Compressed Air Cartridge

Abstract

A compressed gas cartridge is provided that includes a hollow cartridge front section having a male high-pressure gas quick-connect fitting, a forward piston-receiving channel, and a projectile receptacle; a hollow cartridge rear section having a rear piston-receiving channel and a forward valve seat; a center cylinder connected between the cartridge front and rear sections and including an interior gas storage space; and a piston that sealably fits within the front and rear piston-receiving channels. The piston has a solid rearward portion configured with a striking surface and a hollow forward portion. The hollow forward portion has an exterior cylindrical, concentric seal with a rearward edge configured to sealably engage the valve seat. Piston exhaust/fill holes just rearward of the concentric seal allow compressed gas to move between the gas storage space and the hollow interior of the piston forward portion during both discharge and filling.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cartridge, comprising:
 a hollow front cartridge section having a front cartridge anterior portion and front cartridge posterior portion comprising:
 a male high-pressure gas quick-connect fitting disposed at said front cartridge anterior portion; 
 a forward piston-receiving channel formed within said front cartridge posterior portion; 
   a hollow rear cartridge section having a rear cartridge anterior portion and a rear cartridge posterior portion comprising:
 a rear piston-receiving channel defined by at least a portion of the interior surface of said rear cartridge posterior portion; 
 a rear valve channel defined by at least a portion of the interior surface of said rear cartridge anterior portion; 
 a female valve seat disposed on the forward portion of said rear valve channel; 
   a center cylinder connectable between said front cartridge posterior portion and said rear cartridge anterior portion, said center cylinder comprising a cylinder inner surface defining a portion of an interior gas storage space; and   a piston assembly comprising:
 a piston shaft comprising a hollow forward piston portion and a solid rearward piston portion; wherein said hollow forward piston portion is configured to sealably fit within at least a portion of said forward piston-receiving channel; wherein said hollow forward piston portion comprises at least one exhaust/fill hole edge defining a least one exhaust/fill hole between the hollow interior and the exterior of said hollow forward piston portion; wherein said solid rearward piston portion is configured to sealably fit within at least a portion of said rearward piston-receiving channel; wherein said solid rearward piston portion comprises an end actuating surface; 
 an exterior cylindrical, concentric seal attached at a rearward portion of said hollow forward piston portion, said concentric seal comprising a seal outer rearward edge configured to sealably engage said valve seat; wherein said at least one exhaust/fill hole edge is disposed rearward of said rearward edge of said concentric seal and forward of said rear interior sealing device; and 
 a spring extending between said concentric seal and the rearward end of said front cartridge posterior portion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cartridge, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said hollow front cartridge section further comprises a check valve disposed at the rearward end of said front cartridge posterior portion, wherein said check valve has an interior portion comprising a portion of said forward piston-receiving channel. 
     
     
         3 . The cartridge, as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said check valve is formed of a brass material. 
     
     
         4 . The cartridge, as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said hollow front cartridge section further comprises a check valve/posterior sealing device disposed between said check valve and said front cartridge posterior portion. 
     
     
         5 . The cartridge, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said concentric seal including at least said seal outer rearward edge is formed of an acetal copolymer. 
     
     
         6 . The cartridge, as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said acetal copolymer comprises DuPont™ Delrin®. 
     
     
         7 . The cartridge, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said front cartridge posterior portion is configured with male threads;   said rear cartridge anterior portion is configured with male threads;   said center cylinder comprises a cylinder anterior portion and a cylinder posterior portion;   said cylinder anterior portion is configured with female threads corresponding to said male threads of said front cartridge posterior portion; and   said cylinder posterior portion is configured with female threads corresponding to said male threads of said rear cartridge anterior portion.   
     
     
         8 . The cartridge, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said front cartridge anterior portion comprises inner walls defining a projectile receptacle configured to receive a projectile. 
     
     
         9 . The cartridge, as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a front external sealing device on the exterior of said front cartridge posterior portion for sealing between said front cartridge posterior portion and said center cylinder;   a rear external sealing device on the exterior of said rear cartridge for sealing between said rear cartridge and said center cylinder;   a front internal sealing device disposed on the surface of said forward piston-receiving channel; and   a rear interior sealing device disposed on the interior surface of said rear piston-receiving channel.   
     
