| Author |
Message
|
| Velocity |
 Posted: 08/27/2006 17:57 PM Post subject: Piston-Valved Americannon (Contest Applicant) |
 |
|
Brigadier General
Joined: 07 Feb 2006
Posts: 1011
83.82 Spud Bux
|
Cannon Name: Piston-Valved Americannon
Type of Cannon: Pneumatic
Chamber Size: 6" SCH 40 x 60" (1700 CI)
Barrel Size: 3" SCH 40 x 72" (510 CI)
Gas Source: 26 gallon air compressor
Valve: Barrel-sealing tee valve, 4" inlet, 3" outlet. Exhaust valve is an aluminum 3/4" Detrol quick exhaust valve actuated by a high-flow 1/4" blowgun
Special Details: Usage of 3" Aluminum Banjo Couplings (will add 2.5" SDR-21, 3" SCH 80, and 4" SCH 40 barrels in near future), heavy-duty 4" SCH 80 threaded cap for safety, spring-less piston design.
I have had this cannon done for a while, but I have just not had enough time to post it. Don't mind the crappy picture; although it appears dirty, its actually really very clean. I call it Americannon due to its patriotic colors. The chamber is 6" X 60", while the current 3" SCH 40 barrel is 72" long. I would have opted for a 10' barrel, but I really cannot store or transport it in my house right now; my parents are pissed enough that I built such a large/heavy cannon.
Side View
The cannon is mounted on a very simple stand; just a long piece of wood with two supports for the chamber.
The barrel support was cut from a piece of plywood I had lying around in my garage
The valve is a homemade barrel-sealing piston valve. The inlet is 4", and the outlet is 3". It is exhausted by a 3/4" Detrol QEV, which is hooked up to my universal fill-up and exhaust system
A few pictures of the valve:
Side view
Larger side view (better light)
Back angled
Back angled (better light)
Another back angled picture
I decided to use cam-locks for this project. The cam-locks are all 3", made by Banjo.
I have three other cam-lock fittings, which I will use on future barrels. The center cam-lock is already screwed onto a 3" male adapter which then enlarges the pipe size to 4"; perfect for a 4" barrel. The other two cam-locks will be used on a 3" SCH 80 barrel (already own it, just need to pick it up from school) and a 2.5" SDR-21 barrel (still need to buy it). When I receive these barrels, I will paint them and update this thread. In my ideal world, I will have a 3" SCH 40 X 10' barrel, a 3" SCH 80 X 10' barrel, 4" SCH 40 X 8' barrel, and 2.5" X 20' barrel (that last one will never happen...)
To pressurize this cannon, I use my 26 gallon compressor (using a bike pump would get really old, really fast).
I haven't done too much testing. So far, I shot a 20 ounce coke bottle (filled 1/5 with water) that split a 3/4" board (could be plywood or particle, not sure) at 20 PSI.
Last edited by Velocity on 09/11/2006 15:29 PM; edited 3 times in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
|
|
|
| schmanman |
| Posted: 08/27/2006 18:03 PM Post subject: |
|
|
blabbering idiot
Joined: 25 Mar 2006
Posts: 1667
1006.17 Spud Bux
|
Wow !! very clean, this is a very nice cannon  not too many cannons use 6 inch pipe. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
| Torch |
| Posted: 08/27/2006 18:08 PM Post subject: |
|
|
Sergeant Major
Joined: 27 Jun 2006
Posts: 179
3.27 Spud Bux
|
| Thats one of the best cannons i've seen, very very nice work! What do you use as a piston? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
| Velocity |
| Posted: 08/28/2006 8:50 AM Post subject: |
|
|
Brigadier General
Joined: 07 Feb 2006
Posts: 1011
83.82 Spud Bux
|
| Thanks for the comments. For a piston, I use two 3" endcaps solvent-welded together. The endcaps are modified however, giving the piston an overall shorter length. There is a 4" diameter (about) circle of 1/8" neoprene on the piston, and that is the sealing face. No springs are used; just a special low-profile bumper that I built onto the piston. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
| LucyInTheSky |
| Posted: 08/30/2006 13:36 PM Post subject: |
|
|
1st Lieutenant
Joined: 21 Apr 2006
Posts: 293
864.51 Spud Bux
|
| In the first pic your cannon looks quite advarage size, but then you here the dimentions! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
| Velocity |
| Posted: 08/30/2006 20:30 PM Post subject: |
|
|
Brigadier General
Joined: 07 Feb 2006
Posts: 1011
83.82 Spud Bux
|
Video Here (about 6.2 MB)
The pressure used ranges from 15 PSI (lowest operating pressure I believe) to 25 PSI (the dry fire is at 30 PSI however). Sorry for such low pressures  ...
