Paintball gun and method of operation

Abstract

An electro-pneumatically operated paint ball gun operates without the use of a mechanical sear, and includes a pneumatically-operated hammer assembly effective to bump open a discharge valve and fire the gun. A hammer member of the hammer assembly is preferably coupled for reciprocation in unison with a bolt of the paint ball gun. A method of operating the inventive paint ball gun includes pneumatic reciprocation of the hammer member and bolt in unison. The paint ball gun may include a pair of solenoid valves activated alternatingly to flow pressurized gas to the hammer assembly, and to allow an increased cyclic rate of operation for the paint ball gun.

1 . An open-bolt paint ball gun comprising: a body carrying a grip frame with a trigger, and a barrel for discharging a paint ball, a bolt member reciprocating on said body between a first open position and a second closed position to open and close a breech of said barrel, a pressure regulator receiving high pressure gas from a source thereof and providing a regulated gas pressure for discharge of a paint ball from said gun, a discharge valve flowing said regulated gas pressure to said barrel to discharge a paint ball therefrom, a pneumatic hammer assembly includes a hammer member operably coupled to said bolt to reciprocate in unison therewith between respective first and second locations, said hammer member in said second location cooperating with and opening said discharge valve, and a solenoid valve controllably providing gas pressure to said pneumatic hammer assembly to controllably operate said discharge valve in response to actuation of said trigger to fire a paint ball from said paint ball gun.  
   
   
       2 . The paint ball gun of  claim 1  wherein said bolt and said hammer member reciprocate in unison from a respective first position and first location in which said breech is open to receive a paint ball and said hammer member is spaced from said discharge valve, and in response to a trigger actuation by an operator of said paint ball gun said bolt and hammer member reciprocate to a second position and second location in which said bolt closes said breech to sealingly trap a paint ball therein, and said hammer member engages and opens said discharge valve to flow said regulated gas pressure to said barrel, thereby to fire said paint ball from said barrel.  
   
   
       3 . The paint ball gun of  claim 2  wherein said hammer member includes a head portion sealingly cooperating with said body to define a variable-volume chamber, and said discharge valve includes a stem portion defining a controlled flow path providing a controlled flow of gas pressure to said variable-volume chamber to move said hammer member from said second position to said first position.  
   
   
       4 . The paint ball gun of  claim 2  wherein said hammer member includes a head portion defining a spring seat feature, a coil compression spring seating on said spring seat feature of said hammer member and extending to said body, said spring cooperating with said hammer member to bias said hammer member from said second location to said first location.  
   
   
       5 . The paint ball gun of  claim 1  wherein said pressure regulator is the singular pressure regulator operating said paint ball gun providing said regulated gas pressure, and said solenoid valve and said discharge valve both control flow of said regulated gas pressure to said pneumatic hammer assembly and to said barrel respectively.  
   
   
       6 . The paint ball gun of  claim 1  wherein said pressure regulator provides a first regulated gas pressure, and further including a second pressure regulator providing a respective second regulated gas pressure, and said solenoid valve flows said second regulated gas pressure to said pneumatic hammer assembly, and said discharge valve flows said first regulated gas pressure to said barrel.  
   
   
       7 . The paint ball gun of  claim 1  further including another solenoid valve operating alternatingly with said solenoid valve to flow gas pressure to said pneumatic hammer assembly.  
   
   
       8 . The paint ball gun of  claim 7  further including another solenoid valve operating alternatingly with said solenoid valve so that a pair of solenoid valves are provided to individually and alternatingly flow gas pressure to said pneumatic hammer assembly.  
   
   
       9 . The paint ball gun of  claim 8  further including a quick exhaust valve interposed in fluid flow communication between said solenoid valve and said pneumatic hammer assembly, said quick exhaust valve flowing gas pressure to said pneumatic hammer assembly when said gas pressure is supplied from said solenoid valve, and when said solenoid valve is not providing gas pressure to said quick exhaust valve said quick exhaust valve exhausting gas pressure from said pneumatic hammer assembly to ambient.  
   
