Combustion-powered paintball marker

Abstract

A paintball marker utilizing a combustible material as the means for propulsion, a pressurized fuel injection system providing a continuously fixed amount of fuel into the combustion chamber despite diminishing amounts of fuel as use continues, and a cooling assembly to dissipate excess heat from the combustion chamber after a combustion reaction is provided.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

RESERVATION OF RIGHTS

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to intellectual property rights such as but not limited to copyright, trademark, and/or trade dress protection. The owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records but otherwise reserves all rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention.

The present invention relates to the field of paintball products. In particular, the present invention relates specifically to use of a combustion chamber for the generation of propulsion forces to be used to launch paintballs from the body of a paintball marker. Known art may be found in U.S. Class 42. subclass 106 as well as in other classes and subclasses

2. Description of the Known Art.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, pressurized gas has been previously used to propel paintballs from the launching areas of paintball markers. Patents disclosing information relevant to paintballs, markers, and hoppers include U.S. Pat. No. 6,845,794, issued to Johnson on Jan. 25, 2005 entitled Paintball filling system; U.S. Pat. No. 6,763,822, issued to Styles on Jul. 20, 2004 entitled Electropneumatic paintball gun, method of making and operating, and retrofit kit assembly; U.S. Pat. No. 6,739,322, issued to Rice et al. on May 25, 2004 entitled Paintball feed system; U.S. Pat. No. 6,701,909, issued to Tiberius et al. on Mar. 9, 2004 entitled Semi-automatic-firing, compressed-gas gun; U.S. Pat. No. 6,658,982, issued to Cherry on Dec. 9, 2003 entitled Cocking knob and striker arrangement for gas-powered projectile firing device; U.S. Pat. No. 6,644,366, issued to Johnson on Nov. 11, 2000 entitled Paintball filling system; U.S. Pat. No. 6,626,165, issued to Bhogal on Dec. 30, 2003 entitled Paintball gun; U.S. Pat. No. 6,574,945, issued to Martinez, Jr. on Jun. 10, 2003 entitled Method for manufacturing a projectile containing chemiluminescent compounds; U.S. Pat. No. 6,481,432, issued to Rushton, et al. on Nov. 19, 2002 entitled Paintball hopper; U.S. Pat. No. 6,470,872, issued to Tiberius et al. on Nov. 19, 2002 entitled Semi-automatic firing compressed-gas gun; U.S. Pat. No. 6,055,975, issued to Gallegher et al. on May 2, 2000 entitled Paintball container; and U. S. Pat. No. 5,722,383 issued to Tippmann, Sr., et al. on Mar. 3, 1998 entitled Impeder for a gun firing mechanism with ammunition feeder and mode selector. Each of these patents is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety.

U.S. Patent Publication 2004/0144012 to Adams discloses a paintball marker having a combustion-gas-powered engine supplying pressure pulses for propelling paintballs or other projectiles.

The prior art patents fail to teach either a fuel injection pathway for use with the combustion chamber or a cooling assembly for the displacement of heat resulting from the combustion reaction. Thus, it may be seen that these prior art patents are very limited in their teaching and utilization, and an improved paintball marker is needed to overcome these limitations. What is needed then is a paintball marker utilizing the energy produced from a combustion reaction while dissipating the excess heat from the reaction in an effective manner. Additionally, the art lacks a paintball marker which provides a continuously fixed amount of fuel for propulsion of a paintball despite a diminished pressure or supply of fuel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an improved paintball marker apparatus. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a paintball marker is provided using fuel injection system to transmit a combustible material to a combustion chamber for a combustion reaction capable of propelling a paintball from the marker. Of particular note is the actual creation of a paintball marker using a combustion engine including a fuel connection system, a fuel handling system, a fuel injection system, a cooling assembly used to dissipate heat from the combustion reaction, and a paintball loading and handling system.