I've said this about 100,264.3 times, but I will get a video up of this thing actually doing something (in other words, more than 25 PSI  ). It may take years (hopefully not), but I'll do it  ! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
| MrCrowley |
| Posted: 08/30/2006 22:36 PM Post subject: |
|
|
Blizzard of Ozz
Joined: 23 Jun 2006
Posts: 6187
3319.40 Spud Bux
|
nice video of the piston  i wanna see a 100psi shot!!! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
| Velocity |
| Posted: 09/01/2006 16:52 PM Post subject: |
|
|
Brigadier General
Joined: 07 Feb 2006
Posts: 1011
83.82 Spud Bux
|
| MrCrowley wrote: | | nice video of the piston i wanna see a 100psi shot!!! |
Thanks man! Trust me, I want to see a 100 PSI shot just as bad ! Stupid 100 food backyard with old, angry neighbors surronding it... I once was hitting a tennis ball against the garage, and it accidentially rolled into the neighbors house. He was outside, and he saw it. All of a sudden, he started SCREAMING about how I was littering in his yard (or some other crap like that  )
I really wish my house had a huge, huge backyard... I'd pull up to the side in my Ferrari F430, hook up my 300 gallon compressor to this cannon, and shoot full (with water) gatorade bottles at a target 400 yards downrange out of my 3" SCH 40 X 20' barrel.
... sigh ... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
| SpudStuff |
| Posted: 09/01/2006 17:00 PM Post subject: |
|
|
Major General
Joined: 10 Dec 2005
Posts: 1379
128.17 Spud Bux
|
| rmich732 wrote: | | MrCrowley wrote: | | nice video of the piston i wanna see a 100psi shot!!! |
Thanks man! Trust me, I want to see a 100 PSI shot just as bad ! Stupid 100 food backyard with old, angry neighbors surronding it... I once was hitting a tennis ball against the garage, and it accidentially rolled into the neighbors house. He was outside, and he saw it. All of a sudden, he started SCREAMING about how I was littering in his yard (or some other crap like that )
I really wish my house had a huge, huge backyard... I'd pull up to the side in my Ferrari F430, hook up my 300 gallon compressor to this cannon, and shoot full (with water) gatorade bottles at a target 400 yards downrange out of my 3" SCH 40 X 20' barrel.
... sigh ... |
Lol Dream on. how far back does the barrel go into the valve? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
| SpudStuff |
| Posted: 09/01/2006 17:01 PM Post subject: |
|
|
Major General
Joined: 10 Dec 2005
Posts: 1379
128.17 Spud Bux
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
| Velocity |
| Posted: 09/01/2006 18:12 PM Post subject: |
|
|
Brigadier General
Joined: 07 Feb 2006
Posts: 1011
83.82 Spud Bux
|
| The barrel does not extend into the valve. Seen here, the barrel (at the left) ends in a male adapter, and screws into the cam-lock. The cam-lock is connected with the other cam-lock (not sure what its called), which then connects to the barrel. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
| ProfessorAmadeus |
| Posted: 09/01/2006 18:22 PM Post subject: |
|
|
Running with Scissors
Joined: 28 Apr 2006
Posts: 1046
280.78 Spud Bux
|
| Why cant you get higher pressures? This is a very nice huge BEAST OF DOOM!! MAHAHAH!!! What the pressure rating on the 6 inch pipe? Mine is 120 PSI. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
| Velocity |
| Posted: 09/01/2006 20:42 PM Post subject: |
|
|
Brigadier General
Joined: 07 Feb 2006
Posts: 1011
83.82 Spud Bux
|
6" pipe pressure rating = 180 PSI
However....
noise tolerance of neighbors = 30 PSI |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
| SpudStuff |
| Posted: 09/01/2006 20:53 PM Post subject: |
|
|
Major General
Joined: 10 Dec 2005
Posts: 1379
128.17 Spud Bux
|
| Wow fork the damn neighbors. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
| MrCrowley |
| Posted: 09/01/2006 21:22 PM Post subject: |
|
|
Blizzard of Ozz
Joined: 23 Jun 2006
Posts: 6187
3319.40 Spud Bux
|
I just bought some stuff for my piston today this is how expensive pipe cost in NZ:
3" 260psi tee - $60NZD
3"- 2" pressure bushing - $10
2"-1.5" busing - $10
2.5m of pressure GB barrel - $40
total - $120  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
