Patent Abstract:
A repeatable water gun device for projecting jets of water into ambient surrounding water for the purpose of causing cavitations in the water which when the produced cavities collapse due to ambient water pressure a loud sharp report is caused when the cavities collapse upon themselves. The sharp reports may be used for scaring fish away from the intakes of water pipe lines, for cleaning water wells, and for the removal of zebra mussels or other sea life infestation from water pipes.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/713,945 filed Oct. 15, 2012 entitled Method and Apparatus for Producing Sound Pulses Within Bore Holes, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/730,430 filed Nov. 27, 2012 entitled Water Gun, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/756,907 filed Jan. 25, 2013 entitled High Pressure Water Gun which are all incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention is related to a repeatable water gun that is pressurized at pressures up to 10,000 psi gas spring pressure and capable of being fired for enhanced cleaning of unwanted materials within water and oil wells, water pipes and other conduits. The water gun projects jets of water at high velocity into a well, pipe or conduit for an improved method in the removal of invasive species such as zebra mussels or unwanted flora from within structures and pipes where current systems have limited capability against these infestations. The high pressure jets may also be projected into ambient surrounding water for the purpose of causing cavitations in the water which due to ambient water pressure produces a loud sharp report when the cavities collapse upon themselves. The sharp reports may prove effective in combating the spread of invasive species such as Asian carp that has devastating effects on a number of ecological environments. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Asian carp refers to a number of different species of carp that are highly detrimental to the environment in parts of the United States. In July 2007, the U.S. Department of the Interior declared that all silver carp and largescale silver carp to be invasive species and in July 2012 the “Stop Invasive Species Act” requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to speed up implementation of strategies to prevent the Asian carp from entering the Great Lake. Strategies include electric barriers placed at rivers that flow into the Great Lakes or using toxins that are deadly for fish, but not harmful to humans. These strategies have not been all together successful where as an example a fish kill in Illinois that cost $3 million resulted in 90 tons of dead fish, but only one carp was found among these fish. 
         [0004]    Zebra mussels are another invasive species that are very disruptive and damaging to harbors, waterways, ships, water treatment facilities and power plants. Particularly, water intakes bring the microscopic free-swimming larvae directly into water treatment facilities where the zebra mussels grow and cling onto water pipes and clog them. Removal of these mussels and other infestations from water conduits and wells has proved challenging especially where toxic chemicals that would contaminate the water supply and environment cannot be used. What is needed for the removal of these invasive species is a targeted, effective approach that minimizes detrimental effects on the environment. 
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The water gun of the present invention is capable of repeated firing of water jets at pressures up to 10,000 psi gas spring pressure for enhanced cleaning of unwanted materials within oil wells, pipes and other conduits and for the removal of zebra mussels or other sea life infestation from the pipes. The high pressure jets may also be projected into ambient surrounding water for the purpose of causing cavitations in the water which due to ambient water pressure produces a loud sharp report when the cavities collapse upon themselves. The sharp reports may be used for scaring fish such as Asian carp away from traveling to previously non-invaded areas. 
         [0006]    The water gun should be suspended and submerged with the ejector ports in at least 30 cm (12 in) of water depth with hydraulic and air lines from an external hydraulic pump and compressed air supply extending from the shore or deck of a boat in the area for cleaning, removal and/or to be used as a deterrent for invasive species. The air or gas spring chamber may in a first embodiment be pressurized to within a range of 200 psi to 3000 psi and for instance to 1000 psi and the air supply port is then closed. For the safety of personnel and the equipment, the water gun should never be pressurized when it is out of the water. Persons should also not be above or near the pressurized water gun or be in the water within a safe distance of the water gun. After pressurization of the air spring chamber, hydraulic fluid is directed to an extension and retraction hydraulic cylinder to move a reset piston into position to prepare a free piston or ejector piston for firing. The hydraulic fluid is preferably a vegetable based hydraulic to prevent pollution in the case of accidental spillage of hydraulic fluid. It is advised that for all hydraulic connections hydraulic non-drip quick disconnects should be used to further prevent spillage of fluid into the body of water. The hydraulic pump, fluid lines, and other equipment must all be rated for the pressures the water gun system shall operate at. In further embodiments, the housing and components of the water gun may accommodate higher pressures within the range of 3000 psi to 10000 dependent upon the requirements for cleaning or invasive species removal. The water gun may further be operated using a water pump in place of the hydraulic pump. 