   
       10 . The paint ball gun of  claim 9  further including a check valve interposed in fluid flow communication between said solenoid valve and said quick exhaust valve.  
   
   
       11 . The paint ball gun of  claim 9  further including a shuttle valve interposed in fluid flow communication between said quick exhaust valve and said pneumatic hammer assembly, said shuttle valve communicating pressurized gas between said quick exhaust valve and said pneumatic hammer assembly, and closing communication from said pneumatic hammer assembly and the other of said solenoid valves which is not activated.  
   
   
       12 . The paint ball gun of  claim 9  further including a pair of quick exhaust valves each respectively interposed in fluid flow communication between one of said pair of solenoid valves and said pneumatic hammer assembly, and said shuttle valve alternatingly communicating one and then the other of said quick exhaust valves with said pneumatic hammer assembly.  
   
   
       13 . A paint ball gun comprising: a body carrying a grip frame with a trigger, and a barrel for discharging a paint ball, a single pressure regulator receiving high pressure gas from a source thereof and providing a singular regulated gas pressure utilized both for discharge of paint balls from said gun and for operation of said gun, said paint ball gun including a discharge valve flowing said single regulated gas pressure to said barrel to discharge a paint ball therefrom, and a solenoid valve receiving said singular regulated gas pressure and controllably providing said singular regulated gas pressure to a pneumatic hammer assembly controllably operating said discharge valve in response to actuation of said trigger to fire a paint ball from said paint ball gun.  
   
   
       14 . The paint ball gun of  claim 13  wherein said body carries a bolt reciprocating to open and close a breech of said barrel, and said pneumatic hammer assembly includes a hammer member operably coupled to said bolt to reciprocate in unison therewith.  
   
   
       15 . The paint ball gun of  claim 14  wherein said bolt and said hammer member reciprocate in unison from a mutual first position in which said breech is open to receive a paint ball and said hammer member is spaced from said discharge valve, and in response to a trigger actuation by an operator of said paint ball gun reciprocate to a second position in which said bolt closes said breech to sealingly trap a paint ball therein, and said hammer member reciprocates to a respective second position to engage and operate said discharge valve to flow said singular regulated gas pressure to said barrel, thereby to fire said paint ball from said barrel.  
   
   
       16 . The paint ball gun of  claim 15  wherein said hammer member includes a head portion sealingly cooperating with said body to define a variable-volume chamber, and said discharge valve includes a stem portion defining a controlled flow path providing a controlled flow of said singular regulated gas pressure to said variable-volume chamber to move said hammer member from said second position to said first position.  
   
   
       17 . The paint ball gun of  claim 15  wherein said hammer member includes a head portion defining a spring seat feature, a coil compression spring seating on said spring seat feature of said hammer member and extending to said body, said spring cooperating with said hammer member to bias said hammer member from said second position to said first position.  
   
   
       18 . The paint ball gun of  claim 13  wherein said pressure regulator is the singular pressure regulator operating said paint ball gun providing said regulated gas pressure, and said solenoid valve and said discharge valve both control flow of said regulated gas pressure to said pneumatic hammer assembly and to said barrel respectively.  
   
   
       19 . The paint ball gun of  claim 13  further including another solenoid valve operating alternatingly with said solenoid valve to flow gas pressure to said pneumatic hammer assembly.  
   
   
       20 . The paint ball gun of  claim 13  further including another solenoid valve operating alternatingly with said solenoid valve so that a pair of solenoid valves are provided to individually and alternatingly flow gas pressure to said pneumatic hammer assembly.  
   
   
       21 . The paint ball gun of  claim 13  further including a quick exhaust valve interposed in fluid flow communication between said solenoid valve and said pneumatic hammer assembly, said quick exhaust valve flowing gas pressure to said pneumatic hammer assembly when said gas pressure is supplied from said solenoid valve, and when said solenoid valve is not providing gas pressure to said quick exhaust valve said quick exhaust valve exhausting gas pressure from said pneumatic hammer assembly to ambient.  
   
   
       22 . The paint ball gun of  claim 21  further including a check valve interposed in fluid flow communication between said solenoid valve and said quick exhaust valve.  
   
