Air gun firing operating system

An air gun firing operating system that uses compressed air to eject bullets by a purely mechanical device, and enables single firing or high-speed continuous firing. During the firing operation, the system uses a sliding shuttle tube that is able to slide back and forth in a linear displacement on a central axis between a bullet chamber and a cylinder. The sliding shuttle tube uses differential pressure variation in a pressure buffer chamber to achieve a stroke state that can be continuously changed, thereby achieving high-speed back and forth motion and continuous firing of bullets. The relevant driving position of a trigger device is provided with a sliding retainer, which is able to effect transient retaining of the sliding shuttle tube, thereby restricting the system for single firing, or discontinuing the retention to enable the system to be in a continuous firing operation state.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention provides an air gun firing system, which is able to employ a purely mechanical system to achieve a high speed continuous firing or single firing operation. The firing system uses a sliding shuttle tube able to move frontward and rearward between a bullet chamber and a cylinder. The sliding shuttle tube is subjected to a differential pressure variation of a pressure buffer chamber pressure source during the back-and-forth motion thereof, which changes the stroke direction of the sliding shuttle tube, and the accumulation and discharge operation causes the pressure of the pressure buffering chamber to be in a pulsed mode. The sliding shuttle tube is pushed outward when the pressure is high, and a returning arch force of an arch returning spring pushes the sliding shuttle tube back to its original position when the pressure is low. After repositioning, high pressure is again built up in the pressure buffer chamber, and the sliding shuttle tube is again propelled outward, thereby achieving a continuous back-and-forth striking motion. Furthermore, the speed of the back-and-forth movement is further subjected to an increase in the amount of air pressure in a prepositioned pressure regulating device of the pressure buffer chamber, thus enabling high-speed movement and achieving a high-speed firing operation. In addition, the intervention of a sliding retainer fitted to a trigger device enables restricting the system to a single firing operation.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

Pressurized air guns fire paint balls or BB balls during use thereof, and the source of the air pressure is compressed air. After regulating the pressure of the gun, an instantaneous high pressure enables firing of the bullet. There are two methods of firing, namely single firing and continuous firing. As for the continuous firing mode, this is commonly determined by electronic solenoid valve operation of an air blast. However, this solenoid valve is frequently subjected to change in pressure value of the pressure source, causing a change in the working condition and resulting in malfunction of the system. The reason for which is that when the valve body of the solenoid valve has the shape of a valve pin, and if the air pressure flowing through the solenoid valve is too large, then the surface of the valve pin driven by electromagnetic force will form different angled oblique force components. Furthermore, if the value of the force components is greater than the electromagnetic force, then movement of the suppressed valve pin is caused to fail. Moreover, the solenoid valve is used for the purpose of high speed firing, and, in general, the method used adopts a device fitted with a circuit board provided with a transistor switch, and the device is acted on by a relay circuit operated by the gun trigger to effect a trigger action, thereby enabling electronic switching elements to easily effect high frequency operation to achieve high speed firing of bullets. However, it is common for the circuit board to be often sold without warranty of parts. The reason for which is very simple, because the circuit board is unable to withstand mechanical vibration forces, and high-speed firing effects high-frequency movement which very easily damages the circuit board. Therefore, the circuit boards are also commonly seen as single units that are designed as kits which can be easily assembled to guns, thereby providing easy and rapid replacement and, because of the unfavorable affect of vibration on the circuit enable covering up a visible firing control device of the circuit board from the user. Hence, such a design is really not appropriate for use in high vibrating guns.

Moreover, the circuit needs a power supply to operate, and it is common for a user to forget to turn off the power supply after finishing their game activities, thereby causing the power supply to completely drain after the gun has been put away for about 3 to 5 days (varying depending on power consumption).

Related electronic control problems are really not suitable for actual needs, and many designs have abandoned the continuous firing operation, instead adopting a design whereby the finger is used to effect a pulling action on the trigger to effect a single shot operation, such as Gabrel's U.S. Pat. No. 8,033,276. In FIGS. 1, 12, 19, 21 of said patent, it can be seen that the firing operation drives a valve rod through a synchronous operation mode using a trigger, and uses axial displacement of the valve rod to change the high pressure airflow direction, which determines whether or not there is pressing on a plunger, thereby completing the firing operation. However, when the finger pulls the trigger, the action of the finger muscles are unable to meet the firing speed of a real gun, and is thus assisted with a design having a circuit board able to operate a solenoid valve at high frequency, which enables a pressure system to effect a firing operation at high frequency, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 36 of the patent.

