How do i get a air tank to my launcher ?

[basrockets]

Hi guys,

As you have seen can my bottles hold a pressure of 232 psi ( 16 bar)
But my punp don't get higher than 16 bar, and i want more pressure in my rockets.
i have a strong hose , In the inside is car valve for my pump.

So I would like to have a air tank on my launcher.
how do i get a scuba tank to my car valve ?

or should I change my launcher?
Here I have a few photos :

I hope you have some ideas
Basrockets

[air.command]

Hi Basrockets,

If you want to use an air tank like a scuba tank, you need to have a pressure regulator that will reduce the tank pressure down from 3000psi to what range you want. Note that most standard 1st stage regulators drop the pressure down to about 10bar (145psi). There are adjustable regulators available, but usually will not adjust up to the pressure you are looking for. You need to get a hold of a more speciallised pressure regulator for that = expensive. Alternatively you may be able to find nitrogen tanks for sale in your area that come fitted with a regulator that covers the range you want.

There is another simpler alternative with a scuba tank though you need to be careful and that is to attach a high pressure hose to the HP port on the normal regulator (the HP port normally goes to the tank pressure gauge) and plug the end of it with a plug that has a tiny pin hole in it. Then connect this to the lower pressure hose with a pressure gauge and to your rocket. Open the tank and the pressure will slowly start climbing as the air goes through the tiny hole. When the pressure gets up to the pressure you need turn off the tank valve. If you don't turn off the valve in time the rocket/hose/launcher will fail. How fast it fills depends on the size of the tiny hole. Unless you have dealt with high pressure equipment before I would highly recommend against this method due to the safety issues involved.

We've used this technique for testing components beyond the range of our normal high pressure reguator:
http://aircommand.blogspot.com/2010/05/ ... ideos.html

You can connect the different hoses together using hose barb adaptors like this:
http://www.aircommandrockets.com/rocket ... connection

Also make sure your current hose is rated for the pressure you intend to go with. Always exercise extreme caution when using high pressure equipment.

- George

[basrockets]

i'm bastiaan from basrockets,
I sent you al mail , so now you have say i twice.
thanks !

-bastiaan

[WRA2]

Keep in mind that some of our competitions do not allow any bottled gasses (the flight duration competition) while others only allow bottled air so any flights that used nitrogen would not be eligible.

http://www.wra2.org/WRA2_Class_C_Rules.php See section I.4

http://www.wra2.org/WRA2_Class_A_Rules.php
http://www.wra2.org/WRA2_Class_B_Rules.php See Section II
http://www.wra2.org/WRA2_Altitude_Challenge_Rules.php
http://www.wra2.org/WRA2_Altitude_Challenge_Rules.php

Also, he hose clamp shown in your launcher photo may not hold at the pressures you are planning on using. If that happens the hose will pop off the launcher and flail around so be careful

[U.S. Water Rockets1]

You should strap down that hose as well. If the hose clamp fails the hose will whip around and could really hurt someone.

[ninja_iga]

if you can get to a paintball shop,

you'll need :
1) 3000psi HPA tank
2) scuba filling adaptor (this fills air from the Scuba to the smaller paintball tank)
3) a remote line
4) a low pressure regulator ( gun regulators will work as these work between 100-300psi )

it's a bit complicated than just using a good regulator from the scuba directly.. but i use a similar setup because i play paintball and i have some of these items already in hand..

here's the photo:

album:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=51 ... aid=133021

[ninja_iga]

You should strap down that hose as well. If the hose clamp fails the hose will whip around and could really hurt someone.

yup quite right. This is what happened back in 2009, a filling hose broke off the tank and whipped me in the face. Nevertheless, i was very lucky!
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos- ... 7856_n.jpg

and 4 stitches later..
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos- ... 0882_n.jpg

[basrockets]

i don't can see the photo from the hose on facebook ??
The link do not work.

[thampson]

Ouch Stanlley, thats got to hurt

A low tech way to tie the hose down is to put a thick cable tie around the hose, then just before you fully tighten it, thread another cable tie through it, then tighten the one around the hose. Now close the second cable tie until you have a small loop.Now use more cable ties or rope, to tie that loop to a brick.

This pic describes the method a bit better

Low Tech Hose Tie Down

102_0690.jpg (568.87 KiB) Viewed 82 times

Use a few of these bricks and ties along the hose and at the joins and it should stop the hose flailing around in the case of a hose bursting. Its also a good workout carrying the bricks to the launch site ;)

-todd-

[Spaceman Spiff]

You should strap down that hose as well. If the hose clamp fails the hose will whip around and could really hurt someone.

yup quite right. This is what happened back in 2009, a filling hose broke off the tank and whipped me in the face. Nevertheless, i was very lucky!
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos- ... 7856_n.jpg

and 4 stitches later..
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos- ... 0882_n.jpg

Thanks for the warning about the hose. I never gave this any thought at all. Now that you guys mention it, this is probably a pretty serious safety issue. Should we ask about getting this added to the safety guidelines and FAQ pages? I imagine a lot of people searching for info on water rockets look at the rules to get a quick lesson on safety! I think it would help.

[ninja_iga]

i don't can see the photo from the hose on facebook ??
The link do not work.

hi basrockets

maybe you need a Facebook account to view it.
hang on, i'll link it again

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos- ... 7856_n.jpg

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos- ... 0882_n.jpg

[ninja_iga]

note: this was a paintball tank refilling accident. The tank was being filled to 3000psi (200bar+) and the filling nipple broke (damn China made junk!) and whipped me in the face.

we play our Water Rockets at way lower pressure, but better to play safe guys

[ninja_iga]

Todd

good idea ! although the idea of carrying bricks.. haha tiring!

[thampson]

Thanks Stanlley,

yeah another thing to take to the launch days We are really going to have to make a list so we dont forget things now ..LOL . .so many things to take

-todd-

[basrockets]

but i have a hose that hold 160 bar :P
so, my hose never explode ?

Basrockets