Gas distribution device with controlled pressure relief

Abstract

A gas distribution device for a paintball marker includes an exhaust hole for venting pressurized gas from the device and associated plumbing. The exhaust hole is axially located to be uncovered after the valve pin of the compressed gas cylinder is released. A controlled venting of pressurized portions of the gas distribution device and plumbing is effected without cycling the paintball marker or removing the gas cylinder.

1 . A device adapted for attachment to a source of compressed gas to effect a controlled release and distribution of gas from the source, the source of compressed gas including a valve actuatable to open a flow path for the compressed gas, said device comprising: 
 a body defining: 
 a coupling for establishing a sealed connection between said device and the source of compressed gas;  
 a pressure chamber for receiving compressed gas, said pressure chamber including at least one distribution port; and  
 an exhaust hole communicating between said pressure chamber and an ambient atmosphere; and  
   an actuator secured to and movable relative to said body between an on position in which to the valve is actuated to open the flow path for the compressed gas to pressurize said pressure chamber and a vent position in which the valve is released to close the flow path, said actuator including a seal member that sealingly separates said exhaust hole from said pressure chamber when said actuator is in the on position and permits communication between said exhaust hole and said pressure chamber when said actuator is in the vent position.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said actuator includes a knob, a shaft secured to said knob for rotation therewith, a pin extending from said shaft and a seal surrounding said shaft intermediate said knob and said pin, said seal radially compressed between said shaft and said body to separate said pressure chamber from said exhaust hole when said actuator is in the on position.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said actuator has a range of movement between said on position and said vent position including an off position in which said valve has been released but said exhaust hole remains sealingly separated from said pressure chamber.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said shaft is threadably retained in said body and rotation of said knob in a first direction moves said actuator toward said on position and rotation of said knob in a second direction moves said actuator toward said vent position.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said body defines a bore for said shaft, said bore including a threaded portion and an unthreaded sealing surface adjacent said pressure chamber, said seal being seated in a circumferential groove of said shaft and radially compressed against said sealing surface for sliding axial movement relative thereto.  
     
     
         6 . A device adapted for attachment to a source of compressed gas to effect a controlled release of gas from said source, said device comprising: 
 a body having first and second ends and defining a bore, said bore including a gas source receiving portion adjacent said first end, a high pressure portion communicating with said gas source receiving portion and an actuator travel portion adjacent said second end, said actuator travel portion communicating with said high pressure portion and including an exhaust hole at a first axial location between said high pressure portion and said second end, said high pressure portion including at least one high pressure port; and    an actuator including a knob, a shaft secured to said knob for rotation therewith, a pin extending from said shaft and a seal surrounding said shaft intermediate said knob and said pin, said actuator retained in said actuator travel portion with said pin directed toward said gas source receiving portion and said seal engaged between said shaft and said body,    wherein said actuator is selectively axially moveable from an on position in which said seal is in a second axial position between said exhaust hole and said high pressure portion, to a vent position in which said seal is axially moved toward said second end to allow communication between said high pressure portion and said exhaust hole.    
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the source of compressed gas includes a valve having a valve pin, which when depressed releases compressed gas from the source of compressed gas and a coupler configured for removably retaining the source of compressed gas to said gas source receiving portion, said pin extending into said gas source receiving portion to depress the valve pin when said actuator is in the on position.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein said actuator has a range of movement between said on position and said vent position including an off position in which said pin has released said valve pin but said seal remains intermediate said high pressure portion and said exhaust hole.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein said actuator shaft is threadably retained in said actuator travel portion and rotation of said knob in a first direction moves said actuator toward said on position and rotation of said knob in a second direction moves said actuator toward said vent position.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein said actuator travel portion includes a threaded portion adjacent said second end and an unthreaded sealing surface adjacent said high pressure portion.  
     
