Patent Application
20080295899
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to regulators (and their operating components) for regulating an output pressure of compressed gas such as CO2, compressed air, nitrogen, or other compressed gas. More particularly, this invention relates to a compressed gas regulator for regulating an output pressure of a compressed gas for use in pneumatic applications, such as a pneumatic paintball gun or other pneumatic device.
2. Related Art
In pneumatic applications, and particularly pneumatic paintball guns, it is generally desirable to have a compressed gas regulator that is as simple and easy to maintain as possible, while providing all the benefits that operators desire. The regulator must, for instance, be able to provide a steady supply of compressed gas at a stable output pressure. Fluctuations in the output pressure of the compressed gas during operation are undesirable as they may result in faulty operation of a connected pneumatic device. In paintball guns in particular, fluctuations in the output pressure of the regulator may result in velocity spikes and/or shoot down. Velocity spikes may cause the paintball gun to exceed the allowable firing velocity and subject a player to penalties or elimination. Shoot down may result in a player not being able to maintain a high rate of fire and may substantially decrease the accuracy of the paintball gun and the player's ability to eliminate opponents. It is desirable, therefore, to have a regulator that is able to maintain a steady and reliable output pressure with a minimal number of components.
Accordingly, in cases where the orientation of the compressed gas connection is fixed with respect to the regulator body, the required orientation of the regulator with respect to the pneumatic device can result in the need for longer connection hoses or tubes for connecting to the compressed gas source. This can further result in inconvenience for the operator who must work around those hoses or tubes.
A conventional solution to this problem, as shown in
Referring still to
A pressure adjustment screw 260 is arranged in an input end 200B of the regulator body 201. A spring platform 265 is arranged above the pressure adjustment screw 260 to provide a platform for the spring 250. The pressure adjustment screw 260 includes the compressed gas source connection port (input port) 206 and also provides an inlet port 274 arranged in a receptacle 262 of the pressure adjustment screw 260. The inlet port 274 receives compressed gas from the input port 206 through a gas transfer passageway 272 and supplies compressed gas into the receptacle 262. The piston 240 includes a stem 246 that extends through a center of the spring 250 and into the receptacle 262 of the pressure adjustment screw 260. A piston seal 249 is arranged on an end of the piston stem 246. A gas transfer passage 248 extends through the stem 246 from a stem port 247 arranged through a side of the stem 246 to the output area 216A of the piston chamber 216.
In operation, the spring 250 applies a biasing force oil the second piston surface 244 that biases the piston 240 towards a first position, with the piston seal 249 disposed away from the inlet port 274 of the pressure adjustment screw 260. In this position, compressed gas from the input port 206 is permitted to travel through the inlet port 274 into the receptacle 262 and through the gas transfer passageway 248 in the piston stem 240 into the output area 216A.
When an output pressure in the output area 216A of the piston chamber 216 reaches a predetermined level, it creates a sufficient force on the first surface 242 of the piston 240 to overcome the biasing force of the spring 250, and the piston 240 moves toward the input end 200B of the regulator 200. When the piston reaches a second position, the piston seal 249 contacts a surface surrounding the inlet port 274 and thereby closes off the inlet port 274 to prevent further compressed gas from the compressed gas source from entering the piston chamber 216.
The output pressure can be adjusted using the pressure adjustment screw 260. More specifically, tightening the pressure adjustment screw 260 causes the spring platform 265 to compress the spring 250, thereby increasing the amount of biasing force applied by the spring 250 on the second piston surface 244. Loosening the pressure adjustment screw 260 relieves the compression of the spring 250 and decreases the amount of biasing force applied by the spring 250 on the piston 240. The greater the biasing force applied to the piston 240 by the spring 250, the greater the output pressure required to seat the piston seal 249 against the inlet port 274.