Regarding the pressure accumulation time interval in the storage chamber of said patent, pressure is released after the cylinder is pushed out, forming a low-pressure space enabling an opportune shift-in of a valve portion therein, after which, because the position of the valve spool of the valve portion has changed, thus, the external portion of the gun is caused to channel in high-pressure air, and only then is the gun able to replenish the passageway. Moreover, the high-pressure device is disposed to match the storage chamber, thus, the design of the accumulated pressure operation of the storage chamber of said patent is such that the accumulated pressure time interval of the storage chamber is inevitably spent or occupied by the intervention of the valve portion during the stroke of the valve portion action. Hence, when using a high frequency firing control circuit configuration, the pulse frequency of the storage chamber is unable to keep up with the circuit board firing control frequency, and is unable to reach the tempo of continuous firing, or, because the pulse points and the operating points of the circuit controlling firing are not synchronized, even in a state whereby there is an elementary error in the time points, and under the conditions of an external pressure source maintaining a certain pressure value supply, the storage chamber still does not have the full likelihood of achieving an accumulated pressure state having the appropriate high value. thus causing a weakening of the firing pressure. The reason for which is because of the required time interval for the accumulated pressure, a portion being occupied by the working time of the action of the valve portion. Moreover, in order to prevent air admission and the opening-up of a ventilation action, because the structure of the valve portion causes the high-pressure air to flow from the outside into the path of the storage chamber and forms a critical time for an opening and closing action, both of which can occur in the flow path and the feedback pressure negatively affected by air flowing in different directions, thus, the required positive pressure is canceled out. At that time, an opposite acting force acts on the storage chamber through opening and closing of the valve portion, especially at the moment of the closing action, thereby enabling the nullified storage chamber to obtain the highest pressure value. Accordingly, it is difficult to meet the demands for a strong force and high-speed continuous firing.

Furthermore, in such a prior art design, it can be clearly seen that the accumulated pressure action of the storage chamber is necessarily acted on by the link rod directly joined to the trigger, or determined by whether or not the valve pin is indirectly hit out via a linkage operation through the operation of the circuit board, thereby changing the pressure airflow path through axial displacement of the valve pin and determining the firing action and accumulated pressure operation of the storage chamber. Hence, it is clear that if the trigger system is removed, then the valve pin forms a normally open state, under which conditions the storage chamber is then fixed in a continuously replenished state whereby the storage chamber continuously obtains pressure from an external pressure source (air cylinder). Accordingly, even if the cylinder of the storage chamber is pushed back to correspond therewith based on directional repositioning of a tension spring fitted on its circumference, the cylinder is again subjected to the pressure of the storage chamber and the external pressure source (which has not yet undergone pressurization) and further pushed out towards the firing direction. Although the cylinder at this time is seemingly effecting a continuous back-and-forth action, however, its displacement travel distance is extremely short, and is unable to travel a withdrawal distance sufficient to enable filling the space with bullets. Therefore, the storage chamber simply can not accumulate pressure, and thus does not have the required energy capacity for firing to occur.

Although the aforementioned removal trigger system is not suitable for a trigger operated gun firing simulation, however, if designed for guns with the requirement for continuous firing, then its is difficult for the system design of said patent to effect the capacity to realize such an operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide an improved air gun that achieves stable high-pressure continuous firing, which, under stable physical conditions, allows a uniform pulse type continuous blast of air pressure for firing of bullets, or uses the restrictive function of a trigger device to intervene and restrain the system to operate in a single firing mode or be used as a safety lock.

A second objective of the present invention lies in using a sliding shuttle tube to achieve the aforementioned objective, in which the interior of the sliding shuttle tube is coaxially fitted with a sliding column, the outer circumference of which is slidably disposed in a bullet chamber, and the internally fitted sliding column is slidably disposed in a cylinder body fitted in a cylinder fixedly joined to the main body of the gun. Unidirectional repositioning of the sliding shuttle tube is realized by means of an arch returning spring, and compressed air conveyed by the cylinder acts on the sliding column, thereby causing the sliding shuttle tube to move toward the bullet chamber. After the end surface of the sliding column separates from the cylinder body, then the cylinder body comprises a pressure buffer chamber containing the entire compressed air, which propels a bullet by means of the sliding shuttle tube to achieve the firing objective. After the pressure drops, the arch returning spring prepares to push back and reposition the sliding shuttle tube, thereby achieving a continuous motion operation.

