Shock-absorption device of piston mechanism in simulation gun

A simulation gun in which an air current is ejected by an operation of a piston mechanism portion to fire a bullet, a piston stop which is movable relative to a piston mechanism portion is provided, the piston stop is attached to one constituent member of the piston mechanism portion to absorb an impact force accompanying the operation of the piston mechanism portion, and shock-absorption means is provided between the piston stop and the other constituent member of the piston mechanism portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a shock-absorption device of a piston mechanism in a simulation gun in which an air current is ejected by an operation of a piston mechanism portion to fire a bullet.

BACKGROUND ART

For guns which imitate real guns and guns which do not have the ability to kill, in the present invention, they are collectively referred to as simulation guns. There are various kinds of simulation guns, and the simulation guns are mainly targeted for hobbies. However, currently, the simulation guns are widely used as substitutes for real guns in exercises or the like in various organizations, institutions, or the like. In the case of the simulation gun, for example, there is a model gun or the like not aiming to fire a bullet, as well as a gas gun which uses a high-pressure gas, an air gun which uses compressed air, an electric gun which obtains compressed air with a piston, or the like to fire a bullet, and types and product development of the simulation gun are extensive.

In the simulation gun, a piston mechanism is often used to eject an air current (flow of gas) to a bullet. The gas gun, the air gun, and the electric gun also include a configuration corresponding to the piston mechanism, and in the air gun or the like, any one of a piston and a cylinder rapidly moves to compress an air current, and in the gas gun, a movement in which a movement direction of the piston mechanism is changed suddenly is generated by bullet firing and blowback immediately after the bullet firing. Accordingly, a moving member abuts on other members to cause impact, which may cause problems such as durability.

Meanwhile, in the related art, countermeasures are taken to change a material of a colliding member. However, in general, the material cannot be easily obtained, which causes problems such as a material price being expensive and requiring ingenuity in machining and mounting. For example, examining the prior art, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H7-225097 is an invention relating to an airsoft gun, and the invention discloses a braking mechanism in which a compression pressure at an end of a compression process of a piston is increased sharply than a compression pressure in a normal compression process. However, in order to use the compression pressure in the braking mechanism, it is necessary to newly form a bypass passage in a piston mechanism and to incorporate a flow control valve, the structure and the control are complicated, and thus, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H7-225097 does not have versatility.

PATENT LITERATURE

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H7-225097

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Technical Problem

The present invention is made in consideration of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to attenuate impact applied to a piston mechanism portion and improve durability in a simulation gun in which an air current is ejected by an operation of the piston mechanism portion to fire a bullet. In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a shock-absorption device of a piston mechanism which can be embodied without largely changing a mechanism and a structure of a target simulation gun.

Solution to Problem

In order to achieve the objects, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shock-absorption device of a piston mechanism in a simulation gun in which an air current is ejected by an operation of a piston mechanism portion to fire a bullet, in which a piston stop which is movable relative to the piston mechanism portion is provided in the piston mechanism portion, the piston stop is attached to one constituent member of the piston mechanism portion to absorb an impact force accompanying the operation of the piston mechanism portion, and shock-absorption means is provided, between the piston stop and the other constituent member of the piston mechanism portion.

The simulation gun which is the object of the present invention is a simulation gun having the piston mechanism portion. In a general piston, the piston is combined with a cylinder and gas is compressed inside the cylinder by the movement of piston. The present invention is not limited to the piston-cylinder mechanism with the compression of the gas. That is, any mechanism having a piston performing a reciprocating motion and a portion regarded as a cylinder providing a passage through which the piston moves is also included in the piston mechanism portion. In addition, the gas handled in the present invention is mainly gas for a gas gun. However, the gas is also applied to a piston mechanism using air as a working gas.

In the shock-absorption device of the present invention, the piston stop which can move relative to the piston mechanism portion is provided in the piston mechanism. In other words, the piston stop uses the piston mechanism as a rail and can move along the piston mechanism.

In addition, in order to absorb an impact force accompanying the operation of the piston mechanism portion, the piston stop is attached to one constituent, member of the piston mechanism portion and the shock-absorption means is provided between the one constituent member and the other constituent member. By the shock-absorption means, kinetic energy of the moving member of the piston mechanism portion can be reduced and thus, the impact can be absorbed.

