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This invention relates to improvements in pneumatic launchers and, more particularly, to novel systems and methods for pneumatically launching paintballs, pellets, metal BBs, airsoft BBs, or other projectiles.
Conventional firearms have a firing mechanism to fire a projectile and a barrel to direct the projectile in a desired direction. Guns are made for numerous purposes and include many designs, for example, rifles, shot guns, and hand guns. A broad array of different mechanisms for firing a projectile have been employed for various types of guns. For example, one type of gun is dependent on having a propellant combined with the projectile. In this type of gun, the firing mechanism detonates the propellant contained in the projectile, which launches the projectile along the barrel. This type includes shot guns, which fire cartridges comprised of shot packaged with explosive material, and conventional rifles, machine guns, and handguns, which shoot bullets comprised of a unitary slug packaged with explosive material in a casing.
Another method of firing a projectile uses a propulsion source separate from the projectile, such as compressed gas, including air, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and others. Examples of such guns include, air riffles, BB guns, and paintball guns or “markers.” These guns either include a pump for compressing ambient air or are adapted to receive compressed air from a source, such as a compressed gas cartridge or gas cylinder. Conventional paintball guns rely on such cartridges or gas cylinders for supplying compressed gas, including air, nitrogen and carbon dioxide.
Nearly all similar “blowback” systems (simultaneously firing and re-co*cking) begin an erratic and non-resetting motion to take place the moment that the system does not have enough supply gas pressure to completely “reset” the unit. “ALL” of these systems, because of that fact, begin to “chop and shred” paintballs because the feed port of the projectiles only partially opens. This non-resetting behavior occurs with most guns that are in the market around 650 psi at best (normal operating pressures and tanks for these systems is approximately 800 psi).
Another problem with pneumatic launcher is because the masses of the bolt or hammer is so large as opposed to the mass of the projectile and the surface area of the projectile. In the blowback system, in pressures below 650-800 psi the pressure is too low for the hammer to re-co*ck itself by sufficiently returning to engage on the sear. This problem is present in existing blowbacks launchers. Launchers that can operate at lower pressures have bad air use efficiencies.
What is needed is a two-stage air gun fire and reset or a flow directing closed bolt flow-back system that is more efficient use of compressed gas by not performing simultaneous actions of firing and reloading. The disclosure found in this document provides a solution.
It is an object of the two-stage air gun fire and reset to have a more efficient compressed gas usage because the gas is not wasted by performing simultaneous actions, instead, the motion dedicates 1 portion of the motion to firing only then transitions a “port” to close and redirect the gasses to “re-co*cking” (or reset only) without wasted gasses going out the firing bolt.
It is another object of the two-stage air gun fire and reset to redirect the gases through a moving port or a moving gate to allow the unit to continue to perform and “cycle” almost to the point where there is very little pressure in the supply tank or system. Nearly all similar “blowback” systems (simultaneously firing and re-co*cking) begin an erratic and non-resetting motion to take place the moment that the system does not have enough supply gas pressure to completely “reset” the unit. “all” of these systems, because of that fact, begin to “chop and shred” paintballs because the feed port of the projectiles only partially opens.
It is still another object of the two-stage air gun fire and reset for the air gun to continue to cycle and reliably feed and fire projectiles down to the point where a user can visibly see and experience from a recoil that the projectiles are leaving the barrel at a speed that is slower than if a user was throwing the projectiles by hand that indicates that it is time to change the air tank.
Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components.
It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the drawings herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the system and method of the present invention, as represented in the drawings, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention but is merely representative of various embodiments of the invention. The illustrated embodiments of the invention will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout.
Referring to
In selected embodiments, a launcher 10 may have an exterior look and feel that mimics, substantially matches, or matches the look and feel of a particular firearm (e.g., rifle, pistol, or the like). For example, as shown in
For example, a launcher 10 may include a trigger 12, charging handle 14, magazine release 16, forward assist 18, butt stock 20 (e.g., adjustable butt stock), grip 22, fore grip 24, magazine 26, trigger guard 30, or the like or a combination or sub-combination thereof that collectively or individually match or substantially match the operations, sizes, shapes, and/or relative positions of comparable components on an AR-15 type rifle. In certain embodiments, all such components may be functional. In other embodiments, certain components (e.g., a forward assist 18 and/or bolt release) may be provided merely to maintain aesthetic realism but may otherwise be non-functional.
