U.S. patent application number 11/183410 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-25 for adjustable volume chamber and low pressure regulator for a compressed gas gun.
This patent application is currently assigned to National Paintball Supply, Inc.. Invention is credited to Jerrold M. Dobbins.
Application Number | 20060107939 11/183410 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36459811 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060107939 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dobbins; Jerrold M. |
May 25, 2006 |
Adjustable volume chamber and low pressure regulator for a
compressed gas gun
Abstract
The paintball marker has 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 marker has an adjustable
volume high pressure chamber that releases compressed gas to fire a
paintball.
Inventors: |
Dobbins; Jerrold M.; (Kuna,
ID) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VOLPE AND KOENIG, P.C.
UNITED PLAZA, SUITE 1600
30 SOUTH 17TH STREET
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103
US
|
Assignee: |
National Paintball Supply,
Inc.
Sewell
NJ
|
Family ID: |
36459811 |
Appl. No.: |
11/183410 |
Filed: |
July 18, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10689150 |
Oct 20, 2003 |
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11183410 |
Jul 18, 2005 |
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10185203 |
Jun 27, 2002 |
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10689150 |
Oct 20, 2003 |
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09528482 |
Mar 17, 2000 |
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10185203 |
Jun 27, 2002 |
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60588533 |
Jul 16, 2004 |
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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 11/721 20130101;
F41B 11/724 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
124/073 |
International
Class: |
F41B 11/00 20060101
F41B011/00 |
Claims
1. A paintball marker comprising: a source of compressed gas that
supplies a high pressure storage chamber; a low pressure regulator
that is supplied with high pressure gas from the high pressure
storage chamber; wherein the low pressure regulator has a
longitudinal axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the high
pressure storage chamber.
2. The paintball marker of claim 1, wherein the low pressure
regulator is located adjacent to a trigger guard.
3. The paintball marker of claim 1, wherein the high pressure
storage chamber has an adjustable volume.
4. The paintball marker of claim 1, wherein the high pressure
storage chamber has an adjustable volume chamber attached thereto,
comprising an outer main body that defines a hollow interior
chamber, which is adjustable in size by an adjustment screw.
5. The paintball marker of claim 4, wherein the adjustable volume
chamber further comprises: a piston attached to the adjustment
screw, and having a seal thereon, said piston defining a boundary
of the hollow interior chamber.
6. A paintball marker comprising: a source of compressed gas that
supplies a high pressure storage chamber having an adjustable
volume chamber attached thereto, said adjustable volume chamber
comprising an outer main body that defines a hollow interior
chamber that is in communication with the high pressure storage
chamber, said hollow interior chamber being adjustable in size by
an adjustment screw, said high pressure chamber supplying a source
of compressed gas that is released to fire a paintball from the
marker.
7. The paintball marker of claim 6, wherein the adjustable volume
chamber further comprises a piston attached to the adjustment
screw, and having a seal thereon, said piston defining a boundary
of the hollow interior chamber.
8. The paintball marker of claim 7, wherein the piston is attached
to a terminal end of the adjustment screw.
9. The paintball marker of claim 7, wherein the piston comprises a
groove with a seal therein, which acts to seal a portion the hollow
interior chamber.
10. The paintball marker of claim 6, wherein the adjustable volume
chamber is removable from said marker.
11. A paintball marker comprising: a breech having a forward end
and a rear end; a bolt having a port therethrough contained within
the breech, the bolt moveable within the breech between a rearward
position to a forward position; a chamber adjacent to the breech
having a forward end and a rear end, the chamber containing a
slider moveable between a rearward and a forward position, the
slider connected to the bolt, a chamber input port providing
communication between the chamber and a source of compressed gas at
a first pressure, wherein the compressed gas at a first pressure
passes through the chamber input port to move the slider toward the
forward position; a high pressure storage chamber that stores
compressed gas at a second pressure, and upon actuation of a poppet
valve by the slider in its forward position, releases said gas at a
second pressure to drive a ball from the marker; and a low pressure
regulator that is supplied by gas from the high pressure storage
chamber, and lowers said first pressure to a lower second
pressure.
12. The paintball marker of claim 11, further comprising an
adjustable volume chamber having a hollow interior chamber in
communication with the high pressure storage chamber, said hollow
interior chamber allowing for expansion of the compressed gas at a
first pressure, lowering said first pressure.
13. The paintball marker of claim 12, wherein the hollow interior
chamber's volume is adjusted by turning a screw.
14. The paintball marker of claim 13, wherein the hollow interior
chamber comprises a piston therein that moves in response to
turning the adjustment screw, to contract of expand the hollow
interior chamber's volume.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/689,150 filed Oct, 20, 2003, which is a
continuation of Ser. No. 10/185,203, filed Jun. 27, 2002, which is
a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
09/528,482, filed Mar. 17,2000 which claimed priority from U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/125,302, filed Mar. 19,
1999; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/138,323,
filed on Jun. 9, 1999, the disclosures of all of which are
incorporated herein by this reference.
[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent
Application No. 60/588,533 filed Jul. 16, 2004, which is
incorporated by reference as if fully set forth.
FIELD OF 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.
