Triple Thunder - Noise Cannons
Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 10:41 pm
I've been working on this idea for about 6 months now and have finally completed and actually already used these cannons. I've been busy with shows so I have just now had time to present them. So without further adieu I present...
Triple Thunder - Burst Disk Noise Cannons
*** YouTube Videos at the end of this post ***
My concept was to design advanced combustion cores that were optimized to produce thunderous booms for use during my patriotic music presentations. My design involved using all of the known best practices typically used in the construction of an advanced combustion gun with a few of my own innovations thrown in. Because they use a camlock system at their breach, they also stand ready to be used as a standard spudgun.
Specs, each cannon
- 222 cubic inches of usable chamber space, 3" breach opening
- 80 mm computer fan
- ball valve air intake; optional check valved compressed air inlet
- 3 gap spark strip, centrally located in the chamber; gaps optimally spaced at 4 inches between each other.
- stun gun spark source
- 14.4v 1800 mah rechargable RC NiCd battery master power supply, (2 - 7.2v RC batteries in series)
- batteries are rechargable from external XLR connection
- 9v regulator/heatsink stun gun battery replacement module
- chainable power and ignition bus for multiple simultaneous cannon shots.
- female quick connect fuel loader with check valved male quick connect access
- regulated external metered syringe fueling system
- ergonomic handle and thumb trigger
- cool blood-red paint job, protected with a poly coat protective layer
- heat shrink covered hose clamps for dressed up look and paint job protection
- burst disk barrel stumps for noise production.
- camlock breach connection
The check valved male connector on the fuel system is for optionally airing out the chamber very fast with compressed air.
XLR audio connectors were used to build a chainable bus that can be connected between multiple cannons. I have dozens of these cables for my audio setups so it made sense to use them. I can remotely fire the cannons by just extending an XLR cable and shorting pins 2 and 3 with a switch. Here's the bus setup...
pin 1 - ground, common with stun gun as well
pin 2 - trigger, +v to stun gun(s)
pin 3 - switched +14.4v
I wanted to do away with having to replace stun gun batteries so I built a 9v regulator using the 7809 regulator chip and a small heat sink. It's almost exactly the same size as a 9v battery so it fits nicely into the battery bay of a stun gun. Now all I have to do is externally trigger my stun gun with the full 14.4v. I used large strong rubber bands to lock down the stun gun's own trigger button in the fire position. This setup allowed me to use the stun guns right out of the box without destroying their case or burning them up with too much voltage.
This bus system conceivably allows me to run all 3 cannons from the battery and trigger of one cannon. Even so, turning on all of the batteries allows them to operate in parallel just fine. Any trigger from a gun or remote will simultaneously ignite all of the guns that are chained.
The noise levels out of these things are quite tremendous. I started out with 2" breeches and moved to 3" on 2 of the units. The 3" is noticably louder and lower frequency...more cannon like. Both the 2" and 3" are ear splittingly loud...and were quite the hit at my shows last week...sorry, I didn't get any footage. Yes I wore ear protection while shooting.
Everything else should be pretty much self-explanatory. I can say that the absolute performance of these has to border at the top end of what is possible with an advanced 1x propane/air combustion cannon. With a 65 psi burst disk golfball barrel, HGDT tells me I'm getting almost 700 fps and I believe every bit of it. The ball is close to invisible when shot... damage is scary, distance is looong...(690 yards)
Sooo here ya go! Enjoy!
The 3 cannon system, prepped burst disk barrel stumps and fuel injection syringes
Single look
Close rear view. The power switch sends power to the bus and starts the fan if the link cable is attached.
Spark strip core. Notice the embedded rod in the sawn out gap in the pvc.
Spark Strip...gaps sliced with dremel tool.
Voltage regulator battery replacement.
Installed in the stun gun
Prepped to install. Strong rubber bands (not shown here) hold the fire switch permanently in the fire position
Battery install
Trigger assembly
Schematic
Chamber, breach view.
Cannon's ignition chained
Rear view
Front view
Fuel metering system, implemetation idea credit goes to homedepotpro here
Fueling
Power and ignition chain close-up
Golfball and potato barrel burst disk system, using Scotch 2" blue masking tape
Burst disk barrel stump usage
A noise firing shot...for a little better feel for the sound, listen to it in HQ at the YouTube link.
[youtube][/youtube]
And yes, the camera audio DOES NOT pick up the full impact of this shot...and this is the 2" camlock model. The 3" camlock model is noticably louder!!!!
And finally, a ~700 fps golfball shot. Notice how consistent each shot damage is on the backside of target...attributable to the consistency of the fueling and ignition system of the gun itself. It is also interesting to note that after the golf ball exits the plywood, it continues on in what is very close to a straight line all the way to the middle of the hill in the background, around 200 yards away....
[youtube][/youtube]
Go check-out the write-up on the burst disk coupler here.