In certain embodiments, various components of a launcher 10 in accordance with the present invention may be actual AR-15 parts. For example, in selected embodiments, a butt stock 20, grip 22, fore grip 24, trigger guard 30, or the like or a combination or sub-combination thereof may be actual AR-15 parts (e.g., “milspec” parts, aftermarket parts, or the like). Accordingly, a user may customize his or her launcher 10 in the same manner and/or with the same parts as he or she would with an actual AR-15 type rifle.
Referring to
An upper receiver may be separable from a lower receiver 36. For example, one or more pins 52 may secure an upper receiver 34 to a lower receiver 36. Removal of one or more such pins 52 may grant access to a bolt assembly 50, valve assembly 40, trigger assembly 42, or the like. In selected embodiments, the various components of an upper receiver may be secured. Similarly, the various components of a lower receiver 36 may be secured. In selected embodiments, a trigger assembly 42 may include a trigger 12, sear 54, bolt catch 56, one or more pivots 58, 59, one or more biasing members 60, one or more cushions 61, 62, and one or more stops 63. Pulling the trigger 12 may cause a sear 54 to pivot until it contacts a bolt catch 56. With sufficient pressure, a sear 54 may urge a bolt catch 56 out of engagement with a bolt 64 of a bolt assembly 50. Once a bolt 64 is free of a bolt catch 56, the bolt 64 may move forward as biased by a biasing member 66 acting on the bolt 64. In selected embodiments, a bolt 64 may travel forward to actuate a valve 68 of a valve assembly 40.
Compressed gas (e.g., compressed air, compress carbon dioxide, or the like) may be conducted by one or more conduits 70 to an upstream side of a valve 68 in a suitable manner. In selected embodiments, a launcher 10 may provide or include a platform supporting multiple entry points for compressed gas. For example, in certain embodiments, a lower receiver 36 may include conduits 70 for receiving compressed gas from a butt stock (e.g., via a container or conduit located in the place of a “buffer tube”) or a grip 22 (e.g., via a container or conduit located within a grip 22) or a combination thereof. In any given embodiment, entry points that are not to being used may be sealed with an appropriate plug. A manufacturer may have selected from among various arrangements or configurations with respect to the entry point of compressed gas.
Regardless of the entry point used, compressed gas may be passed by one or more conduits 70 from a reservoir, source, or container of some sort (e.g., 12 or 16-grain canister of carbon dioxide or the like) to an upstream side of a valve assembly 40 (e.g., past a trigger assembly 42 to a space 72 or cavity 72 on an upstream side of the valve assembly 40).
A valve 68 of a valve assembly 40 may be biased toward a closed position by the pressure of gas on the up-stream side of the valve 68, by a biasing member (e.g., by an unknown biasing member within the space 72 or cavity 72), or by some combination thereof. However, after a trigger 12 is pulled and a bolt 64 moves forward, a ramp 74 forming part of the bolt 64 may contact the top portion of the valve 68 (e.g., a wear element 76 of a valve 68) and force the valve 68 open.
In selected embodiments, a ramp 74 and/or wear element 76 of a valve 68 may be configured to provide a long service life. For example, materials used in the formation of a ramp 74 and/or wear element 76 may be selected to produce little wear on each other. In selected embodiments, one or both of a wear element 76 and a ramp 74 may be formed of a carbide material. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, a ramp 74 may be free to rotate with respect to other components of a bolt 64 (e.g., free to rotate about a central axis of a bolt 64). Accordingly, wear caused by the contact between a ramp 74 and a valve 68 may be distributed over a large area of the ramp 74.
