Air cannon with sabot system

1. An air cannon system for impact testing of a target, comprising:

a generally horizontal barrel having a forward end and a rear end;

a source of pressurized air in fluid communication with the rear end;

a semi-solid projectile located within the barrel;

a sabot sized to fit within the barrel and configured to engage the projectile at a forward face of the sabot;

a cord having a selected length and connecting the sabot to a fixed location relative to the barrel; and

a target located forward of the barrel;

wherein the barrel is aimed for firing the projectile toward the target and striking the target with the projectile; and

wherein forward motion of the sabot when fired is decelerated by the cord after the sabot exits the forward end of the barrel, the length of the cord being selected to stop the forward motion of the sabot before the sabot strikes the target.

2. The air cannon system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a removable breech plug configured to be installed at the rear end of the barrel.

3. The air cannon system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a removable breech plug configured to be installed at the rear end of the barrel;

wherein the fixed location is on the breech plug.

4. The air cannon system of claim 1 , wherein the cord is formed from a resilient material.

5. The air cannon system of claim 1 , wherein the forward face has a cup shape.

6. The air cannon system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a low-friction material installed on an outer wall of the sabot.

7. The air cannon system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a spool configured to allow the cord to be wound onto the spool and then unwound from the spool during forward motion of the sabot.

8. The air cannon system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a spool rotatable relative to the barrel, the spool being configured to allow the cord to be wound onto the spool and then unwound from the spool by rotating the spool during forward motion of the sabot.

9. A method of impact testing a target, the method comprising:

(a) connecting one end of a cord to a sabot;

(b) connecting the other end of the cord to a fixed location relative to a barrel of an air cannon, the barrel being generally horizontal and aimed toward a target located forward of the barrel;

(c) loading a semi-solid projectile in the barrel forward of the sabot;

(d) using compressed air to drive the sabot forward through the barrel until the sabot exits a forward end of the barrel; and

(e) stopping forward motion of the sabot with the cord prior to the sabot striking the target.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein in step (b), the fixed location is a spool onto which the cord is wound prior to step (d).

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein in step (b), the fixed location is a rotatable spool onto which the cord is wound prior to step (d).

12. An air cannon system for horizontal impact testing of a target, comprising:

a generally horizontal barrel having a forward end and a rear end;

a source of pressurized air in fluid communication with the rear end;

a semi-solid projectile located within the barrel;

a sabot located within the barrel and rearward of the projectile, the sabot engaging the projectile at a forward face of the sabot;

a cord connecting the sabot to a spool configured to allow the cord to be wound onto the spool and then unwound from the spool during forward motion of the sabot; and

a target located forward of the barrel;

wherein the barrel is aimed for firing the projectile toward the target and striking the target with the projectile; and

wherein forward motion of the sabot during firing is decelerated by the cord after the sabot exits the forward end of the barrel and before the sabot strikes the target.

13. The air cannon system of claim 12 , further comprising:

a removable breech plug at the rear end of the barrel;

wherein the spool is coupled to the breech plug.

14. The air cannon system of claim 12 , wherein the cord is formed from a resilient material.

15. The air cannon system of claim 12 , wherein the forward face has a cup shape.

16. The air cannon system of claim 12 , further comprising:

a low-friction material installed on an outer wall of the sabot.

17. The air cannon system of claim 12 , wherein the spool is rotatable relative to the barrel.