Electropneumatic paintball gun, method of making and operating, and retrofit kit assembly

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 programmable, microprocessor-based controller allows default values for time intervals of operation of the gun to be programmed, and also allows a user of the gun to access and change default values so that the operation of the gun can be modified to better meet the user's preferences. A cyclic rate of fire of as much as 30 paint ball shots per second or more is possible with a paint ball gun according to this invention. Further, a retrofit kit assembly provides for conversion of a conventional “autococker” type of paint ball gun into a gun embodying the present invention.

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       8 . A method of providing a paintball gun having a high cyclic rate of fire, said method including steps of: 
 providing a main gun body defining a pair of parallel bores disposed vertically one above the other, configuring a first of said pair of bores 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 closes and opens 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 at a second bore 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 rearwardly of said gun; and    providing a pneumatic hammer assembly also disposed in said second bore aft of said discharge valve, providing said pneumatic hammer with a sleeve member defining a bore, 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, disposing a spring in said second bore between said pneumatic hammer assembly and said pneumatic discharge valve to bias said hammer member to said first position, and providing a pneumatic pressure signal into said variable volume chamber moving said hammer member axially forwardly of said gun to a second position to abut said poppet valve stem unseating said poppet valve member to a second position and opening said discharge valve to communicate pressurized gas to said breech via said passage, and utilizing said spring to return said hammer member to said first position upon cessation of said pneumatic pressure signal.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  further including the steps of providing a pneumatic ram having a piston and a rod connecting with said bolt assembly, utilizing said pneumatic ram for moving said bolt assembly between said first and second positions in response to respective pneumatic pressures applied to said piston; providing a pair of solenoid valves each receiving pressurized gas from a source thereof; communicating pressurized gas from one of said pair of solenoid valves selectively to said pneumatic hammer assembly to controllably effect movement of said hammer member between its first and second; and communicating pressurized gas from another of said pair of solenoid valves selectively to said ram in timed coordination with operation of said pneumatic hammer assembly by said first solenoid valve thus controllably effecting timed coordinated operation of said pneumatic hammer assembly and opening and closing of the breech of said paint ball gun by said bolt assembly.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  further including the step of utilizing a programmable controller selectively controlling said first and second solenoid valves.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  including the step of utilizing said programmable controller to effect a first programmable time interval between an event starting movement of said hammer member from its first position toward its second position, and a next subsequent event starting movement of said hammer member from its second position back toward its first position.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  including the step of utilizing said programmable controller to effect a second programmable time interval between said second event starting movement of said hammer member from its second position back toward its first position, and a third event starting movement of said bolt assembly from its closed first position toward its opened second position.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  including the step of including in said gun a barrel member of determined length for discharge of said paintball, and said barrel member determined length providing said barrel member with a characteristic frequency of oscillation of air pressure waves between a breach opening and a muzzle opening of said barrel member, providing said first time interval and said second time interval such that in total these time intervals are selected to synchronize opening of said bolt assembly with the arrival at said breach opening of a rarefaction air pressure wave, and utilizing this rarefaction air pressure wave to assist a new paint ball into said breach opening.  
   
   
       14 . A method of operating a paintball gun having a high cyclic rate of fire, said paintball gun including a barrel member for discharge of said paintball and having a determined length providing said barrel member with a characteristic frequency of oscillation of air pressure waves between a breach opening and a muzzle opening of said barrel member, said gun further including a bolt assembly controllably reciprocating between a closed first position closing said breach opening and an opened second position allowing a new paint ball to enter said breach opening via a feed opening, and a discharge valve selectively providing pressurized gas to said barrel at said breach to discharge a paintball from said barrel, said method including steps of: 
 providing a pneumatic hammer assembly cooperable with said discharge valve to controllably effect opening of the discharge valve,    providing said pneumatic hammer with a sleeve member defining a bore, 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, utilizing a spring to bias said hammer member to said first position, and    synchronizing opening of said bolt assembly with the arrival at said breach opening of a rarefaction air pressure wave, and utilizing this rarefaction air pressure wave to assist a new paint ball into said breach opening.    
   
   
       15 . A retrofit kit assembly for use in converting a conventional “autococker” type of paintball gun having a main gun body into an electro-pneumatically operated paintball gun providing an extraordinarily high cyclic rate of fire of paintballs from said gun, said retrofit kit of parts including: 
 a grip frame for attachment to said main gun body, said grip frame carrying a trigger and including a trigger guard,    said grip frame also having an internal electronics and valving assembly;    said electronics and valving assembly including a circuit board carrying a microprocessor-based control system and a trigger switch cooperable with said trigger to provide an input to said control system in response to a trigger pull movement of said trigger;    said electronics and valving assembly also including a 3-way solenoid valve;    a pneumatic hammer assembly receiving a pneumatic signal from said 3-way valve, said pneumatic hammer assembly including a sleeve member defining a bore, 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, said hammer member being movable in response to receipt of said pneumatic signal from said 3-way valve to extend outwardly of said sleeve member to a second position in which said hammer member is cooperable with a discharge valve of said gun to open said discharge valve, and a spring for biasing said hammer member to said first position;    a ram operably coupled with a bolt assembly of said gun;    and a 4-way solenoid valve providing opposite pneumatic signals to said ram for reciprocating said bolt assembly between closed and opened positions;    a regulator for providing pressurized air to said 3-way solenoid valve; and    a regulator for providing pressurized gas to said 4-way solenoid valve.    
   
   
       16 . The retrofit kit assembly of  claim 15  further including said electronics and valving assembly including a programmable controller selectively controlling said 3-way and said 4-way solenoid valves.  
   
   
       17 . The retrofit kit assembly of  claim 16  wherein said programmable controller includes a microprocessor, and said microprocessor is utilized to effect a first programmable time interval between an event starting movement of said hammer member from its first position toward its second position, and a next subsequent event starting movement of said hammer member from its second position back toward its first position.  
   
   
       18 . The retrofit kit assembly of  claim 17  wherein said programmable controller is utilized to effect a controlled variable time interval between said first event and said second event.  
   
   
       19 . The retrofit kit assembly of  claim 17  wherein said programmable controller is utilized to effect a controlled variable time interval between said second event and a third event which starts movement of said bolt assembly from said closed position toward said opened position.  
   
   
       20 . The retrofit kit assembly of  claim 19  wherein said programmable controller is utilized to synchronizing opening of said bolt assembly with the arrival at a breach opening of said gun of a rarefaction air pressure wave, such that said rarefaction air pressure wave is effective to suck a new paint ball into said gun.  
   
   
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