U.S. patent application number 10/185203 was filed with the patent office on 2003-02-06 for discharge port and breech for compressed gas gun.
Invention is credited to Dobbins, Jerrold M..
Application Number | 20030024520 10/185203 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46280795 |
Filed Date | 2003-02-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030024520 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dobbins, Jerrold M. |
February 6, 2003 |
Discharge port and breech for compressed gas gun
Abstract
The present invention is a specially curved discharge port and
port within a bolt within the breech for a compressed gas powered
gun for the firing of projectiles. The invented gun has many
improvements over the prior art including the use of improved gas
pressure routing allowing for operation at lower pressures with no
decrease in firing rate, efficiency, trajectory, or range. The
structure of the present invention provides for embodiments which
include the use of specific maximum angles within the gas passage
from a compressed gas storage chamber and a portion of the breech
through which the gas is routed as it expands to launch a
projectile from the gun.
Inventors: |
Dobbins, Jerrold M.; (Nampa,
ID) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PEDERSEN & COMPANY, PLLC
P.O. BOX 2666
BOISE
ID
83701
US
|
Family ID: |
46280795 |
Appl. No.: |
10/185203 |
Filed: |
June 27, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10185203 |
Jun 27, 2002 |
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09528482 |
Mar 17, 2000 |
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60125302 |
Mar 19, 1999 |
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60138323 |
Jun 9, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
124/73 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41B 11/722 20130101;
F41B 11/723 20130101; F41B 11/52 20130101; F41B 11/57 20130101;
F41B 11/71 20130101; F41B 11/724 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
124/73 |
International
Class: |
F41B 011/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. In a compressed gas gun, the improvement comprising: a gas
passage conduit from a compressed gas storage chamber into a barrel
for launching a projectile from said gas gun; the conduit
comprising a valved discharge port from said compressed gas storage
chamber, said discharge port connected to a port within a bolt
within a breech of said gas gun, said breech connected to the
barrel of said gas gun; and, all angled surfaces within said gas
passage conduit forming a maximum angle of about 23 degrees .+-.5
degrees.
2. The compressed gas gun of claim 1 wherein the gun is
electronically controlled.
3. The compressed gas gun of claim 1 wherein the gun has a high
pressure circuit and a low pressure circuit.
Description
DESCRIPTION
[0001] This application claims priority from prior provisional
applications, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No.
60/125,302, filed Mar. 19, 1999; and U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Serial No. 60/138,323, filed on Jun. 9, 1999, and from
prior, co-pending U.S. Conventional patent application, Ser. No.
09/528,482, filed Mar. 17, 2000, the disclosures of all of which
are incorporated herein by this reference. This Application is a
continuation-in-part of the U.S. Conventional patent application,
Ser. No. 09/528,482, filed Mar. 17, 2000.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention generally relates to compressed gas-powered
guns and more specifically to guns for firing marker projectiles
such as "paint balls." The use of marking guns is well-known.
Within a marking gun, there is employed a projectile which is
generally in the shape of a sphere. This projectile is constructed
of a thin wall which will readily break upon impact against a
target. Typical material for the wall of the projectile would be a
gelatin. Within the wall of the projectile is contained a quantity
of a liquid such as a colored paint. Typical paint colors would be
blue, green or yellow.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] Compressed gas powered guns for the firing of projectiles
have long been used. Of more recent use, such guns have been made
for the firing of spherical and fragile projectiles containing a
colored marking fluid, such projectiles commonly being referred to
as "paint balls." Such guns are typified by other inventions of the
Inventor, namely U.S. Pat. No. 5,497,758, showing a compressed gas
powered gun. Problems associated with such guns include:
dangerously high pressure build-up within the gun, potentially
damaging the gun and endangering the user; a mechanical limitation
on the cycle time of the firing mechanism limiting the firing rate
of the gun; excessive shock and recoil resulting from reciprocal
movement of the hammer into the firing and recocked positions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention is a specially curved discharge port
and port within a bolt within the breech for a compressed gas
powered gun for the firing of projectiles. The invented gun has
many improvements over the prior art including the use of improved
gas pressure routing allowing for operation at lower pressures with
no decrease in firing rate, efficiency, trajectory, or range. The
structure of the present invention provides for embodiments which
include the use of specific maximum angles within the gas passage
from a compressed gas storage chamber and a portion of the breech
through which the gas is routed as it expands to launch a
projectile from the gun.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a side, schematic view of one embodiment of the
present invention showing the invented gun in the cocked
position.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a side, schematic view of another embodiment of
the present invention showing the invented gun in the firing
position.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a side, schematic view of a pneumatic gas cylinder
assembly according to the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a side, schematic view of a section of the
pressure routing system.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0011] Referring now to the drawings, an embodiment to be preferred
of a compressed gas powered gun, made according to the present
invention, is disclosed. The gun includes, generally, a grip 45; a
body, including an upper main housing 3 and a lower main housing 1;
a barrel 10; a bore 5; a bolt 9 within a breech; a hammer chamber
2; a pneumatic gas cylinder 34; a slider 33; and a trigger 24.