CO2 provides a readily available and inexpensive source of compressed gas for pneumatic applications. Unfortunately, conventional regulators may lack the ability to operate reliably and consistently using CO2 as the compressed gas source. It would further be desirable, therefore, to have a regulator that provides the ability to reliably use CO2 as the compressed gas source. The industry is in need of a compressed gas regulator that provides some or all of these benefits and advantages.
According to principles of the present invention, a compressed gas regulator for a pneumatic device (such as a paintball gun, for example), can include a body. The body can include an output end having a connector (e.g., a standard ASA thread) for connecting to the pneumatic device. The opposite end of the body can be provided with a swivel connector for connecting to a compressed gas source. The swivel connector can include, for instance, a standard ⅛ NPT threaded input port for receiving a tube connector.
The body of the compressed gas regulator preferably includes a piston chamber and an output port for supplying compressed gas having an output pressure to the connected device. A regulator piston can be arranged in the piston chamber with a first surface being acted upon by pressurized gas having the output pressure. A second surface of the piston can be acted upon by a biasing member, such as a spring or spring pack. The biasing member supplies a biasing force that urges the piston toward a first position. The output pressure of the pressurized gas acting on the first surface creates a force that urges the piston toward a second position.
A stem of the piston can be arranged through a center of the biasing member toward an inlet port. A gas transfer passage is preferably arranged through the piston stem to communicate compressed gas from the inlet port to the piston chamber output area located proximal to the first surface when the piston is in the first position (the “first position” can, for instance, refer to any position other than the second position). A piston seal is preferably arranged on an end of the piston stem to seat against and seal off the inlet port when the piston is in the second position.
A pressure adjustment member can be arranged in communication with the biasing member (either directly or through intermediate members) to adjust the amount of biasing force applied by the biasing member on the second piston surface. By adjusting the amount of biasing force, the amount of pressure required to seal off the inlet port can be adjusted and the output pressure can thereby be controlled. The pressure adjustment member can include a receptacle that matingly receives the end of the piston stem having the piston seal.
A plug can also be arranged in the receptacle and can supply the inlet port and an inlet port seat surrounding the inlet port. The plug preferably includes one or more passageways that receive compressed gas from the compressed gas source and communicate the compressed gas to the inlet port. A stop ring can be provided to prevent the plug (and inlet port seat) from inadvertently being withdrawn or removed from the receptacle, and thereby prevent regulator overpressurization that would result from bottoming out of the spring pack and separation of the inlet port seat from the piston seal.
In operation, compressed gas is preferably received into the regulator body via the input port in the swivel connector. Compressed gas from the swivel connector is then supplied to the plug through one or more passageways in a sidewall of the pressure adjustment member. The plug receives the compressed gas into the plug body and transmits the compressed gas to the inlet port through one or more passageways.
If the output pressure is below a predetermined threshold, the force of the output pressure on the first surface of the piston is insufficient to counteract the biasing force of the biasing member on the second surface, and the piston is urged toward a first position. In this case, compressed gas from the inlet port is permitted to enter the receptacle in the pressure adjustment member and travel into and through the gas transfer passage in the piston stem to the piston chamber output area in communication with the first surface. Compressed gas travels from the output area to the output port.
Once the output pressure in the output chamber reaches the desired level, the force created by the output pressure on the first piston surface overcomes the biasing force of the biasing member and forces the piston into the second position. In the second position, the piston seal arranged on the end of the piston stem seals off the inlet port and prevents additional compressed gas from entering the gas transfer passage in the piston stem. In this manner, the compressed gas regulator maintains the output pressure in the output chamber. The pressure adjustment member is used to set the output pressure by adjusting the amount of the biasing force applied by the biasing member on the second piston surface.