A third objective of the present invention lies in using a trigger device, which drives a sliding retainer by means of a cam. The sliding retainer subjects the sliding shuttle tube to a transient line of motion to achieve a single firing function or can be opened for continuous firing or for safety locking.

A fourth objective of the present invention lies in the cylinder connected to an air pressure regulating system, in which the air pressure regulating system is installed with a pressure regulating device and an overpressure protection device and a flow control device, whereby regulation of the inflow of compressed air is carried out to stabilize pressure and protect against overpressure, thereby avoiding the risk of bullets traveling too fast during firing and endangering the environment or the gun structure.

To enable a further understanding of said objectives and the technological methods of the invention herein, a brief description of the drawings is provided below followed by a detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring first toFIG. 1, the present invention primarily comprises a sleeve-shaped sliding shuttle tube3. The interior of the sliding shuttle tube3is fitted with a sliding column31, and the sliding column31is disposed to slide on a cylinder body21fitted in the center of a cylinder2. A shuttling outer circumferential surface35of the sliding shuttle tube3is disposed to slide in the inner circumference of a cylinder-shaped bullet chamber50that is connected and fixed to a gun barrel5. A sliding inner circumferential surface32of the sliding shuttle tube3is further slidably mounted on a cylindrical outer circumferential surface22of a cylinder2, causing a movable airtight tolerance to be formed between the sliding column31and the cylinder body21and between the sliding inner circumferential surface32and the cylindrical outer circumferential surface22. Moreover, such a configuration forms a mutually coaxial (the working shaft of the firing action) socket combination relationship. The sliding shuttle tube3is then supported by the cylinder2and the bullet chamber50fixed to the gun body, and enables achieving a back-and-forth displacement on an axial line position.

A bullet40is caused to enter the bullet chamber50through a bullet loading opening4, in which the bullet40enters so as to be aligned with the center position of a gun chamber51. The bullet chamber50is provided with a pressing ring52facing the expanded open side periphery of the cylinder2, and the pressing ring52enables pressed assemblage to a corresponding end of an arch returning spring30, in which the arch returning spring30generates the push-back power to push the sliding shuttle tube3toward the direction of the cylinder2.

One end of the sliding shuttle tube3mounted on the cylinder2is outwardly widened to form a ring-shaped retaining shoulder36, and one side of the retaining shoulder36corresponding to the pressing ring52similarly compresses an end opening of the arch returning spring30.

The base of the sliding column31of the sliding shuttle tube3connects to a radial connecting portion33to form a suspended rod form, and the connecting portion33is a pressure feed opening34directed toward the end opening of the firing direction. Passageways are realized between the pressure feed opening34and a tube-shaped chamber300of the sliding shuttle tube3through air holes330defined in the connecting portion33. The length of the sliding column31is shorter than the overall length of the sliding shuttle tube3, and an end surface310thereof is positioned within the range of the axial length of the tube-shaped chamber300.

The cylinder body21is fitted in the interior of the cylinder2, and the cylinder body21is radially fitted with a compression ring210. The elastic effect of the compression ring210is used to further improve the airtight effectiveness of the aforementioned sliding column31.

The cylinder body21of the cylinder2is linked in the direction of an air pressure regulating system1, and the cylinder body21first enables channeling to a pressure buffer chamber15of the air pressure regulating system1, the pressure buffer chamber15then enables channeling to a channeling portion11through the air flow path. In order for the channeling portion11to accept the intake of the compressed air source, after intake of the compressed air by the channeling portion11, the compressed air is first adjusted using a pressure adjusting device12, which is able to adjust the magnitude of the pressure value. Adjustment can be achieved by transferring pressure to the outside using an adjusting screw121, while an overpressure protection device13fitted in the path is able to automatically release excessive pressure. Moreover, a flow control device14can be fitted in the path for fast adjustment, whereby adjustment of the flow control device14enables changing the speed relationship, thereby forming a pressure effect in the interior of the pressure buffer chamber15.