In the shock-absorption device of the present invention, preferably, the simulation gun is a gas gun which ejects gas to the bullet by the piston mechanism portion and moves a piston mechanism and a bolt backward by a differential pressure valve mechanism built in the piston mechanism, and a mass of the piston mechanism portion which moves backward is weighed to a mass of the bolt as the impact force. In order to obtain a recoil shock, preferably, the bolt has a relatively large mass. The piston mechanism portion has a portion of the required mass, and thus, advantages such as reductions in a size and weight of the bolt can be obtained.

In addition, a piston of the piston mechanism portion is movable inside a cylinder, the cylinder includes a guide portion in a front-rear direction outside the cylinder, the piston stop is provided to be movable in the front-rear direction within a predetermined, range by engagement between the piston stop and the guide portion, and a coil spring which is the shock-absorption means is provided between a spring holder provided in the cylinder and the piston stop.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

As described above, in the present invention, it is possible to attenuate impact applied to the piston mechanism portion by the shock-absorption means and improve durability in the simulation gun in which the air current is ejected by an operation of the piston mechanism portion to fire a bullet. In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide the shock-absorption device of the piston mechanism which can be embodied by providing the shock-absorption means between the piston mechanism portion and the piston stop without largely changing a mechanism and a structure of a target simulation gun.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to an embodiment shown. A shock-absorption device of a piston mechanism in a simulation gun of the present invention is applied to all simulation guns and is not limited to a gas gun. However, for convenience, first, an outline of the gas gun will, be described.

A gun exemplified as a simulation gun G inFIG. 1is a blowback type gas gun. In the shown simulation gun G, a firing set portion10is provided in a center portion of a gun body, a barrel portion11is provided in front of the gun body10, a magazine portion22is provided below the gun body, and a movable body portion30for a blowback bolt29is provided behind the gun body.

A bullet portion12is provided at the rear portion of the barrel portion11, gas is ejected to a bullet B loaded on the bullet portion12via a differential pressure valve mechanism20provided in the firing set portion10, and as a result, the bullet3is fired. A piston mechanism portion15is provided in the firing set portion10, and the piston mechanism portion15includes a piston13which is movably disposed in a barrel axial direction and a cylinder14which functions as a movement space, of the piston13. The piston13is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape which includes a nozzle portion16ejecting the gas to the bullet B on a tip of the piston13and an opening, which is open to a closed end of the cylinder14, on a rear end of the piston13.

In the piston13, a gas inlet17communicating with the inside and outside is open to a lower portion close to the front end, and the differential pressure valve mechanism20is provided in the vicinity of the gas inlet17. The differential pressure valve mechanism20includes a differential pressure valve18which is disposed between the nozzle portion16positioned on the tip and the differential pressure valve mechanism20, a valve chamber19in which the differential pressure valve18can move forward or backward, and a return spring21which is disposed in the valve chamber. An outer diameter of the differential pressure valve18is set so as to have a dimensional difference of a degree of sliding fit with respect to an inner diameter of the valve chamber19.

Moreover, the differential pressure valve18is formed of a tubular valve in which a front end side thereof is open and a rear end side thereof is closed, and a gas passage hole18ais provided on a peripheral surface of the differential pressure valve18. Accordingly, the differential pressure valve18fires the bullet B which is moved backward by the return spring21and positioned at the bullet, portion12, moves forward, by the pressure of the gas continuously flowing in the differential pressure valve18thereafter to close a valve, and introduces the gas flow to the cylinder14. In this way, since an operation direction of the valve body is changed by the pressure difference, the differential pressure valve18is referred to as a differential pressure valve. The gas flow is introduced to the cylinder14and is used for a blowback operation.

The gas fills a gas tank23inside the magazine portion22, and the gas is supplied from the gas tank23to the piston mechanism portion15via an on-off valve mechanism25according to a manipulation of a trigger-described later. The on-off valve mechanism25includes a gas flow path24from the gas tank23to the piston mechanism portion15and an on-off valve26which is provided to open and close the gas flow path24, and causes the gas to flow from an outlet27on the gas flow path end to an inlet17. In addition, the on-off valve26includes a valve shaft26aexposed to the outside to be press-beaten by a hammer40described later which is operated by the manipulation of the trigger.

In the piston mechanism portion15, the piston13is urged by a return spring28configured of a tension spring. A front end portion of the piston return spring28is a piston side member59aand a rear end portion thereof is attached to a cylinder side member59b. The bolt29has a necessary mass for experiencing a simulated recoil shock, and in this embodiment, the bolt29is formed in a shaft shape which is elongated in a front-rear direction. In addition, the cylinder14is provided to be integrated with the bolt29, and thus, a mass of the cylinder14is applied to the bolt29.

