Paintball marker and kit of parts therefor

Abstract

A paintball marker is provided including a body, an inlet control device, a firing system, a first regulator and a second regulator. The body has a paintball inlet and a barrel for receiving a paintball from the paintball inlet. The inlet control device is movable between an open position wherein the inlet control device permits entry of a paintball through the paintball inlet, and a closed position for chambering a paintball. In the closed position the inlet control device prevents entry of a paintball through the paintball inlet. The firing system includes a firing valve that is moveable between a firing position wherein the valve permits firing gas at a selected pressure to flow to the barrel and a non-firing position wherein the firing valve prevents flow of firing gas to the barrel. The first regulator is fluidically connectable to the pressurized gas source and is configurable to provide gas at a first pressure. The first regulator is operatively connected to the firing valve for movement of the firing valve between the firing and non-firing positions. The second regulator is fluidically connectable to the pressurized gas source and is configurable to provide gas at a second pressure that is lower than the first pressure. The second regulator is operatively connected to the inlet control device for movement of the inlet control device towards the closed position.

1 . A paintball marker having a trigger and a control valve, wherein the control valve includes a housing defining an interior, the housing having an inlet port for receiving pressurized gas, an outlet port and a vent port, wherein the housing further includes a first housing sealing surface between the inlet port and the outlet port, and a second housing sealing surface between the outlet port and the vent port, wherein each of the first and second housing sealing surfaces is positioned on a housing feature that projects into the interior relative to an adjacent portion of the housing, wherein the control valve further includes a control valve spool that is movably mounted in the housing, the control valve spool having a first spool sealing surface between the inlet port and the outlet port and a second spool sealing surface between the outlet port and the vent port, wherein each of the first and second spool sealing surfaces is positioned on a spool feature that projects into the interior relative to an adjacent portion of the spool, 
 wherein the control valve is positionable in 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 outlet port and the 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 outlet port,    and wherein the trigger is at least one of mechanically and pneumatically operatively connected to the control valve.    
   
   
       2 . 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 housing further includes a third housing sealing surface between the inlet port and the second outlet port and a fourth housing sealing surface between the second outlet port and the second vent port, wherein each of the third and fourth housing sealing surfaces is positioned on a housing feature that projects into the interior relative to an adjacent portion of the housing, wherein the control valve spool has a third spool sealing surface between the inlet port and the second outlet port and a fourth spool sealing surface between the second outlet port and the second vent port, wherein each of the third and fourth spool sealing surfaces is positioned on a spool feature that projects into the interior relative to an adjacent portion of the spool, 
 wherein, in the first position 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, 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.    
   
   
       3 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the trigger is mechanically operatively connected to the control valve spool.  
   
   
       4 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the trigger is directly engageable with the control valve spool.  
   
   
       5 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the housing sealing surfaces are generally cylindrical and the spool sealing surfaces fit inside the cylindrical housing sealing surfaces.  
   
   
       6 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the housing sealing surfaces each include an edge and wherein the spool sealing surfaces are configured to sealingly mate with the edges.  
   
   
       7 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the spool sealing surfaces are generally frusto-conical.  
   
   
       8 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the spool sealing surfaces are generally toroidal.  
   
   
       9 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the housing sealing surfaces are generally frusto-conical.  
   
   
       10 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the spool sealing surfaces are generally frusto-conical.  
   
   
       11 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the spool sealing surfaces are generally toroidal.  
   
   
       12 . A paintball marker having a trigger and a control valve, wherein the control valve is a poppet-style spool valve, and wherein the trigger is at least one of mechanically and pneumatically operatively connected to the control valve without an intervening solenoid.  
   
   
       13 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the trigger is mechanically operatively connected to the control valve spool.  
   
   
       14 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the trigger is directly engageable with the control valve spool.  
   
   
       15 . 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 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 to fire a paintball;    an actuator, wherein the actuator includes an actuator movable element and wherein the actuator movable element is operatively connected to the firing valve movable element, wherein the actuator movable element is movable by pressurized gas;    a control valve, wherein the control valve is operatively connected to the actuator and is configured to control the flow of pressurized gas to the actuator, wherein the control valve is a poppet-style spool valve; and    a trigger, wherein the trigger is mechanically operatively connected to the control valve without an intervening solenoid.    
   
   
       16 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 15 , 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 valve movable element is movable between a non-firing position and a firing position, wherein in the firing position, the firing valve movable element permits the flow of firing gas to reach a paintball and wherein in the non-firing position, the firing valve movable element prevents the flow of firing gas from reaching a paintball,    and wherein the control valve is movable to a first position and a second position, wherein, when the control valve 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 is biased towards the first position.    
   
   
       17 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 15 , 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 valve movable element is movable between a non-firing position and a firing position, wherein in the firing position, the firing valve movable element permits the flow of firing gas to reach a paintball and wherein in the non-firing position, the firing valve movable element prevents the flow of firing gas from reaching a paintball,    and wherein the control valve is movable to a first position and a second position, wherein, when the control valve 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 is biased towards the first position.    
   
   
       18 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the control valve includes a control valve spool that is movable to control the flow of pressurized gas to the actuator, and wherein the trigger is mechanically operatively connected to the control valve spool.  
   
   
       19 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the control valve includes a control valve spool that is movable to control the flow of pressurized gas to the actuator, and wherein the trigger is directly engageable with the control valve spool.  
   
   
       20 . 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 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 to fire a paintball;    an actuator, wherein the actuator includes an actuator movable element and wherein the actuator movable element is operatively connected to the firing valve movable element, wherein the actuator movable element is movable 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, an outlet port and a vent port, wherein the outlet port is fluidically connected to the actuator movable element, wherein the housing further includes a first housing sealing surface between the inlet port and the outlet port, and a second housing sealing surface between the outlet port and the vent port, wherein each of the first and second housing sealing surfaces is positioned on a housing feature that projects into the interior relative to an adjacent portion of the housing, wherein the control valve further includes a control valve spool that is movably mounted in the housing, the control valve spool having a first spool sealing surface between the inlet port and the outlet port and a second spool sealing surface between the outlet port and the vent port, wherein each of the first and second spool sealing surfaces is positioned on a spool feature that projects into the interior relative to an adjacent portion of the spool,    wherein the control valve is positionable in 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 outlet port and the 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 outlet port; and    a trigger, wherein the trigger is at least one of mechanically and pneumatically operatively connected to the control valve.    
   
   
       21 . A paintball marker as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the housing of the control valve has a second outlet port and a second vent port, wherein the second outlet port is fluidically connected to the actuator movable element, wherein the housing further includes a third housing sealing surface between the inlet port and the second outlet port and a fourth housing sealing surface between the second outlet port and the second vent port, wherein each of the third and fourth housing sealing surfaces is positioned on a housing feature that projects into the interior relative to an adjacent portion of the housing, wherein the control valve spool has a third spool sealing surface between the inlet port and the second outlet port and a fourth spool sealing surface between the second outlet port and the second vent port, wherein each of the third and fourth spool sealing surfaces is positioned on a spool feature that projects into the interior relative to an adjacent portion of the spool, 
 wherein, in the first position 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, 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.