U.S. patent application number 10/906373 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-01 for pneumatic dynamo for a paintball marker.
This patent application is currently assigned to PLANET ECLIPSE LTD.. Invention is credited to Monks, Steven John, Wood, Jack Kingsley.
Application Number | 20050188980 10/906373 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34890498 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050188980 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Monks, Steven John ; et
al. |
September 1, 2005 |
PNEUMATIC DYNAMO FOR A PAINTBALL MARKER
Abstract
A paintball marker (12) has an air powered generator (10) to
provide electrical power. A compressed gas conduit (18) is
connected to the marker body (12) with compressed gas flowing
therethrough. The gas flow is converted to electricity, such as by
an impeller (52) that is mounted to a first end of a rotating shaft
(48) with a magnet (50) mounted to a second end of a rotating shaft
(48) with a coil (45) positioned proximal to the magnet (50) to
create electricity upon rotation of the shaft (48) due to flow of
compressed gas past the impeller (52). The created electricity can
be used to power electrically powered components on board the
marker (12) or recharge batteries (24) therein.
Inventors: |
Monks, Steven John;
(Manchester, GB) ; Wood, Jack Kingsley; (Chesire,
GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BARLOW, JOSEPHS & HOLMES, LTD.
101 DYER STREET
5TH FLOOR
PROVIDENCE
RI
02903
US
|
Assignee: |
PLANET ECLIPSE LTD.
Praed Road
Manchester
GB
|
Family ID: |
34890498 |
Appl. No.: |
10/906373 |
Filed: |
February 16, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60545397 |
Feb 17, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
124/77 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41B 11/57 20130101;
F41B 11/71 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
124/077 |
International
Class: |
F41B 011/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An electrical power generator for a paintball marker having a
compressed gas inlet to receive compressed gas from a compressed
gas source, comprising: a body having a fluid inlet and a fluid
outlet, the body disposed between said compressed gas source and
the compressed gas inlet, the fluid inlet being in fluid
communication with the fluid outlet by a fluid passage, the fluid
passage being in fluid communication with the compressed gas source
and the compressed gas inlet; a shaft rotatably connected to the
body; means for rotating the shaft; the means for rotating the
shaft being disposed within the fluid passage; a magnet mounted to
the shaft; and a coil mounted to the body and adjacent to said
magnet; the coil producing electricity in response to the rotation
of said shaft and said magnet upon passage of compressed gas
through the fluid passage.
2. The electrical power generator of claim 1, wherein the means for
rotating the shaft is an impeller.
3. The electrical power generator of claim 1, further comprising:
means for controlling electricity produced by the coil.
4. The electrical power generator of claim 1, wherein the magnet is
a permanent magnet.
5. A generator for a paintball marker comprising: a body having a
fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, said fluid inlet being in fluid
communication with said fluid outlet by a fluid passage; a rotor
rotatably mounted within said body and in communication with the
fluid passage, the rotor being rotatable in response to fluid flow
through the fluid passage; a stator mounted adjacent to said rotor
to produce electricity in response to the rotation of said
rotor.
6. The generator of claim 5, further comprising: means for
controlling electricity produced by the coil.
7. A paintball marker, comprising: a paintball marker body; a
compressed gas conduit connected to the marker body; compressed gas
being flowable therethrough; and means for converting the flow of
compressed gas through the compressed gas conduit into electricity
with an electrical output; the means for converting being in fluid
communication with the compressed gas conduit.
8. The paintball marker of claim 7, wherein the means for
converting is a stator and a rotor.
9. The paintball marker of claim 7, wherein the means for
converting is an impeller mounted to a first end of a rotating
shaft with a magnet mounted to a second end of a rotating shaft
with a coil positioned proximal to the magnet to create electricity
upon rotation of the shaft due to flow of compressed gas past the
impeller.
10. The paintball marker of claim 7, wherein the means for
converting is an impeller mounted to a first end of a rotating
shaft with a coil mounted to a second end of a rotating shaft with
a magnet positioned proximal to the coil to create electricity upon
rotation of the shaft due to flow of compressed gas past the
impeller.
11. The paintball marker of claim 7, further comprising: an
electrically operated component having an electrical input; the
electrical input of the electrically operated component being
electrically connected to the electrical output of the means for
converting.
12. The paintball marker of claim 11, wherein the electrically
operated component is a paintball hopper connected to the paintball
marker body.
13. The paintball marker of claim 11, wherein the electrically
operated component is a rechargeable battery mounted within the
paintball marker body and in electrical communication with the
electrical output of the means for converting.
14. The paintball marker of claim 10, further comprising: a control
unit electrically connected to the electrical output of the means
for converting and the electrical input of the electrically
operated component.