Advantages of the present invention include: the connection of a combustible fuel tank to a paintball marker, the loading of a combustible fuel into the paintball maker, the use of a combustible material in a paintball marker as the means for propulsion of the paintball, the use of a pressurized fuel injection system providing a continuously fixed amount of fuel into the combustion chamber despite diminishing amounts of fuel as use continues, the use of a cooling assembly to dissipate excess heat from the combustion chamber after a combustion reaction, the integration f the user into the control of the marker, and the loading and handling system for controlling the movement of the paintball through the marker.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a paintball marker utilizing combustion energy to propel a paintball from the barrel of the marker.

Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a paintball marker with a cooling assembly to dissipate heat created from a combustion reaction.

Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a paintball marker with a fuel injection assembly providing a continuously fixed amount of fuel to the combustion chamber despite diminished fuel reserves within the fuel container.

Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic paintball marker with a circuit set regulating the fuel injection and fuel ignition in the combustion assembly.

Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a combustion-powered paintball marker with a forward-positioned paintball feed port for the insertion of paintballs in front of the combustion chamber assembly.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention, along with features of novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear or become apparent by reviewing the following detailed description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following drawings, which form a part of the specification and which are to be construed in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals have been employed throughout wherever possible to indicate like parts in the various views:

FIG. 1 is a left side view of an embodiment of the combustible paintball marker;

FIG. 2 is a back view of the combustible paintball marker;

FIG. 3 is a right side view of the combustible paintball marker;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the combustible paintball marker showing line A-A;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the combustible paintball marker;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the combustible paintball marker;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the combustible paintball marker;

FIG. 8 is a cutaway view of the combustible paintball marker along line A-A;

FIG. 9 is a cutaway view of the fuel injection assembly along line A-A.

FIG. 10 is a cutaway view of the combustion chamber assembly along line A-A.

FIG. 11 is a cutaway view of the combustion chamber assembly releasing combustion pressure along line A-A.

FIG. 12 is a cutaway view of an alternative combustion chamber assembly along line A-A.

FIG. 13 shows the method of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 12 of the drawings, one exemplary embodiment of the present invention is generally shown as a combustion paintball marker 100 used for launching a paintball 110(see FIGS. 9-12). As noted in FIG. 1, the combustion paintball marker 100 has a marker body 101 including a barrel 29, a downward extending grip frame assembly 32 housing a trigger 36, an internal launching area 114 (see FIG. 9), an ignition assembly 200 (see FIG. 12), a combustion chamber assembly 300, a fuel injection assembly 400, a cooling assembly 500, a feed port 5, and a fuel cell retainer 7. Several unique advantages are provided by the combustion paintball marker 100 of the present invention and the method and apparatus that are utilized to launch a paintball 110.

As best understood from FIGS. 8 through 12, paintballs 110 are loaded 601 into the launching area 114 using a gravity feed or a force feed from a detachable hopper (not shown) through a short length feed port 5 as is well known in the art. Once loaded, the paintball 110 is unconventionally motivated from the launching area 114 by the exhaust of combustion gases from the combustion chamber assembly 300. An understanding of the fuel supply, electrical circuitry, operational characteristics, and control system provides an understanding the launching of the paintball 110.

The combustion paintball marker 100 uses a fuel cell assembly 1 to supply the marker 100 with the combustible material 301 from a fuel cell cartridge 103. The fuel cell cartridge 103 is filled with a quantity of combustible material 301, preferably a vapored fuel such as mapp gas, propylene, or propane. The fuel cell cartridge 103 is preferably a pressurized cylinder with fuel cell port 102 housed within a pressurized body having a fuel cell side 106, fuel cell top 105, and fuel cell bottom 104. The body and its components are generally composed of a durable material with non-corrosive characteristics that can withstand the pressure of the fuel it contains. During attachment to the combustible marker 100, the fuel cell cartridge 103 is placed within the fuel cell retainer 7. The fuel cell retainer 7 acts as additional protection for the fuel cell cartridge 103 during the physically-demanding sport of paintball. The fuel cell retainer 7 additionally can feature graphic designs or other stylized aspects to match the marker body 101.

