The present invention relates to a pneumatically operated projectile launching system particularly for use in airsoft guns.
Current airsoft projectile launching systems (as well as non-airsoft systems) include pneumatic and spring power sources. Existing designs suffer from deficiencies that affect accuracy, usability and/or durability.
For example, current spring-powered launching systems use a compressed spring to drive a piston longitudinally within a cylinder, compressing air in front of the piston. As the air is compressed it is directed behind the projectile to launch the projectile from a barrel. The spring may be compressed by human power or by an electric motor. Due to the stresses applied by the compressed spring, these types of systems are prone to mechanical failure. Pneumatic launching systems exist but still suffer from shortcomings in performance and usability as well as limitations in compatibility with equipment that is common in the sport of airsoft.
There is therefore a need for improved projectile launching systems.
In at least one aspect of the invention a pneumatically operated projectile launching system including a pneumatic assembly and a means of actuating the fluid control valve contained within the pneumatic assembly is provided. The fluid control valve is preferably a solenoid valve, actuated electrically by signals received from an electronic control unit, however, electronic control is not necessary for operation of the system and the fluid control valve may also be actuated mechanically or pneumatically.
In operation, a constant supply of compressed gas is supplied to the input port of the pneumatic assembly. When the system is idle, this compressed gas fills a firing chamber surrounding the nozzle section and biases the nozzle in the rearward position. The fluid control valve is a “3-way” normally closed (NC) poppet or spool valve which prevents the flow of gas from the input port of the valve until it is actuated. When the valve is actuated the input port is in fluid communication with the first output port, allowing gas to flow between them. When the valve is idle the first output port is in fluid communication with the second output port, which in turn is in fluid communication with the atmosphere. The input port of the solenoid is in constant fluid communication with the input port of the pneumatic assembly through a flow control port in the rear cylinder. The size of the flow control port allows the velocity of the nozzle to be limited without reducing the force applied to the nozzle. While the nozzle is in the rearward position, gas flow through the nozzle is prevented by a seal between the nozzle and the secondary valve body. The nozzle is configured for fluid actuation to a forward position by gas flow through the fluid control valve acting upon the rear face of the nozzle. When the system is firing, a fluid control valve directs compressed gas from the firing chamber to the rear surface of the nozzle. As the rear surface area of the nozzle is greater than the front surface area, the nozzle is actuated to the forward position to chamber a projectile. When the nozzle reaches the full forward position it travels beyond the sealing surface of the secondary valve body, allowing compressed gas to flow through a series of radial ports in the nozzle, then through the bore of the nozzle and launch the projectile. Compressed gas will continue to flow through the nozzle until the fluid control valve is deactivated, allowing the nozzle to return to the rearward position.
Various aspects of the invention are designed for use in conventional airsoft guns bodies. Breech, barrel and magazine are provided by the gun body in which one aspect of the invention is installed. The trigger may be part of the launching system or part of the gun body. Some aspects make use of the existing AEG (Automatic Electric Gun) gearbox housing as a host to adapt the launching system to existing airsoft gun bodies; other aspects can be manufactured as standalone systems which may be installed in place of the original AEG gearbox. Additionally, other aspects can be manufactured as an integral component of an airsoft gun.
In other aspects of the invention a pneumatic assembly for a projectile launching system includes a body defining a continuous bore from a substantially open forward end of the body to a substantially closed rearward end of the body; a nozzle positioned within the bore adjacent the forward end of the body, the nozzle moveable between a rearward position wherein the nozzle facilitates passage of a projectile through a projectile port and a forward position wherein a projectile is fired and nozzle blocks the projectile port to prevent passage of an additional projectile therethrough; and a fluid control valve, actuatable between a first position that facilitates passage of fluid from an input port to a rear of the nozzle and a second position that prevents passage of fluid from an input port to the rear of the nozzle while also allowing passage of fluid from the rear of the nozzle to atmosphere.
In other aspects the pneumatic assembly further includes a nozzle stem, upon which the nozzle seals and through which fluid can flow between the nozzle fluid chamber and the fluid control valve.
