Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6550468
-
Patent Number
6,550,468
-
Date Filed
Friday, April 27, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, April 22, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Jordan; Charles T.
- Zerr; John W.
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 124 31
- 124 71
- 124 72
- 124 73
- 089 12901
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A gun having a trigger assist mechanism that includes a chamber, a trigger having a firing position and a released position, a compressed gas source in pneumatic communication with the chamber, and an actuator in pneumatic communication with the chamber. The compressed gas source provides compressed gas to the chamber upon movement of the trigger to the firing position. The actuator is operably disposed to apply a force tending to move the trigger from the firing position to the released position when compressed gas is directed from the chamber to the actuator.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a gun, and particularly, to a pneumatically powered gun. More particularly, the present invention relates to gun having a trigger assist mechanism.
Pneumatically powered guns can be designed and manufactured to operate in single shot, semi-automatic, or fully automatic modes. They can also be provided with a selector that permits switching between two or more modes. A single shot gun necessitates that an operator pull a bolt back or otherwise load a projectile, and then pull a trigger to fire the projectile. In contrast, with each shot of a semi-automatic gun, the bolt is positioned to be ready for the next shot, and is therefore capable of firing projectiles as fast as the operator can pull the trigger. Even with this improved firing capacity, however, the speed of an operator's finger cannot equate with an automatic gun. Fully automatic guns do not require the trigger to be pulled with the firing of each projectile. When an operator pulls the trigger back, an automatic gun will continue to fire projectiles as fast as mechanically possible for the gun until the trigger is released.
Competitions and games have become popular for pneumatically powered guns. However, automatic guns are typically not permitted in such competitions and games. Therefore, it has become desirable in the pneumatically powered gun industry to provide a semi-automatic gun that permits rapid firing of a type associated with an automatic gun.
One embodiment of a gun constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a trigger assist mechanism. This embodiment includes a chamber having a projectile entrance and a projectile exit, a trigger having a firing position and a released position, a compressed gas source in pneumatic communication with the chamber, and an actuator in pneumatic communication with the chamber. The compressed gas source provides compressed gas to the chamber upon movement of the trigger to the firing position. The actuator is operably disposed to apply a force tending to move the trigger from the firing position to the released position.
In one embodiment, the actuator is a pneumatic piston. Compressed gas is directed to the pneumatic piston from the chamber upon movement of the trigger to the firing position.
In another embodiment, a controller is provided for cooperating with the actuator to control movement of the trigger from the released position to the firing position. The controller can be a bleed valve. The controller operates to adjustably control the release of compressed gas from the actuator. The controller includes an adjustment screw which is variable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the closed position restricts the exit flow of compressed gas from the actuator.
In another embodiment, an apparatus is provided for controlling the movement of a trigger on a gun. According to this embodiment, the apparatus includes a chamber for firing a projectile from the gun using a propellant, a trigger having a firing position and a released position, and an actuator in pneumatic communication with the chamber. The actuator is operably disposed to move the trigger from the firing position to the released position when the propellant is directed from the chamber to the actuator.
In yet another embodiment, a method of assisting movement of a trigger on a gun having a chamber for receiving a compressed gas to expel a projectile when the trigger is moved from a released position to a firing position is provided. The method includes the steps of: providing an actuator operably disposed to tend to move the trigger from the firing position to the released position when the actuator is filled with a compressed gas; providing a source of compressed gas to the chamber; and directing the compressed gas from the chamber to the actuator to assist in movement of the trigger. The subject method can further include the step of controllably releasing the compressed gas from the actuator such that the trigger can be moved from the released position to the firing position in response to a force acting on the trigger.
Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:
FIG. 1
is a side view of a gun equipped with an embodiment of the trigger assist mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2
is a perspective view of the trigger assist mechanism shown in FIG.
FIG. 3
is an assembled, cross-sectional side view of the trigger assist mechanism shown in
FIG. 1
; and
FIG. 4
is an assembled, cross-sectional side view similar to that of
FIG. 3
, showing the bolt in the recoiled stage, ready to be released with the actuation of the trigger.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
shows a perspective view of a gun
10
equipped with an embodiment of a trigger assist mechanism
12
constructed in accordance with the present invention. Gun
10
includes a front hand grip or forestock
16
and a pistol grip
18
both of which are used to hold gun
10
in a firing position.
