U.S. patent application number 14/799447 was filed with the patent office on 2015-11-05 for quick-release valve air gun.
This patent application is currently assigned to Gaither Tool Company, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Gaither Tool Company, Inc.. Invention is credited to Richard W. Brahler, II, Daniel J. Kunau.
Application Number | 20150316345 14/799447 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54355035 |
Filed Date | 2015-11-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150316345 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brahler, II; Richard W. ; et
al. |
November 5, 2015 |
Quick-Release Valve Air Gun
Abstract
An air gun with a quick-release pneumatically operated gas valve
that includes a piston positioned in a cylinder with one closed end
so that the piston may seat against a gas outlet to close the gas
valve. A control reservoir filled with gas to a control pressure is
formed in the cylinder between the piston and the closed end of the
cylinder so that the control pressure acts against the piston to
close the gas valve. Opening a trigger valve allows the gas in the
control reservoir to escape through an exhaust port, resulting in
the gas valve being rapidly opened.
Inventors: |
Brahler, II; Richard W.;
(Jacksonville, IL) ; Kunau; Daniel J.; (Boone,
CO) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Gaither Tool Company, Inc. |
Jacksonville |
IL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Gaither Tool Company, Inc.
Jacksonville
IL
|
Family ID: |
54355035 |
Appl. No.: |
14/799447 |
Filed: |
July 14, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14020824 |
Sep 7, 2013 |
9080832 |
|
|
14799447 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
124/73 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41B 11/723 20130101;
F41B 11/60 20130101; F41B 11/72 20130101; F41H 13/0006
20130101 |
International
Class: |
F41B 11/72 20060101
F41B011/72; F41B 11/60 20060101 F41B011/60 |
Claims
1. A quick-release valve air gun for shooting a projectile,
comprising: a barrel with a muzzle end and a breech end; a primary
gas reservoir body of a gas valve configured with a primary gas
outlet in gaseous communication with the breech end of the barrel;
a piston with an outer end configured to slide into closed state
providing the gas valve with an airtight seal, wherein a control
reservoir is formed behind the piston receptacle adjacent an inner
end of the piston; and trigger means for releasing control chamber
gas from the control reservoir causing the piston to slide away
from the primary gas outlet to an open state; wherein the piston
sliding away from the primary gas outlet to the open state releases
a sufficient amount of high pressure gas from the primary gas
reservoir body into the breech end of the barrel to drive the
projectile down the barrel out the muzzle end.
2. The quick-release valve air gun of claim 1, further comprising:
a piston receptacle mounted in gaseous communication with the
primary gas reservoir body, wherein the control reservoir is formed
within the piston receptacle between an inner end of the piston and
inner walls of the piston receptacle; a control conduit in gaseous
communication with said trigger means to provide a controllable
pathway for releasing the control chamber gas from the control
reservoir; and a metering passage configured to provide gaseous
communication between the primary gas reservoir body to the control
reservoir; wherein a first gas flow capacity of the control conduit
is at least three times as large as a second gas flow capacity of
the metering passage; and wherein the piston receptacle has a
cylindrical inner surface and is positioned within the primary gas
reservoir body.
3. The quick-release valve air gun of claim 1, wherein the primary
gas outlet has an inner edge within the primary gas reservoir body,
the quick-release valve air gun further comprising: a sealing
component mounted on the inner edge of the primary gas outlet;
wherein the piston has a chamfered edge on the outer end configured
to mate up with the sealing component in the closed state of the
gas valve.
4. The quick-release valve air gun of claim 3, wherein the sealing
component is an O-ring.
5. The quick-release valve air gun of claim 1, wherein the control
reservoir has a greater volume in the closed state of the gas valve
than in the open state of the gas valve; and wherein the projectile
weighs at least three pounds.
6. The quick-release valve air gun of claim 5, wherein a control
reservoir pressure within the control reservoir is lower in the
open state of the gas valve than in the closed state of the gas
valve.
7. The quick-release valve air gun of claim 1, further comprising:
a spring disposed between the inner end of the piston and one of
the inner walls of the piston receptacle; wherein the spring
applies pressure on the inner end of the piston, tending to push
the piston towards the closed state.
8. The quick-release valve air gun of claim 9, wherein the trigger
means is a trigger valve with a plunger for operating the trigger
valve.
9. The quick-release valve air gun of claim 1, wherein the barrel
is one of a plurality of barrels each in gaseous communication with
the primary gas outlet.
10. The quick-release valve air gun of claim 9, wherein the
projectile is one of a plurality of projectiles interconnected by a
net, each of the plurality of projectiles being configured to fit
into one of the plurality of barrels.
11. The quick-release valve air gun of claim 9, wherein the primary
gas reservoir is in gaseous communication with a supply tank, at
least part of the supply tank being positioned between the muzzle
end of the barrel and the trigger means.
12. The quick-release valve air gun of claim 1, wherein a
cross-sectional area of the piston is no greater than 150% of a
cross-sectional area of the primary gas outlet just outside the
primary gas reservoir.
13. The quick-release valve air gun of claim 1, wherein a
cross-sectional area of the piston is no greater than 120% of a
cross-sectional area of the primary gas outlet just outside the
primary gas reservoir.
14. A method of configuring a quick-release valve air gun to shoot
a projectile, the method comprising: providing a barrel with a
muzzle end and a breech end; providing a primary gas reservoir body
of a gas valve, the primary gas reservoir body being having primary
gas outlet that opens into the breech end of the barrel; mounting a
piston receptacle within the gas valve to be in gaseous
communication with the primary gas reservoir body; configuring a
piston with an inner end configured to slide into the piston
receptacle and with an outer end that provides the gas valve with
an airtight seal in a closed state closing gaseous communication
between the primary gas reservoir body and the breech end of the
barrel, wherein a control reservoir is formed within the piston
receptacle between an inner end of the piston and inner walls of
the piston receptacle; and providing a trigger means for releasing
control chamber gas from the control reservoir causing the piston
to slide away from the primary gas outlet to an open state; wherein
the piston sliding away from the primary gas outlet to the open
state releases a sufficient amount of high pressure gas from the
primary gas reservoir body into the breech end of the barrel to
drive the projectile down the barrel out the muzzle end.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: providing a control
conduit to be in gaseous communication with said trigger means to
create a controllable pathway for releasing the control chamber gas
from the control reservoir; and providing a metering passage
configured to put the primary gas reservoir body in gaseous
communication with the control reservoir; wherein a first gas flow
capacity of the control conduit is at least three times as large as
a second gas flow capacity of the metering passage; wherein the
piston receptacle has a cylindrical inner surface and is positioned
within the primary gas reservoir body; and wherein the projectile
weighs at least three pounds.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein the primary gas outlet has an
inner edge within the primary gas reservoir body, the method
further comprising: providing a sealing component mounted on the
inner edge of the primary gas outlet; wherein the piston has a
chamfered edge on the outer end configured to mate up with the
sealing component in the closed state of the gas valve.
17. The method of claim 14, wherein the control reservoir has a
greater volume in the closed state of the gas valve than in the
open state of the gas valve; and wherein a control reservoir
pressure within the control reservoir is lower in the open state of
the gas valve than in the closed state of the gas valve.
18. The method of claim 14, further comprising: providing a spring
between the inner end of the piston and one of the inner walls of
the piston receptacle; wherein the spring applies pressure on the
inner end of the piston, tending to push the piston towards the
closed state.
19. The method of claim 14, wherein a cross-sectional area of the
piston is no greater than 150% of a cross-sectional area of the
primary gas outlet just outside the primary gas reservoir.
20. The method of claim 14, wherein a cross-sectional area of the
piston is no greater than 120% of a cross-sectional area of the
primary gas outlet just outside the primary gas reservoir.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority from, and
incorporates by reference in its entirety, U.S. Pat. No. 9,080,832
filed Sep. 7, 2013.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] Various embodiments of the present invention relate to air
guns for firing projectiles. More specifically, the various
embodiments relate to embodiments of a quick-release valve air
gun.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Air guns use compressed air to accelerate a projectile down
the barrel and out the muzzle. Some air guns hold enough compressed
gas in the compression chamber to fire multiple shots. Other air
guns must be recharged with compressed gas after each shot. Some
air guns are recharged from another source of compressed gas such
as a piston driven gas compressor or a storage tank. Other air guns
recharge by forcing a firing piston of the gun down a compression
tube to create sufficient pressure in the gun's compression
chamber. All air guns have some sort of valve or other mechanism to
inject air into the barrel behind the projectile.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0006] The present inventors recognized that the ability of the air
gun's valve to rapidly open and fill the barrel with pressurized
air directly affects the shooting characteristics of the air gun.
