Super Soaker Tech

How the Air Pressure System Works

The air pressure system is a system that uses pressurized air to create pressure. There are two ways to create air pressure. You can have a pressurized reservoir (PR) or a soaker with a seperate tank to hold pressure. The seperate chamber is a better way, because it can create higher pressures faster and it reduces stream dropoff. Both will be explained in this article, because they are both based on air pressure and do not require seperate pages.

First off, the pressurized reservoir (PR) system:

This was the first system used in pressurized soakers. It's pretty basic, and is still used today.

Pros:
Allows for small design
Usually low priced

Cons:
Has extreme dropoff
Usually shorter ranges and less output than other soakers

How it works:

1. Air is pumped into the reservoir to pressurize the air sitting on top of the water.
2. When the trigger valve is opened, the pressurized air pushes water out the nozzle.

Now, soakers with pressure chambers (PC's):

This system was used in several soakers created after the original super soaker (the SuperSoaker 50).

Pros:
Fewer pumps
Usually higher range and output than PR
Less dropoff

Cons:
There is still dropoff
Cost is usually higher than PR in this type of soaker

How it works:

1. Water is pumped into the PC, compressing the air sitting in the PC.
2. When the trigger valve is opened, the pressurized air pushes the water out the nozzle.