In other aspects of the invention, the nozzle includes a forward radial seal and a rear radial seal, the radial seals extending from a sail at the rear of the nozzle and separated by one or more radial ports, the forward radial seal biasing the nozzle in the rearward position while also preventing the flow of fluid from a firing chamber through the one or more radial ports until the nozzle has traveled a specific distance in the forward direction, the rear radial seal and seal on the nozzle stem creating a nozzle fluid chamber to receive fluid from a fluid control valve.
In other aspects the pneumatic assembly further comprises a secondary valve body including a bore into which the nozzle stem extends and within which the nozzle linearly moves, said bore for providing an internal passage for fluid between the firing chamber and an input port.
In other aspects the pneumatic assembly further comprises a means for actuating the fluid control valve. In other aspect the means for actuating the fluid control valve comprises a solenoid valve actuatable by signals received from an electronic control unit.
In other aspects the fluid control valve of the pneumatic assembly is a poppet or spool valve in a normally closed position.
In other aspects the rear surface area of the nozzle of the pneumatic assembly is greater than a front surface area of the nozzle.
For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:
In the drawings, like numerals indicate like elements throughout. Although the invention is illustrated and described herein with reference to specific aspects, the invention is not intended to be limited to the details shown. Rather, various modifications may be made in the details within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims and without departing from the invention. The invention is described below with reference to a compressed gas, however, it is understood that the compressed gas may be any fluid as known to those skilled in the art or which may become discovered by those skilled in the art.
Referring to the figures, the pneumatic assembly 100 may be utilized with a breech 101, a hop-up chamber or the like as known in the art. The breech 101 may be positioned adjacent an open end 102 of the pneumatic assembly 100 such that a bore therethrough is coaxial with a nozzle 202 of the pneumatic assembly 100. The breech 101 includes a projectile port 103 which supplies projectiles 104, for example, from a hopper, magazine or the like as is known in the art.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Four external grooves in the fluid control valve 205 receive o-rings 308, 309, 310, 311 which seal on the inside of the bore 424 of the rear cylinder 201 and divide the bore 424 longitudinally into four isolated sections 433, 434, 435, 436. The forward section 433 may be in fluid communication with atmosphere through a vent port 437 in the rear cylinder 201, allowing gas in front of the fluid control valve 205 to be drawn in from and vented to atmosphere as the fluid control valve stem 207 moves. The second section 434 places the valve input port 429 in constant fluid communication with the input port 206 through a flow control port 428. The third section 435 places the nozzle fluid chamber 438 in constant fluid communication with the valve output port 430 through the nozzle stem 204 and gas passage 432 in the rear cylinder 201. The fourth section 436 places the valve exhaust port 431 in constant fluid communication with atmosphere.
The fluid control valve 205 may be configured to prevent the flow of gas from the valve input port 429, but allow flow between the valve output port 430 and the valve exhaust port 431, until the fluid control valve 205 is actuated. When the fluid control valve 205 is actuated, compressed gas is allowed to flow between valve input port 429 and the valve output port 430, which is in constant fluid communication with the nozzle fluid chamber 438. While the fluid control valve 205 is actuated, the valve exhaust port 431 remains in fluid communication with atmosphere, but isolated from the compressed gas within the pneumatic assembly 100.
The fluid control valve 205 and compressed gas passages to and from the fluid control valve 205 are located within the rear cylinder 202, however, the fluid control valve may be located separate from the pneumatic assembly 100 as well.
A firing sequence will be explained with reference to
Referring now to
These and other advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing specification. Accordingly, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes or modifications may be made to the above-described aspects without departing from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It should therefore be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular aspects described herein, but is intended to include all changes and modifications that are within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the claims.
This application is a national stage patent application of International patent application Serial No. PCT/US2016/025863, filed on Apr. 4, 2016; which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional patent application No. 62/142,540, filed on Apr. 3, 2015; the entireties of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2016/025863 | 4/4/2016 | WO | 00 |
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WO2016/161417 | 10/6/2016 | WO | A |
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20180120051 A1 | May 2018 | US |
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62142540 | Apr 2015 | US |