Fuel powered paint ball marker

Abstract

A paintball marker is provided, comprising: a housing; a combustion chamber defined within the housing; a piston movable within the housing; a bolt driven by combustion within the combustion chamber; a fuel system in fluid communication with the combustion chamber; an oxidizing system in fluid communication with the combustion chamber; and an ignition system configured to ignite a mixture of fuel and oxidizing agent in the combustion chamber, wherein combustion of the mixture drives the piston to actuate the bolt.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A paintball marker comprising:
 a housing;   a combustion chamber defined within the housing;   a piston movable within the housing;   a bolt driven by combustion within the combustion chamber;   a fuel system in fluid communication with the combustion chamber;   an oxidizing system in fluid communication with the combustion chamber; and   an ignition system configured to ignite a mixture of fuel and oxidizing agent in the combustion chamber, wherein combustion of the mixture drives the piston to actuate the bolt.   
     
     
         2 . The paintball marker of  claim 1  including a compression chamber defined within the housing, wherein the piston separates the combustion chamber from the compression chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The paintball marker of  claim 2  wherein the piston is configured to compress gas in the compression chamber when driven by combustion in the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The paintball marker of  claim 1  wherein the fuel system comprises a fuel reservoir and a fuel valve configured to control flow of fuel from the fuel reservoir to the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The paintball marker of  claim 1  wherein the oxidizing system comprises an oxidizing agent reservoir and an oxidizing agent valve configured to control flow of oxidizing agent from the oxidizing agent reservoir to the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The paintball marker of  claim 1  further comprising a separation assembly configured to keep the fuel and oxidizing agent separate until combustion is desired. 
     
     
         7 . The paintball marker of  claim 6  wherein the separation assembly comprises a solenoid valve controlled by an electronic controller. 
     
     
         8 . A paintball marker device comprising:
 a housing;   a first chamber containing an oxidizing agent;   a second chamber containing a fuel;   a separation assembly configured to keep the oxidizing agent and fuel separate during a first stage;   a combustion chamber;   a valve system configured to selectively allow the oxidizing agent and fuel to enter the combustion chamber during a second stage; and   an ignition system configured to ignite a mixture of the oxidizing agent and fuel in the combustion chamber.   
     
     
         9 . The paintball marker device of  claim 8  including a piston movable within the housing, wherein the piston is driven by combustion in the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The paintball marker device of  claim 9  wherein the piston is configured to compress gas in a compression chamber when driven by combustion in the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The paintball marker device of  claim 8  wherein the separation assembly comprises a solenoid valve controlled by an electronic controller. 
     
     
         12 . The paintball marker device of  claim 8  wherein the valve system comprises:
 a first valve configured to control flow of the oxidizing agent from the first chamber to the combustion chamber; and 
 a second valve configured to control flow of the fuel from the second chamber to the combustion chamber. 
 
     
     
         13 . The paintball marker device of  claim 12  wherein the first valve and the second valve are actuated by a single solenoid. 
     
     
         14 . The paintball marker device of  claim 8  including an ambient air inlet configured to allow ambient air to enter the combustion chamber during the second stage. 
     
     
         15 . A paintball marker device comprising:
 a housing;   a combustion chamber defined within the housing;   a compression chamber defined within the housing;   a piston separating the combustion chamber from the compression chamber;   a bolt operatively connected to the piston;   a fuel system configured to supply fuel to the combustion chamber;   an oxidizing system configured to supply an oxidizing agent to the combustion chamber; and   an ignition system configured to ignite a mixture of fuel and oxidizing agent in the combustion chamber, wherein combustion in the combustion chamber drives the piston to compress gas in the compression chamber and actuate the bolt.   
     
     
         16 . The paintball marker device of  claim 15  further comprising a separation assembly configured to keep the fuel and oxidizing agent separate until combustion is desired. 
     
     
         17 . The paintball marker device of  claim 16  wherein the separation assembly comprises a solenoid valve controlled by an electronic controller. 
     
     
         18 . The paintball marker device of  claim 15  wherein the fuel system comprises a fuel reservoir and a fuel valve configured to control flow of fuel from the fuel reservoir to the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         19 . The paintball marker device of  claim 15  wherein the oxidizing system comprises an oxidizing agent reservoir and an oxidizing agent valve configured to control flow of oxidizing agent from the oxidizing agent reservoir to the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The paintball marker device of  claim 19  wherein the fuel valve and the oxidizing agent valve are actuated by a solenoid controlled by an electronic controller to coordinate delivery of fuel and oxidizing agent to the combustion chamber.