Various embodiments of the quick-release valve air gun disclosed
herein feature a novel quick-release valve designed as an integral
part of the air gun. Various embodiments disclosed herein feature a
quick-release valve air gun with a barrel and a high speed gas
valve with a primary gas reservoir. The gas reservoir is configured
with a primary gas outlet in gaseous communication with the breech
end of the barrel and an inner edge disposed within the primary gas
reservoir body, or otherwise in gaseous communication with the
primary gas reservoir. A piston with a chamfered outer end is
configured to mate up with a portion of the primary gas outlet as
the gas valve is closed. The piston slides back and forth within a
piston receptacle mounted within the primary gas reservoir body.
The inner end of the piston and inner walls of the piston
receptacle form a control reservoir. The quick-release valve air
gun has a trigger mechanism which, upon being triggered, releases
control chamber gas from the control reservoir, reducing pressure
in the control reservoir and causing the piston to slide away from
the inner edge of the primary gas outlet, thus opening the gas
valve and firing the projectile from the quick-release valve air
gun.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute part of the specification, illustrate aspects of the
various embodiments. Together with the general description, the
drawings serve to explain the principles of the various
embodiments. In the drawings:
[0008] FIGS. 1A and 1B depict two implementations of the
quick-release valve air gun according the various embodiments
disclosed herein.
[0009] FIGS. 1C and 1D depict a side view and an oblique view of a
long barreled, high pressure embodiment of the quick-release valve
air gun.
[0010] FIG. 2A depicts examples of projectiles suitable for use in
various embodiments of the quick-release valve air gun.
[0011] FIG. 2B depicts a camera configured to be launched from the
quick-release valve air gun;
[0012] FIGS. 3A-G depict an embodiment of the quick-release valve
air gun configured to shoot netting, ropes or bolas.
[0013] FIGS. 4A-B depict loading mechanisms according to two
embodiment of the quick-release valve air gun.
[0014] FIG. 5A depicts an embodiment of a gravity feed hopper load
mechanism.
[0015] FIG. 5B depicts an embodiment of a spring loaded tube
magazine and loading mechanism.
[0016] FIG. 6A depicts an embodiment of the quick-release valve air
gun having an airtight magazine for loading projectiles.
[0017] FIG. 6B depicts an embodiment of the quick-release valve air
gun with a primary gas supply tank that extends forward around the
barrel.
[0018] FIGS. 7A-B depict the gas valve portion of various
embodiments of the quick-release valve air gun.
[0019] FIG. 8 depicts the gas valve portion of an embodiment of the
quick-release valve air gun with the pathway of the control conduit
adjacent to the piston.
[0020] FIG. 9 depicts the gas valve portion of an embodiment of the
quick-release valve air gun with the pathway of the control conduit
configured to vent into the gas outlet 924.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] The present inventors recognized that improved firing
characteristics could be realized by more rapidly releasing
pressurized gas into the chamber behind the projectile. The present
inventors also recognized that firing performance gains could be
realized by increasing the rate of the stream of gas entering the
breech end of a barrel behind the projectile, pushing it down the
barrel and out the muzzle. The novel design of the quick-release
gas valve 117, which is in gaseous communication with the barrel,
aids in enhancing the effective force driving the projectile down
the barrel and the projectile muzzle velocity. As a result, the
novel designs of the quick-release valve air gun disclosed herein
can be used to increase the projectile muzzle velocity or shoot
heavier projectiles for various applications. In addition, the
performance gains realized through use of the novel design of air
valve 117 and the barrel design allow some embodiments of the gun
to optionally use a smaller, more easily portable gas storage tank.
For a given projectile embodiments of the quick-release valve air
gun disclosed herein are able to achieve the same muzzle velocity
with less pressure in the high pressure supply tank as compared to
conventional air guns. For example, conventional air guns often
require 150 to 200 psi to launch a given projectile with a suitable
muzzle velocity. The novel design of air valve 117 enables the same
projectile to be launched at the same muzzle velocity with much
lower pressures in the primary supply tank 107, for example, with
pressures well under 100 psi. Some embodiments utilize primary
supply tank 107 pressures of 60 psi or less, while other
embodiments use primary supply tank 107 pressures of 50 psi or
less, or 40 psi or less, to launch the given projectile with the
same suitable muzzle velocity.
[0022] In this detailed description, various specific details are
set forth by way of examples in order to provide a thorough
understanding of the relevant teachings. However, it is apparent to
those of ordinary skill in the art that various aspects of the
present teachings may be practiced without all such details. In
some instances, well known methods, procedures and components have
been described at a relatively high-level, without excessive
detail, in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring novel aspects of
the various embodiments. A number of descriptive terms and phrases
are used in describing the various embodiments of this disclosure.
These descriptive terms and phrases are used to convey a generally
agreed upon meaning to those or ordinary skill in the art unless a
different definition is given in this specification. Some of the
descriptive terms and phrases used in this detailed description are
presented in the following paragraphs for clarity.
[0023] FIGS. 1A and 1B depict two implementations of the
quick-release valve air gun according the various embodiments
disclosed herein. Various embodiments of the quick-release valve
air gun features a barrel 101 with a substantially round muzzle
103. Other embodiments feature barrel cross-sections of different
shapes to accommodate various projectiles, including for example, a
square barrel, a rectangular barrel, an octagonal barrel, a
triangular barrel, an oval barrel (or curved non-round shaped
barrel), or other like barrel interior cross-sections as would be
understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, an
embodiment used to launch an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) uses a
square barrel because the UAV is folded up when being launched and
then unfolds upon launch. Some barrel cross-sections are
non-symmetrical about both axes, or otherwise custom shaped for a
particular application. For example, a grenade launcher embodiment
has a substantially round cross-section with a groove running the
length of the barrel. The groove accommodates the handle of the
grenade when it is compressed before pulling the pin out. In this
way the grenade handle remains compressed while in the barrel. In
at least some grenade launcher embodiments, as well as embodiments
designed to shoot various types of explosives, the quick-release
valve air gun is configured with an arming mechanism on the barrel
that arms the grenade or other explosive device as it is fire. In
this way the grenade or other explosive device is not armed while
sitting in the chamber waiting to be fired to avoid an accidental
detonation. But as the grenade or other explosive device leaves the
barrel (or as it travels through the barrel) the arming mechanism
arms the grenade/explosive device. The arming mechanism may include
a mechanical sensor, a magnetic sensor, a light sensor, a
mechanical switch, an electrical switch, a pin that is removed, or
other means to arm the grenade/explosive device as would be known
by one of ordinary skill in the art.
[0024] The projectile is propelled through the barrel 101 and out
the muzzle 103 by release of the pressurized gas through the novel
quick release gas valve 105 at the breech end of barrel 101,
opposite the muzzle end 103. The pressurized gas, typically air
under pressure, is stored in a supply tank 107, sometimes called a
primary gas supply tank. The primary gas supply tank can be
implemented in various sizes. A typical sized primary gas supply
tank is up to six inches in inside diameter (measured laterally,
that is, perpendicular to the centerline of the barrel). Other
embodiments are up to two inches diameter, or up to four inches in
diameter. Firing the quick-release valve air gun caused the gas
pressure to reduce in the primary supply tank 107. To fire the air
gun again it needs to be charged up with pressurized gas. Some
embodiments simply have a coupling such as a quick disconnect
coupling used to connect an air compressor, a bicycle pump (or
other hand pump), or other supply of pressurized gas. Other
embodiments feature a second tank, often called a resupply tank
113, to recharge the primary supply tank 107. Typically, gas in the
resupply tank 113 is kept under higher pressure than the gas of the
primary supply tank 107. A regulator 115 or auto-refill valve may
be provided between the primary supply tank 107 and the supply tank
107 to regulate the pressure entering into the supply tank 107. The
efficiency and speed of the quick-release gas valve 117 enables the
use of a smaller primary supply tank 107, including primary supply
tank 107 volumes of from 25 cubic inches to 500 cubic inches and
any volume or range of volumes between 25 to 500 cubic inches.
[0025] A trigger mechanism 109 may be used to manipulate the high
speed gas valve 105, thus releasing the pressurized gas through the
valve into the barrel 101 behind the projectile. This is done by
controlling the trigger mechanism 109 to switch a release valve
(sometimes called a trigger valve) from the closed state to an open
state, allowing air (or other gas) to escape from a control
reservoir which holds a piston closed within the quick-release
valve, thus opening the quick-release valve to shoot a projectile
from the muzzle end of the quick-release valve air gun barrel. In
some embodiments the trigger mechanism 109 may be configured as
part of the release valve itself, for example, as a plunger, lever,
push-rod, switch, or other like type of activating mechanism, as
per FIG. 1A. In other embodiments the trigger mechanism 109 may be
separate from the release valve, for example, an electrical or
mechanical switch apart from the release valve, but configured in a
manner to controllably activate the release valve, e.g., via
electrical wires, a pneumatic tube, or mechanical linkage, as per
FIG. 1B. In FIG. 1B the trigger mechanism 109 is connected to the
high speed gas valve 105 by a pneumatic tube 111 which is in
gaseous communication with the control reservoir. Manipulating (or
activating) the trigger mechanism 109 reduces the control pressure,
causing the piston to slide backwards (e.g., in a direction away
from the muzzle end of the air gun) and open the quick-release
valve to an open state. This releases pressurized gas behind the
projectile, firing the projectile down the barrel and out the
muzzle.