Throughout the Description, the term "forward" indicates being
towards the outer, open, free end of the barrel 10 extending from
the upper main housing 3 of the gun. "Rearward" indicates the
opposite direction of "forward."
[0012] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a projectile feed tube 6 opens
into the barrel 10, said projectile feed tube 6 for supplying the
barrel 10 with projectiles 100, which are preferably spherical in
form and contain a marking fluid. A conventional projectile
retention lever (not shown) biased by a spring allows only one
projectile 100 to enter the barrel 10 at a time.
[0013] Generally rearward and below the barrel 10, the hammer
chamber 2 holds a hammer 32 which is integrally attached to the
forward end of the slider 33. Slider 33 horizontally and
reciprocally moveable within gas cylinder 34 from a cocked
position, as shown in FIG. 1, to a firing position, as shown in
FIG. 2, through the use of spring bias and compressed gas. The
slider 33 is cocked by means of an electronic solenoid actuated
4-way valve 65 located in the lower main housing 1. A manifold 8
connects the 4-way valve 65 to the pneumatic gas cylinder 34. When
biased to the firing position, the slider 33 forces the hammer 32
to engage a valve stem 29. A link pin 41, circular in
cross-section, extends between and connects the bolt 9 to the
hammer 32.
[0014] The bolt 9 is held within the gun through use of the link
pin 41, attached to the hammer 32. Removal of the link pin 41
allows the bolt 9 to be removed from the gun. This may be done for
routine maintenance. The link pin 41 is held in place by means of a
bolt retention spring 76.
[0015] Within the pneumatic gas cylinder 34, a main compression
spring 71 extends between the slider 33 and an end-cap 35 which is
attached at the rearward end of the gas cylinder 34. A solid main
spring guide 36 rests within the cylinder 34 between the slider 33
and the end-cap 35, said guide 36 for receiving the coiled main
compression spring 71. Slider 33 is biased forward to a firing
position by the main compression spring 71 and compressed gas (not
shown). The shock of the hammer 32 is dampened both as the hammer
32 moves forward into the firing position and as it returns to a
recocked position. The forward motion of the hammer 32 is dampened
by both the valve spring 72 and the compressed gas surrounding the
valve spring 72. The rearward motion of the hammer 32 is dampened
by an o-ring 84 located in gas cylinder 34, between the guide 36
and the end-cap 35.
[0016] Releasably holding the slider 33 in a cocked position is an
electronic solenoid activated 4-way valve 65. The electronic
solenoid 60 is actuated through a micro-switch 61 located rearward
of the trigger 24. Pulling on the trigger 24 sends an electronic
signal to a CPU (microprocessor) 64 located in the grip 45. This
CPU 64 by means of software determines which of a number of dual
in-line package (hereinafter "dip") switches 63 have been switched
on or off, thereby determining the firing rate and mode selected by
the user. The CPU 64 then, based on firing rate and mode, actuates
the solenoid 60, causing the 4-way valve 65 to shift, causing the
slider 33 to be propelled forward under the bias of spring pressure
and compressed gas. The CPU 64 then deactuates the solenoid 60
causing the 4-way valve 65 to shift, and compressed gas forces the
main compression spring 71 to compress thereby recocking the gun. A
trigger spring 75 forces the trigger 24 back to its original
position.