         [0007]    To fire the water gun a hydraulic control valve delivers fluid to move a reset piston downwardly. When the reset piston reaches the bottom of its travel there will be a spike in hydraulic pressure which indicates that the reset piston has latched into the top of the ejector piston. At this point the control valve should be reversed which will cause the reset piston to draw up the ejector piston. When the reset piston and ejector piston reach the top of travel the water gun will trigger and fire. By repeating this control sequence the water gun can be fired repeatably as rapidly as every 3 to 4 seconds or faster depending on the size of the water gun and as well as the operating pressures and control system. 
         [0008]    The reset piston retains the ejector piston using a latching seal assembly. The latching seal assembly includes a sealing ring that seals against the inner edges of a cup formed in the top of the ejector piston. The latching seal assembly also includes an outlet passage and check valve seated within a piston flange at the base of the reset piston. The piston flange plugs into the upper cup shaped surface of the top of the ejector piston within the cup forcing air out through the outlet passage opening the check valve and creating a vacuum seal between the reset and ejector pistons. The vacuum is broken at the top of travel of the pistons when an outer edge of the ejector piston cup is stopped by a shoulder formed in the chamber housing allowing for the reset piston to pull out of the cup and the air pressure within the chamber to rapidly accelerate the ejector piston forcing water out through the ejector ports. The water jets from these ports cause cavitations in the water which due to ambient water pressure produces a loud sharp report when the cavities collapse upon themselves which may be effective to deter invasive species such as Asian carp from entering an area. 
         [0009]    The water gun may be of any dimension and volume to accommodate the requirements necessary for cleaning and removal of a species from an underwater location. The water gun may also operate at acceptable pressures with ranges in low pressure designs ranging from 200 psi to 3000 psi or in high pressure designs in a range of 3000 psi to 10000 psi being supplied to the air spring chamber to create higher velocities of water ejecting from the water gun. 
         [0010]    The water gun of the present invention comprises a hydraulic cylinder supplied by a hydraulic pump; a reset piston movable using the hydraulic cylinder; an ejector piston within an air chamber adjacent the hydraulic cylinder, the ejector piston having an air bypass flange; a water ejection chamber having at least one ejection port; and wherein the water gun is submerged and the ejector piston is accelerated by air pressure through the air chamber and water ejection chamber forcing water through the at least one ejection port and into ambient surrounding water for the purpose of causing cavitations in the water which due to ambient water pressure produces a loud sharp report when the cavities collapse upon themselves. 
         [0011]    The water gun further operates with air pressure in the air chamber in a range of pressures from 200 psi to 3,000 psi or at air pressure in the air chamber in a range of pressures from 3,000 psi to 10,000 psi. The ejector piston of the water gun is a hollow cylinder having a cup shaped top welded or brazed to close the hollow cylinder. The air bypass flange of the ejector piston further comprises a ring bearing installed around the outer diameter of the flange. The ejector piston may have a plastic sleeve of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene. The ejector piston body is further of a consistent finish and diameter to ride within a bearing and seal that is retained at the lower end of the air chamber and the upper end of the water ejection chamber through which the ejector piston reciprocates. The water ejection chamber of the water gun may have more than four ports and a sleeve bearing liner. The water ejection chamber may also be removable to provide various nozzle configurations. 
         [0012]    The reset piston of the water further comprises a latching seal assembly to reset the ejector piston for firing. The latching seal assembly comprises a latching seal surrounding a flange, the flange having an inlet passage and check valve to evacuate air from a cup formed in the upper portion of the ejector piston and latch the reset piston and ejector piston. The water gun may further have the hydraulic cylinder supplied by a water pump. The water ejection chamber of the water gun further comprises a dashpot. The water gun of claim  1  wherein the water ejection chamber further comprising vents to release any trapped air. 
         [0013]    The present invention is related to an apparatus for the removal of invasive species comprising a hydraulic cylinder supplied by a hydraulic pump; a reset piston movable using the hydraulic cylinder; an ejector piston having an air bypass flange within an air chamber adjacent to the hydraulic cylinder; a water ejection chamber in communication with the free piston; and wherein the water gun is submerged and the free piston is accelerated by air pressure through the air chamber and water ejection chamber forcing water out and into ambient surrounding water producing a loud report to kill invasive species within or deter invasive species from entering an area. 
