Portable electric driven compressed air gun

Abstract

A portable electric motor driven air gun powered by a power source. The motor is coupled to a lead screw, which drives a piston. The piston compresses air in a chamber producing high-pressure air. When sufficient energy is stored within the air stream by the piston a valve opens which releases the air to act on the projectile. The compressed air is used to push a projectile such as a paintball, an airsoft ball, a “bb”, or a pellet through a barrel. The lead screw is then reversed and the piston is reset for the next shot. The piston is preferably coupled to a feeding mechanism to facilitate positioning of the projectile for firing. The direction speed and operative modes of the gun are preferably controlled with an electric circuit. The power source is preferably rechargeable and allows the air gun to be operated completely independent from either a wall outlet or a compressed air supply.

1 . A compressed air gun for firing a projectile, comprising: 
 a barrel;    a bolt moveable from a first position to a second position for chambering at least one projectile;    a motor;    a power source in electrical communication with the motor;    a cylinder including a front end and a rear end;    a piston moveable within the cylinder and adapted to compress air within the cylinder, the piston in communication with the motor and moveable from a first position adjacent the rear end of the cylinder to a second position adjacent the front end of the cylinder, the piston mechanically linked to the bolt;    a compressed air passageway intermediate the cylinder and the barrel;    at least one valve intermediate the cylinder and the compressed air passageway for supplying compressed air from the cylinder to the compressed air passageway for firing a projectile from the gun.    
   
   
       2 . The compressed air gun according to  claim 1 , further comprising a control circuit for controlling operation of the gun.  
   
   
       3 . The compressed air gun according to  claim 2 , further comprising a start switch in communication with the control circuit for initiating actuation of the motor.  
   
   
       4 . The compressed air gun according to  claim 2 , further including at least one sensor in communication with the control circuit.  
   
   
       5 . The compressed air gun according to  claim 2 , wherein the control circuit further includes a switch which allows selection of semiautomatic, burst mode or automatic firing.  
   
   
       6 . The compressed air gun according to  claim 2 , wherein the control circuit further comprises a microprocessor.  
   
   
       7 . The compressed air gun according to  claim 1 , wherein the power source is a battery.  
   
   
       8 . The compressed air gun according to  claim 1 , wherein the motor is a rotary motor, wherein the motor is connected to the piston by a linear motion converter.  
   
   
       9 . A compressed air gun for firing a projectile, comprising: 
 a barrel;    a motor;    a power source in electrical communication with the motor;    a bolt in communication with the motor and moveable from a first position to a second position to chamber a projectile for firing;    a cylinder including a front end and a rear end;    a piston moveable within the cylinder and adapted to compress air within the cylinder, the piston mechanically linked to the bolt and moveable from a first position adjacent the rear end of the cylinder to a second position adjacent the front end of the cylinder;    a compressed air passageway intermediate the cylinder and the barrel;    at least one valve intermediate the cylinder and the compressed air passageway for supplying compressed air from the cylinder to the compressed air passageway for firing a projectile from the apparatus.    
   
   
       10 . The compressed air gun according to  claim 9 , further comprising a control circuit for controlling operation of the gun.  
   
   
       11 . The compressed air gun according to  claim 10 , further comprising a start switch in communication with the control circuit for initiating actuation of the motor.  
   
   
       12 . The compressed air gun according to  claim 10 , further including at least one sensor in communication with the control circuit.  
   
   
       13 . The compressed air gun according to  claim 10 , wherein the control circuit further includes a switch which allows selection of semiautomatic, burst mode or automatic firing.  
   
   
       14 . The compressed air gun according to  claim 10 , wherein the control circuit further comprises a microprocessor.  
   
   
       15 . The compressed air gun according to  claim 9 , wherein the power source is a battery.  
   
   
       16 . The compressed air gun according to  claim 9 , wherein the motor is a rotary motor, wherein the motor is connected to the piston by a linear motion converter.  
   
   
       17 . A compressor apparatus for a compressed air gun, comprising: 
 a motor;    a power source in electrical communication with the motor;    a cylinder including a front end and a rear end; and,    a piston moveable within the cylinder and adapted to compress air within the cylinder, the piston in communication with the motor and moveable from a first position adjacent the rear end of the cylinder to a second position adjacent the front end of the cylinder.    
   
   
       18 . A method for firing a projectile from a compressed air gun having a barrel, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a cylinder housing a piston for compressing air within the cylinder by movement of the piston;    (b) providing a motor for moving the piston within the cylinder;    (c) providing a bolt mechanically linked to the piston for chambering a projectile;    (d) providing a compressed air passageway intermediate the cylinder and the barrel;    (e) providing a valve intermediate the compressed air passageway and the barrel;    (f) supplying power from a power supply to the motor for moving the piston and bolt; and,    (g) selectively opening the valve for allowing passage of compressed air from the cylinder to the compressed air passageway for firing the projectile.