What is "bilge pump"

Bilge \Bilge\, n. [A different orthography of bulge, of same origin as belly. Cf. Belly, Bulge.]

1. The protuberant part of a cask, which is usually in the middle.

2. (Naut.) That part of a ship's hull or bottom which is broadest and most nearly flat, and on which she would rest if aground.

3. Bilge water.

   Bilge free (Naut.), stowed in such a way that the bilge is clear of everything; -- said of a cask.

   Bilge pump, a pump to draw the bilge water from the gold of a ship.

   Bilge water (Naut.), water which collects in the bilge or bottom of a ship or other vessel. It is often allowed to remain till it becomes very offensive.

   Bilge ways, the timbers which support the cradle of a ship upon the ways, and which slide upon the launching ways in launching the vessel.

n. (context nautical English) A small pump fitted in ships to pump the bilges clear of water.

n. a pump to remove bilgewater

A bilge pump is a water pump used to remove bilge water. Since fuel can be present in the bilge, electric bilge pumps are designed to not cause sparks. Electric bilge pumps are often fitted with float switches which turn on the pump when the bilge fills to a set level. Since bilge pumps can fail, use of a backup pump is often advised. The primary pump is normally located at the lowest point of the bilge, while the secondary pump would be located somewhat higher. This ensures that the secondary pump activates only when the primary pump is overwhelmed or fails, and keeps the secondary pump free of the debris in the bilge that tends to clog the primary pump.

Ancient bilge force pumps had a number of common uses. Depending on where the pump was located in the hull of the ship, it could be used to suck in sea water into a live fish tank to preserve fish until the ship was docked and the fish ready to be sold. Another use of the force pump was to combat fires. Water would again be sucked in through the bottom of the hull, and then pumped onto the blaze. Yet another suggested use for a force pump was to dispel water from a ship. The pump would be placed near the bottom of the hull so as to suck water out of the ship. Force pumps were used on land as well. They could be used to bring water up from a well or to fill high placed tanks so that water could be pressure pumped from these tanks. These tanks were for household use and/or small-scale irrigation. The force pump was portable and could therefore, as on ships, be used to fight fire.

Force pumps could be made of either wood or bronze. Based on ancient texts, it seems that bronze was the preferred material since it lasted longer and was more easily transported. Wood was easier to build, put together, and repair but was not as durable as bronze. Because these were high-value objects, few are found in shipwrecks; they were often recovered after the ship sank. Force pumps were fairly simple in their construction consisting of a cylinder, a piston, and a few valves. Water would fill the cylinder after which the piston would descend into the cylinder, causing the water to move to a higher placed pipe. The valve would close, locking the water into the higher pipe, and then propelling it in a jet stream.

Bilge Pump are a rock band that formed in Leeds in the mid-1990s, featuring Joe O'Sullivan, Emlyn Jones and Neil Turpin.

Bilge Pump's style is post-punk with avant garde and free-jazz influences. Early on, the NME described Bilge Pump's sound as "unlistenable guff". They have since had various releases on Gringo Records, Troubleman Unlimited and Unlabel, and members have been involved with artists such as Enablers, Yann Tiersen, Polaris, Prefab Sprout, Felix, Chris Corsano, HiM, and D:Ream.

Bilge Pump have recorded several John Peel Sessions, and received enough votes to be 95th on the list for ATP vs The Fans 2009. Since their inception, they have played with (among many others) Lightning Bolt, The Mars Volta, Hella, Foals and Les Savy Fav. Joe makes custom valve amps and is registered disabled.