This ball is fully charged with condensed air, by means of the syringe B , previous to its being applied to the tube at b . Being charged and screwed on as above stated, if a bullet be rammed down in the barrel, and the trigger a be pulled, the pin in b will, by the spring-work in the lock, forcibly strike out into the ball, and thence, by pushing it suddenly, a valve within it will let out a portion of the condensed air, which, rushing through the aperture in the lock will act forcibly against the ball, impelling it to the distance of 60 or 70 yards, or farther if the air be strongly compressed. At the end of the rod k is usually a square hole, that the rod may serve as a key for attaching the ball to either the gun or syringe. In the inside of the ball is fixed a valve and spring, which gives way to the admission of the air, but upon its emission comes close up to the orifice, shutting out the external air. The barrel being drawn up, the operation is repeated, until the condensation is so great as to resist the action of the piston.
Air enters the barrel by a bell-shaped chamber.
By pressing strongly on the extremity of the rod, the disk is compressed and closes the reservoir-orifice. The air is compressed into a reservoir beneath the barrel by means of a piston working longi.