U.S. patent application number 11/654723 was filed with the patent office on 2007-05-24 for variable pneumatic sear for paintball gun.
This patent application is currently assigned to AJ Acquisition I LLC. Invention is credited to Jerrold M. Dobbins.
Application Number | 20070113836 11/654723 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36582354 |
Filed Date | 2007-05-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070113836 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dobbins; Jerrold M. |
May 24, 2007 |
Variable pneumatic sear for paintball gun
Abstract
An improved paintball gun uses a low-pressure pneumatic sear to
hold the firing valve closed against the high pressure gas
occupying the other side of the valve. In this manner, only one
operation is required between depressing the trigger and the firing
of the paintball gun because a double-acting cylinder is not
required as an interface between the trigger depression and
actuation of the valve. The paintball gun is also substantially
faster than existing electro-pneumatic paintball guns because it
uses a blow forward bolt, in which higher-pressure gas is held
directly behind the bolt and has only one direction to travel
during the firing of the paintball gun.
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: |
AJ Acquisition I LLC
Sewell
NJ
|
Family ID: |
36582354 |
Appl. No.: |
11/654723 |
Filed: |
January 18, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11183548 |
Jul 18, 2005 |
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11654723 |
Jan 18, 2007 |
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60588912 |
Jul 16, 2004 |
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60654262 |
Feb 18, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
124/73 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 19/12 20130101;
F41B 11/721 20130101; F41B 11/71 20130101; F41B 11/62 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
124/073 |
International
Class: |
F41B 11/00 20060101
F41B011/00 |
Claims
1. A pneumatic paintball gun, comprising: a pneumatic piston
slidably mounted in a cylinder, the cylinder configured to receive
compressed gas and to supply the compressed gas to the pneumatic
piston to control movement of the pneumatic piston; a bolt coupled
to the pneumatic piston, said bolt comprising a port configured to
communicate compressed gas from a chamber to a forward end of the
bolt for launching a paintball; a sealing member arranged in
communication with the bolt, wherein the sealing member is
configured to prevent compressed gas from the compressed gas
storage area from entering the bolt port when the bolt is in a
first position and to permit compressed gas to be released into the
bolt port when the bolt is in a second position; a supply port for
supplying compressed gas to the compressed gas storage area; a
solenoid valve configured to supply compressed gas to a forward
surface area of the bolt piston to hold the bolt in an open
position; wherein the solenoid valve is configured to vent
compressed gas from the forward surface area of the bolt piston to
allow the bolt to move to a closed position and to allow the
release of compressed gas from the compressed gas storage chamber
through the bolt port to fire the paintball gun.
2. A paintball gun according to claim 1, wherein the solenoid valve
is a three-way solenoid valve.
3. A paintball gun according to claim 2, wherein the three-way
solenoid valve is normally-opened to direct compressed gas from a
compressed gas source to the forward surface area of the bolt
piston when the solenoid is deactuated.
4. A paintball gun according to claim 3, wherein the three-way
solenoid valve is configured to vent compressed gas away from the
forward surface area of the bolt piston when the solenoid is
actuated in response to a firing signal.
5. A paintball gun according to claim 1, further comprising a
second sealing member arranged in proximity with the supply port
and configured to permit compressed gas to enter the compressed gas
storage area when the bolt is in a first position and to prevent
compressed gas from entering the compressed gas storage area from
the supply port when the bolt is in a second position.
6. A paintball gun according to claim 1, further comprising a vent
port arranged through the bolt to vent compressed gas from a
rearward end of the bolt through the forward end of the bolt, to
prevent back pressure on the bolt.
7. A paintball gun according to claim 1, wherein a sealing member
is configured to prevent compressed gas from entering a compressed
gas storage chamber when the bolt is in a closed position.
8. A paintball gun according to claim 1, wherein the pneumatic
piston comprises a second surface area arranged in communication
with the compressed gas storage area.