With a valve 68 open, compressed gas may be able to pass from an upstream side of the valve 68 and through one or conduits of a manifold 78 forming a down-stream part of a valve assembly 40. Accordingly, in selected embodiments, a manifold 78 may control how compressed gas is distributed within a launcher 10. For example, in selected embodiments, a manifold 78 may include a first aperture 80 directing a first stream of compressed gas to launch a chambered projectile (not shown) and a second aperture 81 directing a second stream of compressed gas to an aperture 82 feeding a particular space 84 within a bolt assembly 50. Compressed gas within this particular space 84 may slow the forward motion of a bolt 64, stop the forward motion of the bolt 64, produce a rearward motion of the both 64, return a bolt 64 to a co*cked position (e.g., where a bolt catch 56 has once again engaged a bolt 64), or some combination thereof.
In selected embodiments, a bolt assembly 50 may include a bolt sleeve 86, separator 88, end cap 92, buffer 94, bolt 64, or the like or a combination or sub-combination thereof. A bolt sleeve 86 may provide an interface between a bolt 64 and an upper receiver 34. In certain embodiments, a bolt sleeve 86 may include apertures permitting a valve 68, compressed gas, bolt catch 56, to enter a bolt assembly 50. A bolt sleeve 86 may have an interior surface against which various other components of a bolt assembly 50 may seal. In certain embodiments, a bolt sleeve 86 may be selectively removable. Accordingly, one or more fasteners 90 (e.g., threaded fasteners) may secure a bolt sleeve 86.
In selected embodiments, the separator 88 may separate compressed gas for launching a projectile from compressed gas for returning the bolt 64 to a co*cked position. In selected embodiments, the bolt 64 may pass through a central aperture of a separator 88. Additionally, the separator 88 may include an aperture 104 aligned to receive compressed gas from a first aperture 80 of a manifold 78. Accordingly, once a valve 68 is actuated, this aperture 104 of the separator 88 may align with an aperture 106 in a forward portion 96 of the bolt 64, thereby enabling compressed gas to pass forward through a central (e.g., axial) aperture 108 in the forward portion 96 and propel a projectile out the barrel 46.
The end cap 92 may fit within a bolt sleeve 86 and provide an interface between a bolt assembly 50 and a stock mount 44 of a lower receiver 36. A stock mount 44 may be sized, shaped, and contain sufficient material (e.g., be substantially solid material as opposed to the ring of material found in an actual AR15 type rifle) to properly and repeatedly resolve the loads imposed thereon by a bolt assembly 50. In selected embodiments, the end cap 92 may include a center extension for supporting and aligning a biasing member 66 acting on the bolt 64. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, the end cap 92 may house, support, or locate the buffer 94. The buffer 94 may cushion an impact between a returning bolt 64 and the end cap 92.
The bolt 64 may include a forward portion 96, rearward portion 98, ramp 74, extension 100, or the like or a combination or sub-combination thereof. A rearward portion 98 may interface with the biasing member 66 urging the bolt 64 forward. For example, in selected embodiments, a rearward portion 98 may include an aperture for receiving such the biasing member 66. As a bolt moves forward, the forward portion 96 may push a projectile off the top of the magazine 26 and into the chamber location of the barrel 46. In a forward position, a forward portion 96 may also form a bridge for conducting compressed gas past one or more openings (e.g., a port 110 in a barrel through which projectiles pass) that would otherwise permit compressed gas to escape.
In selected embodiments, an extension 100 of the bolt 64 may extend through a corresponding slot 102 in the bolt sleeve 86. According, as the charging handle 14 is pulled rearward, it may engage an extension 100 and pull the bolt 64 rearward. This rearward motion may continue until the bolt catch 56 engages an appropriate edge, lip, or surface of the bolt 64 (e.g., of the rearward portion 98). In this manner, certain embodiments of the launcher 10 may be manually co*cked.
The bolt assembly 50 may include various seals as desired or necessary. For example, one or more seals may interface between the forward portion 96 and the barrel 46, the separator 88 and the bolt sleeve 86 (grooves for seals are show in separator 88, by the seals are not shown), the separator and the forward portion 96, the rearward portion and a bolt sleeve 86, or the like or a combination or sub-combination thereof.
In selected embodiments, the barrel 46 may include a projectile retainer 112. The projectile retainer 112 may hold a projectile in a desired location, ready to be pushed forward into the chamber of the barrel 46. In certain embodiments, the projectile retainer 112 may deflect or pivot out of the way as the forward portion 96 of the bolt 64 chambers a projectile.
