Butterfly Valves?

[medievalman]

Why is it that nobody uses butterfly valves? they open relatively fast(faster than a ball valve anyways) and are very simple to use, but i dont think ive ever seen one on a gun! is there a specific reason for this?

[Hotwired]

They're less common and more expensive.

I think a major reason for them being less common is that even fully opened theres the valve disk sitting in the middle of the flow which interrupts it to a degree. Making it thinner reduces its pressure rating, making it thicker obstructs the flow more.

Ball valves can be made more pressure resistant without that problem and can have very little flow obstruction when fully open.

[LucyInTheSky]

But ball valve open 1/2 as quick because your opening 2 sides of the ball.

Also the ammo would have left the barrel before you get any hand operated valve open.

[BC Pneumatics]

Generally speaking, by the time you pay for a butterfly valve you could have gotten a better preforming one anyway.

[MrCrowley]

Even if you did get an electric one,waste of money for the performance.

[boilingleadbath]

Electric ones are electric so that you can automate them - I don't think they are acctualy that fast.

Looking on E-bay, anyways, butterfly valves are pretty cheap, compared to 4" ball valves.

[frankrede]

They have pneumatic operated butterfly valves and I would think they open realtively quick.

[BC Pneumatics]

But what is the point of a four inch ball valve? the larger ones are so stiff to open, that I think a 2" would give the same performance.... maybe even better.

[boilingleadbath]

Indeed, BC... but a butterfly valve does not use the same sliding-seal mechanism as a ballvalve, and I wouldn't expcet it to have nearly as much friction.

[BC Pneumatics]

Oh, I don't doubt that a butterfly valve is petter than a ball valve- just that they generally aren't worth the price. (Neither are the large ball valves)

[LGM]

If I was making a very large cannon I would use a butterfly valve. Smaller than 4" you could just use a piston or ball valve depending on size.

[Hotwired]

You go ahead and buy a manual valve for a >4" cannon

It'll cost a fortune and be incredibly awkward.

[BC Pneumatics]

Aren't most pumpkin chuckers now-a-days using some form of manual' valve that is modified to open a bit faster?

[medievalman]

so the only reason they aren't used is because of the high cost without a great performance? thanks!