         [0014]    The present invention is also related to a method of operating a water gun, comprising the steps of supplying a water gun with pressurized high pressure fluid through a first high pressure hose line to move a reset piston in a first direction to capture an ejector piston while returning fluid through a second high pressure hose line; reversing the fluid flow direction so that the second hose will move said reset piston in a second direction while returning fluid through said first hose; and storing energy within said water gun and firing water gun in the same motion. The present invention is further related to a method of removal of invasive species from an area, comprising the steps of forming a cylindrical housing having a piston chamber, a pressurized chamber and a water ejection chamber; submerging the cylindrical housing to fill the water ejection chamber; moving a reset piston within the piston chamber to draw an ejector piston having an air bypass flange within the pressurized chamber to a ready to fire position; accelerating the ejector piston through the air chamber and water ejection chamber to generate a loud report. 
         [0015]    This method of removal of invasive species from an area further comprises the step of affixing a latching seal assembly to the reset piston; extending a latching seal assembly out of the piston chamber and into the pressurized chamber; plugging the latching seal assembly into a cup formed in an upper portion of the ejector piston; evacuating air from the cup to form a vacuum and draw the ejector piston to a ready to fire position; halting travel of the ejector piston and pulling the latching seal assembly from the cup thereby breaking the vacuum; providing airflow through the air bypass flange to accelerate the ejector piston through the pressurized chamber and water ejection chamber to generate a loud report. The method may further comprise the steps of forming a dashpot in the water ejection chamber and forming the ejector piston with a protective sleeve. The method of removal of invasive species may further comprise the step of pressurizing the pressurized chamber to a range of pressures from 200 psi to 3000 psi or to a range of pressures from 3,000 psi to 10,000 psi. The method of removal of invasive species from an area of claim  20  further comprising the step of forming a dashpot in the water ejection chamber. The method of removal of invasive species from an area may further comprise the step of replacing the water ejection chamber with another water ejection chamber having a different nozzle configuration. The method further comprising the step of moving the reset piston using a water pump. 
         [0016]    These and other features, advantages and improvements according to this invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    Several embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the water gun of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2A  is a top view of the first embodiment of the water gun of the present invention showing a hydraulic cylinder cap; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view of the hydraulic cylinder cap of the first embodiment of the water gun of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3A  is a cross-sectional view the base of the hydraulic cylinder chamber in the first embodiment of the water gun of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view of the base of the hydraulic cylinder chamber showing the reset piston flange and latching seal assembly in the first embodiment of the water gun of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4A  is a top view of an ejector piston in the first embodiment of the water gun of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional view of the upper portion of the ejector piston the first embodiment of the water gun of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5A  is a cross-sectional view of the reset piston latching seal assembly of the first embodiment of the water gun of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5B  is a an exploded cross-sectional view of the attachment of the latching seal to the reset piston latching seal assembly of the first embodiment of the water gun of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5C  is a cross-sectional view of a check valve of the reset piston latching seal assembly of the first embodiment of the water gun of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the high pressure gas seal assembly at the base of the air spring chamber of the first embodiment of the water gun of the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 7A  is a cross-sectional view of the lower portion of the water ejection chamber of the first embodiment of the water gun of the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 7B  is a cross-sectional view of the lower portion of the water ejection chamber of the first embodiment of the water gun of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIGS. 8A-8I  are cross-sectional views of a firing and reset sequence of the first embodiment of the water gun of the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the ejector piston showing metal erosion due to implosion in a first embodiment of the water gun of the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 10  is a further embodiment of the ejector piston having a composite implosion shield; 
           [0034]      FIG. 11A  is a first embodiment of the ejector piston in a first embodiment of the water gun of the present invention; 
           [0035]      FIG. 11B  is a further embodiment of the ejector piston having a composite implosion shield in a further embodiment of the water gun of the present invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 12  is a further embodiment of the water gun of the present invention capable of high pressures. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0037]    In  FIG. 1 , a cross sectional view of a first embodiment of the compressed air actuated hydraulically cocked water gun  10  of the present invention is shown. The water gun  10  is constructed by attaching a hydraulic cylinder section  15  to a first end of an air or gas spring chamber  30  and the second end of the air spring chamber section  30  to a water ejection chamber section  45 . The hydraulic cylinder  15  houses a reset piston assembly  13  that has a piston  48  that divides the cylinder  15  into two chambers, an upper extension chamber  18  and a lower retraction chamber  20 . An hydraulic cylinder head  12  encloses the extension chamber  18  using a series of bolt circle  11  circumferential spaced from a center point of the hydraulic cylinder  15 , as shown in  FIG. 2A . A circular O-ring  19  prevents leakage between the hydraulic cylinder head  12  and hydraulic cylinder housing  33 . The hydraulic cylinder head  12  provides external ports for the connection of hydraulic and air supply lines. The lines are attached vertically in alignment at the top or first end of the hydraulic cylinder  15  to prevent entanglement of the lines as the water gun  10  is fired. The vertical attachment also provides for the insertion of the water gun into the opening of a water pipe or well for cleaning and the removal of invasive species. 