The cylinder2of the aforementioned cylinder body21is provided with a first opening end20facing the working end thereof, and toward the rear end is a second opening end200. The mouth edge of the second opening end200adjoins and affords passage to the inner surface of one side joined to a pressure buffer chamber15using an intersecting method, thereby enabling the compressed air of the pressure buffer chamber15to rapidly replenish the cylinder body21. The pressure buffer chamber15is indirectly connected to a channeling portion11of a high pressure air cylinder via a replenishment flow path102and a channeling device.

With respect to channeling of the replenishment flow path102toward the direction of the channeling portion11, the replenishment flow path102is first channeled and joined to one end of a valve opening101positioned in the interior of the main body of the pressure regulating system1. Another end of the valve opening101affords passage to an interpassage flow path10. The size of the space of the valve opening101is caused to change by the intervention of an adjusting screw140fitted to a flow control device14, thereby interfering with the flow in the interpassage flow path10flowing to the pressure buffer chamber15. The interference method uses the externally adjustable adjusting screw140to effect an externally directed end opening screw relationship with the valve opening101. The adjusting screw140is coaxially fitted with a valve rod141corresponding to the spatial form of the valve opening101. After the adjusting screw140has effected an external rotating operation on the valve rod141, then longitudinal displacement occurs thereof, and the amount of change in the displacement changes the relative amount of clearance between the outer surface and inner surface of the valve rod141. The amount of clearance, namely the change in the through-flow area of a valve opening100, thereby regulates the flow quantity of the interpassage flow path10flowing toward the direction of the pressure buffer chamber15, and this change in the flow quantity is further used to enable the state of the pressure buffer chamber15to form an accumulated pressure value (a prerequisite being that the cylinder body21is blocked by the sliding column31of the sliding shuttle tube3) in the pressure buffer chamber15. The change in pressure value is then able to regulate the firing rate of bullet bodies40being fired.

In addition, an overpressure protection device13can be fitted in the flow path system toward the exterior of one side of a section of the interpassage flow path10, with the overpressure protection device13affording passage to a pressure release passage134. The overpressure protection device13mainly comprises one end which is fixed by being screwed and locked down to the main body of the pressure regulating system1using a locking screw133. The inner end surface of the overpressure protection device13is supported by a free end top pressing steel ball131fitted to a safety spring132. In a normal state, the pressing steel ball131blocks the end opening of the pressure release passage134. If the air pressure flowing through the interpassage flow path10reaches the safety threshold set by the system, then the pressure is directed toward the direction of the pressure release passage134, and the pressure pushes against the pressing steel ball131, thereby achieving the safety objective of causing the release of the overpressure in the system. The vertical height of the locking screw133can be adjusted by means of a screw bolt method, and when the locking screw133has been inwardly tightly fastened, then the safety spring132is able to store even greater elastic stress, thereby having the force to press up against the pressing steel ball131, whereupon the interpassage flow path10is able to retain air at an even higher pressure. Apart from depending on regulation of the overpressure protection device13to change the pressure safety limit of the system, the overpressure protection device13also similarly determines the pressure state of the pressure buffer chamber15.

A pressure regulating device12is indirectly fitted between the interpassage flow path10and the channeling portion11. The components of the pressure regulating device12are able to more efficiently regulate the resultant pressure required within the system, and provide a role for the air pre-expanding space. The pressure regulating device12is fitted with a regulating cylinder body120. One end of the regulating cylinder body120affords passage to the channeling portion11through a flow switching valve126. The flow switching valve126is provided with a pinhole123parallel to the linear direction of air flow drainage. The pinhole123is sealed with a valve ball124towards the end opening of the channeling portion11. The valve ball124is supported by the tensile force produced by an arch pressure spring125of the pressure regulating system1pressing up against thereof, thereby producing a sealing action on the pinhole123. The system of the pressure regulating device12is fitted with an adjusting screw121able to effect external adjustment which acts on a tension spring127. The tension spring127is linked to a valve needle122corresponding to the position of the pinhole123. The upper and lower height position of the of the valve needle122is changed by adjustment by the adjustment screw121, and the further coefficient intervention of the tension spring127produces a force which pushes downward on the valve ball124. Provided that the force applied by the valve pin122causes the valve ball124to withdraw, then the compressed air of the channeling portion11is able to pass through the pinhole123and fill the interior of the regulating cylinder body120. A pre-expanding pressure boost is thus effected, after which the compressed air can be continuously supplied through the interpassage flow path10, and indirectly transmitted to the pressure buffer chamber15through the flow control device14.