A launcher 10 in accordance with the present invention may be modular and easily converted between various configurations. For example, in selected embodiments, upper and lower receivers 36 may form a platform into which various modules or sub-assemblies may be easily swapped in and out. This swapping in and out may be accomplished with simple motions like threading fasteners and pushing or pulling pins and without any machining, welding, bonding, or other permanent changes.
For example, in selected embodiments, a lower receiver 36 and the components corresponding thereto may be left unchanged, while a barrel 46 and all or some portion of a bolt assembly 50 is replaced in an upper receiver.
In selected embodiments, the valve assembly 40 or some portion thereof (e.g., the manifold 78 may extend forward into a portion of the magazine well 38. This may enable the valve assembly 40 to receive compressed gas from the magazine 26. Alternatively, this may enable a valve assembly 40 to direct compressed air into a magazine 26. This compressed gas may then be used within the magazine to aid in some function such as urging projectiles or the like. In selected embodiments, compressed gas delivered to the magazine 26 may be stored in the form of advancing a piston or the like against a biasing member. In this manner energy from the compressed gas associated with multiple firing events may be collected and used as desired.
When the motion of the bolt going forward, as a ball is loaded the striker goes forward and contacts the valve. The first thing the air wants to do is to immediately blow it back because the gasses are simultaneously going out to the ball and also back to the re-co*ck chamber. In the blow-back systems the air that is expelled is expelled against a very large diameter that translates into a very large surface area. This creates and additional piston that wants to be blown-back. Air is trying to blow the projectile out, while the pressure that is building to fire the projectile out is also trying to urge the chamber rearward against the valve. The following prior art description provides further description of the problem.
In
While this is the prior art method, in the preferred embodiment, it is preferred to first have all of the air going to the back of the projectile only, without any air going to the gland chamber 124 until the projectile has been launched. After the projectile is launched the air should be redirected into the gland area 124, thereby not wasting any air that would blow into the gland area 124 at the same time air is being used to launch the projectile. The sharing of the air is inefficient and limits ball velocity at low air pressure.
The improvement changes the operation with a shuttle valve, but the valve may be referred to as a spool valve.
The bolt assembly is pushed to compress the biasing spring 65 to the reset position closing up the valve 68. This works in the full-auto mode, because of the two cycles, wherein the first cycle all of the air is going and firing the ball and none of the air is going into the re-co*ck chamber, then as the bulkhead separator 130 continues to go forward, it closes off all of the air that would want to escape freely throughout this chamber and the passage and goes to launch the projectile. In this embodiment, air is no longer wasted and is instead re-directed to the re-co*ck chamber to blowing the bolt back and then resetting the bolt of the launcher to prepare the launcher to fire another projectile.
This embodiment makes to two operates independent from each other, propelling a projectile 114 from the breach area and re-co*cking the rear bolt 65 and the connected components.
Where the re-co*ck port 69 is going up as normal to the bolt sleeve 86, what is different is that we channel that, not directly to the bolt sleeve 86 in through here, but by a communication port means, hole or groove 142. On the outside of the bolt sleeve 87 is a communication port means, air channel or inner groove 142 as shown in
When the bulkhead separator 130 moves from the rear bolt 65, where the striker 79 contacts the bulkhead separator 130, the rear bolt 65 pushes the bulkhead separator 130. This is the transition from
The air is being directed to the back of the ball or projectile 114, and no air is going into the re-co*ck gland area 124. Momentum will continue to carry the rear bolt 65 and the bulkhead separator 130 forward, and it will start pushing the bulkhead separator 130 and turns the bulkhead separator 130 and turn it into an actual valve. Note that in
The outside surface area of the front bolt 64, or the greater portion of the surface area locks itself into position as the ball 151 engages into annular groove 153 as shown in
At the position shown in
The difference between this inside diameter of the front bolt 64 is about 0.50 inch in diameter compared to the diameter of the projectile 114 that is about 0.69. The difference in diameters as about double the surface area. As the pressure builds behind the projectile 114, the pressure has no influence on the inner diameter of front bolt 64. It only has influence on the inner diameter of the bolt sleeve 86.
In
Thus, specific embodiments of a pneumatic launcher system and method has been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.
Not Applicable.