         [0038]    The extension chamber  18  is fed through a high pressure non-drip hydraulic quick disconnect line that is attached to the top threaded port  14  that is positioned in the center of the hydraulic cylinder head  12 . A second high pressure non-drip hydraulic quick disconnect line is attached to the top threaded port  16  to feed the retraction chamber  20  and is positioned at a distance from the bolt circle of high strength cap screws  11  that secure the outer diameter of the hydraulic cylinder head  12 . A perpendicularly drilled passage  17  provides for hydraulic fluid to be fed from port  16  to an opening  23  vertically drilled in the base  25  of the outer cylindrical flange  27  of the hydraulic cylinder head  12 . A brazed in plug  29  seals the perpendicularly drilled passage  17 . A high-pressure hose feeds the top threaded port  21  for the air supply is similarly positioned at a distance from the bolt circle of high strength cap screws  11  with a perpendicular passage  26  extending to an opening  28  extending vertically from the base  25  of the outer flange  27 . Threaded holes  31  in the top surface  33  of the hydraulic cylinder head  12  provide for the attachment of eyebolts to drag or suspend the water gun  10  from the deck of a vessel or from a fixture along the shore, or fixture within a body of water. While references are made to upper, lower, vertical and horizontal, these terms are used merely to describe the relationship of components and not to limit the operation of the present invention to any one orientation. 
         [0039]    The outer circular flange  27  of the hydraulic cylinder head  12  has a larger diameter OD 1  than the diameter OD 2  of the hydraulic cylinder housing  33  as shown in  FIG. 2B . This difference in diameter provides space for tubing  37  and  38  to extend between flanges F 1  and F 2  along the outside of the hydraulic cylinder  15  and provides access to the vertical openings  23  and  28 , and a flat surface for the heads of bolt circle. An O-ring face seal  35  is placed in a recessed formed at opening  23  and the hydraulic fluid passage tubing  37  for the retraction chamber  20  and is welded or brazed to the outer circular flange  27 . Similarly, an O-ring face seal  35  is placed in a recessed formed at opening  28  and the air or gas passage tubing  38  is also welded or brazed to the outer circular flange  27 . The tubing is stainless steel or of another non-rusting material of a dimension and specification acceptable at the water gun  10  operational pressures and environment of use. 
         [0040]    The threaded end  42  of the reset piston rod  44  may extend into a cut out area  43  in the hydraulic cylinder head  12  at the upper end of the extension chamber  18 . A retaining nut  46  secures the reset piston  48  to the reset piston rod  44 . Along the outer cylindrical diameter of the reset piston assembly piston  48 , a bearing sleeve  52  provides for the reset piston assembly piston  48  to easily slide along the surface of the inner walls  53  of the hydraulic chamber housing  33  a sliding seal  49  is employed on the outside diameter of the piston  48  to prevent pressurized hydraulic fluid from leaking past the OD of the piston  48 . The hydraulic tubing  37  and air tubing  38  extend along the hydraulic cylinder  15  to a flange  55  extending around the outer diameter of the bulkhead  54  that forms base of the hydraulic cylinder housing  33 . The outer diameter OD 3  of the bulkhead flange  55  is the same dimension as the outer diameter OD 1  of the hydraulic cylinder head  12  and includes a bolt circle of high-strength cap screws  11  as shown in cross-section A-A of  FIG. 3A  for the attachment of the hydraulic cylinder  15  to the air spring chamber  30 . 
         [0041]    The hydraulic tubing  37  and air passage tubing  38  are welded or brazed to the upper surface  51  of the flange  55 . At the end of the hydraulic tubing  37  a perpendicular passage  56  and vertical opening  58  extend to the hydraulic cylinder retraction chamber  20 . For the air passage tubing  38 , a perpendicular passage  57  extends to a vertical passage  59  that opens at the lower exterior of the hydraulic cylinder bulkhead  54  to have high pressure air or gas flow into the air spring chamber  30  attached to the hydraulic cylinder chamber  15  as shown in  FIG. 3B . The piston rod  44  extends through an opening in the hydraulic cylinder bulkhead  54  and the reset piston latching seal assembly  60  is affixed to a flange  50  extending out from the end of the piston rod  44 . A seal gland and bearing assembly  62  is installed at the opening of the hydraulic cylinder bulkhead  54  using retaining screws  64 . The seal gland and bearing assembly  62  includes a cylindrical bearing  66 , a shaft seal  67  and a backup ring  68  positioned to prevent the shaft seal  67  from extrusion. 