9. A paintball gun according to claim 8, wherein compressed gas
from the compressed gas storage area acts on the second piston
surface area to cause the bolt to move to a closed position when
compressed gas is vented away from the forward surface area of the
bolt piston.
10. A paintball gun according to claim 1, further comprising a
paintball detection system, said paintball detection system
comprising a circuit board arranged in a groove formed in a breech
portion of the pneumatic housing.
11. A paintball gun according to claim 1, further comprising a
second pneumatic piston configured to shut off or restrict the
supply of compressed gas to compressed gas storage chamber during
firing operation.
12. A paintball gun according to claim 1, further comprising a
clamp for pinching supply tube to shut off or restrict supply of
compressed gas to compressed gas storage chamber during firing
operation.
13. A piston rod assembly for a paintball gun, comprising: a
plurality of vent channels disposed longitudinally along a piston
rod to communicate compressed gas from a compressed gas storage
chamber to a compressed gas releasing chamber during a firing
operation of a paintball gun.
14. A piston rod assembly according to claim 11, wherein the
plurality of vent channels are arranged along an external surface
of the piston rod.
15. A pneumatic paintball gun, comprising: a pneumatic housing
having a breech section arranged to receive a paintball into the
paintball gun; a groove formed in the breech section for receiving
a circuit board; a cutout region formed through the breech section
for receiving a sensor communicating with the circuit board; and
wherein the sensor is configured to detect the presence or the
absence of a paintball in the breech section.
16. A pneumatic paintball gun according to claim 15, wherein the
sensor comprises a break-beam sensor arrangement having a
transmitter arranged on one side of the breech section and a
receiver arranged on an opposite side of the breech area.
17. A pneumatic paintball gun according to claim 15, wherein the
sensor is mounted on the circuit board.
18. A pneumatic paintball gun according to claim 15, wherein the
circuit board comprises a connector port arranged in proximity with
a lower surface of the breech section to communicate with a circuit
board for controlling operation of the paintball gun.
19. A pneumatic paintball gun according to claim 18, wherein the
circuit board for controlling operation of the paintball gun is
configured to permit a firing operation when the sensor detects a
paintball in the breech section and to disable a firing operation
when the sensor detects the absence of a paintball in the breech
section.
20. A compressed gas driven gun comprising; a cylinder comprising a
piston and a valve pin slidable coaxially therein; compressed gas A
that biases the piston in a first direction; compressed gas B that
biases the piston in a second direction, and overcomes a force
exerted by the compressed gas A biasing the piston in the first
direction so that the piston moves in the second direction; and a
valve that releases one of the compressed gas A or compressed gas B
to atmosphere to initiate a firing sequence and fire a projectile
from the gun.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Nos.
60/588,912 and 60/654,262 filed Jul. 16, 2004 and Feb. 18, 2005
respectively, and is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.
11/183,548 and Jul. 18, 2005 respectively, which are incorporated
by reference as if fully set forth.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] The field of invention is the sport of paintball, and in
particular paintball markers used therein.
BACKGROUND
[0003] This invention relates generally to the construction of
compressed gas guns and more particularly to the guns designed to
propel a liquid containing frangible projectile, otherwise known as
a"paintball". As used herein, the term"compressed gas" refers to
any mean known in the art for providing a fluid for firing a
projectile from a compressed gas gun, such as a CO2 tank, a nitrous
tank, or any other means supplying gas under pressure. Older
existing compressed gas guns generally use a mechanical sear
interface to link the trigger mechanism to the hammer or firing pin
mechanism. In these guns, a trigger pull depresses the sear
mechanism which allows the hammer, under spring or pneumatic
pressure, to be driven forward and actuate a valve that releases
compressed gas through a port in the bolt, which propels a
projectile from the barrel.
