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Vortex ring launcher (updated)

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Nik

Mon Jul 10 2006, 01:54AM

Registered Member #53 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 04:31AM
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 638

By popular demand, some info and more photos of my smoke ring launcher. The device uses a garbage can (80L), a thick plastic bag, some bungee cord and some assorted hardware around the house. I didn't use any specific plans while building it, I just mimicked the general shape of other peoples designs and the toy that inspired me. (The Airzooka). The plastic membrane has 2 circles of particleboard clamping on it and giving a place for the U-bolt (for the bungee cords to hook on to) and the eye bolt (to uses as a handle) to anchor to. The hole on the bottom of the garbage bin has a lip 0.2 * the width of the bottom of the can, I read some where that 0.2 gave good results. The bag is held over the wide end of the garbage can by a ring of zip ties and some electrical tape (to seal it a bit better).

The bungee cords pulling the bag into the can forces air out the hole in the bottom. The lip around the bottom of the can slows the air on the outside and creates a ring shaped vortex. The smoke is from a commercial smoke fog maker; I just blow the smoke in the bottom of the can. The smoke rings are remarkably stable and will fly level and straight for over 30feet before they are too thin to see. The rings have a little bit of â€œumffâ€ to them; they will blow your hair around and move your clothes if they are lose. Out doors they make it all the way across the yard and blow the bushes around on the far side (more then 30feet away). They are very susceptible to wind and donâ€™t last in anything more then a gentle breeze.

I don't have any more photos then the ones in the "Post your photo thread", it is reaaly hard to catch them on film AND fire the thing at the same time. I do have vidoes but they are a little big to post here. I will host them on my home server so PLEASE save them to disk insted of opening them in your media player. Thank you.

<--First movie

<--Second movie

Bjørn

Mon Jul 10 2006, 03:00AM

Registered Member #27 Joined: Fri Feb 03 2006, 02:20AM
Location: Hyperborea
Posts: 2058

The timing is quite critical and it is possible to launch two rings moving at different speeds at the same time. It is possible to make them work under water in case someone wants to experiment.

Nik

Mon Jul 10 2006, 03:03AM

Registered Member #53 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 04:31AM
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 638

With my set up it is only posible to make 1 ring at a time and they all go at about the same speed. It can work underwater (my modle is too big and flimsy to work) but the same shaped "nozle" and a pulse of pressure in a barle should make the same rings in any fluid.

ragnar

Mon Jul 10 2006, 03:36AM

Registered Member #63 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 06:18AM
Location:
Posts: 1425

Heheh, that's brilliant! I think I saw those 'airzooka's on thinkgeek or somewhere, and always wondered if the concept was as cool as it sounded... from the look of those smokerings, it must be a lot of fun...

Got any coloured smoke? You could scare people

Nik

Mon Jul 10 2006, 03:38AM

Registered Member #53 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 04:31AM
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 638

Other then yellow chlorine gas, that I have had quite enough of, I can't say I have any coloured smoke.

Simon

Mon Jul 10 2006, 06:45AM

Registered Member #32 Joined: Sat Feb 04 2006, 08:58AM
Location: Australia
Posts: 549

I think pretty rings of chlorine would scare me.

I have no experience with these fog machines but might it be possible to dye the fog juice?

A teensy bit of permanganate could make purple rings.

ragnar

Mon Jul 10 2006, 07:37AM

Registered Member #63 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 06:18AM
Location:
Posts: 1425

Hehe, I don't know if you really want to mix this with fire, but a red signal flare wouldn't go amiss... ^^ muahaha

Madgyver

Mon Jul 10 2006, 04:35PM

Registered Member #177 Joined: Wed Feb 15 2006, 02:16PM
Location: Munich, Germany
Posts: 214

nik282000 wrote ...

With my set up it is only posible to make 1 ring at a time and they all go at about the same speed.

Yeah, thats because your "nozzle" is to big. The pressure doesn't change much with different timing.
Usually a hole half the total diameter in size works well. With practice, you can make even more then 2 at Different Speeds.

I have some pics of our constructions and pics of vortexes. have to find them though...

Bjørn

Mon Jul 10 2006, 04:41PM

Registered Member #27 Joined: Fri Feb 03 2006, 02:20AM
Location: Hyperborea
Posts: 2058

I made one that used a CD as the end plate, with correct timing it hurt when it hit the skin at close range.

Marko

Mon Jul 10 2006, 11:04PM

Registered Member #89 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 02:40PM
Location: Zadar, Croatia
Posts: 3145

I wondered if one could use a pulsed power 'disk launcher' to propel that thing.

Not with too much energy ofcourse.

A colored smooke could be interesting. Only what I can think of (exscept chlorine) are those commercial colored 'smoke bombs' wich usually aren't available in this part of year.

And they are costy for amount of shoots you'l get.

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