Ball Valve Idea

theepicmool · Sat Jul 25, 2009 8:02 pm

I'm not sure how I would document the fact that its actually going into the valve, my barrel is not threaded so i cant take it off and film the potato actually going into the ball valve. I tried putting the camera in the barrel to film but no matter how i positioned the flashlight i could not get a good shot. I think there is something to be said for me reporting my experience, and Spuder_Downunder successfully replicating it. Theoretically speaking this will be more efficient or equal to a burst valve or piston (completely instant air release) also, require less maintenance, be easier to buy, and would require minimal or no modification and best of all, its cheaper.

Mateo · Sat Jul 25, 2009 8:06 pm

ok well i think i have some spare parts layin around... ill go make one but im very skeptical if it will work or not...

theepicmool · Sat Jul 25, 2009 8:37 pm

@mateo
Suggestion: you should film yourself firing it before the barrel is attached, and while slowly turning the knob. Would be interesting to say at which point to slips out.

Mateo · Sat Jul 25, 2009 9:06 pm

ok so i just built the test cannon. it is probably the 2nd worst cannon i have ever built (the first didnt last more than 5 minutes before i took it apart again) im just waiting for the cement to dry and i will test it soon

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edit: its not an entirely crappy build haha. the valve was on my first cannon and had blue pvc cement that dripped everywhere. and that dark band on the white in the back of it is because i dropped it in the dirt and there was some clear cement coming from the seam

theepicmool · Sat Jul 25, 2009 9:34 pm

What size pipe is that?

Mateo · Sat Jul 25, 2009 9:47 pm

3/4 inch pipe. 1/4 inch fill valve. why?

theepicmool · Sat Jul 25, 2009 10:00 pm

Might have a different result then my 2"

spud downunder · Sat Jul 25, 2009 10:00 pm

yeah i tried that to opening it slowly, it didnt mush up the potato.

but i only had it at low pressure so mabe it didnt get afected so much,

nice quick throw togehter gun

Mateo · Sat Jul 25, 2009 10:04 pm

maybe in propulsion. you have more air capacity so the projectile will travel farther. but 100 psi on a potato is 100psi. and i just need a small potato

theepicmool · Sat Jul 25, 2009 10:20 pm

spud downunder:
What size pipe are you using?

spud downunder · Sat Jul 25, 2009 10:27 pm

well truthfully i have no idea.

http://www.spudfiles.com/forums/my-bits ... 18744.html
thats my cannon there, and i dont know what sizes the pipe is, i just found all the bit laying around and put them togehter

Technician1002 · Sat Jul 25, 2009 11:08 pm

Mateo wrote:maybe in propulsion. you have more air capacity so the projectile will travel farther. but 100 psi on a potato is 100psi. and i just need a small potato

Tell that to the hybrid cannon folks. How many sheets of aluminum do you use on a 1/2 inch vs a 2 inch for example? Size does make a difference. It's why 6 inch pipe has way thicker walls than 1/2 inch pipe while the 1/2 inch pipe is rated for over twice the pressure.

Think more like 45 lbs of push and 314 lbs of push shoving it through a 1/2 to 3/4 open valve.

theepicmool · Sat Jul 25, 2009 11:39 pm

I wonder how big you could get till potato-destruction.

theepicmool · Mon Jul 27, 2009 6:41 pm

Mateo:
Did you do it? Results?

Mateo · Mon Jul 27, 2009 7:35 pm

sorry ive been sick the past 2 days and havnt been able to do much. but i did try it out a few minutes ago and it worked fine. i tested a 100 psi and i opened it slowly and the potato didnt explode. but air did leak from between the valve walls and the potato.