[0026] The quick-release valve air gun may be configured in a
number of implementations with various specialized features for
performing different functions. For example, some embodiments of
the quick-release valve air gun are directed to firing lethal (or
potentially lethal) projectiles for hunting or for self-defense.
Some embodiments are configured to fire non-lethal projectiles such
as netting or rope, tear gas canisters, a bolo, flexible non-lethal
projectiles, or other non-lethal projectiles for crowd control or
self-defense purposes. The crowd control projectile embodiments
include dyes for marking certain people (e.g., marking people for
later arrest), drugs or mildly toxic substances to anesthetize or
otherwise incapacitate a person or persons, or to disperse a crowd.
Other embodiments are configured to fire chaff to produce
electromagnetic interference and false targets as a countermeasure
for electronic detection (e.g., radar). Some embodiments are
configured to fire or launch relatively heavy projectiles to breach
doors, windows, walls or other structural components so as to
afford access by law enforcement officials or military personnel.
Some embodiments are configured to launch items to be conveyed such
as tee-shirts, hot dogs, prizes, literature or flyers, or other
marketing-related items. Other embodiments are configured to launch
projectiles such as fireworks, or explosives either for military
purposes or peacetime uses such as explosive devices intended to
create snow avalanches so as to eliminate potentially dangerous
conditions, e.g., near ski slopes or mountainous territory near
roads, structures or people. Some embodiments are configured to
spread fertilizer, animal feed, seed grains, pesticides, or other
agricultural products. Yet other embodiments are configured to
launch a robot, a drone, or other type of remote control vehicle
that may be equipped with one or more of cameras, weapons,
firefighting materials, or construction materials.
[0027] Different embodiments of the quick-release valve air gun
feature varying barrel diameters and lengths, depending upon the
desired firing characteristics. The barrel can be as short as one
inch (just long enough to hold a projectile) or as long as eight
feet. Barrel diameters range from approximately 1/8 inch to as much
as 16 inches, depending upon the application. The embodiment
depicted in FIG. 1C has a barrel length of approximately 22 inches.
Generally, the longer barrel length aids in more accurately
shooting a projectile longer distances. Some embodiments accurately
shoot a projectile two hundred yards or more, while other long
barreled embodiments are capable of shooting at targets as far as
400 yards or more away. Other embodiments have been fabricated with
barrel lengths of only one inch. Such short barrel lengths are more
readily portable since the gun is smaller, but tend to be much less
accurate. By contrast, other embodiments of the quick-release valve
air gun have barrel lengths of eight feet or more.
[0028] FIGS. 2A-2B depict some examples of projectiles suitable for
use in various embodiments of the quick-release valve air gun. The
projectiles are embodied in various shapes, weights and sizes,
depending upon the intended use and function. For example, a
relatively dense material such as a lead or steel ball 201 is
suitable as a lethal projectile for use against human or animal
targets. The relatively dense material may be shaped as a cylinder
or bullet shape 203. Typical weighs for projectiles used for human
or animal targets include weights in the range from 0.3 ounces to 1
pound. Larger projectiles of heavy materials are used to inflict
structural damage, e.g., punching holes in walls or breaching doors
or windows, or breaking door lock mechanisms or hinges. Typical
weighs for such use include any weight within the range of from 1
pound to 25 pounds. Relatively large sized, lighter weight
projectiles may be used as non-lethal weapons. It should be noted
that the gas valve of conventional air guns--for example, paint
guns--cannot simply be scaled up in size to shoot a larger, heavier
projectile. An attempt to scale such conventional valves up in size
to launch heavier projectiles tends to be deficient in two
respects. First, an attempt to scale up the gas valve of a
conventional air gun tends to be leaky due to the higher pressures
required to launch a heavy projectile. Secondly, such scaled up
valves do not open rapid enough to eject a heavy projectile (e.g.,
greater than three pounds) with enough force to attain a suitable
firing trajectory, or breach a door or wall. By contrast, the quick
release gas valve of various embodiments of the quick-release valve
air gun can be implemented for applications with smaller
projectiles (e.g., paintball guns) or larger projectiles (e.g.,
tactical door breaching projectiles, small robots, cameras, or
other relatively heavy projectiles).
[0029] Various embodiments of the quick-release valve air gun are
tailored to launch myriad different types of projectiles of vastly
different sizes, shapes and weights. Some of the typical projectile
shapes include spherical 201, pill shaped or cylinder shaped 203,
oblong shaped 207, and shot shaped 209 (multiple smaller
projectiles). In some implementations the shot 209 consists of shot
all having the same diameter, size or shape. In other
implementations the shot 209 consists of shot all having varying
diameters, sizes or shapes. Shot 209 includes spherical shaped shot
in some implementations, while in other implementations the shot
209 includes jagged or otherwise asymmetrical shapes or a mixture
of spherical and asymmetrical shapes. Some embodiments are
configured to shoot nails, spikes, rivets or other construction
fasteners. Other projectiles include various types of balls such as
a golf ball, a football, a tennis ball, a baseball, a Kong
Ball.RTM., a camera 219, an aerosol canister 205, a paintball, and
a Superball.RTM.. The canister 205 may be equipped with a nozzle
229 configured to spray the contents of the canister 205 either
upon impact, at a predefined time after launch, or at a predefined
point. In some embodiments, the nozzle 229 may be controllable via
a communication link so the canister can be launched and then
activated at a later time (after reaching the target) either under
control of the user or by using a timing mechanism. Some
embodiments of the quick-release valve air gun are configured to
shoot nets 213, ropes 215, bolas 217, and chains 227, or other such
projectiles for disabling a person, animal, vehicle, boat or other
tactical target. In some implementations the projectiles are
surrounded by a detachable sabot 211 as it travels down the barrel.
Typically, the sabot 211 falls away from the projectile shortly
after it exits the muzzle of the quick-release valve air gun.
[0030] Some embodiments of the quick-release valve air gun are
configured to launch a camera 219, typically for surveillance
purposes. FIG. 2B depicts a camera suitable for launching. The
camera 219 may be either a still camera that takes photographs
and/or a video camera that captures video of the scene below for
surveillance purposes. The images, either still or video (or both),
may be communicated to the user via a communications link between
camera 219 and a control unit. Alternatively, the images may be
communicated to a command center other than the user who launches
the camera, e.g., via a satellite link or by direct communications
link. Various embodiments of the camera 219 include a parachute 225
configured to either deploy at the maximum height of the
trajectory, another predefined height or location above a target,
or under control of the user or command center. In various
embodiments the camera 219 is launched, a parachute 225 opens at
the apex of its trajectory or other desired position, and the
camera 219 takes photographs or video as it floats back to the
ground. Typically, the camera 219 includes a telemetry link that
adjusts the parachute 225, tail assembly 221 and/or the guidance
fins 223. Embodiments of the camera 219 typically have a guidance
system including a tail assembly 221 and/or one or more fins 223
designed to unfold while the camera 219 is in flight. The tail
assembly 221 and/or fins 223 may be unfolded upon firing to aid in
guiding the camera 219 to a vantage point suitable for observation.
Alternatively, the camera 219 may be fired towards the desired
vantage point with the tail assembly 221 and/or fins 223 remaining
undeployed--that is, in a folded up state. Once the camera 219
reaches the desired vantage point and the parachute 225 (if any) is
deployed, the tail assembly 221 and/or fins 223 may also be
deployed to steer the camera 219 as it floats back towards the
ground. The telemetry link can be used to focus the lens--or
lenses, if more than one--and point the camera(s) towards a target
being observed.
[0031] FIGS. 3A-G depicts an embodiment of the quick-release valve
air gun 300 configured to shoot netting, ropes or bolas. To shoot
netting, ropes or bolas from this embodiment of the air gun a user
activates the trigger mechanism 309. This acts to open a release
valve of the air gun, reducing the control pressure which keeps the
quick-release valve closed. The reduction in control pressure
causes the piston within the quick-release valve to open, releasing
pressurized gas behind the projectile. The pressurized gas rapidly
fires the netting, ropes or bolas from this embodiment of the
quick-release valve air gun.