Triple Thunder - Burst Disk Noise Cannons
*** YouTube Videos at the end of this post ***
My concept was to design advanced combustion cores that were optimized to produce thunderous booms for use during my patriotic music presentations. My design involved using all of the known best practices typically used in the construction of an advanced combustion gun with a few of my own innovations thrown in. Because they use a camlock system at their breach, they also stand ready to be used as a standard spudgun.
Specs, each cannon
- 222 cubic inches of usable chamber space, 3" breach opening
- 80 mm computer fan
- ball valve air intake; optional check valved compressed air inlet
- 3 gap spark strip, centrally located in the chamber; gaps optimally spaced at 4 inches between each other.
- stun gun spark source
- 14.4v 1800 mah rechargable RC NiCd battery master power supply, (2 - 7.2v RC batteries in series)
- batteries are rechargable from external XLR connection
- 9v regulator/heatsink stun gun battery replacement module
- chainable power and ignition bus for multiple simultaneous cannon shots.
- female quick connect fuel loader with check valved male quick connect access
- regulated external metered syringe fueling system
- ergonomic handle and thumb trigger
- cool blood-red paint job, protected with a poly coat protective layer
- heat shrink covered hose clamps for dressed up look and paint job protection
- burst disk barrel stumps for noise production.
- camlock breach connection
The check valved male connector on the fuel system is for optionally airing out the chamber very fast with compressed air.
XLR audio connectors were used to build a chainable bus that can be connected between multiple cannons. I have dozens of these cables for my audio setups so it made sense to use them. I can remotely fire the cannons by just extending an XLR cable and shorting pins 2 and 3 with a switch. Here's the bus setup...
pin 1 - ground, common with stun gun as well
pin 2 - trigger, +v to stun gun(s)
pin 3 - switched +14.4v
I wanted to do away with having to replace stun gun batteries so I built a 9v regulator using the 7809 regulator chip and a small heat sink. It's almost exactly the same size as a 9v battery so it fits nicely into the battery bay of a stun gun. Now all I have to do is externally trigger my stun gun with the full 14.4v. I used large strong rubber bands to lock down the stun gun's own trigger button in the fire position. This setup allowed me to use the stun guns right out of the box without destroying their case or burning them up with too much voltage.
This bus system conceivably allows me to run all 3 cannons from the battery and trigger of one cannon. Even so, turning on all of the batteries allows them to operate in parallel just fine. Any trigger from a gun or remote will simultaneously ignite all of the guns that are chained.
The noise levels out of these things are quite tremendous. I started out with 2" breeches and moved to 3" on 2 of the units. The 3" is noticably louder and lower frequency...more cannon like. Both the 2" and 3" are ear splittingly loud...and were quite the hit at my shows last week...sorry, I didn't get any footage. Yes I wore ear protection while shooting.
Everything else should be pretty much self-explanatory. I can say that the absolute performance of these has to border at the top end of what is possible with an advanced 1x propane/air combustion cannon. With a 65 psi burst disk golfball barrel, HGDT tells me I'm getting almost 700 fps and I believe every bit of it. The ball is close to invisible when shot... damage is scary, distance is looong...(690 yards)
Sooo here ya go! Enjoy!
The 3 cannon system, prepped burst disk barrel stumps and fuel injection syringes
Single look
Close rear view. The power switch sends power to the bus and starts the fan if the link cable is attached.
Spark strip core. Notice the embedded rod in the sawn out gap in the pvc.
Spark Strip...gaps sliced with dremel tool.
Voltage regulator battery replacement.
Installed in the stun gun
Prepped to install. Strong rubber bands (not shown here) hold the fire switch permanently in the fire position
Battery install
Trigger assembly
Schematic
Chamber, breach view.
Cannon's ignition chained
Rear view
Front view
Fuel metering system, implemetation idea credit goes to homedepotpro here
Fueling
Power and ignition chain close-up
Golfball and potato barrel burst disk system, using Scotch 2" blue masking tape
Burst disk barrel stump usage
A noise firing shot...for a little better feel for the sound, listen to it in HQ at the YouTube link.
[youtube][/youtube]
And yes, the camera audio DOES NOT pick up the full impact of this shot...and this is the 2" camlock model. The 3" camlock model is noticably louder!!!!
And finally, a ~700 fps golfball shot. Notice how consistent each shot damage is on the backside of target...attributable to the consistency of the fueling and ignition system of the gun itself. It is also interesting to note that after the golf ball exits the plywood, it continues on in what is very close to a straight line all the way to the middle of the hill in the background, around 200 yards away....
[youtube][/youtube]
Go check-out the write-up on the burst disk coupler here.
The shooter has to wear plugs, no 2 ways about it.
It was your implementation that was the inspiration for my fueling system....I just couldn't remember who's cannon it was. As I commented in your write-up, I had conceived of the idea, then saw your implementation and loved it...decided to use it! I'll give you credit it my write-up.. 