         [0042]    A cylindrical shoulder  72  extends from the lower surface  74  of the bulkhead  54  at a distance from the outer diameter OD 3  to a point that is of a minimally smaller dimension than the outer diameter of the air spring chamber OD 4  minus the wall thickness t of the air spring chamber housing  80 . The top surface  82  of the air spring chamber housing  80  has a series of threaded bolt holes and mates with the lower surface  79  of the bulkhead flange  55  to attach the hydraulic cylinder  15  to the air spring chamber  30 . The outer surface  76  of the shoulder  72  has a ring seal  78  that mates with the inner surface  84  of the air chamber housing  80  to seal the upper portion of the air spring chamber  30 . The shoulder  72  extends inward to a dimension that is minimally larger than the diameter of the latching seal assembly flange  50  creating a recess for the flange  50 . To prevent the flange  50  from bottoming out against the bulkhead  54  which may damage the latching seal assembly  60 , the reset piston  48  instead bottoms out against the hydraulic cylinder head  12  at the top of the retraction stroke. 
         [0043]    Within the air spring chamber  30 , the ejector piston  90  is installed. The ejector piston  90  is formed as an enclosed cylindrical housing  91  with an opening on one end and having a bypass air flange  92  that has a series of air bypass holes  94  circumferentially spaced around the outer diameter of the flange  92  as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . The multiple bypass holes  94  extend entirely around the bypass flange  92  providing for the water gun  10  to be compact and efficient. When the water gun  10  is triggered most of the air within the chamber  30  is below the ejector piston bypass flange  92 . The bypass air flange  92  of the ejector piston  90  provides for high pressure air to travel from the bottom of the air spring chamber  30  through the bypass holes  94  to the top, accelerating the ejector piston  90  down and forcing water out of the water ejection chamber  45 . The ejector piston flange  92  has an outer diameter OD 5  that is minimally smaller than the inner diameter ID 4  of the air spring chamber housing  80 . A recess  96  is formed within the outer cylindrical surface of the flange  92  to provide for the installation of a rider ring bearing  98  to tightly fit the ejector piston  90  within the air spring chamber  80  housing and provide for the piston  90  to slide freely along the inner cylindrical wall  84  of the housing  80 . The ejector piston  90  has a hollow interior  93  to reduce weight and the upper end cap  102  formed with a rim  104  is inserted into the upper air bypass flange  92  and is seated on a first inner ledge  106  and welded or brazed into place. An opening  91  is drilled at the base of the piston during manufacturing to relieve pressure during brazing and is then plugged. The substantially flat surface  108  of the end cap  102  is below the upper most surface  112  of the flange  92  forming a cup  110  that has an inner diameter ID 5  that is slightly larger than the outer diameter OD 6  of the latching seal assembly flange  50  of the reset piston assembly  13 . The upper most surface  112  may have a radius along the inner rim  114  of the cup  110  to provide for seating the latching seal assembly flange  50  within the cup  110  to form a vacuum to reset the water gun  10  for firing and to fire the water gun  10  by releasing the vacuum. 
         [0044]    As shown in  FIG. 5A , the latching seal assembly  60  has a latching seal  120  held in place within a hook shaped retainer recess  121  formed in the outer diameter of the reset piston assembly flange  50 . Using a circle of flat head screws  124 , a seal retainer ring  122  is installed within a recessed diameter  125  along either the bottom surface  126  or the top surface  128  of the flange  50 . The outer edge  123  of the seal retainer ring  122  is similarly formed in a hook shaped to clamp and squeeze the latching seal  120  forcing the outer surface  127  to extend slightly out from the outer diameter OD 6  of the latching seal assembly flange  50 . Within the central area of the flange  50  a check valve  132  is installed within a threaded bore hole  131  drilled from the lower surface  126  of the flange  50  and up into the piston rod  44 . The outer surface of the check valve  132  has threads  139  and is installed using a spanner tool that is inserted into spanner holes  138  to twist and secure the check valve  132  in the bore hole  131 . A central opening  130  provides for air or gas flow through an inlet passage  133  to the check valve  132 . A compression spring  135  maintains the poppet  136  of the check valve  132  in a normally closed position as shown in  FIG. 5C . An O-ring  137  surrounds the poppet  136  to seal the check valve  132 . 