[0032] For example, various embodiments 300 of the quick-release
valve air gun can shoot netting 213, rope 215 or bolas 217, and/or
chains 227 as shown in FIG. 2A. Some embodiments of the
quick-release valve air gun are configured with a barrel that is
irremovably affixed to the stock, valve and trigger assembly and
not intended to be removed with each shot. The embodiments depicted
in FIGS. 3A and 3B are configured with a quick-release mechanism
301 that allows the netting head 303 (or head 305) to be quickly
removed and replaced with a new head assembly. Through
experimentation the present inventors found that it is more
efficient to keep several netting heads 303 (or 305) for each air
gun with a quick-release valve. Each of the heads can be loaded in
advance with a net 213 prior to shooting the air gun with a
quick-release valve. Once a net 213 is shot, the netting head 303
can be quickly removed from the quick-release valve air gun 300 and
replaced with another netting head 303 that has been loaded with a
net 213. The inventors have found that this arrangement allows the
quick-release valve air gun 300 to be reloaded for shooting a new
net within five seconds or less. Conventional air guns take two or
three minutes to reload with a new net. The rope 215 and bolas 217
and chains 227 shown in FIG. 2A can be loaded in advance into a
number of netting heads 303 in a manner similar to the netting 213.
The head 303 is called a "netting" head herein for the sake of
simplicity, even though netting head 303 can readily be used to
shoot ropes 215 and bolas 217 and chains 227.
[0033] The novel netting head 303 features two or more tubes 321
that are splayed apart, aimed at an angle (or angles) outward from
the centerline of the quick-release valve air gun 300. The tubes
321, for the purposes of this application, are considered barrels
of this embodiment of the quick-release valve air gun. As such, the
primary gas supply tank is in gaseous communication with the
multiple tubes 321 via the quick release gas valve of the air gun.
The tubes 321 are configured to receive net weights--that is,
weights 215 attached to various points on the periphery of the net
213. The embodiment depicted in FIGS. 3D-G has four tubes 321.
Other embodiments have different numbers of tubes. The four net
weights 215 are positioned on (or placed within) the tubes 321. In
some embodiments each of the net weights 215 has a small hole that
fits over one of the tubes 321. In other embodiments the tube
weights 215 are shaped (or have a portion shaped) like a bottle
stopper or a cylinder that inserts into each of the tubes 321. In
various embodiments, the act of firing the quick-release valve air
gun blows the net weights 215 off of the tubes 321 (or out of the
tubes), thus carrying the net 213 with the net weights 215 as they
shoot towards the target. In some embodiments the net weights 215
are implemented as rubber balls with a predefined portion designed
to fit within (or over) the tubes 321. In other embodiments the net
weights 215 are covered with soft foam material to avoid injuring
the target. In some embodiments the net weights 215 each weigh the
same amount, while in other embodiments the net weights 215 may
vary. For example, the net weights 215 place on (or in) the tubes
321 towards the top of the quick-release valve air gun may be
heavier than the bottom-most net weights 215. The top-most net
weights 215 in some implementations outweigh the bottom-most net
weights 215 by at least 20% up to as much as 400% (that is, 5X) or
by any percent within this range. Although the embodiments depicted
in FIGS. 3D-3G have four tubes, various other embodiments have as
few as two tubes or as many as 20 tubes. The tubes 321 have a path
to the valve of the quick-release valve air gun 300 so that, upon
firing the gun, a stream of pressurized gas is directed down each
of the tubes 321.
[0034] As shown in depicted in FIGS. 3D-3G the tubes 321 are
splayed apart at a predefined angle (or angles). Splaying the tubes
apart aids in opening the net as it shoots from the quick-release
valve air gun 300 (or separating the bolas 217). The splaying angle
317 is the angle measured away from the centerline 319 bisecting
the quick release assembly connecting the netting head 303 to the
quick-release valve air gun 300's air tank. In one embodiment the
splay angle is substantially 15 degrees. Substantially 15 degrees
is defined as 15 degrees plus or minus 10 percent. In various
embodiments the splay angle may be as large as 45 degrees or as
small as 5 degrees. In some embodiments the top-most tubes (tubes
oriented towards the top of the gun) are aimed higher than the
bottom-most tubes. For example, the two top-most tubes may be
splayed outward (horizontally) by 15 degrees and upward
(vertically) by 20 degrees, while the two bottom-most tubes are
splayed outward by 15 degrees and downward by 15 degrees.
[0035] The present inventors discovered that having the tubes all
splayed at the same splaying angle sometimes results in the net
opening as it is shot from the quick-release valve air gun 300, and
then closing back towards each other as the net 213 shoots towards
its target. This happens because the net weights 215 stretch the
net out to a fully opened position, and are then pulled back
together by the elasticity of the net 215. The present inventors
discovered that this problem can be avoided by splaying the
different tubes 321 at different splay angles 317. For example, one
tube 321 may be splayed at 15 degrees while the tube opposite it is
splayed by 13.5 degrees. In some embodiments the each of the splay
angles 321 differs from the others while falling within a range of
15 degrees (or some other predetermined angle) plus or minus 10
percent. In other embodiments, two of the splay angles may be equal
so long as the tubes having equal splay angles are not located
opposite each other. In yet other embodiments the tubes 321
opposite each other are not located on the same plane--that is,
they are skewed. In other words, extending a central line through
each of the skewed tubes 321 would not result in the lines
intersecting each other. In yet other embodiments there is an odd
number of tubes 321 to ensure that the net weight 215 are not
located at points on the net 213 opposite from each other. In
regards to the embodiments of the netting head 303 configured for a
bolas 217, the head 303 typically has as the same number of tubes
as there are bolas weights. In some contexts of language, the term
"bolas" implies three weights attached by rope. However, in the
present context and in accordance with the various embodiments
disclosed herein the bolas 217 can have as few as two weights or as
many as ten weights.
[0036] The netting head 303 of FIG. 3C is configured with tubes
inside a conical shaped enclosure. To load netting head 303 the
netting 213 is pushed into the cone between the tubes 321. By
contrast, netting head 305 of FIG. 3C does not have a conical
shaped enclosure. Instead, netting head 305 has one or more net
holding members 323 positioned between the tubes 321. The net
holding members 323, in at least one embodiment, are pieces of
angle iron affixed among the tubes 321. In another embodiment the
net holding members 323 are lengths of strap iron positioned among
the tubes 321. Typically, the net holding members 323 do not have
sharpened edges. Instead, to avoid tearing the net 213 the net
holding members 323 have rounded smooth edges to allow the netting
213 to easily slide off when the quick-release valve air gun is
fired. The net holding members 323 of netting head 305 serve the
purpose of holding the netting 213 within the head until the
quick-release valve air gun is fired. In some embodiments the net
holding members 323 are configured with a hollowed out cavity
between the tubes 321 to accommodate nets 213 or ropes 215 or
chains 227.
[0037] The embodiment depicted in FIG. 3C features a second tank
333, often called a resupply tank, to recharge the primary gas
supply tank 307 of the quick-release valve air gun 300. The
pressurized gas stored in primary gas supply tank 307 is used in
firing the quick-release valve air gun 300. To recharge primary gas
supply tank 307 the user activates supply valve 335, releasing
pressurized gas from supply tank (or supply source) 333. Typically,
the supply valve 335 is closed before again firing the
quick-release valve air gun 300 in order to isolate supply tank 333
from primary gas supply tank 307. In some embodiments the resupply
tank may actually be smaller sized than the primary tank, albeit
filled at a somewhat higher pressure so as to hold more gas. Some
embodiments use pressurized CO.sub.2 canisters as the resupply
tank. For example, resupply tank 330 of FIG. 3C is a small CO.sub.2
canister that fits into a canister holding mechanism 332. The
bottom portion of canister holding mechanism 332 unscrews to accept
the resupply tank 330 in a manner akin a battery fitting into a
flashlight. When the bottom portion is screwed back onto canister
holding mechanism 332 a pin punctures resupply tank 330, releasing
its pressurized CO.sub.2 into canister holding mechanism 332. The
canister holding mechanism 332 is configured with a supply valve
335 that can be operated to refill the primary supply tank 307. In
another embodiment, the resupply tank 334 is a larger, refillable
canister with threads on its neck to screw into a supply valve
assembly 335.
