Networked Learning Project

So I ran into some supply issues getting my PCV for my launcher.  In an effort to save money and actually produce something cool I have redesigned my launcher.  I am left working with what I already have and special ordering parts wont be an option.  Ultimately, this means I can't get the special 2.5" pvc needed for a tennis ball sized barrel.  So I went back to the K9 Kannon design and thought of a new way to tweak it with conventional materials.

The picture below is a cutaway of a pneumatic ram.  In it the long cylinder at the center extends outward when air pressure is added at the back end.  The air essentially pushes the rod out of the chamber.


I have adapted this concept for use in my tennis ball launcher as a way to get around not having a barrel for the tennis ball.  Much like the K9 Kannon it uses friction to hold the ball in place and then uses a ram to kick the ball out.  The K9 Kannon used a spring powered ram which would over stress the plastic body if  the power was increased.  My new design uses an Air Ram to kick the ball out.  The benefit of the air ram is that the only part that needs to be strong is the pressure chamber, which is easily done.

Heres how it works.  The air chamber is pressurized and contained by the ball valve.  The Ram is pushed into the rearmost position so that it sits next to the valve.  When the valve is opened, the ram shoots forward down the barrel and impacts the tennis ball, which kicks it out of the end.  The ram will be retained by a cord of some kind so that it can't exit the barrel.