Water rocket parachute

Discussions about rockets, construction materials, adhesives, nozzles, nosecones and fin design.
strinda
New Member
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Aug 21, 2014 3:39 am

Water rocket parachute

Post by strinda »

Hello everyone,

I am a rookie in this field and just want to make my first steps. I have looked through a number of rocket designs and they all have one thing in common. They do not incorporate a landing parachute. Yes, that is because the designs are simple, but nevertheless.

Currently I don't want to invest more money in electronics, is there a mechanical(?) way to make one section the rocket release a parachute when descending.

Kind regards,
Alex
User avatar
WRA2
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 1089
Joined: Sat Dec 30, 2006 11:30 pm

Re: Water rocket parachute

Post by WRA2 »

strinda wrote:Hello everyone,

I am a rookie in this field and just want to make my first steps. I have looked through a number of rocket designs and they all have one thing in common. They do not incorporate a landing parachute. Yes, that is because the designs are simple, but nevertheless.

Currently I don't want to invest more money in electronics, is there a mechanical(?) way to make one section the rocket release a parachute when descending.

Kind regards,
Alex
Search for the term "tomy timer" and you will find what you need. Basically it is the mechanism from a wind up toy used to trigger the release of a parachute.
Lisa Walker,
:WRA2: Forum Administrator. :WRA2:
:WRA2:The Water Rocket Achievement World Record Association :WRA2:
User avatar
U.S. Water Rockets1
WRA2 Member
WRA2 Member
Posts: 1778
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2007 3:24 pm

Re: Water rocket parachute

Post by U.S. Water Rockets1 »

Why are you avoiding spending money on electronics? Do you think that this is a huge expense compared to a mechanical system? We make electronics designs that are really inexpensive and ultra reliable. This is important because a mechanical system may only cost half as much, but if it crashes 10 times as often, it is less practical in the long run because of all the money you spend on repairs.
Team U.S. Water Rockets
Visit USWaterRockets.com
Visit our Blog
Tune in to our YouTube Channel
Visit our Facebook page
Visit our Twitter Page
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. --Thomas Edison
User avatar
Blenderite
WRA2 Member
WRA2 Member
Posts: 442
Joined: Mon Apr 09, 2012 3:49 pm

Re: Water rocket parachute

Post by Blenderite »

U.S. Water Rockets1 wrote:Why are you avoiding spending money on electronics? Do you think that this is a huge expense compared to a mechanical system? We make electronics designs that are really inexpensive and ultra reliable. This is important because a mechanical system may only cost half as much, but if it crashes 10 times as often, it is less practical in the long run because of all the money you spend on repairs.
I am going to have to agree here. I used tomy timers and had a crash about 6 out of 10 times. Usually the crash destroyed either the timer or the rocket, or put a big dent into the car :hopeless:

Definitely go for the electronics. They will provide much better success, as long as you don't monkey around with them.
-Blenderite

Check out my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/Blenderite

"Get it right, then go for GREATNESS!"
User avatar
U.S. Water Rockets
WRA2 Member
WRA2 Member
Posts: 400
Joined: Tue Jan 30, 2007 8:16 pm

Re: Water rocket parachute

Post by U.S. Water Rockets »

DogLover wrote:
U.S. Water Rockets1 wrote:Why are you avoiding spending money on electronics? Do you think that this is a huge expense compared to a mechanical system? We make electronics designs that are really inexpensive and ultra reliable. This is important because a mechanical system may only cost half as much, but if it crashes 10 times as often, it is less practical in the long run because of all the money you spend on repairs.
I am going to have to agree here. I used tomy timers and had a crash about 6 out of 10 times. Usually the crash destroyed either the timer or the rocket, or put a big dent into the car :hopeless:

Definitely go for the electronics. They will provide much better success, as long as you don't monkey around with them.
Thanks for backing up this point. We've heard from a lot of people who use our new Radial Deploy design combined with our electronics (ServoChron or LaunchPad AlTImeter) that they have less crashes and when they do it is usually something else that failed, like a ripped parachute or chute snagging on a fin.

But the main thing we have learned is that the electronics are rugged enough to survive a crash, and can be located away from the nose to reduce the change of crush damage, which means a crash is not fatal to the deploy system. Plus, the radial deploy system uses a bottle for the main structure, and so it can be repaired in the field by hand. There's no complex fabricated "compartment" or "bay" to get wrecked. All around the system is more durable and more reliable than anything we have tried in the past.

