Flag Launcher, August 2005

Intended as a prop for the Troy High School Winter Guard Team, (Troy, MI) the flag launcher is used by the flag drill team in a special routine.  (Of course it's decoratively covered to hide the mechanism.)  The flags are caught in the air by team members during their precision routine.

The launcher is the work of engineer Don Bartlett who designed the project and modeled it in Solidworks.

Video Clips (clips will take a minute or two to load over a broadband connection):

Flag Launcher test firing.  We've added three steel plates underneath, 3/8" x 24" for ballast to minimize jumping.  (Actual flags need to be carefully folded for proper flight.):
Launcher I (7.2 MB)

Up Close with the Flag Launcher.  The latch mechanism is tripped by a pneumatic ram, remotely controlled by a transmitter:
Launcher II (7.6 MB)

Viewing Hints:

Windows Media Player is needed to play the video clips.

After viewing clip in Windows Media Player, choose File, Save Media As to save the video clip for future viewing.

Flag Launcher Photos

V&B airflow specialist Roland Flego (left), with Don Bartlett.

Detail of Latch mechanism.

A pneumatic ram pulls the arms down to "fire" the flags.

Flag launcher controls:  Pressurized air is stored in an accumulator.  An on-board receiver operates
a solenoid controlled air valve,  actuating the ram and firing the flags.

Close-up of cocking latch mechanism.

The orange toggles (left) lock the wheels.  Roland indicates the connection to charge the batteries (center).
 Compressed air is connected to the left of the batteries.  The large pneumatic tires are a recent change, as the
 launcher was originally designed for indoor use.  Now the Troy HS football team wants in on  the fun and it
will be featured during half-time festivities.