The fuel cell retainer 7 includes threads for attaching the fuel cell retainer 7 to the fuel adapter assembly 33. The fuel adapter assembly 33 surface is defined by fuel adapter assembly front 401, fuel adapter assembly left side 402, fuel adapter assembly right side 403, fuel adapter assembly back 404, fuel adapter assembly top 405, and fuel adapter assembly bottom 406.

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 9, the fuel cell retainer 7 is preferably attached at the fuel adapter assembly bottom 406. The drawings also show how the fuel cell retainer 7 attaches to the fuel adapter assembly 33 perpendicular to the barrel assembly 29 of the paintball marker 100. A perpendicular attachment was chosen to provide a forward grip for the marker, although it is envisioned that forward, backward, or sideways angles may also be utilized to provide differing grip arrangements.

Reviewing FIGS. 7 though 12, one may see that when the fuel cell retainer 7 attaches to the fuel adapter assembly 33, the fuel cell adapter 2 is connected down onto the fuel cell cartridge 103. The fuel cell adapter 2 fits around the fuel cell port 102 forming a pressure-tight seal. This seal allows for the fuel cell depressor pin 17 to press upon the fuel cell port 102 to release the combustible material 301 stored within the fuel cell cartridge 103. The combustible material 301 can then be transported through the fuel injection assembly 400, contained within the fuel adapter assembly 33, into the combustion chamber assembly 300 for ignition by the ignition assembly 200.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, once the combustible material 301 is released from the fuel cell cartridge 103, the combustible material 301 enters the fuel injection assembly 400 located within the fuel adapter assembly 33. The fuel injection assembly 400 is preferably constructed from a non-fuel reactive material that may withstand the environmental conditions that the marker will be subjected to during the normal lifetime of the marker.

Immediately after exiting the fuel cell cartridge 103, the combustible material passes through the fuel cell adapter 2 and around or through the fuel cell depressor pin 17 to a filter 14. The filter 14 is preferably a 40 to 45 micron mesh screen. After passing through the filter 14, the combustible material 301 enters the Schrader valve housing 23. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the Schrader valve housing runs parallel to the barrel assembly 29 of the paintball marker 100. The Schrader valve 13 allows the combustible material 301 to move from the area of high pressure to the area of lower pressure on the other side of the valve 13 into fuel injection channel 407. A regulator assembly 31 is attached to the fuel adapter assembly front 401 by a regulator screw 27. The regulator assembly 31 maintains 646 the pressure gradient between the Schrader valve housing 23 and the fuel injection channel 407. This pressure gradient is necessary to maintain an even flow of the combustible material 301 from the fuel cell cartridge 103 even when the amount of combustible material 301 diminishes. After moving through the Schrader valve 13 into the fuel injection channel 407, the combustible material moves perpendicular to the barrel assembly 29 to a fuel conduit 408 running parallel to the barrel assembly 29 where it runs past a fuel injection pin spring 12, o-ring fuel valves 9, 19 and a fuel injection pin 8.

A solenoid 15, activated by an electric charge 227 emitted from a battery 25 when trigger 36 is pulled, motivates the fuel injection assembly 400 to allow the combustible material 301 to move into a fuel conduit 409 running perpendicular to the barrel assembly 29, past o-ring fuel valve 20, up to a fuel conduit 410 running parallel to the barrel assembly 29 to fuel inlet 411 releasing the combustible material 301 from the fuel injection assembly 400 into the combustion chamber assembly 300.