The movable body portion30is disposed behind the bolt29, and the movable body portion30includes a casing30cwhich is attached to the gun body and a movable shaft30awhich is disposed, inside the casing30c. The movable shaft30ais provided to be movable forward or backward inside the casing30cis configured such that a rear end of the bolt29engages with a shaft, head30b. In the drawings, a reference numeral31indicates a buffer spring, the buffer spring31urges the movable shaft30ain a forward movement direction, and thus, finally, the buffer spring31is operated to position the piston mechanism portion15in a firing preparation state. In addition, the buffer spring31receives the bolt29when the bolt29moves backward and also functions as means for adjusting the impact at the end of the recoil shock.

In order to operate the firing set portion10, a trigger32is provided. The trigger32is configured by combining two members32A and32B, the trigger member32A is a manipulating portion, and the trigger member32B is a manipulated member. The two members32A and32B are rotatable about a shaft33and are urged in a direction away from each other by a trigger spring34. A reference numeral35indicates a disconnector, and the disconnector35is coaxially provided with the trigger member32A to select a continuous shoot or a single shoot and is controlled by a selector36.

The trigger member32A locks the above-described hammer40in a cocking state. A reference numeral37indicates a trigger side locking portion which maintains the cocking state and a reference numeral38is a hammer side locking portion which maintains the locking state. A reference numeral39indicates a hammer spring and becomes in an accumulated pressure state at the time of cocking. Accordingly, if the trigger32A is manipulated, an engagement between the locking portions37and38is released, and thus, the accumulated pressure of the hammer spring39is also released, and the hammer40is operated.

The hammer40is placed in an engagement state between a shear41and the hammer40at the time of the cocking. A spring42acts on the shear41, and the shear41acts in a direction in which the cocking of the hammer40is maintained. The hammer40is cocked by a backward movement of the cylinder14. Accordingly, a cam-shaped engagement protrusion43is provided on a lower portion of a rear end of the cylinder14, and the engagement protrusion44is pivoted by the hammer40. A reference numeral45indicates a press-beating portion of the hammer40and the press-beating portion45drives a valve shaft.26avia a knocker46. A reference numeral47indicates a bolt protrusion and the bolt, protrusion47rotates the shear41against, the shear spring42and causes the hammer40which is in the cocking state to be rotatable. A reference numeral48is a loading lever (charging handle), the cylinder14is moved, backward by manipulation of the loading lever48which engages with the front side of the cylinder14, and thus, the hammer40can be cocked. The protrusions44and47may be simple protrusions or may be rolls.

In the shock-absorption device in the simulation gun of the present invention, a piston stop50which can move relative to the piston mechanism portion15is provided in the piston mechanism portion15(refer toFIG. 2). In the piston mechanism portion15, a guide portion51in a front-rear direction is provided on the upper portion of the cylinder14, and the piston stop50is provided to be movable in the front-rear direction within a predetermined range by an engagement, between the guide portion51and a guide receiving portion52. The guide portion51is formed in the upper portion of the cylinder14in the form of an elongated protrusion in a piston moving direction, and the guide receiving portion52is provided at a position at which the guide receiving portion51engages with the guide portion51of the piston stop50.

More specifically, the guide portion51is formed to be shorter than the guide receiving portion52by a required length, and is provided so as to be relatively movable in the front-rear direction by a predetermined range determined by the difference in the length (refer toFIG. 3). The piston stop50is attached to be movable by a predetermined range using two screws53, and the two screws53are screwed into the cylinder14through two long holes54, and thus, a movement within the predetermined, range can be performed. Further, in the piston stop50, left and right wing pieces50aare provided at a front end of the piston stop50to stabilize the movement of the piston stop50.

The wing pieces50aenter the inside of a notch14apositioned at the front, end of the cylinder14and are positioned inside the notch14a, and the wing pieces50aengage with an engagement portion13apositioned at the rear end of the piston13configuring a retaining structure of the piston13. In this way, a coil spring which is shock-absorption means57is provided in a compressed state between the front spring bearing55provided in the cylinder14and the rear spring bearing56of the piston stop50. A reference numeral58indicates a connection piece, the connection piece58is fixed to the cylinder side by the screws53positioned on the rear side, the piston13and a locking frame58aengage with each other, and thus, the piston and the connection piece58are integrally connected to each other.

