Enhanced Valve

Abstract

Examples of devices and techniques provide a novel air gun that includes an initiating valve arranged to trigger a pneumatic main valve. An auxiliary compressed gas source controlled by the initiating valve is used to operate the main valve. The main valve controls the release of compressed gas from a primary compressed gas reservoir into the bore of the air gun to propel a projectile from the air gun.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an air gun configured to propel a projectile without 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 main valve disposed between the chamber and the source of compressed gas and arranged to open for a first 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 at least one main valve for the first limited duration when the trigger mechanism is activated; and 
 at least one initiating valve disposed between the auxiliary source of compressed gas and the at least one main valve and arranged to open for a second limited duration when the trigger mechanism is activated to introduce a portion of the auxiliary source of compressed gas to the at least one main valve to open the at least one main valve for the first limited duration. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an adjustable pressure regulator disposed between the auxiliary source of compressed gas and the at least one main valve. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an adjustable pressure regulator disposed between the at least one initiating valve and the at least one main valve. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , 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 to push the projectile down the bore. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a secondary valve disposed between the bore and the source of compressed gas and arranged to open for a third limited duration when the trigger mechanism is activated to introduce a second predetermined portion of the compressed gas of the source of compressed gas into the bore behind the projectile, downstream of the chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one initiating valve includes a valve stem coupled to a piston disposed within a single valve body, the piston arranged to move coaxially within the single valve body. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one initiating valve is configured to switch or control a flow of compressed gas from the auxiliary source of compressed gas to the at least one main valve without the use of O-rings within the at least one initiating valve. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein an input passage of the at least one initiating valve is offset from an output passage of the at least one initiating valve. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein one or more inner surfaces of the at least one initiating valve are lined with or are manufactured from polyoxymethylene. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an air gun configured to propel a projectile without combustion at a preselected velocity, the air gun including:
 a barrel having a bore for expelling the projectile at the preselected velocity; 
 a primary source of compressed gas coupled to the bore; 
 a trigger mechanism arranged to cause a predetermined portion of the compressed gas of the primary source to enter the bore behind the projectile to expel the projectile at the preselected velocity through the bore when activated; 
 a main valve disposed between the bore and the primary source of compressed gas and arranged to open for a first limited duration when the trigger mechanism is activated to introduce the predetermined portion of the compressed gas of the primary source into the bore behind the projectile; 
 an auxiliary source of compressed gas arranged to open the main valve for the first limited duration when the trigger mechanism is activated; and 
 an initiating valve disposed between the auxiliary source of compressed gas and the main valve and arranged to open for a second limited duration when the trigger mechanism is activated to introduce a portion of the auxiliary source of compressed gas to the main valve to open the main valve for the first limited duration. 
   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the main valve is activated by receiving the portion of the auxiliary source of compressed gas from the initiating valve. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein a plunger of the main valve is arranged to open the primary source of compressed gas as a result of the main valve receiving the portion of the auxiliary source of compressed gas from the initiating valve. 
     
     
         13 . An air gun configured to propel a projectile without combustion, comprising:
 a barrel having a bore for expelling the projectile;   a primary source of compressed gas coupled to the bore;   a pneumatically triggered main valve disposed between the primary source of compressed gas and the bore and arranged to open for a first limited duration when triggered to introduce a first portion of compressed gas of the primary source of compressed gas into the bore behind the projectile;   an auxiliary source of compressed gas coupled to the main valve; and   an initiating valve disposed between the auxiliary source of compressed gas and the main valve and arranged to open for a second limited duration when activated to introduce a second portion of the compressed gas of the auxiliary source of compressed gas to the main valve to trigger the main valve.   
     
     
         14 . The air gun of  claim 13 , further comprising a trigger mechanism arranged to activate the initiating valve. 
     
     
         15 . The air gun of  claim 13 , further comprising a striker rod disposed between a trigger mechanism and the initiating valve and arranged to mechanically activate the initiating valve when the trigger mechanism is activated. 
     
     
         16 . The air gun of  claim 13 , further comprising a mechanical linkage comprising a striker rod and a rocker disposed between a trigger mechanism and the initiating valve and arranged to mechanically activate the initiating valve when the trigger mechanism is activated. 
     
     
         17 . The air gun of  claim 13 , wherein the primary source of compressed gas comprises a reservoir tank integrated as part of the air gun. 
     
     
         18 . The air gun of  claim 13 , wherein the auxiliary source of compressed gas comprises a cartridge or tank fitted to a stock of the air gun. 
     
     
         19 . The air gun of  claim 13 , wherein the auxiliary source of compressed gas comprises a separate dedicated gas feed from the primary source of compressed gas. 
     
     
         20 . The air gun of  claim 13 , wherein the initiating valve is electrically or electronically activated.