Under the aforesaid circumstances, the pressurized air supplied through the channeling portion11is able to uninterruptedly fill the interior of the pressure buffer chamber15with air. And because of the firing action, apart from pressure being expended in the space of the pressure buffer chamber15, the pressure buffer chamber15is continuously maintained in a high-pressure state. This point has a completely different application function compared to prior art designs.

Summarizing the aforementioned rationale, the present invention only needs the channeling portion11to import high pressurized air pressure to achieve the ability to enable driving a completely mechanical firing operating system without fitting any mechanical or electro-mechanical firing control device, as depicted inFIGS. 2 to 5. The present invention eliminates the need for any firing control device, and only uses the before and after differential pressure in the system to naturally achieve a continuous firing action. Hence, the system of the present invention can be applied in guns only having the simple needs for continuous firing. In addition, in order for the system to provide the function to enable using the finger to pull the trigger to achieve a single shot, then the system needs to be fitted with a trigger device7as depicted inFIG. 6, and only then can it achieve a single firing operation. This point is a completely different functional design compared to the design of the aforementioned prior art, and also a noticeably different application concept.

Referring toFIG. 2, the gun barrel5is coupled to the air pressure regulating system1by means of a barrel component6, the barrel component6being one part of the barrel, and the gun barrel5and the air pressure regulating system1form a coaxial linear relationship front-rear assembly. The sliding shuttle tube3is coaxially, disposed so as to slide on the cylinder2, and the cylinder2is joined to the air pressure regulating system1to connectively channel air pressure from the pressure buffer chamber15. The bullet chamber50of the gun barrel5enables the shuttling outer circumferential surface35of the sliding shuttle tube3to be slidably disposed thereon, and the side feeding bullet loading opening4enables loading into the sliding shuttle tube3. Joining of the barrel component6causes a coaxial linear assembly to form between the gun barrel5and the cylinder2, thereby enabling the sliding shuttle tube3to rely on the linear support of the bullet chamber50and the cylinder2to produce a back and forth motion, and the arched pressure of the arch returning spring30is used to push back and effect restoring of the sliding shuttle tube3. During the pushing back process, the end surface310of the sliding column31effects damping in the direction of the pressure buffer chamber15.

Before a firing operation, the compressed air of the pressure buffer chamber15acts on the end surface310of the sliding column31, and the sliding column31connectively drives the shuttling outer circumferential surface35by means of the sliding inner circumferential surface32, whereupon, the bullet chamber50slides into the gun barrel5, and the arch returning spring30is simultaneously compressed. The compressed air of the pressure buffer chamber15successively acts on the sliding column31of the sliding shuttle tube3, thereby causing the entire sliding shuttle tube3to be displaced toward the bullet chamber50. At this time, the compressed air remaining in the cylinder body21of the cylinder2and the end surface310forms an internal space with the sliding column31, and the sliding shuttle tube3is squeezed to finally retain the bullet40.

The aforementioned detailed operation entails the pressure regulating device12importing air from the exterior thereof through the pinhole123of the flow switching valve126, and the pre-expansion pressure that occurs fills the interior of the regulating cylinder body120. The adjusting screw121, as described above, serves to effect the primary adjustment of the system resultant pressure. The pressure produced by the regulating cylinder body120passes through the interpassage flow path10, whereupon the flow control device14indirectly regulates the flow quantity, after which, the air is channeled through the replenishment flow path102toward the direction of the pressure buffer chamber15and continuously supplies and fills the interior of the pressure buffer chamber15(FIG. 2depicts one of the action states before firing). The high pressure air of the pressure buffer chamber15seeks an outlet and presses an end surface310of the sliding column31, thereby causing the sliding column31to be pushed toward the direction of the gun barrel5, at which time the position of the end surface310of the sliding column31is still maintained within the range of the longitudinal length of the cylinder body21of the cylinder2. Moreover, at this time, the air pressure consumed by operation of the pressure buffer chamber15is also replenished by a continuous supply from the replenishment flow path102.

FIG. 3depicts the end surface310of the sliding column31receiving the pressurization of the pressure buffer chamber15, thereby connectively displacing the entire sliding shuttle tube3. The pressure feed opening34of the sliding shuttle tube3contains the circular shearing surface of the bullet40, and pushes the bullet40causing it to be positioned in the inner end of the gun barrel5. The arch returning spring30is subjected to extreme compression, and the end surface310almost separates from a first opening end20of the cylinder2. At this time, the first opening end20also passingly channels the extraneous air through the breadth of a connecting portion33of the pressure feed opening34, where the air passes through air holes330and replenishes air by taking in extraneous air outside of a gun chamber51to achieve the requirement to fill out the internal volume space of the first opening end20.