In the shock-absorption device of the piston mechanism, as a gas flow is switched backward by the operation of the differential pressure valve13from a state immediately after firing shown inFIG. 3A, the piston mechanism portion15and the bolt29integrated with the piston mechanism portion15start to move backward. If the piston mechanism portion15and the bolt29move backward to a certain extent, the piston stop50engages with the engagement portion13aof the piston13at the portions of the wing pieces50aand is pulled by engagement portion13a, and the piston13starts to move backward and is further drawn to the bolt29by the piston return spring28(FIG. 3B).

An acting force transmitted to the piston13is absorbed by the shock-absorption means57disposed between the front spring bearing55of the cylinder14and the rear spring bearing56of the piston stop50and is operated to compress the shock-absorption means (FIG. 3C). Accordingly, the acting force rapidly transmitted to the piston13is absorbed and attenuated by the shock-absorption means57, and thus, the acting force does not become an impact force enough to damage the piston13and also reduces a force exerted on a related member.

An overall operation of the simulation gun G in the present invention will be described as follows. The bolt29is moved backward by manually manipulating the loading lever48, and the hammer40become in a cocking state (state ofFIG. 4A). If the loading lever48is released, the bolt29is moved forward by the buffer spring31, one bullet B is loaded into bullet portion12by nozzle portion16of the piston mechanism portion15which integrally moves with the bolt29(FIG. 4B).

Subsequently, if trigger32A is pulled and hammer40is operated, the valve shaft26ais pushed via knocker46, the on-off valve mechanism25is open, and compressed gas flows into gas inlet17. The compressed gas flows into the differential pressure valve18from the gas communication port18aof the differential pressure valve mechanism20and is ejected to bullet. B, and as a result, the bullet3is fired from the barrel11(FIG. 5A). The differential pressure valve13is moved forward by the pressure of the gas which continuously flows in even after the bullet is fired, the differential pressure valve mechanism20is closed, and the gas flow is introduced to the cylinder14(FIG. 5B).

As the gas flows into the cylinder14, the piston mechanism portion15is moved backward along with the bolt29, and in the process, the hammer40is cocked (FIG. 6A). If the bolt29is moved backward to a certain extent, the piston13starts to move backward along with the piston stop50and is drawn in a bolt direction by the piston return spring28(FIG. 6B).

The bolt29stops after moving backward to a position moved backward farthest along with the piston mechanism portion15(FIG. 7A), and a manipulator of the simulation gun G experiences a shock accompanying the movement of the mass of the bolt29during this time. The buffer spring31accumulated by the backward movement is released, the bolt23is switched to move forward, and one bullet B is loaded in the bullet portion12by the nozzle portion16positioned at the tip of the piston mechanism which integrally moves with the bolt29(FIG. 7B). In addition, the protrusion47of the bolt29rotates the shear41, and thus, the hammer40is released, the state is returned to the state ofFIG. 4B, and the fire operation is repeated (fire mode). In a case of a single shoot mode, the hammer40engages with the disconnector35and the engagement portion35aand40aand is stopped. Since the locking is released by returning the trigger32, the hammer40is locked to the trigger32and is held in the cocking state.

As described above, the shock-absorption device of the piston mechanism in the simulation gun of the present, invention has a countermeasure to provide the shock-absorption absorption means57between the piston mechanism portion15and the piston stop50. Accordingly, it is possible to remarkably improve durability of the piston mechanism portion15in a type of a gas gun having a movement in which the movement direction of the piston13is changed suddenly by bullet firing and blowback immediately after the bullet firing. In particular, according to the present invention, objects thereof can be achieved by adding the movable piston stop50to the existing piston mechanism portion15and by interposing the shock-absorption means57therebetween, and thus, the configuration is simple and it is possible to easily find an appropriate value for spring strength or the like of the shock-absorption means57.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

10: firing set portion

15: piston mechanism portion

18: differential pressure valve

20: differential pressure valve mechanism

21: return spring

22: magazine portion

23: gas tank

24: gas flow path

28: piston return spring

30: movable body portion

31: buffer spring

34: trigger spring

39: hammer spring

44: engagement ring

51: guide portion

52: guide receiving portion

54: long hole

55: front spring bearing

56: rear spring bearing

58: connection piece