WEEK SIX

TOPIC: HYDRAULICS AND PNEUMATIC MACHINES

DEFINITION - HYDRAULICS AND PNEUMATICS

Hydraulics is the branch of science and technology concerned with the conveyance of liquids through pipes and
channels, especially as a source of mechanical force or control. When compressed air (gas) is the liquid, it is called
Pneumatics. Hydraulic systems tend to be used at a much higher pressure than pneumatic systems. Consequently,
the former can produce much larger forces and torque than the latter.

SIMPLE HYDRAULIC AND PNEUMATIC MACHINES

Simple Force Pump: Pumps are used to move gases and liquids by applying pressure greater than those of
the gases or liquids. The simplest pump is the bicycle pump that moves air through the pump to the bicycle.
Another simple pump is the suction pump. It is used for lifting liquids from a low level.

Centrifugal pump: This has a set of moving vanes which receive the the fluid (air or water) at a smaller
radius

Hydraulic Jack: The discharge action in the hydraulic jack moves the liquid into a high pressure
compartment. The piston is equipped to carry heavy loads such as cars.

Garden sprinkler: This consists of one or more water jets which can revolve about the center as it sprinkles
water in a lawn or garden.

Reaction turbine

The waterwheel

USES/APPLICATION OF PNEUMATICS

Air brakes on buses, trucks and trains

Air compressors

Air engines for pneumatically powered vehicles

Pressure sensor

Pressure regulator and switch

Vacuum pump etc

USES/APPLICATION OF HYDRAULICS

Hydraulic Press
 Breaks in cars, motorbikes and bicycles often use hydraulic systems to force to break pads

Office chairs

Boats and airplanes

Excavators and dump trucks use hydraulic pistons to control their equipment

WEEK SEVEN

TOPIC: BUILDING CONSTRUCTION: SITE PREPARATION I

Site preparation involves the removal of trees, demolishing buildings, removing any and all old underground
infrastructures, and any other things that might affect the construction process in the future or hinder the project to
be done.

In various building projects, site preparation is very essential. The site may be a thick bush with big trees or a
swampy and waterlogged area or a site with small hills and valley covered with stones and rock, or even a site with
old and abandoned buildings.

TYPICAL HAND TOOLS IN SITE PREPARATION

Among the typical hand tools in site preparation operations are:

Spade: Used for digging relatively loose or soft earth

Shovel: Used for lifting and throwing loose materials (aggregates) or soft earth into another position and for
spreading and leveling the earth.

Matchet: Used for cutting grasses or wood like tree branches and shrubs

Hoe: Used for digging usually about the surface level of the ground.

Axle: Used for cutting bigger branches.

Chain saw: Used for felling trees and for cutting the trunk into smaller lengths

MECHANICAL TOOLS USED IN SITE PREPARATION

Mechanical tools, which are also very valuable in speedy operations of site clearing, tackle the bulk of the heavy
jobs on the site. Among these are following:

Bulldozer: This is a very powerful machine, which can push down almost any obstacle on its way and clear them
from the site.

Tractor shovel (pay loader): This machine has a tipping bucket at the front. It is used for lifting large quantities of
loose materials at a time and loading them into trucks or tippers.

Grader is used mainly for grading, that is, for trimming of bank or edges of roads and for cutting ditches
REMOVAL OF VEGETABLE SOIL SMALL TREES AND SHRUBS

The bulldozer is moved in to push down unwanted structures like old buildings and to uproot trees and shrubs. This
debris is moved away to the site where parts of the trees are later salvaged for firewood. The bulldozer then scraps
or excavates the topsoil to a depth of between 150mm and 300mm for the entire surface area of the site.

To prevent weed growth, an herbicide is applied. Herbicide is chemicals that are capable of preventing the growth of
weeds when applied on a building site.

Herbicides

Round up:This is a general-purpose herbicide

Grammazon:This is another trade name for a type of herbicide used on building site.

Techniques for Grubbing out roots and stumps: It is better to first fell the trees, cut the trunk and transport to the
sawmill for conversion into timber. The stump left is then tackled. Some digging is done around the tree stump to
expose the roots, which are then cut either with an axe or the chain saw and the stump finally pulled out by the
bulldozer.

LEVELING THE SITE

When all the tree stumps and roots have seen grubbed out and the top vegetable soil excavation to a depth of
between 150mm and 300mm, a grader is moved in, to level the site. Here, earth is cut from the higher ground and
moved down to fill valleys, holes and gullies.