Referring toFIG. 4, pressure from the pressure buffer chamber15continues to act on the sliding column31of the sliding shuttle tube3, and after the end surface310of the sliding column31is pressed to separate from the first opening end20of the cylinder2, then compressed air of the pressure buffer chamber15is conveyed toward the tube-shaped chamber300of the sliding shuttle tube3through the cylinder body21of the cylinder2, further passing through the air holes330of the tube-shaped chamber300of the sliding shuttle tube3and being completely channeled into the pressure feed opening34, whereupon instantaneous collapse of the compressed air is realized, and the bullet40is ejected from the bore of the gun51, at which time instantaneous squeezing causes internal air pressure of the tube-shaped chamber300of the sliding shuttle tube3and the cylinder body21of the cylinder2to be instantaneously released.

Referring toFIG. 5, because of the pressure drop after the aforementioned release of the internal air pressure, thus, arch pressure of the arch returning spring30is used to push back the sliding shuttle tube3toward the cylinder2. During the process of pushing back, the end surface310of the sliding column31forms an additional pressure by means of the limit relationship of the cylinder body21during the process of backing up, and restores it back in the pressure buffer chamber15ready for firing again.

Under unrestricted movement of the sliding shuttle tube3, the aforementioned firing process enables back and forth continuous running of the sliding shuttle tube3to allow the bullets40to be continuously ejected, in which the successive bullets40are continuously loaded into the bullet loading opening4. As long as the bullet loading opening4is filled with a quantity of the bullets40, and the sliding shuttle tube3is able to continuously move back and forth, then a continuous firing operation is achieved. The aforementioned operations are all mechanical movements, and as long as these movements are not subjected to external force causing interference therewith, then a continuous firing operation is achieved.

As described above, the system of the present invention is able to achieve the principle of a self-operated continuous firing operation, and is based on the rapid drop to a low pressure value in the pressure buffer chamber15after the firing operation. However, the elastic energy of the arch returning spring30is able to drive the repositioning of the sliding shuttle tube3, and the sliding column31fitted on the repositioning linkage axis of the sliding shuttle tube3is pressed towards the direction of the pressure buffer chamber15, thereby plugging the cylinder2. Moreover, a portion of air pressure is replenished back into the pressure buffer chamber15through the area effect of the end surface310of the sliding column31during the return-stroke action thereof, and at the same time, the pressure buffer chamber15continues to receive the high-pressure air supplied by the replenishment flow path102during the return-stroke action of the aforementioned sliding shuttle tube3. Similarly, the replenishment flow path102uninterruptedly continues to supply high pressure air to the pressure buffer chamber15. This point is dissimilar to the operation mode of the control replenishment timing of the prior art.

The main source of the pressure required by the pressure buffer chamber15is obtained from the replenishment flow path102, and no intermittent switching operation device (such as the spool valve of the prior art described above) of any kind is fitted in the channel path of the replenishment flow path102toward the channeling portion11(as shown inFIG. 1). Hence, apart from a falling in pressure in the pressure buffer chamber15of the system of the present invention at the instant of firing, at other times during the operating process, as long as the channeling portion11channels in pressure from an air cylinder, then the space of the pressure buffer chamber15stores highly compressed air when ever necessary. Moreover, the pressure difference between the high pressure value of the compressed air and the pressure value at the instant of firing generates a differential pressure. The system of the present invention uses the differential pressure to achieve system operation, whereby, when the system is at low pressure, the sliding shuttle tube3performs a return-stroke, and when at high pressure, a firing action pushes against the sliding shuttle tube3. In such a way, the system uses repeated variation in differential pressure to achieve an automatic continuous firing operation. Accordingly, there is no need for an external device to preside over continuous operation of the system. This point is a completely different concept compared to that of the prior art. Moreover, the present invention simplifies the structure for a continuous firing gun by completely replacing the high-frequency continuous firing control circuit board of the prior art. And because the present invention excludes entirely the unnecessary firing control device, thus, the failure rate of the gun is significantly lowered.