   
       23 . The paint ball gun of  claim 21  further including a shuttle valve interposed in fluid flow communication between said quick exhaust valve and said pneumatic hammer assembly, said shuttle valve communicating pressurized gas between said quick exhaust valve and said pneumatic hammer assembly, and closing communication from said pneumatic hammer assembly and the other of said solenoid valves which is not activated.  
   
   
       24 . The paint ball gun of  claim 20  further including a pair of quick exhaust valves each respectively interposed in fluid flow communication between one of said pair of solenoid valves and said pneumatic hammer assembly, and said shuttle valve alternatingly communicating one and then the other of said quick exhaust valves with said pneumatic hammer assembly.  
   
   
       25 . A paint ball gun comprising: 
 a gun body defining a first bore for receiving a barrel with a breech end, and also receiving a bolt assembly reciprocating between first and second positions respectively opening and closing said breech end, said gun body further defining a feed inlet opening to the first bore for receiving a paint ball into said barrel breech end;    a second bore defined in said gun body substantially parallel with said first bore, and a passage for communicating pressurized gas from said second bore to said barrel breech end;    a discharge valve disposed in said second bore, including a seat member, and a poppet valve member sealingly engaging in a first position upon said seat member to close communication of pressurized gas from a source thereof to said barrel breech end via said passage, said poppet valve member including a poppet valve stem extending through said seat member rearwardly of said gun;    a pneumatic hammer assembly also disposed in said second bore aft of said discharge valve, and including a cylinder member defining a bore, a hammer member reciprocally and sealingly movable in said cylinder member bore, said hammer member coupling with said bolt assembly to reciprocate in unison therewith, and cooperating with said cylinder member to define a variable-volume chamber having a minimum volume with said hammer member and bolt assembly in a first position, said hammer member in response to receipt of pressurized gas in said cylinder member bore moving axially forwardly of said gun to a second position while also carrying said bolt assembly to a second position closing said barrel breech end, and said hammer member in said second position abutting and unseating said poppet valve member to a second position opening said discharge valve to communicate pressurized gas to said barrel breech end via said passage.    
   
   
       26 . A method of providing an open-bolt paintball gun having a high cyclic rate of fire, said method including steps of: 
 providing a gun body defining a pair of parallel bores disposed adjacent to one another, configuring a first of said pair of bores for holding a barrel for receiving and discharging a paint ball,    disposing in said first bore a reciprocable bolt assembly which in respective first and second positions relative to said main gun body opens and closes a breech of said gun, providing a feed inlet opening to said first bore, and providing a supply of paint balls to said breech via said feed opening;    further providing between said first and second bores a passage for communicating pressurized gas from said second bore to said breech; and providing in said second bore a pneumatic discharge valve including a seat member and a poppet valve member sealingly engaging in a first position upon said seat member to close communication of pressurized gas from a source thereof to said breech via said passage, providing said poppet valve member with a poppet valve stem extending through said seat member; and    providing a pneumatic hammer assembly also disposed in said second bore, providing said pneumatic hammer with a cylinder member defining a bore, utilizing a hammer member reciprocally and sealingly movable in said sleeve member bore and cooperating therewith to define a variable-volume chamber having a minimum volume with said hammer member in a first position, coupling said hammer member with said bolt for reciprocation in unison, providing a pneumatic pressure into said variable-volume chamber moving said hammer member and said bolt member axially of said gun to a second position in which said hammer member abuts and unseats said poppet valve to a second position opening said discharge valve to communicate pressurized gas to said breech via said passage and said bolt member in said second position closing said breech to trap a paint ball therein for discharge via said barrel.    
   
