Abstract:
A high pressure regulator for compressed gas weapons, and in particular for paintball markers, is situated inside a cylindrical regulator housing which is connected to a source of compressed gas. The cylindrical regulator housing comprises an inlet channel which is connected to a supply of high-pressure gas. A first regulator (H) comprises a first piston movably disposed within the regulator housing for regulating pressure in a first expansion chamber. A second regulator (D) comprises a second piston movably disposed within the regulator housing for regulating pressure in a second expansion chamber. The first piston and the second piston are arranged coaxially within the regulator housing. The high pressure regulator is suitable to be mounted in the foregrip of a paintball marker and reduce an inlet pressure of about 850 psi to a first pressure of about 250 psi and a second pressure of about 100 psi.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to a high pressure regulator for compressed gas weapons, and more particularly to a high pressure regulator for paintball markers situated within a cylinder that is connected to a source of pressurized gas and comprises a spring-loaded piston. 
     BACKGROUND 
     High pressure regulators are used to regulate the pressure of a compressed gas to a working pressure suitable for, e.g., paintball markers. A typical pressure regulator in the form of a piston pressure regulator is known e.g. from U.S. Pat. No. 6,543,475, which is incorporated hereby by reference thereto in its entirety. Piston pressure regulators are characterized by the fact that the pressure is regulated by means of a spring-loaded piston. A Belleville disk spring used for this purpose can usually be regulated via a screw thread (a regulator spring). The piston is sealed against the cylinder wall with at least one elastomer O-ring. Due to its thickness in combination with the O-ring, piston pressure regulators can achieve a higher working pressure than diaphragm pressure regulators. 
     In compressed gas weapons known from the prior art, in particular paintball markers operating with only one pressure regulator, the entire operating process to trigger the firing of a shot is dependent on the pressure set at the regulator in order to accelerate the projectile to the desired velocity. If this pressure must be regulated across a broad range, malfunctions may occur. 
     In order to eliminate any such malfunctions, two regulators are used in some paintball markers; the pressure for the proper functioning of the compressed gas weapon (working pressure) and the pressure for the acceleration of the projectile (chamber pressure) are separately regulated in such a system. Thus the inlet pressure of ca. 450-950 psi in the front regulator, which is usually located in front of the trigger of the compressed gas weapon and simultaneously serves as a foregrip, is first regulated to the pressure of ca. 100-230 psi needed to accelerate the projectile. In a second step, a portion of this gas is conducted away to a second regulator, which is located either as an attachment beneath the barrel or inside the compressed gas weapon, and which regulates the working pressure down to ca. 50-100 psi. 
     The drawbacks of using a second regulator are the increased space demanded by such an installation and the greater weight of the compressed gas weapon. The installation of the second regulator beneath the barrel obstructs the user&#39;s grasp of the weapon and negatively affects its handling. If the second regulator is installed within the housing of the compressed gas weapon, the size of the housing is increased and the weapon made more unwieldy. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure presents a high pressure regulator which can be installed in the housing of a compresses gas weapon or a paintball marker in a space-efficient manner, preferably in a foregrip. It is technically simple and simultaneously ensures that the pressure of a compressed gas is effectively reduced to the desired lower pressures by means of a single unit without a secondary pressure regulator. 
     The aforementioned objective is attained in accordance with the invention by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous variations of the high pressure regulator in accordance with the invention are described in the dependent claims. 
     A high pressure regulator for a compressed gas weapon or paintball marker comprises a cylindrical regulator housing. The regulator is connected to a supply of high-pressure gas through an inlet channel in the housing. A first regulator comprises a first piston movably disposed within the regulator housing for regulating pressure in a first expansion chamber. A second regulator comprises a second piston movably disposed within the regulator housing for regulating pressure in a second expansion chamber. The first piston and the second piston are arranged coaxially within the regulator housing. 
     The regulators may be configured such that
     a) the second pressure regulator generates an outlet pressure from the inlet pressure, or   b) the first pressure regulator generates an outlet pressure from the outlet pressure of the second pressure regulator, or   c) the second pressure regulator generates the outlet pressure from the outlet pressure of the first pressure regulator, or   d) both pressure regulators generate their respective outlet pressures from the inlet pressure.   

     The inlet pressure is normally in the vicinity of up to 850 psi. The outlet pressure of the first pressure regulator is normally in the vicinity of up to 250 psi. The outlet pressure of the second pressure regulator is generally in the vicinity of up to 100 psi. 