The present invention is purely a mechanical firing operation, and also uses mechanical restrictions to allow the system to provide a choice between being used for single firing or continuous firing. One side of the travel line of the sliding shuttle tube3of the present invention is fitted with a trigger device7able to cause interference, and functions to restrict the sliding shuttle tube3, enabling selection of continuous firing to allow continuous movement of the sliding shuttle tube3and thereby achieve continuous firing of bullets, or for single firing use by operating a trigger71using a transient state restriction.

The trigger device7basically comprises the trigger71, and a triggering operation of the trigger71drives a sliding retainer72. After being acted on by the trigger device7, a retainer tip722of the sliding retainer72enables retaining the corresponding end of the retaining shoulder36of the sliding shuttle tube3, and blocking or opening of the retaining shoulder36of the sliding shuttle tube is used to achieve selection for continuous firing or single firing operation. In which the trigger71is fastened to a fixed position of the gun body by means of a pin710, and is able to elastically restore its position. When the trigger71is pulled, a tripping arm711indirectly squeezes the corresponding end of the sliding retainer72causing it to turn upward one time around the pin710as an axis center point, after which the tripping arm711is subjected to the position returning elasticity of the spring712and repositioned, while simultaneously connectively moving the trigger71to return to its original position.

The sliding retainer72is used as a working pivot by means of the pin720, moreover, the sliding retainer72is subjected to the action of a pulling spring75to pull it toward the right side and hold the position thereat, and displacement is only produced when subjected to operation of the trigger71. The sliding retainer72is tripped every time the trigger71is pulled and produces a horizontal displacement each time, thereby allowing the retainer tip722to cause single downward drawing back of the corresponding end surface of the retaining shoulder36by means of the axis center support function of the pin720. Accordingly, the retaining shoulder36is released to achieve a firing operation, and the retaining shoulder36is subjected to the arching action of the arch returning spring30, producing a shearing pressure on the upper surface of the retainer tip722and repositioning thereof. Moreover, under the condition of not being acted upon by the shearing pressure, the retainer tip again upwardly recoils, after which the retainer tip722is restrained through restriction thereof and causes clamping of the sliding shuttle tube3after repositioning thereof, forming a transient stoppage, and thereby achieving a single firing function.

The sliding retainer72is provided with a kidney shaped hole723, and the kidney shaped hole723enables slidably disposing therein of the pin720joined to the gun body, while the linear length of the kidney shaped hole723allows two angular rotational movements of the sliding retainer72, such as left and right or up and down.

The present invention uses the auxiliary function of the trigger device7, the main reason for which is to realize a single firing function. However, when requiring continuous firing, the trigger device7can, in fact, be removed to achieve a continuous firing mode. However, in order to meet the needs of the user with the intention to use the gun for single firing, thus, the present invention is installed with the trigger device7. After the trigger device7is installed, in order to simulate the holding of the trigger of a real gun and thereby similarly produce a continuous firing operating state, then the lower suspended position of the sliding retainer72is fitted with a shearing arm721, and turning of a cam73enables restraining the shearing arm721to an angular position, thereby determining whether or not the height position of the retainer tip722impinges on the retaining shoulder36. Disposition of the cam73involves using a pin730to movably fix the cam73to the gun body, and a switch stop74enables moving angular position thereof. The periphery of the cam73is provided with a single firing give way notch731, and after the shearing arm721is pulled by the pulling force of the pulling spring75, then the single firing give way notch731enables maximum position limitation by the shearing arm721. After changing angular position, the cam73is further provided with a continuous firing restraining surface732, and after changing angular position again, the cam73is further provided with a safety locking butt retaining convex protrusion733. The continuous firing restraining surface732provides a restraining function to enable continuous firing, and the butt retaining convex protrusion733serves to function as a safety lock.

The working performance of the aforementioned cam73is able to use the corresponding operation of purely mechanical components to directly change whether or not the shearing arm721effects interference of the retaining shoulder36, and determines the state of the firing operation. This is completely different from that described in the prior art, which limits a valve pin relative to interference of the through-flow or direction of the flow path.