15. The electrical power generator of claim 10, wherein the magnet
is a permanent magnet.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to earlier filed U.S.
Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/545,397, filed Feb. 17, 2004,
the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention generally relates to paintball
markers. More specifically, the present invention relates to
providing electrical power for a paintball marker
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Current paintball markers are typically powered by
pneumatics where compressed air is used to operate various
components of the marker. For example, compressed air is commonly
used to control paintball loading by actuating a piston back and
forth which is connected to a bolt assembly. Also, paintball
launching is also carried out by blowing compressed air behind the
paintball. In sum, compressed air is a readily available resource
in current paintball markers.
[0006] Current paintball markers also use electronics for operation
control. For example, many markers include an operating system that
controls the operation of the markers, such as firing rate.
Triggering can also be electronic in nature. A typical marker
includes a 9 volt battery (e.g. rechargeable) for providing the
necessary electrical power. Also, add-on components, such as
hoppers, operate on electricity and, therefore, need a source of
electricity.
[0007] As paintball markers become more complicated, they become
more reliant on electronics while placing a larger load on the
existing battery supply resulting in more frequent recharging and
replacement of the battery. As can be understood, this is
particularly problematic during game play.
[0008] In view of the foregoing, there is a need to provide an
improved electrical source to supply power to a marker for
effective operation thereof. There is a need to be able to recharge
the onboard battery "on-the-fly" during game play so as to not
interrupt paintball marker operation. There is a further need to
supplement the electrical power in a paintball marker.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention solves the need for recharging a
battery and prolonging the battery life of a paintball marker by
providing a pneumatic dynamo to harness the compressed air source
of the paintball marker and convert it to electricity for use
therein.
[0010] A paintball marker built according to the teachings of the
present invention has an electrical circuit for controlling one or
more operations or features of the paintball marker, a compressed
air source for powering one or more operations or features of the
paintball marker, and an air powered generator placed inline with
the compressed air source to generate electricity to power the
electrical circuit and any other electrical needs of the paintball
marker.
[0011] In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention
is to provide a pneumatic dynamo for converting readily available
air flow to electricity for use by the paintball marker.
[0012] A further object is to provide a pneumatic dynamo that can
recharge a battery or batteries used in a paintball marker.
[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide s
supplemental source of electricity to be used by electrically
operated components within a paintball marker.
[0014] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an
inexpensive and compact pneumatic dynamo.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the following description, appended claims, and accompanying
drawings where:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a partial side view of a paintball marker using
the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment
of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a top cross-sectional view of an alternative
embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a partial side cross-sectional view of the
alternative embodiment of FIG. 3; and
[0020] FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the alternative
embodiment of FIG. 3.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] Referring now to FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of the
pneumatic dynamo of the present invention is shown at 10 integrated
within a paintball marker 12. Paintball markers 12 are generally
powered by compressed gas contained in a cylinder 14 and also
typically have a hopper 13 for storage of paintball projectiles 15.
A pressure regulator 16 is attached to the cylinder 14 to regulate
the flow of compressed gas from the cylinder 14 and into a hose 18.
The other end of the hose 18 is attached to the pneumatic dynamo
10. The pneumatic dynamo 10 is attached to a secondary pressure
regulator 20. Compressed gas flows from the cylinder 14, through
the pressure regulator 16, through the hose 18, into the pneumatic
dynamo 10, into the secondary pressure regulator 20 via fluid
passage 32 and into the paintball marker 12 to power the operations
of the paintball marker 12 such as loading and firing paintballs.
Such pneumatic operations of various components of a paintball
marker 12 are very well known in the art and need not be discussed
in detail herein.
[0022] While the compressed gas is flowing through the pneumatic
dynamo 10, the compressed gas is harnessed to generate electricity.
The present invention contemplates any type of structure or device
that can convert air flow to electricity where that electricity is
available to the paintball marker 12 for any of its electrical
needs. This electricity is transferred through a first electrical
wire 22 and, preferably, into a rechargeable battery 24, but it
could be directly fed into an electrical circuit 26. Electrical
wire 22 is shown as a pair of double lines to represent any type of
electrical interconnection, which may include a single wire or more
than two wires. Such electrical connection depends on the
electrical design of the paintball marker 12. The battery supplies
power to an electrical circuit 26 by means of a second electrical
wire 28 (also represented as a pair of double lines). The
electrical circuit 26 contains the logic necessary to electrically
control any number of operations and features of the paintball
marker 10. For example, some paintball markers 12 have hoppers 13
that have powered sorters to prevent jamming of the paintball
projectiles 15. These types of powered hoppers 13, or other powered
accessories, receive electrical power and control signals from the
electrical circuit 26 of the paintball marker 12 through a third
electrical wire 27 (represented as a pair of dashed lines).
