Operator's Guide for Clark Cable-Tie Launcher

Discussion about Compressors, hose, pipes, fittings, launchers, release mechanisms, and launch tubes.
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rockets-in-brighton
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Operator's Guide for Clark Cable-Tie Launcher

Post by rockets-in-brighton »

As part of a project with a local school I have built a cable-tie launcher, to be operated by 10 year olds (with the help of responsible adults of course). I prepared an operator's guide mainly for the teacher to use as a reference. I wonder if the forum members would be kind enough to review it and make comments for any improvements?

It can be found here http://groups.google.co.uk/group/rocket ... uide?hl=en (as either MS Word or PDF)

Any feedback gratefully received...
Cheers
Steve
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rockets-in-brighton
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Re: Operator's Guide for Clark Cable-Tie Launcher

Post by rockets-in-brighton »

The event went very well. I hope to get a copy of a video recording made during the demonstration in the field outside the school. Meanwhile here are some notes on the cable-tie launcher I made for the school to use in their water rocket workshop later this year.
School Cable-Tie Launcher
School Cable-Tie Launcher
schoollauncher_small.jpg (555.88 KiB) Viewed 216 times
The pipework is constructed from John Guest JG Speedfit push-fit fittings in white PVC. Speedfit is a system of UK plumbing fittings that do not require glue, and which can be assembled and disassembled very quickly.

From left to right, the part description and reference number:
  • 15mm appliance tap [15APT]
    short length 15mm pipe
    15mm-15mm-22mm reducing tee [PEM3022CW]
    short length 15mm pipe
    15mm-22mm reducing straight coupler [PEM202215W]
    short length 22mm pipe
    22mm stop end [PSE4622W]
  • 3m x 15mm speedfit speedpex barrier pipe [15BPEX-20X3L]
    3m x 22mm speedfit speedpex barrier pipe [22BPEX-20X3L]
    4 x 15mm superseal pipe inserts [STS15]
    3 x 22mm superseal pipe inserts [STS22]
notes
3m was the minimum order length for white pipe; could have got shorter lengths of PEX pipe in dark gray: 2m lengths
dark gray fittings were cheaper but not always available in all fittings
could have saved by omitting the reducing straight coupler (if I had figured out the naming convention sooner) by using an asymmetric reducing tee, 15mm-22mm-22mm [PEM3022DW]

I built most of it in one session. Took about 15 minutes to assemble the pipework excluding the stop end and launch tube, most of which was cleaning up the cut ends of the pipes. About an hour in total getting the launch tube reduced from 22mm down to 21.5mm to fit snugly inside a bottle spout, and about 20 minutes drilling out the stop end and forcing the tyre valve into it. Another half an hour making up the cable tie, sleeve and sleeve spring. A half hour or so spent hacking together a stable support for the pipework.

When I came to do the water rocket demonstration I found that I'd forgotten to pack my original launcher that I had planned to use. So I ended up using the school one, and it worked perfectly... oh, except for one failure to launch, when I forced a rocket too far onto the launch tube and it would not release (even at 8 BAR). A good opportunity to demonstrate the pressure release tap!
Cheers
Steve
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Re: Operator's Guide for Clark Cable-Tie Launcher

Post by U.S. Water Rockets1 »

Steve,

What is the extra fitting over on the left hand side of the launcher used for?
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rockets-in-brighton
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Re: Operator's Guide for Clark Cable-Tie Launcher

Post by rockets-in-brighton »

U.S. Water Rockets1 wrote: What is the extra fitting over on the left hand side of the launcher used for?
It's an appliance tap (a shut-off valve for a washing machine, dishwasher etc) that I am using as an emergency pressure release. My own track pump has a pressure release valve built in, but the pump I supplied with this launcher doesn't have one.

You have to approach the launcher to open it, and it would be nice to make this a remotely operated tap. I didn't have time on this one, perhaps the next. I've advised the school to keep the pressure down anyway because they only have a small field to fly in.

I also installed a double-check water valve that was available in the same set of push-fittings, to stop water flowing back into the airline. It seemed to need too much pressure to drive air through it in the correct direction and so the pipework was at a lower pressure than the gauge reading at the pump end. Took that out. So I'd like to add a one-way valve too.
Cheers
Steve
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