     The advantages with respect to previous solutions consist in the smaller dimensions of the compressed gas weapon and its improved manageability. As the high pressure regulator simultaneously functions as the foregrip, it must be of a certain size in order to enable it to be grasped. If the first pressure regulator and the second, coaxially mounted pressure regulator are both installed in the foregrip, the marker housing can be reduced in size, and additional fittings beneath the barrel are also not necessary. 
     Further objectives, features, advantages, and potential applications of the high pressure regulator may be discerned from the following description of several exemplary embodiments by means of the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts a high pressure regulator in a sectional view with a first piston and a second piston each in an open position; 
         FIG. 2  depicts the high pressure regulator as in  FIG. 1  with the first piston and the second piston each in a closed position; 
         FIG. 3  depicts the high pressure regulator in perspective view; 
         FIG. 4  depicts a partial cross-section of a paintball marker with the high pressure regulator of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  depicts an alternative embodiment of a high pressure regulator in a sectional view; 
         FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b  show a horizontal cross section through the second adjustment system of the high pressure regulator of  FIG. 5  in two alternative positions; 
         FIG. 7  depicts a partial cross-section of a further embodiment of a high pressure regulator. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a preferred embodiment of a high pressure regulator. The cylindrical regulator housing  1  contains two coaxially situated pressure regulators H and D. The outlet pressure is generated by means of the inflow of the inlet pressure into the inlet chamber  9  through inlet channel  8 . The inlet chamber  9  is closed when the first piston  2  is in its closed position. It extends between an inner wall of the regulator housing  1 , an outer wall of the first piston  2  and an inner face of a first adjustment mechanism  3 . The inlet chamber  9  is sealed by a first O-ring  11  between the inner wall of the regulator housing  1  and the outer wall of the first piston  2 , a gasket  12  between the inner face of the first adjustment mechanism  3  and the first piston  2  and a second O-ring  13  between the first adjustment mechanism and the inner wall of the regulator housing  1 . The inlet pressure can escape from the inlet chamber  9  through a gap between the first piston  2  and the second housing  4 . From here, the inlet pressure takes two paths, as represented below: 
     Path 1: By means of the drilled hole  17  in the second housing  4 , the inlet pressure enters the second expansion chamber  18  through the drilled bores  23 ,  24  in the second piston  5 . The second expansion chamber  18  is formed by the O-ring  19  and the marker (not shown). The regulator housing  1  is connected to the marker by means of the threaded fitting  22 , thus closing the regulator housing from above. 
     Pressure builds in the second expansion chamber  18 , and, with increasing pressure, presses the second piston  5  downward against the resistive force of the second spring  25 . The second piston  5  must only act against the pressure of the second spring  25 , as the second spring chamber  26  is at normal atmospheric pressure. 
     The second spring chamber  26  is formed by the O-rings  10 ,  21 . Increasing pressure in the second expansion chamber  18  pushes the second piston  5  downward against the force of the second spring  25  until the O-rings  19 ,  20  enclose drilled hole  17 , at which point no further gas can enter the second expansion chamber  18  through the drilled horizontal bore  23 . 
     If a shot is fired in the marker, gas from the second expansion chamber  18  is used up and pressure drops. With decreasing pressure, the force exerted on the second piston  5  also decreases. If the pressure in the second expansion chamber  18  drops to the point at which the force exerted on the second piston  5  is less than the force of the second spring  25 , the second piston  5  moves in the direction of the second expansion chamber  18  until the drilled hole is enclosed by the O-rings  20 ,  21 . 
     The force of the second spring  25  against the second piston  5  can be adjusted by means of the second adjustment screw  6 ; this permits the setting of the outlet pressure that builds up in the second expansion chamber  18 . 
     Path 2: Gas flows into the first expansion chamber  16  via the drilled hole  15  in the second housing  4 . The first expansion chamber  16  is formed by the O-ring  27  and the marker. 
     The drilled hole  17  is closed off by the O-rings  19 ,  20 , as the outlet pressure generated in the second expansion chamber  18  is lower than the pressure in the first expansion chamber  16 . 
     With increasing pressure in the first expansion chamber  16 , the force exerted on the first piston  2  also increases, and thus pushes the first piston  2  against the force of the first spring  28  in the direction of the inlet chamber  9 . Once the preset outlet pressure in the first expansion chamber  16  is reached, the first piston  2  presses against the gasket  12  and thus seals off the first expansion chamber  16 . 
     The distance traveled by the first piston  2  can be adjusted by means of the first adjustment screw  3 . This permits the adjustment of the outlet pressure in the first expansion chamber  16 . 