BACKGROUND
[0004] 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
[0005] 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 an adjustable volume
high pressure chamber that releases compressed gas to fire a
paintball.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)
[0006] FIG. 1 is a side, schematic view of one embodiment of the
present invention showing the invented gun in the cocked
position.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a side, schematic view of another embodiment of
the present invention showing the invented gun in the firing
position.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a side, schematic view of a pneumatic gas cylinder
assembly according to the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a side, schematic view of a section of the
pressure routing system.
[0010] FIGS. 5-10 show side schematic views of two variants of an
alternate embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[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 supplied
from the low pressure regulator 54. 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 crosssection, 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.+-.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 efficiency, 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:
[0024] DIP Switch Settings--Modes--Rate of Fire
[0025] (Note: the following settings are not shown in attached
Figures.)
[0026] Rate of fire is dependent on the mode and switch settings of
the dip switches. Modes are: (1) semi-auto (one single shot per
trigger pull), (2) 3 shot (3 shots if the trigger is pulled and not
released, with single shot capabilities), (3) 6 shot burst (6 shots
if the trigger is pulled and not released, with single shot or any
amount between capabilities), and (4) Full auto (as long as the
trigger is pulled it will cycle).
[0027] Mode selection is done via switches #1 and #2. Mode settings
using the switches are as follows: TABLE-US-00001 #1 #2 Description
off off Semi automatic mode on off 3 shot mode off on 6 shot burst
mode on on Full auto mode
[0028] Rate of fire and timing is as follows: Dip switch #3 and #4
(registers Solenoid on; times in milliseconds). TABLE-US-00002 #3
#4 off off 6 ms on off 8 ms off on 10 ms on on 12 ms
[0029] Dip switch #5, #6, and #7 (registers Solenoid off (delay
before re-cycle); times in milliseconds). TABLE-US-00003 #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
[0030] Dip switch #8: display cycle rate, mode and shot count.
TABLE-US-00004 On Display yes Off Display no
[0031] 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.
[0032] 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.
[0033] FIGS. 5-10 show two variants of alternate embodiment of the
invention that uses an adjustable volume high pressure storage
chamber 248, 148. In these Figures, the first variant is designated
by using reference numbers in the two hundreds and the second uses
reference numbers in the one hundreds. In both of these
embodiments, many elements are the same or similar to those noted
above. However, it should be noted that in both of these
embodiments, the LP regulator 54 is located adjacent to the trigger
guard 24a, and in communication with the gas cylinder 34 through
passage 34a, which enters the cylinder 34 at port 34b. This
rearrangement is necessary due to the adjustable volume chamber
146, 246.
[0034] As can be seen from the first alternate embodiment in FIGS.
5-7 (FIGS. 5 and 6 show the chamber at difference volumes, and FIG.
7 is an enlarged view of the chamber), the adjustable volume
chamber 246 comprises an outer main body 246a and end cap 256 that
house the interior components and provide a hollow interior chamber
248 for compressed gas to expand in. This chamber 248 provides an
additional space--in addition to chamber 210--for the gas used to
launch a projectile from a compressed gas gun, which will allow the
gun to use more volume of compressed gas to fire a projectile, and
therefore, operate at a lower gas pressure. The reverse is also
possible by reducing the chamber 248, therefore reducing the volume
of gas used and increasing the gun's operating pressure. The main
body 246 includes a threaded portion 234, which engages the threads
of the adjustment screw 252.
[0035] Integrally attached to the adjustment screw 252 is a piston
238, with a notched groove for o-ring 214. O-ring 214 prevents
compressed gas leakage past it and into the dead area behind the
piston 238, thereby preventing leaks from the main housing 246a. In
addition, other seals 210a and 212 are used to seal the body
threads 220a of the main housing 246a to a compressed gas gun body,
therefore preventing leakage from the threads 220a of the main
housing 246. End cap 256 is preferably threaded onto main housing
246a and provides an area for housing adjustment screw 252.
[0036] In operation, the main housing 246a is threaded onto a
compressed gas gun body by the threaded portion 220. Adjustment
screw 252 is thereby turned clockwise to shorten the amount of
hollow space in chamber 248 that will hold compressed gas, thereby
raising the operating pressure, or alternately, turning the
adjustment screw 252 counter-clockwise will increase the space in
the chamber 48, thereby lowering the operating pressure of the
paintball marker. This allows for the adjustment of volume of
compressed gas used to launch a projectile by varying the chamber
248 size and thereby increasing gas efficiency increasing the
volume of compressed gas hollow interior 248 may hold which results
in the desired change of operating pressure.
[0037] In the second alternate embodiment shown in FIGS. 8-10
(FIGS. 8 and 9 show the chamber at difference volumes, and FIG. 10
is an enlarged view of the chamber), a different adjustment screw
152 and piston 138 are used. In this embodiment, adjustment screw
152 is stationary and piston 138 is internally threaded to the
adjustment screw 152 with helical threads. As the adjustment screw
head 150 is turned, the piston 138 slides along the adjustment
screw threaded portion 152 to change the location of the piston
138, thereby reducing or increasing the volume of compressed gas
hollow interior 148 may hold which results in the desired change of
the operating pressure.
[0038] The adjustable volume chamber, in either of these variants,
can be removed for replacement or maintenance of same.
[0039] Having thus described in detail a preferred embodiments 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.
* * * * *