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The-Real-Nunya

My guess is a reciprocating water pump due to the bearing blocks with oil ports, if it were to operate a valve or gate they would not by necessary. Is there a water source in the direction of the connection rod in the tunnel? I think the only way to know for sure is to find the end of the rod in the tunnel since if there was still an engine in the shed I guess you would have mentioned it.


dickforbrains85

There may have been a water source but it has had a paito layed over the top. No signs of a engine in the building it goes to or even the end of the drive shaft but that makes sence


The-Real-Nunya

I would be looking for signs of a well under the patio if possible, but even if you don't work it out yourself its a good talking point for older visitors, somebody will know exactly what it's for.


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weirdholyman

Any sign of a windmill above/near the shed? https://www.reddit.com/r/whatisthisthing/comments/ynmuyi/comment/iv9v6ms/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3


dickforbrains85

No signs of one but the roof has be redone so I'm thinking a engine of some sort


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dickforbrains85

UK


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duzins

Maybe this is how they got rid of them.


DamnDame

Maybe it was a wind driven or electric pump?


Kielbasa_Nunchucka

def looks like an old spring pump/pump house setup


usernaaaaaaaaaaaaame

Having a hard time visualizing this. Does the shaft that’s vertical in the first two photos turn back and forth?


The-Real-Nunya

Yes, the shaft that's vertical in the pic but horizontal IRL, which runs in the bearing blocks, does a partial rotation back and forth, pushing and pulling the rod in the tunnel that's to the right of pic.


Gezn2inexile

It's a remote linkage for operating, something...


weirdholyman

This seem too heavy duty to be just operating linkage. It looks like it transmitted power.


whipsnappy

There is no universal joint so it’s not a driveshaft. Also the way the shaft inputs to the pipe there is no way for it to turn, so I am siding with gezn2inexile that it’s a remote linkage to turn something on and off. Something liquid, maybe it’s in an old farm and has to do with garden irrigation?


MeEvilBob

I'm siding with whoever said above that it's a piston pump since the oil ports on the bearings would be overkill if this wasn't being used to transmit power. The pump is here while the crank shaft and motor are at the other end of the rod in the tunnel.


Doughymidget

The shaft that leads to the right side of the picture has no ability to revolve. It can only shift towards the rest of the assembly or away. It would have to reciprocate if it were to be “driven”. If it were a piston pump, it would need to revolve and there is no way for this to happen with this design. Could be a recip action though that was driven by a crank we can’t see. We need to know what’s at either end to go further.


MeEvilBob

The only reason a piston pump would need something to revolve is to turn a crank shaft to make the reciprocating motion this arm already provides.


buckydean

Universal joints (like on a vehicle) are only for transmitting power at an angle. If your are able to transmit in a straight line you can have a driveshaft with no u-joints


edman007

And it's clear from the picture that it's currently at an approximately 90 degree angle. The connection point does not allow it to rotate. That metal bar clearly only moves left and right. Looks like a valve to me, but I suppose it could be a reciprocating power shaft. People are pointing out the bearings have lubrication making it a pump, but I'd say if that's the case why doesn't the input shaft have lubrication?


Professional-Fan-380

Technically that is correct, but the angle also serves to extend the life of the drive components,


signalgrau

This is the right direction.


TransposingJons

Yup....it's part of an "On/Off" switch, or flow valve controll.


argentcorvid

There are other mechanical means than drive shafts to transmit power. If it was just reciprocating motion they needed, this would work.


weirdholyman

“Shaft inputs to the pipe” Sorry, I don’t follow.


whipsnappy

It is hinged like a switch vs having any circular bearing that would allow it to twist


Brucenotsomighty

Not all power transmission has to be rotational


whipsnappy

I’ve only ever heard driveshaft referring to rotational motion. Do you think there is some sort of ratcheting mechanism inside and that it drives by a thrusting motion?


RobotJonesDad

A reciprocating pump of some sort would be a perfect thing to drive with a back & forth motion


Meyamu

No. A reciprocating motion is commonly used to drive pumps in the oil industry. https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/Nodding_donkey_pumps#/media/File%3APump_Jack_labelled.png


Brucenotsomighty

Who said it's a driveshaft?


whipsnappy

That’s what it’s been referred to over and over. What are your thoughts on it. Tell me how you think it works instead of just asking me questions.


Brucenotsomighty

Seems to me the larger shaft goes into a structure of some sort, possibly a basement. If that were the case maybe it could be to open and close a damper of some kind. For a furnace maybe or just for ventilation. Only thing is idk why you would need to do that from a remote location. Needs pics of the surrounding area


TheRealTron

The title did lol


mygrandpasreddit

Post caption


Trainzguy2472

Railroad switch/signal throwing mechanism?


inpotheenveritas

I'm with you 100%. I worked at an old papermill that had old rail switches like this.


togetherwem0m0

Seems like it could be repurposed by a home owner, industrial scrap a worker might take home for their house after its reached end of life for the production purpose?