According to additional principles of the present invention, the body of the compressed gas regulator can also include an expansion chamber for use in CO2 applications. A bleed valve can be arranged in communication with the expansion chamber to release liquid CO2 from the regulator and prevent liquid CO2 from being supplied to an attached pneumatic device. The expansion chamber can be formed in a fluid path between the output area of the piston chamber and the output port, and preferably allows the expansion of the CO2 into its gaseous state. The bleed valve is preferably arranged at a bottom of the expansion chamber. If liquid CO2 remains after the expansion process, the bleed valve permits the liquid CO2 to be expelled from the regulator body. More particularly, above a certain pressure, the pressurized gas and liquid CO2 in the expansion chamber force the bleed valve open. Since the liquid CO2 is more dense than the gaseous CO2, the liquid CO2 is forced out of the open bleed valve and released from the regulator. A slot can be arranged in the side of the regulator to prevent a pinpoint exhaust of pressurized gas or CO2 from penetrating the skin of an operator's hand.
According to a still further aspect of the present invention, a pressure relief port can be provided through a sidewall of the regulator body in communication with the piston chamber at a predetermined location. If the pressure on the output side of the regulator piston exceeds an acceptable amount, the piston will be forced past the pressure relief port and the compressed gas will be safely released from the regulator body. The pressure relief port can communicate with a slot arranged along a side of the regulator body to prevent a pinpoint exhaust of compressed gas. In a CO2 embodiment, the slot arranged in the side of the regulator to communicate with the bleed valve exhaust can also communicate with this pressure relief port. Alternatively, a separate slot could be provided.
Various other aspects, embodiments, and configurations of this invention are also possible without departing from the principles disclosed herein. This invention is therefore not limited to any of the particular aspects, embodiments, or configurations described herein.
The foregoing and additional objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, made with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
Various principles and aspects of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Specifically,
For CO2 applications, an expansion chamber 312 is preferably arranged in the regulator body 301 in fluid communication with the output port 304. A bleed valve 320 can be arranged in a bleed valve chamber 314 arranged in communication with a bottom area 312A of the expansion chamber 312.
The bleed valve 320 preferably comprises a valve body 322. A valve piston 324 is preferably arranged in the valve body 322 and biased in a closed position against a valve seat 326 and sealing member 325 through a biasing force applied to the piston 324 by a spring 328. One or more outlet ports 329 are preferably arranged through the valve body 322. An exhaust port 315 can also be provided through a sidewall of the regulator body 301 to release all exhaust from the outlet ports 329. A slot 317 can be arranged along the side of the regulator body 301 in communication with the exhaust port 315 to allow expansion of the exhaust and prevent a pinpoint exhaust of compressed gas or liquid CO2 from contacting a user's hand.
A piston chamber 316 is also preferably arranged in the regulator body 301 with a gas transfer passage 318 providing fluid communication with the expansion chamber 312. A piston 340 is preferably arranged in the piston chamber 316 and has a first surface 342, a second surface 344, and a piston stem 346. A compressed gas transfer passage 348 is arranged through the piston 340 and communicates with a stem port 347 arranged near an end 346A of the piston stem 346. The first surface 342 of the piston 340 is preferably arranged in an output area 316A of the piston chamber 316. A biasing member 350 (e.g., a spring, spring pack, or other biasing member) is preferably arranged in the piston chamber 316 to apply a biasing force to the second surface 344. The piston stem 346 can extend through a center of the biasing member 350 and into a receptacle 362 of a pressure adjustment mechanism 360. A piston seal 349 is preferably arranged on or in the end 346A of the piston stem 346.
The pressure adjustment mechanism 360 can be arranged in an end 316B of the piston chamber 316 opposite the output area 316A. The pressure adjustment mechanism 360 preferably communicates with the biasing member 350 to enable adjustment of an amount of biasing force applied by the biasing member 350 on the second surface 344 of the piston 340. For instance, the pressure adjustment mechanism 360 may have threads arranged on a first end 360A to be threaded into the piston chamber 316 in contact with the biasing member 350. In this case, advancing the threads (e.g., through clockwise rotation) of the pressure adjustment mechanism 360 can increase a biasing force applied by the biasing member 350 on the piston 340 by compressing the biasing member 350. Unthreading the pressure adjustment mechanism 360 can reduce the biasing force.