[0017] Compressed gas for propelling projectile 100 and for moving
the slider 33 to a firing position is provided from a canister or
cylinder (not shown), which may be attached directly to the gun or
may be attached to the person operating the gun. The gas is fed
through a high pressure (hereinafter "HP") regulator 50, and then
through a passageway through a high pressure adaptor 51 to a cavity
defined by lower main housing of body 1. The high pressure
regulator 50 reduces the gas pressure from over 500 pounds per
square inch (hereinafter "p.p.s.i.") to around (hereinafter
".about.") 250 p.p.s.i. The HP regulator comprises an HP adjustment
screw 39, an HP regulator spring 73, an HP regulator piston 53, an
HP regulator cup 52, and an HP regulator cup spring 74. This high
pressure regulator 50 further comprises a safety feature forcibly
closing the high pressure regulator cup 52 when over 800 or so
p.p.s.i. is applied. This closure protects the inner workings of
the gun and protects the gun's operator.
[0018] Contained within the gun are two valve means. The first
valve means is for operating an LP circuit, including for
propelling the slider 33. The second valve means is for operating
an HP circuit, including for supplying gas to propel the projectile
100. The first valve means further comprises a low pressure
(hereinafter "LP") regulator 54 for reducing pneumatic gas pressure
from the .about.250 p.p.s.i. supplied to .about.85 p.p.s.i. This
pressurized gas is then channeled to the gas cylinder 34 for the
propulsion of the slider 33 upon actuation of the trigger 24. The
LP regulator comprises an LP adjustment screw 56, an LP regulator
spring 173, an LP regulator piston 153, an LP regulator cup 152,
and an LP regulator cup spring 174. This low pressure regulator 54
further comprises a safety feature forcibly closing the low
pressure regulator cup 152 when over 300 or so p.p.s.i. is applied.
This closure protects the inner workings of the gun and protects
the gun's operator.
[0019] The second valve means includes a horizontally oriented
valve stem 29 which is horizontally and reciprocally moveable
within the valve stem guide 30. Valve stem 29 is provided with a
valve cup 28 engaged by a valve spring 72, biasing the value cup 28
to a seated position on the valve stem guide 30 to prevent flow of
compressed gas from the high pressure storage chamber 210 into the
barrel 10.
[0020] It has also been found that projectile 100 velocity can be
maximized through the use of specifically angled surfaces within
the gas passage 4, through which the gas expands as it enters the
barrel 10. The gas passage 4 is defined by the continuous conduit
extending from the valve cup 28, through the valve stem guide 30
and the forward portion of the bolt 9. When the valve cup 28 is
actuated to an open/firing position, the gas is allowed to expand
through the conduit extending through the valve stem guide 30 and
the bolt 9. Bolt 9 has an angled port 220 drilled through its
forward portion. Valve stem guide 30 is the discharge port. Bolt 9
with its port 220 is in the breech of the gun. The breech is
connected to the rearward port of barrel 10. The inner surfaces of
the valve stem guide 30 and the bolt 9 are machined to form a
conduit having a specific maximum angle through which the gas
expands. It has been found by the inventor that 23 degrees .+-.5
degrees is the optimal angle for these surfaces. Use of such
angular surfaces allows the present invention to fire a projectile
100 using less than one half the p.p.s.i. of traditional guns at
the same firing rate as those guns, without jeopardizing the
effeciency, trajectory or range of the projectile 100. By funneling
the gas as it expands through the use of such angular surfaces,
resistance is reduced, thereby allowing firing at a high firing
rate to be done with lower p.s.i.
[0021] The gun further comprises an electronic system comprising a
circuit board 62 containing a microprocessor (CPU) 64, and a series
of dip switches 63 which can be set to control the firing rate and
mode of the gun. The gun is further programmable so as to allow
firing rate and mode limits to be forcibly set.
[0022] Sequential action of the gun may be seen to advantage. A
projectile 100 is in place within the barrel 10. A second
projectile (not shown) is held in place above the barrel 10 and
within feed tube 6 by the projectile retention lever (not shown).
