Paintball marker with self purging regulator

An improved normally open (NO) gas pressure regulator is provided. Preferably, the regulator is employed with a paintball marker and operates as a NO regulator yet automatically purges the retained pressure downstream of the regulator upon removal of the supply pressure. The gas pressure regulator of the present invention includes a pressure-controlled plunger inside the NO regulator that allows the regulated downstream gases to be purged from the system as the supply source is removed from the marker. Accordingly, since the downstream regulated gases are allowed to exit the system when the supply source is removed, the regulated gas pressure is released and the paintball marker is rendered inoperable and safe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an improved gas regulator that is configured and arranged to automatically release retained gas pressure. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improved gas regulator for controlling the distribution of compressed gas throughout a paintball marker or other compressed gas powered projectile firing device while automatically purging any retained pressure downstream of the regulator upon removal of the supply pressure.

In the sport of paintball, pneumatically operated guns are employed to launch paint capsules at a participant's opponent. In operation, pressurized gas is rapidly released into the breach of the pneumatically operated gun behind a projectile that is loaded therein. The release of the pressurized gas in turn discharges the projectile outwardly from the barrel of the pneumatically operated gun, launching the projectile at an opponent. In this regard, in order to operate, such pneumatically operated paintball guns require the use of a reliable source of compressed air or other gas. Such a supply of compressed gas is generally provided in the form of a portable gas cylinder that is mounted to the gun. In this arrangement, a large volume of highly pressurized compressed gas is stored in the gas cylinder, wherein relatively small amounts of the gas are metered out at a reduced pressure in order to operate the marker and launch the projectiles. To achieve this metering operation, the use of pressure regulators in paintball markers has become commonplace, so that the desired output pressure from the gas storage cylinder can be reliably controlled.

Typically these gas regulators have been fairly crude devices that severely limit the ability of users to control the operational parameters of the paintball marker. To meet the growing demand for higher performance paint ball markers, pressure regulators that exhibit improved performance characteristics have been developed. These improved pressure regulators are designed to control unwanted pressure spikes from the gas storage cylinders in order to keep the pressure entering the pneumatic gun stable and well as to control the velocity of the ejected paintball by directly controlling the input pressure into the paintball marker's valve chamber.

In this regard, there are currently two predominant regulator designs currently being used in pneumatically operated paintball markers. The first regulator type is an upstream or normally closed (NC) design where the pressure of the supply gas within the gas storage cylinder biases the regulator against the regulator main spring force allowing gas pressure to enter the firing chamber. The regulator in the NC arrangement closes once the gas in the firing chamber reaches the desired operational pressure. In the NC design, removal of the supply pressure to the regulator, by removal of the gas storage cylinder, allows the regulator main spring to become the dominant biasing force that in turn allows the regulator seal mechanism to open. Once the regulator seal opens, any regulated downstream gases retained within the marker are then purged backwards through the system and released.

The second regulator type is a downstream or normally open (NO) design shown in prior artFIGS. 1-5. The NO regulator depicted at10inFIG. 1is the most prolifically used regulator in paintball markers, due to its combination of ease of manufacture, reliability and performance. In the NO regulator10design the regulated downstream gas pressure12is the dominant force biasing the regulator piston14to a closed position against the combined force of the supply gas pressure and the regulator main spring force16. As supply gas15flows through the regulator seat18shown atFIG. 2, the down stream pressure behind the regulator piston14increases thereby displacing it downwardly. Once the downstream pressure reaches the operational pressure setting of the regulator, the regulator piston14urges the seal20into contact with the regulator seat as shown inFIG. 3, preventing any additional flow of supply gas from the gas storage container. As the pressure of the downstream gas decreases, the regulator main spring causes the regulator piston to move upwardly thereby opening the regulator seat to allow additional gas to flow as shown inFIG. 4.

The difficulty with the NO regulator10design is that by its nature, the design includes a hereditary safety issue in the fact that it leaves the paintball marker energized with compressed gases even after the supply gas source has been removed. As can be seen inFIG. 5, even after the gas supply15is removed and the supply pressure is eliminated, the regulated downstream gases12remain the dominant biasing pressure against the regulator main spring16. As a result the regulator seal20mechanism remains closed against the regulator seat18causing the regulated downstream gas12to remain trapped downstream of the regulator seal20mechanism. Since the regulated gas12is not free to purge back through the system, the operational end of the paintball marker remains pressurized. Often the retained regulated gas12is at a sufficient pressure and volume to subsequently fire a paintball at, or close to full velocity, even after the gas supply has been removed. This has obvious safety implications for paintball markers that use this type and design of regulator to control the gas supply to the marker.

There is therefore a need for a pressure regulator for a paintball marker that preserves the operational benefits and reliability of a NO regulator yet automatically purges the retained pressure downstream of the regulator upon removal of the supply pressure.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In this regard, the present invention provides an improved gas pressure regulator for a paintball marker that preserves the operational benefits and reliability of a NO regulator yet automatically purges the retained pressure downstream of the regulator upon removal of the supply pressure. The gas pressure regulator of the present invention includes a pressure-controlled plunger inside the NO regulator that allows the regulated downstream gases to be purged from the system as the supply source is removed from the marker. Accordingly, since the downstream regulated gases are allowed to exit the system when the supply source is removed, the regulated gas pressure is released and the paintball marker is rendered inoperable and safe.