[0004] This design, however, has many problems, including increased
maintenance, damage after repeated cycles, and a higher amount of
force is required to drive the hammer mechanism backwards to be
seated on the sear. Also, because the sear and resulting hammer
must be made of extremely hard materials, the gun is heavy. Such
weight is a disadvantage in paintball, where a player's agility
works to his advantage.
[0005] To overcome the problems of a mechanical sear, people
developed other solutions. One solution uses a pneumatic cylinder,
which uses spring or pneumatic pressure on alternating sides of a
piston to first hold a hammer in the rearward position and then
drive it forward to actuate a valve holding the compressed gas that
is used to fire the projectile. Although the use of a pneumatic
cylinder has its advantages, it requires the use of a stacked bore,
where the pneumatic cylinder in the lower bore and is linked to the
bolt in the upper bore through a mechanical linkage. It also
requires increased gas use, as an independent pneumatic circuit
must be used to move the piston backwards and forwards. A further
disadvantage is that adjusting this pneumatic circuit can be
difficult, because the same pressure of gas is used on both sides
of the piston and there is no compensation for adjusting the amount
of recock gas, used to drive it backwards, and the amount of
velocity gas, which is the amount of force used to drive it forward
and strike the valve. This results in erratic velocities,
inconsistencies, and shoot-down. In addition, this technology often
results in slower cycling times, as three independent operations
must take place. First, the piston must be cocked. Second, the
piston must be driven forward. Third, a valve is opened to allow
compressed gas to enter a port in the bolt and fire a projectile.
Clearly, the above design leaves room for improvement.
[0006] Single-bore designs have also been developed which place the
cylinder and piston assembly in the top bore, usually behind the
bolt. This reduces the height of the compressed gas gun, but still
requires that a separate circuit of gas be used to drive the piston
in alternating directions, which then actuates a valve to release
compressed gas, which drives the bolt forward to launch a
paintball. These are generally known as spool valve designs. See,
for instance, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,644,295, 5,613,483 and
5,494,024.
[0007] Existing spool valve designs have drawbacks as well.
Coordinating the movements of the two separate pistons to work in
conjunction with one another requires very precise gas pressures,
port orifices, and timing in order to make the gun fire a
projectile. In the rugged conditions of compressed gas gun use,
these precise parameters are often not possible. In addition,
adjusting the velocity of a compressed gas gun becomes very
difficult, because varying the gas pressure that launches a
paintball in turn varies the pressure in the pneumatic cylinder,
which causes erratic cycling.
[0008] What is needed is a compressed gas gun design that
eliminates the need for a separate cylinder and piston assembly and
uses a pneumatic sear instead of a pneumatic double-acting cylinder
to hold the firing mechanism in place prior to firing a projectile.
This allows the gun to be very lightweight and compact, and
simplifies adjusting the recock gas used to cock the bolt and the
gas used to fire the projectile.
SUMMARY
[0009] One aspect of the present invention provides an improved
paintball gun that uses a low-pressure pneumatic sear to hold the
firing valve closed against the high pressure gas occupying the
other side of the valve. In this manner, only one operation is
required between depressing the trigger and the firing of the
paintball gun because a double-acting cylinder is not required as
an interface between the trigger depression and actuation of the
valve. The improved paintball gun is also substantially faster than
existing electro-pneumatic paintball guns because it uses a blow
forward bolt, in which higher-pressure gas is held directly behind
the bolt and has only one direction to travel during the firing of
the paintball gun.