Gun
10
additionally includes a firing mechanism, such as trigger
20
, used to fire projectiles from gun
10
. Trigger
20
is partially surrounded by a trigger guard
22
. Gun
10
additionally includes a shoulder stock
24
and a buttplate
26
. A CO
2
or other compressed gas canister forms shoulder stock
24
and is used as a propellant to fire projectiles from gun
10
and also operate the trigger assist mechanism
12
, as discussed more fully below. As can be seen in
FIG. 1
, canister
24
includes a neck portion
28
that is received in a socket portion
30
(coupled with pistol grip
18
) by such means as a threaded engagement between neck
28
and socket
30
. Compressed gas feed tube
31
directs compressed gas from the canister
24
to the valve assembly
44
, shown in phantom in FIG.
1
.
Gun
10
further includes a barrel
32
from which projectiles are fired and a frame
34
to which components of gun
10
, such as trigger assist mechanism
12
, are attached. Gun
10
additionally includes a member
36
connected to a cyclically reciprocating bolt
38
(shown in FIGS.
3
and
4
). Member
36
cyclically reciprocates within slot
40
formed in frame
34
of gun
10
. Slot
40
includes an end
42
that receives member
36
when the reciprocating member of gun
10
is in a “cocked” or ready position for firing a projectile, as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 4
.
Elements of trigger assist mechanism
12
can be seen in FIG.
2
. Trigger assist mechanism
12
includes an actuator
48
in pneumatic communication with valve assembly
44
. Actuator
48
, in one embodiment, comprises a cylindrical piston assembly
49
having an axially projecting rod
50
. When compressed gas is directed from valve assembly
44
through port
52
, it travels into actuator
48
. In the piston embodiment disclosed above, rod
50
projects from cylindrical piston assembly
49
upon introduction of compressed gas into piston assembly
49
. It should be understood that while the trigger assist mechanism
12
is described herein with relation to a pneumatic gun, the inventive elements could also be applied to any type of gun that uses a propellant, such as in the case of bullets having a combustible propellant, i.e. gun powder.
In one embodiment, trigger assist mechanism
12
further comprises a valve
46
, which functions to permit the free flow of compressed gas toward actuator.
48
, while variably controlling the release of the compressed gas from actuator
48
. Variable control is established with screw
54
, which permits flow of compressed gas away from actuator
48
that is proportional to the depth at which screw
54
is threaded into valve
46
. Such a construction provides for controlled rate of depression of rod
50
into piston assembly
49
from the extended position, as will be discussed further below.
A cut away view of the right side of gun
10
is shown in
FIGS. 3-4
. Actuator
48
is shown embodied in pistol grip
18
such that rod
50
is positioned to engage trigger
20
and is disposed for movement with trigger
20
. In
FIG. 4
, bolt
38
is in the cocked (ready to be fired) position, and is held in place with sear
56
, which engages a notch or shoulder portion
58
of bolt
38
, thereby holding bolt
38
in place against movement caused by the urging of spring
60
. Sear
56
is moved out of engagement with notch
58
upon actuation of trigger
20
. In the embodiment illustrated, trigger
20
is manually pulled rearwardly toward grip
18
in the direction indicated by arrow
62
to pivot or move sear
56
out of engagement with notch or shoulder
58
.
The pulling of trigger
20
in direction
62
also causes rod
50
to be urged in the direction indicated by arrow
64
, thereby depressing rod
50
into cylindrical piston assembly
49
. Gas in cylindrical piston assembly
49
is relieved through valve
46
at a rate controlled by screw
54
. When screw
54
is in a tightened position, gas escapes at a slower rate from piston assembly
49
. Consequently, rod
50
is slower to move into piston assembly
49
and trigger
20
is similarly slower to move in direction
62
. Conversely, when screw
54
is in a loosened position, rod
50
moves more readily into piston assembly
49
under a similar urging pressure from trigger
20
. Such an adjustment permits a similar urging pressure (in direction
62
) on trigger
20
to have a variety of firing rates depending on the position of screw
54
relative to valve
46
.
When sear
56
moves out of engagement with notch
58
, bolt
38
moves forwardly under the urging of spring
60
(shown in
FIG. 3
) toward barrel
32
. Valve assembly
44
, which is fixedly mounted to frame
34
, concentrically receives bolt
38
such that sleeve
66
circumscribes forward end
68
of bolt
38
. As bolt
38
approaches rear wall
70
of valve assembly
44
under spring-loaded pressure from spring
60
, bolt
38
impacts pin
72
, which activates valve assembly
44
. The activation of valve assembly
44
causes the release of compressed gas from canister
24
into valve assembly conduit
76
and eventually into barrel
32
, there by propelling projectile
74
from the gun
10
. As projectile
74
is propelled from gun
10
, bolt
38
also simultaneously recoils under compressed gas pressure to the cocked position, as is known in the art.
