SpudFiles

Posted: **Fri Sep 05, 2008 4:23 pm**

Can anyone please explain how a modded sprinkler valve works?

Posted: **Fri Sep 05, 2008 4:35 pm**

Its simple....Im not sure if I can explain it good but I'll try..First take out the solenoid. Second fill the solenoid hole with epoxy..third find the center of the valve and drll a hole a bit smaller than the hole...Than tap with 1/4 or 1/8" threads depending on what you need or want.. Than screw in a blow gun or what ever your you use for a trgger... :drunken:

Posted: **Fri Sep 05, 2008 4:37 pm**

http://www.spudfiles.com/forums/sprinkl ... elp-t14225 .html

As you can now tell, a sprinkler valve is a valve, a valve regulates or completely stops a fluid from going through a passage. In a sprinkler valve this is done by the 'diaphragm'. When you fill your chamber up with air, the air leaks through an 'equalization' hole in the diaphragm and into the 'pilot volume'. This air pressure in the pilot volume then pushes the rubber diaphragm down and seals the hole to the barrel.

So now the pressure can build up in the chamber while the diaphragm is sealed against the barrel port in the valve. A sprinkler valve usually uses a 'solenoid' to empty the pilot volume, but us Spudders find that solenoids are too slow and restrict flow, meaning the valve opens slower. You also need 3x9v batteries to operate them.

So instead we use a blow gun, this does the same job except it's pneumatic and not electric like a solenoid. When you mod the valve so the blow gun is above the pilot volume area, the valve in the blow gun holds back the pressure in the pilot volume keeping the valve sealed.

Once you press the trigger on the blow gun, it opens the valve in the blow gun, letting the air pressure in the pilot volume out, this creates an unequal force on the diaphragm, which now has pressure from the chamber pushing it up, but no pressure holding it down, so the diaphragm opens very, very quickly, letting the air out into the barrel port, and firing your projectile

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nivekatoz wrote:Its simple....Im not sure if I can explain it good but I'll try..First take out the solenoid. Second fill the solenoid hole with epoxy..third find the center of the valve and drll a hole a bit smaller than the hole...Than tap with 1/4 or 1/8" threads depending on what you need or want.. Than screw in a blow gun or what ever your you use for a trgger... :drunken:

He asked how it works, not how to make one.

Posted: **Fri Sep 05, 2008 4:38 pm**

Oh that's easy, click on the wiki button on top of this page and search in the wiki. There's a good explanation there about it.....

Have a great day.

Darn, MrCrowley beat me to it and now my helpfull post is inadequate, foiled again!

Posted: **Fri Sep 05, 2008 4:59 pm**

Thanks, that was very helpful. I didn't understand how it works, and my dad refused to take me to buy parts until I explained it to him. Once again, muchas gracias! (Spanish relapse...)

Posted: **Fri Sep 05, 2008 6:25 pm**

I didn't understand how it works, and my dad refused to take me to buy parts until I explained it to him.

Your dad has got the right idea.

Might I suggest a name change to "The Engineer In Training"

Posted: **Fri Sep 05, 2008 6:42 pm**

jackssmirkingrevenge wrote:"The Engineer In Training"

Yes?

I'm still doing my degree, so I'm an engineer in training.

And to add something more to the post, I quote what my brother just said:
"No, I just went to America by mistake. I meant to go to Italy."

Posted: **Fri Sep 05, 2008 7:42 pm**

Ragnarok wrote:
jackssmirkingrevenge wrote:"The Engineer In Training"
Yes? I'm still doing my degree, so I'm an engineer in training.

Nah, you aren't an Engineer in Training until you pass the EIT.

Posted: **Fri Sep 05, 2008 11:01 pm**

I'm trying to get mine. I'm ME, just starting thermo...

Posted: **Sat Sep 06, 2008 4:41 pm**

jackssmirkingrevenge - yea, probably not a bad idea. when i signed up, i just couldn't think of anything else.

(btw, I'm new to pneumatics, but i have a couple of designs that might redeem my name, but have very limited tools, which is a problem...)

Posted: **Sun Sep 07, 2008 8:18 am**

The Engineer wrote:but have very limited tools, which is a problem...

You'd be surprised what can be done with limited tools. Other than a basic tool kit, the only thing I have outside of that is a blowtorch and Dremel really.

Of course, one of the most impressive things I've yet seen is Candyman's site:
http://www.ukmonsters.co.uk/dsr1/dsr1.htm

He doesn't have too much in the way of specialist tools, (and most those he does have you could do without were you careful and generous with the ingenuity) but he gets stunning results...

Posted: **Sun Sep 07, 2008 1:09 pm**

Ragnarok wrote:I have outside of that is a blowtorch and Dremel really.

I must really be in the mood to bust your balls.... 'Cause I read that and all I can think is that you probably don't actually have a blowtorch. And if you do? Don't use it, that things a collector's item (how much would you want for it?)!

A propane torch or something? Sure. An honest to God blowtorch? Doubtful.

(OK, I'll start taking my meds again.)

Posted: **Sun Sep 07, 2008 2:07 pm**

Ragnarok wrote:
The Engineer wrote:but have very limited tools, which is a problem...
...one of the most impressive things I've yet seen is Candyman's site:
http://www.ukmonsters.co.uk/dsr1/dsr1.htm

He doesn't have too much in the way of specialist tools, (and most those he does have you could do without were you careful and generous with the ingenuity) but he gets stunning results...

Actually by that time he'd acquired a small milling machine but nevertheless he does some smashing stuff and did so even before that.

Posted: **Sun Sep 07, 2008 2:21 pm**

Hotwired wrote:Actually by that time he'd acquired a small milling machine but nevertheless he does some smashing stuff and did so even before that.

Yeah, but I just pulled out the first link I found. Besides, with enough effort, I think you could manage it without the mill.

~~~~~

@D_Hall: Fine, a propane/butane torch if you will. But I didn't think I need to be specific to that point, using the word blowtorch has been clear enough in anyone else's mind up until now.

And also while you're in pedantic mode, I'm "training to be an engineer".

If you want me to start getting pedantic as well, I see a number of grammar errors in your posts, even accounting for the differences between UK and American English.

Posted: **Sun Sep 07, 2008 2:40 pm**

lol, this is like a "Your stupid" War... =)

SpudFiles

In desperate need of explanation!!

In desperate need of explanation!!