Slider 33 is in the cocked position via the solenoid 60. It is
assumed that the high pressure regulator 50 is in fluid
communication with an external compressed gas source (not shown) to
fill the high pressure storage chamber 210 with compressed gas.
[0023] The trigger 24 is then pulled, a microswitch 61 is activated
sending a signal to the CPU 64 that the user wishes to fire the
gun. The CPU 64 then determines which dip switches 63 have been
preset by the user, thereby determining the firing rate and mode of
the gun. Upon determining the firing rate and mode, the CPU 64 then
directs the solenoid 60 to act accordingly. The firing rate and
mode of the gun are detailed as follows:
DIP Switch Settings--Modes--Rate of Fire
[0024] (Note: the following settings are not shown in attached
Figures.)
[0025] Rate of fire is dependent on the mode and switch settings of
the dip switches. Modes are:
[0026] 1. semi-auto (one single shot per trigger pull),
[0027] 2. 3 shot (3 shots if the trigger is pulled and not
released, with single shot capabilities),
[0028] 3. 6 shot burst (6 shots if the trigger is pulled and not
released, with single shot or any amount between capabilities),
[0029] 4. Full auto (as long as the trigger is pulled it will
cycle).
[0030] Mode selection is done via switches #1 and #2. Mode settings
using the switches are as follows:
1 #1 #2 off off Semi auto mode on off 3 shot mode off on 6 shot
burst mode on on Full auto mode
[0031] Rate of fire and timing is as follows:
[0032] Dip switch #3 and #4 (registers Solenoid on; times in
milliseconds)
2 #3 #4 off off 06 ms on off 08 ms off on 10 ms on on 12 ms
[0033] Dip switch #5, #6, and #7 (registers Solenoid off (delay
before re-cycle); times in milliseconds)
3 #5 #6 #7 off off off 70 ms on off off 80 ms off on off 90 ms on
on off 100 ms off off on 110 ms on off on 120 ms off on on 130 ms
on on on 140 ms
[0034] Dip switch #8: display cycle rate, mode and shot count.
4 on display yes off display no.
[0035] As the solenoid 60 is deactuated, the gun is cocked. As the
solenoid 60 is actuated, compressed gas and the main compression
spring 71 move the hammer 32 and slider 33 to the firing position,
by moving the slider 33 forward with hammer 32 slidably engaging
the valve stem 29. The hammer 32 engages valve stem 29, thereby
unseating the valve cup 28, causing the release of compressed gas
into the gas passage 4, thereby propelling the projectile 100
through the barrel 10.
[0036] The slider 33 has moved forward into the firing position
forcing the hammer 32 to engage the tip of valve stem 29.
Simultaneously, valve stem 29 is forced inwardly against the bias
of valve spring 72 to unseat the valve cup 28 from its seat, thus
allowing the compressed gas to enter the barrel 10. Gas entering
the barrel 10 progresses through the conduit formed by angular
surfaces of the valve stem guide 30 and the port 220 in the forward
portion of the bolt 9, forcing projectile 100, which has a diameter
approximating that of the bore 5 of the barrel 10, out of the
barrel 10 at a velocity dependent upon the gas pressure within the
barrel 10 which is controlled by high pressure regulator 50. The
solenoid 60 is then deactuated to force the slider 33 and hence
hammer 32 back to the recocked position. Valve stem 29 is again
biased into its seated position by valve spring 72 to prevent
further flow of compressed gas into the barrel 10. Upon deactuation
of solenoid 60, the slider 33 and hence the link pin 41 and bolt 9
are forced back to the recocked position. As the bolt 9 moves to
the recocked position, the projectile retention lever (not shown)
allows a new projectile 100 to enter barrel 10 and again holds a
next projectile (not shown) in place under bias of a spring.
[0037] Having thus described in detail a preferred embodiment of
the present invention, it is to be appreciated and will be apparent
to those skilled in the art that many physical changes could be
made in the apparatus without altering the inventive concepts and
principles embodied therein. The present embodiment is therefore to
be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive,
the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims
rather than by the forgoing description, and all changes which come
within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are
therefore to be embraced therein.
* * * * *