Objectives:
Must be able to:
-Fill water balloons
-Spray attackers
-Have modular/multiple spray nozzles
-Fill Super Chargers
-Fill Speedloaders/Storm guns
-Be used with one hand
-Turn off automatically when not being used
And here is the result, the "Ultimate" system:
^Please ignore the 1/2pvc coupler in the top-right. This is an old picture, replace that with the quick detach connector, Seen in this picture of the "Basic version":
So, what you are looking at is the end result of months of twiddling. My initial design was to basically re-invent the QFD, building a spring-loaded push valve like the Super Soaker/Speedloader QFD. After many cuts, glues, o rings and springs, I had a very interesting looking device that did not work. Let's just say it had a tendancy to explode. But then one day, I found a cheap waterstop set at Rona for 4$. Same as expensive Gardeena ones.
The same day, I found the tee at a thrift store, for 2$. I found a second one at the same store a week later. So, off I went to Rona to buy the right fittings.
Don't go to Rona to buy fittings.
All you really need is the 5$ brass female hose fitting, that somehow converts to 3/4 inch M/F. Once you have that, you can use as many FF adapters as you need.
I know that my bushing does not go all the way into the 3/4" FF, but it doesn't leak from there at all, and I couldn't make it any tighter.
Anywho, what you end up with is a tee with two quick detach connectors. Just insert the male end and click it into place. The top one you can fit with any hose sprayer you like. I have seen one that has an adjustable, narrow brass nozzle that would be perfect for filling balloons. I don't have that, and at one point, I dropped the thing onto the concrete and bam! Broke the spray attachment clean off. Luckily, that part isn't entirely necessary.
The bottom part is equipped with a water stop. Water pressure forces the plug into the hole, which makes the little cross-shaped piece stick out. When you insert a connector, it pushes the plug open, like a reverse pull valve. I used a female hose connector, into which I inserted this rubber piece. The diameter of the flat surface on this rubber piece is between 8mm for the hole and 23mm edge to edge. What you need is any rubber piece with as large a hole as possible for maximum flow (up to 11mm) with the total diameter from a minimum of 17mm to a maximum of 23mm in width (if you want the piece to fit inside of the female hose connector). The more surface area, the easier it will be to fill. I don't have all of the speedloaders, and it should be noted that the Speedloader nozzles vary in size, but what I have created should work with all of them. Certainly it works with the 1000 and 1500.
I added a flat rubber ring from an EX 630 cap (knock off, sub-CPS 2000 sized "supa soaka" or something from Canadian Tire) to prevent the connector from going in all the way, which would leave the valve open, requiring you to use both of your hands to remove it and stop the flow. You can use any thin 2mm plastic ring. So all you do is push it against your water gun's filling port, and it will squirt water in until you stop pushing. And the quick-detach fitting stays in! You can use this to fill the reservoir of any soaker with ease, or even as a riot blast (about 20X) if you hook you fingers over the end around the hole and squeeze. The duration and range are only dependant on your hose pressure. I did not have this ring on the "ultimate" QFD with the hose sprayer (before the sprayer broke), and if you pushed too far it would lock. (like it does in the video) If I ever make it again, I will add that ring. But for now, until I find a better hose sprayer, I will use the Basic QFD device:
This has all of the features of the complete QFD, except that it has much less parts (cheaper), can't fill balloons, but is not as easy to spray people with. All I did was remove the tee and a 3/4" FF coupler, and screw it back together. You really need two wrenches and some teflon tape to make everything work nicely. Both of my devices were kept pressurized for over an hour in the sun, and I don't think there is much of a chance they will explode. In fact, there is a tiny leak around the connectors that will keep the pressure from building too much. It's a garden hose. They leak. But if you really wanted to go crazy with glue and brass, I suppose you could seal it completely and not have it explode... maybe.
I would like to briefly point out that, yes, you have to line up the QFD and the QFD port and push straight to fill your soaker. I don't have any normal qfd's to compare it with, but it isn't hard. I would also like to mention I am considering building a stand so that the QFD device points straight up like normal QFD's.
I have videos of the complete device, including filling a Speedloader 1000 and a Monster. Only I would like to edit the videos, and I can't upload them to Imageshack for some reason (MP4 format).
Name my device!
I would like to have a three or four letter acronym, something catchy and meaningful. I would like it to include some of the words describing what makes it unique, like Auto/Automatic/Waterstop/Autostop", "Universal" (maybe Versatile, I would like to pay homage to the VHS, but I want mine to stand out) "Ultimate" (a bit presumptuous, maybe?" and maybe something along the lines of "if fills things, hurls water, and fills things that hurl water".
Any and all suggestions are welcome (to be judged, beware) and the best sounding name wins.
In fact, if you come up with one good name and a slight variation for the basic or the ultimate system, even better.
The price details:
1X $2.00 3/4"MMM tee
3X $1.60 3/4"FF adapter
1X $4.78 1/2"FF brass hose fitting
1X $0.68 1/2"F -> 3/4"M bushing
-OR-
1X $5.?? 3/4"FM brass hose fitting
4$ + tax(.48) for water stop set
Things I had/found previously
Rubber gasket thing (cheap)
Anti-lock 2mm ring (cheap)
Tools:
Teflon Tape
2 pliers/wrenches
Basic "Simple" system : 11$
Complete/ultimate/Tee system : 16$
