Triple Thunder - Noise Cannons

Boom! The classic potato gun harnesses the combustion of flammable vapor. Show us your combustion spud gun and discuss fuels, ratios, safety, ignition systems, tools, and more.
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starman
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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
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Single look
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Close rear view. The power switch sends power to the bus and starts the fan if the link cable is attached.
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Spark strip core. Notice the embedded rod in the sawn out gap in the pvc.
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Spark Strip...gaps sliced with dremel tool.
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Voltage regulator battery replacement.
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Installed in the stun gun
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Prepped to install. Strong rubber bands (not shown here) hold the fire switch permanently in the fire position
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Battery install
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Trigger assembly
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Schematic
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Chamber, breach view.
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Cannon's ignition chained
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Rear view
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Front view
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Fuel metering system, implemetation idea credit goes to homedepotpro here
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Fueling
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Power and ignition chain close-up
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Golfball and potato barrel burst disk system, using Scotch 2" blue masking tape
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Burst disk barrel stump usage
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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.
Last edited by starman on Tue Jan 21, 2014 1:56 am, edited 31 times in total.
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biggsauce
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Sun Jul 06, 2008 10:57 pm

Starman...

Truly fine work. Not only would it have been impressive enough to build just one of these beauties... but 3. Damn. I know you put a lot of time into these, between the removable meters, hidden ignition, and overall cleanliness... Very impressive.

10/10 man 8)
Killjoy
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Sun Jul 06, 2008 11:01 pm

Wow those look incredible starman. Extremely well built and profesional looking. I'm drooling over how well evrything is contained and integrated.

There is not one thing you should change about these, excellent work.
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Sun Jul 06, 2008 11:03 pm

That is some awesome work right there. Excellent job!
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rednecktatertosser
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Sun Jul 06, 2008 11:15 pm

HOT DAMN!! I am impressed. Very clean and professional looking like Killjoy said.

I really like the fuel metering setup you have there. Thats very clever.

Amazing what some time and planning can turn out!
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tansit234
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Sun Jul 06, 2008 11:19 pm

Damned fine work. Very clean, and well layed out. Between the batteries, brackets, ignition strips. All the connectors and lines. Pro work if I ever saw any. Those bad boys must be LOUD.
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starman
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Mon Jul 07, 2008 12:48 am

tansit234 wrote: Those bad boys must be LOUD.
Indeed they are. If you're shooting them from the onboard trigger you must wear ear protection of some sort. I was shooting without at first, only a couple of shots, and noticed my left eustachian tube was aching for a day or so after. The next day with the 3", my ears plugged up immediately and started ringing... :shock: The shooter has to wear plugs, no 2 ways about it.

Thanks for the good words guys. I went through some heartburn and pretty big effort to get them where they are.
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homedepotpro
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Mon Jul 07, 2008 1:24 am

great, cannons man. I love the incorporation of electronics into the guns, spud gun networking, the way of the future lol. I used that exact same fueling concept on my advanced combustion last summer. Its nice being able to use it on multiple launcher. Thank you for the in depth write up.
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starman
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Mon Jul 07, 2008 2:01 am

homedepotpro wrote:great, cannons man. I love the incorporation of electronics into the guns, spud gun networking, the way of the future lol. I used that exact same fueling concept on my advanced combustion last summer. Its nice being able to use it on multiple launcher. Thank you for the in depth write up.
YESSSSS!!! Thank you homedepotpro!!! I found you... :wink: 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.. :)
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daberno123
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Mon Jul 07, 2008 8:13 am

Extremely clean and professional looking cannons. I built something slightly similar for the fourth. A simple 2" burst disk pneumatic.

Your three cannons put my one cannon to shame.

Again nice work, but you left out blue in your paintjob :wink:
brogdenlaxmiddie
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Mon Jul 07, 2008 8:39 am

Hot damn those are sexy! GREAT JOB!!!
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CS
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Mon Jul 07, 2008 10:37 am

Great cannons! Haven't seen cannon construction this good since the days of Mr. Plow, DR, BigBang and Burnt Latke.

Now I'm wondering how you constructed the 4" male adapter on back. The 4" male adapter itself doesn't look ordinary, plus there is no hex on the larger bushing.

Everything looks great! I mean everything down to the detachable fueling system, the paint (even though painting on the inside of the fitting like that is a minor addition, it makes everything look a lot better), the glue/primer, the wiring, and how you tucked a lot of the ugly away. Some amazing and flawless work.

Between mentioning BigBang above, and remembering his detachable metering pods I did a little searching over on the SpudTech archive for him. The guy is a great builder, and I bet someone of your caliber would truly enjoy. I think you'd be interested if you haven't seen this guys work before.

BigBang - Fuel Pods
BigBang - BigBang Express
BigBang - Lil' Spud Chucker
BigBang - Bruiser
BigBang - Morning Wood Launcher
BigBang - Use Your Ear Plugs!

[Now because of the archive forums coding the links to pictures appear the same as text. In the hover state you will notice the links becomes underlined.]
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Mon Jul 07, 2008 10:54 am

WOW that isa amazing work there, I say 11/10 . Same question as pimpman what is that strange adapter setup. You must have spent a lot of time planning and making these and it show just your attention to detail is amazing, one thing that I like is the supports between the chamber and electronics. But really great work here.
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Mon Jul 07, 2008 11:42 am

Absolutely Beautiful! Jesus Christ, you now have some competition :D
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homedepotpro
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Mon Jul 07, 2008 11:50 am

starman wrote:YESSSSS!!! Thank you homedepotpro!!! I found you... :wink: 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.. :)
WOOT! lol, no thank you.
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