[0038] The embodiments of the quick-release valve air gun depicted
in FIGS. 3A-E are configured with a quick-release mechanism that
allows a user to quickly and conveniently change the gun's barrels
or netting heads. The quick release mechanism 301 includes two
parts--the barrel portion 325 of the netting head and the barrel
receptacle 327 of the air gun. As shown in FIG. 3C the netting head
303 is configured with a barrel portion 325 of the netting head 303
that slides into the barrel receptacle 327 of the quick-release
valve air gun. (The netting head 305 is configured in a similar
manner.) The barrel portion 325 of the netting head is configured
with two small cylinder shaped protuberances 329. The protuberances
329 fit into L-shaped slots 331 on the barrel receptacle 327 as the
barrel portion 325 that slides into the barrel receptacle 327 of
the air gun. In some embodiments the protuberances 329 and L-shaped
slots 331 are not located directly across from each other (180
degrees apart). For example, in some embodiments the protuberances
329 are located 170 degrees around the barrel portion 325 (rather
than 180 degrees), with the L-shaped slots 331 positioned in a
similar manner on the barrel receptacle 327 of the air gun. This
ensures that the netting heads 303 and 305 will be mounted in the
correct orientation, right side up. As described in the disclosure
below, some embodiments feature the top-most tubes 321 of the
netting heads aimed at a slightly higher angle than the bottom-most
tubes 321, and/or, in some embodiments the top-most net weights 215
may be heavier than the bottom-most net weights 215.
[0039] In some embodiments the projectile is loaded into the muzzle
end of the barrel. In other embodiments the projectile is loaded
into the opposite, breech end of the barrel. In some embodiments
the projectiles are loaded one at a time, by hand. In other
embodiments the projectiles are loaded using a loading
mechanism.
[0040] FIGS. 4A-B depict loading mechanisms according to two
embodiment of the quick-release valve air gun. In some embodiments
the projectile is loaded into the muzzle end of the barrel. In
other embodiments the projectile is loaded into the opposite,
breech end of the barrel, for example, as depicted in the
embodiments of FIGS. 4A-B. In some embodiments the projectiles are
loaded one at a time, by hand, after each firing of the
quick-release valve air gun. In other embodiments the projectiles
are loaded using a loading mechanism activated by firing the
previous shot. Some loading mechanism embodiments are powered by
the escaping compressed gas from firing of the projectile. Other
embodiments loading mechanism embodiments are operated by the user,
for example, similar to a bolt action rifle. The embodiment 400
shown in FIG. 4A has a projectile holding part 401 configured to
slide up and down in a direction 405. To load the embodiment of
FIG. 4A the projectile holding part 401 is slid upwards to expose a
projectile holding chamber 403, allowing the user to load a
projectile into the chamber 403. The projectile holding part 401 is
then slid back down to align the front of chamber 403 with the
barrel and expose the back of chamber 403 to the gas valve of the
quick-release valve air gun. In other embodiments the projectile
holding part 401 is configured to slide side to side in a direction
perpendicular to the direction 405 and the barrel. In the
embodiment of FIG. 4B the projectile holding part 401 is produced
in a cylindrical shape (with axis in the up/down direction) and
configured to twist so the chamber 403 lines up with a hole 409 in
the breech unit to accept a projectile, and then twist back so the
chamber 403 lines up with the barrel. To minimize the gas leakage
when the quick-release valve air gun is fired the projectile
holding part 401 is configured to fit relatively tightly within the
slotted hole as it slides up and down in FIG. 4A or twists in FIG.
B, yet with enough clearance to avoid binding up as projectiles are
shifted into firing position within the air gun.
[0041] In other embodiments the magazine is not sealed off from the
pressure of the barrel, instead being configured to maintain an
airtight seal with the barrel. This avoids high pressure gas leaks
through the magazine. The airtight magazine, in some embodiments,
is connected to the barrel assembly using a quick-release
mechanism.
[0042] FIG. 5 depicts an embodiment 500 of a gravity feed hopper
load mechanism. Some embodiments of the quick-release valve air gun
have a projectile hopper or magazine that is sealed off from the
barrel once the projectile is loaded. In this way the hopper or
magazine need not be airtight. The embodiment 500 has a feeding
mechanism--the gravity feed hopper 501--that is not airtight. The
embodiment 500 is designed to load golf balls or other projectiles
into the air gun's firing chamber 503. Golf balls are loaded into
the top of gravity feed hopper 501. The force of gravity feeds the
golf balls downward, with the bottommost golf ball being positioned
in the firing chamber 503, and then a latching mechanism seals off
the hopper from the firing chamber of the quick-release valve air
gun. In the particular implantation shown the latching mechanism
slides the barrel relative to the gravity feed hopper 501, moving
the barrel towards the user. Upon firing the quick-release valve
air gun, the latching mechanism is exercised by the user to drop
the next golf ball into place, ready for firing. The holes cut into
the side of the gravity feed hopper 501 allows a user to see how
many golf balls remain to be fired before reloading is needed. One
drawback of embodiment 500 is that, unless the latching mechanism
is tightly sealed to contain the pressurized gas, the firing may
tend to cause small streams of gas to leak out through the gravity
feed hopper 501. This issue is solved by the embodiment depicted in
FIG. 6A.
[0043] FIG. 5B depicts an embodiment of a spring loaded tube
magazine and loading mechanism. The embodiment of FIG. 5B is
similar to the loading mechanism depicted in FIG. 4A, except the
embodiment of FIG. 5B also has a spring loaded tube magazine
configured to feed projectiles into the projectile holding part
557, which is similar to projectile holding part 401 of FIG. 4B,
except 557 slides down instead of up. To load the embodiment of
FIG. 5B the projectile holding part 557 is slid downward within the
loading chamber 551 to expose a projectile holding chamber within
projectile holding part 557. This allows the spring loaded tube
magazine 559 to load a projectile into the projectile holding
chamber of the projectile holding part 557. The projectile holding
part 557 is then slid back upward in direction 555 to align the
front of the projectile holding chamber (holding the projectile)
with the barrel and expose the back of the projectile holding
chamber to the gas valve outlet of the air gun's quick-release gas
valve. To minimize the gas leakage when the quick-release valve air
gun is fired the projectile holding part 557 is configured to fit
relatively tightly within the loading chamber 551 as it slides up
and down, yet with enough clearance to slide up and down without
binding up.
[0044] FIG. 6A depicts an embodiment of the quick-release valve air
gun 600 with an airtight magazine 601 for loading projectiles. The
projectiles are load into the airtight magazine 601 via a removable
magazine cap 603. A spring within the airtight magazine 601 pushes
the projectiles up into the firing chamber level with barrel 609.
When the quick-release valve air gun 600 is fired the projectile is
directed out of the barrel 609 by a pressurized stream of gas
released by valve 607 from the primary gas supply tank 605. The
airtight magazine 601 is temporarily under pressure as the
projectile travels the length of barrel 609, but does not leak any
of the pressurized gas since an airtight seal is maintained.
[0045] FIG. 6B depicts an embodiment of the quick-release valve air
gun 650 with a primary gas supply tank that extends forward around
the barrel 659. In FIG. 6B the primary gas supply tank 665 is
configured ahead of the quick release valve 657, rather than behind
it as depicted in FIG. 6A. The primary gas supply tank is in
gaseous communication with a primary gas reservoir of quick release
valve 657 at least at a point 663 near the end of a piston 667
which is configured to fit into receptacle 671 of the quick release
valve 657. The piston 667 is configured to slide back and forth
within the receptacle 671 to controllably open and close the valve
657. Additional details of the operation of the piston and quick
release valve are provided below in conjunction with FIGS. 7A-B.
The embodiment 650 with the primary gas supply tank 665 positioned
ahead of quick release valve 657 tends to shift the weight of the
quick-release valve air gun forward. In some embodiments a forward
handle 669 is provided, allowing the user to more easily hold and
aim the quick-release valve air gun. In some embodiments the
primary gas supply tank 665 extends both forward and behind quick
release valve 657, tending to provide a more evenly weight-balanced
air gun.
[0046] FIG. 6B depicts the barrel 659 running through the center of
the forward primary gas supply tank 665. In other configurations
the barrel 659 is positioned towards the top of the primary gas
supply tank 665 rather than running along its center axis. In yet
other embodiments, the barrel 659 is outside the primary gas supply
tank 665 in a position forward of the quick release valve 657. In
such embodiments, some implementations feature the barrel 659 being
connected along at least a portion of its length to the primary gas
supply tank 665. In other implementations, the barrel 659 and
primary gas supply tank 665 are both positioned forward of the
quick release valve 657 but are not connected to each other. In yet
other embodiments the primary gas supply tank 665 is positioned
forward of the quick release valve 657 and a second supply tank
such as supply tank 333 of FIG. 3C is positioned behind the quick
release valve 657. In other embodiments the supply tank may be
positioned forward of the quick release valve 657 with the primary
gas supply tank 665 being positioned behind valve 657. In some
implementations one or the other of the primary gas supply tank 665
and the supply tank may extend both forward and behind quick
release valve 657.