[0023] Referring now to FIG. 2, a cross-sectional view of the
preferred embodiment of the pneumatic dynamo 10 of the present
invention is shown generally at 10. The pneumatic dynamo has a body
30. Within the body 30 is a fluid passage 32 having a fluid inlet
34 and a fluid outlet 36. The fluid inlet is connected to the hose
18 and the fluid outlet is connected to the secondary pressure
regulator 20 of the paintball marker 12. The pneumatic dynamo 10 is
thus positioned inline with the gas supply to the paintball marker
12 via supply cylinder 14. While it is preferred that the pneumatic
dynamo 10 is located as shown in FIG. 1, if can be placed anywhere
on or within the paintball marker 12 that has air flow.
[0024] Adjacent to the fluid passage 32 is a generator 40. The
generator 40 has a stator 42 and a rotor 44. The stator has a coil
45 which is mounted adjacent to and about the rotor 44. The stator
also has a pair of electrical leads 47 which are connected to the
coil 45 and to an electrical connector 46. The electrical connector
46 is connected to the electrical wires 22 of the paintball marker
12. The rotor 44 includes a shaft 48, a magnet 50, and an impeller
52. Preferably, the coil 45 completely encircles the rotor 44 and
magnet 50 therein, but other configurations are possible that are
well known in the art.
[0025] The shaft 48 of the rotor 44 is rotatably mounted within the
body 30 of the pneumatic dynamo 10. The magnet 50 is attached to
one end of the shaft 48 and adjacent to the stator 42. The magnet
50 is, therefore, rotatably mounted within the generator 40 with
the coil 45 positioned thereabout. The impeller 52 is attached to
the opposite end of the shaft 48 and has a number of blades (or
foils) 54. At least a portion of the blades 54, such as the free
ends portions 54a, of the impeller 52, are interposed in fluid
passage 32 such that the flow of the compressed gas through the
fluid passage 32 pushes the blades 54 causing the impeller 52 to
turn. The impeller 52 turning causes the shaft 48 to turn the
magnet 50, which induces electricity in the stator 42. It is well
known that rotation of a magnet relative to a coil winding creates
an inductive effect to thereby create current flow through the
coil. The size and configuration of the impeller 52, magnet 50 and
the coil 45 can be modified to suit the desired electrical output.
For example, the output can be designed to output a 9 volt supply,
which is typically compatible with most paintball markers.
[0026] In an alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 through 5, the
shaft 48 of the rotor 44 is completely disposed within the fluid
passage 32. Also the coil 45 is wound about an iron ring 49
positioned adjacent to the magnet 50 of the rotor 44. The coil 45
in this embodiment is also wound into two separate windings
disposed opposite each other on the iron ring 49. As described
earlier, many variations in the components are well known in the
art for creating electrical induction in a wire by means of
rotating a magnet relative to a coil. Alternatively, the coil 45
may be mounted to the shaft 48 with the magnet 50 positioned
adjacent thereto. As the shaft 48 rotates, the coil 45 is rotated
adjacent to the magnet inducing electricity in the coil 45.
[0027] Although the pneumatic dynamo 10 of the present invention
has been described as a separate component that may be connected or
disconnected to the paintball marker 12 as desired, the present
invention may easily be integrated into the overall structure of
the paintball marker 12 as a permanent component. As stated above,
it may be positioned anywhere in the paintball marker 12 where
there is gas flow or even in a separate pneumatic flow circuit. The
present invention is shown to use an impeller structure 5 to rotate
a shaft 48. However, other structures may be employed, such as a
plunger with linear or reciprocating movement. In general, movement
of a magnet relative to a coil is carried out to generate the
required electricity. For example, the magnet may be stationary
while the coil is moved. Moreover, an electrical circuit may also
be provided for conditioning the electrical signal that has been
induced.
[0028] Further, an LED or LCD display may be provided to monitor
the operation of the pneumatic dynamo 10 and the paintball marker
12. Optional control elements that interface with the paintball
marker 12 and/or pneumatic dynamo 10 may include buttons or levers
to modify settings within the marker 10 or an interface means so
that the marker 10 can be monitored by a remote device. Finally,
the interface means may be through a wired connection or other
wireless means that allow both monitoring and control of the marker
10 as well as allowing control programs to be downloaded into the
marker 10 as desired.
[0029] While there is shown and described herein certain specific
structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those
skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of
the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope
of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not
limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except
insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *