POLAND_SPUD wrote:yeah but it is a bit more complicated than 'a solenoid valve vents pilot volume
The gun has 6.0 in^3 of pilot volume carrying 1000psi. Containing that much pressure and volume yet, being able to completely vent it in a couple of milliseconds is not an easy job. I know of no solenoid capable of the task.
is it the same gun as the one that had a QEV there ? and if you replaced it, why did you do it?
Look at my older posts. You'll find a video I posted showing low pressure semi-auto firing. Notice in the video the long "hiss' as the QEV vents the pilot gas. It caused a delay the main valve.
I made 4 different style pilot valves...all completely different. I knew before I made them that a ball valve is the very best but, I had to try it. The QEV you refer to was my first design. It worked but, it had a long vent time and as a result, the main valve lost some of it's power. After trying all possibilities, I decided to make my own ball valve. I know that QEV's are the valve of choice here on the SF but, I wouldn't have gone to the trouble of making a ball valve if it wasn't the best for the task at hand. It's fos is 3000+ psi and goes to full open in just a few milliseconds. At 1000psi it requires a very small amount of torque (shaft fully supported on bearings) to open. As a result, the main valve produces tremendous power and has
no delay. The pilot vent gas is fast enough, it could easily fire a .500 projectile through a separate barrel. Ha
IMO...NOTHING works as well as a powered ball valve in high pressure/volume applications.