Pneumatic weapon system

Abstract

A pneumatic weapon is described. The pneumatic weapon includes a gas storage chamber in fluid communication with a breech that houses a projectile. The weapon also has a gun barrel in fluid communication with the breech. A barrier is situated intermediate the projectile and the gun barrel. The barrier impedes the forward movement of the projectile until gas is released from the gas storage chamber and the pressure within the breech builds to a point sufficient to force the projectile through the barrier and out the gun barrel. The weapon also has several unique projectile storage devices that function with the aid of recycled gas.

1 . A pneumatic weapon comprising:
 a gun barrel;   a gun body containing a breech for receiving a projectile;   a barrier positioned intermediate said breech and said barrel and coaxial with said barrel, said barrier defined by an opening therein permitting fluid communication between said breech and said barrel, said opening having a diameter sufficient to prevent a projectile from traversing the velocity bushing in the absence of applied pressure.   
     
     
         2 . A pneumatic weapon according to  claim 1  in which said barrier is a bushing defined by an inner diameter that is smaller than the outer diameter of said projectile. 
     
     
         3 . A pneumatic weapon according to  claim 2  further comprising:
 a gas storage chamber; 
 a solenoid providing fluid communication between said gas storage chamber and said breech; 
 a firing mechanism for activating said solenoid; and 
 at least one projectile storage device capable of providing projectiles to said breech. 
 
     
     
         4 . A pneumatic weapon according to  claim 3  wherein said firing mechanism comprises an electronic circuit that activates said solenoid. 
     
     
         5 . A pneumatic weapon according to  claim 3  wherein the weapon comprises a first projectile storage device which contains a first projectile and a second projectile storage device which contains a second projectile, said first and second projectiles being different from one another. 
     
     
         6 . A pneumatic weapon according to  claim 2  wherein said bushing is defined by a concave face adjacent said breech. 
     
     
         7 . A pneumatic weapon according to  claim 1  wherein said barrier is made of a polymer. 
     
     
         8 . A pneumatic weapon according to  claim 3  that fires projectiles in a semi-automatic fashion, an automatic fashion or both. 
     
     
         9 . A barrier for placement intermediate a projectile and a gun barrel, said barrier having an opening therein that is coaxial with said gun barrel and permits fluid communication with said gun barrel. 
     
     
         10 . A barrier according to  claim 9  wherein said barrier is a bushing. 
     
     
         11 . A barrier according to  claim 10  wherein said bushing has a concave face adjacent said projectile. 
     
     
         12 . A barrier according to  claim 9  wherein said barrier is made of a polymer and prevents the traversal of said projectile through said barrier in the absence of applied pressure. 
     
     
         13 . A barrier according to  claim 10  wherein said bushing has an inner diameter that is smaller than the outer diameter of said projectile. 
     
     
         14 . A projectile storage device for a pneumatic weapon comprising:
 a base having a least one face adjacent said pneumatic weapon, said base comprising a boring and a projectile feed port for transferring projectiles to said weapon, said feed port in fluid communication with said boring;   a spiral tower situated within said boring capable of transferring spherical projectiles to said feed port; and   a cover enclosing said spiral tower, said cover having a loading port for receiving spherical projectiles.   
     
     
         15 . A projectile storage device according to  claim 14  further comprising an ammunition blocking pin for blocking the passage of spherical projectiles through said feed port. 
     
     
         16 . A projectile storage device according to  claim 14  further comprising a gas portal for receiving a gas into the interior of the projectile storage device. 
     
     
         17 . A projectile storage device according to  claim 14  wherein said feed port extends from said base. 
     
     
         18 . A projectile storage device according to  claim 14  wherein said feed port terminates at the face of the base that is adjacent to said weapon. 
     
     
         19 . A projectile storage device comprising:
 a magazine, said magazine having a first end and a second end, said second end capable of supplying projectiles to a breech of a pneumatic weapon;   at least one tension device disposed within said magazine;   a magazine plunger connected to said tension device, said tension device biasing said plunger toward said second end of said magazine;   a sliding cover connected to and covering said second end of said magazine; and   a one-way gas portal providing fluid communication with the interior of said magazine.   
     
     
         20 . A projectile storage device according to  claim 19  wherein said tension device comprises at least one spring. 
     
     
         21 . A projectile storage device according to  claim 19  wherein said one-way gas portal is connected to a gas line that receives gas expelled from a barrel of said pneumatic weapon. 
     
     
         22 . A projectile storage device according to  claim 19  wherein said magazine is designed to store bullet shaped projectiles. 
     
     
         23 . A mechanism to control the transfer of projectiles into the breech of a pneumatic weapon, said mechanism comprising:
 a breech;   a port in fluid communication with said breech;   a pin coaxially disposed within said port, said pin capable of reciprocal movement within said port and breech in response to changes in air pressure.   
     
     
         24 . A mechanism according to  claim 23  further comprising:
 a gas storage chamber; 
 a solenoid intermediate said gas storage chamber and said port, said solenoid providing fluid communication between said gas storage chamber and said port; and 
 a plunger coaxially disposed within said port and attached to said pin, said plunger providing resistance to fluid flow through said port. 
 
     
     
         25 . A mechanism according to  claim 24  further comprising a trigger mechanism controlling the transfer of gas through said solenoid and into said port. 
     
     
         26 . A mechanism according to  claim 25  wherein when said trigger mechanism is activated gas flows from said gas storage chamber through said solenoid and into said port thereby moving said plunger and pin toward said breech. 
     
     
         27 . A projectile storage device comprising:
 a loading component;   a storage component for storing projectiles, said loading component and said storage component being in fluid communication with each other;   a one way gas valve integral to said loading component;   a self-lubricating mechanism integral to said loading component; and   a projectile biasing device that communicates with said storage component for biasing projectiles toward the breech of a pneumatic weapon.   
     
     
         28 . A projectile storage device according to  claim 27  wherein said projectile biasing device comprises a plunger and a spring. 
     
     
         29 . A projectile storage device according to  claim 27  wherein said self-lubricating mechanism comprises a lubrication portal integral with said loading component, wherein said portal is in fluid communication with said storage component and wherein said portal retains a porous plug, said plug for receiving a quantity of gun oil. 
     
     
         30 . A method of expelling a projectile from the barrel of a pneumatic gun, said method comprising the steps of:
 placing a projectile in the breech of a pneumatic gun, said projectile being coaxial with a gun barrel;   placing a barrier intermediate said projectile and said gun barrel;   increasing the pneumatic pressure within said breech to a pressure sufficient to force said projectile through said barrier and out the gun barrel.   
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 30  wherein said barrier is a bushing that is coaxial with said gun barrel, said bushing having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the projectile. 
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 30  further comprising the step of providing a source of compressed gas in fluid communication with said breech. 
     
     
         33 . A method according to  claim 32  wherein the transmission of said compressed gas to said breech is controlled by an electronic circuit. 
     
     
         34 . A method according to  claim 33  wherein a portion of the gas transmitted to said breech is transmitted through the barrier and out the gun barrel where a portion of the gas is reclaimed for re-use in the pneumatic gun. 
     
     
         35 . A method according to  claim 30  in which said pneumatic gun fires projectiles in an automatic mode, a semiautomatic mode or both. 
     
     
         36 . A method according to  claim 30  wherein said gun possesses two different types of projectiles and is capable of firing either type without changing projectile storage devices or barrel.