[0010] In operation, a preferably normally open electro-pneumatic
valve directs low pressure compressed gas to the front of the
firing valve, which is connected to the bolt, which drives the
valve backwards in a closed position. On the rearward side of the
firing valve, higher-pressure gas is occupying the space
surrounding the surface of the firing valve. When the trigger is
depressed, it sends an electrical signal to the electropneumatic
valve that actuates it. When actuated, the electro-pneumatic valve
shuts off and vents to atmosphere the flow of low-pressure gas to
the front of the firing valve. As this low pressure gas is being
vented, the higher pressure gas on the rear of the firing valve
overcomes the pressure on the front of the valve, and the firing
valve moves forward, allowing the higher pressure gas to escape
around the edges of the valve to be directed down through the
center of the bolt to launch the projectile. When the
electropneumatic valve is de-actuated, low-pressure gas is then
directed to the front of the firing valve, driving it rearwards to
seat the valve.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)
[0011] Other objects of the invention will be more readily apparent
upon reading the following description of embodiments of the
invention and upon reference to the accompanying drawings
wherein:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a side view of a compressed gas gun utilizing a
variable pneumatic sear in the firing position.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a side view of a compressed gas gun utilizing a
variable pneumatic sear in the loading position.
[0014] FIG. 3 is an expanded view of the variable pneumatic sear in
the loading position.
[0015] FIG. 4 is an expanded view of the variable pneumatic sear in
the launching position.
[0016] FIG. 5 is an expanded isometric view of the switches located
within the recess.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0017] FIGS. 1-5 illustrate of a compressed gas gun incorporating a
pneumatic sear. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a paintball gun
generally comprises a main body 3, a grip portion 45, a trigger 24,
a feed tube 6, and a barrel 10. These components are generally
constructed out of metal or a suitable substance that provides the
desired rigidity of these components. Main body 3 generally is
connected to a supply of projectiles by feed tube 6 as understood
by those skilled in the art. Main body 3 is also connected to grip
portion 45, which houses the trigger 24, battery 64 and circuit
board 63. The trigger 24 is operated by manual depression, which
actuates micro-switch 86 directly behind trigger 24 to send an
electrical signal to circuit board 63 to initiate the launching
sequence. Barrel 10 is also connected to body 3, preferably
directly in front of feed tube 6, to allow a projectile to be fired
from the gun.
[0018] Hereinafter, the term forward shall indicate being towards
the direction of the barrel 10 and rearward shall indicate the
direction away from the barrel 10 and towards the rear of main body
3. Preferably forward of the grip portion 45, and also attached to
main body 3, the regulator mount 2 houses both the low-pressure
regulator 21 and the high-pressure regulator 50. Compressed gas is
fed from preferably a compressed gas tank into the input port 49 on
high-pressure regulator 50 to be directed to tube 7 to launch a
projectile and to be directed to low pressure regulator 21 to cock
the bolt tip 38 for loading. Both regulators 21, 50 are constructed
from principles generally known to those skilled in the art, and
have adjustable means for regulating compressed gas pressure.
[0019] Referring more particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, housed within
main body 3 is the firing mechanism of the gun. Firing mechanism
preferably consists of a bolt tip 38, which is preferably
constructed out of delrin or metal and is connected to piston 32,
housed in cylinder body 31. Piston 32 is also constructed out of
delrin or metal, and is connected to valve pin/piston 33, housed on
the interior of piston 32. In the loading position, valve pin 33 is
forced rearward and seal 70 (located on a rearward portion 33a of
the valve pin 33 )is pushed against the lip 75 of valve housing tip
35, holding high-pressure compressed gas A on the rearward face 33b
of valve pin 33 and preventing the flow through bolt tip 38. All
seals, including o-ring 70 are constructed out of urethane, BUNA,
or TEFLON, or any other substance that effectively prevents gas
leakage beyond the surface of the seal. Valve housing tip 35 is
integrally connected to valve housing 34, which prevents leakage of
high-pressure compressed gas around the valve housing 34. Seals 102
also prevent leakage of high-pressure gas and are placed at each
connecting section of the various components. Cylinder 31 surrounds
valve housing 34 and provides sealed housing for piston 32, which
contains a first surface 72 for low pressure gas B to flow into to
drive piston 32 rearward and seal valve pin 33 against tip 35.
Valve housing 34 preferably contains an interior chamber 36 for
storing compressed gas to be used to fire a projectile from the
gun.