Regarding implementation of the single retaining continuous firing operation of the device of the present invention, please refer toFIG. 6, in which after the angular position of the cam73has been changed, the continuous firing restraining surface732thereof tangentially compresses one side of the shearing arm721to produce a cam-like pushing effect, thereby shear compressing the corresponding side of the shearing arm721. The retaining shoulder36is originally restrained by the retainer tip722to maintain a blocking effect and disable the sliding shuttle tube3from moving, and when angular position of the cam73is adjusted to allow the continuous firing restraining surface732to act on the shearing arm721, then the sliding retainer72is restricted to the shifted down angular position, and the trigger device7triggers the corresponding end of the sliding retainer72to hold the selection. The pivot function of the pin720enables the sliding retainer72to cause the retainer tip722to maintain a dropped give way state, at which time, the sliding shuttle tube3disengages interference with the system, and a continuous back and forth motion is formed, thereby achieving a continuous firing operation. Releasing the trigger71causes the retainer tip722to again rise and impinge on the retaining shoulder36, thereby stopping movement of the sliding shuttle tube3.

The standard principle of the aforementioned continuous firing operation comprises the sliding retainer72being displaced by pulling on the trigger71, whereby after the trigger71is released by the finger, then the retainer tip722of the sliding retainer72is able to upwardly reposition through use of the pulling force of the pulling spring75and the support of the pin720, thereby impinging again on the retaining shoulder36of the sliding shuttle tube3. Moreover, the trigger71enables the sliding retainer72to maintain a restraining relational position, that is, the shearing arm721of the sliding retainer72is impinged on by the protrusion of the continuous firing restraining surface732and pushed toward the left, at which time, the pin720is at the right side of the kidney shaped hole723of the sliding retainer72, and, correspondingly, the remote end of the sliding retainer72extends into the upper surface of the tripping arm711to be subject to pulling and displacement of the trigger71, after which the sliding retainer72continues to be prompted upward, and through the support of the pin720, the respective retainer tip722is forced to drop to a height that separates it from the interfering with the sliding shuttle tube3, thereby obtaining the continuous firing operation.

Referring toFIG. 7, which shows disposition of the butt retaining convex protrusion733of the present invention, in which, changing the angular position of the cam73enables the cam73to press and secure the retainer tip722of the sliding retainer72to maintain an upper position, and further restrains the retaining shoulder36of the sliding shuttle tube3. Moreover, the end of the sliding retainer72corresponding to the trigger71is further able to relationally compress the trigger71, thereby restricting the trigger71. Such a locking state functions as a safety switch as used in general guns.

The present invention basically provides a purely mechanical system enabling a continuous firing operation, and uses the inside and outside of the sliding shuttle tube3to form an axial sliding relationship between the front and rear of bullet chamber50and the cylinder2and the cylinder body21of the cylinder2, whereby, during the process of the sliding shuttle tube3mounted and sliding on the cylinder2, before firing, a critical opening is achieved between the end surface310of the sliding column31of the sliding shuttle tube3and the first opening end20of the cylinder2, thus allowing compressed air from the cylinder body21of the cylinder2to pass through the air holes330provided in the tube-shaped chamber300of the sliding shuttle tube3and fill the pressure feed opening34to fire the bullet40. After firing, because of the instantaneous drop in pressure, the arched resistivity of the arch returning spring30forces back the sliding shuttle tube3toward the cylinder2. Accordingly, repeating the aforementioned pressure operated firing enables achieving a system auto-firing natural continuous operation. In order to simulate single trigger pulling firing, then after the trigger device7is pulled and intervenes, such an action on the trigger effects instant point release of single trigger pulling to simulate single firing of a real gun, or single trigger pulling with continuous retention of the trigger to achieve simulation of continuous firing of a real gun, as well as providing safety locking for the firing system of the gun.

The present invention is based on the use of a purely mechanical mechanistic system, but enables the sliding shuttle tube3to realize a back-and-forth movement during the process of differential pressure variation in the pressure buffer chamber15, thereby achieving automatic continuous firing and a pressurized stable operation. and will not malfunction because of changes in pressure difference. Moreover, operation by specific mechanical alteration is further achieved, and in use provides higher reliability and a stable configuration. Furthermore, the pressure adjustment device12fitted in the air pressure regulating system1portion is used to stabilize the pressure, and under circumstances whereby there is excessive pressure, then release of pressure by the overpressure protection device13enables achieving safe control of the amount of firing force. In addition, use of the flow control device14enables changing the velocity of flow to regulate the air pressure relationship.

The present invention further uses a completely mechanical firing control system to achieve continuous firing or single firing or single limit stop-retaining continuous firing or complete safe locking of the system, and is clearly an innovation design in the field of air gun design. Accordingly, a new patent application is proposed herein.