The paintball marker body 101 contains a combustion chamber assembly 300 located posterior to the feed port 5 parallel to the barrel assembly 29. The combustion chamber assembly includes an extending bolt 302, a combustion chamber 303, and a core assembly 30. The combustion chamber 303 is defined by front chamber wall 310, back chamber wall 311, and a cylindrical chamber wall 312 extending from the front chamber wall 310 to the back chamber wall 311. In another embodiment of the invention, the combustion chamber 303 is defined by the front chamber wall 304, the back chamber wall 305, the bottom chamber wall 306, the top chamber wall 307, the left chamber wall 308, and the right chamber wall 309. The front chamber wall 310 and back chamber wall 311 extend to the exterior marker surface 107 to form forward block 314 and rear block 315. The forward block 314 and rear block 315 are substantially square in shape framing the combustion chamber exterior 313 on the marker surface 107. The forward block 314 is defined by forward block left 316, forward block right 317, forward block front 318, forward block back 319, forward block top 320, and forward block bottom 321. The forward block 314 further contains a variety of conduits and channels necessary for the operation of the invention which will be discussed further below. The forward block 314 is further constructed of substantially thick material for the containment of the combustion chamber 303. The back block 315 is defined by rear block left 322, rear block right 323, rear block top 324, rear block bottom 325, rear block front 326, and rear block back 327. The rear block 315 further contains a variety of conduits and channels necessary for the operation of the invention which will be discussed further below. The rear block 313 is further constructed of substantially thick material for the containment of the combustion chamber 303. The forward block 314 and the rear block 315 provide flat surfaces for attachment of sections of the marker body 101 to the combustion chamber 303. The fuel adapter assembly top 405 is attached to the forward block top 320 and rear block top 324. The core assembly 30 is attached to and integrated with the rear block back 327. The barrel assembly 29 posterior to the feed port 5 is attached to forward block front 318.

The core assembly 30 is defined by a cylindrical exterior 328 and a compound bolt 329. The core assembly base 330 is attached to and integrated with the grip frame assembly 32. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the compound bolt 329 constitutes the interior of the core assembly 30 and enters the rear block 315 through the rear block bolt channel 331. The compound bolt 329 is defined by the exterior bolt 337, the interior bolt 338, the cocking bolt 339, the exterior bolt spring 340, and the interior bolt spring 341. As shown in FIG. 8, the exterior bolt 337 forms a sleeve around the exterior bolt spring 340 and the forward end 342 of the cocking bolt 339. The cocking bolt rear end 343 extends outside of the core assembly 30 to allow for a user to cock the paintball marker 101. The cocking bolt 339 forms a sleeve around the interior bolt 338 with the forward end 344 capable of moving through a channel 345 located in the forward end 342 of the cocking bolt 339 and capable of moving through a channel 346 located in the forward end 347 of the exterior bolt 337. The forward end 347 of the exterior bolt 337, when the marker 101 is cocked, rests within the rear block 315 against the combustion chamber wall component 348 located adjacent to the back chamber wall 311. The combustion chamber wall component 348 is attached to an extending bolt 302 which runs parallel to the barrel assembly 29. As shown in FIG. 8, when the marker 101 is cocked, the extending bolt 302 runs along the length of the combustion chamber 303 and the sear member 333 latches the compound bolt 329 on the exterior bolt groove 332. Additionally, when the marker 101 is cocked, the exterior bolt spring 340 is extended and the interior bolt 338 extends through the cocking bolt 339, the exterior bolt 337, and the rear block 315 into the combustion chamber 303. When the trigger 36 is pulled, the trigger solenoid 334 is activated to motivate the lower arm 335 of the sear member 333 forward, thereby motivating the engaging arm 336 of the sear member 333 to release the exterior bolt groove 332. The exterior bolt 337, attached to the exterior bolt spring 340, is then motivated forward through the rear block bolt channel 331 utilizing the saved potential energy of the exterior bolt spring 340. The chamber wall component 348 and the interior bolt 338 are also motivated forward, constricting the interior bolt spring 341. The movement of the chamber wall component 348 motivates the extending bolt 302 forward to obscure the feed port 5 from allowing more paintballs from moving into the barrel assembly 29. This movement 648 of the extending bolt 302 insures only one paintball 110 is fired when the trigger 36 is pulled. The movement of the chamber wall component 348 further creates a combustion chamber 303 for the allowing for the ignition of the combustible material 301.