         [0045]    An outlet passage  134  is drilled through the piston rod  44  to provide for air flow out of the check valve  132  when the latching seal  120  has plugged into the cup  110  of the ejector piston  90  to purge the air from between the lower surface  126  of the flange  50  and the interior surface  108  of the cup  110 . The vacuum seal allows the reset piston assembly  13  to draw the ejector piston  90  up and into a ready to fire position. The reset piston assembly  13  draws the ejector piston  90  to the uppermost position within the air spring chamber  30 . At this point, the shoulder  72  that extends out from the surface  74  of the hydraulic cylinder bulkhead  54  contacts the upper surface  112  of the ejector piston flange  92  to stop movement of the ejector piston  90  while movement of the reset piston assembly  13  continues and pulls the reset piston assembly  13  out of the cup shaped top of the ejector piston  90  to the point where the latching seal  120  reaches the radius formed in the rim  114  of the cup  110  letting air flow past the latching seal  120  and firing the ejector piston  90 . 
         [0046]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the base  81  of the air spring chamber  30  is formed with an opening that the ejector piston  90  accelerates through when fired into the water ejection chamber  45  to propel water out through a series of ejection ports  150  as shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B . The bottom surface  83  of the air spring chamber housing  80  has circumferentially spaced threaded bolt holes  85  to attach the water ejection chamber cylinder cap  142  to the air spring chamber  30  using high strength cap screws  11 . A shoulder  87  may be formed in the base  81  of the air spring chamber housing  80  and rim  144  in the cylinder cap  142  to align and mate the air spring chamber  30  and ejection chamber  45 . A combination bearing and gas seal assembly  146  including a seal  147 , a seal gland and bearing  148  around the ejector piston  90  seals the air spring chamber  30  and allows the bottom  95  of the ejector piston  90  to slide freely through the opening in the base  81  of the air spring chamber  30 . A stationary seal  149  on the outside diameter of the bearing  148  prevents the high pressure air or gas from leaking out around the outside diameter of the bearing. The ejector piston sleeve bearing  152  is installed along the inner wall surface  154  and vent holes  158  are formed through the base of the  95  of the ejector piston  90  and the sides of the water ejection chamber housing  156 . A radius  99  is also formed in the base  95  of the ejector piston  90  to provide for water in the bottom dashpot area of the water ejection chamber  45  to act as a cushion and prevent the ejector piston  90  from striking bare metal of the water ejection chamber housing  156  as it comes to the end of its ejection stroke. As shown in  FIG. 7A  and in the cross-sectional view of section B-B in  FIG. 7B , any number of ejection ports  150  to direct the flow of water out perpendicularly from the water gun  10  may be used based on the requirements for cleaning or invasive species removal. The water ejection chamber  45  may further be interchangeable so that different configurations of ejector ports  150  may be used in various applications, multiple ports for pipe or well cleaning or two to four single nozzles  151  for example to target areas of invasive species such as fish or zebra mussels. Any number of nozzles  151  may be employed to narrow and more specifically direct the flow of water from the water gun  10 . Alternatively, the water ejection chamber  45  may have an opening at the bottom to propel water directly from base of the water gun  10 . 
         [0047]    To assemble the water gun  10 , the seal gland and bearing assembly  62  are first installed in a recess at the opening in the hydraulic cylinder bulkhead  54 . The latching seal  120 , retainer ring  122  and check valve  132  are installed on the flange  50  and the reset piston rod  44  is inserted from the lower exterior  74  of the bulkhead  54  through the opening. The piston rod  44  extends to a point where the latching seal assembly flange  50  bottoms out within the recess formed by the bulkhead shoulder  72 . The bearing sleeve  52  and sliding seal  49  is installed around the outer cylindrical diameter of the reset piston assembly piston  48  and a recessed seal  63  is installed within a center opening in the reset piston assembly piston  48  forming a seal to separate the extension chamber  18  and retraction chamber  20 . The reset piston assembly piston  48  is aligned on the piston rod  44  within the bore  53  of the hydraulic cylinder section  15  and is retained to the rod  44  using the retaining nut  46 . The hydraulic cylinder head  12  is then held in place and secured to the hydraulic cylinder housing  33  using high-strength cap screws  11 . The high pressure gas seal assembly  146  is installed in the base  81  of the air spring chamber  30 . The rider ring bearing  98  is installed around the upper flange  92  of the ejector piston  90  and the ejector piston  90  is inserted through the opening in the top of the air spring chamber and then through the inside diameter of the bearing and seal gland assembly  146  within base  81 . The seal  78  is installed in a recess formed in the outer surface  76  of shoulder  72  formed in the hydraulic cylinder bulkhead  54  and the hydraulic cylinder section  15  is inserted into and attached to the air spring chamber housing  80  and secured with bolt circle  11 . The water ejection chamber  45  with the desired ejection port  150  and/or nozzle configuration is attached to the base  81  of the air spring chamber  30  with the ejector piston  90  extending through the opening in the chamber  30 . 