[0047] FIGS. 7A-B depict the gas valve portion of various
embodiments of the quick-release valve air gun. FIG. 7A is a
cross-sectional side view of the quick release gas valve. The gas
valve 700 has a cylindrical body 701 with end-caps 711 and 721
attached at either end of the body 701 to form a primary gas
reservoir 705. The primary gas reservoir 705 is typically in
gaseous communication with a primary gas supply tank, e.g., the
supply tank 107 of FIGS. 1A-B. However, in some embodiments the gas
valve 700 may be integrally formed with the supply tank so that the
supply tank serves as a primary gas reservoir 705. In various
embodiments, the primary gas reservoir 705 may be formed with other
configurations of parts and may have other shapes such as
spherical, cubic, conical, or other volumetric shapes. The term
primary gas reservoir body refers to the body 701, end-caps 711 and
721, and/or any other parts or surfaces that form the primary gas
reservoir for holding pressurized gas. In the embodiment shown, the
end caps 711 and 721 and the body 701 may be made of steel,
aluminum, a polymer such as poly-vinyl chloride (PVC) plastic,
polycarbonate plastic such as Lexan.RTM. from SABIC Innovative
Plastics, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic, or other
like type materials, depending on the targeted operating pressure,
size, shape, weight, cost, or other design parameters of a
particular embodiment, as would be known to those of ordinary skill
in the art. The end caps 711 and 721 may be attached to the body
701 using a method appropriate for the material used, including,
but not limited to, welding, gluing, screw-threads, bolts, external
clamps, or other methods to create a gas-tight seal.
[0048] In the embodiment of FIGS. 7A-B an input end cap 711 is
configured with a primary gas input opening 710 which may be formed
by an input fitting 712 with threads 713 to accept gas into the
primary gas reservoir 705 from an external source that may be
connected to the input fitting 712. In various embodiments the
input source may be connected to the gas valve 700 using types of
connections other than threads, including for example, a
quick-connect fitting, a sleeve fitting, or other type of
connection that may be held in place with screw threads, glue or
other adhesive, a bayonet type mount, a quick-connect, welds,
friction, or any other such means that allow a gas-tight, or nearly
gas-tight, seal to be formed as the primary gas reservoir is
pressurized, as would be known to those of ordinary skill in the
art. The output end cap 721 may have a primary gas outlet opening
720 formed by an output fitting 722 with threads 723. The breech
end of the air gun barrel, the loading mechanism, or other output
conduit may be connected to the output fitting 722 using the
threads 723 or other types of connection as described above for the
input fitting 712.
[0049] The valve is designed so that, upon opening the quick
release gas valve, the primary gas input opening 710 is in gaseous
communication via a gaseous path with the primary gas outlet
opening 720, allowing pressurized gas to flow through the valve and
into the barrel of the quick-release valve air gun to shoot a
projectile out the barrel. The quick release gas valve can be
controllably opened to create a gaseous path from the primary gas
reservoir 705 to the barrel of the air gun to fire a projectile
from the barrel. After firing, the quick release gas valve is
closed to again charge up the pressure in the primary gas reservoir
705. FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional front view taken from the
perspective of looking down the barrel of a quick-release valve air
gun back towards the quick release gas valve.
[0050] FIG. 7A depicts the gas valve 700 in the closed position. In
the figure, the piston 732 is seated against the primary gas outlet
724 to block gas from leaving the primary gas reservoir 705 through
the primary gas outlet opening 720. In various embodiments the
primary gas outlet may be configured as part of the end cap 721
itself, or alternative may be a separate part configured to form a
seal with the piston 732 as it extends from receptacle 730 to the
closed position. A gasket, O-ring 725, or other type of sealing
component may be positioned at the inner edge of the primary gas
outlet 724 although other embodiments may position an O-ring on the
piston 732 instead. Other embodiments may not require the use of an
O-ring 725, depending on the materials used for the piston 732 and
the primary gas outlet 724 and manufacturing tolerances of the
various parts. The piston 732 may be made of any suitable material
including, but not limited to steel, aluminum, PVC, polycarbonate,
ABS, and polyacetal polymers such as polyoxymethylene including
Delrin.RTM. acetal resin from DuPont. In some embodiments the
O-ring or other sealing component is mounted on the piston 732
rather than the inner edge of the primary gas outlet 724. The
O-ring or other sealing component may be made of rubber,
polyacetal, nylon, leather, or other like type of materials
suitable for creating an airtight seal as would be known by those
of ordinary skill in the art.
[0051] The piston 732 is typically shaped to fit into a receptacle
730 (sometimes called a piston receptacle 730) with a closed end
731 and slide in a reciprocating motion in the receptacle 730. The
piston 732 is configured to slide back and forth within the
cylindrical receptacle 730, with one end of piston 732 (e.g., a
chamfered end) extending out of an open end of the receptacle 730.
The piston 732 is configured with a chamfered edge on its outer end
that slides beyond the edge of receptacle 730 to a closed position
(or closed state), mating up with and pressing against the O-ring
725 or other type of seal that is positioned at the inner edge of
the primary gas outlet 724. The outer end with the chamfered edge
of piston 732 is the end opposite inner end of the piston 732 that
holds the compression spring 736A. The spring 736A tends to push
the piston 732 in a direction towards a closed state. The inner end
of piston 732 and inner walls of the cylindrical receptacle 730
(e.g., the cylindrical inner wall and the inner wall of end-cap
711) form the control reservoir 735A within the receptacle 730. The
inner end of piston 732 remains within the cylinder receptacle 730
as the piston 732 slides back and forth between an open state and a
closed state (or position). The piston 732 is acted upon by the
force of the spring 736A and the control pressure within the
control reservoir 735A. The control reservoir 735A has a greater
volume when the piston 732 is seated against the O-ring 725 (or
other type of seal) and the gas valve 700 is the closed state than
when the piston 732 slides back into the piston receptacle 730 and
the gas valve 700 is in an open state. The pressure within the
control reservoir 735A is lower when the gas valve 700 is the open
state than it is when the gas valve 700 is the closed state.
Typically, at least a portion of the piston 732 between the open
end of receptacle 730 and the O-ring 725 (or other sealing
mechanism) is exposed to the primary gas reservoir 705. In the
embodiment depicted in FIGS. 7A-B the primary gas reservoir 705 of
valve 700 extends back around the receptacle 730. In other
embodiments the primary gas reservoir 705 of the valve is smaller,
covering only the part (or a portion of the part) of the piston 732
that extends beyond the receptacle 730. Typically, the primary gas
reservoir 705 is in gaseous communication with a supply tank that
holds a supply of pressurized gas. In the various embodiments at
least a portion of the piston 732 that extends beyond the
receptacle 730 is in gaseous communication with either the primary
gas reservoir 705 or a supply tank.
[0052] The receptacle 730 and piston 732 may be cylindrical in
shape with a circular cross-section or in other embodiments may
have other cross-sectional shapes such octagonal, square,
ellipsoid, or other shapes. The receptacle 730 may be positioned by
supports 702A, 702B, 702C to allow the piston 732 to slide into
position to seal the primary gas outlet 724. The number of supports
may vary between embodiments. The supports 702A, 702B, 702C may be
fixed to both the outer wall of the receptacle 730 and the inner
wall of the body 701 using welding, glue, bolts, or other
attachment mechanisms depending on the materials used and the
details of the embodiment. In other embodiments, the supports may
be fixed to the outer wall of the receptacle 730 and the output end
cap 721. A compressed spring 736A may be positioned between the
closed end of the receptacle 731 and the piston 732 to provide
force to help keep the piston 732 seated against the primary gas
outlet 724. In some embodiments, the piston 732 may have a cavity
734 for positioning the compressed spring 736A and providing room
for the spring as the piston 732 moves toward the closed end 731.
In other embodiments there is a protuberance on the piston 732 that
holds the spring 736A in place. The closed end of the receptacle
731 may have either a cavity or a protuberance for holding the
spring 736A in place.
[0053] The piston 732 may include one or more piston rings 733 that
are either fitted around the piston 732 or may be an integral part
of the piston 732 and may be interposed between the piston 732 and
the receptacle 730 to create a tighter seal than could otherwise be
created between the piston 732 and receptacle 730 alone. In various
embodiments it is desirable for a controlled amount of pressurized
gas from the primary gas reservoir 705 to bleed past the piston 732
and piston ring 733 into control reservoir 735A. This tends to
equalize the pressure between the primary gas reservoir 705 and the
control reservoir 735A while the gas valve 700 is in the closed
state. It should be noted that the primary gas reservoir 705
pressure and the control reservoir 735A pressure do not necessarily
need to be equal for the gas valve 700 to remain in the closed
state. The primary gas reservoir 705 pressure can be somewhat
higher than the control reservoir 735A pressure so long as the
force exerted on piston 732 by control reservoir 735A pressure and
the spring 736A is sufficient to keep piston 732 closed--that is,
to keep the chamfered end of piston 732 mated against the O-ring
725 or other portion of the inner edge of the primary gas outlet
724.