The forward block 314, as mentioned above, contains a number of channels and conduits necessary for the operation of the invention. The forward block 314 contains a main channel 349 allowing for the movement of the extending bolt 302 and for the release of combustion gases 399 for the propulsion of the paintball 110. The forward block 314 additionally contains an exhaust conduit 350, the fuel conduit 409 running perpendicular to the barrel assembly 29, the fuel conduit 410 running parallel to the barrel assembly 29, and the fuel inlet 411 for the release of the combustible material 301 into the combustion chamber 303. The rear block 315, as mentioned above, contains a number of channels and conduits necessary for the operation of the invention. The rear block 315 contains a solenoid channel 351 running from the ignition coil 6 located in the fuel adapter assembly 33.

As discussed above, after a user pulls the trigger 36 and the chamber wall component 348 has been motivated forward, an electric signal is transmitted from the battery 25 to the solenoid 15 to release 620 the combustible material 301 into the combustion chamber 303. Further, air is allowed 610 into the combustion chamber 303 through a conduit 350 for mixing 630 with the combustible material. A second electric signal is then transmitted from the battery 25 to the ignition coil 6 and spark plug housing 34 to initiate the ignition 640 of the combustible material 301. Further details regarding the battery 25 and the electric circuitry 210 are discussed below. The combustion reaction contained within the combustion chamber 303 creates a contained pressure forcing the chamber wall component 348 to move forward even further. This movement of the chamber wall component 348 forces the interior bolt 338 forward until the interior bolt spring 341 reaches a maximum constriction position. The forward movement of the interior bolt 338 is thus limited by the constriction of the interior bolt spring 341. The chamber wall component 348 is able to move forward further than the interior bolt 338, thus providing a channel 352 within the chamber wall component 348. This channel 352 releases a portion of combustion gases to propel the paintball 110 from the launching area 114. The release of pressure within the combustion chamber 300 thus allows the interior bolt spring 341 to relax to an unconstricted position which allows the interior bolt 338 to move backwards within the compound bolt 329. Excess combustion gases not expelled through the channel 352 are released 647 through the exhaust conduit 350. The pressure from the reaction additionally motivates the combustion chamber assembly 300 to return to a cocked position for further use.

As can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, combustion reactions release a tremendous amount of energy, much of which is in the form of heat. In the current invention, the presence of a large quantity of heat is detrimental to the proper workings of the paintball marker 101. In particular, the gelatin of the paintball 110 cannot withstand high temperatures. The present invention compensates for this heat by providing a cooling assembly 500. The cooling assembly 500 encases the combustion chamber exterior 313 and extends between the forward block 314 and rear block 315. The cooling assembly 500 radiates 645 excess heat from the combustion chamber exterior 313 to help maintain a cooler temperature for the paintball marker apparatus 100. The cooling assembly 500 is defined by a plurality of fins 501 extending from the cylindrical base 502 around the combustion chamber exterior 313. The cooling assembly 500 is preferably constructed of a durable material conducive to radiating and wicking away the heat from the combustion chamber assembly 300, such as aluminum, diamond, carbon or any other substance. The plurality of fins 501 are defined by a plurality of surfaces, namely a front edge 503, a back edge 504, a top edge 505, a bottom edge 506, a left edge 507, and a right edge 508. The bottom edge 506 is attached to the cylindrical base 502 of the cooling assembly 500. In a preferred embodiment, the front edge 503 and back edge 504 are rounded to prevent injury to paintball users or snagging of clothing or other items by the plurality of fins 501. The plurality of fins 501 are positioned upon the cylindrical base 502 radiating from a central point in an appropriate ratio to maximize the efficiency of the cooling assembly 500 without increasing production costs for the marker 101.