A plug 370 can be arranged inside the receptacle 362 of the pressure adjustment mechanism 360. One or more passageways 366 can be arranged through a sidewall 364 of the pressure adjustment mechanism 360 to transmit gas into the receptacle 362. The plug 370 preferably includes one or more gas transfer passageways 372 that receive compressed gas from the passageways 366 and communicate the compressed gas to the inlet port 374. An inlet port seat 376 surrounds the inlet port 374. A stop ring 379 is preferably provided to prevent the plug 370 (and inlet port seat 376) from inadvertently being withdrawn from the receptacle 362. The stop ring 379 thereby helps prevent regulator overpressurization that might otherwise result from bottoming out of the spring pack 350 and separation of the inlet port seat 376 from the piston seal 349.
A second end 360B of the pressure adjustment mechanism 360 can extend through the input end of the body 301. A swivel connector 380 can be arranged around the second end 360B of the pressure adjustment mechanism 360. An internal chamber 382 of the swivel connector preferably surrounds the pressure adjustment mechanism 360 and communicates compressed gas from the input port 306 to the passageways 366. The input port 306 is preferably capable of being rotated around the pressure adjustment mechanism 360. In this embodiment, the swivel connector permits complete, 360° rotation of the input port 306 around the pressure adjustment mechanism 360. The input port 306 can, for instance, provide a standard ⅛ NPT fitting connection. A snap ring 390 can be provided on the second end 360B of the pressure adjustment mechanism 360 to retain the swivel connector 380 on the pressure adjustment mechanism 360.
In operation, compressed gas having an input pressure is received from a compressed gas source (not shown) into the swivel connector 380 of the compressed gas regulator 300 through the input port 306. Seals 384 prevent compressed gas from escaping from the swivel connector 380 in an undesired direction. The compressed gas in the swivel connector 380 is communicated to the plug 370 through the passageways 366 in the sidewall 364 of the pressure adjustment mechanism 360 and through the passageways 372 in the plug to the inlet port 374. The biasing member 350 biases the piston 340 away from the plug 370, thereby permitting compressed gas from the inlet port 374 to travel into the receptacle 362. From the receptacle 362, compressed gas is communicated into piston 340 via the stem port 347 and through the gas transfer passageway 348 into the output area 316A of the piston chamber 316.
Compressed gas in the output area 316A of the piston chamber 316 flows into the expansion chamber 312 through the gas transfer passage 318. The compressed gas in the expansion chamber 312 and the output area 316A of the piston chamber 316 have an output pressure. The output pressure of the compressed gas in the output area 316A provides a force on the first surface 342 of the piston 340 to urge the piston towards the second position. Once the output pressure provides a sufficient force to overcome the biasing force of the biasing member 350, the piston 340 moves to the second position and the piston seal 349 seats against the inlet port seat 376 and seals off the inlet port 374, thereby preventing any further influx of compressed gas and maintaining the output pressure at the desired level. Adjustment of the pressure adjustment mechanism 360 adjusts the amount of biasing force applied on the piston 340 and thereby adjusts the desired level of the output pressure.
According to principles of the present invention, a compressed gas regulator is therefore provided which facilitates a connection to a compressed gas source to be arranged in a desired orientation. Other principles of the present invention provide an integrated expansion chamber and bleed valve in the regulator to facilitate a more reliable use of CO2 as the compressed gas. Of course, various alternative embodiments are also contemplated. For instance, in non-CO2 applications, the expansion chamber and bleed valve can be omitted entirely. Mechanical or pneumatic biasing members other than springs or spring packs could also be used.
Having described and illustrated various principles and aspects of the present invention through a detailed description of an exemplary embodiment thereof, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiment disclosed can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from the inventive principles made apparent herein. The claims should therefore be interpreted to cover all such variations and modifications.
