Compressed Gas Gun for Controlled Planar Impacts Over a Wide Velocity Range

Abstract

A description is given of the mechanical characteristics and performance of a compressed gas gun capable of accelerating precisely aligned flat-faced projectiles over a wide velocity range. Predetermined reproducible velocities may be achieved between 150 and 5700 ft/sec with an angular misalignment between the impacting surfaces as small as 1.3×10−4 rad. The impact occurs in a vacuum with pressures as low as 10−4 mm Hg. The gun has an inside diameter of 2½ in., a length of 100 ft, and uses either air or helium at pressures as high as 5000 psi. The gun is particularly suited for experiments in which a well-defined impact is desired.