     
         10 . A method of using compressed gas to provide a power source, comprising:
 providing a compressed gas filled cartridge comprising a hollow cartridge front section, a center cylinder comprising an inner surface defining an interior gas storage space, a hollow cartridge rear section, and a piston assembly including a piston and a spring; wherein said hollow rear cartridge section comprises a valve seat; wherein said piston assembly comprises a hollow forward piston portion, a solid rearward piston portion comprising an end actuating surface, an exterior cylindrical concentric seal having a seal outer rearward edge configured to seal against said valve seat, and at least one exhaust/fill hole edge defining at least one exhaust/fill hole disposed in said hollow forward piston portion rearward of a plane formed by said seal outer rearward edge;   inserting said cartridge in a power-controlling device;   actuating an actuator against said end actuating surface;   causing said piston to move forward within said cartridge;   causing said seal outer rearward edge to break its seal with said valve seat; and   allowing said compressed gas to explosively move from said gas storage space through said at least one exhaust/fill hole and through the interior of said hollow forward piston portion to exit out the front of said hollow cartridge front section.   
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of said concentric seal including at least said seal outer rearward edge is formed of an acetal copolymer. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 10  further comprising:
 attaching a cartridge configured with a male quick-connect fitting disposed on said hollow cartridge front section to a corresponding female quick-connect fitting on a compressed gas source; 
 opening a gas-source valve on said compressed gas source to allow compressed gas to flow through said female quick-connect fitting and said male quick-connect fitting; 
 forcing compressed gas into said gas storage space; wherein said forcing compressed gas into said gas storage space comprises forcing apart said concentric seal outer rearward edge from said valve seat to create a seal valve gas passage, and forcing compressed gas through said seal valve gas passage into said gas storage space; 
 closing said gas-source valve on said compressed gas source to prevent further flow of compressed gas out of said compressed gas source; and 
 releasing said male quick-connect fitting from said corresponding female quick-connect fitting. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein said forcing compressed gas into said gas storage space further comprises forcing backward a check valve disposed in said hollow cartridge front section to open a check valve gas passage and forcing compressed gas through said check valve gas passage into said gas storage space. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 10  wherein said power-controlling device comprises a gun-type device. 
     
     
         15 . A method of using compressed gas to provide a power source, comprising:
 attaching a cartridge configured with a male quick-connect fitting to a corresponding female quick-connect fitting on a compressed gas source; wherein said cartridge comprises a hollow cartridge front section comprising said male quick-connect fitting, a center cylinder comprising a gas storage space, a hollow cartridge rear section, and a piston assembly comprising a piston and a spring; wherein said hollow rear cartridge section comprises a valve seat; wherein said piston comprises a hollow forward piston portion, a solid rearward piston portion comprising an end actuating surface, an exterior cylindrical concentric seal having a seal outer rearward edge configured to seal against said valve seat, and at least one exhaust/fill hole edge defining at least one exhaust/fill hole disposed in said hollow forward piston portion rearward of a plane formed by said seal outer rearward edge;   opening a gas-source valve on said compressed gas source to allow compressed gas to flow through said female quick-connect fitting and said male quick-connect fitting;   forcing compressed gas into said gas storage space; wherein said forcing compressed gas into said gas storage space comprises forcing apart said concentric seal outer rearward edge from said valve seat to create a seal valve gas passage, and forcing compressed gas through said seal valve gas passage into said gas storage space;   closing said gas-source valve on said compressed gas source to prevent further flow of compressed gas out of said compressed gas source; and   releasing said male quick-connect fitting from said corresponding female quick-connect fitting.   
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 15  wherein said forcing compressed gas into said gas storage space further comprises forcing backward a check valve disposed in said hollow cartridge front section to open a check valve gas passage and forcing compressed gas through said check valve gas passage into said gas storage space. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of said concentric seal including at least said seal outer rearward edge is formed of an acetal copolymer. 
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 15  further comprising:
 inserting said cartridge filled with compressed gas into a power-controlling device; 
 actuating an actuator against said end actuating surface; 
 causing said piston to move forward; 
 causing said seal outer rearward edge to break its seal with said valve seat; and 
 allowing said compressed gas to explosively move from said gas storage space through said at least one exhaust/fill hole and through the interior of said hollow forward piston portion to exit out the front of said hollow cartridge front section. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 15  wherein said power-controlling device comprises a gun-type device.