As mentioned above, a battery 25 and an electric circuit 210 are necessary for the current invention. The battery 25 is housed at the posterior end 201 of the grip frame assembly 32 in a battery housing 24. The battery housing 24 is defined by a front 211, a back 212, a left side 213, a right side 214, a top 215, and a bottom 216. The housing bottom 216 consists of the battery housing door 22 which is affixed to the battery housing by battery door screw 21. The battery housing 24 is attached to the grip frame assembly 32 by housing screws 26, 226. An electric circuit board 210 is housed within the grip frame assembly 32. The electric circuit board 210 transmits electric charge 227 to the solenoid 15 to release the combustible material 301 into the combustion chamber 303 and transmits electric charge 228 shortly after to the ignition coil 6 for the ignition of the combustible material 301.

FIG. 13 of the drawings shows a flow chart of a Combustion launching method 600 of the present invention. The method includes the elements of inserting paintball 601 to the firing chamber, and continues with a parallel process of providing air 610, providing combustible material 620, regulating the fuel and pressurizing the fuel injection system 646 and then mixing the air and combustible material 630. The method then uses the element of igniting the mixed air and combustible material 640 which continues by radiating the excess heat from the combustion 645, motivating bolt 648, launching paintball 649 and purging the ignition by-products 647.

Reference numerals used throughout the detailed description and the drawings correspond to the following elements:

Fuel cell assembly 1

Fuel cell adapter 2

Feed port 5

Ignition coil 6

Fuel cell retainer 7

Fuel injection pin 8

O-ring fuel valve 9

Fuel injection pin spring 12

Schrader valve 13

Fuel filter 14

Solenoid 15

Fuel cell depressor pin 17

O-ring fuel valve 19

O-ring fuel valve 20

Battery door screw 21

Battery door 22

Schrader valve housing 23

Battery housing 24

Battery 25

Battery housing screw 26

Regulator screw 27

Barrel assembly 29

Core assembly 30

Regulator assembly 31

Grip frame assembly 32

Fuel adapter assembly 33

Spark plug housing 34

Trigger 36

Paintball marker 100

Marker body 101

Fuel cell port 102

Fuel cell cartridge 103

Fuel cell bottom 104

Fuel cell top 105

Fuel cell side 106

Marker surface 107

Paintball 110

Launching area 114

Ignition assembly 200

Grip frame posterior 201

Circuit 210

Housing front 211

Housing back 212

Housing left side 213

Housing right side 214

Housing top 215

Housing bottom 216

Housing screw 226

Electric charge 227

Electric charge 228

Combustion chamber assembly 300

Combustible material 301

Extending bolt 302

Combustion chamber 303

Front chamber wall 304

Back chamber wall 305

Bottom chamber wall 306

Top chamber wall 307

Left chamber wall 308

Right chamber wall 309

Alternative front chamber wall 310

Alternative back chamber wall 311

Cylindrical chamber wall 312

Chamber exterior 313

Forward block 314

Rear block 315

Forward block left 316

Forward block right 317

Forward block front 318

Forward block back 319

Forward block top 320

Forward block bottom 321

Rear block left 322

Rear block right 323

Rear block top 324

Rear block bottom 325

Rear block front 326

Rear block back 327

Core exterior 328

Compound bolt 329

Core assembly base 330

Rear block bolt channel 331

Exterior bolt groove 332

Sear member 333

Trigger solenoid 334

Sear member lower arm 335

Sear member engaging arm 336

Exterior bolt 337

Interior bolt 338

Cocking bolt 339

Exterior bolt spring 340

Interior bolt spring 341

Cocking bolt forward end 342

Cocking bolt rear end 343

Interior bolt forward end 344

Cocking bolt channel 345

Exterior bolt channel 346

Exterior bolt forward end 347

Chamber wall component 348

Main channel 349

Exhaust conduit 350

Solenoid channel 351

Chamber wall channel 352

Combustion gases 399

Fuel injection assembly 400

Fuel adapter assembly front 401

Fuel adapter assembly left side 402

Fuel adapter assembly right side 403

Fuel adapter assembly back 404

Fuel adapter assembly top 405

Fuel adapter assembly bottom 406

Fuel injection channel 407

Fuel conduit 408

Fuel conduit 409

Fuel conduit 410

Fuel inlet 411

Cooling assembly 500

Plurality of fins 501

Cylindrical base 502

Fin front edge 503

Fin back edge 504

Fin top edge 505

Fin bottom edge 506

Fin left edge 507

Fin right edge 508

Combustion launching method 600

Inserting paintball 601

Providing air 610

Injecting combustible material 620

Mixing air and combustible material 630

Igniting mixed air and combustible material 640

Radiating excess heat 645

Pressurizing fuel injection system 646

Purging ignition by-products 647

Motivating bolt 648

Launching paintball 649

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention well adapted to obtain all the ends and objects herein set forth, together with other advantages which are inherent to the structure. It will also be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. Many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. A paintball marker apparatus adapted to launch paintballs using a fuel cell containing a quantity of combustible material, the apparatus comprising: a marker body including a launching area and a combustion chamber; a fuel injection system attached to the marker body, the fuel injection system adapted to regulate the flow of the combustible material from the fuel cell to the combustion chamber; an ignition assembly adapted to ignite the combustible material in the combustion chamber to generate a combustion exhaust, wherein the launching area accepts the paintball and the combustion chamber directs the combustion exhaust to the launching area to launch the paintball.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a cooling assembly thermally connected to the combustion chamber, the cooling assembly adapted to draw off heat created by a combustion reaction within the combustion chamber.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, the cooling assembly further having a plurality of fins for increased surface area.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a feed port directing the paintball into a launching area such that the combustion pressure released from the combustion chamber motivates the paintball from the launching area.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, the marker body further including bolt and sear mechanism for cocking the marker.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, the marker body further including a bolt and sear mechanism to cock the paintball marker, the bolt including a blocking section movable to selectively obstruct the feed port.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, the marker body further including a fuel cell retainer encasing the fuel cell.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, the fuel cell retainer attaching to the marker body proximate the fuel injection system.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, the fuel injection system further comprising: a schrader valve and a regulator maintaining a fixed pressure within the fuel injection system such that a fixed quantity of the combustible material is released from the fuel cell into the fuel injection system.

10. A paintball marker apparatus adapted to launch a paintball using a combustible material supplied in a fuel cell, the apparatus comprising: a release device sealably connectable to the fuel cell; a fuel injection system adapted to provide a fixed quantity of the combustible material released from the fuel cell.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, the release device comprising: a fuel adapter for sealing to the fuel cell; and a fuel pin adapted to puncture the fuel cell providing the initial flow of the combustible material from the fuel cell.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, the fuel injection system comprising: a schrader valve; and a regulator maintaining a fixed pressure within the fuel injection system.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising: a fuel conduit providing a pathway for the fixed quantity of combustible material to flow to the combustion chamber.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: a fuel inlet proximate the combustion chamber allowing the fixed quantity of combustible material into the combustion chamber.

15. A method of operating a combustion-powered paintball marker apparatus adapted to launch paintballs, comprising the steps of: providing a paintball marker with a launching area and a combustion area; loading a paintball into the launching area; providing an air-fuel mixture to the combustion chamber; igniting the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber to create a combustion exhaust; directing the combustion exhaust to the launching area.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: purging combustion by-products from the combustion chamber.

17. The method of claim 15, the further comprising: radiating excess heat from the combustion chamber.

18. The method of claim 15, the further comprising: providing a feed port opening for loading the paintball into the launching area; and blocking the feed port opening after loading the paintball.

19. A paintball marker apparatus adapted to launch paintballs using a fuel cell containing a quantity of combustible material, the apparatus comprising: a marker body including a combustion chamber that directs combustion exhaust from a combustion reaction to launch the paintball; and a cooling assembly thermally connected to the combustion chamber, the cooling assembly adapted to dissipate heat created by the combustion reaction within the combustion chamber.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, the cooling assembly further having a plurality of fins for increased surface area.