Paintball marker

Abstract

A paintball marker is provided. The marker has a body, an inlet control device, a firing valve with a firing valve movable element, an actuator with an actuator movable element, a control valve with a control valve spool and a trigger. The actuator controls movement of both the inlet control device and the firing valve movable element. The control valve controls movement of the actuator movable element. The valve has at least three ports including an inlet port, a first outlet port and a vent port. The trigger is mechanically operatively connected to the control valve spool.

1 . A paintball marker, comprising: 
 a body, wherein the body defines a paintball inlet, wherein the body includes a firing gas chamber for holding firing gas for firing a paintball from the paintball marker;    an inlet control device, wherein the inlet control device is movable with respect to the body for controlling the flow of paintballs into the marker through the paintball inlet;    a firing valve, wherein the firing valve includes a firing valve movable element that is movable to control the flow of firing gas out of the firing gas chamber to fire a paintball and for controlling the flow of firing gas into the firing gas chamber;    an actuator, wherein the actuator includes an actuator movable element, wherein the actuator movable element is movable between a first position and a second position, and wherein the actuator movable element is operatively connected to the firing valve movable element and to the inlet control device, wherein the actuator movable element is movable to at least one of the first and second positions by pressurized gas;    a control valve, wherein the control valve includes a housing defining an interior, the housing having an inlet port for receiving pressurized gas, a first outlet port and a first vent port, wherein the ports are longitudinally spaced apart, wherein the housing further includes a first housing projection extending into the interior longitudinally between the inlet port and the first outlet port, and a second housing projection extending into the interior between the first outlet port and the first vent port, the housing projections having a first housing sealing surface and a second housing sealing surface thereon respectively, the control valve further including an elongate control valve spool that is slidably mounted in the housing, the control valve spool having a first spool projection and a second spool projection, wherein the spool projections are longitudinally spaced apart, the spool projections having a first spool sealing surface and a second spool sealing surface thereon respectively for sealing engagement with the housing sealing surfaces,    wherein the control valve spool is moveable between a first position wherein the second spool sealing surface seals against the second housing sealing surface and the first spool sealing surface is unsealed with respect to the first housing sealing surface to permit fluid communication between the first outlet port and the first vent port, and a second position wherein the first spool sealing surface seals against the first housing sealing surface and the second spool sealing surface is unsealed with respect to the second housing sealing surface to permit fluid communication between the inlet port and the first outlet port,    wherein the first outlet port is fluidically connected to the actuator movable element, wherein the control valve spool is movable to control the flow of pressurized gas to move the actuator movable element to at least one of the first and second positions; and    a trigger, wherein the trigger is mechanically operatively connected to the control valve spool.    
   
   
       2 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a biasing element for urging the actuator movable element towards the other of the first and second positions.  
   
   
       3 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the housing of the control valve has a second outlet port and a second vent port, wherein the ports are longitudinally spaced apart, wherein the housing further includes a third housing projection extending into the interior longitudinally between the inlet port and the second outlet port and a fourth housing projection extending into the interior longitudinally between the second outlet port and the second vent port, the third and fourth housing projections having a third housing sealing surface and a fourth housing sealing surface thereon respectively, wherein the control valve spool has a third spool projection and a fourth spool projection, wherein the spool projections are longitudinally spaced apart, the third and fourth spool projections having a third spool sealing surface and a fourth spool sealing surface thereon respectively for sealing engagement with the third and fourth housing sealing surfaces, 
 wherein, in the first position of the control valve spool the fourth spool sealing surface seals against the fourth housing sealing surface and the third spool sealing surface is unsealed with respect to the third housing sealing surface to permit fluid communication between the inlet port and the second outlet port, and in the second position of the control valve spool, the third spool sealing surface seals against the third housing sealing surface and the fourth spool sealing surface is unsealed with respect to the fourth housing sealing surface to permit fluid communication between the second outlet port and the second vent port,    wherein the second outlet port is fluidically connected to the actuator movable element, wherein the control valve spool is movable to control the flow of pressurized gas to move the actuator movable element to both the first and second positions.    
   