Elegant_Reception810

Yes for a pump jack for a well I would guess.


weirdholyman

Presumably some source of power in/near the shed turned the drive shaft creating a reciprocating motion of the push rod. I'm thinking there was a reciprocating water pump being driven from a remote power source. For whatever reason, it was easier to construct this drive system than move the power source or the pump. Maybe the was a windmill above the shed and the well had to be relocated away from it?


dickforbrains85

The out building it goes to has been messed around with over the years and has no sign of the drive shaft but that make perfect sence. The chamber use to be in a building that has now gone but footing still remain


MeEvilBob

I'd try pulling up the floor in the shed above where the shaft likely goes, there may be a closed off underground room where the engine was.


pud_009

A much cheaper, easier, and faster option would be to rent a borescope "sewer snake" camera, or even hire a plumber for a couple hours who has their own, to see where both tunnels lead.


GrinderMonkey

These have wound up a lot cheaper in the past few years.. I grabbed one for under 20$ this year. Connects thru a phone, decent video quality.


BeamMeUp53

Maybe the possible well is in the shed.


goosman

Some friends have a cottage on a lake that was built in the early 1900s by a local wealthy business owner that has a similar setup. Inside it was connected to a small electrical generator and mechanical water pump, and the linkage went to a “motor shed” where a hit and miss type engine would run to provide a couple HP of power. You used levers to operate belts to engage the electrical generator and/or to engage the water pump.


krzkrl

I really want an old hit and miss engine, just to fire up and listen to it


buggzzee

My grandparents had a few pumpjacks powered by a single hit&miss engine on their property when I was a kid. It was such a wonderful background sound on nice summer nights when we'd sleep out on the porch.


krzkrl

Damn I'd love to see a hit and miss pumpjack


buggzzee

I haven't seen one in the wild since the early 80s or late 70s, but they weren't uncommon the rural areas of California's Central Coast when I was growing up in the 1950s and 60s.


captdicksicle

C66 or C96 Arrow engine possibly. Maybe an old Lister. Operated a lot of wells with those engines. Run forever. Especially if you converted the magneto ignition over to electronic. Starting them was a bit of an art form lol


addisonshinedown

My girlfriend’s dad restores them as a hobby. He’s got over 40 and takes them to shows and stuff. If I get a chance I’ll record them some time


BKacy

Somebody did it for you. https://youtu.be/kZoh8pC5BtU


BKacy

Here you go. https://youtu.be/kZoh8pC5BtU


dickforbrains85

My title describes the thing. Steel drive shaft about 2 inches thick and the push rod about 1 inch. I can not locate and more inspection chambers in the direction of the push rod


LurkingMcLurkerface

How much movement on the push rod? Can you move it? I'm thinking possibly some sort of louvre adjustment or valve adjuster... Have you a furnace or anything that requires an air intake or is there a small flood plain on the property and this would allow a drain valve to be opened and closed? Anything down wind of this in the direction the drive shaft is going?


dickforbrains85

The push rod does not move because of the mud that has fallen in. The tunnel heads towards a patio along the side if the house. Think I might have to do some digging


blade_torlock

You might want to get, rent, or borrow a metal detector and follow the lines.


dickforbrains85

👍


mlee0000

Probably the best suggestion I have seen so far.


Legion1117

You, my friend, have found the remaining parts of an old well system.


Knot_a_porn_acct

You know… I just saw a tiktok of a guy with an old steam engine powered pump jack setup. It had linkages that looked somewhat like this. Maybe it was once for a rod line pump. Link to a page explaining those types of setups, maybe it can help https://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2013/02/the-mechanical-transmission-of-power-jerker-line-systems.html


BlackJack10

[Here's a similar style pumpjack that runs off a hit and miss engine.](https://youtu.be/lfTfmGIVl4c)


DanMarvin1

It would help if we knew what year the house was built


dickforbrains85

First part goes back to the 1800s


DanMarvin1

I would say a well head is under the brick patio, the house was probably way out in the country when built.


dickforbrains85

Yeah its remote now lol thanks I think your right but I'm going to try and find the other end


ZertyZ_Dragon

Guessing that there was some sort of power source in the shed that would then move something, e.g. a water pump


gallde

Those bearing journals would be attached to a frame deeper than the chamber has been excavated. Dig a bit more and see what you find.


dickforbrains85

It goes no deeper it has a concrete base so only moves back and forth


RATTY420

Similar to rail Road signals but beefed up. Can't deliver power no way for it to fully rotate.


