumption., For centuries, windmills have been used to pump water, grind grain and saw wood., Windmills were very important in the settling of the western plains where water had to be pumped from the ground and steady winds were plentiful. However, since the 1930s when farmers could first get cheap electricity, water has been pumped by electric pumps and windmills have gradually been abandoned., Today there is a growing interest in returning to the use of wind power where it is practical. Water pumping windmills and electric-generating windmills are gaining popularity once again., How Does A Windmill Work? , The tail vane keeps the wheel facing into the wind thus causing it to rotate. The wheel is attached to a gearbox with a reciprocating (up and down) member. This member is connected to the pump below which sucks the water up from the well and out the spigot. NOTE: Since this is no longer a working well, the connection between the gearbox above and the pump below has been removed., A brake mechanism can be used to lock the wheel in a position parallel with the tail vane after the water demand has been satisfied., History Of This Windmill , The "Aermotor" Model A 602 windmill was built between 1916 and 1933 It was donated to the park by the "Oscar Ullom Family.", Prior to being restored by local volunteers and re-erected here on 9-21-06, it stood on the "Ullom" Farm at 5317 Palestine-Union City Road in western Darke County.