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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       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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