The Mini Emergency Line Gun Project (includes SUGRU)

Emergencies. They never advice. They catch you unprepared. And sometimes in some emergencies, we think "It would be good if someone had a gun like Batman's".

This project is for helping people in rescues: a home-made line gun capable of launching a flotable projectile to a man having problems in the water (Right now, In Colombia we have an winter emergency with storms, floods and avalanches, so I think this could be an useful idea for helping rescuers in his job). It could be useful to pass a line from one side to another, too. Or for grab the nearest tree or structure.

How it works? Like the weapon of an action figure. You insert the projectile, the spring compress, and the back part of the projectile gets caught in the trigger. When you press the trigger, the back part is released and the projectile is launched.



NOTE: because the position of the camera (and my bad aim), it looks like a short distance. But the steel cable is 9 meters (30 ft) long, enough for catch a tree branch if you are dragged by a river. (The next week I will do the experiment with a longest cable)

Without the steel cable, the projectile can fly about 20 meters (66 ft).


And why a spring? It's "easy" to recharge and you can do it over and over and over again. Air power could work, but if you want to recharge it, try to find an air compressor in a disaster area or in the middle of the forest. Gunpowder is another option, but imagine you are dragged by a river (powder and water are a bad combination) or inside of a burning building (powder and fire are a good combination, but very inconvenient, too).

This instructable is not the whole idea, but a concept. It's just the begining. Instructables.com is the home of the smartest minds of the world, and it would be great if this become an open project. Somebody carry on making a better spring launcher, and then another one improves the line system, and a third one implement a more resistant cord, and so on. Who knows? maybe one day every one of us could have a grappling gun in his emergency kit. Watch out, Batman!

Step 1: Disclaimers, cautions and (because we never pay enough attention to the warnings), materials and tools

CAUTION: Because of the short time of the contest, this is a non tested prototype made of ordinary stuff. Instructables and M.C. Langer are not responsibles for injuries, death or property damage due to the bad, wrong or reckless use of this instructable. Make this project under your own risk. Don't use it in a real or simulated danger situation. Don't aim or shoot the gun against people or animals. Don't try to imitate movies, TV shows or comics actions like balancing your own weight, stop freefalls or fight criminals. Always use personal protection when you work with springs. In emergency situations, always call the competent authorities (911 in US and 123 in Colombia).

Materials:

Gun:

• SUGRU (orange)
• Hard spring (impeller)
• Small spring (for the trigger)
• 1 1/2" PVC Pipe (big enough for covering the hard spring)
• PVC Cap
• Garden hose pistol
• Three 90° iron angles
• Nuts and bolts
• Empty yarn cone

Projectile:

• Plastic bottle (It will be the head. I use one from a deodorant)
• Aluminum cylinder (I use one from a discharged military flare)
• 1/2" PVC pipe and cap (Note: it will be great if this is replaced with aluminum pipe, or another light metal)
• Thin steel cable.

Cord: I use thin steel cable. Paracord could be useful. I know in US you can find a better and lighter cord.

Tools and others:

• Dremel rotary tool
• screwdrivers
• pliers
• paint
• superglue

And remember the rules:

1. If you don't have it, replace it!
2. Use protective equipment (dust mask and goggles)
3. Beware of drilled and soldered hot surfaces
4. Work in a good ventilated area.
5. Always have junk in stock
6. Enjoy!

Comments

[fretted]

Use Para-cord and a monkey fist ?

[Wyattr55123]

try heavy fishing line, not steel

[HBDWMA]

heavy line would mean a bit less distance tho, of course.

[HBDWMA]

Just a thought: You can duct tape a fishing reel to the front of a slingshot (wrist-rocket type, not the "Big Y" tree branch type) and launch lines 100 yds.

[rimpest]

Eres Español o que?

[M.C. Langer]

Soy Colombiano! De Bogotá! :-)

[jmonty]

i gotta say M.C. Langer, this is a pretty sweet idea! probably will save a few lives dude!

[M.C. Langer]

Thanks Jmonty!! :-)

[gbearpdm]

I can iamgine this with a spray propellent/ignition system like they use on potato guns, but I'm not smart enough to design it.

[spenfisher12]

may i reccomend 550 paracord in place of steel cable

[Foaly7]

Is airplane wire too thick for this?

[M.C. Langer]

I guess.

[MaClay]

Nice piece of engineering and application of reusable and repurposed materials. And in the vein of your request for comments from the instructable community, may I suggest the use of an eye splice in your cable instead of the much heavier cable clamps. A splice although not legally rated for supporting a load, it was used for a long time before compression sleeves and the like were developed. Also the eye splice being lighter would increase range and be less likely to snag on itself or other things (Batman's cape). You could put a copper sleeve over the barbed ends and solder in place, so you wouldn't have to get it perfect on the first try. Plenty of www info to help you do it. A lighter synthetic line would be best, but you are using what you have access to.  Once again, well done, and keep up the good work

[M.C. Langer]

Thank you very much MaClay!!! It's a great suggestion!! :-)

[doxsys]

This is impressive, and smart! As a former wilderness EMT, I can think of any number of uses for this, both rescue-related and otherwise (E.g., it'd make for an easy way to hang a bear bag.) Great work!