   
       4 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the inlet control device includes a bolt, wherein the bolt is movable between a closed position wherein the bolt prevents the feed of paintballs into the paintball marker and wherein the bolt holds a paintball in a firing position, and an open position wherein a paintball is permitted to feed into the paintball marker, 
 and wherein the firing gas chamber includes a firing gas chamber inlet for receiving firing gas and a firing gas chamber outlet for releasing firing gas to fire a paintball,    and wherein the firing valve movable element is movable between a non-firing position and a firing position, wherein, in the non-firing position the firing valve movable element blocks the flow of firing gas out from the firing gas chamber through the firing gas chamber outlet and permits the flow of firing gas into the firing gas chamber through the firing gas chamber inlet, and wherein in the firing position the firing valve movable element permits the flow of firing gas out from the firing gas chamber through the firing gas chamber outlet for firing a paintball from the marker and blocks the flow of firing gas into the firing gas chamber through the firing gas chamber inlet,    and wherein, when the control valve spool is in the first position, the bolt is in the open position and the firing valve movable element is in the non-firing position,    and wherein the control valve spool is biased towards the first position.    
   
   
       5 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the inlet control device includes a bolt, wherein the bolt is movable between a closed position wherein the bolt prevents the feed of paintballs into the paintball marker and wherein the bolt holds a paintball in a firing position, and an open position wherein a paintball is permitted to feed into the paintball marker, 
 and wherein the firing gas chamber includes a firing gas chamber inlet for receiving firing gas and a firing gas chamber outlet for releasing firing gas to fire a paintball,    and wherein the firing valve movable element is movable between a non-firing position and a firing position, wherein, in the non-firing position the firing valve movable element blocks the flow of firing gas out from the firing gas chamber through the firing gas chamber outlet and permits the flow of firing gas into the firing gas chamber through the firing gas chamber inlet, and wherein in the firing position the firing valve movable element permits the flow of firing gas out from the firing gas chamber through the firing gas chamber outlet for firing a paintball from the marker and blocks the flow of firing gas into the firing gas chamber through the firing gas chamber inlet,    and wherein, when the control valve spool is in the first position, the bolt is in the closed position and the firing valve movable element is in the non-firing position,    and wherein the control valve spool is biased towards the first position.    
   
   
       6 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the inlet control device includes a bolt, wherein the bolt is movable between a closed position wherein the bolt prevents the feed of paintballs into the paintball marker and wherein the bolt holds a paintball in a firing position, and an open position wherein a paintball is permitted to feed into the paintball marker, 
 and wherein the firing gas chamber includes a firing gas chamber inlet for receiving firing gas and a firing gas chamber outlet for releasing firing gas to fire a paintball,    and wherein the firing valve movable element is movable between a non-firing position and a firing position, wherein, in the non-firing position the firing valve movable element blocks the flow of firing gas out from the firing gas chamber through the firing gas chamber outlet and permits the flow of firing gas into the firing gas chamber through the firing gas chamber inlet, and wherein in the firing position the firing valve movable element permits the flow of firing gas out from the firing gas chamber through the firing gas chamber outlet for firing a paintball from the marker and blocks the flow of firing gas into the firing gas chamber through the firing gas chamber inlet,    and wherein the actuator movable element is directly engageable with the firing valve movable element and with the bolt.    
   
   
       7 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the actuator movable element is generally co-linear with the firing valve movable element.  
   
   
       8 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the bolt is movable along a bolt path, and wherein a bolt pin is mounted through the bolt and extends away from the bolt path, wherein the actuator movable element engages the bolt pin to move the bolt, wherein the bolt pin is removable from the bolt and from the actuator movable element.  
   
   
       9 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the firing valve further comprises a firing valve biasing member that urges the firing valve movable element to the non-firing position.  
   
   
       10 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the inlet control device includes a bolt, wherein the bolt is movable between a closed position wherein the bolt prevents the feed of paintballs into the paintball marker and wherein the bolt holds a paintball in a firing position, and an open position wherein a paintball is permitted to feed into the paintball marker, 
 and wherein the firing gas chamber includes a firing gas chamber inlet for receiving firing gas and a firing gas chamber outlet for releasing firing gas to fire a paintball,    and wherein the firing valve movable element is movable between a non-firing position and a firing position, wherein, in the non-firing position the firing valve movable element blocks the flow of firing gas out from the firing gas chamber through the firing gas chamber outlet and permits the flow of firing gas into the firing gas chamber through the firing gas chamber inlet, and wherein in the firing position the firing valve movable element permits the flow of firing gas out from the firing gas chamber through the firing gas chamber outlet for firing a paintball from the marker and blocks the flow of firing gas into the firing gas chamber through the firing gas chamber inlet,    and wherein the actuator movable element, the firing valve movable element and the bolt are all connected together.    
   
   
       11 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the actuator movable element, firing valve movable element and bolt are all connected together along a common axis.  
   