Radial Deploy: http://www.uswaterrockets.com/construct ... torial.htm
LaunchPad AlTImeter: http://www.uswaterrockets.com/documents ... manual.htm
ServoChron: http://www.uswaterrockets.com/documents ... manual.htm
User avatar
Blenderite
WRA2 Member
WRA2 Member
Posts: 442
Joined: Mon Apr 09, 2012 3:49 pm

Re: Water rocket parachute

Post by Blenderite »

U.S. Water Rockets wrote:Thanks for backing up this point. We've heard from a lot of people who use our new Radial Deploy design combined with our electronics (ServoChron or LaunchPad AlTImeter) that they have less crashes and when they do it is usually something else that failed, like a ripped parachute or chute snagging on a fin.

But the main thing we have learned is that the electronics are rugged enough to survive a crash, and can be located away from the nose to reduce the change of crush damage, which means a crash is not fatal to the deploy system. Plus, the radial deploy system uses a bottle for the main structure, and so it can be repaired in the field by hand. There's no complex fabricated "compartment" or "bay" to get wrecked. All around the system is more durable and more reliable than anything we have tried in the past.

Radial Deploy: http://www.uswaterrockets.com/construct ... torial.htm
LaunchPad AlTImeter: http://www.uswaterrockets.com/documents ... manual.htm
ServoChron: http://www.uswaterrockets.com/documents ... manual.htm
Like, Like, Like!!!!!!!
-Blenderite

Check out my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/Blenderite

"Get it right, then go for GREATNESS!"
User avatar
U.S. Water Rockets1
WRA2 Member
WRA2 Member
Posts: 1778
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2007 3:24 pm

Re: Water rocket parachute

Post by U.S. Water Rockets1 »

DogLover wrote:
Like, Like, Like!!!!!!!
You're too kind!
Team U.S. Water Rockets
Visit USWaterRockets.com
Visit our Blog
Tune in to our YouTube Channel
Visit our Facebook page
Visit our Twitter Page
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. --Thomas Edison
User avatar
bugwubber
WRA2 Member
WRA2 Member
Posts: 1087
Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2012 2:47 am

Re: Water rocket parachute

Post by bugwubber »

I built a mechanical timer release mechanism for USWR's radial deploy. It has worked very reliably. But, I see where I have very limited design flexibility.
Bugwubber

Team S.P.E.W.
User avatar
Blenderite
WRA2 Member
WRA2 Member
Posts: 442
Joined: Mon Apr 09, 2012 3:49 pm

Re: Water rocket parachute

Post by Blenderite »

Please share your design :)
-Blenderite

Check out my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/Blenderite

"Get it right, then go for GREATNESS!"
User avatar
bugwubber
WRA2 Member
WRA2 Member
Posts: 1087
Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2012 2:47 am

Re: Water rocket parachute

Post by bugwubber »

DogLover wrote:Please share your design :)
Already posted here and on youtube. The rocket is named Lucy.

This video shows the operation best:Water Rocket Clockworks Launch Detect:
Bugwubber

Team S.P.E.W.
User avatar
U.S. Water Rockets1
WRA2 Member
WRA2 Member
Posts: 1778
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2007 3:24 pm

Re: Water rocket parachute

Post by U.S. Water Rockets1 »

bugwubber wrote:
DogLover wrote:Please share your design :)
Already posted here and on youtube. The rocket is named Lucy.

This video shows the operation best:Water Rocket Clockworks Launch Detect:
Thanks for helping spread the word about the Radial Deploy! We've had quite a few people switching over to the design, and a few people have now adapted our Radial Deploy method to other forms of deploy trigger. Aircommando Walldorf (https://www.youtube.com/user/AircommandoWalldorf) has an interesting rocket project going on called "Tomahawk" that uses an external launch tube, and he found that our radial deploy design could work with his tomy timer mechanism and would fit in his launcher with the external tube.
Team U.S. Water Rockets
Visit USWaterRockets.com
Visit our Blog
Tune in to our YouTube Channel
Visit our Facebook page
Visit our Twitter Page
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. --Thomas Edison