[0054] In various embodiments the receptacle 730 has a metering
passage 737 configured to allow gas to flow between the primary gas
reservoir 705 and the control reservoir 735A. The metering passage
737 may be configured as a groove or other passage in the wall of
the receptacle 730 running along the piston 732. The metering
passage puts the primary gas reservoir 705 in gaseous communication
with the control reservoir 735A. In these embodiments, after the
air gun is shot and the primary gas reservoir 705 is being refilled
with pressurized gas, the metering passage 737 allows some of the
pressurized gas to enter the control reservoir 735A. The force
exerted on piston 732 by the spring 736A and by the pressurized gas
bleeding via metering passage 737 into the control reservoir 735A
acts to push the chamfered end of piston 732 against the O-ring 725
(or other portion of the inner edge of the primary gas outlet 724),
thus closing valve 700. A control conduit 741 of valve 700 is
configured to release gas from the control reservoir 735A under the
control of a trigger valve or other valve or switch mechanism. That
is, the pathway of the control conduit 741 may be controllably
opened or closed by a trigger valve or other valve or switch
mechanism. In the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 7A-B the control
conduit 741 provides a switchable pathway the outside atmosphere.
In other embodiments the control conduit 741 may provide a
switchable pathway to another chamber. Typically, the metering
passage 737 has a smaller cross-section than the control conduit
741 and is configured to pass less gas. This way, when the release
valve 750 is opened to fire the air gun, a much larger volume of
gas rushes out of the control reservoir 735A via the control
conduit 741 than the gas rushing through the metering passage 737
into the control reservoir 735A behind the piston 732. This tends
to reduce the pressure within control reservoir 735A as compared to
the primary gas reservoir 705 pressure, thus opening the valve 700.
Typically, the control conduit 741 has a cross-section of from five
to ten times as large as the metering passage 737. The ability of
the control conduit to carry pressurized gas may be referred to as
its gas flow capacity, and is dependent upon its cross-section,
volume, length, and to a lesser extent, the other parameters
characterizing the control conduit 741. Similarly, the ability of
the metering passage to carry pressurized gas may be referred to as
its gas flow capacity. Depending upon the configuration and
intended usage of the valve 700, the ratio of the control conduit
gas flow capacity to the metering passage gas flow capacity may be
as small as 2-to-1 (i.e., the control conduit is configured to
convey twice as much gas as the metering passage) or as large as
100-to-1, or any range or amount within these amounts. The smaller
ratios of control conduit-to-metering passage gas flow capacity
(e.g., towards 2-to-1) tend to work better for rapidly refilling
the primary gas reservoir 705 than the larger ratios (e.g., towards
100-to-1). The larger ratios tend to make more efficient use of
pressurized gas since less gas rushes into the control reservoir
735A behind the piston 732 when the air gun is fired. On the other
hand, it may be advantageous in some other embodiments to create a
gas-tight seal between the receptacle 730 and the piston 732 while
still providing for low friction between the receptacle 730 and the
piston 732. In such embodiments the pressure within the control
reservoir 735A is controlled either via the control conduit 741, or
through the use of another gas line leading into the control
reservoir 735A. The piston ring 733 may be made of a material to
help minimize the friction and create a good seal such as
polyacetal, nylon, leather, rubber, or other material depending on
the materials used for the piston 732 and the receptacle 730.
[0055] A control reservoir 735A may be created between the closed
end 731 of the receptacle 730 and the piston 732. The piston 732
and control reservoir 735A are typically located on the same side
of the primary gas outlet opening 720 as the primary gas reservoir
705. As such, the piston 732 may be thought of as holding the valve
closed from within the primary gas reservoir 705, rather than from
the outside of reservoir 705 (e.g., rather than from outside of
primary gas outlet opening 720). The volume of the control
reservoir 735A depends on the position of the piston 732 within the
receptacle with the largest volume of the control reservoir 735A
occurring if the piston 732 is seated against the primary gas
outlet 724 as shown in FIG. 7A. A control conduit 741 may
pneumatically couples the control reservoir 735A and a plenum 742
in the control block 740, allowing gas to flow between the control
reservoir 735A and the plenum chamber 742. In some embodiments the
control conduit 741 may pneumatically connect the control reservoir
735A with the outside atmosphere (without a plenum chamber 742),
with a valve or trigger switch in the control conduit 741 line to
control flow of gas out of the control reservoir 735A which opens
and closes the gas valve 700. The gas in the control reservoir 735A
may be called control chamber gas to distinguish it from the gas in
the primary gas reservoir 705. In some embodiments the primary gas
reservoir 705 is used to feed gas into the control reservoir 735A,
which in turn is then called control chamber gas. The control
conduit 741 may include tubing, pipe, fittings or other hardware.
Gas flowing through the control conduit 741 should not be
considered as flowing though the primary gas reservoir 705 as the
control conduit 741 creates a separation between the gas in the
control conduit 741 and the primary gas reservoir 705. The control
conduit 741 may exit through the body 701. The exit point may be
sealed using a rubber seal, gasket, glue, welding or other method
so that gas cannot escape from the primary gas reservoir 705 around
the control conduit 741. The control block 740 may be fabricated
differently in various embodiments but one embodiment may fabricate
the control block 740 using a top section and a bottom section that
are then attached using screws, glue, welding or other methods.
[0056] A release valve 750 (sometimes called a control valve) is
positioned to have an input pneumatically coupled to the control
reservoir 735A via the plenum 742 and the control conduit 741. The
output of the release valve 750 may be pneumatically coupled to the
exhaust port 759. The release valve 750 may be a poppet valve as
shown or may be any type of gas valve in other embodiments
including, but not limited to, a ball valve, a butterfly valve, a
diaphragm valve, or other type of valve that may be manually,
electrically, pneumatically, hydraulically, or otherwise
controlled. The release valve 750 may include a valve body 752
configured to mate with valve seat 757 to form a gas-tight seal.
Spring 753A may provide force to keep the valve body 752 seated
against the valve seat 757. A rod 754 (sometimes called a plunger)
may connect the valve body 752 to the release button 755.
[0057] The fill valve 760, which may also be called a control gas
inlet, allows gas from an external source to enter the plenum 740
and flow through the control conduit 741 into the control reservoir
735A without first flowing through the primary gas reservoir. As
the control reservoir 735A is pressurized to a control pressure,
the gas in the control reservoir 735A provides additional force on
the piston 732 to push the piston 732 against the primary gas
outlet 724. The control reservoir 735A may be filled with gas and
pressurized using various methods in various embodiments, some of
which are described below.
[0058] The gas reservoir of pressurized gas that is released by the
valve is, in practice, typically much larger in volume than control
reservoir 735A. This may be achieved by connecting primary gas
reservoir 705 to a source of pressurized gas via the primary gas
input opening 710. The source of pressurized gas may be a tank or
other reservoir, or a pressurized gas line that connects to primary
gas reservoir 705 via primary gas input opening 710. Gas may enter
the primary gas reservoir 705 using various methods in accordance
with the different embodiments of the quick-release valve air gun.
For example, in some embodiments the gas enters through the primary
gas input opening 710 to pressurize the primary gas reservoir 705
to a primary pressure. If the gas valve is in the closed state, in
many applications the pressure at the primary gas output opening
720 will be at standard atmospheric pressure. In some embodiments,
however, the pressure at the primary gas output opening 720 may be
at pressure level other than standard atmospheric pressure. The
calculations below are based on the pressure at the primary gas
outlet opening 720 being at the pressure of the surrounding
atmosphere if the gas valve 700 is in a closed state. Other
pressure levels are measured with respect to the pressure of the
surrounding atmosphere.
[0059] The closing forces operating on the piston 732 include the
force of the compressed spring 736A and/or the force of the gas in
the control reservoir 735A operating on the piston 732 which is
equal to the control pressure times the cross-sectional area of
piston 732 at its largest point which will be referred to
hereinafter as the piston area. In many embodiments, the piston
area may be equal to the cross-sectional area of the piston at the
piston ring 733. The opening forces on piston include the force of
any pressure at the primary gas outlet opening 720 times the
cross-sectional area of the of the primary gas outlet opening 720,
hereinafter referred to as the outlet area, and the force of the
gas in the primary gas reservoir 705 operating on the piston 732
which is equal to the primary pressure times the difference in the
piston area and the outlet area. The area represented by the
difference in the piston area and the outlet area can be seen as
the annular ring 739 in FIG. 7B.
[0060] The cross-sectional area of the piston 732 can be closer in
size to the cross-sectional area of the outlet opening 720 so long
as the piston is sufficiently tight within the cylinder--that is,
so long as a relatively small amount of air leaks past the piston
into the control reservoir 735A. The air leaking past the piston
732 into the control reservoir 735A when the valve is fired off
(opened) should be a small fraction (e.g., less than 10%) of the
air that is vented out of the control reservoir 735A via conduit
741. In some embodiments the cross-sectional area of the piston may
be 50% larger than the cross-sectional area of the outlet opening.
