Pneumatically operated projectile launching device

• US 20030024521A1
• Filed: 09/24/2002
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kee Action Sports LLC (Kore Outdoor Inc.)
• Original Assignee: WDP Limited
• Inventors: Gardner, William M. Jr., Gardner, Adam C., Smith, David L., Gaston, Raymond S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,637,421 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 124/77
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/52 the projectiles being loosely held in a magazine above the gun housing, e.g. in a hopper
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/57 Electronic or electric systems for feeding or loading F41B11/53 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/62 with pressure supplied by a gas cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/71 Electric or electronic control systems, e.g. for safety purposes
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/721 for controlling gas pressure for both firing the projectile and for loading or feeding

Abstract

The pneumatically operated projectile launching device is preferably comprised of three principal elements: a body which houses and interconnects all of the pneumatic components and also houses the electrical power source, a grip mounted to the body which includes an electrical switch that activates a launching sequence, and an electrical control unit housed within both the body and the grip which directs flow between the pneumatic components to load, cock and fire the gun. The body preferably contains a plurality of bores in communication with each other including a bore containing and distribution pressurized gas, a bore containing a compressed gas storage chamber and mechanisms for filling the storage chamber with gas and releasing gas from the storage chamber to fire the projectile, and a bore containing mechanisms for loading and launching the projectile. The electrical control unit preferably includes an electrical power source which activates an electrical timing circuit when the electrical switch is closed, and two electrically operated pneumatic flow distribution devices which are sequentially energized by the electrical timing circuit to enable the loading of a projectile for launching and to release compressed gas from the storage chamber to fire the projectile, respectively. Before the initiation of a launching sequence the compressed gas storage chamber is filled with compressed gas while the projectile launching mechanism is disabled. Filling of the compressed gas storage chamber is preferably accomplished automatically by actuation of the compressed gas filling mechanism. When the electrical switch is closed to initiate the launching sequence the projectile is first loaded into the launching mechanism by electrical timing circuit actuation of the first electrically operated pneumatic flow distribution device. The projectile is then fired when the electrical timing circuit actuates the second electrically operated pneumatic flow distribution device to release gas from the compressed gas storage chamber into the launching mechanism.

Claims

1. An electronically-operated pneumatic launching device comprising:

a gun-shaped body including a trigger;

a bolt for loading a projectile into a chamber during a loading operation, wherein said bolt is configured to be opened by the application of pneumatic force;

a valve located in the body and configured to selectively supply compressed gas from a compressed gas source to the chamber during a firing operation; and

an electrical circuit arranged in the body for initiating the firing operation of the paintball gun in response to actuation of the trigger.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the pneumatic force to open the bolt is applied to a first end of a pneumatic mechanism, and wherein the pneumatic mechanism is coupled to the bolt through a mechanical linkage.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the bolt is configured to be closed by the application of pneumatic force to a second end of the pneumatic mechanism.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said electrical circuit comprises an electronic solenoid configured to receive a signal from an electrical timing circuit to initiate the firing operation.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic solenoid is part of a solenoid valve configured to route compressed gas to a pneumatically-controllable actuator to open the valve to cause compressed gas from the compressed gas source to enter the firing chamber during the firing operation.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the actuator is a pneumatic mechanism configured to be moved by operation of the solenoid valve.

7. A device according to claim 1, further comprising:

one or more solenoid valves configured to electro-pneumatically control a movement of the bolt for loading the projectile into the firing chamber based on an electronic signal from the electrical circuit; and

wherein said one or more solenoid valves are further configured to control an opening of the valve to cause compressed gas to enter the firing chamber from the compressed gas source based on an electronic signal from the electrical circuit.

8. A device according to claim 7, further comprising:

a pneumatic mechanism configured to receive compressed gas from the one or more solenoid valves and to vent compressed gas through the one or more solenoid valves to operate the pneumatic mechanism;

the pneumatic mechanism communicating with the bolt via a mechanical linkage; and

wherein operation of the pneumatic mechanism controls movement of the bolt.

9. A device according to claim 7, further comprising:

a compressed gas storage chamber configured to lie in a fluid path between the compressed gas source and the firing chamber to store compressed gas for the firing operation;

a pneumatic mechanism configured to receive compressed gas from the one or more solenoid valves and to vent compressed gas through the one or more solenoid valves to operate the pneumatic mechanism; and

wherein said pneumatic mechanism is configured to open the valve to release compressed gas from the compressed gas storage chamber into the firing chamber.

14. An electronic circuit board for controlling the device of claim 1.

10. An electrically-controllable pneumatic projectile launching device, comprising:

a body comprising a trigger;

a bolt configured to be opened by the application of pneumatic force; and

an electronic circuit board mounted in the body, wherein the electronic circuit board initiates a launching operation based on trigger actuation.

11. A device according to claim 10, further comprising:

an electronic valve located in the gun body and configured to receive and selectively distribute compressed gas; and

a pneumatic mechanism located in the gun body, wherein movement of a piston in the pneumatic mechanism is controlled by the selective distribution of compressed gas through the electronic valve based on electrical signals from the electronic circuit board.

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein:

the piston is mechanically coupled to the bolt; and

the pneumatic mechanism is configured to operate the bolt.

13. A device according to claim 11, wherein the pneumatic mechanism is configured to operate a firing valve to launch a projectile from the device.

15. A pneumatically operated projectile launching device, comprising:

a body which houses and interconnects pneumatic components and an electrical power source of the device;

a grip mounted to the body, said grip comprising a trigger and an electrical switch that activates a launching sequence of the device; and

an electrical control unit housed within the body, the grip, or both, said electrical control unit configured to direct a flow of compressed gas between the pneumatic components load and fire the device.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein the electrical control unit comprises a solenoid valve.

17. A device according to claim 16, wherein the device is loaded by directing compressed gas through the solenoid valve to an end of a pneumatic mechanism to open a bolt, wherein the pneumatic mechanism is mechanically coupled to the bolt.

18. A device according to claim 16, wherein the device is fired by directing compressed gas through the solenoid valve to an end of a pneumatic mechanism to open a firing valve.

19. A device according to claim 15, comprising:

a power supply connection configured to receive power from a power supply;

an electrical timing circuit configured to receive electrical power through the power supply connection and to initiate a launching sequence of the paintball gun in response to the actuation of a trigger; and

at least one solenoid valve configured to receive one or more electronic pulses from the electrical timing circuit to launch a paintball from the paintball gun.

20. An electrical control unit according to claim 19, wherein the at least one solenoid valve comprises two three-way solenoid valves.