EXTERMINATION OF TERMITES AND THEIR NESTS

When termite’s nests and anthills are found on the construction site they should be destroyed. The anthill is knocked
down and some poisonous chemicals like Gamaline or antitermite chemicals are mixed and poured into the nest to
kill the termites.

WEEK EIGHT

TOPIC: SETTING OUT

Anybody wishing to construct a building usually first consult an architect on the need for a building and the type of
building wanted. An architectural design is sent to the structural engineer, who determines and specifies the strength
and type of building material to be used. The quantity surveyor studies the working drawing of the proposed
building determines the cost of materials, labour and workmanship. Finally, a construction company wins the
contract for the construction of the building.

SETTING OUT

Building construction start with setting out

Setting out is, therefore, a process of driving wooden pegs into the ground here and there, in a manner that agrees
with the dimensions of the building specified on the architect’s drawings.

Setting out is also the process of transferring with high degree of skill and accuracy, the detail of the foundation plan
from the drawing sheet on the ground, with pegs, lines and tapes.

Working drawings include following drawings:

The elevations

The sections

The detailed drawing

The schedules

The electrical plan

The plumbing plan

The following tools are used for setting out

Steel rule

Builder’s square

Theodolite

When the concrete footing for the foundation has been cast and cured lines for the thickness of the wall are run and
plumbed down to the concrete footing and the first course of the concrete block wall is laid.

EXCAVATION

When foundation plan for a building has been transferred on to the site, by way of setting out, excavation begins.
For very big structures like stadium or a multi-storey building, the trenches for the column foundation or wall
foundation can be mechanically excavated. Holes are mechanically bored where bored piled foundation has been
recommended.

TIMBERING

This is the process of supporting the walls of the excavated pit with timber, for the purpose of safety.

CONCRETE AND ITS MATERIALS

Concrete consists of a matrix or binding material (cement), fine aggregate (sand) and coarse aggregate (stone) mixed
thoroughly with water. Concrete, therefore, is a composite material in which a binding material mixed with water o
solidification binds the inert materials – the particles of well- graded fine and coarse aggregates. Green concrete is
used in the construction of footings, foundations, slabs, columns, lintels, beams, steps, and walls. It resists decay
moisture and corrosion from acids. REINFORCED concretes are concrete having steel rods or welding wire mesh.

A good concrete should be strong, durable, hard, dense, non-porous, fire resisting and economical.

WEEK NINE
TOPIC: TAPS AND WATER SUPPLY

CONTENT

Definition of Tap

Types of Taps

Water Supply/ Plumbing/Fitting

Definition of Tap

A tap is a valve controlling the release of a liquid or gas. Taps are made using a wide range of materials, including
stainless steel, chrome, brass, nickel and gold.

Types of Taps

They are three main varieties of washerless tap available nowadays these are:

Ball taps: This work by pushing a hollow plastic or stainless steel ball over a rounded cover, which controls the
temperature and flow of water.

Cartridge Taps: These have a lever controlling a plastic or brass cartridge which moves up and down to restrict flow
and from left to right to change temperature.

Ceramic disc Taps: This have two ceramic plates which slide over each other to regulate temperature and flow and
require the least maintenance out of all the types.

Tap Styles

Cross head tap

Lever tap

How Taps Work

Different taps also regulate the water in different ways. Many of us are familiar with the compression type of tap –
when the tap is screwed down it compresses a washer made of rubber or neoprene against a metal seat, which
restricts and water flow. These washers will wear out over time, and need to be replaced

Water Supply/Plumbing

Definition of plumbing

Plumbing can be defined as the system of arranging and connecting pipes with others things (fittings and machines)
that supply water to and drain liquids wastes out of the building.

Domestic pipeline fitting has the following components:

Stops Corks

Drain Corks
Valves (gates valves bul-valves)

Taps

Elbows

Tees

Stop Cork: This is used to control the flow of water through water supply pipes.

The Stop Cork has a crutch handle, which is turned clockwise or anticlockwise to raise or lower the jumper on
valve seating.

Drain Cork: It is connected to a water supply pipe in order to drain off water.

Gate valve: It is a valve that is used in controlling the flow of water in the distribution pipes.

Taps: We get supply by opening a tap at the end of the supply line.