   
       12 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the trigger is directly engageable with the control valve spool.  
   
   
       13 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the inlet port to the control valve is fluidically connectable to a first pressure regulator, wherein the first pressure regulator provides pressurized gas at a first pressure to move the actuator movable element, 
 and wherein the actuator is a first actuator, and wherein the paintball marker further comprises a second actuator, wherein the second actuator includes a second actuator chamber and a second actuator movable element, wherein the second actuator movable element is connected to the inlet control device, wherein the second actuator movable element is movable by pressurized gas to control the position of the inlet control device,    and wherein the paintball marker further comprises an inlet control device valve, wherein the inlet control device valve includes an inlet control device valve movable element and an inlet control device valve chamber, wherein the inlet control device valve movable element is movable in the inlet control device chamber to control the flow of pressurized gas from a second pressure regulator to the second actuator movable element, wherein the second pressure regulator provides pressurized gas at a second pressure, wherein the second pressure is lower than the first pressure.    
   
   
       14 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the inlet port to the housing of the control valve is fluidically connectable to a first pressure regulator, wherein the first pressure regulator provides pressurized gas at a first pressure to move the actuator movable element, 
 and wherein the actuator is a first actuator, and wherein the paintball marker further comprises a second actuator, wherein the second actuator includes a second actuator chamber and a second actuator movable element, wherein the second actuator movable element is connected to the inlet control device, wherein the second actuator movable element is movable between a first position and a second position to control the position of the inlet control device, wherein the second actuator movable element is movable between the first and second positions by pressurized gas,    and wherein the second actuator chamber has a first second actuator gas port and a second actuator gas port,    and wherein the paintball marker further comprises an inlet control device valve, wherein the inlet control device valve includes an inlet control device valve chamber and an inlet control device valve movable element, wherein the inlet control device valve chamber has an inlet control device valve inlet port, a first inlet control device valve outlet port, a second inlet control device valve outlet port, a first inlet control device valve vent port and a second inlet control device valve vent port, wherein the a first inlet control device valve outlet port is fluidically connected to the first second actuator gas port, and wherein the second inlet control device valve vent port is fluidically connected to second actuator gas port,    and wherein the inlet control device valve movable element is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the inlet control device valve inlet port is fluidically connected to the first inlet control device valve outlet port and the second inlet control device valve outlet port is fluidically connected to the second inlet control device vent port, and wherein in the second position the inlet control device valve inlet port is fluidically connected to the second inlet control device valve outlet port and the first inlet control device valve outlet port is fluidically connected to the first inlet control device vent port,    and wherein the inlet control device valve inlet port is fluidically connectable to a second pressure regulator, wherein the second pressure regulator provides pressurized gas at a second pressure to move the second actuator movable element, wherein the second pressure is lower than the first pressure.    
   
   
       15 . A paintball marker, comprising: 
 a body, wherein the body defines a paintball inlet, wherein the body includes a firing gas chamber for holding firing gas for firing a paintball from the paintball marker, wherein the firing gas chamber includes a firing gas chamber inlet for receiving firing gas and a firing gas chamber outlet for releasing firing gas to fire a paintball;    a firing gas pressure regulator, wherein the firing gas pressure regulator is configured to provide gas at the firing pressure, and wherein the firing gas pressure regulator is fluidically connectable to the firing gas chamber inlet;    a first low pressure regulator, wherein the first low pressure regulator is configurable to provide gas at a first pressure, wherein the first pressure is lower than the firing pressure;    a second low pressure regulator, wherein the second low pressure regulator is configurable to provide gas at a second pressure, wherein the second pressure is lower than the first pressure;    a firing valve, wherein the firing valve includes a firing valve movable element, wherein the firing valve movable element is movable between a non-firing position and a firing position, wherein, in the non-firing position the firing valve movable element blocks the flow of firing gas out from the firing gas chamber through the firing gas chamber outlet and permits the flow of firing gas into the firing gas chamber through the firing gas chamber inlet, and wherein in the firing position the firing valve movable element permits the flow of firing gas out from the firing gas chamber through the firing gas chamber outlet for firing a paintball from the marker and blocks the flow of firing gas into the firing gas chamber through the firing gas chamber inlet,    a firing valve actuator, wherein the firing valve actuator includes a firing valve movable element, wherein the firing valve actuator movable element is connected to the firing valve movable element, wherein the firing valve actuator movable element is movable by pressurized gas, wherein the firing valve actuator movable element is fluidically connectable to the first low pressure regulator;    an inlet control device, wherein the inlet control device is movable with respect to the body for controlling the flow of paintballs into the marker through the paintball inlet; and    a second actuator, wherein the second actuator includes a second actuator movable element, wherein the second actuator movable element is connected to the inlet control device, wherein the second actuator movable element is movable by pressurized gas, wherein the second actuator movable element is fluidically connectable to the second low pressure regulator.    
   
