Piston-Valved Americannon (Contest Applicant)

[Velocity]

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.


<img src="http://www.spudfiles.com/uploader/uploa ... d32423.JPG">

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.

<a href="http://www.spudfiles.com/uploader/uploa ... .JPG">Side View</a>

The cannon is mounted on a very simple stand; just a long piece of wood with two supports for the chamber.

The <a href="http://www.spudfiles.com/uploader/uploa ... PG">barrel support</a> 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 <a href="http://www.spudfiles.com/uploader/uploa ... >universal fill-up and exhaust system</a>

A few pictures of the valve:

<a href="http://www.spudfiles.com/uploader/uploa ... .JPG">Side view</a>
<a href="http://www.spudfiles.com/uploader/uploa ... PG">Larger side view (better light)</a>
<a href="http://www.spudfiles.com/uploader/uploa ... .JPG">Back angled</a>
<a href="http://www.spudfiles.com/uploader/uploa ... .JPG">Back angled (better light)</a>
<a href="http://www.spudfiles.com/uploader/uploa ... G">Another back angled picture</a>

I decided to use <a href="http://www.spudfiles.com/uploader/uploa ... m-locks</a> for this project. The cam-locks are all 3", made by Banjo.

I have three <a href="http://www.spudfiles.com/uploader/uploa ... JPG">other cam-lock fittings</a>, 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 <a href="http://www.spudfiles.com/uploader/uploa ... pressor</a> (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.

[schmanman]

Wow !! very clean, this is a very nice cannon not too many cannons use 6 inch pipe.

[Torch]

Thats one of the best cannons i've seen, very very nice work! What do you use as a piston?

[Velocity]

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.

[LucyInTheSky]

In the first pic your cannon looks quite advarage size, but then you here the dimentions!

[Velocity]

<a href="http://s94.photobucket.com/albums/l112/ ... flv">Video Here</a> (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 !

[MrCrowley]

nice video of the piston i wanna see a 100psi shot!!!

[Velocity]

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 ...

[SpudStuff]

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?

[SpudStuff]

Wow 800 Posts.

[Velocity]

The barrel does not extend into the valve. Seen <a href="http://www.spudfiles.com/uploader/uploa ... G">here</a>, 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.

[ProfessorAmadeus]

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.

[Velocity]

6" pipe pressure rating = 180 PSI

However....

noise tolerance of neighbors = 30 PSI

[SpudStuff]

Wow fuck the damn neighbors.

[MrCrowley]

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