When pin
72
is impacted, compressed gas is also directed through port
52
to valve
46
and into actuator
48
. In one embodiment, as shown in
FIGS. 1-4
, a port conduit
78
pneumatically couples valve
46
with port
52
, and a securing screw
80
secures port conduit
78
to port
52
. The head of securing screw
80
is disposed outside of frame
34
to facilitate access to securing screw
80
, as shown in cut-away view in
FIGS. 3-4
. Similarly, valve
46
is disposed outside of frame
34
for access to adjustment screw
54
. In such an embodiment, port conduit
78
, disposed between securing screw
80
and valve
46
, is also disposed outside of frame
34
.
Valve
46
is configured to pass through frame
34
at pass-through portion
86
(shown in FIG.
2
), and couples with elbow
82
, which permits direct routing of actuator conduit
84
between actuator
49
and pass-through portion
86
of valve
46
.
Trigger assist mechanism
12
operates in cooperation with elements of gun
10
substantially as follows. When trigger
20
is pulled in direction
62
, sear
56
releases notch
58
of bolt
38
. Under spring-loaded pressure from spring
60
, bolt
38
moves forwardly toward valve assembly
44
and pin
72
. The impact of bolt
38
with pin
72
causes compressed gas to be released into barrel
32
to thereby propel projectile
74
from gun
10
. The recoil forces delivered by the compressed gas also cause slide
88
, which is mechanically connected with bolt
38
, to be forced rearwardly. Such movement allows bolt
38
to again become engaged with sear
56
, which catches notch
58
of bolt
38
until future disengagement caused by trigger
20
.
Upon the pulling of trigger
20
in direction
62
and the release of compressed gas from valve assembly
44
as disclosed above, compressed gas is also directed through port
52
to trigger assist mechanism
12
. In one embodiment, trigger assist mechanism
12
comprises actuator
48
, which functions to move trigger
20
from a first firing position to a second released position when actuator
48
is energized with compressed gas directed from port
52
. In the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 1-4
, actuator
48
comprises a cylindrical piston assembly
49
having a rod
50
configured to axially extend from the piston assembly
49
when energized with compressed gas directed from port
52
. Subsequent to the energization of piston assembly
49
, compressed gas is released from piston assembly
49
and trigger
20
is capable of being pulled in direction
62
again. Advantageously, trigger assist mechanism
12
allows a constant finger pressure to be applied to trigger
20
that can result in rapid reciprocation of trigger
20
between a firing position and a released position.
In another embodiment, actuator
48
further comprises valve
46
which permits variable release of compressed gas from piston assembly
49
, as disclosed above. In this embodiment, piston assembly
49
releases the compressed gas at a rate controlled by adjustment screw
54
, therefore controlling the reciprocation rate of trigger
20
. Valve
46
permits free flow of compressed gas toward actuator
48
, while permitting variable control of the reverse flow. Valve
46
, for example, can be a Clippard Flow Control Valve, Part No. CS-2543, which permits variable control of the reverse flow rate with adjustment screw
54
.
From the preceding description of the disclosed embodiments, it is evident that the objects of the invention are attained. Although the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is intended by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation. The spirit and scope of the invention are to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. A pneumatic gun comprising:a chamber having a projectile entrance and a projectile exit, a trigger having a firing position and a released position, a compressed gas source in intermittent pneumatic communication with the chamber, the compressed gas source providing compressed gas to the chamber upon movement of the trigger to the firing position, and an actuator in pneumatic communication with the chamber such that compressed gas is provided to the actuator upon movement of the trigger to the firing position, wherein the actuator is operably disposed to apply a force tending to move the trigger from the firing position to the released position.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator is a pneumatic piston.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein compressed gas is directed to the pneumatic piston from the chamber upon movement of the trigger to the firing position.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a controller for cooperating with the actuator to control movement of the trigger from the released position to the firing position.
- 5. A pneumatic gun comprising:a chamber having a projectile entrance and a projectile exit, a trigger having a firing position and a released position, a compressed gas source in pneumatic communication with the chamber, the compressed gas source providing compressed gas to the chamber upon movement of the trigger to the firing position, an actuator in pneumatic communication with the chamber, wherein the actuator is operably disposed to apply a force tending to move the trigger from the firing position to the released position, and a controller for cooperating with the actuator to control movement of the trigger from the released position to the firing position, wherein the controller is a bleed valve.
