Pneumatic dynamo for a paintball marker

Abstract

A paintball marker ( 12 ) has an air powered generator ( 10 ) to provide electrical power. A compressed gas conduit ( 18 ) is connected to the marker body ( 12 ) with compressed gas flowing therethrough. The gas flow is converted to electricity, such as by an impeller ( 52 ) that is mounted to a first end of a rotating shaft ( 48 ) with a magnet ( 50 ) mounted to a second end of a rotating shaft ( 48 ) with a coil ( 45 ) positioned proximal to the magnet ( 50 ) to create electricity upon rotation of the shaft ( 48 ) due to flow of compressed gas past the impeller ( 52 ). The created electricity can be used to power electrically powered components on board the marker ( 12 ) or recharge batteries ( 24 ) therein.

1 . An electrical power generator for a paintball marker having a compressed gas inlet to receive compressed gas from a compressed gas source, comprising: 
 a body having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the body disposed between said compressed gas source and the compressed gas inlet, the fluid inlet being in fluid communication with the fluid outlet by a fluid passage, the fluid passage being in fluid communication with the compressed gas source and the compressed gas inlet;    a shaft rotatably connected to the body;    means for rotating the shaft; the means for rotating the shaft being disposed within the fluid passage;    a magnet mounted to the shaft; and    a coil mounted to the body and adjacent to said magnet; the coil producing electricity in response to the rotation of said shaft and said magnet upon passage of compressed gas through the fluid passage.    
   
   
       2 . The electrical power generator of  claim 1 , wherein the means for rotating the shaft is an impeller.  
   
   
       3 . The electrical power generator of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 means for controlling electricity produced by the coil.    
   
   
       4 . The electrical power generator of  claim 1 , wherein the magnet is a permanent magnet.  
   
   
       5 . A generator for a paintball marker comprising: 
 a body having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, said fluid inlet being in fluid communication with said fluid outlet by a fluid passage;    a rotor rotatably mounted within said body and in communication with the fluid passage, the rotor being rotatable in response to fluid flow through the fluid passage;    a stator mounted adjacent to said rotor to produce electricity in response to the rotation of said rotor.    
   
   
       6 . The generator of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 means for controlling electricity produced by the coil.    
   
   
       7 . A paintball marker, comprising: 
 a paintball marker body;    a compressed gas conduit connected to the marker body; compressed gas being flowable therethrough; and    means for converting the flow of compressed gas through the compressed gas conduit into electricity with an electrical output; the means for converting being in fluid communication with the compressed gas conduit.    
   
   
       8 . The paintball marker of  claim 7 , wherein the means for converting is a stator and a rotor.  
   
   
       9 . The paintball marker of  claim 7 , wherein the means for converting is an impeller mounted to a first end of a rotating shaft with a magnet mounted to a second end of a rotating shaft with a coil positioned proximal to the magnet to create electricity upon rotation of the shaft due to flow of compressed gas past the impeller.  
   
   
       10 . The paintball marker of  claim 7 , wherein the means for converting is an impeller mounted to a first end of a rotating shaft with a coil mounted to a second end of a rotating shaft with a magnet positioned proximal to the coil to create electricity upon rotation of the shaft due to flow of compressed gas past the impeller.  
   
   
       11 . The paintball marker of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 an electrically operated component having an electrical input; the electrical input of the electrically operated component being electrically connected to the electrical output of the means for converting.    
   
   
       12 . The paintball marker of  claim 11 , wherein the electrically operated component is a paintball hopper connected to the paintball marker body.  
   
   
       13 . The paintball marker of  claim 11 , wherein the electrically operated component is a rechargeable battery mounted within the paintball marker body and in electrical communication with the electrical output of the means for converting.  
   
   
       14 . The paintball marker of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a control unit electrically connected to the electrical output of the means for converting and the electrical input of the electrically operated component.    
   
   
       15 . The electrical power generator of  claim 10 , wherein the magnet is a permanent magnet.