Elbows: These are connected to the water supply pipe to change the direction of flow through an angle. For
example, it is important when a horizontal pipe is to be connected to a vertical pipe. One end of the elbow turns
through the required angle (90, 112½ , 135 , 157½ )

Tee: A tee is used for joining three pipes meeting at a junction from one of the pipes the flow divides into the two
other pipes.

PIPELINE SYSTEM FOR DOMESTIC WATER SUPPLY

Pipes referred to as the mains are laid underground to distribute water to various outlets. The water from the street
mains enters the compound of a building in a 30m-diameter pipe (community pipe). It connects to a side of the water
authority stop cork which buried in a pit at least 80cm deep.

The main pipes are laid underground to distribute water to various outlets. The main is connected to the kitchen sink
to outside tap and up to the elevated tank. Baths, water closet, washing hand basin and hot water system are supplied
directly by gravity through a 22m diameter pipe from the overload storage tank.

WATER STORAGE TANK

Water storage tank is important when one considers the fact that regular supply of water cannot be guaranteed.
Storage tank is important because:

The demand for water varies during the day from the peak period demand in the morning to low demand later in the
evening.

Water is distribute from the storage tank generally at low pressure, thus if there is a leakage along the supply line, It
will not as serious as leakage along the high-pressure supply mains.

There are occasions when the water authority has to cut off supply to effect repairs unless one has a storage tank
there will be no supply to the building.

SINKS

They are made from stainless steel or enameled steel. Sinks are provided with piller bib taps depending on the
orientation of water supply pipe. It has over flown hole to provide passage for water in case of the tap being
carelessly left open. A’s tipper is used to block the water passage when the tap is open to provide a pool of water for
washing.

When blockage occurs, a sink plunger down or a force cup may be used. The plunger placed over the waste outlet is
then plunged down forcibly as many times as necessary.

The plunging action generates a lot of compressive force, which moves the obstruction out of the way. If the
plunging fails to remove the blockage the clearing “ey” will have to be unscrewed. A wire can then be used to probe
into the piping to dislodge the offending materials.

BASINS

Wash basins are usually made of ceramic. It has almost the same component as the sinks.

BATH TUBS AND SHOWERS

Baths are of different sizes and shapes. They are made of enameled cast iron or acrylic plastic. Cold water taps as
well as hot water tap is provided. It also has a stopper to stop water flow as often required.

For a body wash, there is a great advantage in installing a shower:

It ensures economical use of water than a bath tub.

Showers are more hygienic.

WATER CLOSET

The water closet is one of the most important components of a household’s plumbing installation.

Human wastes are got rid of through the W.C. Any malfunctioning will lead to an unhealthy environment. The
cisterns contain at least two gallons of water.

HOT WATER SYSTEM

Hot water system is required mainly for providing warm water for bathing and for brushing the teeth at washbasin.
This can be achieved. This can be achieved by installing an electric water heating system. The hot water is piped to
the bathtub and washbasin.

THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM

The effluents flushed from the W.C travel through the ‘soil’ pipe into the inspection chamber, which constituted the
junction for all drains. The water drained from the water basins travel through a separate pipe first into a gulley
where in solids are removed before the drain enters into the inspection chamber,

After the inspection chamber, the liquid waste either goes into the public sewage works or a septic tank. The septic
tank is an underground chamber into which sewage from the house enters and leaves as clean effluent. The inlet of
the septic tank is slightly higher than the outlet, this is to ensure that when fresh discharge of sewage enters the tank,
an equal volume of old liquid in the tank is displaced into the filter tank, anaerobic bacteria (bacteria which cannot
live in the pressure of free oxygen) act on the sewage to break down the solids to liquid, gas and mineral sludge.

The liquid effluent from the tank enters the second chamber or filter tank where aerobic bacteria (bacteria which live
in the presence of oxygen) complete the sewage purification process by oxidation.

For septic tank to be able to perform the above-mentioned point, than these practice should be noted.

The use of disinfectants destroyed the disease germs in a toilet and at the same time destroy the bacteria in the septic
tank, thus it slows down the bacterial action in the waste.

Household chemicals like bleaches, detergents etc when used excessively and sent into the septic tank interfere with
the bacteria decomposition of waste. The rate of absorption of the soil is thereby reduced liquid effluent from the
soil may then find its way to the surface consequence the surrounding area get polluted.

The empty of large volume of water may result in the churning up of the solids that are still being broken down by
bacterial action as well as the sludge. Such products may also flow into the filter or drainage field to cause clogging

It is important to establish the absorption properties of soil in an area where septic tank is to be installed.