         [0048]    In operation, as shown in  FIGS. 8A-8I , the water gun is submerged in ambient water where water flows through the ejection ports  150  filling the water ejection chamber. High pressure air within the range of 200 psi to 3000 psi and for instance 1000 psi is supplied to an air spring chamber  30  from a high pressure compressed air supply  8  through the air pressure regulator  7  and a regulated air supply hose and an air supply port  21 . A pressure relief valve  9  may be installed on the air supply hose. The air supply port  21  may be closed at the source of air pressure to retain pressure the air spring chamber  30 . The system controller  2  may be either under manual control or electronically programmed and has hydraulic flow controls to control valves that direct hydraulic fluid to the extension or retraction chambers  18  and  20  to move the reset piston assembly  13  down to extend the latching seal assembly  60  to the ejector piston  90  or up to retract the ejector piston  90  into a ready to fire position. Using these manual control valves or an electronic system controller  2 , an electric motor  4  or other power supply is used to run a hydraulic pump  6  and direct high pressure hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic cylinder  15  of the water gun  10 . In further embodiments, the water gun may be operated using a water pump (not shown) to replace the hydraulic pump and pump water from the body of water instead of hydraulic fluid. Operation of the water gun  10  would be the same with either pumping system. A first hydraulic line  3  directly feeds the upper extension chamber  18  through the delivery port  14  of the hydraulic actuator cylinder  15 . A second hydraulic line  5  returns hydraulic fluid from the lower retraction chamber  20  as fluid flows into the extension chamber  18 . As shown in  FIG. 8A , the ejector piston  90  at the upward end of the system stroke where the reset piston latching seal assembly  60  is about to separate from the top of the ejector piston  90  as the upper surface  112  of the ejector piston flange  92  strikes the shoulder  74  of the bulkhead  54 . As shown in  FIG. 8B , the reset piston latching seal assembly  60  is separated from the ejector piston  90  where the high pressure air or gas is by-passing the latching seal  120  at the moment of triggering. As shown in  FIG. 8C , the ejector piston  90  is accelerating downwardly under the force of the gas pressure in the air chamber  30  after release from the reset piston latching seal assembly  60 , while ejecting water from the ports  150 . As shown in  FIG. 8D  the ejector piston  90  is at about its fastest speed as it ejects water from the ports  150 . As shown in  FIG. 8E , the ejector piston  90  bottoms out at the end of its stroke, but the water slugs are still moving out of and away from the ports  150  forming the cavities which will collapse after the ambient water stops the momentum. At the exact moment when the cavities collapse (implode) to zero volume the pressure at the points of zero volume may reach hundreds of thousands of pounds of pressure and the implosion of the surrounding water to zero volume out of the ports and back into the ports  150  generates the high energy pulse. Also shown in  FIG. 8E , the bottom surface  157  of the ejector piston has come to a stop or has very slow movement at the bottom of its stroke after it has ejected water from beneath it out through the ejector ports, shown in  FIG. 7A . A trapped volume (dashpot) of water  163  cushions the ejector piston to a soft stop before the bottom of the piston  90  strikes the bottom  159  of the water ejection chamber  45  to prevent the damaging high speed impact of metal upon metal. 
         [0049]    As shown in  FIG. 8F , after firing the reset piston assembly  13  moves downwardly in its stroke to mate with the ejector piston  90 . As shown in  FIG. 8G , the reset piston latching seal assembly  60  plugs into the cup  110  at the top of the ejector piston  90  near the end of its downward stroke during which, gas is being pushed out of the space between the bottom face  126  of the latching seal assembly flange  50  and the interior surface  108  of the cup  110  of the ejector piston  90 , through the check valve  132  and out through the small horizontal hole  134  in the reset piston rod  44  communicating with the top portion of the air spring chamber  30 . As shown in  FIG. 8H , the reset piston latching seal assembly  60  is all the way down and latched into the cup  110  of the ejector piston  90  with the bottom face  126  of the latching seal assembly flange  50  touching the interior surface  108  of the cup  110  of the ejector piston  90 . As shown in  FIG. 8I  the reset piston assembly  13  draws the ejector piston  90  upwardly while drawing water in through the ports  150  and at the same time compressing the gas within the air spring chamber  30  as the ejector piston  90  progressively takes up volume within the air spring chamber  30 . When the reset piston assembly  13  reaches the top of its upward stroke it will be in the configuration as shown in  FIG. 8A  and  FIG. 8B  at the moment of triggering in the ready to fire position. 