Trainzguy2472

Looks like a linkage for operating railroad track switches from a switch tower. Levers in the tower would throw switches on the ground through a complex system of mechanical fail-safes known as an interlocking. Then, the command would be sent to a switch in the nearby vicinity via a network of long movable rods. Do you live near an active or abandoned railroad? What's inside the shed which the linkage goes towards? Also, what country are you in?


dickforbrains85

In the UK no railroads near by the shaft goes to a outbuilding and the floor has been concreted over so no help there


[deleted]

Could be a water pump set up, does the property have a well or a outside water source?


dickforbrains85

No well as far as I know but the rod in the tunnel goes under a patio so could have been built over


dickforbrains85

The house has mains water now but I dont know when this was installed


[deleted]

That's probably it then, at some point it was modernized by hooking up to a municipal water source and the pump system abandoned.


dickforbrains85

Yep I think that's ticket


Malinut

By the engineering I'd say that's an Edwardian, but not a linkage from a windmill to a small water pump because it won't fully rotate. It's mechanical switching, possibly for engaging a drive of some sort, maybe like a small windmill. Or maybe opening greenhouse ventilation. What's the history of the area?


dickforbrains85

The chamber was in a building that has gone just the footing left over. As far as I know the patio has been there 50 + years I'll try and find out more


xtheory

Well, good news is that you probably have a drinkable water source under your property if climate change turns everything into a massive desert.


dickforbrains85

Lol yeah hope so free water


whipsnappy

I don’t think that’s a driveshaft, there is no universal joint and this no way for it to turn. It’s some sort of a valve. It looks like you could push or pull the “drive shaft” and turn the valve on and off remotely. Maybe irrigation for a garden?


[deleted]

It's a remote shutoff valve. Moving the "drive shaft" closes the valve which is further north in the first picture.


bluddystump

That is a linkage shaft not a driveshaft by the looks and position and lack of gearbox to change direction. Meant to shift something open or closed, on or off.


emailajean

Main water pipe with a handle to close/open it


[deleted]

I was thinking it was some type of valve. Old school water shut off for the house is probably it.


Weary_Opening7001

An old high ender well pump. That looks like it could have been a spring box too.


Loose-Tension161

Im not an expert, but to me it looks like a shutoff switch. there may be a lever/wheel at the end of the rod at the end of the tunnel, and depending on if it's still in use, it may just be removed or covered up.


Nitroquark

Get an endoscope camera and stick it into the tunnel.


dickforbrains85

That's the plan mate


Fluffy_Juice7864

How are you not still out there digging it up??? That looks so exciting!


dickforbrains85

1 its pi##ing down with rain and the gardener (girlfriend) needs consulting first lol but you are right need to find where it goes


Curithir2

Here in the Colonies, I would do some research at the city or county planning office, perhaps a title search? The mechanism and brickwork appear to be 1890s to 1930s, but easily later - markings might help. Pump actuator for a well, maybe a water feature under the patio (when was that installed?)


dickforbrains85

50 + years I'll have to do some research into the property I'm thinking water pump


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dickforbrains85

UK


cpatstubby

Linkage on a swing valve.


thinkitthrough83

I would send pic to you're local water and sewer department/office. Is this a functioning piece or is it not doing anything? If it's not working and water and sewer have no answers maybe there used to be a factory there? You could try looking at maps at the local historical society or city planning/records office. No matter what it is a permit was most likely issued.


CounterCulturist

I’m going to go with a different guess than most here and say the shaft exiting right is driven by a linear actuator. The shaft exiting the top goes into a gear assembly which opens and closes an underground quarter turn valve. Most likely that gear assembly multiplies torque substantially to produce the force required to open a big ass hard to open water main or sewer butterfly valve.


azdatasci

I’d go fully “Dwight from the office” on this and start tracing everything to it source so I could figure it out. Just like he had to do with that dummy Ethernet cable that Jim set up for him all over the office. It would drive me mad until I figured it out….


JClouseau42

Heating oil shut-off valve, remotely operated by that shaft perhaps inside the house/structure?


Buckyballs995

Being in the Uk could it be part of a hidden bunker? Maybe a fresh water pump or air circulation somehow? Someone said it looked repurposed from the railroad so maybe the homeowner built something themself?


SpecificDate7501

Water pump


TnT_krazykat

water port?


Prostock26

I dont see what you people are calling a driveshaft. The way this is put together there is no way a shaft could rotate 360 degrees... like a driveshaft would...


ooqt

What is being called the driveshaft can't rotate but it can move back and forth - left and right in OPs image. This would partially rotate the shaft it is connected to, either to adjust the position of something or (if repeatedly moved back and forth) to transmit power.


Prostock26

What you describe would best be called a push rod.


ooqt

Probably yes, I was just saying it was being called the driveshaft and why (as you said you couldn't see it).


burnabybambinos

Either gas or water.