- 6. A pneumatic gun comprising:a chamber having a projectile entrance and a projectile exit, a trigger having a firing position and a released position, a compressed gas source in pneumatic communication with the chamber, the compressed gas source providing compressed gas to the chamber upon movement of the trigger to the firing position, an actuator in pneumatic communication with the chamber, wherein the actuator is operably disposed to apply a force tending to move the trigger from the firing position to the released position, and a controller for cooperating with the actuator to control movement of the trigger from the released position to the firing position, wherein the controller adjustably controls a release of compressed gas from the actuator.
- 7. A pneumatic gun comprising:a chamber having a projectile entrance and a projectile exit, a trigger having a firing position and a released position, a compressed gas source in pneumatic communication with the chamber, the compressed gas source providing compressed gas to the chamber upon movement of the trigger to the firing position, an actuator in pneumatic communication with the chamber, wherein the actuator is operably disposed to apply a force tending to move the trigger from the firing position to the released position, and a controller for cooperating with the actuator to control movement of the trigger from the released position to the firing position, wherein the controller includes an adjustment screw, the adjustment screw being variable between a closed position and an open position.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the closed position restricts an exit flow of compressed gas from the actuator.
- 9. An apparatus for controlling the movement of a trigger on a gun, the gun having an intermittently pressurized chamber for firing a projectile from the gun using a propellant, the trigger having a firing position and a released position, the apparatus comprising an actuator in pneumatic communication with the chamber, wherein the actuator is operably disposed to move the trigger from the firing position to the released position when propellant is directed from the intermittently pressurized chamber to the actuator.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the actuator is a pneumatic piston capable of being actuated with the propellant.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the propellant is directed to the pneumatic piston from the chamber upon movement of the trigger to the firing position.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a controller for cooperating with the actuator to control movement of the trigger from the released position to the firing position.
- 13. An apparatus for controlling the movement of a trigger on a gun, the gun comprising:a chamber for firing a projectile from the gun using a propellant, and a trigger having a firing position and a released position, the apparatus comprising an actuator in pneumatic communication with the chamber, wherein the actuator is operably disposed to move the trigger from the firing position to the released position when the propellant is directed from the chamber to the actuator, and a controller for cooperating with the actuator to control movement of the trigger from the released position to the firing position, wherein the controller is a bleed valve.
- 14. An apparatus for controlling the movement of a trigger on a gun, the gun comprising:a chamber for firing a projectile from the gun using a propellant, and a trigger having a firing position and a released position, the apparatus comprising an actuator in pneumatic communication with the chamber, wherein the actuator is operably disposed to move the trigger from the firing position to the released position when the propellant is directed from the chamber to the actuator, and a controller for cooperating with the actuator to control movement of the trigger from the released position to the firing position, wherein the controller adjustably controls a release of the propellant from the actuator.
- 15. An apparatus for controlling the movement of a trigger on a gun, the gun comprising:a chamber for firing a projectile from the gun using a propellant, and a trigger having a firing position and a released position, the apparatus comprising an actuator in pneumatic communication with the chamber, wherein the actuator is operably disposed to move the trigger from the firing position to the released position when the propellant is directed from the chamber to the actuator, and a controller for cooperating with the actuator to control movement of the trigger from the released position to the firing position, wherein the controller includes an adjustment screw, the adjustment screw being variable between a closed position and an open position.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the closed position restricts an exit flow of compressed gas from the actuator.
- 17. A method of assisting movement of a trigger on a gun, the gun having a chamber for receiving an intermittent flow of compressed gas to expel a projectile when the trigger is moved from a released position to a firing position, the method comprising the steps of:providing an actuator operably disposed to tend to move the trigger from the firing position to the released position when the actuator is filled with compressed gas; providing a source of compressed gas to the chamber; and directing the intermittent flow of compressed gas from the chamber to the actuator to assist in movement of the trigger.
- 18. A method of assisting movement of a trigger on a gun, the gun having a chamber for receiving a compressed gas to expel a projectile when the trigger is moved from a released position to a firing position, the method comprising the steps of:providing an actuator operably disposed to tend to move the trigger from the firing position to the released position when the actuator is filled with compressed gas; providing a source of compressed gas to the chamber; directing the compressed gas from the chamber to the actuator to assist in movement of the trigger, and controllably releasing the compressed gas from the actuator such that the trigger can be moved from the released position to the firing position in response to a force acting on the trigger.
US Referenced Citations (21)
Foreign Referenced Citations (6)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0 440 428 |
Jan 1991 |
EP |
0 440 428 |
Jan 1991 |
EP |
0 440 428 |
Jan 1991 |
EP |
0 467 089 |
Jun 1991 |
EP |
0 467 089 |
Jun 1991 |
EP |
09145296 |
Jun 1997 |
JP |