         [0050]    When the flat bottom surface  126  of the flange  50  of the reset piston latching seal assembly  60  plugs into the cup  110  formed in the top of the ejector piston  90 , the latching seal  120  traps a volume of the high pressure air within the space as defined by the separation of the flat bottom surface  126  of the reset piston flange  50  and the flat interior surface  108  in the bottom of the cup  110  of the ejector piston  90 . As the bottom surface  126  of the reset piston assembly  13  plugs into the cup  110  of the ejector piston  90  the trapped air within that space is purged out through a passage  130  opening a check valve  132  to release the air through an outlet  134  into the air spring chamber  30  forming the vacuum when the reset piston assembly  13  starts to move upwardly that provides for the reset piston assembly  13  to move the ejector piston  90  into the ready to fire position. 
         [0051]    This vacuum has significant clamping force where as an example if the sealing diameter at the inside diameter ID 5  of the cup of the ejector piston is 8.9 cm (3.5 inches) and the outer diameter OD 7  of the portion of the ejector piston  90  beneath the cup is 7.6 cm (3.0 inches) then the difference in effective cross sectional area is 6.5 cm 2  (2.56 square inches). Therefore, if the assumption is that there was little air left between the flat surfaces and the pressure within the air spring chamber is 6.86 MPa (1000 psi) then as the reset piston assembly flange moves upward compressing the air within the air spring chamber, the 6.5 cm 2  (2.56 square inch) difference in area produces a clamping force approaching 11.3 kN (2560 pounds of force) between the flat surfaces of the latching seal flange and interior surface of the cup. 
         [0052]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , repeated firing of a water gun  10  and the collapse of the water cavities at the completion of implosion causes metal to be removed creating pits and abrasions in the outer surface  170  of the ejector piston  90 . To reduce or prevent this issue the ejector piston  90  as shown in  FIG. 10  may have a plastic sleeve  180  of a ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) or other plastic that is resistant to the effects of cavitation that effects metals may be installed using high strength cap screws  182  to surround the piston  90  and protect it from this cavitation damage. As shown in  FIGS. 11A and 11B  either the ejector piston sleeve bearing  152  may be installed along the inner wall surface  154  of the water ejection chamber  45  or alternatively, the UHMWPE plastic sleeve may be installed around the cylindrical body  97  of the ejector piston  90 . 
         [0053]    A still further embodiment of the water gun  200  with a series of ejector ports  350  for using the water gun for well and pipe cleaning is shown in  FIG. 12 . The high pressure assembly has an increased wall thickness T HP  enclosing the air spring chamber  230 . The air spring chamber  230  is secured using a series of high strength cap screws  211 . An important feature of this embodiment is that the air intake port  221  and hydraulic ports  214  and  216 , are situated on the top of the hydraulic cylinder  212  and within a smaller diameter than the total diameter of the water gun  200  to provide for the device to be slid up and down within a well without interfering with the sides of the well. The high pressure gas seal assembly  346  includes high pressure gas seals  347 , a lower seal gland bearing  348  and a seal gland seal  349  that are capable of the sealing the air spring chamber  230  at pressures up to 10,000 psi are installed to the opening at the base of the air spring chamber housing  280  to support the attachment of a sleeve bearing  352  to the water ejection chamber housing  356 . The seal gland  349  is designed with zero to minimum clearance between the ejector piston  290  and the inner diameter of seal gland  349  to prevent extrusion of the high pressure gas seal  347 . The sleeve bearing  352  surrounds the delivery end of the ejector piston  290  and assists in directing water flow out and through the ejector ports  350 . 
         [0054]    The base  362  of the water ejection chamber  245  may include for example from 2 to 16 ejector ports  350  to accommodate conduits of different dimensions and different application requirements. The water ejection chamber  45  may be removable to provide for different types of ejector port designs to be easily installed to use the high pressure water gun  200  device in different environments and in varied applications. For example, a 4 to 8 port nozzle configuration may be used to scare marine life from an entrance to a water conduit and then be removed and replaced with a 16 port nozzle configuration to scour the inside of a water pipe to remove zebra mussels or other marine infestation. 
         [0055]    The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8