Water cannon

Abstract

A water cannon adapted for controlling large crowds of unruly people in a highly effective, yet non-lethal fashion. The cannon can be mounted on an appropriate vehicle, such as an armored car, so as to make it mobile and its supporting system completely self-contained. The water cannon discharges a high velocity stream of water in a pulsing fashion. Each pulse forms a water projectile which is effective against human targets at ranges up to one hundred feet. The water can be treated with a variety of desired additives. The water cannon includes a cannon body on which is operatively mounted a nozzle for discharging the discrete coherent water projectiles. The discharge of the water projectiles is controlled by a main stage valve, which is in turn controlled by a pilot valve. A water supply reservoir and pump are provided for supplying water under pressure to the main stage valve. An electronic control package emits pulses which in turn, energize a water cannon firing solenoid which controls the pilot valve, so as to cause the cannon to discharge in an "on-off" fashion discharging discrete coherent water projectiles. The pulses emitted are each of a precisely timed duration, approximately 0.3 seconds "on" and from 0.7 to 1.0 second "off" to complete one "on-off" cycle comprising 0.3 to 1.3 seconds duration. The electronic control package ceases emitting pulses after a plurality of shots, as for example three, and the gunner must then reinitiate the firing action.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.