[0020] The variable pneumatic sear 29 of the compressed gas gun of
the present invention preferably consists of a control valve 30, a
piston 32, residing in preferably sealed cylinder housing 31.
Control valve 30 directs low pressure compressed gas from low
pressure regulator 21 through manifold 41 to the cylinder housing
31, allowing gas to contact first surface of piston 32, driving the
piston 32 rearward to seat the valve pin 33 when de-actuated, which
is considered the loading position. The low pressure compressed gas
is able to drive the piston 32 rearward against high-pressure gas
pressure on valve pin 33 because the surface area of first surface
72 of piston 32 is larger than that of the surface of valve pin 33.
Control valve 30 preferably consists of a normally open three-way
valve. When actuated, a normally open valve will close its primary
port and exhaust gas from the primary port, thereby releasing
pressure from the first surface of piston 32, through a port 42
drilled into manifold 41. This allows high pressure compressed gas,
pushing against the smaller surface area of valve in 33, to drive
pin 33 forward and break the seal by o-ring 70 to release the
stored gas from valve housing 34. Compressed gas then flows around
valve pin 33, through ports in piston 32, and out through bolt tip
38 to launch a projectile from the barrel 10.
[0021] Control valve 30 is preferably controlled by an electrical
signal sent from circuit board 63. The electronic control circuit
consists of on/off switch 87, power source 64, circuit board 63,
and micro-switch 86. When the gun is turned on by on/off switch 87,
the electronic control circuit is enabled. For convenience, the
on/off switch 87 (and an optional additional switches, such as that
for adjacent anti-chop eye that prevents the bolt's advance when a
paintball 100 is not seated within the breech) is located on the
rear of the marker, within a recess 88 shielded on its sides by
protective walls 89. This location protects the switch 87 from
inadvertent activation during play. The switch 87 is preferably
illuminated by LEDs.
[0022] When actuating switch 86 by manually depressing trigger 24,
an electrical signal is sent by circuit board 63 to the control
valve 30 to actuate and close the primary port, thereby releasing
valve pin 33 and launching a projectile. Once the momentary pulse
to the control valve 30 is stopped by circuit board 63, the
electronic circuit is reset to wait for another signal from switch
86 and the gun will load its next projectile. In this manner, the
electrical control circuit controls a firing operation of the
compressed gas gun.
[0023] A description of the gun's operation is now illustrated. The
function of the pneumatic sear is best illustrated with reference
to FIGS. 3 and 4, which depict the movements of piston 32 more
clearly. Compressed gas enters the high-pressure regulator 50
through the input port 49. The high-pressure regulator is generally
known in the art and regulates the compressed gas to about 200-300
p.s.i. These parameters may be changed and adjusted using
adjustment screw 51. which is externally accessible to a user for
adjustment of the gas pressure in the high-pressure regulator. This
high-pressure gas is used to actuate the firing valve and launch a
projectile from the barrel 10 of the compressed gas gun. Upon
passing through high-pressure regulator 50, compressed gas is fed
both through gas transport tube 7 to the valve chamber 36 via
manifold 8, and through port 5 to the low pressure regulator 21.
Low-pressure regulator 21 is also generally known in the art.
Compressed gas is regulated down to approximately between 50-125
p.s.i. by the low-pressure regulator, and is also adjusted by an
externally accessible adjustment screw/cap 28, which is preferably
externally manually adjustable for easy and quick adjustment.
Compressed gas then passes through port 25 into manifold 41, where
electro-pneumatic valve 30 directs it into cylinder housing 31
through low pressure passages 74 and low pressure gas pushes
against first surface 72 on piston 32, driving it rearwards and
seating seal 70 against valve housing tip 35. Note that piston's 32
movement in the rearward direction is limited by contact between
the second surface 76 and a stop 34a on the valve housing 34.