   
       27 . A paint ball gun comprising: a body carrying a grip frame with a trigger, and a barrel for discharging a paint ball, a bolt member reciprocating on said body to open and close a breech of said barrel, and a pneumatic hammer assembly includes a hammer member operably coupled to said bolt to reciprocate in unison therewith, a first pressure regulator receiving high pressure gas from a source thereof and providing a first regulated gas pressure for discharge of paint balls from said gun, a discharge valve flowing said first regulated gas pressure to said barrel to discharge a paint ball therefrom, a second pressure regulator receiving said first regulated gas pressure and providing a second regulated gas pressure, and a solenoid valve actuated in response to movements of said trigger in order to controllably provide said second regulated gas pressure to said pneumatic hammer assembly to controllably operate said discharge valve in order to fire a paint ball from said paint ball gun.  
   
   
       28 . The paint ball gun of  claim 27  wherein said bolt and said hammer member reciprocate in unison from a mutual first position in which said breech is open to receive a paint ball and said hammer member is spaced from said discharge valve, and in response to a trigger actuation by an operator of said paint ball gun reciprocate to a second position in which said bolt closes said breech to sealingly trap a paint ball therein, and said hammer member reciprocates to a respective second position to engage and operate said discharge valve to flow said first regulated gas pressure to said barrel, thereby to fire said paint ball from said barrel.  
   
   
       29 . The paint ball gun of  claim 28  wherein said hammer member includes a head portion sealingly cooperating with said body to define a variable-volume chamber, and said discharge valve includes a stem portion defining a controlled flow path providing a controlled flow of gas pressure to said variable-volume chamber to move said hammer member from said second position to said first position.  
   
   
       30 . The paint ball gun of  claim 28  wherein said hammer member includes a head portion defining a spring seat feature, a coil compression spring seating on said spring seat feature of said hammer member and extending to said body, said spring cooperating with said hammer member to bias said hammer member from said second position to said first position.  
   
   
       31 . The paint ball gun of  claim 27  further including another solenoid valve operating alternatingly with said solenoid valve to flow gas pressure to said pneumatic hammer assembly.  
   
   
       32 . The paint ball gun of  claim 27  further including another solenoid valve operating alternatingly with said solenoid valve so that a pair of solenoid valves are provided to individually and alternatingly flow gas pressure to said pneumatic hammer assembly.  
   
   
       33 . The paint ball gun of  claim 31  further including a quick exhaust valve interposed in fluid flow communication between said solenoid valve and said pneumatic hammer assembly, said quick exhaust valve flowing gas pressure to said pneumatic hammer assembly when said gas pressure is supplied from said solenoid valve, and when said solenoid valve is not providing gas pressure to said quick exhaust valve said quick exhaust valve exhausting gas pressure from said pneumatic hammer assembly to ambient.  
   
   
       34 . The paint ball gun of  claim 33  further including a check valve interposed in fluid flow communication between said solenoid valve and said quick exhaust valve.  
   
   
       35 . The paint ball gun of  claim 34  further including a shuttle valve interposed in fluid flow communication between said quick exhaust valve and said pneumatic hammer assembly, said shuttle valve communicating pressurized gas between said quick exhaust valve and said pneumatic hammer assembly, and closing communication from said pneumatic hammer assembly and the other of said solenoid valves which is not activated.  
   
   
       36 . The paint ball gun of  claim 34  further including a pair of quick exhaust valves each respectively interposed in fluid flow communication between one of said pair of solenoid valves and said pneumatic hammer assembly, and said shuttle valve alternatingly communicating one and then the other of said quick exhaust valves with said pneumatic hammer assembly.  
   
   
       37 . A paint ball gun comprising: a body carrying a grip frame with a trigger, and a barrel for discharging a paint ball, a bolt member reciprocating on said body between a first open position and a second closed position to open and close a breech of said barrel, a pressure regulator receiving high pressure gas from a source thereof and providing a regulated gas pressure for discharge of a paint ball from said gun, a discharge valve controllably flowing said regulated gas pressure to said barrel to discharge a paint ball therefrom, a pneumatic hammer assembly including a hammer member reciprocating between respective first and second locations, said hammer member in said second location cooperating with and opening said discharge valve, and a pair of alternatingly-operating solenoid valves each controllably providing gas pressure to said pneumatic hammer assembly to controllably operate said discharge valve in response to actuation of said trigger to fire a paint ball from said paint ball gun.