Pneumatic Rifle

Abstract

A pneumatic rifle is disclosed, that includes a punter that initially propels a projectile into the barrel ahead of a gas discharge. A secondary compressed gas source is also included, as well as valve arrangements for introducing compressed gas into the barrel behind the projectile. Additionally, safety components are introduced to allow the user to safely depressurize the gas reservoir when not in use.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an air gun configured to propel a projectile without the use of combustion at a preselected velocity, the air gun including:   a chamber of a barrel for queuing the projectile for transport into a bore of the barrel;   a bore of the barrel coupled to the chamber for expelling the projectile at the preselected velocity;   a punter aligned coaxially with the bore of the barrel and behind the chamber of the barrel, the punter arranged to strike the projectile when triggered;   a source of compressed gas coupled to the chamber;   a trigger mechanism arranged to trigger the punter to strike the projectile and to cause a predetermined portion of the compressed gas to enter the chamber behind the projectile to expel the projectile at the preselected velocity through the bore when activated; and   at least one first valve disposed between the chamber and the source of compressed gas and arranged to open for a limited duration when the trigger mechanism is activated to introduce the predetermined portion of the compressed gas into the chamber behind the projectile.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an auxiliary source of compressed gas arranged to open the at least one first valve for the limited duration when the trigger mechanism is activated. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a pneumatic valve configured to open the at least one first valve when the trigger mechanism is activated. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the pneumatic valve is operated by an auxiliary source of compressed gas at the air gun. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the auxiliary source of compressed gas comprises a canister of auxiliary compressed gas separate from the source of compressed gas coupled to the chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the auxiliary source of compressed gas comprises the source of compressed gas coupled to the chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a detent protruding from an interior of the chamber and biased to press against a side surface of the projectile while the projectile is within the chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more safety systems coupled to the source of compressed gas configured to allow the source of compressed gas to be depressurized when not in use or when over charged. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a bolt in communication with an action of the air gun, wherein the punter is disposed within the bolt and is configured to move within the bolt. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a punter spring configured to bias the punter relative to the bolt. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an air gun configured to propel a projectile without the use of combustion at a preselected velocity, the air gun including:   a chamber of a barrel for queuing the projectile for transport into a bore of the barrel;   a bore of the barrel coupled to the chamber for expelling the projectile at the preselected velocity;   a source of compressed gas coupled to the chamber;   a trigger mechanism arranged to cause a predetermined portion of the compressed gas to enter the chamber behind the projectile to expel the projectile at the preselected velocity through the bore when activated;   at least one first valve disposed between the chamber and the source of compressed gas and arranged to open for a limited duration when the trigger mechanism is activated to introduce the predetermined portion of the compressed gas into the chamber behind the projectile; and   an auxiliary source of compressed gas arranged to open the at least one first valve for the limited duration when the trigger mechanism is activated.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a second valve disposed between the bore and the source of compressed gas and arranged to open for a second limited duration when the projectile passes an orifice coupled to the second valve to introduce a second predetermined portion of the compressed gas into the bore behind the projectile. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a punter aligned coaxially with the bore of the barrel and behind the chamber of the barrel, the punter arranged to strike the projectile when triggered. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one first valve is configured to open after the punter strikes the projectile. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the trigger mechanism is configured to trigger the punter to strike the projectile prior to compressed gas entering the chamber or the bore. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the source of compressed gas coupled to the chamber comprises an accumulator having a main chamber and a reserve chamber, and wherein the reserve chamber does not lose pressure when the predetermined portion of the compressed gas enters the chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the accumulator includes a movable one-way valve that seals the main chamber from the reserve chamber. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an air gun configured to propel a projectile without the use of combustion at a preselected velocity, the air gun including:   a chamber of a barrel for queuing the projectile for transport into a bore of the barrel;   a bore of the barrel coupled to the chamber for expelling the projectile at the preselected velocity;   a punter aligned coaxially with the bore of the barrel and behind the chamber of the barrel, the punter arranged to strike the projectile when triggered;   a source of compressed gas coupled to the chamber;   a trigger mechanism arranged to trigger the punter to strike the projectile and to cause a predetermined portion of the compressed gas to enter the chamber behind the projectile to expel the projectile at the preselected velocity through the bore when activated;   at least one first valve disposed between the chamber and the source of compressed gas and arranged to open for a limited duration when the trigger mechanism is activated to introduce the predetermined portion of the compressed gas into the chamber behind the projectile;   an auxiliary source of compressed gas arranged to open the at least one first valve for the limited duration when the trigger mechanism is activated; and   a pressure release cap coupled to the source of compressed gas configured to allow the source of compressed gas to be depressurized when not in use or when over charged.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising a locking collar configured to prevent the pressure release cap from moving and depressurizing the source of compressed gas unintentionally. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising a pressure release valve in communication with the pressure release cap and arranged to depressurize the source of compressed gas when the pressure release cap is activated.