   
       16 . A paintball marker, comprising: 
 a body, wherein the body defines a paintball inlet, wherein the body defines a paintball passage for receiving a paintball from the paintball inlet, wherein the passage has a longitudinal axis associated therewith;    a bolt, wherein the bolt is movable along a bolt path in the paintball passage between a closed position and an open position;    a detent, wherein the detent includes a roller and a spring, wherein the spring is connected to the body, wherein the roller is rotatably connected to the spring, wherein, when the spring biases the roller to extend by a selected amount into the paintball passage at a selected longitudinal distance from the bolt when the bolt is in the open position to permit a paintball to be retained in the paintball passage between the bolt and the detent, and wherein the roller is movable by the bolt away from the longitudinal axis during movement of the bolt along a portion of the bolt path and wherein the roller is oriented for rolling along the bolt during movement of the bolt along the portion of the bolt path.    
   
   
       17 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the roller is generally spherical.  
   
   
       18 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the roller is generally cylindrical.  
   
   
       19 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the spring is a wire that is connected to the body and that has a free end, wherein the free end passes through the roller.  
   
   
       20 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the marker further comprises an actuator for moving the bolt between the open and closed positions, and a pressure regulator that is fluidically connectable to the actuator for providing gas at a selected pressure to move the bolt along at least a portion of the bolt path, wherein the selected pressure is between approximately 5 psi and approximately 50 psi.  
   
   
       21 . A paintball marker, comprising: 
 a body, wherein the body defines a paintball inlet;    an inlet control device, wherein the inlet control device is movable with respect to the body between a closed position wherein the inlet control device prevents the feed of paintballs into the paintball marker, and an open position wherein a paintball is permitted to feed into the paintball marker; and    an actuator, wherein the actuator includes an actuator chamber defined by a chamber wall, and an actuator piston, wherein the actuator piston is connected to the inlet control device and is movable in the actuator chamber to move the inlet control device towards the open and closed positions,    wherein the actuator piston divides the actuator chamber into a first chamber portion and a second chamber portion,    wherein the actuator piston includes a piston seal which cooperates with the chamber wall to seal against gas leakage therebetween,    wherein the piston seal is made up of a plurality of cup seals, including a first cup seal and a second cup seal, wherein the first cup seal has a first concave face that faces the first chamber portion, and wherein the second cup seal has a second concave face that faces the second chamber portion.    
   
   
       22 . A paintball marker, comprising: 
 a body, wherein the body includes a firing gas chamber for holding firing gas for firing a paintball from the paintball marker, wherein the firing gas chamber is defined by a firing gas chamber wall, wherein the firing gas chamber has an effective volume, wherein the firing gas chamber has an inlet for receiving firing gas and an outlet for releasing firing gas to fire a paintball;    a piston, wherein the piston is sealingly engageable with the chamber wall, wherein the piston is movable between a first piston position wherein the firing gas chamber has a relatively greater effective volume, and a second piston position wherein the firing gas chamber has a relatively lesser effective volume; and    an adjustment member, wherein the adjustment member is movable with respect to the body, wherein the adjustment member is operatively connected to the piston to control the movement of the piston between the first and second piston positions.    
   
   
       23 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the piston is urgeable towards the first piston position by gas pressure in the firing gas chamber, and is urgeable towards the second piston position by movement of the adjustment member.  
   
   
       24 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the body includes a second piston position limit surface at a selected position, which is engageable with at least one of the piston and the adjustment member to set the second piston position.  
   
   
       25 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the body includes a first piston position limit surface at a selected position, which is engageable with at least one of the piston and the adjustment member to set the first piston position.  
   
   
       26 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the adjustment member is threaded and a first portion of the chamber wall is threaded for receiving the adjustment member.  
   
   
       27 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the adjustment member extends outwards to the exterior of the marker.  
   
   
       28 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the adjustment member is rotatable relative to the piston.  
   
