Patent ID: 6220237
Filing Date: 2001-04-24
Classification: F41B

Abstract:
A gun adapted to launch a projectile comprising:an elongated launch tube sized and shaped to receive a projectile, said launch tube having a longitudinal axis;a moveable seal fixedly mounted within the interior of said launch tube sized and shaped to sealably engage a first portion of the projectile positioned within said launch tube;a stationary seal positioned within the interior of said launch tube adapted to engage a second portion of the projectile generally opposite the first portion, said stationary seal being adapted to allow reciprocal movement of said launch tube relative to said stationary seal while maintaining sealing engagement between said stationary seal and said launch tube;said launch tube, said moveable seal and said stationary seal defining a firing chamber, said launch tube being moveable between a loading position and a firing position so as to vary the distance between said moveable seal and said stationary seal along the longitudinal axis of said launch tube to cause said moveable seal to sealably engage the projectile and capture the projectile between said first and stationary seals; andmeans for providing a supply of compressed air to said firing chamber for launching the projectile from said launch tube,whereby capturing the projectile between the seals through relative movement of said moveable and stationary seals forwards each other ensures sealing engagement of the projectile with the moveable seal during the transfer of compressed air into the firing chamber.