That is, in some embodiments the cross-sectional area of the piston
is no greater than 150% the cross-sectional area of the outlet
opening. In other embodiments the cross-sectional area of the
piston is no greater than 120% the cross-sectional area of the
outlet opening. In yet other embodiments the cross-sectional area
of the piston is no greater than 110% the cross-sectional area of
the outlet opening. At the other extreme, in other embodiments the
cross-sectional area of the piston may be only 1% larger than the
cross-sectional area of the outlet opening, or any percentage from
1% up to 50%. That is, the cross-sectional area of the piston may
be from 101% to 150% the cross-sectional area of the outlet
opening. Values of the cross-sectional area of the piston that are
larger than 150% the cross-sectional area of the outlet opening may
be used, but in such configurations the opening speed of the valve
is reduced accordingly and the valve may not open fully due to
compression of the gas within the control reservoir. In one
embodiment the cross-sectional area of the piston is 5% larger than
the cross-sectional area of the outlet opening. To produce a faster
opening valve the piston is fit more snugly within the cylinder to
prevent pressurized air from leaking past the piston as rapidly as
the piston recedes into the cylinder in response to the release
valve 750 being opened to fire the valve. In configurations with a
piston that is only slightly larger than the cross-section of the
outlet opening (e.g., 3% larger), the piston tends to open slightly
later from when the release valve is opened as compared to
relatively larger piston sizes, but the later opening piston also
tends to open more rapidly. In many applications the tradeoff of a
slight delay in opening is worth the more rapidly opening
valve.
[0061] The gas valve 700 may be opened by opening the release valve
750 by pushing on the release button 755 which uses the rod 754 to
move the valve body 752 away from the valve seat 757 which also
compresses the spring 753A. Opening the release valve 750 allows
the pressurized gas in the control reservoir 735A to pass through
the control conduit 741, the plenum 742, the open release valve
750, and the exhaust port 759. This tends to cause the control
pressure to drop toward the surrounding atmospheric pressure. As
the control pressure drops, the closing force on the piston 732 is
reduced. If the control pressure drops to a release pressure, the
opening force on the piston 732 exceeds the closing force, causing
the piston 732 to slide and begin to open within the receptacle
730. This allows gas to escape through the primary gas outlet 724
which tends to increase the pressure at the primary gas outlet 724.
This increases the opening force on the piston 732 and even though
the control reservoir 735A is being made smaller and the compressed
spring 736A is being further compressed, both of which tend to
increase the closing force on the piston 732. However, the
increased opening force overcomes the closing force and the piston
732 slides rapidly into the receptacle, quickly opening the gas
valve 700. In the inventor's estimation, many embodiments may
switch between a closed state and an open state in less than 0.10
seconds (s). Some embodiments may open in a few tens of
milliseconds (ms) such as 20-50 ms, while other embodiments may
open even faster and some may open more slowly than 0.10
second.
[0062] FIG. 8 depicts the gas valve portion of an embodiment of the
quick-release valve air gun with the pathway of the control conduit
adjacent to the piston. Parts and assemblies with reference numbers
similar to those in FIG. 7A perform a similar function to the
description of that figure in the paragraphs above, e.g., primary
gas outlet 724 of FIG. 7A is similar to primary gas outlet 824 of
FIG. 8. The control conduit 841 in the embodiment of FIG. 8 is
configured to open into the control reservoir 835A at a point
slightly behind the piston 832. In this way, as the piston 835
slides back towards the open position it covers the control conduit
841, to aid in preventing further gas from escaping from the
control reservoir 835A as the piston 832 rapidly travels back
towards the open position. With the control conduit 841 covered,
the air in the control reservoir 835A compresses as the piston
travels back towards the open position. This increased pressure in
the control reservoir 835A aids in closing the piston 832 more
rapidly than the embodiment depicted in FIG. 7A.
[0063] In other embodiments of the gas valve portion of an
embodiment of the quick-release valve air gun the pathway of the
control conduit 841 may be configured to enter the control
reservoir 835A towards the rear of the cylinder receptacle 830,
behind an O-ring 860. The O-ring 860 is included in various
embodiments to cushion the piston 832 as it reaches the back of the
cylinder receptacle 830. Placing the control conduit 841 behind the
O-ring 860 allows the piston 832, as it reaches the fully open
position, to compress the O-ring 860, thus sealing off the control
conduit 841 and aiding in closing the valve more rapidly.
[0064] FIG. 9 depicts the gas valve portion of an embodiment of the
quick-release valve air gun with the pathway of the control conduit
configured to vent into the gas outlet 924 (or into the barrel
attached to the gas outlet 924, if any) rather than out into the
atmosphere. This allows gas exiting from the valve through the gas
outlet 924 to aid in helping the spring 936 in pushing the piston
932 rapidly back to a closed position and to aid somewhat in
pushing the piston back 932 to open the valve. As the valve begins
to open and the piston 932 pulls away from the gas outlet, some of
the pressurized air from the primary gas reservoir 905 enters the
control conduit 941, thus increasing the pressure within the
control reservoir 735A. This aids in closing the piston 832 more
rapidly than the embodiment depicted in FIG. 7A where the control
conduit empties into the atmosphere.
[0065] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting of
the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and
"the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood
that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," and/or
"including" used in this specification specify the presence of
stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or
components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or
more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,
components, and/or groups thereof. The term "plurality", as used
herein and in the claims, means two or more of a named element. A
"plurality" should not be interpreted to necessarily refer to every
instance of a given element in the entire device. For example,
"each" of a plurality of a given element refers to the members of
the "plurality" of the given elements, but there may be others of
the given element aside from the plurality. That is, there may be
additional elements in the entire device that are not be included
in the "plurality" and are not, therefore, referred to by "each."
The term "gaseous communication" means that gas can flow between,
and in some instances, through to parts. For example, in various
embodiments the primary gas reservoir is in gaseous communication
with the air gun barrel, with the quick-release gas valve being
configured in the gaseous path to control the flow of gas to the
barrel. The "backward" and "forward" directions (or "back" and
"forth" directions) relative to the quick-release air gun refer to
the direction the projectile shoots from the barrel (forward) and
the opposite direction (backward). Typically, the muzzle end of the
barrel is the forward end and the breech end is the backward end of
the barrel. The terms "airtight" and "gas-tight" are used
interchangeably herein. Both the term "airtight" and the term
"gas-tight" mean that not more than a substantially small amount of
gas (air or other gas) leaks past the airtight or gas-tight. For
example, in various embodiments a "airtight" or "gas-tight" seal
will maintain either 98% or more of the pressure being held within
a chamber, or alternatively will lose 2% or less of the gas being
held by the "airtight" or "gas-tight" seal, over the course of a
minute at normal operational pressures. It should be noted that the
terms "gas" and "gaseous" refer to materials in their gaseous
state, not their liquid state (e.g., nitrogen, carbon dioxide,
oxygen, etc.). The high speed gas valve embodiments disclosed
herein operate in a different manner than valves designed for
liquids. Liquids tend to have much higher viscosities than gases,
and thus would not likely be able to traverse the control conduit
and the metering passage without drastically redesigning the valve.
Moreover, the relatively higher viscosity of liquids would not
allow the quick-release valve to open and close properly in
response to the interaction between the pressure in the primary gas
reservoir, the pressure in the control reservoir, the control
conduit, the metering passage and the compression spring of the
various quick-release valve embodiments disclosed herein. Finally,
opening various embodiments of the high speed gas valve disclosed
herein result in the contents of the control reservoir being
sprayed into the atmosphere--a result that, if it was even
possible, would be unacceptable in nearly any situation calling for
a valve.
[0066] The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and
equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the
claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or
act for performing the function in combination with other claimed
elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present
invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and
description in order to clearly disclose the various embodiments of
the quick-release valve air gun. The description is not intended to
be, nor would it be possible to be, completely exhaustive as to all
superficial details and minor characteristics of the various
embodiments of the quick-release valve air gun. Many modifications
and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the
art without departing from the scope and gist of the invention. For
example, the various steps of the method claims may, in some
instances, be performed in an order other than the order of the
steps recited in the claims. In some implementations it may happen
that some steps may be performed simultaneously with one or more of
the remaining steps of the recited method. In some instances
additional steps may be performed in addition to those recited in
the claims. In regards to the accompanying drawings, it is not
thought that the various steps of the method claims lend themselves
to illustration inasmuch as it is believed that the addition of
block diagrams would not aid in further illuminating the various
method steps recited in the claims to any greater degree than the
various text descriptions provided in this disclosure. The various
text descriptions, examples, and embodiments included herein were
chosen and described in order to clearly explain the principles of
the invention and the practical application, and to enable those of
ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments of the
invention with various modifications as are suited to the
particular use contemplated.
* * * * *