Vortex gun blows smoke rings

April 5, 2012
Engineers at the Battelle Memorial Institute are patenting a special vortex gun they developed

Resources:
Battelle Memorial Institute

To see the gun in action, go to http://tinyurl.com/8xu2npq

Engineers at the Battelle Memorial Institute are patenting a special vortex gun they developed. It might find use firing rings of ionized air at fires to clear smoke or sending rings of pesticide at hard-toreach wasp nests or other pests. And police might use it to disperse tear gas into a crowd without the danger of a canister hurting anyone or the risk of a miscreant hurling the canister back at the police.

The gun forces air or some other gas down its barrel at speeds of at least 90 mph. Friction of the gas against the inside of the barrel causes a thin layer of the gas to roll forward on itself, forming a ring. The developers liken the effect to a tornado formed into a donut. The ring revolves, letting it stay together rather than disperse. Tests show rings can stay together for at least 50 yards and travel at 60 mph. The vortex rings are even stable in crosswinds, but they tend to turn into the crosswind.

© 2012 Penton Media, Inc.

Sponsored Recommendations

Aug. 22, 2025
Discover how to meet growing customer demands for custom products without overextending your engineering team. Learn how scaling your automation strategy can help you win more...
Aug. 22, 2025
Join industry leaders to explore how cutting edge digital technologies are transforming factories. Learn how to boost throughput, enhance flexibility, and accelerate your digital...
Aug. 22, 2025
Explore the future of manufacturing. Learn how to leverage the latest digital technologies and strategies to build a more efficient, agile, and resilient digital factory.
Aug. 21, 2025
A look into the latest improvements in motion control through high-performance drives, AI enhancements, and faster communication protocols.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Machine Design, create an account today!