[0024] This allows bolt tip 38 to clear the breech area of the body
3, in which stage a projectile 100 moves from the feed tube 6 and
rests directly in front of bolt tip 38. The projectile is now
chambered and prepared for firing from the breech. The
high-pressure compressed gas, which has passed into the valve
chamber 36 via high pressure passage 37, is now pushing against
valve pin 33 on the rear of piston 32. The seal created by o-ring
70 on valve pin 33 is not broken because the force of the
low-pressure gas on the first side of cylinder 31 is sufficient to
hold the valve pin 33 rearward.
[0025] When trigger 24 is depressed, electro-pneumatic valve 30 is
actuated (preferably using a solenoid housed within the manifold
41, shutting off the flow of low-pressure gas to housing 31 and
venting the housing 31 via manifold 41. This allows the higher
pressure gas, which is already pushing against valve tip 33 from
the rear, to drive valve tip 33 forward to the firing position and
break the seal 72 against the housing 35. Bolt tip 38, which is
connected to piston 32, pushes a projectile forward in the breech
and seals the feed tube 6 from compressed gas during the first
stage of launch because the valve pin 33 is still passing through
valve housing tip 35 during this stage. This prevents gas leakage
up the tube 6 and positions the projectile for accurate launch.
Once the valve pin 33 clears the housing tip 35, a flow passage D
is opened, and the higher pressure gas flows through ports drilled
through the interior of piston 32 and bolt tip 38 and propels the
paintball from barrel 10. Note that the piston's 32 movement in the
forward direction is limited by contact between the first surface
72 and a shoulder 73 within the cylinder 31.
[0026] The signal sent to electro-pneumatic valve 30 is a momentary
pulse, so when the pulse ceases, the valve 30 is de-actuated. This
allows low-pressure gas to enter cylinder housing 31 and drive
valve piston 32 rearwards against the force exerted by
high-pressure gas to the seated position and allow loading of the
next projectile.
[0027] Since piston 32 has a larger surface area on its outside
diameter than the surface area on the valve pin 33, low-pressure
gas is able to hold high-pressure gas within the valve chamber 36
during the loading cycle of the gun. This is more advantageous than
a design where a separate piston is used to actuate a separate
valve, because the step of actuating and de-actuating the piston is
removed from the launch cycle.
[0028] In addition, the pressures of the low pressure gas and high
pressure gas may be varied according to user preference, thereby
allowing for many variable pneumatic configurations of the gun and
reducing problems with erratic cycling caused by using the same gas
to control both the recock and launch functions of the gun. Because
the mechanical sear is eliminated, the gun is also extremely
lightweight and recoil is significantly reduced. The gun is also
significantly faster than existing designs because the independent
piston operation is eliminated.
[0029] In an alternate embodiment, the compressed gas gun can
operate at one operating pressure instead of having a high-pressure
velocity circuit and a low-pressure recock circuit. This is easily
accomplished by adjusting the ratio of the surface sizes of the
first surface 72 and the valve pin 33. In this manner, the size of
the gun is reduced even more because low-pressure regulator 21 is
no longer needed.
[0030] While the present invention is described as a variable
pneumatic sear for a paintball gun, it will be readily apparent
that the teachings of the present invention can also be applied to
other fields of invention, including pneumatically operated
projectile launching devices of other types. In addition, the gun
may be modified to incorporate a mechanical or pneumatic control
circuit instead of an electronic control circuit, for instance a
pulse valve or manually operated valve, or any other means of
actuating the pneumatic sear.
[0031] It will be thus seen that the objects set forth above, and
those made apparent from the preceding description, are attained.
It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes
may be made to the construction of the invention without departing
from the spirit of it. It is intended, therefore, that the
description and drawings be interpreted as illustrative and that
the following claims are to be interpreted in keeping with the
spirit of the invention, rather than the specific details. set
forth.
[0032] It is also to be understood that the following claims are
intended to cover all the generic and specific features of the
invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the
invention that, as a matter of language, might be said to fall
therebetween.
* * * * *