[M.C. Langer]

Thank you Doxsys!!!! :-)

[RayKenn]

Excellent work! With a little "polishing" I could see a definite market for this in a variety of areas.

[M.C. Langer]

Thanks Raykenn!!!

[dropkick]

Parachute cord (sometimes called 550 or para cord) would be much lighter, would fly further, and most importantly is rated for supporting much greater weights than the thin steel aircraft cable.

The 3/8" steel cable is only rated to support 30 lbs. while the para cord is rated for 550 lbs.

People often make this mistake, thinking the steel would stronger.

I use the thin steel cable for supporting a bear bag when I'm in an area where I've been told I have to worry about rodents (or occasionally bag smart bears) chewing through the supporting cord. Other than that I don't use it for much of anything.

[M.C. Langer]

Thanks for the advice. I will make some experiments with paracord.

[mathieulj]

Very nice idea indeed, although i must caution those who think this is ready for the prime time. In this form, you are still firing a metal projectile. NEVER, EVER fire it at/towards someone as you could make the situation worse(by ex. hitting them over the head). If you are in a situation with dire need and have only this first version to help, fire it ether way over the person (the line will drop to them with less of a thud than the aluminium projectile), or in front of them so the current brings the to the line.

This being said, I am a fan of the concept and will most likely make my own version in the distant future (with some sort of soft projectile).

[M.C. Langer]

Thanks Mathieulj. You have a point: if you don't use this concept properly, you could be killing someone instead of saving him.

[Thaikarl]

this is wonderful. an inspiring start. i'm a sailor, and i have thought about something like this for an overboard person. i'm imagining a similar device, that was all built inside a PVC tube. the tube would have a looped strap on the bottom end for a grab handle. the pvc would have a inner and outer, slip fit tube. to cock the mechanism, you would slide the outer tube to the strap end, engaging a simple trigger latch that would pop out of the side of the tube when it was engaged. press the trigger and the weighted, projectile would shoot out the end of the tube. in an open water situation, you would have a conflict between weight of projectile - so it would fly, and lightness- so it would float where a person could grab it.

in a tense, emergency situation, throwing accuracy can be very bad, and you might not have a second chance. the antennae throwing devices in those video's are bulky, complicated, and expensive. great for antennae's, poor for a flood or overboard victim. you are aiming for something a person can make, easily accessible and inexpensive. super! i'll have to think about this one some more.

[M.C. Langer]

Thanks Thaikarl!!!! Well, I was from the Colombian Navy!! :-)

And you're absolutely right. About all.

[steveastrouk]

You know, I look at your line launcher, and I think of all those porr folks who drowned off Christmas island yesterday who might have been saved if there had been a way to get lines to them.

Kudos, someone might make one and save a life

Steve

[M.C. Langer]

Thanks Steve!! And that's the idea. I don't want to see this like MY project, but OUR project. Making a good Line Gun between all could save a lot of lives!

[rncbme]

I've used something similar for years. I zip-tied a spinning reel to the underside
of a slingshot and put a small weight on the end of the line. For me, its primary function is shooting the line over trees and then pulling antenna wire back for HAM Radio use; Works like a champ. I always use the slingshots that have surgical tubing for the kinetic energy... While it's only good for 50-75 yards, it is consistently accurate. I use fifty pound mono-filament line.

rnc

[M.C. Langer]

I have fity pound nylon monofilament. But a very thin line has a problem: could cut easier the rescuer hands. I want to use the monofilamente for a speargun like the one in Batman Returns.

[greaserjoe]

what if you added a CO2 can and instead of the yellow rocket,you add a fiber glass hook??

[M.C. Langer]

Could be!

[Pe-ads]

You look so awesome with that gun :-)

[M.C. Langer]

Thank you Pe-ads!! :-)

[menahunie]

LMFAO - wow a total of maybe 12 feet distance; I can throw a weighted line way farther than that.
In fact I can and do use a 3 lb fishing weight tied to 20lb fishing line and can throw it from one end of your yard to the other.
The key is you throw over them not at them; they grab the line and then pull over the rope..

[M.C. Langer]

Yes. This is not the whole project. It's just the beginning. I will work in a better one, and I expect some makers start working in improvements to make a better line gun.

[trs5]

Always wear eye protection!

[M.C. Langer]

Ouu yeah! :-)

[CNCbuilder1]

Any reason for steel cable? seems kind of heavy both to lu arround and a major enery SAP. Surely someething like 200 lb breaking strength kevlar would be sufficient. And has the nicenesss of being more flexible. (so a smaller real mounted on top for example or even in the handle)

Just a few ideas... Though awesome build and I will have to have a go at one soon with a few alterations...

[Pe-ads]

Agreed. Kevlar cable, or some other similar lighter cable would do better. But steel cable is cheaper, right?

[CNCbuilder1]

I don't know. How much is steel cable these day's (last time I used steel cable was about 5 years ago when I was making some patterned knives)?
I work with composites as part of my hobby so ussually get this stuff by the KM but in a small order of 100m or so maybe ~£3-5 for what you need here (i.e 9m). (Kevlar cloth though is a different story)

I mean you can also get some pretty strong nylon "string" cheap too. I am not sure on its exact breaking strenth but it is damn strong (can hold me without snapping).

[M.C. Langer]

Well, in Colombia the kevlar cable is hard to find and expensive. But it's a great idea!