   
       29 . A kit of parts for a paintball marker, wherein the paintball marker includes a firing gas chamber for holding firing gas for use in firing a paintball from the marker, wherein the firing gas chamber is defined by a chamber wall, wherein the firing gas chamber has an inlet for receiving firing gas and an outlet for releasing firing gas to fire a paintball, wherein the firing gas chamber has a third aperture therein, the third aperture leading to the exterior of the marker, the kit of parts comprising: 
 an insert, wherein the insert has an insert passage having a first end and a second end and wherein the passage is defined by an insert passage wall, wherein the insert is sealingly mountable to the marker such that the first end of the insert passage is in fluid communication with the third aperture of the firing gas chamber to form a modified firing gas chamber, wherein the second end of the insert passage is accessible from outside the marker, wherein the modified firing gas chamber has an effective volume;    a piston that is sealingly engageable with the insert passage wall and is slidable between a first position and a second position to adjust the effective volume of the modified firing gas chamber; and    an adjustment member, wherein the adjustment member is movable in the insert passage, wherein the adjustment member is operatively connected to the piston to control the movement of the piston between the first and second piston positions.    
   
   
       30 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the piston is urgeable towards the first piston position by gas pressure in the firing gas chamber, and is urgeable towards the second piston position by movement of the adjustment member.  
   
   
       31 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the insert includes a second piston position limit surface at a selected position in the insert passage, which is engageable with at least one of the piston and the adjustment member to set the second piston position.  
   
   
       32 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the insert includes a first piston position limit surface at a selected position in the insert passage, which is engageable with at least one of the piston and the adjustment member to set the first piston position.  
   
   
       33 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the adjustment member is threaded and a first portion of the insert passage wall is threaded for receiving the adjustment member.  
   
   
       34 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the adjustment member extends outwards to the exterior of the marker.  
   
   
       35 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein the adjustment member is rotatable relative to the piston.  
   
   
       36 . A valve for use on a paintball marker, comprising: 
 a housing defining a valve chamber, the housing having at least a first port and a second port, wherein the ports are longitudinally spaced apart, wherein the housing further includes a housing projection extending into the interior between the first and second ports, the housing projection having a housing sealing surface thereon; and    an elongate valve spool that is slidably mounted in the housing, the valve spool having a spool projection, the spool projection having a spool sealing surface thereon for sealing engagement with the housing sealing surface,    and wherein the valve spool is moveable between a first position wherein the spool sealing surface seal is spaced from the housing sealing surface, and a second position wherein the spool sealing surface engages and seals against the housing sealing surface,    and wherein the valve spool includes a first valve spool portion and a second valve spool portion, wherein the first and second valve spool portions are movable relative to each other, wherein the first valve spool portion is engageable by an actuation means of the paintball marker, and wherein the second valve spool portion includes the spool projection thereon,    and wherein the valve spool further includes a valve spool portion biasing element, wherein the valve spool portion biasing element is engageable with both the first and second valve spool portions to urge the first and second valve spool portions away from each other,    and wherein when the valve spool is in the second position, the biasing element permits movement of the first valve spool portion towards the second valve spool portion.    
   
   
       37 . A valve as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the biasing element is a compression spring.  
   
   
       38 . A valve as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein one of the spool portions includes a recess therein, and wherein the compression spring is positioned in the recess.  
   
   
       39 . A paintball marker, comprising: 
 a valve, wherein the valve includes a housing defining a valve chamber, the housing having at least a first port and a second port, wherein the ports are longitudinally spaced apart, wherein the housing further includes a housing projection extending into the interior between the first and second ports, the housing projection having a housing sealing surface thereon, the control valve further including an elongate valve spool that is slidably mounted in the housing, the valve spool having a spool projection, the spool projection having a spool sealing surface thereon for sealing engagement with the housing sealing surface, wherein the valve spool is moveable between a first position wherein the spool sealing surface seal is spaced from the housing sealing surface, and a second position wherein the spool sealing surface engages and seals against the housing sealing surface; and    an actuation means for moving the valve spool between the first and second positions, wherein the actuation means is directly engageable with the valve spool,    wherein the valve spool includes a first valve spool portion and a second valve spool portion, wherein the first and second valve spool portions are movable relative to each other, wherein the first valve spool portion is engageable by the actuation means, and wherein the second valve spool portion includes the spool projection thereon;    and wherein the valve spool further includes a valve spool portion biasing element, wherein the valve spool portion biasing element is engageable with both the first and second valve spool portions to urge the first and second valve spool portions away from each other,    and wherein when the valve spool is in the second position, the biasing element permits movement of the first valve spool portion towards the second valve spool portion.    
   
   
       40 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein the actuation means includes a trigger.  
   
   
       41 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein the actuation means includes a pneumatic actuator.