In addition to the components contained within a traditional NO regulator, the present invention also incorporates a self-purging pressure bleeding feature that can be found mounted inside the regulator piston. The self-purging feature is a pressure biased plunger that is designed to selectively allow communication of the supply gas side and the downstream regulated gas side of the regulator. In normal operation, with supply gas attached to the supply inlet, the self-purging feature remains closed maintaining the seal between the regulator seat and the regulator seal. However, when the supply gas pressure is removed, the self-purging element is displaced downwardly by the down stream regulated gas pressure. This movement of the self-purging element allows the downstream regulated gases to flow back through the regulator seal and back out of the supply inlet of the regulator. As a result, the retained pressure of the regulated gas is purged thereby depressurizing the paintball marker rendering it safe.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a pressure regulator for a paintball marker that preserves the operational benefits and reliability of a NO regulator yet automatically purges the retained pressure downstream of the regulator upon removal of the supply pressure rendering the paintball marker inoperable and safe.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty that characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Now referring to the drawings, the improved gas pressure regulator100and its operation is shown and generally illustrated atFIGS. 6-8. Generally, the regulator100is disposed between a high pressure gas supply102and a downstream regulated gas supply104. The regulator100includes a seat106with an aperture108therein that permits flow of gas from the high-pressure gas supply102into the regulator100, a piston110with a seal112at one end thereof disposed adjacent the seat106, a spring114that spring biases the piston110with the seal112thereon to a normally open position relative the seat106, and a self-purging element116or valve disposed in or proximate to the seat106that upon removal of the high-pressure gas supply102opens to allow release the pressurized downstream regulated gas104.

In this regard, the present invention provides an improved gas pressure regulator100for a paintball marker that preserves the operational benefits and reliability of a NO regulator yet automatically purges the retained pressure downstream of the regulator upon removal of the supply pressure. The automatic purging feature of the pressure regulator of the present invention is created by the inclusion of a pressure-controlled plunger inside the NO regulator piston and seal that allows the regulated downstream gases to be purged from the system as the supply source is removed from the marker. Accordingly, as the downstream regulated gases are allowed to exit the system when the supply source is removed, the paintball marker is rendered inoperable and safe.

Turning toFIG. 6a cross-section depicting one possible embodiment of the regulator100of the present invention is shown. Generally, the basic function of the regulator of the present invention is identical to the function and operation of the prior art downstream NO regulator described inFIGS. 1-5above with the novel addition of the self-purging functionality. In this regard, the regulator of the present invention includes the same basic components of supply gas102, downstream regulated gas104, regulator piston110, regulator main spring114, regulator seal112and regulator seat106. In addition to the components listed above, however, the present invention also incorporates a self-purging pressure bleeding feature116that can be found mounted inside the regulator piston. The self-purging feature116is a plunger118that is designed to selectively allow communication of the supply gas side102and the downstream regulated gas104side of the regulator100. The plunger118is biased to a closed position partially by a spring120and partially by the supply gas pressure102. In normal operation, with supply gas102attached to the supply inlet, the supply gas102pressure indicated by arrow122is greater than the pressure of the regulated downstream gas104thereby causing the self-purging plunger118to remain closed against the sealing face124maintaining the continuity of the seal between the regulator seat106and the regulator seal112. However, when the supply gas pressure102is removed, the supply gas102pressure indicated by arrow126is less than the pressure of the regulated downstream gas104the self-purging plunger118is displaced downwardly by the down stream regulated gas pressure104. In other words, the self-purging plunger118will either open or remain closed against the sealing surface124dependant on which side of self-purging plunger118sees the larger pressure differential.

Turning toFIG. 7the regulator100of the present invention is depicted in normal operation with supply gas pressure102provided at the supply inlet. While the supply gas pressure102is present, the pressure of the supply gas102passes through the aperture in the regulator seal112urging the plunger118upwardly. This supply gas pressure102is sufficient to overcome the opposing force of the pressure of the downstream regulated gas104acting on the opposing side of the plunger118from within the regulator100such that the plunger118is urged upwards towards the sealing face124thereby preventing any communication of gases between the supply side and the downstream side. Thus the downstream side of the regulator remains at the regulated pressure.

AtFIG. 8the regulator100of the present invention is shown wherein the supply source gas102has been removed. Once the supply gas pressure102has been removed, the pressure of the downstream regulated104gas becomes the dominant pressure acting on the plunger118seal element, forcing it downwardly and away from the sealing surface124. This movement of the plunger118sealing element allows the downstream regulated gases104to flow back as depicted by arrows128through the regulator seat106and back out of the supply inlet of the regulator. As a result, the retained pressure of the regulated gas is purged thereby depressurizing the paintball marker rendering it safe.

It can therefore be seen that the present invention provides a pressure regulator for a paintball marker that preserves the operational benefits and reliability of a NO regulator yet automatically purges the retained pressure downstream of the regulator upon removal of the supply pressure rendering the paintball marker inoperable and safe. For these reasons, the instant invention is believed to represent a significant advancement in the art, which has substantial commercial merit.