     In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the two adjustment screws  3  and  6  are installed coaxially, and are accessible from one side, ideally from below; particularly advantageous would be for these to be adjusted from below the foregrip. 
     The first spring chamber  29  is at normal atmospheric pressure, so the force generated by the pressure in the first expansion chamber  16  presses only against the force of the first spring  28 . The first spring chamber  29  is delimited by the O-rings  11 ,  27 . 
       FIG. 2  depicts the embodiment of the high pressure regulator in accordance with the invention as described above, with outlet pressure attained in the expansion chambers  16  and  18 . 
       FIG. 3  depicts a perspective view of the high pressure regulator. 
       FIG. 4  depicts a partial cross-section of a compressed gas weapon or paintball marker  53  with the high pressure regulator. 
       FIG. 5  depicts a sectional view of an alternative high pressure regulator. As can be seen from  FIG. 5 , the outlet pressure of the first pressure regulator H is generated through the inflow of the inlet pressure into the inlet chamber  9  through the inlet channel  8 . This inlet chamber  9  is delimited by the O-rings  10 ,  11  and the gasket  12 , and the marker (not shown) to which gas channel  30  is connected, and enters into the first expansion chamber  16  via the first piston  2 . With increasing pressure in the first expansion chamber  16 , the force pushes the first piston  2  against the resistance of the first spring  28  in the direction of the gasket  12 , until the first piston  2  is pressed against the gasket  12  and thus closes off the first expansion chamber  16 . 
     When a shot is fired in the marker, the pressure in the first expansion chamber  16  decreases until the force of the first spring  28  is greater than the force of the gas pressure, and the first piston  2  is thus once again pushed away from the gasket  12 . 
     The force exerted by the first spring  28  on the first piston  2  can be adjusted by means of the preferably intended first adjustment mechanism  3 ,  33 ,  34 . This permits the outlet pressure that builds up in the first expansion chamber  16  to be adjusted. If the first adjustment screw  3  is screwed into the regulator housing  1 , the slide  34  moves in the same direction. This forces the spring washer  33  in the direction of the first spring  28 , by means of which the force of the first spring  28  on the first piston  2  can be adjusted. 
     The outlet pressure of the first regulator is maintained in the gas channel  30 . By means of the drilled holes  38 ,  39 , the outlet pressure of the first pressure regulator H enters into the second expansion chamber  18  of the second pressure regulator D. The second expansion chamber  18  is delimited by the O-rings  35 ,  41 ,  42 , and  43  and by the marker connected to the second expansion chamber  18 . As the pressure increases in the second expansion chamber  18 , the force presses the second piston  5  against the force of the second spring  25  in the direction of the connecting element  32 , until the second piston  5  is pushed against the edge of the connecting element  32 . The second piston  5  consists of suitable material (e.g. plastic) and acts as a seal when the second piston  5  is pushed against the connecting element  32 . 
     When a shot is fired in the marker, the pressure in the second expansion chamber  18  decreases until the force of the second spring  25  is greater than the force of the gas pressure, and the second piston  5  is thus once again pushed away from the connecting element  32 . 
     By means of the advantageous second adjustment mechanism  6 ,  36  represented in  FIGS. 6   a ,  6   b , the force of the second spring  25  on the second piston  5  can be adjusted. The outlet pressure that builds up in the second expansion chamber  18  may thus be adjusted. 
     The screw covering  36  can be freely rotated without causing the second screw  6  to turn ( FIG. 6   a ). It must be rotated in such a way that a tool can be inserted through the drilled hole  37  in order to turn the second screw  6  ( FIG. 6   b ). 
     As can be seen from  FIG. 7 , the adjustment mechanism  3 ,  50  of the high pressure regulator in accordance with the invention can be realized in such a way that an first adjustment screw  3  pushes against a spring washer  50 , which in turn presses against a spring  51 . In this way, the force of the spring  51 , which is counteracting the force of the first spring  28 , can be adjusted. By this means, the pressure in the first expansion chamber  16  can be adjusted. In addition to the aforementioned O-rings, the first expansion chamber  16  is sealed with an O-ring  52 . 
     In one advantageous embodiment, the first piston  2  comprises a first piston bore  7  and the second piston  5  comprise a second piston bore  23 ,  24  such that the second piston  5  is at least partially disposed within the first piston bore  7 . 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the disclosed or illustrated embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover numerous other modifications, substitutions, variations and broad equivalent arrangements that are included within the spirit and scope of the following claims.