U.S. patent application number 10/988225 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-18 for paintball gun barrel construction.
Invention is credited to Raymond B. Bushnell.
Application Number | 20060101697 10/988225 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36384631 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060101697 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bushnell; Raymond B. |
May 18, 2006 |
Paintball gun barrel construction
Abstract
Gun barrel construction with bore surfaces defined by different
curvature surfaces which, in conjunction with dynamic fluid
pressure, serve to confine a spherical projectile against lateral
displacement. Rotation is imparted to the projectile in a direction
contra to projectile travel to enhance range of the projectile.
Inventors: |
Bushnell; Raymond B.;
(Beavercreek, OR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
James D. Givnan, Jr.
8175 S. W. Ernst Road
Portland
OR
97225
US
|
Family ID: |
36384631 |
Appl. No.: |
10/988225 |
Filed: |
November 15, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/76.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 21/16 20130101;
F41A 21/28 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
042/076.01 |
International
Class: |
F41A 21/00 20060101
F41A021/00 |
Claims
1- A gun barrel receiving a spherical projectile including, an
arcuate surface. surfaces of lesser curvature contiguous with the
arcuate surface and along which a spherical projectile may travel,
and vent means effecting a pressure drop across a moving projectile
biasing the projectile into rolling contact with said surfaces.
2- A gun barrel for a spherical projectile and having a bore
defined by a primary surface formed on a radius, secondary surfaces
formed on radii greater than the radius of the primary surface and
along which a spherical projectile travels, and vent means for
effecting a pressure drop across a moving projectile to bias the
projectile into rolling contact with said secondary surfaces.
3- A gun barrel for a ball shaped projectile and including a
primary arc having a first radius, secondary arcs each formed on a
radius greater than said first radius, said primary arc defining
along with a projectile a space for a fluid flow acting on a
projectile and urging same into contact with the secondary arcs
imparting counter rotation to the projectile, and vents spaced in
linear fashion along the barrel.
4- A gun barrel through which a spherical bullet travels, said
barrel having a bore defined by a primary wall formed on a radius
and secondary walls each formed on a radius greater than that of
the primary wall to provide tracks along the barrel on which the
spherical bullet travels in a guided manner in the presence of
fluid pressure acting on the bullet and urging the bullet into
rolling contact with the secondary walls imparting rotation to the
bullet counter to the direction of bullet travel, and vent means in
communication with the bore at a location intermediate said
secondary walls.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention pertains to paintball guns which fire
a gas propelled projectile filled with a colored marking fluid with
the projectile shell fracturing to indicate target contact.
[0002] In wide use presently are paintball guns typically used in
mock combat by opposing teams. Other uses for marking with
paintball fired projectiles may exist. The range of a paintball
fired in mock combat averages 250 feet or so. Paintball gun bores
typically are of circular cross-section with some having rifling.
It has been found advantageous to paintball range to impart
backspin to the spherical projectile which in one instance is
achieved by propelling the projectile through a barrel having
curved segments spaced therealong causing the projectile to engage
an upper surface of the gun bore. Such a barrel is made and sold by
Tippmann Pneumatics, Inc. of Fort Wayne, Ind. While a fired
projectile from a conventional barrel may have a range beyond 200
feet or so, the accuracy of same deteriorates beyond 100 feet as
the spherical ball has a tendency to vary from a true
trajectory.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0003] The present invention is embodied within a gun barrel which
provides for the guidance of a projectile along bore surfaces
imparting rotation to the projectile while curtailing lateral
movement of same during barrel passage.
[0004] The present invention serves to improve the accuracy and
range of a gas propelled projectile by restricting the projectile
against lateral movement during barrel passage. A pressure drop
across a projectile during barrel passage results in maintaining
contact of the projectile with linear surfaces of the gun barrel.
The firing of a paintball by the release of air or gas pressure
serves both to propel the paintball as well as bias same into
contact with the barrel linear surfaces.
[0005] Important objectives include the provision of gun barrel
design which contributes to the accuracy of flight of the spherical
projectile by restricting lateral displacement of same during
passage through a gun barrel; the provision of a gun barrel design
which assures imparting a backspin to the projectile contributing
to projectile range; the provision of a gun barrel design wherein
bore defining linear surfaces serve as a track along which a
projectile travels in a confined manner with a pressure drop across
the projectile assuring maintenance of the projectile in contact
with track surfaces.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] In the accompanying drawings:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a gun barrel installed
on a paintball gun;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the gun barrel of FIG. 1 removed
from the gun,
[0009] FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the barrel shown in
FIG. 1; and
[0010] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the barrel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0011] With continuing attention to the accompanying drawings, the
reference numeral 1 indicates generally a barrel of a paintball gun
G. The barrel is threaded at 2 or otherwise provided for attachment
to the gun. A gun barrel muzzle is at 3.
[0012] Vent means are shown as ports 4 provided at linearly spaced
intervals along the barrel. As noted later, the vent means permits
a pressure drop to promote rolling contact of a spherical
projectile P with barrel surfaces.
[0013] In cross-section, as shown in FIG. 3, the barrel bore is
vertically asymmetrical. A primary bore surface at 7 is formed on a
primary radius 8. The paintball P is shown as being spherical but
may be deformed somewhat by air or gas pressure during firing.
[0014] With attention again to the barrel bore, an upper portion of
the bore is defined by upper arcuate surfaces 10 which constitute a
track for paintball travel. Surfaces 10 are formed on radii at 12
and 13, having centers 14 and 15 offset from bore axis 16.
[0015] From the foregoing it will be seen, per FIG. 4, that upon
release of compressed air or gas upon firing of the paintball gun,
a pressurize drop will occur vertically across between areas A1 and
A2 simultaneously urging the projectile toward the upper portion of
the barrel and specifically into rolling contact with surfaces 10
imparting rotation of the projectile. Dynamic pressure occurring
forward of the fired projectile will be vented through ports 4.
[0016] In one embodiment of the preferred form of the present gun
barrel, the ports 4 are spaced in linear fashion at intervals of
one inch with port diameter of 3/32 of an inch.
[0017] While I have shown but one embodiment of the invention, it
will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention may
be embodied still otherwise without departing from the spirit and
scope of the claimed invention.
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