     
         11 . In combination with a compressed gas reservoir including a coupler for securing said reservoir to a receptacle and having a gas release valve including a valve pin, which when depressed releases compressed gas from said reservoir; 
 a device adapted for attachment to said reservoir to effect a controlled release of gas from said reservoir, said device comprising:    a body having first and second ends and defining a bore, said bore including a receptacle adjacent said first end, a high pressure portion communicating with said receptacle and an actuator travel portion adjacent said second end, said actuator travel portion communicating with said high pressure portion and including an exhaust hole at a first axial location between said high pressure portion and said second end, said high pressure portion including at least one high pressure port; and    an actuator including a knob, a shaft secured to said knob for rotation therewith, an actuator pin extending from said shaft and a seal surrounding said shaft intermediate said knob and said actuator pin, said actuator retained in said actuator travel portion with said actuator pin directed toward said gas receiving portion and said seal engaged between said shaft and said body,    wherein said actuator is selectively axially moveable from an on position in which said seal is in a second axial position between said exhaust hole and said high pressure portion and said actuator pin extends into said receptacle to depress said valve pin, releasing compressed gas into said high pressure portion, to a vent position in which said actuator pin is moved away from said receptacle to release said valve pin and said seal is axially moved toward said second end to allow communication between said high pressure portion and said exhaust hole to vent compressed gas from said high pressure portion while said coupler is retained in said receptacle.    
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 11 , wherein said actuator shaft is threadably retained in said actuator travel portion and rotation of said knob in a first direction moves said actuator toward said on position and rotation of said knob in a second direction moves said actuator toward said vent position.  
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 11 , wherein said actuator travel portion includes a threaded portion adjacent said second end and an unthreaded sealing surface adjacent said high pressure portion.  
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 11 , wherein said actuator has a range of movement between said on position and said vent position including an off position in which said actuator pin has released said valve pin but said seal remains intermediate said high pressure portion and said exhaust hole.  
     
     
         15 . A pneumatically operated device for launching a projectile comprising: 
 a compressed gas reservoir including a coupler for securing said reservoir to a receptacle and having a gas release valve including a valve pin, which when depressed releases compressed gas from the reservoir; and    a device for attachment to said reservoir to effect a controlled release of gas from said reservoir, said device comprising: 
 a body having first and second ends and defining a bore, said bore including a receptacle adjacent said first end, a high pressure portion communicating with said receptacle and an actuator travel portion adjacent said second end, said actuator travel portion communicating with said high pressure portion and including an exhaust hole at a first axial location between said high pressure portion and said second end, said high pressure portion including at least one high pressure port connected to said pneumatically operated device; and  
 an actuator including a knob, a shaft secured to said knob for rotation therewith, an actuator pin extending from said shaft and a seal surrounding said shaft intermediate said knob and said actuator pin, said actuator retained in said actuator travel portion with said actuator pin directed toward said gas receiving portion and said seal engaged between said shaft and said body,  
   wherein said actuator is selectively axially moveable from an on position in which said seal is in a second axial position between said exhaust hole and said high pressure portion and said actuator pin extends into said receptacle to depress said valve pin, releasing compressed gas into said high pressure portion, to a vent position in which said actuator pin is moved away from said receptacle to release said valve pin and said seal is axially moved toward said second end to allow communication between said high pressure portion and said exhaust hole to vent compressed gas from said high pressure portion while said coupler is retained in said receptacle.    
     
     
         16 . The pneumatically operated device for launching a projectile of  claim 15 , wherein said actuator shaft is threadably retained in said actuator travel portion and rotation of said knob in a first direction moves said actuator toward said on position and rotation of said knob in a second direction moves said actuator toward said vent position.  
     
     
         17 . The pneumatically operated device for launching a projectile of  claim 15 , wherein said actuator travel portion includes a threaded portion adjacent said second end and an unthreaded sealing surface adjacent said high pressure portion.  
     
     
         18 . The pneumatically operated device for launching a projectile of  claim 15 , wherein said actuator has a range of movement between said on position and said vent position including an off position in which said actuator pin has released said valve pin but said seal remains intermediate said high pressure portion and said exhaust hole.